Faith - Lesley Pearse [121]
Laura couldn’t have put it better herself, though she might have added that they had the effect of an aphrodisiac on her. Back in the days when she and Jackie worked in promotions and were put up in hotels out of London, she’d often slept with someone she wouldn’t have looked at twice back home.
That was just how it was when Robbie caught hold of her and began kissing her. She knew she shouldn’t be doing it, that she should make her excuses and leave, but she’d had enough to drink to lose herself in his kisses, and before she knew it he had her on the bed.
He peeled her clothes off like a whirlwind, and that alone should have warned her that the whole act would be equally fast and unfulfilling. He barely touched her breasts, he pushed his fingers into her roughly, and that was clearly the extent of his foreplay, for he stripped off his trousers and pants, leaving his shirt and socks on, and entered her.
‘Slow down,’ she pleaded, trying to wriggle out from under him. But he was too heavy to move, and too intent on possessing her even to hear what she said. His face was buried in her neck, and his expensive after-shave didn’t quite mask the odour of sweat. As her hands went under his shirt to hold him, she found his back was hairy, which repelled her even more.
It was by no means the first time in her life that she’d found herself regretfully in bed with a man, and as on those other occasions she knew she had no one but herself to blame. But as he banged away at her, completely oblivious to the fact she wasn’t responding in any way, she could have cried because she felt cheap and sluttish.
Stuart was slender, light and lithe and he made love with exquisite sensuality and tenderness. She wondered how she was ever going to face him after this.
Robbie’s grunting became louder, his shirt was soaked with sweat and his bristly chin felt as though he was rubbing her neck with sandpaper. At the point when he grunted out that he was coming she felt anger that he could take her like an animal, yet also relief that it was all but over.
‘That was great,’ he gasped. ‘But then I knew it would be.’
It was on the tip of her tongue to say something sarcastic, perhaps to ask if he learned his technique in a farmyard. But she was too ashamed of herself for letting it happen to say anything.
His lack of sensitivity was astounding. He didn’t appear to notice she’d said nothing. He lit up a cigar and lay on the bed in his sweat-soaked shirt, positively glowing with smug satisfaction.
‘I’ll order us some tea from room service, babe,’ he called out as she disappeared into the bathroom with her clothes. ‘Shame you can’t stay the night. I’ve got plenty more where that came from.’
By the time she’d had a bath, dressed and repaired her makeup, the tea had arrived and Robbie was pouring it. He was wearing a towelling robe now, and he had his magazine spread out for her to look at.
As she had expected, the photographs were pin-ups,
‘You are lovelier than any of these girls,’ Robbie said. ‘You could make a hundred pounds a time easily. You could do the sessions while your son is at school.’
Laura glanced at the pictures. They were at least only scantily dressed poses, not pornography, but when she’d agreed to meet him today she was hoping for the offer of a proper job, not anything risqué.
‘I’ll give it some thought,’ she said, wanting to get home as quickly as possible. ‘I’m not sure if I’d feel comfortable doing that.’
Robbie got dressed and insisted on coming downstairs with her to get her a taxi. As they walked to the lift, Laura saw a tool box by one of the other rooms further up the corridor, but she didn’t think anything of it.
‘Have you had a good time?’ Robbie asked, putting his arm around her waist as they walked.
‘It was lovely, Robbie,’ she lied, reminding herself that he was after all her boss and she couldn’t offend him. ‘Thank you for the lunch and I’ll speak to you later about the modelling.’
Suddenly a head shot out of the door where the tool box lay, the long brown hair only too familiar.
Laura