Strangely enough, none of the windows in the Mayner house had curtains, blinds or draperies. For a recluse, he had no concept of privacy. But this time he was not alone. He was facing the front hallway of his house. Belinda could see the rigid tension in his posture.

He was only wearing his fur poncho. The only lighting in the house appeared to come from the blazing fireplace behind him.

In the adjacent window appeared a female figure who was slowly moving toward Mayner in the living-room. Belinda thought of the new binoculars--and she hated herself for it. With only a moment's hesitation, she fetched the binoculars from the hallway and hurried back to the kitchen window.

This ain't normal, she thought as she put the glasses in front of her eyes and adjusted the focus. But then again my neighbor ain't normal.

The view through the binoculars was not brighter than naked-eye vision, but much sharper. Now she could make out more details. Mayner was standing still, his powerful arms tense by his side, clenching his fist while he looked at the visitor.

He made a very slight bow of his head, like a formal greeting, but he did not relax at all. The visitor, visible only in profile, was a stunningly voluptuous woman of medium or below medium height. Her mass of curly blonde hair grew down to her waist. She was wearing numerous gleaming bangles, rings and what might be a golden tiara around her head. Her lush curves were wrapped in a silk-like diaphanous gown.

Belinda watched and held her breath for so long she had to gasp for air. Who was this woman and what on Earth was she doing in this God-forsaken suburb? Why wasn't there a single car parked outside Mayner's house? How did the visitor get through the snow to his house in the first place?

The voluptuous blonde opened her thin lips and spoke.

Belinda zoomed in the woman's face and tried to read her lips through the binoculars, but all she found was that the woman was smiling at Mayner. He shook his head in response. The woman moved a step closer...and suddenly Mayner backed away and raised one large fist at her.

This was the first time Belinda had seen him shaken. But the visitor was not behaving in a threatening manner, quite the opposite. She kept talking as she gently grasped Mayner's raised fist and held it with long, slender fingers...

Belinda looked on with disbelief and excitement rising inside her as she saw the blonde woman extend a wet tongue and lick Mayner's fist. The woman kissed and sucked each knuckle in turn, then leaned her head closer and took his thumb in her mouth. She sucked on it so intensely that her cheeks were pulled in and while she did, her eyes stayed wide open, fixed on Mayner's face.

Belinda felt herself getting wet between her legs. She had to stop watching now, she knew it was wrong, but had to see more. She continued to observe the silent drama through the binoculars and saw Mayner stagger, his massive back rigid, as if he were fighting himself.

With what seemed like an effort, he extended his free hand and grabbed the woman's long hair. The woman made a grimace. He pulled her head backward, slowly, and she let go of his other hand...then she smiled, as if to say I've got you now.