48. The Unmaking of a Confidence Man?

Chapter 4

Actor rolled over to lie on his back beside her.

Terry glanced at the night table. "Would you like a cigarette?"

"Yes, I would," he admitted.

While he took care of personal housekeeping, Terry reached a hand over and picked up the pack of cigarettes and the silver lighter. She tipped one out and put it in her mouth, returning the pack to the table top. She lit the end of the cigarette, took a puff to get it going and handed it over to him.

He took it from her and took in a deep breath of smoke.

Terry set the lighter atop the pack and picked up the ash tray. "Goniff steal your gold lighter again?"

"It would appear so," said Actor with exaggerated patience. He took the ashtray and set it on his chest. "You can have one, if you like," he offered, holding up the cigarette.

"Don't need one," she said, "but thanks." She stretched and relaxed back, a heavy lassitude flowing over her. "I think I could sleep for a whole day," she said, stifling a yawn.

"You did not get much sleep in the last day or two?"

"No. And you are very, very good at what you do," she admitted. "As I am sure you know."

"So are you," he replied in appreciation. "But I am afraid you are not going to get much sleep tonight."

Terry turned a raised eyebrow to him. He was ready for more? He glanced down at her expression and it brought a chuckle.

"I meant we must leave in the morning, or risk the wrath of a certain Lieutenant." He grinned. "Besides, I think you have had enough for one night."

Terry nodded. "But I think we are still in for the wrath of Garrison."

"No doubt."

Actor finished his cigarette and allowed Terry to put the ash tray back on the night table. "Turn the light out," he urged her.

As she did, he sat up and pulled the covers up over them both. Actor lie on his side facing her and held an arm out. "Come here, carissima."

Terry rolled over, burrowing her face into the fur of his chest. Of their own accord, their legs tangled together and arms went around each other. Actor pulled her close with an arm over her and her hand slid from his hip down to spread fingers over his buttock with a quick light squeeze. The last sound she heard was his deep chuckle rumbling through his chest into her ear.

Later, Actor awakened and rolled carefully onto his back, stretching in sated contentment. He turned his head to look at the woman beside him. She was lying on her side, facing him, eyes closed. He smiled and closed his eyes. A small hand slid across his belly and he gave a hum of pleasure. At his reaction to that, Teresa opened her eyes and smiled at him. She wiggled down so she could rest her head lower on his chest, her hand continuing to caress him. Teresa was like no other woman he had been with. Others had participated, sometimes with energetic enthusiasm, but Teresa always made sure she gave back to him the pleasure he had given her. He had the distinct feeling she enjoyed making love to him as much as he enjoyed making love to her.

It was 8am when Actor awakened. He eased his long frame carefully from the bed and slipped into his trousers, sans underwear or shirt. After a quick stop on the way, he went downstairs to the kitchen. His moka pot was retrieved from an upper cabinet and coffee taken from the freezer. He set the moka pot to brew and leaned back against the counter, reviewing the events in the room upstairs last night.

Teresa had been everything he had dreamed she was and so much more. He smiled as he remembered her responsiveness to his touch. And using touch alone, he had brought her to a peak she had never achieved before. To his surprise, she had pushed him gently unto his back, telling him it was his turn. He had protested, not liking women to force themselves on him, but she had been different. She had touched him gently and spoken softly to him the entire time, pointing out in a mix of English and Italian all of his marvelous attributes and searching to find the places on him he liked; his sweet spots she called them. Touching, caressing and sometimes asking to find how he liked to be touched, she had played him like a fine tune on a piano, making music and making his body sing. As she brought him close to his peak, she had allowed him to take over and finish in the way he wished. And what a finish it had been. She had promised him fireworks and that was what he had. To his delighted surprise, she had peaked again with him. Exhausted, Teresa had snuggled against him and gone to sleep.

Later, Actor had awakened and caressed her to wakefulness, making gentle love to her again. She had held him atop her in the aftermath, despite his greater weight on her, and called him an insatiable monster, all the while lips kissing his damp skin, letting him know she was pleased as her response to him had already affirmed.

After a short sleep, he had awakened and she had begun caressing him, ending in more lovemaking. It was nice to know he still had that much stamina left in him.

The sound of a key in the front door, brought Actor from his reverie. He walked out to the hall and watched the front door slowly open. John's head peeked carefully around. Spotting the Italian, he had straightened and stepped half inside, holding a sack out. Actor walked forward to accept it.

"Clara thought you would need some breakfast," whispered the man."It's not much."

Actor smiled and nodded. "Thank you. And thank her."

"I will, Sir," said John with a return smile. He eased back out the door and closed it silently behind him.

Still smiling, Actor took the sack into the kitchen. The aroma from the sack was mouthwatering. Clara did know how to bake and the contents were still hot. Getting a tray from a bottom cabinet, he placed the bread on a plate, got butter and jam from the refrigerator and poured two cups of espresso. The sugar bowl, napkins and butter knives went on the tray also and he carried it up the stairs.

Actor eased a hip on the edge of the bed, balancing the tray on his knees with one hand. He reached out and stroked the young woman's hair.

"Teresa, svalia," he said quietly.

Her eyes flickered and opened. She looked up at him and a welcoming smile graced her lips. "I wondered where you went." Her nose wrinkled as she sniffed. "Ooo, coffee . . . and fresh bread?"

"Breakfast," he replied with a grin.

Terry scooted up in bed to sit, pulling the sheet up over her chest and tucking it under her arms, strangely shy after their activity during the night. Actor set the tray on her lap, taking a piece of bread and buttering it. Terry stirred sugar into her coffee, took a sip and picked up a slice of thick bread.

"It's still warm," she exclaimed as she buttered it. She gave him a calculating look. "You don't strike me as the type to bake."

"Clara." Actor replied around a bite.

"Bless Clara," said Terry with a smile. "Glad she takes care of you."

"I think she is taking care of both of us."

They finished breakfast and Actor took the tray and dishes back downstairs. Terry remained in bed a little longer, luxuriating on the fine satin sheets and feather mattress. There was something to be said for the confidence man's style. When she heard the water turn on in the shower, she got up and put the nightgown back on. She smiled as she passed the bathroom door, and went down the stairs to the kitchen. Sure enough, there was more coffee. Terry filled the two cups on the counter and after taking a careful sip, she carried both upstairs and nudged the unlatched bathroom door open with her knee.

The water was still running in the shower, so Terry set the cups on the sink and removed her gown. She eased the curtain back and stepped into the tub. Actor was just rinsing off. Slicking his hair back, he turned and Terry gave him an appreciative look up and down.

"Oh, no, Teresa," objected the Italian. "Not again. If we do we will never get out of here, and that would be very difficult to explain to the Warden." And besides, he wasn't sure he was up for more lovemaking. The woman must be insatiable.

Terry hadn't really intended on starting anything, she was just enjoying the view, but she couldn't resist teasing him. "I'm sorry, Vittorio, did I wear you out last night?"

"Hardly," was the indignant response.

Terry laughed. "Your coffee is on the right side of the sink, tesoro."

"Thank you . . . marmocchia."

Terry raised an eyebrow at that. It should have warned him. They sidestepped each other to trade places. When Actor pulled the curtain back to step out, Terry reached back and pinched a buttock.

"Teresa!" he objected, rubbing the offended area. "Nice Italian ladies do not pinch a man's culo."

"Then they don't know what they're missing," she teased. "Besides, I've seen you do it to women you don't even know."

"That is different." He gave her an exaggerated narrow eyed, pinched mouth look that set her off laughing again. "I should have driven you straight back to the Mansion last night," he lamented.

"Yes, but you wouldn't have had so much fun," she shot back.

"True." He pulled the curtain shut and left her to shower alone.

GGG

Before they left the house, Actor held his hand out to Terry. She stared at the key that rested in his palm, and shot startled eyes up to his.

"It is yours if you wish," offered Actor seriously.

Terry slowly took the key. She did not think Actor would give it out lightly. "Thank you," she said softly.

"I will give you the telephone number for the Masons and let them know you have free access to the house," said Actor. "You have been so gracious to allow me the use of your flat in Brandonshire when I need to get away and I would like to extend the same to you, cara. If ever you need to get away where you cannot be found and have some time to yourself, you have a place to go now."

"And if I need to spend some time alone with you?" she asked.

He smiled crookedly. "I doubt that opportunity will ever arise again." There was a hint of regret in his voice.

"You're probably right," sighed Teresa. She put her arms around him and they exchanged a warm hug. "I'm glad we had last night," she said, "even if you did call me a marmocchia."

"I am glad also," he assured her, "even if you did pinch my culo."

"Ah, but it's such a lovely culo," teased Terry.

They both started laughing and Actor escorted her out of the house.

GGG

On the long drive back to the Mansion, Actor indulged himself in thoughts that he would normally not entertain. Teresa had made him laugh, had laughed herself, but had touched him and caressed him with a gentleness and appreciation that bordered on, or fully expressed, love. Her ministrations had been for his pleasure. Elizabeth, on the other hand, was smiling and welcoming, but though she liked to run her hands over his body, her concern was more with providing herself with more pleasure. Oh, afterward, she praised him, but the interaction between them was strictly for physical pleasure. Marilee had been a different matter. Wild and energetic, she too had been strictly concerned with her own pleasure and not his. She liked to be on top, something he did not object to, but her way of doing things had left him feeling like a sex toy afterwards. He had been truthful with Teresa in that he did not like aggressive women and Marilee was aggressive. But there were times he just wanted some relief without too much emotional involvement on his part. He had known from the start it would not last with the young British girl, but she was the first that it had ended on a sour note. He always tried to leave his women satisfied and happy.

The trouble with Teresa was that she made him want more. She had been so responsive beneath him. When she had come down afterwards, her concern had not been to get more for herself, but with giving him pleasure. It was a heady experience. Maybe he wasn't so jaded after all.

"Where are you?"

Actor glanced at the woman beside him. "I was thinking about last night."

"Second thoughts?" There was a hint of worry in her voice.

"Not at all, cara," he reassured her. "Just wishing we could have had more time together." He frowned. "Are you having second thoughts?"

"Not at all, caro," she parroted back. "Only the same as yours." Terry twisted in her seat to watch him. "Maybe we can find a time and place like that again."

"You are very optimistic," he replied wryly. "The chances of this opportunity happening again are very slim. And to plan anything would be unwise. We are both excellent at the con, but so is the Warden. He would catch on. Your family has done enough to you."

"So does that mean you are not interested in repeating this?" she asked casually.

Actor snorted. "You must be joking. There is so much more I wish to do to you. And so much more I would like to teach you."

GGGGG

They walked into the Mansion, apart and nonchalant. It didn't work. Garrison came out the door of his office, hands on hips, face thunderous.

"You two, in my office. . . NOW!"

Casino made the mistake of snickering. Actor and Terry studiously ignored him. Craig gave him such an icily angry look, the snicker died immediately. Garrison slammed the door shut behind him and walked around to lean on stiff arms atop his desk. He glared at his errant con man and equally errant sister.

"Okay, let's have it! Where were you two and why are you so late?"

Actor took a cigarette from his inner coat pocket and lit it, taking a long drag and blowing the smoke out slowly. "I believe Teresa told you last night. We stayed at the house of some friends until this morning. The Masons."

"Clara and John," added Terry. "Nice older couple."

Craig looked back and forth between the two, trying to spot the con. "And just suppose I believe this story of yours, why did it take you so long to get back today?"

"She was exhausted, Lieutenant. I allowed her to sleep late," said the con man, practically daring Craig to contradict him.

Garrison continued to look back and forth between the two of them.

"Oh, forget it, Actor," said Terry suddenly and breezily. "Okay, Craig, here it is. We got out of the air raid shelter and holed up somewhere and spent the night having hot and heavy sex."

Actor's cigarette stopped halfway to his mouth and his head turned slowly to stare at the woman with wide, incredulous eyes. She looked back and shot a big fake grin at him. He rolled his eyes and looked away, carefully avoiding the Warden until he could get a con back in place the officer would believe.

Terry turned and headed toward the door, pausing with her hand on the knob to turn back to her brother. "And by the way, he's very good." She walked out and shut the door behind her.

Actor closed his eyes and wondered how he was going to get out of this one. Right now he could have cheerfully strangled Teresa.

"Sorry, Actor."

The con man couldn't believe he had heard that. He looked at an amused Garrison.

"I can't do anything with her," said Craig. "She thinks you're just too much fun to tease."

"She is . . ." Actor was uncharacteristically short of words that he could safely use in front of the young woman's brother.

"A brat," filled in Craig. "Thanks for taking care of her."

Actor just nodded and headed for the door.

"By the way," Garrison's voice stopped him in his tracks. "What did you use for gas ration tickets?"

Actor looked over his shoulder with a raised eyebrow.

Craig shook his head, "Never mind. I don't want to know, do I?"

"I really couldn't say, Warden."

Actor continued out of the office, closing the door behind him. The girl was waiting for him. He gave Terry an exasperated look. She just smiled cockily with an 'I knew what I was doing' look.