«And I read,» said Joe, winking, «love making is good for health, and abstinence isn’t.»
She did not get ashamed, but she glared at him with such visible disgust that he felt offended. Marina took up the glass with her beverage, and, observing how she tasted it with a straw, Joe forgave her for that scornful look, because of the sexy dreams played in his mind.
Taking her drink, she slowly moved to a pool table. She put her glass on the edge, then chose a cue stick, checked it, and chalked it. Curving her body like a cat, she bent over the table and racked the balls. And watching her actions, Joe adored her every movement, feeling excited as never before in his life.
Keeping silent, they started playing, then he asked, «What does Russia look like?»
«What does the U.S.A. look like?» she replied derisively. «It’s a huge country.»
Jones giggled understanding. «Okay,» he said peacefully. «I’ve got your point.»
He made a strike and looked at her. «Where are you from?»
«Saint Petersburg.» She sighed, as she hit a ball with her cue.
«Really?» he wondered, and Marina gazed at him, surprised by that reaction.
«My mom’s from St. Petersburg…» He paused, then continued. «Florida! Get it?»
«Do you know that the Florida’s St. Petersburg had been founded by a Russian military officer?» she asked proudly. «This is why he named this place as his home city.»
«Wow! No, I didn’t know. Thanks. So, how does Saint-Petersburg look?»
«Some people say it looks like Paris.» Marina put her cue on the table, and took up her glass. «Have you ever visited Paris?»
«No.»
«Me either,» Marina leaned on her cue, and Joe carefully hugged her shoulders. She did not protest, continuing to talk. «It’s a very beautiful city. Canals and basilicas, palaces and museums, parks and squares…»
She looked into her glass. It was empty, and Joe went to the counter.
«Martin!» he called, and when the bartender neared Joe, he asked quietly, «Repeat it, please. But make it a little bit… stronger, okay?»
The barman grinned. «Wanna make her tipsy?» He glanced at Marina.
Watching TV, the girl did not look at them, and he gave Joe a wink. «Do you think it’s possible? I bet she’s able to throw down even pure alcohol without batting an eyelid.»
«We’ll see, buddy.» Joe chuckled, taking the beverage. He went close to Marina and got a whiff of her fluffy white hair smelling like fresh grain.
As if it was a giant hand squeezed Joe, and he lost all sense of reality.
He saw himself in the middle of a sunlit wheat field. No one was around, except for a totally naked blonde girl in front of him, and, trembling with fervor, he stared at her lithesome back. Curving her slender body, she stretched, and he could endure it no longer. Crazy with desire, he rushed forward, but she turned toward him, and the nip of her odd freezing eyes instantly threw him back to Earth.