The Secrets She Must Tell - Lucy King Page 0,40

woman he’d originally met.

Over the last couple of weeks, that Georgie, the one he recognised, had showed increased signs of returning, and he was glad for her sake. And also his, if he was being honest. They might not be having full sex—slightly frustrating although completely understandable—but what they did get up to blew his mind every time. She was so responsive. So enthusiastic. A fascinating and inventive distraction, and just what he’d needed, in fact. Again. Because, what with work and Josh and her, he’d barely had time to think about the progress his investigation agency wasn’t making. Nor did he have the head space to continue to mentally rage at Jim and Alice.

The tension that had been gripping him for what felt like decades had begun to lessen and life had become marginally easier in other respects too. While many of the circumstances surrounding his adoption remained painfully confusing, some of the chaos seemed to be settling. He was no longer short with his colleagues and subordinates. He scowled less and his behaviour had become less unpredictable. Only yesterday he’d made a snap decision without even having to think about it, and he was one hundred per cent certain that this was all down to the release he found with Georgie.

Tonight, however, frustratingly, that tension was back. Georgie might look unbelievably beautiful and achingly hot but she kept smiling to herself and drifting off into her own little world, which he found deeply unsettling. He couldn’t work out what might have put that sparkle of mischief in her eyes. It couldn’t have been the interlude in the car when he hadn’t been able to resist touching her. Hours had passed since then. So what was it? He didn’t know and he hated it.

But he wouldn’t remain in the dark for much longer, he assured himself, his jaw tight. He’d had enough of trying to second guess what Georgie may or may not be planning. All evening he’d been in work mode, ruthlessly focused on the launch, but now the party was coming to an end and he was getting answers.

Taking her elbow and muttering their excuses, he drew her away from the throng and manoeuvred her behind one thick, towering pillar, into the shadows and out of the sight of prying eyes. He backed her up against it, pressed himself close, and she didn’t seem to mind.

‘What are you up to?’ he murmured, planting one hand on the pillar beside her head while wondering where on her body to put the other.

She arched an eyebrow in a way that sent darts of desire shooting through him and smiled up at him coyly. ‘What makes you think I’m up to anything?’

‘You have a look about you.’

‘What kind of a look?’

‘As if you’re keeping a secret.’

‘Maybe I am.’

‘I don’t like secrets,’ he muttered, deciding that high on the curve of her waist with access to the lower side of her breast would be a good place for his hand. He ran his thumb over the soft swell there and the pulse at the base of her neck fluttered.

‘You’ll like this one,’ she said, her voice husky and her eyes darkening.

‘What is it?’

‘You’ll see.’ Her gaze dropped to his mouth and he heard her breath catch. ‘Are we done here?’

‘Nearly.’

‘Because I think we should go upstairs. Now.’

‘Why?’

‘I’ve recently thought of something else we can try. Something new.’

His pulse thudded heavily and heat infused every inch of him. Something else? Wasn’t what they’d already done enough? Was she trying to kill him? ‘Like what?’ he asked, his body hardening unbearably.

Without taking her eyes off his, she opened her bag, took something out and pressed it into his hand. He glanced down and saw a condom packet in his palm and his heart lurched. ‘What’s this?’

‘Do you really need me to explain?’

Yes, as a matter of fact. ‘I thought sex was off the table.’

‘It was. But I’ve reconsidered. I realised this afternoon that it’s all about the timing.’

‘Which is now?’

She gave a nod. ‘It is. And it will be for a couple of days.’

A couple of days? Halle-bloody-lujah. ‘Are you sure?’

‘Very much so.’

‘Then we’re going to need a lot more than one.’

‘I bought out the pharmacy.’

She was truly unbelievable. ‘You know what?’ he muttered, practically passing out with the strength of the need now drumming through him. ‘I think we’re done here.’

To Finn’s intense frustration, however, leaving the party took a while. As he strode towards the exit, just about resisting the temptation