“That wasn’t what I asked, darling. Do you want me to kiss you?” He knew that she did.
“I am so weak where you’re concerned.” Steph felt her resolve melting.
“Maybe you should build up some resistance,” he said so close that she really could almost feel and taste his lips now. “I seem to remember you once confessing to wanting to resist my advances, to put up a fight and just how much you enjoyed it when you did.” He tilted her head up slightly.
“Jon.” His name was no more than a gasp. She felt breathless, claustrophobic and certain she wouldn’t be able to resist him much longer.
“Ssh, maybe we should start again and pretend we’re just starting out and I remember that very first meeting and every one since. I also remember telling you that I wanted to strip you off, spread your legs and kiss you everywhere.”
“No,” she murmured half-heartedly.
She wasn’t sure whether he had heard her or whether he was choosing to ignore her, but before she could repeat herself she was under the pressure of his body against hers. His lips had taken hers, his tongue invading her mouth, her breathless gasps doing no more than spurring him on. She was delirious and disorientated but as she considered his words and her current feelings towards him, she began to resist his ministrations. She began by stopping herself from being so receptive to his tongue’s invasion, then she put her hands on his, moving them from her bottom, back and hair. Suddenly, he released her and looked down at her breathlessly, watching the rise and fall of her heaving breasts and smiled at the effect their brief episode had triggered in her. She felt dishevelled, but seriously turned on and was glad that she had kept her jacket on so that her aching nipples were still hidden from him. The sense of relief she felt at wearing trousers was immense because she had no doubt that if she had been in a skirt or a dress, Jon’s hands would have found their way beneath it, into her knickers, leaving him in no doubt of her desire for him judging by the wetness she could feel seeping from between her thighs.
“I won’t be your mistress,” she blurted out. She knew she needed more than that and no amount of panty wetting and toe curling sex was going to change that and he needed to know it.
“That’s not what either of us wants or needs. I will see you later,” said Jon seriously as he kissed her gently on the top ofher head and stepped around her to exit her office leaving her flustered and confused.
Nineteen
Steph stood at Jon’s door for several minutes while attempting to knock on it. She’d decided against using her key, it didn’t seem right under the circumstances that they weren’t even together, not really. After a final deep breath she knocked and waited. The door flew open to reveal a confused looking Jon.
“Hi, darling, did you forget your key?”
“Erm, no, I just felt a bit weird letting myself in as things are.” Embarrassment washed over her but was it because of the original basis of their relationship, the breakdown of it or the mess of what remained?
“Then come in and tell me just how things are.” He stepped sideways to allow her in.
Steph followed her nose to the kitchen, the aromas causing enthusiastic sounds as her senses came to life. “Something smells nice.”
“Chicken in white wine sauce with new potatoes and asparagus,” Jon passed by her and returned to the hob. “Help yourself to the wine.” He gestured to the open bottle on the countertop next to two clean glasses.
“I’ll wait for dinner,” she said in spite of the fact that she had a desperate urge to get hammered and avoid the obvious awkwardness they were both feeling.
“It shouldn’t be long. How’s Roger?” Jon moving into safer territory.
“He’s doing well. He’s due to go back to the hospital in a couple of days to see Angus, but everything seems fine. Oh, and the police have been back with more questions about the accident.”
“That’s good news. What did the police say, have they got any leads?” Jon drained the potatoes and tossed them in butter and some herbs he’d already chopped.
“I’m not sure,” admitted Steph. “Eddie mentioned it then Dad and Paul changed the subject, so probably not. I can’t believe that anybody would do that to him, to anyone and then just leave him,” said Steph sadly. “When I think of how things could have turned out . . .”
Jon put the food down and moved to where she stood, wrapping his arms around her, holding her tightly as he whispered, “I know, but it didn’t turn out like anything else did it? He is safe and on the road to recovery, so don’t think that way, Steph, please. Did your brothers ask about us?”
“I told them we’d had a big row last week and that I’d run away for some space, which is essentially the truth. I told them I was coming here tonight to talk. My dad had already told them about Penny and about you being loaded.” She had instinctively wrapped her own arms around his waist and was holding onto him as if her life depended on it now as she considered the ‘what ifs’ of her father’s accident.
“Come on, let’s eat, and talk, okay?” Preparing to release himself from her, he gently kissed the top of her head.
They satat the dining table opposite each other and as Jon attempted to refill Steph’s half empty wine glass she shook her head. “I shouldn’t, I’m driving.”
“You’re not staying?” he asked with a mixture of hurt and surprise in his voice.
“I didn’t think that would be a good idea, we were meeting to talk,” she said softly.
“Please, Steph, don’t make this any harder. Please have another drink and if you want to go home but you’ve had too much to drink, I will walk you home, it’s not exactly far, is it?”
She nodded. “I should probably have dropped my car home and walked over.”
“Let’s talk then,” Jon said seriously.
