Healing Hands

by Hoy, E. S

  Barbee spotted her on her way up the stairs “Sophie honey let me have a cuddle before you disappear, “She obliged with a hug, Barbee was such a warm effervescent woman you couldn't help but love her, she let her go and then went back to ordering poor Florence around then roping Marcus Don and Duncan into some important party tasks, Marcus winked as she left them to it. The bedroom had also been painted, white washed walls reminded her of France, she ran herself a bath and arranged her outfit on the bed.

  The bath felt wonderful and Sophie sank into the bubbles, she was really excited about telling everyone their news tonight, even though it was a relatively whirl wind romance she knew everyone would be happy for them. When her skin was buffed and smoothed she wrapped herself in a white fluffy robe and sat in front of the mirror to dry her hair, Marcus walked in naked and got straight into her second hand bath water, and she caught a glimpse of his cute backside on the way past though and gave him a cheeky whistle. Leaving him to it she went to choose her lingerie Sophie selected a skin tight lacy black Basque with matching panties the Basque fitted beautifully and was padded so added even more volume to her already substantial bust, she bent down to moisturise her legs and felt two warm hands pull her hips into his awaiting erection she gasped as he teased her entrance with his finger he slid inside circling her and with his thumb pressing her clit until she was wet then he drove his erection all the way in Sophie stifled a scream but stayed exactly where she was, it was so sensual the way he had just invaded her no talking just pure desire, he pounded into her on and on until she shattered into pieces and he followed straight after with one last thrust, he sat down still inside her and held her in his arms, he hadn't softened and she was aware that this position sat astride him away was hitting a very sensitive place just inside, so she rubbed herself against him getting the friction just perfect he freed her breasts from behind and rolled her nipples between his thumb and finger, she groaned loudly her head leaning back against his neck as she rubbed herself on his length, he held her hips and assisted her rhythm pulling her backwards so he pushed deeper then they both exploded in one loud cry pulsing and trembling his arms wrapped around her nuzzling her neck. “sweetheart that was our appetizer, tonight I intend to have main course and desert” he slid out of her and picked her up carried her into the bathroom and sat her on the edge of the basin and washed her with a face cloth, she was mewling as he rubbed her sensitive folds of skin still swollen and throbbing, he stopped the teasing and pulled her thighs around his waist and kissed her gently “I love the under wear darling, could you tell!” she giggled against his mouth I think I may keep it on all the time if it makes you this horny you perv” he laughed “baby a bin bag would do it as long as I could see your tits through it, they are my new addiction.”

  He lifted her down and smacked her bottom” get dressed wench the guests will be here soon, the sooner they arrive the sooner we can get back up here for the main event” he grinned mischievously at her as she left him to have a shave.

  Sophie was ready, she was wearing a little black dress strapless and boned so it fitted like a second skin it was rather short but showed her tanned legs perfectly and had little sparkles all over it which made it shimmer the sheer bodice curved round her breasts and the lace of her Basque was just visible, she wore her hair loose and curly large diamanté drop ear rings and a stunning diamanté choker that drew your eye to her best assets the Black jewelled Jimmy Chu's matched perfectly. Marcus finished doing his tie in the bathroom then came out to check his future bride was ready for him, he was stunned as usual at her beauty she looked so sexy tonight he was transfixed by those breasts they were practically a health risk he would have an aching cock all night unless he tried to focus his eyes away, he adjusted his trousers and swallowed hard, “baby you look unbelievable tonight, I will have a job concentrating, come lets go and welcome the guests”

  Sophie shyly took his hand feeling nervous this was a big night for her, the end of the nightmare and the start of a new beginning and new adventures; they held hands and walked down the stairs both excited for what was to come.

  Chapter 25 Sophie and Marcus went straight to the living room and Florence was there laying out nibbles to go with the wine and champagne, they grabbed a glass of the Moet each and joined their parents, Diane looked stunning in a pale grey trouser suit her highlighted pixie hair cut had been gelled to look spiky she had killer heels and a pretty chiffon blouse, her figure was similar to Sophie’s without the extra cleavage, Barbee was chic in a black shift dress that was full length and elongated her so she looked taller than her five feet, Don was looking dapper in his tux. Duncan and Louisa arrived then with Louisa's brother Bruno he squealed with delight at the way the room was set up he was obviously proud of his handiwork and Florence and he were gushing over each other, Louisa walked over and hugged us both, Duncan grabbed a drink for them both and joined the group, Louisa looked smart in skin tight trousers and a colourful long tunic that gave her slight figure extra volume her black hair smoothed back into a cute chignon, she linked her arm into Sophie’s, she could sense a real friendship developing between them, she heard another squeal and Bruno bounded over to her, he was so obviously camp, his tux was sparkly and his bow tie bright blue his jet black hair slicked into a perfect quiff, he was a stunning creature easily could pass as a woman his features were so dainty, “my darling you must be Sophie oh you are so cute what hair and oh my what breasts, Marcus must play with those puppies all the time, I would like a fondle darling and I’m not a fan of ladies could you tell” Sophie blushed but covered it with a giggle “Bruno I presume? I guess it’s you I have to compliment on the transformation of the house it is exquisite you have done a wonderful job” Bruno was delighted with his new friend and proceeded to talk her ear off for the next half an hour, Charlotte arrived a little later she looked less stable hand and more lady tonight, she scrubbed up well she wore a floral fifty's style prom dress and sandals, she had brought her boyfriend Sam he seemed lovely but uncomfortable in his tux, Sally and her husband Daniel were next to arrive and Sally gave her the biggest hug she looked lovely tonight in an elegant grey full length gown. Beatrice and Henry were last to arrive, Sophie hadn’t seen them since the wedding she waltzed in with a new sleek glossy bob and stunning red floor length gown, she hugged everyone enthusiastically, she had a little cry on Sophie apologising for not visiting her in hospital and offering her concern, thrilled to see she looked totally recovered now.

  Everyone was together champagne glasses filled except Beatrice who was on lemonade, another announcement to come there thought Sophie. Marcus cleared his throat “friends and family we wanted you all here tonight to celebrate the rebirth of The Gables and to recognise the stunning job my brother his lovely lady Louisa and her brother Bruno have done to restore it to its former glory, raise your glasses in thanks please” everyone said cheers to the three masters of design “But that is a side-line of my real reason to bring us all together, while we were away in France I asked my beautiful Sophie to become my wife and she has agreed but we wanted to wait until we were back home to make it official,” everyone cheered Sophie noticed tears in their parents eyes even Beatrice looked thrilled Bruno screamed! Marcus turned to her and produced the ring now sized and re polished, he placed it on her finger and kissed her unashamedly in front of the whole room. Nothing but hugs and tears for the happy couple Florence and Samuel joined in the celebrations then they all headed to the dining room to eat, half way through the meal Beatrice stood up “ everyone I don't want to steal the happy couples moment but you all keep staring at the fact I am for once alcohol free, well I'm sure you can guess why, Henry and I are expecting a baby and we are thrilled” she sat down quickly to loud applause, Barbee burst into tears “oh a baby how lovely I will be a Nana, its wonderful news, all my children so settled and happy, I would never have believed this day would come” she was overwhelmed and Florence came to the rescue with a box of tissues. Beatrice was due end of April next
year it would be lovely to have a baby in the family. The evening passed pleasantly most of the family had retired to bed and friends had left, so just Duncan and the two of us left up, Sophie excused herself she was tired but was well aware Marcus was expecting his two course meal, she only just got inside the bedroom door when he marched up behind her lifted her of her feet shut the door with his foot and proceeded to relieve her of her dress and shoes, left on her Basque, she returned the favour and left him wearing nothing but his huge arousal which she took into her hand and tugged him to the bed, for the next two hours they worshipped each other until they fell exhausted into a very contented sleep.

  Next morning quite late they all congregated in the kitchen, Florence had surpassed herself with their family breakfast, Beatrice looked a bit green and sat hugging a cup of ginger tea away from the table near the fire to avoid the smell of bacon, she had an ear open to all the discussions though. Three main things were decided during the brain storming firstly Bruno would help Diane and Barbee plan the wedding, secondly the wedding would be next July to give Beatrice time to shed her baby weight, and fourthly Diane was going to try harder to find Saul Ramsay (Sophie’s dad) it would be wonderful to have him at the wedding if that is he decided to accept them in his life, he may have a new family and want to have nothing to do with them, Diane was also in charge of organising a press release to announce their engagement a photo shoot would be set up to go with the announcement. Sophie decided to ask Charlotte and Louisa to be bridesmaids but Beatrice to be her maid of honour, Marcus asked Duncan to be best man he accepted with a man hug, the brothers united for the first time in years Barbee was blubbering again.The house felt deathly quiet after they had all left, tomorrow Marcus was back to work and Sophie would do her first day for John down at her new office, they made the most of the early September sun shine and took the horses out for a ride they rode for over an hour and Sophie could feel her thighs shaking as she dismounted, Charlotte’s sister Gina took the horses to be untacked and Marcus gave Sophie a piggy back all the way home, they had a lovely bath together then put on just their robes and went down for a hearty stew with dumplings in the kitchen enjoying the heat of the aga, the house stayed cool despite it being warm outside, they had a glass of Pinot and enjoyed being alone together, Florence had the afternoon off and was holed up in her little cottage annexe off the garages at the rear of the house. “What do you want to do after dinner?” Marcus opened her robe a little and slid his hand under her breast, “I think after that ride today my legs may be stuck closed! Could we watch TV and veg out on the couch and maybe have a snog?” “a snog baby that sounds like an offer I can't refuse as long as the snog extends to other area's?” he tweaked her nipple playfully but his robe had parted and she could see exactly what was on his mind so she allowed him to lift her and carry her to the lounge. They watched Downton Abbey and snogged and yes it involved more than just mouths.

  Monday dawned Marcus had left already after a little more snogging, Sophie showered and threw on jeans and a t shirt her converse pumps and brushed her tangled hair into a ponytail, she grabbed her mobile and noticed four missed calls and a message, a journalist by the sounds of it he had texted her his name asking her to contact him a Jake Saunders, she rang her mum to check

  him out “Sophie he is the worst kind of hack don't give him the time of day, I can't think why he would be bothering you, how the hell did he get your number, sweetie don't respond I will try and

  get rid of him for you” Sophie thought her mum had over reacted but she deleted the message anyway.

  Sophie loved her office the view was distracting but the peace and quiet was fab, she had felt a bit

  panicky walking there on her own but she did it and felt proud. Marcus texted her a few times

  checking she was OK, and Jake Saunders tried her another twelve times, it was starting to annoy her so she put it on silent, she worked through until 5pm and John was thrilled with her first day’s work and had put her on to another business in the Holyhead area who was keen on making contact with her too. A good days work, she put her mobile in her pocket and walked back to the house Marcus would be home soon, she was aware of the phone vibrating and yanked it out Jake

  again, she decided words were required “ Will you stop calling Jake I have nothing to say please

  leave me alone” Sophie was halted by Jakes voice “well I have plenty to say to you I have been

  handed an envelope for you, they were delivered by courier this morning with strict instructions

  from an anonymous person to deliver them to you by tonight” Sophie froze shit it must be to do with photo's she needed to think, Marcus had been through enough because of her she needed to

  sort this out herself “ where and when ?” “I like your style miss Merchant tonight outside your gates I will be waiting there 10pm make your excuses come alone” he hung up, how the hell would she be able to get out at that time of night without Marcus knowing.

  Chapter 26 Luckily for Sophie Marcus was called back to work much to his disgust at seven, he had only been home an hour, he thought Sophie looked a bit pale tonight but after insisting she was fine he put it down to her being down at the summer house for the day, maybe it was still early days, he hated leaving her again but it was an emergency and he should be back before midnight. She promised to entertain herself with a bath and her kindle so he left her to it.

  Florence had retired for the night and Samuel had left so the house was empty, she knew there was CCTV at the gates so if anything happened she would have evidence if she needed it. Sophie grabbed her jacket as the evenings were always cool living this close to the sea, she was really nervous had he brought the pictures or was he trying to get a story or would he just black mail her for as long as she coughed up the cash, she knew Don and her mother would be furious but she wanted to sort this out for herself.

  She had opened the gates and saw a man she presumed was Jake smoking standing in the trees outside the gates,

  Jake was nervous this was not his kind of thing, he had covered the Jasper Bonavia murder and was sympathetic with Miss Merchant but his orders had been meet her and give her the envelope and Dictaphone, he didn’t feel like he had an option and although he was a ruthless guy, scaring women wasn't his forte' but there could be a story in it, she was a pin up for the press at the moment so any exclusives were worth a fortune, he saw her come to the gates she was a stunner the pictures didn't do her any justice, she looked so tiny he knew this was going to be tough on her. “Miss Merchant thanks for meeting me” Sophie looked him over he was around five foot eight short buzz cut hair cheap suit and stank of old beer and fags. “tell me what you want I don't want to be here for long people will notice I am missing”

  “I have only been instructed to hand these over to you that is all” Sophie grabbed his arm “who sent them did you see him?” he shoved a Dictaphone in her hand “that’s all I was told to do, so I am done” he started to walk away but Sophie grabbed his shoulder “wait don't just walk away who is he I need to Know?” he looked at her and felt terrible “sorry that is all I know but I think it’s only the beginning I am expecting more of these to arrive” Sophie ran back to the house and closed the gates she didn't want to hang around. She took the file and recording device up stairs. She decide to wait for Marcus before she listened to it she was out of her depth now, this wasn't blackmail this felt like something far more sinister.

  Sophie sat on the bed dressed in her comfy pyjamas, she didn't feel sexy tonight she felt tired, the stress of discovering what was on the tape was beginning to make her feel dizzy. Hurry home Marcus she thought, she crawled under the duvet leaving the lamps on and curled into a ball to wait.

  Marcus was home about 1am, he was shattered but the little boy who had come in with a spine injury was making good progress now so he felt his tiredness had been worth it, the hospital had given him a late start tomorrow so he could catch up on sleep. He saw the lights were still on upstairs an
d hoped she hadn't kept herself awake for him, he didn’t want her sleep deprived because of him, he locked the front door took off his shoes and tiptoed in his socks up the stairs. Sophie was asleep but had left the lights on, he walked over and turned her lamp off, she looked so frail tonight, he wondered fleetingly why she was in her old pyjama's, she wore those when he first met her but they seemed to be a comfort blanket to her, what had upset her to make her put them on? He thought perhaps it was just him not being there, he kissed her on the head and then saw she was clutching an envelope in her hand, he didn't want to disturb her but he slid it out of her grasp and took it into the bathroom with him, he stripped off and had a quick wash, the shower may wake her up so he would grab one in the morning, he took the envelope back to bed and sat on his side looking at it. The envelope just said Miss S Merchant Urgent, and that was all, Sophie hadn't unsealed it so he wasn't sure whether he should look at the contents when he was interrupted “Marcus I am so glad you are home I can't believe I fell asleep I need to talk to you” He turned round got under the covers and pulled her towards him, she looked broken and he was terrified of what she was going to say, she snuggled into him wrapping her arms around his chest and resting her face on his shoulder.