He thrust against her, holding her in position against his hand, as his thumb increased speed and her legs started to tremble. His other hand still cupped her breast as he used his thumb and forefinger to roll her nipple. Her legs shook and she put one hand to the wall to hold on, reaching a coat hook for support as she approached the summit.
He flicked with both thumbs, nipple and clit at the same time, and she went over the brink. Eyes shut, the only thing holding her up was him as her knees buckled and she fell into the biggest orgasm of her life as he murmured, ‘Yes, yes, yes,’ into her hair.
It took her a minute to come back to herself. She panted and slumped against him until she found the strength to force herself upright. She pushed her hair away from her damp cheeks and turned to face him. He didn’t move away and she could feel the heat from his groin against her hip.
His green eyes glinted and he half smiled at her, letting his tongue run over his bottom lip.
‘I think we got that wrong,’ she rasped.
He raised an eyebrow. ‘You think? How?’
‘Normally if it’s your birthday,youget a present. . .’
‘I did.’ He laughed, nodding down at her boobs, still exposed over her bra.
‘I was thinking more of. . .’ Isabella reached a hand down between their bodies and saw his mouth part as she traced the huge outline of his cock, like rock in his jeans. She ran her fingers along the length of him and watched as his breath caught. She moved her hand to his zip. She could not wait to get her hands on him.
The door opened, flooding light into the room. Isabella shrieked and Etienne stepped in front of her while she stuffed herself back into her top and did the buttons up.
The cloakroom attendant raised an eyebrow but sighed like she’d seen it all before.
‘Sorry about that!’ Isabella stammered, shuffling past Etienne to the door.
‘We were just looking for something. . .’ Etienne said as he followed her.
‘Yeah,’ said the woman knowingly. ‘Satisfaction.’
Back at the booth, things had progressed in terms of drunkenness. Walker and Rosie were doing some kind of waltz together on the dance floor while Wren was teaching Jesse basic pole. His open shirt buttons were exposing a fair amount of fake-tanned chest as he spun around. Amber was breakdancing, moves it looked like Jayden might have taught her, and Gabi was walking on her hands along the bar to cheers from a line of spectators.
Fox broke off from proudly showing pictures of his boys to a mum from school. ‘You’re back!’ he slurred. ‘Where’ve you been?’
‘Just showing Isabella around,’ Etienne said, sliding into the booth beside her and lifting a beer from the bucket. He tipped his head back and drank, swallowing until half the bottle had disappeared. She scoured the table for something to quench her own thirst, but the water jug was empty and the wine bottle was turned upside down in the ice. He handed the beer over and she nodded her thanks as she sank the rest of the bottle.
‘Happy birthday,’ she said, wiping her mouth on the back of her hand. ‘I still owe you a present.’
He nodded.
‘Looking forward to it,’ he said and then, putting his hands on her shoulder, he led her to the floor to dance on legs that were still shaking.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Etienne
The banging in his head eventually beat his need for sleep and he stumbled to the bathroom cabinet for painkillers, glugging water straight from the tap. What a night. Free-flowing drinks, old and new friends. Karaoke, and Isabella’s body. He splashed water on his face and patted it dry, thinking of the way her head fell back on his shoulder as she came. This ‘not having sex’ pact was fun after all. Back in his bedroom, he flicked to his messages before he started his day.
Fox: Thank fuck you only have a birthday once a year.
Walker: Someone on the way to work just told me I’m a good waltzer?
Mile End Mickey: You’ve double locked the door, you plonker. We can’t get in.
He staggered down the stairs in his boxers and opened the restaurant door to a grey, foggy square. Mickey sauntered in with a chuckle.
‘That’s a fine state to start your year in,’ he said as he held the door open for Katie and then headed to the kitchen. She in turn looked Etienne up and down, before sighing.
‘I’ll set up. You go and sort yourself out.’
He tried to nod but it hurt too much. Halfway up the stairs, she called after him, ‘Oh, I don’t think I told you before, but my cousin works in the cloakroom at The Bolthole.’
