“I DID WHAT YOU WANTED,” she said, staring at him. “I was angry at you for getting me pregnant, but I resented myself for letting it happen. I wished you to go away, but I guess I couldn’t let go.”
“Why do we have to go through this again, Rita?” he asked.
“Because we were both responsible and handled it badly.”
“Rita, I am sorry about my reaction when I found out about everything. But that’s behind us now, I hope.”
“Yes, it is, but there is a problem,” she took an exasperated sigh, wiped a thin film of sweat on her upper lip and continued. “I’m afraid I still love you. Hell, I love you.”
“Rita, we talked about being friends. That’s what I can offer.”
“Yeah, I know that, especially after you have a romp in the sack for old times’ sake.”
“This shouldn’t have happened, and we both know it.”
“You are such a selfish bastard, as you always were. It hurt like hell when I terminated the pregnancy, knowing I had also lost you. ‘Where do I go? What do I do?’ I asked myself.”
“You’re a big girl, Rita; smart and intelligent. I am sure you will find a way.”
“You don’t seem to understand. It is LOVE, Steve. I’ve tried to move on, but I couldn’t. You always come out of the blue and get to me.”
“Please, I didn’t want this.”
“I may be that strong, miss independent, tough woman in public, but I am still a woman, a girl, deep inside, vulnerable and in need of love. To be precise, I am plain weak, weak for you, Steve.”
“What makes you think I am any stronger?”
“I don’t know,” Rita replied plaintively.
“So, this is all this meeting was about, isn’t it?”
“For Jove’s sake, I am a woman, in case you haven’t noticed, and I have needs.”
“God, Rita. Cessy is a woman too, and Jackie, and in case you haven’t realised, I’m surrounded by women. So, I know what the lot of you look like.”
“Steve, I have tried to move on, a few guys, one-offs, and nightstands. None of those men has given me a sense of permanence. God, you made me feel like a woman, and that’s what I want. I can see you in my room, in the tub, and smell you as I do my hair. Cripes, I love you, Steve.”
“I’ve a family, Rita. A wife and a daughter I love very much.”
“What’s it that Cecilia has that I don’t? Shapely legs, probably. Big tits, obvious. Tighter squeeze, I doubt. From what I know of her, which I doubt you know, I wonder what I lack. Plus, I have brains—which she doesn’t.”
Steve smirked. “That’s my wife you are lambasting,” he said, hackles beginning to rise. “And I love her so much. Will that do?”
“Yeah, and that’s what you told me for three years.”
“Look, I loved you, and I still do, differently. Cessy makes me feel safe; she’s perfect for me.”
“And you are perfect for me. You turned me into this fantasy girl I barely knew. I love that girl. That’s what I want.”
Her eyes were drooling. Wait a minute—do eyes drool? Well, Rita’s did.
She saw the look on his face and knew what was coming next. “See Steve, how weak I am?”
He trembled, and a tingling waltzed in his loins. “Please, we can stop this when we both can.”
“What now? For old times’ sake, we’ve just had this truly ecstatic lovemaking I crave. Can’t we have another round?”
“Nothing more happens. This never happened.”
“But you just cheated on this Cessy wife woman you so much love.” She saw a frisson cross his face. “Don’t worry, I won’t rat on you, but I want you, just a piece of you, on reasonable terms. I won’t ask for more or demand you leave your Cessy. Heck, I’m too proud to play second fiddle. That won’t suit me. But Steve, honest-to-God, I love you.”
“What if I don’t want to see you again? You know I am running for governorship this year.”
“Your loss,” Rita said. “And I guess Cessy knowing of this is not on your mind?”
“Cessy and I have no secrets,” he told her.
“Then that’s your problem. Go and empty your dirty little secret to her and the priest, but you just cheated on your wife.”
“Don’t you blackmail me, Rita.”
“Not in the least, sweetie. If I were, you’d have already coughed a few millions by now,” she said and gave him the wink.
She winked again, and that was all she needed to do. He pounced on her like a puma, climbed on top, and slid smoothly into her.
