The Life and Loves of Gringo Greene by David Carter Read Free Book Online Page B

fifths full, not his favourite drink; in fact he was a moderate drinker altogether, leastways, he told himself that.
       Melanie had returned. She’d ditched the coat. She’d fixed her lipstick again, and done something to her hair. Gringo couldn’t keep his eyes from her, as the coffee machine was coming to a climax.
       ‘Can I ask you something?’ she said.
       ‘Anything you like.’
       ‘Can I have another kiss?’
       ‘You can have a kiss any time you want.’
       ‘Really?’
       ‘Sure. Anytime.’
       ‘Come here then,’ she said.
       ‘You come here.’
       ‘No, you come here.’
       ‘You come here! Or the offer’s lapsed.’
       ‘Don’t be such a goat,’ she said, as she ran to him and threw herself into his arms.
       The kiss was longer this time, hard and passionate. She’d generously reapplied Frantic Fever , all over, it seemed to him, maybe too liberally, but hey, if that was the worst thing to happen that day, then so be it. She thrust her groin toward him, she was a fireball when roused, no doubt about it, as Gringo returned pressure in that special area, and she must have approved of the feeling because she let out a long deep sigh like an animal. When they came apart Gringo said, ‘Go and sit down,’ pointing to the sofa, ‘while I finish the coffee.’
       ‘Okay, bossy boots!’
       He turned his back on her, smiling to himself, as he poured coffee into the china mugs, leaving room for a top up. He opened the Scotch and splashed a dash in hers, she’d had enough to drink and he didn’t want her falling asleep, or worse; and a larger slug for himself. He didn’t mind whisky in coffee, and he hadn’t drunk too much. He took the mugs to the sitting area, put them on the glass coffee table, and sat beside her.
       ‘So what do you think of the house?’
       ‘I think it’s fab, not that I’ve seen it all yet.’
       ‘Play your cards right.’
       She giggled again and sipped the coffee. Then she set it down and opened her arms wide. He didn’t need asking twice. He grabbed her and hugged her and kissed her lips and neck, in that special place she thought that only he knew, ears, nose, and mouth again. She couldn’t get enough, and neither could he.
       Minutes later they came apart and he stood up, bent down and took off her high heels, grabbed her legs, and swung her round so she was flat on her back on the sofa. He undid and removed his shoes and turned back to her.
       Then he was on top of her, his legs on either side of her, pressing down, his lips searching out hers again.
       ‘Blimey Gringo, you don’t waste much time.’
       He imagined she would not want it any other way.
       ‘Shut up and kiss me.’
       ‘I’ll do anything you want, Gringo.’
       ‘Really?’
       ‘Anything at all.’
       ‘You’re playing with fire, Miss Harris.’
       ‘I don’t care. Do you want to go upstairs?’
       Do I want to go upstairs? He pondered on her suggestion. Do I want to go upstairs? Stupid question.
       ‘Well?’ she said.
       ‘What do you think?’
       ‘I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking.’
       ‘Of course I do.’
       ‘I will, on one, no, two, conditions.’
       ‘You’re one for conditions all right. I’m listening.’
       ‘No biting, no scratching, no bruises, no marks.’
       ‘That’s four conditions.’
       ‘No it isn’t, that’s the first.’
       ‘And the second?’
       ‘You never tell anyone, not a living soul, ever.’
       ‘Course I won’t. What do you think I am, a Kiss-and-tell-Mickey?’
       She had no idea who Kiss-and-tell-Mickey was, and had no intention of asking.
       ‘You agree?’
       He could stop himself biting and scratching, though he wasn’t sure he could leave her without a collage of bruises.
       ‘Sure,’ he whispered.
       ‘All right, Gringo. It’s your lucky night.’
       He nodded slowly and