Untouchable by Ava Marsh Page A

MP?’
    ‘Harry won’t say.’
    I turn to face her. ‘Does it matter?’
    ‘Of course not,’ Elisa laughs. ‘I’m being nosy, that’s all.’
    ‘Look, is everything all right?’ I keep my eyes fixed on her, alert for tells. Non-verbal leakage, as I was trained to call it.
    She stares back at me, her expression a question mark.
    ‘I noticed you messaging or something earlier. On your phone.’
    There. A slight flush in her cheeks before she looks away. ‘A bit of a family crisis. Sorry.’
    ‘But you’re OK?’
    She purses her lips a little, then smiles. ‘I’m fine. Really.’
    ‘Right.’
    She removes a couple of bottles of sparkling water from the fridge and takes them into the lounge. I follow with some clean glasses. Put them on the coffee table then check the three bedrooms to make sure everything’s still respectable. All look pristine – after all, most of the evening’s action has taken place in the living room – but in the largest I spot a condom wrapper just underneath the bed.
    I bend down to pick it up. As I straighten I catch sight of Alex in the doorway, observing me with the same kind of dispassionate curiosity he wore for the porn.
    I stare back at him. He walks in, closing the door behind him.
    ‘So, Alex ,’ I say. ‘How was Paris?’
    He sizes me up for a moment, then laughs. ‘Why? Did you miss me?’
    When I don’t respond, he takes another step forward. This man makes me very nervous, and it’s not only that gun. There’s something about him that feels calculated, almost rehearsed.
    ‘So, the appointment the other week. What was that all about?’
    Alex doesn’t reply. Just holds my gaze.
    ‘Checking me out, were you? Why? This party was booked a month ago.’
    Alex shrugs. ‘Simply curious. Thought it might be interesting to get to know you a bit beforehand.’ He moves closer, until he’s only a few inches away. I can smell his aftershave, something subtle and musky. He looks right into my eyes, but doesn’t attempt to touch me.
    ‘I’m still interested,’ he says. ‘In hearing about you.’
    ‘Like I said, there’s nothing to tell.’ I resist the temptation to step back, to put more distance between us.
    ‘Stella …’ His tongue dallies on my name as his hand darts out and grabs my wrist. I flinch and try to twist away, but his grip is firm as he pulls me to him. ‘Quite the little enigma.’
    He holds the back of my head firmly as his mouth presses itself against mine, his kiss rough and insistent. Then he pushes me on the bed, parting my gown, his lips moving to my breast. I stop resisting. My body responds to his touch like parched earth to rain, my skin prickling, my mind turning blank as deep water as he runs his hand down my belly and slips it between my legs.
    ‘Wet already, Stella?’ he says, his voice teasing. He hovers for an instant before pushing two fingers inside me. I feel myself contract around him as he leans over and kisses me hard on the mouth.
    ‘Don’t you get tired of all this?’ he murmurs as he slides his fingers in and out, his thumb hovering over my clitoris.
    ‘I—’
    ‘Shhhhh …’ He increases his pace. ‘Don’t say a word. Put everything out of your mind.’
    His thumb presses harder, starts to circle, and my hips curve up to meet him. Another kiss, then he pulls his head back and locks eyes with mine, his look almost challenging, as he steps up the rhythm on my clit.
    A warmth spreads through my abdomen, a hitch in my breathing.
    ‘You,’ he says, with a small crook of his mouth, ‘are a very provocative woman.’
    I turn away from the intensity of his gaze, but he uses his free hand to pull my face back to his.
    ‘Come on, Stella. Let it go.’ His voice is low, insistent, speaking to that unthinking part of me that has taken over, hungry, oblivious to anything but the exquisite sensation in my groin.
    ‘I can’t …’ I gasp, but sense myself getting near.
    ‘I think you can,’ he whispers, so close to