Strangers (37 page)

“I wondered how you might feel about not having sex?”

“Why?
Are you…er, you know?”

Kate smiled when he blushed.
“No.”

“Then what’s the problem?” Charlie looked bewildered.

“Just to prove that you can,” Kate said.

He opened his mouth, shut it again and then said, “Okay.”

Charlie followed her into the bedroom, wondering what she was up to.
Opening the door with no clothes had an instant effect on his whole body, especially his cock although he’d been semi-erect most of the way from the airport just thinking about her.
Now she was telling him she didn’t want to have sex?
Maybe Kate didn’t believe him about this Tiffany person, but he hadn’t heard of her.
At least, he didn’t think he had.

He’d bought Kate a silver necklace holding a little star because she was his star, but this wasn’t the time to give it to her.
He didn’t want it to look as though he was trying to buy her.
She meant a lot more to him than that, it was just that when he got anywhere near her, every cell in his body wanted to make love to her.

Charlie stripped and let his clothes fall on the floor.
He climbed onto the bed and pulled her back against his chest, being careful not to hurt her.
He gave a deep sigh.
It felt so right to be here, holding her safe in his arms.
His cock throbbed but his anxiety began to dissipate.

“So what have I done now?” he asked, breathing into her neck.

“Ethan told me you were a sex addict.”

“What the fuck?” So much for relaxing, his whole body tensed to match his dick.
“What the hell’s a sex addict?” His fingers hovered above Kate’s hip, wary now of touching her.

“Someone who thinks about sex to the exclusion of everything else.”

Charlie considered that.
He liked sex.
He wasn’t going to deny it.
Okay, loved it.
A new woman in his bed had always brought a surge of euphoria, but he’d grown tired of having to tell women they were the best fuck he’d ever had, that their emaciated bodies were beautiful, that he’d definitely ring them, when he knew damn well he wouldn’t.
Charlie wanted something more and he’d found it with Kate.
Friends as well as lovers, he adored making love to her, giving her pleasure, letting her please him.
Charlie liked being with her.
He didn’t need to have sex with her to be happy.

Charlie’s erection pressed against her back and Kate wondered what he was thinking.

“Do you think I’m a sex addict?” he asked.

“What do you think?”

“I can’t think of anything I want more than to make love to you but I didn’t jump your bones the moment I saw you,” he said.

“True.”

“Do you always answer the door stark naked?”

“Only when it’s a friend.”

“Only when it’s a friend you want to torment out of his skull to prove a point.”

Kate laughed and turned round.
She ran her fingers along his ribs.

“Stop it,” he said.
“To prove it’s not true, we’ll sleep together and only cuddle.”

“I’ve changed my mind.”

Kate slid her hand down his chest, wrapped her fingers around his cock and squeezed gently.
When her thumb swept over the head, Charlie groaned.

“That’s not fair.
How can you expect me not to want sex when you do that?”

Kate kissed his nose.
“You’re not a sex addict, Charlie, but I’m a bit worried that Ethan is prepared to believe Veronica Ward.”

He tensed again.
“What the hell has Ethan been saying?
What’s Veronica got to do with anything?”

“She was the one who told Ethan about your problem.”

“I don’t have a fucking problem,” he yelled, then dropped his voice.
“Do I?”

“No, I don’t think you do, Charlie.
Our relationship isn’t unhealthy and it isn’t just sex.”

The moment those words came out of her mouth, the air froze in her throat.
She waited for Charlie to say something, but he didn’t speak.

“I know we’re lying here naked, but you didn’t rush over to drag me into bed.
You came because I’d been hurt,” she said, more hesitant now.

“Kate, you’re going to have to stop doing that with your hand, otherwise pretty soon I’m going to prove Ethan right.”

She laughed.
“Maybe it’s not you at all.
Maybe it’s me that’s addicted to sex.”

“God, I hope so,” Charlie said.
“I’d be the luckiest guy in the world.”

“In that case, make love to me, lucky guy.
I insist.
I want you inside me now because otherwise I’m—”

His lips landed on hers and he eased her on to her back so he could nestle between her legs.
Charlie didn’t even stop kissing her as he slid into her in one slow lunge and then didn’t move.

He broke away from her lips.
“Oh God, you feel perfect.
But every time we do this, I struggle to go slow.”

Kate’s hands grasped his hips as he bucked against her, pulling him closer as he thrust into her.
Her head spun from how much she wanted him.
Every part of her reacted to Charlie—her skin tingled, her pulse raced and the breath caught in her throat.
Every nerve ending sizzled with delight.
He wound her up with a persistent rhythm that had her gasping for him to hurry.
But Charlie knew her so well, he teased and played until Kate didn’t think she could take any more.
Her orgasm burst within her at the moment he spurted inside her in a blaze of sunshine that melted them together.

Kate loved him.
Loved.
Loved.
Loved him.

* * * * *

Charlie woke the next morning to the sound of banging on the door.

“What time is it?” he groaned.

“Ten thirty.”

“Why is there always someone banging on your door?”

Kate threw off the covers to get up and Charlie caught hold of her arm.

“Where are you going?
You don’t know who’s out there.”

“It’s probably Lucy or Rachel.” Kate stared at his groin.
“What the hell is that?”

“Your phone number.
I did it in indelible ink, though I did think you could try and lick it off.” He gave her a sheepish grin.

Kate laughed.
“And how did you intend to access that in public?”

“Very carefully.”

“You’re crazy.” She leaned over and kissed him.

Charlie’s arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her down.
The banging at the door started again and Kate peeled herself away.
She tugged a long t-shirt over her head.

“Don’t answer it until I’m there.” Charlie pulled on his blue knit boxers and followed her.

Kate turned away from the spy hole.
“It’s Nick.”

“Who’s Nick?”

“From Armageddon.
Remember?”

“Kate, open this door!” Nick shouted.

She twisted the handle and pulled it open.

“You fucking cunt,” Nick yelled.
“Why did you have to say anything?”

Charlie moved between them.
“Don’t speak to her like that.”

“You lied.
Lucy deserves better,” Kate said.

“I love her.”

“Well, you have a strange way of showing it, fucking Sylvie Dacre in a toilet,” Kate snapped.

“I’m not the only one who fucks things just because they’re there.” He looked at Charlie and sneered.
“Hope you’re using condoms.
No telling what you’ll catch.
Either of you.”

Charlie coiled like a snake about to strike, but Kate slammed the door in Nick’s face.

“He’s not worth it.” Kate leaned against the door as Charlie reached to open it.

She put her hand to his cheek.
“I like your teeth.
I’d prefer they stayed in your mouth.”

“Are you suggesting I’d lose in a fight?”

“I think Nick fights dirty.”

Charlie’s eyes narrowed.
“So do I.”

“Come back to bed.” Kate slid her hand over his groin.
He let her lead him back to the bedroom.

“Oh, you’re too easy to distract,” she said with a laugh.

Charlie pulled a face.
“I’m just trying to make the most of the time before you have to go to work.”

“No work today.”

Charlie’s face brightened and he yanked off his boxers.
“Good, you can come with me.”

“Where are you going?”

“I need to go back to my place because a script’s arriving.
I’ve got to do a couple of interviews for an American TV network and after that, one for a magazine and late afternoon, a chat show wants me and Natalie on their settee.” He drew the t-shirt over Kate’s head.

“Can you still come to Rachel’s gallery tonight?” She flopped on the bed.

“I’ll bring my credit card.”

“You don’t have to buy anything.”

“I know but I want to.”

“I’ll meet you there.
You don’t need me hanging around you all day, Charlie.”

He lay at her side and circled her navel with his fingers.

“I need to know that you’re safe.
It was my fault you were stabbed.
I don’t think you understand how much you mean to me, Kate.”

“It wasn’t your fault.”

“If you’d never met me, it wouldn’t have happened.”

Kate grabbed his fingers and held them tight.
“Meeting you is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

Choked with emotion, Charlie struggled to tell her what he felt.
He made his living playing with words, making people believe what he said and he couldn’t utter the three words he held in his heart for Kate.
He didn’t
think
he loved her, he knew it.
Why couldn’t he say it?

“Meeting you is the best thing that ever happened to me too,” he whispered.

“Apart from landing the starring role in
The Green
.”

“Obviously,” he said and flicked her nipple with his finger.
He looked deep into her dark gray eyes.
“I mean it, Kate.
Our lives are entwined now and I don’t want them untangling.”

“I still don’t need to follow you around today.
I’m not a puppy.”

Charlie sighed, then jumped off the bed and came back with a little blue box.

“This was for you.
Only now you’ve said you don’t like jewelry, should I throw it away?”

He watched her as she opened it.
Was she disappointed it wasn’t a ring?
But her eyes lit up and she smiled that genuine, gorgeous Kate smile that lit up her face and his heart began to beat again.

“Oh, Charlie.
Thank you.”

“Because you’re my star, Kate.”

She kissed his nose.

“I’d like to tell you it has magical powers to defend you from crazy people, but sadly it doesn’t.
Kate, please come with me today.”

“I’ll be fine.
I’ll get a cab tonight with Lucy and meet you at the gallery.”

“You’re not to go out anywhere before then,” Charlie pleaded.

She rolled her eyes.
“Don’t worry about me.”

“Right,” he said and touched the wound on her back.
“Because clearly nothing happens to you when I’m not around.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Kate and Lucy didn’t leave the building until the cab pulled up outside.
Kate breathed a sigh of relief no reporters or photographers hung around.

“You’re yesterday’s news,” Lucy said.

Kate hoped that was true.

“So, are you okay?” Lucy asked as the cab pulled away.
“How’s your back?”

“Fine.”

“Is Charlie coming?”

Kate nodded.

“Nick is trying to win me back.
He says once Gemma goes off to university in September, he’ll tell his wife about us and ask for a divorce.”

Kate didn’t say anything about Nick’s early morning visit.

“And when we get to the end of September, I wouldn’t be surprised if his wife’s father falls ill, so he doesn’t want to upset her or he runs over her dog and doesn’t want to upset her.
And then at Christmas there’ll be another excuse not to bloody well upset her.
I know it sounds hypocritical, but while it was just me and his wife, I didn’t mind, but I’ll be damned if I’m sharing him with anyone else.”

“What about Fax?”

Lucy grinned.
“He’s growing on me.”

The cab lurched to a halt in the middle of the road outside the gallery.
There was no room to pull up at the curb.

“I’ll pay,” Lucy said.
“I’ll claim it on expenses.”

By the time the driver had written a receipt, traffic had backed up behind and horns blared.
The gallery blazed with light, people spilling onto the pavement like sweets falling from a bag, an assortment of the well-dressed and well-heeled, drinks in hands.

“Wow,” Lucy said.
“Rachel must be pleased with the turnout.
Sometimes she only has two people come in the entire day.”

“Two’s okay so long as they buy something,” Kate said.

They spotted Rachel the moment they walked in.
She waved and hurried over.

“Do you need us to help with anything?” Kate asked.

“I’d rather you mingled, told everyone how wonderful the paintings are and that they’re a brilliant investment.
No one’s buying anything.”

“It’s still early,” Lucy said.
“Oh, there’s Fax.”

Deserted by her friends, Kate lifted a glass of wine from the tray of a passing waiter and worked her way through to the back of the gallery.
A man stood next to the painting “Ready for Bed”, making sure people knew it was his work.
Painfully thin with a long face and a gray ponytail, he reminded Kate of a horse.

Rachel had been wrong about things not selling.
Red stickers were appearing like measles.
Dan’s “Sister” painting had sold and Kate gawped when Dan pointed out who’d bought it.
Tony from Crispies.
He stood with his arm round Mel.
Kate wondered how she’d got that so wrong.

She edged through the crowds to her favorite painting, the fridge light picture.
It hadn’t sold, but when she saw the price tag was almost twenty thousand pounds, she wasn’t surprised.

“What do you think of this piece?” a voice asked.

Following Rachel’s instruction, Kate tried her best.
“It’s excellent.
I like the balance the artist’s struck between concealment and revelation.”

“And?”

“And the way we’re drawn into the light, but at the same time tempted to stay in the dark.
I guess it’s an invitation to explore the ambiguity of the kitchen, a place on the verge of dysfunctional breakdown.
It’s clever and very well done.”

“What about ‘Wall’?”

Kate flinched.
Shit, now she’d have to lie.
She turned to look at the man who was speaking, but he’d twisted away from her to look at the brick monstrosity and was awkwardly positioned in the press of bodies.
He was a middle-aged man, tall and slim with short silver-gray hair and a gold earring.