Faithful by Louise Bay Read Free Book Online

on the right track.”
    “Well, that’s good, Leah, but remember that you need to know this is right for you for the rest of your life.”
    “I know, I know.”
    “Have you told your parents yet?”
    “No, not yet.”
    “Leah, how come?” Wasn’t that the sixty-four-thousand-dollar question.
    “I will, when it’s right.” I wasn’t quite sure what I meant by “right,” but Anna took the hint and we spent the rest of our call gossiping about news of intra-law firm indiscretions. There was more than enough material to keep us busy for a lifetime. Anna was always good at cheering me up and vice versa—tonight was no exception.
    As I was finishing off my reading, my email pinged and my stomach lurched. He wouldn’t have replied would he? Apparently, he would.
    It’s not presumptuous. I feel it, too. I’m fully aware of your situation and I understand it would be easier if I stayed away, but it’s not an option. I’m not going anywhere, Leah. X
    I was in deep trouble.
     
     

Chapter Four
     
    His mouth was on my neck, licking and sucking and groaning my name. My back arched as he slowly and frustratingly trailed his tongue from my throat to my stomach. It was almost too much. I felt on the edge of consciousness, as if I were about to pass out from the ecstasy of it. I was so desperate for him. I pushed my hands through his hair and he groaned again as he dragged his thumbs across my nipples, again and again. He kissed and licked further and further down my body. His hands reached under me and pulled me closer to his mouth; his tongue reached my clit and I moaned, “Oh, please, yes.”
    A nd I sat bolt upright at the same moment Charlie came out of our bathroom.
    “Leah, are you OK?”
    “Yes, I just saw the time—I’m so late.” I jumped out of bed and ran past Charlie and straight into the shower. Had I said that aloud?
    Daniel was right : He wasn’t going anywhere. He was front and center of my mind all day and every day and now he seemed to be invading my nights as well. There must be a way to block him out, to shut down my desire for him.
    I hadn’t responded to his last email. What could I possibly say that wasn’t some kind of lie to Daniel or betrayal of Charlie? I had already said that I felt something for him but I couldn’t act on it; there was nothing to add. He hadn’t emailed since.
    Thankfully, it was Friday. I was distracted this week at work, which wasn’t like me at all. I needed to get my head together this weekend and start next week fresh. I was meeting Anna tonight and I was going to tell her about meeting Daniel for dinner. After all, it was history, and so I could try to pass it off as just a catch-up with an old friend ... which it was.
    After a day working on the Palmerston presentation and trying to fend off urgent emails, I walked into the Chancery Bar. Anna was there with Brendan, of all people. This town could be so small at times.
    “Hey , you two, are we having a threesome?” I quipped.
    “Darling, you couldn’t handle that . No I’m just waiting for a date and passing the time gossiping. Unfortunately, now that you are engaged we have no gossip about you. It’s dull now that you are official. No will-they, won’t-they. It’s all white roses and wedding planning.” Brendan was rolling his eyes.
    “Why white roses?” My stomach turned at Anna’s question. Of course she would pick up on that.
    “Ugh, Charlie sent a huge bouquet of white roses to the office this week. Makes me want to heave,” Brendan said.
    Anna looked at me and I looked away and Brendan kept rattling on about how boring my love life was and how awful weddings were. I just smiled and let him get on with it while I contemplated the awkward questions I would get from Anna when Brendan’s date finally arrived. After about ten minutes, Brendan dropped us like stones and I braced myself for Anna’s questions.
    Once he was out of earshot , Anna turned to me. “So, I’m going to order another