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Laurie sprang up and held onto his arms. ‘Please don’t go. It’s only a pair of glasses.’

Ben had never felt so alive. The adrenaline had kicked his testosterone production through the roof, and now Laurie was safe, he was going to unleash his inner Rambo. He brushed his lips over hers and she whimpered.

‘It’s not only your glasses. It’s your bag as well. And I’ll see if I can find Shelley and Denise.’

Laurie nodded and pressed her lips to his, sweeping her tongue into his mouth. Desire raged through him like wildfire. He held her tightly, meeting her need with his own. Kissing Laurie felt like the ultimate prize for winning the game of life. Every decision, every sacrifice, had led to this bliss.

She broke the kiss, her breathing ragged. ‘Forget my stuff. Find Shelley and Denise, okay?’

Laurie heaved the vending machine against the door as soon as Ben had left. She didn’t know if her heart was pounding from physical exertion, stress, or the fact she’d never been so horny before. Ben was not only the best-looking man she’d ever met, but they were connected in a way that made her trust him implicitly. It was crazy, the strangest sensation, as if she knew Ben as well as she knew herself. To distract herself, she decided to inventory the vending machine. Everything was a blur without her glasses, but she knew it was from Somerset Snax, and also where each product would be. She peered through the glass, noticing they were completely out of cans of Blackcurrant Bliss. She would have to make sure they restocked on Monday and chase the extra order to make up for the pallet that was destroyed.

She stopped her train of thought, walked back to the sofa and sat. What was she thinking? She’d just turned thirty, survived an encounter with a maniac monkey and met a man who’d turned her world upside down. Was she really going back to work on Monday the same person? Could she carry on taking everyone’s shit the same as she’d always done? Only a few hours ago she’d cut her supposed birthday cake and asked for more out of life. So far, this evening had fulfilled that wish in spades.

Adrenaline still rushed through her body and she shook out her hands, as if trying to discharge static electricity. Even though her sight was blurry, every other sense seemed heightened. Her skin tingled and every thud of her heart reminded her she was truly alive. She felt the most overwhelming urge to have sex with Ben. Raw, primal, unprotected sex. Now she’d nearly died, her body wanted to make up for this blunder by procreating.

She heard footsteps on the stairs and a knocking outside. ‘Laurie, it’s me, it’s Ben.’

She pulled the vending machine to one side. He slipped through the gap, then barricaded the door again and put a pair of glasses in her hand. ‘It’s fucking carnage down there, but Shelley and Denise are fine. They’re in the walk-in fridge. I’ve got your bag as well, so we just need to sit tight—’

‘Ben!’ With her glasses back on, Laurie could see it hadn't exactly been a teddy bear’s picnic recovering her property. His pale skin was smeared with blood from deep scratches. His suit jacket was ripped; his knuckles were bleeding. She pushed off his jacket and ran her hands over his torn dress shirt. She tried to assess him for injuries, but all her traitorous mind seemed concerned with was the feel of his body. ‘Are you okay?’ she whispered.

He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. ‘Never felt better.’

She met his gaze and stared into his eyes, seeing a storm of want and need. The silence hung heavy between them.

She swallowed. ‘Ben.’

‘Yes, Laurie.’

She took a big breath. ‘After a near-death experience, I think we need to reaffirm our commitment to life by having sex.’

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Their lips crashed together and Laurie surrendered to the sensation of Ben’s arms around her, his hot mouth drawing her into a boiling sea of pleasure. Every lick of his tongue, each press and caress, replaced her rational thoughts with an elemental language that translated as ‘yes, more, NOW’. Whenever he broke the connection for a ragged breath, he stared at her with hooded, unfocused eyes and growled her name with an intensity that made her thighs quiver.

She yanked her skirt up and pulled his hand to her legs. She felt the heat of his touch as he dragged his fingers up her sensitive skin.

‘Fuck, Laurie. Oh god, you’re… I… fuck!’

If he sounded on the knife edge between pleasure and pain, then Laurie was already writhing in an agony of sexual frustration. She’d reached the point of no return, and if she didn’t climax in the next five minutes, she was going to spontaneously combust.

‘Ben, I need—’

He didn’t hesitate, diving his tongue into her mouth and his hand inside her underwear. Her clit was throbbing, and when his fingers brushed against it, everything burst into flames. He didn’t toy with her, he didn’t explore, he simply found what made her moan, then did it again, and again, and again. She locked her arms around his neck, her forehead resting on his shoulder. She could no longer form words. Coherence had disappeared into cries. Hot rushes of pleasure roared through her as the glorious inevitability of her orgasm hurtled towards her.

‘Yes, Laurie. Fuck, yes, yes.’

His voice pushed her over the edge and she stiffened with a silent scream. Her climax was an event horizon of light, eviscerating every cell, before sending her crashing and convulsing into another universe. Ben held her tightly as the pleasure continued to break her apart in waves. She drew in shuddering breaths. Had she actually combusted, or met god? The only thing she knew for sure was that this experience was utterly new, and now she wanted more. She lifted her head and their eyes met. He looked as stunned as she felt.

‘Laurie, that was… ’ He blinked and shook his head as if that might juggle his thoughts into order.

‘Out of this universe.’

He nodded. ‘I can’t believe you’re real. You’re a goddess.’

Laurie felt her cheeks flush. His fingers were still gently stroking her. It was so intimate, but she didn’t feel shy, she just felt her body revving up again. She reached between them and ran her hands over the outside of his trousers, feeling his hardness. He sucked in a breath and swore as she tugged down the zip and freed his cock. It was full and hot, the skin silky soft over a core of steel. She ran her thumb through the wetness seeping out of the slit, then wrapped her fingers around him and tugged. He let out a strangled cry and sank his middle finger deep inside her. She gasped and pumped him harder. He jerked back.