Abbey often thought it was because her friend liked to watch, but she never questioned her motive.
While Lucy had gone into P.I. work, Abbey had taken the more traveled route and gone into P.A. work. She had been the personal assistant to the managing director of a pharmaceuticals company for four years. She'd been his lover for two of those, until today when she'd arrived at the office after a two week holiday on her own in Fiji and found Tarken kissing Melinda from Accounts, a woman Abbey had considered a friend.
She'd quit on the spot. It was the most radical thing she'd ever done, but she didn't regret it. It seemed today was turning out to be a day to do radical things.
"Do it again?" Abbey stood back and surveyed Lucy's cheeky pixie-like face in the moonlight. "I can't!" As soon as she said it, Abbey knew it was a lie.
"Why not? Wasn't it any good?" Lucy's eyes glinted in the semi-dark fifth floor office. She'd got the keys off the building supervisor, someone she'd slept with a few months ago, probably on the promise that she'd do it again soon, Abbey presumed.
Abbey looked around her, avoiding Lucy's mischievous stare. "It was great." Wonderful in fact. The best o**l s*x she'd ever had. Probably because it was with a complete stranger. "But—"
"Well, then, just do it."
Abbey bit the inside of her lip. It might be nice to repeat the experience she'd just had with Damien Vane. He was one gorgeous man, after all, and his tongue had been, well, lizard-like. He was skillful...and masterful. He knew exactly what he wanted, and exactly what she needed, and how to do it.
She definitely wouldn't mind doing it again. The thought of him inside her this time, large and thick, reaching into her soul, was enticing. Exciting.
She felt hot.
And Lucy, damn her, could tell. She fanned her friend's face with her hand, her eyes alight with mischief.
"Cool down, girl, I need to get a new camera. You'll have to wait until tomorrow."
She grinned and affectionately tucked one of Abbey's stray strands behind her ear.
Abbey smiled weakly. "I must look a mess."
"You look like a girl who's had a good bonk and is in need of another one."
Abbey giggled and nodded. "Tomorrow then." She felt a rush of tingles up her spine in memory of Damien's touch, and tongue, and in anticipation of them again.
She let it run its course, then she turned to follow Lucy who was walking through the office, dodging empty desks in the darkness, camera in hand and tripod over her shoulder. She was contemplating how to explain her reappearance to Damien when a horrible thought struck her.
"What if he won't let me in next time? What if he doesn't want to—"
"Don't be silly. I saw his expression before you closed the curtains, and he was hungry for you. And I mean hungry. The guy looked like he was going to explode any minute, all over that nice couch. I'm surprised you actually got him into the bedroom."
Abbey relaxed and giggled. "And made him wait until I'd finished."
"Really? That long? Wow, this guy's got stamina."
"Or sheer willpower. I got the impression he doesn't often let his emotions rule him like they did tonight."
"That wasn't emotion ruling him, that was a very impressive appendage between his legs."
Abbey giggled as Lucy grinned back at her over her shoulder.
Lucy's smile faded a little as they waited at the elevators. She shook her head and wisps of short blonde hair fell into her eyes. "The guy doesn't have willpower. You saw the profile, he's had sex with more people than me! No, willpower he hasn't got when it comes to having sex with strangers."
Abbey frowned but said nothing. The mention of his mistresses reminded her of his wife, and that she was now a statistic as far as Damien was concerned. Just another notch on his belt. And she was the 'other woman', even if only temporarily.
Her stomach tied itself into a knot. The thought sickened her.
Strange thing was, she was picking up completely different vibes from Damien than what she should be. If Abbey hadn't seen his file, she would've said he was a man who got what he wanted when he wanted but rarely let his hot-blooded emotions get in the way. Otherwise he would've jumped her bones straight away on the couch instead of needing so much encouragement. In fact, she wouldn't have even had to make up a story about the free massage, her outfit should have been encouragement enough for Damien Vane.
And the way he'd looked at her reflection in the bathroom mirror hadn't been lustful at all. More like concern that he'd hurt her and perhaps a little curiosity. So her instincts told her, anyway.
But then again, she'd thought Tarken loved her, so her instincts were useless.
They traveled down the elevator to the ground floor where the burly building supervisor with the profile of a Neanderthal was sitting at his desk reading the Herald Sun. He looked up and grinned at Lucy. She pecked him on the lips and he groped her perfectly round bottom through the tight black hipsters.
"I'll call you tomorrow, Big Boy." She winked at him. "I might need this place tomorrow night again. That okay?"
His grin widened. "That'll cost you extra."
"You just name it," Lucy crooned, "and I'll do it. You know that."
The Neanderthal looked like he would drag her into his cave right there and ravage her, but he held back, hooked his thumbs into his pants, not caring to cover the telltale bulge, and lasciviously watched Lucy's behind as she walked away.
Abbey took note of the way her friend walked. One foot directly in front of the other so that her hips swayed sexily and her butt had the right amount of wobble. She would have to try that. Tomorrow night.
***
The seminar was a success so far. Nick's introductory speech had been well received, and the software was bug-free so the demo was easy. He'd have to ring the VP of Development later to congratulate him and offer bonuses to his programmers.
Nick had never felt so relieved in all his life. He'd done speeches before, he'd taken over large corporations, and small ones, and he'd rubbed shoulders with elite businessmen around the world. But he'd never given a demonstration of software in his life. It wasn't that hard, if you knew what you were doing and had a great program.
Maybe he could do the next one in March in the U.S. If he did, there would be nothing for his VP of Marketing to do. Which meant he could fire him. Good, because Vane had crossed the line this time.
Nick had put up with a hell of a lot from Vane. Coming back to the office drunk after a lunch meeting, groping the female staff, turning up late to work every day because he'd been out all night partying. For a forty-year-old that was a hell of a lot of partying.