Stone Barrington 06-11

bottle: a Chateau Haut-Brion ’66. “I never thought I’d be drinking this,” he said.
    “Stick around,” Sarah said. “I’ll ruin your liver for you.”

    “Sarah, you’re not to tell anyone that Dino and I are staying here.”
    “And why not?”
    “Because I don’t want anyone to know.”
    “Dear, don’t be so old-fashioned.”
    “That’s not what I mean. I’m involved in some very delicate business, and the competition is unscrupulous. I don’t want them to know my whereabouts. If someone should call you asking for me, you can tell them I’ve moved from the Connaught, but you don’t know where.”
    “Oh, all right, if you say so. It’s all very cloak-and-dagger, isn’t it?”
    “Yes, I suppose it is.” More than she knew.

    After dinner and brandy, Stone went upstairs and turned on the taps in the huge, old-fashioned bathtub. He had just settled in for a soak, with the lights dimmed, when Sarah came into the bathroom. She was quite naked, and it was the first good look he’d had at her that way for a long time.
    “How about some company?” she said, sliding into the tub, facing him.
    “Mmmm,” he replied, closing his eyes.
    A moment later, he felt her hand on his crotch.
    “I think we have to get this clean,” she said, and she began soaping it.
    Stone held onto the sides of the tub.
    “Now it’s clean,” she said, “and we have to get it warm.” She climbed on top of him and brought him inside her. “There,” she sighed. She began moving, slowly, in and out.
    Stone responded favorably.
    She reached behind her and took his testicles in her hand, still moving, now massaging gently.

    Stone sat up and put his arms around her, cupping her buttocks in his hands, helping her move.
    “Don’t you dare come before me,” she breathed, moving faster.
    Stone ran a finger down between her cheeks, letting it pass lightly back and forth over her anus, then he inserted a finger.
    Sarah came explosively, and he was right behind her. They writhed in the tub until they were both spent, then she put her head on his shoulder and wrapped herself around him. “I love a hot bath, don’t you?” she said.
    “Oh, yes,” Stone replied. “I don’t know why anyone ever bothered inventing the shower.”
    They stayed that way until the water began to get cold, then they dried each other and went into the bedroom, where they started over, this time with Stone on top.
    Sarah lifted her legs and put her ankles on Stone’s shoulders. “Now,” she said, “all the way in.”
    Stone gave her everything. They lasted longer this time, changing positions, trying this and that—every orifice, every erotic pressure point, until in one final, earth-rocking spasm, they gave in to the climax, both crying out.
    From down the hall, Stone heard Dino’s voice.
    “Can you two hold it down a little? A guy could get horny.”
    “Want me to go take care of that?” Sarah asked Stone from his shoulder.
    “Remember Mary Ann,” Stone said. “She’d track you down and kill you. Never underestimate a Sicilian woman.”
    “Good point,” Sarah said, and they fell asleep.

47
    AFTER BREAKFAST, SARAH LEFT THE house, and Stone called Lance Cabot.
    “Hello?” He sounded sleepy.
    “It’s Stone; I’m ready to deal on this thing, if you’re ready to talk.”
    “How soon can you get the money together?”
    “I faxed my broker yesterday; the funds can be transferred with a phone call. But not until you’ve told me everything.”
    “Lunch?”
    “Where?”
    “At the Connaught again?”
    “I’ve moved out of the Connaught.”
    “Why?”
    “I discovered yesterday that Hedger had put a tail on me. Last night, I moved to another hotel, a lot farther from the embassy.”
    “Which hotel?”
    “I’ll keep that to myself.”
    “What’s the matter, do you think Hedger and I are in league?”
    “I doubt that.”
    “How can I reach you?”
    “I’ve rented a cellphone.” Stone gave him the number.

    “All right, there’s a restaurant out west of London called the Waterside Inn, in a village called Bray; do you know it?”
    “I’ll find it.”
    “I’ll pick you up, if you like.”
    “No, I have some other things to do; I’ll meet you there.”
    “One o’clock?”
    “Fine.” Stone hung up and called Mason’s number.
    “Yes?”
    “I’m on for lunch with Cabot at one o’clock.”
    “I’ll send one of our taxis.”
    “No, it’s at a place called the Waterside Inn, in Bray.”
    “Oh, yes; I