by Lovell, Dani
Eventually, I find the damned thing in my handbag and immediately hit green to answer.
“Hello?” I shout, half asleep, half overly exerted from the search.
“Hi, doll, are you asleep?” Tilly asks.
“Hmm? Oh… I was yes, but it’s okay…”
“Oh good, because we’re outside darling, didn’t you realise what the time was? I know we’re a little early but we were ready and thought we should leave while Wriggler was happy. You gonna let us in?”
I take the phone from my ear and try to focus on the time. It’s a blurry ten a.m. “Oh, bollocks.”
Tilly giggles, get decent then and open the door, the lovebirds will be here soon, too.”
Shit, shit, shit. “Oh god, sorry. Okay, two ticks…” I say, looking over at Oliver before hanging up. “Shit. Oliver! Oliver, wake up! Til and Luke are here, you need to get your stuff out of my room! We slept in!”
He groans and sits up slowly. “Hmm? What? Oh mother fucker,” he says, amusingly slowly without expression. “We were… we need to… fuck!” he cries, realising we now have no time for intimacy.
“Please, Oliver, I need to open the door, we need to get your stuff to your room.”
I start collecting his clothes and run naked to his room where I pull back the bed linen and jump on his bed to make it look slept in. They probably won’t even look in the bedrooms but I’m paranoid and need to cover all areas.
“Darling,” he says as he walks through the lounge, naked as the day he was born and absolutely, mind-blowingly gorgeous, “they all know we’ve slept together, I’m certain they think we still are, chill out.”
“No, Oliver! I don’t want them to think something is still going on between us - we need to do this together, outside of prying eyes,” I say in a panic, rushing back to the bedroom to grab a dressing gown.
“Okay, okay,” he says calmly, “we’ll talk about it later. In the meantime, you get the door, I’ll hop in the shower. I am so mad at myself for sleeping in. We need to find a way to be alone together before we leave, okay?” he says seriously.
I giggle a little. “Okay. I’ll get the door. Enjoy your shower… wish I could be naked in there with you,” I add, teasingly and his long, loud, desperate growl makes me laugh out loud.
I let Luke, Tilly and Emily inside and as soon as they lower the baby seat to the floor in the lounge area, I kneel down to look at her; sleeping peacefully, as with always.
“I apologise about how I look, I slept in so I haven’t had a chance to shower or make myself presentable.”
“You’re beautiful, Clare, always,” Luke says, bending to kiss my cheek.
“Smooth talker,” Tilly says with a grin and she follows to do the same, “she looks like shit.”
I laugh out loud. “Thank you!”
“You know I’m kidding, you couldn’t look shit if you dragged yourself from the sewers, so shut up. Do you want to hold her?” she asks, as if she even needs to.
“Of course! But I don’t want to wake her…”
“Clare, she does nothing but sleep, feel free.”
I grin excitedly as she pulls back the handle of the seat to give me easy access to unclip her little seatbelt and pull her out. Feeling her warm little body through her soft outfit is again such a remedy for me. It heals that feeling of need, albeit, temporarily.
“Clare, you need to get yourself a baby, darling. I’ve never seen you look as natural as you do when you’re holding her. You were made to be a mum.”
I smile as I kiss the baby’s head. “There’s nothing I’d like more than to be a mum, like you.”
“You know who’d be a good dad?” she asks with that knowing look that she dons so well, and I roll my eyes knowing exactly what she’s going to say.
“Yes, Til, I do.”
“Olly. He’d be the best. I mean, look at how he looked after me in Aspen when ‘Man’ had a temporary blip. Can you imagine him with his own pregnant girlfriend? And he is so good with kids.”
“Hey!” Luke says, “‘Man’ is right here, you know, Mrs. Summers…”
“Yeah, yeah, you love me, I love you… we’re over it,” she says, blowing him a kiss as he chuckles.
“Yes, Tilly, I can imagine he’d be a great dad. I am aware of his abilities - looking after children, thank you.”
“Just saying. Maybe you two should have that agreement… you know the one, if you’re not married by 35, you’ll get hitched, have a baby and make it work.”
My face heats up and I stand to move in an attempt to avoid eye contact. “Uh huh.” I say, trying to ignore her.
“I’ll make us a cuppa,” she says and I thank god that she’s changed the subject. “You need to have a few more minutes snuggling and then get yourself ready, Clare, we weren’t that early. You haven’t got long.”
“Yeah, I know, I just need my Wriggler fix first. I’m leaving today, I need her for as long as I can have her.”
Tilly smiles widely looking happy and beautiful. She’s so proud of her little family and I’m so proud of her for creating it so perfectly.
“How are you feeling? You okay being out and about?”
“Yeah!” she cries. “I’m fine, still a little bit sore but nothing that’ll keep me indoors, I’ve had a baby, I’m not ill. And…” she says, excitedly, “my jelly belly is going down really quickly, so hopefully I won’t be fat for long.”
“Oh my god, Tilly, seriously? You are the tiniest little thing, fat is the farthest thing from what you look right now. It’s hard to believe you’ve just had a baby at all!”
“Yeah, what she said,” Luke says, his face buried in some sporting magazine as he sits on the sofa with his feet up.
“But my boobs are huge and so, so sore, I feel like I’ve had a couple of grapefruits implanted. I look like a fucking porn star. God knows what yours will look like when you go through this, you’ll have bloody watermelons.”
Luke clears his throat, amusing me, it must be killing the pair of them that they can’t have sex for a few weeks while Tilly’s body heals. Tilly makes no secret of the fact that they can’t get enough of each other. I can quite understand it and right now, I’m feeling particularly sympathetic, I so wanted Oliver-sex this morning, having been denied any alone time yesterday.
“Okay, I’m going to have a shower,” I say, walking over to Luke to pass him his daughter, “I’ll be back for some more cuddles very soon.”
“She’ll be waiting for you, Aunt Clare,” he says, taking her into his huge arms. Uh… Daddies and their babies… gorgeous.
When I had finished showering, Tilly came into the bedroom to chat while I got myself ready, and I thank my lucky stars and paranoid tendencies for my foresight to clear away Oliver’s belongings. That was a close call.
It was so lovely to spend some one on one time with her again, I’ve missed my flatmate so much. Thankfully, she steered clear of the ‘Oliver’ topic and having thought about it, I think that may have been deliberate. She can sometimes push a little too much, but I think, after our short chat in the hallway yesterday and the slight touch on the ‘Daddy’ subject today, she realises how sensitive the matter is for me, though she probably has no idea of the real reason for it.
I pick out a long cotton skirt with a tropical print in pinks, greens and coral, and I team it with a cropped coral top with capped sleeves and my pink ballet shoes. It’ll be comfortable to travel in, as well as to wear whilst spending the morning here in paradise, and once I’m dressed, I check my ponytail, and we head back out into the living area just in time to see Bea and Daniel arrive.
Daniel has to work, as does Alexia - who’s running a little late, so we make a move immediately. I need to pack so I have to get back here pretty soon, too. Luke has kindly offered to take us to LAX for our return flight early this afternoon and though I’m excited to begin figuring things out with Oliver and getting back to my beloved Cakery, I’m dreading leaving this wonderful place, my lovely friends and beautif
ul niece, rendering this holiday and my special morning with Oliver, simply, a memory.
We enjoy a delicious and filling breakfast together at a restaurant that we have visited previously at ‘The Grove’, and before I’m really ready, I’m having to wish farewell to Daniel and Alexia as they head to the office. I will be seeing Daniel in a few days, no doubt, but I won’t be seeing Alexia for quite some time so this is a proper goodbye.
We hug after she and Oliver say goodbye to one another. “Please, don’t forget that you’re welcome to stay with me if you visit the UK, I’d love to have you.”
“And I would truly love to visit with you, I’m actually looking into a trip already, maybe for Daniel’s birthday in August, or failing that, September.”
“Oh that would be fantastic, and it shouldn’t be too cold for you then either. Well, my door will be open.”
“Thank you, I will definitely come stay whenever I make it over, thank you. I’ll let you know. Don’t forget to keep in contact in the meantime.”
“I absolutely will not, and the same to you - don’t get too consumed by work and forget about your old chum in England.”
“As if I could. It was so great to spend this time with you guys again, I can’t wait for the next trip,” she says as we separate and she slips her elegant handbag on her shoulder over her sophisticated, navy suit.
Daniel and Bea kiss like they’re leaving each other for a week before exchanging whispered pleasantries and parting. I love Daniel, he’s so good for her. I love both of the American boys my girls have found for each other, I couldn’t have picked better for them myself, they’re really two-of-a-kind. I’m thrilled that Tilly finally met her match, the fun will continue for her and Luke until they’re hobbling along with walking sticks, discussing Wriggler’s grandchildren.
Once the Berkeleys have left, we make our way back to the apartment to pack up our stuff. I have a feeling there’s very little chance of Oliver and I being alone together before we leave; Til and Bea want to stay with us until we arrive at the airport. Just five minutes? Please, Universe? Couldn’t we just get five minutes to consummate our marriage while we’re still in the country in which our marriage took place?! Is that really too much to ask?
Back at the apartment, Til and Luke sit in the lounge with the baby while Bea busies herself making coffee and tea. I get stuck into my packing and Oliver does the same, in his room. I keep trying to think of viable excuses to be alone with him and relieve this desperate frustration, but nothing seems to sound convincing enough; I need to borrow something… that would take all of twenty seconds. I need to check something in his bathroom… what, exactly? I need him to carry something in his bag for me… again, twenty seconds. This is infuriating! All I can think of is sex!
When I’m almost done, I double check the walk-in wardrobe and happy that there’s nothing left in there, I get on my hands and knees to look under the bed and make sure there isn’t a lone shoe or anything under there.
“Oh my god.” I hear from behind me, the voice undeniably Oliver’s. “What are you doing to me?” he asks, walking over to rest his hand on my lower back and he slides it down, over my buttock and back up again, repeating on the other side.
I grin to myself before shuffling backwards and standing up next to him. “Shh, someone might hear.”
“It’s okay,” he says, quietly, taking me by the waist and walking with me to the wall behind the door, “they’re out on the balcony, we don’t have long but I need to at least kiss you. Not getting a chance to be alone with you is killing me.”
He slips his hand behind my head and immediately devours my mouth with his, his tongue searching and needy. I sigh, quietly, and run my hands over his back and neck, feeling as much of him as I can in the short time we have. He gently bites my bottom lip, sucking it gently into his hot, wet mouth, before returning his lips to mine, fully. It’s not soft and sweet but it’s wonderfully ardent and so necessary.
I hold his face with both of my hands as he presses his hardness against me, making me whimper. “My god, I need you,” he whispers as he kisses, for about the millionth time in the last couple of days, and I only wish I could satisfy that need - for both of us.
“Me too, so badly… I’m so….” I want to say the word that I hate saying, because that’s exactly how it is right now, I am totally ready for him, I am… that.
“So what?” he asks, still kissing me wantonly.
“So… so… I’m…”
“Say it, you can say it, it’s me, baby - it’s me. I want to hear it.”
“I’m so wet for you,” I wail, needing him to know.
I open my eyes to see him frown painfully as he pauses, breaking from the kiss. He opens his eyes and looks directly into mine, shaking his head and sighing. “I can’t do it, Clare, I can’t wait until we’re back at home for fucks sake - can’t we just… do you think they’ll be out there long? Can we…”
I make a small crying noise, “Oh god, Oliver! They’ll be back in here straight away if we start doing something, you know they will. What can we do? How can we plan something before we leave? They’re never going to leave us alone…”
He chuckles. “I’ve never wanted my best friends to fuck off more in my life.”
I giggle along with him in agreement. “Tell me about it!”
He presses his forehead against mine, pushing me into the wall as he gently rests his hands on my boobs, seductively caressing. It’s divine.
I close my eyes and savour each and every second of his stimulating touch. “Do you have any idea how much I want to take you to that bed right now? How much I want to peel those sexy clothes from your hot body and kiss every inch of you?” I moan as he continues to tenderly torture me with his touch and those words.
“I’d peel your knickers down your gorgeous thighs and taste you until you were ready to scream for me. I’d have these bare naked in my hands,” he says, squeezing my boobs gently, “your soft skin, perfect nipples under my tongue and in my mouth. I’d push myself deep inside your beautiful body and I’d watch you move beneath me until you cry out for me, squeezing me, making me come hard inside you…”
I’m shocked by how massively aroused I am, almost to the point of orgasm. If he just pressed his fingers against me, I’d come, I know it. “Touch me, touch me…” I whisper, desperately as I grab his bottom through his jeans with one hand, holding him tightly against me as his lips begin to explore my neck.
His strong hands travel from my chest, down my sides to my thighs where he gathers the fabric of my skirt, lifting it gradually. I feel an intense tingling sensation as I become more and more ready, so hot between my thighs and aching; ready.
One hand slides to the sensitive skin of my inner thigh and I grind my hips, encouraging him to move higher, faster; as soon as his fingers touch me with any type of pressure, I’m going to burst.
“Olly,” Bea calls, suddenly, and we jump apart, Oliver stepping backwards and away from my aching body. No! Fucking… no! He looks at me and shakes his head in utter disbelief, this is ridiculous.
He turns and brushes his hands through his hair as he calls back. “Yeah?” I quickly attempt to compose myself, running into the en-suite.
“Where are you?” she asks as she pokes her head around my bedroom door, “Oh here you are, you done?”
“Yeah, just helping Clare finish off so I can put the bags in the hallway.” I giggle quietly at his choice of words. If only he managed to finish me off, I’d have been done in just a few short seconds.
“Okay, cool. There’s a coffee for you on the breakfast bar.”
Having calmed myself, I emerge from the bathroom, smiling. “Nope, nothing else in there so I think we can zip it up.”
“Great,” Oliver says, beginning to fasten my suitcase before he pulls it from the bed and carries it out of the room.
“Come on, Clara-Belle, Emily’s waiting for her last cuddle and your coffee is getting cold,” Bea says with a friendly smile, ho
lding out her hand for me. I take it, smiling as we head outside to relax for our last short while before we leave, nowhere near over the unbearable sexual frustration. How will I deal with that, sitting next to him for all those hours on an aeroplane? Gah! I can’t wait to get home and finally be alone!
My last Wriggler-cuddle ends way too soon and I pass her to Oliver as I get my hand luggage together. My emotions are all over the place, I’m so sad to be leaving, excited to get home, crazy mad that I’ve been left so ridiculously horny, and rather apprehensive about how Oliver and I are going to move forwards with a relationship once we’re on UK soil. I hope this doesn’t end in a giant tear-fest.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
THURSDAY 20TH JUNE (CONT.)
I hug Tilly like I’m never going to see her again. “I love you. Don’t forget about me!”
“Oh shut up, as if. We’re hoping to have a trip to the UK in a few months so everyone can meet Emily so you won’t have to wait too long to see her. I’m going to miss you though, roomie.”
“But she’ll be so much bigger then! I want to see her every day, she’ll forget me, just like you. I will miss you more than you know, Tils.”
“We’ll never forget Auntie Clare. Just keep sending her loads of amazing presents.”
“No!” Luke says as he butts in to hug me, “Send nothing, we’ll have to move if we get any more baby crap.”
I giggle as I hug him. “Hey! It’s not crap! I only send the finest quality goods, designed to make your daughter look a million dollars. Okay? Now, look after my girls, and make sure my baby gets shown my picture every day.”
“Don’t you worry, nothing’s going to happen to those girls while I’m around, they’re too good to me.”
“Good, thank you. See you soon, miss you all already.” I say, welling up a little.
