Chapter 522

• "Might as well lose the shirt too," she said, unbuttoning herself and then pulling her arms through. This revealed a plain white undergarment. "Unclasp me," she commanded, and with trembling hands I did so. I affirm that I averted my eyes from her exposed bosom, and its twin milk-white prominences topped with delectable strawberry-red growth, for I would not wish to impinge upon her decency more than necessary.
• I reached down below the small of her back, under her scarlet skirt, and undid the clasp there as well. The skirt fell to the floor in a pile of red ruffles, from which emerged two alabaster pillars. A lower undergarment was swiftly discarded. She turned to face me, my eyes -- I swear -- fixed on hers.
• "Thank you, Howard, for everything," she said and then gave me a full kiss, this time on the lips. And then she turned around, crouched, crawled, into the canal of the statue.