The food, she said and fluttered her tongue over his lips. Itll burn. She dug her pelvis hard into him, a serious promise. Her hands tucked his shirt in again, her body flowed away. She was slightly breathless.
He remained at the table, deserted and uncomfortable.
Im going to surprise you. But its all a big secret. You must wait in the living room. Thats why I brought the newspaper. Her voice had lost some of the theatrical intonation, held a measure of uncertainty now. She stretched out an arm to the windowsill and he saw her picking up a packet of cigarettes. She opened it and offered him one. Winstons. He hesitated for a moment, then took one. She extracted another one with her long red nails and put it in her mouth. Her lipstick was smudged.
He dug into his pocket, found the lighter, lit her cigarette and then his own. She deftly took a deep drag, blew a thin jet of smoke toward the ceiling, came to him, and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
Into the living room with you. Her voice had deepened again and the self-confidence had returned.
He smiled awkwardly, took the newspaper and the beer, and walked to the living room. He opened the newspaper, swallowed a mouthful of beer, and dragged strongly on the Winston. It filled him with a deep satisfaction.
He hadn't known that she smoked. For some reason or another it made her even more exciting.
He stared at the newspaper. He felt her skin under his hand. Dear God, that youthfulness. Firm, firm, firm. He could feel the long muscles move when her hands were busy behind his back. And her pelvis rubbing against him.
He forced himself to read. He heard her pottering about. She sang along with a rock number. Later she brought him another beer. You mustnt fall behind. He assumed she was also drinking in the kitchen. I've almost done. When I call you must come.
More activity in the kitchen, then a long stretch of quiet.
Mat.
Yes.
Switch off the light. Then come here.
He swallowed the last of his beer, folded the newspaper. He switched off the living room light. There was a soft glow in the dining room. He walked down the passage and entered the room.
Candles in two tall holders lit the table. There was a vase with flowers, two slender crystal glasses that reflected the candlelight, gleaming silver on the table, a silver ice bucket from which the neck of a bottle protruded.
She sat at the other end of the table. Her hair was piled high on her head. Large gold hoops dangled from her ears. Her scarlet mouth wore a small smile. Her slender neck, her shoulders, her arms, and most of her breasts glowed rosily in the circle of light. The black dress glistened and clung. She rose with grace. He saw that her dress hung down to her ankles. She wore two thin gold bangles around her wrist. She walked to a chair at the top of the table and pulled it back. Her hip angled. A leg, the color of ivory, slid out of the black.
Please sit down, Mat. She and the table were a picture out of a womens magazine. It took his breath away.
It . . . You look beautiful.
Thank you.
He walked slowly to the chair. Had the beer caused the light-headedness? Before he could sit down she helped him take off his jacket.
You can open the champagne. She leaned back, pressed a button on her cassette player. Soft music filled the room.
He reached for the bottle, pulled off the foil, unwound the wire, and wiggled the cork.
Youve got big hands. Strong.
The cork shot out. He poured sparkling wine into her glass. His hand shook and the foam overflowed the rim, spilling onto the white tablecloth.
Sorry. She giggled.
To our first evening, Mat. The glasses sang a high note as they touched. They drank.
Theres more champagne in the fridge. Have some more. She emptied her glass and held it out to him to be refilled. He obeyed. They drank again. She dished up. Leg of lamb, rice, a rich brown gravy, baked potatoes, green beans with mushrooms and cream, cauliflower with cheese.
It looks . . . I didn't know you liked to cook.
Ag, its just from a recipe book. I hope you like everything.
Everything, he said. Tonight would be a farewell to all the wrong kinds of food. Tomorrow hed speak to Yvonne about his diet.
What did you think of my poem?
I . . . liked it very much.
Mr. Venter said I should do more writing. He was my English teacher last year. I showed him all my poems.
This one as well?
No, silly, of course not. Pour me some more champagne.
They ate. Silence.
Then: I've been in love with you for more than a year, Mat.
He swallowed some champagne.
But I want you to know its not because of being sorry about your wife.
He took another swallow.
There were a few guys in my class who were interested. Ginger Pretorius already has a job . . . His bike is very sexy and all that, but hes so adolescent.
She looked at him, unfocused. Didn't you suspect? Every time my parents invited you, I was there as well. I felt as if you didn't see me. I had to do something. Didn't you see?
No.
They say the time is over for women to simply sit around waiting. If I hadn't done something, we would still have been secretly in love. Are you pleased that I did something?
Yes. There was a befogged window between Mat Joubert and reality.
Tell me how you felt, that evening. Was I too aggressive? They say some men like it. Did you like it, Mat, hey, did you?
Yes. He looked at her, at the teeth so white in the candlelight, at her red lips, at the deep valley between her breasts where the black dress had shifted.
For me it was a fucking rave. She looked at him, saw his eyes on her breasts. Does it bother you if I swear, Mat?
No.
Do you like it?
He listened to a single beat of his heart.
Yes.
She pushed her plate away, leaned toward him. The top of the black dress unfolded like a petal. He could see the pink circle of one of her nipples.
What else would you like, Mat?
He slid his eyes away from the nipple, over her creamy neck up to her mouth, now half open. Her teeth shone. He wanted to tell her what he would like. His courage failed him. He swallowed more champagne, also pushed his plate away.
A Winston. He smiled ruefully.
She smiled back as if shed heard the words but hadn't caught their meaning. She leaned over and found the packet behind the radio. He lit cigarettes for both of them. She blew the smoke at the candles, which flickered. He saw the nipple was now completely bare. Was she aware of it?