Five Exotic Fantasies: Love in Reverse, Book 3

by Serenity Woods

But then he glanced at Coco to see her watching him, and he knew why. He caught her gaze and held it, seeing within her eyes the same emotions passing through him. She felt the same way, although she knew she couldn’t voice her feelings, because what was the point? She gave a small smile, and he returned it, and it was as if at that moment they knew—it would never work out. It just wasn’t meant to be.

  They all had their coffees and then it was time to go. Everyone hugged Felix and wished him happy birthday, and they parted at the door, promising to see each other again soon. Rusty and Faith walked off in one direction, Toby and Esther in another with Toby carrying Charlie.

  Felix turned to Coco. “Want to join us for a drink?”

  She shook her head. “I’d better not. Frances needs to get back tonight—her daughter’s had a few contractions and she wants to go around there this evening.”

  “Of course. I’ll call you a taxi.” He rang from his mobile, and they hung around for the few minutes it took to turn up.

  “Nice to have met you,” Coco said to Gene with a smile.

  “It was my pleasure.” He kissed her on the cheek.

  “I hope you had a happy birthday,” she said to Felix.

  Gene politely walked along the road a little to look in a shop window, and Felix turned and took her hands in his.

  He looked into her eyes, and suddenly it didn’t matter that he couldn’t think what to say because she gave a little shake of her head and smiled.

  Still, he couldn’t leave it like that. “Can I see you tomorrow?” he asked, knowing he shouldn’t, but unable to stop himself.

  “It depends on Frances,” she said. “But yes, I’d like to.”

  “I think we have time for one more fantasy,” he teased.

  “Hurrah!”

  He chuckled, then drew her into his arms. “Thanks for a lovely evening.”

  She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her cheek on his chest. “And thank you for asking me. It was nice to meet your friends and family.”

  It was nice to have you as a part of that group, even if it was only fleeting. He thought the words but didn’t voice them, just lifted her chin and kissed her. She returned it eagerly, melting against him, and he gave himself over to the taste of her, the softness of her lips beneath his. Only when the taxi pulled up did he move back and release her.

  “I’ll call you tomorrow,” he said.

  “Sure.” She gave Gene a parting wave and got in.

  Gene walked up to him and they both watched the taxi pull away. Gene cleared his throat. “All right?”

  Felix grunted. “If I’m not Brahms within thirty minutes, I’ll be very surprised.”

  “Brahms?”

  Felix sighed. “And Liszt. Pissed, Gene. It’s not rocket science.”

  Gene clapped him on the back. “I thought as much. Whiskies all round. Come on, mate.” He led him off to the nearest bar, where Felix proceeded to lose himself in alcohol and wax lyrical about Coco for the rest of the evening.

  Chapter Forty-Five

  To Coco’s relief, when she got in Frances informed her that her daughter’s contractions had only been Braxton Hicks, and she wasn’t yet in labour. Coco stifled her irritation at the thought that she could have spent longer with Felix and concentrated on the fact that it probably meant she’d be all right to go out with him the next day.

  Unfortunately, however, at ten in the morning Frances rang. “She’s had the baby!” she announced triumphantly. “Around midnight her waters broke and the baby was born at eight o’clock.”

  “Congratulations,” Coco said, feeling like a heel because she felt like yelling down the phone how incredibly selfish the new mother had been not to be able to hold on for another few days. “You’re a grandma!”

  “I know!” Frances sound blissfully happy. “Sweetie, I’m so sorry but I won’t be able to come around tonight.”

  “Of course not. Don’t even think about it. You concentrate on your grandson and have a lovely time.” She passed the phone over to Eleanor so her mother could congratulate her too, then went into the kitchen.

  She poured water in the kettle, put it on, then walked into the garden and rang Felix on her mobile.

  “Hello?” His deep voice sent a shiver running through her. Just the one word, and she was already turned on.

  “It’s me.”

  “Hey.” He sounded pleased. “I was just thinking about you.”

  She squashed the thrill of pleasure his words gave her. “Look, I’m really sorry but Frances’s daughter has had the baby. She can’t come around tonight.”

  He fell silent for a moment, then said, “Honey, I’m sorry.”

  Not half as sorry as me, she thought bitterly. “It’s me who should be sorry. I should have thought about it and got a nurse organised.”

  “It’s okay.”

  “It’s not.” Tears pricked her eyes. “It’s fucking awful.”

  She heard him take a deep breath and release it slowly. “It’s not the end of the world,” he said, and she thought he she could hear a smile in his voice. “Look, would you like me to get a takeaway or something and bring it around? We could play cards with your mum, or watch a DVD or something.”

  Coco closed her eyes and her fingers tightened on the phone. She couldn’t bear his kindness. And she wouldn’t be able to bear her mother sitting there looking all smug every time she glanced over at Felix, expecting them to announce any minute that they were eloping or something.

  “No,” she said hoarsely, “I’ve got stuff to do.”

  “Okay,” he said easily, “I should probably work on the case anyway. Perhaps Frances may be free tomorrow.”

  “I doubt it.” A tear ran down her cheek. “I think we should just accept we’re done, Felix.”

  He went silent for a moment. Then he said, “Don’t say that.”

  “Why? It’s pointless. We’re only delaying the inevitable. One more shag—yes it would be fun but really, why put ourselves through it?”

  “Because I want to spend time with you.”

  She gave an exasperated sigh. “Felix…”

  “Let me speak to Eleanor.”

  “For God’s sake, what for?”

  “I want to talk to her.”

  Irritation washed over her. “No, don’t be stupid.”

  “Coco.” His voice was sharp. “I’ll only be a minute. Put her on.”

  “She’s on the phone.”

  “No, I’m not.” Her mother’s voice sounded from behind her, and Coco turned to see that she’d wheeled herself into the kitchen. Eleanor held her hand out calmly. “Let me talk to him.”

  Coco stood there, rigid with rage, but couldn’t think how to get out of the situation other than by hanging up on him, so she just handed the phone over mutely.

  Eleanor took it and held it up to her ear. “Hello, Felix.” She listened as he spoke for a while, then smiled. “That’s fine, of course. No, it’s the other one, on Bank Street. No, I don’t think it will be a problem, they’re very flexible. Yes, I’ll tell her. Of course.” She smiled again. “I appreciate it. Thanks, Felix.” She flipped the phone shut.

  Coco glared at her. “What was that about?”

  “Felix is arranging for a nurse to look after me tomorrow so he can take you out. He’ll pick you up at six, and he wants you to stay the night.” She grinned mischievously.

  Coco was too upset by now though to take the news of them both organising her life for her well. “How dare he?” She gritted her teeth and held her hand out for her phone. “I’ll ring him and cancel it.”

  Eleanor pulled her blouse open and tucked the phone into her bra. “No you won’t.”

  “Mum!” Coco was aghast. “Don’t be so childish, give it back.”

  “No, darling, you only have one life. You’re bloody well going to make the most of it even if I have to force you out that door.”

  “I won’t go!” Coco snapped. “I’ll put on my pyjamas and stay in bed until he’s gon
e.”

  Eleanor looked exasperated. “Now who’s being childish?”

  Abruptly, all Coco’s anger faded and instead she covered her mouth with a hand as emotion welled. “I don’t want this. You don’t know everything, Mum.”

  “I know you have feelings for this boy.”

  Coco felt a brief sweep of amusement at the thought of what Felix’s face would look like if he heard himself called boy, and then she felt even more upset. “Yes, I do have feelings for him. But don’t you see? It just makes it worse. He’s going Monday.”

  “Even more reason to spend time with him, then, while he’s here.”

  She sat and put her head in her hands. Unbidden, tears rolled down her cheeks, a culmination of all the emotion that had built up over the last week, plus the frustration she felt constantly at her mother’s pressure to be more sociable.

  Eleanor sighed and wheeled the chair forward to put a comforting hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “Please don’t cry. Falling in love can make you feel wretched, I know, but ultimately it’s got to be a good thing.”

  “I don’t want to be in love,” Coco said through her sobs. “I can’t be. I’ve only known him a week.”

  Eleanor blew a raspberry. “Like that matters. I fell in love with your father the moment he walked into the room.”

  Thinking of her father only made Coco sob more.

  “What’s wrong?” Eleanor murmured, patting her knee. “Please don’t cry. I don’t like to see you like this.”

  Coco put her face in her hands. “I wish you wouldn’t keep talking about going into a home,” she wailed. “It upsets me so. I love you so much.”

  “I know.” Eleanor’s voice was husky. “But, honey, I think the main problem is that you’re frightened about being alone—about going out into the big wide world on your own. I know you never felt you could talk to me about it, but Michael obviously screwed you up inside, and ever since you broke up with him you’ve withdrawn from, well, everything, and I hate to see you separating yourself off from the world. You deserve everything—a husband, a home, children. I’d like to be a grandmother, you know. And you can’t get those things all the time you’re looking after me. And because you’re too frightened to do it yourself, I’m going to have to make the break for you.”

  “Don’t leave me,” Coco sobbed.

  Eleanor removed Coco’s hand from her face and pressed the back of it against her cheek. “Darling, I don’t know whether Felix is the one you’re supposed to be with. But he makes you so happy—it’s written all over your face. Love doesn’t come to us handed on a plate—we have to work for it sometimes, and it’s hard and it hurts, but it’s worth it in the end, and perhaps the hard work makes it more worthwhile. So anyway, what I mean is, go out with him tomorrow. Have a fun time. Stay the night. And keep an open mind as to the future. Please. For me.”

  Tears trickled through the fingers of Coco’s other hand. “Don’t be so reasonable. Please, I can’t bear it.”

  Eleanor kissed her. “Don’t worry too much about everything right now. Concentrate on tomorrow and on having a nice time with that young man. And hopefully everything else will fall into place.”

  Coco couldn’t possibly see how everything was going to work out right, and part of her was still angry that Felix had gone over her head and organised care for her mother without asking. But ultimately it meant she could have a final date with him, and in the end she gave in and admitted to herself that she couldn’t pass up on the chance to see him one last time.

  So when he knocked on the door at six o’clock Sunday evening, she was ready and waiting, and opened it with a mixture of pleasure and exasperation at his mischievous, slightly rueful grin.

  “Hey,” he said. “Are you going to swing a baseball bat at my head?”

  She laughed at that and kissed him on the cheek. “No, you’re safe. I’ve calmed down now.” She stepped out and closed the door.

  “The nurse came then?” He took her hand and led her over to the taxi.

  “Yes. And Felix, I’m still a bit angry that you went over my head, but I understand why you did it, and I’m grateful that you bothered.”

  He pulled her to him and kissed her. “I only want to get in your panties one last time.”

  “Yeah, I know.” She smiled and kissed him back. She’d determined she was going to put everything else behind her and enjoy this evening, and obviously he thought the same way.

  The taxi took them to his hotel, and he led her inside and through the foyer to the bar. “I thought it might be nice to have a drink first,” he said.

  “First?”

  He grinned and ordered himself a brandy, the grin broadening when she asked for the same, and they sat for a while in the peace of the bar and chatted while they drank their spirits, then ordered another round and drank that too.

  Coco finished off the glass and stretched, enjoying the feel of the alcohol making its way around her body, releasing all the tension from her muscles. “Are you trying to get me drunk?”

  Felix finished his, then stood and took her hand, leading her out of the bar and along to the elevators. “Maybe.” He kissed her. “Just trying to relax you.”

  “Another scenario?” she teased, her heart beginning to speed up at the knowledge that he’d planned something else.

  “Absolutely.” The doors opened and he led her into the lift and pressed the button. “And for this one there are a few rules.”

  “Oh?” She swallowed nervously.

  He turned to her as the doors closed and stroked her cheek with his hand. “First, you have to trust me, okay?”

  She blinked, wondering what had prompted that instruction. “Um, okay.”

  “I mean it. This will only work if you put your trust in the fact that I would never hurt you or do anything to embarrass you or make you uncomfortable. Whatever happens, I do because I want you to enjoy yourself, and to help you explore your sexuality. Okay?” His eyes had turned molten, scorching with heat.

  Her knees went weak and her mouth went dry. “Okay.”

  “Secondly…” He put his hand in his pocket and pulled something out. It was a black silk scarf. Her heart hammered. “I’m going to tie this around your eyes. And, whatever happens, you mustn’t remove it, understand?”

  Dear God, what was he going to do to her?

  “Promise?” he said.

  “I promise.” Her voice was a little more than a whisper. “What…what are we doing?”

  He kissed her nose. “You remember your final fantasy?”

  She struggled to remember, and then the memory hit her with full force. She stared at him. “You mean…the sex club?”

  A naughty light filled his eyes.

  Her mouth fell open. She’d talked about a room that could be hired out for parties, and described her fantasy of being tied to a bed while a group of men got to use her any way they wanted. Jesus. She’d not been serious. Please God, tell me he didn’t think I was serious.

  The elevator pinged and the doors opened. Felix walked forward, taking her with him, and she walked in a daze to his room at the end. Could she hear music behind the door?

  The corridor was empty, and he turned to her and held up the scarf.

  “Remember,” he murmured, looking into her eyes, “trust me.” And then he tied the scarf around her eyes, opened the door and led her forward.

  Chapter Forty-Six

  Coco stopped inside the doorway, her heart pounding. Behind her, she heard Felix close the door and then felt his presence at her back. He rested his hands on her upper arms and waited.

  Her senses spun with light and noise, and she struggled to comprehend where she was. Felix had said he’d arranged a room in a club for her, and that was exactly what it felt like. Behind the blindfold, she could just see flashes of coloured light against the darkness like laser lights dancing across the room. The music was loud but not deafeningly so—probably because he didn’t want to disturb his neighbours, although the fact
that they had the end room with the kitchen and bedrooms between them and next door would make it more difficult for anyone to hear.

  The room was also filled with people. As she entered, a loud cheer went up and everyone clapped. She shrank back into Felix’s chest, and he chuckled and kissed her ear. “They’re pleased to see you,” he murmured into her ear, sounding amused. “Don’t worry, they’re all good friends of mine. Just nice guys looking for a good time.”

  A good time with her? Had he taken her at her word when she said she wanted to be taken by a room full of men? She’d been talking fantasy, not reality. She couldn’t really have sex with more than one man, in front of all the others. What was he thinking?

  She shook her head. “Felix, I can’t do this.”

  Half-expecting him to immediately open the door and take her out, apologising profusely for misunderstanding, she stiffened when he chuckled again and locked his arms around her. “Trust me,” was all he said. He placed a kiss on her shoulder and waited again.

  Chest heaving, head spinning, she forced herself to think of everything he’d done for her since she’d met him—all the fantasies he’d gone to such time and effort to organise for her. He’d been so kind and caring every time they’d been out together. He’d gotten jealous when he thought she’d slept with Peter Dell—she’d seen it in his eyes. He wouldn’t want her being taken by a room full of men—he would never do that to her. Trust me, he’d said, and she had to do that. She had to place herself in his hands and understand what he was trying to do for her here.

  He wanted to fulfil her fantasy, but that didn’t mean he’d actually organised twenty guys to come to his room. She listened to the voices that rose and fell, the cheers, the clink of glasses, the wolf whistles. It must be a recording. He wanted her to feel as if she were in a room full of men, to throw herself into the fantasy. But she had to trust that he had her best interests at heart.

  He kissed slowly up her neck to her ear and then nibbled the lobe. “Ready?”

  She moistened her lips, deciding to go along with it for a while until she could work out whether they were truly alone. She nodded.