companies have established substantial trading ties with our country, but most of this is product based, not resource investment.’ She paused to eat, sipping tea before continuing. ‘Frankly, I found it so frustrating, I finally withdrew from the promotional tours.’
‘And now?’ he asked.
Sharon pulled a face. ‘Needed to do some shopping. Manila’s department stores aren’t exactly up there with Saks. The mining conference provided the opportunity, that’s all.’ Campbell was reminded of the magnificent cocktail dress he had soiled.
‘I meant, what keeps you occupied when you’re at home?’ he pried.
Sharon smiled demurely. ‘Do you mean am I married?’
Campbell laughed. ‘Yes, something like that. As it would seem that you know considerably more about me, I think it only fair you reveal all your dark secrets.’
‘Why would these necessarily be dark?’ she countered.
‘Perhaps I should have said, ‘mysterious’?’ He was enjoying the banter.
It was Sharon’s turn to laugh. ‘Don’t you think that a little mystique keeps the men guessing?’ At that moment their waiter appeared, saving her from having to elaborate. He divided the remaining fish carefully, and then withdrew.
‘When do you return to Manila?’ Campbell wanted to know.
‘Tomorrow,’ was her brief reply.
‘Back to work?’
‘No,’ Sharon responded, affecting a touch of weariness in her voice. ‘Let’s not talk shop anymore. Agreed?’
‘Fine by me,’ he promised. ‘Would you like anything else?’
Sharon shook her head. ‘No. I’d like to return to the hotel now if you don’t mind.’ She paused, observing Campbell’s disappointment then added, ‘We could have a nightcap back in the room, if you wish.’ The invitation clearly raised his spirits.
‘Then what are we still doing here?’ Campbell settled the bill as quickly as protocol would permit, and escorted his beautiful companion back down to the lobby where they caught a taxi to the Grand Hyatt.
* * * *
Stewart Campbell placed his arm around Sharon’s shoulders and pulled her gently towards him. She did not resist, turning to face him with willing lips and they kissed, the warmth of the exchange and her intoxicating perfume sending exotic signals through to his loins. His hand moved to her firm breasts, their fullness exciting him even more.
‘Not here,’ she pulled away, taking his hands in hers, the blood beating loudly in Campbell’s ears. Neither spoke during the remaining ride, their silence maintained even after they had entered Sharon’s suite where they immediately embraced, undressing each other with impatient passion before collapsing to the thickly carpeted floor.
Stewart was in no way disappointed when his eyes fell upon Sharon’s naked figure, the soft curves and light brown skin accentuating her beauty. His hands groped her breasts, squeezing her erect nipples roughly and Sharon cried out, biting his lip with the pain. With the taste of blood in their mouths they remained locked, their sexual frenzy driving them together and they coupled, naturally, Campbell’s length penetrating her so deeply she cried out, again, lifting her knees high and wide as he moved within her. She felt one hand slide down through the soft mound between her legs, the touch of his fingers causing Sharon to writhe uncontrollably as he continued to thrust with growing urgency. The tempo grew, their bodies rocking together wildly until Campbell’s hot, rhythmic moans triggered warm ripples which rose from deep inside her womb and she gasped, her own spasms in concert with his, their climax sending sensuous waves flooding through their bodies. In those few, brief, but delirious moments, they floated together, the warmth of his ejaculation causing Sharon to shudder. Then he sighed, heavily, totally spent.
They remained embraced, each slowly slipping back from the sexual summit they had just climbed, their heartbeats gradually slowing as they lay there, lost in the afterglow. Sharon shivered involuntarily as the air conditioner spilled tons of cold air into the room and Stewart rolled to one side, this time gently caressing her still erect nipples with his tongue, bringing a murmur of delight to her lips.
‘Enough,’ she pleaded, kissing him tenderly on the shoulder. ‘I’m freezing!’ With that, Sharon rose slowly and made her way to the bathroom, reappearing shortly after wearing a pink, toweling dressing gown. ‘Are you staying?’ she asked, lighting her second cigarette for the evening, drawing heavily as she did so. In the dim light Stewart could see the end glow, wondering how offended she might be if he elected to sleep in his own bed.
‘I’ll stay if you want me to,’ he said, gathering his clothing. He felt foolish standing there naked, but did not wish to dress until the matter of where he would spend the night had been resolved.
‘I’m okay,’ Sharon told him. ‘We could have breakfast together by the pool?’
Relieved, Stewart dressed and went to her side. ‘We could have breakfast here instead,’ he suggested, bending down to kiss her softly on the forehead.
‘I’d prefer it at the pool. Besides, I always take an early swim.’
‘Then the pool it is,’ he agreed, ‘give me a ring when you are ready. Okay?’
‘I’ll meet you there after eight,’ she promised, reaching up and dragging his mouth to hers. Reluctantly, he responded, the lingering smell of cigarette smoke on her breath spoiling the moment.
****
Sharon lay back on the sofa thinking about her brief interlude with the American. She had not misled her temporary lover with respect to her having initiated inquiries regarding his availability to work in the Philippines. In fact, Sharon Ducay had spent considerable time and effort investigating Stewart, before arriving at the conclusion that he would not be acceptable for the project that she and her uncle had in mind. General consensus supported her assessment of the well-known expatriate geologist. Stewart Campbell was far too much of an idealist to willingly become involved in anything like what she and the General had planned. Their meeting had been coincidental. Sharon’s purpose in attending the conference was to hold discussions with Alexander Kremenchug but, as a last minute change in his plans prevented their introduction, she had decided to stay the day and shop. Meeting the handsome Campbell had merely been a bonus. As she lay stretched out on the well-cushioned sofa, Sharon’s hand dropped to the soft, dark mound between her thighs and she closed her eyes, conjuring up Stewart’s firm body in her mind, as she stroked herself gently.
****
Stewart Campbell came alive to the eight o’clock wake-up call, showered, dressed for the swimming pool and then rode the lift down twelve floors to the scenic setting. Coconut trees hung over the pool area providing questionable shade, and Stewart settled down with a fruit juice waiting for Sharon to appear.
At eight forty-five he knew she had overslept; by nine o’clock he had returned to his room, disappointed, when the hotel reception’s informed him that Miss Sharon Ducay had checked out at seven and returned to the Philippines without so much as leaving him a note.
****
Borneo Gold Corporation
Vancouver – Jakarta
‘I have Chris here with me now, Eric, and he is rightfully pissed. The drilling results bear no fucking resemblance to the first survey report you sent him!’
Alex Kremenchug’s vitriolic outburst was expected, the party listening at the other end nonchalantly lighting a kretek cigarette as he played out the scene, permitting Kremenchug’s tirade to appear genuine.
‘Mine wasn’t a full survey,’ Eric Baird’s defensive voice could be heard on the speaker-phone. ‘Had I been given the necessary funds, I could have provided an extensive drilling