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I wave s and slouches out id I close the doors behind him as mellow"Linger," and I’ the antique pool table in the center of the roo over to the booth where Lauren’s splayed out Except for candies and the very di froe, but then one of the spotlights outside on the street bea again, only to bea around us in a harsh, low

"My psychiatrist wears a tiara," Lauren says froan and she wears a giant diamond tiara"

I’m silent for a , baby"

Lauren struggles up out of the booth and, standing unsteadily, grabs he edge of the table for support, shakes her head to clear it and then lances slowly, gracelessly with herself across the raw concrete floor over to the pool table and I reach out and touch the strand of pearls I suddenly notice draped around her neck, trying to , Victor?" she asks, drea It’s called squir, baby"

"Oh, don’t squirm, lovebutton," she pouts

"I think there’s quite a bit to squirht," I say tiredly "In fact, I think lovebutton’s squirroans, still swaying to the uy when I firstpause "You were so sweet"

After a , I clear my throat "Us" A realization "Except for, u, considers this, then ad you’ve probably ever said"

And then I ask, "Did you ain "I mean about us" Pause "And all that," I add

I hand her the bottle of vodka She takes it, starts to drink, stops, puts it on the pool table The rays fro it for seconds, her eyes closed, tearing, her head slightly turned; a hand is brought up to her mouth, and it’s curled

"What?" I carefully move the icy bottle of vodka off the pool table so it won’t leave a da on the felt "Is this all too bummerish?"

She nods slowly and then moves her face next to ridlock and the relentless roar of the massive crowd outside is carried up in waves to where we’re stu "Dump Damien, baby" into her ear as she pushes me ahen she feels how hard I am

"It’s not that siet it," I say casually "Lust never sleeps, right?"

"No, Victor" She clears her throat, walks slowly around the pool table I follow her "It’s not that It’s just not that sirasping, sending out a vibe

She suddenly rushes up tohappens for a reason?" she’s asking, breathing hard,happens for a reason, Victor?" And then, "Victor, I’m so scared I’h," I whisper into her hair, pushing against her, easing her slowly against the pool table "Okay, baby?" I’ down below her waist, and she’s whispering back "Don’t" and I’ underneath her dress, unable to stop h the door, i her panties, one finger slipping inside, touching first the hair there and then a crease and beyond that an entrance that I can actually feel daently at first and then more insistently until another slips inside and Lauren’s pressing herself against me, her mouth locked onto mine, but I push her back because I want to see the expression her face ison the pool table with both legs spread and raised up, her hands on the back of ain,too but suddenly she pulls back, looking past me, and when I turn around, visible in the darkness of the VIP rooainst the s that look over Union Square