Diamonds Forever (Diamond Trilogy 3) - Page 55

‘I tell it like it is,’ said Kayley. ‘But if you get us a beer I might go easy on you.’

He returned her flirtatious smile with interest.

‘Deal,’ he said. ‘Ross, there’s a barrel in the kitchen. Could you oblige the lady?’

Kayley wasn’t sure at what point Ross disappeared, but by the time darkness fell she was sitting outside on the back kitchen step with Lawrence, having discussed Bledburn politics, state versus private education, popular music of the day, the weirdness of parents and, it seemed, every other subject under the sun until they were hoarse. They disagreed on all of them, and yet Kayley enjoyed their conversation more than any she could remember in ages. She had a sense of being properly listened to that was almost new to her. And Lawrence, even when he was saying something outrageous that would normally make her angry as hell, was so charming and sweet with it that she somehow couldn’t take offence.

‘I’ve never met a person like you,’ he said, coming back outside with a blanket to wrap around her shoulders.

‘What, a normal person?’

He laughed.

‘Quite possibly. Look, I’ve brought us a little something … a treat.’

Kayley saw the pills he proffered and sucked in a breath. She had promised herself she wouldn’t, not any more, not now she was in college and looking at a decent future. But she was drunk and full of the joys of attraction and new, intoxicating company, and she didn’t want Lawrence to think she was some kind of uptight goody-two-shoes. So she took the pill and put it in her smiling mouth.

The gathering cold of the night was forgotten in a haze of blissful well-being and sensuality. It seemed such a natural progression, to go from conversation to kissing, from kissing to entwining, and from there to a long, slow coupling on the grass. It must have been damp, but Kayley didn’t notice. She lay looking up at the stars, feeling an enveloping love for Lawrence that was more universal than personal.

How beautiful life was.

How wonderful to be her, with him, tonight.

It was a little less wonderful to wake up with a stiff neck on a dusty, dog-smelling rug in some back kitchen.

Ross was rolling a cigarette at a big wooden table.

He looked down at her and laughed.

‘How’s your head?’

‘Where did you go?’ she yawned. ‘You disappeared.’

‘You didn’t seem to miss me too much,’ he said archly. ‘Seems somebody took a shine to you.’

‘Where is Lawrence?’ She sat up and looked vaguely around. The plastic pearls had wound tight around her neck, leaving rounded impressions in her neck. She pulled them loose and felt her hair with a hand. Rough. Perhaps it was just as well Lawrence wasn’t here to see it.

Ross didn’t answer, but went to the fridge to get her a bottle of mineral water.

‘Here. You must be gasping.’

‘Don’t mind if I do.’

The ice cold water was nectar, sliding down her sandpaper throat.

‘Got any painkillers?’ she asked, once her mouth was ungummed.

Ross handed her a blister pack from his jeans pocket.

‘So …’ he said pointedly.

‘So what? It was a party. I was having fun.’

‘I’m not judging you, Kay. I’m just asking … I don’t know … how you feel.’

‘How I feel? Rough as a badger’s backside.’

He laughed.

Tags: Justine Elyot Diamond Trilogy Erotic
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