I scrubbed the thoughts from my mind. Moran would still be my friend, and I would look back on this with fond memories. This was how it had to be. I had known it from a young age. What I hadn’t anticipated was how hard it would be to stop being intimate with him. But that time wasn’t here yet.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The Right Honorable Bernice Natham
I flipped the last page of the manuscript, my eyes strained from reading in the dim light. The weather had turned brisk right after Moran left, and I glanced at the clock, shocked to see it was seven in the evening. Timmy usually came to walk me home, but I hadn’t heard any knocks on the door. Overcome with worry, I went to the window to look outside. My jaw dropped. Snow was everywhere I looked. No wonder Timmy didn’t come; he’d probably stayed home because of the weather. Moran’s warning returned to me, and I shook my head, my stomach dropping.
The book had enthralled me so much that I couldn’t stop reading it. I put chilly hands to my warm cheeks, shocked by what I read.
The chill in the reception area was equally as pervasive as in Moran’s office. The radiator had stopped working earlier, and he had told me to leave early if it snowed. The book had tied me to his desk. It was at once enlightening and shocking and had a way of igniting my emotions. It also sparked my blood, and more than once, I squirmed in my seat, delicious little ripples going across my pussy, but I was unable to relieve them. I didn’t have a Lord Golden or a Dark Knight to pleasure me the way they’d pleasured Lady X.
Of course, if the book had come to life, I would have cast Moran in the role of the Dark Knight and Ash as Lord Golden. Although, reading about their characters, the Dark Knight was more like Ash, and the Golden Knight like Moran. Either way, I wanted them to come to life. It was silly, but a good book did that for you.
I grabbed my coat and slipped my arms into it. Slipping my hands into the gloves, I went to the back stairwell. If I didn’t get home, the girls would worry. Luckily, it was supposed to be a rare night off for Eloise.
A flash of white startled me, and I grabbed my collar, laughing with relief at the sight of the beautiful white cat. Glittering green eyes stared at me before it rubbed against my leg, purring rather loudly. This was Moran’s cat and I reached down to pick it up, petting its soft fur. It butted its head against my chin, and I smiled. “You sure are a friendly lot.”
The cat struggled to get loose, and I put it on the ground. I couldn’t dawdle anymore. I needed to get home. I stepped farther into the stairwell and music drifted down from the flat above. I halted mid-stride, my stomach tied in knots. Moran was at home. My knees began to feel weak and I grabbed onto the banister, relieved that he hadn’t come into his office and seen me reading the manuscript. Licking my dry lips, I went to the outer door and opened it. A strong wind buffeted me, the chill in the air stealing my breath. I stepped out and sank into the snow almost to my knees. There was no way I could walk home in this weather.
The sourness of my stomach increased, hunger driving me even more than my desire to go home. I bit my bottom lip, tears threatening to fall. With a reluctant sigh, I returned to the building, closing the door behind me. Mrs. Paul lived off-site, and it was too cold outside to stay downstairs. My only option was to interrupt Moran. I stood in the stairwell staringupward, dreading the upcoming interview but excited to see him nonetheless. This was a mistake of my own making, but I couldn’t stay in the hallway all night long, nor could I stay in the reception area with no heat. Or food. With a sigh of resignation, I cursed my own negligence and took the stairs up to his flat.
The music was louder, and I lifted my hand to knock on the door, but no one answered. The cat rubbed itself against my leg, startling me once more. “I want to go inside as well,” I told the animal. Dare I be bold enough to just open the door and go in? Standing in the hallway wasn’t doing me any good, and I might as well face the music, so to speak.
My hands shaking, I turned the knob, surprised to find it open. I knocked on the door again for good measure and waited a breath. Still no response. Would I find Mr. Moran in a state of dishabille again? Stifling a giggle, I cracked the door, debating the wisdom of attempting to gain his attention. He might be asleep.
My stomach growled, and I pushed my hand into it.
The cat butted his way into the room, taking the decision from me. With a soft whoosh, the door swung open to reveal a rectangular room with polished wood and maroon accents. There were two chairs and a sofa...
I gasped at the sight of Moran and Ash on the sofa, half-clothed and kissing, their hands on each other’s privates.
“Lord Golden and the Dark Knight!” I put my hand to my mouth as soon as I realized I had spoken aloud. Mortified, I tried to leave before they noticed me.
“Bloody hell, Mrs. Worth,” Moran yelled, his eyes locked with mine. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Head down, I said, “I, um, sorry, I well, I was caught in the snow and, well, I will just go now.” I shut the door, my cheeks burning. The book had come to life.
No sooner had I reached the lower landing than Moran appeared, his clothing awry. Fury brightened his eyes, and he glared at me. “Mrs. Worth, a word.”
“That isn’t necessary. I will gather my things and leave.” What else could I say? I was obviously fired for intruding on his privacy. If he knew the entire truth, he would be even more livid.
Ash stepped behind Moran. Unlike his friend...er lover, he seemed calm given the situation. “You can’t leave. There’s a blizzard outside. Come in. We need to talk.”
Indecision weighed on me, but there was no practical solution other than to stay. If I went out in the snow, I would freeze to death. With a reluctant nod, I went back up the stairs. Moran stormed into the flat. Ash took a more sedate pace.
