Substitute (8 page)

‘Take your top off, let me see your tits,’ he said, his voice low, an insistent command.

Alexia obeyed. She felt her breasts bounce free as she pulled the T-shirt over her head, dropping it to the floor. She looked down and saw Richard’s smiling face between her own quivering breasts. Her nipples stood proud.

Richard looked back to her mound and pushed his tongue deep into her slit.

She gasped and pushed her hips forward again. Richard reached up with one hand as he ate her, and pinched her left nipple. The jolt from breast to pussy was agonising. She grabbed her other nipple herself, unable to cope with one being left unloved. She grabbed his head with her other hand and felt the movement back and forth as his stiff tongue worked her clit in time to the screwing couple, whose headboard was now banging the wall.

Alexia felt like she was in a brothel and she didn’t care. She just wanted more.

Suddenly, Richard withdrew and Alexia gasped. The cold air on her pussy was like a smack of admonishment after the warmth of his tongue, his mouth, his chin, his face all buried in her. He was covered in her juices. He licked the side of his mouth, tasting her.

‘I can’t get in deep enough like this,’ he said.

Deep enough? The words sent another surge through her, as Richard pushed her back onto the bed. Her back hit the mattress and she felt her breasts bounce, sending another shock through her nipples. He dragged off her panties and she lay back, closing her eyes, waiting for his mouth. But it didn’t come.

She picked up her head to look at him. He was staring at her open, wet cunt. A few days ago this nakedness, this exposure, would have reviled and shocked her. But his gaze was thrilling. And she opened her legs to give him the view he wanted.

He laughed to himself.

‘Oh baby!’ he said and grabbed her legs, pulling her forward so her bottom was on the end of the bed. The jerk towards him with her legs open almost made her come. She could feel the contractions wanting to start.

He was still kneeling. He lifted her legs and draped them over his shoulders, either side of his head. The feel of her feet dangling down his back, the helplessness of it, was intoxicating. She was desperate for his tongue again as she heard the competing couple speeding up. The sound of the banging headboard interspersed with Nicky and Romy’s animal grunts made this waiting an agony.

Richard pulled up Alexia’s hips, and then he did it. He parted her lips with his fingers and plunged his tongue into her. As she rocked with the pleasure, he covered his index finger in her juices and slipped it slowly into the one dark place she thought she’d never want to feel a man. The shock was enough to send her over the edge.

Alexia’s hips were almost grinding against his face, covering him in her juices, trying to pull in his tongue and his finger. With his other hand he rubbed her engorged nub with the flat of his thumb. With two hands and his tongue he was stimulating her in ways she’d never thought possible, not altogether. She was so wet, she felt she would drown him.

She heard Nicky’s final agonising, animal shout of orgasm from next door, and she came. Her feet were digging into Richard’s back and her hands were curled in his hair as her hips rocked with each contraction. She rolled in her pleasure and let the feel of the orgasm fill her veins, all the way to her toes. Her breathing was hard and ragged. She had arched her back up and now it was coming back down to rest on the mattress. She lay there panting, her legs still dangling over Richard.

He withdrew slowly and dropped her legs down, placing her feet on the floor. She was still breathing hard, her chest rising and falling violently. She looked up and saw Richard.

‘Yup, you’re a quick study. Definitely an A student!’ He laughed softly and stood up. She could see his erection in his pants.

He wiped his face with the back of his hand, then licked it.

‘Now get some rest, sister. You’ll sleep well tonight.’

He turned to leave the room.

‘Where are you going?’

Richard laughed to himself. ‘Oh I have an appointment with the bathroom,’ he said, with his hand on his now desperate erection.

Alexia sat up. ‘But can’t I help?’

Richard’s mouth curved into a lopsided smile. He was very cute when he was aroused, she thought.

‘Oh yeah, but that’s tomorrow night’s lesson.’

And with that he left the room.

Alexia flopped back down onto the bed. The room next door was silent, but her heart was still pumping hard. She crawled under the quilt and cupped her mound with her hand as if to keep the feeling in.

Richard had just brought her to climax, but her mind quickly turned to Nathan and the kiss, that swirling, mind-bending kiss. She cupped herself harder as if protecting herself, her vulnerability. Tomorrow she would see him again. He’d kissed her, but then he’d spurned her. He thought she was Tony’s and that was enough to disgust him.

But why had he kissed her if he thought she was just one of Tony’s office shags? Maybe the answer would come tomorrow?

Tomorrow she would have to face him again.

Chapter Six

Alexia was getting used to her daily journey through the London rush-hour traffic to the offices of Fallon Sports Agency. But she wasn’t getting used to the churning in her gut that accompanied her commute.

Today was going to be torture; not the mild kind, not the “really uncomfortable but I’ll put up with it” kind. Today was going to be the “I’d rather chew off my own arm” kind. She would be stuck in a strategy meeting with the man who had kissed her then tossed her aside in the belief she was another man’s tart.

But she still couldn’t understand why he had kissed her. Was he just feeling sorry for her after Carter’s sudden appearance? Men don’t do that because they feel sorry for you. But he was comforting her, she was in his arms; perhaps it was just a normal male hormonal reaction to having a woman pressed up against you, nothing more.

The thought that she meant nothing to him, just a casual kiss, made her more miserable than ever. Romy said he didn’t sleep around. He didn’t mess with women in the office. It was all too confusing.

She noticed that more of the men in the office were looking at her. Why now? Did she look different? The memory of last night, of her total abandon with Richard, flooded back and flushed her cheeks. Just the trace of the memory was enough to swell her pussy. The feel of his mouth on her, holding her thighs either side of his head.

Stop it, she thought. The feel of Richard’s tongue was so fresh in her mind she felt that people could see it in her face.

‘You look good enough to eat today.’

Alexia almost jumped out of her skin. It was Tony, and he was regarding her with hungry eyes. Did he know what she’d been thinking?

‘Nathan wants you in his office.’

Nathan wants you. The words made Alexia want to squirm, to rub her thighs against each other.

Tony was watching her. ‘Strategy meeting, it’s in 15 minutes. He needs you first.’

He stalked off, Alexia watching as his athletic form mesmerised the secretaries as he went by.

He needs you first, he’d said. If only he did, thought Alexia.

She gathered up the file and paperwork for the football press event, a pad and a pen, and walked the long walk to Nathan’s office. She had dressed carefully again. Smart skirt and heels and a blouse that wasn’t too revealing. It was Romy’s, a beautiful dusky pink. But she realised that Romy was a little smaller around the chest and her top button kept sliding open. She checked. It was still fastened. She pulled her chest in and knocked the door. Her heart was hammering.

‘Come!’ came the now familiar command.

She walked in. Nathan was typing something on his laptop, an earpiece in his ear. He was talking.

‘Look, Iorizzo’s deal depends on him behaving. We can’t have another screw up like last time …

There was silence as he listened. His face was impassive, unimpressed by whatever excuses poured into his ear.

‘Look, it’s really simple: he wants this deal, he behaves. No more coke, no more high-class hookers. The sponsors want him to look athletic and clean. If he has to get laid by a different girl every week, find him some who are more discreet …’

He looked up, and Alexia thought she saw a flash of disapproval as his gaze swept over her on the word “discreet”.

‘He’ll only be the face of the brand for a year, along with Lopez and Carsten. Then they can do what they like.’

He ended the call. Alexia got the feeling that Nathan was in charge of every call he made and every meeting. He was not aggressive, but his quiet authority made people defer to him. Must be the officer training.

There was an awkward silence in the room. He was staring down at his desk, but he didn’t seem to be looking at anything in particular. Was he as uncomfortable as her?

He was in a beautiful handmade navy suit, a crisp ivory shirt, and golden tie. His thick, black hair was brushed straight; no pretty boy gel for Nathan, not like Tony. He was classic. She found she couldn’t help but study him. His skin was lightly tanned and his face was strong, his cheekbones were pronounced and ran in line with his jaw. His nose was not straight; perhaps an army scrap? But it lent him the kind of raw masculinity that betrayed his perfectly turned out appearance. There was much more to this man than the cool operator, of that Alexia was sure. But she was sure of nothing else.

She felt that small bundle of nerves deep inside her, her sweet spot, rippling, aching for attention. He broke the silence.

‘I’m sorry about yesterday, it was unprofessional and it shouldn’t have happened.’

Alexia felt winded.

‘I just wanted to …’ He seemed to be thinking about his words carefully.

Just wanted to what? Alexia’s head was swimming. Why didn’t he look at her? Look at me, see me!

‘Clear the air,’ he said at length. ‘We have a lot to do, we need to start now.’

She wanted to feel his lips on hers again, but he’d just made it clear that wouldn’t happen again, never again.

There was a knock on the door and in came Tony with a couple of other staff. Suddenly the room was filled with chatting and Nathan got up and moved to the large boardroom table he used for meetings.
The
boardroom table. People took their seats. Alexia’s legs seemed stuck to the floor.

‘Are you joining us?’ came a smooth female voice. Phillipa, the commercial director, Tony’s fuck buddy.

‘Er, sorry … Yes.’ Alexia put her head down and scuttled to the table. There was only one seat free, between Tony and Nathan. She caught sight of Phillipa’s wry amusement at her embarrassment. Did she know anything? Would Tony have told her? Or was she just laughing at Alexia’s mousy behaviour? She was the type.

Alexia sat down gingerly, trying to make herself as small as possible, almost frightened if she brushed up against one of the two men she’d burst into flames.

She opened her file and gripped the sides, not wanting even a sheet of paper to stray into their table territory.

Nathan kicked off the proceedings.

‘I’ve spoken to Iorizzo’s assistant. He’s not going to be easy to control, but he knows if he screws up again he loses the deal.’

‘And we lose an enormous percentage,’ said Phillipa archly.

‘Quite! Tony, this is your department.’

Tony looked pleased with himself. He was only a junior agent, but he had good contacts in the Premier League and he’d managed to get quite close to some influential players.

‘Well, I can’t keep him chained up,’ he said.

Nathan didn’t allow a longer excuse, ‘You can contain him, or any damage he might do to us. If he’s stupid on this press trip, make sure his stupidity is confined to the rooms where the press don’t get to him or his partners in crime, and make sure he is suited and booted for the press conference on time. As you’re kindred spirits, you should be able to anticipate any trouble.’

Did she detect a barb in those last words? She sneaked a look at Nathan. Impassive, as always. She looked at Phillipa, who was watching Tony. The other two seemed to be watching Tony too.

‘So you should be able to keep him on a short lead.’

‘What about Lopez and Carsten? They’re just as bad, just not as big!’ countered Phillipa.

‘Tony?’ Nathan enquired.

‘They do run as a bit of a pack. I guess that means I’m babysitting.’

Alexia had trouble imagining Tony as any kind of babysitter. Nathan was rounding up.

‘OK, everyone, this is an especially big pay day for this company, so we handle it, manage it, and it runs like clockwork, clear?’

Everyone nodded.

They went through the technical arrangements. Tony was clearly bored by the minutiae of the business. As Alexia made notes on her pad she felt a sudden brush against her thigh. She caught her breath. She felt Tony’s hand slowly running up her leg. He wasn’t using the arm that was next to her; he held his chin in his hand with that one. No, he was using his other hand, so no one could see, crossed over his lap and running his fingers on Alexia’s now quivering leg.

She looked up. Nathan was still talking; people were studying their folders. Her nerves were jangling. She was terrified they’d notice, that Nathan would notice. It was such a chaste touch, really, but under the circumstances it was bold and dangerous and it sent a tightening clench through her cunt.

She could hear Nathan’s voice, his low, warm voice, as she felt Tony’s whispering touch on her leg. If she shut her eyes, she might feel it was Nathan’s touch, Nathan’s fingers. But they weren’t, they were Tony’s. She stole a glance at him, but he was looking at his notes as if he had no idea what was happening. How could he do that? How could he be so bare-faced?

She gave a small gasp as she felt his foot suddenly curl around her ankle. The others looked up at her. She gave a small, hiccupping cough to hide the giveaway breath.

Her head was swirling. She wanted everyone to leave and then for Nathan to turn to her and kiss her again. Tony’s clandestine caresses were stoking her passion. Tony’s hand, Tony’s foot.

In the distance she heard Nathan wrapping up the meeting. People were stirring, closing files and picking up papers. She snapped back into the room and felt the swift withdrawal of Tony’s touch.

She grabbed her own papers and hurried to the door as the others started to leave.

‘I need these photocopied.’ Phillipa’s voice. ‘Four of each, please. It’s Alexia, isn’t it?’

Alexia turned round. ‘Yes, yes, it is.’

Phillipa wasn’t smiling; she wasn’t a woman’s woman. She clearly regarded all other women as competition.

Alexia took the papers. ‘I’ll bring them to your office.’

‘Straight away.’ Phillipa turned away. She’d given her order, she didn’t need pleasantries.

Alexia caught Tony looking at her. Phillipa saw it too and she wasn’t amused. Alexia rushed out, straight for the safety of the photocopying room.

She still hadn’t got used to wearing high heels to work, but it seemed to be the required uniform here at Fallon. All the girls were groomed and dressed to perfection. She felt even more insecure on her heels today. If only she realised, that insecurity gave her a Marilyn-style wiggle that was completely at odds with her cool, aloof beauty.

A couple of guys turned to look at her as they passed her in the corridor. She could feel their eyes on her. She got to the photocopying room and shut the door behind her. She breathed out hard and almost collapsed over the giant machine, fearful she would faint.

She clutched the edge of the photocopier to steady herself, her head hanging low, hoping the blood rushing from it would return. She breathed in and out, steadying herself. She stood there, bent over for what felt like an age, unable to stand, waiting for her panicked breathing to calm. Then she heard the door.

‘My, my, bending over for the headmaster!’ Tony was behind her. Before she had time to straighten up he was on her. He was right behind her, gripping her hips and pressing his already hard cock against her backside. She hated herself for it, but it shot a jolt of pleasure right through her like an arrow.

She released her hands from the photocopier to try and stand, but the force of his pressing on her pushed her hard against it. He shot forward with her, and as she stood jammed against the machine he pressed his entire length against her back. In an instant, his hands were around her, clasping her arms to her side as he cupped her breasts. They heaved and she felt a thrill as his fingers traced the flesh in the valley between them. Damn that button, she thought; it had popped open revealing the creamy mounds as her tits strained against the fabric.

He thrust his hips and his erection against her backside as he pushed his fingers inside the flimsy gauze of her bra, searching out the pink and quivering nipples that were standing proud, ready for his expert attention.

She let out a startled gasp. She didn’t protest, she stood letting him knead and play with her as he rubbed himself into the crack of her buttocks.

He bent and bit the side of her neck, just a nibble, but it sent another shock wave through her. It was the spot where Richard had traced his lips, but Tony’s touch was harder, more demanding, hotter.

She couldn’t move her arms and she was grateful to be pinned. It was easier to tell herself that she couldn’t move. But did she want to move?

Tony slid one foot between her stilettos and shoved her right foot away from her left. She almost toppled, but he held her tight. The feeling of exposure between her thighs caught her unawares and she moaned.

‘God, you’re gagging for it!’

He released her suddenly and his strong hands grabbed her and turned her round to face him.

Pulling her to him, he kissed her with a ferociousness that frightened her. The electricity of his tongue was like a surge through her, from mouth to cunt. But this was wrong. It wasn’t Tony she wanted. It wasn’t his hands she wanted. She pulled away.

‘Tony, no … Not …’

‘What, not here?’

‘No, I …,’ she protested, but he just took her protest as a sign she was afraid of discovery.

‘Yeah, you’re right, and the dragon queen wants those copies.’

She suddenly remembered Phillipa, waiting for her photocopying. That was one woman Alexia knew it was wise to stay on the right side of. Tony stepped back and adjusted himself. He was wildly turned on, that was clear.

‘We can get back to this tomorrow. We’ll be in a building with beds, after all.’

He clicked his tongue and winked, then turned for the door. He stopped and looked back.

‘Gagging for it.’

And he was gone.

Oh my God, thought Alexia, what the hell is wrong with you? He’s a playboy, and you’d have let him take you over a hot photocopier if he hadn’t stopped.

He was right, she must be gagging for it, but she wasn’t gagging for him, so why did she respond so strongly to him? Was she so desperate that any man would do? She didn’t know any more. He was undeniably attractive and she had witnessed his prowess in the art of lovemaking, if that’s what you could call what he’d done to Phillipa. Nathan had set the real fire, but he’d made it clear he was not about to stoke it. Tony was volunteering.