‘Pity,’ said Maria. ‘I was thinking you might like to get to know each other a little better. Still…Tuesday isn’t too far away.’
She smiled darkly and gathered her belongings.
We followed her into the darkening street and waved goodbye to her as she walked in the opposite direction to find her car.
‘Fucking hell,’ I said, in a heartfelt manner, as I began to climb the hill towards the city centre.
‘What’s the matter?’ Tom sounded amused. ‘I thought that went well.’
‘My heart was in my mouth the whole time. I was sure she’d rumbled us.’
‘She hasn’t. Don’t worry.’
He looked over his shoulder to make sure she was safely out of sight, then pulled me into his side and marched on up the steep path with me.
‘But do you think it’s a good idea?’ I continued. ‘Really? To go to her…her dungeon?’
‘I’ll tell you what’s a good idea,’ said Tom. ‘We go for a drink at the bar of the Valmont and talk this over.’
‘The Valmont? Oh, God.’
‘Might as well scope it out. And it’s only about ten minutes’ walk from here.’ He patted my bum. ‘Nice dress, by the way. Makes me want to flip that skirt right up.’
‘Not here,’ I said anxiously. Homebound shoppers were all around us as we crossed the street to the piazza.
‘Why not?’ he asked, manoeuvring me against his chest and resting his hands dangerously at the top of my thighs. ‘Let everybody see what you’re really like.’
‘Tom!’ I wriggled and squirmed, but there was definite arousal creeping into the alarm.
He bent his head to kiss the side of my neck, then my ear.
‘Mmm, I wouldn’t really,’ he whispered. ‘Not in public. Not yet. But maybe one day…’
Ten minutes later we sat in the bar at the Valmont, my wobbly legs having somehow carried me the required distance.
‘What if somebody remembers seeing us here together?’ I looked into the depths of the cocktail Tom had bought me. I had no idea what it was, but it smelled of Turkish Delight.
‘What, and tells Maria? Take a look around. The place is busy and I doubt the bar staff moonlight in the dungeon.’
‘They might.’
‘Anyway, we can just say we decided to go for a drink after the munch. No biggie.’
‘But you said you had plans.’
‘Maria’s probably expecting us to hook up sooner or later. I don’t think she’d be exactly flabbergasted.’
‘Well, maybe. God, this is lush.’ My eyes popped open. It really was the nicest drink I’d ever tasted. Shame there was so little change out of a tenner.
In fact, everything about the Valmont was luxe, lavish and redolent of lucre. We sat in a sea of dark red and gold, and velvety textures. If it weren’t for the smoking ban, people would probably be on the opium in the little curtained-off booths that lined the room.
‘How many people do you think are here for the dungeon?’ asked Tom, his eyes crinkling over the rim of his Manhattan.
‘Oh, God – do you think guests are able to use it?’
‘If it’s for private hire…I reckon that couple over there.’
I gave them a swift look. Tom had indicated a man in a blue three-piece suit and a blonde woman in a body-hugging dress.