Substitute (6 page)

She tried not to look at Richard’s stiffening cock, tried not to imagine what it looked like. Was it big? Would it be circumcised? Romy told her American men usually were. Did it have a marble smooth helmet like Tony’s?

Richard was definitely hard now; the zip of his jeans was straining to contain his erection. But he remained remarkably contained.

‘You still ain’t told me what happened today,’ he said.

‘Oh.’ Alexia sighed, brought back to reality. ‘Today … Well. It kind of started the other day when I was at an office party. I’d only been there a couple of days, so I didn’t really know anyone. I needed a pee and the only free bathroom was off the boardroom, which is part of the boss’s office – there’s an en suite. So I went in, but then these two people came into the boardroom and I had to hide. The guy’s called Tony, he’s a bit of a player, and the girls in the office are always flirting with him. Well, he and this woman, they …’

‘I think I get the picture.’ He took a long, suggestive gulp of wine. Alexia watched as it moistened his lips. She knew Richard was imagining the boardroom and she was wishing she was in that fantasy with him, splayed on the table, waiting to be speared. She thought of Tony’s cock, then tried to imagine Richard standing there, with trousers peeled down, his erection standing to attention ready for action. But she kept seeing Tony’s face, Tony’s cock as she tried to imagine Richard. Maybe it was because she knew what it looked like, and Richard’s was still a dark secret hidden under the straining denim.

‘So, I watched them,’ said Alexia, and let the words hang between them.

Richard was no longer so completely still. The image of Alexia watching a fucking couple from her secret hideaway was clearly cracking his composure. She could see him pulling his hips backwards as if trying to ease the pressure on his manhood. It aroused her.

‘He was pretty merciless, but it wasn’t like Carter, it was … She wanted it that way.’

Richard’s breathing became slightly ragged.

‘He kept making her wait; he was playing with her and it made me …’

Richard finished her sentence. ‘Made you want it too.’

‘Yes!’ The word tumbled out of her in a half whisper. She realised she’d answered a little too quickly, too eagerly. She blushed again.

‘Well, what’s so bad about that? You’re a healthy young woman, and watching people fuck should make you have that reaction.’

Alexia looked down and took a deep breath, then another glug of wine.

‘It wasn’t that … It was when they’d finished. The woman, she left the room, but he came into the bathroom and caught me.’

‘Oh fuck!’

‘Quite! He offered to do me the same service – and I panicked. But that’s not the worst of it.’

‘Oh God.’ Richard snorted. ‘There’s more?’

‘As he was leaving, this man came in. He’s the boss of the company, Nathan.’

Richard nodded. Suddenly, all the names Romy had mentioned in connection with Alexia were making sense. Carter, Tony, Nathan. Quite a collection for a quiet little girl.

‘He took one look at us and thought it was me Tony had been shagging!’

Richard nodded and let out a long, slow whistle. Then his eyebrows knitted and he looked quizzically at her.

‘Um, where’d the cupboard come in?’

‘What?’ Alexia was confused, then remembered how she’d opened their conversation.

‘Oh … Well, today, I had to get something from the stationery cupboard. It’s a huge cupboard and it’s well away from the offices, and while I was in there …’

‘Nathan came in?’

‘What? No.’ Alexia felt a huge, curling rush in her pussy at the thought of Nathan in the cupboard with her. ‘No, it was Tony …’ She stopped.

‘I can see how this would be a little confusing,’ said Richard, trying to keep up. He took a huge glug of wine and shook his head, as if the act of shaking it would make all the pieces fall in the right place.

‘We – he was … I …’

Richard stepped in to help. ‘Tony?’

Alexia pursed her lips and nodded.

‘And you …’

She nodded again. Richard studied her for a moment.

‘Yeah, but you didn’t go all the way, did you? You didn’t fuck.’ It was a statement not a question.

‘No. How – how did you know that?’

Richard smiled without answering. ‘What happened next?’

‘He stopped because he was on an errand for Nathan so he just said he had to go but that we should do it another time. I was angry, upset, ashamed. It was horrible, I just shouted at him that I’d never …’

‘Hey it’s OK. I bet you were pissed.’

I ran down the corridor and straight into Nathan and he – he caught me. I thought I was going to trip, I was wearing Romy’s shoes and I …’ Alexia was babbling now.

‘Hey, slow down. It’s OK.’

He was holding me to stop me falling and I thought … He looked like he was going to – I don’t know – something. But then Tony appeared and …’

‘Oh Jeez. He thought you’d fucked this guy Tony again, in the office!’

‘Yes.’ Alexia looked completely crestfallen. Richard thought how adorable she was.

‘Look, honey, everyone has these stories, not as funny as yours, some of them, but hey, I gotta few. When you’re old and grey and lying on your deathbed surrounded by your grandkids you’ll be glad you have something to look back on and laugh at. It’ll keep you warm when you’re 90, wrinkled, and dried up.’

He tapped the end of her nose with his finger. She laughed softly.

‘I hope you’re right, because at the moment … Tony told me I’m known as the Ice Queen. I probably do look frigid to most people. Maybe I am.’

‘Oh honey, you are
not
frigid.’ Richard moved over to her and put his arm around her, but didn’t pull her in. ‘You just need a guy who’s gonna guide you. Show you how it should be done. Let you flower in your own time.’

He smoothed her hair again and desire flamed up inside her.

‘I need …’ Her voice trailed away.

‘There’s just one thing you need, honey.’

Suddenly, she was off the floor. She wasn’t quite sure how, but Richard had managed to pick her up and he was now carrying her into her bedroom. He kicked the door shut behind them and laid her down on the bed. He was standing over her, his erection straining against his jeans. She looked at his face; his lips were parted. Alexia felt an overwhelming rush of need surge down through her cunt. It was throbbing now, the blood thundering like a jungle drum.

He got onto the bed, but he didn’t lie on top of her, he lay beside her. Alexia was confused. She turned and tried to kiss him, but he stopped her.

‘What you need is to come, to come slow and hard. But I am
not
going to fuck you. God knows I want to, but to quote the late, great James Stewart –’ he broke into an impersonation of the actor ‘– you’re a little the worse for wear, and there are rules about that.’

She blinked and looked at him closely. She wanted him; she had never wanted anything so badly.

‘I am not going to take advantage of you, but I am going to give you what you need, baby.’

He reached his arm around her and pulled her towards him. His mouth was on hers and his kiss was soft and sensual, not demanding but oh so seductive. Her breasts were pressed against his chest and she wanted to be naked. She tried to pull her nightie up, but his hand stopped her. This was going to be slow and at his pace.

She could feel his hardness pressing against her pussy and she ached to feel it inside her, feel it driving its way into her over and over. She felt her hips undulate in an involuntary wave, trying to feel his erection more. His kiss deepened and his arms held her tight, crushed up against him.

Then, suddenly, he let go. ‘Oh no, sister. That way madness lies.’

He turned her. With strong but gentle arms he turned her onto her side, facing away from him, and he curled in behind her, spooning her perfectly. His strong arms were around her from behind. She stopped still, breathing, waiting. Was he stopping? Please no, don’t stop, she thought, please God no …

But he hadn’t stopped; he was pausing to settle her. They were both lying on their left sides and, slowly, his right arm moved down over her thigh and eased up the shimmering blue satin of her nightie so that it floated around her waist. The exposure was thrilling and Alexia felt herself push her bottom back against his erection.

His fingers circled her thigh and her pussy as they had done the night he pushed her up against the wall. It was exquisite and painful. The thrill of him not touching her clit was heart-stopping. Round and round his fingers circled. His mouth was on the back of her neck now, on that sweet spot that buckles a girl’s knees when a man knows how to find it. Just a kiss, a nibble, and Alexia moaned with pleasure.

‘That’s it, beautiful.’ Richard’s voice was low and warm. ‘You just lie back into it and let go …’

His fingers moved slowly down the slit of her pussy and Alexia gasped.

‘Oh honey, you are wet, so wet – so …’

He waited to make sure she heard his words.

‘So delicious.’ His stretched out the word as if tasting it, experiencing it.

Alexia rocked her hips against his hand, coating him in her slipperiness, revelling in her wetness for the first time. Carter had made her hate it. She heard the sounds it made as he worked her clit and stroked against her swollen, begging lips. No more Carter, no more painful screwing. She was wet, really wet, and it was glorious.

Moans escaped from her mouth with each stroke. The quivering nub of flesh he was pressing suffused her entire abdomen with pleasure.

Then she felt two hard fingers as they found their way deep into her. She gasped loudly, not caring who could hear. His fingers had slipped in easily, guided by the slick of her juices.

He pushed his knee between her legs and tilted his hips so that his knee was lifted, pulling her leg up and draping it back over his, opening her pussy to him completely.

Alexia was clutching at the pillow, holding bunches of cotton in her fists as she rode the pleasure of being completely open to his hand. She felt him curl his fingers in that “come hither” movement that found the sweet spot inside her pussy. She pushed her head back and her chest forward as he she felt his teeth suck and bite on her shoulder. Her strap slipped down and she could feel his ragged breath, feel its warmth flowing down over her shoulder, down over her now exposed breast, the whisper of it dancing on her hard nipples.

And Richard just kept stroking, pulling his fingers out to stroke her clit, and then plunging them in again to find its hidden counterpart deep inside her.

Her leg was curled backwards around his and she was clamping it tight as she felt the waves coursing through her cunt.

He stroked harder and harder, increasing his speed as he felt the contractions. And then she came. His palm cupped and held her mound as his fingers pressed inside her; she felt her inside clutch around his fingers as the contractions racked through her cunt. Her hips bucked in perfect timing.

Her head was pushed back against his and she gasped for air and rode the waves. She lost herself; one minute she was coming, the next she was floating. It was almost as if she had lost consciousness for a fleeting moment. She felt her breath return to normal and realised her eyes had been shut. She opened them and turned her head back towards Richard. She felt his mouth find hers and his lips held hers in a long, soft, motionless kiss, as if he was breathing life back into her. After what seemed like an eternity he pulled his head away.

‘That’s what you needed,’ he said softly. ‘Close your eyes again.’

She looked at him.

‘I said close your eyes.’

Suddenly she felt an overwhelming tiredness sweep over her, mingling with the tingling afterglow that swirled in her veins. She obeyed like a child who has just been put to bed, and in a few short breaths she was asleep.

Richard waited until her breathing became steady, then gently removed his leg from between her thighs and slid off the bed. He pulled down the satin of her nightie, and pulled the quilt up over her.

‘Goodnight, my little ice queen,’ he said softly and padded out of the room, closing the door behind him. He walked to the bathroom and stood against the door. He tore open the buttons of his fly and grabbed his rock-hard cock. All the gentleness was gone from him now as he rubbed frantically, bracing himself against the wall. The slapping sound betrayed the speed and frenzy as he wanked hard. It took only moments before his come shot out in an arc into the bath. He breathed out hard, and laughed to himself.

‘It’s a shame it’s not gonna be me who gets to fuck you, Alexia,’ he said quietly. He knew that was for someone else. But she needed to know how to embrace her sexuality, and he could certainly help her out there. 

Chapter Five

She had slept more soundly than she could ever remember and it took what seemed like an eternity to reach full wakefulness. Slowly, she opened her eyes and blinked. Her body felt warm and relaxed and more at ease than it had for weeks. It was still dark outside and she rolled over to slip back into that delicious slumber. As she pulled the quilt up under her chin she caught sight of the illuminated display on her clock – 7.45 a.m.

Oh fuck! She leapt out of bed. She hadn’t set the alarm for 6.45 last night. Last night? The memory crashed in on her and she felt the room wobble for a moment. Richard. The orgasm.
The
orgasm! But it was 7.45; she would be late for work. No time to think. She dashed into the living room, then crashed into the kitchen. Romy should be up. Where was she?

‘In here!’ came a plaintive voice from Romy’s room.

Alexia ran in to find Romy in bed, surrounded by crumpled tissues, and the room heavy with the smell of eucalyptus.

‘I told you I was feeling rough last night. Well, I’ve got a shitty cold, so I can’t go in today.’

‘Oh!’ said Alexia, moving towards her bed.

‘No, stay away. You have to be well, because you’ve got to take over.’

Alexia stopped in her tracks.

‘Take over … Take over what?’

‘The football press trip. I was supposed to go with Nathan to handle everything, so you have to go.’

Alexia felt a clutching panic in her stomach.

‘What? No, I can’t. That’s … No!’

‘You have to.’

Alexia was wide awake now.

‘But I’m just a temp. What about all the other girls who could do it?’

‘Look, it’s done … You’re going.’

Romy gave a theatrical cough and splutter.

‘What do you mean it’s done?’

‘I rang Nathan last night on his mobile and told him I was ill. I told him I’d brought the file home to work on it and the easiest thing was to bring you up to speed on it because you live here – and he said yes.’

Alexia was dumbstruck. She slumped on to the end of the bed and put her face in her hands.

Romy watched Alexia from under her lashes. Time for the clincher …

‘How do you think he’ll take it now if I tell him you won’t go?’

Alexia looked up suddenly, panic on her face.

‘Exactly!’ said Romy, triumphant.

‘How could you do this to me?’ wailed Alexia.

‘Look, you want him to get to know you so he knows who you really are. Well, this is your chance!’ Romy suddenly sounded remarkably less ill, she realised. She coughed again, for dramatic effect.

‘But I can’t. You haven’t briefed me,’ said Alexia, clutching for excuses.

‘He’s not in till lunchtime so we have plenty of time. There’s a file on the table over there. Go and make yourself some tea, get dressed, read the file, and then I’ll fill in any blanks.’

‘Romy …’

But Romy wasn’t listening. ‘Look, I feel like shit, I need rest for a bit. Please,
cara mia
, just get the file!’

Breaking into her mother’s soft Italian made her sound pleading and vulnerable. Romy squashed down into the bed and put a hankie to her nose. She blew it noisily, then pulled the quilt up and closed her eyes.

Alexia realised there was no use fighting; it was done, as Romy said.

It was done.

Alexia walked to the dressing table and picked up the file. She moved miserably into the kitchen and clicked on the kettle. Two days with Nathan, in a hotel. She opened the file and saw the travel arrangements. He was driving and she was travelling with him. Three hours in a car with him before getting to the hotel. Three hours alone with Nathan!

Her stomach lurched with dread, but her pussy had a different reaction. As Nathan’s image flashed into her head she felt that now familiar surge in her loins.

‘Get a grip, girl!’ she said out loud.

The kettle clicked. She grabbed a cup and the coffee jar and made a very strong cup for herself.

She went to the kitchen table and started to read the file. It was a press event involving three Premier League footballers. Alexia knew nothing about soccer, but she knew how big these players were. She knew they were always in the gossip columns with their million-pound lifestyles and taste for wild parties.

Fallon’s agency had organised for these star players to be the faces of an incredibly stylish brand of aftershave, and the press conference was in a country house hotel outside London, in keeping with the styling of the TV commercials they had shot. The team from Fallon’s had to stay the night before, to make sure everything was set for the press conference and that the players would actually be there on time.

Nathan would be there himself, as this was a huge account, and stars want their babysitter to be the boss and not an underling. Nathan’s PA would be there to ensure everything ran smoothly and to support Nathan.

Nathan’s PA? That was her now. She closed her eyes and imagined him striding into the room of photographers and journalists, commanding and in control. She felt a squirt down below. She was still wet from last night. She must get in the shower.

‘Morning, beautiful … Sleep well?’ Richard appeared, tousled and still half asleep.

Alexia, flushed with embarrassment, tried to stammer a reply

‘Hey , last night was great. And you, my sweet girl, look really blooming this morning. And I don’t think it’s that coffee.’

He leant over and kissed her forehead. Alexia was confused for a moment. It was such a fatherly gesture, after the passion of last night. What was this relationship she now had with Richard? Were they lovers? They hadn’t had sex but it was pretty intimate.

Richard poured himself his own cup of coffee. ‘I have to get to a job interview. Just a local bar, but it’ll keep me outta trouble. Aren’t you late for work?’

Alexia was still confused by the normality of the conversation.

‘Um, no. I’m going in later today …’

‘Cool,’ replied Richard breezily. ‘OK, I better get my duds on and get down there. See ya later, beautiful.’

He smiled a huge American smile and winked. Then he disappeared into the bathroom.

Alexia sat stock still, trying to take in this latest encounter with their temporary flatmate. Romy appeared, wrapped in a dressing gown and clutching a tissue.

‘Well, it’s all in there, nothing to it. Just common sense, really. I’ll be on the end of my mobile if you’re not sure about anything.’

Alexia looked unconvinced.

‘Look, there’s no way I’d convince Nathan to let you do it if I thought you’d screw it up, or it’s my neck on the line too. So, you know, have a little faith.’

Alexia smiled weakly. Screwing up was the least of her worries. She realised how crazy that was. A new job, a new chance, and all she was worried about was …

She stood up sharply and took a deep breath.

‘I’ll be fine. Like you say, it’s common sense. There isn’t a problem. There isn’t!’

It was clear she was trying to convince herself more than Romy, but her friend pretended to buy into the performance.

‘Absolutely. Right, I’m going back to bed. Call me later?’

‘OK,’ said Alexia, but as soon as Romy was out of the room she felt her knees weaken.

She spent the morning studying the file, familiarising herself with the details and the people, and then dressed for work. She chose her clothes carefully. Pale blue blouse and a smart black pencil skirt with good heels. Not too much jewellery, and she put her ash blonde waves into a neat, low bun. Every inch the executive PA, she hoped. She studied herself in the mirror. Who was this girl? She didn’t recognise the cool professional who returned her gaze.

She grabbed the file, put it into her bag, and set off for the office. The journey was tiresome as usual, but she was in no hurry to walk through those doors, to walk into Nathan’s office …

The bus lurched to a stop and jolted Alexia out of her daydream. She jumped off and walked the last five minutes to the polished glass doors of the Fallon Sports Agency. She crossed the street and was just mounting the pavement when a strong grip encircled her right arm and she was wheeled round to face Carter. A very angry Carter.

Alexia gasped.

‘Not expecting to see me?’ he snarled. ‘It’s taken me a while to track you down, but you don’t think I’d let you just disappear, do you?’

His mouth had a cruel downturn, as ever, and his dark brown eyes were hard and beady, betraying his dark nature.

His grip was tightening and she struggled to free herself. He grabbed her with his other hand. He was really hurting her, and the look on his face was more aggressive than she had ever seen him. She couldn’t speak; she was breathing hard and trying to make sense of this. How did he find her? Why was he trying to drag her back? He shook her hard and almost knocked the wind out of her.

‘No, Carter, please – just let me go!’

‘What the hell do you think you’re playing at? You can’t just bugger off like that and think it’s OK. You’re
my
girlfriend and you’re coming home with me!’

‘The hell she is!’

Alexia heard a strong voice and suddenly there was the sound of a hard thump and an “ugh” sound from Carter, who crumpled to the floor, releasing her arms.

Alexia looked up to see Nathan standing over Carter. His nostrils were flaring, but other than that he seemed to be in complete control. He’d floored Carter with one sharp jab to his kidneys and now her ex was on the floor, clutching for breath.

‘I don’t know who you are, but that’s the last time you touch Alexia,’ Nathan commanded.

Alexia couldn’t speak, couldn’t think. “The last time you touch Alexia”, he’d said. Hearing him say her name seemed unreal. He turned and fixed his eyes on her. She looked up at him, completely unable to respond.

‘Come on, let’s get you inside,’ he said.

Carter moaned and swore on the ground.

‘Stay down, or I’ll put you down, again,’ said Nathan. He was not a man to argue with.

Nathan put his arm gently around her shoulder, not rushing her, but guiding her towards the door. He cast a swift backward glance at Carter to make sure he wasn’t getting up off the pavement, then walked Alexia in through reception. The two girls on the desk were open-mouthed, but he silenced any thought they might have of questioning him with a curt shake of his head. The girls shut their mouths and stood back. Does everyone do his bidding? thought Alexia.

He took her into his office and offered her a stiff drink. She shook her head.

‘I’m guessing an ex-boyfriend?’ asked Nathan.

Alexia nodded dumbly. She tried to speak, but her voice was nowhere to be found. She was in shock. Nathan looked at her and saw that her eyes were glistening with unshed tears.

In one swift move she was in his arms, and he was holding her, really holding her. The subtle smell of his aftershave filled her nostrils and she melted into his embrace. His body was hard and strong and she spread her hands on his chest as she rested her head against him.

‘It’s OK, he’s not going to hurt you. He can’t get to you now.’ Nathan’s voice was soft and gentle. She had not imagined it could sound so soft; she had only heard the commanding boss, never the soothing one.

He cupped the back of her head with his strong hand, and she felt him rest his cheek against her head. His other arm was wrapped around her, holding her close.

She stood there as he rocked her ever so slightly, almost imperceptibly in his arms. It was so comforting and felt so right. Her tears had stopped. He drew back slightly to look into her face.

His black hair was dishevelled. Strands normally perfectly in place had escaped and were hanging over his forehead. His eyes were heavy with – what? Concern? Alexia couldn’t read him. She just looked up at him, her face inches from his. She felt his strong fingers move from her head and run down her cheek. Her knees buckled and that wetness filled her again.

She felt her own fingers on his chest and had to stop herself from curling them into the fabric of his crisp white cotton shirt. She realised the tips of her fingers had crept underneath the lapels of his dark suit, dislodging the shoulders slightly. She felt her breathing become heavier, and she felt his chest. Was he breathing harder too?

She stared at him, slowly realising that his mouth was inching towards hers. His lips were smooth and firm. They were slightly parted as he moved towards her. He stopped. The lurch of disappointment almost tipped her into grabbing him and begging him to kiss her. He must have read her thoughts as, suddenly, his mouth was on hers.

She was completely enveloped in his arms and his kiss was overwhelming. The need inside her roared into life. This was like no other kiss she’d had. Tony and Richard had made her needy but this – this was completely different. Nathan was no callow boy, he was all man.

Pressed against him, she could feel his hardness. His cock nudged against her stomach. Damn him for being so tall; she wanted to feel it against her own loins, to feel its hardness against her pussy. He was so hard and the length of him seemed to go on for ever, up her stomach. She could feel it pulsing against her soft belly. She wanted to climb up, up his tall, hard frame, to open her legs around him and slide down onto him. She wanted to feel him inside her. She realised how Phillipa must have felt that Friday night in the boardroom, without a thought of her surroundings. Only feeling, no thinking; her need, her deep, aching need.

She felt herself almost lifting off into his arms, into him. His mouth was searching hers, his lips hard and needy. His tongue traced hers and she felt as if he wanted to devour her.

She heard a low moan escape his lips as he pulled away from her to look at her face. She couldn’t read the expression. She’d expected lust, but there was something else.

In the distance she could hear voices, like a gentle babbling from a faraway radio. Suddenly his eyes grew clear and hard and he stiffened, his arms going rigid. He stood like an animal that has scented a predator, frozen, listening for its approach. The voices grew louder. One of them she knew. Tony’s. Coming down the corridor!

Nathan’s blue eyes darkened. Without warning, he set her back on her feet and strode away from her to his desk. She almost collapsed, her knees still weak from the surging in her body. The sudden absence of him felt like a rush of cold water through her loins, quashing the fire that he’d set roaring.