The Second Time I Saw You: The Oxford Blue Series #2 by Pippa Croft

Author:Pippa Croft [Croft, Pippa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781405917056
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2014-05-22T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

He turns to me, and says, coolly, ‘So this was sent to you by Professor Rafe?’

‘You can see that.’

He snorts in derision. ‘Obviously, it’s been hacked.’

‘Obviously … It is you and Valentina, isn’t it?’

‘Yes, it’s us.’

There you are then. No hesitation, no attempt to soften the blow. I feel light-headed again but I force the words from my mouth. ‘And it is filmed in your bedroom here in Oxford?’ This morning, I might have said ‘our bedroom’ but that now seems laughable.

‘Yes.’ He walks over to me and tries to reach for me but I push him away. I expect him to burst out angrily but he says calmly, ‘You do know that this was taken before I met you?’

‘Do I?’

‘Come on, Lauren, you can’t possibly believe that this was filmed after that?’

‘I don’t know. Why was it filmed at all?’

‘I have no idea. Do you think that starring in a sex tape is my style?’

‘I don’t know what your style is. I thought I did but now it seems to be kinky bondage sessions and sordid home porn movies!’

He bursts out laughing and I totally lose it. ‘It’s not fucking funny!’

The smile evaporates. ‘No, I agree, but it is ridiculous that you would fall for this. If Valentina did film it, then I have absolutely no idea why.’

‘Oh, really?’

‘Yes, really. I’d no idea it existed until you just showed it to me. She must have done it for some kind of joke.’

‘Well, you seemed to be enjoying the whole process.’

‘Did you expect me to be screaming for mercy? I had no bloody idea I was being filmed. I’m sorry you’re so upset, and I’m not trying to make light of it, but I don’t want it to make any difference to us.’

I can’t bring myself to reply to this, not while the images from that tape are still imprinted on my brain, not while I’m still trying to come to terms with exactly what I feel. Naive for one thing; I’d only ever slept with Todd before Alexander and I know he’s way more experienced than I am. I loathe the video. All I can see is Valentina tied to that bed and I did the same only a few days ago. I feel cheapened, used … or am I overreacting?

I don’t have to speak; Alexander can read my emotions from my face. ‘You still don’t trust me, do you? No matter what I say?’

‘I don’t know. The whole disappearing-off thing you did last term, the not telling me that you were engaged to Valentina or that she’d come to your house with that card. It doesn’t exactly engender trust, does it?’

‘Firstly, you know I can’t tell you anything about my work with the regiment. Secondly, I thought we’d agreed long ago to put what happened at the hunt ball behind us and thirdly, I didn’t try to hide the fact that Valentina turned up at my house. I was perfectly up-front, just as you were about going to see Scott.

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