by Marnie Perry
He shook himself; he must stop this, stop thinking too deeply about the woman. Okay, they had had a good time. Okay, he had been touched by her response to him and he was happy that he had pleased her as he had, what man wouldn’t be happy to have a woman fresh and eager and to be thanked for his performance in the bedroom?
But that was all it was, he had to remember why he was here in the first place, seducing her had been part of the plan so what had he expected? He was human after all. Wasn’t he? She was just a means to an end and tomorrow he would end it, tomorrow he would do what he wanted with her, what she wanted him to do. Yes, ma’am, it will be my pleasure. And then he would get the information, retrieve Desi, receive his five million and board that plane for Scandinavia.
He smiled; yes indeed, it had been a very satisfying and rewarding evening all round…for both of them.
In the morning after a very sleepless night Adela lay on her bed and despite the wakeful night she felt surprisingly refreshed, aching and stiff but invigorated and very content. She looked at the clock as she had done every few minutes since Sterling had left, and saw it was 7.55. She gave a huge sigh of someone totally satisfied with life. Hands behind her head she lay looking at the same ceiling she had been looking at since Sterling Hennessey had left.
She had lain awake just thinking about everything that had happened from the moment she had met him to this very moment. She had been greatly disappointed that he had put that key back through the door last night but knew in her heart that it was not over; she knew something would happen between them, or rather something more. She could still feel the wet between her legs; it gave her renewed Goosebumps and sent her stomach fluttering. Smiling contentedly she glanced at the clock again, 7.59.
She threw back the sheet and looked down at her naked body recalling the things he had done to her and for her. The way he had made her feel. He certainly knew what he was doing, what turned a woman on. She wondered how many women he had pleased, how many had screamed out his name in their ecstasy. How many he would please in the future. She shook herself, that was none of her business, in a few days he would be gone from her life forever. Nevertheless she could not help the overwhelming feeling of jealousy these thoughts aroused in her.
As she looked at her naked body she wondered if there was there something different about it, if she looked in the mirror would she see a different face looking back at her, well, she would see soon enough. Then she had a thought, what if someone else noticed? Like Annie Bloom, she was a discerning woman, a woman of the world and she might read something in Adela’s face, see something that had not been there before, something that would give her away. She began to feel a little guilty when she thought of Annie Bloom, and Dean too. Annie she knew would understand Adela spending time with Sterling, understand and encourage too. She would understand her not having had time to call on her; Dean on the other hand would not.
Then there were the Carters who she had not seen since she had had dinner with them. She must make time to see them before she left, she would buy them something nice, and the kids too of course.
Then she began to think about Olivia, she wondered as she had a thousand time if she was all right, if she was safe. She thought about how Olivia had never known what it was like to be pleasured and satisfied by a man, a man who cared about her feelings, about her happiness, a man she wanted to lay in bed beside, a man of her own choosing.
Adela shuddered at the thought of being made to do sexual things against her will, to be forced to please a man for fear of being hurt. That made her think about the three drunken men; even though they had assaulted and scared her, she didn’t want them to be permanently damaged.
No, she would not think about that now, she would only remember how she had felt last night, safe and warm and protected by Sterling. How he had not coerced or persuaded or forced her to take it further. How he had said that he would wait until she was ready, that he did not want to take advantage of her vulnerability and innocence. He was a man of great principles, a very giving man. But she did not lie to herself and say she was glad he was.
She got up swiftly and made her way bathroom where she looked in the mirror and studied her face in detail. She was sure there was something different about her eyes; did they look greener and brighter? She admonished herself for being silly, of course she didn’t look any different, she would never be that lucky. Smiling to herself she showered and for the first time in a long time sang softly to herself, a Carpenters song, for Sterling. It was only as she ran her hands down her naked stomach that she recalled the what she had felt last night on Hennessey’s chest and stomach, the rough, gnarled texture of his skin. She knew he had kissed her to prevent her from asking questions about it. He had told her he had seen action in the marines, maybe he had been injured, burned perhaps. The thought of him being hurt caused a tenderness and compassion towards him.
At 9.50 she had dressed, packed her bag and had eaten a hearty breakfast, wondering where Sterling would be taking her today, somewhere she would need her hat he’d said.
She picked up said hat and smiled. She had to admit she felt a little apprehensive about seeing him again, apprehensive and embarrassed. Before she could dwell on these things a knock came on the door, dropping the hat on the table she rushed to open it then saw the key still on the floor, she bent to pick it up and inserted it in the lock and was about to turn it when she paused her hand on the knob and called, ‘who is it please?’
No one answered, she frowned then looked through the spy hole but she could see no one there. She called again louder this time, ‘who is it please.’ No answer. She suppressed a giggle knowing Hennessey was playing a trick on her and hiding from her view, he expected her to answer the door without knowing who was there. She slipped on the chain and opened the door as wide as it would go.
Hennessey stood there; he said nothing so she asked ‘can I help you?’
He smiled, ‘well done, Miss Faraday, go to the top of the class.’
‘I was always at the top of the class, thank you.’
‘Oh were you now, well aren’t you the smart one.’
In a parody of him she replied, ‘yep.’
He rolled his eyes in mock aggravation. She said, ‘so what do you want?’
‘To get a better look at the lovely lady I’m meeting for a fun day out.’
She was enjoying this amusing banter but kept her face straight, ‘there is no one of that description staying here, just me.’
‘Well you’ll have to do then.’
She couldn’t hide the giggle, ‘I don’t think I will let you in now.’
‘Oh, why?’
‘For trying to trick me.’
He frowned as if not understanding, ‘trick you?
‘Yes, you didn’t answer when I asked who it was, and you hid. You were testing me, seeing if I would open the door without being sure that it was you.’
He raised his hands, ‘hey, no trickery was intended, just think of it as a lesson in safety. But all right, if you don’t want a picnic made especially by Mrs. Walters in the deli, I’ll go and ask one of those pretty girls in the hotel to join me.’
She stared at him her eyes wide then slammed the door shut, he heard the chain being taken off then the door opened again and she stood there smiling a childlike smile. She said, ‘a picnic? Really?’
‘Yep.’
She grabbed his arm and pulled him over the threshold and into the house with such force he staggered. He said, ‘what was that about?’
‘That was just in case you changed your mind and went to find a pretty girl in the bar to spend the day with.’
He reached out and touched her cheek, ‘I’ve no need to go to the bar for that, I already found one. A real lady.’
Her face turned pink with pleasure as well as embarrassment, ‘oh you?’
He laughed, ‘I’m sorry I tricked you, but I was most impressed that you didn’t give in and just open the door.’
‘I
’m learning…from you.’
He took step towards her then bent his head so that his lips were only inches from hers said, ‘with all those safety lessons I forgot to do this.’ He kissed her slightly swollen lips gently but it still sent a thrill of pleasure through her entire being. He withdrew but kept his hand on her cheek as he asked softly, ‘are you all right?’
She wasn’t sure whether he was asking about her ordeal with the three men or what had happened in her bed with him. She nodded shyly and said very softly, ‘I’m always all right with you, Sterling.’
His eyes widened in surprise then a strange look flickered across his face as he continued to regard her curiously. She looked as if she had taken herself by surprise too and looked away.
He had to swallow before he could speak, ‘did you sleep all right?’
She had been glad of the distraction of their fun and banter, it had taken her mind of her embarrassment about last night, about what he had done to her and how she had reacted to him, but now she felt the embarrassment returning. She lowered her eyes, ‘er, yes.’
‘That means you didn’t.’
‘Well, a little.’
He grinned, ‘you’re a hopeless liar you know.’
She blushed knowing he knew that she had stayed awake thinking about him. She tried humour, ‘so you know I didn’t sleep because I look awful this morning, is that it?’
He laughed, ‘not at all, you look wide awake and refreshed, and very pretty.’
He looked her up and down and took in her pale blue calf length pants, a sleeveless white blouse with green and brown flowers on the front, and white sandals. She wore those big chunky beads she seemed to like so much around her neck, they were a shiny brown in colour, she wore the big red watch as usual. Her hair was piled into a bun on the top of her head. He much preferred it how it had been last night when he had left her, wind swept, messy and very sexy. But the neat bun was nice too; it made her look schoolmarmish. Which was always a turn on, especially if the schoolmarm wore stockings.
He also noticed the flower he had given her the previous night in a small vase on the table and couldn’t help but feel a satisfaction, satisfaction and pleasure and something else he did not want to identify.
Adela wished now she had not said what she had, it sounded as if she had been fishing for compliments. She said, ‘did you sleep all right?’ Then cursed herself for asking that question.
‘No, not really.’ This much was true, he had eventually dropped off around 6.00clock only to wake again when his phone rang at 8. It was not like him not to be able to drop off at a moment’s notice, but last night he had lain awake his mind busy and sleep would not come until he had tried meditating, something he had not done or needed to do for a long time.
He had cursed at the phone for disturbing his sleep thinking it was Glissando but he was not altogether surprised when Carson’s voice said, ‘I knew if I started letting the scum of Mississippi into my club I’d get burned.’
‘Hey, Carson.’
‘Don’t hey me you asshole.’
‘So Jaws told you did he.’
‘Of course he did, I pay his salary, and a damn good one it is too.’
‘Hey, man, you pay him to deal with troublemakers don’t you, and that’s what he did. I were you I’d give him a raise not a hard time.’
‘It’s not him I want to give a hard time to jerk off, it’s you.’
Hennessey acted innocent, ‘Me?’
‘I don’t see you for two years and when I do you tell me your date for the night is your target, that you’re getting five mil to whack her, then you defend her from three good regular paying customers, emphasis on the paying there ass wipe, rendering them all unconscious and hospitalised.’
‘In all fairness, Carson, your man Jaws rendered the third one unconscious.’
‘Only after you broke the guy’s arm and made him mad. And what was with the choking business, Jaws said you near killed one guy. You know he’s still in a coma?’
Hennessey thought that at least Jaws hadn’t told him he had nearly drawn his weapon and shot the guy with the knife dead. But he was no longer amused, ‘so? He got what he deserved; he assaulted my date, Carson. I go get the car and when I walk in what do I see, this guy with his hand up my girl’s dress.’
‘Your girl?’ Your girl? Fuck man, she’s a target, a hit, a five million dollar lottery ticket.’
‘Man, I hope to God you’re alone wherever you’re calling from.’
‘Of course I am. But what were you thinking, Sterling, what does it matter if some bozo cops a feel, she’ll be dead in a matter of days.’
‘And your point is?’
When Carson didn’t answer he went on, ‘have you changed that much in two years, Carson that you’d rather suck up to some spoilt, self important, drunken jerks. You’d rather look the other way while some assholes assault a woman in your club because you’re worried about losing their custom. Because you’re concerned for the reputation of your oh so elite, ass licking club, if so, you’re not the Carson Bentley I knew. And F.Y.I it doesn’t matter one fucking iota that she’s my target, my hit or whatever, while she’s with me she’s my woman and under my protection and I’d do the same again, in your club or anywhere fucking else.’
Although Hennessey’s tone was calm and controlled Carson knew that his old friend must be seething to curse like he had and what’s more he had a right to be. His tone calmer now and not a little ashamed he said, ‘you’re right, Sterling, I’m sorry. It’s just that one of the guys you hurt has influence,’ there was a telling pause before he went on, ‘he has mob connections and some guys came over here this morning bright and early and threatened all kinds of reprisals,’ he gave a small laugh, ‘threatened to do me over if I didn’t tell 'em who y’all were. I told 'em they couldn’t make me look much worse than I already do.’
Hennessey was silent for a moment then his tone like Carson’s was more subdued, ‘I’m sorry, man. What did you tell them?’
‘That I don’t know you, had never met you before, I just welcomed you to the club, I had to say that in case anyone saw us talking.’
‘Good thinking. Did they ask my name?’
‘Yeah, I told 'em it was Linford Cross, I used the last name I recalled you using.’
Hennessey gave a wry laugh, ‘did they believe you?’
‘No reason not to. I told 'em you were staying in Meridian somewhere.’
‘Thanks, dude, I appreciate it.’
‘I don’t think they’ll bother us again, it just put the frights up me is all, this is the mob you know.’
Hennessey’s tone was serious now, ‘Carson, you haven’t had the frights put up you since you were fourteen; you can deal with the mob or anyone else.’
There was a short silence before Carson’s laughter came down the line, ‘while that might be true I’d rather not have to deal with them if it’s all the same to you, I can do without the hassle.’
‘Well, if you don’t think you can handle it by yourself call me, I’ll deal with it for you, free of charge of course.’
Carson laughed louder this time, ‘thanks, man.’ Well, ya seem to have made a fan of my man Jaws, not much impresses him, but he certainly admired the way you dealt with those guys, even if I didn’t.’
‘Your man Jaws has a more discerning character no doubt.’
Carson chuckled then his amusement gone he asked, ‘I don’t think for a moment they’ll involve the cops, they’re the kinda people rather deal with trouble themselves. But watch out for anyone hanging around looking like a mob enforcer.’
Hennessey laughed, ‘thanks for the heads up, Carson.’
Carson asked, ‘how is she anyway, not too upset I hope?’
Hennessey hesitated a moment before saying, ‘she was very shook up, but she rallied, she’s a lot tougher than she looks.’
'Good, I’m glad she wasn’t hurt. Look, I’m sorry for what I said about her, I liked her, she wasn’t what I
expected. When you told me you had been hired to, well, you know, I imagined a kinda Mata Hari or something, a femme fatal, an industrial spy or some such.’
Hennessey laughed again, ‘no, none of those things, just a woman in the wrong place at the wrong time is all. She liked you too by the way.’
There was a silence on the other end of the line, Hennessey said, ‘Carson?’
‘Yeah, sorry, I was just thinking. I’ve known you most of your life, Sterling, and I think I know you pretty well, so I don’t think I’m all that far out when I say, I think you liked her too.’
This time the silence was from Hennessey’s end of the line, when he did speak his tone was abrupt, ‘I never said I didn’t like her, but you know what I like more, Carson? The thought of five million dollars being dropped into my Swiss bank account. Wining and dining her was part of the plan, the way I treat her is part of the plan too. And what happened with those three guys helped rather than hindered. I’m the knight in shining armour…yet again.’ He didn’t of course tell Carson what she’d said in the car about his overreacting.
Carson said, ‘yeah okay, buddy. I just hope you know what you’re doing.’
Hennessey thought of last night and the way he had felt when she had gripped his hair and called out his name in her frenzy and the way she had looked at him. He said, ‘oh yes, Carson, I know exactly what I’m doing.’
‘Well, take care, pal. And don’t leave it two years before you come see me again okay?’
Hennessey’s voice was soft now, ‘I won’t, thanks, Carson. And don’t forget, if you have any more trouble call me okay, I mean it.’
‘I know you do, pal, thanks. Oh and next time you come to my club please try not to bring your next victim with you okay.’
Hennessey could not help but notice Carson had said “Victim” and not target, he wasn’t sure whether there was a reason for that. He said, ‘I’ll try.’
‘Try real hard.’
They both laughed this time.
Carson surprised him by asking, ‘oh, just out of curiosity where are you staying anyway?’
