Geography Read Free

asked. ‘That’s very old-school. I thought it was all about theory these days. Who was Laclos anyway?’
    â€˜He wrote Dangerous Liaisons . You know the film?’
    â€˜Yeah, Malkovich was a total prick. What is it with these films and young girls? Why are men obsessed with virgins?’
    â€˜You have to ask?’ Michael smiled. ‘When they look like Uma Thurman? You’re like her, you know. Tall. Blonde, grey eyes, young. What man wouldn’t find you attractive?’
    â€˜Give it a rest.’
    â€˜It’s a compliment,’ he persisted. ‘Women your age think everything is sexist. Everything is about politics, about being politically correct. But that’s not what the story is about. It’s about desire. It’s about love.’
    â€˜It’s about power, not love.’
    â€˜If you can explain the difference to me, I’d be pleased to hear it. People destroy each other. That is what they do. One day you’ll understand.’ He stopped himself.
    I didn’t like what he was saying; but he affected me. I felt like when I breathed him in, he changed me. He made my heart race, my eyes sting. I wondered if this was what people meant by ‘chemistry’.
    â€˜You can see why I don’t like to talk about my taste in books on the first date,’ he said. ‘Want another margarita?’
    At the end of the night Michael took me along Rodeo Drive. We were driving through Beverly Hills at three or so in the morning when a siren went off behind us and stayed there. Michael pulled over. Drunk, I opened the door to get out of the car and Michael pushed me back into my seat, startling me.
    â€˜What are you doing driving around at this hour?’ asked one of the cops, the one who was looming—slightly theatrically it seemed to me—over Michael. His gun was in his hand, though, which was not the kind of theatre I wanted to see.
    â€˜My friend is new in town, I’m showing her around.’
    â€˜Sure.’ They stood over him, belligerent, lecturing him to be more careful. Their guns remained in their hands all the while.
    After they left Michael sat staring at the wheel. ‘I will never, never get used to the police in this country. They really make you feel they could shoot you at any moment. I need a drink.’ He turned to me, agitated. ‘And what did you think you were doing? You could have been shot, trying to get out of the car like that.’
    I apologised, put a hand on his arm. ‘Come back to my room,’ I said. ‘I think there’s something to drink there.’ I was lying, I had no idea if there was anything to drink in my room or not.
    As it turned out there wasn’t a mini bar. Michael sat down on the only chair, his head in his hands. ‘Let’s go to my place. I’ve got some tequila.’
    I sat on the end of the bed, reached out, barely touched the back of his trembling hand with a finger. ‘Stay here,’ I said.
    Michael hesitated a long, long moment before sliding out of the chair and kneeling on the floor before me. He took my face in his hands, and paused again. ‘I’m not sure about this,’ he said. And then we kissed.
    â€˜Feel free to keep trying,’ I said, after Michael and I had been having sex for an hour or so, ‘but I can tell you now it’s not going to happen. Not after hours of drinking. Not the first time.’
    â€˜There might not be a second,’ he said and I couldn’t tell from his voice whether he was joking or not. ‘I’d make the most of it if I were you.’ It had been a long night. We finally called it quits, the job half done.
    â€˜You are beautiful, you know,’ he stroked me gently. ‘I meant what I said. But you’ve got more flesh on you than Uma. I like your flesh.’
    â€˜One more mention of Uma Thurman and this affair is over,’ I said, causing Michael to laugh out