A Dark Beginning: A China Dark Novel Read Online Free

chilled Meursault while watching a movie. Philip used the fact that he had just closed a particularly lucrative headhunting deal that day, which would pay for a very nice holiday later in the year, as an excuse to celebrate. They discussed whether to go to the Caribbean for a relaxing beach holiday, or Costa Rica to tour the jungles and volcanoes. Both sounded good to China but she admitted to being more excited by the Costa Rica trip. They could sit on a beach when they were old, she told him.
    “True, and at least this way you’ll see the Indiana Jones side of me,” he said. He stood and exaggeratedly mimed hacking the jungle undergrowth. She laughed.
    “We’d be going on a well trodden tourist trail through some relatively tame jungle, Philip, not hacking our way to an unknown tribe in the deepest Congo.”
    “I’m sure there’ll be danger,” he teased, cracking an imaginary whip and then jumping on the sofa and leaning over her. “White slave traders to protect you from. Giant poisonous spiders.” The thought of spiders made her shudder more than the slave-traders. He tickled her making her spill her wine.
    “They’d be dropping on you from the trees,” he continued to tickle. “And that’s just the slave-traders. I don’t know about the spiders.”
    They laughed, both slightly inebriated as they didn’t usually drink much mid-week. Philip dropped down beside her and hugged her clumsily. He kissed her neck, just where he knew she liked it, sending a shiver down her back. She pressed the side of her head into his and then turned slightly, wine damp lips touching his, tasting the wine for a second time. “Let’s go to bed,” she said. He smiled, looking almost boyishly grateful and nodded, jumping up and eagerly dragging her off the sofa.
    Laying in bed, waiting for Philip to come in from the en-suite, she actually felt in the mood for some intimacy for a change. The wine was a definite factor, a few glasses always loosened her up a bit, but there was something else that was making her quiver, making her want Philip more than she had in some time. She tried to think of when they had last made love. It was probably at least three weeks ago. Nowadays, a monthly romp usually felt like just the right amount to her. Although she loved the sex when it happened, she only felt like initiating it herself once or twice a month. Philip would try and start something more often than that, but she had many techniques for stalling any unwanted activity, although she sometimes relented out of a sense of duty. Once they were making love she enjoyed it, there was no doubt about that, but the thought of starting it felt like a chore sometimes. It was like a good steak. She’d rarely feel like asking for one at a restaurant, preferring the self-induced discipline of a salad, but when she ate steak she did enjoy it. She just never felt like asking for one.
    When Philip returned he was wearing just a pair of boxers. It was at times like this that she really appreciated all the hard work he would put in at the gym. His body was very fit, a nice six pack, and a decent sized chest and arms. “All very acceptable,” she said smiling and pulling the covers back. “You may join me.”
    Philip jumped in on top of her, and pressed her down into the mattress.
    As Philip slowly made love to her, relishing every precious moment, China’s mind drifted, thinking about the barman who had given her his card. It scared her that she had no control over her thoughts, and she felt intensely guilty each time her thoughts fixed upon the stranger’s broad torso instead of Philip’s.
    “Tell me you need more than just me,” Philip interrupted her thoughts with a breathless request. China sighed and felt instantly less amorous. This was a game that Philip liked to play, and always made her feel rather uncomfortable. His submissive yearning for humiliation was a fantasy she had never shared.
    “Why would I need more than you, darling?”