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"There's an accomplishment," Terry said with a flat voice. "And Helen is second," thinking of the department secretary. |
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Calvin smiled, and in the mirror his biceps bulged. His neck was thick, his chest broad, his deltoids bulbous. Except for a small tire of permafat, he had the body of an athlete half his age. It was all the years of jogging, StairMaster and pumping chrome at the university gym. He pinched his beer-wings and swore that had he been a survivor of a concentration camp, he'd have come out bone and beer-wing. Biology, he told himself. He had beer-wing genes. |
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He climbed into bed and switched off the light. In a few moments he felt Terry snuggle up against him. It was the lovemaking cue, one that Calvin never let go unacknowledged. He had dated several women before Terry, including a few students. By comparison Terry's libido fell midrange. She liked sex the way she liked Thai food: occasionally, and one-chili mild. Rarely did she express a craving that matched his own appetite, nor did she order the three-pepper blowtorch special. When conditions were just right and Terry was in the mood, their lovemaking was fine. It wasn't that he wished her a flaming Jezebeljust a tad more wicked. |
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They kissed and caressed each other for several minutes until, breathing heavily, Terry went to the bathroom to turn on the light. When she emerged, she was naked. In the yellow glow her long legs looked gilded, and her tight, athletic bottom looked like halves of a nectarine. Ordinarily just the thought of that bottom would make Calvin tumescent. But not tonight. For some reason, perhaps the draining excitement over the Manning offer, Calvin could not become aroused, even as Terry pressed into him, moving rhythmically against his groin, her thigh over his, her hand caressing him. |
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"You okay?" she asked after a few moments. |
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"But it's the fourth time this month." |
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Which was true. Last week it had happened, and twice before that. But except for where it counted, he was fully primed. He had gotten into bed feeling elated about the sudden windfall and the prospect of their new life up the Hudson, his stomach fluttering with anticipation. But, damn it, below the waist he felt dead. |
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Terry gave herself a quick rub. "Mmm, I'm so fired . . ." |
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