you had fantastic eyes,’ James said, as he stared into them.
Dana was nearly two years older than Kerry. Taller, bulkier, curvier. She had hair that was kind of crazy because she never combed it, but somehow that made it even sexier. Most importantly, two years older meant that she was much more likely to want to have sex, a prospect that gave James a rush akin to having the Queen’s golden jubilee fireworks going off in his boxers.
‘Mind the papers,’ Dana mumbled, as James gave her an experimental kiss on the cheek.
The bed was off limits, so Dana walked backwards, frantically snogging James as she collapsed on to the small sofa by the door.
‘I’ve fancied you for ages,’ Dana said, coming up for air as James felt her hand slide down the back of his jeans.
‘Can I touch your tits?’
Dana laughed. ‘You’re subtle, aren’t you?’
Dana rolled off and James thought he’d blown it. But she’d only backed away so that she had room to pull her T-shirt over her head. James took his off too.
‘What do I get in return for the bra?’ Dana teased.
‘Name your price,’ James grinned.
‘No charge.’
James couldn’t believe his luck. It had taken months to get this far with Kerry. He could hardly breathe and practically had drool coming out the corner of his mouth. Then someone knocked at the door.
‘Bloody hell,’ Dana gasped, as she batted James’ hand away.
‘Door’s been locked all night,’ James whispered. ‘Just keep quiet for a sec and they’ll think I’m out.’
Dana smiled as James made a complete hash of undoing her bra.
‘Wakey, wakey,’ Lauren shouted, as she burst through the door. She’d showered at a police station and wore a policewoman’s black pullover. ‘Get your Brighton rock here.’
James had finally triumphed over the bra and sprung up with it in his hand as Dana quickly snatched her T-shirt off the carpet.
‘You told me it was locked,’ Dana hissed.
‘Didn’t you lock it when you came back with the coffees?’
As Dana pulled her T-shirt back on, James realised that he had a big problem.
‘You dirty, stinking, cheating louse,’ Lauren snarled, as she brandished the bright pink stick of rock under her brother’s nose. ‘I was gonna give you this, but now I’m tempted to shove it up your arse.’
‘I can explain,’ James said weakly.
‘Oh, let me guess,’ Lauren sneered. ‘You were just sitting there when your T-shirts flew off over your heads and Dana’s bra dropped into your hand.’
‘You’re not gonna tell Kerry, are you?’
‘Too bloody right I am. I gave you an ultimatum, James. Kerry’s my friend too and I’m not gonna sit back and let you treat her like dirt.’
James looked uneasily at Dana and decided to play for time. ‘We’re obviously gonna have to talk this through and I’ll be honest with Kerry, I swear to god. But she’ll be upset. We’ve got to break this to her gently.’
‘How long have you been carrying on with her for?’ Lauren demanded.
‘About five minutes,’ James said.
‘Oh yeah, James, and the other one’s got bells on.’
James was disturbed by Lauren’s face. For some reason she’d started looking more upset than angry.
‘James is telling the truth,’ Dana said calmly. ‘We’ve been working on his problem with the investigation. We’re both tired and we just got carried away.’
‘You’re such a pig, James,’ Lauren sniffed.
James could see what he’d done to make Lauren angry, but he was baffled by her crying. ‘What’s the matter?’
‘Enjoy your rock,’ Lauren sobbed, as she held the pink stick out to James.
James took it, but Lauren started crying much harder as she backed out of the room and set off down the corridor.
‘What’s that all about?’ Dana asked. ‘Lauren never struck me as the jealous type.’
‘I don’t think she is,’ James said. ‘There’s more to that than me snogging you. I’d better go after her.’
Dana nodded, as she took her bra back.
James was annoyed that he hadn’t even managed a glimpse of Dana’s goodies before Lauren burst in, let alone a feel. But he had too much other stuff on his mind to get wound up over it: Lauren was acting weird, she was planning to tell Kerry and he still didn’t know exactly what Ewart was playing at.
‘I’ll go put the papers back in Ewart’s office,’ Dana said, as James headed for the door.
James smiled, before giving Dana a quick kiss. ‘You’ve been fantastic.’
‘Fun’s only just starting,’ she grinned.
Lauren had already reached the staircase by the time James began running after her.
‘Wait up,’ he shouted, but not so loud