Pernicious (30 page)

         
Neal caught her looking at the cord. “Power outages,” he said.

         
Perry buried her face in her hands. “I need a gun. For protection. I don’t feel safe. Oh God, Neal, I’m so scared! Do you know where I can get one?”

         
“You might be overreacting, don’t you think? Why not call the police? A gun? You might accidentally shoot yourself.”

         
She dropped her hands. “The police show up when everything is over, when someone is hurt…or dead.”

         
“You got caller ID, don’t you?”

         
“Yes. Somehow he’s circumventing that.”

         
“Do you know this guy?”

         
She shook her head. “No. I don’t have a clue. Neal, I just need a gun for a day or two.”

         
“I wish I could help you.” Perry crossed to him and palmed his crotch. “I don’t know a gun.”

         
“I felt something last night,” she said, dropping to her knees. “Something irresistible.” She unzipped his pants. “Something strong…penetrating…I was hoping you felt it too.” She stroked his member.

         
“I-I-I did.” He was already there, as he felt a few hours before: hard and anxious.

         
“I ached for you last night, Neal.” She rubbed his sex against her face. “I’ve never ached for a man before. Never hungered for a man.”

         
Do it, Neal pleaded to himself.
Just shut up and do it!

         
She kissed it quickly, suddenly let go and stood up.

         
Aw hell! Here we go again!

         
“Lay the mattress down,” Perry instructed.

         
Neal considered saying, “Forget it, sister. You’re playing too many games. I keep messing with you I’ll end up in the hospital with titanic testicles.”

         
Instead he said nothing as he laid the mattress down.

         
“Take your clothes off and lie down,” Perry said.

         
He didn’t care much for her paternal tone, yet did as instructed. In a heartbeat he was undressed, lying on the mattress, looking anxiously up at her.

         
Perry took her time, first removing a green silk shirt, next a green leather skirt, and then green pumps. She stood over him, smiling mischievously, and then removed teal-green panties.

         
“Are you ready?” she asked.

         
Neal stared at his erection…up at her. “Arrrggh!”

         
Perry lay beside him and started kissing his chest, working her way south.

         
“Don’t stop,” Neal said as she was kissing his stomach. “Please!”

         
The last moment, the time to put up or shut up, she got up. “I need a gun, Neal. I can’t do anything till I get a gun. I’m sorry, I really need a gun.”

         
You’re killing me!
“Let’s finish what we started. Then you and I’ll go buy a gun.”

         
Perry started putting on her clothes. “It’ll take too long. Background check.”

         
“I’ve got a switchblade. How ’bout that?”

         
She glared at him. “Don’t patronize me, Neal. I need a gun.”

         
“My ex has two guns…Hell, she’s not going to let me borrow one.”

         
“Just for a couple days, Neal. Please, baby, help me out here. Please!”

         
“I wish I could, really.”

         
Perry crossed to him and took hold again. “Please! Just for a day or two.”

         
“You’re not planning to shoot this guy, are you?”

         
“Neal, honestly, do I look like someone who could hurt somebody? I just need protection for a couple of days.”

         
And then, finally, she took him in her mouth.

         
All rational thought deserted Neal as his entire body quivered with pleasure. He went into shock, every muscle jerking, twitching involuntarily. Drool bubbled out of his mouth and coursed down his face.

         
His eyelids flitted like butterfly wings. A low, continuous whistle blew out of his nostrils. He remained that way long after Perry had stood up, gathered her shoes and quietly walked out.
 

                                     
* * * * *

         
A few hours later, Neal and Derrick were sitting in the living room at Tasha’s apartment, Derrick watching television, laughing at Bugs Bunny. Neal watching, too, but his mind elsewhere.

         
What if she shoots the guy? Neal thought.
Tasha would kill me. ‘Honey, she gave me this bodacious blowjob and I promised her a gun, your gun. I didn’t think she’d shoot somebody--she told me she wouldn’t.’ That won’t cut it. Tasha would still get pissed. And probably want to fight…like last time. Hell, I better leave that damn gun alone!

         
A minute later he stood up, sat back down. “Damn!”

         
Derrick turned. “What’s the matter, Daddy?”

         
“Nothing.”
Except I’m conflicted as hell. In one hand I have this fine, beautiful, rich woman who knows how to make my toes curl, and in the other my ex-wife, who knows how to kick my ass. Dammit to hell!

         
Maybe I’m blowing things out of proportion. A woman living alone needs a gun for protection if some creep keeps calling and threatening her. Tasha has two guns--she doesn’t need two. One of em her daddy gave her…Which one?

         
He looked at the large Mickey Mouse clock on the wall behind the television. Fifteen till five. Tasha would arrive home soon; if he was going to do it, he’d better do it now.
  
He cleared his throat, got up, crossed casually to the hallway and tiptoed into his former bedroom. He locked the door. Derrick, he figured, probably wouldn’t snitch him out, yet he couldn’t risk it.

         
Moving quickly, he ran his hand along the top of the dresser, found the key, and then went to the red trunk at the foot of the bed. He unlocked it and took out the safe deposit box.

         
He knew the combination. He knew the guns were inside it. And he knew that once he opened it, there was no turning back.

         
His first and second attempt failed; he was moving too fast.
Relax, okay. Nothing is going to go wrong. Relax.

         
On the third attempt the lock clicked. There inside were two guns, a 9mm Glock and a silver-plated 38 Midnight Special. Also a mace bottle and a Taser, which made him shudder.

         
Better take the nine, he thought.
The thirty-eight looks expensive. If I don’t get it back I’ll have to pay for it.

         
He tucked the Glock under his shirt, inside his belt loop, locked everything up and returned the key.

         
Just as he was walking out, Tasha appeared in the doorway.

         
“What are you doing, Neal?”

         
“Uh…uh…”
Think of something.
“Taking a nap.”

         
Tasha stared at him. “You’re sure acting funny. Why you sweating?”

         
He wiped perspiration from his forehead with his hand. “It’s hot.”

         
“The air conditioner is working, isn’t it?”

         
“Yeah, I think it is.”

         
Tasha stared past him into the bedroom. “I hope you’re not doing anything perverted in my room. If I find a grease spot, there’s going to be trouble.”

         
“Woman, please!”

         
Tasha stepped into the bedroom, stared at the bed, then at Neal. “You’re up to something,” running her hand across the bedspread. “I can feel it. Neal, I’m sure I don’t have to tell you to leave your perversions in the garage, do I?”

         
He didn’t respond, frowning at her.

         
“Derrick?” Tasha shouted. Seconds later Derrick ran into the room. “What you want to eat?”

         
“Pizza,” Derrick quipped.

         
“No, not in my budget. How about you, Neal? What you want to eat?”

         
Neal shrugged. “Doesn’t matter to me. I had a Sloppy Joe earlier.”

         
“Did you feed Derrick?”

         
“Uh…”

         
“Derrick, did your father feed you?”

         
Derrick glanced uneasily at his father. “He might have. I just don’t remember.”

         
Tasha stretched out across the bed. “When you guys decide you’re hungry, there’s leftover spaghetti in the refrigerator. I’m taking a nap.”

         
Derrick returned to the television. Neal slipped out the front door, without saying good-bye, not even to Derrick.

                          
Chapter 15

         
Perry was working in her yard when Neal drove up and stepped out.

         
“You get it?” she asked.

         
He nodded.

         
Perry ran to him, hugged and kissed him, almost knocking him down.

         
“You’re one helluva man, Neal Montgomery! You got it from your ex, didn’t you?”