Claiming Love

by Holly J Gill

  I walked into the pub first opening the door for her. It was an old, wooden beamed establishment with old farming equipment, real open fires for the winter months. Old western pictures adorned the walls and the tables and chairs were rustic with an old rocking chair.

  Donna found us a table as I got the drinks and a menu.

  She found a cute table situated in a corner next to an old wooden window.

  “This place is so old,” she said as I was seated opposite her. “It’s beautiful.” She beamed as she looked around.

  “Yeah, it’s why I love it. I like old fashioned places, castles, stately homes, I’m kind of weird,” I told her.

  “I don’t find that weird at all. I find it interesting. It is a part of this countries heritage. If it wasn’t for the past…imagine where we’d be,” she remarked.

  She never ceased to amaze me.

  We looked through the menu, and I put in an order for the pie and mash, and Donna ordered the ribeye.

  “Today was wonderful. Still can’t believe their having twins,” she said, her hands flying animatedly in the air. It was one of the many things I liked about her. Her enthusiasm for almost everything.

  “Yeah, that was pretty incredible. Do you want kids?” I was unsure if that was a safe question to ask.

  “I do. But I’m afraid I might struggle to get pregnant,” she said softly.

  “Oh. Have you tried?” I had to ask even though I knew I might not like the answer so much.

  She reached for her drink and took a sip.

  “Sorry, it’s none of my business. I should be more conscious about what I ask,” I told her not wanting to put a damper on the atmosphere, hell, that was the last thing I needed.

  “No, it’s fine. I was in a serious relationship many years ago, in my early twenties in fact and, I kept miscarrying. The doctors put it down to stress, as my partner at the time,” She glanced at me and swallowed. “He used to beat me.”

  My heart sank into the pit of my stomach. I can never understand why a man would ever lay a damn finger on a woman, never. I had clients all the time who were fighting for justice, both men and women, for mental and physical abuse. It sickened me to the core.

  I reached across the table, taking her hand.

  “You don’t have to tell me anything?”

  “It’s ok.” She assured me. “They said, ‘stress’ can cause a miscarriage, and I had two in the space of six months, they wanted to do further tests, but at the time, I didn’t want them. I didn’t want to find out whether I was rubbish or not.”

  “Donna,” I clenched her hand. “You aren’t rubbish, and even if you can’t have a baby, it doesn’t make you flawed. There are many avenues that couples go down. Don’t allow this to destroy you as a woman,” I offered her.

  “Sorry,” she said, wiping a tear away from her eye. The last thing I needed was her to suffer from feelings of worthlessness. The man that did this to her clearly did so without a care. The abuser never thinks about the consequences and how this can impact the victim for the rest of their lives. “Do you want a family?” She asked.

  “What will be will be. I have spent far too much time thinking and dedicating my time to my work, that I hadn’t really thought about a family. I am what they call a selfish man. I like my own space, do my own thing, when it suits me if I ever get the time that is. I got so used to looking after myself for so long I never could let anyone in. Except for Cal, he got me. It works both ways, I guess. My job can be brutal, I’m practically married to the job. I never shut off. I wake up in the middle of the night and start working if something comes to me. But recently,” I said, as she looked at me wearily, before lowering her head. I held her hand, gently rubbing it. “My mind has been filled with thoughts of a stunning, amazing woman who fascinates me, and is fun to be around.” Her focus drifted back to my eyes. “Yes, I mean you, Donna.”

  I had to be honest, and tell her how I truly felt even if it was something out of character for me. No-one but my Grandma, parents and Cal, knew the real me. They knew the buttons to press, and right now I’m handing the controls over to her.

  “I guess what I’m saying is… I’m ready for the next chapter of my life. I didn’t even know it until I saw you in those dance lessons. I think you can guess my weakness?” I laughed to lighten the mood.

  “Yeah, two left feet, and a cross over to tip the world upside down,” she teased.

  “So are there any questions you want to ask me?” I questioned as the food arrived.

  “You watch porn?”

  I burst into a fit of laughter.

  “Yeah, I do. I need to relieve myself now, and again,” I told her. She smirked, and all sorts of thoughts ran through my mind.

  We spent the rest of our time eating and drinking, and talking about experiences and adventures we would both like to do in the future.

  When it was time to leave, I wished it wasn’t. I’d never felt this relaxed in a long time.

  “Can I see you again?” I blurted when we reached our vehicles.

  “Sure, I’d like that,” She said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

  “Good, I would too. Well, I bid you ‘goodnight’,” I said, stepping closer to her to give her a kiss on the cheek.

  My lips tenderly pressed against the softness of her cheek. I inhaled her scent, my arm against hers, felt her tremble. She was intoxicating. I pressed my lips to hers, claiming her mouth, and she responded. She kissed back, softly, leaving me breathless. We lingered there a few seconds, enjoying the moment. A new beginning.

  I stepped back, finding her eyes closed, aware she was absorbing the moment. The look of elation on her face sends waves down to my hardening dick. I’d never felt this kind of pull to a woman before.

  Donna opened her eyes and pressed her lips into a smile. It was beautiful to watch, seeing all that sass fall away, leaving only emotions I knew I was not mistaking.

  “I’ll speak to you soon,” I whispered.

  “Ok.” I moved to my Rover, and she remained standing on the exact spot I kissed her. Was this really happening, was I really falling in love? Was this love?

  “Donna, ready to go?” I asked.

  “Yeah, sorry.” It was as if she was in a dream-like state, and I loved that I made her feel that way.

  She raced to her car and climbed in.

  Heading home made me feel almost empty.

  Chapter Nine

  Donna

  “He kissed me! Ross kissed me. He pressed his lips to mine, and he kissed me. Was the man crazy? Could all this be happening?” I continued to question myself out loud as I got undressed. “Is he alright, he must be out of his mind? He still has much to learn about my disastrous life, which will have him running for the damn hills, to escape dreaded Donna,” I said, moving about stopping to think about the situation. I pressed my fingers to my lips exactly where he touched. “He kissed me.”

  I had no idea what that meant, but a part of me did, and I was afraid to expect, afraid to admit the possibility. This was like a dream, was I dreaming? Was I lost in another world where my dreams came true?

  “Ross likes me.”

  My mind was spinning, with millions of thoughts travelling at speed, not allowing me to stop and consider one action at a time, let alone figuring out all these questions.

  Ross could do so much better. He could find a woman who was intelligent, pretty, sassy, classy, desirable… yet he kissed me and admitted to liking me.

  Once in my nightwear, I went downstairs to make a cup of tea and headed into the lounge where I sat with only the corner lamp on, wondering where he was and what he was doing. The man had wormed his way into my soul, and I loved it. I wished for more and those damn lips… they were luxurious, like him.

  I finally made my way to bed, sat on the edge unsure if I should call Sophie and ask for some advice, but it was late, and she would already be tucked up with Calvin, whispering sweet nothing like they always did.

  My phone be
eped, and I reached for it surprised to see a message from Ross.

  Do you fancy doing something tomorrow?

  I smiled, overjoyed to hear from him.

  That would be lovely!

  Good, can I have your address? It might help so I can pick you up? xxx

  I focused only on the kisses at the end of the message. I touched my lips where he had been not so long ago, and craved to have them again.

  I replied, giving him my address and now, now I couldn’t wait for tomorrow.

  A knock sounded at the door followed by the doorbell, indicating someone was here. I checked the time, and much to my surprise it was the time Ross and I agreed on. I wasn’t ready. I wasn’t dressed. I hadn’t even showered. I hadn’t done anything…

  “Crap, double crap.” And to top it off I was cutting onions, oh boy this was going to be interesting.

  I grabbed the tea towel to wipe away the tears that were streaming down my cheeks, this seriously wasn’t a good look.

  I opened the door and my vision blurred, but I could see enough of his exquisite physique to make my knees tremble.

  “Hell, are you ok?” his voice was laced with panic.

  “Yeah, I’m chopping onions and I didn’t notice the time,” I explained.

  “Oh, well, glad that’s all it was. I thought you were having doubts about us,” he said much to my surprise.

  “I have no doubts, unless you do,” I stated.

  His stepped closer to me into my space. He wore jeans and a T-shirt, his shoulders so broad and powerful. He was so handsome. He stared at me, intently, and I felt the heat scalding me. His lips pressed to mine, sending shots of electricity through my body. I stilled, like I did last night, loving the connection.

  It was like being transported to another planet, one built for only Ross and me.

  I kept my eyes closed even though he moved away.

  “Can I make a cup of coffee?” he asked.

  “Yeah, as long as you don’t expect anything else,” I teased.

  “Like I would dare,” he mocked back.

  I stepped back to the chopping board to finish cutting the vegetables.

  “Seriously, I’d like to wait…you know, for the bedroom,” I told him, not wishing to get our wires crossed.

  “Donna,” he placed his hand on top of mine. “I’d wait forever if it meant being with you.”

  I faced him as the smile on his face gleamed.

  I was falling hopelessly in love with this man.

  “You know something had dawned on me,” I ventured.

  “Go on.”

  “I don’t know your surname.”

  “It’s Chase and yours?”

  I laughed, not believing we had missed that vital piece of information.

  “Donna Webb,” I told him.

  “So pleased we got that resolved. Now, what do you fancy doing today?” He laughed.

  “I was thinking Scarborough, let’s go there!”

  “Then there I’ll take you,” he smiled, making me blush.

  Once I was ready, we jumped into his car and took the journey to the seaside town. We held hands as we walked talking more about ourselves. We brought ice- creams and sat on the beach watching children building sandcastles. Another guy built a tower which looked almost real like. We walked to the sea, kicking off our shoes.

  “This is amazing, I love it,” Ross said as he turned to face me, walking backwards. His smile was mesmerising. “This is the way to relax and forget about the complications of life and work and all that.”

  “Do you work late a lot?” I asked, curious.

  “Yes, I’m afraid I do. Sometimes I don’t get home until really late, then it’s a shower and bed. I sometimes eat on the move. It’s not healthy, but I have to do what I do,” he said.

  “What do you do to relax?” I asked.

  “Read, or watch movies, hang out with Calvin and his family…”

  “You?”

  “I chill with a glass of wine, read, practice line dancing.”

  “Sounds good to me.”

  “You know my Grandma, the wise arse has always said that when you find the right woman, your heart will be filled with warmth and love, and when you find her you’ll know,” he added sweetly.

  I pondered that and what it meant, not wanting to read too much into it.

  “Love is special, and yeah, I’ve heard those words before, I just never believed it.”

  “Well believe it, because I’m here,” he added.

  My heart was on the edge of bursting.

  “I want to learn all there is about you Donna, good and bad and yes, I’m aware you hate big words, and I think I’m doing pretty well so far,” he teased.

  “You are. You sure do know how to impress a girl.” I said, light-heartedly. It was hard for me to believe that he actually felt the way he did. Maybe, it was the past. I just didn’t understand why someone like him would be interested in me.

  But I smiled, and he did too as he placed a chased kiss on my lips.

  We continued to walk down the sea, avoiding the children playing football.

  “Don’t you think Calvin and Sophie’s story could make a great love story?”

  “Now that would be interesting, or would it, we’d have to be in it, and we might ruin it. I don’t think they’d appreciate us taking the limelight,” I teased taking my hand.

  “Nah, we’d be the best feature… Smooth Ross Finds his love. Has a ring to it.”

  “Erm no…Donna and her Delectable Lawyer. Now that has a ring to it,” I giggled.

  “Are you serious? I’ve been in the story longer than you,” he chaffed.

  “So? It’s not about how long, it’s about how much you’ve inputted…I think. Not only that, Sophie would agree, I’m certainly a character,” I laughed.

  “Now, that I’m not going to argue over. How about we get some fish and chips and put the name in a bag, and whichever is pulled from it wins…and that gets to be the title.”

  He locked his hand into mine, and pulled me along, almost forcing me to run.

  We arrived at the fish and chip shop and stood in a queue.

  “You do know a woman always wins, right?” I tormented.

  “Yeah, my mum told me that, but I refused to believe it.”

  Suddenly the name came to me, “I have it?”

  “Please enthral me,” he said in amusement.

  “Strip the Lawyer.”

  “Oh my days, that is just…”

  “Cool, I know.”

  “Only one slight problem there,” he cocked his head to the side then moved to my ear to whisper. “You still need to strip me.” I lifted my brows and tapped my chin, aware he had a fair point.

  “We might need to change that then.” I countered, causing him to smirk.

  We walked over to a wall that separated the boardwalk from the sand, and sat eating our fish and chips, listening to the waves crashing against the shore, seagulls flew above, and children are screamed and laughed. It was a comfortable silence, which I had to break.

  “How about, Hot Lawyer?”

  “You’re getting worse. Eat your fish and chips before you come up with something even crazier.”

  “You love me that about me, though?” I fished.

  “Maybe.” We laughed.

  We continued to sit on the wall, eating, and people watching.

  “How about… Luscious Lawyer?”

  “Why do I always have to be in the title?”

  I turned to face him. “Because, Mr Chase, it’s you who needs the real love story. You’re the one the readers want to know about…not me…I’m just the one who comes in later. They would want to know how your dick hangs, and which side.”

  “Donna, seriously, nobody wants to know about me…after all in the beginning I was…”

  “Looking out for your best friend.” I finished.

  “Yeah, and by the way, you’d make a great character, and the world would want to know about you, especiall
y in the bedroom scenes.”

  “Oh, please…” I scoffed, but I could not help the blush from creeping up my cheeks.

  This lawyer had a handle in the courtroom, but he had no idea what his words were doing to me.

  Chapter Ten

  Donna

  I heard the doorbell and stared at my bedroom door. Ross was early.

  My heart raced as I made my way down the staircase to open the door for him.

  I opened the door, surprised to find my mother instead of Ross.

  “Are you on your way out?” she asked, looking me over.

  “I am actually,” I had no idea why she was visiting today of all days. My mother had never come to see me. Not even when I moved house.

  I opened the door, and she stepped inside. I used the chance to glance down the driveway to check if Ross arrived. Thankfully he wasn’t.

  I turned to my mother. “What is it this time?”

  “Your Gran said you visited?” she said, standing tall looking down her nose at me.

  “Yes, I did and stayed a little while. I wanted to check on her and make sure she was ok,” I informed her.

  “I think that was sweet, even if she ended up giving me a lecture after. What did you tell her?” she hissed.

  “What are you on about? I didn’t say anything to Gran. She and Grandad looked at each other strangely, but when I asked her what that was about, she told me not to worry, so I didn’t pursue it,” I told her.

  That seemed to placate her. I hated her accusation and wanted nothing more than to tell her so, but I wanted her gone before Ross arrived. I had no time to argue with my mother, and I hardly saw the point. Because she was always right. I thought sarcastically.

  “Oh, well…I’m glad you visited her,” she said, just as the doorbell rang. It had to be Ross.

  I opened the door, and standing before me was the dashing and delicious Ross Chase, wearing black jeans and a polo neck t-shirt with a suit jacket.