Stone checked into the Hay-Adams Hotel and discovered Ann had booked his favorite suite. In addition to the usual amenities, three shopping bags were displayed in the sitting room.
One held his bathing suit and the clothes he’d left at the tailor’s, and another held several sports shirts, slacks, underwear, socks, and casual shoes.
The third held an electric razor and various assorted toiletries.
Stone put the toiletries in the bathroom and hung the pants and shirts in the closet, where he also found a sports jacket.
Ann had done her job well.
There was a knock on the door. Stone opened it, expecting to find the bellboy with some forgotten amenity.
Margo Sappington stood in the doorway. “I hope you didn’t think you were going to get away from me that easily,” she said.
“I really wasn’t trying.”
“Going to invite a girl in? Or should I stand here in the hallway?”
Stone stepped aside. Margo came in and glanced around the room.
“Nice spread. You got a girl tucked in the bedroom?”
“Not yet.”
“Oh, big talker. Suppose you’re not my type?”
“Then I’d have to wonder what you’re doing here. Would you like a drink from the minibar?”
“An outrageously priced ounce of whiskey? Who could resist?” Margo kicked her shoes off and sat on the couch.
“On the rocks?” Stone said.
“Not if you have to go looking for them.”
Stone checked the bar. Ann had gone the extra yard in making sure it was stocked with Knob Creek. He poured Margo a glass, then one for himself, and sat on the couch next to her.
Margo tossed hers off in one gulp. She set down the glass. “I think we’ve spent enough time with social graces. It’s been a long evening.” She leaned into Stone, pressed her body against his. “I believe in getting to the point.” She smiled. “In fact, I think I feel it now.” She reached her hand down to his crotch. “Oh, yes. What a lovely greeting.”
Margo stood up and stepped out of her gown. Stone rose to kiss her, cupping her breasts while she unbuttoned his shirt and unzipped his pants.
Naked, they fell onto the bed. Stone slipped his hand between her legs. She was already wet with anticipation. She climbed on top, reached down, thrust him inside her. He rose to meet her. She raised her head and arched her back, resembling nothing so much as a spectacular figurehead on a boat. It was all Stone could do to hold back and let her finish at the same time he did.
Afterward she lay across his chest, traced her finger around his nipple.
“If it’s not too much to ask,” she said, “where did you go in such a hurry?”
“It’s not too much to ask. It’s too much to answer.”
“You weren’t trying to get away from me, were you?”
“Heaven forbid.”
“Because I’m hard to shake.”
“Don’t tell me you’re a stalker.”
“Nothing like that. I saw you, and I had to have you.”
“I enjoyed myself. If you enjoyed yourself, we might get another chance.”
“Might?”
“Let me amend that,” Stone said. “I think the chance is arising now.”
The chance not only arose, it involved a variety of positions.