Page 99 of Wife After Wife

Harry gave a low chuckle. She felt his hand fumbling with her bun, then her long fair hair was falling loose, and she shook her head so it tumbled across her shoulders.

“Why, Moneypenny, you’re beautiful,” said Harry. “Turn round.”

In a daze, she did as he asked, and he unzipped her dress slowly, then slid it down over her hips. She faced him again, and he smiled slowly as he took in the lacy underwear and stockings.

“Janette Morrissey, you dark horse you.”

She put her arms around his neck, and he picked her up and carried her to the bed.

Harry was only Janette’s second lover. The first had been at school, in the sixth form. She and her boyfriend had had a nice time learning the basics, but they hadn’t exactly scaled the heights of ecstasy, as it hadalways been a rushed affair, time snatched during babysitting or when parents were out. Janette had never truly been able to relax.

So sex with Harry was a revelation. Waves of pleasure flooded through her as Harry trailed his fingers over her body, stopping to stroke the skin between the top of her stockings and her panties. His kisses moved down her neck to her chest, then back up to her lips, then down, and down some more... oh! She felt something inside her building, and lay inert, apart from a little writhing. Her one coherent thought, as Harry played her body like a harpist creating music fit for heaven, was that Ana would know what to do back, whereas she had no clue. But the momentary worry was swept away by the tide of ecstasy that suddenly swamped her, leaving her gasping in surprise.

“Nice?” he murmured, coming back up to eye level.

Then he was moving inside her, and to her amazement it was all building again, and then after a spectacular moment they were both lying on their backs, catching their breath.

“Marvelous,” Harry said. He propped himself up on one elbow and looked down at her.

“I love you, Harry.” There, she’d said it. Perhaps it was too soon, but after what they’d just done, he’d know anyway, surely?

“You do?”

“Of course. I don’t expect you to love me back, but I’m here for you, whenever you need me, on whatever terms you want.”

“I don’t deserve that. You’re an angel, and I’m... well, I’m often found wanting.”

They cuddled and dozed for a while, then he sat up. “I shouldn’t stay. I need to ring Ana. And you might not respect me in the morning.”

She giggled, though the thought of him phoning Ana hurt her heart.

“That’s fine, Harry. I’ll still respect you.” But would he still respect her?

He quickly dressed, then sat down again on the bed, taking her hand. “I know I can rely on you not to breathe a word, to anyone. Not even your cat.”

“How did you know I have a cat?”

“Inspired guess.”

“I won’t, Harry. I promise.”

Harry

In the taxi from Euston to Knightsbridge, Harry pondered on his evening with Janette. Quiet, adoring, sweet Janette, who never had a bad word to say about anybody. Janette, who had worn stockings and asked him to let her hair down, so they could properly play Bond and Moneypenny.

Who’d have thought it?

And now it was back to Ana, who would no doubt complain about the lack of cooperation at work, the tedious wait for his divorce—and she’d interrogate him about what he’d been up to in Manchester. Not that she’d ever suspect him of sleeping with Janette, whom she considered an annoyance rather than a threat.

What would it be like going home to someone like Janette, instead? Someone who’d cook him a delicious meal, followed by homemade cake; who’d massage his shoulders, ask him how his day had been.Someone like Katie, said a little voice inside his head.

When he opened the door to the penthouse, Ana was already home. She appeared in the living area, seductive in a red silk robe, her hair loose down her back.

“Darling, I’m so glad you came straight home.”

He caught a whiff of something delicious from the kitchen. This was all highly unusual.

“What’s going on?”