Erogenous Zones: Monica's Secret (8 page)

For several moments she didn’t respond, but he could tell that her pulse rate had gone up. Beneath her pristine shirt and jacket her breasts rose and fell more rapidly. Her fingers twitched and she snatched at the button on her jacket to still them. “Yes. Of course I did.”

“And still you met us for dinner.” Owen couldn’t restrain his smile.

They stared into each other’s eyes, and somehow knowing how aware she’d been when she stepped into his suite the night before made it that much more delicious. He thought that revealing they were lovers was part of the arousal for him. Now, knowing that she’d addressed the realities of their bisexuality before the event—and taken such a big risk with her personal secret—made him want to make love to her again, right there and then.

His thoughts darted back to the selection of items he’d picked up at an exclusive sex emporium that morning. Anticipation built inside him as he imagined bringing them into play.

“Jesus,” Alec said, and began to pace up and down, “that’s such an amazing skill, I never would have guessed.”

“No one ever does. And very few people know.” There was a deliberate, pleading look in her eyes as she glanced at them both then. “I want it to stay that way. I only told you because I had to. Things happened so fast and…well, there was no way around it.”

She was opening up. Owen wanted things to stay that way. He wanted to know all about Monica Evans. “Discretion is important to you. You can rely on us.”

Alec nodded. “Absolutely.”

Alec was quite obviously fascinated by it. Owen was too, but he was cautious. She didn’t want them to make a big deal about it or she would feel uncomfortable.

“Is it just sexual history that you can sense?” Alec quizzed.

“Mostly yes, although I have less strong images of other events if I concentrate really hard, but the sexual stuff comes through thick and fast. I have to concentrate to keep that out and block it, and that is really hard if I’m aroused.” She shrugged. “I’m a freak.” She gave a

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weak smile. “I’ve done research on it and the only reason I can find for it being strongest with sexual energy is that it’s so intense, the psychic residue is stronger and that’s what I tune into.”

Owen couldn’t resist. “Or it could be because deep down you are a very sensual and sexually-aware woman.”

Quick as a flash, she was back at him, a wry smile on her face. “I thought you said I was an ice queen?”

“I knew you weren’t an ice queen the moment I met you. Why do
they
think you are?”

“Oh, I don’t know, maybe because I have to keep myself to myself. The people I work with have never witnessed me having a relationship and I’ve worked here for years.”

“Why is that? Why haven’t you had a relationship, I mean.”

Eventually, she took a deep breath. “I opened myself to a man I cared about when I was much younger, when I was still at business college, and I was hurt by his thoughts and memories. He was with me but I was merely a replacement for someone else, the person he really wanted to be with. I’d fallen for him badly and it left me hurt and raw. I was young…”

She paused. “I know now that I can’t expect a normal relationship. There’s always going to be some history come through. I’ve accepted that.”

So, she’d been hurt by an ex. Owen couldn’t begin to imagine thinking about any other woman when he was with her.

“For some reason,” she continued, “the bondage protects me from that. It’s not something I’ve ever tried before.” An attractive flush coloured her cheeks when she admitted that. “Although I was drawn to it when I experienced the residual energy of those kind of encounters.”

Owen nodded. “Can’t touch when you are tied up?”

“Yes, I think it might be that simple.”

“If you can concentrate on other kinds of experience,” Alec said, “you would be adept with investigation work. I read that the police sometimes use psychics to uncover evidence. I bet you’d be great at uncovering secrets and lies.”

“Alec,” Owen warned. It was pretty obvious where Alec’s thoughts were leading and he didn’t like it.

Alec frowned. “Sorry, mind running away with me.” He stepped over to her and brushed her cheek with a kiss. “Forgive me.”

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Monica was sharp and she glanced at them both with caution and curiosity in her eyes. “It’s a natural enough thought, but why secrets and lies? I thought you were here to help with new ideas?”

“We are.” Owen raised a smile.

She cocked her head on one side, and he had a sinking feeling.

“There’s something else, isn’t there?” Her eyes flickered with thought. “Is it a secret, or a lie?”

Alec stared at him in way that made Owen feel uncomfortable.

“Monica has shared a private part of herself with us, surely that enables you trust her on this?”

He had a point. Owen still didn’t feel right about it though. They shouldn’t be burdening her with their true mission. One look at her face assured him she would figure it out if they didn’t share. “I don’t want to burden you with it.”

Alec shot him a glance that told him he was being too guarded. He was right. But he had Monica’s best interests in mind too.

“Okay, we’re here because there’s been some fraud. Somewhere along the line funds are going missing. Flynn Elwood denied any problems with the running of the franchise when the Board of Directors asked him about it, so we’ve been sent in undercover to see what we can unearth.”

“Fraud?” Her expression morphed. “I’m astonished. Flynn’s always telling us how well everything runs here.”

“That’s his story. Of course he may be denying it because he’s involved.”

“No, surely not?” She looked shocked.

He didn’t want to destroy her faith. “Or he may be covering for a leak he can’t locate either. From what we can tell he’s scrambling to patch things up.”

She thought about it for a few moments then nodded. “Yes, he has been working harder than ever recently, and he is stressed.”

She looked at them with caution. Her loyalties were being divided, Owen could see it happening. She crossed her arms loosely and turned to one side as she thought about what had been said. Her body language reflected her mental state. This wasn’t what he wanted at all.

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“Were you aware that it was his wife’s money that enabled their investment in the hotel?” she asked.

“Yes. Flynn Elwood doesn’t just have the Board to answer to.”

She tapped her chin with one finger. “Well, I don’t know if I can help you find out—”

“We weren’t asking you to do that,” Owen interrupted. “I don’t want you to feel in any way swayed by what you know about us. It just came out.” He glanced at Alec, who lifted one shoulder apologetically.

Monica stared at Owen. “I know. But I’m glad you told me. It makes me feel less awkward about my own confession.”

Owen smiled. “No need for you to feel awkward. I already knew you were someone very special indeed.”

The atmosphere in the room altered and he noticed how she looked at him as if she wanted to believe him, but wasn’t sure.

The door clicked open and a woman in a housekeeping uniform stuck her head in.

“Whoops. I thought this room was vacant. Sorry, folks, I was just checking it had been done.

Oh…Monica, it’s you.”

“Don’t worry, Angie,” Monica said, quickly slipping into her professional mode. “I was giving these two gentlemen a tour of the more luxurious suites. Allow me to introduce you. Mr Stroud and Mr Clifford are from Headquarters. Gentleman, this is Angela Burdette.

Angie is one of Cumbernauld’s longest serving members of staff. We’ve worked together since I first came here as a greenhorn from business college.”

Owen watched as she encouraged the woman to step across the suite and shake hands. It was fascinating to see how little contact she made with people, whilst giving the impression of doing so. She swept her hand up to the maid’s back and stepped behind her, but didn’t actually touch her. While the maid shook hands with Alec and chatted with her about how long she had worked there, Owen once again made eye contact with Monica.

She smiled, tentatively. She knew he’d watched her. Owen couldn’t stop watching her.

A strange combination of fragility and strength was reflected in her character, and it magnetised him. She was beautiful, desirable, and unique. The rising need to possess her—to see her awash with sexual pleasure, and make her happy in every way—was getting difficult to hold back.

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When Angie left, he walked over to Monica. “I don’t claim to understand what you go through, but I can see it’s often a trial for you.”

“Yes.”

“Why don’t you want to touch us, the way you want to touch this place?”

“I do and I don’t.” A sad smile passed over her face. “I just want to be normal, I want to enjoy it the way I was able to last night, but if I get a flood of history when I want to be with someone it’s…invasive.”

Owen cupped her face and looked deep into her eyes. “That’s fine. I only wanted to understand why.” He kissed her, gently, brushing over those soft lips of hers, taking a taste and promising himself more—a hell of a lot more. “We can work around it, right, Alec?”

He observed her as she glanced at Alec, and he noticed that she looked nervous, hopeful and expectant. She wanted Alec too. That was good. That was important to him.

Alec nodded and grinned. “Too right we can.”

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Alec delivered his personal doubts on their situation that evening, when he and Owen were alone. They had spent the afternoon meeting the various restaurant managers. Overall it was a highly convivial session and they had ended it well fed and in good spirits, with anticipation building for their rendezvous with Monica later that evening.

While they relaxed in Owen’s suite, Owen went back over the revelation of the day—

Monica’s psychic ability. After an hour discussing it, Alec knew that he had to bring up his concerns now, while he had the chance. As soon as he did it became blatantly obvious just how much Owen wanted Monica.

“You are spending a lot of time thinking about Monica and her psychic talent, maybe too much time?”

Wild-eyed and disgruntled, Owen Clifford was not his usual calm self. “Jesus, Alec. I thought you had more understanding.”

Alec bristled. “I’m only playing devil’s advocate here.”

It wasn’t often that Owen lost his temper, but he had surely lost it now. “I thought you had sympathy for this psychic gift of Monica’s. I can’t believe you’re questioning it now.”

Owen paced the sitting area in his suite, barefoot, which was what he preferred when he was outside working hours. The fact that he was still wearing a suit and tie did have the unfortunate side effect of making him look a little bit crazy, especially when he was in a bad mood.

It was a good job that the Board of Directors couldn’t see him now, Alec mused. “I’m not questioning her gift,” he stated. “What I’m talking about is the whole situation. I commented on that because we’ve spent the last hour talking about it and although it’s bloody fascinating stuff, I’m merely pointing out that we should also be talking about our work here, at least for a few moments.”

Owen glared at him.

“I’m hugely attracted to Monica as well,” Alec added, quickly, “don’t get me wrong. I think she’s perfect for us…”

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As expected, that grabbed Owen’s attention in a different way. His expression mellowed and the corners of his mouth lifted. “She is.”

“I don’t want to give up any of our time with her,” Alec continued, “but I am concerned about your position here.”

Owen rubbed his knuckles over his short-cropped hair, something he always did when he was worried and preoccupied. It was obvious that he didn’t want any obstacles in his path to Monica. Unfortunately life wasn’t that simple. He was really taken with her, they both were. Alec’s mindset meant he always tried to work around obstacles, but Owen wanted to forge ahead on this, to hell with the obstacles. He’d already had to deal with her psychic ability. For a man as down-to-earth as Owen, that had been some learning curve.

Alec glanced at his watch. Monica would be with them within an hour, for the evening—hopefully for the night. He’d had to grab the opportunity to talk to Owen about what was happening, but it hadn’t gone down well. He rested back in the low-slung armchair and for the first time since he’d given up smoking three years earlier, he craved a cigarette. That was bad. He only ever craved a cigarette when he felt things were getting away from him. His job as PA was to research, to think ahead, and to watch Owen’s back.

That’s what he was trying to do now.

“The Board of Directors is watching your work closely at the moment, that’s the only reason I decided to bring it up.” He lifted his hands from the arms of the chair, seeking Owen’s understanding.

Owen paused then gave a reluctant nod. ”Yes, you’re right there.” He undid his tie hastily, pulling it off and throwing it on a chair. Tugging at his shirt buttons he opened the collar.

Alec responded physically, his blood pumping south. The sight of his lover undressing always did that to him. Owen was a burly, direct man, and stripping off usually meant he was about to deliver an irresistible suggestion for mutual pleasure. However, this time he was distracted by more important issues and Alec quelled his instinctive response.

”Do you think I’m letting Monica distract me?” Owen asked.

Alec noticed the concern in his partner’s eyes. “It’s a borderline case, for both of us.”

He gave a wry smile. “I did wonder if you were feeling a bit rebellious about the Board of Director’s attention to your work at the moment.” He delivered the comment cautiously, expecting a backlash. He got it.

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Owen’s bad mood flared again. “What, you think I’m spending time with Monica because I’m avoiding an important task? Do you think I’m insane?”

Right then he looked the part. “I know you’re not, but I also know that you like to buck the trend occasionally.” He lifted his eyebrows. “That’s why you are so good at what you do.”

Owen’s expression morphed from anger to grumpiness. “Yeah, besides, I buck the trend enough by shagging my male PA while on the job, don’t you think?” Sarcasm rang in his tone.

Alec laughed. “That’s not the only reason you shag me.”

“Maybe not.” Owen shoved his hands in his pockets. He looked confused for a moment which made Alec want to hold him, but he knew that wasn’t a good idea, not right now.

Owen glanced over rather sheepishly. “So, have I missed something important?”

“I don’t think we’ve missed anything at all. I wanted to have this conversation so that we are both aware of the possibility. I’m watching out for you, Owen.”

Owen nodded. “I know. I appreciate it. She is worth it though, isn’t she?”

Alec laughed softly. That Owen wanted his approval on this indicated just how important she was. “Absolutely. I don’t think either of us could stop being involved with her, that’s not what I’m trying to say. We just need to be extra vigilant.”

Owen scrubbed his head with his knuckles again. “We’ve rattled the entire staff, just by being here. All we can do is keep looking and listening. Have you got any gut feelings about where the leak is?”

“I keep coming back to accounting because it’s the obvious one. They’ve made some alterations to the recommended system. That made me concerned. I’m going to make a copy of their database, get it onto my laptop and see if I can find anything. The financial leak could be anywhere though, cleverly concealed from the accountants. There have been a lot of refurbishments over the last year and it’s all specialist stuff.”

“Like the staff elevator?”

“Yes, and they’ve just completed a major phase of suite makeovers.” Alec shrugged.

“There could be something worth looking into there, since this is a recent situation. In general the accounting systems look pretty sound.”

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“We’ll have to find out who deals with the purchasing decisions on the renovation work.” Owen sat down, right on the edge of his seat with his elbows on his knees. “I had a quick look at the booking records when I came through reception this morning, and there’s a good turnover. Could be a bit better but it’s hovering at eighty-five percent occupied on average, over the current season. I’m going to go further back tomorrow.”

“That’s not bad at all. Like you say, we’ll have to suggest ways to push it up, aim for ninety percent.”

Owen studied him. “You thought about asking Monica to use her psychic ability to help us, didn’t you? “

“Yes, but I didn’t think that one through. I’m aware that I blundered there. I wouldn’t want to put her in that position.”

Owen remained thoughtful. “No. It would have to be something she offered to do.”

“Let’s not think about that angle. The evening is ours. There’s nothing we can do until tomorrow. Let’s just enjoy it.”

Owen nodded but he was still distracted. Alec was, however, relieved that his partner had taken his comments on board. Neither of them wanted to give up their liaison with Monica, but neither could they afford to miss something vital, because completion of this task—quickly and successfully—was crucial to Owen’s career.

* * * *

Monica sat in the back seat of the big black London cab, peering through the rain-streaked windows at the passing sights. The West End of London glittered on through the rain, as ever, but it looked different tonight. That was because she was on her way back to Cumbernauld’s—back to Owen and Alec. She had popped home to feed her goldfish, but Owen had only let her go if she promised to be back by eight-thirty. Nothing had really changed in this part of the world and yet everything she looked at seemed brighter and more dazzling.
It’s because I am living. Really living.

Anticipation had her body thrumming. That was a change in itself, and the fact she was truly living her life was bound to have a knock-on effect. She needed her anchors, and yet she was being set adrift from them. She took a deep, steadying breath. Had she lost all

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her carefully built self-defence mechanisms? It was a question that had passed though her thoughts constantly throughout the day. If things were altering she should be afraid, and she still was. A little.
I’m having fun, living for the moment, that’s all it is.

Was it an excuse? Hell, yes. But she kept telling herself she could enjoy it for as long as it lasted then pull back and return to normal. As her taxi dodged the traffic and doubts assailed her, she considered how realistic that plan was. No, her life would never be the same after they’d gone from it. A day and a half around them had assured her of that.

Fundamentally, things were the same as they had been before, the hotel and her part in it.

She had stepped off the path, strayed even, but her safe routine was still there and she could step right back up to it.

The one thing that really got to her was the nagging feeling that she was betraying her boss by having a private liaison with the men who had come to figure out what was going on under his roof. The truth had come out that afternoon. There was more to it. Their investigation had a trigger. That was worrying in itself. Fraud? Misappropriation of funds?

And was she under investigation, too? She had been, she could see that now. In telling them her secret she had shown them she had bigger things to worry about than stealing from the company who gave her security.

Owen had assured her he wanted her to carry on as before, acting as their guide. But now she watched what went on in a different way, and—more worryingly—she wanted to help them.

As the taxi pulled in at the entrance to Cumbernauld’s and the doorman stepped over to open the car door, the worries began to wisp away on the rainy night air. All she could feel was excitement, curiosity and desire for the rendezvous ahead.
Tomorrow, I’ll think about it
tomorrow.

“Good evening, Ms Evans.” The doorman said, with obvious surprise.

“Evening, George. Thank you.” Monica indicated the taxi driver keep the change, and slung her bag over her shoulder.

“Working late tonight?”

“Yes indeed. We have bods in from Headquarters and I’m the designated go-to person.”

“Oh yes. I hear they want to have a chat with everyone, is that right?” George looked concerned. Word had got about. “It’s not about job cuts is it, Ms Evans?”

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“No, no I don’t think so. It’s about promotional ideas.” It was curious that the staff thought there might be more to it. And now she’d lied, to cover for them. Each time she tried to push it away someone was sure to remind her, which was no bad thing.

Once she’d made her way through the familiar reception area with its black and white tiled floor, marble pillars and clever lighting, she felt a bit more focused. The hotel always felt different at night, the ambiance less business-like and more leisurely. It wasn’t often that she got to enjoy that and as she rode up in the elevator, she observed the group of friends who shared the space, noticing how easy they were with one another. That’s what she craved, and this crazy affair with two bisexual men was as near as she’d ever been. The only people she was comfortable around were her immediate family, who understood the way she was. In the short time she’d known Alec and Owen she’d had a taste of something else. Vibrant companionship and more, intimacy.

As she walked along the corridor, her fingers touched against the bracelet Owen had put on her. That took her closer to them, because they had both examined it with her in mind before it found its home on her wrist—Owen when he selected it, Alec before they gave it to her.

Owen answered the door when she knocked. His jacket and tie had gone and his shirt was open to the chest. His hair was ruffled as if he’d been working. He looked a bit stressed.

But his feet were bare—that made her smile.

“Monica, oh Monica.” He leaned against the frame and looked at her, keeping her waiting. “You are a sight for sore eyes.”

She glanced along the corridor, wondering how professional this would look if one of the staff caught sight of her. Good thing she was supposed to be on hand for them.

“I wondered if you might stand us up,” he added.

“Should I have done that?” The question was one she’d been asking herself.

“If you had, I’d have hunted you down.” Lust burned in his eyes.

The emotional and physical response she experienced made her falter. Her blood rushed, her legs growing weak under her. Once he’d delivered that comment, however, he reached out and put his arm around her back, ushering her in. With his free hand, he took her handbag and deposited it on a table that stood inside the door.

“Close your eyes,” he instructed.

Surprised, she paused.

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“Close them…”he repeated, and it was a total command.

When she did, he stood at her back with his hands covering her eyes. It was strange, but compelling. She was in his hands, literally.

“Step forward, I’m right with you.”

Monica moved and as she did so she was soon breathless with sensation, because the unusual experience of having her vision obscured made her desire to touch things flare wildly. How strange, she considered. Owen did things that were natural to him but keyed in to her needs, needs that even she was unaware of. He’d contained her hands when she needed that, and now he made her want to touch things, which—ultimately—she might have to.
Not ready yet.