The Mistress - Jill Childs Page 0,86

slipped in my hands. Ground coffee scattered across the counter.

‘Easy, there!’ He was at my shoulder, his hands reaching for mine to take over.

I started. I hadn’t heard the door, hadn’t realised he’d come out. What if he’d been watching me, if he’d seen me returning the phone?

‘You okay?’ His breath smelled of garlic and red wine.

I nodded and turned away. ‘Let’s have coffee near the windows. Looking out at the valley.’

I leaned over the dining table and blew out the candles, one by one. Puffs of pungent smoke.

He was suddenly behind me, pressing me forward against the edge of the table. I shivered. He’d moved with speed and stealth and now he was pinning me there.

‘I know what you’re up to.’ His breath flared hot against my ear.

I closed my eyes.

His large hands slid round to the front of my dress and cupped my breasts, then squeezed.

‘You’re trying to turn me on,’ he said. ‘And you’re doing a damn good job.’

I put my hands over his. ‘So are you.’ I twisted round in his arms and he kissed me, urgent now and loosened by wine.

When he paused, I moved quickly and lifted his arms away.

‘Wait.’ I put a finger to his lips. ‘I’ve been thinking.’

He frowned.

I wriggled against him and felt his body respond to mine. Eight minutes to go, maybe. Seven.

‘Maybe it’s been my fault, Ralph. At least, partly.’ I kept my voice low. ‘I’ve been so focussed on Anna all these years. I forgot to look after you the way I should. I’m sorry. I didn’t pay you enough attention.’

His eyes were on mine, cautious, wondering where this was going.

I smiled. ‘Don’t look so stern, Mr Mack. I’m just saying, I want to make some changes around here. I want to have fun again. With you.’

‘Sounds good to me.’ He lowered his face, moving in again to kiss me.

I pulled away. ‘Wait. I mean it. I want to wow you, Ralph. I want to be so good, you’ll never want another woman again.’

I pressed my lips against his and parted them, teased him with the tip of my tongue.

‘Can we try something new?’ I whispered. ‘Something we’ve never done before?’

It was his turn to tremble. The whites of his eyes glistened in the darkness.

Five minutes. Maybe four.

‘Something a bit kinky. Outside.’

He moistened his lips.

‘Close your eyes.’

I made him stand there, legs parted, hands on the tabletop while I slid open a kitchen drawer and took out belts and scarves and a small, stuffed envelope.

I fastened the scarf tightly round his head, binding his eyes. ‘Do you trust me?’

He nodded. I kissed him lightly on the lips, then lifted his hands behind his back and fastened them with the belt, knotting it as hard as I could.

He flexed his fingers. ‘That’s tight.’

I bit his ear lobe. ‘That’s how I want it.’

He said, less certain now, ‘Are you sure about this?’

‘Oh yes.’ I pressed myself against him. ‘I want to surprise you. Let’s take this outside.’

It was time. I picked up my car keys and the thick envelope from the counter and slipped them into my bag, slung it on my shoulder, then walked him towards the door, keeping my body close to his.

He said, ‘Have you got a blanket? It might get cold.’

‘Don’t worry. I’ve got it all planned.’

He smiled, snaked his tongue round his lips.

I opened the front door and led him out, then unlocked the hire car and opened the back seat. I helped him inside, head first, my hands guiding him.

He shuffled onto his back, lying awkwardly on his bound wrists, his legs dangling. ‘Like this?’

‘Perfect.’

I bent up his knees and knotted a final belt as tightly as I could around his ankles. He squirmed, trussed.

‘I’m not sure this is going to work, Helen.’ He wriggled, trying to sit up in the cramped space and failing. ‘Maybe if you undid my hands?’ He was starting to sound worried.

I withdrew from the car and stood up, looking round.

A man stepped out of the shadows, as silent as a cat.

Mike Ridge didn’t say a word. He just nodded at me, then took my place at the open back door, leaning in to Ralph. A sudden ripping noise, like a plaster being torn off a wound. Then another and another. Then all I could hear were muffled sounds of alarm.

Mike straightened up, shut the car door on Ralph and motioned me off to one side.

He put out his hand and I dug the envelope and the car keys