There was a decking area that led to a private garden, and I leant against the handrail and waited for Tom. As I did, a woman approached me.
"Excuse me, darling, do you have a light?"
"No, I'm sorry, I don't smoke."
"Never mind, I should give it up anyway." She carefully placed the cigarette back into the packet and leant against the handrail next to me.
"Beautiful night, isn't it?"
"Yes, yes, it is," I replied.
"You’re new here, aren't you?"
I looked over towards this stranger I had just met and wondered how she could possibly know that with all this makeup and a mask on.
The pause that became my reply must have answered her question and she laughed. "Don't worry, darling. I have a sense for these things."
She began to tell me how she was introduced to these clubs, what she liked and what she didn't. I was curious about what she was into, so I asked her about her different fetishes.
"My darling, fetish is not all about sex. It's about control. It's about telling the person if you want sex and how you want it. It's about whether they go on the top or the bottom, and you decide."
I was fascinated by this woman. She was certainly a woman of the world. She continued, "Another thing, darling, I never go down on a man unless he's showered, squeaky clean and waxed."
I listened with intrigue and thought how it was a good job I was wearing a mask, so she couldn’t see the expressions on my face and the enormity of my eyes widening. I desperately wanted to see this woman without the mask, just to see what sort of woman did this sort of thing on a regular basis.
Just then, out of the darkness, a man appeared by her side and whispered something in her ear, to which she replied, "My darling, I don't spit, I swallow, and believe me you couldn't handle me."
I almost choked on my drink; I couldn't believe she had just said that. Tom suddenly reappeared and our conversation ended.
"Come on, we're leaving," he said as he grabbed my hand.
I quickly called back to the mystery woman, "Nice to have met you."
"Yes, you too, darling. Maybe I will see you again soon."
With that, we left the ball.
Tom was quiet on the journey back to the hotel. I wondered if it was because of what had happened earlier with Anton. When we were back in the room, I asked him what was wrong.
"Nothing, I’m fine. Did you enjoy tonight?"
"It was ok… different."
Tom poured me a drink from the mini bar and handed it to me. "Different good or different bad?"
"Just different," I replied. I kicked my shoes off and climbed onto the bed, adjusting the pillows slightly so I could rest my head against the headboard.
"Well, I'm glad you enjoyed it," he said as he polished all of his drink off.
I stared back at him. "I didn't say I enjoyed it! Did you?"
Tom didn't reply, just shrugged his shoulders. What was wrong with him? He took me, I didn't ask to go. I didn't want to argue with him. I could do that at home. He came over and lay on his side next to me on the bed, resting his head on his hand. "So, was it good then…?"
"What? I don't know what you mean."
"You know, you and that bloke."
"I told you it wasn't anything really, just different. What’s all this about? You were the one that took me remember."
With that, Tom grabbed me with some force, frantically pulling at the laces on the front of my dress. Once undone he pulled the fabric down, exposing my breasts. He clutched them hard, pressed his lips against mine and penetrated my mouth with his tongue. He roughly turned me over and pulled me down by my ankles, till my torso was at the foot of the bed. Pushing my dress up, he groaned as he saw my stockings. His lips touched the top of my naked thigh, he pulled at my lace pants and revealed my naked flesh.
His lips brushed against my skin, and slowly he traced them around my bottom. His fingers searched for my clitoris, gently teasing it as they made contact with the pulsating flesh. I began to breathe faster, begging him to get inside me.
“No, not yet. Now you wait for me.” But I couldn’t – no – didn’t want to. I wanted him right now.
“For God’s sake, Tom, do it now.” And that’s just what he did.
In no time he was inside me, fucking me hard from behind, thrusting me against the bed. With every move, I let out a sound of pleasure, and my heavy breathing soon turned into groans of anticipation.
My body craved him more and more. The rush built up; then, like a wave crashing over me, it was there. My body stiffened with the pleasure that engulfed me. Tom’s rhythm gathered pace, faster and harder than ever before until he too cried out with pleasure.
We lay side by side afterwards. I wondered what he was thinking and then he broke the silence with, “I’m sorry.”
“What for?” I replied.
“Everything. You’re right, it was me who took you, but I was watching you tonight, and I couldn’t stand to see you with anyone else.”
I sat up and rested against the headboard. I wasn’t expecting to hear that from him. I got up and went to the bathroom, locking the door behind me.
I could hear Tom calling through to me, “Alex, I’m sorry. I’ve ruined it now, haven’t I? It wasn’t meant to be like this. It was going to be fun, we said, didn’t we?” He was asking and answering his own questions at the same time. I stood at the sink and looked at myself in the mirror, wondering what I was doing. He was right. This was never meant to happen. Since my meeting with Maria in Skiathos, my whole world had truly turned upside down.
When I came out of the bathroom, he was sat on the bed. “Are you ok?” he asked.
“Yes, I’m fine, just tired.” I climbed into bed and beckoned him over. He climbed in next to me and we held each other close till we fell asleep.
The next morning, we went for breakfast as usual. Tom was quiet though, and for once he seemed to be the one who was distant. “Is everything ok, Tom?”
“Yes, just thinking about some business I have to attend to, not looking forward to it.”
I wasn’t sure that I believed him. I wasn’t sure what, but something had changed. Breakfast that morning was the quietest I had ever had with Tom. We were usually chatting constantly but not today.
Chapter Fifteen
My journey home took forever. I couldn’t get Tom out of my head; I was confused, and my emotions were all over. What the hell was wrong with me? It was all supposed to be a bit of fun, nothing serious.
Everything was the same at home, James nursing his laptop and the boys constantly in and out, using the house like a hotel.
The weekend seemed to drag. I kept myself busy by immersing myself in gathering information for a business meeting I had the next week. I returned to work on Monday and endeavoured to catch up on the work I had neglected while I had been with Tom. Susan and Lily seemed to be boring me even more than usual, and I just wanted to get away from it all. How I longed to be on that beautiful island, my island… Skiathos.
My silence was broken by the sound of Susan’s voice “Alex, Alex.”
“What?”
“Oh, sorry, I was just going to say I’ve brought that book for you.”
“Sorry, Susan, it’s me. I was miles away. Just thinking about this meeting tomorrow.”
“Oh, right, that’s ok. Anyway, I’ll lend you this one, then if you like it, I can lend you the others.”
I reached over the desk and took the book from her. I ran my fingers over the front cover and wondered what the fuss was all about.
“You have to give it chance. It’s a bit slow to begin with,” exclaimed Lily.
I looked up at Susan and smiled. “Thanks, Susan, I’ll give it a try, and thanks, Lily. I will do.”
That night when I got home, I began to gather my things together for the business seminar I was due to attend in London the next day. I didn’t sleep well that night. I hadn’t heard from Tom and I wondered if everything was ok. I must have nodded off though
, and the next thing I knew, my alarm had gone off. The snooze button seemed so tempting, and without realising, I had pressed it.
The first thing I remembered that morning was one of the boy's standing over me.
“Mum, can you drop us off at college?"
I glanced over at the clock and answered, "Sorry, guys, no chance. I'm running really late," I replied, then made my way down stairs. "James, why didn't you wake me?"
"Oh, sorry, I didn't know you had to be up," grunting at me as he said it.
"But you did. I told you last night, I have a business meeting in London." I didn't wait for a reply. I don't expect I would have got one; he was too busy reading his paper.
I dashed back upstairs, grabbed a quick shower, and got myself ready in a hurry. I grabbed my phone and quickly checked it: still no word from Tom. I made my way to my car on the drive, inserted the key in the ignition but nothing happened. It wouldn't even turn over. Of all the times it had to fail me, it had to be now. I had no time to discover the reasons why; I had to get to the railway station.
I hurried back into the house and called for a taxi. It soon arrived, and as I headed out the door, I noticed the book Susan had lent me was still on the side. I grabbed it and threw it in my bag, thinking it would give me something to read on the train.
We arrived at the station in no time. I made my way over to the ticket office.
“Hi, could I have a return ticket to London please?”
“Certainly, Madam, that will be ninety-nine pounds please.”
“I’m sorry, how much?!”
“Ninety-nine pounds.”
“Are you kidding me? It can’t be!”
“I’m afraid so. You see, if you had booked them in advance, you would have received a considerable discount, but unfortunately, you didn’t, and therefore…”
I drifted off for a moment whilst watching his mouth move, unable to hear the words and not really wanting to. This was the last thing I needed at the moment.
“Madam…MADAM!” he called out to me.
I jumped back into the moment. “Yes?”
“Do you want the tickets or not? I have a large queue forming behind you and the train leaves in five minutes.”
“Yes, sorry. I do.” I frantically searched in my purse for my credit card. Please don’t say I have left it.
As the ticket seller annoyingly tapped his fingers on the counter, my eyes finally fell upon the familiar blue shade of the card. “Ah, here it is!”
“At last…” he mumbled.
I was relieved I had my card and extremely grateful that I still had some credit on it. I was always using it to help the boys out. I grabbed my ticket from the man behind the counter and boarded the train.
Despite the pricing, I was fortunate enough that the only tickets available were in business class. I felt I needed it today with all the hassle I’d had to endure.
I was nearly the last person on the train and I made my way to the business class carriages. These were comfortable areas, small compartments that held around four people comfortably.
In the first one I came to was two business men. I didn't fancy being in there with them on my own. I would have felt awkward, I think. In the next carriage was an attractive, smartly dressed business woman, probably around fifty something. She was sat on her own, dressed in a black skirt suit. She looked up and smiled at me. I slid open the door, stepped inside and smiled back at her.
I sat opposite and opened my briefcase to check I had all my paperwork before relaxing in the seat and breathed a sigh of relief.
About thirty minutes into the journey, the carriage door startled me as it opened.
"Tickets please."
I rifled through my bag, looking for my ticket. Meanwhile the smartly dressed woman reached into her bag and pulled out hers. The inspector checked it and handed it back to her.
"Thank you, Madam."
"You’re welcome, young man," winking at him as she said it.
In an instant, I recognised her voice, but I couldn't place her face. I finally found my ticket and held it up to the inspector with satisfaction. He checked the ticket, scanned the barcode and left the carriage; no thank you for me.
Just then my phone rang. "Sorry, got to take this," I said. The office had contacted me to confirm some details regarding the meeting I was going to. I finished the call and apologised again. "Sorry about that; it was work."
"It's fine," she replied.
Her voice again rang bells; I just felt like I knew her. I relaxed back into the seat and gazed out of the window, wishing I could hear from Tom, even just to make sure he was alright.
Thinking of him reminded me that I had brought the book Susan had lent me to read on the train. I must have only got through the first chapter when I noticed out the corner of my eye that the woman in the carriage was staring at me. I glanced up at her and she smiled. I quickly smiled back at her and continued to read my book.
A little while later, I could hear her rummaging about in her handbag. I looked across and noticed she had produced a makeup compact. She began to check her makeup. Reaching back into her bag, she pulled out her lipstick. She slowly removed the lid, and whilst pouting her lips, she brushed it against them. Her eyes looked up and met my own over the top of her compact, and I quickly looked away. She took me by surprise as she said, "So, how are you, darling?"
"I'm sorry," I replied. "Do I know you?"
She laughed and threw her head back. “I believe we have met.”
“Really, have we?”
“Yes, darling, at the masquerade ball."
It was the woman I was talking to on the decking area at the ball! "Oh yes, hi. I'm sorry I didn't recognise you without the mask. How did you know it was me?"
"My dear, I never forget a voice." She held out her hand and said, "Kathryn, and you?"
I took her hand. It was so soft, the type that had probably never done a hard day’s work. "I'm Alexandra."
We began chatting, mainly about our jobs. I was surprised to discover that she was a solicitor.
"So, why are you so surprised that I'm a solicitor?"
"I'm not!"
"Come on now, I can see it in your eyes. We’re only human, you know." She laughed and threw her head back again.
I felt embarrassed and wanted to leave the carriage, but I knew it wasn’t an option.
"So, that was your first time at the masquerade ball then?"
There was no point lying as she would have known. I gathered a strand of hair that had strayed from the pin that was holding it up and clipped it back into position. "Yes, it was."
"So, who was your friend?"
I stumbled over what to say. "My partner."
She quickly glanced at my left hand. “Your partner! So not your husband then?"
I could feel myself going red. "No, no, not my husband."
She continued to ask me questions about my relationship with Tom, and I found myself telling her everything, right from my experience with Maria.
"My, you do lead a colourful life."
I laughed with embarrassment at her remark. "Well, not really. It’s kind of snowballed."
"Really! Well, that's the kind of snow balls I like." We both laughed at her remark. “I see you’re a Mr Grey fan.”
“Who, sorry?”
“Mr Grey!” she replied and nodded at the book.
“Oh, this? Well, I wouldn’t say a fan, I’ve just borrowed it from a friend to see what all the fuss is about really.”
“And what do you think?”
“Well, not much up to now, but I’ve been told to give it a chance.”
“Yes, that’s right. It gets better.”
“You’ve read it then?”
“I don’t think there are many women out there that haven’t.”
“Well, it’s all new to me.”
“You don’t say. Well, if you ask me, you sound like an old hand at it from the stories you’ve been telling me.” I laughed nervously.
Kathryn got up from her seat. “I’m going for a coffee; would you like one?”
“Yes, a cappuccino would be lovely please.”
She soon returned with two coffees in hand. I stood to grab the door and let her in. As she handed me the coffee, I glanced down at her hands to see if she was wearing a ring. She met my eyes as I looked back up.
“I’m not married, dear, but I do live with someone. We have been together for fourteen years. I did the marriage thing, and it didn’t work out. Too much commitment for my liking.”
“But surely it’s the same living with someone?”
“Hell no! We do our own thing, and he likes the sort of thing I do.”
“Like what?”
“Well, the ball for instance.”
“Oh, was he there?”
“Who, Anton? Yes, he loves it!” I nearly dropped my coffee as she said his name.
“Anton, that’s an unusual name…”
“Yes, its Antonio. He’s Italian.”
I didn’t know what to say to her, so I took another sip from my coffee and gazed into my lap.
“I met him at a club about fifteen years ago. He was still married, and my divorce was coming through.”
“So, has he lived here long?”
“Since he was a teenager, about nineteen years. He’s thirty-eight now.” I must have looked startled. “And yes, he’s my toy boy!” she laughed.
I didn’t know what to say. I’m sure there couldn’t have been more than one Anton there that evening. I was relieved to finally have arrived at my destination. “Well, it’s been lovely talking to you, Kathryn.”
"Yes, and you too. Here, let me give you my card. Call me sometime and we can meet up for coffee." I took the card from Kathryn and told her I would call, but somehow, I didn’t think I would.
Chapter Sixteen
It was a short walk from the station to the hotel where the meeting was to be held. I checked in at the reception desk and was shown to the correct conference room by the concierge. I thought I had made good time, but all the other delegates were already seated, and the speaker was about to start. I tried to ease myself into the room with little disruption and was looked at sternly by a couple of people. I smiled and mouthed sorry as I moved along the back row and sat in the first empty seat I came to.
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