The Knapthorne Conspiracy by Malcolm Ballard (best english novels for beginners txt) 📕

out of her underwear “You’ll get stuck into me before you get stuck into that. What d’you think the rush was for? Get your priorities right, lover!”

Revelling in the outdoor setting, with the caress of the sun on her naked body and the sights and smells of the woodland all around she rutted with the ferocity of a wild animal in its natural habitat. Urging Ben on with whispered obscenities or groaning with the sheer ecstasy of the experience she fought and clawed as her body thrashed beneath him. Sucked into the vortex of her passion, Ben responded in kind as all the pent-up anger and frustration of his troubled life found a release and he drove himself into her as though he were wildly plunging a knife into her faithless heart. Again and again and again until he finally collapsed, spent and exhausted, on top of her. Afterwards, they lay side by side on their backs, Barbara’s body was covered with a patina of perspiration whereas Ben was dripping with sweat from his efforts. Silently they gazed at the leafy canopy above while their breathing slowly returned to normal. In the distance, the shouts and cries of children running along the track, or the barking of a dog, could be faintly heard from time to time.

“There’s nothing like making love in the open air, especially when there’s people close by. It just adds to the excitement!” Her voice was low and husky but Ben wasn’t really listening to her. His mind was elsewhere, wondering if he strangled her now, right here, how long would it be before the body was found. The feathery touch of her fingertips at his groin focused Ben’s attention and, unable to prevent it, he felt himself respond.

“Well, now, what are we going to do with this, Ben?” There was a dreamy, lustful quality to her voice as she took hold of him. “I wonder if it goes well with mayonnaise, what d’you think?”

Ben felt as though the afternoon had an air of unreality about it which cast a shadow over his whole life. How many times over the years had he snatched a few hours of excitement like this? Another sexual encounter at the crossroads of life where two strangers met, however briefly, then moved on in their different directions. A pretty face, a young body. The promise of illicit pleasure. Someone else’s wife or girlfriend. Daughter, even. Not surprisingly, his thoughts brought him closer to home and he pictured his own daughters. What did they really think of him? A loving father? Hardly. If only they could see him now. Or a little earlier, God forbid! The thought made him squirm as he lay, dressed now, hands behind his head, staring at the sky while Barbara lay dozing peacefully next to him. It all seemed so shallow now and inconsequential. Where had it all gone wrong? Tina and he had certainly been in love, by anyone’s definition of the word, but love seemed to have foundered somewhere on the rocky coastline of their marriage. It was a good job Barbara couldn’t see him, as he was close to tears. This would never happen again with Barbara after today. Or anyone else. He had made up his mind. The decision was responsible for his mood of maudlin self-pity, he knew. How he regretted his own weakness for not being able to deal with Tina, or to stop himself chasing other women. And where had it all got him? Into the clutches of a woman who had turned his weakness against him and now stood to ruin his life.

“You look so nice and relaxed there, lover, it must be a perfect time to think about how you’re going to come up with my money for me don’t you think?” Her voice only reinforced his resolve. He had known it would come to this and he was prepared.

“I need time,” he replied, with a calmness he didn’t feel. “You must appreciate it’s not easy for me to get hold of a sum like that.” She moved closer, until their bodies were touching.

“Ok, lover. Well, how about twenty thousand, on account, by the end of the month, hm? That’ll give you two weeks.” Her lips were next to his ear now. “And don’t let me down, Ben, otherwise I’ll make damned sure you’ll live to regret it.”

They left Nowton Park just as it was coming up to 3-o-clock and Barbara guided them back the way they had come. Ben was quiet and introspective until he saw the sign for the motorway.

“Isn’t there some other way we can go back? I’m sick of driving on motorways. Maybe we can find a pub somewhere and have a drink?” She looked at him in amazement.

“Surprised you’ve got the strength to lift a glass! Still, it sounds like a good idea. Let me have a look at the GPS.” Ben hoped he sounded more confident than he felt. It was taking all his will power to make his voice sound normal and not give away the tension that was gnawing away at him.

“If we take this turn-off,” she said, pointing to the phone's screen, “that’s the one after next, it’ll take us onto what used to be the main road, before the motorway was here. I’m sure we’ll be able to find somewhere for a drink.” His hands felt moist on the steering wheel and his stomach was churning. Mentioning the pub had only been the excuse for getting off the motorway but, right at that moment, the prospect of a large scotch was too good to turn down. He had to try and act normally but with what was going on in his mind it was almost impossible.

“You seem a bit quiet. Thinking about how to get my money, eh?” Barbara thought the remark quite funny and couldn’t help laughing. “Oh, come on Ben, lighten up! We’ve had some good times, haven’t we? It is only money,