Axis of Aaron by Johnny B. Truant & Sean Platt

Author:Johnny B. Truant & Sean Platt
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sterling

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Underdressed

“I FEEL UNDERDRESSED,” SAID EBON.

VICKY was across from him at the small but still elegantly oblong metal-and-glass table. She was the picture of perfection, her bright-red hair pinned high, her skin smooth and polished, her makeup the perfect balance of natural and ornamentation, making the best of what was already amazing without causing her to look like a doll. The floral dress (lots of reds and yellows, laced with little flowers that Ebon thought might be buttercups) was pretty and springlike while still managing to fit in Vicky’s formal dining room, in the year’s much cooler final months.

Ebon, on the other hand, was wearing a soft black robe. She’d understated his lateness; whatever appointment they’d apparently had was barely overdue. There had been time to bathe, but no clothes to change into afterward. His legs were bare, and, because he hadn’t been able to scrounge underwear, he felt like his genitals were on display. Not that he had to hide them from his present company.

“You look cute,” she said.

“You look like you’re ready to go out.”

“That’s just how I am. You know that.”

Yes, he did seem to know that. Vicky’s weekend house was on a cottage-dotted island, and she didn’t have a maid, yet every surface was immaculate and free of dust. She still had the bowls of lemons and bright-red apples he remembered from sometime in the past. Ebon wondered how long lemons and apples lasted when used as decoration, and if Vicky drank or made lemonade with the remainders before replacing them. Seemed a waste to simply pitch them.

“Well, you’re making me feel uncomfortable.” It wasn’t really true. Ebon felt more comfortable right now than he had in … well, in forever. It was a strange sensation. He felt drawn toward Vicky’s abundant cleavage sufficient to pitch an obvious tent in his robe-wearing state, and yet an even larger sensation was that Vicky, with all her finery and modern décor, was here to protect him. Down the shore, Aimee might have gone on some sort of crazed improvement bender, adding a wing to Richard’s old cottage — but if the idea of it bothered Ebon, he could tell Vicky, could ask her to hold him, could nuzzle up to her even in a nonsexual way while she made everything better.

“Should I put on a robe?” she asked.

“Or you could dine nude.”

She laughed and took a sip from her chardonnay. Ebon was drinking pinot noir. For a man who usually told people he barely drank, he had been making plenty of exceptions.

“I was serious.”

“Oh, I know.” Another sip. Then she reached for a large bowl. “More veal?”

“I’m good.” Ebon turned to his plate, stabbed a piece of tender meat, brought it to his mouth, then closed his eyes and rocked his head back. He was floored by the taste even though he’d had a dozen bites already and was savoring a confirmation of memory. He looked out the window — the same wall of glass that extended into the adjacent bedroom.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.