Chapter 54

Felicia paced the length of her office as she rambled into her hand held recorder, her words and thoughts disjointed due to Luke's dismissal and the man who had taken up residence in Tiffany's office and his complete disregard for the status quo of the town.  She turned on her heel to repeat the trek from her deck once more as her voice shimmered with frustration as she spoke of the reasons why a woman would stray.  "The phenomenon should be supported by psychiatric studies, as well as, as a counterpoint, with a look into male cheating patterns."

"Good thing I'm here to help you with both," a low voice said from the door, causing her to turn around in surprise.

"You scared me to death," Felicia sighed as she put a hand over her heart.  "What are you doing here?"

The man shrugged as he shut the door behind him and walked towards her, dropping his coat carelessly to the floor as he did.  Without thinking, Felicia backed up till she hit the desk, swallowing as she watched him while she tried to sort out her reaction to him.  She didn't fear him.  She supposed the adrenaline rush could be from the risk of exposure. . .

Bracketing her waist, he lifted her up onto the desk and leaned in close to her as his hands pushed up her skirt and caressed the skin between the top of her knee highs and edge of her panties.  "Just consider this a late night counseling session," he answered as he leaned into her body, causing her to drop her recorder to the floor without stopping it.  "Or," he continued "a consult on your story.  We can even call it field study," he finished as he brushed his lips softly against hers.

Moaning slightly, she turned her head away from him and clawed at his hands, "we shouldn't be doing this," she whimpered as she tried to slide back and away from his touch.

"Why? Did Luke already service you for the evening?" he asked cuttingly.

"Bastard!"  she cried just as angrily as she kicked out her legs and raised her arm to hit him.  With ease, he pulled away from her legs and caught her arms, pulling them behind her back and forcing her upper torso into contact with his. 

"I won't even call you the word that comes to mind for you," he answered as he loosened his grip and rubbed his thumb over her wrist.  "Why are you fighting this?"

"It just feels so wrong," she confessed.

"Why are you lying to me? You know you want this.  That you crave this," he whispered seductively as he let go of her hand and moved his arm around her so that he could cup her cheek.  "You love the adrenaline rush you get from this."

"How can we do this to them?" she wondered as she leaned into him.  "We're their best friends."

"Luke's no friend of mine."

Felicia pulled back slightly at that, "you know I didn't mean him."

He swallowed, "I know," he sighed,  "But you know that he'll never take you back," he reminded as he pulled her close, ignoring her gasp at the cruelty of his remark as he tried to lighten things.  "Think f it as research into a cliché.  The old Kenny Roger's song, 'Daytime Friends and Nighttime Lovers.'"

"But what about Lucy?"

"She's screwing around with Thornhart.  She's only pretending to try for reconciliation because of Christina and to try to help him maneuver custody of Danny away from Eve.  But we'll be more discreet, won't we?"

"I. . ."

"Won't we?" he insisted as he let his lips hover over hers, waiting for the answer he knew would come as it always did.

Licking her lips as she sighed, she nodded: "we'll be the only ones to know about this," she agreed as she boosted herself enough to accept his kiss.  Too caught up in the moment to hear a light gasp and retreating footsteps. . .