Heartbreaker by Julie Morrigan Read Free Book Online Page A

would hear, judging by the volume of the laughter and music coming from the living room, didn’t know why it would matter if they did, but he did as he was told. Everything was fuzzy, unclear and out of focus. He heard a cork pop followed by the clink of glass on glass as someone sorted drinks out in their grubby little kitchen. That’s what he was meant to be doing, he remembered, sorting drinks out.
    Nimble fingers pulled his shirt open then busied themselves with the buttons on his jeans. She reached for him as she knelt down; his breath caught in his throat. Quiet, he remembered, I have to be quiet. Someone else is getting the drinks, my job is to be quiet. He put his head back and closed his eyes as she went to work, bit his lip and wondered when she’d learned to do what she was doing to him now. When he staggered, unsteady on his feet, she stood up and pushed him backwards onto his bed, climbed astride him and pulled the pink dress off over her head. It was all she was wearing; she dropped it on the floor. Looking into his eyes, she positioned herself and slowly pushed down onto him. She was ready for him, took him easily, closing her eyes at the last. He was in her and she was riding him, her hands pushing down onto his shoulders to support her weight, before Johnny managed even to be shocked; it wasn’t like Erica to behave like this. He found the way she’d taken charge, the enforced silence, the unexpected sex in a flat full of people, thrilling and erotic. His breathing was ragged; she came just before he did, her eyes closed and her mouth open, noiselessly calling for some god or other. Johnny was dizzy and disorientated, coming down, heart rate steadying, when she got his full attention.
    ‘For fuck’s sake, that hurts. What the hell are you doing?’
    She smirked, cat-got-the-cream smug, as she carved into the flesh of his shoulder with a wickedly sharp frosted-pink fingernail. ‘Making my mark. “A” for “Avril”.’ She laughed, pleased with herself. ‘I persuaded Erica to swap dresses, like we did when we were kids. She never thought for one minute you’d be fooled into thinking I was her, she said you knew her too well.’ She shook her head. ‘I never doubted it. I knew I could have you if I wanted you.’ She took his face in her hands. ‘Or did you know it was me all along? You must have known I wasn’t Erica, she’d never do this. Did you want me, too?’
    ‘What? No.’ Johnny was horrified. ‘Christ.’ He brushed her hands away, scrubbed at his face with his fingers. ‘Where is Erica? Is she okay?’
    ‘She’ll be fine. She’s with Tom.’ Avril planted a kiss on his nose and climbed off him. ‘Thanks, Johnny, that was great. Just what I needed.’ She slipped the dress back over her head, took in his expression and frowned. ‘There’s no need to look like that, it’s not as if you didn’t enjoy yourself.’ She ran her fingers through his hair. ‘We both did, didn’t we? We were good together. We could do it again, keep on seeing each other … the others don’t need to know.’
    Johnny pushed her away from him and fastened his clothes, then sat with his head in his hands. He felt sick. Used and humiliated. Avril stared at him for a long moment. Johnny didn’t move. ‘Suit yourself,’ she said finally, and stalked off.
    Erica turned up in tears almost immediately Avril left.
    ‘Why?’ she asked him. ‘Just tell me why.’ Johnny had no idea what to tell her. ‘Avril’s really upset. What did you do to her?’
    Johnny found his voice. ‘Nothing. She … I … I thought she was you …’
    ‘Just like Tom thought I was Avril?’
    ‘He must’ve—’
    ‘Liar.’ She wiped tears from her face with both hands. ‘He knew it was me, but he still tried it on. Did you? With Avril?’ She took his silence as an admission of guilt. ‘You’re sick, the pair of you.’
    ‘Erica, I swear I didn’t know. It’s dark in here …’ He was grateful for the sickly