| 011. Best Laid Plans |

  The fire crackled, providing the only light in the otherwise dark room. Dust coated the bookshelves and a large ornamental writing desk lurked in the corner. Only the mantelpiece seemed maintained, the family photos obviously well looked after.

  Jessica hated it. She was reminded too much of what might have been. What she’d never truly had. She swallowed and shook her head. That was all behind her now. She picked up the decanter of whiskey she’d come in for and turned back to the door. To her surprise, Roy poked his head around the door. You could tell he spent his life playing sports. Sun-kissed didn’t begin to cover it, he had become truly tanned. She wondered how he had managed that when England’s weather was predominantly miserable. Even his dark hair seemed to be permanently lightened by the sun. He flashed her a grin as he came into the room, closing the door behind him. She tensed at the expression on his face. Lecherous. Far too familiar.

  “You found it then?” he checked, gesturing to the glass decanter in her hand. She lifted it up by the neck between thumb and forefinger, enjoying the slightly panicked expression as he eyed it. It was fun, ribbing him for being so materialistic. He was one of the rare Blake's students that lived at home. His house was much more posh than she’d expected.

  “Evidently.” She glanced at the door behind him. What had he thought would happen in here? Oh, she presumed the general thrust of his libido-driven mind. But the full extent? She wondered how easy he thought she was, to be so obvious. She just had to tear him down. But how to do so? “Confidence is usually such an attractive quality,” she said, walking towards him. “But I get so bored of confidence alone.” She eyed him through her lashes, and gave him a secretive, suggestive half-smile. The one she’d practiced for hours in the mirror. He swallowed. Hard. She walked her fingers up his hip bone and he gasped. “So, let’s make this a little more interesting.” His eyes darkened and he leant towards her. She tilted her head away at the last second. “You’ll have to entertain me first.”

  “What did you have in mind?” he asked, huskily. She grinned, delighted. She’d been feeling bitter about Phillip all week. Surely, Roy could come up with something distracting, to take her mind off of it. Or, even better…

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  “How about a little revenge?” she suggested.

  “On Phillip?” Roy asked, looking surprised. Then he grinned, not exactly maliciously, but nefariously. Like he had the perfect plan. Jessica couldn’t help finding that a little too attractive for comfort.

  Once upon a time, she’d have fallen into bed with him without a second thought. But she’d learnt her lesson the hard way.

  Besides, Demeter would be prickly about it. Not that girl code applied when she and Demeter already hated one another.

  “I have the perfect thing," he said. "Harmless. Fun. But he’ll almost certainly embarrass himself.” Jessica grinned at him, flashing teeth in the darkness.

  “Okay. You have my attention,” she whispered. He slipped his arms around her, pulling her against him. Her breath caught. She could feel the heat radiating off him. God, in another life, she’d be willing. In a life where she hadn't already trodden down this path, and lived with the consequences, she’d have wrapped herself around him, craving the feeling of satisfaction. She’d have him take her, make her scream, till she was a quivering mess in his arms.

  Fortunately, they were interrupted before she had to make excuses. A knock on the door allowed her to back away from him, gracefully.

  “Do you have it?” Demeter asked, already turning the doorknob. Jessica smirked. The girl really was obsessed. What would she have done, Jessica wondered, if she’d walked in on them doing whatever it was Roy had initially had in mind? Demeter looked them up and down, hands on hips, as the door fully opened. She was very eagle-eyed and Roy was very obvious. Jessica smiled winningly under the glare she was receiving. Honestly, the jealousy was endearing.

  “Of course,” she replied, turning back to Roy, unable to resist winding Demeter up. The girl was so annoying most of the time, it was fun getting under her skin. “We’ll finish this later.” She winked at him.

  “Of course, I just need to get some… supplies.” Roy said, grinning at her. She hoped he meant for his grand revenge, and not that he'd only just thought to get condoms. There was no way she was going to sleep with him without protection, no matter what surprise he had in store.

  Demeter let out a breath of air, dissatisfied. Jessica tossed her hair and walked back towards the kitchen, leaving Roy to douse the fire in the grate. Demeter slammed the door with more force than was really necessary as she followed Jessica out. She didn’t bother saying a word to Roy.

  Who needed friends when there were people like this? So amusing to step upon.