Page 165 of Easy
‘Not actually rubies.’ I take her hand in mine. ‘Garnets, I’m told. Stones of love.’
She places a finger across my lips, her mouth soon following, both palms at my cheeks.
‘It really is the sweetest thing,’ she whispers, brushing her lips against mine.
I place my hand over hers, kissing her just once more, my lips gentle even as hers sought depth. That I’d taken control of the kiss didn’t surprise her. That I’d slowed them down did.
‘I’ll take thanks on account,’ I whisper. ‘You’ve an engagement to attend.’
‘I can’t believe I’ve gotten myself into this.’ Her shoulders sag as she pulls away, a sudden thought seeming to hit her gaze. ‘We could stay home. I could thank you properly.’
‘Gottenusinto this, darling. Why else am I wearing this monkey suit? And come to that, why are you in such a hurry for me to take it off again?’
‘You don’t look like a primate. And for the record, no clothes is always a favourite of mine.’
I pull back, almost lounging across the sofa as her eyes take their fill. She looks at me as though, given half a chance, she’d devour me. And I’d let her.
Above this pristine white shirt, I’m all clean-shaven and stylish hair. Her favourite cologne, clean and cool, fills the air around me. Midnight-coloured pants hug my thighs, not leaving much to the imagination as they cup the bulge between my legs.
‘You’re less primate. More... primal. More... man.’ Her appraising gaze travels over me again. ‘On the surface, you’re the epitome of a gentleman.’
‘On the surface? Is there a compliment in there?’ I laugh.
‘Definitely. You’re a gentleman.’ She tilts her head as though considering. ‘Of sorts. And as for the other, I like my meat’—her hand slips to the bulge in my pants—‘with intelligence. Smart gets me off more than anything else.’
I tilt my hips, encouraging her massaging fingers. ‘Being outsmarted, that’s what you really enjoy.’ And that she can’t deny. ‘We’ve a cab due in ten minutes.’
‘We could cancel,’ she whispers. ‘I wouldn’t mind.’
‘And spoil all my fun? Don’t you know how much I’m looking forward to being paraded on your arm?’
She pulls away with something between a whine and a groan, shoulders rounded and hands in her lap. ‘I suppose I’d better go get my purse.’ She shoots me a look that clearly saysplease don’t make me. And I’ve no doubt she’d make it worth my while.
‘That’s the spirit,’ I reply. She rises then, sticking out her tongue.
As she moves away, her black dress clings to her thighs. Falling slightly above her knee and cinched at the waist, it somehow manages both sexy and demure. I stretch out my legs, releasing the tightness between my thighs. I’m looking forward to an evening of bland smiles.Ridiculously so. They’ll most certainly cover my intentions of whispering filthy words all night long. Verbal foreplay in public is always fun, and I foresee the need for creativity, rising in response to her blush.
The door to the lounge swings open suddenly, hitting the adjoining wall with a bang. I sit up abruptly, and if a stare could do such a thing, I’d surely be able to feel the holes Louise was burning into my soul.
‘What’s wrong—?’
Something silk and pink lands in my lap.
‘Care to explain?’ Louise stands on the far side of the coffee table, one hand held on a cocked hip, her gaze venomous.
Pink and silkturns out to be knickers—La Perla—which I move to the table sitting between us with a flick of my wrist.
LOUISE
‘You know whose they are.’ His words were flat; his face, expressionless.
‘Do I fucking ever,’ I growl in response. ‘Do you want to tell me why they were under your pillow because none of the scenarios that spring tomymind are fucking healthy!’ That one last word echoes through the room.
‘Give me some credit,’ he drawls, sprawling back against the sofa and crossing his legs at his ankles. To outward appearances he seems calm. But for the pulse hammering in his throat. ‘Do I look that careless to you?’
‘Have you fucked her?’ I demand, ignoring his question.
‘Of course.’ Pain flares viscerally, and I suddenly feel sick. ‘We have a son; you’ve met him. But fucked her recently? No.’
