The Devil's Bargain Ch. 16

- "Yes, but -"

- "And you seem to have me confused with Holly. I intend to work to live - not live to work. Yes, I do my best and apply myself. But when the task is done, I want to go home, and be with you."

- "I was crazy to think that I could out-argue you." I said. "It doesn't change how I feel, though. I am afraid."

Lisa's expression softened. "I know." she said.

- "You should be even more cautious." I said. "You have so much more to lose."

Her reply surprised me again. "Can I tell you a story?"

- "Of course."

- "I have a really strong memory of Connie, from ... probably two years or so before she died. She'd lost all of her hair, but insisted on going out without a wig."

- "I remember." That was a phase that lasted about six months. At the time, I had uncharitable thoughts: Connie wanted everyone (including complete strangers) to know that she had cancer, and she wanted the other cancer patients in the hospital to think that she had shaved her head in solidarity with them. Then her head got cold, and she started wearing a hat or a wig

- "You were driving her to her treatments and appointments, but also looking after her Mom and her house as well as yours. I was 17, and I already had a healthy crush on you. I said something to your wife - something like 'You're so lucky to have Mr. Pilgrim'."

- "She wouldn't have liked that."

- "No. She didn't make eye contact with me. She just said: 'Oh, yes ... but you know, dear, I could wish that he wasn't so emotionally distant.'"

Old memories. "That sounds about right."

- "I was stunned. I mean, who says something like that about a man like you? And to a teenager? I could hear the hostility in her tone. What was she thinking? I asked my parents about it. Mom told me that you and Connie had gone through 'a rough patch' a few years before. 'Lots of couples experience that, hon.' she said. 'It's something that you have to talk about honestly, and work through together.'"

- "I wish we had."

- "It wasn't you." said Lisa. "I thought about 'emotional distance' after that. Looked it up on the internet, and read about it. Turns out that it usually means one of two or three things. One is neglect. But I knew right away that you hadn't neglected her. There's also a lack of communication - something I couldn't see you doing, either. Another possibility is someone accusing their partner of the very thing they're doing. Connie was the one who became emotional distant, wasn't she? Even before she was diagnosed with cancer."

I was shocked. "How ... how did you work that out?"

- "I have eyes and ears, and we lived right across the street. She stopped having sex with you, too, didn't she?"

- "What?"

- "When I was a kid, I remember seeing you kiss your wife - in front of everybody. I thought it was wonderful. I paid attention after that, let me tell you. You'd have your arm around her, or you'd be holding her hand. You were always looking over at her, and smiling. She did the same. Then the touching stopped. You would still look at her, but you weren't smiling anymore - and I noticed that she wasn't looking back, much less smiling. I never saw the two of you like that again. I tried hard to remember the last time I'd seen you ... showing affection in public."

- "It was a few years before her diagnosis."

- "She did cut you off, then."

- "Yes."

- "I'll admit that I didn't figure that out right away. It wasn't until Connie had passed away, and you started going out with women - sometimes more than one at a time. My Dad was thrilled, of course, but I suspected that you were ... making up for lost time."

I had no answer.

"Have you, Dan?"

- "Have I what? Made up for lost time?"

- "Yes. If you're over that - if you've gotten it out of your system, then you won't need so much variety going forward, will you?"

- "Lisa ..."

- "I'm afraid too, Dan." she admitted.

- "You are?"

- "Of course. It's a major decision - possibly the most important one of my life. And I understand your concern about our ages. You just don't seem to understand: I'm passionate ... about you. I don't need wild, anonymous sex. I love sex - when it's with you."

I took a deep breath. "You're too good for me. Too good a debater, obviously. But also too ... everything else. I'm afraid that I won't live up to your expectations. Yes, I fear that you'll find someone younger, more exciting -"

-"You may think that you can't be a raging torrent of passion for me. You think I'll crave excitement. But don't you understand? I find you exciting. You're my deep pond. I want to spend the rest of my life in your waters."

It was a little hard to breathe. That was an incredible thing to hear.

But I was also in a familiar position: I had no arguments that she couldn't spike over the net. I tried a Hail Mary (different sport).

- "Your parents may not approve."

- "My father wants to write your biography, and make a movie out of it. My mother loves you. Who do you think called me the moment she knew Holly wasn't coming?"

- "Lisa ..."

- "Here's an idea, Dan. Why don't you just concede defeat, as you did five years ago? Admit that you love me, enough to want to live with me, for ... how about a trial period? A year? Oh, wait - we've done that already. Two years?"

- "Trial period?"

- "You seemed more comfortable about dating me when you knew that I was leaving for Victoria in a year."

- "It was a year and a half." I said.

- "Agreed. But how about if we signed a short-term contract? A year, again? Two?"

I could only smile.

- "You could have been a lawyer."

- "So my friends said. Although one thought that I should be a professional poker player. But that didn't matter. Not after I met you."

Yes, she had out-argued, out-debated, and thoroughly discombobulated me. She knew that I loved her, and acted as if that entitled her to use logic and facts against me. I had no answer. My fears might not disappear so easily, but Lisa knew what I was afraid of.

I loved her. Did I trust her? Can you have one without the other?

"A year." she said. "Do you have plans for the coming year? I could step aside if you do. But if you're free, maybe we could try going out on a date ..."

- "We both know how that would end up."

- "Exactly. I love you, Dan. I know that you love me, too."

- "I do."

- "Then let's deal with your fears - and mine - by postponing them for a year. If us together turns out to be too much for you, or if I find someone that I like better - which I won't - then we can re-evaluate. Call it off if we have to."

She was too smart for me, of course. It made too much sense. I wouldn't be ruining her life, because I could end the relationship after only a year. If I felt that I was dragging her down, or if she met someone better, we could pull the plug. I didn't like thinking about that second possibility, but it had to be considered.

And I did want her. Even if it was only for a year. Or two.

- "Do we sign a contract? Or a lease?"

- "A handshake will do." she said. "I trust you."

Lisa offered me her hand. I took it. Of course, she drew me into an embrace. She held me tight, and pressed her head against my shoulder. She was trembling.

"You had me so worried." she whispered. "I was terrified that you were going to say no."

- "I almost did. But then I thought of Freya."

- "Freya?"

I told Lisa about my walk in the bitter cold. "I imagined you out in the worst weather, taking care of Freya. And I remembered all of the reasons why I love you."

- "That's so sweet." She shivered then, and squeezed me even tighter. "I'm a little cold now. Do you think you could take me to bed? We don't have to be too active. I really just want to hold you close."

Lisa might just be talking her way into my bed, but I couldn't argue with that. I didn't want to argue with that. I didn't protest, either, when she stripped down to her panties. I did give her a skeptical look, though - which she caught.

- "Bare skin helps transfer shared body heat." she said, with a perfectly straight face.

I stripped down as well, and joined her in bed, pulling the covers over us. She was a little cold. She turned her back to me, but took my arm and pulled it around her, holding my hand between her breasts. She also squirmed around until her legs were flush with mine, and her lovely ass was firmly pressed against my crotch. She nestled it against my thickening and lengthening erection.

"Thank you, Dan. I'm very happy now."

- "I didn't mean to frighten you, before. I'm sorry."

- "All's well that ends wonderfully."

- "I'm happy, too." I said. "You came up with a phenomenal solution."

- "I hope that it works for us."

- "Me too."

- "I mean, I hope that it works for longer than just a year."

- "Me too. At least two."

Lisa twisted around, and turned to face me. That squished her breasts against my chest, but it also brought her beautiful face within inches of mine. Her lovely brown eyes (with flecks of green) were wide open, and so very close.

- "I love you, Dan." she said.

- "I love you, Leece." My voice caught in my throat. "Thank you, for ... not letting me mess this up."

- "I'm so looking forward to this coming year." she said. Lisa's hand slipped between our bodies, as she wrapped her fingers around my turgid cock, which was leaving an indentation on her thigh. "I know I said that we didn't have to be active, but ... would you make love to me? I ... I really want to feel you inside me."

It was a little awkward - for about ninety seconds. We hadn't been together this way in years, but I remembered soon enough what she liked. She did, too.

This wasn't a fuck. It wasn't about physical pleasure, or ramping up the excitement. It was a joining together - two people who just wanted to be as close as humanly possible.

"Oh ... Dan - I missed you."

- "How did I ever let you go?" I whispered, as I kissed her neck.

- "You thought that I would be better off without you." she said, pressing her feet into the mattress so that she could lift her hips and take me just a little bit deeper. "You were so wrong."

- "I was." I admitted, as I slowly slid all the way inside her.

- "But I was wrong, too. I should never have let you go. I should never have left."

- "You had to."

- "Agree to ... disagree."

We both came quietly - and very close together. Not every orgasm has to be cataclysmic, or volcanic. I had a thoroughly satisfying climax, and I believe that Lisa did, too.

She fell asleep shortly afterwards.

She still slept with her mouth open.

***

George and Anna invited me over for dinner - a barbecue, if you can believe it, on December 30th. George dusted the snow off his deck, and fired up the gas barbecue. As a male, it was my duty to bring him beers and keep him company.

- "So ... you and Lisa - again." he said.

- "She's amazing, George. I don't know how you did it, but you and Anna raised an absolutely incredible girl."

- "We did. I wish I knew how we did it, because if I could write a how-to book, we'd make a fortune. Bullshit luck, maybe. Or maybe nature, over nurture."

- "I don't believe that."

- "No." he said, with a chuckle. "Me neither. But your parents must have been pretty cool, too - the way you turned out."

- "They weren't." I said. For the very first time, I told my former neighbour - my friend - about my upbringing. I told him the whole story, all the way to meeting Connie. I went on so long, George and I had three beers, and overcooked the meat.

- "Fuck." he said. "That explains a lot. But hey - this past year ... any new girls?"

- "No." I lied. "Bit of a dry spell."

When we came inside, bearing our slightly burnt offerings, Anna and Lisa were both looking a little dewy-eyed. Anna didn't even pretend: she came over and hugged me.

- "Thank you." she said. "Thank you for making my little girl so happy."

- "Oh, Anna. You have no idea how happy she makes me."

Somehow, we got the food served, and drinks re-filled. George proposed a toast.

- "To the New Year, and to my favourite daughter and her new old boyfriend. I don't understand it, and I don't think I ever will. But I know that look on my girl's face: she's happy - so I'm happy, too." George turned to me. "We've known each other for quite a few years, and I've always liked you, Dan. I wish you the very best - as long as you're busting your ass to keep my daughter smiling."

- "I'll try." I promised.

- "I know you will." said Anna.

- "For a year, at least." said Lisa, with a big smile.

New Year's Eve was just the two of us. I got us a last-minute reservation at a reasonably good restaurant which offered a prix fixe menu. You pay a fixed price, and choose between three appetizers, three main courses, and three desserts. It was surprisingly good.

Or maybe it was the company. Lisa wore a dress with a collar, that had a slash down the centre which revealed a little cleavage. It also clung to her slender body like a sheath, accentuating her breasts and her hips.

- "How am I supposed to make intelligent conversation, when you look like that?" I asked.

- "Thank you for the compliment. I do want you thinking about taking me home, and helping me to peel this off. Its a bit tight ..." She said this as she fiddled with the neckline - which was hardly fair.

We talked about her parents, and how well they were taking the news of our relationship - our renewed relationship.

"There are others we might want to tell." said Lisa.

- "Holly?"

- "You should probably take care of that." she said. "But I should be the one to tell Gabrielle and Sue. You can definitely tell Brenda and Pete."

We had a nice meal, an excellent conversation, and then managed to find a cab home around 11:00. We wanted to celebrate the midnight hour together, in private.

- "So ... I got this idea." I said.

- "Go ahead."

- "You're not back until March, at the earliest, right?"

- "That's the plan. I'll mostly just be waiting for the degree to be stamped."

- "Well, I have a few weeks of holidays in the bank. What if I came out to visit you while you're just waiting?"

Lisa grinned at me. "Really?"

- "It's just an idea."

- "It's a great idea."

I've never been one of those people who cares what time it is on New Year's Eve. Lisa didn't worry about it either. She had brought over a sheer, practically see-through nightie. It was spectacular. She was spectacular, and the nightie only highlighted her charms by partially concealing them ... well, you get the idea.

- "I don't know what that cost," I said, "but it was totally worth it."

- "Totally." said Lisa, with a big smile.

- "My big words are disappearing. Fast."

- "Then come to bed, and make love to me."

Yes, we'd made love the other night. But I didn't have the benefit of the magic phrases to make it the best sex of Lisa's life. So, yes - I was nervous. I did my absolute best to make sure that Lisa would enjoy it, applying the lessons I'd learned over the past years. I took my time, and concentrated my full attention on her. That was the secret; technique is one thing, but dedication to your partner's pleasure goes a long way, too.

I ate her pussy because I loved her, and because I wanted her to have a really satisfying orgasm. I think that she really enjoyed it. She gasped as she came.

Then Lisa tugged on my hair until she could get her hands under my armpits and pull me up so that we were face to face. She kissed me, tasting herself on my lips, but she also reached between us for my cock. Finding it, she aimed me at her core and pulled me into position.

She gasped again as I entered her. She might have moaned, too - or maybe that was me.

I kissed the side of her neck, and then breathed into her ear just before I licked it. She loved having her earlobe licked and sucked on.

- "Oh, Dan."

- "I love you, Leece."

***

Tansa wanted to meet me at the Queen's Arms, where I had encountered her for the very first time - and where we signed the agreement that changed my life.

- "Hello, Dan." she said. "Good holidays?"

- "I'm going to assume that you already know." I said. "And yours?"

- "Very good. Andie found a younger man, Kayla went on a second date with a very nice fellow - boyfriend material, if you ask me - and Lily fucked another guy. That didn't go as well, but she remembered what you taught her: if he won't eat your pussy, he isn't worth keeping."

- "That's ... nice."

- "Isn't it?" Tansa grinned at me. I still owed her several months of service, and I had many questions, but she was enjoying herself. She still held the whip hand.

I started with the most important thing.

- "I don't want to have sex with any other women. I'm with Lisa now."

- "I know, Dan. I'm very happy for you. And there are still quite a few other things you can do for me. Driving, for one; Matt will be thrilled to switch places with you."

- "Fine. I have questions, too."

- "Of course you do."

- "I know you're not the devil, Tansa. From what I've seen, you do good things for people who need a little help."

She laughed. Tansa tilted her head back, and laughed at me.

- "Ah-ah ... you needed more than a little."

That was a bit harsh, but I swallowed my pride. I had questions to ask.

- "But you weren't completely truthful with me, were you? When we were negotiating my bargain."

Tansa's eyes narrowed. "Are you accusing me of lying, Dan?"

- "Yes."

- "And just where, exactly, do you think that I misled you?"

- "You told me that I could have any woman I wanted. That wasn't true."

- "I warned you not to use the phrases on globe-trotting models or actresses, because they wouldn't give up their careers for you. It was your idea to stay away from married women, or women in committed relationships. It was also you who insisted that you didn't want to compel anyone against their will. That's why Katie threw up when you used the phrases on her."

- "That's not what I mean. You didn't leave me complete freedom of choice. You had a hand in 'steering' some of the women my way, didn't you?"

Tansa glared at me. "What are you suggesting?"

- "That wasn't a denial." Now I knew that I was right. "How many of the women that I used the magic on did you choose for me?"

- "You didn't have to choose anyone, Daniel. You were free to not pick them. It was your decision."

- "But you put them in my path. With my lack of a social life, I wasn't going to meet very many women. You knew how susceptible I was. You made sure that I would run into attractive women."

- "Why on earth would I do that?"

- "Again, not a denial. But to answer your question, I believe that you thought I could help these women just as they were helping me."

- "That's an interesting theory. Why do you think I would do that?"

- "Andie, Kayla, and Lily." I ticked their names off on my fingers. "This is what you do. You put people together so that they can help each other. I think that you knew exactly what you were doing when you let me throw that dart to decide a number. If you'd let me have ... a hundred women, it would have been just sex. But a more limited number ... you knew that I would try to build a relationship with them."

- "Fascinating. You have quite the imagination."

- "But I'm right, aren't I?"

- "Just who do you think I 'put in your path'?"

- "Gabrielle." I said. "You got her a job at the fitness club so that I would meet her when I signed up."

Tansa didn't even flinch. "Yes." she said.

- "Thank you." I said. "Thank you for admitting it. Why Gabrielle?"