The Truce (London Suits 1)

“Shit.” I stopped dead.

“Don’t stop, Luke,” she begged shakily, panting. “What’s wrong?”

“Condom,” I managed to gasp.

Her face cleared. “It’s okay, I’m on the pill.”

“Thank fuck for that,” I muttered. I pulled her down to me, kissing her feverishly, and she returned my kisses with passion. We rolled over on the bed, lost in each other, our movements becoming more urgent. I closed my eyes, the intensity of our connection almost too much to bear. Her body shook against mine as the orgasm rolled over her, and I followed her over the edge, the fire consuming us both.

20

Luke

Ever since Martha’s funeral, it felt like there was a new level of closeness between Olivia and me. Despite that, thanks to my fears and worries that we were moving too fast—and despite the fact we’d spoken at work and messaged each other every evening—we hadn’t seen each other outside of work since the night after the funeral. I’d been dragging my heels, needing to keep her at arm’s length. She seemed to sense that and hadn’t pressured me for anything, but I knew I had to push past my fear. Or try, at least, Olivia deserved more than a half-hearted effort from me. Although we’d both agreed on the ground rules—only friends with benefits—I wanted to ask her out on a date. Yeah, it was pushing our self-imposed limits, but I couldn’t get the idea out of my head. The thought of anyone else taking her on a date made me feel sick to my stomach. And I had the feeling that she wouldn’t be averse to the idea of us going out somewhere together.

But before I asked her anything, I wanted to have som

e fun with her.

What could I say? Old habits die hard.

Jamie was in a morning meeting with Ethan, so I took advantage of his vacant chair and placed myself in it, rolling the wheels backwards and forwards. I ducked down behind his computer screen to hide my face from Olivia and began whistling tunelessly.

Predictably, after approximately thirty seconds, a loud, annoyed huff came from Olivia’s desk. I continued my obnoxious whistling, trying not to laugh. She was so easy to wind up. Even though we weren’t enemies anymore, it didn’t mean we couldn’t play jokes on each other, right?

“Will you stop that bloody whistling?” Olivia hissed, frustration in her voice.

I whistled louder.

Sixty seconds later…

“That’s it!” Olivia whisper-shouted, slamming something down on her desk from the sound of it. I heard her chair being pushed back, and she was suddenly advancing on me with a murderous glint in her eye.

“Luke? What do you think you’re playing at? I thought it was Jamie whistling.” She glowered at me. “You know how much I hate it.”

“Hey, it was only a joke, Liv. You know you love it when I wind you up.” I held my hands up placatingly, wheeling my chair backwards until it hit the wall.

Olivia stopped dead, a contemplative look on her gorgeous face.

“You’re right.” She let out a little laugh. “I don’t know what I was so annoyed about. I’d better get back to work.”

Turning on her heel, she strolled back to her desk without a care in the world.

Huh. That wasn’t what I expected to happen.

How times had changed.

Puzzled and a little disappointed, I went back to my own desk.

Around an hour later, Eddie stood up, stretching. “Anyone want a hot drink?” he called to the room in general. A chorus of yeses rang out, mine included.

Considerate as always, I heard Olivia tell Eddie she’d help him. A few minutes later, she came towards me, a sweet smile on her face, bearing a coffee in her favourite Better Latte Than Never mug. Shit, now I felt like a complete wanker for playing jokes on her earlier.

“Here you go.” She placed the coffee on my desk, leaning over to press a quick kiss to my cheek before racing back to the kitchen to grab her own drink. I picked up the mug, noticing her standing in the kitchen doorway next to Eddie, both sets of eyes trained on me.

I shrugged and took a large gulp.

Fucking hell.