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But it hadn't happened and he had e to the decision that just by letting the affair continue； it wouldn't。 It might go on for years。 Basically it boiled down to this bloody job。 Reps were married to their firms。 You gave them everything or else you were out on your ear。 They bought your marriage； your life； months and years which you could never retrieve； all for a pittance of a salary offset by reasonable expenses。
So he let it go； just like that。 Every weekend he came home to an organic diet that had a distinct Quinn flavour about it； got a thrill out of screwing Sylvia in the same way that he had that night when Al had first had her； and it would be this way until he retired at 65。 Fuck the firm； they didn't even offer him a redundancy when they had drastic cut…backs three years ago。 No golden handshake for him。 Maybe it was as well； though； because if he fouled up Sylvia's little game she might take off and go and live with Quinn。 Don't poke the sleeping lion； as the saying went。
Marlene was the nearest he'd found to Sylvia yet。 Sophisticated； sexy； her husband was an 'area manager'； an up…market rep。 He sometimes stayed away weekends too； it was a vicious circle； they were all on the same roundabout。 Sometimes you lose； sometimes you win。 You paid your money and gambled your luck。
She wore a long evening gown tonight that showed off every curve； didn't leave you with much to guess； the kind that gave you a hard…on under the table and you hoped that the other diners thought she was your wife。 She was class and she gave you class。 Yet tonight she was strangely sombre； long periods when she concentrated on her food and didn't speak at all。 There was definitely something on her mind but he knew her well enough to know that if she wanted to tell him she would do so in her own good time。 If she didn't want to； she wouldn't。 You knew where you stood with Marlene； no bullshit。 That pensated for a lot。
She played with the stem of her wine…glass； regarded him thoughtfully。 Shall I tell him or not？ Decision time。 Finally she decided to tell him。
'Joey's left me。' She said it just like that。 She might have said Tm going to mow the front lawn tomorrow。'
'Oh！' For once he felt incredibly stupid。 His vision swam； something clutched at his heart and stopped it for a second； restarted it almost immediately。 Tm sorry。' He didn't know whether he was or not； if he was； he was sorry for himself。
'He's had a woman down in Lampeter for a long time。' She talked easier now that she had made her decision。 'I knew about it； of course； but there was nothing I could do about it even if I'd wanted to。 I just let things take their course； it's often the best way because they generally work out。 I'm not sorry because our marriage as such was finished three years ago。 Divorces are easy； don't take long these days； but I guess right now I'm a free woman； Eric。1 The bail's in your court。
Suddenly his Kentucky fried chicken tasted sour； the dry white wine so bitter that he grimaced。 Sylvia； darling； I love you。 This is only a game like yours。 Our marriage isn't over； it's just gone into a recession like everything else in this damned crazy world。 Given time it'll e back。 It has to。
'Oh； I see。' He did； only too well。 'What 。 。 。 what are your plans then？' Don't answer that because I don't want to hear； I don't want to jettison my fantasies。 I don't want reality。
'Do you really need to ask？' The twin candlelight had her dark eyes glistening and because he couldn't meet her gaze he found himself looking down at her cleavage。 Small perfectly shaped breasts that had never been suckled by a babe； just himself。 And others。 But he topped the poll at the moment。
'No； I suppose I don't。' He tried to laugh but it came out wrong。 False。
'That's fine then。' She didn't appear to notice。 Tve been married to a right bastard for more years than I care to remember and you've been hitched to a bitch who goes and screws with any guy who gives her the eye。'
He felt himself cringe； wanted to leap to his feet and yell； 'No； she's not like that at all。 It's me。 I've screwed another bird already this week。 That's all I'm after。 Sex。 I don't want a permanent relationship with any woman except my wife。1 But he didn't because he was too scared。
'You've told me often enough that you're in love with me；' she went on。 'Well； I'm in love with you too； Eric； and at last it looks like we'll be able to share each other for ever instead of continuing with this nerve…racking affair； wondering ail the time if somebody who knows us will see us。'
'Yes； it'll be nice；' he said politely。 'For both of us。 I'll talk to Sylvia about it this weekend。'
'Will you； really？' Euphoric relief in her tone； her slim fingers ing across the table in search of his。 'I knew I hadn't made a mistake about you； Eric。 I confess that at one time I thought that maybe I was just your once…a…week woman； a bit on the side and then shelved for another week。 I know now that I was wrong。 Let's treat tonight as a celebration because everything's working out。 When we go upstairs tonight I really will feel that I'm Mrs Atkinson at long last。'
Mrs Marlene Atkinson！ There was a glisten of perspiration on Eric's forehead as they went up in the elevator after dinner。 Mr and Mrs Atkinson！ Jesus Christ； he wouldn't be able to stall this one for long。 I've spoken to Sylvia； Marlene； and she says that's fine but we've got to straighten a few things out first。 It won't take long。 Marlene wasn't the kind to hang about。 Everything was going to blow up in his face； one way or the other； very soon。
Her naked body didn't look so alluring tonight and he knew he had got to put on another act； the clandestine lover who has finally got his woman for keeps。 She was eager for him； helping him off with his clothes； her sensuous fingers straying all the time； then pulling him down on the bed with her。
'Just think； Eric； it'll always be like this with us from now on。 And maybe you can get another job so that you won't have to be away from home all the time。' Not that I don't trust you but I want you all to myself。
She was good； very； very good。 Any other night it would have been sheer ecstasy but tonight he had to struggle to keep up with her。 You are getting fat。 So he let her do all the work but she did not appear to notice because she was doing everything she wanted to do。 Astride him； gyrating like an eastern belly…dancer； teasing him； tiring both of them so that finally they sank down exhausted； not bothering to retrieve the sheets off the floor because the night was too warm； anyway。
Eric Atkinson was dimly aware that it was light； a kind of guilty feeling that it was time to be up and doing。 Sitting up； rubbing the sleep out of his eyes。
He didn't know where he was； didn't even try to work it out； just accepted the fact that he was in some strange place with four symmetrical walls around him and a hole through which the daylight shafted in。 Frightening； suddenly。
Then he sa。w the woman； She was lying on her stomach； head buried in the pillow。 Sleeping。 He grunted； forgot his claustrophobia； reached out a thick coarse hand and touched her buttocks。 She stirred slightly。 His head hurt； a throbbing pain behind the eyes which distorted his vision but he fought against it。 An urgent need had to be satisfied； a priority in any situation。
The woman was not fully awake but he had no reason to wait。 His hands slipped beneath her thighs； dragged her up into a kneeling position； her head still resting on the pillow。 She seemed to understand； parted her legs without disturbing her position； half…kneeling now； gave a kind of low whine which was interpreted as willingness； not that it would have mattered to him anyway。
He caught a glimpse of his reflection in the long mirror； almost shied away from it； not because he saw his own naked body matted with coarse fair hair like some subtropical tree…dwelling species but because for a moment he thought that a rival was contesting for his mate。 Then he seemed to understand； did he not see his own features when he stooped to drink from a clear pool？ He did not investigate further because he had other things on his mind。
He pushed hard with his thighs； thrust fiercely to penetrate her； pulling her back on to him as he found her entrance。 A minute； possibly two； and then he was arching his back； shuddering； ing out of her because it was all over and there was no point in remaining coupled。
He sprang from the bed； rushed to the window。 He saw towering bare brickwork interspersed with windows that had the misfortune to look out on to the rear of these buildings。 An untidiness thirty feet below； an array of dustbins and empty cardboard cartons； litter everywhere。
Eric stretched out a hand； jerked it back with a cry of surprise as he touched the glass； an invisible barrier which frightened him。 His teeth were bared in a snarl of defiance； glancing back towards Marlene as though she had the answer。 She cringed； whined； wo