Twelve Days: The Beginning Part 13

Celeste and Tilly were also wearing black dresses and Roger and Sam had on the uniform suits. Most of the men in the office wore suits daily so they didn't look all that much different but both Tilly and Celeste looked stunning, a fact which it appeared had not gone unnoticed by the two men. Roger eyes rarely strayed from Celeste and Sam was blatantly eyeing up Tilly who in turn, wasn't totally oblivious to his attentions.

Celeste had opted for a short, fitted black dress which emphasised her figure to perfection. She had left her brunette hair down, just securing a couple of clips in the side to hold it off her face, and minimal make up.

Tilly, a beautiful pet.i.te girl with exquisite features, had on a stunning floor-length gown. She had a paler complexion as a natural redhead but she had emphasised her eyes with clever make up to create a really dramatic look.

Reaching the small group, she was grateful when Celeste enveloped her in a bear hug and whispered in her ear, "Looking good, hon!"

Elise hugged her in return and then stepped back to take in her friend's full appearance.

"You too you look amazing! I'm only sorry that we can't be in the same room to share make up and swap tips."

"Yeah..." said Celeste "Where is your room anyway? - I can't imagine why they decided to split us up like that."

"Er...I'm on the first floor I think it's something to do with numbers and availability. At least that's what Cole said when I called him." Elise lied easily and immediately felt guilty. She really wanted to confide in her friend but the time was never right so the lies just kept on coming. She was starting to worry that the line between truth and lies would become so blurred that one day she would forget which her real life was, and which her fantasy one was. Not that either of her 'lives' were that much of a fantasy.

Moving away from Celeste, she waved at Roger who was still throwing l.u.s.tful looks at her friend and smiled warmly at Tilly and Sam. As if Elise's arrival provided some sort of cue, Tilly almost immediately moved across to stand next to Sam and the two of them were soon engrossed in conversation.

Having not taken much notice of Roger up until now, Elise looked him over surrept.i.tiously and realised that in a Clark Kent geek kind of way, he was actually quite handsome. He had light brown hair which was neatly trimmed and wore fashionable spectacles over the most arresting green eyes that she had ever seen. At first glance you could be forgiven for thinking he was a little scrawny but up close, Elise could see that he filled out his suit very nicely and if she wasn't much mistaken, there were some serious abs hiding under his shirt. Nudging Celeste in the ribs, she turned to whisper in her ear.

"Have you noticed the looks that Roger's been throwing you? Seems to me like someone has a bit of a crush."

To her surprise, Celeste immediately blushed and Elise slapped her hand over her mouth to hold in her gasp of surprise.

"Oh no! Don't tell me it's not only him with the crush?!"

Celeste nodded warily and turned to whisper back. "I think I really like him Elise I mean really like him. I've never taken much notice of him before but we were sat in the back of the car together on the way up here and there was just something there you know? Since then I've been thinking about him constantly and I know he's watching me too. Every time I look up, I find him looking back at me what do you think I should do?"

"Jesus don't ask me, 'Leste. If anyone knows nothing about romance then it's me."

"But you've got Dale and you've been married forever surely you must be able to give me some advice? I've never felt this tongue-tied around a guy before."

Deciding that she really had to come clean with Celeste, at least on some level, she steered her friend a little away from their group to an alcove adjoining the main ballroom and restaurant area.

"'Leste," she began "There's something you need to know something that I've been meaning to tell you for ages but the time has never been right." She swallowed and then carried on.

"Dale and I it's not all as rosy as you may think. Things between us are strained, have been for some time now and I honestly don't know what the future holds for us. There is more much more that you need to know but now is not the time or the place. Suffice to say that my marriage is not all that it seems and I will tell you more when I can. For the record, apart from yourself, there are only two other people that know the truth Cole and Vaughn. I would really like to keep it that way." She glanced up to see her friend's eyes wide with shock.

"s.h.i.t, Elise I never would have known. Why the h.e.l.l didn't you tell me before? Are you OK? Can I do anything?"

Elise held up a hand to stop her friend's questions. "I am fine, honestly. This isn't anything new, things have been falling apart for a long time. It's only now that I'm beginning to think they may be irreparable."

"This has something to do with last week, doesn't it? The fight with Cole and Dale? I knew there was something off then but you just seemed to suggest it was all fine and like the fool that I am, I believed you."

"'Leste you were meant to believe me, that's the point. I've been lying to you just like I've been lying to everyone else and I am truly sorry. When you know the full story, you'll understand why it is so hard for me to talk about it but I really want you to know it's just that we can't do it here, now. I'm fine, honestly, and when I can, I will tell you everything I promise."

"Ok if you're sure?"

Elise nodded "I'm sure and thank you, Celeste. You don't know how much of a relief it is to have finally told you."

Celeste hugged her again. "I am always here for you, Elise, I promise. And I swear on my life that I will never tell a soul. If you need me, you know where I am."

With one more quick squeeze, she headed away from the alcove and back to the group, leaving Elise alone to gather her thoughts.

"I can't tell you how much I wished it was me giving you that hug," whispered an unmistakably s.e.xy voice in her ear, "especially the squeeze at the end. I got hard just thinking about how that would feel."

Elise turned and came face to face with Vaughn - his dark eyes, deep enough to drown in were on fire - and she had to swallow to formulate any conscious thought. He was standing close to her, almost indecently close, and she could smell his usual musky scent, which always turned her legs to jelly. He was wearing a dinner suit and she had never seen anything more beautiful in her life. Whilst Sam and Roger had stuck with the traditional suit, Vaughn had gone for a full dinner jacket with bow tie and tapered trousers that hugged the lines of his legs to perfection. Elise felt her mouth begin to water. The affect this man had on her was out of this world and judging from the looks that some of the other women were giving him, she wasn't the only one afflicted.

"h.e.l.l Elise," he continued, "You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen you do things to me that I never knew were possible. That dress........" His eyes began a lazy inspection taking in the detail of the high collar all the way down to her calves and then coming back to rest on her face again, holding her gaze for a few minutes longer than necessary.

Lightly, he coughed. "There's something I have to know.....do you mind if I..?"

Elise looked at him puzzled, wondering what on earth he meant and then stiffened slightly as he reached out his hand and pulled her closer to him, his palm coming into contact with her bottom.

"Relax, Elise," he whispered in her ear, "I'm not going to hurt you I just have to know something...please...."

Elise tried to relax as she moved in closer, allowing his hand to begin a leisurely journey across her bottom, over the curve and then lower to the crease where her bottom met her thighs and lower still to the tops of her thighs. His other hand joined in, mirroring. What the h.e.l.l was he doing?

When he reached her thighs he paused and locked his eyes onto hers, slowly ma.s.saging the tops of her thighs with both of his hands and continually pulling her closer and closer to him. The ma.s.saging was driving her insane and she knew that she was helplessly wet and aroused, certain that that was reflected back in her eyes.

Without breaking contact, he began to move his hands lower still until he reached the lacy tops of her hold ups at which point he abruptly stopped moving and slammed her forcefully the rest of the way into his body, almost knocking her off balance in the process. This close there was no mistaking his erection and she bit her lip to hold in her involuntary gasp.

"f.u.c.k.... Elise" he growled "Jesus...what you do to me. I thought you might have been wearing stockings but this....." he rubbed his hands against the lacy tops again "these...these are something else. s.h.i.t." He drew in a ragged breath as he clearly tried to regain some control. "We have to have dinner but for your information......I am going to be sat next to you with the mother of all hard-ons for the entire meal. b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l, Elise...lacy hold-ups... Jesus Christ!"

Taken aback by his outburst after finally realising what he had been looking for, Elise was momentarily stunned; her senses going into overdrive at the physical closeness she currently shared with this man along with the force of his desire. She watched as his jaw began to tick and realising just how close he was to losing control, the devil in her began to rear its head and she blatantly fluttered her eyelashes at him, regaining some of her equilibrium and intentionally playing with the power he had unwittingly given.

"You like, Sir?" she mimicked in her best subservient voice, dropping her eyes in an attempt to appear coy.

Roughly, he grabbed her right hand and pressed it in-between their bodies, fitting it over his hard length, rubbing it briefly up and down.

"I think you'll find 'Sir' likes them very much." And he bucked further into her hand as if to emphasise the point, making them both draw in a ragged breath Reluctantly, Vaughn removed her hand from his groin, stepping back and putting a discreet distance between them.

"We have to go into dinner," he ground out, slowly emphasising each word, "although I am fairly certain that it will be one of the longest and most tortuous experiences of my life."

The six of them were seated at one of the many round tables in the main ballroom and, as they weren't conference guests as such, they were at the furthest end away from the dance floor and partially tucked into a corner.

Vaughn had morphed back into boss mode and had seated everyone in a boy girl arrangement which meant that she had Vaughn to her right, Roger to her left with Celeste followed by Sam and then Tilly on the other side of Vaughn. As soon as they were seated, Vaughn surrept.i.tiously moved his chair closer to hers and she watched with some amus.e.m.e.nt as both Sam and Roger did the same thing, moving closer to Tilly and Celeste respectively.

The food looked delicious and Elise was surprised to find that she was hungry, belatedly realising that she had not eaten much more than a sandwich all day.

Shortly after they had settled, uniformed waiters arrived with military precision and proceeded to serve them their soup - a divine blend of carrot and coriander, which Elise polished off in almost indecent haste. There was also freshly made bread and charming little rolls of b.u.t.ter, which brought back fond memories for Elise. Her mother had gone through a 'posh' phase when she had been growing up and had held endless dinner parties. The b.u.t.ter had always been served in small, handcrafted rolls, achieved by the use of a special implement and it brought back fond memories of being allowed to help her mother make the b.u.t.ter rolls.

During this first course of the meal, she had given herself some time to think about Vaughn and how he affected her. As a result, Elise remained largely silent, allowing the rest of the group to carry on the conversation. She was finally beginning to admit to herself that she was attracted to Vaughn on a level much deeper than she had ever been to Dale and that scared the life out of her.

She knew that she wanted Vaughn physically and he apparently wanted her too. Part of her, the rebellious part, the one that was fed up with her life and the reality of her marriage, was just willing herself to let go and have some fun. They both knew that she was married, that nothing permanent could come of any a.s.sociation and as far as Vaughn was concerned, Dale was a low life who deserved everything he got.

Whilst she understood the argument that both he and Cole put forward about Dale, she was still struggling to let that one last piece go and admit that her marriage was over. In her heart of hearts she knew that it was but to admit to it out loud was a different thing altogether. She also had no idea how she could end her marriage without hurting Dale. Ironic really, considering the amount of hurt that Dale heaped onto her on a daily basis. It was a fragile situation and, given his volatile behaviour, part of her was very scared.

If he took it badly, which she suspected he would, then what would that mean for her and anyone who decided to get involved and help her out? She didn't want to be hurt any more than she already was and she certainly didn't want for Cole or any of her friends to get hurt. She knew that the time was coming when she would have to make a decision that would almost inevitably mean leaving Dale, but she wasn't sure if she was strong enough yet to brave the consequences, whatever they were.

Deep in thought she sighed, causing Vaughn to look across at her from where he had been talking to Roger.

"You OK?" he asked.

"Yes, sorry just thinking."

He leaned closer to her so that he could whisper in her ear.

"As long as you were thinking about what's going to happen between us later then that's fine with me." He really did have the most ridiculously s.e.xy voice.

"Your ego knows no bounds, Mr Granger you were the last person on my mind." She playfully punched him lightly on the arm - again.

"Ow! You really have to quit hitting me, you know."

"Or... What if I don't?" she teased playfully.

"I may just decide to take some revenge of my own." He added suggestively, his voice low and dangerous.

Roger reclaimed Vaughn's attention and he turned away again; except this time he placed his left hand on her knee under the table and began ma.s.saging circles up, down and around, occasionally dipping to the sensitive spot just underneath her knee.

As she fidgeted away from his touch, he moved his hand higher and lightly gripped her thigh at the exact point where the lacy top of her hold ups sat. He proceeded to run his thumb along the edge of the lace, all the while continuing his conversation with Roger, seemingly unaffected by anything that was happening below the table.

The waiters returned to clear away their soup bowls and Elise took the opportunity to excuse herself to go to the ladies room and to put a little distance between herself and this intoxicating man. As she went to stand up, Vaughn briefly tugged on her right hand, pulling her ear down level with his mouth.

"Don't bother coming back unless you've removed your panties" he whispered, so low that at first she wasn't sure she had heard him correctly. She straightened up in complete shock and looked directly into his eyes. He nodded at her imperceptibly, raising an eyebrow in silent challenge and she realised that she had heard every single word - precisely. Legs shaking, she pushed her chair back and tried to catch Celeste's eye; she really needed her friend right now. Unfortunately Celeste was oblivious to the world around her, totally engrossed in something that Roger was saying and reluctantly Elise left the table alone. How the h.e.l.l was she going to deal with this one?

Leaving the dining room, she headed for the washrooms straight ahead and sank gratefully into a cubicle, leaning against the door for strength. She had to make a decision about Vaughn tonight she knew that. He had made his feelings perfectly clear and it was up to her now; the ball was well and truly in her court.

There was no doubt that she wanted Vaughn with a fierceness she couldn't hide, she just had to work out how to deal with the moral issue that was holding her back, the one that was keeping her from committing the ultimate sin. And she had absolutely no idea how to begin to rationalise that kind of decision she would be a cheat, regardless of any mitigating circ.u.mstances, and that wasn't something that she wanted to be.

Taking a deep breath, she conjured up Dale's face in her mind; his handsome smiling face on the day they had got married, the despair marring his features when they had found out they couldn't have children and then the ugliness that she saw there on a daily basis now.

She thought about all of the times that he had shouted at her, all of the times he had punched her. The time he had broken her rib. She remembered the humiliation of the fight in the office last week, the derogatory words that he said to her day in and day out, the lack of concern for her wellbeing or happiness and she remembered his face - his face in glorious technicolour every single time he raped her.

The tears flowed down her cheeks unchecked, the hurt as fresh as it had been each day and on each occasion and at that moment with absolute breathtaking clarity, she realised that she was done. Totally, completely and utterly done. She didn't deserve the life that she had. Whatever happened, no one deserved that kind of life.

Dale and her were over they had to be. She couldn't live with it any more.

If anyone had asked her ten years ago where she would be at the exact moment when she realised that her marriage was going to end, the last place on earth she would have told them would have been a toilet cubicle in a sw.a.n.ky hotel in Swindon. a.s.suming she would have replied at all, that is, and not just knocked their block off for suggesting that her marriage would end up becoming another sad statistic. In some ways though, the fact that she had reached her decision in such a place seemed almost fitting. Her life had been going down the proverbial toilet for such a long time how symbolic to actually be reaching this decision in a cubicle in the ladies room. Karma, kismet, fate? Whatever.

Taking some tissue from the dispenser she wiped her eyes, amazed to realise that she felt like a huge weight had just lifted off her shoulders. She felt lighter, happier somehow, and she realised finally how much of a toll her life with Dale had taken. Knowing that there was an end in sight somehow freed her and the relief flowing through her body was like nothing she had ever known. It was almost as if she had just woken up from a five-year long slumber and was now ready to face the world, embrace it, and get on with the rest of her life.

She would have to face him, of course, and she would need to explain everything to him. Unfortunately, with it being Christmas next week, she accepted that it probably wouldn't be the best time to try to talk to him but perhaps, when they went back to work after Christmas, she could arrange to stay with Cole for a while and talk to Dale then. At least she would have somewhere to go if things got out of hand and she would be logistically close enough to Dale to sort things through. It would be a difficult time for both of them but perhaps if she was no longer living with him, they would be able to make the necessary adjustments much more easily.

She really hoped that Dale would accept her decision and not make life difficult for her; he couldn't possibly be happy with the way things were either but she couldn't quell the undercurrent of fear running through her. She had seen him angry and she had seen him manipulative and part of her was scared that once he knew that she was leaving him for good, all of his previous behaviour would seem like a walk in the park compared to the reaction that this decision would receive.

Meanwhile, here in Swindon in a sw.a.n.ky hotel, she had a couple of days to herself. A couple of days with no one around to judge her her work colleagues were no threat on that score and plenty of time to think about her future and to begin to embrace the rest of her life.

She didn't know whether that would include Vaughn Granger or not but she finally accepted that she would forever regret it if she didn't take this opportunity to find the h.e.l.l out.

Bending down, she slid her knickers off and out from underneath her dress and deposited them in the bin on the way out of the door. Feeling like a new woman, she strode back to the ballroom, to their dinner table in the corner and to the first evening of her new life.

Chapter Twenty-Two.

The second that Elise entered the ballroom she could feel Vaughn's eyes on her, as if he had been watching the door to see if she would return. Closing the door behind her, she looked across at their table and immediately their eyes connected. Reading the question in his, she gave a brief nod and made the rest of the journey across the room, outwardly showing a level of bravery that she was far from feeling.

This 'going commando' business was a completely new experience for Elise and she was still trying to get her head around whether or not she liked it. Even though she knew that she was well and truly covered and that there was only one person in the room that knew she was minus her underwear, she still couldn't help feeling bare and vulnerable.

Aware of a pair of very dark eyes watching her entire journey, she made it back to the table in record time, keen to sit down before she did something stupid like tumble over a non-existent lump in the carpet and allow the majority of the a.s.sembled guests to witness her virgin commando moment.

Slipping into her seat, she noted the unmistakable glint in Vaughn's eye and immediately began to doubt if she had done the right thing. What had seemed reckless and exciting in the solitude of the ladies room a few moments ago now felt slightly crazy and definitely more than a little dangerous.

"You've returned then, Miss Grayson are you feeling 'refreshed' after your visit to the ladies room?"

Quickly Elise glanced around the table to see if anyone else had heard his comment and maybe read into the innuendo but they were all far too busy with their own conversations to take any notice of Elise and her lack of underwear.

"It's a little cooler in here now, don't you think?" Vaughn said deadpan, and Elise only just resisted the urge to punch him again.

As if sensing her awkwardness and enjoying every minute of it, Vaughn continued to tease her mercilessly until she was on the verge of getting up and walking right back out, retrieving her underwear from the bin on the way!

"Will you just stop it?" she hissed "I can't believe you asked me to take off my underwear and now you've done nothing but tease me about it since. Can't you see how uncomfortable I feel with all of this?! It's not as if I make a habit of attending posh dinners without wearing any knickers!"

The instant the words left her mouth a feeling of complete terror hit her as she belatedly realised that they were no longer alone. The waiter was standing at her shoulder ready to deliver their main and he was standing so close to her, that there was no way he had not heard every single word.

Her ultimate shame now complete, she waited until the waiter had placed her food he somehow managing to keep a commendable poker-face - and then she rose from the table walking as fast as her legs would carry her back out of the ballroom.

Her cheeks were on fire and she pressed the coolness of her palms against them as she headed back towards the ladies room to retrieve her underwear. Why, oh why did she think she could do this? Surely letting a man such as Vaughn dictate to her was exactly the same thing as allowing Dale to run her life? Perhaps what she really needed was time alone - with her knickers on!

A strong arm grabbed her as she was just about to push through the door into the ladies room and pulled her back into the alcove where they had stood just a short while earlier.

She wasn't surprised to see it was Vaughn who else would it be? She had known that he was likely to follow her; she had just been hoping to make it to the sanctuary of the restroom before he caught her up.

Angrily she rounded on him, grateful that they at least didn't have an audience out here.

"You knew he was there, didn't you?" she demanded, "Why the h.e.l.l didn't you stop me, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d I can't begin to imagine what he thought. No doubt he'll be telling all his friends and they'll be having a right laugh at my expense. You can't possibly understand how humiliated I am. This is just perfect just PERFECT!" she almost shouted.

Breathing heavily, she stopped, trying to calm herself down a little. She was already embarra.s.sed enough, there was no point in making another scene. The foyer was quiet but she knew that anyone could walk by at any moment and she really didn't want to be remembered at this conference for all the wrong reasons.

Vaughn was watching her impa.s.sively, his expression giving little away; the only hint of a reaction his infuriating half smile, which tugged at his far too kissable lips.

"Have you quite finished?" he asked, referring to her rant.

"Hmph..." she said childishly and turned her head to the side, away from his all-seeing gaze.