Book Two: Thirty Days, Book 2

by Bibi Paterson

  Am. In. Heaven. Why have I never done this before? Two hours pass and in that time I feel transformed. The girls even suggest sorting out my eyebrows to complement my new haircut, and I happily go along with their suggestion—until they start tweezing my stray hairs, that is. Bloody hell! I seriously don’t know how people do this on a regular basis.

  When, at last, we are finished, I let my mum know that I need to eat, so she suggests Camellia's Tea House for afternoon tea. When the dishes arrive, piled high with sandwiches, scones and cakes, I sigh with happiness. My first mouthful doesn’t disappoint, and I find my appetite making a grateful reappearance, for a short time anyway. We chat away happily and I tell her about David’s suggestion about the cooking classes and Taylor’s idea of expanding into the store next door.

  I see the worry in her eyes, but whereas once she would have just pooh-poohed the idea, now she listens carefully, asking questions now and again. When I finish, she reaches over and takes my hand, a soft smile on her face, and asks, “Do you think you are ready for this, darling?”

  In another time and place, this would have been the point I would have flown off the handle and accused Mum of interfering, but in the here and now, I simply accept it as her concern for me. “Yes, I think so, Mum. I mean, it is going to be a challenge, but I think I also need something to be able to focus on so that I can start to move forward. Nonna handed me Bread without me having to work for it, and here is my chance to take that opportunity and turn it into something more.”

  “Well, then your father and I will be here to support you in whatever way we can.”

  “Thanks, Mum. And thanks so much for today. I am having such a fab time, and you have really spoilt me.”

  “Pah, what are mums for if not to spoil their daughters? And it is not over yet.” She gives me a wicked look, and I can’t even begin to think of what she has in store for me next. We jump into a cab and it is not long before we are pulling up outside of Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge. Mum is such a regular that she is greeted by name as we walk through the store. It also helps that she has featured in a lot of their advertising over the years.

  It turns out Mum has already booked us in to the Personal Shopping suite and given the girls a rundown on my style and look, so there are a couple of rails already prepped and waiting for me. Seriously, what is it with people trying to play Barbie with me? Mum gives me a look daring me to make a scene, but I decide that it has been too nice a day, and we are having fun after all, so I choose to go along with it. As Mum sits back on the sofa, glass of champagne and a magazine in hand, I am ushered into the cubicle to be measured.

  Ellie, the head personal shopper, eyes me up critically before jotting down a couple of numbers and then disappears off to get me some underwear while her assistant, Kiki, starts bringing me different outfit combinations to try on. Okay, I admit it. I am having loads of fun. Mum and I giggle at some of the ‘fashion forward’ items that I try on, but on the whole, everything is spot on. I glance at the rapidly expanding rail of things I like and I start to panic slightly. “Mum, there is no way I can afford all of that,” I whisper when we are left alone for a couple of minutes.

  She waves her hand dismissively. “This is our treat, darling. Whenever I am feeling under the weather, new clothes always cheer me up.”

  “But, Mum, this is more than just a couple of outfits,” I counter.

  “Sweetheart, you are a businesswoman now and people will judge you on your appearance. Wearing clothes miles too big just sends the wrong message.”

  Okay, I admit that she has a point, but I can’t just let her buy all this stuff for me. I try to argue, but she is having none of it, and realising that I don’t want to fall out with her, I concede, but suggest narrowing down the amount of clothes on the rail. We flip through the outfits, focusing on the ones that have a little extra give to accommodate Bean as he/she grows. Mum even manages to persuade me to trade in my tatty old Converse for some new leather ones.

  It is coming up for five when Mum suggests I give Taylor a call and arrange to meet him in town rather than back in Brighton. She has a sneaky look in her eyes, and I see her whispering to Kiki and Ellie while I am on the phone. Taylor suggests meeting him in the bar at the Oxo Tower in an hour, and I am looking forward to surprising him with my new look.

  As I finish off the call, Kiki slips out, returning only moments later with a beautifully simple black jersey dress by Michael Kors. Ellie pulls out a fabulous bra of emerald green satin overlaid with black lace, and a matching pair of panties. She clips the tags and insists that I put the underwear on. With its draped neck and twisted front, the dress gives me back some of the curves that I have lost. I come out of the cubicle and do a twirl for my audience.

  “Shoes,” insists my mum, and Kiki pulls out a pair of gorgeous black Mary Janes with a large silver buckle. I add a pair of thigh-high stockings before pulling on the shoes, grateful that the moderate heels are not too high. I am looking at myself in the mirror, feeling rather like Cinderella transformed for the ball, when Ellie brings in a stunning wool cape with large wizard-style sleeves and a hood in emerald green. I usually shy away from such bright colours, but I am smitten! Ellie hands me a black clutch and I am ready to go.

  Well, I thought I was ready, but Mum takes me across to a chair and insists on adding some make-up. Having spent so many years with make-up artists, she always looks perfect, so I trust her not to go over the top. Minutes later I am staring at my reflection, speechless. My eyelids are smoky and the dark liner makes my eyes sparkle. A hint of blush on my cheeks and a slick of peachy gloss on my lips complete the makeover. “You look stunning, darling,” Mum murmurs. “You are going to knock his socks off.” She giggles softly and I smile across at her.

  “Thanks, Mum. Really, I have had such an amazing day. And not just because you have spoilt me rotten, which you have, but it has been fab hanging out together.” She pulls me into a big hug and squeezes me gently.

  .........................

  I am sat in the bar with my spiced apple cooler when I notice Taylor arrive. He looks around for me and I can see him getting slightly agitated, so when his gaze heads my way again, I lift my arm and wave gently. I am a little gratified by the shock that lights his face followed by a wolfish grin. Taylor strides over and, without a word, pulls me to my feet before kissing me passionately. I push him away gently, worried about making a scene, and Taylor steps back, his eyes caressing every inch of me. Leaning into my ear, Taylor whispers, “If we weren’t in public, I would have to fuck you right here right now. And I am not sure I can even hold off that long.”

  I giggle, a blush rising in my cheeks. “You like?” I ask softly. My panties are wet with arousal, and I really wish we were somewhere else right now.

  “Hell yeah. You are like a sexy siren from a dream. Who are you and what have you done with Abby?” he asks.

  I decide to play a little game, and counter, “She was a bit boring, so I left her behind. Just call me Roxy.” I have no idea where Roxy came from, but it just popped into my head.

  “Okay, Roxy,” Taylor says, playing along. “I am James. Would you care to join me for some dinner?”

  “I would love to, James.” Hmm, this is fun. Taylor scoops up my coat and offers his arm, leading me through to the restaurant. We chat and flirt, keeping things light as we maintain our charade until the end of the meal.

  “Do you fancy dessert?” Taylor/James asks as he shifts a little uncomfortably in his chair.

  Feeling brazen, even without alcohol in my system, I answer honestly, “Nope, I would rather you fuck me.” Wow, something about my new makeover is making me feel a little vixen-like.

  “Well, thank god for that.” Taylor quickly signals for the bill, and within minutes he is pulling me through the restaurant towards the lifts. As the doors close on us and Taylor realises we are alone, he turns, bringing his lips down on mine, crushing them in a passionate kiss. His hand slides under my dress in a soft caress
, and when his fingers finally dip into my wet folds, Taylor growls into my mouth. I can feel his massive erection digging into my hip and I am totally turned on, my pelvis tightening at the promise of what is to come. As the lift makes its descent down the eight floors, Taylor slips his fingers into me, massaging my clit with the heel of his hand.

  I come instantly, throwing my head back, a silent scream in my throat. As the waves of my orgasm subside, Taylor slides his fingers out, brings them up to his mouth and licks them suggestively. “The most delicious dessert ever, I think,” Taylor says, his voice low. I have just pulled my dress down and straightened my coat when the lift doors open to a crowd of people. Taking my arm, Taylor gently leads me out, my legs still feeling wobbly, and hails the first taxi that comes by.

  “Brighton or the apartment?” Taylor asks.

  As much as I don’t want to go to the apartment, I don’t think I will last until Brighton. My body is needy; a finger fuck in a lift is not enough to satisfy my growing hunger. “Apartment,” I answer, and Taylor gives the taxi driver the address. We sit in a silent tension through the short drive, Taylor’s fingers moving between mine, swirling them suggestively, and I feel like I might come again, even from such an innocent touch.

  It feels like an age before we are standing at the entrance to the apartment and Taylor is swiping his key card to gain access. I am suddenly apprehensive as I step over the threshold. The last time I was here, we had such horrible soulless sex I felt like dying, and now here I am again. I am not sure I am ready to go into Taylor’s bedroom, even though we had many amazing times in there as well. Sensing my uncertainty, Taylor leads me across to the living area, flicking on the low wall lamps as we go and starting the wood burner, while I kick off my shoes and tuck my feet under me as I sit on the large squishy sofa.

  Taylor comes to sit beside me, flinging off his jacket and tie. He stares at me for a minute before reaching across and gently pulling my head up so that my lips meet his. The kiss is gentle and teasing to start with as we both find our confidence. As if needing reassurance, Taylor murmurs, “Is this okay?” softly into my ear. I nod, and immediately the kiss intensifies as his hands roam across my body.

  “I need to see you naked, Abs,” Taylor says, his expression asking for permission. This is completely different from how Taylor has ever been with me. It is like he is scared to make the wrong move, so I reach up to stroke his face.

  “I want this, Taylor. You don’t have to ask.” With that, Taylor gently lifts the dress over my head and then pushes me down so that I am lying in the cushions. I hear Taylor’s sharp intake of breath as his gaze runs across my breasts, down to my scrap of panties and then further down to the tops of my stockings.

  “Fuck, Abby, you are so beautiful. I am going to do my best to go slow and gentle, but I warn you, it has been so long and you look so damn sexy that I can’t guarantee anything. But if it is too much or you want me to stop, please just say the word.”

  I can see we are both thinking the same thing, remembering that night when I didn’t say no and I should have. But we need to get past this. I need to move on and exorcise that memory that haunts my dreams. “I want this, Taylor,” I reassure him. “Please, I need to feel you inside of me.”

  Taylor starts kissing my neck, moving his hands in gentle circles as he caresses my skin. He moves lower, pulling aside the cups of my bra to expose my pert nipples, erect and waiting for his teeth to graze them. He continues further south, nipping, sucking and kissing, pausing only to place the gentlest of kisses on my belly. And then he is between my thighs, pulling off my panties while his teeth graze the tops of my stockings.

  Sparks of arousal are spiking through my veins, and I am so completely stirred that it takes only a couple of licks and I am falling apart, the waves of pleasure consuming me. And then Taylor is shifting above me, having discarded his clothes, the crown of his cock at my entrance, waiting to be invited in. I push my body down on him hard and I feel the length of him fill me all the way up as he hits that delicious spot inside of me.

  We are both breathing hard as we move together and I feel Taylor swelling inside of me. One final push and we are both coming together, our orgasms hard and intense. Emotion overwhelms me, and as my shudders subside, tears leak down my face. Immediately Taylor is wiping them away. “Abby, please tell me you are okay.”

  “I am fine, Taylor. Actually more than fine. That was perfect,” I whisper. Leaning down, Taylor gently kisses my nose before sliding out of me. He holds me for a couple of moments before disappearing off to fetch a washcloth to clean up. The fire is warm, so we lie for a while basking in its glow, snuggled in a blanket that Taylor has pulled over us. The day’s exertions catch up with me, and mesmerised by the flames and secure in Taylor’s arms, I drift off to sleep.

  The Fourth

  I wake disorientated. My last memory is of falling asleep on the couch, yet I am in a bed, tucked up into Taylor’s arms. I wriggle a little, trying to free myself so that I can go to the bathroom, my morning sickness making itself known. Taylor rolls over, freeing me, so I bolt to the bathroom just in time. As I glance around, I see everything is still where I left it, so I grab my toothbrush, grateful that I can freshen up my mouth.

  I pad back into the bedroom softly, not wanting to wake Taylor. It is still dark, so we have a little while before I have to head back to Brighton to start work. I look around the room that I know so well and realise something is bugging me; something is different and I just can’t put my finger on it.

  “It’s the bed. It’s new.” Taylor’s voice startles me, and I glance across to see him holding open the duvet for me to get back into bed. As I snuggle into his chest, I listen as Taylor starts to talk. “After that night I just couldn’t bear to sleep in here, knowing what I had done, so I got rid of it all. The bed, the sheets, the bedding—all of it. I needed a clean slate.”

  I don’t know what to say. I never imagined for a moment that Taylor was as affected as I was by that night, but I guess he was. I place a gentle kiss on his chest. “Now it is time to forget. I forgive you, and now you need to forgive yourself. We will never move forward if we can’t get over this.”

  “Okay,” Taylor whispers before kissing the top of my head gently. “You smell like strawberries,” Taylor suddenly says. And like that we move on.

  “Um, I think it was the conditioner at the salon,” I say.

  “Hmm, you smell good enough to eat,” Taylor says before he starts trailing kisses down my neck. He gently rolls me over so my back is to his chest. His arms spoon me as they roam my body, hands massaging my breasts and pulling on my nipples, fingers dipping into my wet folds, teeth nipping at my sensitive earlobes and my exposed neck.

  As Taylor rubs my clit, I find myself pushing backwards onto Taylor’s erection. “Hmm, you are greedy this morning,” Taylor murmurs into my ear, his hot breath sending shivers down my spine. He pushes himself into me, maintaining a constant delicious pressure on my clit. I groan, the stimulation making sensitive peaks of nipples that need a release. Taylor starts to move in me slowly, mirroring the action with the finger working my clit. His other hand snakes around and pinches a nipple. Hard.

  I cry out as an unexpected orgasm hits me. Taylor never stops and instead repeats his action on the other nipple, causing me to arch and cry out once again as a second orgasm slams into me. “That’s it, baby. Hold on, we are going for a ride.” Taylor flips me onto my knees before pulling out and slamming into me with a force that sends me spiralling. Again and again waves of pleasure course through me until Taylor finally comes with one last pump, his explosion rocking through my core.

  Breathless, I collapse forward, my head on the pillow, completely spent. Taylor remains buried in me as he softens, propped on his elbows, trailing kisses along my shoulders and on my back. We lie like that for a while before Taylor gently slides out of me and heads to the bathroom. I hear water running and then Taylor is back, scooping me up before carrying me through and sett
ling me down in the bubbles.

  “Scoot forward,” Taylor says, and I make way for him to join me. I relax against Taylor’s chest as I fill him in on my shopping trip the day before. I can feel him smiling when I tell him about George and having my hair cut. “You look seriously sexy with your hair like that!” Taylor growls as he nips playfully at my ear. And I can’t wait to see you in your other outfits if they are anything like that dress you were wearing last night.”

  I splash at Taylor playfully. “Nope, mostly jeans and tops and stuff that will last a while before I need maternity stuff. Though I did get some super-sexy new Converse,” I joke.

  “Hmm, well, maybe you can model them for me later with those stockings.” I stick my tongue out at Taylor, feeling grateful that we have managed to recover some of our playfulness. I really have missed this side of him.

  .........................

  I am heading up the stairs to my flat, my arms full, as dusk is falling, when I hear Taylor arguing with someone. Thinking that he is on the phone, I head straight to the kitchen to deposit in the fridge my cinnamon buns that I have prepped for the morning. When I hear the voice of Nicola, Taylor’s sister, raised as well, I stop in my stride.

  “What the hell, Taylor, I thought you and Abby were back together?” Nicola shouts. The question halts me in my tracks, and I stay put, waiting to hear what is coming next.

  “We are back together, Stix. I don’t get why you have stormed in here and started yelling at me.” I can hear the confusion in Taylor’s voice, and I am right there with him.

  “Then why are you cheating on her?” What the fuck? My hands clench into fists, my nails digging deep into my palms.

  “Seriously, I have no idea what you are going on about. There is no way in hell I would cheat on Abby and you know that!” Taylor is practically yelling at his baby sister, and I can only imagine the fortitude it is taking for Nicola to stand there and take it.