by Penny Henry
Ali blushed and lowered her eyes. "You could talk to Kierran about it, Beth. You know he would be only too happy to help."
"Mmm. I know. It’s just... I need the right person with me. Kierran is a very busy man and Darren isn't the charitable type. It will be an uphill struggle. I don't know if I can do it on my own. Perhaps when the house and the franchise funding are sorted out I'll take another look at it."
Ali couldn't resist a tiny dig. "Let's hope you’ve got enough money left," she said sweetly. "It would be a shame for those that really need your help to go without."
Beth shot Ali an accusing glance. "I can't do everything on my own."
"Don't blame me, Beth. You've got Darren to help if he cares that much about you."
Beth bit her tongue. "Let's not argue about it now, Ali. It will just have to wait until I'm good and ready. That's all there is to it."
"Whatever you say, Beth."
"Don’t be like that, Ali. You knew I was depending on you."
"Don't you dare try to lay it on me, Beth. I didn't go running to Kierran when it got too hot to handle."
Beth instantly reddened. "It's not that simple, Ali, and well you know it. I have to support Darren."
Ali pushed herself out of her chair and glared down at Beth. "Yes it is, Beth. You decide what you want and you take the consequences. It really is that simple." The bubble had burst and there were tears in her eyes. "Can't you see, Beth?"
Suddenly they were not alone. "See what?" Darren’s voice cut through the tension like a razor blade through vibrant flesh. "What's going on?"
Ali swung her blazing eyes onto the arrogant interloper. Without turning her head she spoke savagely, "Why don't you tell him, Beth?" She brushed past Darren and ran to the door, letting it slam behind her as she hurried through a crowd of startled guests that moved aside to allow her tearful passage.
"Well, what have you got to tell me, Beth?" He was dressed in leathers and dropped his helmet on the floor
"Sit down, Darren. I didn't expect you back so soon."
"Obviously not." Darren was not in the mood for niceties. "I thought we’d seen the last of that interfering busybody."
"You certainly went out of your way to achieve it, didn't you?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Don’t play the fool, Darren. You know exactly what I'm talking about." Her gaze was hard and accusing. "I've spoken to Kierran."
"Oh." Darren dropped his eyes and lowered his voice. "I thought it was for the best. Ali just wasn't suitable."
"Really? And why was that? Was it because she didn't agree with every little thing that you and Jacob said? You could have sabotaged her career. It was a spiteful thing to do, Darren. Maybe Ali was too perceptive for your own comfort. Perhaps it's Ali's advice that I should be listening to."
"Don't be silly, Beth. The woman was obviously besotted with you. She would have said anything to make me look bad in front of you."
"You don't need any help, Darren. You manage pretty well on your own."
Darren pressed his lips into a tight line. He was furious with Kierran Hardy. He had no right repeating his accusations to Beth. He thought quickly. "What was Ali expecting you to tell me, Beth?" He could tell by her eyes that he’d struck a nerve.
She stared into the middle distance for a minute before answering. "It's not important. It was just a crazy idea that Ali had."
Darren didn't bother pursuing the subject. He had said enough to divert Beth's attention. She had a wistful look in her eyes that convinced Darren he had acted just in time. Ali had a power over Beth that he hadn’t known how to combat. He had dealt with Ali's threat with the same ruthlessness that he had met every other challenge for Beth's affection.
Darren stayed for a fresh cup of coffee, telling Beth about his day. He had probably earned himself a speeding ticket. The bike was phenomenal. He talked about where he’d been and the speeds he’d got it up to. Darren talked until he’d worn her down. He talked until Beth was her usual docile self, resigned to her fate in Darren’s manipulative hands.
"I think I'm going to go now, sweetheart... Beth... I said I'm going."
She hadn’t been listening. "Oh, right. Sorry, Darren. My mind was elsewhere. Are we meeting up this evening?"
"I don't think so. I've had a tiring day on the Ducati." Beth was back under his control. He didn’t fancy another boring night in her company. He had been neglecting Lucy and he needed to keep her sweet until she had finished the company manual. Alfie was dragging his feet on his shares but they’d soon be in the bag with Beth’s and Lucy would be gone. In the meantime, he had other glorious uses for Lucy. He’d keep her in the apartment until Beth started asking questions. “I’ll see you tomorrow. We’re meeting Clive to tie things up with the house. I expect he’ll want a deposit.” He unwound himself from his armchair and stood up. "I'll see you around two o'clock."
Beth stood up with him to walk to the car park and say goodbye. She watched the shiny machine disappear from sight. Darren hadn’t even looked inside the Mercedes yet. She wondered what she was going to do with herself. She didn’t have any other friends. She was feeling washed out. Her brain was having difficulty focusing on anything for more than five seconds. A void had opened inside her and her life was suddenly empty. Then she noticed the silver Peugeot 306 parked on the far side of the car park. It was Ali's car.
Beth’s heart jerked into overdrive. New energy was pumped to her heavy limbs. She twisted her head to scan the car park like an owl watching for a rabbit to break cover. There was no movement between the cars. Ali must be inside the hotel. Beth walked quickly, pushing through the doors to look for Ali. Her breath was coming in short rasps as she looked into every room. She could barely stop herself from calling Ali’s name. She found her in the restaurant, sitting over a glass of coke and wrapped in her thoughts.
"Ali. Thank goodness. I thought you’d gone.”
Ali jumped up from her chair. "You’re frightening me, Beth. What's wrong? Has something happened?"
Beth was suddenly feeling foolish. "I… I wanted to catch you before you left." She felt the burning in her cheeks. Ali sat down and Beth pulled out a chair to join her. She had hidden in the restaurant, too angry to drive. Beth was the last person she wanted to see right now.
“Why did you want to see me?"
"I didn't want us to part angry. It seems we always end up rowing."
"I wonder why that is, Beth? Maybe somebody is trying to tell us something. Perhaps Darren was right to get me out of the way. It’s never going to work between us, is it?" She colored slightly. "We're too different, Beth. I prefer to the cautious approach. But you have a partner who doesn’t want to hear anyone else’s opinion - especially mine."
"You shouldn’t be so hard on Darren, Ali. He’s a possessive man. You brought out the worst in his nature. He’s not stupid. He was jealous of you." She looked directly into Ali’s eyes. "He's never had a reason to be jealous before."
Ali dropped her eyes. "Well, now he can have you all to himself."
"Is that what you really want, Ali?"
"Don't do this, Beth. Can't you see that we’ve both been hurt enough? I can't keep doing this. You've made your choice and now you have to live with it. You can’t run to me every time you have doubts about Darren. It's just not fair."
"But we'll never know, Ali, not about us.
"You can't take everything on approval, Beth," she drilled a confrontational look at Beth. "Sometimes you have to take a risk."
"But what if we’ve got it wrong?" Beth was agitated. She wore the haunted look of a Christian about to be thrown to the lions.
Ali stood up with fire in her eyes. "Sometimes, Beth, you make me sick. There’s a time when you have to take a long hard look at yourself. I suggest you do that, Beth. Stop playing with other people’s emotions. You need to ask yourself what you really want. The world doesn’t revolve around you, Beth.” She knocked her chair to one side. Her stare was blazing as she sp
at out her words. “Who the hell do you think you are?”
Ali stalked from the restaurant leaving Beth rooted to her seat. She stared blankly at the empty space where Ali had stood glaring at her. When she finally dragged herself from her chair she knew that it was over. The dream, the fantasy, the game she had been playing had been exposed for the sham that it was. She was beginning to think that Tom had been right. Maybe it had been an infatuation. There were some difficult questions she needed to ask herself. Had she truly wanted a long-term relationship with Ali? Or was it simply the need to be loved. She still had plans to marry Darren. That hadn’t changed at all. Maybe it really was for the best. She had to forget about Ali and concentrate on her future with the man she loved. She let out a tremulous sigh. It seemed her whole life had been dictated by what Darren wanted. That was another thing that Tom had been right about. Darren controlled her. For Darren she was prepared to lose the thrilling glimpse of the happiness she might have had with Ali. She didn’t think she’d ever have the courage to break free of him. It would take something cataclysmic. She was resigned to following the safe path of Darren’s footprints. The most damning thought was that she liked it that way.
Chapter Fourteen
The following morning Beth woke up feeling good about herself. Her first thoughts were for Tom. Ali was out of her life. She didn’t even know why she was thinking about Tom. He had never given her any hope. He had refused to make any promises. But if anyone was going to help her get out of the mess it would be Tom. She realized why she was feeling positive. Whenever she was in Tom’s company he made her feel safe and happy without a care in the world. Tom made her feel like a silly teenager. But she wasn’t, was she? Beth’s new resolve took a dive. She was engaged to be married to Darren. Tom was someone else she had to forget about. Her window was open and she could hear the birds chirping to each other. She had so much to look forward to. The Lottery win had given her the opportunity to do anything she felt like doing. Her positive vibes were back. She had more money than she would ever need. The world was her oyster. The past was behind her and Beth was the mistress of her own destination. From that moment on she would do everything in her power to make it work with Darren.
She showered and dressed briskly; humming to herself and not allowing herself time to think. She considered telephoning Darren but decided to leave it until after breakfast. She ate slowly and kept herself occupied with the morning newspapers. Time was getting on and she checked her watch. If she hurried she might catch Darren before he went out. She took the stairs two at a time and burst into her suite, grabbing the telephone and flopping into an armchair. The answer-phone was on and Darren's voice told her he was unavailable and invited her to leave a message. Beth declined the offer and replaced the handset. She fell back in the chair and reached for the TV remote. There had to be something to keep her mind from thinking.
She barely heard the knock on the door above the noise of the television. She switched off the set and rocked to her feet, almost running to the door. Perhaps Darren had planned to surprise her with an early visit. She would have the chance to tell him that from now on it would be just the two of them. That Darren had been right to be suspicious of her relationship with Ali. That from now on Darren could rest assured that she wouldn't be thinking of anyone but him.
"Ali!"
"Good morning, Beth."
Her good intentions vanished under the power of Ali’s smile. She was dressed in a fitted business suit that emphasized her curves. Her hair was pinned up with mischievous wisps trailing on her cheeks. A smile was pinned to her face and she was flushed with the pleasure of seeing Beth.
Beth realized she was gaping and gathered her senses. "Come in, Ali, come in.” She was breathless. “Wh… What on earth are you doing here?"
Ali stepped inside and set her briefcase on the floor. "I'm pleased to see you, too."
“Sorry, I didn't mean it like that. I’m just surprised to see you. After yesterday I wouldn't have blamed you for never wanting to see me again."
"We have unfinished business, Beth. Kierran isn't up to speed on your account yet. I wouldn't abandon you at this stage. I promise I won’t take up too much of your time. I'll keep it brief." She was brisk and businesslike. "I stumbled across something that I thought you should see."
Beth was puzzled by Ali’s seeming ability to ignore what was said yesterday and move on. She had spoken crisply and looked determined to get straight to the point. Beth couldn’t stop the words. “You look absolutely beautiful, Ali." She suddenly realized what she wanted from Ali. Beth wanted to have this delicate, doll-like woman in her bed. She was hot for Ali and wanted sex with her.
An open fire blazed from Ali’s cheeks. "I'm not sure you should be talking to me like that, Beth. Perhaps I should have telephoned and made an appointment at the bank." She was suddenly vulnerable and enchanting. She bent to her briefcase and pulled out a brown envelope. “Oh, here is your share certificate. We followed your instructions. Alfie was very helpful.”
Beth took the envelope and dropped it on a table. “I… I thought you’d never speak to me again." Beth was struggling to remain calm. The swarm of butterflies in her stomach closed their wings but the tremble in her legs was proving more difficult to control. She rested her eyes on Ali’s composed and natural beauty. Then she noticed that Ali’s hands were shaking like a leaves about to be snatched by the breeze.
"I never said that, Beth. I just wanted you to admit that there was something between us. That we had a special chemistry." She turned away from Beth. A squall of tears had misted her eyes. “I wanted Darren to know."
Beth put her hands on Ali’s shoulders and turned her round to see her face. "Why, Ali?"
Defiance flashed through the tears. "Because Darren’s got you and he doesn't deserve you."
Beth pulled Ali against the tightness in her chest, swallowing the lumpy creature that was blocking her throat. "I'm so sorry, Ali. I don't know what to say."
She sobbed into Beth’s chest. "Don’t you think I wanted you? Didn’t you ever wonder how it would be between us?"
Beth eased Ali away from her body and placed a crooked finger under her chin to tilt up her face. She swept her eyes across Ali’s flawless feature. "Ali…" Her name escaped Beth’s lips as her head dropped to claim Ali’s lips with a whispering kiss.
Ali's hands instinctively rose to Beth’s chest, pressing her palms against the warmth of Beth’s flesh. She acted with every intention of pushing Beth away, resisting her torturous attraction for one scant millisecond. Then Ali’s arms slid up to Beth’s shoulders. She gripped Beth fiercely, forcing herself against her, opening her mouth to accept the hot kiss. A whimper escaped Ali’s throat and she felt her legs start to buckle. The thought of total surrender to Beth liquefied her muscles. Only the strength of her arms clinging to Beth’s shoulders prevented her from collapsing to the carpet. She was Beth’s to do with as she wanted. She imagined she was in a world where her mind was suspended between life and dreams.
Beth walked Ali backwards to the bedroom and bent her spine to the bed. She knelt beside her and covered Ali’s face and throat with kisses that tingled on Beth’s lips. Ali arched her back and combed her fingers through Beth’s dark tresses, transmitting the urgency that burned through her body. She welcomed the hands that lifted her body to push her jacket from her shoulders, greeting each gentle movement with grateful moans. Ali’s pleasure continued unabated as Beth's kisses covered every inch of skin that was tenderly revealed.
Then Ali lay exposed to her gaze. Beth stood by the side of the bed and drifted her eyes over Ali’s perfect body, holding her breath as Ali lifted her arms above her head to unpin her hair and display herself in naked abandonment. She wanted the same as Beth. She wanted to be used by the beautiful emerald-eyed female that stood perfectly still as if unsure of Ali’s needs. Ali pushed her breasts together, offering herself to Beth’s greedy eyes. Beth undressed hurriedly. It was what they both wanted. What they had
wanted from the day their eyes had first clashed at the meeting with Kierran. She lay beside Ali, trailing her fingertips over Ali’s golden flesh before following the invisible trails with sucking kisses that caused Ali to jerk in almost unbearable pleasure. Beth’s mouth closed over a swollen nipple and her hands tangled in Ali’s hair. She sensed that Ali was impatient to be loved. She swept her kisses down over Ali’s belly and twisted to lie between her legs. For a moment their eyes locked and Beth read pure lust from Ali’s clenched white teeth and half-closed eyes. Beth dropped her head to the scent of Ali’s sex. She breathed in the heady aroma before clamping her mouth to the shiny cleft and allowing her tongue to begin its wicked work. Ali reached down to grab a handful of Beth’s hair, holding Beth’s mouth against her swollen lips, lifting her hips to allow Beth’s tongue to probe deeper. She groaned as she climaxed in a flood, screwing her hand in Beth’s hair and forcing her to swallow the flow of silky juices as she bucked her groin into Beth’s face. Then she relaxed as Beth sat back on her knees, wiping the corners of her mouth with a finger before sucking on it and holding Ali’s gaze. Then she walked over Ali’s body on her knees and crouched above her face before lowering her soaking labia to Ali’s mouth. Beth threw back her head as Ali’s expert tongue flicked on her clitoris before her allowing her lips to nibble on the engorged nub. Her dancing tongue was causing Beth to shudder uncontrollably as orgasm after orgasm racked her body. She dropped her head onto her chest before rolling off Ali’s face and lying next to her glowing body. She felt overcome with emotion. She was perspiring and breathing hard. Then she felt shock as Ali wriggled down the bed and parted Beth’s aching legs.
Ali raised her head to look at Beth. She smiled disarmingly. “You have a beautiful punani, Beth. It’s in the Kama Sutra. It means heavenly flower in Hawaiin. You have a heavenly flower between your legs, Beth.”