Page 52 of The Retreat

Imogen sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the door intently. Her hands were clenched in her lap. She felt sick.

They’d been so close to getting away with it. Talia had been so close…

The door finally opened, and Talia stepped inside slowly. She didn’t speak right away, just closed the door and leaned against it, tired.

‘I’m sorry,’ Imogen said, standing. ‘If I’d just gone and chucked some water in Rhona’s face, none of this would have happened.’

Talia laughed despite herself. ‘I don’t think doctors do that.’

Imogen sat back down. ‘You’re right. I guess I would have fucked it up either way.’

‘I didn’t mean it like that. This isn’t your fault at all. I made Alex up so I could pretend I was a real person.’

‘You’re a very real person,’ Imogen said instantly.

‘Why did I pick “doctor”?’ Talia asked herself, sadly amused. ‘I could’ve gone with graphic designer or pilot or anything. Butcher, baker, candlestick maker…’

She blew out a breath and walked over to the bed, sitting beside Imogen.

‘I’m actually sort of relieved it’s over,’ Talia said at last. ‘The lie, I mean. It was exhausting.’

Imogen swallowed. ‘Good.’

‘Good?’

‘Lying doesn’t come naturally to you. I don’t hate that.’

‘I’m a lawyer,’ Talia reminded her.

Imogen laughed and stopped herself quickly.

She was careful not to let their knees touch.

It wasn’t the time for touching.

Talia’s life had just imploded.

She had to wonder if it had taken what was between them with it.

After all, Talia’s job was everything to her. Could she forget that Imogen had been instrumental in a moment that had ruined her life for the second time?

Talia was quiet, but Imogen could feel her thinking. Imogen could only await her verdict.

‘You didn’t ruin my life,’ Talia said like she’d read her mind. ‘It wasn’t much of a life if it was built on a lie.’

Imogen turned to her, surprised.

Talia’s eyes were fixed ahead, but softer now, like something in her had dropped its armour. ‘I’ve been… contained. For so long. I thought if I could keep everything tight enough, clean enough, professional enough… I’d be safe.’

‘And then I happened.’

‘You happened,’ Talia said, a faint smile tugging at her mouth. ‘Like an earthquake. Or a very sexy hurricane.’

Imogen looked away, flushed. ‘I was just trying to help.’

‘You were. You did.’ Talia paused. ‘I know it wasn’t just the money, either. You had my back. I liked it. I really did.’

Imogen finally looked at her, and Talia turned her head to meet her gaze. There was so much in it. Fear, panic, sadness. But something else too.

Talia reached over slowly and covered one of Imogen’s hands with hers. Her palm was warm.

It wasn’t a kiss. Not yet. But Imogen turned her hand to thread her fingers through Talia’s, and they sat in silence. Comfortable and exciting silence.

‘I couldn’t wait to get up here with you,’ Talia said.

‘Me neither. Before Rhona collapsed.’

‘So, the moment’s ruined?’ Talia asked nervously.

‘Isn’t it?’ Imogen asked, surprised.

Talia shook her head. ‘I don’t think it is.’

Talia’s grey eyes didn’t move from hers. Her look asked something of Imogen. It didn’t demand—it invited. And Imogen, heart pounding, was ready to RSVP yes with absolutely no regrets. Her whole body was trembling.

Talia reached out and touched Imogen’s face, fingertips gliding along her jaw. Her eyes didn’t waver. And then she leaned in.

The kiss landed soft, slow, like they had all the time in the world. But it intensified quickly. Imogen’s hand found the small of Talia’s back, pulling her in, needing her close.

Talia’s other hand tangled in Imogen’s hair, guiding the kiss with a gentle insistence. Imogen melted into it. She let herself be led, then pushed back with her own hunger.

Imogen’s fingers slid to Talia’s waist, finding the shape of her through her clothes. She traced the curve of her hip, felt Talia’s breath catch. That sound went straight through her.

The kiss broke briefly so Imogen could look at her. Talia’s eyes were full of want. Imogen’s pulse thrummed in her ears as her hands slipped beneath the hem of Talia’s sweater, fingertips brushing skin that was softer than the cashmere. She moved slowly. She wanted to savour this.

Talia mirrored her, her hands slipping under her top, brushing her skin, and Imogen sucked in a breath. She was burning under every touch. Her body already arched toward it, needing more.

Talia took her hands back for a moment to do away with her own sweater completely; the sight of her was achingly sexy. Narrow shoulders, the soft line of her stomach rising with each breath, pale skin stretched over fine collarbones. She looked fragile. But Imogen knew she was anything but.

She felt Talia’s hand at the zipper of her jeans, and Imogen was more than happy to lend a helping hand to rid of them quickly. And after that, their clothes came off in quick, breathless stages, until there was nothing left between them but heat.

There was no distance now. Just touch. Skin and warmth. They moved together, tangled in the sheets, in perfect rhythm with each other.

‘You have no idea how much I want this,’ Talia murmured into her neck.

Imogen’s heart felt like it might break. ‘Show me.’

Talia did.

***

The air in the room was thick with afterglow. Imogen lay on her side, watching Talia’s chest rise and fall in the soft lamplight, sex exhausted and happy. The silence between them wasn’t awkward anymore. The thing that had been waiting in their silences had come at last. They could breathe.

Imogen wanted to say something clever. But Talia looked over, all sleepy eyes and sexy-mussed hair, and Imogen’s mouth went dry.

Talia beat her to it. ‘Well. That happened.’

Imogen laughed. ‘Yeah. That definitely happened.’

They fell quiet again. Imogen stretched out her hand, brushing a knuckle down Talia’s bare arm.

‘I wish things hadn’t gone wrong for you,’ she said. ‘I’m happy that we… But I just wish—’

‘I’ll say it again if you need me too. This was all on me.’ Talia paused and added philosophically, ‘But if I hadn’t told that lie, we wouldn’t be here. So I can’t even regret it that much.’

Imogen cocked her head and smiled a little cynically. ‘That’s a great line, Talia. But seriously...’

Talia turned fully onto her side, her knee brushing Imogen’s under the covers. ‘Imogen. I was halfway gone for you before you even touched me. I’m happy. Are you happy?’

Imogen exhaled slowly. ‘I think you know I am. But… it’s weird, though. Right? I mean, not weird, but…’

Talia gave her a slow smile, a little crooked. ‘I know. God, if Flora could see us now…’

Imogen’s grin was lazy now. ‘Forget her.’

‘I already have,’ Talia assured her.

Their fingers found each other beneath the sheets, the touch feather-light, like they were still feeling out the edges of whatever this was.

‘So what happens now?’ Talia asked.

And Imogen didn’t know. Not for sure. But she knew what she wanted to happen.

‘When we get home,’ she said softly. ‘I don’t want this to stop.’

Talia nodded once, serious. Then she slid closer until their foreheads touched. ‘Yeah?’

‘Yeah,’ she whispered. ‘I want to do this. With you. If you want it.’

Talia smiled. ‘I want it.’

She leaned in again, and Imogen’s tiredness suddenly vanished.