Fannie raised her eyebrows and undid the ties on her wrap dress, a classic Diane von Furstenberg in a bluish cheetah print. She kicked off her black suede heels and opened up her dress. She had on a black lace bra with a front latch and absolutely nothing else down below. She widened her knees and leaned back into the plushy chair, a grin on her lips. “Take off those goddamn silly socks.”

Ray took off his socks so fast Fannie thought he was going to trip right on his face. Within a few seconds, he was down to nothing but his silk boxers, pulling her up to her feet and peeling the dress off her shoulders. She could feel his lips and mustache against her neck as he told her how damn beautiful she was, reaching down and rubbing her between her legs. She led him back through French doors and onto the bed, where he scrambled out of his boxers and lay on top of her, saying the damn nicest things to her. There was no preamble or foreplay, just getting on down to business. He smelled like good cigarettes and cheap aftershave.

“Can we at least play some music?”

“There will be music later.”

“Oh, my hair.”

“I’ll get you a place at the salon.”

“Ray.”

Ray’s eyes were closed as he worked in a steady rhythm over her, Fannie reaching around his waist with her legs and hooking her feet at the ankles, locking him in place. Feeling all his energy and heat. She’d never felt him being so damn forceful with her, riding her like Bill Shoemaker on Silky Sullivan, heading on toward the finish line. “Ray,” she said. “Slow down, Ray. We have all night.”

His back felt hot. Ray had never been a man who had trouble rising to the occasion, but it seemed like he was having a hard time getting there. His Saint Christopher medal swung over her like a pendulum. Fannie felt for him and pushed him onto his back, his head on the pillow, telling him just to be cool and relax, don’t push anything, she’d do all the work. And Fannie screwed Ray so hard, she about drove him down into the thick mattress. Now it was Fannie’s time, feeling she was nearly there, about to break apart, riding him slow but hard as hell, screwing him down into the bed like a pile driver. His eyes had grown wide and his breath shortened as she was nearly there. His face drained of color and he looked as if he might be in some kind of pain, like he would break apart. A roiling deep down in his throat.

“OK, Ray,” Fannie said. “OK.”