Ryan contemplated her for a second before he answered. "I have never forced myself on a woman in my life. Never had to.
"Not even Elizabeth?" Sarah asked.
"Least of all Elizabeth," Ryan replied. "She had this thing for me. Something about saving me from myself, or something. Or maybe she just wanted to walk on the wild side. Nice, a properly brought-up girl from St-Louis and Isabel Johnson's good for nothing colored boy..."
His voice was hard, and who could blame him?
"Sorry," Sarah said inadequately.
Ryan did not pretend not to understand what she was apologizing for. "It is no big deal. I have heard it enough that I should be used to it by now."
"That does not make it right," Sarah said.
"Yeah. Well, that is life, isn't it? Since when did you become so sympathetic of my feelings,
