Obesssion (31 page)

Suki gripped me so tight, pressed her mouth to every inch of skin she could reach, moaning, crying my name. She was close. I tried to hold back, determined to make this memorable, our first time together. Every second of this was imprinted on my memory. The way her hair was mussed, falling across her face. Her dimples, the heat in her eyes, her heartbeat rapid in her pulse, the scent of her skin, the softness of her breasts, the sweetness of her mouth.

I freed one hand and slipped it between us, drawing it across her swollen clit. It was enough. Pulsing and twisting beneath me, she howled my name, almost sobbing as her orgasm flashed across her, ransacking her with aftershocks, contracting with unbearable pleasure around me. It was more than I could cope with. I exploded into her. “Suki.”
Mine
.

We lay tangled together, time still on hold. If I could capture a moment, bottle it for posterity, it would be that one. Suki’s body wrapped around mine, skin to skin, our fingers entangled, palms damp, the weak light filtering through the gap in the curtains and playing across her face. Move my head an inch to the right and she was lost in shadow, move to the left and I could see her properly again.  The musky scent of our lovemaking.

I drew a ragged breath, unwilling to move. Suki looked as dazed as I felt. I dropped a kiss on her shoulder, a wave of exhaustion sweeping over me. I wanted to stay here forever.

“
That’s my favourite song.” Suki whispered and I paid attention to the Event Horizon playlist still running, AJ now singing a delicate ballad about his wife. It seemed appropriate—I crooned along, my voice rusty.

When you smile my world spins faster

My heart beats to your tune

You are my sun, you are my moon

Yawning, catlike, Suki pressed the back of her hand to her mouth and then snuggled against me, lifting one of my arms and stroking it, walking her fingers along until she reached my hand. I meshed our fingers together again. The music had gone quiet, that must have been the last song in the playlist. We both heard a soft buzzing noise. Suki frowned. “What’s that?”

“
My phone.” I tossed up whether or not to check the message. It might be Jon or Anita. With a deep parting kiss, I rolled to the edge of the bed and rummaged around, finding it hidden beneath my t-shirt.

It was from Jon. I scowled when I read it.

I spoke to Gabe. He insists that Suki phone him, or she won’t get her passport back. And I need to talk to you. Ring me.

16.4 Gabe

I frowned at the knock on my door. Room service had been and gone, my dirty dishes stacked outside for collection. I was reluctant to leave my comfortable position sprawled across the bed, dozing in the early evening light, the sun finally showing itself after a day of heavy rain.

It could be Suki.

“Coming.” I hauled myself up, stretched as I went to open the door. It
was
Suki. She stood in the strangely dark corridor, staring at me—through me. Her eyes pale and lifeless, her skin waxy.

“
Suki?” I wanted to take her arm, drag her into my room. My hands seemed frozen at my sides.

“
I love Josh. I’m leaving you for Josh.”

I reached out one hand, it swept through thin air where she’d been standing.
What the fuck
?

I opened my eyes, jerked awake as though with an electric shock.
Christ
. I was dreaming. The knock at the door was real though. Rubbing my eyes, my heartbeat still racing, I scrambled off the bed and went to see who was there. My mum.

“
Gabe.” She offered me a smile. “Can I come in?”

“
Sure.” I shrugged, stepped back and went to sit on the edge of the table, waiting as she sat on the sofa. As always, she was composed, smartly-dressed and groomed, not a hair out of place.

“
Your nose—is it okay?”

“
Yeah.” I waited some more. As a family, we’d never mastered small talk.

“
Have you heard from Suki?”

Rolling my eyes, I stepped away, reaching for my phone.
“Let me check the last thirty seconds…” I flicked through my Inbox. “Ah, no. She’s still out playing with her friends.” I hoped she’d wither under my sarcasm, but she stood her ground this time.

She leaned forward, a worried look on her face.
“I saw on the news, a young woman’s body has been pulled out of the River Maas.” Her eyes met mine. “I wanted to be sure it wasn’t Suki.”

A shaft of fear pierced me. Suki? Dead? Surely not. I cleared my throat.
“As far as I know, she’s staying with the Craigowans.”

“
Are they here? In this hotel?”

“
No.” I was dismissive. “They’re at the Alexander.”

“
Could she have gone home?”

I shook my head.
“I have her passport. She goes nowhere without me. It won’t be Suki.” My confident words hid the anxiety welling up inside me. It couldn’t be Suki.

Mum stood up and stepped towards me, touching my arm with an oddly affectionate gesture.
“Let’s just check a few things. Have you made sure you still have her passport? Show me.”

“
God, you’re treating me as though I were five years old.” I opened my laptop case, unzipped the inner compartment and dug out the two passports inside. I flicked them both open, tossed Suki’s to Mum. “See? Her passport. She hasn’t gone home.”

Handing it back, she gave me a crooked smile.
“That’s one thing I suppose. Now, just for my benefit, would you please check with your friends?”

“
Not
my
bloody friends.” She glared at me and I held up a hand to stop her. “Okay. O-kay. I’ll ring now.” I made a show of dialling Craigowan’s number, outwardly bored with the conversation, but inside was a different matter.

His voice was curt.
“What do you want, Gabe?”

“
I want to check that Suki’s with you.”

“
Why should I tell you that?”

I forced my voice to be calm.
“I’ve heard a woman’s body has been pulled out of the River Maas. Suki hasn’t been in touch. I want to know if I should be worried.”

“
I don’t think it’s Suki. I’ll check and come back to you.” He hung up. I glared at the phone.

Mum headed back for the sofa.
“You don’t mind if I wait until they call back?”

“
Huh?” The image of Suki, glassy-eyed and staring through me, flashed through my head.
God
. I was jumpy tonight. I fought to think straight, to behave rationally. “How long ago was it on the news?” I moved to my laptop, started to load up the news pages.

“
Ten minutes ago, maybe a little more.”

I clicked and typed, finding regional news. Sure enough, a young woman’s body had been recovered this afternoon. As yet unidentified. No further details available.

Please God, don’t let it be Suki.

16.5 Josh

I was about to call Jon back when someone pounded on my door. I glanced at Suki, saw the anxiety on her face.
“What if it’s Gabe?”

“
You have every right to be here, baby. But if you want to go in the bathroom while I answer the door, feel free.” She nodded, winding the duvet around herself and scuttling across the room for the en-suite. I pulled on my jeans and went to open the door, my visitor still hammering on it.

Jon stared at me from the doorway and I frowned.
“I was about to call you back. I only just, ah, woke up.”

He stared at the bed, empty of its duvet, the pillows scattered haphazardly. Raising his eyebrows in a silent question, he shut the door behind him.
“Is Suki here?”

“
Yeah.” A strange emotion ran across his face—anger and worry, discomfort. I couldn’t tell. But he didn’t look happy.

“
Let me make a quick call.” He dialled a number, making no move to turn away. “Gabe? It’s not Suki. She’s fine.” He disconnected without making conversation and put his phone away, staring round the room. “Is she in the bathroom?”

I didn’t feel comfortable with this.
“Y-es. Jon, what’s going on?”

He shrugged and moved away, looking out of the window at the darkening sky.
“A woman’s body has been pulled out of the River Maas and Gabe wanted to be sure it wasn’t Suki.” He looked at me directly. “I haven’t told him where she is, but he already assumes she’s staying with me.”

I pulled a face.
“Fuck. Do you think he’s going to come looking for her? Maybe I should take her somewhere else.”

“
You can’t take her out of the country, he told me he’s got her passport. And he will only give it to her.” His eyes darted back to the stripped bed. “Look, it’s probably none of my business.” He rubbed his temple in an anxious gesture. “Have you, um, slept together?”

“
You’re right.” I spoke evenly. “It
is
none of your business.” Remembering Suki hiding in the bathroom, I went and tapped on the door. Her head popped round, brightening when she saw Jon. Stepping out, the duvet trailing behind her like the train on a wedding gown, she greeted him with a shy smile.

“
Hey, Jon.”

“
Hey, Suki. Look, I need to talk to Josh. Do you want to, ah, have a bath or something?”

Our eyes met, I saw puzzlement and concern. I moved towards her, wrapping my arms around her, resting my chin on her shoulder. I luxuriated in the feel of her relaxing against me.
“I think whatever it is, Suki should be here as well. I’m guessing this is something to do with Gabriel.”

Raising his chin, his lips tightened, an angry look on his face. He folded his arms and stared at me.
“I really, REALLY think this is better talked about without Suki.”

She joined in.
“You’re wrong, Jon. If this has to do with Gabe—”

“
Not directly.” He gave me an odd, assessing look. “It’s more about Josh.”

Unease tiptoed down my spine and I sighed inwardly.
“Let’s sit down.” I claimed the sofa. Suki slid onto my lap, winding one arm around my neck, her other hand keeping a firm grip on the duvet. Jon perched on a seat at the table. “Shoot. What’s the big deal?”

“
The big deal,” he spat out, “is something Gabe told me. I know he’s trying to manipulate me, but I need to know—what exactly did he pay you to do, Josh? And I’m thinking specifically of a bonus.”

Oh shit,
no
. Up to this moment, I had Jon’s respect. I knew with a sense of impending doom that was all about to change. “What has he told you?”

“
I asked first.”

Do I tell him? Risk losing this potential friendship? Lie? Or just evade.
“I told you. He wanted me to spy on you and Anita, see if your marriage was sound.”

Something was bugging him big time. A muscle flicked in his cheek, his fingers tapped a staccato rhythm on his crossed knee.
“Did he hire you for anything to do with Suki?”

Yep, I think I’d been dumped in the shit. Nice one, Gabriel. Payback for breaking his nose, perhaps. I hesitated, looked at Suki. She nestled closer to me, probably realising what Jon now knew.
“Let me,” she breathed, kissing me on the temple before turning back to face Jon. “Gabe hired him to seduce me.”

Jon’s face twisted.
“You know? And you let him anyway?”

“
It’s not quite that simple, Jon.” I had no intention of spilling my guts unnecessarily.

He leaned forwards now, anger turning to menace.
“He said, quote, you’d get a hefty bonus if you fucked Anita, unquote.”

I ignored Suki’s shocked gasp.
“He’s trying to jerk your chain, Jon. Please don’t let him.”

“
Jesus Christ.” He sank his head into his hands. “I don’t know what the fuck to believe.”

Suki’s voice was calm.
“Jon, I’m in love with Josh. You can believe that. I told Gabe I was leaving him, and I am. You can believe
that
. Josh didn’t set out to seduce Anita, and he isn’t going to try.” Her voice grew fierce. “The person you
should
be wary of is Gabe. You really shouldn’t underestimate him. I don’t think he’s going to just let me walk away. I think he’ll have a few dirty tricks up his sleeve, and this is probably just the first.”

16.6 Suki

After seeing Jon out, Josh stood at the window staring out at the twilight. He looked miles away, completely lost in thought. I walked up behind him and slipped an arm around his waist. Burying my face in his back, I spoke softly.
“Come back to bed.” He stiffened against me, and then pulled me to him, holding me tight.