Obesssion Read Free

looking chest. As I held out a glittering angel, I caught Suki’s fingers in my own, pressing my lips to the back of her hand and smiling as she rolled her eyes.
    “ What’s this mark on your hand? It looks like a burn.” I kept my voice low.  Maxim would no doubt think I was whispering sweet nothings.
    “ Oh, that. I’ve no idea.” Her eyes slid away to the tree, before flicking back to me. “Where should I hang this one?” We’d been married for ten years; I knew by now when she was lying to me.
    “ How about a nice kiss under the mistletoe to finish for today?” Pamela, the stylist, smiled encouragingly as she held out a sprig towards me.
    “ Sure.” We obliged with a lengthy clinch. Suki’s breath smelled fresh and minty—had she just brushed her teeth? That was odd. Not enough time to find something decent to wear, but long enough to freshen her breath? Or to hide something.
    I pressed the pink mark on her hand and saw her flinch slightly. “Oops, sorry. Where did you say you got this?”
    “ I didn’t. Is it important?”
    I smiled at my wife. “I don’t know, darling. You tell me.” Her anxious flush spoke volumes. I knew she was hiding something. It was just a matter of time until I found out what.
    “ Lovely, love-ely,” cooed Maxim as he pranced around our lounge. “Suki, sweetie, do you think you could look just a tad more enthusiastic?”
    I held back a snort. That would be a first.
     
     
    1.5 Josh
     
    I spent the afternoon gathering information on two more potential clients, eventually drifting back to my London apartment at 8:00 p.m. I was tired from dealing with traffic, hungry, and in need of company. Undemanding female company.
    Danielle seemed like my best bet. She lived in the apartment directly beneath me, and if I used the stairs, I had to walk past her door. We’d been fuck buddies for the better part of a year, popping in and out of each other’s beds every month or so. Maybe it was time to move it to the next level? I paused as the thought popped in. Where had that come from? I needed a relationship like I needed a hole in the head.  I hadn’t been laid for a few weeks; I just needed a no-strings shag. All the same, I flicked her a quick text as I parked in the basement.
     
    Hey there. U busy? Not eaten yet if u fancy a takeout? I can be there in 5 mins.
     
    She replied almost instantly.
     
    Hey you. I’ll ring out for pizza. C u soon.
     
    Danielle worked for some fancy advertising agency in the city and her hours tended to be as erratic as mine, but she rarely refused my company. Petite and dark-haired, she looked like the stereotypical Parisian that she was, right down to her exotic Lejaby lingerie. My smile broadened a fraction as I contemplated whether she might be wearing the ultra sexy red lace set tonight. Hopefully I’d find out soon enough.
    She opened the door as soon as I knocked, hugging me and kissing both cheeks. “ Mon chéri . I’m glad you called tonight, there’s something I want to tell you.” I knew right away it was something big. No, something huge.
    “ Did you win that big contract at work?” I racked my brains trying to think of what it was she actually did, covering up pretty well. Or so I thought. Danielle handed me a glass of red wine and rolled her eyes, doing one of her very Gallic shrugs. I sat down, amused. “Not that then…”
    “ No.” Danielle sat carefully in the armchair opposite. Normally we’d cuddle together on the sofa. I felt a flicker of alarm. Surely not pregnant…
    No. We always used condoms.
    Sipping the wine—resisting the urge to slug it back in one go—I gave her an encouraging smile. “Go on then. You’ve won the lottery?”
    “ No.” Damn, this was awkward. I hated playing guessing games and found Danielle particularly hard to read unless I was actually touching her.
    I patted the sofa beside me. “C’mon over here. I’ve missed you Dani, not seen you for ages.”
    Uh oh . Danielle coloured, her