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Kate threw her bag over her shoulder and followed Eddie up the dark staircase, each step creaking under their weight. Photos lined the walls, but the lighting was poor, and Kate didn’t care to look at them anyway. The smell of must grew as they climbed. She took the opportunity to reach quickly and quietly into her bag and slide the revolver into her deep jacket pocket.
This was it. No going back now, and if he felt the gun in her pocket, it was all over.
A landing with a window high above their heads broke the long climb. Eddie turned and moved up four more steps. Kate followed his silhouette, the stairwell cloaked in darkness. At the top of the stairs, Eddie flipped a switch, illuminating a landing surrounded by four doors. They stopped at one of them.
Eddie entered a bedroom and flipped another light switch to turn on a lamp placed on one of two dark wooden nightstands on either side of a queen-sized bed.
Kate followed Eddie into the room. The bed to her left was covered in a white bedspread and navy throw pillows. She grazed her hand over an old trunk at the foot of the bed. Eddie did a quick sweep of some clothes on a chair near the window, tossing them into the closet. The glow of the evening’s moon streamed through the single window, and Eddie moved to lower the navy shade.
Kate slipped out of her jacket, placing it and her bag on the trunk, making sure to hide the pocket carrying the gun. She sat on the edge of the bed and kicked off her black flats, shivering as nervous goosebumps crawled across her body.
The music from the living room drifted up the stairs and into the bedroom. Eddie walked toward her, sitting next to her on the bed. He scooted closer, leaning in, as she stared into his eyes. She too leaned in, moving slowly, testing his reaction.
He brushed her hair away from her face, as his lips met hers. She let out a slight moan, one he mistook for passion. He pressed harder, pushing her back onto the bed, their feet still hanging over the side. Kate wrapped her arms around his neck, encouraging his passion, moving her body with his, forcing him out of control.
His moans made her want to gag, but she kept going, letting his heavy hands travel around her body. He moved to the buttons on her blouse, and she let him. He moved to the button on her jeans, and she let him, helping him pull them down and off of her ankles, revealing her lean, bare legs.
She watched as he scanned her body. The chill she felt wasn’t because she wore only her unbuttoned blouse, lacy white bra and panties. It was Eddie’s eyes. They held a certain power she couldn’t place. He shook his head with a hungry smile.
“You’re more beautiful than in my dreams.”
She smiled, but it must not have been convincing, because Eddie paused, frowning. “What’s wrong, Kate?”
“Nothing. Keep going.”
“You sure?”
She glanced toward the foot of the bed at her jacket on the trunk. “Yes, I’m sure. I just ... I thought I heard something. I’m sorry. I’m a little nervous ... about this.”
“Me too.”
Kate reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, gently kissing him. She knew from his moans that he now believed her.
The gun was out of her reach, so Kate let his fondling continue. He stopped for a second, looking at her, questioning her with his eyes. She returned his look before gently pushing him down onto his back. Climbing on top of him, she straddled his waist with her long legs.
He lay back, staring up at her, and then blinked. “Whoo. Hmm.”
She stopped. “What’s wrong?” Her heart skipped as she glanced at her jacket.
Eddie put his hand across his forehead and rubbed it down his face. “Nothin’. Must be the wine. Just got a little dizzy there for a second.”
“You sure? Are you okay?” She looked closely at his eyes. He was blinking fast, a mist of perspiration beading near his hairline.
“Yeah, yeah.” His words were slowing. Slurring. “I’m fine. Is-tha-wine. I’m go-o-o-d.” He pawed at her breasts. “Kate. Kate. I’ve ... I’ve always loved you. Since that first day. You were so beautiful. I couldn’t stop thinkin’ ‘bout ya’.”
He wiped his face again and opened his eyes wide, trying to stay awake, but it was an obvious struggle. His eyes closed again.
Kate waited. Straddled on top of him, she stayed motionless, her hands on his bare chest, cringing at the touch of his wiry gray and black curls. Eddie’s breathing slowed, deep and steady.
She moved a little and he opened his eyes, smiling up at her through the waves of her long, chestnut hair. “You’re so-o-o beautiful.”
She smiled at him and waited, afraid to move, as she eyed her jacket pocket.
After a few more minutes, his breathing steadied. Eddie was still. Relaxed. Kate gingerly climbed off of him, hurrying to her jeans, as her unbuttoned blouse whipped around her. She pulled them on, zipping and buttoning them and then fumbled around for her jacket pocket, feeling for the gun.
As she pulled it out, she heard rustling from the bed. She turned just as Eddie’s fist came flush across her face. Pain exploded across her cheek and jaw. She fell to the floor, darkness closing in around her.
