Read Online Nine Ten Begin Again: A Grasshopper Lawns affair by EJ Lamprey - Free Book Online

lucky.’ He stopped walking as they turned into another street and slid his mobile phone out of his back pocket. ‘I don’t think we’d have got out unchallenged without him; they’ve obviously clashed before. He really would have taken on those goons with a blunted dagger and welcomed the chance. Totally over the top. I’m bloody glad he didn’t recognize us—nudge-nudge wink-wink around the Lawns wouldn’t have suited you or me at all.’
    He glanced up at the street name bolted to the wall above them and phoned for a taxi.
    ‘I’ve just realized, I’ve seen photos of him in action before.’ Edge’s eyes brimmed with mischief. ‘Do you remember, a year ago, I told you about the blackmail stuff Hamish and I had seen? There were photos of a man in leather getting all hot and sweaty with another man? I thought the worst at the time. No wonder he was paying up, they were pretty damning.’
    ‘Which is exactly why I wanted you unrecognizable. Poor old Sputnik! Are those bloody boots killing you? They said four to five minutes. Not too long to wait. We can go on to my usual, but it might be better to head on back.’
    ‘I’ll be glad to get them off,’ she admitted. ‘I can’t tell you how afraid I was that I’d fall over. They’re okay for walking, just clumpy, but horrible when I try to hurry.’
    Donald tweaked the folds of the cape around her again and peeled off his half hood, driving impatient fingers through his sweat-darkened hair.
    ‘I’m so sorry. That could have been really bad. I’m a bloody fool. Are you okay?’
    ‘I’m fine.’ She smiled up at him. ‘It was actually exciting. In retrospect, anyway. And until the goons arrived I was enjoying myself, I can see why you go. It’s incredibly liberating, like a fancy dress party where you can behave exactly as you want because no-one knows who you are. Do you want to go on to your club? You went to a lot of trouble getting me dressed up, when I could just have worn a hood. Thank you for that.’
    He half-laughed. ‘The whole time Angie was transforming you I kept thinking you’d panic and call a halt. I don’t think we should push our luck. You were getting far too much attention, I’m not sure I could have kept you to myself much longer, Miss Prim. Everyone will be wanting to know who you were. A leather Cinderella.’
    ‘Leathery Cinderella, more like. Maybe I ought to get one of Angie’s little cement-mixers for everyday use. And,’ she pulled at a lock of the heavy black wig, ‘cut my hair like this and dye it.’
    He reached for the leash hanging down her front, and tugged on it gently.
    ‘Stop fishing for compliments, woman.’
    She swayed forward, smiling, but instead of smiling back he went still. His vivid eyes stared down into hers before he kissed her lightly, almost tentatively, on the lips.
    The pressure on the leash slackened immediately so that she could move back. Instead, and to her own astonishment, she swayed further forward. After an almost infinitesimal pause his mouth came down on hers again. Not at all lightly.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 4 – Wednesday November 13th
    It’s in his kiss
     
    She stood passive and unresisting as his arms closed round her, still astonished, not only that Donald— Donald !—was kissing her, but that she had invited the kiss. She should—she should be—but she couldn’t think what she should be doing to stop him, to put things back to the way they should be between them, because every nerve ending in her body was suddenly flaring to life in passionate response. She shuddered from head to foot, surrendering completely to the totally unfamiliar sensations storming her senses as she melted against him, and nearly fell when he pulled back, blue eyes blazing, and held her away.
    ‘Edge, no .’
    The world abruptly reappeared, street lights, passers-by laughing and talking, car tyres hissing on the wet road. She drew a ragged breath, her heart hammering, furious with