The smear of blood on her inner thighs made her smile wider.
She’d done it. She’d really done it! She’d actually made love with a hunk who literally shook her world.
Damn if she wasn’t going to do it again soon. Hot damn if Damien’s number wasn’t going to go on speed dial.
Okay, maybe not exactly on speed dial – God forbid her Mother tried to dial her ‘friend’ unknowingly - but she was certainly going to put that number in a really safe, private place.
Giggling, she fell into bed, much to the annoyance of Sugar and Frizz. Unable to sleep, she picked up the romance novel and started reading, but every sex or kissing scene in it led her mind right back to Damien.
When she finally fell asleep, her dreams were filled with hot green eyes, rakishly tousled hair, and such knowing fingers they had her moaning in her sleep.
~*~
Coming awake slowly, Rick winced at the dull throb behind his eyes. Overindulging in whiskey with his best friend wasn’t exactly the smartest thing he’d done yesterday.
Turning over carefully in the bed, he caught a whiff of a faint, fresh fragrance and took another, deeper breath. There it was again, faint and fresh, a scent familiar somehow, familiar because…He frowned and took in another breath. Familiar because – his eyes widened and he sat up with a jerk, ignoring the throb at his temples.
Looking down at the empty space beside him, memory came back in a rush. Tim telling him he had a surprise for him back at the motel, and the rubenesque woman waiting for him, so curvy and soft, with big eyes and cupid lips that begged to be thoroughly ravished by his marauding mouth.
Marauding was right. He could feel his blood rush just a little faster at the memory. Where Tim had found such a woman was beyond Rick, but he was going to find out, because he wanted to see her again. Some of Tim’s friends were dubious, but others Rick was more than willing to mix with, and the luscious woman who had shared her body with him was in that category. He couldn’t wait to find out who she was, and better yet, her phone number.
But first things first, he had a slight hangover to attend. Turning, Rick threw back the covers and swung out of bed, going straight to the bathroom for Panadol and a shower. When he got there, he frowned. His toiletries weren’t on the basin, his bathrobe wasn’t on the back of the door, in fact the bathroom was almost pristine, as though no one had used the shower at all. The towels were clean, hung up neatly, the soaps still in the little packets. He knew he hadn’t left the bathroom like that the night before, for he’d showered and shaved prior to the party.
Leaving the bathroom, he looked around the room in growing bewilderment. His clothes and shoes had been draped over the chair, his wallet on the bedside table. None of his belongings were anywhere in the room. He double-checked the wardrobe but it was empty.
Where were his things? Surely the woman – oh shit! Had she cleaned him out, robbed him while he slept?
Moving fast, he snatched the wallet off the table and checked it. No, his money and cards were all there, along with, strangely enough, a small stack of fifty dollar notes. He counted them, a full four hundred dollars. Weird, and getting weirder by the minute.
Frowning, his gaze fell on the key and he stared at it for several seconds while a growing sense of dread filled him. Reaching out, he picked up the key and turned it around. The number six was now a nine.
He was in the wrong room!
And if he was in the wrong room, then how had the woman been expecting him? Brow furrowed in concentration, he thought back to their encounter, and now he remembered that when he’d said Tim knew what I needed, she’d looked at him a little oddly and replied Tim? And that was all she’d said, because he hadn’t given her any time to enlarge upon the subject.
Oh bloody hell! She hadn’t been expecting him! Had she? But she’d seemed so willing, almost eager, though with a shyness that had touched him.
His gaze went to the bed. She’d been…what was that? He leaned closer, seeing it but not quite believing it. Blood. A smear of blood on the sheet.
The throbbing in his head was forgotten as he remembered something else. His entry into her had felt like a tight fist enclosing him. He’d forged onward, thrusting deep, a split second of something barring his way, and then he’d pushed through it. Her stiffening.
“Oh shit!” He straightened abruptly. “Molly Jones was a virgin!”
~*~
There was no pulling the wool over Susie’s eyes when she and Maxie came over the next day. Susie took one look at Cherry when she opened the door and practically leaped through the opening. “When, where, and with who?” she demanded.
Maxie meandered in behind her, her sandals scuffing on the tiled floor.
“What?” Cherry tried in vain to stop the blush creeping into her cheeks.
“You had sex!” Susie announced triumphantly.
“What?” Maxie looked from Susie to Cherry. “What do you mean? Are you sure?”
“Geez, Max, just look at her face.”
Cherry felt her cheeks flame hotter when Maxie flicked a glance at her and then peered closer. Her friend’s eyes widened. “Whoa!”
“Don’t try to deny it,” Susie added.
“I didn’t—”
“Cherry got her cherry popped!” Maxie punched her fist into her open palm. “Hot damn! Details, girl!”
“And don’t leave anything out.” Grabbing her by the arm, Susie practically dragged Cherry into the kitchen, pushed her down into the chair, crossed to the ’fridge and pulled out three Diet Cokes. Popping the tops on all three cans, she placed them on the table and flopped down in a chair.
“Hey,” said Cherry. “Make yourself at home.”
“Was there any doubt?” Maxie took a long drink of the Diet Coke and gave a small burp.
Arms folded on the table, Susie leaned forward and looked hard at Cherry. “You were going to tell us, right?”
“Ummm…”
“Cherry.”
“Of course I was. Sheesh.” Cherry rolled her eyes. “I just didn’t expect you both to come around today, so I wasn’t, you know…”
“Ready?” Susie supplied dryly.
“That’d be it.”
“Well, we’re here now, so spill.”
Picking up the can of Diet Coke, Cherry took several sips while trying to gather her thoughts for the most appropriate way to begin. And trying to control her blush.
“Escort agency?” Maxie queried.
“Yep. I did it.” Cherry bit her lip and kept her eyes on the can as she rolled the bottom of it on the table in a slow circle. “Hired a man for several hours.”
“And?” Susie encouraged.
“I met him at a motel. We had…uh…sex. I left and came home.”
“Oh no.” Susie shook her head. “That just won’t do.”
“Please?”
“Everything,” Maxie said. “You tell us everything.”
“Geez, Max, I don’t ask you to describe your sex.”
“You know what my lover looks like. Tell us what this man looked like. What was his name?”
“Damien.”
Maxie and Susie nodded.
“Um…green eyes, black hair.”
“Build?”
“Good.”
They stared at her.
“Better than good.” Meeting their eyes, Cherry flushed but grinned slightly. “Six pack.” Just the memory gave her a little rush.
Maxie grinned. “Six pack is good.”
“Very good.” Susie nodded. “How was the meeting?”
“He was very…not forceful. He was…commanding?”
“He ordered you?”
“No! He was…” Frowning, Cherry tried to think of the right word to describe his manner.
“Masterful?" Maxie suggested.
“Yes. But in a good way.” Unable to help herself, Cherry grinned a little self-consciously. “He took charge. I didn’t know escorts did that.”
“If that’s what yo
u asked for, that’s what you get.” Susie smiled.
“I didn’t actually ask for that, but I’m not complaining.”
“Must be a real professional to know what you needed.” Maxie sighed dreamily and slouched back in the chair.
Susie tapped the table with her fingertips. “So, reckon you’ll hire him again?”
Cherry grinned and wrinkled her nose, and Susie laughed in delight.
A flat buzz came from Cherry’s handbag sitting on the bench and she stared at it for several seconds before realizing the cause. More than a little perplexed, she went to her bag and withdrew the pre-paid mobile phone. Flipping it open, she put it to her ear. “Hello?”
“Ms Jones?”
Ms Jones? This was a woman’s voice, so that must mean… “Helen?”
“That’s right. Ms Jones, I am so sorry about last night.”
“You are?” Puzzled, Cherry turned her back on her friends and stared out the window into the garden beyond.
“Of course. Damien was in an accident and didn’t make your appointment. I do hope you’re not too upset.” Helen spoke warmly, with just the right amount of business-like concern in her tone. “We didn’t find out until this morning, so of course I got straight onto your phone number. Please, be assured that we would normally let our clients know straight away if their appointment is not going to be met.”
Feeling herself go numb, Cherry’s hand tightened on the phone. “Damien didn’t make it?”
“No. As you would know.” Helen now sounded as puzzled as Cherry. “Ms Jones, are you all right? Did anything happen last night?”
“What time did Damien go to hospital?” Oh no, oh nononononono.
“He was on his way to meet you, the traffic was quite heavy, his flat mate said he got notice about ten forty-five.”
Oh no! This was not happening!
“Ms Jones? Ms Jones, I can reschedule you with another escort, I—”
“No,” Cherry said shakily. “No, I’ll ring you when I want another appointment.” Like never.
“Very well, but let me assure you—” Helen’s voice was cut off as Cherry snapped the phone shut.
Taking deep breaths, she turned it off completely and laid it down beside her handbag.
“Cherry?” Susie called. “What’s wrong?”
“Oh boy.”
“What’s happened?” Maxie half stood worriedly. “Tell us.”
Turning slowly, Cherry walked back to the table, sat down, and swallowed half the Diet Coke in several big gulps. Placing the can back down on the table in precise movements, she met the eyes of her friends’ in turn.
Susie and Maxie gazed back at her worriedly.
“Damien,” Cherry said slowly, “Is in hospital.”
“He had an accident on the way home?” Maxie asked.
“On the way to our appointment, actually.”
Confused, Maxie frowned. “But how..?”
Susie sucked in a breath. “If Damien was in an accident on the way to you but was taken to hospital, then…?”
“Then who the hell did I have sex with last night?” Cherry clapped her hand over her eyes. “Oh my God! I didn’t sleep with a male prostitute, I slept with a bloody complete stranger!”
Dumbfounded, Maxie and Susie looked at each other then back at Cherry.
“Shit,” said Maxie. “How much did it cost to sleep with a stranger?”
“Not the right time for that,” Susie cut in hastily.
“Four hundred dollars,” Cherry moaned. “I paid a complete stranger, who wasn’t a prostitute, four hundred dollars to have sex with me. Oh God, no wonder he said someone named Tim had mentioned a surprise!”
“A what?” Maxie was still grappling with the appalling news.
“He mentioned someone named Tim said he had a surprise for him – Damien, whatever the hell his real name is – and I didn’t cotton on – oh my God! Susie!” Cherry almost wailed. “I slept with someone who didn’t have a health check for all I know! Susie!”
“Calm down.” Susie hurried around the table to rub Cherry’s back. “Did he use a condom? Tell me.”
“Yes.”
“Then you’re probably okay.”
“Probably?”
“Now calm down. This isn’t so bad, this—”
“Who the hell did I have sex with?” Cherry looked up at her friend. “Susie, who did I have sex with!”
~*~
“Who the hell did I sleep with?” Rick demanded.
Tim looked up from where he was examining the small terrier. “No idea. But she sounds hot.” He grinned.
“This is no laughing matter, Tim.”
Rick watched as his friend placed the stethoscope on the bench and carried the dog across to one of the wire cages to place it carefully inside.
Tim marked something off on the chart on front of the cage. “You have to admit, it’s a nice fantasy come to life.”
“What?”
“You know. Mysterious woman.” Tim turned around and moved his hands in an hour-glass shape pattern. “Va-va-voom curves. Virgin.” His gaze turned thoughtful. “Kind of hard to find nowadays, actually. Didn’t think there were any virgins left.”
“There’s one less now,” Rick snapped.
Tim guffawed.
Rick rubbed his brow. “You’re sure you don’t know her?”
“Absolutely no idea. My surprise was you finding that packet of glow-in-the-dark condoms that must have fallen out of my pocket and into your car, not a luscious chick.” Taking pity on his friend, Tim gestured to him. “Come back to my office for a coffee.”
“I don’t think coffee is going to fix this.”
“Can’t have booze, I’m afraid. I’m on call tonight as well.” Tim winked. “Can’t all have wild nights with a mysterious woman.”
Rick followed him moodily, throwing himself into one of the big chairs and swivelling back and forth in it while watching Tim pour the coffee.
“You’re in a real knot over this.” Tim spooned sugar into both cups. “It’s not like you haven’t bedded women before.”
“I knew them, I chose them. This Molly Jones—”
“Fake name,” Tim said.
A muscle ticked in Rick’s jaw. “Possibly. There was a Molly Jones booked into room six.”
“Which wasn’t your room, as you found out.”
“But there was no phone number supplied and she paid for the room in cash.”
“Tried the phone book?”
“In a small city this size, there are amazingly few Molly Jones. None of them was the woman I slept with.”
“How do you know that? Did you visit them all?”
Rick felt the familiar frustration well up inside him. “One was an elderly woman, another was a child, and the third was a woman with what sounded like fifty thousand kids screaming and crying in the background who assured me that after what she was enduring, she’d cut off any man’s dick rather than risk becoming pregnant yet again, and then she hung up on me. It’s a safe bet none of those three were the Molly Jones I met last night.”
“Fake name.” Tim handed Rick the cup of coffee and went behind the desk to kick back in the chair, lifting his legs to cross his ankles and rest his heels on the desktop. “My friend, there are thirty thousand people living in this city. Finding her will be like finding a needle in the proverbial haystack.”
Didn’t Rick know that. Moodily, he contemplated the dark surface of the coffee.
“Oh ho!”
He looked up.
Tim was eyeing at him in astonishment. “You really do want to find her.”
“Hell yes. I want to know why she let a perfect stranger have sex with her.”
“Why worry? You had a great time.”
“How would you know?”
“Otherwise you wouldn’t be in such knots about it.” Tim took a mouthful of coffee. “Just let it go, Rick. You had a great night, count yourself lucky she isn’t hanging on your pants belt salivating at havin
g possibly caught herself a rich doctor, and enjoy the memory. And get on with things.”
“Your mother really did a number on you, didn’t she?”
“My mother, Rick, is a bitch, as you very well know.”
“Not all women are the same.”
“Annabelle.”
Rick couldn’t suppress a shudder.
“Love ‘em and leave ‘em, my friend. That’s my advice.”
“Your advice is the worst. But you’re right, finding her will be almost impossible.” Sighing, Rick leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes, inhaling the fragrance of expensive coffee.
“Glad you agree. Now what are you doing tomorrow?”
“Rounds at the hospital.”
“Exciting. Lots of nurses there.” Tim waggled his eyebrows. “And you know what they say about nurses.”
“Urban myth, my friend. And that I do know.”
“Yeah.” Tim sighed. “Damn it.”
Rick shook his head. “You need to find yourself a wife.”
“Not bloody likely.” Tim’s face was serious. “She’d have to be pretty damned special – exceptional, in fact – for me to even contemplate it.”
Rick studied his friend. Tim’s experiences with women hadn’t been good, and topping that list was his cold-blooded mother, followed by several grasping, greedy dates arranged by his mother when younger. Now Tim really did love ‘em and leave ‘em.
But Rick wasn’t like that, he wanted a special woman. He just hadn’t met the right one yet, and the voluptuous female from last night who allowed a stranger to have sex with her without even knowing his name certainly wouldn’t be suitable. So better to forget abut her and concentrate on establishing himself in the practice, and perhaps finding the right woman later on, the special woman who would be his wife and companion for the rest of his life.
And the voluptuous woman wasn’t that one, even if he could find her. Which he wouldn’t, because he wasn’t even going to try.
Rick joined Tim in moody silence.
Chapter Four
Her shirt clingingly wetly to her stomach and shoulder, Cherry made her way back to the nurses’ station. Maxie looked up and started laughing.
“Not funny,” Cherry said. “I should have known better than to let Mrs Gumfrey hold the shower hose.”
Doctor's Delight Page 5
