Twelve Nights

by Remy, Carole

  “I noticed you liked it,” she commented.

  The man smiled and the glow came back into his eyes. She had said the right thing.

  “I like you, Aggie,” he said and Angela believed him. “We’re going to do this right.”

  Angela closed her eyes and leaned into his chest. Remorse swept through her. It should be Aggie here with this man. She knew that down to her bones. She resolved that however she had to, she would persuade Aggie to take her place the next night, and that for tonight, whatever they did, she wouldn’t let him come inside her. She didn’t want to live for the rest of her life knowing she’d screwed Aggie’s man.

  They stepped out of the elevator into the most unusual apartment Angela had ever seen. Apparently, the entire floor was given to the one suite. The apartment had its own circular lobby floored in gray marble banded in black concentric circles. The ceiling was… Angela struggled for an adequate description. The ceiling was weird. Sculpted in ever narrowing circles as it rose, it culminated in a round skylight. Angela could hear the light patter of rain.

  “Wow,” she commented.

  “Do you like it?” Jimmy asked. “Everybody said I was crazy.”

  What would Aggie think of the bizarre entrance? Angela thought it would appeal to her sense of humor. She would love it.

  “I love it,” she smiled. “It tells me you have a sense of fun.”

  “And no taste,” Jimmy laughed. The sound boomed out from his chest and while startling, was comforting in its naturalness.

  “Show me the rest of the apartment,” Angela invited.

  Jimmy took her on a tour. The living room directly ahead was a semi-circle filled with circular furniture. Angela shook her head and chuckled. The dining room was another semi-circle with a circular table. Floor to ceiling windows provided what in daylight should be a spectacular view of English Bay. To the left of the dining room was another windowed room, this one with a glass dome for a ceiling. Inside was a circular, of course, pool, with a banked running track around the edge. Angela wondered what Freud would make of all the circles. A nesting impulse, perhaps?

  Jimmy led her back across the central lobby toward a room to the right of the elevator. The bedroom? Angela’s knees wobbled and Jimmy put his hand under her elbow. No, she saw with relief; he was taking her into a library. The room was rectangular and glowed golden from subdued lighting over the carved oak bookshelves. Angela knew her mating instincts were correct when she saw the rows and rows of books. This was a serious library, and this man was made for her sister. He had more books in here, lovingly displayed, than Aggie had in her branch of the Cincinnati public library.

  “Have you read all these books?” she asked, awed.

  “Most,” Jimmy shrugged. “So, Madame Librarian, do you approve of my library?”

  “It’s wonderful!” Angela didn’t have to feign her enthusiasm. Her eyes locked onto a tall shelf loaded with thick volumes. She walked over and selected a volume.

  “Modigliani,” she breathed reverently.

  “You like art?”

  “I majored,” Angela stopped herself. “I would have majored in art history if I could have.”

  “Why didn’t you?”

  “No jobs.”

  “I’m a collector,” Jimmy commented. “This is just a small portion of my collection.”

  “You need a librarian,” Angela commented, forgetting that that was exactly what she was supposed to be. The comment sounded self-serving, though she’d meant it to be offhand.

  “Exactly,” Jimmy smiled. He must think she was flirting. As far as she knew, Aggie didn’t flirt, but Jimmy didn’t seem surprised. Then he changed the subject. “Are you hungry?”

  Angela hadn’t had time to eat in her rush to get ready.

  “I’m starved.”

  “Good. I had dinner delivered from one of my favorite restaurants.”

  They walked through a small door in the side wall of the library and ended up in a shiny modern kitchen. No circles here, except for the pots and pans hanging from the ceiling rack.

  “Shall we eat in here?” Jimmy asked.

  “Please,” Angela smiled. The room was much cozier than the more formal dining room. “Shall I set the table?”

  Jimmy motioned toward a tall hutch. Inside Angela found everything she needed, earthenware plates, tall crystal glasses for water and wine, gleaming silver cutlery and soft linen napkins. She set two places on the small round oak table tucked into a bay window. Meanwhile, Jimmy pulled dishes from the oven. The smells wafted from beneath the covers and Angela’s stomach rumbled.

  “I hope you like Hungarian,” Jimmy commented as he lifted the lid from a ceramic casserole.

  Aggie was the more adventurous eater of the two twins, but Angela agree readily that Hungarian was fine. The food smelled delicious. Moments later, she found it tasted as good as it smelled. Angela relaxed as they ate. The hot food and Jimmy’s calm demeanor combined to ease her anxiety back into a forgotten corner of her mind. They talked of many things, travel, art, books. At first Angela tried to be Aggie, but soon she was caught up in their conversation and answering as herself. She noticed that Jimmy’s eyes grew sharper as they talked, but decided that his alertness wasn’t suspicion. He was as involved in the discussion as she was. Aggie was right; he was nice. Too nice to fuck the wrong twin.

  Eventually Angela was too full to eat another bite. Always on tricks before, she had been careful not to eat even if offered a meal. A full stomach didn’t help with the sex later. She wondered why she hadn’t remembered her rule tonight. Because the evening had none of the earmarks of prostitution. But the final expectation would be the same. Hungarian spices rose back up her throat. How could she avoid the inevitable?

  She and Jimmy rose in silence and placed the dishes in the sink. Then he turned to her and took her hand.

  “Shall I show you the bedroom?” His voice was husky.

  “Yes,” Angela breathed.

  They walked back through the lobby and toward a closed door.

  “Can I go to the bathroom first?” Angela asked.

  “Of course,” Jimmy smiled. He pointed toward a smaller door to the right of the bedroom entrance.

  Angela smiled through her desperation as she entered the room. A perfect circle, the bathroom held a circular tub beneath a circular skylight. The urge to throw up receded as she calmed. She would just tell him, she decided. She would tell him it was too soon. She would say that they’d make love tomorrow night and then she’d convince Aggie to come. By the time Angela had relieved herself and splashed some cold water on her face, she felt better. The man liked Aggie; the plan would work. In half an hour, she’d be back at the hotel with her sister.

  Angela didn’t see Jimmy when she exited the bathroom. She found him in the library, looking at the Modigliani book she had selected.

  “I never really appreciated him before,” he commented. “Now I feel I see him through your eyes.”

  Angela’s smile wavered. He really was a nice man, just as Aggie had said. She had to get herself out of this apartment and get Aggie back in her place.

  “Shall we go into the bedroom?” Jimmy asked.

  “I don’t,” Angela began then didn’t know what to say. If she refused outright, he might call off the contract and then Aggie wouldn’t be able to come tomorrow night. Angela felt the floorboards narrow to a tightrope beneath her feet. She turned and walked ahead of Jimmy out of the room. He held open the door to the bedroom and waited for her to enter. Angela stepped across the threshold.

  “It’s nice.” The words sounded strangled, but the setting really was beautiful. The room was a huge bay, with glass on 270 degrees of wall. The ceiling was a round skylight with a retracting dome half pulled back. Muted rain made a natural background music. A round bed sat directly beneath the skylight. Angela listened to the click of her heels as she walked across the pale hardwood floor. “It’s like a nest.”

  Jimmy smiled. “I always wanted a tre
e house.”

  “I like it, Jimmy,” Angela began. “I really like it, but I’m not ready. This is all new to me.”

  The lie lodged in Angela’s throat. She looked at Jimmy pleadingly. The situation might not be new, but her reluctance was solid gold genuine.

  “Let me see your body, Aggie,” Jimmy asked. “I’ve waited all day.”

  “I can’t…”

  “Just let me look. I won’t do anything you don’t want.”

  Angela found she trusted him. She stared at the floor to hide the next lie.

  “I’ve never stripped in front of someone before.”

  “You’re beautiful, Aggie. Let me look at you.”

  Angela couldn’t resist Jimmy’s soft words. After all, he could see her in a bikini. This wasn’t much more. Her eyes still on the floor, she began to remove her clothing. She moved without artifice, made no effort to be alluring. When she reached her underwear, she turned away from Jimmy toward the bed. Warm hands touched her back and unhooked her bra. She slid the black lace from her shoulders. Her fingers trembled as she slid the flimsy silk of her panties down her thighs and to the floor. She straightened with her back still to Jimmy.

  “Turn around,” he commanded.

  Slowly she turned, keeping her eyes downcast. His finger touched her chin and raised her head. She looked up into his eyes. She saw appreciation there, but not the glow of warmth that had lit them before. Jimmy ran his hand down her shoulder and goosebumps followed in his wake. He touched the side of her breast and the nipple rose autonomously.

  “Please, Jimmy,” Angela begged. “I’m not ready.”

  “Ready for what?”

  “Ready to make love.”

  “Your body is ready,” Jimmy commented. His hand was on her hip now.

  “My mind isn’t ready. My heart isn’t ready,” Angela pleaded. “Can we just lie down together, but not do anything? Just for one night.”

  “You’re asking for the moon, Aggie.” Jimmy’s hand stroked up and down her side and his eyes never left hers.

  “I know,” she whispered.

  “What if I cancel the contract?”

  Tears pooled in Angela’s eyes. She needed the money desperately. The money was her ticket to a life. But she couldn’t make love with this man. She lowered her gaze from his.

  “All right,” she agreed into the floor.

  Jimmy’s hand returned to her chin and lifted her face to his. He planted a swift hard closed-mouth kiss on Angela’s lips.

  “You drive a hard bargain,” he commented. “All right. For one night, we’ll lie together naked, no more.”

  Angela was trembling too hard to continue standing. She sank onto the bed as Jimmy removed his clothes. His body was all right but not spectacular. She noted without arousal that his semi-erect cock was a nice size, though again not spectacular. What caught her attention were his balls. Now, they were spectacular. They hung full and loose against his upper thighs. Those balls could produce an army of children. And Aggie loved children, Angela thought with satisfaction. She smiled.

  “You like it?” Jimmy asked. He strutted his nude male body back and forth in front of the bed.

  “You have a very nice body,” Angela agreed. He reminded her of a bantam rooster.

  “You sure you don’t want…?”

  “Not tonight,” Angela demurred. She stood and turned back toward the bed. When she bent down to open the covers, Jimmy groaned.

  “That ass.” He groaned again.

  Angela laughed. “It’ll be the same ass tomorrow night.”

  But it wouldn’t, Angela thought as she slipped between the sheets. No matter what she had to do, she would persuade Aggie to take her place tomorrow night. Jimmy slid his solid warmth into the other side of the bed. He snugged himself in behind her body spoon-wise, one hand draped over her waist and up her chest. She eased his fingers from her breast.

  “Tomorrow,” she promised.

  Chapter 13

  Aggie turned over in the bed and looked at her watch. It was six o’clock. She heard the door to the apartment open. What? Angela should have come back hours before. The evening either went very well or very badly.

  “Angela,” she called.

  Her sister walked into the bedroom. She looked well-rested for the aftermath of a night of debauchery. Aggie smothered the flicker of jealousy that flared briefly in her chest.

  “How did it go?” Aggie asked.

  “Fine,” her twin answered with a smug smile. “I bought us some bagels for breakfast. Let me heat them up and then I’ll tell you all about it.”

  Aggie trailed her sister into the kitchen. Angela started a pot of coffee then sliced a bagel and put it in the toaster. She slathered the hot pastry with butter and offered half to her sister.

  “Ugh,” Aggie pushed the bagel away. “Too much butter. So, tell me what happened.”

  “Nothing.”

  “What? Did he call the deal off?”

  “Nope,” Angela answered around a mouthful of dripping bagel. “He really likes you, you know.”

  “Me?” Aggie asked as warmth stole into her belly.

  Angela nodded and swallowed.

  “I told him I wasn’t ready for sex last night,” she commented offhand then grinned. “And he bought it.”

  “He what?” Aggie protested. “He almost jumped me in the restaurant yesterday. Are you telling me he didn’t want to do anything?”

  “Oh, he wanted to. But we just slept naked in bed together. He has a really hot body.”

  “Jimmy?”

  “Not hot like sexy. I mean physically hot. He’s like a furnace.”

  “Oh.” Aggie digested the information. She found she wasn’t thrilled that Angela had slept naked with Jimmy. She had known what to expect; sleeping naked was much milder, though almost more intimate. Why should it upset her? Because she was attracted to him herself, she realized. She wanted to be the one snuggled up next to his furnace.

  “I want you to go in my place tonight,” Angela said.

  If she had expected opposition, she wasn’t going to get it.

  “Okay,” Aggie agreed immediately.

  “What?” Angela sputtered. “I thought I’d have to wrestle you out the door.”

  “No,” Aggie smiled. “You’re right. I like him. You can keep the money. I just want the man.”

  Eleven nights. Eleven nights of blissful sex with an adorable, intelligent man. A man with a sense of humor. Aggie felt herself dampen down below. Aggie was sure that Jimmy was a man who enjoyed sex, a man with a voracious appetite. Her crotch grew warm as the dampness spread. Would he want to do forbidden things? Aggie refused to name them even to herself. As she had admitted to the lawyer, she was curious about certain sexual practices. With Jimmy, she could see herself trying even …

  “Wait till you see his library,” Angela gushed. “You’ll go nuts. It’s bigger than yours in Cincinnati. Just don’t go too ape-shit. Remember, you supposedly saw it last night.”

  Aggie pumped her twin for every detail of the apartment, their dinner, Jimmy’s words and actions and her responses. By the time her twin wound down, Aggie had regained control of her fantasies. Jimmy had bought a woman for sex. She couldn’t lose sight of the cold-bloodedness of the transaction. Even if she did feel attracted to the man. She pushed the reality aside.

  “We talked about books at lunch,” Aggie commented. “He said he was a collector.”

  “You didn’t warn me. I could have said something when I walked into the library. Oh, well.”

  Angela seemed remarkably light-hearted this morning. And why shouldn’t she be. She was going to get a hundred twenty thousand dollars for sleeping peacefully for eleven nights. Aggie felt a rumble of panic.

  “If he wants to do anything I don’t like, you’re going back,” she warned.

  “He won’t,” Angela smiled. After all, Aggie mused cynically, it wasn’t her problem now. Her sister continued. “You were right. He’s sweet.”


  Aggie drifted again into a wanton fantasy.

  At that moment a few hundred yards away, the man of her dreams didn’t sound sweet to his lawyer.

  “She’s a fraud!” he thundered.

  Jimmy’s hard-on hadn’t gone down since he woke up alone in his bed. Frustration pounded in his cock and the rhythm thundered through his head. He could read both sympathy and I-told-you-so in Richard’s eyes. He dared him wordlessly to speak. The lawyer sat blandly still.

  “Something happened between lunch and six o’clock.” Jimmy’s voice was calmer. “I want you to find out what.”

  “How?” Richard asked.

  It was a reasonable question, Jimmy admitted to himself. How could anyone understand what went on in a woman’s mind? Especially a breathtaking taller-than-he-was nymph with gray eyes who somehow talked him out of a night of incredible sex. Jimmy breathed deeply to calm himself down. He only half succeeded.

  “Hire a detective,” he blustered. “Nose around the Vancouver Hotel. See if she got any messages, made phone calls, met anyone.”

  “She’s noticeable,” Richard agreed. “Someone may remember seeing something.”

  “She’s a tall auburn-haired witch, that’s what she is,” Jimmy complained. “She bewitched me at lunch.”

  “Then by evening, the spell had worn off,” commented the lawyer.

  “Yes,” Jimmy growled. “I’d swear it wasn’t the same woman. She looked the same, talked the same, even laughed the same. Something must have happened.”

  “I’ll try to find out,” Richard agreed.

  Five hours later the two men met back in Jimmy’s office.

  “What do you know?” Jimmy grumbled. Though his erection had finally subsided, his mood had not improved with the passing hours.

  “She’s keeping a low profile,” Richard began. “One of the desk men remembers her signing in on Saturday. He saw her again in the lobby last night at about 5:45. He doesn’t think she was in the lobby any other time when he was on duty. He assured the detective he would have noticed her. I think he was keeping a watch; he seemed attracted to her.”