Thanks for the kind reviews, much appreciated as ever. I had fun with this chapter. I think you'll understand why when you read!

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Chapter 3

She must have fallen into an uneasy doze when she was jolted awake by the sound of voices in the corridor and the door slamming. Suddenly wide awake, she extricated herself gently from Quinn's embrace, holding her breath as he mumbled and turned onto his side, relieved when he didn't wake up.

Tip-toeing quietly to the door, she opened it an inch or so and peered through the crack, taking care not to be seen. From her limited vantage point she had a partial view of Baxter's face and the back of Rick's head, and she could hear all that was being said. There was a fairly heated discussion going on about whether to trust someone called Carmen to change the money. She sighed. Well, that answered that question at least.

"Look, we should put it to the vote. Someone go and get Quinn."

Rick's slightly whiny nasal voice.

"I already told you, I saw him leave the casino with a gorgeous brunette, and no doubt it's been a while. If he's in there, he'll be somewhat busy playing 'Hide the Sausage' and he really won't thank any of us for being Mr Coitus Interruptus, trust me. But hey, you do what you like, Rick …"

Baxter held his hands up and shrugged, and Hope bit her lip, closing the door again quietly. She'd heard enough for now.

Sliding back under the covers, she moved closer to Quinn and pressed a kiss between his shoulder blades before wrapping her arm possessively around his waist. It was a long time before she drifted off to sleep again.

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When she woke the following morning, he was resting on one elbow gazing down into her face, a smile tugging at his lips.

"Morning, gorgeous."

She grinned lazily at him and reached up to stroke his cheek.

"Backatcha, sexy."

"Coffee?"

"I'd kill for one."

He bent his head to kiss her gently on the lips before throwing his long legs over the edge of the bed and stretching. Her gaze drifted slowly down over his naked body as he padded across the room to retrieve his bathrobe from the back of the door.

"Nice arse."

He turned back to her, still wearing nothing but a smile.

"I'm not just your sexual toy, you know."

She sat up, deliberately letting the sheet fall down to reveal her bare breasts.

"That's a shame. I was thinking of playing with you again once I'd finished my coffee."

His eyes lingered hungrily on her while he tied the robe.

"Hmmm. Hold that thought …"

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He emerged from the bedroom to find the other three already up and dressed, and a strange middle-aged woman perched awkwardly on the sofa.

"Um, morning."

He nodded to her and raised a questioning eyebrow at Baxter.

"Don't bother. She doesn't seem to speak any English as far as we can tell."

Quinn filled the kettle and switched it on, leaning on the breakfast bar, lips twitching in amusement.

"So. Which one of you was lucky enough to pull her last night?"

Three pairs of eyes gave him a hard stare and he couldn't resist a chuckle to himself.

"For your information, that's Carmen's mother."

Baxter again. Quinn scratched his head.

"Carmen. Uh huh …"

"The girl who's in the process of changing the money for us. We met her in the casino last night, she sussed out what we were trying to do and offered to help. Her mother's acting as security."

Quinn looked around at all three of them.

"And I didn't get a say in this, presumably?"

Baxter blinked at him.

"Under the circumstances, we didn't think you'd appreciate being disturbed. Good night, was it?"

He grinned at Quinn, who looked up from stirring the coffees and smirked back.

"Hell, yeah …"

With impeccable timing, Hope emerged from the bedroom wearing one of his shirts and headed towards the bathroom.

"Morning All."

Woody and Rick both looked at Quinn, open-mouthed. Woody spoke first.

"Wow! Way to go, mate."

Rick sat with his hands behind his head, trying to look nonchalant.

"Lucky she didn't see me first."

Quinn gave him a withering look, picking up the coffees and heading down the corridor.

"She saw us all, mate. She chose me."

"Hmmm. So did Nina. At first …"

Quinn paused for a second, squared his shoulders and continued on without a backwards glance. As the bedroom door closed behind him, Baxter hissed at Rick.

"Why do you always have to be such a git? Can't you just be pleased for him, for God's sake?"

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Hope found him sitting on the bed with an odd expression on his face. Her brows knitted as she took the proffered coffee, seating herself next to him and touching his shoulder.

"What's wrong? Has something happened?"

He sighed, giving her a wry smile.

"I'm fine, love, it's just that twat Rick. He's married to my ex, and he loves to remind me of the fact at every conceivable opportunity."

She blinked at him in puzzlement.

"So Rick married one of your cast-offs? Well, bully for him!"

He pouted, examining a fingernail.

"Hmmm. It wasn't quite like that. She left me."

She put the coffee down and turned to him in disbelief.

"Hang on. Are you expecting me to believe that some otherwise sane woman dumped you for him? Did she have a dog and a white stick, by any chance?"

He snorted, taking her hand and kissing it.

"You really are good for my ego, but let's face it, he's younger and better looking."

She arched a perfect eyebrow at him.

"The former may well be true, but I take serious issue with the latter."

Getting to her feet, she began to pace the floor, deep in thought, and he leaned back against a pillow, sipping his coffee. After a few seconds, she stopped and smirked at him.

"Right. Watch and learn."

Sitting on the end of the bed, she bounced up and down on it a few times.

"Damn. Doesn't squeak. Never mind, I can improvise."

He watched, intrigued, as she moved to the door and opened it a mere crack, stepping back and taking a deep breath.

"Ohhh, Quinn … mmmm …. that's so good …"

She gave a long drawn out moan and then paused, grinning wickedly at him, and his mouth dropped open in surprise. Holding his gaze, she began again.

"Oh God … please … harder … "

He put a hand over his eyes, watching her between his fingers, his shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter. She strung it out for another minute or so, her moans and groans interspersed with cries of encouragement, and then she went for the big finale.

"Fuck! Oh God, you're the best … ohhhh …. yeesss … yeeesssss!"

Quietly, she closed the door again, turned back to him and dropped a low curtsey. He gave her a pretend round of applause while wiping his eyes, his shoulders still shaking.

"Meg Ryan, eat your bloody heart out."

She grinned happily.

"Why, thank you. I'm here all week …"

"God, I hope so. Come over here, woman."

She moved to the bed and sat in his lap, and he kissed her long and slow, his tongue entwining sensually with hers. She could feel his erection pressing against her hip and an answering pulse started up between her thighs. Eventually, he broke the kiss, his eyes dark with desire.

"Probably a good job this bed doesn't creak. They'd never believe I've got that kind of speed of recovery."

She gasped as he threw her onto her back and climbed on top of her, unbuttoning the shirt she was still wearing.

"I must say, this looks far better on you than it ever did on me."

He leaned in to suck on a nipple and she gave a low throaty moan, her fingers threading through his hair. He released her for a second, pressing a finger to her lips and winking at her.

And no noise, mind, or you'll give the game away …"

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In the living room, the three men and the woman tried to avoid meeting each other's eyes. Woody spoke first.

"Bloody Hell. I need a fag now, and I don't even smoke …"

Baxter fidgeted in his seat.

"And I so need to get laid. The lucky bastard."

Rick piped up from the corner.

"Let's just hope she gives him a blow job next time."

The other two stared at him.

"What? At least then we wouldn't have to listen to her."

He cupped his ears and the woman on the sofa suddenly burst out laughing, paused to point at him and then started all over again, rocking backwards and forwards with mirth. The other three looked at one another and Baxter spoke first, scratching his chin.

"So. Apparently the only English term she understands is 'blow job'. Must have led an interesting life …"

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Hope you enjoyed – clearly Hope did! I'm sure you'll be kind enough to let me know. Bit more angsty from now on …