The Second Time

by Jade Winters

  The sound of pealing laughter rose again, and through the glass she could see Laura schmoozing while still dressed in what looked suspiciously like full widow’s garb to Madison. She hadn’t paid any attention to anyone at the funeral, so seeing Laura, dressed as, but not acting like the stricken widow, came as a considerable surprise.

  With her black veil covering the top of her face she was still managing to flirt with one of the men who made up the Clover Ltd board of directors, to the evident displeasure of the man’s wife who was standing behind his shoulder but was clearly excluded from any part of their conversation.

  Madison dropped Darcie’s folder onto her desk, steeled herself for the ordeal to come for a second, then left her office and strolled across the corridor to the boardroom. The plan, such as it was, to rescue the man, mollify his wife, then set Laura straight about the way she was behaving, flew straight out of the window as soon as she walked into the room.

  The general, undulating disharmony of conversation died to an occasional whisper as all eyes turned to regard her.

  Before anyone else could react, Laura pounced. All Madison could see was a vision of an elegantly and perfectly dressed woman approach before she was encircled by a pair of surprisingly strong arms and hauled into an embrace she had no chance, or inclination, to return.

  ‘There you are, I tried to get your attention at the funeral but you must not have seen me,’ Laura said, loud enough to ensure that everyone in the room could hear her. ‘We are all so sorry for your loss, you must be feeling overwhelmed.’

  A murmur of mutual agreement and condolence crept around the room while Laura maintained her pincer-like grip on Madison.

  Over her shoulder Madison could see the board member, now released from Laura’s Methuselah-like influence, being dragged away by the elbow, soundly and quietly being berated by his wife.

  Eventually, Laura’s grasp on Madison eased and the vision in black stepped back to look her in the eye. ‘Really, Madison. I couldn’t have been more shocked at Bryan’s passing.’ She didn’t look particularly shocked to Madison. She had the air of a shark circling its prospective victim, waiting for the right moment to strike the killer blow.

  ‘At least he didn’t have to suffer. In my opinion a heart attack’s the best way to go.’

  Laura threaded her arm though Madison’s and looked around. She nodded at a table set up with drinks at the far end of the cavernous boardroom. ‘Let’s go get a drink and talk somewhere a little quieter, shall we?’

  Laura set off, almost dragging a reluctant Madison behind her until they reached the table. ‘What would you like to drink?’

  Madison had a mental flash of Snow White being offered a rosy apple by the evil witch and had to work hard to stop herself laughing at the image. She managed to shake her head.

  Laura turned to the table and poured herself a large glass of vodka, then turned back, before smiling her gleaming sneer at Madison. She held up the glass and said, ‘It dulls the pain,’ before knocking back half the glass in one mouthful.

  ‘I can imagine,’ Madison said letting out a soft sigh. Nothing could dull the pain that resided in her heart. Nothing.

  ‘I had great hopes for Bryan and myself,’ Laura said. ‘Although we hadn’t known each other long we had a great, what’s the word? A great Sympatico. He told me he was the happiest he’d been in years.’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘Yes. Is that so difficult to believe? He had his heir apparent in you. He had a younger companion in myself.’ Madison couldn’t help raising her eyebrows at that. ‘Oh, I know you youngsters think you have a monopoly on living life and having fun but believe me, even a man of Bryan’s age is capable of having a good time with the right help … and the right partner.’ Laura grinned and winked at Madison.

  Madison just felt sick.

  ‘You mean you and he were—?’

  ‘Let’s not be indelicate about it, my dear. Let’s just say—Oh, look, Bette just arrived, she said she had an errand to run.’ Laura waved a black-lace gloved hand across the room, and Madison turned to see the equally shark-like figure of Bette begin to circle the room.

  Madison turned back to Laura. ‘You were saying?’

  ‘Sorry? Oh, yes. Let’s just say that your uncle died with a smile on his face, doing something …’ Laura leant in closer, then whispered in Madison’s ear, ‘… and someone, he loved.’

  Madison forced herself to swallow down the rising nausea.

  Laura waved at someone over Madison’s shoulder. ‘Oh, Charles, lovely to see you again.’

  With a step to one side she vanished behind Madison, although her shrill voice still rang in Madison’s ears as she stood, mouth agape, trying to take in and process the hideous news, accompanied by an equally hideous image in her head, that she had just heard.

  After a few moments, Madison turned away from the table and shouldered her way through the gathered throng, glancing up just once to see Bette, the sorcerer’s apprentice, weaving her dark magic on yet another board member.

  Back in her office, she closed the door behind her then slumped heavily into her chair, resting her elbows on the table and her head in her hands.

  She was well aware that the charm offensive both Laura and Bette were waging against the board members was a strategy they must have brewed up over a steaming cauldron somewhere, probably within an hour of Bryan’s death. No longer able to schmooze the owner with their wily feminine charms, they had turned to the next best thing, his sidekicks, presumably in the hope that it would garner them enough support for their project, to overturn what they doubtless already suspected was Madison’s opposition.

  She lifted her head at a gentle knock on the door and indicated for one of the secretaries, whose smart but bright clothing stood out incongruously against the black of the people milling around in the distance behind her, to come in.

  The young woman opened the door and leant in. To Madison she didn’t look as though she knew whether to smile or frown.

  ‘Mr. Bayliss, from Bayliss Thorne, is here to see you.’

  ‘Lawyer?’ Madison asked.

  ‘Yes, he said he arranged the meeting with Mr. Brogan yesterday before you got back.’

  ‘Ah right. I haven’t had a chance to look at my calendar yet. Send him through and could you rustle up some coffee and biscuits, please?’

  The young woman nodded, looking surprised for some reason, then quickly disappeared from view.

  Madison placed her laptop back into her case, pushed the sheets of paper where they must have slid out back into Darcie’s folder and put them on top of her computer, zipped up the bag and stowed it on the floor next to her chair.

  Another knock on the door and a grey-haired man with half-moon spectacles was ushered in, his face a picture of insincere subservience.

  He must have been rubbing his hands together when Bryan died, she thought. All the legal work he’d done over the last forty-eight hours would doubtless pay for another expensive holiday or a brand-new car for his mistress.

  Madison stood and, with as bright a smile as she could manage, shook the man’s sweat-slicked hand, and sat back down.

  It was seven o’clock by the time she finally got out of the office. An afternoon of endless legalese from a procession of legal professionals had prompted a headache but after signing multiple documents, here, here, and here and initialling here, and here, she was now the legal owner of a multi-million-pound hotel business, whose occupancy rates were down by 60 percent according to one grey suit, and, he had also said, while they had some reserves to weather the storm, the time was fast approaching where, unless the trend in bookings reversed quickly, they could be faced with the blah blah blah.

  Madison had zoned out his monotone ramblings at that point.

  She knew she was cutting it fine to get back to her place in time to see Darcie but, for a change, the fates were with her, and a train ride and fifteen-minute walk later, she climbed the stairs to her flat.

/>   Darcie was at the door, talking to Kay. They both turned their heads as they heard her footsteps in the corridor. Darcie’s face lit up like a Belisha beacon when she saw who was approaching.

  Once they were inside, Kay made some excuse about being late for a date with ‘James’ but she had disappeared before Madison had the chance to say anything about it.

  When Kay slammed the door behind her, Darcie and Madison simply spent the next few seconds gazing into each other’s eyes. No words were exchanged, just a look of wonder from them both.

  Eventually Madison spoke. ‘You want something to eat?’

  Darcie shook her head. ‘Nah, I had something earlier. You?’

  ‘Not hungry. Too much going on …’ Madison tapped the side of her head with her forefinger ‘… up here.’

  ‘Tough day?’

  ‘The worst. First the funeral then an awful wake, then being surrounded by solicitors and money men all afternoon.’

  ‘Sounds horrible. You want to talk about it?’

  Madison shook her head. ‘Let’s talk about you. How are things?’

  ‘Stressful. I met with Emma, then had a panic when I couldn’t find my folder until I read your message. By that time, I’d had enough and went home for a long soak in the bath.’

  Madison lifted her laptop case from where she had dropped it on the floor, unzipped the top and lifted out the folder before holding it out to Darcie. ‘Before I forget.’

  Darcie reached out but instead of taking the file, she gripped Madison’s wrist gently and pulled her towards her. Madison, exhausted as she was, still felt a hitch in her breathing, and her heart starting to race at being so close to Darcie.

  The two women held each other close, in an embrace that helped to wipe away the grimness of the days last few hours.

  ‘I’m sorry about your crappy day,’ Madison said, her lips mere inches from Darcie’s, the warmth of desire beginning to glow in her core.

  ‘I’m sorry about your uncle. And for getting pissed on our last night.’ Darcie cast her eyes down, lingering only slightly at the sight of Madison’s blouse whose top button had come undone somehow.

  Madison lifted a finger under Darcie’s chin and tipped her head back up, running her thumb across her bottom lip and her cheek. ‘If it wasn’t for the alcohol making you let down your defences, I would never have known what Bette did to us.’

  ‘I suppose.’

  Madison leant in and brushed her lips, a mere tender graze, against Darcie’s. ‘You want to snuggle on the sofa and watch some brainless movie?’

  ‘Sounds like bliss.’ Darcie whispered before kissing Madison slightly more firmly on the lips. Then she gave her a final squeeze and stepped back. Madison wanted nothing more than to hold, and be held by Darcie and, after five minutes debating which film they were going to watch, and another ten minutes of Madison trying to persuade Darcie to have at least one glass of wine, that is what they did.

  Half an hour into the film, Madison was struggling to keep her eyes open. She looked across at Darcie whose own eyes were also heavy and hooded.

  ‘Listen. It has been a heck of a couple of days. I’m exhausted. All I want to do is have a shower and go to bed … plus this film is really boring.’

  Darcie nodded her agreement although Madison didn’t know for sure if it was to the general idea or her own judgement on the film. ‘Would you like to … you know, stay over?’

  Darcie sat up slightly in her seat, twisting to face Madison. ‘Are you sure? What about Kay?’

  ‘Well if she is true to form she’ll turn up hungover some time tomorrow.’

  Darcie stared at her for a moment then with a sly grin asked, ‘Does that include sharing the shower too?’

  Madison grinned back. ‘I’m sure I have a spare towel somewhere.’ She stood up, holding out her hand, then pulling Darcie to her feet.

  Darcie stared into Madison’s eyes. ‘I never thanked you properly for Thailand, you know.’

  ‘There’s no need, but if you insist I can think of a couple of ways you can show your appreciation.’

  Darcie’s eyes widened, then hand in hand they headed towards the bathroom.

  The shower stung like a jet of sharp pins against Madison’s sensitive skin as she stepped in, one of her hands grasping one of Darcie’s as she led her lover under the water. Once they were both in, Madison slid the shower screen across feeling an immediate temperature rise from the cool air of the bathroom. She stood opposite Darcie, their eyes locked on each other, her whole world in that moment of time within a matter of feet.

  The hot water dampened her and started to run in darting, jagging, thrilling rivulets across her skin and down her face, dripping from any angular point on her body where gravity exerted too great a force for the water to stay on her excited skin.

  ‘You are incredible,’ Madison said in a whisper as her gaze dropped to admire Darcie’s body. Every part of her looked perfect to Madison and ripe for further exploration, even though she had already explored every inch in Thailand, this was different, this was back home. This felt like the start of something new, a commitment to each other that what happened in Phuket wasn’t some kind of temporary liaison brought on by heat, proximity, and alcohol. This was real.

  Darcie, the woman she had loved and lost was here, in her flat, naked, and with her in her shower. She shook her head, still unable to believe that her dream had come true.

  Water droplets, launched from her hair, did their crazy jagged dance down the tiled wall. Steam rose, turning the shower stall into a misty moor in a summer downpour, the water warm and soothing, washing away the memory of every bad day she’d had for the last ten years.

  Madison reached down a hand and gently lifted Darcie’s face, easing her chin up, so she could see her eyes, the ones that entranced her all those years ago. A feeling of guilt rose up that she had wasted so much time in her life waiting for Darcie when everybody she knew had told her to stop. The guilt wasn’t because of the waste, but because she had almost let everyone convince her to give in. She would be forever thankful that she hadn’t.

  Madison leant in to Darcie, gently kissing at first, barely a touch, then leaning in further, exerting pressure, deepening the kiss until Darcie’s lips parted, granting access to her sweet mouth. Their tongues flickering together in their own crazy dance of passion.

  Their time in Thailand had been hot in many senses but tonight she intended Darcie to have no doubts about their relationship, about what it meant to be with her and for Darcie to be with Madison.

  Turning her side-on, Madison gently pressed Darcie against the wall of the shower stall. The cold of the tiles eliciting a hiss from Darcie; Madison watching as a wave of goose bumps washed across Darcie’s body. The body she had dreamt of playing for ten years.

  ‘Stay there?’ she said, her eyes fixing on Darcie’s for a second. Through water and steam, Darcie nodded, her hands by her sides and flat against the wall. Madison nodded back, then leant in to kiss her again, gently brushing her lips.

  The rushing sound of the shower changed as Madison pulled away, bending to pick up a sponge and shower gel, squirting the latter on the former and standing back up.

  ‘Turn around,’ Madison said, she was in control but tried to say it like it was a request, not a demand.

  Darcie blinked against the shower water in her eyes, then turned, holding herself against the wall with both hands flat above her head, the water now bouncing off her back, clouding up the shower even more.

  Madison started on Darcie’s broad shoulders, spreading foam across with the sponge, then using her other hand to knead and press gently into the muscles, feeling each one relax under her ministrations.

  ‘That is so nice, the heat … you … don’t stop,’ Darcie murmured through a groan.

  Madison smiled. She had no intention of stopping.

  Her attention then was switched to Darcie’s back, sneakily bending over for the bottle of gel, she squirted it, then smiled at the s
queal of shock and half-hearted threat of revenge from Darcie before she began to knead her back, soon turning thoughts of revenge to moans of pleasure.

  ‘Where did you learn to do that,’ Darcie said, just audible over the thrum and hiss of the shower.

  ‘I didn’t. I’m making it up as I go along.’

  ‘Don’t stop.’ Darcie’s voice was husky as Madison squirted gel on her hands, pressed herself as close as she could and slipped her hands onto Darcie’s belly, gently applying pressure to the dome, raising a lather there before she moved her hands up, slowly running her fingers more firmly across the skin on Darcie’s ribs then finally cupping her breasts, reaching across with finger and thumb to hold each nipple. She caressed them gently, forcing them erect, forcing a moan from Darcie’s lips as she worked her, just slightly increasing the pressure with each twist and turn until, with a gentle flick of digits Madison released them.

  Madison leant forward to kiss the length of Darcie’s spine, treating each bony protrusion to a tender peck while scoring her nails gently across the pale skin either side, and across the firm but yielding flesh of her buttocks causing Darcie to arch her back.

  Madison swept her hand along Darcie’s bum and between her legs, Darcie widening her stance slightly, automatically.

  She turned Darcie around and then feeling her way carefully, Madison probed with her tongue, claiming the prize of Darcie’s clit. Feeling resistance as she slowly circled the hood, Madison ensured that each slow, languorous circle didn’t quite hit the spot.

  ‘Oh God … you are driving me crazy,’ Darcie moaned between gasping breaths.

  Bringing up her fingers, Madison slowly pushed two back through the slick fold of Darcie’s lips, working purely by touch she moved until she felt a yield, then pushing upward she slid them inside. Darcie inhaled sharply. When Madison gently began to thrust, a constant moan escaped Darcie’s lips, growing in volume and intensity when each thrust was finally matched with a flick of Darcie’s engorged clit. Darcie met Madison’s rhythm with gentle backward movements using her arms to push herself, then just one arm as she reached over to grab Madison’s hair.