She could see the little beads of sweat standing out on his toad−coloured skin. She could see his body trembling and she could feel the vibrations shaking the bed. She wanted to say no, but she knew he’d have no mercy on her. He’d leave her here. She had one dollar and forty cents in her purse. What could she do with that?
So she shut her eyes, blotting out the strange inhuman face so close to hers, and through dry lips she told him to go ahead.
He put his hand on the front of her dress and ripped it. The thin material tore easily. She half sat up, but he shoved her down again. “Stay still,” he said, his eyes blazing savagely. “I’ll buy you everything you want.
Stay still.”
“No, not like this,” she said, taking his wrist in both hands as he gripped her slip. “Pleaseit’s horrible. Not like this.”
“Let go. Do you hear? Let go.”
Her hands dropped away as he ripped the silk from her and the hot night air slid over her frightened nakedness. She put both her hands over her eyes and began to cry.
Her long white body and her tight drawn−up breasts inflamed him. He reached out two shaking hands towards her, when a heavy rap sounded on the door.
For a second Raven stood paralysed. Then his instinct overrode his lust and he jerked up, his hand pulling his gun from its holster.
“What is it?” he said. His voice sounded cracked and hoarse to him.