Death Before Time by Andrew Puckett Read Free Book Online Page A

what you’re worried about.”
    “Is that so?” He looked into the mirror, but couldn’t see any car lights. “I think he’s mad enough for anything.”
    She looked at him. “What else was he saying to you?”
    He quickly told her ... “What’s going on, Helen?”
    She sighed audibly, said, “I thought I’d explained it.”
    He didn’t say anything. The engine purred, the night was soft and warm, closing round them like an intimacy. She said, “We had an affair. It was stupid and I’m regretting it.”
    “Had, or are having?”
    “Had, so far as I’m concerned, but he’s having some difficulty in accepting that.”
    “What was he saying to you earlier?”
    “What he always says, that we have to talk. It might have helped if you’d come back with the drinks,” she said pointedly.
    “I saw you there with him and … I didn’t know what to think …”
    “So I noticed.”
    He changed down as they started up the hill. “He’s mad, Helen.”
    “He’s neurotic.”
    “Has he threatened you?”
    “Not as such.”
    “As such … does Philip know?”
    “A little.”
    “I think you should tell him, all of it.”
    He concentrated on his driving as he went up through the hairpins, then said as they reached the top, “He gives me the ghoulies apart from anything else.”
    “Give you the what ?”
    “Ghoulies – as in ghoul.”
    “I thought for a moment you were being – Ahh - !”
    She gripped his arm as from nowhere, a roebuck sprang high over the road in front of them, its eyes glittering in the headlamps … another one followed –
    It hung above the car for a moment like an airship, then vanished into the night as though it had never been.
    “Jesus,” Fraser said reverently as he straightened the car .
    “Did one actually go over us?” she asked faintly.
    “Aye.”
    “What a night.”
    “Amen.”
    The deer had driven Ranjid from their thoughts and they drove in silence down through gentle fields to the main road. Ten minutes later, he pulled up outside her house.
    She said, “You’d better come and have some coffee if you’re really set on driving back to Bristol tonight.”
    “I could use something stronger.”
    “Well, you’re welcome, of course, but …”
    “No, coffee’ll be fine.”
    They walked to the door, she opened it, shut it after him.
    “Sit down while I put the cafetiere on,” she said, switching on the living room light.
    He sat on the sofa a few moments, then, unable to sit still, stood up, pretended to look at the pictures on the wall. She came back in.
    “It won’t be long.” She sat on the sofa, next to where he had been.
    He hesitated.
    “Sit down Fraser, I won’t bite.”
    “You’ll talk to Philip then?” he said as he sat beside her, “About Ranjid?”.
    “Yes,” she said.
    “He bothers me.”
    “So you said.”
    He turned towards her, intending to expand on why Ranjid bothered him, but found himself instead brushing her cheek with his lips … she turned, they tentatively nibbled for a moment, then he was kissing her mouth, her neck, her shoulders, nuzzling her through the thin dress … she put her hands behind his neck and pulled him to her, exploring him with her tongue …
    “Are you sure it’s not too soon for you?” she whispered.
    “Yeah …”
    Time passed. He broke off, knelt in front of her and slowly pushed his hands under her dress along the outsides of her legs, she groaned … he slid his hands over the seat of her jeans, round her waist, her ribcage …
    “Put the light out,” she breathed.
    He was across the room in a stride, snapped the switch and was back.
    She raised herself as he eased her jeans and pants away, eased her to the edge and bent his head … she was salty and warm, like the sea in September.
    Suddenly, she cried out and pushing him away, got on her knees and clawed at his flies … his trousers went inside out as they snagged on his feet, she tore off his pants and pulled him on top of her –
    He plunged