ACV's 1 Operation Black Gold (34 page)

I moved down her body and introduced her to a new world of sensations; she came again and again, each time more violent than the last until she was grinding herself against my face.  I endured another violent explosion before making my way back up, her back arching legs spreading, searching.  I was now more ready than I’d ever been in my life.  Our cheeks brushed.  The tip of my manhood slipped into her wet tightness.  I prepared to thrust through her veil then cried out in shock and pain as a band of steel suddenly gripped me.

I looked down to find this beautiful woman, whom moments ago, had been full of passion and eagerness to complete an act of love, was now a statue of frigid fear.  Nails that had been digging into my back were now digging into my hips.  Pushing me away.  I tried to withdraw but was locked in and she was starting to panic.

‘No, no please no, stop it, stop it.’  Her hips started bucking, trying to throw me off.

‘Sam.  Samantha stop it.’  I roared the last.  She froze into a solid block of fear, ‘Look at me,’ I asked gently, ‘look at me.’

‘Nooo I can’t.’

‘Look at me damn it.’  She did but her eyes bored right through me.  ‘Listen to me Samantha, I can’t pull out we’re locked together.

‘Noooo,’ she started to thrash about.

‘Stop it damn it,’ I grabbed her jaw firmly and made her look in to my eyes.  ‘Your muscles have seized up, you’re holding me in, I can’t pull out until you relax, OK.’

‘No I can’t you’ll push it in.’

‘Look at me and listen, I won’t push it in alright.’

‘You will, you will.’

‘No, I bloody won’t, I’m not an animal,’ I snapped.

‘You will, you will.’

‘Samantha,’ I cut her ranting off.  ‘What’s happening down there is very painful for me, can you understand that.’  A nod.  I tried to lighten the mood a little.  ‘I won’t be able to push anything anywhere for a while.’

Her eyes swam back into focus, then the shock of what she’d done hit her.  ‘Oh god, I’m sorry, I can’t….’

‘Samantha.’  This was no bloody good.  ‘You have to relax completely and trust me, OK.’

‘But won’t it just go soft and fall out?’

‘It doesn’t quite work like that.  Your squeezing him very tightly and forcing the blood back down against the valves that control the flow of blood.  He can’t go down and the longer I’m stuck, the more chance there is of causing me serious injury.  I want him out a lot more than you do, believe me.’

‘What can I do?’

‘You can start by trying to relax, lift your knees up.’

‘No.’

‘Yes.’  A battle of wills ensued; I won. 

Slowly I felt her knees begin to rise.  Her feet were off the bed before I felt myself released.  Her face was turned away, teeth clenched.  I hesitated for a moment as an unbearable urge to thrust into her swept over me, but I fought nature’s irresistible pull and withdrew.  She lay there for a moment and I filled my mind with the wet inviting sight.  I gasped as the blood rushed back in to my damaged member.  It seemed to snap her out of it.  I tried to catch her as she ran for the door.  ‘Samantha wait!’  She had to talk this through.  I reached for her, bad move.  As my fingers brushed her arm, she spun and clocked me in the side of the head.  Stars flashed as I reeled back.

‘Don’t touch me you fucking animal.’

‘Feeling better now,’ I asked during a pause in the tirade.  She came back to her senses, grabbed the nightie from the floor and fled.  A key turned in the adjoining door and I was left alone.  I collapsed onto the bed trying to turn it off, but the air was full of her sweet scent.  I rolled over and over again.  The pain had gone but the throbbing increased matching the tempo in my temples driving me insane.  Eventually I gave up the battle and reached for a tissue.

Sometime in the morning, someone had removed the bags of clothes from the Frontera and dropped them inside the door.  I picked some new stuff I’d bought off the shelf in Mr. Gordon’s, had a shower and shave then put them on.  I grabbed a butler bloke on the way out.  ‘Have you seen Lady Samantha?’

‘She left in a taxi a short while ago.’

‘OK, thanks.’

‘General Pearson left a message for you.  If you could, could you join him at HQ?’

‘Yes OK, could you phone him and tell him I’m on my way.’

‘Yes sir.’

‘Thank you, good day.’

I spent the rest of the afternoon at HQ with Andrew and some of his men discussing current developments.  I got back in the evening to find the chef watching over everything.  After a quick meal, I found Fritz and Davie in the Old Mill where we kept an eye on developments on the big screen.

CHAPTER 34

By the time the taxi had dropped her off at the camp gates her emotions had hit rock bottom.  Pleasure, guilt and some unknown terror pursued her.  Nursing a growing feeling of loss, she wasn’t prepared for the reception that greeted her.

Both Sylvia and Amanda were waiting.  She fended off a barrage of questions. 

‘Aw come on Sammy, did he pop your cherry?  Amanda squealed rudely, but it was the cold interest hidden in the depths of Sylvia’s eyes that made her grabs a towel and run to the shower.

‘Do you think she did it Sylvie?’

‘Don’t think so, I’m going to find out though, stay here.’

‘Only if you tell me.’

‘Yes, yes just stay here OK.’  She followed her into the showers.  ‘What’s happened Samantha?’

‘Nothing, none of your damn business anyway.’

‘Did you go to bed with him?’

The direct question caught her off guard.  ‘Yes, no damn it, it’s none of your business, go away.’

‘You did didn’t do you?’

‘Will you just piss off’?

Sylvia noticed the anguish in her voice.  ‘Oh god he didn’t hurt you did he?’

‘No, he didn’t hurt me.’

‘Then what the hells the matter?’

Samantha stuck her head round the shower curtain.  ‘Please Sylvia just go away.’

But the guilt-ridden features told their own story.  ‘My god,’ her hands flew to her face, ‘you chickened didn’t you?’

‘Piss off.’

Sylvia inexplicably became angry.  ‘For fuck sake Sammy you could have got yourself raped.’

‘What the hells it got to do with you?’

‘You know my interest.’

Samantha became hysterical.  ‘Then fucking have him, I’m transferring out on Monday.’  Sylvia ducked as a bar of soap came winging her way.  ‘Fuck off,’ Samantha screamed.

Sylvia beat a hasty retreat back to the awaiting Amanda ‘She’s flipped,’ she explained.  ‘I’m getting out of here before she comes back from the showers.  See you later.’

Amanda waited in vain.  Eventually she went to fetch her herself and found her rocking back and forth on the edge of the shower crying, clutching the bar of soap.  She let herself be wrapped in a towel and led back to the room.  Amanda cradled her in her arms crooning softly, soothingly.  Eventually the sobbing stopped and her breathing settled.

‘Have you fell asleep Sammy?’

‘No.’

‘You’re still all wet, I’ll get another towel.’  She helped her dry off, insisted she put on a nightie and get into bed.

‘It’s too early,’ Samantha protested.

‘Rubbish, you look shattered.’  Amanda made her a hot chocolate and she sat up in bed drinking it, smiling wanly at Amanda’s fussing.  ‘Tell me what happened Sammy.’

‘No.’

‘Oh go on, I tell you all my dirty stories, was he any good.’

‘I don’t know.’

‘Did it feel good?’

‘Her face reddened, I suppose it did.’

‘What did he do, tell me?’

‘Don’t Amanda.’

‘I tell you all my grotty bits.’

‘But you don’t chicken.’

‘I have done.’

‘Rubbish.’

‘It’s true, Christ everybody chickens sometimes, even after you lose your virginity.’

‘Honest?’

‘Of course.’

‘But did you ever chicken on somebody you really, well, liked?’

‘Yes but he dumped me for it.’

‘That’s not fair.’

‘He was a shit, I found out later he got a girl pregnant and dumped her, tried it on me too saying he loved me and wanted me to have his kids.  It put me right off.  I grabbed my kit and legged it.’

‘So you were lucky really?’

‘Too tootin, she fell for it I didn’t, but forget that come on give me the good bits.’

‘But I’m not really sure what was happening.’

‘Look just tells me best you can and I’ll tell you if it was good or bad, deal.’

‘I’ll try.’ 

She tried to use the words Amanda used to describe her experiences but found they didn’t suit, so used her own.  The novelty of trying to describe a sexual encounter, especially to Amanda cheered her up and soon they were both giggling.  Amanda loved it, eking out every last part of the story.

‘Oh wow Sammy, I think you had an orgasm, maybe even a multiple.’

‘Is that good?’

‘Brilliant.’

‘Is that how you’re supposed to feel when you have an orgasm?’

‘I don’t know I’ve never had one.’

‘Away.’

‘Never mind me, go on.’

‘Well then he started to put it in and I just froze.’

‘But he put it in?’

‘Well sort of.’

‘Yes or no?’

‘Yes.’

Amanda jumped up and down, ‘you did it.’

‘Not really, he only got a little bit in.’

‘That doesn’t matter, I’ve seen some men not even get that far.’

‘Really?’

‘Yes.’

‘Did you still count that as having sex?’

‘Of course, even if he pulled it straight out, you still had sex.’

‘He couldn’t.’

‘Why?’

‘All my muscles froze, he got stuck in.’

‘Oh god that’s terrible,’ Amanda howled with glee.  ‘Did you have to go to hospital to be separated?’

‘No he made me pull my knees right up and they unlocked themselves.’

‘I’ll have to remember that.’

‘Why do you think I froze Amanda?’

‘I don’t know, probably some kind of sensory overload.  I don’t think I could have handled that my first time either.’

‘Wasn’t it like that for you?’

‘Lord no, quick sore and messy was my first time.’

‘Really that’s terrible.’

‘Hark at you, yesterday you didn’t even know what sex was.’

‘Sorry.’

‘Ach, it’s all right, when are you going to seduce him again?’

‘I’m not.’

‘What!’

‘I’m asking for a transfer on Monday.’

‘Christ Sammy, don’t be a bloody fool.’

‘I can’t face him after what happened.’

‘Of course you can.’

The argument flitted back and forth most of the day.  Eventually Amanda gave up.  Her mind seemed set

CHAPTER 35

Monday morning came and went with a few interesting incidents.  Ivan had phoned with a bit of bad news, so I asked him to do me a favour and was waiting for the results to arrive.  I was in the office blethering to Gigs and Abie.  Abie was still in civvies.  I had given him the rest of the day of as he’d been playing football all weekend.  The rest of us were bouncing though and were busy unpacking a lot of the new equipment we’d ordered.  We had our first real exercise in a couple of days with the SAS playing enemy and we had a lot of preparation to do. 

Samantha burst into the office spitting with rage.  ‘How dare you, you have no right to interfere with my life.’

‘Who’s been a naughty boy then?’  Abie quipped.

‘If you please gentlemen, Lt Bryce and I have some things to discuss.’

‘She looks like she's going to gié y’ a kicking, can we bide and watch?’

‘Fuck off the pair of ye.’  They left laughing.  I got up and locked the door.

‘What are you doing?’

‘I don’t want any interruptions.’  I sat.  ‘Now I believe you’ve put in for a transfer, why?’

‘I don’t have to tell you.’

‘On the contrary, I may be Junior in rank to you but I’m still your commanding officer.  Any request for a transfer has to come through me.  Now if, and I mean if I think you’ve got good reasons I will get you moved immediately.’

She was angry and nervous.  ‘I have a copy here.’  She slammed it onto the desk.

I picked it up and read it.  ‘Personal reasons, do you wish to discuss them?’

‘No, I just don’t feel I can work with you anymore.’

I nodded.  ‘That’s fair enough.  I've never forced anybody to work with me against their will.  I’ll call Ivan and he’ll reassign you as soon as you get back to HQ.’

She seemed a little taken aback by the simplicity of it.  ‘Thank you.’

‘One thing though, I’d like an apology from you for Saturday before ye go.’  That shook the bitch.

‘I’m sorry I couldn’t go through with it,’ she eventually stuttered.

‘Go through with what, what are you on about?’

‘Sorry?’

‘I’m talking about slapping me on the kisser.’

‘Did I?’

‘Aye ye did, and a cracker it was to.  The swearing I could handle but I don't like being thumped by anybody.’  That got her.

‘I’m sorry, I thought you were talking about, well you know?’

I frowned convincingly.  ‘What, oh that.’  I dismissed it with a wave of the hand.  ‘That wasn’t your fault, it was mine.’

Now she was stunned.  ‘It wasn’t you, it was me.’

‘Like it or not Samantha, it wasn’t your fault.  I triggered a response, something deep.  I suppose it’s the kind of thing no one can really take the blame for.’

‘I don’t understand.’

‘I’m not too sure I do myself, all I know is that something I did triggered what happened to you.  It could have been my voice a touch a smell, anything.  What I do know is now it has surfaced it’s not just going to go away, you’re going to need help with it.’

‘Just another one who thinks I need to see a sex therapist,’ she snarled.  I burst out laughing.  ‘What’s so bloody funny?’

‘The last person you need to see is a sex therapist, take it from me there’s nothing wrong with your sexuality.’

‘There isn’t?’

‘Lord no, as a matter of fact I can’t ever remember enjoying making love to a woman more.  If there was anything wrong with you I wouldn’t have.’

‘You enjoyed it?’

‘Of course I did.’

She sat down, incredulous.  ‘Even though we, we didn’t have intercourse?’

‘There’s a lot more to making love than intercourse Samantha, that’s just the sticky bit at the end.’

A little colour came back into her face.  ‘Do you really mean that?’

‘Yes I do.  I thought it was a beautiful experience and thank you for it, but we’re getting away from the point here, you’ve still got a problem Samantha and you’re going to need help.’

‘No I don’t.’

‘Yes you do and it’s already beginning to show.’

‘There’s nothing bloody wrong with me.’

‘I’ll tell you what, if I can prove it’s already beginning to affect your work, will you at least listen?’  She thought it over.  ‘I asked you to trust me once before and you did, will you do so once more?’

‘OK.’  It was quietly spoken but a first step.

‘Look at your boots.’  She did, confused.  ‘They haven’t seen a brush since last week.  Your denims are creased and dirty along with everything else you’re wearing.’

‘An accident, I was in a rush and picked up the wrong pile.’

‘Where’s Reginald, Sam?’

She’d completely forgot.  ‘Oh god!  I’ll go get him.’

‘He phoned; Nommy should be on his way back with him now.’

‘Oh.’

She tried to leave but when I reached out to take her hand from the door, she jumped back striking out, but I was ready this time, catching it on my forearm.

‘You see?’

‘Oh I’m sorry, I didn’t mean too.’

‘I know you didn’t, will you let me help you now, please.  I need you here, we all do.’

‘I could just resign my commission.’

‘In a few weeks they’ll only draft you back in and if you get posted to a fighting platoon you’ll only endanger lives.’

She slumped back down onto her seat, ‘what will I do, how can you help?’

‘Well I can try and get you help from the institute of Psychology and Dianetics in Edinburgh.’

‘I can’t pay for that.’

‘I can and don’t argue it’s the least I can do.’

‘I don’t feel like arguing, but what do I do in the meantime?’

‘Try falling back on army discipline.  It’s not the best way I know, but it can get you through the shaky bits.’

She nodded.  ‘OK, I’ll try.’

I got up and unlocked the door.  ‘For now, go home, get smartened up and get back here as soon as possible.  We’ve a lot of work to do today.’

She got up to leave but hesitated at the door.  ‘I don’t know how to put this, or if it will mean anything to you, but up until then, I was really enjoying myself.  ’ Colour raced up her cheeks and she carried on hesitantly.  ‘It was, I’ve never felt anything quite as wonderful as that.  Thank you?’

I felt my heart flip over into a new rhythm.  ‘You’ll never realise just how much that does mean to me Samantha, thank you.’  She smiled, straightened herself to attention, saluted and left. 

Her words had a profound effect on me.  I’d never been thanked before and it made me feel all-weird.  I waited until she’d left before calling Davie Whitton and picking his brains.  He made a quick phone call and I rushed off leaving him with all the problems.

‘Why do you think she was sexually abused by a priest Mr. Murison?’  The head of Dianetics at the institute was a woman in her mid-thirties and pretty with it.

‘Well after she got off the bed, I tried to stop her leaving, and she just flipped.  She belted me on the chops and started screaming at me.’

‘She struck you?’

‘Aye that’s right but it wasn’t actually me she was having a go at.’

‘Explain.’

‘She seemed turned inwards, her eyes sightless, but the clincher was telling me as a man of the cloth I should know better.’

‘Yes that is a bit of a clue isn’t it?’

‘Rather.’

‘Do you think she remembers saying that?’

‘No she didn’t even remember hitting me.’

She wrote it all down.  ‘May I ask why you’re doing all this?’

‘Because I care.’

‘It isn’t just to gratify your own sexual ends is it?’

‘I’ll admit I hate leaving unfinished business, but I was somehow responsible for what happened and I care too much and need her too much to risk it happening again.’

‘What is it you need her for?’

None of your damn business.’

‘There’s no need to be rude.’

‘I apologies, but she’s involved in an army project of which I’m in charge.  It isn’t the most important job in the world but most of the equipment we’re testing is brand new and still on the secret list.  Because of that and the nature of the job we’re doing Miss Bryce is in possession of some very sensitive information, real put you in jail stuff for a very long time, that would include me too if it got out.’

‘I see, so why don’t you take her to an army psychiatrist?  I hear some of them are very good.’

‘Miss Bryce is a career woman, that would end it instantly.’

‘So to protect her you’re putting yourself at quite some considerable risk?’

‘Not only myself, Miss Foster.’

‘You must care a great deal Mr. Murison?’

For some reason I bristled at that ‘She’s one of my people Miss Foster, I’d kill to protect them.’  She opened her mouth to ridicule me, but stopped before she uttered a word, paling a little.  ‘Something stuck in your throat Miss Foster?’

‘No Mr. Murison, let’s just say I believe you and leave it at that shall we.’  I nodded my accent.  ‘Good, I would presume you would rather have this taken care of privately?’

‘And personally, if that’s at all possible?’

She thought it over.  ‘Yes, OK.  I could do it, but my personal services will not be cheap.’

‘I will pay any amount you request in advance to your personal account.’

She wrote a sum on a piece of paper and pushed it across.  ‘Can you handle that?’

I picked it up.  ‘Yes I can, but I want no records kept, would you destroy any notes you need to make when her treatment is finished?’

‘I could do that.’

‘Good, then I’ll double your fees.’

That shook her.  ‘Why thank you, you’re very generous.  Would you like her consultations to start straight away?’

‘As soon as possible please.’

‘Here’s my home address, Bank Account Number, and phone number.’  She scribbled them down on a piece of paper and handed it over.  ‘Get her to contact me as soon as she feels able, don’t push her.’

‘OK.’  I stood up to leave.  She offered her hand.  I shook it and left.

Rhone Foster sat on the edge of the desk rubbing her hand.  What had she expected?  His handshake had been warm, firm and dry.  She waited, and then went to the windows.  He was crossing the car park, as soon as her eyes caught him he turned searching.  She stepped back out of sight knowing she was already too late.  A smile creased her face as she remembered her father; he’d had the same ability.  ‘Look into their eyes,’ he’d told her, ‘they’re the doorway to a man’s soul and if you can’t see anything, that tells you everything.’

It was a statement she had always laughed at until they’d received the contract from the government to psychoanalyze every serious criminal that entered Scottish jails, from murderers to rapists.  Statement turned to fact and a rule she now lived by, but what was it she had seen in his eyes.  A murderer, rapist, thief, definitely not!  Just another old soldier, like your old man, seen a little life, seen a little death.  Her father would have said and left it at that but she sensed there was a lot more to this one than that though.  She moved back to the window and watched him turn onto the main road and drive away.  There was one thing she was sure of however; he would kill to protect his own.  She went back to her desk and removed all the notes she had taken and placed them into a new folder to take home.  Then she erased the record of their meeting from her computer, opened the desk, removed the tape recording of their conversation and destroyed it also.  When she had finished she called in her next appointment, confident he would approve of her actions.