The Third Victim Part 86

I just want this spot here. Can I have it, Mandy? Will you give that to me?"

Maybe she said yes. Maybe she just moaned. She didn't know anymore.

One bottle of champagne empty on the bed. Another half-gone. Her mouth tingled with the forbidden flavour, and she kept telling herself it would be okay. It was just champagne, and they were celebrating, weren't they? He had a new job, the BIG job, and oops, it was far away. But there would be weekend visits, and long distance phone calls .. .

They were celebrating; they were mourning. It was a farewell f.u.c.k, and either way champagne s.e.x shouldn't count with the nice folks at AA.

He tilted the open bottle of bubbly over her shoulders. Cool, sparkling fluid cascaded down her neck, pooling on the white satin sheet. She licked at it helplessly.

That's my girl," he whispered.

"My sweet, s.e.xy, girl .. . Open for me, baby. Let me in."

Her legs parted. She arched her back, the whole of her focusing down,

down, down, to the spot between her legs where the ache had built and only he could ease it now. Only he could save her.

Fill me up. Make me whole.

"Beautiful Mandy. s.e.xy, s.e.xy Mandy."

"Pl-pl-please .. ."

He pushed inside her. Her hips went back. Her spine seemed to melt and she gave herself over to him.

Fill me up. Make me whole.

Salt on her cheeks. Champagne on her tongue. Why couldn't she stop crying? She tilted her head down and sipped more champagne from the sheets as the room spun sickeningly.

Suddenly the bed was gone. They were outside. In the driveway.

Clothes on, cheeks dry. Champagne gone, but not the thirst. Six months she'd been dry. Now she craved another drink horribly.

One bottle of champagne still unopened. Maybe she could get him to give it to her for the drive. One for the road.

Don't go .. .

"You okay, baby?"

"I'm okay," she heard herself mumble.

"Maybe you shouldn't be driving. Maybe you should stay the night."

"I'm okay," she mumbled again. She couldn't stay, and they both knew it. Beautiful things came, beautiful things went. If she tried to hold on now, it would just make it worse.

He was pausing, though. Looking at her with those deep, concerned eyes. They crinkled at the corners. She had loved that when she'd first met him. The way his eyes had creased as if he'd been studying her intently, really, truly seeing her. Then he'd smiled a split second later, as if merely finding her had made him so very happy.

She'd never had a man smile at her like that before. As if she were someone special.

Oh G.o.d, don't go .. .

And then: Third bottle of champagne. All full. One more for old times' sake. One more for the road.

Her lover took her face between his hands. He stroked her cheeks with his thumbs.

"Mandy .. ." he whispered tenderly.

"The small of your back ..."

She couldn't answer anymore. She was choking on her tears.

"Wait, baby," he said suddenly.

"I have an idea."

Driving. Thinking really hard because the narrow back road curved like a snake and it was dark and it was so strange how early she could have a thought and how late her body would be in responding.

He sat beside her, in the pa.s.senger's seat. Wanted to make sure she got home safe; then he'd take a cab. Maybe she should take a cab.

Maybe she was in no shape to drive. As long as he was coming with her, why was she the one at the wheel?

She couldn't hold on to that thought long enough to make it work for her.

"Slow down," he cautioned.

"The road is tricky here."

She nodded, furrowing her brow and trying to concentrate. Wheel felt funny in her hand. Round. Huh.

She pressed on the brakes. Hit the gas instead. The SUV lurched forward.

"Sorry," she muttered. World was beginning to spin again. She didn't feel well. She was going to throw up or pa.s.s out. Maybe both. If she could just close her eyes .. .

Road moved on her again. Car jerked.

Seat belt. Needed a seat belt. She groped for the strap, got the clasp. Pulled. Seat belt spun out toothlessly. That's right. Broken.

Must get that fixed. Someday. Today. May day.

Stars spinning away, sky starting to lighten. Sun going to come up.

Now she just needed a little girl singing Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya, tomorrow-"Slow down," he repeated.

"Seriously, Mandy, there's a sharp turn ahead."

She looked at him numbly. He had a strange gleam in his eyes.

Excitement. Her lover was excited. She didn't understand."I love you," she heard herself say.

"I know," he replied. He reached for her kindly. His hand settled on the wheel.

"Sweet, s.e.xy Mandy. You're never going to get over me."

She nodded. The dam broke, and tears poured down her cheeks. She sobbed hopelessly as the Ford Explorer swerved across the road, and the gleam built in his eyes.