Chapter 23
Marcus was sat naked on the hotel’s desk chair, arms restrained behind his back. He had compared himself to James Bond in Casino Royal, a throwaway statement that he’d then escalated into a full-on role play situation. She wasn’t really into pretending to be someone else during sex; she preferred to think that just being herself was enough to turn people on. Clearly Marcus was no longer feeling the same way.
‘Okay then, Miss Drippy Pussy. Show me you have ways of making me talk.’
When she’d arrived at the hotel room, he’d seemed genuinely excited to see her. He told her he’d bought her a gift and was impatient to give it to her. He’d produced a black velvet-coated box, about the size of a paperback book, that had tinkled when she shook it. Jewellery. He’d bought her some jewellery. But when she prised open the case and felt the lid spring up in her hands, she hadn’t found a beautiful necklace nestled in the silk interior, she’d found a cheap pair of handcuffs. She’d turned them over, pretending to admire them, but really searching for a maker’s mark, some proof they weren’t just a trashy novelty he’d snuck into superior packaging. There hadn’t been one. Not Agent Provocateur. Not Coco De Mer. Not Saint Laurent. Just tat. Well, not just. More like tat serving as an irritating reminder of the circumstances leading to her having the very week she’d been hoping to forget all about. Of course, Marcus had insisted they put the cuffs to immediate use.
She leaned over him, breasts brushing across his flushed face, and kissed him roughly.
‘Interesting torture technique,’ he said.
She said nothing, but went again, this time gently biting his lip. He murmured his approval. She bore down harder, wondering what pressure would be required to draw blood. He pulled away before she got to find out.
‘Careful! I’m seeing the in-laws later. You can’t leave any trace.’
It was tempting to do the precise opposite. To press her nails into his flesh and leave deep, half-moon tracks that wouldn’t fade before he returned to his family. Instead, she pulled his head back.
‘Apologies,’ she purred into his ear. ‘It’s just that I’ve had a very bad week and now I intend to take it out on you.’
‘I do hope so.’ He didn’t seem to notice the genuine intention in her tone.
She traced her nails across his chest, wound one of the hairs around her finger. He tensed in anticipation.
‘Are you not going to ask me what I’ve had to do?’ she asked.
He never asked her what she’d been doing.
‘Was it a threesome with some fit Russian agents?’
She pulled at the hair, felt the resistance of his skin. Then it gave way. She held it up and examined it closely. It was grey.
‘I’m afraid not. Want to try again?’
He clearly did.
‘Did you have to suck snake venom out of someone’s cock to save them?’
She grabbed another hair, pulling it more slowly, letting the tension settle for longer. Then ping!
‘Nope.’
‘Was it diffusing some massive weapon with your bare hands? Because I think this heat-seeking missile is due to go off in a couple of minutes, so you might want to contain the situation.’
He was enjoying himself. She wasn’t.
‘What I did was try to help someone claim benefits they were entitled to.’
An uncertain look crossed his face. ‘Not sure of the relevance to the present situation.’
‘Think of it as important backstory to what I’m going to do to you. Like when the baddy tells them the plan.’
He wasn’t convinced, but she gave his dick a stroke, which satisfied him things were still moving in the right direction.
‘And it was very, very hard,’ she said.
‘Was it now?’
She spread her legs and stepped forward across his lap. His penis strained to reach her, but she kept herself just out of range.
‘I wondered if it was just me; if I was missing something.’ She cupped his balls in her palm.
He shifted his weight forward, pressing himself against her hand. ‘The only thing you’re missing is having this inside you.’
‘And then I did some research.’
‘Ooh, going for a politico vibe. Erin Brockovich style. Unusual for you. I like it.’
She palpated the hard jewels in their soft pouches. So delicate. So vulnerable. So utterly grim if you thought about them too much.
‘And the whole thing is far more ludicrous than I could have imagined. Unlawful refusals of help by councils. Discrimination against disabled people. EU workers left in limbo. People financially penalised for trying to find work. Shouldn’t you be drawing attention to this?’
‘I am drawing your attention to it. See, it’s waving.’ He was tensing his muscles, getting his cock to bob up and down, beckoning her like a giant’s finger.
She squeezed his balls harder, felt the pressure of them against each other. Instinctively he backed off, but his balls weren’t going with him. A flicker of uncertainty crossed his face.
‘Are you serious right now?’ he said.
Was she?
‘Just getting into the character, babe.’
He wasn’t going to be convinced a second time. ‘Well, can you get more into the character of someone in an X-rated movie? Turn around. Show me your asshole.’
She was normally happy to acquiesce to his demands during sex. It made her feel desirable, like he wanted to take in every inch of her. But today she didn’t want to do as she was told.
‘No,’ she said.
‘Eh?’
‘I said no.’
She felt decidedly odd, like she didn’t want to play act at hurting him, she really wanted to do it. With the girls away and nothing else to do this weekend, she’d been looking forward to seeing him, but now she was here, she wondered whether she’d rather be at home.
‘And yes, I am serious,’ she said. ‘Why aren’t you reporting on it?’
What was up with her?
‘I’m sorry to break it to you, babe, but my readers aren’t interested in the plight of poor people; they’re interested in exploiting poor people.’
‘But it’s not fair.’
‘Aww, sweetheart. Are you having a moment of awakening? Are you starting to think about people other than yourself?’
‘I’m just saying that?—’
‘How charming. Not great timing, though. Perhaps we can dissect the relative merits and demerits of the welfare state after I’ve ejaculated over your bum? I find I’m more able to concentrate on political discourse when my balls are empty.’
His penis wilted. She was reminded of the dummy that she’d tried to massage to life. That place. Those people. Invisibly worming their way under her skin like fragments of fibreglass. She was uncertain what to do. It was a matter of pride that she could get him off in seconds if she so chose, but equally, she was starting to wonder if perhaps the real power lay in not giving him what he wanted. She was caught between a cock and a hard-on.
‘I’m sorry,’ he said, when it was clear she wasn’t going to comply. ‘I’m a bit stressed.’
She gazed at his reflection in the room’s full-length mirror. The slightly sagging belly, the T-shirt tan he’d developed since she’d last seen him. He was more M than 007.
‘You really are cute when you’re thoughtful,’ he said.
She wondered what Jasper might look like if he were sat here. Or what he’d think of this situation. He’d probably approve of the subjugation of Marcus, less of the spreading of her arse cheeks. But when had Marcus been anything less than an egotist who used her primarily for his sexual pleasure? And when did that start to become a problem?
‘Hey … baby.’ His voice was like molasses, trying a different tack. ‘I don’t have to be away for another hour. Let’s finish up here, we can order a drink on room service, and then you can ask me whatever you like. How does that sound?’
He did his best sad little downward smile which crinkled his eyes in all the right places. She didn’t want to relent, but her resolve was crumbling. Her problem wasn’t really with him, was it? And did she really want to be talking about the intricacies of government policy when she had her own special benefits to claim right here? It was just the frustrations of the week imposing on the moment. Nothing more than that. She straddled him, felt him fatten against her thigh as he nuzzled her neck. She closed her eyes, ground herself against him, and attempted to get back in the mood.
Then she smiled wryly to herself. Perhaps there was some fun to be had in pretending he was someone else for a change.