Even though my eyes were closed, it still felt like the floor was tilting and turning. I wasn’t frightened as much as I was a little embarrassed. I had had wine and even rum and never felt this way. I had thought his drink was nothing much more than lemonade. I tried to laugh, but it was as if I couldn’t move.

“Corrine,” I heard him whisper. And then I felt his lips on mine.

I didn’t want to open my eyes. My body seemed to be sinking into the soft rug. He said my name again and kissed me on the neck, unbuttoning my blouse so he could move his kisses to my shoulder and then down between my breasts. A tiny streak of lightning shot up my legs, into the small of my stomach, and up to my breasts.

His lips were nearly touching my ear when he whispered, “You are so beautiful.”

Was I smiling? My face felt as if it was drifting away. I think I wore a silly grin. I heard him chuckle.

“I’m floating away,” I said. “Hold me down before I disappear.”

I laughed after I said it, and he laughed, too.

“No, you’re not disappearing. You’re dreaming. I just happened to slip into your fantasy, which is now mine as well.”

His lips were on my neck again, moving like silk over my cheeks and my closed eyes, pressing softly and then pressing harder to my lips. While he kissed me, his hands were moving all over my body. I wanted to lift my arms to bring a moment of hesitation to us, but they were so heavy I didn’t get them an inch off the rug. I felt his fingers undoing all my clothes, and all I did was moan. I’m sure that only encouraged him.

When his hand caressed my uncovered breast and his lips closed on my nipple, I finally opened my eyes. He went from one breast to the other, muttering how perfect I was and how much he wanted me.

“You want me to,” he said. “Just as much, if not more. Am I right?”

Before I could speak, he was pressing his mouth on mine, and his hands were softly lowering my chemise and then my drawers.

I wondered if this was really happening or if I was, as he had said, in a dream.

“Oh, Corrine,” he whispered. “Oh, Corrine, you’re like a goddess come to earth.”

I knew what I was feeling between my legs. I wanted to warn him, to stop him from thinking I was so easily willing to do this, but he pressed on, grunting and pushing until he was in me.

It was a little more painful than I had anticipated. I uttered a small cry.

“I thought you were a woman of the world,” he said, not whispering now but sounding more like someone complaining. “You had me fooled.”