Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed the last chapter – it is appreciated. Apologies for the delay in updating, but I was languishing in me sick-bed for several days last week. Much improved now, so without further delay …

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xxxxx

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Chapter 3

"Remind me again why I let you talk me into this?"

Lorraine continued her endless pacing, chewing nervously at a cuticle, and Faye rolled her eyes.

"You know very well why. Because you still have feelings for him. Because he clearly still has feelings for you. And if nothing else you deserve an abject humble apology. "

Faye sighed, still confident she'd done the right thing in persuading Lorraine to see Jason again.

"I consider myself a reasonable judge of character, especially after this last year or so. We spy on liars and cheats for a living and I don't think your Mr Grant is one of them. I think he genuinely wants to make things right.

"Maybe …"

All this pacing was beginning to make Faye dizzy, but she decided it was wiser not to comment.

"For what it's worth I went there all ready to punch his lights out and I ended up actually warming to the bloke. Give him a chance to prove himself, Lorraine. At the very least enjoy making him grovel for a while, you've earned it!"

She smiled at her friend, squeezing her arm encouragingly.

"Besides which, there must be a reason you haven't so much as glanced at another bloke in eighteen months. That good, is he?"

She quirked an eyebrow and Lorraine huffed.

"You know very well I don't kiss and tell."

"Spoilsport …"

Faye gave her a wickedly knowing grin, and Lorraine rolled her eyes.

"OK, yes, he's that good. The best, if you must know. Satisfied?"

Faye sighed in mock despair.

"Satisfied? Are you joking? You of all people know my love life is practically non-existent. God, I can't even remember the last time I had dirty, sweaty, no holds barred, rampant sex …"

She sighed heavily, cocking her head to one side.

"Don't suppose your Mr Grant has a twin brother, has he?"

At that very moment the doorbell chimed and Lorraine gasped and stopped pacing, doing a passable impression of a rabbit caught in the headlights. Faye collected her jacket from the back of the sofa and turned to her friend.

"Right, that'll be him, so I'll make myself scarce. Good luck, love. And just remember, he may still be close to your heart but that's no reason to let him straight back into your knickers, OK?"

"Faye!"

Lorraine's mouth dropped open in disbelief and Faye winked, exiting the room with a chuckle.

xxxxx

"Hello, Dirty Girl."

Jason peered tentatively around the enormous bouquet of flowers he was carrying, his throat constricted, somewhat uncertain of his reception.

"These are for you".

Of course they're for her, you pillock. Who else? He thrust the blooms nervously in her direction, not knowing what else to do. For a long moment she didn't move and he thought she might actually reject his peace-offering, but then she stepped forwards and took the bouquet from him.

"Thanks. And that …" she nodded towards the coffee table … " is for you. I'll just put these in some water and then I'll get us a drink."

He glanced down at the brown envelope and closed his eyes for a second, his heart contracting, his mouth suddenly dry. He didn't need to look inside to know it contained one hundred and twenty pounds in used notes.

"Give it to charity. Throw it out the window. Hell, burn it, if you like …"

His voice was gruff. She placed a glass of wine in front of him before retreating behind the breakfast bar and he removed his jacket and took a grateful sip, steeling himself for what was to come.

"For what it's worth, you have no idea how much I regret what happened. If I could take it back …"

He sighed, squeezing the bridge of his nose.

"Look, I'm really sorry, sweetheart. When you told me you'd packed in the job, I just saw red. Seemed to me that if it meant so little to you, I must have meant even less, and it hurt. It really bloody hurt."

He risked a glance at her but her gaze was downcast, her long blonde hair hiding her expression.

"It wasn't like that, Jase. After what happened, what I'd been forced to do, I tried to make sense of it all and I couldn't. Suddenly there was no more black and white, just endless shades of grey."

She took a sip of her wine and he nodded his understanding.

"I know, Faye explained it all to me. I want you to know I don't blame you for what happened. If it hadn't have been you it would've been someone else, I pretty much had it coming. I don't want to be that man, live that life, any more."

She met his eyes for the first time.

"I'm glad. Really. What have you got in mind?"

He shrugged.

"Thought I might open a bar. Or maybe even a club …"

He tailed off, a lump forming in his throat when she sighed and looked away. She didn't believe he could make a go of it.

"You don't think it's a good idea, then?"

She toyed with her glass, and he hung his head in defeat.

"Oh, I'm sure you could make a go of it, Jase. Trouble is the hours are really unsociable. I'd hardly ever see you."

His head flew up, his eyes searching hers for confirmation. Did she really mean …? He swallowed hard and cleared his throat.

"Can we … I mean, is there any chance we could start over, put all the crap behind us? I'd like to make it up to you, if you'll let me. I dunno, maybe I could take you out on a proper date? Somewhere special, wherever you want …"

He held his breath, his heart sinking when she shook her head slowly.

"No."

So that was it then, no way back. He should've known. And then she spoke again.

"But you can come over here and kiss me, if you like."

xxxxx

She knew she'd taken him by surprise - hell, she'd taken herself by surprise - but when she gave him a tentative smile and saw the sudden flare of hope in his troubled gaze, her heart contracted. Slowly he got to his feet and she forgot to breathe as he closed the short distance between them, surprising her when he didn't pull her into a heated embrace but instead took her face gently in his hands, his thumbs brushing her cheeks. The mix of relief and tenderness glowing in his eyes threatened to undo her entirely and she swallowed hard, overwhelmed by a sudden rush of powerful emotion that almost reduced her to tears.

Time stood still for a long moment and then slowly he leant in, his mouth brushing hers, breath gentle, while she quivered with anticipation. She sighed with pleasure as he traced her full lower lip slowly with his tongue, sending a ripple of desire down her spine.

"Jason …"

Her voice was low and husky, full of need, and when his mouth finally claimed hers she yielded willingly, her tongue meeting his in delicious provocation. The passion flared then and he walked her back to the big fridge, mouth still fused to hers, pinning her against it with his hips as he tackled the buttons on her blouse with eager fingers. When his thumbs skimmed her nipples through her black lacy bra she gasped, any remaining resistance crumbling in the face of the sensual onslaught. His lips left a trail of fire down her throat, the teasing flick of his tongue making her blood simmer. She wanted him horizontal and quickly.

"Bedroom, Jase … now."

He lifted his head and the hunger in his eyes sent another ripple of desire through her, her breathing already quick and shallow. She nodded towards the corridor off the living room.

"Second door on the right."

"Hold on tight then."

He grinned wickedly, his hands siding down her body down to cup her bottom. As he lifted her she wrapped her legs around his waist, her skirt sliding up her thighs until her heated centre was flush against his throbbing erection. He set off in the direction of the bedroom, each step a delicious torture as his denim-clad length rubbed against her swollen sensitive nub sending spikes of sharp pleasure down her spine. By the time he kicked the door open and they fell onto the bed in a tangle of limbs, she was all but ready to explode.

Lying between her thighs, he braced himself on his elbows and she took the opportunity to tug his shirt out of his jeans and pop the buttons until she had full access to his smooth expanse of chest. His skin was hot beneath her roving hands, and when she took a nipple in her mouth and grazed her teeth over it, he growled his approval.

"My turn, love."

She arched her back to give him easier access as he reached round to release the clasp on her bra, moaning her pleasure as he tugged the cups down, taking a straining nipple into his mouth and sucking hard.

"Oh God … Jason …"

The other taut bud received the same treatment and she writhed below him, needing more, already desperate to feel him inside her.

"Want you … can't wait …"

He complied happily, lifting himself onto his hands so that she could unbutton his jeans and push them and his boxers down over his hips. His impressive erection sprang free and she stroked it, dragging a lustful groan from his lips. He pushed her skirt up until it bunched around her waist and then huffed in frustration.

"Bugger. Condoms are in my jacket. In the other room …"

He made to get up but she wound her legs around his thighs to stop him, searching his face.

"I'm still on the pill, and I'm clean. There hasn't been anyone else."

"Me either, love. So we're good to go, then?"

She tightened her grip, pulling him in until his tip was nudging against the tiny scrap of material masquerading as her underwear.

"A little less talk, a little more action, please."

He smirked, tugging her thong to one side and filling her with one slick stroke. She gasped as arousal coursed through her but he gave her little time to recover, withdrawing and then burying himself to the hilt again. It was urgent and needy and she lifted her hips to meet each powerful thrust, already teetering on the edge when he slowed his movements and reached down between them. A few well-timed strokes from his clever fingers and she was lost, senses reeling as the pleasure ripped through her, shuddering and convulsing around his length. He drove into her again, flexing his hips, each thrust drawing a little aftershock from her sated body as followed her into climax with a groan of relief.

They lay entangled for a while, his heart-beat drumming against her chest, his face buried in her neck and then she chuckled and he raised his head to look down into her face.

"What's so funny?"

"Just look at the pair of us …"

Her blouse was wide open and her nipples were poking over the top of her undone bra, her crumpled skirt bunched up around her middle. His shirt was hanging off one shoulder and his jeans and boxers were tangled around his thighs. She smirked at him and raised an eyebrow.

"Are you still wearing your shoes?"

His lips twitched with repressed amusement.

"Well, it was all a bit frantic, love. Apparently 'someone' couldn't wait …"

Reluctantly he slipped out of her, sitting on the edge of the bed to remove his socks and shoes.

"Think it's about time we got naked, don't you? We've got a lot of time to make up for, after all …"

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xxxxx

So all's well that ends well, then? Hmmm. Watch this space! Oh, and let me know what you think, of course. :)

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A/N It may be a while before the next update because (a) I've got loads to catch up on having been out of action for a while and (b) I haven't even started Ch. 4 as yet!
I'll do me best to get back into the writing zone again soon …