Chapter Six

They solved the problem of privacy by buying food from a delicatessen and getting the taxi driver to take them to a quiet park Jessie knew on the outskirts of town.

“No blanket to sit on,” she commented, easing a plastic bag down onto the grass and then following it, curling her legs under her. Daniel shrugged.

‘We’ll just share it with the ants then,” he said, putting the other two bags down. “This place is nice.”
”I bring my students here sometimes,” Jessie said. “It’s a good place for them to play, because they can be loud and boisterous without annoying anyone. The school grounds hardly even have a playground, let alone room for the kids to run around in.”

”What sorts of special needs do they have?” he asked. He sat down and opened one of the bags.

“All sorts of things,” she said. “Autism, mild Cerebral Palsy, and a whole range of learning difficulties.”
”It must take a lot of patience to work with them,” he commented. She nodded.

“But it’s very rewarding,” she said. “They’re lovely kids. I miss them.”
”When are you starting back?” he asked. She shrugged.

“I rang the Principal, and she said there was no rush. She didn’t sound all that welcoming, I have to say. Of course, the School Board sacked me after the trial, but I had thought they’d be pleased to have me back.”
”I’m sure they will be,” he said. He’d removed all of the plastic containers, and was opening lids.

“Yum,” he said, eyeing them all. “What would you like first?”
”We’re never going to eat all of that,” she smiled.

“You think?” he asked, laughter in his eyes. “There’s a lot of me to fill up.”
”There certainly is,” she agreed, casting a quick glance down his long legs, trying not to remember what they’d felt like between hers. “Well, why don’t I have a little bit of everything, and then you can have the rest.”
”Works for me,” he approved, and set about consuming an alarming amount of food.

“So,” he said, when all of the containers were empty and stored back in the bags. “How does it feel to be free?” He was lying back on the grass, his hands behind his head.

“Odd,” Jessie admitted. “Not odd to be free, but odd to be famous for it. I can’t go outside my house without people taking photographs of me.”
”I know the feeling,” he turned his head and smiled at her, and she was struck anew by how good-looking he was.

“Why do you do what you do?” she asked him without thinking. “You could do anything. You could be a movie star if you wanted to.” Daniel grinned, reached out and picked a piece of grass, which he proceeded to put into his mouth to chew.
”I have my reasons,” he said. “And not all to…hey! I was chewing that!”

“I know,” Jessie said, throwing the grass away. “But it’s not hygienic, and you’ve had more than enough to eat already.” He laughed and rolled over onto his stomach, his shoulder brushing against her thigh.

“There are reasons why I do what I do,” he said. “Some of them are personal. Some of them are tied in with my belief system, and some of them are just mercenary.”
”Could you stop doing it?” she asked.

“Not without lots of complications,” he said. “Why?”

“Just asking,” she said. Just for an instant, a silly thought had popped into her head that she would like, really like to have a relationship with him. He was good company, he was fun, and she already knew that he was dynamite in the bedroom. But, even supposing he wanted a relationship with her, it wasn’t something she could contemplate, given his job.

“I’m worried about Angela,” she admitted. “I shouldn’t have brought you back to the car like that.”
”That was my fault,” Daniel said. “Even if you’d say no to lunch, I’d have walked you to the car, and I’d have recognised her and I’d have said so.”

“My experience has brought it all back for her,” Jessie said. “She’s told me more about it in the last two days than she ever had before. And because I’ve seen some of it, I can really imagine her going through it.”
”It’s over,” he said. She shook her head.

“It’s never over,” she corrected. “Always, there is someone circulating photographs of her, along with all of the other women. Always. There are even a couple of me available, would you believe?”
”Of you arriving at the Institute?” he guessed. She nodded, disgusted.

“Wearing that stupid t-shirt and bouncing around and showing my bottom and my…you know.”
”I can guess,” he kept a straight face. “Where did you say they were available?” He laughed as she smacked his shoulder.

Daniel had to get back to the Institute, so after another half hour, he called two cabs to take them in different directions. He walked her to hers before getting into his own.

“I want to see you again,” he said.

“Why?” she asked. He smiled, then reached out and cupped her face in his hand.

“Because you’re good and you’re nice,” he said. “And the fact that you’re a knockout doesn’t hurt, either. Can I call you?”

“I’ll give you my telephone number,” she said, reaching for her handbag.

“I have it,” he grinned. “Bye, Jessie Porter. See you soon.” He leaned in and kissed her quickly.

………………

Angela came back to Jessie’s house that night.

“What did he want?” she asked as soon as she was in the door. Her eyes were red, and Jessie knew she’d been crying.
”Company,” Jessie said. “I think. He wants to see me again, too.”
”You can’t, Jessie,” Angela said. “He’s a horrible man. He looks gorgeous, but he’s evil, just like the rest of them. I’m alright,” she protested as Jessie’s arms went round her, but she clung to her friend for a while anyway.

“I couldn’t write this afternoon,” she admitted. “I spent all the time remembering what it was like in that place. Just little picture and sensory memories, you know?” Jessie nodded.

“Like…I shouldn’t talk about it, but I will. One of the memories I was having was of this game they put me into with some other women, where these men studied our tits, and then had to try and guess whose were whose, and…”
”I saw that,” Jessie interrupted, wanting to take that look out of her friend’s eyes. “Jake and Patrick both made me look at screens that showed what was happening.

“It’s such an awful feeling to just be an object like that,” Angela said. “Standing there, with all of those people looking at your tits, laughing and pointing out distinguishing features. I have freckles, so they never had any trouble identifying me. And the winner always seemed to choose me to play with afterwards.” She shuddered. “A stranger’s hands on my body. That’s something I’m never going to forget.” She looked over at Jessie. “What other things did they show you?”

“I don’t want to talk about them,” Jessie said. “I don’t want to remind you any more.”

“Did you see the inspections in the morning? You did? Well, they’re just a delight, too,” Angela said bitterly. “One of the mornings I was there, they brought a tour group through, would you believe? They all walked down the corridors, taking photographs through the glass, while all of us just lay there, knees up, providing them with living anatomy lessons.”
”Angela,” Jessie said, putting her hand on her friend’s arm. “I don’t think this is helping you.”
”No, it’s not,” Angela admitted. “The only thing that’s ever going to help is if I can shut that horrible, fucking place down. Or get revenge. Preferably on the Governor, or the precious Patrick.” She took a deep breath. “Although that Daniel wouldn’t be bad either. God, he’s dishy up close!” Jessie couldn’t resist a grin.

“He is, isn’t he?” she said. She contained the grin. “But that doesn’t make what he’s doing right.”

Angela sighed, and turned away to make the coffee. She was comfortable enough in Jessie’s home to do that without asking. Halfway through the brewing process, she looked up.

“You know, I was wrong,” she said.

“What about?” Jessie asked.
”You going out with him again,” her friend said. “I think you should.”
”You said I shouldn’t,” Jessie reminded her.

“That’s why I said I was wrong,” Angela pointed out patiently. “He’s handsome, he’s charming, he’s rich, and there’s no fear you’re going to let yourself fall for him. I think you should have some fun with him. Then dump him flat, of course. Preferably breaking his heart.”

”You think I should go out with him?” Jessie asked. Angela nodded.

“He’s also guaranteed to be good in the sack,” she said.

“I’m not going to go to bed with him,” Jessie replied firmly, adding ‘again’ only in her head. “That would just be dangerous.”
”You’re probably right,” Angela sighed. “But Mr Cat would be worth a little bit of danger, I think. No Jessie, I definitely think you should go for it,” she encouraged. She grinned, her red-rimmed eyes full of mischief. “And I want to hear all the details.”

………………….

There weren’t all that many details to relay. Daniel called her two days later and invited her to a movie. They arrived at the cinema late and left while the credits were still rolling, to avoid people recognising him, and after a late night coffee in a quiet little cafe, he drove her home in his relatively inconspicuous late-model black BMW.

“I’m surprised you don’t drive a Jaguar,” she commented. “Wouldn’t that be more in keeping with the cat theme?” He shook his head.

“I do try not to be too clichéd,” he said. Then he grinned. “Besides, Patrick has a Jag. I didn’t want a matching car.” He pulled the car up to the curb in front of her house.

“You don’t need to walk me to the door,” she said.
”Okay,” he smiled, his white teeth bright in the darkness. “Did you enjoy the movie?”
”I did,” she smiled back. “More than I thought I would.”
”Good,” he said, then leaned over and kissed her, again just a gentle brush of his lips over hers. No-one would ever know that they’d spent a night together in bed, Jessie thought.

“Goodnight,” she said. He smiled again.

“Goodnight,” he replied.

“And that was IT?” Angela demanded. “He didn’t even grope you or anything?” Jessie shook her head.

“And you didn’t grope him?”

“No,” Jessie laughed.

“Why?” her friend asked. “Have you SEEN that man’s body?”
”Yes, actually. All of it,” Jessie admitted, laughing again when Angela squealed and insisted on hearing the details of that. She squealed again when she found out that Jessie had also seen Patrick nude on the morning she’d been to the taping of the show.

“Are they as magnificent as they look?” she asked. Jessie nodded.

“They are prime,” she said. “Both of them. Pity they do such horrible things, isn’t it?”
”It is,” Angela nodded thoughtfully. “So, are they both hung?” Jessie threw a sofa cushion at her.

He rang again two nights later, this time with an invitation for dinner at a restaurant.
”Nothing fancy,” he said. “Just a little Italian place where the lights are dim and they can hide us away in a corner.” He neglected to mention that the food was fantastic and the prices astronomical. Jessie found every bite to be a gastronomic delight, and was so full she could barely move by the time they left.

”No more interview-seekers camped outside?” he asked, pulling up outside her house again. She shook her head.

“The Carlton interview seemed to fix that,” she said. “I’ve had a couple of magazines ask for the in-depth story, but I’ve said no.”
”Why?” he asked. “You could make a lot of money.”
”I don’t want to dwell on it,” she said simply. “Every time I talk about it or think about it, I remember it too clearly, and I remember that there are women going through it all as we sit here.” He nodded, the expression in his eyes thoughtful.

“Can you bring yourself to go out with me again?” he asked. “Given what’s between us?” Jessie sighed.

“I think so,” she said.

“Good,” he smiled. He leaned in and kissed her again, but this time he did it with feeling. Jessie’s lips were softening under his, starting to open, when she regained some sanity.
”No!” she said, flattening her hands on his chest. “I know how good you are at that. No!” Daniel laughed.

“Alright,” he conceded. “I’ll call you soon.” He watched her walk up to her door and go in before driving off.

“Still no sex?” Angela asked the next morning.
”No!” Jessie laughed. “And there won’t be, Angela. I’m not going to get involved in that sort of a relationship with him. He’s too sophisticated, too practised, too damned gorgeous to risk myself with like that.” And when you’re naked, he can take every one of your nerves and tease them until they feel like they’re ready to scream. Just for a minute, she had trouble remembering why that was a bad thing.

“Give yourself a break, honey,” Angela counselled. “Don’t start making plans to have babies with him, but for heaven’s sake, why deny yourself what’s offered?”
”Well, it hasn’t really been offered,” Jessie pointed out, ignoring the promise that had been building in that last kiss.

“It will be,” Angela said confidently. “Men don’t take you out on three dates if they’re not interested.”

She was even more certain after Daniel rang for the fourth date.

“What is it this time?” she asked.

“A surprise,” Jessie said. “He just said he’d be here at seven.”
”Do you want me to hang around in case he arrives with whips and ropes?” Angela asked.

“You sound a little hopeful there,” Jessie smiled.
”As long as he’s the one in the ropes and I’m the one with the whip,” her friend smiled evilly. “Ooooh, that’s a nice picture. Not quite as nice as having King Dazzler tied up, but still very attractive.” She seemed quite disappointed when Jessie assured her that her presence wasn’t necessary.

It was impossible to know what to wear for a ‘surprise’ date, and Jessie eventually settled for a soft white blouse and a pleated skirt. She could throw a jacket on to make it more formal, but it looked okay the way it was. When Daniel arrived, promptly at seven, he was wearing jeans and a casual but obviously expensive dark grey shirt.

“Silk?” Jessie asked, touching his sleeve. He shrugged.

“I think so,” he grinned. “Want me to take it off so you can look at the label?”
”I’ll pass,” she said. “What have you got here?”
”Dinner,” he said. “I couldn’t help but notice that you liked the food at Guiseppes the other night. So, I talked him into giving me some to bring here for a picnic. And see? I’ve got a blanket this time.” It was tucked under one of his arms, both of which were laden with paper bags of steaming food.

They set the picnic up on her living room floor. Jessie was pleased she’d tidied the house. It looked small and a little shabby, but it was clean and it was hers.

“Ohhhhh, this is so good,” she sighed, spooning some pasta into her mouth. Daniel grinned.
”Try this,” he said, picking up some potato gnocchi in his fingers, dipping it into some sauce and popping it, dripping, into her mouth. He wiped the sauce off her chin and held his fingers up for her to lick them too. The food was so good she did without thinking.

“Mmmm. What is that sauce?” she demanded, looking at the container. He smiled, and the look in his green eyes would have warned her if she’d been looking at him instead of the food.

“Pepper carbonara,” he said. “Want some more garlic bread?”
”Only another loaf or two,” she said. “This is ambrosia, Daniel.” He shifted position on the blanket, lying on his side, resting up on one elbow. She held out a piece of bread to him, and he bit it, his teeth cutting crisply through it. He rolled his eyes in pleasure.
”Is ambrosia meant to be this sinful?” he asked. He reached out one long arm over Jessie for one of the wineglasses they had placed on the coffee table behind her.

“Here, you need some of this to go with that,” he said, holding it to her lips.
”That’s your glass,” she protested.

“I don’t mind sharing,” he said, smiling again as she drank from it.

Eating had been such a sensual experience, it was almost awkward cleaning up afterwards. Jessie had once woken up in the bed of a man she’d had a disappointing, clumsy night with, and had felt out of place and strange in his kitchen. She told herself she had no reason to feel out of place and strange now. She was in her OWN kitchen for heaven’s sake. Even if Daniel appeared to be taking up two-thirds of it.

“There, that’s the last plate,” she said, putting it in the dishwasher. “Now, thanks to the wonders of electricity.” She pushed the buttons and the machine whirred into life. She turned to smile at him, and discovered that he’d moved closer, without a sound.

He smiled back, and bent down and kissed her, and Jessie felt the immediate tug on her hormones.

“No,” she said, pushing on his shoulders.
”No?” he said, his lips a hairs-breadth from hers. “Just a kiss, Jessie? Maybe a few kisses?” He stole one as soon as he finished speaking.

“I told you last time. I know what your kisses are like,” she said, kissing him back regardless. His lips pressed against hers, his tongue just lightly touched the corner of her mouth. “And I know that I’m not going to be able to resist you.”
”And that would be terrible,” he said, almost sounding sincere as he kissed her some more, wrapping his arms around her and lifting her off her feet so he could do it properly without having to bend so far down. And Jessie, determined to not give in, told herself that it wouldn’t really do any harm if she put her arms around his neck and kissed him back for a while.

Kissing Daniel without a blindfold was like abseiling face-forward over a cliff. It was the same drop, but this way you could see the danger you were falling into. The exhilaration was there, made deeper by the memory of the last time he’d kissed her like this, her body helpless and bare beneath his. But the fear was there, too. Every time she opened her eyes, it was to see those pools of green, that glossy black hair. Somehow, she thought it had been kind of Patrick to give her that blindfold.

She regained her control enough to try to push him away again a few minutes later, and this time he let her do it, easing her down his body so that her feet touched the floor.

“Coffee?” she asked, making an effort to keep her voice steady. Daniel nodded, dragging his gaze away from her lips.
”That would be good,” he said. He walked around the breakfast bar, giving her more room, giving himself more room. “This is a nice place,” he said. “Good neighbourhood too, by the look of it.”

“It is,” she agreed, feeling safer now that she was in the kitchen and he was all the way over there. “It’s not going to lose in value. As long as I can continue to pay it off, of course.”

“There’s some doubt?’ he asked. She shrugged, her back to him.

“If the Board of Directors won’t take me back at the school there is,” she said.

“What?” All thoughts of giving her some space disappeared. Daniel came back round the breakfast bar and covered the distance between them with two steps. “They’re not seriously considering not reinstating you, are they?” She nodded. “But you’re innocent!”
”It’s still been bad publicity,” she said. “They’re claiming that it’s upsetting to the children. They won’t even let me see them.” She kept her back to him, but she knew her voice was giving her away, and she wasn’t surprised to feel his hands on her shoulders.

“Turn around, Jessie,” he said. She turned and looked up at him. “This has really put a hole in your life, hasn’t it?”

“That’s one way to put it,” she replied, looking down from his face to the solid chest right in front of her.
”Would you let me help?” he asked.

“Help in what way?”

“Jake can talk to the Board of Directors,” he said. “And I can pay your house off.”
”No!” she had her hands on his chest, pushing at him. Predictably, he didn’t move. “Don’t you dare. It’s my house, Daniel. I’ll pay it off or I’ll lose it. It’s mine.”
”Fine,” he said. “It was just a thought.” He was cursing himself inwardly for not just doing it without telling her. If he did it now, she’d know.

“I cannot believe you’d even offer,” she said crossly, sliding away from him. He watched her assembling the equipment for the coffee, a smile playing on his lips.

”You haven’t had a lot of people helping you out in your life, have you?” he asked softly. She turned to look at him again.

“No,” she said simply. “I’m independent. Probably to a fault.”
“Being orphaned young probably has something to do with that,” he said. She frowned.
“What?” he asked. “I’ve obviously said something wrong again, but I’m at a loss to know what it is.” She turned away again.

“It’s just that it annoys me that you know so much about me,” Jessie said. “You know my whole life story, and I know almost nothing about you.”

“What do you want to know?” he asked. She gave a snort of laughter.

“Yes, like you’d tell me,” she scoffed. “I asked Patrick how old he was and scored a lecture about the secrecy surrounding King Dazzler and The Cat.”
“I’m not Patrick,” he said. “What do you want to know?” Jessie put the spoon she was holding down, with a metallic thud.

“Full name,” she said, turning and crossing her arms. He smiled.

“Daniel John Sauniere,” he said. “And yes, the surname is French. I was born in France, thirty years ago.”

“You’re French?”

“Dual citizenship,” he said. “My mother is French. My father isn’t. We moved here when I was two.”

“Your father isn’t French, but your surname is Sauniere?”
”My parents didn’t marry,” he said. “My mother is a free spirit - something of a Bohemian.”

“Is?” Jessie persisted, still leaning against the counter, arms still folded. He nodded.

“She moved back to France eight years ago when she broke up with my father,” he said. “I was there, studying for a degree in physical therapy at university at the time.” She remembered his skill with her ankle.

“And how does a physical therapist end up as one of the two head dazzlers at the Shame Institute?” she asked. “And as a television star and heart-throb?” He grinned.

“To explain that, I’ll have to tell you something that almost no-one knows,” he said. And he did.

Half an hour and two cups of coffee later, Jessie was still asking questions.

“But how?” she was asking. “How has that been kept quiet?”
”Jake has a lot of power,” he said.

“Now that I know, it makes sense,” she said. “But I would never have guessed. Never in a million years.”
“Good,” he said. “Can I have some more coffee? I need something to sustain me after letting out state secrets like that.”

They sat together on her sofa, sipping coffee, talking about his revelation. Then Jessie bit the bullet. The fact that he had told her something so confidential made it obvious to her that he intended to take this further. She had to be honest with him.

“This is never going to work, you know,” she said. He looked at her, his green eyes warm. “Us, I mean, on anything other than a casual level,” she said.
”Why not?” he asked.

“Because of your job,” she said. “I cannot become involved with someone who does what you do to women. Particularly given that you do it daily, on national television.”
“I’ve got news for you, Jessie,” he said, putting his coffee mug down. He reached over and cupped her face with one hand. “We already are involved.”

“One night of sex when I didn’t even know it was you does not constitute involvement,” she pointed out. He smiled.

“We’ve been out together three times since then,” he said. “Four times counting tonight. Four dates in which we have talked, laughed and enjoyed ourselves together.” He added with a grin. “And not undone even one button.”
”You’ve seen me naked already, so that doesn’t count,” Jessie said, even though she was unaccountably fighting a grin as well. Who’d have thought The Cat would make her smile so much? “Three times.” He shrugged.

“And you’ve seen me too,” he said.

“Only very briefly,” she countered. “I was covering my eyes!” His eyes gleamed. And then he stood up.

“We can fix that,” he said, and his hands went to his shirt.

“No,” she said, even though several parts of her body was doing their best to overrule her. “Daniel, don’t you dare. I won’t let you.”
”How do you plan to stop me?” he grinned, unbuttoning.

“I’ll just look away,” she said, trying to force herself to do just that as the strong, golden chest she’d seen once before came into view. He stepped out of the shoes he wore and slipped the shirt off his shoulders. Dear heaven, he was gorgeous.

“You haven’t stopped me yet,” he said, his fingers now busy at his belt. “And you haven’t looked away.”
”It’s my house,” she said. “I can look wherever I want. You just happen to be in the place I’m choosing to look. You can stop laughing, right now. AND you needn’t think that this is going to lead to anything, because it isn’t.”

“That’s okay,” he said. He undid his jeans, unzipped them and pushed them down, stepping out of them. Black briefs. That was all he was wearing now. And then his hands hooked in the sides of them and pushed them down as well. He stood up straight, facing her. Then, a smile on his lips, he slowly, deliberately, assumed the display position. And Jessie’s breath caught in her chest.

From the top of his black hair, to his long, slender feet, he was perfection. He had well-defined muscles, flawless skin and long, strong limbs. And that was without even dwelling on his very impressive groin, or on his famous, handsome face.

“You are so beautiful,” she gave voice to her thoughts without thinking about it.

“So are you,” he said. He brought his arms down and walked slowly towards her, reaching down to catch her wrists and draw her up to stand in front of him. Then he placed her hands, palm down, on his chest.

“What?” she asked.
”Touch me,” he said. “Wherever you want to, however you want to. Do whatever you want, Jessie. Do nothing if you want to. It’s up to you. And I won’t pressure you in any way. You’re in charge of this body for the rest of the night.” His skin was warm and smooth under her hands, his expression sincere.

“Anything?” an imp of mischief made her ask. He nodded, the corners of his mouth twitching.
”Anything,” he said. Jessie thought fast.

She’d meant it when she said that she couldn’t be with him. His job made that impossible. It just cut across too many of her beliefs, too many of her ethics. But he was offering her…what? Another night with him? His body, to do with what she wanted? Jessie was under no illusions that she was a saint, and it would have taken a saint to resist this sort of temptation. So, she decided to take Angela’s advice and give herself a break. She smiled.

“You’re too tall for me to reach everything,” she said, looking up at his face. “Come this way.” With that, she slid her hand down his chest, over his ribs, his ridges of abdominal muscles and out to his wrist, capturing his hand. Then, still smiling to herself, she led him into her bedroom.

There were so many pleasures to discover with him. One of them was finding out that his skin was very sensitive, and that it took only the lightest of touches to set him moving around, to make his breathing heavier.

“You’re ticklish!” Jessie said, surprised. He nodded.
”I’ve never grown out of that,” he said, setting his jaw and trying not to wriggle as she dug her fingers into his sides and tickled. She laughed, a delighted, triumphant sound.

“I love it,” she said, straddling him and settling in to torment him some more. She also loved seeing how hard he had to fight with himself to stay there, letting her find all of his sensitive places. And there were lots of them.

“Legs apart,” she ordered, merriment in her tone as she moved further down his body. He groaned and laughed.
”You’re going to kill me, woman,” he said, but he opened his legs anyway, and jumped as she began trailing her fingers in teasing lines up the insides of his thighs.

“You don’t seem to be disliking this,” she commented. He glanced down, well aware of what she was referring to.
”I can’t help that,” he said.

“Don’t apologise,” Jessie said, a wicked gleam in her eyes. “I like it.” She proved it by touching him there, but not with the sort of touch he craved. Instead, she tickled him, relentlessly, to the point where he had to roll onto his side, laughing, to get away from her.

“Get back into position, Mr Expert Tickler,” she ordered. “I cannot believe that you tickle all of those poor women when you know how bad it can be!”
”It’s why I’m so good at it,” he said, obediently rolling onto his back and spreading his legs around her again.

“Really?” she asked, gloating. “Well, perhaps we should give you a bit more personal experience.” This time her fingers started stroking on either side of his groin. Then, while he was doing his best to stay still for that, she attacked his scrotum, sending his breath ragged again as he laughed helplessly.

“I wish I had those brushes of yours,” she said.

“I’ll bring them next time,” he said. “Oh God. Jessie, please. Enough.”
”Nowhere near enough,” she teased. “This body is all mine, remember? I can do what I want to it. Oh, is that ticklish under there too, Daniel? Gee, it’s going to take all night to find everywhere, isn’t it?”

Later on, she was to marvel that he just lay there and let her do it. At any stage, all he had to do was move away and she couldn’t have stopped him, but he didn’t. He honoured his promise, and although he was a wriggling mass of discomfort, let her tickle him mercilessly for almost an hour. Finally she relented, sitting on her heels, between his feet, and looked up at his wonderful body, covered in perspiration and nothing else.

“Enough,” she said. And then she put her hands flat on his legs and slid them up, going with them, pressing firmly on his skin, so as not to tickle. She explored the body she was now so much more comfortable with, having spent so much time running her fingers over him. He grew hard in her hands again, and she watched, fascinated by the size of him, the hot silkiness of him. Even the hair on his groin was silky, thick and black and soft. She looked up to see him watching her, his eyes heavy.

“I always thought sex organs were ugly,” she commented. “Yours isn’t.” He smiled.

“Thanks,” he said. “Feel free to look for as long as you like.” She stroked him, pleased when he gasped. “And to do that,” he said. “For as long as you like.” So she did. And she did lots of other things, too, exploring him as if he were a new toy. Having this man, this magnificent animal, to touch, to play with, to tease and to explore as she wished, was very special, and with each minute that passed, she appreciated more and more what a gift he was giving her. Finally, she stretched out, still fully dressed, on top of him.
”Put your arms around me,” she said.

“With pleasure,” he smiled, settling her more comfortably on him. “Do you still have your shoes on?” She laughed.

“Yes,” she admitted.

“Kick them off,” he said. “They’re hurting my legs.” She did, letting them fall to the floor on either side of the bed with a thud.

“Your skirt is hurting my legs too,” he said. “And those buttons on your blouse are causing real pain.”
”Sure they are,” she said. She leaned up on him, her skirt catching on his penis, and kissed his chin.
”Higher,” he said. “Just a bit higher.” Again her skirt caught on his groin, but this time her lips touched his, gentle and warm.
”Mmmm,” he said. “More.”
”You’re sure now?” she teased. “You don’t want to stop?” He grinned.

“That’s my line,” he said.
”And what’s your answer?” she demanded.

“The same as yours was,” he responded. “More.”
”Just what I was thinking,” she said, kissing him again. “Daniel?” He raised his eyebrows.

“Does having the right to do what I want to your body include being able to order you to make love to me?” she asked. He was rolling with her in his arms before she even finished asking.
”Oh yeah,” he said, bending to kiss her properly.

She stopped him, her hand on his cheek, just before his lips touched hers.
”I don’t believe this,” she said softly.
”What don’t you believe?” he asked, his voice at a whisper.
”A few months ago, minutes before the accident, I was looking at a picture of you on the back of a bus,” she said. “I was thinking about how wicked you looked, how devilish and handsome you were. And now, here you are, right here.”

“So you associate my face with a bad occurrence in your life?” he asked. She didn’t have time to answer that. He kissed her. “Let’s see if we can replace that association, shall we? Keep looking at my face, Jessie. Tell me when it starts to feel good.”

………………..

His face was the first thing she saw in the morning, on the pillow next to her, and she was feeling damned good by then. She watched him for some time, marvelling at the symmetry, the shape of his features. His eyes were almond-shaped, his eyelashes black and long, and his eyebrows perfect curves. She touched them with a fingertip, then moved that fingertip down over his high cheekbones, his straight nose, and onto the almost feminine curves of his lips. A night’s growth of beard was roughening his face, but it didn’t detract from the sweeping line of his jaw, or from the cleft in his chin. Lying there, the warmth of his arms around her, the memory of a night of loving she knew she was never going to top playing in her mind, she knew that this moment, watching him, vulnerable and perfect in sleep, was one of the nicest she had ever had.

His eyelids moved, the jade green of his eyes a shock as they opened. He smiled.

“Hello Jessie Porter,” he said.
”Hello Daniel Sauniere,” she responded. She rubbed her nose against his. His gaze shifted to the window behind her.
”What time is it?” he asked. She shrugged, her breasts moving against his chest.
”Early still,” she said. “Just after six.”

“Good,” he smiled again. “Do I have time to start at the bottom and work up again?”

Jessie shivered in memory. That was exactly what he’d done. He’d undressed her slowly, not touching anything of what was revealed, and then he’d started at her toes, kissing and nibbling, and then worked all the way up her legs, diverting out to her hands to massage them in his own strong fingers, then to kiss them, too. All the way up her arms he’d gone, slowly, tortuously, while she lay naked on the bed and begged him to hurry. It was the only time he’d refused an order from her all night, continuing to take his time, tickling her neck, stroking her face, planting soft, teasing kisses all over her belly, until she grabbed handfuls of his hair and dragged him, smiling, up to kiss her properly. Only then had he settled down to doing exactly what she wanted. Twice.

“No,” she said firmly. “You drove me mad, you wicked man. You are never doing that again.” He laughed softly.
”Next time, I’m using handcuffs,” he promised. “And taking twice as long.” He kissed her neck. “Maybe three times as long. And after what you did to me, you wicked woman, you are in no position to make accusations.” He kissed her lips, and she found that they were bruised from his kisses of the night before. He’d kissed her so often, so expertly. Just the thought of those kisses was enough to have her tightening up inside. Daniel felt her move her hips.

“Is that an invitation?” he asked, his eyes bright.
”Do you need one?” she asked boldly. He moved his legs, easing hers apart. She felt him swing hard against her.

“It doesn’t appear so,” she laughed, then raised her face to welcome his kiss.

……………..

Some time later, he nuzzled her neck and lifted himself off her.
”You must be sore,” he said ruefully. “I’m sorry.”
”For what?” she asked, wrapping her arms around his neck. His skin was damp and he smelled sweaty and delicious. And she felt wonderful.

“I should have let you rest this morning,” he said. “Recover. I didn’t even ask you if you were tender before I started that.”
”I’m a big girl,” she pointed out. “If I hadn’t wanted to do it, I’d have said so. What are you doing?” He’d rolled onto one side of her, and was gently squeezing one of her breasts.

“Sensitive?” he asked. Jessie looked at him as if he were mad.

“Well, yes,” she said. She reached down and squeezed his testicles. “Sensitive?” she asked, in the same tone he’d used. He laughed.

“I meant more sensitive than usual,” he corrected. He rolled onto his back. “I guess some habits are hard to break.” She turned her head on the pillow, her eyebrows raised.

“Morning inspection,” he explained. “I don’t know if you’re aware that we check out the prisoners every morning?” Jessie nodded.
”I was unfortunate enough to see that on the screens one morning,” she said. “Patrick explained it. Do you do that, too?”

“I don’t go along every morning, but I do my share,” he said. Jessie sighed.

“I really don’t like thinking about that,” she said.

“Sorry,” he said. It occurred to her that there were going to be lots of these moments, instances when she was reminded of what he did for a living, of what he did to the prisoners. She either had to walk away from him, or find some way to get him to walk away from his job.

But in the meantime…a thought occurred to her, a naughty one. He knew her well enough by now to recognise that look, and he grinned.

“What?” he asked.

“Get into the position,” she said.

“The position?” he repeated.
”The position they assume on the beds to be inspected,” she said. Daniel laughed.

“You’re a bossy little thing first thing in the morning, aren’t you?” he said. “Why would I do that?”
”Because I want you to,” she said firmly. He shrugged.

“Okay,” he said. “We do normally let them go to the toilet and clean themselves up a bit first, though.”
”While a dazzler stands nearby and watches them,” Jessie snorted.

“You can watch me if you like,” he offered. She rolled her eyes.

“Quit stalling,” she said. “Get into position.” He was smiling as he sat up on the bed. Jessie stood up, knowing his eyes were on her body but not concerned about it. His hands and his mouth had been all over her on several occasions now, and she’d lost her shyness where he was concerned.

“I’ll do this as long as you do it too,” he qualified. “Your turn first as doctor, then mine.”

“Maybe,” Jessie said. “Lie down, Daniel. And bring your knees up.”
”As close as possible to the outside of your breasts, and hold that until the doctor arrives,” he recited for her. “You’ve got to get the orders right, little dazzler.”

“You don’t have breasts,” she pointed out. He grinned, then lay back on the bed and brought his knees up and out, holding them near his shoulders.

“Not the most flattering of angles,” he commented.

“Not for women either,” she countered. He shook his head, obviously unconcerned by his exposure. Any idea she had of proving her point by giving him some experience of the humiliation involved in the morning inspection was doomed to failure. Still, she couldn’t bring herself to feel disappointed. Instead, she reached down and scooped up his testicles, weighing them in her hand.

“You’ve already checked on the tenderness of those,” Daniel said. “Can’t waste time now, dazzler Jess-OW!” She smiled sweetly as she released the tight grip she’d had on him.

“No talking,” she ordered. Her fingertips danced along his penis, which was growing hard yet again, she noticed. “No tenderness here?” she asked solicitously. He didn’t answer. She cleared her throat.

“You said I couldn’t talk,” he pointed out. She ran her finger around his glans and looked at him threateningly.

“Very tender,” he said. And then he laughed and rolled away as she shifted her hands and began tickling up the inside of his thighs.

“Your turn,” he insisted, sitting up on the edge of the bed again. He caught her hips in his hands and drew her in, to stand between his knees. “Display position,” he said softly, a smile on his lips. Not sure why she was playing, but loving the new-found intimacy with him, Jessie put her hands behind her neck. His own hands shifted to her breasts, cupping them, stroking them, squeezing lightly.
”Not sore?” he asked. She shook her head. His thumbs brushed her nipples and they tightened.

“Not too sensitive?” he asked. She shook her head again. He leaned in and licked one, then the other, making her gasp. “What about when I do this?” he teased. “Or this?” He sucked gently. Her breathing grew ragged. Leaving her breasts wet, he turned her around and eased her down onto the bed as he stood up.

“Bring your knees up,” he said, not finishing the order. Jessie went to do it, but stopped, the action of moving into position reminding her of the view of all of those prisoners, making her identify even more with what they must feel like, lying there like that, wide open and exposed, for anyone walking past in the corridor to see.
”I can’t,” she said.
”For me you can,” he said. “Just for me.” He leaned over and kissed her, then lifted her legs himself, his hands under her knees. He pushed them up and out, leaving her splayed wide. He looked down and smiled.

“Daniel, I must be all sticky there,” she protested, wriggling. “I haven’t cleaned up since last night and this morning, and…”

“Ssssh,” he said. “Just let me look.”
”Daniel!” she protested again. “It’s not as if you don’t see enough of these!” He grinned at her.
”Yours is my favourite,” he insisted, but he let her bring her legs down anyway.

It was while they were in her shower, soaping each other up and sliding their bodies together, that she brought the topic up again.
”It’s cruel, exposing women’s private parts on television,” she said. He concentrated on lathering the soap up in his hands. “Because, apart from the privacy aspect, it’s the ugliest part of a woman,” she added.

“It’s not ugly,” he disagreed. “It’s not pretty, like the rest of a woman, but it’s got a real appeal all of its own.”
”A sexual appeal,” she said, suppressing a moan as his hands began smoothing soap over her breasts yet again. His thumbs circled.

“Certainly sexual,” he said. “But there’s a symmetry and beauty to female genitalia. And they’re all different.”
”You’d know,” she said. “Ohhh, that feels good.” He was rubbing his palms over her nipples. She attempted to continue the conversation. “You’ve probably seen more of them than any man alive, other than gynaecologists.” He shifted his hands, sliding them down her arms, round her back and down, to cradle her bottom.

“There’s something I enjoy doing with them even more than I like looking at them,” he said softly, with an air of sharing a secret. She smiled, rubbing her face against his smooth, slippery skin.
”What’s that?” she played along. He lifted her slowly, steadily, effortlessly, her legs parting around him.
”Here, let me show you,” he said, his green eyes darkening in a way she was already familiar with.