Page 33 of A Night with Damien Spur

‘Just give it back, please,’ she said calmly. ‘It’s very delicate, just like me.’ She grasped the mug and cradled it in both hands. ‘Now then.’ She sighed gently.

For heaven’s sake, get him out of here!the bad girl said.

‘Come on, Nicholas. Just leave me to it and open the wine.’

‘Job done,’ Nicholas said. The steamy kitchen had made his cheeks red. He gave her a shy smile. ‘I’m so happy to be with you tonight.’

Alone at last, Sophie set about her task.

She ladled the soup into Nicholas’s bowl and tipped in thelittle blue pill. She waited for it to dissolve and tasted the soup. Slightly bitter.

A little honey? She took a taste – better – and added more Parmesan. Don’t want to stir it too much, just in case he leaves some at the bottom.

Such a cosy dining room with its floor-to-ceiling shuttered windows. The pale oak table was elegantly dressed with Georgian silver, fine linen napkins, and the roses that Nicholas had brought her arranged in an exquisite lead-crystal vase.

He took his first spoonful.

Sophie waited. Her eyes glittered in the candlelight. Her mouth quivered. Underneath the table she crossed her fingers.

‘You like?’ she said.

‘Lovely,’ he said, ‘but a little sweet. Just needs a pinch of salt and maybe another sprinkle of cheese and then it’ll be perfect.’

Nicholas, always polite, known for his manners, tweaked the minestrone and Sophie followed suit.

Sit on his lap… and nibble his ear; he loves that.

‘Ah.’ He sighed. ‘Oh my Lord, what have you done to me?’

‘Do you want me to stop?’

‘No, but…’

‘But what?’

He paused. A quick check-in with his moral barometer.

Here I am, Nicholas Morley from Bournemouth, a wife and two kids, with a steaming diva who wants me, adores me, cooks for me. Begs me to make love to her. Oh, what the hell, I’m hard as a rock! Let’s go for it!

The Tarzan fantasy was one of his favourites. He lifted her up and slung her over his shoulder. His Jane.

For what we are about to receive… Sophie, his gift, was compliant, yielding. He wanted to please her – make her sizzle…

He played with her. He stalled.

‘You tease,’ she said.

He started again.

‘You’re such a good lover,’ she whispered.

Come on, Nicholas, now or never. Find yourself… lose yourself in the moment. No wife, no kids, no guilt. Take the plunge, dive in, shame the Devil.

‘Ahhh,’ he moaned.

‘At last,’ she cried. ‘Don’t stop, just carry on forever!’

It was glorious. He was cruising on the highway, keeping an even pace. His battered conscience had made it through. And the reward for his bravery? The drive of the century.

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