Some Girls Do

Chapter Eighteen




On Monday Claire was meeting Catherine for a drink after work. She was just arriving at the Temple Bar pub when Catherine came up the street pushing Paddington in yet another new buggy.

‘Hi.’ Catherine greeted her with a quick kiss on the cheek. ‘Just let me get rid of this thing before we go in.’ She lifted Paddington out of the buggy and hunkered down to stuff him into a large holdall she had in the bottom, zipping it up.

‘Will he be all right in there?’ Claire asked.

‘Oh, he’ll be fine,’ Catherine said, as she straightened. ‘He’s used to it. I get funny looks if I bring him into a bar.’

‘Well, it’s handy you can stuff him into a bag without anyone calling Social Services.’

‘I know. I’m blessed,’ she said distractedly, as she struggled with the buggy, pulling levers and kicking it as she tried to get it to fold.

‘Oh, sod this,’ she said, lifting it and whacking it down on the pavement in frustration. She looked around them at the crowd milling through the busy street. Then her eyes lit on a woman slumped against the side of a building, sitting on a blanket, begging from passers-by.

‘Do you think she’d like a state-of-the-art pushchair?’ she asked Claire. Without waiting for an answer, she ran across to the woman, pushing it in front of her. Claire watched as they spoke. There was a lot of gesticulating, and it looked like they were having an argument. Finally, Catherine bent down and put something in the woman’s hand, then left the buggy with her and came back to Claire.

‘Well, it was a hard sell, but I managed to get rid of it,’ she said. ‘She only wanted a fiver to take it off my hands.’ She picked up the holdall. ‘Right, shall we go?’

‘You gave her money as well?’ Claire asked. ‘That buggy must be worth a couple of hundred euro.’

‘Try five,’ Catherine said, opening the door of the bar. ‘I’m just glad to be rid of it. I never want to see another buggy as long as I live.’

They fought their way through the after-work crowd to the depths of the pub. There were no empty seats, but they found two stools at the bar and were served quickly by a young girl with an Australian accent.

‘I shouldn’t even be having this,’ Catherine said, as the girl put their gin and tonic in front of them.

‘Oh? Why not?’ Claire asked.

‘I have news,’ Catherine said, with a secretive smile. Then she placed a hand over her stomach.

The Australian girl threw her a dirty look before walking away.

‘Oh my God!’ Claire gasped. ‘You’re pregnant!’

‘Yup.’

‘How far along are you?’

‘Oh, only three or four weeks. I haven’t decided exactly yet, but very early days – too soon to announce it on my blog or anything. But I can tell you.’

‘Well, congratulations!’

‘Thanks!’

They clinked glasses.

‘So, tell all,’ Catherine said, leaning forward avidly. ‘How did your weekend with Mark go?’


‘It was really nice.’ Claire smiled. ‘I had such a good time. His place is lovely. He made me his world-famous nachos, took me to Highgate Cemetery and baked lemon drizzle cake. He’s so thoughtful. And I met his cat, Millie. We discussed ideas for the book. Oh, and he wants to read my novel as soon as it’s ready.’

‘That’s great! And was there more kissing?’

‘Yes.’ Claire smiled bashfully. ‘There was. Quite a lot of kissing.’ There had been more kissing on Sunday when he’d brought her to the airport. She couldn’t help smiling when she thought of it.

‘Anything else?’

‘No, just kissing. I’m not ready to go any further than that yet. So it’s great that I came up with the five-date rule. I can relax and just enjoy being with him for now.’

‘Yeah, that was a stroke of genius,’ Catherine said, poking her ice with a swizzle stick. ‘And you have the distance thing, so that slows things down a bit too.’

‘And five dates is just a minimum. It’s not a guarantee or anything.’

‘So are you two dates down now? Or is it three because you were with him two nights at the weekend?’

‘No, it’s two. I only counted Saturday night as a date.’

‘So, how’s it going with the other guy? Are you making progress?’

‘I’m starting to get the hang of the basics, but I still have a lot to learn.’

‘But isn’t it a bit …’

‘What?’

‘Well … awkward. Embarrassing. Having sex with him like that – in cold blood, as it were.’

‘I would have thought so, but it’s not really. It doesn’t feel like that – cold, I mean. Luca makes it easy. He’s really nice.’

‘Cute?’

‘Very. Gorgeous, actually.’

‘Well, that helps. And you like him?’

‘Yeah. He’s surprisingly sweet.’

‘Do you like like him?’

‘Oh, no!’ Claire frowned. ‘It’s not like that. I mean I love, you know … being with him.’

‘Shagging him?’

‘Yeah.’ Claire smiled. ‘To put it bluntly. And we’re having all this … sex,’ she said, her mouth automatically widening in a grin at the thought of all that sex. ‘So I can’t help feeling close to him in a way. But Luca and I – we’re chalk and cheese.’

‘What does he do?’

‘He’s an artist – a painter. We have nothing in common, really. I mean, I don’t know if he reads, and I know nothing about art.’

‘I bet you know what you like.’

Claire laughed. ‘Yeah. And his paintings are amazing.’

‘Maybe you have more in common than you think.’

‘Well, let’s see.’ Claire tilted her head to the side. ‘We both eat food – and breathe air.’

‘You’re both creative.’

‘I suppose.’ Claire had never thought of it like that. But to her, Luca’s single-minded commitment to his art only made them seem more dissimilar. She admired his dedication, his willingness to make sacrifices to devote himself to his painting, but she didn’t really understand it. She didn’t think she could ever be like that. She liked her creature comforts too much.

‘Anyway, I don’t think it’s all that important to have stuff in common. I have bugger-all in common with Hazel, really. Look at the child thing, for instance. She doesn’t want any. I already have one phantom child and another on the way.’

‘Well, you’re both women. That’s quite big.’

‘There is that.’

‘I do like Luca, but I just don’t think of him that way. He’s far too wild for me. And it’s an artificial situation. We’d never have got together organically.’

In the normal course of events, her and Luca’s paths would never have crossed again after that one night in Ivan’s bar. They wouldn’t have gravitated towards each other. Even if she’d slept with him when she’d brought him back to her house, it would have been a one-off. If it hadn’t been for her bizarre proposition, they would never have got to know each other properly. She would have made assumptions about him that weren’t true. Maybe he’d have made assumptions of his own about her. The thought that they would have remained strangers to each other seemed odd now, and made her feel sad. She liked Luca, and she was glad she had got to know him. But they still weren’t a natural fit. They didn’t belong together – not like her and Mark.

‘Anyway, like I told you, Luca isn’t interested in relationships. Total man-whore, remember? He likes to spread the love.’

When they had almost finished their drinks, Catherine asked Claire if she had time for another.

‘Better not,’ Claire said, glancing at her watch. ‘I want to pop in to see Mum, and then I’m going over to Luca’s for the night.’

‘Another lesson?’

‘Yep.’

‘Probably just as well.’ Catherine sighed. ‘I need to get this piece on buggies finished – the deadline’s the day after tomorrow.’ She drained her drink, and they stood to go. ‘A fantasist’s work is never done.’


Claire’s days followed the same routine for the rest of the week. She would visit her mother on the way home from work, then go straight to Luca’s, where they would have dinner together and chat about their days, then spend the rest of the night having sex. She usually spoke to Mark or emailed him at some stage in the day, and it was like having a boyfriend, only he was split in two: there was Mark, whom she talked to, flirted with and was slowly falling for, and Luca, who took care of her physical needs. It was a strange set-up, and it would be nice when she could be with Mark and have the whole package in one person. But in the meantime she was enjoying herself, happier and more satisfied with her life than she’d been in a long time. She loved having sex with Luca, and she loved the emotional connection she had with Mark and their long, chatty phone calls when they would talk about everything and nothing, from what they had for lunch to political and religious beliefs. Most often, the talk turned to books.

‘Favourite childhood book?’ he asked her one night.

‘Heidi! No … maybe The Secret Garden. Or Anne of Green Gables … Ballet Shoes … Oh, God, this is hard. There are too many good ones.’

‘Well, you said Heidi first.’

‘Okay, I’ll go with Heidi.’

‘Favourite detective?’

‘That’s easy. Lord Peter Wimsey.’

‘Good choice!’

‘You?’

‘Hm … I’ll have to say Miss Marple. A virago in tweed.’

‘Edgy!’

‘I’m so uncool. Romantic hero?’

‘Mr Darcy. I’m such a cliché. Romantic heroine?’

‘I feel I should say Dorothea Brooke but—’

‘Too earnest. And completely deluded. She’d never have you – you’re far too suitable.’

‘Yeah. Bridget Jones would be more of a laugh. Or Elizabeth Bennet.’

‘Or anyone, really.’ Claire laughed.


Friday had been a beautiful day, and when she arrived at Luca’s place that evening, the front door was open and a couple of girls were sitting out on the steps, enjoying the last of the evening sunshine. Claire was in high spirits as she went in and raced up the stairs to Luca’s door. It was Friday night, the start of the weekend, and she was not in work the following day. She was in a celebratory mood. Her mother was coming home on Sunday, and she wanted to make the most of every second of the last weekend she could spend almost entirely with Luca. She had bought cava and smoked salmon, crispy bread and lots of deli luxuries for an indulgent picnic-style dinner. She had been thinking maybe they could eat it in bed, grazing leisurely between vigorous bouts of sex.


‘Claire, hi!’ Luca opened the door and she swept past him into the living room. ‘I was trying to call you. You didn’t get my text?’

‘Oh! No, I mustn’t have heard it when I was out in the traffic,’ she said, fishing her mobile out of her bag. Sure enough, there was a missed call from Luca and a text alert.

‘It’s just this friend of mine is playing at The Grand Social with her band tonight, and I said I’d go. I’m sorry. I’d completely forgotten about it until she texted me about an hour ago. She gave me the tickets way back.’

‘Oh. Okay,’ Claire said, trying to school her features and not look too disappointed. After all, Luca had been spending all his free time with her. It was only fair that he should have a night off. It wasn’t his fault she’d built tonight up in her head and had been so looking forward to it. She just wished she’d seen his message and saved herself the trouble of coming over.

‘So we don’t have time for dinner,’ he said, eyeing her shopping bags. ‘Sorry.’

‘That’s fine,’ she said, desperately trying to affect nonchalance.

‘You don’t mind?’ He gazed at her anxiously.

‘No, of course not. You go – we’ll still have tomorrow. That’s if you’re free.’ It was ridiculous how deflated she felt. She would have to rein that in. He wasn’t her boyfriend – he didn’t owe her anything. It was probably a good thing this had happened – it was a timely reminder of what their relationship really was. He had been very generous with his time and she had let herself get carried away, expecting him to be available to her whenever she liked. But he had his own life. ‘Just let me stash this food in the fridge and I’ll go.’

‘Oh, no.’ He frowned. ‘I want you to come with me.’

‘You do?’ She couldn’t help the goofy grin that spread across her face.

‘Yeah – I mean, if you’d like to. If you’d rather not … I know it’s not really your scene but—’

‘No, I’d love to.’ She was excited anew at the prospect of going out with Luca – and it was ages since she’d been to a gig. It would be fun.

‘They’re really good, the band,’ he said. ‘I’d say you’ll enjoy it. And we can use it as one of your lessons too – kill two birds with one stone.’

‘How?’

‘Doing it in public.’ He grinned. ‘It’s in your blog, remember? Your alter ego is quite the exhibitionist. That time you gave Mr Bossy a blowjob in a crowded restaurant was seriously hot! Or the time you had sex at the football match. I had to run to the bathroom with that one.’

She laughed. ‘I wish I’d seen your text earlier, though. I’m not exactly dressed for a gig,’ she said, holding her arms out. She was still in the fitted white shirt, denim skirt and flat pumps she had worn to work.

‘You look great. And you’re wearing a skirt – that’s the important thing.’

‘Huh?’

‘If we’re going to be doing it in public, easy access is essential.’

‘Oh.’

Luca laughed. ‘Hey, don’t look so worried. It’ll be fun.’

‘I’m not sure I’m ready for doing it in public,’ she said nervously, though she did feel a thrill of anticipation.

‘You know you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do, don’t you?’ He grabbed her hand, interlacing his fingers with hers, and looked at her so sternly that Claire knew he wanted an answer.

‘Yes, absolutely. But I’d like to try.’ She couldn’t deny the idea excited her.

‘Okay. But if you want to call it off at any time—’

‘I’ll just tell you to f*ck off.’

‘That’s my girl.’ Luca laughed. ‘Emma’s band is great. We’ll have a good time either way.’


The downstairs bar was heaving when they arrived, a Friday-night cocktail of heat, light and noise as the hipster crowd laughed and roared over the crash of glass and a thumping bass soundtrack. Claire held on tightly to Luca’s hand as he pulled her through the throng to the upstairs venue. The room was packed and stuffy, a crush of bodies standing, drinks in hand, in front of a small stage where the band were setting up under a banner bearing the name The Legendary Fall. Luca seemed to know a lot of people and he was stopped several times by friends greeting him with hugs and claps on the back as they wove towards the bar. He was obviously very popular and everyone seemed happy to see him. There was a lot of ‘Where have you been hiding?’ and ‘Haven’t seen you in ages’ while eyes slid curiously in Claire’s direction. Luca didn’t let go of her hand, introducing her to everyone he met and exchanging a few words with them. She couldn’t help noticing the admiring, hungry looks he got from a lot of the girls, or the inquisitive, assessing way their eyes raked over her, blatantly checking her out. It gave her a shallow feeling of pride at being with him that she liked more than she should have.

They got a couple of beers, then took up position close to the stage, Luca standing behind Claire with his arms wrapped around her, occasionally bending to nuzzle her neck, for all the world like an adoring boyfriend who couldn’t keep his hands off her. Claire tried to relax, but she kept wondering if he was going to jump her right there in front of everyone. She half-expected to feel him pulling her skirt up from behind, and it put her on edge, even though she reminded herself that she could just tell him to stop.

When the band started playing, however, she forgot her nerves, forgot about her sex lesson and just enjoyed the music. There were six band members packed onto the tiny stage, three guys and three girls. The singer was a tall, striking girl with long, flaming red hair and a powerful voice, her clothes an eclectic cross between Goth and fairytale princess. Luca pointed out his friend, Emma, a gorgeous, raven-haired girl who swayed sinuously around the stage as she played the violin, oozing sensuality. Claire was envious – she was so sexy and graceful. She wondered if she and Luca had ever been more than friends.

Claire loved the music, and she found herself having fun, dancing with the crowd, or swaying in Luca’s arms during the slower songs. She felt light and carefree and young. It was good to be out on Friday night with people her own age for a change. The room was alive with youthful vibrancy; the very air seemed charged with energy and possibility. She felt more herself than she had in a long time – or maybe like a new version of herself that she’d never been before. Whatever it was, she liked it.

‘Do you want another drink?’ Luca asked her, when the singer announced that they’d be taking a short break after the next song.

‘Yes, please.’

‘I’ll beat the rush to the bar,’ he said, releasing her as the intro played. ‘Won’t be long.’


On his way to the bar, Luca glanced back at Claire and stopped in his tracks, turning to watch her for a while as she moved to the music. She looked so happy and carefree – and hot. She had no idea how sexy she was – which made her even sexier. And he wasn’t the only one who saw it, he thought angrily, as he watched a guy beside her leering at her in a way that infuriated him. He was tempted to go back and tell him to take his eyes off her and get lost, but Claire wasn’t aware of the guy’s staring and it would only make her self-conscious if he drew attention to it. She was enjoying herself, and he didn’t want to spoil her fun, so he told himself not to come over all caveman and continued to the bar. He kept an eye on her, though, glancing over regularly as he waited impatiently to be served. When the band left the stage and the lights came up, he was annoyed to see the guy turn to Claire and start chatting her up, leaning in far closer than was necessary to talk into her ear. She was responding to him with a polite smile, but she was darting anxious glances towards the bar. Luca knew she was looking for him and tried to catch her eye. She didn’t see him, but he caught the desperate plea for help on her face before her eyes slid away again.


F*ck off, arsehole, he thought, grabbing the two bottles of beer off the counter as soon as he’d been served and pushing through the crowd. He hated guys like that. Couldn’t he see that she just wanted to be rid of him? He obviously wasn’t fluent in body language or else he was choosing to ignore hers because every time he leaned closer, she compensated by leaning away, until she was almost doing a limbo in the middle of the room. The guy glanced round as Luca approached with a scowl, trying to quell him. To his satisfaction it appeared to work, because the man said something to Claire, smiling regretfully before he quickly disappeared.

‘Hi.’ Claire smiled as he reached her, and he could see the relief in her face.

‘Was that guy bothering you?’ he asked, handing her a beer.

‘He was just being friendly, really.’

Luca rolled his eyes. ‘Yeah, right.’ He took a slug of his beer. ‘So, having fun?’

‘Yes,’ she said. ‘The band’s great – I love their music. Thanks for bringing me.’

‘Thank you for coming.’ He put an arm around her and pulled her to him, planting a kiss on her mouth. ‘Sorry, I just have to go for a slash. Do you mind?’ he asked, handing her his beer to hold.

‘No, of course not.’

‘I won’t be long. Don’t talk to any strange men.’ He grinned, then zipped off towards the exit.

Claire turned back to the stage, doing her best to look aloof and unapproachable, while she willed the band to reappear or Luca to return. She didn’t want that guy to see her on her own and come back. Though she didn’t admit it to Luca, he’d been a bit of a creep and wouldn’t take no for an answer, even when she’d said she was waiting for her boyfriend who was just up at the bar.

‘So, you’re here with Luca?’

Claire turned to see a pretty blonde standing beside her. She had seemed vaguely familiar earlier when Luca had introduced her – Aisling – and now Claire recognised her as the girl who had been sitting in his lap the night they had first met.

‘Er … yeah.’

Aisling nodded, her expression openly assessing. ‘Welcome to the club,’ she said, with a sly smile, raising her cocktail glass in salute.

‘Sorry?’

Aisling grinned, and took a gulp of her drink, obviously enjoying Claire’s discomfort. ‘It’s not a very exclusive club,’ she said, ‘but congrats anyway on becoming our newest member.’ She clinked her glass against one of the bottles Claire was holding.

‘I have no idea what you’re talking about,’ Claire said stiffly, even though she knew damn well this was Aisling’s unsubtle way of telling her that she shouldn’t think she was anything special because she was with Luca.

‘Oh, I think you do,’ Aisling said. ‘Well, have fun – while it lasts.’ She drifted away, leaving Claire reeling.

‘Claire?’ A female voice behind her called her name and she turned to see Yvonne arm in arm with Ivan, both of them clutching bottles of beer.

‘It is you!’ Yvonne said.

‘Oh, my God! Yvonne! Hi!’ Claire’s eyes darted to the exit in panic, hoping now that Luca wouldn’t come back too soon.

Yvonne gave her a one-armed hug. ‘You remember Ivan?’

‘Yes. Hi, Ivan,’ she said, as he bent to kiss her cheek.

‘Lovely to meet you again, Claire.’

‘I’m surprised to see you here!’ Yvonne said. ‘I didn’t think this would be your kind of thing.’

‘Yeah, I, um … I came with a friend.’ She waved the two bottles of beer.

‘Are you enjoying the band?’ Ivan asked.

‘They’re good, aren’t they?’ Yvonne said. ‘Justine – the girl who plays the keyboards – is Ivan’s sister.’

‘Yeah, they’re great! I’m really enjoying it,’ Claire said, desperately hoping they would go before Luca came back. ‘This is a nice place. I’ve never been here before.’

‘So, who are you here with?’ Yvonne asked.

‘Oh, just …. just a friend.’ Claire was relieved when she saw the band coming back onstage out of the corner of her eye.

Yvonne’s eyes lit up. ‘Is it that guy we were talking about the other day?’ When Ivan turned away for a moment, she mouthed, ‘F*ck buddy,’ at Claire, her eyebrows raised.

Over Yvonne’s shoulder, Claire saw Luca making his way through the crowd towards them. She tried to signal to him with her eyes that he should stay away, but either he didn’t pick up on it or he chose to ignore her because he strode right up to her.

‘Oh, hi, Yvonne,’ he said casually. ‘Ivan.’

‘Luca!’ Yvonne exclaimed. ‘Wow, everyone’s here tonight. We just bumped into Claire – you remember Claire? – and now—’ She stopped abruptly as Luca slid an arm casually around Claire’s waist and pulled her into his side, while he took his beer from her. ‘Oh!’ She smiled as her eyes darted from one of them to the other. ‘Oh,’ she said, eyeballing Claire.

Claire was relieved when the light dimmed, hiding her blushes and taking Yvonne’s focus off her.

‘Our friends are over there,’ Ivan said, waving to the other side of the room. ‘We’d better go back and join them.’

‘We might see you later, yeah?’ Yvonne said, as the band started playing.

‘What was that about?’ Luca chuckled, pulling Claire in front of him and propping his head on her shoulder.

‘I’ll tell you later.’


As the gig drew to a close, Claire wondered if Luca had forgotten about her lesson. Not that she minded – she was having so much fun. In fact, she was glad he seemed to have forgotten it so she could just relax and enjoy herself. When the applause faded and the lights came up, everyone milled around for a while, dazed and blinking in the harsh light, ears still ringing. Emma came over to them with the rest of the band, Yvonne and Ivan.

‘Are you guys coming down to the bar?’ Emma asked Luca.

‘I don’t think so,’ Luca said, looking at Claire questioningly. ‘We have that thing, remember?’ he said to her.

‘Oh, yeah.’

‘Well, some of us are going on to the Arch Club in a bit,’ Emma said. ‘Maybe we’ll see you there.’

‘Okay,’ Luca said. He took Claire’s hand and they said their goodbyes.

‘We’re going home after a drink here,’ Yvonne said. ‘But I’ll see you on Monday,’ she added to Claire, in a way that left her in no doubt she’d be getting the third degree.


‘We could have done the thing in the bar back there,’ Claire said, when they got outside.

‘Uh-uh. There’s public and public, and I know way too many people back there. We wouldn’t get a minute’s peace. We need to be in public but incognito. We’ll go on ahead to the Arch Club.’

He led her out onto the quays and across the Halfpenny Bridge, up through Merchant’s Arch into the cobbled streets of Temple Bar, still crowded with people spilling out of bars and clubs.

He took her through a courtyard and down a set of steps to a small, intimate club. Red plush sofas were arranged around low wooden tables, the lighting was subdued, and soft piano music poured from the speakers. He sat down on a sofa in a quiet corner of the bar, pulling Claire down beside him.


A waitress came to take their order, and they each asked for a glass of red wine.

‘So what was that all about with Yvonne? Why was she acting so weird?’ Luca asked, while they waited for their drinks.

‘Oh, she thinks you’re my f*ck buddy now. Sorry.’

Luca laughed. ‘Why would she think that?’

‘She knows I’ve been seeing someone. I didn’t tell her or anything. She figured it out.’

‘Did she do her sex-radar thing on you?’

‘Yeah, she did!’ Claire said, sounding surprised that he knew about it.

‘She’s a bit spooky, the way she can do that.’

‘I didn’t call you a f*ck buddy, by the way. She said that – though I didn’t really contradict her.’

Luca shrugged. ‘It’s a pretty accurate description, I suppose.’

‘So … you don’t mind? That she knows we … see each other?’ Claire asked.

‘No. Why would I? She knows I’m not saving myself for marriage. As long as we don’t have to go on double dates with her and Ivan.’

The girl came back with their drinks and Claire tried to pay, but Luca wouldn’t let her.

He turned to her as the waitress left. ‘Hello, gorgeous.’ He stroked her cheek with a finger. ‘Alone at last.’

She smiled back nervously. Then she took a big gulp of her wine. When she had put the glass back on the table, he leaned in to kiss her, trailing his fingers down her arm as he did so, allowing his thumb to brush her breast in passing. She was trembling already as he opened her mouth with his and their tongues tangled together, her fingers clutching his hair. Her breathing became deep and rasping as he slid a hand up under her shirt and pulled down the cup of her bra, his thumb teasing her nipple into a hard point. God, she was so responsive! He sucked at her neck as his hand moved to circle her knee. Then he slid it higher, under her skirt, stroking the achingly soft skin of her thighs. He pushed her legs a little further apart and pulled her knickers aside, his fingers stroking along the soft folds of her flesh.

‘You’re so wet!’ He sighed into her mouth, groaning deep in his throat as he slid a finger inside her, pumping it in and out while his thumb stroked her *. He felt the heat and tension building inside her, her fingers digging into his shoulders as she clung to him. She opened her eyes as she kissed him, and he saw the desire mixed with panic as her muscles began to clench around his fingers.

‘It’s okay,’ he whispered, angling his body so she was completely shielded from view. ‘Let go. No one can see you.’ He worked his fingers faster, and her mouth opened in a silent scream, her fists clenching on his shoulders, bunching up the material of his shirt as he felt her spasm around his fingers. He continued to stroke her, and she gave a helpless little whimper, barely audible, as he made her come again. She held his gaze the whole time, and he thought it was the hottest thing he’d ever seen. He wanted her so badly at that moment, longing to drag her off to the toilets and bury himself inside her. When he pulled his fingers out of her, she threw her arms around him, clinging to him fiercely and burying her head in his neck. He pulled her tightly to his body, stroking her back soothingly as she came down from her orgasm, still hot and trembling, until she went limp in his arms.

‘Okay?’ he asked. He pushed damp tendrils of hair from her face and kissed her softly – her forehead, her hot, flushed cheeks.

She gave him a slow, lazy smile. ‘That is so going in my blog.’


Shortly afterwards, Emma and the band arrived. As they drew up chairs to join Claire and Luca at their table, Claire excused herself to go to the loo.

‘I’ll save your seat,’ Luca said, placing a hand on the sofa beside him as she squeezed past him. He shifted uncomfortably, wishing he could follow her and f*ck her up against the wall. Shit, the image of her legs wrapped around him while she bounced up and down on his dick just made him harder.

‘Hi!’ Aisling threw herself down on the sofa beside him, sitting on his hand.

‘That seat’s taken,’ he said, pulling his hand from under her.

‘It is now,’ she said, plonking her glass down on the table in front of her and not budging.

‘Seriously, Aisling. Just piss off.’ Jesus, he thought, with mounting irritation, didn’t she ever get the message? He’d thought the fact that he was with Claire would act as a deterrent, but he should have known better. She was like a f*cking Exocet missile with her radar locked on his dick.

‘Don’t be so mean, Luca,’ Aisling pouted. ‘I haven’t seen you in ages. I miss you.’ She put a warm hand on his leg, inching it higher up his thigh. ‘Well, hello!’ She grinned, her eyes dropping to his crotch. ‘You may pretend to be all cool, but I can tell you’re pleased to see me really.’

‘That’s not for you,’ he snapped, slapping her hand away.

But she slid her hand back onto him under the table.

‘Poor Luca,’ she purred. ‘Did your little girlfriend get you all worked up, then leave you hanging?’

‘She’s not my girlfriend.’

‘Really?’ Aisling raised her eyebrows. ‘That’s not what she told the guy who was trying to chat her up at the gig.’

‘What?’ Luca was momentarily too distracted by what Aisling had said to pay attention to her roving hands. ‘Well … I’m sure she only said that to get rid of him.’ That was the only reason, wasn’t it? Claire wasn’t starting to get possessive, was she?

‘Well, if you’re sure.’ Aisling shrugged.

‘We’re just hooking up. She knows that,’ Luca said, trying to sound more certain than he felt.

‘I could take care of it for you,’ Aisling murmured, stroking his dick over his jeans. ‘Must be a bit uncomfortable.’ Her fingers moved to his zipper and she began tugging it down slowly.

‘For f*ck’s sake, Aisling—’ Just then he heard a gasp and looked up. His eyes locked with Claire’s as she stood frozen, halfway across the room.


Claire’s heart sank when she came out of the loo and saw the awful Aisling sitting beside Luca on the sofa. Damn! She’d hoped she’d seen the last of her tonight. But then, as she got closer to the table and realised what was going on, she stopped in her tracks. She didn’t know where to look or what to do.

‘Claire!’ At that moment, Luca’s eyes flew up and met hers, and he simultaneously batted Aisling’s hand away.

She withdrew it slowly, smiling smugly as she looked up at Claire.

Claire forced herself to walk back to the table.

‘Sorry – am I in your seat?’ Aisling said, but she made no move to get up.

Claire picked up her drink and drained it. ‘Don’t worry about it,’ she said, slamming her glass back on the table and throwing a furious look at Luca. ‘I was just leaving.’

‘Claire!’

She ignored Luca and raced outside. She didn’t look back, but she knew he was following her. She stood at the edge of the pavement and stuck out her hand, desperately hoping she would get a taxi before he caught up with her. No such luck.

‘Claire!’

She turned to face him, fizzing with rage.

‘What the f*ck was that about?’ he panted.

‘What?’ She gave an incredulous laugh. ‘You’re asking me what that was about? That girl had her hand on your dick.’


His eyes narrowed. ‘So? You don’t own it, Claire.’

‘Have you slept with her?’

‘We’ve hooked up a few times, yeah.’

‘How many others of those girls you introduced me to tonight have you slept with?’

‘For f*ck’s sake, what’s it to you? You’re not my girlfriend.’

‘Yes, I know I’m not your girlfriend, Luca. We all know that, don’t we? I mean, God forbid anyone should admit they have feelings for you!’

‘Then why did you tell that bloke at the gig that you were?’

She huffed, aghast. ‘Is that what this is about? Because he was being a pest and I wanted to get rid of him, okay?’

‘That’s all?’

‘Yes, that’s all!’

‘So why are you acting all jealous, then?’

‘I’m not jealous! I’m humiliated. She thought you were with me,’ she said, waving her hand back at the bar, ‘but you were letting her feel you up right in front of everyone. In front of me.’

‘Well, I don’t see what you have to be so high and mighty about,’ Luca shouted. ‘You’re only using me to practise your moves so you can f*ck Mr Perfect in London.’

‘And I’m paying you for the privilege. You could at least show a little respect.’

‘Jesus! You’re not paying me enough to put up with this bullshit.’

‘Oh, really?’ Her mouth curled in a sneer. ‘How much would I have to pay you to act like a decent human being?’

‘Gee, I don’t know, Claire. There probably isn’t enough money in the world to turn me into a “decent human being”.’

‘And what if I wasn’t using you for my own ends? What then, huh? If I was one of those girls, like Aisling? It wouldn’t be any different, would it? I’d still be expected to know my place, not to expect anything from you. What would I be getting out of it, then?’

‘A bloody great f*ck! What more do you want?’

‘A lot more,’ she said quietly, all the fight going out of her. ‘A whole lot more. Most people do, Luca.’

They faced each other in hostile silence, out of breath after their shouting match. Then Claire saw a taxi with its light on and hailed it. When it stopped, she got in and didn’t look back.