Читать книгу: «In Bed With Her Tall, Sexy Handsome Boss: All Night with the Boss / The Boss's Wife for a Week / My Tall Dark Greek Boss», страница 8

He’d said he wouldn’t hurt her and maybe he genuinely meant it. But he would hurt her, whether he meant to or not. She was already hurting and the only thing she could do now was lessen the severity.

Gina and Lissa logged off simultaneously and called into the bathroom to fix their hair and make-up. Lissa refused to spend these last few weeks moping. She was going to go out tonight, drown her sorrows and resurrect her party spirit. She was going to plan some mini-breaks for her last few weekends and see some of the sights and she was determined to enjoy it. She would not let her flingette with Rory ruin her last weeks of tourism.

Gina turned to face her and shook her hair. ‘Am I OK?’

Lissa appraised her. She was wearing a baby-blue pencil skirt teamed with a white roll-neck cashmere sweater that hugged her curves in all the right places. She’d applied a soft pink gloss to her lips and brushed her curly blonde bob so it shone. Her blue eyes sparkled and silver earrings hung from her ears. She shone from the inside out. A petite firecracker. ‘You’re a doll.’

‘Yes, but am I a sexy doll?’

Lissa laughed aloud. ‘Absolutely. What about me?’ She adopted a mock-model pose for inspection, smoothing her hands down the black silk shirt she’d just changed into and down her slim red skirt. She tossed her freshly loosened hair with a feeble laugh.

Gina rolled her eyes. ‘Lissa, you exude sex. You’ve got legs to your armpits, boobs to match, long golden hair and this haughty ‘look but don’t touch’ façade. Now with this flu thing you’re all pale and fragile-looking too. It’s a killer combo. You’re irresistible.’

‘Ha!’ Lissa snorted. She knew Gina was over-egging it, but her ego needed the boost and she was happy to receive it.

They quickly walked through the cold rain, sharing Lissa’s umbrella, and climbed the steps leading into the pub. A nauseous feeling rose as the combined smell of beer, wine and perfume met them at the door and Lissa knew the idea of drowning her sorrows was a dumb one. But nor did she go for pineapple juice. Too many memories there. She opted for cranberry, alone and on the rocks.

Lissa was chatting to a young consultant about bungee jumping in New Zealand when Karl made an appearance. He wandered over to Lissa and surprised her completely by snagging her hand and tugging on it. She looked up at him in query. ‘What?’ she asked.

‘Come here, I’ve got something to show you.’ He pulled her over to a quiet corner and turned her so she stood facing the room and he stood with his back to it.

‘Jeez, Karl,’ Lissa began. ‘What’s going on?’

His eyes were dancing, but she noted a steely determination shining underneath. He stood with his hands on his hips, and she could feel the pent-up energy within him.

‘You’re going to do something about Gina?’ Lissa asked.

‘Uh-huh.’ He nodded decisively.

‘What?’

‘In my book, actions speak louder than words. I’m going to show her how I feel.’

She watched in amused surprise as he undid the top few buttons on his shirt, opening it just enough to reveal the tight tee he wore underneath. Emblazoned across his chest in bold type were the words ‘satisfaction guaranteed’. Subtlety wasn’t something that Karl did. She looked back up at him and the giggles burst out of her. ‘Perfect.’ It was as outrageous as he was, as Gina was. The two beautiful flirts were definitely a dream match.

He grinned wickedly back at her, doing the buttons back up. ‘I thought so too. Time to make a move.’

‘Go get her.’ She laughed. ‘But, Karl!’ He stopped and looked at her. ‘Don’t forget we chicks need the words too.’

He grinned and saluted and wandered in the direction of the bar. Lissa looked about, trying to spot Gina. She caught sight of her, cornered by a couple of consultants as usual. Lissa watched with satisfaction as Karl approached her. She glanced away and found herself looking at James, who had somehow appeared right in front of her without her noticing.

‘What are you doing standing in this dark corner all alone?’

‘Oh.’ She didn’t know what to say and took a quick sip.

‘Waiting for someone?’ James asked.

‘No, I was just talking to someone, but…’ She let her voice trail away. James didn’t seem overly interested in her reply. He stared at her. She coloured a little, not sure what he wanted. She held her glass in front of her with both hands, hugging it against her body in an unconsciously protective gesture.

‘Seems funny to be back at the usual desk, doesn’t it? I miss our little team. It was very illuminating.’ He paused and looked her over.

Lissa shifted on her feet uncomfortably. She definitely didn’t like the way this was heading.

‘There’s a whole lot more to you than meets the eye. I miss you, Lissa. I liked sitting near you. You’re a pleasure to be around, you know that? A pleasure to look at, a pleasure to talk to, and I bet you’d be a pleasure to kiss.’

Whoa, this was too much. The last thing she needed tonight was a charm offensive from James. Hadn’t he got the message the last time he’d asked her out? Obviously not. Maybe he thought the two weeks in close quarters with him had made her radically change her assessment of him? She nearly laughed aloud. She’d barely noticed him. She’d felt nothing but awareness of Rory.

Lissa glanced around, half hoping for a saviour. There didn’t seem to be anyone near enough to draw into the conversation; most of the crew were over by the bar. She took another sip of her drink. She’d just have to straighten him out. Trouble was, she knew from past experience he was fairly resilient.

‘James, I’m sorry, but—’

‘But nothing, Lissa. Come on, give me one date. Come to dinner. Get to know me. You might even be pleasantly surprised.’ He gave her a charming, overly confident smile that did nothing for her.

Yes, he was persistent, she’d give him that.

She looked over to where Gina had been and saw that Karl had managed to despatch the two consultants who had been loitering earlier. He had Gina alone and both looked serious.

She looked back at James, trying to get him to listen to what she was saying. ‘James, I already know you and you’re a nice guy, but I’m not interested.’

He frowned. ‘You’re not interested.’ He said it as if there were something wrong with her. ‘How come you don’t date anyone? Got a murky past?’ He moved closer to her, invading her space.

She tensed. How dared he start prying into her personal life? His arrogance astounded her and she felt it time she made herself understood clearly. She was unable to manage polite rebuff, her emotions too on edge. She opened her mouth to give him a piece of her mind when suddenly an arm snaked around her waist and firmly pulled her back against an extremely taut body. Her own body flared and fitted against it perfectly. Rory. She hadn’t even seen him approach. His arm reached right around her and his hand spread wide and firm on her lower abdomen. His other hand reached to her shoulder, holding her back against him length to length. A ripple of awareness shivered through her entire body. He couldn’t have adopted a more possessive stance if he’d tried. The shock temporarily robbed her of speech.

‘She’s seeing me, James,’ his voice rasped. Lissa felt his anger and her insides melted. He was jealous.

James stood back and looked them over. ‘So I see. I wondered about that, but I thought maybe not.’ He took a swig of his drink. ‘Still, can’t blame a man for trying.’

Rory said nothing and Lissa couldn’t think of a thing to say either. The uncomfortable silence hung over them, but James didn’t take the hint and move off. Rather he looked at them for a few moments. Malice glittered in his eyes.

‘Well, Rory, no wonder you had Lissa ditched from the team.’ He spoke with a confident swagger. ‘Shame for you, Lissa, missing out on the biggest deal Franklin has seen in years, especially when you helped win the contract. Still, now Rory’s free to concentrate on the mega project and have you as recreation on the side, while you’re stuck doing the filing or something boring back in the library.’

Lissa felt her jaw go slack. What had he just said? She replayed his words. Their meaning sank in. Rory had ditched her from the project? Back to boring library work? So he could have her on the side?

A wave of shock flooded through her. No, no, no. He wouldn’t have done that, would he? It was Grant all over again, controlling her career, manipulating her life for his own purposes.

She needed to get away from him. Away from them both. From the whole damn lot of them. She tensed and made to pull away, but Rory’s arm was like a steel band pinning her to him. She turned her head to look up at his face, but he held her so close and tight against him all she could see was the clench in his jaw.

She felt the animosity ignite between the two men. They were like two lions, circling around the kill. She certainly felt as if she’d been mauled. Why would Rory treat her like that? Just so he could keep sleeping with her? Horrified, she felt tears prickle the backs of her eyes and angrily she summoned control. Icy, icy control. She would not be humiliated like this. Not here, not now.

‘Things are never quite that simple, James,’ Rory said curtly.

James shrugged. ‘If you say so.’ He gave Lissa a penetrating look, and with a nasty smile he departed.

Rory’s arm didn’t loosen one iota.

‘Let me go.’ Her voice dripped with venom.

‘We need to talk.’ His jaw still clenched tight, ditto his grip.

‘I don’t think we do. I don’t think there’s anything to be said.’ She clawed at his hand, digging her nails in, not caring at his wince. No way could that scratch hurt him as much as he had just hurt her. He loosened his arm a fraction and she turned in it to face him. Her body still pressed close against his and she was furious with herself for feeling that rush of desire for him when he’d been such a rat. She breathed heavily and with each inhalation her breasts pressed closer against his chest. She was painfully aware of him, of his heat. His magnetism was such a force that even now she was drawn to him. But her heart was breaking and her head filled with a cold furious pain that drove her to repel him.

His rock hard body matched his expression. ‘What—you’re just going to believe what that jerk said without even hearing what I have to say?’

‘Am I off the team?’

‘Yes.’

‘So we’re not working together. You arranged it so you could keep sleeping with me.’

He paused and his eyes flickered.

He had. Used his position as her boss. Exactly what she’d been afraid of. She pushed both hands against his chest with all her might and broke free. Stepping back, she stared at him, her eyes flashing fire.

He moved after her, lifting a hand to touch her.

She stepped out of reach.

His hand fell. ‘Lissa, it’s not that simple.’

‘I trusted you,’ she said lowly.

He frowned. ‘This isn’t about us, Lissa.’

‘There is no us.’

God, would she never learn? Why did she always fall for guys who let her down? Who were all about what they wanted, not caring about her at all. Well, never again. Never, ever again would she let a guy get to her like this. He’d just screwed her over. She turned and headed for the door.

It was impossible to get up much speed through the bar now full of merry patrons. She gave a hurried look over to where Gina and Karl had been but she couldn’t see them. She didn’t give them a second thought, all she wanted to do was get out of there and lick her wounds.

Maxine from Reception stepped before her, blocking her path. ‘What’s going on with you and Rory?’

Lissa stopped and stared. She’d forgotten that half the staff had probably been watching their little encounter in the corner and drawing goodness knew what conclusions. ‘You really want to know?’ she asked shrilly. She wasn’t sure quite how it happened, but the noise of the bar had receded completely. There seemed to be nothing but her and Maxine and a constant hum in her own head. Vaguely she saw others turning her way. She couldn’t care less. Anger and hurt made her reckless and voluble.

‘We had an affair, but it’s over now.’ Her voice rang clear as a bell. Maxine’s eyes widened.

‘Wrong, Lissa,’ Rory boomed behind her. She spun around furiously to face him. He stood broadly, inches away, legs apart, anger apparent in every muscle. He looked her up and down, raking her body with the heat in his angry glare—a move that only served to enrage her further. Her entire body tensed. It seemed everyone in the room held breath.

‘You know damn well it’s not over,’ his voice drawled through the bar.

For a split second there was total silence. Then there was a collective gasp and a lone wolf whistle.

‘Go get her, Rory,’ someone yelled.

Lissa stared at him in fury, seeing his pale anger and force of will. And despite it all a trickle of desire was pooling in her belly. She still wanted him. He’d betrayed her and yet her body still wanted to feel his hardness against her.

Disgusted with herself, she turned and ran for it. Pent-up energy gave her speed. Opening the door and flinging down the entrance stairs, she got a good start. The fight-or-flight instinct had kicked in. She was going for both. Her heels tapped as she clattered down the stairs at breakneck speed. She glanced back up. Rory was following three at a time.

‘I don’t want to talk to you,’ she called to him as she started along the footpath. The cold wind bit into her.

‘Well, it’s about time you bloody did. I want to talk to you.’ He advanced closer.

‘And it’s all about what you want?’ she flung back at him. She’d left her umbrella inside and rain was falling in large splats. She increased her pace so she was practically running.

‘Lissa, slow down. You’ll fall and break an ankle.’

Indignation burned. ‘I can run a marathon in these heels.’

‘Fine, but not tonight.’

He caught up to her, grabbed her arm and pulled her to a stop. She jerked her arm out of his hand. He stared at her, his jaw clenched. People moved to avoid where they stood in the middle of the footpath.

‘Still care about what other people think, Lissa?’

‘You know what, Rory?’ she yelled in his face, ignoring the interested stares of the passers-by. ‘I couldn’t care less. What I care about is being used.’

‘Finally some honesty,’ he yelled back. ‘So let’s forget about the audience and sort this mess out.’

She hardly heard him as she berated herself, her hands fisting at her chest. ‘God, I promised myself I wouldn’t do this again. How could I be so trusting and stupid?’

He stared at her in silence, waiting for her to continue.

‘I should have known you would let me down. It was just a matter of how.’ She stood before him, getting wetter as the rain fell, watching as the defence leapt in his eyes and he took breath.

‘Lissa, listen to me.’ Calm, coaxing.

She closed her eyes and forced her blood to freeze. She would not be manipulated by him.

‘What James said wasn’t even close to the truth.’

‘You wouldn’t know what the truth is, Rory. Let alone be able to tell it.’

He flinched, his hands fisted, not quite so calm now. ‘Lissa, you’re tired and overwrought and being completely irrational.’

‘I am not irrational.’ No way was she going to let him play the ‘you’re an irrational female’ card. One sign of tears and they thought a woman was all out of control. Typical.

‘Yes, you are. You won’t even listen to me.’

‘It wasn’t your place to take advantage of your position. To take advantage of me,’ she overrode him furiously.

‘I did not take advantage of you and you know it,’ he flung back, his voice betraying that he was as angry as she.

She stared back at him. No, he hadn’t. She’d been as willing as he had. What a fool she’d been. She’d given in to temptation and lost her heart in the process and now she was paying the price.

‘You don’t get it, do you? You just organise things the way you want them. I told you we couldn’t be together while you were my boss and so you just rearrange my job without any regard to how it might impact on me. Maybe I would have liked the extra hours, maybe the money would have come in handy when I go home. All that matters to you is maintaining your source of hot sex!’

‘Lissa, you are so far off base.’ The words flew out, demanding her attention. ‘The decision was made well before you said that to me, Lissa. George decided last week after the meeting with the client.’

‘Last week? George?’ She wasn’t buying it. He wasn’t going to charm his way out of this with his brilliant eyes.

‘Lissa, I knew you were gutted about being taken off the Portuguese project; Hugo told me. When debriefing with George the other day it was agreed that, as this project is long-term and the Portuguese is about to wrap, it would be better for Gina to take on the new one and send you back to the other. That way there is better continuity. It was George who suggested it, and George who decided. I just agreed. I think he wanted you to get the Bilbao trip. And I wanted you to have it. I know how much you’ll love that gallery.’

She stared at him. Hearing the words. Blinking as they sank in. ‘Bilbao?’

‘Yes, the weekend bonus, remember?’ He glared at her.

Hell, she’d forgotten about it. All disappointment of missing out had been obliterated in the heat and storm of her affair with Rory. Three weeks ago she’d have been moon-walking with delight over the prospect, now it felt hollow.

A raw energy poured off Rory as he continued to enlighten her. ‘I think you’re just spoiling for a fight and I’m fairly sure I know why. You want to push me away? Fine, but be honest about it. Don’t use this as an excuse.’ His words whipped, his frustration unmistakable as he stood like a warrior charged and ready for action.

Her shoulders slumped as the fight drained out of her. He was right. She’d been wrong. He hadn’t abused his position. In fact he’d been on her side. But it made no difference to their relationship. She was too scared, too hurt and hopeless. Humble pie time. ‘I’m sorry for blowing up at you before giving you a chance to explain.’

She stared at him, committing his features to memory; despite the blur of the rain she saw him more sharply in focus than ever before. His height, the dark springy hair and the brilliant eyes that right now were glittering with a fire that had several sources of fuel.

It had to be over. She was leaving. The heartbreak now would be nothing to what it could be. With a final, soft, ‘I’m sorry,’ she turned and, heedless of the rain or the fact her shoes probably weren’t going to make it, started the walk home.

Chapter Nine

LISSA had only walked half a block when the black cab pulled alongside her, its engine low as it slowed to keep pace with her. Then it paused just ahead and the door flung open.

‘Get in. You want pneumonia or something?’

She stared at Rory as he sat forward, like a jungle cat ready to leap and pounce. His peremptory command was an audible expression of his grim tension. He was still angry. He was still gorgeous.

Her heart thundered, the heat in her body rose, despite the cool, wet air. She hated that she wanted him so much, it just didn’t make things any easier. ‘Just a ride home.’ Utterly unable to resist the order in his eyes, unable to resist her need to spend time with him—even five more minutes.

He shrugged and sat back as she bent to step into the cab.

She perched on the edge of the seat feeling more than a little humiliated. She winced as she recalled the words they had traded in front of the entire bar. ‘I’m sorry if I embarrassed you in front of everyone tonight.’

‘You didn’t embarrass me. I’m happy for the world to know; half the population will be dead jealous. But I admit to being surprised—for someone who once said she wanted private, you picked a hell of a way to go public.’

His gaze slid over the damp blouse clinging to her. She was grateful for her jacket—although unbuttoned, at least it covered her hard and aching nipples. She felt anger at her unrelenting desire for him. His attention then dropped to the edge of her skirt. She pressed her knees together, wanting to stop the excitement. He still looked ferocious, but in a wickedly wanting way. She turned her head to stare out the window, unwilling to look at him. Not wanting to be tempted all over again. Focus. ‘I don’t care what they think, Rory. That wasn’t why I said no to you at the start.’

‘No.’ There was a tiny pause. ‘So why did you?’

‘I didn’t want to get involved with you because we work together, more than that you’re my boss, and one thing I learnt the hard way was not to get romantically involved with someone you work with.’

‘How learnt the hard way?’

‘My mother had an affair with her boss when I was sixteen. She thought she was getting love, marriage, the works. But he was just using her. I last spoke to her as she was driving home after he ended it with her and she lectured me, told me not to make the same mistake. She had the accident five minutes later. Of course, when I was older, I made the same mistake.’

‘Fell for your boss?’

She nodded, looking back at him. ‘Pathetic, isn’t it? My graduate job. He pursued me, flattered me. Told me to keep it a secret from the others because he didn’t want me getting flak from them about favouritism. We never went out in public. I didn’t really notice or question why—I was just enjoying thinking I had someone. Someone who loved me, who would care for me. I’d been alone for so long. I was so naïve.’

‘He was married?’

‘About to be. When I finally found out I was horrified. I tried to end it but he got nasty. He started giving me all the donkey work, the boring assignments, harassing me when no one else was around. In the end the easiest thing to do was leave. I’d made the exact mistake my mother had and I vowed not to do it again. Then I met you.’

He looked serious. ‘I’m not either of those guys, Lissa. I’ve always been honest with you and I always will be. There’s no one else. You know that. Just you and me.’

The cab had been idling outside her flat for at least five minutes now. She had barely noticed. The air crackled between them. The flames in his eyes still burned. Just you and me. She felt the softening deep inside, the want, every cell screaming to get closer to him. The anger and pain of moments before transmuted again into the heat of desire. She tried to force it back.

‘It doesn’t matter, Rory. It can’t continue anyway. I’m leaving the country in less than six weeks. I’m sorry for mucking you around.’

‘So you still think it’s over?’

‘It has to be. It’s better to end it now.’ Knowing that was the last thing she wanted to do, but how else did she stand a chance of saving what was left of her heart?

‘Six weeks is ages.’

Yes. Long enough to cause permanent heart damage. ‘It would be a mistake.’

‘So that’s it, then?’ A darkness grew in his expression, one she couldn’t read.

‘I think that would be best.’ She couldn’t stop the heat coursing through her body. Here she was arguing with the man, trying to end it with him, and yet her body wasn’t listening. It was her body wanting to get closer. Aching for his touch.

She broke the invisible bonds trying to draw her to him, turning quickly away and stepping out of the cab. She heard the door slam shut behind her and, without looking back, she raced up the stairs, desperate to get inside and lock the door behind her for fear she’d change her mind and go after him willing to take any last crumbs in these remaining few weeks like the hopeless case she was.

‘Know what I think of that idea?’

She whipped around. Only three paces away Rory strode after her. Glancing over the balcony, she saw the cab driving round the corner, passengerless.

He stopped an inch from her. ‘I think it’s rubbish.’

Her breath came shorter. ‘What do you suggest, then?’ She stood beside her front door, unable to get the key into the lock, unable to move, transfixed by the passion in his eyes and the heat in her belly.

‘I still want you and I’m pretty sure you still want me.’

The way she couldn’t tear her focus from his mouth must have been the give-away.

‘One night.’ Unable to resist, unable to fight the fire in her body, she capitulated instantly, leaning towards him as she spoke. ‘Just one more night.’

‘Now.’

‘Yes.’

A whisper as the inch of space between them became nothing. No holding back. His kiss was ferocious. She tasted the frustration, anger and want in him. The same frustration, anger and want that she had felt all week.

While still able to, she turned in his arms, forcing the key into the lock and turning it while his arms came around her to rake down her body, pulling her back against him so she felt his tension and rigidity. He stripped her jacket from her shoulders, leaving her damp blouse clinging to her. Waving her arm free of the jacket sleeve, she pushed forward and opened the door. He lifted her from behind and thrust her through the doorway. He stepped after her and had slammed the door behind them before she could take breath. Wheeling in front of her, he pressed her back against the closed door with the full length of his body. She lifted her face and welcomed the hard demands of his mouth, ravishing him with a fierce passion the way he was doing to her. She nipped at his lips with her teeth drawing a vicious thrust from his hips; she panted with pleasure and immediately wanted more. She knew there was going to be nothing slow or leisurely about this merging and nor did she want it that way. She pulled off his tie and fought with his shirt buttons, freeing them and then dragging both shirt and jacket down together so he stood bare-chested against her. He wasn’t having the same ease with her blouse and she heard the tear of fabric as in frustration he simply ripped it apart.

With fingers made nimble by sheer will she worked his belt open and his trousers and boxers down, sliding her hands round to hold his butt and urge him closer to her.

He yanked up her skirt so it bunched around her middle and pulled aside the silky strip of her panties with his strong fingers, his erection pressing against her wetness.

He lifted his mouth from hers and for a half-second paused.

‘Yes,’ she cried. ‘Now!’

There were no other preliminaries. With a single, hard thrust he was there and she arched her neck back in abandon. ‘Yes!’

She curled her leg around his waist and he immediately hoisted her up so she could wind her other leg around him too. The door and his thighs bore her weight.

His breathing was harsh and ragged as he continued to plunder her lips, her neck, her breasts still confined in their lace scraps. His mouth hot, hungry and unbelievably delightful. He ground into her, deeper, longer. She knew he was as out of control as she’d ever seen him and she wanted it even more.

‘Harder,’ she incited him, ‘harder.’

He pounded against her, inside her, with her and she used her hands, her mouth and teeth to wantonly reciprocate as best she could—alternately nipping, sucking, rocking, driving him to go more powerfully, faster. She raked her hands across his shoulders, down his back, pulling him closer, ever closer. The door rattled on its hinges as she moaned further entreaties for him to show no mercy, loving the wildness of it, until the ferocious and primitive mating resulted in a climax, the noisiest and sweatiest she’d ever experienced.

Utterly lax and sated, she rested against the door, still supported by him. His heart thundered beneath her palm and she used her thumb to brush aside a trickle of sweat from his hair-dappled chest. He’d buried his face in the side of her neck and she felt his hot, laboured breath blowing against her.

‘Are you OK? Did I hurt you?’ He lifted his head to look at her.

‘No. I’m more than OK.’ She opened her eyes and smiled at him through lips that were swollen with passion. ‘That. Was. Fantastic.’ She closed her eyes again, feeling thoroughly replete. For now the devils were well and truly chased away, the stress of the last week physically worked out of her. ‘Feel better?’

She heard his sigh. ‘Hell, yes. Will be even better when we’re curled in bed together.’

‘I might need you to carry me there. I don’t think I have the energy to move.’ Or the will. It was so nice being held by him, still part of him, locked in his arms.

‘OK, beautiful. But I need to rest you here for a second. I’ve still got my shoes on and my trousers round my ankles. If I try to walk we’ll both end in a heap on the floor.’

With a half-laugh she unhooked her legs from his waist and he eased her down a little so she could stand. Leaning back, she watched as he quickly kicked off his shoes and stepped from his trousers, leaving them in a dark puddle on the floor together with the rest of the clothes they had managed to remove. Then with a mischievious grin he leant forward and caught her round her middle, swinging her up over his shoulder so she hung upside down over his back.

‘Hey, what am I? Your snowboard?’

He laughed. ‘Hell, no, you’re a lot more fun to ride.’

Her mouth fell open at his cheek and then she realised she was in a perfect position to assess the quality of his other cheeks, and reaching down, she gave him a playful pinch. ‘Huh!’

His chuckles didn’t abate. After five paces he laid her on her bed and with gentle hands undid her skirt and freed her from the rest of her clothes.

‘Now that we’ve addressed the raging inferno, let’s get back to the slow burn shall, we?’ He traced his hand slowly, softly down her body and unbelievably she felt the flicker all over again.