'Why?' he demands. 'What little nugget of information are you going to pass on this time?'
'I'm going to fill her in on all the details of when we were young.' She smiles archly. 'Your obsession with Star Wars, your collection of Care Bears stickers, that sort of thing.'
'She's talking bollocks,' Dan warns me.
'Wallace. Now.'
Swivelling him round, Lily sends him in the general direction of the gathering. While the women hastily rearrange their cleavages, Wallace thrusts out a hand in greeting.
'Wallace Ashford,' Lily explains. 'He owns half of Belgravia. Dan's done some work for him in the past, cut him some good deals. He's had Wallace in his pocket ever since. You haven't met rich until you've met Wallace.' She grabs two flutes of champagne from a passing tray, handing one to me. 'I'm so glad to see you two back together.' She takes a sip. 'You're good for Dan … and he's in love with you.'
I take a sip of my own champagne, allowing myself a smug smile.
'I know.'
'He told you?'
'He said the magic words.'
Lily's perfect little lips form a perfect little circle. She glances at Dan. He's leaning in towards Wallace now, apparently listening to something incredibly interesting.
'Excellent,' Lily chirps. 'He obviously took Mr Sun's advice then.'
'You know about that?'
'Clive told me.' She giggles. Taking another dainty mouthful of champagne, she fixes me with her hazel eyes. 'Apparently, you're getting married.'
'No, we're not.'
'Oh, why not? You've moved in with him.'
'Living with a man is one thing. Marrying him is something else. It's all going a bit too fast for me.'
'That's Dan all over, I'm afraid. When he decides he wants something, he goes full speed to get it. If he wants to marry you, I'd say you're in trouble.' She giggles again, and I wonder just how many champagnes she's had so far. Finally, she manages to calm herself. 'You won't regret it,' she adds seriously. 'I promise you, you've got a good one there.'
'How's your love life?' I ask, deciding that it's a good idea to change the conversation. 'You were having a little trouble the other week.'
'Oh that.' She screws up her perfect little nose. 'It's all finished. I think I might be leaning back in the male direction.'
'Seriously?'
'Seriously. You know I'm fifty-fifty?'
I nod.
'I've met someone I like. Hot in bed.'
'Tell me more.'
She pouts, licks her lips and touches her nose with an index finger.
'Early days. Let's just see how it goes.' Her eyes widen. 'Ooh, Dan's coming back. Don't mention the new guy. He'll come over all brotherly and protective.'
She winks at me, just as Dan returns.
'Having fun?' Lily asks.
'No.' Clearly riled, he grabs a glass of champagne. 'That man's a fucking bore.'
Putting an arm around his neck, Lily lets off a laugh.
'Daniel, darling, that fucking bore over there donated ten thousand last year.'
'And he's just bought a fucking yacht,' Dan fires back. 'Fifteen million on a fucking yacht. Imagine what you could do with that instead of wafting round the fucking Med.'
'And you don't chuck money around?' Lily demands.
'No, I don't.'
'You just bought yourself a new Jag,' she reminds him.
'The Jag's for Maya. See that twat.' He points his glass in Wallace's direction. 'He's got seven cars. Seven. Who needs seven cars?'
'My God, you're such a scrooge.' She pokes him in the chest. In return, he gives her a good scowl. 'I'm going to mingle, darlings. You ought to do the same.'
While Lily drifts off, glass in hand, Dan curls an arm round my waist and takes in a deep breath.
'You do throw money around.' I prod him gently. 'Remember packing me off to Harrods?'
His eyes lock with mine, and my heartbeat quickens.
'You needed clothes, Maya, and I wanted to spoil you. Is that so bad?'
'And you chartered a helicopter.'
'Necessity. There were no seats on any flights. I had to fuck you.'
'And what about the Rolls-Royce? I bet that didn't come cheap.'
'Cheaper than buying one.' He takes a sip of champagne and smiles. 'Okay, so I do have some perks and I can afford them, but there's no need to go buying a fucking yacht.' He waves his glass at Wallace again. 'He's got a Lear jet as well. Can you believe that? A fucking Lear jet.'
'Will you stop swearing?'
'Fuck it. Sorry.' He shrugs. 'He just annoys me, that's all.'
'So, what do you do with your money?'
He shrugs again. And now he seems embarrassed.
'I leave it in the bank.'
'All of it?'
Refusing to answer, he scans the room.
'Mr Foster, am I right in thinking that you make donations to charities?'
'Drop it,' he growls out of the corner of his mouth.
'Soft centre.'
'I said drop it, Scotton. Now, let's go and sit down before any more of these well-heeled shitheads try to talk to me.'
Without another word, he grabs my hand and guides me through the maze of tables, stopping at one and then another until he finds our names. Pulling out a chair for me, he waits until I'm seated and then settles in to my left, draping an arm around my back and moving in close.
'What are you doing?' I demand.
'Making myself comfortable.'
The dress parts at the slit, falling away from my legs. I'm just trying to rearrange it back into a more modest position when he leans in further. His left hand lands on my thigh and squeezes, a warning to leave the dress alone. In a fluster, I stare at the hand, watching as it creeps in towards my crotch. I look up to find him smiling across the table at a couple.
'Good to see you, Dan,' the man exclaims. 'How are you?'
'Very well, thank you,' he answers, gently coaxing my legs apart.
'No,' I breathe.
'Submission,' he whispers into my ear. 'It's mine. Any time. Anywhere.'
He turns to face me, his nose almost touching mine, and smiles. And oh shit. He wasn't joking about the slit thing at all. In fact, he was deadly serious. And he's about to make his move. The smile broadens as he strokes the nape of my neck.
'Relax, sweet pea.'
'You can't do this here.'
An eyebrow lifts. 'Oh yes I can.' The fingers move further, warm, gentle, probing into the top of my knickers. He leans in to whisper again. 'These things are a bore. I'm in the mood to lighten it up a bit.'
I'm in a complete tizzy now. Straining to see past the side of his head, I survey the table, noting that everyone's engaged in conversation … apart from us. His fingers brush over my pubic hair.
'Forget this lot.'
Spreading his hand around the back of my neck, he holds me firmly while he brings his face back to mine. His eyes sparkle. Down below, the finger begins to circle against my clit, slowly working me up into a feverish ball of lust.
'Submission,' he reminds me. 'You have no choice.'
Sealing his lips around mine, he coaxes my mouth open with his tongue, matching the slow, unhurried circling motion of the finger. As the pressure rises, I groan into his mouth, but the kiss doesn't end … and neither does the torment between my thighs. While the noise and chatter of the room seem to drain away, I focus for dear life on the growing warmth in my groin, willing it to ignite quickly, silently hoping that I'll be able to control the rest of my body when it does. Minutes drag by in silence and I slip away into oblivion. I'm right on the edge when his fingers tighten against my neck. And at last, somewhere deep inside, a spark catches hold, sending a wave of delicious ripples right through me. Kept in check by the hand, I tremble in his grip as I come.
'Shit,' I gasp.
Suddenly back in the room, I'm released. And immediately, I survey the other guests, nervously checking that our little liaison has gone unnoticed. Evidently, it hasn't. The lady at the opposite side of the table is smiling at me, knowingly.
'Oh God.'
Rearranging my dress, Dan sits up straight, adjusts his dinner jacket and sucks at his index finger.
'So, tell us, Dan,' the woman begins. 'What's the latest news at Fosters?'
Without a care in the world, he leans forwards, elbows on the table, and begins to explain the ins and outs of work on a shopping mall.
I feel a hand on my shoulder, and find Lily smiling down at me.
'That was a show and a half,' she grins. 'What's got into him, kissing your face off in front of all and sundry?'
Jesus, I hope she didn't get the full extent of what's just happened.
'I'd better buy myself a new hat.' She winks and disappears back into the crowd.
Chapter Eighteen
I take the last mouthful of the starter, a fancy salad that was certainly a few notches up from a prawn cocktail. I'd like to ask Dan if he enjoyed it, but he's busy talking to the woman on his left about the Foundation. I'd like to listen to what he's got to say, but it's almost impossible to hear anything above the general din of the room. Deciding that I'm in need of a little break, I lay down my cutlery and stand up.
'Where are you going?' Dan asks, breaking off his chat.
I lean down and whisper into his ear.
'I need a wee.'
He throws his napkin onto the table. 'I'll come with you.'
'No you won't.'
'But there's no bodyguard.'
'And I'm sure I can make it to the toilet and back without an incident.' I give him my best do-as-you're-bloody-well-told glare. 'Stay here.'