The Human Flies - [29]

Talking about his conquests obviously put Kristian Lund in a better mood and he continued his story briskly. I saw no reason to interrupt him as yet.

‘A couple of hours after that first encounter, the worst of the shock had died down. But when my wife fell asleep, I lay awake beside her for hours thinking about the beautiful and tantalizing Sara. The following morning, when I was about to drive to work, she so happened to come out at the same time as me. So I played it instinctively, asked where she was going and said that I needed to pop by somewhere close to the university, so perhaps she would like a lift. Her smile was even more provocative than the day before and she immediately got into the car. We hit it off straightaway and had more to talk about than expected. I extended what was already a very long detour by adding a couple of extra turns, so I was almost half an hour late to work. I blamed the unexpected heavy traffic, which was as close to the truth as I could get. The next morning, I left home twenty minutes earlier in the hope that she would pop up again. An unusually beautiful young woman was waiting impatiently for me by my car. Two long, slim feminine legs dressed in tight denim trousers that emphasized her great shape, stamping on the pavement to keep warm. She nodded and gave me the most irresistible smile when I appeared by the car. I smiled back, got in behind the wheel and indicated that she should get in beside me. And off we drove together – as if it was the most natural thing in the world. I think it was when I saw her standing there on the second day that I knew that I would win – if I wanted to win and played my cards right. So I carried on playing the game, inspired. I drove her to the university and mentioned when I would be leaving the next morning. The second day, I got a hug, and on the third, a kiss on the cheek.’

He fell abruptly silent, but then continued happily when I asked him what had happened on the fourth day.

‘It all started as a bit of fun and a way of switching off during a very difficult period when I had too much to think about. It was only a few months since my mother had died. I was probably annoyed with my wife, who only thought about our boy and not about me. It was also a busy time with long days at work. The idea that a woman as beautiful as Sara might be interested in me gave me a boost. So a few days later, I let slip that my wife was taking our son to visit a friend in Bygdøy that afternoon. Sara gave me a knowing smile and suggested that I take the opportunity to come by and have a coffee with her. I am still not sure how far we had thought of going, but the invitation to coffee was our last chance to turn back in time. Sitting in the car, I could have said that it might not be appropriate. Or I could have not knocked on Sara’s door after I had driven my wife out to Bygdøy. But once I had crossed the threshold, and she stood there with her enticing smile, wearing the same dress as the first time we met… there was no going back. We had some coffee and then some wine and we sat on the sofa, but soon we were intoxicated by each other. Somehow we managed to lose our inhibitions after only two glasses of wine. I remember that she sat on my lap and I tried to whisper that we had to stop this now or her dress would end up on the floor and I would be on top of her before we knew it, but my intention was hardly to warn her off. The next thing I remember is that both her dress and the smile had disappeared and she was lying almost naked, moaning on the bed. I had no awareness of anything other than the two of us, and my only desire was to get her knickers off. And when they slid down her thighs…’

A dreamy expression slipped over Kristian Lund’s face. For a few moments he sat behind his desk lost in his own thoughts. Then he smiled with momentary self-irony.

‘Even if one of us had wanted to, it was by then far too late to stop, both mentally and physically. Only brute force could have held me back, and it would have required handcuffs and a horde of constables. It was wrong, of course, thinking of my wife and baby son. But strangely enough, I have never regretted it either. She is far stronger than she appears, both physically and mentally. It was wilder than anything I had experienced in the bedroom before. To feel my tall, dark dream woman underneath me, minute after minute, until I finally collapsed exhausted with a loud groan, was truly the greatest love and triumph I have ever felt in my life. It felt as though I really was the first to be allowed in, and to scale such dizzy heights. Which is what she told me later, and I do believe it was true.’

I waited for a continuation that never came. Kristian Lund remained in his dream world for a while longer.

‘And then…’

He looked up, distracted, at once accusing and apologetic.

‘Then we lay there shamelessly naked for a few hours more. We smoked and talked about life and love, until I looked at my watch and discovered that I should have picked up my wife in Bygdøy five minutes earlier. Fortunately, Karen accepted my excuse that I had lain down for a while and lost track of time without question. Though in many ways, it was in fact true…’