Page 20 of Enemies to Lovers

Now it’s my turn to laugh at something not-quite-sensical, in the name of flirting. Adonis gestures to Alex to follow him, and I see Mum and Laurie looking at me with faces that might as well say: ‘Ew, gross!’

‘What?’ I ask.

‘Nothing,’ Mum says quickly – too quickly – as Laurie says, ‘Where did that laugh come from? I’ve never heard you laugh like that in all my life.’ He mimics the noise that I made and, to be fair, it’s not far off the loud sound that emanated from my body as I ‘flirted’. But so what? We can’t all be smugly married. I suddenly wonder what Laurie was like to date – I’m sure he’s done his fair share of OTT giggles in his time. Kate and I have never talked about how he romanced her – not really. Maybe it’s time. That way I can add some ammunition to my sibling-ribbing tank. He must have done something right, to end up marrying such a baller. But I’d like to know all the things he didn’t get right, please, because before Kate, my big brother was a shambles romantically. I’d like to remind him of that, but I know it sounds too defensive – and anyway Clio is beckoning me through to the back living room. I’m the first one on the massage table.

And what a massage it is. Minutes later, all thoughts of anything drift quickly away as Clio kneads and pokes and rubs me from her fold-out bed. She’s closed the blinds, so it is dark and shaded, and has some plinky-plonky music that sees me relax immediately. After two minutes I’m not even aware of the noise of the plumbers in the kitchen.Thatis how good she is. I was right about the strength of her hands. She finds knots in me that feel like they’ve been there since birth. I hover in the delicious space between waking and sleep, my bodyand mind peaceful and calm. I inhale and exhale, face-down on the table. As Clio rubs warm oil up my left leg, starting at the calf and working her way upwards in long, rhythmic strokes, I feel the tension melt away.

Hmmm … I wonder if Alex’s massage is this good – the one with Adonis.

Adonis. I’ll bet he givesgreatmassages. I did notice that he has big hands. I bet they’d feel like this: firm pressure, a steady rhythm. If Adonis did this, he’d follow the line of my leg, up, and up, and up, my legs parting until he found his way between them.

Gosh.

Maybe he’d lower his weight on top of me from behind and I’d arch into him as he pushed back the fabric of my underwear. He’d find his way between my thighs and touch me, lightly at first and then with increasing intensity. He’d rub and rub, unrelenting, purposeful, all focused and determined. Never in a rush, never with any expectations. Just for me – for my pleasure. And he’d ask me, breathlessly, ‘Is that good?’

‘Hmmm,’ I’d say, struggling to form the words to reply. He’d know it was good. That’s part of the turn-on.

‘Miss? Is that good?’

Miss?

I fling open my eyes. The clock that Clio set out as we started says almost a whole hour has gone by.

‘We finished, Miss. Thank you.’ She gives me a slight bow and gestures to my bikini top and kaftan over the back of a chair. Holy crap – I must have properly fallenasleep.Andhad a sex dream about the other masseur! Not that that isterrible, per se. Like I said to Kate, I’ve been as celibate as a nun for quite a while now, because the notion of dating as I was trying to recover and hold my life together was a step too far. I’m oddly proud of myself, truth be told, for indulging in a little fantasy. Something deep inside me is awakening after averylong time asleep. I feel like attention must be paid to it. It must be the holiday magic.

Outside the sun sits high in the sky, a king on its throne. The breeze is mild, the heat high. I am walking on a cloud, dazed after the best hour I’ve had in a long time.

‘That wasincredible,’ I tell Kate as Clio and I re-emerge, blinking, into the light outdoors. She’s going to take a break and then do Mum, and after lunch it will be Kate’s turn. Adonis is doing all the blokes, apparently. I find myself looking out for him, after my runaway thoughts got me all worked up.

‘You look like a different person!’ Kate squeals, scanning me. ‘That’s amazing. You’re …radiant. God, I can’t wait for mine now. Laurie tries to rub my feet for me after a long day sometimes, but it’s more of a tickle, if I’m honest. I wantpummelling.’

Pummelling. Why does everybody’s language seem so filthy right now?

‘How do,’ Alex says, wandering over and looking as jelly-like as I feel. ‘Kate, mate. Thank you for that. I feel reborn. The hands on that man …’ He gestures toAdonis, who gives me his apparently trademark smile as I follow Alex’s finger-point.

‘I can imagine,’ I say, and I sound like a horny housewife. I don’t know what possesses me to say this to my brother, but it just slips out.

‘Oh, please,’ Alex scoffs. ‘You wouldn’t say boo to a goose.’

I am affronted. ‘What do you mean? Are you so grossed out that your little sister could do sexy time that you have to pretend she’s not even a woman at all?’

Alex pulls an amused face. ‘The fact that you call it “sexy time” proves my point,’ he retorts.

‘And what point is that?’

He wags a finger in my face. ‘That you, Florence Elizabeth Greenberg, are definitely not getting any.’

‘If I get Adonis’s phone number, I will be,’ I shoot back.

‘Dare you,’ Alex hoots. ‘In fact I double dare you.’

Whoops. I’ve dug myself a bit of a hole. I’ve never actually hit on a man before, not really. Couldn’t even believe I was flirting with Adonis. I have certainly never asked for a stranger’s number … Should I simply walk up to him and ask? Or give him mine, on a piece of folded-up paper? Or unlock my phone and hand it to him, asking him to put in his digits?

Put in his digits.What the hell is wrong with me?

Alex busts out laughing.

‘What?’ I say defensively, suddenly worried that Alex can somehow hear my thoughts.

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