Chapter 53: Lovers, Part 1

James

"You're very quiet," I say.

"Am I?"

"You are."

"Well, you're the talker."

"Let's us say then that your silence today is louder than usual. What are you thinking about?"

Michael heaves a sigh. "What do you think?"

"Of course, Charlotte. Would you like to be a bit more specific?"

"You don't think we're treating her like trade goods? Is this ethical what we've been talking about? I'm beginning to feel that we might be treating her as though we're measuring her by the state of her teeth and fetlocks."

"Mmmm.... And are you telling me that her 'teeth and fetlocks' aren't at least part of the attraction she has for you?"

He looks uncomfortable. "No, of course not. She's beautiful. Who could deny it? But how many beautiful women have we fucked between us over the years?"

I don't speak, leaving a silence for him to fill.

He looks askance at me....

He knows what you're doing....

.... but continues nonetheless. "Something happened to her you know," he says.

"W