‘Much better,’ he murmured, his eyes dark with lust before his mouth once again claimed mine.
2
I forced one eye open and peered out at the unfamiliar surroundings. Light was flooding in to the modern, incredibly tidy apartment through large windows. An apartment I didn’t recognise. Where was I? A noise behind me made me freeze and I held my breath. After a few moments, I steeled myself enough to turn my head, careful not to make too much movement. And there it was. Evidence of what happens when you make a very poor life decision on the back of someone else making a very poor work decision. I was looking straight at the incredibly hot, thankfully still sleeping, face of Finn… Oh my God! I had not only had a one night stand – which I never did. Like ever. But I didn’t even know his last name. Shit. I needed to get out of here. Slowly I shifted again, careful to make as little movement as possible under the pure white cotton sheets. Wonderfully silky soft sheets that had a several hundred thread count start over my own. I slid one leg out, then one arm, following it with the other leg until I slithered silently to the floor like a knackered, exceedingly hungover snake. Moving as quietly as possible, I scrabbled around locating various bits of clothing until I had it all but my bra.
Where the hell is it?I rummaged back through the fuzzy memories of last night, trying to remember when that particular item of clothing had come off. Certain moments of the evening were pretty damn clear and something I did remember is that I’d already had one surprisingly quick and apparently satisfyingly loud orgasm if the grin on Finn’s face was anything to go by, before half my clothes were off. That rather set the tone for the rest of the night. And the early hours of the morning. No wonder he was still sleeping. He’d had a pretty good workout. Muscles I’d forgotten about were already making themselves known but my sodding bra remained missing in action. Typically it was my favourite, most expensive one. Of course it was. Movement from the bed made me duck down beside it, holding my breath. A few moments later, the deep, even breathing of the man I’d left behind in the warm bed resumed and I decided I was going to have to abandon my search and head out. The thought of Finn waking up while I was still there filled me with mortification. Last night he’d seen everything and I didn’t care. I’d wanted it all. I’d wanted him. But this morning, in the cold light of reality, I knew this was not me. I didn’t do this. Relationships were long term, cerebral, with deep, meaningful conversations – usually about archaeology. At least the two I’d had had been. I didn’t do frivolous, carefree, brain-exploding sex. Well, apart from last night. But that was a mistake. A huge, Great Pyramid-sized mistake and the sooner I put it behind me, the better.
I took one last glance. Even without champagne goggles on Finn was still immensely good looking. Far too gorgeous for his, and my own, good as last night had indisputably proved.
My phone rang almost the moment I grabbed it out of my bag, having unearthed said bag from under a cushion on the sofa, tiptoed from the freakishly tidy apartment and closed the door behind me as quietly as possible.
‘Where are you?’
I wrapped my coat around me as I answered Colette’s call. The truth was I had no idea where I was. Not ideal. I multi tasked, bringing up the maps app on my phone as I replied.
‘Docklands.’
‘Oh my God.’
‘What?’
‘You totally stayed with Finn last night.’
‘So,’ I said, dragging up as much nonchalance as I could muster which took far more effort than I had energy for.
‘Don’t give me that. So how was it?’
‘How was what?’
‘Lizzie.’
‘It was… fine.’
‘Oh dear.’
‘What?’
‘Fine is not great.’
‘OK, it was more than fine.’
Now she was interested.
‘How much more than fine?’
‘Col, could we not do this right now? I’m about to go into the Tube station and my brain feels like it’s mid-mummification.’
‘You’re not rich enough.’
‘What?’
‘You told me only the rich and people of note were mummified.’
‘Now you choose to remember interesting facts I tell you.’
‘I told you I listened.’
‘Col, I really need to just get home.’ I was the only one who was allowed to shorten my friend’s name.
