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He showered； dressed hurriedly； and wondered why he had not phoned Catriona before。 Even now it took courage and his hands shook slightly as he consulted a telephone directory。 'Lealan。 V。 Col。' The bastard still used his army title and nobody could do a damned thing about it because everything concerning the SAS was secret。 The authorities wouldn't want a scandal so it was preferable to let an ex…colonel remain a colonel； a little bit of snobbery wasn't going to do anybody any harm。
Sabat began to dial； did not overlook the possibility that Vince Lealan himself might answer the call。 In which case Sabat would replace the receiver and try again later。 One way or another he'd contact Catriona because he'd never rest until he did。 When he needed a woman as badly as he did now everything else had to wait； including Lilith and her army of hypnotics。 And Catriona was no ordinary woman。 He cursed himself that it had all happened now； and that was the fault of his astral body。 He'd* had three years in which to try and resume his relationship with her but it was something he'd been content to leave to his fantasies。 Now it had to bee reality。
The phone was ringing at the other end； a steady 'brr…brr'； tantalising。 Jesus； she was going to get a surprise。
Then his whole body went rigid as he heard her voice； the same silky； almost sleepy； tones。 Bored。 Maybe she'd e straight down from that four…poster； still clad only in bra and suspender belt。
'Hi； Catriona；' he hoped his nervousness； his relief that it wasn't Vince on the other end after all； didn't show。〃
'Sabat！' He could just picture her expression； blue eyes suddenly wide； that old familiar smile； maybe a slight tingling in the places that mattered。 'Why how strange！ I had a dream about you last night； that you came and peeped in at me through my bedroom window。'
'Maybe 1 did。' Sabat felt a tiny shiver run up and down his spine。 'How's things？'
'What things？' He thought he detected a note of uneasiness； a sharpness in her answer。
'The usual things； Vince for a start。'
'Oh； Vince；' a little tinkle of laughter。 'He's still around； of course。 As bad tempered as ever。 Actually； he's away for a few days； up in London 。。。 on business。'
'I see。' Sabat visualised Catriona bored and alone； a nymphomaniac with sadistic tendencies needing a man who liked to have done to him all the things she liked to do； and afterwards 。 。 。 'So time's hanging heavy for you；' and he added under his breath； 'with nothing to do but lie in late and look at boring fashion magazines。'
'Long time no see。' She paused。 Was it a cue？
'My fault；' he murmured。 'Didn't know if I'd still be wele。'
'But of course you are；' another laugh。 'You always have been。 Just because Vince got a bit bad tempered and jealous doesn't mean I don't still have 。 。 。 feelings for you。 Say； why don't you drive down and spend a few hours with me this evening？'
Her words hammered into Sabat's brain with stupefying force。 A wave of relief swept over him； goosepimpled into another sensation which had his erection pulsing again。
'I might just do that；' he tried to keep his voice even。
'I'd like it。'
'OK then。 Expect me around eight；'
'And don't worry； Sabat； Vince won't be ing back until Saturday at the earliest。'
Sabat replaced the receiver； wished to God it was eight o'clock。 Christ it was going to be a long day； the hours would drag by but he'd never be able to put his mind to anything to make them pass quicker。 Catriona did that to a man； he'd have crawled from here to Langdon Manor if she had requested it。 Even Quentin couldn't get through to him when he was like this； his body； his brain were obsessed with Catriona； old memories ing back strong； merging with new fantasies。 Tonight was going to be one helluva night！
Somehow he passed the time but he had little recollection of anything。 The phone rang three times but it went unanswered； a lurking fear that it might have been Catriona Lealan ringing because she'd changed her mind； in which case she was too late because he was going anyway。 Or if it was McKay then to hell with him。 Sex had always been the generator which drove Sabat and now he was getting into top gear。 Even Ilona had never matched up to Catriona。 Sabat felt like a man whose three year prison sentence had suddenly terminated； fantasies and masturbation had palled and suddenly the real thing awaited him。
His instinct was to thrash the Daimler mercilessly on the drive down to Surrey but logically that would have achieved nothing。 When Catriona said eight o'clock she meant eight o'clock。 Temperamental in most things she did； an early arrival might have had disastrous results。 So Sabat kept his speed down to Fifty。
No longer was he apprehensive of this return to Langdon Manor。 A sex drive that motored faster； more powerfully； than the sleek Daimler made him oblivious to all else； every ambition； obsession； was channelled directly on Catriona Lealan and the rest of the world was forgotten。 Even Quentin。 Sabat's greatest weakness had escalated these last few hours and now he was his own victim； a slave to his own emotions。
He turned off the heathland road on to an unsurfaced cart track； the car leaving a dust trail in its wake； riding the bumps with all the superiority of a transatlantic liner on a choppy ocean； crunching on gravel as it passed through the gateway amid the tall yew hedge。 Sabat's foot came off the accelerator； slowed to a halt outside the front door of the big house。
In spite of his eagerness Sabat did not get out at once。 He sat there looking up at the ivy…covered walls； the high wide latticed windows； remembered them not from his past clandestine visits here； but from that one recent occasion when he had perched on a windowsill； and seen 。。 。
He saw her now； standing framed in the half open front door； a silent nymph watching him intently； a half…smile on her finely cut features； the epitome of elegance； a scant negligee almost apologising for hiding her voluptuous body。 She beckoned him with those clear blue eyes； a slight toss of her head that rippled the golden hair like a summer breeze across a ripe cornfield。 e to me； Sabat； for I have been without you too long。
Sabat climbed out of the car； hauled tight on the reins which held his self…respect in check； for otherwise he would have run to her like a schoolboy eager to be seduced by a teacher whom he has had a crush on fqr years。
'As punctual as ever； Sabat；' she laughed and somewhere in the recesses of the house he heard a grandfather clock chiming。 'It has been a long time。 Too long。'
Again Sabat sensed his own inferiority； all the uncertainty of an adolescent's first date when one is not sure whether to offer a handshake or a kiss。 But； nymph…like； she had moved away from his reach； closed the door on the golden evening sunlight and now they were alone in the gloom of an empty mansion。
He followed her through to the extensive lounge； ey