Hot! (3 page)

             
“Come over to my place and meet my cat,” Curtis invited. “If you’re a good girl, I’ll even cook you dinner. Spaghetti, I think, followed by strawberries–now that’s a sensuous fruit–for desert.”

             
“Even more sensuous with cream,” suggested Phaedra. “I’ll bring some. See you tomorrow night. Oh and by they way, what will you do if I’m bad?”

             
“Spank you, of course.”

             
“Then remind me to be very bad, indeed,” she murmured. The thought up being upended and spanked by Curtis was a turn on of the first order. And if he wore his uniform while he was administering the spanking…wow. She’d always had a thing about men in uniform.

             
“Keep your uniform handy,” she whispered, and before he could ask her why, she rang off.

             
Afterwards, sitting in the dark watching the lights from the harbor, she felt guilt wash over her like a vengeful tide. This was inappropriate behavior for someone whose sister had been missing for almost two weeks. When she had mentioned this to Curtis he brushed it aside. “Sitting fretting over Holly, isn’t going to do either of you any good. Have a whacking great orgasm instead. It’ll take care of the tension, and clean out all the toxins.”

             
Phaedra had laughed despite herself. “Very well Dr.Curtis. I like your sexual prescription, and I intend to get it filled.”

             
“So long as Dr.Curtis does the filling,” he responded with a smile. “Oh and I’ll renew that particular prescription indefinitely.”

             
Fog had rolled in and much of the city across the water became invisible. Phaedra had a shower and went to bed. She stretched her contented body like a purring cat; delighted that Curtis was taking such good care of it.

             
She awoke with a start. Not sure what had disturbed her. All was silent. Then she heard the noise that must have awakened her. It was a scuffling sound. There was someone outside the door!

Phaedra’s heart pounded and her mouth felt parched. Curtis had warned her about this. He had told her to keep the door locked at all times. But had she? She couldn’t recall whether she’d checked it right before going to bed or not. She’d been so sleepy and languid with hot thoughts about her new lover.
             

             
She crept quietly out of bed and made her way cautiously towards the phone. But just as she was half way across the living room, she heard something being inserted into the lock.

             
“Oh my gawd,” she muttered. She was convinced now that Holly
had
been abducted, and whoever was responsible was about to mete out the same fate to her.

             
She flipped on the light with a trembling hand. Much to her relief, she saw that she had not only locked the door, but remembered to put the chain on as well. She grabbed a heavy cabinet and pushed it with difficulty down the hall. The effort made her pant and break out in a sweat. But she persevered and managed to wedge it behind the door. Then she doubled back towards the phone, dizzy and gasping for breath.

             
Whoever was trying to break in was not deterred. The handle turned and they pushed against the door.

             
Phaedra punched in 911 and waited with hammering heart for someone to answer. Then she realized that in her haste, she hadn’t waited for the dial tone.

             
“Damn,” she muttered, and was about to repeat the process, when the intruder called out:“What the hell’s going on in there?”

Phaedra stopped dead in her tracks and replaced the receiver on its cradle. She just couldn’t believe it. And yet it was. She would know that voice anywhere.

It was Holly!

Shock and disbelief, followed by relief and sheer joy swamped over her at the same moment. “Holly…Holly…it’s me, Phaedra.” She dragged the cabinet from behind the door.

She had never been gladder to see anyone.

“Holly,”she gasped, “Oh Holly you’re safe.” She clutched her little sister as if she would never let her go.

Holly looked as shocked as Phaedra had done a few minutes ago. “What’s going on here, Sis?” she asked, and managed to extricate herself at last.

“Well you should know,” rebuked Phaedra. Now that she knew Holly was safe, worry turned to anger.“You’re the one who saw fit to take off for…how long has it been…two weeks, without as much as a telephone call. You must have known I’d be worried sick. How could you be so selfish and thoughtless?”

Holly poured them both a hefty shot of Sherry. “What do you mean,” she asked indignantly, “without as much as a phone call? I
did
telephone.”

“Well I never received any call, and where were you anyway?”

Holly explained that she’d decided on impulse to spend a couple of weeks at a spiritual retreat in the mountains. “I needed to recharge my batteries. Everything was getting to me in the city. I was totally stressed out.”

“And you say you left a message on my answering machine before you left?”

Holly shook her head. “No, I spoke directly to your receptionist. She said she’d give you the message.”

Phaedra groaned and shook her head. “Well that explains it. We’ve had a bad run of receptionists since Morag left. I was never given your message.”

“Oh I’m so sorry about that, Sis. No wonder you’ve been in such a stew. I feel just awful.”

“You weren’t to know. You naturally thought your message would be passed on.”

“Dinner’s on me, tomorrow night,” offered Holly. “The best restaurant in town. All the trimmings.”

“Sorry I can’t, sweetie. Not tomorrow. I already have a date.”

“Sounds interesting. Anyone I know?”

“Not yet, but I have a feeling that you will.” Phaedra winked and set down her glass. “Now I have to telephone a few people and let them know you’re okay.”

~The End~