The Hostile Wife

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Yet, Bill stood there, not interested at all in that rude invitation. Surprised by her own goofiness, Alice hurried to rectify the situation, stretching her arm out to him.

“I'm Alice Cooper.”

Curiously, Bill stared at her little hand and seemed unsure about what to do next. Then his long fingers grasped it.

A swift flash, an almost imperceptible flick appeared in his eyes and he looked at her with such astonishment that Alice didn’t understand why. His face seemed to pale more but, after a split second, he recollected himself and smiled.

Alice's heart started jumping. Unable to look away, she nervously pulled a lock of hair behind her ear. Bill was tall, with a slender, wiry body, which models could only dream of, and Alice was sure it was all natural, not the result of an intense workout. So, why, among all women, had he approached her?

She sighed, forcing herself to let go of his warm, soft hand. He was way out of her league. How long could this flirt last? She had learnt by experience that, once that hunk had realized how small, curvy and inexperienced she was, he would find some lame excuses to run after the first bombshell in sight. He was a giant, she was a smurf. A nice one, but a smurf just the same. If then he had heard her sharp tongue on action, he would have disappeared faster than light. So, better get it over and test him.

She got up from the sofa to take some distance from him, but had an abrupt giddy spell and, before she could realize it, her waist was surrounded by his strong arms. He towered over her, but she wasn’t as bothered as she was expecting. On the contrary, she was at ease, safe and hoped he could feel the same.

“Are you alright?” Bill asked with a bit of concern in his voice.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I’ve just stood up too fast.” She wouldn’t dare look at him straight in the eye and read disappointment on his face.

“Sit down, I'll be right back.”

Gallantly, he helped her, then puff, disappeared. Disheartened, she sat on the edge of the sofa.

“I knew this would happen but… Damn! Tonight, I'm breaking every record! It took what, two minutes’ top, for him to be gone?” She sulked, while she was still trying to find him in the crowd. “I don't get what's wrong with me, scaring men like this. Do you think that they can tell I'm still...?” She bit her lip, not daring to say the word virgin out loud.

Clara got closer to her ear to answer. “Don't be silly, of course not! He didn't run away, look over there: he's just getting something to drink. Anyway, don't let your guard down, there's something about him that gives me the creeps.”

“Ok, I won't,” she murmured absentmindedly, now admiring Bill's long legs while, with elegant strides and a glass in his hand, he was going back to them. The black shirt he wore was partially opened, showing a perfect chest with no trace of body hair. She had already noticed how well proportionate he was and, even though there was no detail that stood out in his aspect, it seemed impossible for her not to have noticed before his intimidating height and his ancient, old-time charm.

“Here, I thought that cool water could help you. It's too hot in here,” he thoughtfully told her, sitting by her side.

The contact between the soft fabric of his trousers and her naked legs made her aware of how her black, one-shoulder dress had gone up too much again. Embarrassed, she took a big gulp of water that dripped on her chin, but Bill wiped the drops away, brushing a finger on her lips.

The impulsive, yet familiar contact paralyzed both of them. It was like they had touched each other in a previous life and were renewing acquaintance. Or they had dreamt about it and now were realizing how reality could be just as satisfying.

Bill’s dark, unfathomable eyes showed concern, then he looked up from his hands to her face. She didn’t know him, yet she was sure his longing was as deep as hers. His full, tempting lips were just a few inches away and Alice wondered which taste he might have, while his fresh and energetic scent, with a light hint of ginger, was impressing in her memory.

He smirked, her infatuation was written all over her face. Then, slowly and deliberately, he put his finger on his mouth and sucked. That mischievous gesture set her lower body on fire and she thanked heaven she was already seated, otherwise her trembling legs wouldn’t have supported her.

Behind her, Clara cleared her throat. “C’mon, let’s go, this place is full of freaks.”

She stood up and grabbed Alice’s arm but, with a speed worthy of an Olympic sprinter, Bill blocked her. Eye to eye, in a deep compelling tone, he suggested that she should leave alone.

“Alice’s in no danger; I'll be a real gentleman. You should look for your twin, I believe she’s the one who needs your help.”

For a moment, Clara looked irritated and seemed to be hitting back but, after Bill gave her one long stare, which didn’t admit replies, she nodded and walked briskly toward Amber.

Surprised by her friend's compliancy, but relieved not to have to convince Clara to leave them alone, Alice relaxed on the sofa and picked up her glass again.

“So,” she asked, “what brought you to this party?”

He sat down, crossed his legs and stretched an arm behind her shoulders, as to protect her.

“Business,” he said, settling the matter once and for all.

He was staring at her as if she was a crossword to solve, but she didn’t let herself be so intimidated. Rather, she hoped to get to know him better, before other women could fix their eyes on him.

“What’s your job?”

“Forced extractions.”

A brief smile, then he resumed his silent scrutinizing but, this time his eyes fell on her chest, when she was just taking a deep breath and her breasts were in plain view. A drop of sweat slid right in between them and Bill followed its path mesmerized. He was breathtaking and, so still and imperturbable on that couch, he could be mistaken for a flawless marble sculpture created by Michelangelo himself. The only thing that betrayed him was his hand, opening and closing on his knee.

Alice was relieved to notice she wasn’t the only one to be jittery. After all, why would she? It was obvious they liked each other and, if she had played her cards right, that might still have been an unforgettable night.

She crossed her feet and rubbed at an ankle with the heel. That little gesture attracted Bill’s attention, so she took advantage of it to stretch out more on the sofa. Accidentally with her head close to his arm.

“I think I saw a TV show, whose name is Forced Extraction: do you do that?”

“I'm sorry, I haven’t been watching TV since... Well, let's say in a long time, so I'm not sure what you're referring to. My job is complicated to explain. One might say, with quite accuracy, that I clean the city from the garbage.”

The confidence dripping out of his attitude was almost hypnotic. If he was a garbageman, he must have been the most educated and elegant. He was looking in her eyes again, and his hand, moving on its own, started caressing her knee. A wave of excitement fired up her senses, sticking words in her throat.

“And what... what do you do for fun after work, if you don't watch TV?” she stuttered blushing.

God, how could she say such a nonsense? As if there wasn’t anything else to do beside that! She knew it well, because after long hours spent behind a desk, she did everything but that, except for the Supernatural binge watching, of course.

Bill seemed lost in his thoughts. Clearly, the question didn’t have an easy answer.

“I don't do much else, to be honest. My job is quite demanding, takes up all my time, twenty-four seven and, to perform it at best, I also need to sleep and to recover my strength. Anyway, tonight I'm determined to carry out more satisfying activities,” he concluded with a naughty sparkle in his eyes.

Feeling more intrepid than usual, Alice thanked her good luck: yes, tonight she would finally say goodbye to her awkward virginity and welcome to the same s****l freedom everyone seemed to enjoy, except her.

“May I ask you how come you joined this party? Are you also a paranormal fan, one of those women who daydream about the erotic power of vampires' bites?” Bill asked, then rose his eyebrows and bent his head toward a noisy group sitting not too far to express his conception. There was sarcasm and an ill-concealed, peevish tone in his voice.

Alice paid attention to the group and was tempted to cover her eyes out of shame. The less eccentric man was wearing a long brown duster, equipped with a cowboy hat and a pair of worn-out boots. On the one hand, he was carrying a wooden piece and was pretending to impale one of the women. However, she didn’t look scared at all, instead seemed pretty busy groping the front of his pants, while biting his neck with her five dollars’ fake plastic fangs.

“I suspect he thinks he’s a modern Van Helsing...” he whispered, less than an inch from her ear. His lips brushed her neck and Alice closed her eyes, letting herself go against his chest.

As she hoped, Bill's arm surrounded her, exuding a peculiar warmth that spread through her whole body. His long, delicate fingers started moving on the smooth skin of her thigh, never going beyond the dress' hem, but before the situation could get hotter, he moved away and offered her his arm.

“Come on, let's go dancing.”

The deejay chose that moment to turn the music from techno to a softer rhythm, so it was easier to dance. Finding a space to fit into was not as easy, but Bill threaded his way through the crowd, as if his simple, majestic and elegant appearance intimidated people.

Alice indulged into the excited, enthralling music, closed her eyes and started swaying sinuously, raising her arms and playing with her long brown hair, which hung down over her back. She liked dancing, but tonight she wanted to do it for him to show her sweet and passionate femininity, hoping that he would soon decide to ask her to go home. Together.

But time passed by and Bill was neither touching nor hugging her with excitement. Fearing he was lost in the crowd, she opened her eyes again to search around, only to find him right in front of her. Completely still and deadly serious, he was studying her with such an intense expression that she felt her stomach knot. His eyes had become two black, deep and magnetic ponds and a strange energy, so thick it was almost tangible, was spreading from his body, making him look somehow less real and more dangerous.

“Is everything all right?” she asked puzzled.

“I... Nothing, it doesn't matter.”

His voice was just a whisper, it still resonated inside her, making all her fears awaken. Wasn’t she his usual type? Wasn’t she maybe enough for him? Tears threatened to gleam, but Alice pushed them back and, with a swell of pride, she ignored him, keeping on dancing.

It worked. Bill got out of his torpor and closer to her in a few rigid steps.

“Forgive my clumsiness. It's been so long since the last time I danced, I fear I might stamp your feet.”

That gentleness caught her off guard: she really wanted to believe him, but feared he could lie and she had to protect her heart, more than anything.