The Amber Knight Read Online Free PDF Page B

cast cold, gleaming spotlights across the cobblestones and gothic stonework. Dragons with gaping mouths jutted out above carved stone panels on which strange beasts and angels vied for supremacy. Above them towered the tall, narrow, casement-studded facades of the twin medieval terraces that led down to St Mary’s church. A breeze stirred, sending the leaves of the few trees that grew on the terraces shivering and trembling. Before he could return to his dream world, Helga interrupted him again.
    ‘When the light catches the sapphires they shine the exact same shade as your eyes. If you bought them for me, I’d think of you every time I wore them.’
    ‘Even when you’ve moved on to a fresh victim?’ Adam teased.
    ‘Victim! You…’
    He silenced her by placing his mouth over hers. She bit down viciously on his lower lip.
    He jumped back. ‘That hurt.’ He dabbed the blood from his lip.
    ‘It was meant to. Do I get my earrings, or not?’
    ‘I’ll think about it.’
    ‘Not good enough.’
    ‘I’m too tired to argue.’
    ‘I can see Feliks if you’re busy. He can send you the bill.’
    ‘Not before I know what it is.’ Conscious of his neighbours sleeping behind the walls, Adam crept down the street to the last house on the right. ‘We’ll go in the back way. And no noise on the stairs, I don’t want to wake Waleria.’
    Helga stamped all the louder up the short flight of stone steps that led to the back door.
    Adam turned the key. Mixed odours of cinnamon, goulash, paint fixative, wax polish and washing soda wafted out to greet them. ‘Stop behaving like a spoilt child, Helga.’
    ‘I don’t know how you put up with living in her house,’ Helga hissed as they passed Waleria’s apartment door on the first floor. ‘Having to see her wrinkles every day.’
    ‘Youth isn’t everything and Waleria’s conversation extends to more than eulogies on sapphire earrings.’
    ‘Living on the fourth floor is bad enough. But with no lift…’
    ‘I like foreplay in the stairwell.’ He pinned her against the wall. ‘Saves time when we get inside.’
    ‘It’ll be more than foreplay, if you don’t get a move on,’ she gasped, worming out of his arms.
    The lights clicked off on the time switch before they reached his apartment door. Floundering in the dark, Adam dragged Helga up the final flight of stairs and fumbled for his lock. Grabbing her by the waist he burst through the door.
    Lights shone through the uncurtained windows from the top floor apartment across the street illuminating a surprisingly large room given the narrow confines of the house. Pushing Helga on to a huge, squashy, calico-upholstered sofa, Adam sank down beside her.
    ‘The door,’ she mumbled, trying to avoid his kisses as his hand slid up her skirt.
    ‘Burglars are too tired to climb up here.’
    ‘Waleria…’
    ‘I pay my rent.’ He kicked out. Catching the edge of the door with his foot, he slammed it shut.
     
     
    Adam woke to blinding light and air filled with birdsong. He hadn’t needed an alarm since he had dispensed with curtains and there were other advantages; like not having to pull, open or wash them, or decide what colour they should be. All he had to do, to ensure the neighbours couldn’t see in, was keep the lights off when it was dark and all private activity below windowsill level in daylight.
    He turned his head and gazed at Helga. Her looks had definitely been designed with artificial light and evening wear in mind. His bedding as well as her face was adorned with streaks of black mascara, passion-red lipstick and chalk-white foundation and, as he didn’t have a maid, that meant changing the bedclothes himself. Still, he permitted himself a smug smile as he threw back the covers, last night had been worth a little inconvenience. Then he remembered the sapphire earrings and realised inconvenience wouldn’t be the only price he’d have to pay for Helga’s passion.
    He stepped out of bed and padded over to