Reversed Forecast by Nicola Barker

Author:Nicola Barker [Barker, Nicola]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harper Collins, Inc.
Published: 2011-10-27T06:00:00+00:00

* * *

TWELVE

Connor woke Sam by kissing her ribs and her belly, by dampening her hips with tiny, sharp licks and bites.

Unfortunately, as Sam awoke, instead of finding this luxurious introduction to wakefulness pleasurable and erotic, she had to restrain the impulse to slap Connor with the back of her hand, to swat him.

‘Did we argue last night?’ she asked.

Connor’s tongue stopped what it was doing and he straightened up, placing his head next to hers on the pillow. He stared at her, but she didn’t catch his expression because she was looking up at the ceiling.

‘I don’t think we did. I was drunk. I remember Sarah droning on about something.’

‘What’s the time?’

She could smell his hair, which, although it looked ragged and uncombed, was soft on her shoulder and smelled of smoke from the night before.

‘I dunno. Eight? Eight-thirty?’

She sat bolt upright. ‘I promised Brera I’d be home early today. We’re going shopping.’

Connor grinned. ‘Oh yeah?’

She looked down at him. ‘You can’t come.’

‘Why?’ He pretended to be hurt.

‘Because I’m going with Brera.’

‘Sounds weird when you call her by her name.’

He reached down and pinched her knee, then let his hand slip up and along the inside of her thigh. She leaned over, pecked his cheek and jumped out of bed. ‘Actually, I would invite you to come, but I know you’ve got an interview at lunchtime.’

‘Which leaves me four hours to think of something interesting to say.’

‘You think that’s long enough?’

He laughed and threw a pillow at her, but she ducked and padded through to the kitchen.

Sarah was lounging against the kitchen cabinets waiting for the kettle to boil, wearing a short, multi-coloured bathrobe. Her long thin legs protruded from the robe, untanned. As she leaned over, Sam could see the curve of her breast and her tiny, pink nipple. Sarah’s red hair had fallen across her face, half covering it.

‘Hello.’

Sarah turned, straightened herself, and pulled a handful of curls behind her ear. ‘I’m totally knackered. Jet lag.’

She yawned with neat precision, like a cat.

‘Making coffee?’ Sam asked.

‘Tea.’

Sam walked over to the kettle and turned it off at the plug before it had a chance to boil for too long.

‘Mine’s white, if you’re making. I like it insipid.’

Sam busied herself locating cups and finding a tea-bag. She wasn’t sure if she felt a tension between them. She thought, Maybe it’s just because she isn’t dressed. She’s so sluttish, the way she lounges about. No make-up, her face all gaunt and white.

‘Do you have any plans for today?’ She poured water on to Sarah’s tea-bag.

Sarah shrugged, noncommital. ‘You?’

‘I’ve got to go shopping with my mother. We’re having some photos taken this afternoon.’

Sarah’s face brightened. ‘Can I come?’

‘It’ll be very dull.’

‘Go on. It’ll be a laugh. I can meet your mother. That’d be interesting.’

Sam finished making the two coffees. ‘I’ll phone and ask once I’ve taken this in to Connor.’

Sarah poured some extra milk into her tea. ‘I hope he appreciates you running around after him like this.’

Sam said nothing, only smiled as she carried the cup carefully out of the kitchen.

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