Romance: Duplicity (Duplicity New Adult Romance Book 1) (4 page)

The buzz and excitement of the weekend are building. The bar is packed. Everyone is in good spirits and the volume is getting louder. I can feel the wine taking effect and I know that's my cue.

I stand up and announce to whoever can hear, "It's time I was going home. Have a good weekend everybody."

Nick rises to his feet. "I'll walk with you to the Tube." The others have had too much to drink and respond with a group chorus of "Woo hoo!!!"

Stoked by the Sauvignon, I wink at Lou, just to stir the pot.

As we walk out in the evening air, there's a coolness. A hint of Autumn that says the mild spell we've had is coming to an end. I can really feel the second glass of wine kicking in. I'm feeling fuzzy yet emboldened at the same time.

"So, Nicholas, where do you live?" I ask, curious as to where this enigmatic man calls home.

"Please, call me Nick, remember? All my friends do."

Oh, so we're friends now?
I know better than to nitpick because it's a dumb-ass conversation to get into. I don't want us to be "friends.” I want to kiss you until my lips are bruised. I want to jump your bones but I know that sleeping with the boss is how reputations get ruined. Keeping up with who's shagging who at work is a regular sport and if you're caught on, it's fair cop for the gossips. Bottom line - if you think no-one else knows then everyone does. Guaranteed.

Instead I say, "I'll call you Nick, if you call me Holly. No more of this Holly Martin." I impersonate him when I say my name and he smiles broadly.

His eyes are gorgeous. I'm melting in them.

"Ok then, Holly," and he makes a point of just using my first name. "In answer to your question. I'm staying in the company apartments in Mayfair. Just until I find somewhere."

"Mmmm - very nice. It's well for some!" I shiver slightly as I reply. I left my coat at work but now there’s a nip in the air. Nick takes off his suit jacket and slips it round my shoulders.

We start walking, with Nick making a point of moving to the outside of the pavement. He's such a gentleman and I'll admit I like being treated like a lady. We chat easily, the drinks having relaxed us both. Nick's really sweet with such gentle manners. The contrast to his almost arrogant work persona is surprising. I suppose we all play roles in life, and put on different hats as situations require. I sense tonight an openness and honesty about this Nick that tells me this is the real guy.

All too soon we're at the Tube station. We gaze in silence at each other. That long, lingering look that says nothing and everything at the same time. I know it's coming before he kisses me. I can hear my heartbeat pounding in my ears. My body feels weightless. As he moves closer he whispers, "Holly, Holly ..."

We are locked in the moment and I instinctively tilt my face upwards to meet his. Finally, I feel his lips on mine. His kiss is soft and urgent at the same time, a kiss that wants more. The spell is broken when a passerby bumps into us. "Oi, get a room!"

We both laugh and then he hugs me hard, lifting me off the ground.

"Please Holly, have dinner with me soon. I would like to get to know you better."

I'm smiling as I nod, "Yes, Nick, me too. Goodnight then." He kisses me again, lingering this time, and then he's gone, leaving me wanting more. Much more.

I can't stop smiling to myself as I step onto the train. I replay over and over in my mind what just happened. I know I shouldn't but he's just so damned gorgeous. I swore I wouldn't do this.

I'm not the one-night stand type of girl. Not that I think there's anything wrong with that but it's just never happened that way for me. I seem to just move from one serious boyfriend to another - serial monogamist, I guess. But I vowed when I started this job that I wouldn't let anything get in the way of work. I'm going to the top and the last thing I need is the distraction of some guy. A relationship really isn't on my agenda right now, especially not with the boss. That would be career suicide.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a nun. A girl's only human, but the only action I've had lately has been with my big, pink rubber rabbit. There was that guy from Goldman Sachs that I hooked up with a few times over the summer. He wasn't exactly a boyfriend but it might have become something more. The sex was great, it was just a pity his favourite topic of conversation was the size of his bonus. The size of his cock was much more to my liking.

It's been a while and if I'm honest I miss being intimate with someone. Two more stops until home. I close my eyes and imagine Nick kissing me, stroking my ass then rubbing my tits through my blouse. Then he's pulling up my skirt. "Holly, Holly ..." he breathes in my ear. His breath sends shivers down my back. I feel his hands move up my thighs and then between my legs. He rubs me through my knickers. My pussy is wet and throbbing. The train jolts to a stop and it's time for me to get off. I jump up from my dream and set off on the short walk home.

Back above ground, my phone beeps. I feel a flutter of excitement as I take it out to check. It's not Nick. Just a text from Adam confirming tomorrow night. Soon I'm at the flat. There's music playing and muffled sounds of Tara squealing and a man laughing, coming from her bedroom. She's home early tonight.

Typical. Rub it in why don't you, Tara? Just what I don't need when I'm feeling horny, is the sound effects of Tara banging some bloke. The pair of boots outside her door confirm she has pulled. It's our code for when a guy is staying over. I don't know how she does it. It's a different man every week. She doesn't seem bothered about seeing any of them again, she says she's just having fun. And it certainly sounds like it.

Holly needs some fun too.
I pour myself a glass of wine and bring it into my bedroom. I take my trusty rabbit from the bedside drawer. I can hear the headboard banging against the wall in Tara's room. The familiar groans, grunts, and screams of ecstasy leave me in no doubt of her current pleasure. Lying on the bed, I close my eyes and start to touch myself. The rabbit buzzes loudly as it springs into action.

Now then, Nick, where were we?

CHAPTER TEN

I love Saturday mornings, as long as they involve fresh croissants and orange juice, lots of coffee, and a stack of newspapers. This morning follows the perfect formula, but with a spanner in the works. Despite my better judgment, I'm checking my phone every few minutes. Scrub that. It's more like every few seconds. Much to my irritation there's nothing from Nick.

This is what irks me so much, the amount of time wasted on thinking about will he or won't he. It takes over. I'm sure men don't do this. It's clear Nick isn't sitting this morning thinking about me.

The morning silence is broken by the sound of footsteps from the hall. Heavy steps from the owner of last night's boots, then the door slams.

Tara appears round the door. "Jeez, I'm dying!" Sure enough, she looks a mess. "Did you see him?"

I shake my head.

"He was feckin' gorgeous!"

"Note the use of past tense," I point out, in good humour.

Tara laughs as she rummages in the cupboard. "Are there any more co-codamol? I'm hanging."

"C'mon Tara, we're going to that gig tonight with Adam and his mates," I remind her. "I'm looking forward to us having a night out. Cody will knock you out. Take it easy, will ya?"

She's already popping them from the pack. "I'll be grand. I'll go back to bed and I'll be right as rain for later. Can I borrow that blue top for tonight? I haven't a thing clean."

She's true to her word. I don't see her again until evening when she finally surfaces. The apartment comes to life again with the sound of Beyonce on the stereo and our chatter as we get ready for a night on the tiles.

"Got any liquid eyeliner, babe?" Tara shouts through the wall.

I'm just putting the finishing touches to my own makeup and I check the results of my attempt at smoky eyes in the mirror. Not bad. I spritz some spray on my hair and scrunch it up for a messier look. I'm channelling my inner rock chick tonight in tight black jeans (rescued from Tara's floor), an off the shoulder top and high black ankle boots.

I wonder if Nick would like my outfit, and push the thought from my mind. I've not heard a thing from him all day. I have a sinking feeling in my stomach every time I think of him, which is a lot. How foolish of me for expecting him to get in touch today.

It was only a kiss, no big deal.

"Wow, you look HOT, baby!!" Tara gives a whoop as she walks in to my room. She's clearly back on form. I wonder how much codeine she's had.

Tara looks stunning, as usual. My blue top accentuates her pert breasts and slim waist. Her zany blue and purple eye shadow co-ordinates perfectly with the blue tips of her hair. The tiniest of denim mini skirts showcases Tara's perfect pins and her knee boots scream "Fuck me" from the rooftops.

"Hey, you're not so bad yourself, hon," I compliment her. On anyone else the outfit would look downright tarty, but Tara has the chutzpah to own it.

"I know, sex on legs, me. Mwah!" Tara blows me a kiss. She grabs my makeup bag from the dresser. "Must be wine o'clock, babe," Tara comments, looking up as she starts rummaging. I'm thinking exactly the same thing.

Making my way into the kitchen, I ignore the urge to check my phone which is sitting on the table. I open a bottle of chilled wine and pour us a large glass each.

"Tara, I'll warn you now - I intend to get very drunk tonight." I smile grimly, handing Tara a wine glass. I still haven't had a chance to update her properly on the latest with Nick, but it can keep till later.

She laughs. "Yay, Hols. I love you when you're drunk! You should let your lovely hair down more. To us!"

We clink our glasses together and start necking the wine. As we sing along to a rousing Queen Bee chorus, the first bottle of wine is soon empty and we open another. "Any Pringles?" asks Tara, and a green tube is duly produced from the stash in the cupboard. "So classy," she murmurs, pouting and touching the side of her lips, and we roar with laughter as we crunch. By the time the cab arrives, we are both decidedly merry and I've almost forgotten about Nick.

When we arrive at the gig, Adam is there with his beardy room mate. Oh no. Double date? We kiss the guys hello but inwardly I'm groaning. Trying to catch Tara's eye is hopeless, she's already looking around to check out who else is here.

"Drink, girls?" Adam's getting them in, gin and tonics all round. “Not the cheap stuff I hope?" Tara inspects her glass comically before she sips.

I have no such qualms about the brand of gin, and drink half the glass in one go. I know it's a bad idea, mixing with the wine we had earlier, but I'm thirsty and it's so refreshing. In no time we're all pretty drunk.

The band is loud and we're shouting and laughing. Adam keeps buying me drinks and I know it's leading to the inevitable. I'm so used to it now, in fact it's part of the routine. If he didn't make a move on me I'd be insulted. He puts his arm around my waist and pulls me close. "We should do this more often, Hols," and it feels nice being close to Adam, familiar and safe.

I'm leaning against him, glad of his steady support, because I've had too much to drink. He kisses my hair and for a brief second I wonder what it would be like to be with him. I like that he's kind of mine if I want him.

Tara is watching us, and she's making faces like she's going to puke. Adam sees her too and we both laugh. Tara beckons me towards the toilets. I extricate myself from Adam's clutches. "Be back in a min," I say, looking up at him.

"You better," he replies, squeezing my hand, and smiles.

“Jeez, what is Adam like?" I shake my head at Tara as we stand at the mirrors in the loos.

"You know Holly, you really shouldn't encourage him like that." Tara looks serious.

"Wise up, Tara," I laugh, smacking my lips together as I reapply some lippy. "I'm only messing around. You know that, right? Right?" I can't believe Tara is looking so cross with me. Surely she knows me and Adam are only having a laugh.

Tara gives me a warning look. "Well, steady on, Hols, because clearly he's crazy about you. Don't pretend you don't know, and don't come crying to me when it all backfires."

I'm shocked by Tara's tirade, and meet her eyes in the mirror. "I'd never hurt Adam, he means a lot to me. Honestly, it's fine." I'm sure Tara's overreacting, but her reprimand makes me feel guilty. I try to brush it off with a joke. "Anyway, I think Hairy Hal is hot for you! Want me to put a word in?" I give Tara a playful nudge but she's not playing ball.

Her lips are set in a straight line as she fixes her hair. "Just be careful, babe, yeah? C'mon, let's get some action. Watch out Hal, here I come!" Tara winks at me and I know we're good again.

Back in the club, I'm starting to feel queasy and my head is spinning. It's so loud, Adam has to shout in my ear to be heard. "YOU DANCIN'?"

"YOU ASKIN'?" I holler back. We grin and Adam pulls my arm and leads the way to the dance floor.

"C'mon Holly, show us your moves!" There are two Taras calling to me now, grinding with two Hairy Hals. The wine and gin cocktail is kicking in and the strobe lights are flashing like lightning across my field of vision.

"You OK?" Adam is mouthing to someone and he looks worried. I think he's talking to me but his face is a blur. My legs are like jelly and someone's moved the floor. He catches me as I fall in a drunken heap. Not so classy.