by Lizzy Grey
She flushed and peered down at her hands. “Those things you said to me; with my horrible scar, I assumed you said that to all the women you slept with.”
“No,” he said softly, and she heard him come to her and crouch down beside the chair. “And then the evening of your birthday party.” He tilted her chin up and she saw him smile. “I’ve never wanted a woman as much as you that evening and when you walked out of the hotel room after the two hours, I’m not ashamed to say that I cried because I thought I’d never see you again.”
He kissed her lips and she slid her hands around the back of his neck and pulled him towards her for a deeper kiss. His lips slid down from her mouth to her neck and his hands fumbled for her white v-neck T-shirt before pulling it up and over her head and dropping it onto the floor. His lips returned to her neck and he kissed and licked his way down to her breasts. He dipped his tongue in and out of her cleavage before pulling her breasts free of her bra.
“Let me take the bra off.” She reached behind, undid the hooks and eyes, and slid the straps down her arms.
Taking it from her, he dropped it on the floor beside her T-shirt before returning to her cleavage and kissing his way up and down her scar before pulling noisily at her nipples with his lips.
“I want to suck your clit,” he whispered, “lift yourself up”. She did, and he eased her panties down her legs and over her shoes. Sitting down again, she opened her legs and stroked his hair as he dipped his head between her thighs. She felt his lips settle on her clit and his tongue touch it and give it a little lick. It made her jerk and she felt him exhale a smile. When he began to suck, she threw her head against the back of the chair and gripped the arms, trying not to jerk but it was no use. Moaning, she thrust herself into his face before sinking down, gasping for air. “I think you enjoyed that.”
“Yes.”
“I think our tea’s gone cold.”
“I don’t care,” she replied and he laughed, taking her hand, and helping her to her feet. They went to the tea tray and she lightly touched the side of the cup with green tea in it. “Still warm,” she said and took a sip. “Jamie?”
He swallowed a sip of his own tea. “Mmm?”
“When we’re finally together, I’m going to try and get a job. I’m not one of those Ladies who Lunches. It was sheer boredom which led me to start drinking.”
“Come and work with me at the agency.”
“Making tea?” she teased.
“As my receptionist.”
“But you have one already?”
“Yes, and she’s just told me she’s pregnant and wants to leave at Christmas. She can show you the ropes in the meantime. How about it?” he offered.
“Will I have my own office?”
He smiled. “Yes. Why?”
“If we had to share an office we wouldn’t get any work done.”
“So, is that a yes?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
“Good.” He put his cup down then reached for hers and put it beside his own. “Come and lie on the bed.” She followed him onto the bed and lay down with her head on his chest. “We need to talk about where we’re going to live. I’m going to get my apartment valued. Then, when you’re divorced, we’ll pool our resources and see what we can afford to buy.”
“I’d love a house.” She slipped her hand under his shirt and smoothed her fingers over his chest. “Marcus’ house is lovely, but it’s never felt like home. I want a family home.”
He eased her onto her back and smiled down at her. “How many children?”
“Two? I hated being an only child.”
He nodded. “I hated being on my own, as well. Two, it is.” He ran a hand over her stomach and down between her legs. “It’ll be fun making babies,” he murmured. “But, for now, we need to be careful.”
Getting off the bed, he pulled his shirt off and undid his trousers. She raised herself up onto an elbow and watched him push them and his boxer shorts down. His cock sprang out and she smiled.
“I’ll never get tired of seeing your beautiful cock.” She crawled to the edge of the bed and reached out to kiss it.
“No.” He pulled back and she stared up at him in astonishment.
“What?”
“Not in your mouth.”
She sat back on the bed. “I just wanted to kiss it,” she told him and he closed his eyes. “Jamie.” She got off the bed and clasped his face in her hands, trying to ignore his cock pressing into her stomach. “Look at me.” Sighing, he opened his eyes. “What is it?” she asked. “I’ve made you come with the tip of my tongue but you’ve never wanted it in my mouth. Why?”
“You don’t want to know,” he muttered.
“I do. Please tell me. Please?”
Taking her hand, he led her to the bed, and they sat down. “I was four when I was taken into care, my parents died soon after, so I was a mess. No-one wanted to adopt me. I was fostered out from time to time but I always ended up back in one care home or another. In one of the homes, the manager took a shine to me.” He closed his eyes again momentarily. “I won’t spell it out but, my cock will never be in anyone’s mouth ever again.”
Tears stung her eyes. “Oh, Jamie.”
“He was found and convicted eventually, but I’m sure I wasn’t the only kid he abused.”
“I’m so sorry.”
He shook his head and kissed her forehead. “The bastard’s in prison, hopefully getting a taste of his own medicine.”
“Have you spoken to anyone about this? A counsellor or a therapist, I mean?”
“You’re the first person I’ve ever told. And you’ll probably never want me inside you ever again.”
“Oh, Jamie.” She stroked his face. “Of course I will.” She reached down and ran her fingers along his cock. “Because I love you and I love your cock. Thank you for telling me. Will you allow me to kiss it better?”
He stared at her for a moment before nodding and she got off the bed and onto her knees. Taking his cock in her hand, she gently kissed the tip. Fighting an urge to kiss the entire length, she raised her head. He was watching her intently and she got up and kissed his lips.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
“Make love to me?” she asked and he nodded, reaching for his jacket. She climbed back onto the bed, hearing him with a condom. She lay down, opened her legs and watched as he crawled up the bed to her. He slid slowly into her and she exhaled a happy sigh. “Make me come slowly?”
“I was thinking exactly the same thing,” he said as he withdrew and pushed back in. “A lazy fuck springs to mind but I’d rather call it something else. I’ll have a think later.”
She smiled and ran her hands up his back to his shoulders, feeling the muscles moving as he pulled out and pushed back in at a slow but steady pace. He brought her steadily to orgasm and she bucked against him, crying out, and clawing his buttocks.
“Oh, God, I’ve made you bleed,” she gasped, bringing her hand up to her face and gazing in horror at her nails. “Oh, God, Jamie, I’m sorry.”
To her relief, he just laughed and kissed her lips. She was definitely the luckiest woman in the world.
Chapter Eleven
On the morning of their first wedding anniversary, Marcus got up from the dining room table as she went into the room for breakfast, and gave her a wry smile.
“Going out today?”
“I hadn’t planned to. It would have looked very strange. You?”
He shook his head. “How about we binge on some box sets?”
She looked at him in surprise then grinned. “A box set binge sounds great.”
“Good. I’ll ask for some popcorn.”
“Guess what I spend my first wedding anniversary doing?” she asked Jamie when she rang him that night.
“Lunch or dinner at your parents’?”
“Nope.”
“Some party with the hoi polloi?”
She laughed. “No. Okay, I’ll put you out of your misery. Marcus
and I ate our own bodyweight in popcorn while watching two complete box sets.” There was a shocked silence. “Honest.”
“You never fail to amaze me, you know?”
“In a good way, I hope?” she teased.
“Of course. So, what is Marcus into, or shouldn’t I ask?”
“It was some vampire thing. Not really my cup of tea but it passed the time.”
“I’m glad you and he get on so well now.”
“You are?”
“If you didn’t, I’d be terrified you’d have a relapse.”
“I haven’t had a craving in weeks now,” she told him proudly.
“Good. Can’t wait to see you tomorrow. I love you.”
She was leaving The Cranford Hotel the following evening when she heard her name being called. Oh, God, it was Amanda. Stop or keep walking, she asked herself and gave into the urge to keep walking.
“Freya?” She heard feet running behind her and her arm was grabbed. “Freya, stop.”
“Amanda?” She feigned surprise. “Sorry, I was miles away.”
“How are you? Liz and I haven’t seen you in weeks.”
“I had a craving one morning but I’m fine now.”
“’You sure? I saw you coming out of that hotel.”
“Yes, I’m fine. Cravings are all part and parcel of being a recovering alcoholic.”
Amanda’s face crumpled in sympathy. “Let me get you a cab.”
“Amanda,” she snapped. “I wasn’t in the bar. I went into the hotel to use the toilet and change my tampon.” Might as well try and embarrass Amanda into leaving her alone. “Okay?”
“Okay. Fine.” Amanda turned on her heel and walked away.
“Shit.”
Her iPhone rang while she was on her way home in a cab. It was Marcus.
“Freya, I’ve just had Amanda on the phone.”
“I know. She saw me coming out of The Cranford Hotel and thinks I’m back drinking again.” There was a silence. “I’m not,” she added firmly.
“Good. Where are you?”
“On my way home.”
“Okay, I’ll speak to you when you get back.”
Closing the front door, twenty minutes later, Marcus came into the hall, and watched as she hung her jacket up.
“I am not drinking again,” she said immediately.
“You and Jamie are going to have to use different hotels.”
“Marcus, it was purely by chance that Amanda saw me.”
“Even so.”
“All right.” She sighed. “I’ll tell Jamie.”
“It’s not for much longer.” He gave her an encouraging wink.
In her bedroom, she kicked off her shoes and fished her iPhone out of her handbag. Scrolling down to Amanda’s name, she pressed call. It rang and rang and she was about to press End Call when Amanda answered.
“Freya.”
“Amanda, I want to apologise. I should be grateful to people for being worried about me.”
“Promise me you’re not drinking again?”
“I promise. Look,” she continued brightly. “I haven’t seen you and Liz in ages. Can we meet up for a coffee sometime soon?”
“I’m free tomorrow afternoon. I’ll ask Liz and one of us will text you in the morning, okay?”
“Okay.”
That sorted out, she rang Jamie. His number was busy so she left him a message, telling him about Amanda seeing her outside The Cranford Hotel, that they needed to meet in different hotels from now on and that she loved him before ending the call.
A text message woke her at half past eight in the morning. Groaning, she reached for her iPhone. The message was from Liz.
Just spoken 2 Amanda. Would luv 2 meet up 4 coffee. 2 pm @ The Beanz?
She smiled and pressed reply.
Yes, sounds gr8. C U then!
As she got ready to go out after lunch, she found herself looking forward to the meetup. This wasn’t a duty one, and she wasn’t rushing off afterwards to look for cock. It was just a pity she was still keeping a huge secret from them. What would they do, or say, when she told them that her lover was ‘Simon’?
Both Liz and Amanda were in the coffee shop when she went in and got up to hug her.
“You look great,” Liz kissed her on both cheeks then made way for Amanda.
“I’m sorry about…” Amanda tailed off.
“No, don’t be,” she assured her. “I’m just going to get myself a coffee.” She ordered and paid for an Americano and brought the cup and saucer back to the table. “I’ve really missed this,” she admitted as she sat down. “Can we make this a regular thing again?”
“Definitely.” Liz gave her a grin. “So, how are you?”
“I’m very well. There was a little bit of a wobble – bad cravings – but I didn’t give in to it and I’m now on a mission to track down the best coffee in London.”
They all laughed and she sipped her coffee. It wasn’t bad but she’d had better.
“How’s Marcus?” Amanda asked.
She couldn’t very well tell them that he couldn’t wait for their divorce, so she smiled. “I think he’s discovered golf.”
“Oh, no.”
“I don’t mind. Honestly. It gives me more time for shopping and meeting you two.” They smiled and she squirmed then jumped as her iPhone phone heralded a message. “Sorry.” She reached into her handbag and lifted the phone out. Her heart lurched, it was from Jamie.
Will check out some other hotels. And make sure they have amazing beds. Love you
“Marcus?” Liz asked and her head jerked up, hoping she wasn’t blushing.
“Oh. Yes. He’s got an eagle. Whatever that is.”
“It’s some golf score thing.”
“Oh, I see. Like a birdie?”
“I think so,” Liz replied. “Don’t let him turn you into a golf widow, will you?”
“I won’t.”
“Aren’t you going to reply?” Liz nodded to the phone.
“Um. Yes.”
Holding the iPhone at an angle so they couldn’t see what she was typing, she sent Jamie a reply.
I love you too
“You’re blushing,” Amanda teased. “That’s so sweet.” Freya just stopped herself from glaring at her. She may have been sweet once. She was anything but sweet now. “Let me congratulate him, too.” Before Freya could stop her, Amanda had grabbed the phone and pressed reply. It only took her a split second to realize she wasn’t replying to Marcus. “Who’s Jamie?” she gasped.
“None of your business.” She snatched the phone back.
“Freya, are you having an affair?”
“Oh, shit.” She stuffed the phone back into her handbag.
“Does Marcus know?”
“Yes.” She zipped the bag closed as Amanda’s mouth dropped open.
“He does? Freya, what the hell is going on?”
“Not here. Come back to the house.”
“Oh, Freya.” Liz clapped a hand to her mouth.
“Come back to the house.” She got up and went out onto the street, scrolling down her contacts list for Marcus and ringing the number. “Marcus,” she said as he answered. “Just shut up and listen. Liz and Amanda have found out about Jamie. I’m bringing them back to the house now, I just wanted to give you a head start.”
“Do they know about me?” he demanded as she jabbed a hand into the air to hail a cab.
“No, nothing. We’ll be fifteen minutes.” She ended the call and climbed into the cab, Liz and Amanda following her.
They travelled in silence and got out of the cab as Marcus himself opened the front door and watched as she paid the driver.
“Go through to the drawing room,” he said as they went inside.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered but he just shrugged and closed the door.
“It was bound to happen to one of us sooner or later.” He followed them into the drawing room and the door swung shut.
“Freya’s phone,” Amanda b
egan. “I thought she was texting you, Marcus...”
“…But she was actually texting Jamie?” he finished.
“You know?” Amanda added.
“Yes.”
“But she’s having an affair.”
“I know. So am I.” They all stared at him. “Let’s sit down, shall we?” He waited for them to sit on the sofa before continuing. “Okay. What I tell you does not go outside this room. If I see it repeated anywhere, to put it bluntly, I will sue the arse off you both. Is that understood?”
“Yes,” they both squeaked.
“Good. Well, the bottom line is that our marriage hasn’t been a success and we will be divorcing soon.”
“Soon?” Amanda asked.
“We don’t want our divorce to affect Daddy’s new position in the cabinet,” Freya explained.
“But aren’t you even a little bit upset?” Liz added incredulously. “You’ve only been married a year?”
“I think we’re being very adult about it, don’t you think?”
“Well…” Liz was completely at a loss.
“We thought the two of you were happy,” Amanda said. “I mean, Marcus, you were so worried when Freya went into the clinic.”
“I care about Freya very much and I hope we will always be friends. We just don’t love each other and I’m so glad that we’ve both found someone who we do love and will be happy with. Now, who’s for tea?”
“Tea?” Liz’s jaw dropped and Freya fought an absurd urge to laugh.
“No,” Amanda replied and got up. “No, I think we’ll go.”
“I’m sorry.” Freya got to her feet. “But we’ve been trying so hard to keep it a secret.”
“I’m not surprised. Anything else you’ve been keeping from us?” Amanda asked crisply. Freya sighed and Amanda gave her a bitter smile. “Some friend you’ve turned out to be. Don’t worry about us keeping our mouths shut because as of now we don’t know either of you. Come on, Liz.” She pulled her friend to her feet and they went out to the hall, the front door opening and slamming behind them.
“Shit,” Freya whispered and her voice shook.
