The next time we make love, I want it to be because we want each other; because we're sure of our feelings, not because someone has put something in our drinks. Can you understand that?'
'Of course I understand, and I promise I'll respect your wishes, but it will be hard, loving you as much as I do.'
'Maybe it won't be long, but please do try. I don't want to ruin everything before it gets started.'
He laughed and said, 'You are different, but that's why I love you!'
They ate their dinner in silence, just every once in a while their eyes would meet in a silent understanding, then he took her back to the hotel.
'Why don't you grab a few things, leave a note for Jessica so she doesn't worry and come with me. I am sure that Jessica will stay with Andrew tonight anyway and I don't want you to be alone.'
'Let me see if she's there first then I'll come back downstairs and let you know.'
She walked slowly to her room and Duncan waited for her in the lobby.
Jessica was not there and she had left a note for her telling her that she, too, was moving out. Andrew was getting her a small flat, but that she would get in touch with her through Duncan and she hoped that she and Duncan could work things out.
Hurriedly, Gillian packed a small suitcase and went back downstairs.
Duncan beamed when he saw her and took the bag from her hand. She went over to the desk and told the night clerk that she would be back in the morning for the rest of her things and leave a note for Jessica where she could be reached. He just nodded, eyeing her and Duncan, then marked his records accordingly.
Duncan helped her into the taxi and they headed for his flat. It was a lovely one bedroom place and the doorman greeted them as they got out of the taxi.
'Al, this is Miss Blake, she'll be staying with me for awhile. If she needs anything, please help her, she's new in town and tell the day man too.'
'Certainly, Mr. Jones, and welcome to London, Miss Blake.'
Duncan slipped him a pound note and then showed her the way to the lift and where the mail boxes were.
'I hope you'll like it here. As I told you, it's just one bedroom, but it's clean and pleasant, and this area is very safe, so don't be afraid to go out.'
'Oh, I'll keep the place neat, and I'll even cook for you,' she smiled.
'You know, it will be nice to have a man to take care of again.'
'Shouldn't it be the other way around?' he queried teasingly.
'I guess it should,' she laughed, 'but anyway, I think I'll like it!'
She felt better after her dinner and the wine and he poured her a small brandy once he had shown her where she could put her things and the other little intricacies of the flat.
'Here, to my new roommate,' he grinned, 'I love her.'
He tilted his glass to touch hers and they both sat back and let the warmth of the liquor relax them as they listened to some music from his stereo.
'I don't want you to worry about anything, Gil,' he comforted her. 'If he ever so much as calls you, I want you to tell me. Of course, it would take him a long time to find out that you're here with me, but he's a sick man and he may just figure that I'd ask you to stay.'
'Believe me, if he does try to see me or call me, you'll be the first to know, Duncan dear, and thanks again. I don't know what I would have done without you.'
He leaned over and kissed her lightly, tenderly, then pulled away, and held her face in his hands.
'1'll wait for you to love me,' he told her, 'but I hope it doesn't take too long!'
She smiled at him and kissed him warmly.
'I hope it doesn't either,' she confided.
He let her use the bathroom first, then poured himself another drink while she went to bed. He knew that it would take all his willpower to let her alone when she would be so close, so he waited until she was sleeping, then crawled into the bed next to her.
'Good night, darling,' he whispered, but didn't reach out to touch her or kiss her, that would have been too much of a trial.
She slept soundly all through the night, but woke up the next morning when she heard his alarm go off.
'I'll make you breakfast,' she said, jumping out of bed and going to the bathroom. 'What would you like?'
'Just coffee, really, I never eat breakfast.'
'Oh,' she exclaimed, 'I've learned something new about you already!'
She put on a pot of coffee and had her morning cigarette. She looked at him when he came out to the kitchen to get his cup, his hair wet from the shower and he was bundled in a robe. He looked so young, so much like a little boy in the morning and she felt a flood of tenderness for him.
'Good morning,' she said smiling. 'I hope it is a good morning, Duncan dear!'
'It will be, sweetheart,' he assured her. 'Now, you do what you want to do today, you don't even have to look for a job if you don't want to.'
'Oh, I think that I'd better see some employment agencies, and I'll call the other people I wrote to before I came to the city, maybe they still need someone.'
'Well, that's up to you, but don't rush into anything just to get a job, it's not necessary.'
'You're very sweet, Duncan, but I don't expect you to support me too.
You're already doing too much.'
'You know I love you, so be quiet, I like to do things for you.'
'Do you think that I could get my few days pay from the company, or should I just forget it?'
'I'll speak to the payroll office, but you could call them today and have them send it to the hotel I'm sure they'd hold it for you if you like.'' 'Maybe, I'll do that, it's something anyway.'
'Well, I've got to hurry, but I'll be home tonight right after work.
Chill some martinis and I'll bring home steaks, and we can spend a relaxing evening with the stereo or television.'
'Sounds delightful,' she grinned, glad that he didn't want to go out again.
She waited until he had dressed and finished in the bathroom. Then she drew a hot bath and soaked in the tub for about half an hour. She was just drying herself when she heard the telephone ring. She hesitated for a moment, then decided to answer it. It might be Duncan and he would worry if she weren't there. If it was anyone else, she could tell them it was the wrong number and hang up. She picked up the receiver.
'Gillian,' a woman's voice asked.
It was Jessica.
'Jessica, yes, it's me, I was trying to disguise my voice. How are you, where are you?'
'I'm just down the street. May I come up? I've got to talk to you.
Duncan told me you'd be there. I called him at the office, this morning.'
'Sure, I'm just getting dressed, but tell the door-man to let you come up.'
She hung the telephone and wondered what Jessica wanted to discuss. She hoped that she wouldn't rehash the events of last night. It would be embarrassing for both of them.
In a few minutes, she heard Jessica's knock at the door.
'Coming,' she called and ran a comb through her hair and let her in.
'Hello,' Jessica said, embarrassed, but still smiling.
'Have a seat and I'll get you some coffee.'
'I'd rather have a drink if I may.'
'Sure, I don't know what he has, but I'll check.'
She went to the bar and poured her a tall scotch and handed it to her.
'Gil,' she began, 'last night was pretty awful for all of us and I don't want to discuss it anymore, but I did want you to know that you weren't the reason I left the hotel. I hope we can still be friends and we do need each other in this mess. Andrew thought it would be best for me, and for you, to get out there.'
Gillian smiled at her and said: 'Well, I'm going to be staying here with Duncan for the time being while I look for another job. I think that the men can handle Wiles and the farther we stay away from him the better.'
'Good, I feel the same way, and I'm glad that you and I can still be friends. I wouldn't want to destroy a
