She unlocked her front door and led him into the small, bright sitting-room. 'Do take your coat off.' Her voice was very unsteady.
He looked around.
'This is real nice.'
She came to know nice was his favourite word.
'The bathroom's through there.'
She left him in the bathroom and she took off her coat and scarf, feeling desire for him raging through her. She was still standing in the middle of the room, white and shaking, when he came out of the bathroom. He knew at once there would be no trouble.
We don't know each other. I'm Daz Jackson.'
'I'm Natalie Norman.'
'Nice name . . . Natalie . . . I dig for that.'
They stared at each other, then he moved close to her and slid his arms around her.
She shivered as his hands moved down her thin back. For one brief moment, her subconscious mechanism fought to repulse him, but her need was too strong.
She was only dimly aware of being carried into the bedroom. She relaxed on the bed moving a little from side to side as he stripped off her clothes. Then she gave herself up to his animal lust.
Daz Jackson opened his eyes and let out a long, slow sigh. Well, for shouting aloud! he thought as he looked up at the white ceiling. Who would have believed it. It's the best I've ever had!
He turned on his side and looked at Natalie who lay on her back, her hands covering her small breasts, sleeping. He regarded her body. Good, pity about that face. He gave her a gentle prod in the ribs.
'Wake up! I'm hungry. You got any food?'
She stirred and looked up at him, her eyes glazed with a satisfaction she had never known before. She felt as if a hidden door she had long been searching for had suddenly opened and the sun and the breeze and the sound of the sea had come into the barren, dark cave in which she had lived for so long.
'Food . . . of course.' She sat up, swung her legs off the bed and snatched up a wrap. 'Stay there . .. I'll get you something. Would you like a drink . . . I have only gin.'
He regarded her. Her anxiety to please, the soft look in her eyes and her eager trembling made her a bore.
'Just grub.'
She ran into the kitchen. He waited a moment, then got off the bed and struggled into his clothes. He saw by the bedside clock that the time was 02.25 hrs. He listened, smelling bacon frying, then he looked around the small neat room. He looked beyond the doorway, across the sitting-room and saw her standing by the stove in the kitchen, her back to him. Working quickly, he went through her chest of drawers. In the top drawer he found a gold cigarette case, a gold lighter and a small jewel box which contained a string of pearls and two rings of little value, but he took all of them, dropping them into his pocket. Then he lounged into the sitting-room and stood in the kitchen doorway.
'Smells nice,' he said.
She turned and smiled at him.
'Can you eat more than four eggs?'
'That'll be fine.'
She hurried past him and quickly laid the table.
'Aren't you eating?' he asked, seeing she had set only one place.
'No . . . it's ready. Sit down.'
He ate hungrily. Well, she certainly could cook eggs and bacon, he thought as he sipped the tea she had poured him. Pity there weren't chips and tomato ketchup, but you can't expect everything.
He was aware of her, sitting on the settee, watching him. There
was that soft look in her eyes that told him she was hooked. When he had finished, he sat back, wiping his mouth on the paper serviette she had provided.
