Strangers (13 page)

Charlie wiped her down and tossed the razor in the waste bin.

“This was not a good idea,” he said.

Kate raised her head to look at him.
“Why not?”

“Because now I’m incandescent with lust.
You’re irresistible.” He licked a wet trail from her navel to her mons and groaned.
“I am so good with that razor.
Maybe I’ve missed my calling.
I’d work for free.”

Kate laughed.
“I wonder which of us is smoother?”

Charlie grinned.
“Only one way to find out.”

One of Dickhead’s condoms retrieved from the cupboard, slipped on in a flash and Charlie leaned over Kate.
He slowly pressed his cock home until their bodies were tight together, then flexed his hips so they rubbed against each other.

“Why have I never done this before?” he asked.
“It feels so good.
You feel so good.”

“There is a downside.”

“Nooooo.
Don’t tell me.”

Charlie pulled out and spun Kate onto her knees.
He had a hand on her breast, another on her bare mons as he thrust into her, ground into her.
His hips pulled back and drove forward, his hand dragging her into him as he crammed his cock inside her.
Kate whimpered as his finger found her clit.

“What…downside?” he gasped.

“Forgotten,” Kate mumbled.

He needed her to come because he needed to come.
Charlie could barely suck in enough breath to fill his lungs.
A warning shot pulsed up his cock and the ache in his belly intensified.
Hard cock into soft pussy.
Over and over.
He licked the shell of her ear as his fingers worked her swollen clit.

“Now, Kate,” he gasped.

She tensed beneath him, her breathing choppy and when Charlie felt the telltale tightening clasp around his cock, he let himself go.

They fell asleep on the bathroom floor.
Woke, showered and fucked again.
When she staggered back to the bedroom, he followed like a shadow.
He couldn’t bear to be away from her, not for even a second.
They fucked in every conceivable position, all over the apartment, including the balcony as dawn broke.
Charlie lost count of how many times he’d been inside her, how many times she’d come and he’d come.
More than he thought physically possible.
They couldn’t seem to stop fucking and that scared him.
He’d even woken up from a semi-doze to find himself sliding into her from behind with no rubber in place.
He only had to look at her to want her and as soon as she saw him looking, she knew what he was thinking.
He’d forgotten about wanting a cigarette or a drink.
He didn’t need the coke.
Kate was his drug.

Chapter Eight

When they came round the following morning, neither of them had done much sleeping.
Charlie thought it was more like slipping into periods of unconscious exhaustion.
He was relieved to find they were back in bed and not on the floor but he ached.
He had his arm wrapped around Kate, his leg between hers, her back pressed against his chest.

“Oh God,” Charlie groaned.

“Are we still alive?
I thought we’d killed one another.”

“It’s the only way I want to die.
You—” He paused and then whispered in her ear, “You’re not thinking about killing yourself, are you?”

“My capacity—for thought—destroyed—you—have.”

“Funny girl.”

“I can’t feel my legs.” Kate let out a long moan.

Charlie’s fingers ran along the top of her thigh.
“Don’t worry.
Still there and they feel lovely.”

As his hand wandered lower, the door buzzer made them jump.
Kate banged her head into Charlie’s chin.

“Ignore it.” He blinked tears from his eyes.

But whoever was outside didn’t give in.

“It’s probably Lucy.
I’ll go and shut her up.”

Kate rolled over, swung her feet off the bed and stumbled naked out of the room.
Charlie ogled her backside and followed.

“What?” she snapped into the intercom.

“Kate?”

Male voice.
Her whole body tensed and Charlie guessed Dickhead stood downstairs.

“I want to talk to you.
Can I come up?”

Charlie clenched his fists.

“No,” Kate said.

“Please.
I’m sorry.
I need to explain.
I feel terrible.”

Charlie pulled Kate to one side.

“Let him come up,” he said.
“Don’t you want to hear what he has to say?”

She stared at him, but didn’t reach out to stop him when his finger touched the door release button.
He walked into the bathroom and then popped his head out.

“Better put something on.
Only, not much.
Give him a hint of what he’s lost.”

Charlie leaned against the washbasin, his heart hammering.
What if Dickhead was bigger than him?
What if Kate wanted him back?

When Kate opened the door wearing a long t-shirt, Richard held out an enormous bunch of flowers at waist level.
Maybe he hoped they’d offer some protection.

“Kate, I’m sorry,” he said.

“Right.”

She couldn’t believe she was standing there talking to him, not racing into the kitchen for a knife, not launching her foot at his groin.
Hmm, she should have put shoes on.

“May I come in?”

She moved back and Richard walked in, closing the door behind him.

“These are for you.”

Because she wouldn’t take the flowers, he laid them on the floor.
Kate leaned on the wall and kept her hands behind her back.
She didn’t want him to notice she was shaking.

“So the whole thing was a bet,” she said.

“Yes,” Richard said.
“I can’t tell you how much I regret it.
To be honest, I never thought you’d go for it.
It sort of snowballed.”

Kate gritted her teeth.

“You look…t-terrible,” he stuttered.

She guessed she had swollen lips, a stubble-scratched face and messy hair.
Loved up, Kate thought and smiled.

The toilet flushed and Richard’s eyes moved to the bathroom door and then back to her.
As he opened his mouth to speak, Charlie emerged with the lower half his face covered in shaving foam, a razor in his hand, a towel slung low around his hips.
He looked like he’d walked straight out of a TV advert.
Richard gawped and his eyes opened wide.
She knew Charlie had shocked him in a way she’d never have managed.

“Charlie, this is Richard.”

“Oh, yeah.
Hi,
Dick
.” Charlie emphasized his name.

Kate’s pulse jumped.

“My name’s Richard.”

“Dick suits you better,” Charlie said.

Richard’s eyes flicked between her and Charlie.

“Kate’s been ill,” Charlie said.
“She’s just recovered from a severe case of Dick-itis.”

It took Richard a moment to get it.
Then he glared.
Kate listened in growing delight.

“I wanted to be sure she was okay.
I can see I needn’t have bothered.”

“Yes, you should, Dick.
You pulled a shitty trick,” Charlie snapped.

“Didn’t take you long to recover,” Richard said to Kate.

“Hey, thanks for the razors and shaving gel.
You didn’t mind me using them, did you, Dick?
I had your Aztec Beef as well and that great ice-cream thing.
Big thank-you for the multi-buy on the condoms.
Saved us having to waste time shopping.”

Richard’s face turned thunderous.
Kate didn’t try to hide her amusement.

“Seems like they weren’t the only things you used.” Richard stared at Kate.

Charlie put his arm across her shoulders.

“You’re the one who hurt her.
Fuck off.” His voice was quiet but deadly.

“She’s a slut.”

Charlie was so fast, Kate staggered as he whisked away from her.
The two men stood face-to-face, so close a blob of shaving foam transferred to Richard’s nose.

“You know, I thought I was a shit, but you are a bubbling cesspit all on your own.
You ask Kate to marry you for a bet?
You’re off the fucking evolutionary ladder altogether.
Why are you here?
Fancy a shag, did you?
Don’t bother answering because we know it’s the truth and don’t you ever call her names again,
Dick
.
You don’t even deserve to breathe the same air as my Kate.”

Charlie pushed Richard out, picked up the flowers, threw them after him and slammed the door.
They heard him swear and then stamp down the corridor.

My Kate?
Her heart buzzed with excitement.

“You’ve frightened him off,” she said and pouted.
“I so hoped we could get back together, but now I don’t think he’ll want to see me anymore.”

Charlie laughed.
“You’ll just have to manage with me, then.”

Kate smiled and wrapped her arms around his waist.
“Thank you, Charlie.”

He had no idea how much it meant to her, that he’d defended her like that.
She’d always had to stand up for herself with no big brother, no family, no friends.

“What for?”

“Playing my hero.”

“I wasn’t playing.” He put a hurt expression on his face.
“I
am
your hero.”

He pulled the T-shirt over her head, tossed it to one side and guided her toward the bathroom.
“We have a tight schedule.
Shower first, then bath, then shower again, then bed.
Possibly a pause to eat.”

Kate chuckled.

“You don’t think he recognized me, do you?”

“I doubt it.”

She unfastened Charlie’s towel, let it fall to the floor and smiled as his cock twitched in anticipation.
He had a fabulous body, well-defined pecs and chiseled abs.
As she looked at him, his copper nipples hardened and she laughed.

“You know, looking at my body and laughing does nothing for my ego.”

“Your ego’s big enough.
Didn’t you have an album called ‘The Ego has Landed’?”

“No, that was Robbie—” He broke off when he saw her face.
“Ha ha.
Very funny.
Not.”

Kate wiped her hand across his chin and removed the foam, smearing it down his chest and onto his shaft.
He was already rigid.
Kate loved the way his body responded to her touch.
She pushed him into the shower and reached for the controls before dropping to her knees.

The water cascaded over them as Kate washed the foam from his cock.
When her mouth closed around him, Charlie reacted like he’d been hit by lightning.
He froze with his back pressed against the tiles.
She licked the bead of moisture from his tip and ran her tongue down his length.
When she took him slow and deep into her mouth, his breath hissed between his lips.
As the water poured over her head, Kate sucked rhythmically.
His fingers sank into her hair and he released a guttural groan.
When she looked up and saw him looking down at her, his face changed.

“Shit, Kate, I’m sorry.
I’m sorry,” he gasped and spurted into her mouth.

As he sank back against the wall, he pulled her to her feet, and wiped her lips with his fingers.
“I should have warned you I was about to explode.”

“I already know you’re dangerous.”

“I usually have more control than that.
It’s all your fault.”

“Want me to show you a trick I know?”

Charlie licked her lips.
“Will I like it?”

“Yes.
Trust me?”

He nodded.

Kate switched off the shower and tugged him back to the bedroom without bothering to towel dry.
Charlie was still hyper and she didn’t know how to bring him down.
Well, maybe this would work.
She piled pillows against the bed head.

“Make yourself comfortable.
I’ve just got to get something.”

“Cup of tea and toast?” he asked.

Kate rolled her eyes but came back with breakfast, plus four long pieces of material and a couple of other things.
She watched Charlie eye them but he said nothing.
They fed toast to each other, Charlie teasing her by almost letting her catch a bite then pulling it away.

“You seem to like tormenting me,” Kate said with a growl.

“Yep.” He dragged back the last piece of toast from her lips and popped it in his mouth.

Kate pulled the strands of fabric between her fingers.
Charlie paused mid-chew, then hurried to empty his mouth.

“No.” He shook his head.

“I promise you’ll enjoy it.”

He sagged.
“Oh God.
Can’t we play phone sex instead?”

“This is better.
I promise to stop if you want me to.”

Charlie sighed and held his wrists to the metal bed head.
“No pictures.”

Kate faltered as she tied his wrist.
“I don’t have a camera.”

“Mobile phone?” Charlie asked.

“Not mine.
It’s a million years old.
Charlie, if you don’t—”

“Sorry, sorry.” He pulled her close with his free hand and brushed his lips against hers.

He’d been hurt.
Kate saw it in his face.
He couldn’t quite let go.

“You can trust me, Charlie.
I promise.
I’ll never let you down.
No kiss and tell.
Only kiss kiss.”

He smiled and Kate tied his other wrist.
She used the longer pieces of fabric to secure his ankles with his legs spread wide.

Charlie frowned.
“Have you read that book by Stephen King?”

“The one where the writer got tied up by his fan?
Or Gerard—Gerald’s Game?
It was other way around.
He’d tied her.”

“I’m not sure I could chew off my fingers to get loose.”

Kate giggled.
“She didn’t do that.
She was in handcuffs.
One tug and you could break free.”

“Spoil my fantasy, why don’t you?”

Kate pulled the curtain across the side of the bed facing the window.
“Just in case.
Okay?”

“What are you going to do?” he blurted.

“Stick pins in every inch of your body and stand on you in stilettos until you howl for mercy.”

He gulped.
“Alternatively?”

“Do everything I can to make you come but not let it happen for an hour.”

His shuddery groan lit a fire in her belly.
“An hour?”

She sat between his legs and cradled his balls, working her thumb between the delicate eggs in a gentle caress.
His cock unfurled like a shooting sprout.

“How about ten minutes?” Charlie asked.

Kate settled her hand around the base of his cock and tightened her fingers, pushing down on his balls at the same time.
She heard his breathing quicken and looked into his face.
Charlie stared right at her.
Kate used her other hand to stroke his swelling cock, fingers trailing up and down, following the line of the veins, sweeping under the bulbous head and into the delicate dip beneath.