Toxic (7 page)

He planted his feet on the sea bed, put his hands under her buttocks, and lifted her. With her arms around his neck, and her legs around his waist, she lowered herself slowly onto his erection.

“Big enough for you now?” he grinned.

“It'll have to do. Now shut up and fuck me.”

**********

“What was that?” Suzy whispered to Todd. “I thought I heard something.”

“Huh?” He said—still half asleep.

Suzy listened. Had she heard something or had it been a dream? She reached across and checked the time on her phone. Three AM. After ten minutes of silence, she decided she must have dreamt it. She'd almost drifted back to sleep when she heard it again.

“Todd. There's someone outside.”

“Go to sleep,” he said without opening his eyes.

“I heard something.”

He grunted, and pulled the sheet up over his head.

After throwing on jeans and a tee-shirt, she walked barefoot out of the bedroom. On the landing, she stopped and listened. Nothing. Nothing was good. Nothing was precisely what she wanted to hear. Maybe it had been the wind. That must be it. The location of the house meant it was exposed to the elements. It was definitely the wind that she heard.

A noise from behind her made her jump. It was Todd, snoring. She was wide awake now—she'd never get back to sleep—particularly while he was making that row. A cup of tea was called for.

Suzy glanced out of the kitchen window. In the near distance, moonlight reflected on the sea. Above, dark clouds moved slowly across a slate sky. What was she doing in this godforsaken place? She was a city girl. And yet, it was so beautiful. The sea was as still as a mill pond, so it couldn't have been the wind she'd heard. The kettle boiled. Then she heard the noise again—much louder this time.

“Shit!” She was frozen to the spot.

The noise continued—it was coming from around the back of the house. A metallic sound.

Suzy flew back up the stairs, stubbing her big toe on the top step.

“Shit!” She hobbled into the bedroom. “Todd! There's someone out there!”

“What?”

She pulled the sheet off him, and screamed into his ear. “There's someone outside.”

“Are you sure?” He sat up in bed. “What are you doing?”

Suzy was hopping around the bedroom—holding her toe.

“Never mind that. There's someone around the back of the house.”

Todd put on his jeans, and led the hobbling Suzy downstairs.

They both heard the noise this time.

“See!” Suzy said. “I told you.”

Todd went over to the kitchen, and grabbed the largest knife from the knife-block.

“What are you going to do?”

“You stay here.” Todd edged towards the back door.

“Why don't we call the police?”

“With what? There's no reception and no landline.”

Suzy's heart was pounding in her chest as Todd threw open the door, and stepped outside.

“Todd? Todd?” Panic coursed through her body. “Todd?”

“Look what I've found.” He came back inside carrying a small dog in his arms. The lively little thing was frantically trying to lick Todd's face. “It had knocked the dustbin over. That's what you could hear.”

“What is it?” Suzy asked.

“It's a dog.”

“Thank you for that, mastermind. I meant what kind of dog.”

He shrugged. “Terrier of some kind.”

Suzy stepped forward and stroked it. “Poor thing must be starving.”

Todd kicked the door closed behind him, and put the dog on the floor. The excited animal ran in circles between Todd and Suzy.

“Steady on girl!” Todd said to the dog.

 “Girl?” Suzy laughed. “Didn't you do biology at school?”

Todd glanced again at the dog, and quickly realised his mistake. “Oh yeah. I see what you mean. Sorry boy.”

Suzy found an old dish, filled it with water, and placed it onto the kitchen floor. She had to take a step back to avoid being splashed as the dog lapped it up as though it hadn't had a drink for days.

“He must be hungry,” Todd said.

“I'll give him some steak.”

“Steak? My steak?”

“It isn't your steak. It's our steak. And now it's his steak.”

Suzy diced the meat into small pieces, put it on a plate, and slid it across to the dog who devoured it within seconds.

“Bloody hell.” Todd laughed. “You were hungry.”

“He probably still is. We'll have to get him some dog food from the village in the morning.”

“Where do you think he's from?” Todd crouched down to pat the dog who was still licking the plate clean.

“God knows. Has he got a collar on?”

“Nothing.”

“We'll take him with us to the village tomorrow. We can ask if anyone recognises him.” Suzy crouched down next to Todd, but was soon on her backside when the dog jumped up at her. “We ought to give him a name.” She laughed as the dog tried to lick her face.

“Ben,” Todd said.

“Why Ben?”

 “Because we found him when he knocked the
bin
over.”

“That's terrible.”

“I know, but he does look like a Ben—don't you boy?”

Ben's tail thumped against the floor.

“See—he likes his new name.”

Chapter 9

As soon as Todd stepped out of bed the next morning, Ben was at his feet, tail wagging. Despite their best efforts to make him stay downstairs, Ben hadn't wanted to be parted from his new owners, so he'd slept at the foot of the bed.

“Time to get up.” Todd shook Suzy gently.

“Go away. It's too early.”

“Try telling that to Ben.”

Suzy forced her eye-lids open, and was greeted by a big pair of eyes, a wet nose, and a tail which was wagging at warp speed.

“Hello boy.” She stretched out a hand which the dog immediately began to lick. “I suppose I'd better get up then.” She turned to Todd. “I wouldn't do this for you.

“Nice to know where I stand.” He smiled. “Let's get some breakfast. Then we can take a walk into the village.”

“Do you think someone in the village will recognise him?” Suzy asked, as she took a bite of toast.

“Where else could he have come from?”

 “Where's your owner boy?” She patted Ben.

“Have you ever owned a dog?” Todd asked.

“I always wanted one as a kid, but Mum said they were too expensive to keep.”

Todd glanced down at Ben. “We'd better hope someone does recognise him because we can't keep him. Neither of us has a real home to go to.”

“We could keep him while we're here—if no one claims him. How long do you think we'll be here for?”

“No idea. For quite a while, I'd guess.”

**********

The three of them were walking along the beach. Todd had found a small stick which he threw for Ben. The dog raced away, grabbed the stick between its jaws, and raced back to them. Suzy threw it next.

The sky was clear; the early morning chill was slowly being burned away by the rising sun. The only sounds were the gulls soaring above them, the sea lapping onto the beach, and Ben's paws pounding back and forth. There was no tiring him.

Suzy was taken by surprise when Todd took her hand in his. She wasn't normally a
walking hand in hand
kind of a girl. Or at least, she hadn't thought so. It felt good.

“Have you always lived in the city?” he asked.

“Me? Yeah. City girl born and bred. I usually get the shakes if I leave the city limits.”

“You seem okay here.”

“I feel great. I'm not usually a morning person. It must be all of this air.”

“Air?” He laughed. “Well I guess there is a lot of
air
around here.”

“You know what I mean. Fresh air.”

“Ben seems to like it.” Todd threw the stick with his free hand. “Where does he get all of his energy from?”

“Eating your steak.”

“Yeah, I still haven't forgiven him for that.” Todd scowled unconvincingly at the dog. Ben just wagged his tail even faster.

“You know what's weird?” Suzy said, as she threw the stick for the millionth time. “I haven't used my phone for almost a day. That has to be some kind of record.”

Todd patted his pocket. “I must have left mine back in the bedroom.”

“I bet Lacey is doing her nut trying to get hold of me.” Suzy kicked the stick this time. “If I can get a signal in the village, I ought to let her know we're okay.”

“It's none of her business.”

“Lacey's all right. You should let Rawhide and Carol know you're safe.”

“Fuck that!” Todd let go of her hand.

“Why don't you give them a break? You don't have to be a dick all of the time.”

“Drop it, Suzy. You don't know anything about my family.”

“I know you have one. That's more than I do. I know they care about you.”

“Bollocks!”

“It's not bollocks. If you'd take your head out of your arse for five minutes, you'd see your brother and sister both care for you. I can see it. Everyone can see it. Everyone except you.”

“You don't understand.”

“That's a cop out.”

“I don't want to talk about it.”

“Cop out!”

“Fuck you!” Todd grabbed the stick, and began to run down the beach—Ben at his heels.

“Why can't you keep your big mouth shut?” Suzy said to herself. How come something as simple as holding hands had felt so good? Why did she have to screw it up by having a go at him about his family? Because that's what she did. Screwed things up. At the first sign of anything good happening, you could rely on Suzy to screw it up.

**********

Suzy waited with Ben outside the village shop while Todd went inside. Moments later, the shop owner appeared at the window, and stared at the dog.

“He says Ben doesn't belong to anyone in the village,” Todd said, when he emerged.

“Is he sure?”

“Positive. He knows everyone around these parts.”

“Where could he have come from then?” Suzy ran her hand along Ben's back.

“No idea. He might have been abandoned. The guy in the shop says that happens sometimes. People leave their unwanted pets on the beach.”

“How could anyone not want you?” Suzy crouched down next to Ben who began to lick her. “Don't you worry. We want you.” She looked up at Todd. “We'll need some dog food.”

“Anything else?”

“You might want to get yourself some more steak.”

“What about booze?”

Suzy hesitated. The previous day, she'd been devastated when they'd discovered there was no alcohol to be had in the village. “I'm okay. What about you? Do you want to go to Leumoor to get some while I take Ben back home?”

”I don't think I'm bothered,” Todd said. “Maybe tomorrow. I'll get some lemonade.”

“I'm sorry.” Suzy said, as they walked back to the house.

“What for?”

“Getting on your case about Rawhide and Carol. It's none of my business.”

“That's okay.” He took her hand again. “Let's not think about anyone else. Deal?”

“Except Ben.”

“Of course.” Todd tossed the stick further than he'd intended and it landed in the sea. “Ben! No!”

The dog charged headlong into the water, grabbed the stick, and then rushed back to them. They both knew what was coming, and tried to get clear, but it was too late. Ben shook his whole body—showering them both.

**********

“What do you think is over in that direction?” Suzy said.

It was early afternoon; the day was now blistering hot. They'd found two wooden seats in the small shed attached to the side of the house, and were sitting under the shade of the front porch.

Todd glanced along the coast. “Nothing as far as I can tell.”

“We should explore.” Suzy took a sip of lemonade.

“It's too hot.”

“We could go this evening when it's cooler.”

“I should have gone to Leumoor to see if I could hire a car.”

“I'd rather walk. And Ben definitely would.”

The dog was flat out under Todd's chair.