Sally reached out to him and hugged him to her. “Yeah, it’s horrible, isn’t it? Although I know he cheated on me, I still expect Dougie to walk ...n, pick up the boys, give me a kiss and ... and ... I can’t believe he’s gone! What a stupid, stupid, wasteful way for his life to end.“I know I was divorcing him and you were divorcing Sally, but ... fuck! After what happened to them, I don’t know what to feel, how to react.”Mike nodded in agreement. “Yeah, I know. It’s a pity we didn’t have some. With more alacrity than I expected, she did as she was told, reaching behind her with both hands to hold the hem up above her ass. The visual contrast of her white, creamy skin with the black undergarments was stark. I idly traced a finger along the tops of her stockings, finding the soft, delicate skin just above, and pinching it lightly between thumb and forefinger. Not enough to leave a mark or even hurt, but to let her know I could. Her breathing was rapid, almost ragged. Her body trembled. “Help me!” she cried weakly. “I don’t want to be burned alive…”“You want me to kill you?” Tanya asked, her voice unsteady and her eyes blinded with smoky tears.“I don’t want to burn…” she replied, hesitantly. Tanya blinked her eyes clear for a moment. The woman was an adult, probably only in her mid-thirties, but the look in her eyes told Tanya that she knew her life was over.“Do you have a monitor?” she asked the woman on the table.“He took it out,” she replied and moved her eyes to show where. "That contract with Deuters? You know the one for the little bit of ourdata warehouse code? Looks like they now want to buy the whole lot! AndI've got to get over there and seal the deal tonight." He was madlypacking up things as he spoke. "Look Kel, could you do me a favour andstay in the house for a few days while I'm away? You can use Ayesha'sroom. I'd really appreciate it."It seemed my dreams were all coming true. "Sure" I stammered, "beats thepants off my bedsit." And followed him around.