Roger Grayson - The Two-Way Mirror

Jeff plodded toward his hardening eggs. "The

playroom," he said automatically.

"Of course," Toni replied "It could have been

the master toilet… but the playroom sounds exciting. So… what time this afternoon, darling?"

"Two o'clock… what the devil are you getting at, anyway?" he snapped at her.

Toni laughed, but it was a humorless effort. She said: "Mid afternoon, darling… It stands to reason, doesn't it? After all, she can't have you there when little old Nat is there. It's got to be prime time…"

Jeff slapped her on the bottom. "She's a fine woman," he said. "A great actress. You remember Pygmalion?"

Toni stared at him. Her backside stung from his blow. She licked at her lips. "How would you like the eggs I'm going to cook, Mr. Pygmalion?" she said.

Jeff grinned. "Sunnyside," he said. "Okay?"

"Sure… why not," Toni replied. "They're your lousy eggs."

It was after five and Karen felt pleased with herself. She had worked most of the day, although, she decided, a goodly portion would have to be re-written… and then the phone rang.

"Hello."

"Karen, pet…?"

"Yes…"

"I've read it… oh, this is Claudia, darling, Claudia Gray…?"

"I know… I know."

"I'm impressed, pet… impressed. I think we better talk."

"Certainly… where?" Karen said.

"My place… yes, my place would be good. Look, dear, why don't you have dinner with me?" the contained husky feminine voice suggested. "I'm at the Dallas Arms on Wilshire. Seven-thirty?"

"Y-Yes… yes, of course, Miss Gray… seven-thirty."

Karen leaped from her chair and did a little pirouette to her own satisfaction. Claudia Gray had read it, was enthused enough to invite her to discuss its prospects. Well, at least, she wouldn't have to worry about fighting off some sex-demented male. Thank God, she was dealing with a woman… What she needed was another drink…

It was typical of Jeff to make instantaneous decisions, and enroute to the Brendell apartment, he made one. He was putting an end to this arrangement with Toni before it grew into an "affaire de coeur". It was out of hand already, well beyond the mutual arrangement stage and into the possessive development… and he had just discovered that he was as guilty as she. Nothing could come of it because he would never let it; so, it was silly and unfair to both of them to let it continue. Regardless of what happened in the next few hours at the Brendells, he would move out tonight… take a hotel room or something for a few days, until he could find a place and move his things.

He couldn't forget the way Muriel Brendell had sounded over the telephone… that smoky, seductive voice of hers, dripping sex while she talked about a playroom… or some such nonsense. It was almost impossible for him to believe… that the beautiful and talented, filthy-rich Muriel Standard was giving him the come-on signals, but it had been written all over her yesterday… and this morning in her voice when she'd called. Nevertheless, he was not about to blow the possibility of landing a seven-hundred-thousand-dollar contract for a romp in the sheets. If he did stand a chance of getting the deal, which he was still reluctant to believe, one sure way of destroying it would be to have Nathan Brendell suspect him of carrying on with his lovely wife.

In essence, he decided, he would just have to play it cool… real cool… leave the whole performance to her and watch it develop. After all, she was the skilled performer, not him. He smiled to himself as he pulled out of the main stream of traffic and parked before the luxurious apartment building. Mine is lust a minor supporting role, he thought.

He was feeling pretty much in command of himself when he rang the buzzer, but when she opened the door attired in the tiniest wisp of green bikinis his prepared composure seemed to disintegrate, and he could do nothing but stare at the nine-tenths of her exposed, well-rounded loveliness, his eyes immediately engorging themselves upon the smooth, slightly-tanned, satin-like skin that coated her lush, soft, yet firm, contours.

"Darling," she greeted him, smiling warmly. "I was just about to slip into something when you rang. I've been taking a sunbath on the deck. I must've dozed… didn't realize it was so late…"

Then, she moved in close to him, her whole voluptuous length of pulchritude pressing tightly and hotly into him, her erect pointed breasts flattening against his lower chest as her arms snaked around his neck and her belly and pelvis ground snugly to him.

Amazed, Jeff could neither breathe nor speak. Automatically, his hands closed on the velvety, smooth flesh at the small of her back and he felt the muscles ripple lightly as a little tremor passed over her and her warm, moist lips planted themselves openly upon his own.

Eventually she said: "Isn't that just about where we left off yesterday, lover?"

Jeff raised his head, half sighing, half gasping, but still holding her. "I-I… ah… don't recollect

much of anything… right at the moment," he managed, feeling his penis beginning to stir responsively to her pelvis and thighs that had begun a hardly perceptive undulating motion against him.

She tittered lightly, kissed him on the nose and backed out of his arms. "You are a dear," she said matter-of-factly. "I think we're going to get on famously… but first, to business, eh? Come, sit down and I'll mix us a couple of drinks to chat over." She started off and he gaped after her, his brain fast intoxicating itself on the lithe suppleness of her magnificent body, enhanced now by her practiced walk in the inch or so of heel on the golden sandals she wore. He could feel his prick moving into a state of embarrassing rigidness, and when she looked back over her shoulder he saw that her eyes locked on it in amused delight. "Problems, darling?" she teased.

Jeff sensed his face flushing slightly. He cleared his throat. "Wh-Where is Mr. Brendell?" he heard himself question.

She had paused and was holding out her hand for him. He moved up to her and she caught hold of him, leading him into the luxurious living room. "Working, lover… like any good breadwinner should, "she replied, leading hint to a chair. "Now, you sit here while I mix." She went behind the bar and began. "First, darling, an especially designed playroom is of extreme importance to both Nat and me. It must be on the second floor in the rear overlooking the pool with an outside entrance to the poolside. There will be considerable electronic equipment involved, with TV screens in each of the surrounding bedrooms, the master-control panel to be in the playroom. We will also want a small movie projection room. Nat roughed out some plans last night that I will give you before you leave… which will be quite a while from now."

He watched her move gracefully around the bar toward him, carrying a drink in either hand, her sensuously delightful body completely captivating him. He struggled to keep his wits, accepted the drink and watched her curl into a chair facing him, her long shapely legs folded beneath her. She was smiling faintly.

Jeff shook his head. He had refused to allow himself to believe yet what she had been so obviously implying without coming right out and saying it… that he was going to build their house. He said: "I-I'm afraid you're moving a bit too fast for me Mrs. Brendell…"

"Oh, darling… call me Muriel, please…" She tilted her head cutely, her dark eyes dancing for him. "I was certain we had at least passed beyond that point." She leaned forward slightly, presenting him with a spectacular view of her ample cleavage. "Tell me, how much does building this house mean to you?"

"A very great deal… everything right now, as a matter of fact," he said, afraid any moment that he would awaken to find it all a dream.