2.
Natalie was utterly pleased with herself. By peripheral vision, she could see John's eyes riveted on her, and giggled playfully; after all, she knew he wanted her, but if he was going to maintain distance out of "friendship", then goddammit, she was going to enjoy his stand-in. And right in front of McBain, too - even better, because if he insisted on tormenting himself (and her!) with his passive-aggressive passion, then let him watch her snuggling with the weasel!
Paul took Natalie's enjoyment as further invitation to him; his one-track mind was too busy thinking he was playing Natalie, when in fact she was playing both him and John off one another for her amusement. Paul reached into his jacket pocket, and withdrew his hand, a hand that John watched him draw slowly along her face, cheek and chin, before opening palm up in front of her face.
Natalie looked down, and purred, "Now that's an inspired idea!" Before her, in Paul's clammy, grubby hand, were two Ecstasy tablets, ingeniously labelled "safe sex" -"as in not even gonna get anywhere near that, Cramer" Natalie thought to herself.
John shuddered inside as he watched Natalie unflinchingly pluck something from Paul's hand and pop it in her mouth, then take a sip from her drink, and tip her head to Paul for a kiss. After she put her hand to her mouth, Natalie listened for the head of John McBain to explode from clear across the room.
Natalie was utterly pleased with herself. By peripheral vision, she could see John's eyes riveted on her, and giggled playfully; after all, she knew he wanted her, but if he was going to maintain distance out of "friendship", then goddammit, she was going to enjoy his stand-in. And right in front of McBain, too - even better, because if he insisted on tormenting himself (and her!) with his passive-aggressive passion, then let him watch her snuggling with the weasel!
Paul took Natalie's enjoyment as further invitation to him; his one-track mind was too busy thinking he was playing Natalie, when in fact she was playing both him and John off one another for her amusement. Paul reached into his jacket pocket, and withdrew his hand, a hand that John watched him draw slowly along her face, cheek and chin, before opening palm up in front of her face.
Natalie looked down, and purred, "Now that's an inspired idea!" Before her, in Paul's clammy, grubby hand, were two Ecstasy tablets, ingeniously labelled "safe sex" -"as in not even gonna get anywhere near that, Cramer" Natalie thought to herself.
John shuddered inside as he watched Natalie unflinchingly pluck something from Paul's hand and pop it in her mouth, then take a sip from her drink, and tip her head to Paul for a kiss. After she put her hand to her mouth, Natalie listened for the head of John McBain to explode from clear across the room.