The Darkness Within by Iris Deorre

as his hands lathered her body.
    ‘This feels better than cocaine.’
    ‘I’m glad to hear it.’ He kissed her neck. ‘I’d do this every day if you allowed it.’
    ‘You’re welcome to it. I love having you touch me.’ She leaned into him.
    Once he’d washed the soap off her body, it was Freya’s turn to wash his perfect body.
    ‘Do you work out?’ she asked as she ran her hands down his biceps.
    ‘I do. I have an indoor gym at home.’
    ‘Your body is amazing.’ Her hands moved down his chest.
    ‘You have a lovely body too,’ he said placing his hands on her bum. ‘Very sexy.’ He kissed her, the water splashed over their heads.
    Freya continued to explore his body. ‘Did you have your appendix out?’ she asked noticing the scar.
    ‘I did. A long time ago. You’ll also see that I have a scar from stitches on my lower back. That was done by my father.’
    ‘What an awful man,’ she said as she found the scar.
    ‘Very, but he’s dead now. No time to keep bringing him up. I’m here with you and I’m enjoying every moment of it.’
    ‘Me too.’ She giggled as her hands went over his bum.
    They spent a few more minutes in the shower getting clean and appreciating each other’s bodies. Freya found it exciting and new and didn’t want it to end.
    ‘I love this,’ she said a little serious looking up at him. The water sprayed over him. ‘I don’t want it to end. I want to be with you forever.’
    He smiled. ‘It won’t end. I’m not going anywhere. I promise.’
    ‘Can you really promise me that?’
    ‘Yes I can.’ He kissed her. ‘Shall we get out.’
    They headed for the bedroom to get dressed.
    ‘I’m going to need a change of clothes; I’ll get my driver to pick up some stuff for me. That is if you want me to stay.’
    ‘You know I do.’ She laughed.
    ‘Okay then. I’ll make that call.’
    ‘And I’ll start on breakfast.’ She’d slipped on a pair of jeans and a blue shirt. It was Saturday, and it felt like a relaxing day.
    ****
    Freya opened the cupboard underneath the sink and pulled out a bottle of vodka. She filled a glass and took it down neat. Her eyes shut savouring the taste and allowing it to warm her. She’d wanted it, but not as bad as most times. Again she poured a glass and downed the drink. After the third glass, Freya felt satisfied. The cooking began.
    ‘Hmmm, smells nice.’
    ‘I’ve just started. Thought I’d make the traditional English breakfast. My housekeeper keeps my fridge full even though I don’t eat much here.’
    ‘My house is empty. I eat out most of the time.’
    ‘I drink and eat out most of the time too.’ She laughed.
    He walked over to her, wrapped his arms around her waist and nuzzled into her neck while she cooked.
    ‘That feels nice.’
    ‘Good.’ He squeezed her a little tight before letting go. ‘Do you need my help with anything?’
    ‘Everything is under control. You just make yourself comfortable.’
    ‘Okay then.’ He sat down at the kitchen counter. ‘You have such a lovely place.’
    ‘Yes. I’m surprised I was able to maintain and keep it. I mean with my drinking and in and out of hospital it hasn’t been easy.’
    ‘You won’t have to worry now. Everything will be okay.’
    She stopped turning the bacon in the pan and turned to him. ‘You really think so?’
    ‘I know so. Once we’ve done with breakfast, we can sit down and you give me the names of the men that hurt you.’
    She turned back as she nodded.
    ‘We’ll get to the bottom of this.’
    ‘I want to be with you when you do it,’ she said without turning.
    ‘You do?’
    ‘Yes. I want to see the terror in their faces. I want them to know that it’s over and it will never happen to anyone again.’
    ‘If that’s what you want my darling, then I will allow you to be there.’
    She smiled. She wanted to see them suffer like they’d made her suffer.
    Minutes later they were enjoying a full breakfast.
    ‘This is great. I can’t remember the