The Sun Sister (The Seven Sisters #6) - Lucinda Riley Page 0,36

airport?’

‘Oh, okay. Well, I’ll be there.’

‘Just ask the concierge to send you up to my suite, okay? I’ll let him know you’re coming.’

‘Okay. I can’t wait to see you, Electra.’

‘Yeah, bye.’

I put the phone down, then did a line from the stash Joaquim had left me last night before taking a shower. I called down to room service for a bottle of vodka and another champagne on ice. Ten minutes later, Joaquim was in my suite, then in my bed.

‘You are a gorgeous thing,’ he murmured in my ear. ‘I can’t get enough of you.’

Having fallen asleep afterwards, we woke up and both did another couple of lines and made more love. Then when I complained I was still struggling to stay awake, he produced a couple of pills from his wallet.

‘Try these, Electra; they will pull you up like nothing you ever take before.’

I washed a tablet down with champagne and he did the same. Ten minutes later, we were making love yet again, then we showered and giggled helplessly as Joaquim tried to teach me the samba naked on the terrace.

‘Someone might see,’ I whispered as I saw the pool below me over the balustrade.

‘And it will make beautiful picture,’ he smiled as he kissed me.

‘No!’

Even in my drug-and-alcohol-fuelled blur, I knew what we were doing was dangerous, so I pulled him back inside.

And found Mariam and my sister, Maia, standing in the living room.

‘Whoops!’ I said as I did my best to cover bits of me with my hands and watched Joaquim grab a cushion to preserve his modesty. I burst into hysterical laughter at the looks on my PA’s and my sister’s faces.

‘Sorry, guys, you should have knocked.’

‘We tried that, and calling the room. We were worried, so in the end the manager let us in,’ said Mariam, and at that moment I wanted to slap her round her almost certainly virginal and non-alcoholic cheeks. ‘I’ll go and get your robe, Electra.’

‘And I had better leave you,’ added Joaquim, disappearing behind Mariam into the bedroom.

‘Please, sit down,’ I said to Maia as Mariam returned and handed me my robe.

‘We must leave for the airport in forty minutes. I will go and pack for you,’ she said quietly.

‘Thanks.’

Joaquim reappeared fully dressed and I gave him a big hug.

‘See you at the airport?’

‘No, I stay on a little longer, then fly to Mexico for GQ.’

‘Okay,’ I nodded. ‘Keep in touch, won’t you?’

‘I call you when I am back in New York,’ he agreed. ‘Tchau, Electra. Adeus, senhora,’ he added to Maia as he left.

‘Want some champagne?’ I asked her as I took the bottle sitting on the coffee table and shook it. ‘Whoops, there’s none left. I’ll order some more.’

‘No thank you, Electra.’

‘Anything else I can get you?’ I said as I poured myself some neat vodka from the bottle I’d ordered earlier.

‘Really, I’m fine. And how about you?’

‘Oh, I’m great. And just crazy about Rio! What a city it is.’

Maia silently watched me drinking the vodka. I put the glass down and studied her.

‘Y’know, you really are the beauty of the family. It should be you doing my job.’

‘Thank you for the compliment.’

‘No, seriously,’ I continued, taking in her glorious head of shiny dark hair, her amazing unblemished skin and the big dark eyes that reminded me of Joaquim’s. ‘You are truly beautiful. I mean, even more beautiful than last time I saw you,’ I nodded vigorously.

‘Well,’ Maia replied in her slow, gentle tone, ‘maybe it’s because I’m happy. Are you happy, Electra?’

‘Oh,’ I said as I opened my arms wide, ‘I’m ecstatic! Isn’t Joaquim gorgeous? He’s Brazilian by birth, you know. Are all Brazilians as beautiful as you two? I think I might move here permanently if they are!’

‘It is time to get ready to leave for the airport, Electra.’ Mariam had appeared behind me. ‘I’ve laid out your usual travel clothes on the bed.’

‘Thanks,’ I said, swaying slightly as I grabbed my vodka glass from the table. ‘Did you remember my underwear as well?’ I giggled. ‘Won’t be long,’ I added to Maia and gave her a little wave as I went into the bedroom to do as I’d been told.

I could hear my sister and my PA talking in low voices as I dressed.

‘Hey, Mariam! I’m sooo hungry. Can you get room service to pack me a club sandwich to go?’ I called to her.

‘Of course,’ came her reply.

I sat down on the bed and tried to lace up my sneakers, before realising I’d