Lori Avocato - Nip, Tuck, Dead

“I don’t think I can move, Neal. I ate way too much. It was all so wonderful,” I said to the servants as they hustled about cleaning up. “Thank you, guys.”

Neal chuckled. “Let’s have an after dinner drink in the library.”

That sounded oh so very Newport chic.

I forced myself up, and before I got my chair moved, Neal was at my back, holding onto me and guiding me to the doorway. Yeah, Pauline Sokol could learn to live like this.

Once in the library, Neal poured us two glasses of some syrupy kind of liquid. I didn’t even want to know what it was. After all the wine, I was already feeling way too happy.

He handed it to me; I sipped, took another and thought it was better than a hot fudge sundae. When I went to drink again, he touched my hand. “Easy does it. That stuff is pretty powerful.”

Then I could have my way with you, I thought.

Pauline Sokol is a lush, I thought as I sipped the last drop of the fabulous after dinner drink Neal had poured me. I wanted to ask for seconds, but when the more than likely solid gold clock on the mantel chimed then started to wobble, I figured I’d had enough alcohol for the night.

Neal sat next to me observing. No doubt he thought I was snookered too. I took in a very deep breath, blowing it out slowly and hoping the alcohol would dissipate with every respiration. I really wasn’t fall-down drunk, but merely feeling very good-and my tongue loosened with every word.

“How did you know where I was staying?” flew out of my mouth on one of those exhalations.

At first Neal looked puzzled. His forehead wrinkled.

How adorable. “I remember you mentioning that I was at the lodge. Funny that just popped into my head.” I waved my hand and hoped it looked genuine. “No need to answer.”

“Ian…Ian had mentioned it when I’d asked how I could get in touch with you.”

“You wanted to ask me out?”

Neal smiled. “In all honesty, Pauline, what I meant was that if I needed to get in touch with you about Mr. Perlman.”

Gulp. “Is my face red or what?” I tried to sink down into the expensive leather-this one burgundy-couch. No such luck.

“In all honesty again, I did want to ask you out too.” He leaned near and touched my face.

“Careful. You could get third-degree burns by touching my skin.”

He laughed, pulled me closer and whispered, “I love your wit. You make life seem so wonderful as you spread your charm.”

Yikes. I took his face into my hands and planted a kiss smack on his lips-and what he returned with was not just a thank-you.

My insides had been toasty warm from the liquor, but with Neal so near, inhaling his expensive, I’m sure, cologne and his arms pulling me closer until I felt his heart beat against mine, I was damn hot.

He trailed his kisses along my cheek, hitting spots that jolted pleasure as he made his way down my neck.

I sighed.

He moaned.

Before I knew it, we were on the Aubusson carpet, Neal’s chest was against mine and the buttery leather soothed my back as he eased me down-all the while kissing every part of me. With one swift movement he had the room darkened to a sensual dim. Sometimes, when he moved, I could barely see him…but always felt him near.

Thoughts of fraud, liquor and…Jagger suddenly became a fog of gray in my mind. Nothing like the present, I thought as Neal’s lips caressed mine. I arched back and sighed.

“Will Pierre come in?” I whispered as I ran my fingers through Neal’s hair. I wasn’t used to sex in a servant-run mansion.

In all honesty, I wasn’t used to sex-period.

Neal chuckled, tickling my skin. “Don’t worry. Pierre is the height of tact.” Light kisses that he worked up my cheeks then down to the base of my neck felt fabulous.

We came face-to-face; he kissed my lips then moved near my ear. As he nibbled and kissed me into Nirvana, I felt his warm breath and heard his soft breathing, which made the idea of lovemaking all the more intense. Even his eyebrows, tickling my skin like tiny butterflies, had me nearly unable to move.

When he lifted his head and paused, I leaned forward with my lips at the ready, but stopped before contact-so he could think he was in charge. Men liked that.

“Nice,” he whispered seconds later.

Soon we were both up, kissing and moving toward the bed with my hand in Neal’s as he kissed and licked my fingers one by one. Dizzy was the only word to use at the moment, until he reached into the drawer of the bedside table and took out a gold-foiled wrapper.

Gold. What else? I smiled to myself.

While endorphins swam through our bodies, the scent, the sound, the taste and the feel of Doc Forsyth melded into a culmination of pleasure. Soon there’d be no turning back.

Dr. Forsyth.

Dr. Forsyth!

I was on a case.

Suddenly I didn’t feel all too professional.

Thank goodness I still had my wits about me after accepting this “date.” I eased back, reluctantly explained to Neal that it was too soon, which he accepted like a gentleman, and we stopped before possibly making a mistake.

But it sure felt good to knock on that door.

I smiled to myself and thought I’d nearly had the chance to remember how to ride a bike.

Neal held the car door for me as I stepped inside. He leaned near and kissed me. “I had a wonderful time, Pauline-”

“Wonderful, Neal,” I said, and then we both laughed.

He shut the door, walked around the other side and sat next to me. “Fantastic. You’re right. It was fantastic. How about tomorrow?”

About ready to accept, again the stark reality that I was on a case hit me. I blew out a breath, wishing I were here in town on vacation. “You know, I’ll have to see. Let me tell you tomorrow. Depends a lot on how Goldie is doing. If that’s all right with you?”

He winked.

I nearly had an orgasm-I wish.

If there was a next time, I’d pass on the syrupy, expensive alcohol.

Thank goodness he drove rather quickly since I needed to get to my room and back to reality.

After he pulled into the parking lot of the lodge, he opened my door, I stepped out and threw my arms around his neck, planting a kiss on his lips. He held me for a few minutes, whispered “Good night,” and was gone before I made it up the walkway.

Something drew my attention to the second floor, where I noticed the curtains of Jagger’s room move.

He knows! was all I could think.

“Oooooooh!” Goldie moaned as I touched his arm, tickling his skin for comfort.

“In another hour it will be time for your pain med, Gold. Sorry I can’t give it sooner.” I tickled faster, hoping the soothing touch would take his mind off the discomfort.

Dear Gold didn’t have the highest level of pain tolerance around.

“Tell me a story, Suga,” he whined like one of my nephews.

I sat on the edge of his bed. “I’m fresh out unless you want a rerun. I think we’re on story number gazillion now, Gold. Sure you don’t want to sleep?”

He took my hand in his. “Can’t. Too painful. Tell me about last night. You and the doc.”

My face grew hot. Very hot.

Goldie peeked out from one eye above his bandaged nose. “Oh…my…God. Those details should take my mind off things.”

I slapped him very gently on the arm.

“I’m not the kiss and tell type. Use your imagination…and then add about two degrees of X-rated separation, then-” I sighed. “-subtract one.”

Goldie finally laughed. “Aye!”

“Hey, Gold. Listen to this.” I told him about Neal’s papers “falling” out of his briefcase.

“Brilliant, Suga. I’m very proud of you.”

“What do you think?”

Goldie ran his hand across his chin. “Maybe Doc Neal would be a real asset to your case. I’d say you have to go out with him again. You need to, Suga. You’re way too young to die a born-again virgin.”