‘Espie – that’s a nice name,’ Mark said, as he sank into the sofa. ‘Very unusual.’
‘It’s short for Esperanza.’
‘Oh, like Oscar Wilde’s mother? Wasn’t that her name?’
‘Close,’ Espie said. ‘She was Speranza. But that was just her pen name.’
‘Oh yes.’
‘It’s lovely to meet you, Mark, but I hope you didn’t come home early on my account,’ she said, narrowing her eyes at Claire suspiciously.
‘No, we just thought it would be nice to have coffee here,’ Claire said innocently. ‘I’ll put the kettle on.’
‘Well, don’t count me in,’ Espie said, getting up. ‘I’m going to bed.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Yes, I was about to go anyway when you came in.Night, love,’ she said to Claire. ‘Bye, Mark. I’m sure we’ll meet again some time.’
‘Yes, I hope so. Goodnight.’
‘So – coffee?’ Claire said to Mark, when they were alone. ‘Or would you like another glass of wine?’
He leant back against the sofa, looking at her speculatively. ‘Come here,’ he said, patting the sofa beside him. His eyes were hooded and heavy.
Claire sat beside him and he put an arm around her. ‘I’m glad your mother’s okay,’ he said.
‘Sorry we had to leave early.’
‘That’s okay.’
He nuzzled her face, and then they were kissing – long, slow kisses at first, but then it became urgent and grabby and they were lying face to face on the sofa making out like teenagers while Claire’s mother slept upstairs.
‘Claire,’ Mark panted into her mouth, as she pulled his shirt out of his waistband, ‘can I ask you something?’
‘Mm.’ Her fingers wriggled underneath to touch hard, warm flesh.
‘Do you ever break the rules?’ He lifted her leg to hitch it across his, and Claire gasped as she felt his erection against her.
‘Sometimes.’ She wanted nothing more right now than to forget about the five-date rule and have Mark inside her, right here on the living-room sofa. But she wasn’t ready for that yet. ‘But never my own rules,’ she said.
Mark stilled, leaning his forehead against hers, his breath hot on her face. ‘I think I’d better get a cab, then.’ His weight lifted off her and he sat up, running a hand through his hair.
Claire struggled upright beside him, adjusting her clothing. ‘I’ll call one for you.’
They kissed at the door when the taxi arrived, then Claire went up the stairs to bed. She couldn’t wait for the fifth date. But in the meantime, she thought, opening the drawer in her nightstand, this would be a good time to get in some practice with her vibrator.
24
‘Ooh, you look very fancy, Luca,’ Jula said, as he emerged from the house the following Saturday. It had been a beautiful day, and Jula and Danuta, the thin, almost translucently pale Polish girls who shared the basement flat, were sitting on the front steps enjoying the last of the evening sunshine and sharing a bottle of wine.
‘Where are you going? Big date?’
‘Party.’ He sat down on the step above them, placing his gift-wrapped parcel beside him. ‘It’s my sister’s birthday.’ He tilted his face towards the sun and closed his eyes, trying to relax. There was still warmth in the evening air.
‘You want a glass of wine?’ Danuta asked. He opened his eyes to find her waving the bottle at him.
‘No, thanks,’ he said, glancing at his watch. ‘Claire will be picking me up in a few minutes.’ It was still only seven fifteen, but he had been ready far too early, and he had become increasingly twitchy and anxious as he waited for her. When he couldn’t handle any more antsy pacing around his flat, he’d decided to come down and wait outside.
