‘Oh, no, she can have the boots. They’re perfect for her. I tied her up so Finn could fuck her.’
This time he did flinch when Jill kicked him. But only a little.
Whatever was next on the polite conversation agenda died on Vivie’s pursed lips. For a second she looked from one of them to the other, then she offered a low chuckle. ‘Oh, I get it, and that’s how she knows about your …’ She gave a little nod down to his lap.
‘No. She knows about my cock because she saw me wa–’
‘Jesus, Meinrad, shut up!’ Jill kicked him hard this time and he still offered her nothing more than a cool gaze.
‘You started it,’ he said. ‘I just assumed it was honesty time. By the way, Finn told me what you want us to do.’
Vivie practically buzzed with anticipation, leaning in for the latest. ‘What do you want them to do, Jilly?’ she said. ‘Tell me.’
Before Jill could respond, Meinrad continued. ‘I’m OK with it, of course.’ He held her in a meaningful gaze. ‘Finn and I both agreed that you’re calling the shots, just like the other night, so of course we’ll do whatever you want.’
Inside her head, Eleanor giggled, and Jill mentally flipped her the finger.
‘Come on, Jilly, what shots are you calling? I’m dying to hear. I need details.’ Vivie could barely remain in her seat. ‘What the hell’s going on? And how did I miss out?’
Thankfully, Vivie’s Alex saved the day, showing up just in time to drag Vivie away to a jazz concert at some pub in Soho, but not before Vivie swore that, when she got back, she’d rack Jill and torture the details out of her if she didn’t come clean.
‘I believe she’d do it too,’ Meinrad said, watching the couple leave. ‘Though I doubt she could rack you as well as I could.’ Jill wasn’t sure Meinrad was coming on to her, or if he was just having a serious hard-on at the thought of getting to rack someone. He gave no indication one way or the other.
‘You did that on purpose,’ she hissed at him, nodding to where Vivie and Alex had just disappeared out the door.
‘I did, yes. You deserved it.’
‘I’m not the one who was spying,’ Jill said.
‘I’m not spying,’ he replied. ‘You knew I was there and you know why. Now finish your wine and I’ll take you home.’
It was early evening when Meinrad walked Jill back to her flat. Inside, the big man settled on the sofa and took up the TV remote. ‘You’re tired,’ he said. ‘Get some rest. Finn will be back in a while.’
She was about to protest that he was being bossy to her in her own home, but then she realised he was right. She really was tired.
Before she headed off to her room, she turned to him. ‘Thanks for last night. I didn’t get a chance to tell you. What you did was amazing. The whole experience was amazing.’
The grunt of a response could have meant “you’re welcome” or it could have meant “fuck off”. With Meinrad it was always hard to tell.
As she headed for her room, Eleanor spoke quietly in her ear. ‘Not surprising at all that you’re tired after the past two days, sweetie. And you have no idea what a pleasure sleep and rest are after all these years without any. It all gets so boring. You just rest now. I’m sure Finn will wake you up when he gets in.’ Her voice felt like a kiss against Jill’s ear. ‘If he doesn’t I will.’
* * *
Jill didn’t actually remember falling asleep, nor could she be certain what woke her up. Her first reminder of Eleanor’s constant presence was a warm, slightly full feeling inside her abdomen, followed almost immediately by a growing tightness beneath the hood of her clit. If this was Eleanor’s version of a wake-up call, she thought she could probably get used to it. But before she could manage to get a hand between her legs to answer that call, she heard shuffling followed by a grunt coming from the living room. Just as she was about to call out Finn’s name, Eleanor mentally shushed her. ‘Don’t talk. Just go have a peek.’
There was another grunt, followed by what sounded like soft, slightly nervous male laughter, and Jill’s pulse somersaulted in her throat. She had stripped completely to nap, something totally out of character for her, but she was getting used to being out of character. She fumbled in the dark for the nearest clothing, the flip skirt and the silk blouse. It was dark outside, but the moon was still close enough to full that the ambient light made it easy to see where she was going. Amber-coloured fallout from the lamplight in the lounge spilled into the hall. The tension in her belly, and below, and the exquisite tightening in her nipples made her suspect that some of her anticipation was Eleanor’s. She tiptoed to the end of the hall, holding her breath. There she froze, as though she had been turned to stone.