He stood in the doorway watching her as she moved a chair away from the table and then pressed her palms on the top, putting her weight into it.
With her back to him, she enquired with mock-innocence, “How sturdy do you think this table is?”
Reading her meaning, feeling an instant arousal tightening in his groin, in two great strides he closed the distance between them, whirled her around and crushed her to him. She tilted her head up to his, her mouth twitching slyly. Sliding his hands down her bottom and thighs, he lifted her and set her ass on the table.
“Let’s find out, shall we?” he murmured against her mouth.
And they found, after rigorous experimentation, the table was very sturdy.
Much later, lying in his huge bed, Colin was on his back struggling between feeling sated, exhausted and aroused. Sibyl, pressed against his side, was absently drawing soft patterns on his stomach with the tips of her fingers.
“Sibyl?”
She nodded her head against his chest but didn’t speak.
“I need to be at the train station tomorrow at six-thirty.”
“Okay,” she mumbled against his chest but her hand didn’t stop.
“And it’s relatively important that I have my faculties about me when I arrive in London.”
It was more than relatively important, two of his meetings concerned deals that involved millions of pounds.
“Mm,” she carried on with her hand distractedly.
He gently took her hand in his and shifted it lower, under the sheet, showing her the unconcealed evidence of what she was doing to him. He felt her cheek move on his chest as she smiled.
He ignored it.
“So, perhaps you’ll tell me what’s on your mind,” he suggested.
She lifted up on her elbow and pulled her hand from his, rested it on his chest and looked him in the eyes. Hers were a thoughtful hazel.
“Colin?”
“Hmm?”
“I just wanted you to know that I…” She hesitated and he watched as she struggled with some unknown. When she found it, she finished, “Like you.”
He stared at her in incredulity for a moment and then roared with laughter. Shifting her on her back, he covered her body with his.
“You like me?” he teased affectionately.
“Yes.” She now looked disgruntled as if she regretted her decision to impart this information on him.
“I’m pleased to hear it, darling,” he murmured after he bent his head and nuzzled her neck, laughter in his voice.
“No, I mean it.”
“I know you do.” He lifted his head and cupped her beautiful face in his hands.
“You’re a good man,” she told him fervently.
“Thank you.” He smiled at her, his body beginning to shake with mirth.
Something shifted in her face. “Colin, listen to me,” she said forcefully and very sombrely. “You are a good man.”
His amusement fled at the grave look in her eyes. She was telling him something important, her true intent still guarded but he recognised that this moment was profound for her.