Jack’s hand was stiff, unresponsive. “I’m ready to leave,” he said.

Rafael’s smile faded. He looked at Jack fingering the waxed ends of his moustache. “I hope I haven’t put you in a tight place, love,” he said. “Will you think about it?”

“Certainly, I’ll think about it,” Vivi said quietly. “And thank you. It’s a beautiful offer, and you’re a wonderful friend.”

Rafael gave her an impulsive hug. “Give me your cell number. Promise me you’ll give it some serious thought. I’ll walk you out to the van.”

She pulled out her phone. “I don’t get much mobile coverage out where I live,” she told him. “I’ll give you the landline number at my shop, and at Jack’s house, too.”

They exchanged various numbers as they strolled. Rafael’s eyes grew nostalgic as they stopped at the van. He turned to Jack. “Did Viv tell you that I—”

“Yeah, she told me,” Jack said dourly. “You painted the serpent.”

Rafael’s eyes turned dreamy. “This was my best van painting. I’d be more than willing to paint the other side for you, love. How about a portrait of the two of you? Chain-mail bathing suits, shreds of fur, a flaming sword? You can be hugging his leg. I love it when the girl hugs the guy’s leg.” His gaze flicked to Jack’s muscular thigh. “Mmmm.”

“Oh, no, that’s okay,” Vivi said quickly. “I like just having the one.”

“I had such wild times in that van,” Rafael reminisced. “One night Billy and Ronnie and I got some tequila and limes and salt, and we—”

“You told me that story,” Vivi interrupted hastily.

“I painted that scene after I broke up with Ronnie,” Rafael said, wistfully. “That was my ‘man-alone-battling-his-demons’ period.”

“Yeah, that about sums up the last few years of my life, too,” Vivi said ruefully. She dug her keys out of her purse and gave Rafael a hug. “It was great to see you, Rafael. I’m happy to see you doing so well.”

“Thank you, angel. Let me know what you decide. Contact me on the astral plane, by all means, but call my cell phone, too, okay?”

“I’ll do that. Thanks.”

Jack climbed into the van and slammed his door shut. Rafael waved exuberantly as she backed out of the parking spot.

The silence was unbearable in the van. Jack sat like a graven image in the dark, not responding to her attempts to speak. They got to the toll bridge, and she scrabbled in the dark for quarters. He handed her the change. The small contact gave her courage.

She flung them into the basket. “Jack,” she began.

“Don’t start,” he said, in the cool, detached voice she had not heard for weeks. Not since before they had become lovers.

“But you have the wrong idea. Rafael is a good friend, but he talks too much, and he has no idea where my head is right now—”

“Shut up and drive, Vivi,” he said.

She closed her mouth with a snap. When she pulled into the driveway at home and killed the engine, he got out without a word and headed toward the house.

Vivi stared after him, wondering if she was still welcome in there.

Edna leaped and bounded at his heels, licking at his hand as he unlocked the front door, shoving her way in when the door opened. In any case, she had to retrieve her rambunctious dog. She walked slowly up onto the porch and stepped inside, shutting the door. It was dark inside the big room, but he had not turned on any lights, and she didn’t either. The dark made it easier.

“I don’t want Rafael’s job, if that’s what you’re thinking,” she told him. “It’s a fabulous offer, but it’s not for me.”

“That’s not how it looked.” Jack’s voice was bleak. “You looked tempted. And you should be. That job’s a road back to the career you always wanted. All your hopes and dreams and training. Do what you have to do. Don’t let me hold you back.”

She shook her head in helpless dismay. “But I have everything I need, right here! Rafael was trying to help me, but I don’t need any help! His timing just sucked, that’s all!”

“No, his timing was perfect,” Jack said. “I was starting to delude myself. I owe him for bringing me back to earth.”

That drove her right over the top. She ran over to him, and whacked at his chest with the heels of her hands. “You were not deluding yourself!” she yelled. “You were starting to trust me, and I deserve to be trusted! We have something special!” She whacked him, trying to shove him back toward the couch. “Thick-brained lug! Would you just take a goddamn chance on me?”

He trapped both her wrists in one hand. “Don’t get in a wresting match with me, Viv.”

“Why the hell not?” she shot back. “Why try to be good? What’s the point of controlling myself? Why even bother?”

“Because I’ll win.” He dragged her close and cupped her ass so she could feel his erection. “Is that what you want? I’ll give it to you like that, if it is. I’ll give it to you right now.”

They stared at each other, grim and furious. Angry as she was, he still aroused her. Her heart pounded when he tossed her onto the couch and shoved up her skirt. His fingers parted her folds, slid inside her, found her wet and yielding.

She clenched around his delving fingers. Ashamed, to make it so goddamn easy for him. It wasn’t right. She shoved at his chest, but without much strength. She was trembling, melting down.

And wondering, too, with what small measure of wit she had left, if sex might make him more mellow and receptive.

“You love it like this.” He wrenched open his belt. “I can feel it.”

“And? What if I do?” she responded, her voice shaking. “And besides. It’s not ‘it’ that I love. It’s you! Get it through your thick head!”

“Shut up, and let me work on the one thing we’ve got going for us,” he muttered, sliding the thick bulb of his cockhead up and down her slit.

“Don’t shush me, you son of a bitch—” Her protests were cut off as he kissed her. His kiss was angry and fierce, but so was she. She clawed at him, clutched him, cursed at him. Wound her fingers into his hair and kissed him as he spread her legs and nudged himself inside.

He thrust hard, driving inside all at once. It hurt, excited though she was. She cried out, and he stopped, lifting his panting mouth from hers. Staring into her shadowy eyes.

She jerked him closer with a furious yank. Ashamed to be sucked into that vortex of craving so instantly, but she was in it now, and there was nothing to do but ride it out to the end. Every plunging stroke of his cock was a licking lash of guilty delight. His hands on her breasts, his hot mouth, madly kissing her, his big body, pumping hard…yes.

She came, shuddering and wailing. He was still driving hard toward his own pleasure when she realized that he hadn’t used latex, but she couldn’t stop or even speak. Just whimper, at each wet slap of contact. His breath hissed with each jolt, gaining momentum, straining, jerking…and he flung back his head and came. And came, and came. Hot jets spurted inside her. He collapsed over her, panting.

Vivi stared up at the dark ceiling, pushed far beyond any recognizable emotion. Her fingers still wound into his hair, as if she could hold on to him. But no. He was slipping away. Receding into the distance.

And there wasn’t a goddamn thing she could do about it.

The sweat on their bodies was cool before either of them dared to move. He lifted his head, cleared his throat. “I, ah…I didn’t, um…”

“Yes,” she said. “I noticed that.”

He pulled himself out, stuffed himself back into his jeans, keeping his back turned to her. “Is it a dangerous time?” he asked.

“So-so,” she said. “I’m not too regular. Hard to say.” She got up, smoothed her skirt down. His sperm trickled hotly down her leg. “I wish I knew what you were trying to prove with this demonstration. That I’m a weak slut who can’t say no? That you’re stronger than me? What’s the message, Jack?”

“No message,” he said. “I just couldn’t stop. It’s that simple.”