Diane rushed to grab Jill and Kyle off the street in case the limo or some of their skel partners returned. They were smudged with mud, their hair was greasy and unkempt, and Jill had bruises on her face and around her neck and wrists. She had a healed cut on her neck, and some dots where a knifepoint had pierced the skin below her jaw. Poor little Kyle had a black eye and matching bruises around his wrists. Diane�s eyes poured out silent tears as she gingerly held Jill and Kyle. They smelled salty and dirty like the Hudson River.

�C�mon, let�s go over to my place and get you two cleaned up,� Diane said with a shaky voice when she could finally speak without sobbing.

Diane spread mayonnaise on the bread and set it aside. She used the carving knife to cut thick slices of turkey. She smelled Bob�s spicy Kouros, which announced his gentle arrival in her kitchen. He had come over while Jill and Kyle were in Diane�s bedroom cleaning up. Bob put his hands gently on her shoulders and massaged for a while, then let his hands move down her arms. Diane was having trouble concentrating on those slices, and one of them turned out thicker than she intended.

�Mmmmmm,� she could hardly contain herself, and she was melting. She leaned back into Bob, and he reached over, crossing his strong arms over her chest, leaning his head on her shoulder next to hers, and hugged her from behind. Bob put his hands on her shoulders and spun her around to face him. She still had the knife in her hand, and he looked down at it in mock terror. She looked menacingly at him and laughed. He took the knife out of her hand and placed it on the counter behind her.

�I really like you, Diane. May I steal a kiss?� Diane loved that he asked permission, loved his obvious respect for her. She nodded. �I�ve been dying to do this since I first met you.�

Bob leaned down, approaching her slowly, never taking his eyes off hers until they were too close. She could feel his breath on her lips, and she became very excited. He toyed with her a bit, leaning down, brushing her lips with his and pulling away just as she extended her jaw to meet his mouth. She smiled, relaxed, and let his mouth drift closer. This time, he didn�t tease her. She felt his soft lips gently meet hers, then they attached more urgently. Their kiss became gradually more erotic, and Diane couldn�t remember the last time she had felt this turned on. It must have been years. Decades.

�Diane, thanks so much,� Jill said as she came down the hallway.

Bob and Diane pulled apart. Diane was embarrassed and turned around to resume making the sandwiches. Jill turned the corner just as Bob made it out to the kitchen table to sit down, facing her. Jill�s eyes widened and her breath caught in her throat, and Bob looked dead into her eyes, expressionless.