‘So let’s take a walk along the towpath,’ he suggested, indicating right and stopping the car beside a small pier.
He turned off the engine and draped his arm over the back of the passenger seat.
‘So do you think the speeches have finished yet?’ he smiled. He had a wonderful smile, she noticed, with perfectly aligned teeth that hinted at good genes.
‘They’ve probably sent a search party out for us. Gosh, you know I didn’t even say one word of thanks to the hostess.’
‘Is she a friend of yours?’
‘Never met her in my life. My aunt sorted out the invitation.’
‘Then she won’t even notice your arrival or departure, even though I’m sure a few of the men did.’
‘Why do you say that?’
‘People notice when the prettiest girl at the party isn’t there any more.’
She looked down at her knees and could feel him turning in his seat.
‘Look at me,’ he whispered.
As she turned, his fingers stroked the underneath of her chin before cupping her face.
‘Can I kiss you?’ he asked slowly.
She had known him barely an hour, so she felt sure that she shouldn’t allow his lips to go anywhere near hers. But in this tight, intimate space, after holding hands and running around dark streets together, she felt as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
She nodded, and his mouth brushed against hers.
He made a noise as if he were tasting her, and she liked how it sounded, liked how it made her feel – beautiful and desired.
The gearstick pressing against her leg was uncomfortable, but as his tongue pushed into her mouth she could feel it less and less.
‘Come closer,’ he muttered, as he came up for air.
She heard a rustle of fabric and felt his hand push up under her dress, rising smoothly higher and higher up her leg as her pulse raced faster and faster.
It didn’t feel so right now. She could feel a strange fluttering sensation between her legs and it frightened her a little.
His fingertips touched the strip of flesh above the top of her stockings. It was as if his skin had seared hers.
‘No,’ she said softly, but he didn’t seem to hear. His fingers kept on probing, hot and sweaty against her skin.
‘Stop,’ she managed to say more forcefully. ‘Get off me.’ She used one hand to push him away.
‘What’s wrong?’ he said, jerking back and frowning at her.
All of a sudden, he didn’t seem so attractive. Up close in the confines of the car, she could see the open pores on his skin, flushed slightly red. His lips were cracked, and those blue eyes were cold.
‘Just stop,’ she panted, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, feeling her lipstick and his saliva smear across her face.
‘Why? I thought we were enjoying it.’ He frowned.
She sank back into her seat and regulated her breathing.
‘It’s wrong. We’ve only just met.’
‘You didn’t object when I stopped the car,’ he sneered sarcastically.