Page 16 of When The Night Falls

‘Devil indeed.’ William shot me a look that I didn’t understand.

Concerned, I asked Olivia, ‘Will you be all right by yourself?’

There wasn’t a chance I would leave her behind if she didn’t approve. If that meant losing my one shot at a sensational night, then so be it. My duty as her best friend would always come first.

She eyed me knowingly. ‘Yes. You, on the other hand, I’m not so sure about.’

‘I’ll take good care of her, Livy. You have my word,’ William said, suddenly the gallant man again, rather than the greedy, libidinous and domineering man I had just been kissing. I quite fancied them both.

‘You’d better. I know who you are, should she happen to disappear by the morning,’ Olivia threatened.

‘She might be sleeping until dusk, seeing as she won’t be getting much rest tonight, so don’t be concerned if she doesn’t answer her phone first thing in the morning,’ William replied.

Andrew chuckled beside my gaping blonde friend. ‘He’s a bit of a character, but you get used to him. Tad blunt is all.’

‘Just a tad,’ I said under my breath.

‘Get your minds out of the gutter,’ William said, looking between them. ‘I didn’t specify why she won’t be getting much rest. For all you know, we’ll be talking all night.’

Olivia raised a brow. ‘Sure. Talking. With your bodies.’

‘That’s generally what people use when they talk, yes.’ William grinned.

Olivia rolled her eyes. ‘You’re definitely a lawyer.’

William chuckled. ‘Anyway, it was lovely to make your acquaintance, Livy. I hope we’ll meet again.’ He leaned in and pecked her cheek. ‘You’re a sweet girl. Again, I’m sorry about earlier.’

‘Y-yeah. Me too.’ She met my eyes with evident concern, and I knew why. ‘I hope we’ll meet again,’ he had said. I hoped it was only his courteous side speaking, because as far as I was aware, this was a one-time thing. Had I jumped the gun by assuming that no-strings-attached was mutually understood?

‘I’ll see you later, Andy,’ William continued to his friend, who responded with a perceptive smirk.

‘Yeah. Have fun.’

Without replying, William dragged me toward the cloakroom, and his impatience was clear from his strides.

‘Do you live nearby?’ I asked.

‘Yes,’ he said. Then I heard him murmur, ‘And thank fuck for that.’

§ § §

‘Have you got the time?’ I asked when we had walked along the streets of Soho for a few minutes. Raising the hand that was holding mine, William eyed his watch. I swallowed as I recognised the brand – a Rolex.

Glancing at his profile, I realised that he oozed upper-class wealth, and I wasn’t enchanted by it. Rich people could sometimes be dreadfully arrogant with their aristocratic tendencies. But, since I wasn’t one for prejudice, I wouldn’t let his probable fortune define my impression of him. Besides, Jason came from a wealthy background as well, and he was as close to an ideal human being as could be.

‘Ten to ten,’ William said and tugged me closer.

‘Ten to ten? I was only there for about an hour?’ I was astounded. Had he managed to seduce me that fast? How licentious of me – and I wasn’t even tipsy!

Seemingly amused, he looked at me from the corner of his eye. ‘If it’s any consolation, I didn’t leave you much choice.’ He rounded a corner to enter Wardour Street.

I frowned at myself. Was I really so desperate for him that I couldn’t last much longer than an hour? Poor Olivia. I hoped I hadn’t ruined her evening.

‘Do you think Andy will take good care of her?’ I asked, worrying. ‘I feel like I’m being a bad friend.’

‘Again, I didn’t leave you much choice.’

I halted promptly. ‘We ought to head back.’

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