Then he slid up until he was face to face with me, kissed me passionately, and started stroking me with his fingers. His mouth on mine kept me from focusing on any one sensation, and soon I wasn't paying attention to the music or anything but the man I was holding onto. I closed my eyes and moaned as his fingers moved in and out, faster and hotter, until I threw my head back and cried out as I came.

I wanted him to stay, but he said he couldn't.

"You're wonderful," he said as he kissed me. "Call anytime." And he was gone.

I spent the next week writing all day and feeling confused and horny at night. Even when my period showed up on Wednesday, I couldn't stop thinking about him. There was something about him that drew me.

So I called that Friday.

"I'm afraid I can't do anything," I said, feeling foolish. "But would you like to go to a movie with me?"

Cary cleared his throat. "I don't think that's a very good idea."

"Oh God," I said, "you've got somebody else lined up tonight. Christ, I'm sorry. I--"

"No, no, It's nothing like that, Katie," he assured me. "I just don't think I should be getting used to you. I'm sure you'll get tired of ...our arrangement... and then..."

I got it then. "Look, I'm not trying to capture you or anything. I just want to take you to the movies and buy you some pizza. If you see anyone you know, you can turn the other way. If I ask a question you don't want to answer, nobody's gonna make you. If you've got some thing else to do, fine. If not, don't be a jackass. I'm paying!"

He laughed. "I love aggressive women. Should I drive, if you're paying?"

The movie was hilarious. We kept collapsing against each other in laughter.

Afterwards, we talked over pizza. Surprisingly, we were actually comfortable enough with each other to have a real conversation.

"I don't think I've read any of your books," he said.

"Well, I wouldn't expect you to."

"Yeah? What would you expect me to read?"

I blushed. "Umm... Nicholson Baker?"

Cary laughed, but he was blushing too. "Sometimes, maybe. Vox is a classic. But what kind of stuff do you write?"

"Science fiction comedy, mostly. My other book was about frogs."

"I like frogs," he said. "I have two at home."

"What're their names?"

"Jupiter and Spike."

"Cool. So, what do you do? I mean, besides..." I suddenly became very interested in my "Coke" glass.

Cary grinned. "I'm a photographer. Boring stuff mostly. Catalog work can really get to you. My favorites are mostly from vacations."

"That must suck. Is there any one thing you've always wanted to do?"

"Yeah... I'd like to just travel around the country, taking pictures of whatever catches my eye. See if I've got a book in me somewhere."

"I'm sure you do."

"Maybe. So--" he shot a smile at me, "what's your frog book called?"