Chapter 10
PARTY
"Tonight will tell the tale. If the Brainstorm can work tonight, we’ll never have to worry again. So far it’s worked great, but you understand I know a lot of these people very well, and I’ve known them for a long time. I’m going to get hugged and kissed and probably flirted with. People will be drinking, and they do things—well you know what I mean. You’re sure you want to go? We can stay home if you’d rather."
"I want to go. We need to find out if it’s going to work. I won’t be drinking; no need to pour alcohol on the fire." He paused. "You know, Connor, I’m not really---I haven’t spent a lot of time with---civilized people. I’m not big on manners, and that kind of thing. I hope I won’t do anything stupid, that’ll make you sorry you went with me." He looked down, embarrassed by his confession.
"Babe, you’ll be fine. These people are not so far from you as you think. You get along fine with the people at the shop, and these people are just more of the same. You’ll like them, and they’ll like you." She smoothed the heavy silk turtleneck across his chest. "You look marvelous. I knew that this shirt would look great on you; the blue matches your eyes exactly. Put on your jacket, and let’s go."
"Not until I look." He turned her around to face him, and stepped back. "Connor, you are a beautiful woman. You look terrific. God, how did you ever happen to me? You could have any man in the world." He shook his head in wonder.
"I don’t want any man. ‘I want you. I love you. I’m going home with you tonight.’ It’s the Brainstorm litany!" She smiled at him. "Now put on your jacket. We’re going to a party! The Westcoast Association of Security Officers annual bash."
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They made one circuit of the room together, Sarah performing introductions, stopping for greetings and small talk.
"There, now everyone knows that you’re with me, and if I’m lucky most of the women will leave you alone." She grinned up at him, enjoying the disconcerted look on his face.
"Women don’t exactly fall all over me, Connor. I don’t think you’ve got a lot to worry about."
"Oh yeah? Well, we’ll see. Let’s dance."
Johner was a marvelous dancer, something she had found out in the kitchen at home. His innate grace and catlike balance showed to great advantage on the dance floor. She saw more than one woman’s eyes following them. ‘Just wait until a few more drinks go down,’ she thought. ‘They’ll be all over him.’
After a few dances they split up, and Sarah made the rounds again, catching up with old friends, laughing and talking, but always with the Brainstorm in mind. Whenever she was in conversation with a man, her eyes roamed the room until she found him. When their eyes met, the message was given. In his mind, the Brainstorm played over. ‘She wants me. She loves me. She’s going home with me.’ After the third or fourth time, he grinned and gave her a quick thumbs up.
As a little time went by, she found that if she wanted to locate him she should look on the dance floor. She found him by the blue turtleneck; he had taken off his jacket. And he was dancing with a different woman every time she looked. She grinned to herself. ‘Told you so.’
On one of her regular room scans to locate him she found Johner talking to a beautiful blonde woman who was standing very close to him, looking up into his face with interest. ‘Oh my God! Lydia Brady!’ Sarah started immediately to his rescue.
When she arrived, Lydia looked at her with surprise and disappointment. "Sarah! Don’t,---please don’t tell me that this beautiful hunk of man belongs to you."
"Sorry. He belongs to me. How are you, Lydia. It’s been a long time; I didn’t know you were back. If I had known, I’d never have let him wear that shirt."
"You’re right, it was the shirt. But I’d have discovered him anyway. He is something! Tell me, does he like it when you---" and she proceeded to describe in plain English an act that was usually spoken of with a slang expression that made the point without graphic detail; when it was spoken of at all, which it wasn’t in polite company.
While Johner stood in stunned silence, Sarah answered without even blinking. "I haven’t tried that yet," she said thoughtfully, "I’ll have to put it on my list."
"Jesus Christ, ladies! Don’t hold back! Just say whatever comes into your heads!" Shaking his head, he grinned at them both, then changed the subject. "What’s this about my shirt? What’s wrong with it?"
Lydia put her hand in the middle of his chest. "Nothing’s wrong with it, believe me! Nor with what’s under it." Her hand moved across his chest, then drifted downward, and didn’t stop at his belt. Sarah stepped smoothly between them before things went any further. "OK, Lydia, that’s off limits."
"Just checking. Johner, you and I could---." She looked up at him, fishing for encouragement.; when he looked back with no expression at all, she sighed. "OK, I got it. I guess I’ll have to go looking for the second best piece of beefsteak on the floor. ‘Night, all." And she drifted away.
"What in the holy hell was that?" Johner grinned after her.
"That was Lydia Brady. She specializes in shock. And from the look on your face when she said---what she said, it worked. You came about as close to looking shocked as I think is possible for you."
"Damn right I was shocked. I never heard anyone say it right out like that, and I’ve been in some very rough places."
"Well, then she succeeded partially. But her intent was to get you into bed; it works with a lot of men. She says something like that, and they start to drool immediately. I didn’t notice you drooling, though."
"If you want me to drool, just start taking off your clothes. I’ll be happy to oblige." He smiled at her. "I love you, Connor. I want you, not some bimbo who talks dirty."
"I’m glad to hear that, because the competition is fierce tonight. I should have a Brainstorm litany; you have danced with every woman in this room!"
He blushed. She laughed delightedly and put her hand up to caress his hot cheek. "Oh, Johner, that’s so cute! But I told you, didn’t I? You underestimate yourself, babe. You’re a very attractive man; you’ve got some kind of thing that just oozes sex all over." She laughed again as he looked embarrassed by the compliment.
"They just kept asking me!" He shook his head. "Jesus, Connor, I’m no ladies man, I’m not used to being able to pick and choose; but I could have. They didn’t just ask me to dance, two of them---no, three of them asked me to fuck them! No hinting around; just flat out. I felt like I should look behind me to see who they were talking to!"
"And what did you say when they asked?"
"I said ‘No thanks’. At least I think I did. I hope I said thanks. Anyway, I said no."
"I hope you said thanks too. But the important thing is that you said no. I don’t share well, Johner. I’d be very likely to get mad. Although I can understand why they asked. I would too. In fact, I do. Shall we go home?"
He looked down at her with his love in his eyes, and smiled. "’She wants me. She loves me. She’s going home with me tonight.’ Let’s go home. I want you too."