Page 24 of His Turn

My cell phone rings in my suit coat pocket. I take it out, and look at the screen.

Nadia’s number. I recognize it from the other night when I called her.

“Yes,” I say, after tabbing accept.

“I just wanted to thank you for a lovely evening.”

I almost snort my drink. “Was it lovely?” I ask.

“Yes, it was. Didn’t you have a good time?”

“Not particularly,” I say.

“Was it me?”

“Are you needy tonight, Miss Wolfe?”

“Yes,” she says. She’s using that purring voice. The low, whispery, husky one. “I thought we’d spend the night together after dinner. I can’t deny I was a little disappointed.”

“Well.” I sigh. “New game, new rules, right?”

“I’m not sure. I never played the old game.”

“No, you didn’t,” I say. Which is the whole problem. I want the old game back and it’s gone for good. But I don’t tell her any of that. She’s not worth it.

“Would you like a goodnight… kiss?” she coos.

“You want to make sucky-face noises in the phone?” I ask. “Pass.”

She laughs then. A soft one. Maybe even a real one. “No, you dumbass. Like… phone sex, Bricman. Come on. Why are you so surly?”

“You want to phone-sex me?”

“Are you a phone sex virgin?”

“No… not exactly.”

“Have you ever done it before?”

“Did Jordan put you up to this?” I ask her.

“No. I just kissed him goodnight a few minutes ago. He enjoyed it, he said. Came all over my imaginary face.”

It’s my turn to laugh. Just a small one.

“Ha,” she says, still almost whispering. “I made you smile. So do you? Want to phone-sex, I mean?”

I look down at my cock and find it… uninterested.

“I can make it fun.”

“Were you a cam girl in your other life?”

“No,” she says. Still playful. “I just think it’s erotic to get someone off with words, you know? And imagination. It’s an art, I think.”

“And you’re what? A come artist?”

She chortles this time. “Call it whatever you want. But how about you unbutton your pants while we talk? Take that fat cock out and hold it. Grip it tight for me, Elias.”