The Endgame by Cleary James Read Free Book Online Page A

and Lisa immediately darted across and turned the key in the lock, grateful to have some privacy. She had thought maybe Grayson intended to fuck her in the shower, and she was relieved that he didn’t. At least it gave her some time alone to compose herself and get psyched up for whatever came next.
    But had he changed his mind about fucking her at all, she wondered. It seemed strange that he had given her her clothes. There wasn’t much point in getting dressed again if he was going to have sex with her as soon as she was ready. She wished she knew what Isabel had communicated to him in that silent exchange. Had she somehow let him know that Lisa was out of her depth? If so, maybe he was planning to go easy on her. Mark had talked up her oral skills. Perhaps Grayson would just get her to give him a blowjob, and he would let her keep her dress on while she was doing it. On the other hand, maybe he just didn’t find her that attractive naked. She didn’t have a lush, sexy body like Isabel. She looked in the mirror, cupping her small, shapely breasts in her hands.
    But there was no time for brooding. Whatever he wanted, she shouldn’t keep Grayson waiting too long. She quickly stepped into the shower, washing away the stickiness of strawberry juice and saliva from her skin and trying not to dwell on how it had got there. She kept her head out of the spray as much as possible to avoid getting her hair wet. The warm water was soothing and relaxing, and she fought the temptation to linger. She couldn’t hide in here forever, she thought, shutting off the water and stepping out of the shower. She dried herself quickly and put her clothes back on, grateful to be covered up again. The dress that had seemed indecent just hours earlier now felt comfortingly modest. Everything was relative, she thought, smiling wryly at herself in the mirror as she smoothed her hair. She took a deep breath, steeling herself, and went to rejoin Grayson in the kitchen.
    She padded barefoot down the hall and hovered uncertainly in the doorway before going in. Grayson was leaning against the worktop and looked up as she entered.
    ‘Everything okay?’ he asked with a gentle smile. He was making eye contact with her again, she noted.
    She nodded stiffly, her tension returning. ‘Yes, thanks.’
    ‘Would you like something to drink? Tea? Coffee? Something stronger?’
    She could probably use something stronger to steady her nerves, but tea sounded comforting. She was surprised he was offering it, though – it didn’t really seem in keeping with the spirit of the evening.
    ‘Tea would be lovely.’
    He opened a cupboard. ‘Earl Gray, Ceylon, jasmine?’
    ‘Jasmine, please.’ It was her favourite – she found it so calming and soothing. It might help her relax.
    He nodded. ‘Um ... have a seat,’ he waved vaguely in the direction of the table.
    Lisa sat, watching in silence as he switched on the kettle and busied himself with making tea. His attitude had changed so quickly and dramatically, it was hard to believe that only a short time ago he had gone down on her in this very room. Her eyes drifted to the table, and she blushed at the memory of his mouth on her. Everything had been cleared away now. He had obviously spent the time she was in the shower cleaning up in here.
    ‘Here we go.’ He set a tray on the table, jolting her out of her thoughts. Then he sat beside her and poured tea from a Chinese-style pot into little bowl-like cups. He handed her one, and she cupped her hands around it, breathing in the soothing flowery aroma.
    ‘I brought you some chocolate cake,’ he said, setting a plate in front of her with a big slice of dark, fudgy cake. ‘You haven’t had any dessert.’
    ‘Thank you, but I don’t really eat sugar.’ She pushed the plate away.
    ‘I think you should have something sweet. I get the feeling you may have had a shock.’ He smiled ruefully to himself, shaking his head. Lisa got the feeling he was laughing at