The Holiday Cottage by the Sea: An utterly gorgeous feel-good romantic comedy

by Holly Martin

  ‘What are you thinking?’ Aidan asked.

  ‘That I’ve never had shower sex before.’

  Holy shit, had she just said that out loud? She looked up at him in horror and it was clear that she had. He was smiling.

  ‘I’ll bear that in mind.’

  ‘I didn’t mean… I just…’

  ‘Let me get you a t-shirt.’

  He moved to his chest of drawers and pulled out a black t-shirt, handing it to her. She stared at him for a second and he turned away, moving to the window to pull the curtains. It was ridiculous for him to try to be respectful and not look at her while she changed when they were about to share a bed together. She quickly slipped out of her top and pulled his t-shirt over her head. It was huge and came down past her bum. She slipped out of her shorts too and watched as he pulled his jeans down, so he was just in his tight black boxer shorts.

  He got into bed and then held up the duvet for her. There was a reason couples should only do this in stage four of their relationship, when they were completely comfortable with each other. This was so intimate, way too intimate for a couple who had only shared a few kisses.

  She slid into bed by the side of him and lay on her back, watching the sunlight that drifted through the crack in the curtains play on the ceiling. He was lying on his side and she knew he was watching her. If her heart beat any faster, it would likely explode out of her chest. How could he make her so nervous, so excited, so desired from just a look? It was almost too much to bear, so she rolled on her side facing away from him. There was a pause from him and then she felt him shuffle closer to her, his warmth surrounding her. He tugged gently on the sleeve of her t-shirt, so it slid off her shoulder, and immediately placed a kiss there and then another on her collar bone where her shoulder met her neck. This was everything, feelings tumbling through her like she was hurtling downhill on a rollercoaster. She closed her eyes as he moved his mouth to her neck.

  ‘Oh god, Aidan,’ Tori whispered.

  He stilled. ‘Do you want me to stop?’

  ‘Christ no. I want you to keep going, and that’s what scares me.’

  ‘It’s just a nap, I promise. Nothing more.’

  She didn’t know whether to be relieved or disappointed by that.

  He stroked his hand across her belly as he shifted her back slightly against him, so she was hard against his chest. She wanted to turn round and kiss him but she knew if she did that any restraint she was clinging to would go straight out of the window. Although it was very evident that his restraint was at breaking point too.

  Would it be the worst thing in the world if they did sleep together? Surely, they were heading in that direction anyway. Was he annoyed that she wasn’t quite ready to take this any further? He seemed very chilled out about it just being a nap and nothing more.

  He swept the hair off the back of her neck and placed a kiss at the very top of her spine. And then, with a deep contented sigh, and his mouth almost pressed against her, he clearly drifted off to sleep.

  She lay there in his arms for the longest time, feeling his hot breath against her skin, her heart thudding against her chest. He had been right that napping with someone was something you did in stage four of the relationship because this was heaven and right then she never wanted it to end.

  She closed her eyes and let the heat of his body seep into hers, before slowly drifting off to sleep.

  * * *

  Aidan woke a few hours later and smiled to find a sleeping Tori in his arms. He placed a gentle kiss on her bare shoulder, but she didn’t stir. It was hugely tempting to stay there, holding her for the rest of the night, but there were berries to pick and he needed to make them dinner before they went out in the field. Though a few more minutes wouldn’t hurt.

  He was kidding himself if he thought it was just a nap. He’d known that when he had asked her to join him and he’d tried to play it down, but he hadn’t expected for it to be so bloody wonderful. Holding her in his arms, caressing her skin. He’d wanted to forget the nap and just make love to her there and then. She wasn’t ready for that though, he’d seen that fear in her eyes when he suggested she join him. He wanted her to want that too and although it was clear that she did, he wanted her to be relaxed about it and not look ready to run away at the prospect of it. Her fear of commitment and relationships was built in deep; every time she had put her trust in someone they had left her – even Melody to an extent had left her, though theirs was a different kind of relationship. He was a fool though, because as he was slowly coaxing her to open up to him, to trust him, he was falling for her too and there was no way this was going to end happily for either of them. She was leaving in less than two weeks, going back to her fast-paced life in London. She wouldn’t stay here, no matter how much fun they had.

  He sighed.

  They were both grown adults and capable of making their own decisions and mistakes and he decided that he would deal with the consequences when they happened. For now, he was going to enjoy what they had because there was no way he could back away from it.

  He hugged her closer to him and kissed her neck. He felt her come alive in his arms, stretching against him with a big smile on her face as she woke up.

  ‘Best nap I’ve ever had,’ she said, sleepily. ‘I think napping with someone is the only way to nap from now on.’

  ‘Same time tomorrow then?’

  ‘Definitely.’

  He smiled and kissed her neck again, feeling her pulse race against his lips. He moved his hand to her bare thigh, stroking slowly upwards as he trailed soft kisses up her neck. She turned her head to look at him, running her fingers through his hair at the back of his neck as he kissed her. Her lips against his was a wonderful feeling.

  She rolled onto her back, holding his face as the kiss continued.

  He pulled back slightly, needing to stop before he got carried away, but the look of desire in her eyes stalled him.

  ‘I want you so much,’ Tori said.

  Christ. That was the only nudge he needed.

  He shifted his fingers higher, teasing the waistband of her knickers, and he watched her to gauge her reaction. A look passed between them, it was so obvious what she wanted, it was almost as if she had shouted it.

  He slid her knickers down her legs and she stroked his face, letting him know it was OK. He toyed with the hem of the t-shirt she was wearing and then gently tugged it off her, lifting it over her head, before kissing her again.

  God, he needed her so much right now.

  He gently removed her bra and then stared down at her. ‘Tori Graham, naked in my bed.’

  She smiled, and he bent his head and kissed her as he slid his hand up the inside of her thigh. She gasped against his lips as he touched her. He moved one hand to cup her breast, running his thumb over her nipple, wanting to touch her everywhere at once. She moaned softly, and it made his stomach clench with need.

  He felt her orgasm first on his lips, the change in her breath, the needy way she continued to kiss him as her body shook underneath his.

  She ran her hands down his back and pushed his shorts down his thighs. He quickly kicked them off and then caressed his hands down her ribs and stomach as he watched her for any sign of fear and doubt in her eyes.

  ‘We don’t have to do this, if you’re not ready,’ Aidan said.

  ‘I have never wanted anything as much as I want this right now,’ Tori said, smoothing her hands down his arms.

  He leaned over to grab a condom from the bedside drawers and quickly slid it on. He moved so he was on top of her and she wrapped her arms and legs around him, gathering him close to her. He slid carefully inside her.

  ‘Oh god,’ she sighed, contentedly, as if this was the thing she had been missing her whole life and she’d suddenly found it. It filled him with so much desire for her. She stared up at him, stroking his face.

  He just wanted to stay like this forever, right here, caught in this moment.

  He kissed her, movin
g slowly against her, touching her, caressing her skin, trying to let her know how he felt for her. There was something special between them, surely she felt that too?

  She gathered him tighter, arching her back, taking him in deeper.

  ‘Aidan.’

  His name on her lips was no more than a whisper. He stared down at her, her eyes closing in pleasure, the pleasure he was giving her.

  He kissed her neck and felt the change in her body as he drove her closer, took her higher.

  Her eyes opened, locking with his.

  ‘God, Aidan, this is…’ she said, breathlessly.

  ‘I know.’

  ‘It’s never been like this before.’

  ‘Not for me either.’

  She caressed the back of his head. ‘I don’t want this to ever end.’

  ‘I’m never letting you go,’ he said, the words on his lips before he could stop them. Was that too much, too soon? But he knew he meant them. No matter how scared he was of getting hurt again, he couldn’t walk away from her.

  He felt her go over the edge, her body tightening around his, his name on her lips like a song, as he found his own release. He kissed her hard, held her tighter against him, Tori clinging to him like he was the air she needed to breathe as pleasure racked through his body. Her moans of pleasure against his lips suggested she was loving this as much as he was.

  As the feeling passed he buried his face in her neck, trying to catch his breath, feeling her heart thunder against his own. He heard her whisper.

  ‘I want this forever.’

  * * *

  ‘Well, I’m going to make a start on dinner,’ Aidan said after he had kissed her for what felt like an eternity. She didn’t think she would ever get tired of kissing Aidan Jackson. He stared down at her with such affection. ‘Might have to be my legendary beans on toast, I’m afraid, we’re running very late tonight.’

  ‘Beans on toast sounds perfect,’ Tori said.

  He kissed her again as if he couldn’t bear to be parted from her and then he reluctantly climbed out of bed. A naked Aidan was one of the best views she had ever seen. Although sadly he didn’t stay naked for long; she watched him get dressed with a big smile on her face.

  He turned round and saw her watching. ‘See something you like?’

  ‘Very much so.’

  ‘My elbows?’

  She laughed. ‘That’s it, exactly.’

  ‘Well I’ll show them to you and any other parts after we’ve done a few hours of berry-picking, if you want?’

  ‘Are you suggesting a sleepover?’

  ‘That’s exactly what I’m suggesting.’

  Tori grinned. ‘I think I’d like that very much.’

  Aidan bent down to pull his socks on and she was treated to a lovely view of his bum. He straightened and shook his head reproachfully when he realised what she had been staring at.

  ‘Agatha’s set me up with a right pervert. First you turn up to our first date with a pair of handcuffs and a vibrator and now you can’t keep your eyes off me and spent the whole time we were having sex fondling my elbows.’

  She burst out laughing.

  He grinned. ‘It’s OK, I like your perverted ways. You can have a shower if you want to.’

  ‘You could join me if you want to,’ she said, feeling bold and confident with him. She’d never felt confident in the bedroom before.

  ‘Nothing would make me happier, but then we’d never get out of here tonight.’

  ‘Damn those berries.’

  ‘We can add shower to our list of places we’re going to have sex.’

  Her eyes widened. ‘There’s going to be a list?

  ‘Hell yes, there’s going to be a list. Bed to start with, then the shower, kitchen table, probably outside in the berry field. Sofa, lounge wall. I’m sure we can think of some more.’

  ‘Sounds like it’s going to be a lot more than a one-night stand.’

  ‘It was always going to be a lot more than that with us.’

  ‘I think it might even be… something,’ Tori said.

  He nodded, clearly knowing exactly what she meant.

  ‘I think it might be a hell of a lot more than that.’

  With a final lingering kiss, he left the room. She rolled onto her back, smiling to herself. He was right. This thing between them was so much more than she ever imagined it would be. Things with Luc had never felt like this, she never had banter with him, he never made her laugh and that, she realised, was an important feature in a relationship. She’d never felt so confident around a man before. And the sex, well it had never been like this. Sex with Luc had been nice, at best, something that she kind of felt obliged to do. Sex with Matthew had been lovely, familiar, she’d felt safe with him; he was one of her closest friends after all. But this connection with Aidan was different. The sex had been wonderful, gentle and passionate, and it was as though their bodies knew one another completely while at the same time there was the thrill of everything being so new and exciting.

  But what did that mean for them? She was leaving in a few weeks. She could come and visit him in between work and he could visit her but, as Leo had said, long-distance relationships rarely worked.

  So, what was the alternative? Move down here to Sandcastle Bay? It was viable that she could do it work-wise, providing she had her laptop, plasticine and a few other essential bits of kits, she could do freelancing animation work from pretty much anywhere in the world. But God, she would miss London. And what would Aidan think of her creepy stalker tendencies if she suddenly suggested that? She shook her head at her foolish heart. They had slept together once, and it had been amazing, but it didn’t mean that Aidan was thinking about marriage, five children and happy ever afters. And she was an idiot for thinking that way too. She’d never wanted to fall in love, because that would only lead to hurt. But for the first time in her life, she wanted to follow her heart and see where it took her.

  18

  ‘I better go, I need to get home and have a shower before I meet Melody and Isla at eleven,’ Tori said, stroking Aidan’s face as they lay in bed together. They had spent another five hours picking fruit the night before. They’d come back to the farmhouse where there was no question of her going home when Aidan had suggested she joined him for a shower. She was pleased to find out that shower sex with Aidan Jackson was just as good as she had imagined it was going to be. They’d ended up sleeping together in Aidan’s bed, wrapped in each other’s arms, woken early and made love again. She was never going to get tired of this.

  ‘You could have a shower here,’ Aidan smirked, before kissing her again.

  She grinned. ‘You’re such a bad influence on me. You’ll make me late. And even if I did, I don’t have any clean clothes here to get changed into after, so I’d end up going home anyway.’

  Aidan sighed theatrically. ‘You have a point. You’ll come round later for our nap though?’

  ‘Wouldn’t miss it.’

  She got out of bed before she was tempted to stay there any longer and quickly got dressed.

  Aidan got dressed too and then she followed him downstairs.

  ‘When am I going to see this boat that you’re sailing on in this weekend’s festivities?’

  ‘I can show you now if you like?’ Aidan said, grabbing an apple and throwing one to her, before taking one for himself.

  ‘Oh yes, I’d like that.’

  He gestured for her to go out the door ahead of him and then she followed him to a nearby barn.

  ‘You should sail with me actually, as you are part of Heartberry Farm, even if it is temporarily.’

  ‘Is that not against the rules? I thought it was supposed to be men only, so they can declare their love to the woman of their dreams by presenting them with a piece of the coveted heartberry cake.’

  ‘It’s quite relaxed actually. Plenty of women have sailed in the race and if they got a slice of the cake they’ve presented it to their men. It’s true that men do use this boat
race to make their feelings for their object of affection known, but there are many men who take part in the boat race to prove their boat-design skills or boat-handling skills and will just eat the cake themselves if they win it. Leo’s boats are more about being elaborate and extravagant and crowd-pleasing than trying to win a woman’s hand. He usually gives his winning slice of cake to Emily or Marigold. He’s never given it to any other woman. Although this year it might be different.’

  ‘Oh?’

  ‘Well, he might give it to someone else this year.’

  ‘Someone blonde?’ Tori asked.

  ‘Maybe,’ Aidan grinned.

  Her heart filled at the thought of Leo and Isla together. Though as Isla had already turned down multiple wedding proposals from Leo, it might take more than a slice of cake to convince her to give him a chance.

  Aidan’s hand hovered on the door handle of the barn. ‘So, want to be my first mate?’

  ‘Well, I don’t know the first thing about sailing.’

  ‘You won’t need to.’

  ‘OK then, might be fun.’

  Aidan smiled and opened the door. He stepped inside and flicked on a light switch and Tori walked inside.

  The room was largely empty apart from a few tools and machines along one wall, but there was nothing in there that remotely resembled a boat.

  Her eyes fell on some wood in the middle of the floor, tied together with bits of rope and string. Her eyes widened as she realised this was the boat. It looked like some kind of haphazard raft that Robinson Crusoe might build.

  ‘Is this the boat?’ Tori said. What had she just agreed to? This didn’t look capable of going even a few feet in the water before it broke up. Aidan was a big man as well, which meant he weighed a lot. In fact, she knew that he did, having had his body pinning her to the mattress quite a few times now. This didn’t look strong enough to hold him, let alone both of them.