By Rachel Torrent

Julie didn’t go into work Friday morning because she honestly didn’t feel like it. She was having a bad “time of the month” with cramps, heavy bleeding, and back pain. And the mood swings were giving her fits too. Besides, Alex could handle things at Renaissance. If a problem came up, he would call her.

Her “woman thing” wasn’t usually this bothersome. The previous two she’d had while being with Roger had gone along so smoothly that he’d been unaware they were happening at all. Unless, or course, he had known and just didn’t mention it to her. And that was entirely possible.

Last night’s plan had been for her to spend the night with him at the loft. They enjoyed sitting in bed and watching “ER” together. But since she was feeling poorly, she told him after dinner that she had some kind of “bug” and wanted to just go home and sleep.

“You can stay here and sleep. I won’t maul you if you don’t feel like it,” he had answered.

“Thanks, honey. You’re so considerate. But if it’s contagious, I don’t want you to catch it.” For some reason she couldn’t pinpoint, she didn’t want to reveal to him yet that she sometimes suffered “female problems.”

“Well, okay then. If you don’t wanna sleep with me……..”

“C’mon, Roger. You know I wanna sleep with you. And only you. But I might be getting the flu.” It thrilled her to know he wanted her around.

“Yeah. Yeah. I’ll drive ya home then. Can I at least do that?”

“What about my car?” She had left it at the restaurant when he’d picked her up today.

“Give me your spare set of keys, and I’ll take care of it.” He gave her a smile, and she had no doubt that he would take of it. She was becoming pleasantly accustomed to him taking care of her.

But, so she wouldn’t bite his head off in a momentary PMS tantrum, she had spent Thursday night in her own bed, without him. Her pain medication had put her to sleep quickly. But Friday morning had brought little relief. Roger called early to check on her.

“Better today, sweets?”

“Eh, not really. I just called the restaurant to say I’m not working lunch………….And thanks for getting the car over here. How’d you manage that?”

“Jack French. I was gonna get that queer waiter you like so much…..Ian, I think is his name……to drive it home. But Jack was in the bar throwing darts and talking trash about how he’s the expert at it and all. So I hadda whip his ass. Ended up staying there ‘til one o’clock,” Roger told her.

Julie smiled to herself. “You and Jack. What a sight that musta been.” Even with her period hurting her, this mental image created fire in her loins.

“Ya know Jack?” Roger was still learning all her social habits and acquaintances.

“Sure, I know Jack. He hangs out at the restaurant a lot,” she said.

“So…….wanna come over to the Snake Pit late this afternoon? I gotta take care of some inventory shit most of the day, and Scottie’s coming by tonight. I thought we could just hang out there if it’s okay with you.” She liked being at the Snake Pit. She was the honorary queen around there.

“Okay. We can get some dinner there too.”

Julie had hoped to feel much better by late afternoon. But no such luck. She went to the Snake Pit anyway, though. And seeing Roger again did lovely wonders for her soul at least. He was, of course, decked out completely in black and seemed to be in a very animated and affectionate mood. He touched her more than usual.

They ate dinner in his well-furnished office upstairs, the master’s chambers. Then they sat at the bar and talked to Jake, the very personable bartender.

Scottie arrived a little later, also in an animated mood. He and Roger couldn’t be called “bosom buddies” yet, but they were getting along far better than before Scottie’s separation from Sahndra. Said separation Scottie did not mention, even when he threw Sahndra’s name out in casual conversation. And no one mentioned Earl Ray. When Roger went over to a table to speak to Ben Farlow, Julie turned to Scottie.

“So……how’ve ya been, Scottie?” she asked him.

“Ohhhhhhh, I’m making it. I had a decorator come in and furnish the penthouse, and I’m getting ready to trade the Porsche in on a new model………Gotta move along!” He looked up and winked at her.

“Have ya seen Sahndra?”

“Aw, Jules, now I KNOW you know all the details……….about last weekend………Don’t try to bullshit me.” Scottie smiled.

“Well? Did it help you to ‘move along,’ as you say?”

“I did that for her. She asked me to……….But as for me?………….I think I’m better off when I don’t see her. ‘Outta sight, outta mind,’ ya know? Besides, she’s got Earl Ray Michaels. And YOU know what a fabulous diversion HE must be.”

“Scottie, don’t do that. They’re doing great together. And they both have a right to be happy. Don’t ya think?”

Scottie looked down at his drink. “Yeah……..and I’m the one responsible for Sahndra not being happy all those years.” He sounded a little sad to Julie, but still had sarcasm in his tone.

“She wasn’t dissatisfied with you. She was as happy as she could be. But after a while, it just wasn’t enough. Is that the way you see it?” She cared about how Scottie felt, even though he was no longer with her best friend.

“Yes, Jules. I got it. And I don’t think I could ever change into what WOULD make her happy. I just hope SHE sees it that way. I don’t want her waiting around for me to go to the personality salon and get a complete makeover.”

“She’s doing her best, Scottie. She wants to move on. And I want to see both of you okay again. All three of you, for that matter,” Julie said.

“Looks like YOU’RE doing okay.” He motioned his head towards where Roger was standing. “You two look good together. It feels right.”

“I’m madly in love with him, Scottie. He’s everything I’ve ever wanted.”

“It shows. You did the right thing……………and I think Sahndra did too.”

“Ya want me to tell her that you need some distance? She worries about you,” Julie said.

“Distance would be best for me………. I think for her too.” He looked in her eyes. “But you’ll tell her she can call me if she needs anything? Anything HE can’t give her?”

“She knows that, Scottie.”

Roger was back at Julie’s side then, putting his arm around her. “This one’s mine, LaMont.”

“Everybody knows that, man.” Scottie drained his glass. “They’re afraid of her just BECAUSE of that.”

“All right then. Let’s see whatcha got at the pool table, hot shot.”

The three of them went over to the pool tables. Roger got Julie a comfortable chair to sit in. She looked for Jack to come in, but he didn’t show. And there was no one else in the place she knew. So she just watched Scottie and Roger and their macho antics.

After about another hour, Julie reached her tolerance level. The bar was smoky and noisy. The music was loud. And Roger and Scottie were thoroughly into their game of pool. She didn’t want to be there. But she knew Roger needed (and wanted) to stay. So she told him she felt ill again and wanted to go home to bed.

“Lemme just give Jake some instructions, and we’ll leave,” he told her with a tiny wink.

“No, Roger. You stay. You’re having fun, and I wouldn’t be good company tonight anyway.”

“That translates into ‘You ain’t getting any tonight,’ man,” Scottie said dryly.

“Shut the fuck up, Scottie,” Julie said.

Roger tried to protest more, but she insisted until he agreed to stay. She even convinced him to let her drive herself home. At home, she took more pain killers and went to sleep.

A little after midnight, she was awakened by Roger getting into bed with her. She hadn’t been expecting him, but she was overjoyed to feel him next to her.

“Hey, baby. Howya feel?” he whispered when she turned over into his waiting arms.

“Wonderful now.” She snuggled against him. “You didn’t have to come over here.”

“But I wanted to. I’m getting used to sleeping with you. I kinda miss you when you’re not around.” He still whispered and held her. She felt even better.

Julie felt his growing hardness against her abdomen. “I don’t like being away from you either…….but, Roger…..”

“What?”

“Nothing.” She couldn’t go into it.

“Are you pregnant?”

Julie was stunned with this blatant question. She wished she could see his face. What would he WANT her answer to be? “Am I pregnant? Why do ya ask that?”

They had never discussed having children. He ran his fingertips down her spine, making her tingle. “Well………you’ve been sick and irritable for days. Aren’t those signs?” His voice was quiet and soothing. Not accusing.

She couldn’t handle the darkness. She sat up and turned on her lamp. Looking at his face, she said, “What if I am?”

His turn to be surprised. “Whadaya mean?”

“If I am pregnant, Roger, would that repel you? Would you back off?”

He understood then and smiled. A beautiful, slow-dawning smile. “Julie, sweetheart, you really DO think I’m a monster, don’tcha?………..You getting preggers wouldn’t repel me…….I love you…….If a kid comes along, then a kid comes along. No big deal……We’ll deal with it……..Worse things could happen.” He wrinkled his nose, for a half second.

Julie let out a deep breath she’d been holding. “Ya mean that, Roger? Really?”

“Ya do the crime, ya gotta do the time!” He raised his eyebrows.

Julie was stung, hurt. “Fuck you. And thanks for being so kind and sentimental, you asshole.”

He put his hand on the inside of her thigh and laughed. “Ah, baby, I’m just teasing ya. C’mon back over here.”

Julie turned off the lamp and went back to him, back into his arms. He pulled her closer.

“So……ya got a bun in the oven or what?” He kissed the top of her head.

“No, Roger. No bun in the oven. But if I did, I can see you’d be so very comforting.”

“I’m sorry,” he said.

“I just have my period, and it’s been a bad one. I shoulda told ya.”

“That’s okay.”

“And I don’t feel like having sex, Roger. Not tonight. I’m sorry, honey.”

Roger did that fingertips-on-her-spine thing again. “You think I came over here just to fuck you?”

“Well, I felt your—”

“Stop it. We got time for that later. Just relax and go back to sleep.” He kissed her head again.

“I love you, Roger. You’re too good to me.”

“I gotta do something to make you wanna keep me.”

“Yeah. I have lots of trouble making myself want to keep you, Roger.”

They slept against each other the rest of the night. On Saturday morning, Julie woke up beside him and felt like a new person. Refreshed and happy again, and so glad he was there.

She kissed his face and neck until he woke up. Then, without saying anything to him, she kissed and licked her way down his chest, stomach, and abdomen to get to his crotch. He tasted salty and delicious, and he caressed her hair as she made her descent.

When her hungry mouth finally got to his hardening penis, she put her lips around the head and went down on him, sucking tightly. He dug his head backwards into the pillow and groaned. He was rock- hard instantly, and it only took a few minutes of her warm, wet mouth on him for him to explode, saying, “Damn!” She sucked all the juices she could get out of him and then eased her mouth off him.

Coming back up to face level with him and licking her lips, Julie said, “Good morning.” She smiled slyly.

“You’ll pay for that,” he said. His brow was sweating.

“I can hardly wait.”

After breakfast, they went to the loft for the day. Roger wanted to work out, and Julie wanted to cook shrimp Creole for dinner. He had promised her a quiet, restful evening at home – far from the madding crowd.

“And Sahndra’s coming over this afternoon for that bike ride you promised her,” Julie reminded him.

Roger rolled his eyes. “What do I look like? A damn carnival?”

“Roger, don’t give me that shit. You know you like to talk that Harley stuff with her.”

“Yeah. Yeah. Where does she wanna go?”

“Anywhere except by the Army/Navy store.” Julie smiled at him.

“Then that’s where we’re going first.”

“Roger, don’t be a pain in the ass.”

They weren’t sure what time Sahndra was coming over. So Roger was downstairs with his weights when she arrived. She and Julie chatted about Earl Ray and Scottie for a while. Julie told her what Scottie had said the night before.

Sahndra seemed sad, confused. “Well……..I guess I’ll give him distance then……….if that’s what he wants.”

Sahndra and Earl Ray had been getting along famously since the weekend before when she had tried to get Scottie out of her system permanently by sleeping with him once more. Earl Ray had gotten pissed off then, and he and Sahndra and had their first fight. But all was back on track and running smoothly again. Sahndra said that Earl Ray was spending almost all of his nights at her house. Julie was truly happy for both of them.

Then Roger came upstairs and blew all other thoughts out of their heads.

He had been working out in his sweatpants and a sweatshirt that no longer had any arms on it. The strenuous activity had caused him to sweat profusely, and he was practically soaking wet, including his blonde hair which had begun to form wet curls in front. He used a towel to dry his neck off and hadn’t acknowledged them yet. Then he realized they had stopped talking and were gawking at him.

He looked at both of them, questioningly. “What?”

“Roger, I’ve never seen you look so………um……..breath-taking,” Sahndra said to him. Julie snickered.

He smirked. “Trying to say I stink, Sahndra? I’ve been working out, so kiss my ass.”

“I was being serious, Roger. I always see you so well-manicured and put-together. This look……..is nice on you.”

“Wipe your mouth, Sahndra,” Julie said.

“Whatever,” was Roger’s only response. “Still wanna go for a cruise?”

“Of course. That’s why I’m here.” Sahndra was even more anxious for her ride now. And “riding” was exactly what she had on her mind.

“I’ll shower…………….So I don’t OFFEND you.” Roger took his towel and left the room.

For a minute they said nothing. Then Sahndra turned to Julie. “He has no freaking clue, does he?”

“The prettiest thing I’ve ever seen, and he has absolutely no interest in being pretty. No, he doesn’t have a clue.”

“How do you let him outta bed?” Sahndra asked her.

“I ask myself that question every day.” Julie snickered again.

When Roger returned to the room, Sahndra gawked at him again. This time he wore tight faded blue jeans, his worn brown boots, and a black button-up shirt. When he walked over to where they were sitting, he was rolling up the sleeves, of course. He sat down on the sofa next to Julie. Sahndra never took her eyes off him, and he didn’t even notice.

Still concentrating on rolling up his sleeves, he said to Julie, “You wanna go for a ride too, sweetheart?”

“Not on the Harley,” she answered. Sahndra snickered this time.

Slowly, he raised his head and looked at Sahndra. Then he turned his head, slowly still, to Julie. “You horny women…….But YOU got payback coming anyway, Miss Smartass.”

“I’m panting already.” Julie laughed.

“C’mon,” he said to Sahndra as he stood up.

Before he stepped into the elevator, he picked up his black leather jacket off the coat rack and put it on. Sahndra and Julie exchanged a personal glance, a glance of mutual desire. Desire for him.

Downstairs, as he rolled the Harley out from its parking spot, Roger seemed oblivious again to the stares the two women were giving him. He went about his business as if they weren’t even standing there.

“Roger………I got a request,” Sahndra ventured.

He didn’t even turn around. “What?”

“Would ya………..put your sunglasses on………..and just………sit on the bike………..for a minute?” Sahndra had wanted to see this scene OUTSIDE her head for a long time.

Roger turned to her, incredulous. “What?” His eyes were squinted.

“Just sit there like that……….for just a minute……..for me……Please?”

“C’mon, honey. It’s a simple request. You got your sunglasses, don’tcha?” Julie wanted to see it as badly as Sahndra did.

So he did what he thought they were asking. He swung his leg over the Harley and straddled it, casually sitting down. Then he took his shades out of his jacket pocket and put them on, carefully. With one hand on the bike’s handle bars, the other on his thigh, he looked over the top of the sunglasses, his head tilted slightly down, and said, innocently, “Like this?”

Sahndra felt her knees buckle. She was aware that she had gasped. Julie had gasped too. He was stunning. Obliviously stunning.

“Yes, Roger, yes………” Sahndra couldn’t help herself. “You’re……….pretty.”

Julie laughed out loud. Roger just looked at them, through his shades now. He was pretty. Totally non-contrived and pretty.

“Whatever,” he said.

“Roger, I used to oogle at you down at the shooting range………when you didn’t even know I was there. Julie did too.”

He looked at Julie. “Really, now?”

Julie blushed. “Yeah. Long before it was okay to.”

“Yeah, well, I kept an eye on you too, but you had a husband I had to worry about. And let me see………….Why, Sahndra? How IS ol’ Earl Ray these days?” Roger voice was drenched with sarcasm. He laughed.

“Roger, you can be such a prick,” Sahndra said.

He was still laughing. “Let’s go if you’re going,” he said.

Sahndra climbed on the back of the bike and situated herself behind him. She had never before been this close to Roger Lococco. She could smell the soap scent on him mingling with the scent of leather. She squeezed her legs together against the bike’s seat.

Roger was a “no helmets” rider, so he started the Harley, and they took off. Sahndra put her hands on his waist, just under the black jacket. He was warm and firm. After he got through town, avoiding the Army/Navy store, he sped the bike up. Sahndra leaned forward and pressed herself into his back, into the firm warmth that was under the leather. What a ride, she thought. What a ride he must be.

It was all over too soon for her. She could have stayed that near Roger for a much longer time. But he belonged to someone now. As did she. And that made her think of Earl Ray. She had to get home to him. He was taking her out tonight. Dinner on the town at a surprise location. She couldn’t wait to see him again

When she watched Roger kiss Julie after the bike ride, she envied her friend. This was one sexy man, and Julie was a lucky woman.