From the way their conversation had been going, this was better than expected. He followed her up to the bedroom; the bed was made and the bed spread neatly draped over. There was no evidence of all the action that had taken place there overnight. Debbie pulled a pink vanity case from under the bed and proceeded to lay her selection of vibrators out on the bed spread for inspection.
‘I find it depends on what sort of mood I’m in Tash.’ She picked up slim pink vibrator. ‘This was the first one I ever had. I still go back to it. Although it‘s slim and not very long, it’s very smooth which makes for long, satisfying and silent masturbation.’
Barrie picked out the largest on display and wrapped Natasha’s delicate fingers around the head. ‘What about this one?’
‘You can try that if you like. It’s what they call penis style – very realistic. About the same size as Barrie I would say.’
Barrie lifted it and took the head into Natasha’s mouth and tried to speak. ‘Length’s about the same, but it’s not as big around.’
Debbie grinned. ’What have I told you about speaking with your mouth full?’
Barrie gave one of Natasha’s coy giggles as he laid it back on the bed spread. ‘What would you suggest Debs?’ Discussing the merits of her sex toys with Natasha was making Debbie feel horny. She picked up a florescent pink vibrator. ’This is my favourite, I’ve only had it a week; treated myself when Kate moved out. It stimulates the G spot and clit at the same time. I chose this one because it’s rechargeable – it’ll run for over an hour at full speed on one charge.’
Barrie squeezed it between Natasha’s thumb and forefinger. ‘It’s quite soft. How does it work?’
Was she asking for a demonstration? No, not Natasha;. she pointed to the controls. ‘It’s got three speeds, which you adjust here; this is the on/off switch.’ It buzzed, and then chattered when she turned it up to full speed. She grinned. ‘You’ll need an empty house for this one Tash.’ Barrie touched it with the tips of Natasha’s fingers. ’It feels nice Debs. So how does it work? I mean, how do you use it?’
Those innocent blue eyes of Natasha’s were betrayed by a mischievous smile. Debbie was aching to throw herself on the bed and use it at full throttle, which was almost unbearably wonderful, but it was a private thing. She didn’t want Natasha to see her writhing around completely out of control. She repacked it in the vanity case, with the others and handed it over, noticing the acute disappointment ‘Try them all Tash – I want them back mind.’
Natasha found it surprisingly easy to arrange a meeting with Lucinda Lovebrace. She was willing to discuss a deal and suggested that they should have a chat at her place at 8pm.
Sam was apprehensive, she didn’t think it a good idea for Barrie to visit her on his own and definitely not at eight in the evening… She thought it would be safer if she went along. Natasha looked at her, she really was gorgeous. It was a surprised to her that Barrie had not been in love with her, but that seemed to be the case. It was just a bonk, or had been until she became involved.
‘You’ve got enough to do here, so why don’t we continue with the hand over. I’ll break off to go and see her and then we could have dinner at Roberto’s.’
Sam looked doubtful. I’m not sure that’s a good idea Barrie. Won’t Natasha be expecting to go out and celebrate your promotion?’
‘No, she’s working late with Debbie. They’ve got a pile of work to get through.’ Natasha surprised herself. Was the facility to tell such a glib lie a man thing?
As soon as Rebecca heard out about the Meltcon fire, she tried to contact her parents, but could get no answer on the house phone, or their mobiles. She sent a text to mum, asking if dad was alright and eventually received a reply telling her that he had been taken to hospital with minor burns – nothing serious – nothing to worry about. She would call later.
Julie switched her phone off and looked across at Lucy, who was concentrating on the road. ‘Becky would like to see her dad, if that’s still okay with you, Lu?’
Lucy gave her a brief smile. ‘No problem darling. A couple of appointments have come in for this evening, which I’m sure you would find tedious anyway.’
This was the ideal opportunity to say that it upset her to see her having sex with men and she would rather not take part in her sex games, but, she ducked the issue. ‘I’ll take Becky back to Nottingham in the morning;. should be back with you by early afternoon.’
Lucy gave her a warm smile. ‘We’ll have Saturday evening to ourselves darling – that’s a promise. I’ll top up with petrol before we get to Hamsworth, which will get you there and back. What do you think of the music?’ Julie had not been paying too much attention. Billy Holliday had been replaced by another female singer. ‘It’s a demo CD a friend of Helen’s from Helsinki.’ Julie read the name on the cover. ‘Sirkka Jarvanpaa.’ Lucy grinned at her attempted pronunciation. ‘The J in Jarvanpaa is pronounced as a Y, darling.’
Julie listened to the voice as it warbled through ‘Night and Day’. ‘It’s pleasant enough, I know you’re nuts about Billy Holliday, but it’s nice to have a change. The foreign pronunciation and phrasing make it sound quite exotic.’
‘You think so? I think she’s missing a trick. If she held onto some of the words a little longer, she could be quite sexy.’
‘Perhaps you should tell Helen?’
‘Perhaps I will.’
Lucy selected the next CD. They smiled at each other and settled down to more Billy Holliday. Julie closed her eyes and imagined a naked Suzy swaying sensuously to the music. Was this new found ability to lie so convincingly, a lesbian thing? It was difficult to tell, although she had never had the desire to cheat – not until she discovered her true sexuality with Lucy.
An hour later they pulled into the Shell Petrol Station on the Hamsworth ring road. Julie was to drive from there and drop Lucy off at the entrance to Laburnham Court in an attempt to beat the rush hour traffic as she set out for Nottingham. She filled -up while Lucy went in to pay; waved when the tank was full and sat in the driving seat. As Lucy came out she stopped to answer her mobile. It looked as if she was taken by surprise. Julie watched her frown and shake her head. She spoke animatedly for several minutes and when she finished the call, Julie started the engine and eased the Merc over to meet her.
She spoke with a forced cheerfulness as she climbed in. ‘Home Julie and don’t spare the horses.’
‘Anything wrong Lu?’
Lucy gave her a rueful smile. ‘It’s Travel Plan. They’ve traced the dramatic fall in Dynamic sales to us. They want a meeting.’
‘What will they do?’ Julie could not keep the anxiety out of her voice.
Lucy shrugged. ‘Nothing they can do darling; or rather, nothing they will do. Can you imagine what it would do for their business if it became common knowledge that their security was so poor, a cleaner hacked into the computer system?’ She waved a hand in a shooing motion. ‘Come on darling, get a move on. There’s nothing to worry about. I’m seeing one of their people this evening for an informal chat.
When Lydia Baxter was told she could leave hospital, she asked to see Peter Bunford. They had both been in private rooms, courtesy of Meltcon’s Health Insurance. When she was shown into his room, he already had a visitor. Detective Sergeant John Kimberley turned and scowled as the nurse showed her in. ‘I thought I made it clear we were not to be disturbed.’
Nurse Pemberton returned the scowl with a look of contempt and responded sharply. ‘He’s allowed up to three visitors at a time, so, if Mr Bunford is happy to have this lady visit and I assume he is, as he’s been asking after her all day, then it’s alright by me; and I’m the one who decides what happens in here.’ The detective sergeant didn’t like people challenging his authority, but in the hospital environment he wasn’t sure how to respond. Peter Bunford, who was sitting up in bed, gave the nurse a grateful smile and positively beamed at Lydia.