“I mean, I’m the only woman I know anything about in bed—other women are a mystery to me.”
“They’re a mystery to me, too,” Stone said. “I mean, you’re in bed with me right now, and you’re talking about how other women perform sex. That is a complete mystery to me.”
“Don’t you ever wonder how other men perform in bed?”
“I have never wondered for a moment, and I don’t care.”
“You have no sexual curiosity, Stone.”
“Not about that, I don’t. You leave women to me, and I’ll leave other men to you.”
“Don’t you care if I fuck other men?”
“It’s none of my business, is it? Have I ever said a word to you on that subject?”
“I suppose not. Would you like to hear about some of them?”
“I would not!”
“Well, there was this one guy—I think you might know him—”
“Stop it! Not another word!”
“I wonder what Howard Axelrod is like in the sack.”
“Incapable, I should think, given his deep interest in other people’s sex lives.”
“Stone, everybody is interested in other people’s sex lives.”
“Not I.”
“Why do you think people go to hot movies and read hot novels? They’re dying to know how other people do it, that’s why.”
“I don’t read hot novels, and I hardly ever go to the movies, for any reason. I see movies on television, old and new, and TV, the networks, at least, haven’t gotten around to explicit sex, yet.”
“It’s only a matter of time. Cable and satellite are already way ahead of the networks in that regard. I’ll bet l’Arrington has half a dozen X-rated channels on its television system right now. Where’s the remote control?” She rummaged around under the covers until she came to Stone. She laid a hand on his crotch. “Are you still sleepy?” she breathed into his ear.
“Not very,” he replied.
“Oh, good. Let’s make our own X-rated movie.” She brought him erect.
He rolled over on top of her. “No pictures, please.”
“Just memories,” she said, guiding him in.
34
At ten A.M. the phone at Stone’s bedside rang; Stone turned over and answered before it occurred to him that he had ordered all his calls screened. “Hello?”
“Sleeping in?” Lance asked.
“I was.”
“Put Holly on the extension. I need to speak with you both.”
“Hang on.” Stone poked Holly’s sleeping ass with a finger, then, getting no response, poked it harder.
“What?” she said into her pillow.
“It’s Lance. He wants to speak to both of us.”
Holly rolled over and picked up the phone on her side. “What, Lance?”
“Now don’t be grumpy, this is an important call.”