Service them! He spoke as though they were cows or mares in heat.
Gillian and Jessica got up and went into the bathroom to get dressed while the men quickly slipped into their shirts and trousers. Gillian could not look at Duncan in the eyes when she came out, she was too ashamed and embarrassed.
The drug was beginning to wear off and she didn't know whether she could face his knowing how she had acted and what she had done. She and Jessica looked at each other, then lowered their eyes.
It would take a long time for either one of them to get over the degrading situation he had forced them into, and there was a silent understanding that this evening would never be mentioned by any one of them.
"Come on, let's go," Andrew finally said, and the two couples walked out of Tony Wiles' room while the depraved man stood there, watching them, laughing and waving the package of the first pictures at them, his face distorted with his insane triumph over them all and thrilled with the sickening power he held over them.
At this moment, they could only bow to the circumstances and try to make at least a dignified exit.
When they got outside, the couples went their separate ways, knowing that it would be difficult enough seeing each other when they had to, but everything was too new and raw now in their consciences, like an open, bleeding wound.
Duncan took Galleon's hand and they walked away from Andrew and Jessica until they could find a taxi.
"Would you like something to eat or drink?" he asked her.
"I'm starved," she admitted, and tried to smile up at him.
He squeezed her hand affectionately, understandingly, and kissed her lightly on the cheek. He took her to a small, dimly lit pub not far from her hotel and sat down across the table from her.
"I know that tonight was a horrible and terrifying experience for you, Gil," he said finally, breaking the silence. "If you don't want to talk about it, I won't, but I do want to know that it doesn't matter to me, I love you, and I don't want you doubt that ever."
"You don't have to say that," she answered, "You just met me a few days ago, so you don't have to say that you love me."
"But I mean it, really. I loved you from the first day I saw you in that dreary office, and I wanted to make love to you, hold you, love you, so please don't think otherwise."
Tears of humiliation streamed down her cheeks, her eyes swollen and red from her earlier tears, but she was thankful that he was there, thankful that he understood, or at least, said he did. She couldn't have stood to be alone just then, to go back to the hotel alone and she reached across the table and took his hand.
"I'm so sorry you got involved in this, Duncan, but thank you for being so kind."
He patted her hand, then motioned for the waiter to bring them a menu.
"How about some wine with dinner, it will soothe your nerves and I could use something myself. What do you say?"
"Sounds like a good idea, I need something, but I doubt that anything will be able to cleanse this awful dirty feeling I have inside me… not ever…
"Of course something will… I will, I love you. I know it has been traumatic, but give yourself time and you'll see."
"I'm not going to the office tomorrow, I'm never going back there, not ever!"
"I was just going to ask you not to. It's different for Andrew and me, it's our careers, but you can find another job and it won't matter, you were just starting in this one… I'm glad you're not going back there. oh yes!"
"I hope that I can find something else right away or I'll be in trouble," she told him.
"Don't worry about it, and Gillian, maybe I'm out of line, but I think you should move out of the hotel. Wiles knows where you live and he may to get at you again."
"I thought of that too, but I don't know where I'd go. I don't have much money."
"You could move in with me," he said seriously. "I promise that I wouldn't do anything to hurt you and that way you could take your time finding a job you'd be safe."
She was silent, but her eyes were searching his face. He looked so troubled, genuinely troubled for her, so she just nodded.
"You will?" he asked.
"Yes, I will," she told him. "But please don't rush me, Duncan. Tonight was different, you know that, and I'm not sure I'm ready for that type of relationship again just yet."
"Did I hurt you, Gil?" he implored. "Do you hate me?"
"NO!" she said emphatically. "It's just that tonight you know we were drugged and it was the animal in us that brought us together, not love.
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."