And so was he, as it turned out. We made it in my own apartment, of all places, hardly a romantic love-bower. But romance would only have cluttered up our lives at that point – or any point, for that matter – what with so much else on our minds. How that man loved my lips! I was good to him, of course, a little girl with a big mouth, a so-called "generous" mouth, stretching my generosity to encompass his every need. One need, mainly. A bit difficult at first, but a cinch after that, once I got the timing down pat. It was a genuine pleasure after our third or fourth date; how my lips loved that man! I even found a perverse enjoyment in my ability to tease him, to control his excitement, delaying each climax until the last possible instant. And then, glub, it would ail be over for a while and we would relax and talk about ourselves, about our affair, its chances for survival. Good chances, as far as Simon was concerned. He had struck it rich with me, apparently, and was becoming more possessive with every rendezvous.

"You'd make a great mistress, baby. Great for me, that's for sure. Those hot lips of yours…"

"It's not just my lips. I'm learning too, you know. I learn more whenever you come over. I'm still just a beginner."

"Some beginner. I wish my wife could suck cock like that."

"Does she? You know…"

"Huh?"

"Your wife. Does she suck at all?"

"Not any more. We don't even sleep together."

"Too bad. I'm glad, though. I wouldn't want anybody filling in for me, not even your lawful wedded wife. Not that I'm worried, I'll have you know. With the practice I'm getting, I ought to be the world's champion cocksucker pretty soon."

"Rory baby, you're the champ right now. You want to hear something wild? I even bragged about you at home – to Julia, I mean. I told her…"

"No! You didn't. You couldn't have! I thought she didn't know anything about me. You-you told your wife?"