I woke at 5:00 in a strange room, in a strange bed, a woman was turned on her side facing away from me. Ciara. It had taken a few seconds for the memory to return. Her skin was perfect in tone and texture. She had turned out to be a wonderful lover, soft and unassuming, yet experienced enough to know what she needed and what was acceptable.

I lifted the cover to look at her bum. Perfection. I remembered Lillian’s words and also the sensation of Ciara’s tongue and fingers as they stimulated my anus. It was a new experience for me, one which I reciprocated. Her reaction was mind blowing, considering I was a novice in that area. Luckily she had insisted on showering beforehand so the area on both of us was clean.

I tiptoed to the bathroom, not wishing to disturb her, but she caught me coming back.

“Hi,” she said with a sleepy smile.

“Hi, Ciara, sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“You didn’t. I woke up on my own. Come back to bed.”

I rejoined her and she laid her head on my shoulder.

“Last night was fantastic, Tony,” she said.

“For me too.”

“Where did you learn to do that?”

“I was on holiday in the Isle of Skye. It was in the middle of winter and the rain lashed against the walls of the stone cottage I was staying in. It rained hard for eleven days and twelve nights as the winds blew in from the wild Atlantic Ocean.”

She was hooked.

“During a break in the storm an old woman, dressed in black, shuffled across the footpath leading to a rocky beach. She was dragging what looked like a body bag, but turned out to be a black sack, containing lots of kindling, a brass urn and several bottles of powder and coloured liquids. I went out and offered to carry it for her. She looked at me for a few minutes and then a sort of recognition appeared in her bright blue eyes. A smile revealed some yellow cracked teeth. She opened a bottle that contained a clear yellow liquid. It was pristine, with no air bubbles, foam or distinguishable anomalies or impurities present. She placed her thumb on the opening and turned the bottle upside down, transferring a little of the contents to the tip of her thumb. She then lifted her shaking hand towards me and anointed me with the liquid on my forehead, chest, heart and lips. It tasted of a woman.”

“My God,” Ciara whispered, enthralled, “were you frightened?”

“Initially. Until two other, younger, women, dressed identically, appeared beside me. They fell to their knees before me, joining the older woman. One of them took a bottle of a burning red coloured liquid, opened it and poured some into her left hand. She bathed my feet with it, her fingers reaching between my toes to ensure nothing was left untouched.”

Ciara stayed quiet, like a child being told a bedtime story.

“The second of the younger women took a bottle of a pale green coloured liquid, opened it and poured it into her left hand. She looked at her companion. Her companion lifted my left foot and held it while her friend bathed the sole of my left foot with the pale green liquid. My right foot was then lifted and she applied it to the sole of my right foot too.”

I could hear her breathing. She was a little girl again. It was wonderful.

“The older one said something to me in a language I couldn’t recognise. One of the younger women translated for me.”

“Sara says that you are Anthony. Is she correct?”

“I was silent for a minute or two, “yes, how did she know?” I said.

She turned to the older woman and spoke to her in her own language. The old woman smiled and said something back to her. She took a flat brown paper bag from her black sack. She offered the flat brown package to me. I looked at the younger woman for an explanation. She took the package and placed it in my hand.”

“She said, it’s on your passport. You dropped it in the pub last night.”

Ciara’s eyes shot open. She sat up in bed.

“You bastard! You absolute bastard! You absolute fucking bastard! I was expecting …. I don’t know what I was expecting, but I wasn’t expecting that! You fucker.”

I was on my back laughing. She jumped on top of me and stared to laugh too. She kissed me.

“Do you have time?” she whispered.

“Yes.”

“Can I take a shower? I need your tongue inside me again.”

“For what?”

“To keep you from talking for a start.”

“Hurry up, Ciara, you’re making me wet.”

I was driving into work after kissing Ciara goodbye. Traffic was medium light and I was in good spirits. Peter rang me. I hit the button.

“Peter, how the hell are you?”

“Well obviously somebody got railed last night.”

“And again this morning, she even licked my arse.”

“You’re on speaker, I’m bringing my Mam to a doctor’s appointment.”

“Shit! Morning, Ellen.” I felt like a tool.

“Just messing with you. Mam’s great. So tell me about this overnight railing you received.”

“No. Fuck off.”

“Ah. Is the little master of the universe annoyed at poor little Peter? By the way, did you get any undergarments from the arse licker? While I’m at it, did you lick her arse in return? Did you stick anything into it? There’s too many questions, we should have this conversation at dinner with Ellen tonight. That’ll be fun. We could make a game out of it that all the family can enjoy.”

“Ok, I’ll reply to you in the order you asked the questions. Yes, no, yes, no.”

“No to the undergarments or yes?”

“No, she wasn’t wearing any. It turns out she had to abandon them after talking to me on the phone at lunchtime.”

“Why?”

“They were too wet.”

“Oh, a leaker and an arse licker. Are you seeing her again?”

“Doubt it, she’s married.”

“So that means she licks her husband’s arse too, it’s an ever growing organism.”

“Can we move on from arses please?”

“You brought it up.”

“Ok that’s true. How’d you get on last night?”

“One leg after the other. Same as usual. I was thinking of getting on the same way as those cowboys do when they’re showing off. You know when they jump on from the back, over the horses unlicked arse, and into the saddle. I’ve always felt that might be hard on Stanley and Oliver. Might be painful.”

I had to mute the microphone on my end, I was pissing myself laughing and I didn’t want to encourage his flights of fancy.

“I know I shouldn’t ask, but, who are Stanley and Oliver?”

“That’s what I named the twins.”

“What twins?”

“The Jewels, the liathrodaí, the virgin plums, Tommy and Hector, The Uninflatables.”

“Alright. I get it. For fuck’s sake. I mean, at the fundraiser.”

“Oh, a very interesting evening. Interesting, awkward and a little embarrassing.”

“Why? What did you do?”

“Me? The very thought. I did nothing, for once, except take a photo of the Adams family, and you’ve no idea of the amount of fun I had with that last night, as they announced the engagement of their precious daughter, Jill, to a creature who loosely resembles the Sasquatch in appearance. That guy couldn’t make Jill scream unless he was stabbing her with a knife.”

“Are you sending it over to me?”

“Just doing it now. In fairness, it is a match made in heaven because Austin certainly reminds one of the little hairy Adams guy running around like a robot vacuum cleaner or is that Lurch? Maybe we should call it Lurch.”

“Great, thanks. Are you heading to the office?”

“I’m just taking a spin by the job to make sure it lasted the night.”

“Great, I’ll see you in there.”

I went to my office and started the work on timekeeping the previous day’s activities. Peter would add to that with his report on the existing structure. Cadden walked in as I worked.

“No rest for the wicked, I see, Tony.”

“Morning Mr. Cadden, how are you?”

“”I’ve been worse, Tony, thanks. I have a couple of bits of machinery here for you,” he said, and handed me two cheques, “how did it go yesterday? Any surprises?”

“No, we already knew about the Dolphins Barn bricks. Everything else is just as usual.”

“Does the rest need to be demolished?”

“If it were mine I’d just clear the site.”

“It may come to that. We should have everyone in on Monday to discuss.”

“Peter has local knowledge, he’s done a huge amount of work so far and is right across it.”

“Peter is a very capable and knowledgeable practitioner, Tony. He has the capacity to be one of the best architects in this country. I just wish he’d apply himself more.”

“Maybe he’s bored with the mundane stuff.”

“Could be. But that’s the bigger part of any job.”

I finished everything that I needed to do and took out my phone. I flicked through to the pictures that Peter had sent me. Jill actually looked happy as she kissed Austin on the lips. Go figure. I didn’t understand it. Still, it was none of my concern, I felt sorry for poor Lurch.

My text dinged. It was from Lillian.

“Hi Tony, I just heard from Lindsay, she’ll be wearing a cream pencil skirt with an off white blouse under a navy blue overcoat. She’ll be carrying a green designer bag and will carry it with a yellow scarf through the handle. She is quite tall, very pretty and has medium length blonde hair that is slightly short of her shoulders. Please remember to be considerate of her feelings as usual and enjoy each other. Everything has been paid in advance, you just need a photo ID at check in. The room is booked in your name. Talk soon. Lillian x”

I was excited and nervous at once, I checked the time, 12:30. The day was getting away from me. I decided to go home, shower and get an overnight kit. I jumped in the van and struck out for home. I was just leaving the office car park when Peter called.

“Where are you?”

“At the back gate, why?”

“Ooh, who’s back gate this time? Do I know her?”

“What do you want? I’m in the car park.”

“I got us some lunch.”

“You’re a scholar and gentleman. What did you get?”

“Food, what do you think I got?”

“I’ll be right with you.”

He had brought fish and chips into the office canteen. The aroma of vinegar wafted into my nostrils the moment I opened the back door. Everyone would be down like seagulls. He was sitting in the corner digging into his own food. I walked over and handed him his cheque. He kissed it and kept eating. I sat down beside him and started digging into the bag of food.

“Is that all you’re having?” he asked.

“Yes, it’s plenty, thanks. I’ve got a thing this evening and my stomach has butterflies.”

“This sounds interesting. Do tell.”

“I’ve an overnight blind date in a hotel.”

“With who?”

“A woman.”

“What’s she like?”

“Which part of the whole blind date thing do you not understand?”

“I like blind dates, they’re always an adventure. If you think of it, Tony, every time you shift a bird in the pub it’s a kind of blind date. Except you can see them, so if she’s an absolute dog you can give her a swerve.”

“True, but most of the ‘dogs’, as you put it, are the ones with a brain and a personality. Look at Jill Adams, for example, more money than God, looks to burn and she’s just an absolutely stupid, spoiled little bitch.”

“Spoken like the bitterest man in Bitterland.”

“You know what I mean, Peter.”

“Yes, and you’re wrong, of course. So who is the lucky lady tonight and where are you taking her?”

“All I know is her name. After that, nothing.”

“You never know, you might end up shagging her lights out. Where are you going?”

“I’m not telling you that, you’ll only be in there with a camera. I’ll catch up with you tomorrow lunchtime.”

“If you don’t get very lucky you mean. Don’t forget the trophy this time.”

“Never say never.”

I checked in to The Dylan Hotel at 3:30. It was a complicated process as the hotel is situated nearly across the road from Peter’s house. I feared that I’d be seen entering the grounds, especially in a van, so I parked it in a spot at the rear of the hotel in the car park of an adjacent apartment complex and walked back.

It was a lovely hotel in a beautiful Victorian building repurposed from its original use as a nurses residence. The reception was fitted with a tasteful mix of period and contemporary furnishings and finishes. Walking across the plush carpeting of the reception was like walking on air. I approached a pretty foxy looking blonde girl at reception, her name tag told me her name was Kim. She processed everything very efficiently and I took the key cards and went to inspect the room. It was impressive. Lillian had done well. I checked the time 3:55. Lindsay was due at 4:00. The butterflies in my stomach took flight again as I took the lift down to reception. I saw her immediately the lift doors opened. She was a vision. Dressed exactly as Lillian had described, Lindsay was the epitome of elegance and beauty. Tall and slim with a beautiful caste to her bearing. Stunningly shapely legs set off by deliciously delicate heels which made her stand slightly taller than me. I stood and appraised her before walking over to her. I approached her from the rear as she stood looking out through the glass door, as though watching from my arrival.

“Lindsay?” I said, as evenly and gently as I could manage.

I was shaking with nervousness. She turned to face me, her face beaming in a wide smile. She brushed away the hand I had offered her in welcome and placed her hands on my shoulders. She looked into my eyes and kissed me sweetly.

“You must be Tony. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.”

She was beautiful. It’s an oft used platitude, but this girl hit every mark. Everything about her was perfect, she’d obviously spent hours getting ready.

She had deep blue eyes that held a look of hope tinged with remorse. Slightly curved at the edges they longed for acceptance without expectation. They were the eyes of someone who had lost their way and sought a pathway to a different course. She was obviously an intelligent woman of means who had seen more than most women her age. My initial thought was that she was, possibly, an escort.

“As have I, Lindsay. Can I get us a drink in the bar?”

“I’d like to freshen up first, please, if I can.”

I picked her bag up and carried it to the room. I made her welcome and she agreed to a glass of water from a bottle in the hotel room bar. My hand shook as I poured it into a glass. She smiled at me,

“Here, let me help you. You’re a little nervous, I think,” she said.

“Either that or I’m developing Parkinson’s disease,” I said with a shrug.

She giggled and shrugged her coat off and I hung it in the wardrobe. She put her glass down on a round table beside us and reached for me.

“Let me help to relax you,” she whispered with a sweet smile.

She kissed me softly and sweetly, opening my lips with hers, offering her tongue and then quickly pulling away. She changed the angle of her head and did it again. She stepped away slightly and began to undo the buttons on her blouse. I stopped her and led her to a chair and we sat down together. I took her hand in mine and brought it to my lips. She didn’t appear to understand what was happening.

“Lindsay, we have the entire evening. Let’s get to know each other a little. You look a bit tired, why don’t you just lie on the bed, take it easy, nap for a while?”

She touched my face with her hand.

“Thanks, Tony, but that’s not why I’m here,” she whispered.

“I know why you’re here and I know what you do. I promise that we will have a wonderful evening but I’d be much happier if you got a little rest. Our dinner is booked for 8:30 so let’s just relax until then. We can talk or listen to music or we can take a nap. How does that sound?”

“It actually sounds like a dream and I’ll agree, if you’ll be beside me the whole time.”

“I’m happy to.”

“Let me change first, please. These clothes are not meant to be sleepwear.”

She disappeared into the bathroom with her bag and returned in a short white satin slip and she took my breath away.

“Are you going to bed dressed like that?” she asked me.

“I left my camisole at home.”

She laughed.

“Funny. Let’s go to bed for a while, Tony,” she kissed me again and opened one of my shirt buttons.

I undressed down to my boxers and slid in beside her. I lay on my back, and she snuggled up to me. Before long, we were contentedly snoozing the evening away. When I woke, the room was in darkness, and Lindsay was asleep beside me. She even slept elegantly.

I slipped silently out of the big king bed and headed for the bathroom. I left the light in the bathroom on and the door slightly ajar. The digital display on the bedside clock flashed 7:48. I stretched out with my arms above my head.

“Nice,” Lindsay said, and she giggled.

“If you like that, you’ll love how I scratch my stomach.”

She giggled again. She sat up and patted the bed beside her. I slid under the covers and we embraced.

“You’re quite the gentleman, Mr Harris.”

“You’re quite the lady Ms Lindsay.”

“The tired lady according to you, and it’s Emma, not Lindsay. Emma Fagan.”

“Hi Emma. It’s really nice to meet you.”

She touched my nose with her finger.

“I think you know what I do for a living, do you?”

“I think so.”

“Well, you’ve certainly turned the tables on me, Mr Harris. You’re most considerate, thank you.”

“Can I kiss you?”

“I wish you would.”

Our lips met and it was more of a battle to determine whose kiss would be chosen. Hers was very effective and professional, a take on a French kiss but with a touch of remoteness. Lots of movement and lots of short kisses, which didn’t aid intimacy or desire. It did the job, but that wasn’t for me.

“Do you not like French kissing?” she asked in a whisper.

“I love it, Emma.”

“You don’t seem too engaged.”

“I do it a bit differently.”

“French is French,” she said, with a smile.

“It’s also a means to an end.”

“To an escort, you mean,” she said harshly.

“I’m not judging you, Emma. God knows I can’t judge anyone. I appreciate that you’re doing your job, but if you’ll permit me to show you what I like, we can do everything your way if it isn’t to your liking.”

She rested her head on the pillow, smoothed her hair from her face and reached for me.

“I like you, Tony. Kiss me and make my toes curl, if you can.”

“Talk about pressure,” I said, and we laughed as she aimed a swipe at me with her hand. I caught it in mine. I looked deep into her eyes, they sparkled as they caught the dim light in the room.

I kissed her softly, taking her bottom lip between mine as my tongue gently touched her before our slightly opened lips joined, moving together, my fingers touching her face, stroking her skin. My tongue ventured into her mouth, sampling the taste of her lips. Hers joined mine in a sensual coupling, lightly touching at first, before meeting as one together as our lips moved slowly against each other, our mouths opening wider, breathing each others breath, touching each others teeth. A light crackling sound became from deep in her throat, we broke apart slowly, our eyes fluttering open to gaze deep into each other’s soul. She sighed.

“I want you, Tony. I want you so much.”

She shed her slip, leaving her with just a white lace thong. She was glorious. Her skin was so soft and smooth. My hand travelled her entire body, barely floating across her skin as I watched it caress everywhere but touching nothing. Emma was sighing and gasping breathlessly, waiting for a touch that may never come, craving some certainty while expecting none. Her eyes pleaded with me. Reaching into my heart. Drawing me to her until I could deny her no longer. I finally touched her breast. I imagined a sizzle as my fingers held her engorged nipple and squeezed it gently. I heard her moan as my lips took it and held it for my tongue to explore. She held me there, and I could hear her heart beating loudly. I slid my hand inside her thong and along her hairless mound. I dipped my fingers down and eased it away from her vulva, her wetness caused it to adhere to her, and the sensation of it releasing caused her to pull my hair and roll her hips.

“Please, Tony.”

“You just have to ask, Emma.”

Her tortured face looked at me. She pulled my lips to hers and tried to pull me on top of her.

“I need to feel you inside me now.”

I rolled onto my back and brought her with me. She reached down and took my penis in her hand, guiding it to the entrance of her vagina and then sliding herself down until I was completely inside her. Her hips began to move quickly as she sought release. I held her to me and let her have her way. She knew exactly what she needed, and she got there very quickly, finishing with a scream and a flood of tears as she snuggled into me while still on top of me. I let her stay there until she recovered. It was a massive orgasm that tore through her and rocked her world. The recovery took a while and she lay still, her hair covering my chest, until she finally slid off and buried her head in the cleft of my chin, hiding her tears.

“Emma? Are you ok, love?”

“I’m more than ok, love,” she whispered. “I’m still out of breath.”

“Did you find that emotional?”

“Very. I’ve never experienced that. I usually remain so detached, I’m quite good at it. You’ve gotten under my skin, though.”

She kissed me deeply and lovingly. I could almost taste the emotion behind it. She suddenly opened her eyes,

“I’m so sorry, Tony. You didn’t finish.”

“I’m good, love, honestly. Relax, talk to me. We have all night, you won’t get much sleep. I guarantee it.”

“You’ve a beautiful soul, Tony. What do you want to talk about?”

“Well for a start, what do you think Manchester United’s chances of winning the league are this year?”

She laughed harder than the joke deserved but it stripped away whatever vestiges of a barrier that remained between us.

“Seriously. Do you want to talk about my work?”

“No. You do what you do and I’m sure you’re one of the best at it. You can tell me in time or not at all. I want you to tell me about Emma Fagan, not Lindsay.”

“Why? I’m just a normal thirty one year old woman like everyone else, when I’m out shopping in my jeans and trainers.”

“Tell me about your life, your family, how you got here.”

“It’s boring really, I was born and raised in Tallaght, not much in the way of money. My father was a drinker, never did an honest days work in his life.”

“Is he still alive?”

“No, he died in a car accident in the Phoenix Park.”

“What? How? You can only do thirty miles an hour in there.”

“He was getting his rocks sucked dry in a car by our next door neighbours daughter. A van cashed into them when it left the road. A drunk driver.”

“Oh, shit. I’m sorry, Emma.”

“It was a good riddance, to be honest. I had just got married at the time. It wasn’t a great marriage, I think I just did it to get out of the house. Out of the frying pan and into the fire, I suppose. We split up after the funeral and I found that I was in a lot of debt. That was seven years ago. I went on the game to clear my debts and I’ve been on it ever since.”

“Do you enjoy it?”

“No. Tonight has shown me what love really is.”

“How so?”

“Well, hah, I’m still processing it,” she paused, and looked at the clock.

“Six hours ago I met you. It was supposed to be a luxurious weekend in a five star hotel with a client who I couldn’t refuse anything to.”

“And what’s changed?”

“I met you, Tony. That’s what changed.”

“Is that a good or a bad thing?”

“I admit I was very tired this afternoon. You saw it before I realised it. You told me to rest and we slept for a while. You cared enough about me to make me rest. I’m amazed that I felt relaxed enough with you to actually have done it. This isn’t that sort of lifestyle. Then, when we woke, you led me up a pathway that made me want you so badly that I was in physical pain until you let me have my release. A magical, wonderful release, while you just helped me along, without me doing you the same turn. You put my needs before yours. That doesn’t happen, Tony. Not to me.”

She kissed me again. Slower, this time, gently offering her tongue.

“Are you hungry?” I whispered.

“Yes, I’m starving, but I’d rather get room service than eat in the restaurant downstairs.”

“Why?”

“I might get recognised.”

“Oh, shit. I never thought of that. What clothes have you got in your bag?”

“Different types, why?”

“Do you have jeans?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s go for a burger or something, maybe stop in for a pint.”

“Great idea. I’ll race you. But, when we come back, your ass is mine young man.”

“It’s all about my ass today,” I said, to a curious look from her.

She held my hand as we walked past Smithser's house and all the way to The Canal Bank Cafe on Mespil Road. We chatted lightly and made each other laugh as we walked. There was a bittersweet irony to the fact that this was a purely temporary situation and that it wouldn't go much further than this night and the next morning. If she felt as I did, she didn't show it, but I felt a little sad. We lingered over a burger and some shared fries. She wiped some ketchup from the corner of my mouth and let me suck it from her fingertip. I was brewing a semi the entire time. I couldn't take my eyes off her, she was so bewitchingly beautiful. I also noticed that she saw only me, her face holding what I felt was, a similar look to mine. We were half finished eating the burgers when Colin, the waiter, dropped a shared milkshake over to the table. There was a note attached to it by a string tied around the base.

“Two lovers in love. Compliments of RBC’’

She smiled as she read the tag. She leaned over the table and took my hand. Her lips were close to mine. She kissed me softly.

“That’s lovely, Tony, isn’t it?” she said.

“Yes, it’s a lovely gesture, and to think that Patrick Kavanagh’s statue is just over the road. The literary world can breathe a sigh of relief that the old traditions still ring true.”

“I think it’s nice that they think we’re lovers in love.”

“Well I’m sure could be classed as lovers, Emma.”

“Are you sure? Only one of us came.”

“Yes and one of us perished on the sword of his chivalry.”

“Unselfishly so,” she said, a sly smile forming beneath the surface.

I touched her lips with my finger. She kissed it.

“Yielding to the precious release of his princess in need.”

I kissed her softly.

“That was greatly appreciated by his princess in a time of turmoil.”

She kissed me.

“It was an honour for him to serve such a maiden, the most beautiful lady in the kingdom.”

I kissed her.

“He shalt have his reward forthwith.”

She kissed me

“He respectfully acknowledges the burden upon him and hopes he can rise to the occasion.”

I kissed her.

“Unfortunately,” I continued, “I am currently unable to rise from the table easily as the occasion has imposed a restriction on my current movement capabilities.”

“What are you taking about?”

“You’ve got me all wet.”

She kissed me.

“Say it correctly.”

“Milady has caused frightful unease upon my appendage by her coquettishly winsome commentary.”

She giggled.

“That’s what I was hoping for.”

“We should take a moment and drink some of this love potion, it may help matters along.”

“Just a tad, my dear, a lady doesn’t wish to gain unnecessary weight.”

“I will feed you three spoonfuls, no more and no less. The optimum dose for the weight embattled lady.”

She insisted on saving the note from the glass and she thanked the guys profusely as we left the cafe.

“Let’s go home, lover,” she whispered.

She sat in a chair in the room and eased her shoes off. She sat back and looked at me, smiling.

“That was the nicest meal I’ve ever had,” she said.

“A burger and chips?”

“The whole package, not just the food.”

“I know what you mean.”

“I’m going to freshen up, I’ll be just a few seconds,” she said and went to the bathroom.

A few seconds turned into fifteen minutes. I turned the tv on about two minutes in when I heard the shower running. I took out my phone and checked for activity. There were a host of texts and missed calls. Mostly from Jill Adams.

I was mindlessly flicking through them when Emma appeared from the bathroom. She smiled radiantly.

“I’m all clean, I needed that. Thanks for waiting, Tony.”

She was wrapped in a towel as she walked across the room. She dropped it when she reached the bed and beckoned me over. We kissed passionately, with thought for nothing except the person we were kissing. She helped me off with my clothes until we were both naked and she pushed me down on the bed, before coming to lie beside me.

She turned the tables on me and kissed me from head to toe and back again. Feather light touches with her fingers and lips as my lips sought her, any part of her. It was torture as she continued her ministrations to my skin. She sat by my head and I could barely speak,

“Please, Emma.”

She smiled and kissed me as her hand moved down my body and took my shaft gently. She knelt beside me and kissed the top of my penis, licking around the head and taking the entire head between her lips as she almost massaged it with her mouth.

“Oh my God,” I moaned at the sensation as she moved slowly around the head, her tongue using a swirling motion as it teased me and pushed me higher.

I reached out and brought her right knee across my head so that she straddled my face, she sighed at the anticipation of an unspoken promise, lowered her hips to my tongue and hissed as I reached out and let my tongue rest between the lips of her moist labia.

With my head resting on two pillows I pulled her hips to me and began to explore her vagina with my tongue. As my explorations became more intense the movements of her tongue and lips began to increase in tempo. Her breath was becoming ragged as my tongue dipped inside her vagina and she stopped all movement when my finger found her G Spot.

She lifted her head skywards as an anguished sound came from her lips. Her panting breath spoke to me as it guided my movements inside her, orgasmic fluid dripped invitingly into my mouth and her clitoris was aroused and exposed.

I took it between my lips and held it while my tongue and finger worked in unison to take her higher than I thought anyone could go. She was screaming and thrashing her hips in wild abandon as she battled to regain internal order until, eventually, she hit an ecstatic plateau and crashed through it, her entire body aquiver, her back arched and her stomach muscles tensed.

She released what felt like a deluge of fluid that tasted of honey and paprika as her body reacted to the sensory overload when the dam burst. She lay prostrate along my body as she whimpered in recovery.

I flipped her over and took her in my arms, stroking her face and kissing her. I whispered quietly in her ear but she wasn’t functioning enough to reply. Her eyes were open and her mouth was moving but nothing was coming out so I just held her there, on the bed, in that dimly lit room and joined her in a quiet space where no words were spoken but our conversation ethereal. It was the most peaceful thirty or so minutes I had ever experienced, and it was in the arms of this amazing, beautiful woman.

She slowly began to make some movements, words came in whispers,

“What was that, Tony?”

“Pure love, Emma. The purest.”

“Oh, fuck, I’m coming again. Hold me please.”

She was like that for several minutes as aftershocks rolled through her body and I held her to me through every one of them. Eventually she settled back down and her face was the embodiment of bliss.

“I wish I had a camera, Emma. You look like an angel.”

“Tony, don’t. Please.”

“What, love.”

“Don’t say things like that.”

“Ok, but why?”

“Because I’m falling in love with you.”

“What’s bad about that?”

She opened her eyes and smiled.

“Not a damned thing. Thank you.”

We snuggled under the covers as the room cooled down in the night. I kissed her as she slipped away into sleep and her steady breath serenaded me until I drifted away too. I woke the next morning at 8:00 and she was coming from the bathroom. She slid in beside me and we kissed.

“Good morning, my beautiful man.”

“Hey gorgeous, how do you look so good at this time of day?”

“You should have seen me before I had a shower and brushed out my hair.”

“Are you leaving me?”

“I certainly am not. You owe me something.”

“I’m sure I don’t.”

“Yes you do and you’re not going to deflect me a third time, mister.”

“Oh. I forgot about that, it’s in my pocket.”

She screamed with laughter.

“You little fucker. You know what I mean.”

“Use your words, Emma,” I said, trying to keep the smile off my face.

“You, my wonderful man, need to make love to me so I can feel your seed fill me. I need that, Tony, more than I ever needed anything in my life.”

“You do realise that a side product of this is that you have to suffer through a few more orgasms.”

“That’s big talk, coming from someone so young.”

“Ok, then. Let me freshen up, as a wise woman said recently.”

Checkout time was 12:00. We made love for two of those four hours and played with each other for the remainder, breaking only for a breakfast delivery after our first intense orgasms. I walked her to the door of the hotel to say goodbye, she took my hand and kissed me. She had tears in her eyes.

"Thanks, Tony. It was fabulous."

"For me too, Emma, how are you getting home?"

"I left my car in the car park. What are your plans for the rest of the weekend?"

"Dodging women, mostly."

She laughed. "Is that a full time occupation?"

"It's a bit of an exaggeration. It’s just one woman in particular."

"I have a nice place you can hide out in," she said with a cheeky grin.

"Now that sounds like something that someone could find very hard to refuse."

"I'll text you the address and you can follow me over?"

"You're a kind and generous woman, Emma. I'll go rescue my van from next door."

"If you get lost just text me and I'll guide you in."

"You could have put that a different way."

She kissed me and whispered in my ear,

“There’s no other way I wanted to put it, lover.”

“I’ll race you to your place.”

I retrieved the van and waited for her text, when it came in I was surprised, it wasn’t far from where I lived, so I drove in that direction. The phone rang. It was Jill.

“Hi, Jill.”

“Hi Tony. Where are you? I’ve been calling and texting all night.”

“I left my phone at home. I hear congratulations are in order.”

“Oh, you heard about that?”

“Yes, thanks for the heads up.”

“I told Peter not to say anything because I wanted to tell you myself.”

“I haven’t seen Peter since Thursday.”

“Who told you?”

“Does it matter? The dogs in the street knew before I did. It’s none of my business anyway, I hope everything goes smoothly for you both.”

“Are you being sardonic?”

“Do you mean sarcastic?”

“Yes, probably. Are you?”

“Not at all, Jill. I wish only good things for you. Truly.”

“What about us?”

“Ah, Jill. The silver isn’t dry on your engagement ring yet and you’re evaluating your future options already. At least give the chap a chance.”

“I knew it. You hate me now, don’t you?”

“No, I could never hate you, but I could never come between a betrothed couple either. Let’s part as friends.”

“I understand, after all we have to work together.”

“That can’t happen either, Jill. I’ll be stepping away from the project. I don’t wish to be pulverised by an international rugby player simply because he might think I was messing around with his future wife.”

“Who’s going to look after it?”

“Peter, of course.”

“No, you can’t step away, Tony. I should.”

“I’d need that in a text before Monday, Jill.”

“Why Monday?”

“I’ll be assigning myself to another project at 8:00 on Monday morning otherwise.”

“I’ll send it as soon as I get off.”

I pursed my lips to stop the words.

“Thanks. You can email it to the office email too, if you don’t mind. Make it official.”

“I will. Goodbye, Tony.”

“All the best.”

Her text came in and it was fine. I was free and clear. I had a smile on my face as the phone rang again.

“Tony Harris.”

“Emma Fagan. Have you not added me to your contacts yet?”

“Hey, Emma. I was just about to. I’m nearly at your place.”

“I’ll be there shortly, I’m stopping at Tesco’s for supplies, I’m gonna cook something for you.”

“Really?”

“Yes, I’ve been living in that apartment for four years and the oven has never been switched on. I’m gonna change all that.”

“And I’m your lab rat?”

“I would’ve said, esteemed guest.”

“A steamed guest?”

“I’m not going there, I’ll be about twenty minutes. Do something with that.”

“I wish you could see which finger I was holding up right now.”

“Bye bye!” she laughed and hung up.

I called Peter. He let it ring eight times before he answered.

“What.”

“That’s a nice way to answer the phone on a lovely Saturday afternoon.”

“Someone must have been busily beavering the beaver last night.”

“I had a fractious phone call with the future Mrs. Lurch.”

“Do tell. Before you do, let me ask your opinion on something.”

“Ok.”

“I’m standing outside the Woollen Mills, waiting for Ellen. You know there at the Ha’penny Bridge. On the north side.”

“I know where it is.”

“There’s an ice cream shop, called Cloud Nine, across the road, and there’s a bride in there buying ice cream.”

“A bride? Are you sure?”

“I have nightmares about brides, Tony. They’re like the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I know a bride when I feel one.”

“Ok. What’s your point?”

“Well, it always occurred to me that a bride would be focused only on her new husband’s cock after the ceremony. Not ice cream.”

“She might be using it for erotic purposes, Peter.”

“Ah, see? Your twisted little mind sees things that my pure thinking brain would never countenance. You think she dips her cock in the ice cream first? I’d never have thought of that. Like putting ice in a drink but in reverse.”

“Anyway, back to the Lurches.”

“Right. What happened?”

“She wanted to hook up again.”

“Fuck off. What did you say?”

“I asked her what time. What do you think I said?”

“We’re very touchy today, did somebody piss on your shoes?”

“Anyway. I used it to get her off the project. She texted me the confirmation.”

“Why did she do that? The thick.”

“Basically I told her it was her or me.”

“Ooh, good move. And she went for that?”

“She did.”

“Great, so we’re free and clear. Who are you doing later?”

“Emma.”

“Nice. I love new fodder. Tell me about her.”

“She’s walking towards my car right now.”

“So she can walk unaided. That’s helpful.”

“On that note I’m gonna go.”

“Bring her up to Searsons tonight. Dido’s meeting us there.”

“We have other plans.”

“Oh do we? Well you go and plough the field, I’ll catch up with you later. Thanks for the heads up on Mrs. Lurch, I’ll be able to deflect her with that if it comes up tonight.”

Emma and I spent the remainder of the weekend wrapped in domestic bliss. She cooked for me and I cooked for her. She washed my clothes and I let her. On Monday morning I left her asleep at 7:40 and headed to the office, texting a message to her before I drove away. Traffic was light and I reached work at 8:00. As I pulled into the car park my phone dinged a text from Emma.

“Morning babe. I miss you already. Thanks for a wonderful weekend. Call me if you can. XX.”

“Babe?”

“I took a shot. Shoot me. X.”

“Never. X. I’ll give you a bell later if you’re around.”

“I’m around all day, kicking back for a couple of days.”

“K”

I went to the canteen and put the kettle on for tea. I was the only one in the building. As I sipped my tea my phone rang, Lillian.

“This’ll be interesting,” I thought as I took the call.

“Morning, Lillian.”

“Hi, Tony, how was your weekend?”

I knew that she had already called Emma for a report on our date.

“It was fantastic, Lindsay is fabulous.”

“Yes, she is. She speaks very highly of you.”

“As I do of her, Lillian.”

“I gathered that you two really hit it off.”

“I suppose we did, there was a lovely atmosphere between us after a somewhat awkward beginning.”

“She told me. She thinks you’re a perfect gent with huge depth of character and understanding. I have to say that I think the same, but Lindsay goes beyond that.”

“How so?”

“She’s going to try and regularise her life. I assume you know about her ‘profession’?”

“Yes. I don’t have an issue with it, but I’ll help her as much as I can.”

“You’ve already done that, dear boy, and this weekend was meant to illuminate us about you.”

“I don’t understand.”

“You will in time. You stayed with her in her home on the rest of the weekend?”

“I think she wanted the company, Lillian.”

“I agree but, please, please, please, protect your heart. Lindsay will go back to work and most likely will never give it up.”

“I know. It’s a shame because she’s a fantastic lady. You know she’s very intelligent and affable when the escort persona is switched off.”

“I cannot believe you’re still, technically, a teenager.”

“Until next week.”

“You’ll be twenty next week? I didn’t know.”

“Yes. Anyway, I’ve been thinking about this all weekend. I think Lindsay would make a great PA or do well in the corporate hospitality field. Would it be worth mentioning something like that to her? She has a shrewd business brain, presents herself perfectly, never a hair out of place. She’s beautiful, great sense of humour and has a fully functional bullshit detector.”

She screamed with laughter over the phone.

“What’s funny about that?” I asked. She was annoying me.

“I think exactly the same as you, Tony. But this wasn’t about her. It was about you.”

“Maybe we should make it about her.”

“Maybe we should, in fact, I’m going to make that my work this week, Tony.”

“What did you mean this was about me?”

“We wanted to see how far along you’ve come. I think that, given everything that’s transpired, you’ve exceeded expectations. My only concern is that you may have attached yourself to Lindsay too much. Have you?”

“Yes, but I always leave room for manoeuvre. Ruth told me that I should love anyone I make love with. In most cases, I do. It’s a natural consequence of that depth of connection.

In this case, I very much love Lindsay and she loves me in the same way. Now I’d like to see her make something real of her life. For herself and her future.

Escorting makes a shell out of women over time and that would destroy her. I think we should support her withdrawal from that game, give her some backup and assistance.”

“Leave that with me for now. I’ll speak to her. Together we might be able to come up with something wonderful.”

“Thanks, Lillian. I love you too, you know.”

“I know that, dear boy, and I love you.”

“I think you’re ready. Are you throwing a birthday party?”

“No. It’s not something I do.”

“Oh that’s a shame. Why not?”

“It’s just another day full of meaningless platitudes. I haven’t enjoyed a birthday since my Dad died. I doubt I ever will again.”

“We’ll talk later this week, Tony,” she whispered.

I took the remainder of my tea upstairs to my office. I closed the door behind me and sat at my desk. Looking out the window, I thought of my Dad, my birthday and the cycle of life. The dam burst. I didn’t know where it came from, this sudden outpouring of self-pity. A knock on the door accompanied by it opening caught me wiping my eyes. It was Cadden.

“Tony? Whatever has happened? Are you ok, son?”

“I’m fine, thanks, Mr. Cadden.”

“Is it about the Adams daughter? I heard she announced her engagement on the weekend?”

“No, I’m fine with that. We had advance notice about it. I wasn’t all that comfortable with her in any case.”

He came and sat by me.

“I want you to know that if you have any problems, you can come to me, son. I’m happy to help in any way I can.”

“Thanks, Mr. Cadden. I’m just feeling sorry for myself. I’ll be fine.”

“So where are we with everything?”

“We’re moving on everything this week. Jill Adams is no longer a nominated subcontractor, she stepped away from the project, in writing,” I showed him the text, “she followed it up with an email, just to make it official.”

“Interesting, why did she do that, I wonder.”

“I told her to.”

“What? When?”

“She called me on Saturday. I told her that either she or I would have to step away from the project, because of her engagement. She offered to go, so I asked her for it in writing. We didn’t want her involved from day one, to be honest.”

“Why not? She seemed perfectly capable.”

“She’s a dilettante, Mr. Cadden. She has no training or expertise in what she professes to do and she has Daddy in the palm of her hand. She would have been a drain on the project. She won’t be missed.”

“Fine, that’s your call but I tend to agree. What about our Protected Structure issues?”

“That’s our work for today, lads,” Peter said from the doorway.

He strolled into the room with a sly little smirk on his face. In his hand was a folder about two inches thick.

“This is a fully completed and approved Section 5 application for the Mews properties. It’s already registered on the Planning website and with An Taisce. It’s also a smoking gun.”

He placed it on the table, opened the file and pointed to one line.

“Look who the registrant is.”

“Maria Adams,” Cadden said, shocked.

“Yes. You know what this means, don’t you?”

“But where did you get it?”

“I suppose you could say that I shagged it out of her. She was a little out of breath when she told me about it so I didn’t catch every word. Well, she was completely out of breath, if I’m being honest, but you have to love her stamina, she can go for hours, God bless her.”

“Peter!” Cadden said.

“I digress. She gave me this for safe keeping. I did a bit of burrowing and it needs to be updated with the current survey results and a Commencement Date lodged with the Councils fees within the next ten days. I have the survey completed along with some preliminary designs and I think we can get it over the line in a few days.”

He handed the report to Cadden.

“This is great work, Peter. It might mean that the project won’t proceed, given the potential explosion of the budget.”

“Well what Grizzly Adams doesn’t realise is, once this is registered and updated, he hasn’t got a choice.”

“Why?”

“It’s the law. He has an obligation under law to maintain and preserve a protected structure. The Mews is classed as an estate ancillary building and therefore is included in the RPS designation. He can be jailed or levied a heavy fine if he doesn’t proceed.”

“That’s true, Peter. How are you such an expert in this?”

“It’s local knowledge, really. I was born and raised in the area so I’ve been exposed to it.”

They both looked at me.

“You’re unusually quiet,” Camden said to me.

“I’m just thinking this through,” I said, “either way it’s a win for us.”

“Ok then, get it done lads. If you need extra assistance just shout. Peter, get going on requesting quotes from all the relevant heritage contractors, we need to present an estimate to Adams for approval ASAP.”

“I’m already on it Mr. C.”

“This is going to be very interesting, men.”

Cadden left us alone.

“Tea?” I asked Peter.

“Most assuredly.”

After tea we locked ourselves away to get moving on the preliminaries of the project. I took the outline sketches and calculated areas and heights of walls and floors. Peter worked on the survey submission for the RPS. We worked quietly and efficiently until my phone rang.

“Tony, Ben Adams.”

“Hi Ben, what can I do for you?”

Peter was mimicking pointing a gun at my head and pulling the trigger.

“Jill, tells me you asked her to resign from the project.”

“That’s not true, Ben.”

“Are you calling her a liar?”

“If that’s what she says and it’s not true, what would you call it?

“Tell me your side then.”

“I can do better, she sent us an email in which she clearly states that she is stepping aside. I can forward it to you if you like. She also sent me a text, personally”

“No, I don’t disbelieve you, Tony. I’m sorry, I’ve been misinformed.”

“Women, eh? Can’t live with them, can’t shoot them. But what would we do without them?”

“Stay sane,” Ben said and laughed.

“What a bitch!” I said to Peter.

“Can’t shoot them? Of course you can fucking shoot them.”

“Here, how are we handling these internal walls?”

“A lime render and a skim finish, it’s of the period. We also have to repoint the brickwork externally. Add that to your list.”

“Insulation?”

“It’s BER exempt so it’s not required, there’s a product that has an Agremented Thermal Resistance. It’s on the official allowable list, use that.”

“Do we have the Agrement Cert?”

“It’s in the product folder. I forget the name at present, starts with a D. You’ll need to get a cost per bag in case some arsehole tried to rip us off.”

“Great. What about windows and doors?”

“I’ve a sketch drawn with dimensions, email it off to two shops on our list of joiners. Make sure they’re Q Marked and Heritage compliant. While you’re at it, give Dessie Ennis a bell, we’ll need him on board for decorating.”

“No, he’s a prick!”

“Yes, but a very talented prick, Tony. A much sought after in the world of sympathetic restoration, prick.”

“Ok. How are we with the building’s structure?”

“It’s basically sound. I’m meeting Colin Cantwell over there this aft if you wanna join.”

“For what?”

“To learn something.”

“I mean why Cantwell? You can’t abide the man.”

“Because he’s local, he’s registered and, if it falls down, he’s liable, not us.”

“I suppose, but he’s an arrogant bastard, Peter.”

“Yeah. Fuck him.”

“You can throw the roof at him, it all needs to come off.”

“To what?” I asked.

“Come off. I see what you did there. Don’t do it again, that’s my job. Now stop asking inane questions.”

“Who have you got in mind for a General Contractor?”

“It can only be Terry Curran. He’s the man for this job. We’ll get him in when we have everything specified and costed. We’ll have a little fun with him too.”

The morning flew by as we worked away. I was enjoying how Peter didn’t get flustered and how efficiently he worked. He knew this job backwards. At 1:15 we decided to have a lunch break. I was halfway through the door when my phone rang.

“Hi Emma, great to hear from you.”

“Hey babe, are you coming over tonight?”

“Love to.”

“Excellent. What time?”

“I’ll come straight from work.”

“No. Go home and see your mother.”

“You’re right, I should. Thanks, love.”

“I’ll aim for 6:30. I’m attempting a Spag Bol from Jamie Oliver’s book.”

“Which one?”

“Happy Days with The Naked Chef.”

“What is with you and naked men?”

“I’ll show you later.”

I hung up and it rang again immediately.

“For fuck’s sake,” I muttered as I hit the button.

“Hi Mam.”

“Are you ok, Anthony?”

“I’m ok. You?”

“I’m worried about you, son.”

“Why?”

“You’re never home and there’s hardly any contact from you to let me know you’re ok.”

“I know and I’m really sorry. It’s busy in work and ..”

“You’re out chasing girls.”

“Yes, I suppose so, but they chase me too.”

“You’re burning yourself out, son. You have been ever since your father died.”

“I had planned on coming home this evening, can this wait until then?”

“We won’t be here, Sinéad wants to go shopping for your birthday present. Do you want to have a party somewhere?”

“I’m just gonna stay in bed with the covers over my head.”

“Anthony, it’s your twentieth birthday. You need to come to terms with things. You haven’t even allowed yourself to grieve.”

“I grieve every day, Mam.”

“Oh, son. Let us help you. Please.”

“I’ll try. I need a day or two to get through a few things here. It’s an important job for me. I think Dad would’ve been enthused by it too, so I’m giving it my best shot. We were just talking about the joinery requirements of the project and all I could think about was Dad telling me to trust the tradecraft. I wish I could just take it all and let him sort it out for me. I miss him every day, Mam.”

“We all do, son.”

“I know. Look, I’ll swing by after work and pick up a few things. I’ll be home tomorrow night and we’ll have a little cry together. I love you, Mam.”

“That’ll have to do me for now, son. I love you too and keep your heart safe. You’re all I have.”

“What about Sinéad?”

“Ah, she’s just a right little madam getting.”

“Yeah, but we’d be lost without her.”

“Yes we would. So I’ll see you tomorrow night?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll make you a coddle.”

“Not before time.”

She laughed as I hung up the phone and went into the yard to dry my eyes. There’d be lots more tears in the future but at least I still had my family, what there was of it.

TBC