Midnight Never Comes - PC 04 (v5) Read Online Free PDF

after a further five minutes, covered both ears, arms crossed.
    The darkness enfolded him like velvet and when he finally opened his eyes and straightened, his mouth was sharply cool, the tongue rigid. He took a long shuddering breath and stared into the shaft of sunlight from the window without blinking. When he got to his feet and walked to the wardrobe, his limbs seemed to be filled with power.
    If he had gone to Mallory or anyone else and had spoken of this three months ago after his first meeting with Yuan Tao, they would have smiled pityingly. And yet the result was visible for all to see. A hand that no longer trembled, a clear eye and the kind of strength he would never have believed possible.
    He took out an old tracksuit and as he pulled it on, Su-yin came in from the bathroom. She wore slacks and a Spanish shirt in vivid orange tied at the waist. Her dark hair swung loosely to her shoulders, framing the calm, beautiful face.
    'You look pleased with yourself,' she said. 'Any special reason?'
    He grinned. 'I've spent the afternoon in bed with a supremely beautiful woman and I still feel like Samson. That's reason enough.'
    She started to laugh helplessly. 'Oh, Paul, you're quite hopeless. Ring for a taxi, will you? I'm going to be late.'
    He phoned the porter quickly, replaced the receiver and moved towards her. 'You're not going until you agree to have dinner with me later. They can't need you all night. We could eat late and catch the midnight show at Twenty-one.'
    He pulled her close and she sighed. 'It's quite impossible, I assure you.'
    'Then I shan't let you go.'
    He swung her up into his arms and carried her across to the bed. There was a brief struggle, punctuated by laughter and then his mouth found hers and they kissed.
    She drew away with a sigh and looked up at him as he leaned over her. 'You're so different, so very different. Are you happy, Paul?'
    'In spades. Thanks to Yuan Tao and you.'
    'You have missed him since he returned to Hong Kong?'
    'A great deal.'
    'And would you miss me as much?'
    He stopped smiling and sat up at once, frowning slightly. 'What is it? What's happened?'
    'I'm going home, Paul,' she said simply.
    'To Hong Kong?'
    'That's right. I had a letter from my uncle this morning. My sister and her husband are opening a night club on Repulse Bay. They need me to help things get started.'
    'What about the Red Dragon?'
    She shrugged. 'It can continue quite adequately under management. I came to England for the experience, Paul, nothing more.'
    'And what about me?'
    'What are you trying to say? That you are in love with me?'
    Chavasse hesitated, staring down at her and she shook her head. 'No, Paul, we've had a lot of fun together, but now it's time for me to go home.'
    He took one of her hands and held it tight. 'It's going to take a little getting used to.'
    She stood up. 'It'll take me two or three weeks to arrange things. This isn't the end.'
    But she was wrong, they were both conscious of that as they went down in the lift and from now on, every meeting, every kiss would be coloured by the fact of her going.
    They passed the porter at his desk and moved out through the swing doors. The taxi was waiting at the kerbside and Su-yin paused on top of the steps, a hand on his sleeve.
    'No need to come down, Paul.' She kissed him briefly. 'You'll call me?'
    'Of course.'
    But he wouldn't, not again. He knew that suddenly and she knew it too, he could tell by the way she paused before getting into the taxi, turning to look up at him as if she was aware that it was for the last time, one hand raised in a brief little gesture that carried its own finality.
    He was in the shower when the door-bell rang. He grabbed a towel, wrapped it around his waist and padded across to the front door, leaving damp footprints on the parquet floor.
    When he opened the door a maid stood there wearing a blue nylon overall that was obligatory for all female staff. She was young and rather pretty with dark brown hair