She walked into the kitchen. A steak knife was fine for wedging underneath fingernails, but for this she wanted to go with the classic psychotic stabbing utensil: a butcher knife. She'd brought her own.

That's what she'd used on her three previous men, so long ago, before she decided to give it up. Had their bodies ever been found, she might have considered using a different weapon, but since they hadn't, why not use what felt good in her hand?

She heard water running in the bathroom. Vivian quickly went into the bedroom and hid the knife under her pillow. Then she returned to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator, unsure if she'd find anything in there. A six-pack of beer with four cans left, and a couple of bottles of water. She took one of the bottles and returned to the bedroom.

* * *

Veronica was sprawled out on the bed when Travis returned, looking as if she were already set for another round. He hoped she didn't think it was going to happen this soon.

She sat up and tossed him a bottle of water. "You look dehydrated."

"Not that extreme, but I'm definitely thirsty." He unscrewed the cap and downed half of the contents of the bottle, then set it on the nightstand.

She patted the bed next to her. "C'mon. You're duty-bound to snuggle me."

"I can do that." He climbed onto the bed as Veronica rolled onto her side.

"I want to spoon you," she said.

"I should be the big spoon."

"It's my divorce celebration, so I'll decide who gets to be the big spoon and who gets to be the little one. C'mon. I want to run my fingers over those six-pack abs."

"Yeah, they're under that layer of fat somewhere."

Travis rolled onto his side and Veronica pressed herself against him. She gently ran her fingers down his chest, past his navel, and down to his penis.

"You're gonna have to give me some recovery time."

"I wasn't asking you to use it again," she said, stroking him. "Just enjoying how it feels."

"As long as you're managing expectations."

"I assure you, I'm not expecting a cyborg."

They lay there for a couple of minutes. This was nice. He liked the feel of her breasts against his back, and her lips gently kissing his shoulder. He could almost fall asleep.

Veronica shifted, adjusting her pillow.

"Roll on your stomach," she told him.

"Why?"

"So I can give you a backrub."

"No funny business back there."

"Not on our first date."

Travis laughed and obliged.

She ran her hands over his back. He flinched.

"What's wrong?"

"Tickles."

"Oh, sorry."

She ran her hands over him some more. Then she switched to one hand for a while.

It felt great, but Travis was slightly worried about what she was planning to do with that other hand. He supposed she'd give him some warning.