"Yes," she said slowly. "But how can this be possible? How can I be seeing it on my television, and talking to you?"

He shook his dark head. "I have absolutely no idea," he answered honestly. "My reality seems to be your fantasy."

"Omigod!" she half whispered. "I'm asleep, then. Right?"

"Nope," he told her. "You're very much awake, Nora, my darling. Come and join me now." This time the smile he gave her was seductive and slow. It promised to fulfill her deepest desires.

"How?"

He placed his palm against the television's screen from the opposite side so that it faced her. "Match your hand to mine," he said, "and we'll be together."

"I'll be with you? In that apartment?" Nora sounded dubious. "And just how do I get back here to my own house, then?"

"Every woman visiting The Channel is returned at the end of the evening," he replied. "It just happens. Carla wouldn't steer you wrong, Nora, darling. You know she wouldn't. Come on over, Red Rover, and play with me. I play nice, and you know you really want to be with me."

"I don't think so," Nora answered him.

"Why not? Afraid?" he half taunted her. "You never used to be afraid of anything when you were a kid, darling."

"Maybe you haven't noticed," Nora remarked dryly, "but I'm not a kid any longer. I'm closer to fifty than forty. I've got about thirty pounds on me I didn't have way back when. My hair is showing signs of graying, and you, Mr. Gorgeous, should have someone equally gorgeous." She reached for the remote. It was past time to turn this thing off. She had to be dreaming, but if she shut The Channel down and woke herself up, maybe, just maybe, she could catch Mystery on PBS.

"Don't send me away, Nora, darling," he pleaded, divining her intent. "This is your fantasy, and you actually have the chance to live it. Here you can be whatever you want to be, and do whatever you want to do. If younger and sexy is what you desire, then you shall be young and sexy. The Channel allows you this unique opportunity."

Nora hesitated, fascinated by his words, surprised that she was actually beginning to consider them seriously. "You mean if I want to be thirty again, one hundred and twenty pounds, and have perky boobs again, I can?" This was crazy. Why was she even listening to him? Then she smiled to herself. She was listening because he was charming, and very tempting. It had been forever since a man had spoken to her as if she was a sensual and intelligent woman. Not someone's wife, or mother, or servant.

"You can be whoever you want to be when you're with me," he repeated. "Tell me what you would wear," he enticed her softly.

"Something sexy. I don't know," she said.

"I'd like to see you in a teddy. Black lace against your white skin, and red hair," Kyle murmured low.

"But no bikini bottom," she answered him, blushing at the vocal thought. "No, no teddy. I think one of those little short robes. Black silk. Just grazing the tops of my thighs."

"Yes, I'd like that. Just long enough to cover your pretty little pussy," he said.

Her cheeks were burning with his words. "Why do you prefer the robe?" she asked him.

"Because it would make it a whole lot easier to fuck you," he admitted frankly. Then he laughed. "You're blushing again. I can see it even with just the light from the television on your face. How long has it been since you were well and truly fucked, Nora, my darling?"

"Years," she sighed gustily. "Hell, you know the answer, Kyle. You don't have to ask me, do you?"

"The first time we do it," he told her, "we'll do it quickly because you need it badly. Then after that, we'll do it slowly. I'll make you scream with your orgasm. Jeff never made you scream, but I can."

"No," she said, "Jeff never made me scream. All he wanted to do was to satisfy himself. Still it was better than nothing, which is what I've been getting for the last few years," she finished tightly.

"Pity the other woman, Nora darling," he said. "Once the novelty wears off he'll start treating her the way he's treated you. She's going to be stuck. In ten years Jeff will be ready for Social Security, but you'll have me, and anyone else you want, for as long as you want," Kyle told her. "Would you like to have a threesome with another guy? Of course you would, Nora. And you can whenever you want to, Red Rover."

"Would you be jealous if another man screwed me?" she asked him.

"If all I could do was just sit and watch, yeah, damned straight, I would be!" Kyle said. "But it's your fantasy, Nora. You can do whatever you want to do with me. You might say I'm your slave." The quick smile flashed again.

Nora drew a long, slow, deep breath to clear her head. She was almost dizzy with the possibilities he offered. This was certainly the wildest dream she had ever had. While she was a little afraid of it, it was also very exciting. None of it was really happening of course. It just couldn't be. Yet, what if it was real? No, she thought. It wasn't real. Things like this just didn't exist. But the thought of Mr. Gorgeous as her personal slave, her boy toy, made her giggle. "Do you know Carla?" she asked him, suddenly curious.

He shook his head. "Only that she's your best friend. I'm your fantasy, Nora. Carla has her own fantasy. Every woman is different. Every woman has her own secret and private world. Some fantasies are sexual in nature, as yours. Some noble, or just plain fun. Some people, I am told, enjoy reliving a happier time in their lives."

She grew quiet now as he stood silent in his white towel looking longingly at her. How old was he? He was one of those ageless men with no hint as to his years. And who was he really? Some actor probably. But how would an actor know her name, and all her secrets? Especially from the other side of a television screen. What the hell was going on? How was any of this possible if she wasn't dreaming?

Nora pinched herself, starting as she felt the painful pressure of her fingers on her flesh. That was most definitely real. "Omigod!" she whispered again. It was very real, and very Faustian to boot. She looked directly at Kyle. "If," she said, "and it's a pretty big if, I came over to your side of things, what's the price I'd have to pay for it? Who controls The Channel, and what do they want in exchange for my buying into it?"

"Your soul," he said, and when she gasped he laughed aloud. "Just kidding. You'll get charged three ninety-five on your cable bill for a movie every time you visit The Channel, or you can add it to your program package for twelve dollars a month. That's all there is to it. Nothing sinister at all."

"Suburban Cable just thought it would be fun for its bored, discontented, overweight housewives to have a little interactive amusement, huh?" Nora said caustically.

He shrugged. "I don't know. Nora, my darling, why can't you just accept what's happening? The apartment. Me. We've been created out of your deepest imagination. Why are you unhappy with us?"

"I don't understand it," Nora admitted to him.

"Do you have to understand everything?" he asked. "Look, Nora, your friends turned you on to The Channel because they thought it was time, and they felt you needed it. Right now your reality sucks, and you need your fantasies if you're going to survive what's coming. Isn't that so? Damn, Nora, I want to reach out, take you in my arms, and comfort you. This isn't bad. It's good. Put your hand on mine, darling, and come over, Red Rover. I'll make the sadness go away, I promise you. I will." He stood directly before her, filling the television screen, pressing his big palm, fingers outspread, up for her to match with his. "Nora," he begged her, "please!"

This is not real, one side of her brain said. You are not having a conversation with a man in the TV. Well, if it isn't real, then why don't you put your hand on his and prove it? the other side of her brain taunted her. What if she actually put her hand up and was zapped into that dream apartment with this dream man, and he turned out to be a monster? She laughed bitterly. Would he be any worse than the man to whom she was married? Who was about to leave her for another woman? This was a dream. It was! So she was going to put her hand on his, and maybe she would be in that apartment, and then what?

Go ahead, the little voice in her head pressed her. Why are you always so afraid to try something new? Whatever you do with Kyle, at least it's only in your imagination. Not like your cheating husband, who is probably banging his girlfriend right now without a thought for you, or the children you share.

She put her spoon aside, and arose from her recliner. Kneeling before the television, she matched her hand to his. One hundred and twenty pounds and a pair of perky boobs, here I come! And Nora smiled to herself as she thought it. Still it wasn't going to happen, and she knew it. But what the hell! It was only a wild dream. A wonderful wild dream. And then her head began to spin.

Chapter Two


She actually felt a popping sensation within her body. Her head began to clear, and there was the distinct feeling of arms about her. Strong arms, and a very hard body. Nervously Nora opened her eyes and looked up into a pair of leaf green eyes laughing down at her. "Kyle?" she whispered. God! He was even better looking close-up. She closed her eyes again. This was not happening.