Forget Her Name(71)

I start reading Dad’s notes again, skipping frantically back and forth between medication lists and routine hospital trips, looking for more information about that specialist clinic in Switzerland.

Then I come to something that almost stops my heart.

Switzerland is definitely the way to go, even if it changes all our lives forever. But it’s so unfair. What did we do to deserve Rachel? It’s as if we’re being punished for something, only we have no idea what. I just wish we could have our lovely Cat back.





Chapter Forty-Two The bedroom is dark when I hear someone creeping in. For a moment, I feel confused and disoriented.

I remember having lunch with Jasmine in the kitchen, then we watched a Boxing Day film with her until my parents came home from the shops. Then I told them I had another headache and came up to bed. Mum tried to offer me some medication, but all I would take upstairs with me was a cup of soothing camomile tea.

Obviously it worked, as I must have fallen asleep quite quickly.

But how late is it?

I listen to Dominic fumbling about, trying to undress in the dark without waking me. His trainers, thumping quietly one after the other, under the bed. The slither of his scrubs hitting the wash basket.

‘What’s the time?’ I whisper.

‘I thought you were asleep.’ A slight pause. ‘A bit after nine. Your mum said you weren’t feeling well or I would have come up earlier.’

‘What’s everyone doing?’

‘They’re in the kitchen, playing Scrabble.’

I push up on one elbow, watching his shadowy form in the dark. ‘Oh, I love Scrabble. You should have come and told me.’

‘What?’ He switches on the bedside lamp, looking down at me with an ironic smile. He’s wearing nothing but his underpants, and I study his body thoughtfully. ‘Are you being funny? You hate Scrabble.’

‘Do I?’

He sits on the edge of the bed, and touches the back of his hand to my forehead. ‘No fever. So I’m guessing this is just your sense of humour resurfacing.’ His mouth twists wryly. ‘You haven’t missed much, anyway. Robert’s dominating the field as usual.’

‘I can beat him any day.’

‘Now I know you’re kidding.’

I reach for him hungrily. ‘Come to bed,’ I whisper, stroking his bare chest, then I throw back the duvet to show that I’m naked, too. ‘Join me.’

He looks startled. ‘Right now?’

‘Why not?’

‘Well . . .’ He hesitates, glancing back at the fresh clothes he’s gathered together. ‘I was going to shower and then head back downstairs. To fix myself a light supper.’

‘You can do that later,’ I say softly. ‘Afterwards.’

He raises his eyebrows, studying my face. He’s still smiling, but it’s a different kind of smile now. ‘Afterwards?’

‘Why not?’ I take his hand and place it on my breast. I must have failed to turn the radiator up earlier, because my nipples are erect from the cold. Either that or from my growing excitement. ‘Unless you’re too tired after work?’

For an answer, he leans forward slowly and sucks on my nipple. Hard and deliberate. The physical contact is like an electric shock running through me. Sheer voltage. My back arches and I jerk upwards, groaning. He clamps that breast with his hand, squeezing it, and then bends his head to the other one, teasing me, circling my nipple with his tongue before licking it.

‘Suck it,’ I order him.

His gaze flicks to my face, a little surprised, but he obeys.

‘Yes,’ I say hoarsely, and grip the sheet so hard I feel one edge lift free of the mattress. ‘Yes, like that.’

He laughs under his breath. ‘You’re eager.’

‘I’m starving.’

‘But not for food, apparently.’

I lean back and part my thighs invitingly. ‘There are better things than food. Though if you’re so hungry, darling, I’ve got something here you can eat.’

Now his surprise is undisguised. ‘Cat?’

‘Dom?’

‘But you don’t like it when I—’

‘Hush.’ I slip my hands up his spine, and draw him close, moulding him against me. ‘A girl can change her mind, can’t she? I like it now,’ I whisper in his ear, and then lick his throat for good measure. ‘Come on, baby. I need your tongue inside me. How much longer are you going to keep me waiting?’

‘My God,’ he begins, laughing as he pulls away, and I sit up, raking my nails down his bare back. He jerks back at once, angry. ‘Shit, that hurt.’

‘Then stop talking and fuck me.’

‘Hey, watch it!’

‘Jesus, you’re so boring these days.’ I pretend to yawn. ‘Come on, be a good boy and share. What does it take to get you excited? Seriously, when are you planning to live up to your name?’

He stares down at me, his eyes glittering with baffled rage. ‘My . . . what?’

‘Dom.’

There’s a stillness about him.

Then he snaps me back on the bed, his hands hard. ‘Oh, I see what you’re driving at. You want to be dominated, do you?’

‘Well, it would be nice for a change. So far, this is like watching paint dry. Actually, no, I’ve had more fun watching paint dry.’