Faye's Spirit (8 page)

Garth looked back at Jai, who still lazed on the bed with his arms behind his head.

“We’re due at Parkinson’s site in half an hour. He wants to go over the plans today.” He opened the wardrobe and reached for a hanger, pulling out a white linen shirt. “You do remember, don’t you?”

Faye watched, fascinated by the way these two functioned as friends and colleagues.

Jai was unperturbed. He looked like a lazy lion awakening, his roving gaze on what was to be had. When he looked her way she saw that hungry look in his eyes that indicated he wasn’t thinking about breakfast.

“In that case, I’m going to head to the registrar’s office while you’re out, see what I can find out about our friend Maud.

Jai continued to convince Garth of his plans. “You’ll be at the site most of the day. You can handle it. I have faith in you. I’ll bring Faye over when we’re done.”

Faye wondered if he’d added that last as a sweetener. Garth didn’t look altogether sweetened, but he let it go.

* * * *

“Not what you were expecting?”

Faye shook her head and glanced back at the registrar’s office with a thoughtful expression.

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FAYE’S SPIRIT

Saskia Walker

49

She really did
investigate
, Jai decided. When Garth had shown him her ad, he thought she might be a bit of a nutter, or a clever con on the take, but she really had engaged with the spirit in the building and the whole history of events.

“Where to next?”

“The local library. We can look at the newspapers on microfiche.”

Faye stayed quiet on the journey, as if deep in thought.

Once they got to the library and she requested the relevant newspaper microfiches, Jai found them side-by-side readers and offered to help.

They began to scan the pages, reading through newspapers from the time of Maud’s death.

“You look as if you’re familiar with these machines?” Faye commented as she worked through the data.

“Yes, we sometimes have to use them to look at older foundation plans. Used them a lot as students of course.”

“That’s when you met Garth, as students?”

“Uh huh. We had to work on a project together and I’ve been stuck with him ever since.” He flashed her a grin.

He liked her smile and she showed it to him then.

“Funnily enough, the task we had to do together was specifically designed to show students how a project can benefit from having different interpretations, different minds thinking through the problems together.”

Faye stopped what she was doing for a moment and looked at him thoughtfully.

When she returned to her microfiche she gasped and pointed at the screen. “I think I found something.”

She scanned up and down the piece. “It’s a very small article, but it mentions the death of a woman who worked locally. It describes the accident and says that she was single and worked as a cook in a local business.”

She sat back in her chair.

“Useful?”

“I hope so. It means I can ask more leading questions the next time she appears.” She rose to her feet, apparently enthused by what she’d found out.

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FAYE’S SPIRIT

Saskia Walker

50

Jai admired that quality about her. And many others.

After they’d returned the microfiches they made their way back to the car. He held the passenger door open for her and watched as she got in. She moved like a dancer, somehow elegant and graceful even in her bohemian gear, as if she’d done ballet or something.

Whatever, it appealed to him. And to Garth. Yes, being around Faye had revealed a side of Garth he hadn’t seen before, one that his old friend had previously denied.

He got into the driver’s seat and put the key in the ignition, then paused. It was past midday, but he knew Garth would be handling things at the site. Faye looked as if she needed to talk.

Faye had her head back against the head rest and seemed deep in thought.

“What are you thinking?”

“Well, we now know the cause of death. It was a car accident on an icy road. No suspicious circumstances. Not that the police recorded, at any rate.”

“What did you think it might be?”

She shrugged and turned to look at him. “Sadly, several cases I’ve encountered have been suicides, and that’s what held them to our world.”

Jai didn’t have an answer to that, mostly because he could see that she carried some of the sadness she’d experienced.

As if she grew aware of him studying her, she focused. “Maud’s was a tragic death but it was an accident. Mind you, I’m glad I don’t have to tell Garth that someone died in dubious circumstances in his house.”

“No, that is good news. Garth really doesn’t need any more reasons to take himself seriously.”

“Yes, I can see you are dedicated to helping lighten him up.” The warmth in her smile made Jai doubly aware of how much he liked her.

“I like the guy, I figured out I could help him out with that.”

Her eyes twinkled. “In for the long haul, huh?”

She was very astute, and he felt the humour of the moment passing between them as she locked gazes with him.

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FAYE’S SPIRIT

Saskia Walker

51

“It does seem to have become a life cause.” He shifted in his seat and turned to face her properly. “It was good to see him loosening up a bit last night. Everybody needs a little bit of kinky sex in their lives.”

Recognition flickered in her eyes. “How kinky do you like to get?”

Trailing his fingers along her thigh, he looked directly into her eyes a bit longer.

Faye’s lips parted and her eyes darkened. She was such a sensual, responsive woman.

“I’m all for experimentation, going with the flow when life presents intriguing opportunities. Last night was good. Garth was turned on, even when he wasn’t getting in on the act.” He winked at her. “He wouldn’t admit it though.”

“And you?”

“Of course, I love watching sex.” He eased his fingers over the curve of her thigh and between her legs. “I enjoy experimenting, capturing the moment. Life is short, after all.”

Her eyes widened and she nodded down at his roving hand. “This is what you mean by going with the flow?”

“You’re a very attractive woman, and you haven’t slapped my wrist…you haven’t crossed your legs and crushed my hand…yet.” He gave her his cheekiest grin. “I figure you’re going with the flow, as am I.”

He moved his hand higher and cupped her pussy through her underwear. Then he reached in for a kiss.

She returned his kiss immediately and looped her hands around his neck as if she’d been waiting for it. Her hips moved, and he could feel the heat of her pussy in his hand.

When they drew apart a man walked close by the front of the car and Faye clasped Jai’s hand, arresting it. When the man went to a car two along the row Faye moved his hand higher, so that it covered her breast.

“You see, I knew you were a playful type.” Even through her top and bra he could feel her nipple.

“So that’s what you liked about me, huh,” she breathed. “Open minded, and willing to go with the flow?”

He moved his hand, holding his palm flat against the hard bump of her nipple, gently clasping the curve of her breast. He nodded. “That and your sexy eyes.”

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FAYE’S SPIRIT

Saskia Walker

52

“You’re the one with the sexy eyes.” She laughed softly, lifted his hand from her breast and kissed it in the palm, sending his nerve endings crazy. When he let it free, she reached down and pulled her skirt a little higher, wriggling her hips to assist, revealing the triangle of fabric over her pussy. Mischief sparkled in her eyes. “Is that what you were looking for?”

Jai nodded. His cock hardened. He reached in to kiss her neck. She smelt of musk, of woman and desire. When he returned his hand to her pussy she kissed him again, holding his face in her hands as her tongue teased against his.

He traced his fingers along the insides of her thighs and noticed that she pressed her head back against the headrest when he dipped his fingers down one side of her panties to touch her pussy.

She moaned, gasped against his mouth, trembling.

He moved his fingers deeper. Her cunt felt hot and slippery, and when he moved his fingers in and out her flesh closed around them, clasping them in a way that made him wish it was his cock instead.

Drawing back, he studied her. Her eyelids lowered and she looked deliciously aroused, making his cock pound. He ignored it. He wanted to concentrate on her and learn what she liked. Shifting his hand he moved his thumb over the bump of her clit.

“Oh, oh, oh…” She caught her bottom lip between her teeth, her fingers clutching at his shirt sleeve while she shuddered in release.

Her body rolled closer to his and she put her forehead on his shoulder while uttering a muffled moan into his shirt. Smiling to himself, he stroked his fingers around the mouth of her cunt before dipping inside again. When she lifted her head from his shoulder to look at him, Jai was captured by her expression. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips dark and parted as she panted for breath.

He moved his free hand to stroke her jaw.

She was lush and playful, sophisticated and wild.

He liked her. He liked her a lot.

www.total-e-bound.com

FAYE’S SPIRIT

Saskia Walker

53

Chapter Six

The site Garth were worked was impressive—a huge, half-built glass-covered building that twisted skyward. Faye stared up at it when they climbed out of the car in the small, muddy car park at the site. “Well, this is a new experience for me. I’ve never been inside a new building while it’s under construction.”

“Believe it or not this place is over five years old.” Jai led her on to a makeshift pathway made of sheets of board that were only marginally less muddy than the surrounding area. “It was a victim of the recession. The original developer went bust and the build got put on hold. Thankfully a new developer has taken it on board and he’s hired us to take a look at the space again, to advise him how it might be developed differently to maximise take-up once it’s finished.”

Jai led the way and picked up two hard hats from a shelving unit inside the door. He insisted she put one on.

“Suits you,” he commented.

“Yeah right.” She noticed he looked right at home in his.

Inside the core of the building she spied Garth. He looked even more gorgeous than he had that morning when he flung on his smart suit, even though the jacket was currently nowhere to be seen. His shirt was still done up neatly, as was the tie, but his sleeves were rolled up revealing his strong forearms. The contrast of dapper outfit and brawn suited him.

Faye watched as he talked to the group of builders and pointed around the inside of the building with his pen, noting the easy camaraderie he had with the men. “He enjoys his work?”

“Oh yes,” Jai responded, “he’s a natural born architect, great vision when it comes to a project like this.”

Faye noticed a subtle note of pride in Jai’s voice. They had a deep bond, these two. At first she’d seen the competitive edge—mostly good hearted—but the more time she spent around them she learned that there was much more to their friendship. “Is he a better architect than you?”

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FAYE’S SPIRIT

Saskia Walker

54

Jai looked at her, clearly amused by the question. “Of course he is. He needs me though, because he doesn’t have the self-belief he should have.”

“You push him forward?”

Jai nodded.

Just then Garth caught sight of them standing nearby. He paused for a moment and nodded their way—staring across at them with a thoughtful expression—then wound up his conversation with the builders. Putting his documents down on the table, he headed over.

“You missed the client,” he said to Jai.

“I’ll deal with him next time, to make up to you.”

Faye noticed that Jai grinned at him. Garth nodded, then looked at them both with curiosity. She was about to tell him what they’d found out about Maud when he spoke.

“You two got it on, didn’t you?”

“My, my, what a suspicious and dirty mind you have,” Jai teased.

“You bloody well did though, didn’t you?”

Faye was surprised.

Jai seemed to enjoy the situation. “Don’t worry, we restrained our natural urges, so you didn’t miss too much.”

Only the best orgasm I’ve ever had in a car
, Faye thought to herself, but kept her lip buttoned. Should she feel guilty about what had happened? She wasn’t quite sure. It was all too new. Garth, however, seemed as much fascinated as he did suspicious.

Erotic tension rose between the three of them, fast and furious, palpable and intoxicating.

Jai, meanwhile, seemed intent on telling Garth the details. “Okay, I confess it was my fault. I couldn’t resist. I gave Faye a little fondle in my car.”

“A little fondle?” Garth really did want all the details.

Faye swayed on her heels. He’d wanted to be part of it, she realised. That notion turned her on immensely.

Garth looked at her with possessive eyes while Jai continued to describe what had gone on.

Faye’s breathing altered because she suddenly became aware just how aroused Garth was. Glancing down then quickly away, she took in the sight of the bulge at his groin. Those www.total-e-bound.com

FAYE’S SPIRIT

Saskia Walker

55

expensive trousers of his were well and truly packed. With an effort she stared across at a builder who was measuring some sort of girder. It didn’t help. The nagging ache at her centre reminded her that she had two eager men close at hand, one who was currently looking at her as if he was about to tear her clothes off right here in full view of any workmen who might look their way.

“Perhaps we should continue this conversation elsewhere,” she suggested, and her voice wavered.

“You read my mind.” Garth put his arm around the back of her shoulders and led her quickly towards a doorway behind her.