though.’
‘Tony, don’t start that again. All I want is friendship, OK?’
‘If you say so.’
‘I do say so. The only reason I’m here is to keep Desiree away.’
‘Really?’
‘Well, and because…because I’d like to get to know you. As a friend, I mean.’
‘Does your husband often work away?’
‘Yes, he does. Desiree misses him terribly.’
‘Do you?’
‘Do I miss him? Yes, of course I do. I feel lonely and bored at times but…’
‘That’s where I come in. When he’s away, you can spend some time with me.’
‘That’s nice of you but…Let’s get one thing straight. We’re only friends, OK?’
‘OK. I’ll make sure that the fact that I fancy you to bits won’t come into it.’
‘Tony, don’t.’
‘Don’t what?’
‘Keep on like that.’
‘Are you weakening?’
‘No. Look, I’ll go home if you’re going to keep on.’
‘If you go home, then Desiree will probably come round to see me.’
‘Yes, I think she will. Tony, you will make it clear that you just want to be her friend?’
‘I’ve already done that, but I’ll tell her again.’
‘Why not say that you have a girlfriend?’
‘Because I’ve already said that I haven’t. The last thing I want is to start lying to Desiree. I’m a hopeless liar. When I was a kid, my mother used to say that my face went red whenever I lied. And she was right. You’re worrying too much again. Just relax and enjoy your drink.’
‘Yes, yes I will.’
Sipping her vodka and orange as Tony put some music on, Belinda pondered on her husband. They got on all right, but Brian worked away so much that it wasn’t easy to have a proper relationship. She was alone in her bed more often than not and, when he was home, he was busy with the garden or decorating the house. He seemed to spend more time with Desiree than he did with her. They rarely went out these days, she mused. There was always so much to do before he went abroad again.
‘Another one?’ Tony asked as she knocked back her drink.
‘Well, I…’
‘Go on,’ he coaxed her with a chuckle. ‘It’ll help you to relax.’
‘I am relaxed,’ she said as he refilled her glass.
‘You’re tense, Belinda. You’re all wound up, and you know it.’
‘Yes, you’re right. It’s all this business with Desiree. I knew that she’d take an interest in boys at some stage. But to fall for a man old enough to be her father…’
‘Hang on,’ he said with a chortle. ‘You make me out to be ancient. I’m only twenty-seven.’
‘Sorry. You see, she’s doing so well with her college work. If she’s distracted now, if she neglects her work at this crucial point in her education –’
‘I know what you’re saying,’ he interrupted her. ‘If she falls in love, then you can say goodbye to her education.’
‘Yes, that’s right. God, this vodka is going to my head.’
‘In that case, have some more.’
‘Tony, I don’t want to go home drunk.’
‘And I don’t want you to go home at all.’
Again pushing him away Again sitting by her side, Tony placed his hand on her naked knee and kissed her cheek. Belinda felt her stomach somersault as he locked his lips to hers in a passionate kiss. She tried to push him away, but finally succumbed and placed her hand behind his head and returned his kiss. Their mouths pressed together, their tongues entwined. Belinda let out a rush of breath as Tony slipped his hand up her skirt and sank his fingertips into the warm swell of her panties. It had been so long since anyone had paid her so much attention, she reflected. But she was married, this was her next-door neighbour, another man…
‘Tony, don’t,’ she whispered as her outer labia swelled and her vaginal muscles tightened. Ignoring her protest, he kneaded the swell of her vulval flesh through her tight panties. Her body quivering, her heart racing, she knew that this was so very wrong but…Her husband was away, no one would know what she’d done, she was