addicts pumping shit into their veins. Broken-down specimens of humanity who’ll mug, rob and kill you just to get a fix. It’s sickening.’
‘Only too true, compadre, only too true,’ Kevin said quietly, taking Neil by the elbow, forcing him to walk on towards Houston Street.
‘And this is America,’ Neil said in a bereft voice, ‘the richest and most powerful country in the world. It’s more than sickening, it’s horrific. Diabolical. Whatever happened to America the beautiful? And the American dream?’
Kevin did not respond. There was nothing he could add. Neil had just said it all.
Kevin let himself into her apartment with his own key.
He stood in the hallway, waiting for her to make an appearance, the way she usually did when he came in. But tonight she did not.
He hung his overcoat in the hall closet, slipped out of his shoulder holster and gun and carefully draped them over a coat hanger in the closet. It was bad enough that she knew he lived in a world of violence, without her seeing blatant evidence of it. Anyway, he preferred to keep his two worlds separate. Then, still puzzled, he cocked his ear, listening, wondering if something was wrong.
It was quiet. Nothing stirred. But as he crossed the small entrance hall, walking through into the apartment, he heard the faint sound of the radio playing in the kitchen, and he knew she was home.
He poked his head into the living room; the lights blazed, but the fire was dying in the grate. It looked to him as if it had been neglected for some time.
Kevin went down the corridor, making for the bedroom. The door stood ajar. Pushing it open, he went inside. The bedside lamps had been dimmed and in the soft, muted light he saw that she was curled up on the bed, dozing; or perhaps she was sleeping soundly, he wasn’t sure.
Reaching the bed, he noticed the pile of manila folders fanned out next to her on the eiderdown, some of them spilling their contents. Obviously she had been working, had grown drowsy, and had fallen asleep waiting for him to arrive.
Bending over her, he whispered her name, not wanting to startle or frighten her, and touched her face lightly with one hand.
Instantly, her eyes flew open. Relief and happiness flooded her face at the sight of him. ‘Kevin,’ she breathed softly. ‘Oh, God, I’m sorry, I must have dozed off.’
‘No problem, honey,’ he said, kneeling down next to the bed in order to bring his face closer, and to the same level as hers. Tm the one who should apologize for being late. I got caught up with Neil O’Connor longer than I’d planned. You remember Neil, you met him last year. Anyway, he needed to talk to me, and tonight was the only time he could make it. It was urgent.’
‘It’s all right, Kevin, really.’
He gave her a direct look, and explained, ‘Neil has asked me to transfer over to his division. I’ve agreed.’
Startled by this announcement, she blinked several times, half frowned. ‘Which division is that?’
The Crime Intelligence Division.’
‘Is it a desk job?’
‘Part of the time,’ he lied, wanting to make her feel better, more secure about his safety.
‘And the rest of the time?’ she probed, her vividly intelligent eyes now focusing on him with sudden intensity.
‘I will have to be out on the street, of course. But this new job is much less dangerous than the one I’ve been doing. Honestly it is.’ Kevin paused, flashed a winning smile, then improvised quickly, ‘And listen, I’ll have more time off, much more.’
‘I’m glad it’s a safer job,’she said. Reaching out she touched his cheek, a smile striking her mouth as she did.
He loved her smile. It was sweet, innocent, like a small child’s smile, and it illuminated her face, filled it with radiance. Taking hold of her shoulders, he drew her closer to him, brought his lips to hers and kissed her gently.
Immediately, her arms went around his neck, and she returned his gentle kiss with such ardour it inflamed him. He put both his arms around her, held her closer to him, kissing her more passionately, letting his tongue linger against hers. They kissed this way for a long time, devouring each other’s mouths until they were breathless.
It was Kevin who finally drew away. He loosened the top of her peach-satin robe and brought his face down to her breasts. She was wearing a matching peach-satin nightgown with thin shoelace straps, and he had no problem slipping his hand into the lace-trimmed bodice. When a breast sprang free from the nightgown, he took the small magenta-coloured nipple in his mouth and kissed it until she began to moan softly.
Kevin paused in order to untie the robe completely, then he ran his hands down the length of her body, bent over her again and continued to caress and kiss each breast in turn. Eventually he raised his head and looked down at her. Her eyes were closed; her lips slightly parted, she was breathing rapidly. He saw how excited she was becoming.
The expression on her face, one of abandonment mingled with ecstasy, turned him on, as did the feel of the satin nightgown under his hands. Lifting this, he smoothed one hand along her thigh until his fingers came to rest on the silky mound between her legs. As he moved his fingers against the hidden flesh, she parted her legs slightly, and he felt the sudden moistness, the heat flowing out of her.
‘Oh Kevin,’ she murmured, and opened her eyes.
He raised a dark brow. ‘What is it?’
‘Don’t stop.’
‘I won’t,’ he promised, and bending his head again, he sought the core of her with his mouth, lavishing her with kisses as he slid his fingers inside her. He knew her body well after a year of making love with her, knew she was on the verge, ready to climax, and he wanted her to do so. But exactly when he thought this was going to happen, when he expected her to erupt with pleasure, she unexpectedly sat up.
Grasping hold of his shoulders, she whispered hoarsely, ‘Please, Kevin, get undressed and come to bed. I want to feel you inside me.’
‘But I want to give you pleasure this way first.’
‘I know, and I want you to, and I want to do the same for you, but please, get undressed. Please.’
Pushing himself to his feet and tossing his jacket onto a chair, he stepped out of his shoes, unzipped his trousers and stripped.
Meanwhile, she gathered the bunch of manila folders, threw them off the bed and removed her satin robe.
Kevin was across the room in two strides.
Stretching out on the bed next to her, he took her in his arms, murmuring her name, nuzzling her neck. But after a moment or two he rolled over to his side, groped in the drawer of the bedside table for a condom. Damn things. He hated them. On the other hand, he was well aware of AIDS and what was going on out there. After Sunny had left his life, there had been other women from time to time, although no serious involvement. He was absolutely positive he was all right, but it was best to be careful, to take precautions for her sake. Kevin swallowed a sigh. This was a dangerous age they lived in. Sex and death walked side by side these days.
She
