Dividing Line Read online

  “Obviously,” he frowns. Danny looks at Beth. “You alright?”

  “Not really,” she replies quietly.

  “I think you should go,” Danny tells Chris.

  “But me and Beth are having a chat.”

  “Do you want him to stay?” Danny asks her.

  She shakes her head negatively, avoiding Chris’s eyes.

  “Beth,” Chris yells.

  “Right you, out,” orders Danny. He grabs Chris roughly by the elbow and escorts him to the door.

  When he returns Beth smiles gratefully. “Thanks.”

  “Tell me to mind my own business but he seems like a grade A wanker.”

  “He is and he's well and truly dumped.”

  “You just let me know if he gives you any more bother. I’ll sort him out.”

  “I will, thank you.”

  He can see she’s shaken up so he tells the barmaid to give her a large brandy on the house.

  “I believe you’re seeing Rachel again tonight?” says Beth, feeling her strength return with the brandy. She knows Rachel is holding out, wanting to test him, see if he’s interested in her for herself or as another conquest.

  “Yeah. I wondered if you could give me some advice? I'm not sure where to take her. We've been to a couple of restaurants and a nightclub but nothing seems to impress her.”

  She smiles. He appears genuinely concerned. Beth realises in this instant that to Danny, Rachel isn't just another notch on the bedpost. Her heart goes out to him so she decides to help.

  “Rachel doesn't go in for swanky restaurants or posh parties. She's got simple tastes and she likes to be wooed, she's quite old fashioned that way. Take her somewhere romantic.”

  He looks thoughtful then his eyes light up. “Thanks,” he smiles.

  “Where are we going?” says Rachel with an eager smile.

  She and Danny are sat in his Mercedes on their way to their fourth date. She had expected him to take her to another restaurant or a club but they’re on the motorway leaving the city and he refuses to tell her where they’re headed.

  “You’ll see,” he repeats for the third time with a mysterious grin.

  He gives her an admiring sideways glance. Tonight she is wearing a deep red dress and although it’s short and clingy it doesn’t look slutty. He loves the way she dresses simply but always looks classy, not like the tarts his friends date with too much make-up and clothes two sizes too small.

  Her confusion deepens as he takes the road for the airport.

  “Are you sure you’re going the right way?”

  “Positive.”

  “But we’re going to the airport.”

  “I know.”

  “What is going on?”

  He contents himself with an enigmatic smile and she laughs and shakes her head.

  They come to a stop at a small airstrip round the back for private planes.

  “Come on,” he says.

  They step out of the car and, taking her hand, he leads her to a small private plane.

  “We’re getting on that?” she says incredulously.

  “Yes.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “You said you always wanted to see Lady Gaga.”

  “Yeah, but she’s not playing in Manchester.”

  “But she is in Edinburgh. Tonight.”

  He is pleased to see the joy and amazement on her face.

  “That’s where we’re going, right now?”

  He nods, hoping she’ll be pleased.

  With a cry of joy she flings her arms around his neck and kisses him full on the lips.

  “Come on before they take off without us,” he says, taking her hand and leading her up the steps to the plane.

  As they settle themselves in their seats Rachel feels as though she’s dreaming.

  “Is this your plane?”

  “No,” he laughs. “It belongs to a friend of mine, he said we could use it.”

  A steward offers them a glass of champagne each and Danny laughs again at the stunned expression on Rachel’s face.

  “I can’t believe this happening,” she says. “No one has ever done anything like this for me before.”

  “You’re worth it,” he smiles taking her hand in his own. “Now drink your champagne.”

  She puts her glass down. “That can wait,” she says, kissing him.

  The concert is astounding and Rachel has the time of her life. Even Danny, who didn’t think he would enjoy it, finds himself joining in with the rest of them. When it’s over and everyone begins to file out Rachel grasps his hand and leans into him. Danny is filled with a warm cosy sensation, one that is entirely alien to him. Right then he knows he’s met the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with. The thought simultaneously exhilarates and unnerves him.

  They return to Manchester to pouring rain. Disembarking from the plane they run to his Mercedes, getting soaked to the skin in a instant. They jump back into the car laughing and shaking the water from their hair. Danny looks at her and is overwhelmed by her beauty. She’s dripping wet, her clothes clinging to her body erotically and he can hold back no longer. He grabs her and kisses her hard and she responds forcefully, her tongue slipping into his mouth. As he runs his lips down her neck she flings her head back, allowing him better access to her body.

  “Let's go back to your place,” she whispers in his ear.

  “Yeah? You sure?” he says, praying he hasn't misheard.

  “Absolutely,” she breathes.

  He kisses her once more then sits up and starts the engine.

  “Right, let's go,” he grins.

  He has to resist the urge to break the speed limit as they negotiate the country roads back to the city. The last thing he wants is to be pulled over just as this moment finally arrives.

  Back at the Henley they step out of the car and hurry to the doors, hand in hand, whispering and giggling together.

  “Night Stan,” Danny calls to the doorman.

  “Goodnight Mr Maguire,” calls back Stan, his eyes never leaving Rachel's long legs.

  The instant the lift door closes Rachel and Danny wrap themselves around each other, barely able to contain themselves. He pushes her up against the lift wall and her legs go around his waist, his hardness pressing between her thighs. Desperately they kiss and Rachel's body almost hurts with the anticipation.

  The lift doors open and he scoops her up in his arms and carries her down the corridor to his apartment. She kisses his neck and nibbles his earlobe as he swipes the key card to open the door, her actions causing him to miss a couple of times.

  They stumble into the huge apartment and he carries her through to the bedroom. He wants this to be special, not just a quick tumble on the couch. He wants to take his time with her.

  He sits on the edge of his huge king size bed and she stands before him. Slowly she lets the straps of her dress slide over her arms and the entire dress drops to the floor, revealing her body encased in just a lacy black bra and knickers.

  Holy shit, he thinks. Stockings.

  She wears sheer black hold-ups, topped with lace. Just to add to the effect she keeps her high heels on. His heart races, she’s even better than he’d imagined, and he’s imagined what she would look like naked a lot. Her stomach is flat and her legs long and shapely but her figure is still very feminine with curvaceous hips and full breasts. Her thick hair cascades down her back and her eyes are completely black with arousal. She is magnificent and for a moment all he wants to do is admire her.

  Slowly she walks over to him with an exciting confidence, her eyes never leaving his, which at this moment are a brilliant blue. They always glow brightly when he is excited or aroused. She straddles him and he devours her mouth, his tongue probing expertly while his hands slide up her back to her bra strap. He removes her bra to be confronted by two smooth rounded breasts surmounted by pretty pert pink nipples. He takes one in his mouth and she gasps and arches her spine, tracing her nails down his back. He
inhales sharply as her nails dig into his shoulders but he likes the pain. She rips off his shirt and runs her lips down his rippling stomach. Danny is surprised she is taking the lead but he enjoys it; it's a new experience for him

  Mmmm, delicious, thinks Rachel. His body is strong and muscular, which makes a nice change to her last boyfriend’s beer gut, and he smells all musky and masculine. With her tongue she traces a path down those sexy honed lines marking out his abdominal muscles, which disappear tantalisingly below his jeans.

  Danny has to pull her face back to his and kiss her. His excitement is reaching feverpitch and he’s in serious danger of ending everything prematurely. Never before has a woman turned him on like this. He slides his hand inside her panties, gratified that she is soaking wet for him. Slowly he inches them down her long legs, letting his fingers brush along her silky thighs, smiling when she releases a shaky breath of anticipation. His hand returns to the centre of her and starts to rub, making her moan. When his mouth finds her breasts again she unzips his jeans, slides a hand inside and cups his buttocks, pulling him tight against her.

  As her hand makes its way round to the front he reluctantly releases one hard little nipple to speak. “Please don’t or this might be over far too soon.” His heart beats like a jackhammer and he’s so hard it’s almost painful. If she excites him anymore he’s convinced he’ll die.

  Instead her hand trails up his naked back to his hair, pulling his mouth back down to her breasts and he’s happy to oblige.

  When he slides his fingers inside her she cries out and he feels her get even wetter and hotter.

  “Oh please Danny, I can’t wait any longer,” she groans.

  “Okay,” he replies with a kiss.

  He cups her bottom, preparing to flip her over onto her back but before he has the chance she pushes him back onto the bed and practically rips his jeans off. He stares up at this tigress in astonishment and adoration. His tigress, he adds possessively

  When he’s completely naked she looks down at his length, which seems to go on and on and her eyes black widen. “Oh wow Danny, you just keep getting better and better.”

  Excruciatingly slowly she lowers herself onto him, Danny watching in awe as her incredible hot wetness encases him. All cogent thought leaves his head as she starts to move on top of him, abandoning himself to this mind-blowing pleasure. He grasps her thighs, pulling her down onto him harder as he thrusts up into her. He holds back as long as he can, almost relieved when he feels her tighten around him, her spine arching to such a degree she’s almost bent double on top of him. Then he finally lets go and falls into heaven.

  Afterwards they lay wrapped in each other's arms, panting and sweaty.

  “You’re one amazing woman,” he says, letting his fingers play lightly up and down her back.

  “Mmmm,” she murmurs, stretching her body like a contented cat. “Worth the wait?”

  “Definitely.”

  She loves how strong his body is, it makes her feel safe and she enjoys running her fingers over his abdominal muscles, which ripple beneath her touch.

  He feels himself stiffen at her caress.

  “You ready for more?” she grins.

  “Oh yeah. You?”

  She nods.

  He smiles and rolls on top of her. This time he wants to take the lead.

  The following morning Danny and Rachel wake up together. Shyly they smile at each other and gently kiss. Rachel stretches and winces, her body aching from the previous night's exertions. They'd made love twice more, each session becoming rougher than the last. They'd been pleased to discover that’s how they both like it, although not to the point of violence, just passionate. Danny was amazed by some of the positions Rachel is able to contort herself into which, he reasons, must be a result of the yoga. He winces as he shifts on the bed, several large scratch marks down his back.

  “Sorry,” she says. “I got a bit carried away.”

  “Don't apologise. I enjoyed every minute of it.”

  “I'll bathe the cuts for you.”

  Rachel takes his hand, leads him into the en-suite bathroom and gasps at the size of the shower. “That's bigger than my entire bathroom.”

  They step inside and she bathes his back, surprised by how deep the cuts are. She feels a bit guilty, she hadn't meant to hurt him but she couldn't help herself. She makes a mental note to restrain herself in future. He winces as the water stings his back so she caresses his neck with her lips to temper the pain. It works and soon he is hardening again. She gives him a mischievous grin that sets him on fire then the next thing he knows she’s on her knees and taking him into her mouth. He gasps with shock and pleasure. Will this woman never cease to amaze him?

  “Oh Jesus Rachel,” he moans, letting his fingers run through her long wet hair. He tries to make this exquisite pleasure last but thirty seconds later he groans and empties himself into her mouth. Then she kisses her way up his body to his lips and smiles.

  “I’ve not done that very often, I don’t usually like it but I wanted to do it for you,” she says.

  “You didn’t have to, I don’t want you doing anything you’re not happy with.”

  “But I really wanted to do it and I liked it with you.”

  She speaks so sweetly he gets the desperate urge to do something nice for her, so he picks her up, runs back into the bedroom and lies her back on the bed.

  “I’ll get your sheets all wet,” she says, indicating her gorgeous dripping form.

  “Doesn’t matter,” he says, pushing her legs apart.

  With that he plunges his tongue inside her, revelling in her glorious taste and the sound of her ecstatic moans. Never ceasing his ministrations, he glances up to see her hands massaging her breasts, fingers tugging at those delicious nipples and he goes rock hard again. Christ, will he never get enough of her?

  “Danny, fuck me, please,” she breathes.

  With one hand he flips her over onto her front, so that pert little backside is stuck in the air and thrusts into her. Unable to hold back he grabs a handful of long hair and pulls, yanking her head back and he is rewarded by her pushing back against him hard.

  “Oh…I’m going to come,” she yells before drenching him all over again.

  One of his arms goes around her middle, pulling her back against him as far as she will go while thrusting up into her hard, attempting to become one with her, being inside her somehow not enough. He bellows her name as he comes so forcefully everything blurs then they collapse onto the bed together.

  When they’ve recovered from their exertions, he gives her one of his shirts to wear and they enjoy a leisurely breakfast together, both tired and aching but very happy. Finally she notices the apartment, which is all black and chrome and very minimalist.

  “This place is nice,” she says. “But a typical bachelor pad.”

  “Yeah, no cushions,” he grins, indicating the couch.

  “Hey I can see my flat from here,” she says, looking out of the window.

  “Where?”

  “There,” she says, indicating a flat on one of the upper levels on the Montford Estate.

  “You mean the one with the stuffed owls in the window?”

  “No I don't,” she laughs, slapping him on the arm playfully. “The one on the next floor down with the orchid in the window.”

  “I see it. How long have you lived there?”

  “All my life.”

  “Really? How come I've never seen you around before?”

  “Well we do move in different circles.”

  He wraps his arm around her and pulls her close. “To think you've been there all this time and I only find you now.”

  “I'm glad you did find me.”

  Tenderly he gazes down at her and runs his hand through her hair. “Me too,” he says, kissing her gently.

  Rachel stays over the following night and the next and the next. Eventually a whole week passes and the only time she returns home is to fetch more clothes. They’
re laid on the couch together, watching TV in Danny’s apartment, when he realises he’s never felt so content in all his life. He cuddles her to him tightly, smiling when she nestles into him like a little kitten. He adores how she can go from kitten to tigress in an instant.

  “I love you Rach,” he whispers in her ear.

  She looks at him steadily, wanting to make sure she’s heard him correctly.

  “Say it again.”

  “I love you.”

  She beams. “I love you too.”

  He smiles and kisses her.

  Rachel is more than aware of what the Maguires are and what they are into. Protection rackets, money laundering, fraud and gambling. They also organise the illegal bare knuckle fights and are the major suppliers of cocaine in the city and they have a reputation for sheer savagery when crossed. But Rachel puts all this to the back of her mind. Danny runs the pubs and nightclubs, which are strictly legitimate. He's clean so she can cope with it. She’s grown up around villains so she isn’t really fazed by the Maguires.

  CHAPTER 3

  Rachel and Danny try to keep their relationship as low key as they can but it's impossible to keep such a secret for long and the war everyone has been dreading is about to start.

  Rachel returns home one day to a cold reception. Everyone she passes on the Montford stops to glare at her and whisper snide comments behind her back. Attempting to hide her nerves, she takes the stairs to her first floor flat two at a time. Sensing she’s being followed she glances over her shoulder to see a group of three men and two women following. She quickens her pace and they quicken theirs to match. Rachel breaks into a run and they make chase. Heart pounding, she unlocks her door with a shaky hand, runs in and slams it shut just before they catch up with her. They shout obscenities through the letterbox and the door rattles ominously as they throw themselves at it.

  Hands shaking, she rushes to the phone and frantically dials.

  “Danny it's me.”

  “What the hell is that noise?”

  “Someone’s trying to break my front door down.”

  “Jesus. Hang tight Sweetheart, I’ll be right there.”