Willing Victim Read online

  “Bitch!” Simon spat as Polly started to close the door on his face. “Don’t think I won’t find out where she is! And don’t think I won’t make her pay. She ain’t getting away with this.”

  “Looks like she already has!” Polly yelled back. “Now piss off, you slimy, little creep! You’re getting on my fuckin’ nerves!”

  “I’ll fuckin’ kill you if I find out she’s in there.”

  Polly slammed the door. “Creep.” She muttered, and wandering back into the living room, imagined she was going to need something a damned sight stronger than wine to get her through the rest of the evening.

  The next morning Rachel woke to an empty bed, although the slight warmth she felt as she reached out a hand to stroke Kate’s pillow told her she hadn’t been gone long. Stretching out, she yawned and allowed herself a satisfied smile.

  Her body, she wriggled, felt nicely used. The result of the best sex she’d had in ages. Now all she needed was a nice cuddle, a cup of tea and everything would be perfect.

  Wedging the pillows behind her back, she sat up and provocatively arranged the duvet over her breasts, imagining the expression on Kate’s face when she reappeared at the door and she let it slide to reveal her nipples beneath.

  But Kate didn’t show up, nor did she call up the stairs to say she was putting the kettle on or having a fag. In fact she didn’t make any sound at all.

  Maybe she’s popped out for some milk, Rachel told herself. She won’t be long.

  She waited.

  Eventually, Kate’s side of the bed grew cold and beginning to feel chilled herself Rachel pulled the duvet further up her chest and hugged the material under her chin, thinking there would be plenty of time to rearrange it again when she heard Kate finally coming up the stairs.

  To kill time she gazed around the room, watching dust motes, stirred by the whoosh of warm air seeping through the central heating vents, float through the air and alight on the furniture. Sighing, she smoothed the duvet around her knees and winced at the slight tenderness there. Her knees, she thought, were taken bloody ages to heal and even though the scabs themselves had gone, the skin beneath was still red and sore and if she touched it, tender to the touch. But at least Kate hadn’t noticed anything, and they’d heal sometime. It was just a matter of waiting. Like she was waiting for Kate.

  A minute ticked by. Then another. She examined the duvet, noticing the white flowers embroidered on it. She counted them. Seventeen, and then looked up as a dog barked outside and a car started up, the obvious hole in the exhaust adding a rough, motor racing growl to it. Voices followed, arguing over whose turn it was to put out the bins and someone whistled, yet still Kate didn’t reappear.

  Bored now and a little apprehensive, where the hell was she, Rachel nevertheless forced herself to wait still longer, examining her nails for dirt and her breasts for blemishes before finally deciding that Kate wasn’t coming and the best thing she could do was get out of bed and go and find her.

  But first she needed the bathroom.

  The bathroom was warm, with fresh towels on the rail and a room freshener that puffed out the refreshing fragrance of ozone every five minutes, and after using the loo and tying to comb her hair using only her fingers, Rachel peered over the banister and then started down the stairs.

  The lounge was deserted. The fire and candles Kate had so thoughtfully lit the night before dark and cold. The curtains had been drawn though, allowing light to spill into the room and a rainbow catcher Kate had stuck to the window bounced a myriad of colours across the walls, along the carpet and over her foot. It was beautiful and crossing to the door leading into the kitchen, Rachel softly called Kate’s name and hoped Kate would subsequently open the door and usher her in. Berating her perhaps for having ruined the surprise, but nevertheless presenting her with a breakfast table set for two.

  Silence.

  Rachel tried again. This time calling loud enough for Kate to hear her wherever she might be in the house and totally perplexed when still nothing came back.

  Where the hell was she then, she thought, scratching her head and peering at a disheveled version of herself in the mirror by the front door. Surely she wouldn’t have just gone out and left her without so much as a note. Unless, of course, she hadn’t seen it.

  Back upstairs, the bedroom was still empty and the couple next door were still arguing. The sound of their raised voices fighting over cricket and work and why he should always be the one going off and having fun whilst she was left minding the kid managing to penetrate the bedroom wall and try Rachel’s patience.

  “It’s because he’s the bloke and you’re the skivvy, you stupid cow.” Rachel grumbled as she quickly searched the bedside cabinet for a note that clearly wasn’t there. Nor was there one propped up against the lamp or tucked beneath the tissues. Similarly, there was nothing left lying on the pillow, tacked to the inside of the door or fallen under the bed, although she did discover a whole box full of sex toys that made her smile and mentally flag the idea to discuss their presence with Kate later. If she ever found her!

  Downstairs, boy she was certainly getting her exercise today, the lounge was still empty. Nothing had changed and nothing had been moved. Ditto the dining room. Which left only the kitchen.

  Rachel stared at the door. What should she do? The kitchen was the only place she hadn’t looked, which meant Kate had to be in there, but what if she was right in the middle of rushing around trying to fix her something extra special and didn’t appreciate being interrupted?

  Except how many people did she know who fixed breakfast so damn quietly?

  Taking a breath, Rachel curled her fingers around the handle and opened the door, just as Kate, wearing pyjamas, a pair of Wellington boots and with a cigarette protruding from the corner of her mouth, stepped in through the back door, carrying a large pile of laundry.

  “Forgot I had these out.” She said sheepishly, kicking the boots into a corner and stamping her feet to warm them up again. “ Dry as bone and frozen solid. Suppose I’ll have to thaw them out in front of the radiator. You alright sweetie? You look a bit pale.”

  “I’m fine.” Rachel said, smiling weakly. “Just couldn’t figure out where you’d got to that’s all, so I came looking. Love the cigarette by the way. Very you.”

  Kate pulled a face. “Stops me coughing from all that fresh air.” She said. “Sorry if I worried you though. Only came down here to make us both a cup of tea, then I saw my knickers looking like cardboard and I thought I’d better rescue them before they cracked. Didn’t mean to panic you.”

  “You didn’t.” Rachel said. “But I was beginning to wonder if you’d run away and left me.”

  “From my own house!” Kate teased, dumping the laundry on a chair. “I’m not that stupid! If anyone’s leaving kiddo, it’s you, it’s flippin’ freezing out there! Now come here and give me a cuddle.”

  The cuddle turned into a kiss. Warm and soft. The kind of kiss Rachel would have liked to have woken up to, but was in no mood to complain about now as Kate’s hands, still slightly chilly, slipped inside her robe and stroked her breasts, making her nipples instantly stiffen. Turned on, she moaned around the kiss and feeling the first stirrings of desire between her legs allowed Kate to undo her robe, slip it over her shoulders and then push her gently backwards towards the table. Lying her across it before pulling the bathrobe aside to expose her pussy. Then she touched her. Massaging her stomach and teasing her navel before gliding down to stroke her fluff and part her pussy lips, burying her still chilly fingers deep inside the swollen wetness before entering her, smoothly and easily. Her fingers already thrusting. Once. Twice. Long and slow and deep. Making the table creak with every movement as Kate pumped again and again and built the pleasure, watching Rachel’s body start to tense as she slowly withdrew her fingers and began to play with her clit. Rubbing and stroking, bringing Rachel almost to the
point of orgasm before dipping inside her cunt once more and feeling her tighten as she stroked her G-spot and Rachel’s hips left the hard, wooden surface. Begging to be fucked. Desperate to come. Pleading with Kate to make it last. To finger her. Fuck her. Drive her crazy she was so close to the edge!

  Then coming. Hard and strong and very deep. Kate’s fingers still buried in her pussy and rubbing against her G-spot as waves of pleasure pulsed through her cunt and her climax went on and on. Wave upon wave. Her body slick with sweat, until finally she was pleading with Kate not to touch her any more.

  And she was left, swollen and sticky and spent. Her bathrobe in disarray around her. Her hair wild whilst Kate stood over her, licking her fingers and telling her it was better than Weetabix before kissing her again and telling her she wanted more. Her fingers again touching her breasts, her pussy, her clit. Sending deliciously agonizing sensations trembling through her body to make her shiver and groan before finally she could take no more and she begged her to stop. She was sorry. She was done. Her pussy, much as it loved Kate’s amazing administrations, just couldn’t take anymore. She was sorry. Did she mind?

  Kate didn’t and kissing the tip of Rachel’s nose, she helped her into a chair before excusing her randy behaviour by saying she couldn’t help it. It wasn’t her fault she found Rachel so damn hot and sexy and if Rachel would insist in walking round in nothing but a bathrobe, what did she expect?

  Now. Did she want tea or coffee?

  Rachel opted for coffee and sipping from a mug that urged her to ‘smile and see what she can get away with’, Rachel couldn’t help but think that Kate probably got away with quite a lot. And she was still going on about sex!

  “…wish I could have it every day.” She was saying now, buttering toast. “But don’t you think it’s weird that it’s only when you’re not with someone that you think about it all the time? Like how much you miss it, how wonderful it’s going to be when finally you meet the right person and how you’re definitely going to end up screwing twenty four hours a day just as soon as you can get their clothes off. And then, once you’re actually in a relationship it’s like a switch goes over and everything changes. Sex becomes.. I don’t know.. softer. Less urgent…”

  “Less exciting?”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  “But I can’t expect to be ravished on the breakfast table every day?”

  “No. I didn’t say that either! That depends on how late we are for work. What I meant is that it becomes more loving.”

  “You think?” Rachel sighed. “I beg to differ.”

  “Really? Why’s that then?” Kate asked, dragging out a chair to sit opposite Rachel. “ Something happen to make you change your mind?”

  “You could say that.” Rachel said, looking distraught.

  Kate didn’t miss her expression. “ Okay.” She said. “I.. er… get the impression this is kinda serious. Do you want to talk about it? Or would you rather I shut up now and go back to stuffing my face full of toast?”

  “No, you’re okay.” Rachel said, picking up her coffee mug. “But I’m not sure if talking about it will help. God knows I’ve tried. I must have bored Polly to hell and back going on about it, but it’s still there, niggling away in the back of my mind.”

  “Right, now I’m intrigued.” Kate said emphatically. “ So you’re gonna have to spill. But before you do and if you do , has it got anything to do with what we talked about earlier? About not knowing why ‘someone like me’ would love someone like you?”

  Rachel shrugged. “I guess.” She said. “And if I tell you, will you promise not to tell anyone else? Thing is, it doesn’t matter how many times I talk about it, it always makes me feel so bloody stupid.”

  “Stupid?”

  “Yeah, and embarrassed. I know it sounds dramatic, but you don’t know the half of it and things were different then. It wasn’t so easy to get away.”

  “Get away?!” Kate echoed. “Hell’s bells Rachel, what on earth happened to you? And yes I promise I won’t tell a living soul, cross my heart and all that crap. But are you really sure you want to tell me? It obviously hurts you and you don’t have to you know..”

  “And we haven’t known each other all that long?”

  “Yeah, there’s that.”

  “But you did mean it when you said we were in it for the long haul?”

  Kate nodded. “Absolutely! I don’t say things I don’t mean Rachel and I promise I won’t hurt you. I just want to love you and have fun and make you happy.”

  Smiling, Rachel reached across and lightly brushed Kate’s fingers. “That’s so sweet, but if you really want to know what happened, then I suppose I have to go back a bit to when it all initially kicked off, cos that’s the reason why I ended up going out with Simon.”

  “Simon!” Kate recoiled. “You went out with a guy?”

  “Yes.” Rachel replied evenly. “What’s so strange about that?! Don’t tell me you’ve never been out with a bloke.”

  “Well, yeah.” Kate admitted, poking her coffee with a spoon. “But only for a week. We broke up after that. Couldn’t stand his slobbery kisses any longer.”

  “There you go then. Remember Spring last year?”

  Six

  Hell, it was hot!

  And sudden. That’s what Rachel remembered the most.

  One minute she was opening the curtains to a soft Spring morning with the promise of new growth and warmer days still far in the distance, the next she was being rudely awakened by ultra bright sunshine pouring through the windows and an attack of the sneezes.

  Summer had arrived and shouldering aside the wetter days of April to smother the land with the kind of heat usually reserved for the likes of late July and August, nature was suddenly going wild. Early blooms in a plethora of colour and fragrance swamped the air and trees became covered in a confetti of pink and white blossom. Sundays, until now, a time to batten down the hatches and curl up with a good book whilst drizzle dribbled down the windows and someone burnt of Yorkshire pudding, suddenly roared into action and the incessant drone of lawnmowers, whine of power drills and the steady thump, thump of hammers replaced howling wind and incessant rain. Dogs barked, children laughed and scaremongers crawled out of the woodwork to warn everyone about the dangers of skin cancer and sun bathing. The TV weather men merely preened and puffing out their chests, gleefully pointed out the rising temperatures and sun symbols as if they were personally responsible before advising viewers to dig out their shorts and T-shirts.

  The sale of water butts soared, propelled by the increasing mention of forthcoming droughts and May, it was confidently predicted, would be hottest ever recorded. June, though, would be hotter still and if there was a green lawn left in the whole of England by the end of July, it would be nothing short of a miracle.

  “But the worst thing.” Rachel said now, sipping her coffee. “Was having to go to work and sit there in a bloody suit whilst my fingers stuck to the keyboard -.”

  “I know.” Kate sighed. “Everything felt greasy. Bet Phil felt right at home.”

  “Probably.” Rachel smiled. “But it was about that time I stumbled across the ‘Lazy Cow’.”

  She’d found it by accident. During a short cut designed to avoid the busy town traffic but which suddenly turned disastrously wrong when it dumped Rachel on unfamiliar roads in the middle of nowhere. Frustrated, she’d wound down the window – the only type of air con available in her rickety, old car- and turned on her Sat-Nav. But after asking her to wait whilst it ‘calculated position’, the Sat-Nav didn’t seem to know where she was either and after passing the same stretch of hedgerow for the third time, or at least she thought it was the same stretch, she turned the navigation aid off and admitted defeat.

  She was lost, her mobile phone didn’t work and she had no idea how far she would have to drive before she found mobile service aga
in.

  She was bloody fed up and just on the verge of giving up and trying to get home when, further down the lane, she spotted ‘ The Lazy Cow’.

  Nestled between a low hedgerow and a squat row of cottages that looked like they should have had thatched roofs but didn’t, the sight of the pub was like a gift from the Gods and once inside, grateful for the cool interior and the sight of a public telephone attached to the wall, Rachel stabbed out Polly’s number and waited for Polly to pick up.

  The pub, she noticed, was charming. The chrome and leather furnishings she was more familiar with in pubs closer to home replaced with exposed beams and wooden furniture, and a single slab of polished oak that served as a bar and stretched from one end of the room to the other. A large open log fire, set ready to light, finished the look. It was beautiful and quaint and after discovering Polly wasn’t home and that she’d just have to get out of this mess herself, Rachel ordered a large coke with plenty of ice and sat down to cool off a bit.

  “Sounds nice.” Kate said, buttering toast and offering a slice to Rachel. “And this was where you met Simon, was it?”

  “No, no. This was before.”

  “Oh, right, course it was. So who were you with then?”

  “Joanne. She worked there - at the “ Lazy Cow’. We got chatting and she asked me out.”

  “Right. So how come I only get chatted up by sweaty blokes with beery breath?”

  Rachel laughed. “Because you’re special? Anyway, like I said, it was hot..”

  Or rather sweltering, and stepping into the shower, resigned to the fact that she would be sweaty again ten minutes after she got out, Rachel soaped herself down and resisted the urge to play with herself. She would keep that, she smiled, for Joanne when she finally finished work for the night. And how bloody marvelous that would be, especially after all the faffying about she’d been forced to endure over the last six months.