Choosing Her Lover

Chapter 30

‘A Conspiracy of Ravens’

 

Part Four

A Conspiracy of Ravens

My morning walk with the dogs: there is a figure jogging towards me on the beach, a small dog trotting at his heels. I turn to walk the other way.

“Kirstie!” Ben’s voice carries on the breeze. “Kirstie....”

I ignore him and keep walking.

After a minute or so, there is panting and Ben appears at my side, breathing heavily.

“Kirstie, please….”

Perhaps I should find another place to walk….

“…. We need to talk,” he says.

“I don’t think so. I saw your idea of talking.” I keep moving, stepping up my pace a little, doing everything I can to discourage the conversation.

“Please, Kirstie. Do you want me to apologise? Alright, I apologise. Is that good enough for you?”

I stop, turning to face him. “What exactly are you apologising for?”

His face falls. “I’m apologising for losing my temper as I did. It came as a bit of a shock, everything that you said, that Michael said.”

“And for threatening Charlotte?”

Now he reddens. “I wasn’t threatening her.”

my mood, milling around me, jittery and nervous.

tried to get away from you, but you shoved her. I saw it. You temper looked pretty much

wouldn’t have hit her.”

further away if you want

face drops and he backs away. “You don’t really think that I’m the kind of man

the dogs. “What do I make of you, Ben? Even the dogs are reading you, your body language. They’re not happy. I barely know you, but quite a bit of what

he snaps. “You screw around, and you admitted to

was no-one involved in that that wasn’t there because they wanted to be. No-one was coerced and everyone enjoyed themselves. And the same applies to Michael’s

at the sand. “You didn’t have

He asked Francis to call them. If he thinks you’re a threat to Charlotte, on another occasion I’m not sure he’d bother with

at the sand with a toe, then, “Do you

stare up to heaven. “I can’t believe that’s a serious question. Yes, I do. You’ve apologised to me, but I don’t think it’s me you should be talking to. I think you really should be apologising to James, Charlotte and especially to your

staring out to sea. He nods, a sharp down-thrust of his chin,

*****

evening, Ryan is waiting for me,

on the window and his face lights up as he sees me. “Have you been waiting

was passing, so I

have. Coming

all I’m being

on cue,

the motions of putting water on

resting on my waist,

turns me to face him, stroking my cheek, the line of my jaw and down to my neck where he has placed his mark on me, his ownership; the velvet band I wear

horny, are we?” I

“Oh, yes, and so are you. Don’t think I don’t know

arms, I curve into his embrace. “Coffee

he says. “I have

“Ideas?”

he waits quietly while I draw curtains and light a couple of candles, then

he makes his

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