“There’s no point in you hiding from the police. Just answer their questions and be done with it.” She grabbed him by both hands and pulled him to his feet. “Time for you to go home, Toby.”
He encircled her waist with his hands. Suddenly, he dropped to his knees and pulled her gown over his head.
LaVonda’s pulse quickened. “What the hell are you doing?” she asked, pulling away.
“You’ll see.” She felt his hands on her thighs, rubbing them, parting them. Felt his mouth kissing the tender spot by her knee, then moving upward.
LaVonda tried to twist away, but Toby moved with her. He was nibbling her now, tiny little bites that tickled her flesh. She felt herself relenting, and her hands relaxed on his shoulders. Then she dug her thumbs in near his collarbone and pushed hard. “Wait! Wait!”
Toby sat on his ankles, continuing to caress her calves. “What?”
“Toby,” she whispered, “I haven’t even showered.”
He laughed. “You don’t have to.” He scrambled back under her gown. Then he was pulling down her panties and before she could object, his mouth was on her pussy, his tongue darting about, doing delightful things that hadn’t been done to LaVonda in a long time.
She fell back against the wall as Toby’s mouth became greedy and insistent. She closed her eyes, and found herself thinking of Detective Delgado. It was his scent that she breathed into her body, his hands that were kneading her thighs, his tongue that was dipping inside her.
“You like that, huh?” Toby’s voice interrupted her reverie. She clutched at his hair, forced him back between her legs. Waves of warmth spread throughout her body. She wasn’t sure she understood what was happening. She just knew that she didn’t care.
LaVonda was hot. She kicked at the sheets that entangled her feet until her lower legs were free. Toby lay beside her. Even in the darkness, she could see the pale skin of his hairless back. She was unused to sharing her bed, and he had left her very little room to maneuver. She was also lying in the wet spot. She rolled away from him and off the edge of the bed. She crawled around until she found her nightgown and robe where she’d dropped them on the floor. She clutched them to her chest and silently made her escape.
LaVonda headed to the alcove in the dining room. The room was dark, brightened only by the ambient light from streetlamps that filtered in through her windows. Still, she easily found her pills. She had never mastered the art of swallowing the tablets dry, so she wended her way to the bathroom, closed the door, and turned on the light. She popped an oxy, then hunkered down over the sink and drank deeply from the spigot. Water trickled from her lips and she swiped at her mouth with her sleeve. Her hands gripped the sides of the sink and she stared at herself in the mirrored medicine cabinet. She turned her face first to one side, then the other. It was still mostly unlined, except when she laughed. She pressed her fingers to her temple and cheek, tugging at her skin until it was taut. That was better. When she removed her hands, her face went slack. There were faint hollows under her eyes. She thought she saw a gray hair and looked closely at her scalp; it could have been a trick of the light. I look okay but I look my age, she thought.
Parts of her body still tingled from her interlude with Toby. He had been patient and had gone down on her for a long time until her body began to convulse. They had stumbled to the bedroom. He’d grabbed the back of her head and crushed her mouth with his. She’d felt dizzy as he’d pulled her nightgown over her head. His hands roved over her body. They were so soft and warm against her skin, skin that hadn’t been touched like this in so long. She’d fallen back onto the bed and he’d shucked off his clothes and climbed on top of her. Their bodies had fit comfortably. She was still limber enough to wrap her legs around his back as he nuzzled and suckled and kissed her repeatedly. She’d quickly felt herself coming again and she could just make out the smug smile on his face. He had come then too, as if he had been holding back, waiting for her to come first. He really is a nice boy, she thought.
Now she curled up on the couch in her living room, turned the volume of the TV on low, and flipped through the channels. Even as images flashed on the screen, she closed her eyes and replayed the night in her mind. Part of her felt awakened and alive, another part felt something akin to shame.
Why had she slept with Toby? He was certainly no Detective Delgado. He had caught her unawares but she had immediately surrendered. It had been so long since a man had touched her in a way that made her feel desirable. She may have been forty-six and past her prime, but she was still a woman, goddamnit. He had made her feel like one — twice. And yet, the mildest hint of disgust lingered. He was barely in his twenties, he was lazy, he let himself be supported by women. She hoped he wasn’t lining her up to be next. I’m not that desperate, she thought. Besides, he doesn’t really want me. Does he?
“Come back to bed,” Toby said.
LaVonda opened her eyes. Toby sat beside her on the couch. He pulled her feet into his lap.
“Let’s have a smoke,” she said.
Toby pressed his thumbs into the bottom of her foot. “We smoked the last one.”
LaVonda draped her arm over her face and sighed softly. “Damn. That would have been nice.”
“I’ll go get some,” he said, as he tugged gently at each of her toes.
LaVonda sat up. “Really? At this time of night?”
“The 7-Eleven is only a couple of blocks away.” Toby massaged her calf in long, languid strokes. “But I don’t have any cash on me.”
Her breathing became more shallow as Toby’s hands moved farther up her leg. “I do,” she said. “Do you really want to go?”
“Sure.” He laid her leg down on the couch and smoothed her gown around her ankles. “I guess I should put some clothes on.”
Toby disappeared into the bedroom and returned holding a small bundle of clothes. He stepped into his pants, then knelt beside her.
“Hey, why don’t you come with me?”
LaVonda laughed. “It’s almost three o’clock in the morning.”
“It’ll be good to get some air.”
“But that convenience store is like thug central. Nothing legit happens there this time of night.”
“It’ll be fine,” he said, tugging at her arms. “Come on.”
LaVonda let herself be pulled up from the couch. In the bedroom, she dressed in a pair of baggy jeans and a dark hoodie, tightening its strings beneath her chin.
“You look like some kind of hoodlum,” Toby said.
“Good, I’ll fit right in.”
The store, on Colfax, was notorious for prostitutes plying their trade and dealers pedaling their wares. LaVonda rarely went there. Even in daylight, she was afraid she’d step on somebody’s works. “I’m not so sure this is a good idea,” she said.
Toby laughed. “It’ll be fine.” He grasped her hand and led her out of the apartment.
LaVonda could hear traffic noise from East Colfax, even at this time of night. She noticed the occasional lighted apartment, but the street itself was decidedly empty. As they walked, LaVonda threaded her arm in his. He squeezed her hand.
We actually look like a couple, she thought. But LaVonda knew they weren’t. Maybe we just needed each other.
They turned into the alley that ran alongside the store. As they neared the back of the store, Toby stopped.
“What is it?” LaVonda asked.
Smiling, Toby walked her backward until her body was pressed against the brick wall. He kissed her, his tongue deep inside her mouth, and squeezed her ass with one hand.