The smile faded from Damien's face as he looked past the naked shoulder of his wife, toward the figure entering through the door. He recognized the face, and it's cocky grin made him wary.
The figure, flanked by two much larger men, took in the scene, shaking his head, chuckling silently. Monica rested her palms on her husbands' chest to balance herself, looked back over her shoulder and squealed in surprise. Quickly she lifted herself from her husband's lap, reaching for a towel, half covering her lingerie clad body.
The man strode forward, standing over Damien, watching him struggle to release his hands, tied behind his back and to the chair.
"Your wife, she makes this easy for me," He said, glancing across at her, his eyes quickly gliding up and down the long tanned limbs protruding from the towel. Monica stared between them, uncomprehending.
The figure smiled casually, raising one hand languidly, extending two fingers. A heavy set man stepped forward, dumping a bag of cash on Damien's lap. He winced as they dropped down onto his quickly retreating erection.
The figure shrugged, tilting his head sympathetically.
"We needed a fall guy. What are you gonna do?"
Damien blinked, felt his mouth fall open but no words emerge.
The figure dragged up a chair, sat down, smiled the kind of smile usually reserved for timid children, his face close to Damien.
"Listen," He began, kindly, "It was a big job. The cops, they need somebody. They get somebody, the heat is off the rest of us. It's..." He paused, searching for the right words, "A tough break."
The figure glanced absent-mindedly around the room, patiently waiting for the penny to drop. His eyes fell again on Monica, and his lips curled into a smile. He turned to her, gesturing to the man behind him.
Monica stared back, thinking quickly, watching as the rotund bodyguard placed a cloth in her husband's mouth to silence his half formed protests. She took in the figure's sharply tailored suit, his broad shoulders and thick neck. The embers of fire between her legs, so recently stoked by the teasing lap dance given to her husband, returned anew.
The figure stood, addressed Monica.
"We're taking a flight, somewhere beautiful, beaches far away. Make the call from the plane, let the cops know this address. You can stay here. Or..."
The figure let the last syllable hang in the air. Monica looked across at her husband. Momentarily, she held his eye, before glancing downward, shamefully, her long raven hair half hiding her exquisite face. When she looked up again, it was toward the figure. Carelessly but deliberately she let the towel slip from her fingers. Delicately, as if on eggshells, she tottered toward him.
The figure slipped his hand around her waist, feeling the smooth warmth of the small of her back against his palm. Gently, he lifted her chin with one finger, his eyes fixed on the upward curve of her delicious breasts in her bra.