Her eyes twinkled with pleasure at his remark.
"You know, I still feel a bit guilty about that Roger bloke," he added.
She gave a gentle laugh and blushed. Her skin was so pale and delicate, the flush of color was startlingly attractive. "Me, too."
"Tell me, why were you looking for a blind date?" If he was going to spill his guts, so too would she. Besides, he was curious.
"I wasn't looking, as such. I was talked into it by my boss, Janine." She shook her head. "I'd been in touch with Roger regarding Quentin's disappearance, and he asked me out. Janine said I should go for it."
"Persuasive lady, is she?"
"Yes." She laughed. "I've been buried in work for a long while too, and I thought maybe it was time." She sipped her tea. "I lived with a bloke I met at college for a while. He went overseas to do foreign correspondence."
"A mutual split?"
"Not really, it came as a bit of a shock, to be honest. I hadn't realized he was applying to work overseas. It really hurt because he did it behind my back, you know, kept secrets."
Sebastian felt a gathering of dark emotions—anger with the bloke who'd let her down and hurt her, guilt that he too was keeping secrets from her about his job. By necessity, he reminded himself. It was for her comfort, not to do her harm.
"Since then there's been nothing serious." She shook her hair out as she put down the cup. "I've been busy building my career, you know. That's the way I like to keep it, I guess." She looked at him, her lips pursed.
He nodded. "No strings?"
"No strings." The teasing glance she gave tickled him.
"It feels like a truly adult agreement, doesn't it?" Even as he said the words, they felt somehow hollow. He reached for her hand and kissed it slowly, his mouth resting up against each fingertip in turn.
She gave a murmur of approval, her eyelids growing heavy.
He felt the need to give each and every bit of her that kind of attention, and to make her eyelids close the way they did when she was overcome with pleasure. A sudden unbidden image of her bent over the table with her dress up around her waist the previous night popped into his mind. It was an image that would be emblazoned on his memory forever. Before he knew it, his blood was rushing. He wanted her again, badly.
"Oh," she exclaimed, startled, her eyes flashing wide open. Lydia had leapt up from behind the sofa and was strolling along behind their heads.
Oh no. Sebastian kept hold of Amy's hand.
The cat glanced back at him as she passed, with a rather sly expression, then jumped down beside Amy and tested her lap with one cautious paw.
"Hello, sweetheart." She stroked the cat's head.
Lydia walked onto her lap, and began purring loudly. Amy beamed, rubbing the interloper behind her ears and murmuring sounds of approval. The cat turned slowly in her lap, enjoying the fuss. Sebastian metaphorically crossed his every finger. You couldn't force a cat to like anyone, but he was hopeful.
"Are you okay with cats?"
She nodded, and Lydia purred even louder. After another moment of mutual appreciation, Lydia stepped lightly across to the arm of the sofa next to Amy, and sat down. Things were looking good.
"Sorry about the interruption." He resumed his attention to her fingertips. In between each kiss, he whispered to her. "Can I tempt you to stay here with me overnight? I could bring the bags in from the car…we could order take out."
"You're very persuasive."
He hoped so. He wanted to make love to her in his home. He wanted to be able to remember it every time he walked in, to picture her here, willingly receiving him. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Lydia jump down from the arm of the sofa and saunter out of the room. It looked as if she'd deemed it acceptable for them to spend time together alone. How gracious of her was that? He couldn't help smiling.
"Has anyone ever told you what a gorgeous smile you have?" Amy said.
"Wonky, yes. Gorgeous, no."
She watched him with her eyes half closed, a smile playing around her mouth—the mouth that lured him to kiss it, to taste her. Every fiber of his being was focused on her. Her lips parted. Something passed between them—that essential connection he'd felt the moment he'd made contact with her. The connection had been made deeper and richer through acknowledgement of the attraction, the physical relationship that followed intense and satisfying.
"Mm." She reached for him, siren-like, somehow languid and keen all at once. Sebastian responded. Her mouth was eager, her kiss inviting him deeper. He could tell she was as hungry for this as he was. His hands found their way around her waist. The soft thin jersey of her dress was intrusive. He felt her shifting, her body molding up against his. He drew back and looked down at her hemline. Already askew, it was rucked up over one hip and he caught sight of a flash of her black lacey underwear.