When she took him into her mouth, his vision blurred. The moist heat of her mouth made his cock reach, his balls riding high. She began to kiss and lick his shaft, and he pressed his head back against the headrest of the armchair cursing silently. She rode him deeper into her mouth, rising and falling on his shaft, her tongue flicking at the sensitive underside, one hand locked around the base.
Too good. Too much. If she kept doing that he would come very soon, and that wasn’t what he intended. He reached for her hair, stroking it, trying to keep his head while it threatened to lift off. "Amy, I need to be inside you."
She lifted her head and nodded. "I know," she whispered. "I want that too."
He locked his hands over the arms of the armchair. Part of him wanted to grab her, roll her on her back on the floor and pin her there with his erection until he worked them both to a mind-blowing mutual orgasm. But she was responding to this, and he adored the way she glanced at him from under lowered eyelids as she tore open the condom wrapper.
With an appreciative sigh, she rolled the rubber over the head of his cock and down its length. Once it was on, she stroked it with her hand. "I think you're ready for me," she teased.
Sebastian snatched at her wrist, pulling her close. "Get up here, where I can hold you."
She rose to her feet and lifted her skirt as high as her waist, flashing her naked pussy at him as she clambered over his lap, straddling him. His hands immediately went to her waist and he held her tightly while she took his cock in her hand and directed it to her sweet spot.
Tension beaded up his spine.
Easing down, she took him in, inch by inch. "Oh yes," she blurted, "so good!"
Sebastian nodded. Her cunt was like a hot fist clutching him, making his cock throb. He had to catch his breath before he spoke. Gazing up at her, he wrapped his hands around her hips beneath her dress. "Let me see you." He nodded at the dress. "Take it off, please."
Settling on him, she grasped the fabric and pulled it over her head.
Sebastian watched as her breasts bounced free. Her nipples were erect. As she cast the dress aside her hair tumbled back down to her shoulders. She looked so good straddling him it made his gut tighten.
Latching her hands over his shoulders, she pivoted, his body her anchor she began to stir her hips on his, fast finding a rhythm and holding it.
Sebastian shifted his hands to cup her breasts and watched her expression change when he rubbed his thumbs over her nipples. Her reaction was acute and it fascinated him. Her head tipped back. Breathless gasps issued from her open mouth and her eyes rounded. He felt it where her body clenched his cock too, each and every time she ground down on it. Lowering one hand to the juncture of their bodies, he stroked his thumb over her mound and into her slit.
Her clit protruded, and when he glanced down he could it was all rosy and swollen between the plump lips that framed it. She cried out when he made contact with it and gripped him so hard he had to close his eyes for a moment to stop himself coming. When he opened them it was to the sight of his rigid cock disappearing inside her while she worked up and down on him, quickly, and the sight triggered his need for release.
Instinctively, his hips forced up from beneath, in order to parry her thrusts.
She locked eyes with him and nodded, then moaned loudly as she reached her peak, her cunt clenching and unclenching rhythmically, milking him off. The release barreled through him, his balls burning, his cock jerking violently as he shot his load.
She dropped into his arms, and he held her tightly.
When she shivered, he stroked her back, soothing her.
Neither of them said anything, they didn't have to. Sebastian knew he had never had sex like this before, this incredible intimacy and the bond between them was opening up the possibilities for pleasure beyond anything he'd ever experienced. He sensed she felt the same, but he didn't want to ask because he didn't want to break the spell. He wanted the moment to last forever.
Chapter Eleven
Amy was right—Jake Brent did resemble a weasel. A thin, sandy comb-over and small, close-set eyes gave him a feral look. Sebastian regarded the man with curiosity. His reaction to Sebastian's questioning had been odd. He'd been eager at first, to chat, and yet right now he looked like an uneasy weasel, one that had been cornered by an enemy predator.
"No, I haven't got any information." He looked at Sebastian's ID as if it carried traces of the plague itself. Why? Why had he been eager to give Amy information, and not him? Amy represented the media. A whiff of serious investigation and he didn't want to be involved. That was an interesting conundrum. Jake had to be after publicity for his speculation, but why?
"You said he was a friend," Sebastian quizzed. Sebastian had tracked him down in the bowels of the studios, and said he'd appreciate a quick chat. The man had claimed to know Quentin well at first. Presumably because he thought Sebastian was another journalist.
"Yes, we worked together on the set, and we sometimes had drinks after the filming." He turned away from Sebastian and began to fiddle with the stack of equipment he'd been working on in the sound room, avoiding eye contact. "Doesn't mean I know where he is right now."
"Any idea why he might want to leave London?"
"No, none at all."
"Is there anyone else missing from the crew?"
Jake's head shot up. That touched a nerve. Interesting.
"No." He looked decidedly uncomfortable. "Not that I know of, but pretty much everyone is away right now, making the most of the studio closure, you know."
"Sure," Sebastian smiled, trying to put the man at ease. "Did you have a chance to get away yourself?"
Jake stared at him, his mouth tight. "No, I like to stick around."
It was curious, and somehow revealing. Sebastian wasn't quite sure what it was telling him, but he was glad he'd squeezed the visit in. He glanced at his watch. He had to be at his office in under an hour to supervise a staff meeting.
"I appreciate you talking to me." He held out his hand.
Jake shook it, briefly, again not making eye contact.
Why set the press off on a red herring about a missing friend, Sebastian puzzled, as he headed back to the studio car park. It was a shame there wasn't anyone else other than Jake and a lone security guard at the studios, someone to bounce similar questions off, for an alternate view. This Jake character was cagey and inconsistent. He had to have an ulterior motive or an axe to grind.
As Sebastian climbed into his Land Rover and flicked the air conditioning up a notch to combat the growing heat of the day, he realized he'd have to find a way to bring it up with Amy again. Finding an unobtrusive way to do so was going to be the hard part. This hidden agenda thing he inadvertently had going on was a pain. He regretted hiding his intentions. He should have admitted he was doing some groundwork for her earlier on. She might have been okay with that. Instead, he'd started to do his own thing and now he had a guilty conscience.
He got through the city as fast as the traffic would allow him and made it to the City Investigations office just in time for his staff meeting. He couldn't afford to cancel it if he was to keep tabs on everyone. Stella, the secretary, stood up and shook her head at him as he rushed into the office.
"Cutting it fine again, huh?" She tapped her fingers on the desk and looked at the clock. Stella ruled the place like a mother hen. It was what made the company office homey and kept it functioning at all times.
"You know how I like to live life on the edge."
She gave him a stern shake of her head. "Speaking of living life on the edge, Scotland Yard called. They wanted to make sure you would be there for your award presentation a week on Thursday. Shall I give confirmation of your attendance?"
That had slipped his mind. The agency was to receive an award. It embarrassed him, but he would have to attend. He nodded, saluted, and shot past her toward the meeting room. The door stood open and he could see Gary and five other personnel had assembled there.
A loud whistle emanated from behind him. He turned around. Stella was standing there, hands on hips.
"Haven't you forgotten something?" She put her hand out.
Of course he had. He'd made a policy that no phones should be taken into company meetings, but he often overlooked the ruling himself. He cursed silently. Luckily Stella kept him his toes. "Whatever would I do without you?"
She pursed her lips, giving him a look that said 'don't bother trying to flatter me because it won't wash.' From his pockets he pulled out two phones, his personal and his work contacts, and dropped them on her desk, next to the others she already had lined up there, before he saluted her again, and left.
* * * *
Amy straightened the skirt of her fitted peppermint dress and sat down in her office chair. She'd had a busy morning. Everything was all set for her and Sebastian to head north, the next day. The budget would easily cover the fuel and two nights stay at Tall Gables. They would be traveling in Sebastian's car this time, he'd insisted, so at least she didn't have to worry about booking a pool car and having some old banger let them down in the middle of nowhere.
She'd already drafted the body of her feature and with a bit of luck she could round it up with the information she gleaned at Tall Gables, then e-mail it back to headquarters for the deadline at ten o'clock on Thursday morning. The paper went to press before noon, without fail, so that it was on the streets for the evening commuters. All that remained was for her to pop home and pack a bag for the following day, before meeting up with Sebastian for dinner that evening.
She glanced at the clock. She had heaps of time. In fact, she realized she could get everything done then go over to his place, which would save time. And that meant she'd get to see him even sooner than planned. She grabbed her phone, scrolled down to his name in the directory and hit the call button.
As the phone began to ring out, she found herself wondering vaguely what he might be doing. She hoped she wasn't interrupting anything. He'd mentioned he had to check in at his workplace. Probably had to let the security firm know how things were going with his current placement.
"Good afternoon, City Investigation and Security Services, this is Stella speaking. How may I help you?"
"Oh, hello," Amy stuttered, confused. Stella? "I think I must have the wrong number, I'm looking for Sebastian, Sebastian Armitage."
"Yes, you've come through on his private phone. He's leading a staff meeting at the moment so he left it with me. I'm his secretary. Perhaps I can take a message for you?"
Amy couldn't quite hear, or at least that's what it felt like. She certainly couldn't make sense of what was being said. It was as if there was a gap in her brain somewhere, and the messages she was receiving weren't quite reaching their destination. "I'm sorry, I couldn't quite hear you. What did you say when you answered the phone?"
"This is The City Investigation and Security Service, you have come through to company headquarters."
Investigation? That didn't sound like the security firm she was expecting. Amy swallowed, hard. "Private investigation?"
"Yes, that is correct."
Her heart started to thud loudly against the wall of her chest. "And you said… he's leading a staff meeting?" That made it doubly bad. He was quite obviously a senior member of personnel in a private investigation company. Sebastian wasn't a bodyguard at all.
"Yes, he is." The secretary at the other end of the phone started to sound a bit unsure about the way the conversation was going. Not as unsure as Amy was feeling, however. Her mind was racing with questions. Had her father contracted a private investigator to guide her, without her knowledge or her consent? And had Sebastian sweet-talked his way into her bed, to distract her from the fact everybody thought she was incapable of doing an investigation for herself? Her blood had started to surge, anger building inside her. She recalled the meeting in her father's office, and the fact they'd discussed it all the previous day. And now, as she thought back on it, hadn't there been a conspiratorial friendliness between the two men?
The secretary's voice broke into the silence. "Can I take that message for you? Mr. Armitage will be out of the meeting in about an hour, if that's any help."
Oh yes, she wanted to leave a message for him all right. Nobody duped Amy Norton and got away with it. "Yes, thank you."
Amy was already on her feet, but it was in her father's direction she intended to go. "Could you please tell Mr. Armitage that Amy Norton called, and that..." What? She took a deep breath, battling the conflicting emotions that rose inside. "Tell him I will be ensuring Mr. Norton ends his investigation contract, forthwith."
"Okay."
"You'll pass it on?"
"Yes, of course, but can I take a number where Mr. Armitage can get back to you?"
"Thank you, but that won't be necessary." As she put her phone down she flicked it off, in case he rang back. She would deal with him later. Her other hand was lifting the receiver on the desk. She punched in her Father's extension number.
"Richard Norton's—"
"Hi Alison, this is Amy, is my father there? I need to speak with him, urgently."
"Hello Amy, no, he's out today."
"Out where?"
"Well, he was away at a news convention over the weekend so he's taking a day in lieu and he's at home today. Mrs. Norton insisted, apparently."
"Right, thank you."
Good, if he was at home at least she could pin him down without interruptions. She put the phone down and grabbed her bag.
"Hey."
"Sorry, Janine." They had collided as Amy headed to the doorway.
"Where are you off to in such a hurry?"
"The homestead. Oh," Amy groaned loudly. "You won't believe what's happened now."
Janine let the door swing shut behind her. "Try me."
She dumped a take out coffee and a sandwich bag on the desk.
"My father only went and hired a PI to work with me on the Quentin Edward's feature."
Janine frowned. "You mean to tell me the hunk is a PI?" Her mouth was open, her expression incredulous.
"Yes, can you believe it? And the two of them obviously conspired to keep me in the dark about it." Relating the discovery wasn't helping to calm her down any.
"But you like the man?"
Amy stared at her, frowning. "What has that got to do with it?"
"Well, if you like the guy and he's a real PI, that's kind of exciting, isn't it?" Janine's eyes were bright with interest.
"Janine, are you deliberately missing the point here? My father and this, PI, have duped me. I feel humiliated. Bloody hell, I'm livid."
"Okay." Janine looked unconvinced. "But if you're enjoying your fling with him, why don't you just pretend you don't know?"
"Janine!" Amy shook her head and gave a wry laugh. Janine was pretty far out there when it came to relationships. "Listen, I've emailed you some copy on the upcoming TV soap awards. I'll be back later. If you need me before this afternoon I'll be at my parent's house. Apparently Dad's at home today. I'm going over there to give him a piece of my mind." She walked to the door, still shaking her head at her boss.
"Think about what I said," Janine called after her, winking. "Good men are hard to find."
Indeed they are, she thought to herself, grimly. And right now she wasn't counting Sebastian as one of the good guys.
* * * *
The phone rang out insistently and Janine put down her sandwich and reached for it.
"Hello, Janine Fairfax speaking, how can I help you?"
"Hello, Ms. Fairfax, my name is Sebastian Armitage, I've been working with Amy Norton and—"
"Ah, the minder who isn't really a minder." She dusted the sandwich crumbs off her desk and into the waste paper basket.
"Well, yes and no."
She could hear the tension in his voice. Poor guy, she was tempted to give him a hard time but Amy had probably already seen to it, and—in Janine's opinion—she was doing herself a major disserv
ice into the bargain. The bloke had tenacity, and Janine always felt a man should be rewarded for such engaging qualities.
"I really need to speak to Amy and she's switched off her phone, is she there?"
"No, I'm afraid she's already gone."
"Are you in a position to tell me where she is, so I can try to catch her?"
"Not really, but…you could try convincing me."
"You'll hear me out?" The smattering of hope in his tone made her smile. He was very keen. And she could tell Amy was more than interested in him, otherwise she wouldn't have been so upset. She'd looked so happy over the last couple of days. Janine had never seen her look quite as content before.
"Go ahead. I'm all ears." She rested back in her chair and reached for her coffee, fully prepared to give the man a fair hearing. Amy would calm down soon enough and hopefully she would see sense. In the meantime, she could maybe ease the way for Mr. PI here, not to mention getting the inside story herself. That sort of first hand entertainment was always welcome. In fact it was a pity she couldn't share it with the Women's Page readers, she thought, as Sebastian's story unfolded. It was the sort of feature they'd love to bits.
* * * *
The tube train journey out to Harrow on the Hill seemed to take forever. Normally Amy would have enjoyed the journey, watching the ebb and flow of people passing through the train, the never-ending variety of humanity bustling through the capital in the summertime. This time she barely noticed the other people, and counted each stop impatiently. By the time the train reached Finchley Road, she'd steadied herself enough to think straight. The revelation had explained a lot about Sebastian's reluctance to speak about his work. It also shed new light on his attitude and his line of thinking when he talked about the assignment with her. All that prompting and suggesting he had done in Arundel, she cringed as she thought back over it.
Minding Amy Page 12
