Page 33 of From London, With Love

“They smell divine.” I attempt to mirror her smile as I make my way to one of the wooden stools at the bench.

Mia sets the tray down in front ofme, meeting my eyes with a quirk of her head. “Lara, are you quite alright? Your face looks funny.”

Taking a seat, I let out a short laugh, caught off guard by her statement. She knows, shemustknow. She’s looking at me like she’s aware of what went down, or more accurately,whowent down.

My thoughts stray to that talented tongue as I cross my legs, my insides clenching on their own accord. I rub a hand over my face, willing away intrusive thoughts of Mr Darcy. Another laugh escapes, and I have no doubt I appear unhinged right now.

“Harper!” she bellows, gripping the doorway to the hall and leaning her entire body in the direction of the balcony. “Help me! Lara’s acting awfully peculiar.”

The sound of hurried footsteps on the carpet announces Harper’s arrival before her head pops around the doorway. She regards me for a moment, tilting her head to the side the same way Mia did.

“Mmm,” is the only sound she makes as her eyes rake over me. “Something is certainly amiss.”

Mia rounds the bench to join Harper in the doorway. They’re looking at me the way Emma Thompson’s character inLove Actuallylooked at her child when she announced she’d be playing the first lobster in the nativity play; utterly perplexed.

“What in the bloody hell happened at work today?” Mia crosses her arms over her chest.

Glancing between the two of them, I realise I have no idea where the fuck to start. I’m silent for a moment, staring at my friends without really seeing them. My thoughts are in complete disarray. How do I word this correctly?

“He ate me out.”

It seems I don’t bother with correctness, deciding instead to blurt it out like the answer to a quiz show question.?

A high-pitched noise comes from Mia, sounding a similar frequency to a train whistle. My eyes dart to her first, and I stifle a laugh.

The oven mitts have fallen to the floor as she stands there wide-eyed. Her jaw hangs open, and the image of a laughing clown carnival game flashes in front of me. For someone with so much energy, it’s almost frightening to see her so still.

Gaze sliding from Mia to Harper, I find a completely different reaction.?

She’s sporting the biggest grin I think I’veeverseen on her face. The way she’s able to appear perfectly poised at all times is an incredible skill. Especially now, leaned against the doorframe with her arms crossed over her chest.

“Lara, honey, please give us some context before she” — Harper glances at Mia, who’s yet to move a muscle — “makes up her own nightmare-worthy story.”?

Still uncertain where to begin, I take a deep breath.?

“He, as in Mr Darcy, was on his knees with his painfully beautiful face between my thighs approximately one hour and thirty-seven minutes ago. But who’s counting?”

The sound of my voice brings Mia back to Earth. Her previously still body is now jumping up and down on the spot, hands clapping, and mouth warped into a smile so wide it would rival the Cheshire Cat. Tinyoh my god’s are being thrown out at an alarming speed.

“How? Why? Was it good? Is it happening again?” The questions leave Mia’s mouth like rapid fire. “We need details, Lara.”

“Perhaps if you took a breath, she’d have a chance to get a word in,” Harper replies, rolling her eyes and grinning at me.

“Ah, you’re right, I’m sorry, Lars. This is quite the revelation.” Mia raises her arms above her head before pulling herhands down in front of her face, taking in a deep breath as they come to a stop in front of her stomach.?

Amusement flickers in Harper’s eyes, her gaze flitting between Mia and me.

‘How’ is a hard one, as is ‘why’ if I’m honest.

“Honestly, I’m not really sure how or why it happened. I know it sounds ridiculous, but it’s the truth. It kind of just happened, you know? It wasn’t good, it wasbreathtaking—literally.” Heat rises in my cheeks.

The girls are quiet, still beaming at me.?

“As for whether it’s happening again, I highly doubt it.”

“What!” Mia raises her arms in front of her, palms toward me in a stop-like motion. “Why?”

Before I can come up with a reason, Harper chimes in. “Darling girl, we can feel the sexual deprivation oozing from your pores. It’s about time you did something about it.”?

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