Eleanor is, Jill. That’s the problem, isn’t it?’
‘No, that’s not the problem,’ she said. They paused politely while the waiter delivered Finn’s pint, and when he went off to take the order at the table next to them she said, ‘The problem is that a lust demon chose me to possess, Finn. That’s the problem. She could have chosen anyone, and she chose me because …’
‘Because?’ Finn said.
She fidgeted with her napkin, suddenly embarrassed and shy. ‘Because I’m inexperienced.’ She hurried onward, fearing that he might laugh. ‘But that doesn’t mean I’m not filled with lust, Finn, with fantasies, with desires, powerful desires. That’s why she possessed me.’
‘I still don’t see your point.’
‘The point is I want what Eleanor’s offering. I know that now. I want all that I’ve never had, all that I would never be brave enough to pursue without … well, without demon courage.’ In her head she heard Eleanor giggle softly at her turn of phrase.
‘So you want a fuck fest,’ Finn said. His jaw was set hard, his shoulders were tight and block-square.
‘I’m willing to be open about Eleanor’s desires, and about my own.’ She held his gaze. ‘What I’m not willing is to be treated like I’m under house arrest. If you don’t want to fuck me, that’s fine. But I –’
‘Wait a minute, who said I didn’t want to fuck you? I’d think it was pretty obvious how badly I want to fuck you.’
The people at the table next to them gave a quick glance and half sniggered over their bottle of white wine. Finn hissed a whisper. ‘If I were any harder, I’d be lifting the table off the floor.’
Jill choked on her water, and the couple next to them couldn’t make their efforts to pretend not to be paying attention any more obvious.
When the coughing subsided, she took a deep breath and spoke. ‘Then why did you opt for a cold shower rather than my warm bed?’
‘I thought that would be obvious too.’ If Finn had leaned any further over the table he’d have been on top of it. ‘I wanted to be sure it was you who wanted me and not Eleanor using you to get to me.’
‘Oh, it’s me all right, Finn. Eleanor may want you too, but I was there first without her, remember? And I promise you, there are things I want to do with you that don’t involve raising the table.’
His eyelids fluttered and the groan that escaped his lips was nearly painful. ‘Then why the hell are we here rather than at your place or mine?’
‘Negotiations.’ Again Jill wasn’t sure if it were she or Eleanor who had spoken.
‘Negotiations?’
‘What I want out of lust-demon possession.’
‘Jesus, you make it sound like a cruise or something,’ he said.
She folded her arms across her chest and glared at him.
‘All right!’ He glared back. ‘Fair enough. And it’s safe to assume that what you want involves sex.’
She nodded enthusiastically. ‘Lots of sex. Kinky sex, dirty, filthy, nasty sex, and I expect you to be more than just a chaperone and a gaoler.’
He raised an eyebrow and sat back in his chair as Eleanor took over the conversation.
‘I want a body that’s not a prison, Finn, and Jill’s is so very much the body of my dreams. And I want her amply rewarded for her generosity. There’s no need to play naïve with me, because we both know you’re not. Between the two of us, we know exactly how to reward Jill for playing host to me, and I reckon that’s the least we can do.’ The chuckle that slipped up Jill’s throat was wicked, and she felt it all the way down to her clit. ‘Oh, don’t tell me you don’t want to play with us, Finn Masters, because I know better.’ And almost, but not quite, before she knew what she was doing, Jill slid down into her seat just enough to place the sole of one sexy boot in between Finn’s legs and press it solicitously up against the delightful strain of his erection through his jeans.
He held her gaze, his eyes suddenly