2 Chapter 2

Steve was not a man with a roving eye or a weak heart. He was a loyal and faithful man. He didn't want to do anything behind his wife's back.

He wanted to hold on to what was left of his marriage not wreck it altogether by risking an involvement. But - he couldn't help it. He was drawn to Alice like a magnet.

One Saturday afternoon, Steve found his way to Alice's flat. She was parking her car. She smiled and led him upstairs.

A few minutes later, they were indoors and it was all there – soft music from the stereo, through the open window a breeze stirred, warm and humid, but smelling earthily sweet as it carried the fragrant smell of the flowers from the garden below.

Steve noticed Alice was slender rather than thin with a toned elegance. Her skin glowed, and her braided hair fell to her shoulders like a waterfall.

She was dressed in a crisp white shirt, the collar and cuffs and shirt-tails of which peeked out from underneath a tight merino sweater.

Alice poured him a large whisky. Steve didn't know quite what to expect, but all he did was sit there on the sofa, sipping his drink having quiet conversation with Alice who was seated beside him. Steve felt good just sitting there.

It was refreshing to him to hear Alice's chatter about her job in personnel. No mention of housework, rising food costs or anything else that reminded him of what a failure he was as a man.

However, deep down Steve knew that he was being unfair to Laura. Alice was a career girl with no domestic hassles. After a while, she got up and walked over to the window.

Steve put down his drink, followed her and put his arm around her shoulders. 'You're wonderful,' he said, his voice husky. There was tenderness in his voice. The nearness of Alice as he stood behind her aroused in him an agony of longing.

Suddenly he swung her round to face him; his eyes searched hers in a special intimate way, as if he had just discovered something new and exciting. His heart was beating so fast that he was breathless.

He bent over, his lips on Alice's. And this time there was no mistaking the passion in their embrace. They were lost to the world, save for each other, drifting towards complete understanding.

Then suddenly unexpectedly, the strident ringing of Steve's cell phone shattered their precious moment. Guiltily he drew away, but Alice's arms held him tight. 'Let it ring, Steve. Let it ring!' she whispered urgently.

For a moment Steve thought he would. But through the yearning of his body, hungry for Alice's touch, conscience stabbed and prodded, demanding him to answer.

Suppose it was someone with a real emergency. His heart thudded as he picked up his phone. 'Is that you darling? Your voice sounds most peculiar.

Are you all right?'

It was such an anticlimax to hear his wife's voice at the other end that he was almost rude to her. 'I'm okay sweetheart!' Steve blurted out. 'Of course I'm all right.' He was cursing under his breath.

Why did Laura have to choose a time like this to phone him? She had ruined everything. His wife's voice rambled on, though half her conversation didn't register with Steve at all.

His eyes rested on Alice's soft curves, as she stood with her back to him, gazing out of the window. 'See you later darling. Promise me you'll be home early.'

'I will, sweetheart.' Steve said wishing his wife would hang up the phone. When he hung up, Alice turned and faced him, across the room. It was an awkward moment for both of them.

'Sorry about that,' he said after a slight pause. His voice was subdued. 'Perhaps I should be moving.'

It was almost as if the past few minutes had been wiped out, as if nothing physical had happened between them.

Alice did not say a word she just smiled at him. He brushed a quick kiss on her lips and left.

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The days dragged. Steve was looking forward to spending more time with Alice. Her presence was so refreshing. But he'd have to wait until the weekend.

When Friday finally came, Steve told Laura he'd be late due to a cocktail event at work. He was lying but he didn't care. Alice was becoming more real to him than almost nothing else.

He took Alice to a small Italian restaurant. The food was delicious. For hours they talked and enjoyed each other's company. Alice drew him out and he found himself telling her more than he should have about his home life.

By the time they left the restaurant to go home, Steve was amazed that time had flown so quickly. Alice had been so easy to talk to.

Alice's car rattled towards Steve's road to drop him off. As he buttoned up his tweed coat, Steve said goodnight with barely concealed disappointment; he hurried up the path, in long strides, and then turned to wave good-night.

Alice scrunched to a halt by the small garden and switched off the lights, so she and Steve could only see each other dimly, silhouetted by the light, of a distant street lamp.

Slowly, Steve came to her and got into the car. They stared at each other, no words were necessary. They both knew what they wanted.

Steve unwound the warm scarf from her neck. Slowly he unbuttoned her coat. He groped through black chiffon. Alice hesitated. "What if someone sees us? There's nothing to be frightened of…" The car is well hidden – it's dark. No one will see us.

Alice's firm resolution melted, as her body felt increasingly dreamily erotic. With expertise, Steve touched her. In moments they were panting towards a climax.

Alice felt the rhythm of her life speed up. They both ignored the firm tap at the window and continued in their frenzied pursuit of each other's flesh.

A further, sharper tap was followed by a male voice. 'Police open up!' 'Gosh, don't you dare open the door, Steve!' Alice tried unsuccessfully to disentangle her leg from the steering-wheel, as they struggled in a constricting morass of half-discarded clothing.

She groped for her coat but couldn't locate it. She tried to hide her breasts with her crossed hands. Steve muttered, 'If this is someone's idea of a joke, I swear I'll break his neck!'

'Open up, please sir. You can't park here without your lights on. I'll have to ask you to move on.'

Steve managed to tidy himself and sat quietly beside Alice for a few seconds as he savored the moment. He looked out of the window, the policeman was waiting.

Alice turned to him and then brushed her lips lightly across his cheek and told him to go before they got arrested.

When Steve entered the house, Laura was waiting for him and told him in detail about some excitement that had gone on in the neighborhood that afternoon. But he didn't hear a word.

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A few days later after his night class, Alice told him that she'd like to go out briefly. It was early evening. 'The pubs will be open,' she said. 'Let's go and have a drink.'

Later, when they left the pub, warm from brandies bought with money Steve should have spent on accountancy books, the cold air didn't touch them.

Alice drove in silence back to her flat. Once they got there, they sat in front of the warm fire Alice lit up. She didn't feel much like cooking that night but they were both hungry.

They ordered a large pizza, with onions and olives and extra cheese, and ate in the sitting room. Tonight, Alice seemed different.

Soft, vulnerable almost, no longer in charge of things, thought Steve. Desire rose up in him prodding to be satisfied. The attraction between them charged the air.

When he kissed her, her need was as great as his and it shook him to the depths. He kissed her slowly inch by inch and then lifted her into his arms and carried her into her bedroom.

His body was feverish with desire. Right at that moment he wanted her body to his in the only intimate way a man and a woman could connect.

Later, as Alice slept in his arms covered by a soft blanket, Steve didn't feel like a low-wage accountant who couldn't afford to hire a housekeeper. He didn't feel like a failure, just an ordinary normal guy.

He was totally at peace. He was dozing. Then he fell into a deep sleep. Several hours later he woke up and found himself in a strange room.

He was lying on his back. Soft moonlight, falling gently through the lace curtains, cast a pale grey flowered pattern across his naked body. The curtains moved slightly, in the cool breeze of the night.

Lying beside him, also naked, Alice stirred. He said her name. 'Alice?' 'Yes,' she stirred. 'What time is it?' 'Check the clock on the nightstand,' she answered him sleepily.

Steve saw the time and was instantly shocked. It was midnight! Steve was in shock, panic rising in him. Where did time go? It was just a few minutes ago when she'd carried Alice into the bedroom.

He blinked, clearing the sleep from his eyes. 'I must go home,' he said as he hurriedly dressed up. Alice called a cab for him.