Sunday morning, the battery-operated emergency radio said more storms were expected with the possibility of dangerous winds. “All we need,” Cassie said to Mat. Bits of branches from the neighbor’s tree, downed in yesterday’s storm, still littered the street out front. The power was still out. “Anyway, what I need is my coffee and I need it now,” Cassie declared.

Outside the air was still. Mat and Cassie drove the six blocks to the Blue Coyote Café. The power there was still on. The Blue Coyote was more crowded than usual. All the window and wall tables where they usually sat were occupied. Cassie and Mat seated themselves at a center table. “I feel so exposed,” Cassie whispered. Mat smiled. Cassie said, “Do you think it’s hot in here? Shouldn’t they turn on the AC?” She took a sip of her coffee. “So hot,” she repeated, “I can feel the sweat dripping between my breasts.”

“Mmmm,” Mat hummed. “The sweet slow drip of woman sweat. I wish I could lick it. I wish I could lick you.”

“You’re not helping,” Cassie said. “You’re just making me hotter.”

“I know,” Mat said. “I can see your nipples fattening up under your shirt.” He pulled his phone from the pouch at his belt. “I’m going to take a picture of them.”

“You’re so bad,” Cassie said. “So bad and naughty.”

Outside it was raining now. Inside, Miles Davis’s “Birth of the Cool” was playing on the Blue Coyote’s sound system. Mat leaned closer across the table. “Squeeze your cunt,” he whispered over the slur of Miles’ trumpet. “Squeeze your cunt six times. See if that works.”

Cassie’s eyes flickered. “It doesn’t help,” she said. “It makes things worse.”

Mat aimed his camera at Cassie’s face. “Do that again,” he said. “Please?”

“No,” Cassie said. “I have to go to the bathroom.” She got up abruptly and left the table. While she was gone, Mat took several pictures of the rain out the window.

“That’s better,” Cassie said upon coming back to the table. “Did you miss me?”

“I did,” Mat said. “I missed you so much. Were you taking a bath in there?”

“Funny man,” Cassie said.

“I can imagine you in the bath,” Mat said. “Stepping out of the tub. Dripping. I’d wrap you in the softest, whitest towel. And then I’d unwrap you.”

Cassie reached her hand across the table. Mat took her hand in his. He brought her fingers to his lips.

“I had that finger all the way in,” Cassie said, while Mat kissed it. “I was so wet. It felt so good. I thought of you, for a little while, and then I didn’t think of anything.”

Mat closed his eyes. He took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of Cassie’s sex. Outside, the rain was drumming down.

“It’s so hot in here,” Mat said. “Want to walk home in the rain?”

Cassie laughed. “We’ll get so soaked,” she said. But she stood up, still holding Mat’s hand, and out they went into the warm rain.