The Last Don - Mario Puzo [141]
They stood on the balcony and watched the room illuminate the beach sand with a spooky yellow glow, the other Malibu houses squatted along the water showing little boxes of light. Tiny birds, as if playing a game, ran in and out of the incom-ing waves to escape getting wet.
Athena put her hand on Cross’s shoulder, around his body, the other hand reaching out to pull his mouth down to hers. They kissed for a long time as the warm ocean air washed over them. Then Athena led him inside the bedroom.
She undressed quickly, slipping out of her green blouse and slacks. Her white body flashed in the moon-ridden darkness. She was as beautiful as he had imagined. The rising breasts with their raspberry nipples seemed spun of sugar. Her long legs, the curve of her hips, the blond hair at her crotch, her absolute stillness, limned by misty ocean air.
Cross reached out for her body and her flesh was velvet, her lips filled with the scent of flowers. The sheer joy of touching her was so sweet he could not do anything else. Athena began to undress him. She did so gently, running her hands over his body as he had over hers. Then, kissing him, she gently pulled him onto the bed.
Cross made love with a passion he had never known or even dreamed existed. He was so urgent that Athena had to stroke his face to gentle him. He could not let loose of her body, even after they climaxed. They lay intertwined until they began again. She was even more ardent than before, as if it was some sort of contest, some sort of avowal. Finally they both drifted off into slumber.
Cross awoke just as the sun showed above the horizon. For the first time in his life, he had a headache. Naked, he moved onto the balcony and sat on one of the straw chairs. He watched the sun shine over the ocean.
She was a dangerous woman. The murderer of her own child, whose bones were now filled with desert sand. And she was too skillful in bed. She could be the end of him. At that moment he decided he would never see her again.
Then he felt her arms around his neck and his face twisted around to kiss her. She was in a white fluffy bathrobe, and her hair was held in place by pins that glittered like jewels in a crown. “Take a shower and I’ll make you breakfast before you go,” she said.
She led him into the double bathroom, two sinks, two marble counters, two bathtubs, and two showers. It was stocked with men’s toilet articles, razors, shaving cream, skin toners, brushes, and combs.
When he had finished and was out on the balcony again, Athena brought a tray with croissants, coffee, and orange juice to the table. “I can make you bacon and eggs,” she said.
“This is fine,” Cross said.
“When will I see you again?” Athena asked.
“I have lots of things to do in Las Vegas,” Cross said. “I’ll call you next week.”
Athena gave him an appraising look. “That means good-bye, doesn’t it?” she asked. “And I really enjoyed last night.”
Cross shrugged. “You paid off your obligation,” he said.
She gave him a good-humored grin and said, “And with amazing goodwill, don’t you think? It wasn’t begrudging.”
Cross laughed. “No,” he said.
She seemed to read his mind. Last night they had lied to each other, this morning the lies had no power. She seemed to know that her beauty was too much for him to trust. That he felt in danger with her, and with her confessed sins. She seemed deep in thought and ate silently. Then she said to him, “I know you’re busy but I have something to show you. Can you spare this morning and catch an afternoon plane? It’s important. I want to take you someplace.”
Cross could not resist spending one last time with her and so he said yes.
Athena drove them in her car, a Mercedes SL 300, and took the highway south to San Diego. But just before they reached the city, she turned off into a thin road that led inland through the mountains.
In fifteen minutes they came to a compound enclosed by barbed wire. Inside the compound were six redbrick buildings separated by green