“Nothing…” I decide in that second not to say anything, it may spoil his mood.
“Tell me,” he urges.
“I was just thinking...you’re different today,” I say looking tentatively up at him, my mouth running away with me again.
His eyes darken. “Different how?”
“In a good way,” I explain.
“You’re not going to tell me.” He guesses. I shake my head at him. “I wish you would, I want you to be open Coral and really tell me what’s going on in that head of yours. The more I know, the better my chances of understanding you.” Ok, that sounded like George!
“Oh!” I whisper.
“Yeah oh, so are you going to spill?” He asks his eyes lightning as his mood elevates. I think about it for a few seconds.
“It’s just, you seemed kind of distant last night,” I say looking to the floor, shrugging slightly. Tristan sighs and gently lifts my head, running a soft finger down my cheek I see his jaw clench then release.
“I was mad, really, really fucking mad. To be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever felt that mad, like I could annihilate an entire village. When you told me...I just saw red. Of all the people for that to happen to, you’re so sweet and beautiful, so kind, so strong and courageous.” Tristan shakes his head in disgust. “I’ll never understand it men who rape, abuse do all that kind of shit!” He breaks off, his cheeks flaming.
“I thought I would wake up to...” I trail off. “I’m glad you’re back to being you,” I tell him, taking his face in my hands and kissing his full lips.
“You know I’ll probably be...well, I’ll try not to be...” He says shaking his head again.
“What?” I whisper.
“Over protective.” He replies grudgingly. A part of me feels really good about that, as long as Tristan doesn’t take it too far and become a complete ogre. No way, I won’t let that happen, I’ll tell him before it gets that far.
“What are you thinking?” He asks examining my face.
“That I love that you want to protect me so much,” I whisper, leaning my forehead against his.
Tristan seems relieved. “You’ll tell me won’t you, if I start to smother you, you know get a little’ – “Yes,” I say, finishing his sentence for him. “I know what you’re trying to say, and no, I won’t put up with it if you go too far, which I’m sure you won’t,” I say lifting my head and gazing into his warm chocolate eyes.
“Somehow I get the feeling you will definitely put me in my place if I go too far,” he says. “You have far too much spark and fire in you to be that kind of woman,” he adds.
“Damn right,” I say punching him playfully. “I’ll kick your ass,” I add chuckling hard.
“Oh really?” He says, his eyes glinting wickedly.
I don’t have time to react. Tristan launches me over his shoulder and playfully slaps my backside. I yelp in surprise and slap his ass back. Then he throws me onto the beanbag, landing on top of me as he does, then he decides to tickle me – Launching one of my worst triggers!
“Stop!” I scream in panic. My heart is hammering and my head feels woozy.
Tristan leans back, his hands held up showing me he won’t touch me. “What did I do wrong?” He questions.
I stagger to my feet, my breathing erratic and wipe at the sheen of cold sweat that has formed on my brow. “I’m sorry,” I pant, bending down to put my hands on my knees, trying to ease the spinning head.
“Me too,” he says. I look down at Tristan he’s frozen in place, carefully watching me – Shit!
“Tristan you can get up...I’m sorry, I’m sorry...” I say clutching my throat, swallowing hard against the bile that’s risen.
Tristan slowly stands and walks with gentle, soft steps until he reaches me. “You don’t like tickling?” he surmises. I shake my head unable to answer him. “Why?” He softly asks.
Someone knocks the front door, saving me from his question.
“I need some fresh air,” I say. Tristan looks torn like doesn’t want to leave me, then he nods at me and reluctantly, he turns and stalks towards the front door.
I step outside where I know I won’t be seen by the delivery guys and lean my head against the wall. I take a deep breath and close my eyes. I feel the panic subside, only to be over taken by anger – Fuckers! – If they hadn’t have done what they did to me when I was a child, that moment wouldn’t have been ruined. It would have been a normal playful thing that couples do, not’ – “Coral?” I flick my eyes open. Tristan is in front of me his hand held out, giving me a choice to take it or not, as I look up into his eyes I can see the confusion, the frustration, there’s nothing he can do. I take hold of his hand and still myself, closing my eyes I take a moment to bask in the glorious feeling of his hand grasping mine.
“Open your eyes beautiful,” he tells me. I gaze up at his warm eyes. “Ok?” He asks watching carefully for my response.
“Yeah,” I sigh, wondering what Tristan’s really thinking – She’s a nutball and I’m running for the trees, surely?
“What are you thinking?” He asks, echoing my thoughts.
I laugh sarcastically at that one then frown. “That I’m just waiting for the moment when you say you’ve had enough and you leave,” I whisper softly. My stomach rolling at the very thought of it.
“You’ll be waiting a long time,” he tells me caressing my cheek. “Are you ok?” he adds. I nod silently at him. “Want to talk about it?” I shake my head. Tristan looks irritated for a moment then adjusts himself so that his facial features form a panting combusting smile. “As you wish,” he says.
I gaze up at him in awe. There is no way I would let that go, I’d be too intrigued as to why the person reacted that way. But I can’t help grinning back at him, it’s almost as though it happens all by itself, like my face has nothing to do with it.
“May I?” He asks, leaning into me. I nod once. Then his soft lips brush gently against mine. I feel the anger dissipate, the fog lifting just as my heart picks up and my breath catches in my throat...Will I ever get used to this feeling?
“Let’s go back inside,” he whispers. I gaze up at him gazing down at me. What is this magic that he yields over me? “What?” He whispers, gazing down at me.
“Nothing,” I laugh inwardly at myself, take his outstretched hand, and walk in a dreamlike state back into the house.
CHAPTER FIVE
THE FIRST DELIVERY TO ARRIVE IS THE GYM EQUIPMENT. Tristan has, in my humble opinion, gone overboard. Though he assures me he has the same amount of equipment in his other homes. So including a swimming pool we now have a treadmill, a stepper, a cross trainer, a rowing machine, an exercise bike, a full weights machine free weights with several benches and a fitness ball. Tristan has also ordered a vibration plate – which admittedly, I’ve never tried before. Tristan says they are awesome and make you feel really good, so I’m looking forward to trying that later.
“Really,” I say sarcastically. “Is it all really necessary?” I question.
“Absolutely!” He tells me ushering me out of the gym. We leave the three men to it that have brought all the equipment in, and are busy building the weight machine – Good luck there!
“Why?” I ask as we head back up the stairs.
“It’s good to keep your body guessing.” I smile back at Tristan. I’m not really sure what he means.
“I don't understand?” I say.
“You keep swapping what exercise you do, so your body never knows what’s coming. Basically you’re tricking your brain.” I frown at that one. Tristan rolls his eyes at me and smirks. “Ok take average Joe, he goes running for half an hour, three times a week, it’s the same thing he’s done for years, but he’s not as fit as he used to be and he can’t keep the love handles at bay. Basically, the brain tricks the body, it tells you you’re having a great workout, when in fact it’s become a very easy one; which means you don’t burn the calories, work the muscle groups or the heart and lungs.” Who
a!
This is definitely food for thought. Maybe I shouldn’t be swimming every morning? I should be rotating it with something else? Then I think if I keep staying with Tristan, I won’t need the gym anymore, not with all his sexing – I stop that thought in it’s tracks!
“What?” Tristan stops and gazes down at me, a slight smile playing across his lips.
“No wonder you have the body of a twenty year old,” I say dryly.
“Jealous?” he smirks.
“No!” I banter, punching him lightly on the shoulder. “But you’ve definitely given me something to think about,” I add walking up the stairs to the kitchen.
“Coral, you have a beautiful body, you don’t need to worry,” he assures me. But I choose not to get into that one.
“How do you know all that anyway?” I ask.
“I read a lot,” he answers smugly.
“Hmm,” I cock an eyebrow at him.
“We have ten minutes,” he says leaning down to kiss me. “Until the next delivery,” he adds caressing my body, deepening the kiss. I lose all thoughts and try hard to concentrate on keeping my heart from bursting out of my chest...
THREE HOURS LATER, and all the furniture we had chosen has been delivered. The house is ours again. In the living-room, we now have a very large white u-shaped sofa, so at least we have something to chill out on tonight, a flat screen (ridiculously big) T.V with surround sound, although Tristan seems to be very frisky so I doubt we’ll get to watch a movie.
The Bose stereo system has arrived and been strategically placed for optimal sound – so Tristan says, he seems to take his music seriously. The dining room now has a very long table and chairs, and the smaller beech table and chairs is nestled neatly in front of the floor to ceiling windows in the kitchen.
Tristan didn’t agree with the colour at first, but now it’s there he’s changed his mind. His office is now fully kitted out, and the other beds and bedroom furniture arrived for the spare rooms (although, I can’t see when they’ll ever get used) and the rest of the bedroom furniture for the master suit has been put in place, finally I can unpack my weekend bag.
I place my girly stuff in the top drawer of the bedside cabinet, and I’m about to stuff my underwear into the next drawer when I remember about the walk in closets. Picking up my bag, I open the door and head inside – So much room!
I’m just hanging up my clothes when Tristan walks in, smiling sexily at me. “I like those,” he says pointing to my black skinny jeans.
“You do?” I smile.
“Yeah, I bet they’ll look really, really good on you,” he says darkly prowling towards me.
“Don’t,” I chuckle hanging up the jeans. “Or we’ll never get out of here.” Tristan reaches me and pulls me into his arms kissing me passionately.
“Is that so bad?” he mumbles against my lips, his hands squeezing my backside.
“No,” I whisper. “But I wanted to cook for you tonight. How am I supposed to do that with no kitchen equipment?” I sound whiney.
“Well, we could always get a take-away and we could shop tomorrow,” he says pulling my camisole up, his fingertips running up and down my lower back, sending sparks all over my body.
“Please,” I beg. “I really want to cook for you,” I grumble. I’ve always been like that though, once I get an idea into my head I have to follow through with it. Besides, I want to thank him for looking after me and feeding me after my little coming together with Lily, but it looks like my body has other ideas.
Tristan has not stopped kissing and caressing me, making me want him all over again. Wrapping my legs around him and gripping his hair at the nape, I willingly let him take me over to the bed – I am not going to be able to walk properly tomorrow!
WE LIE ON OUR BACKS BOTH PANTING HARD. Turning to look at each other at the same time, Tristan chuckles and runs his hand through his damp hair.
“Jesus woman,” he grins turning on his side to caress my hardened nipples.
“What?” I pant, swallowing hard. I’m so thirsty that was a workout!
“Nothing,” he chuckles sitting up.
“No, tell me,” I retort. “Did I do something wrong?” I ask shyly.
Tristan whips his head round, dives on top of me and kisses me softly, his fingers moving my hair out of my face. “The complete opposite actually,” he says gazing at me intensely. “You’re surprising me at every turn,” he adds.
“I don’t understand?” I say trying not to frown.
“I’ve never had it that good Coral. You’re blowing me away, in everything you do. Especially the sex...” He smiles his mischievous smile at me.
“Hmm,” I close my eyes and smile. I really feel like I can be myself with Tristan, I can let down some barriers and I know he won’t push me to do anything I wouldn’t want to do. I cringe inwardly at the triggers I know I have, and hope that they never get bought up. I hope Tristan doesn’t want to do any of those things.
“Do you think this is normal? Or is it that we have very strong chemistry?” I question.
“Couldn’t say if it’s normal, but I think we can safely say we are very, very compatible in that area, big chemistry,” he grins, his eyes widening playfully, his dimples deepening.
“So I guess you got it pretty bad for me,” I say playfully.
“Bet your damn ass I have,” he retorts kissing me all over, making me chuckle again...
WE ARE IN THE CAR, heading home from shopping and what an experience that was! Tristan didn’t take his touch away from me for a moment. If he wasn’t holding my hand, he was touching my waist, if he wasn’t doing that, his hand would be resting on my upper arm squeezing gently every now and then.
I feel so good about us that I feel like singing it from the rooftops. What a difference to last night!
“Still want to take that bath?” Tristan asks, gently squeezing my knee, his look screaming sex.
“Yes,” I giggle and slap his hand away – He’s so frisky!
He pulls the car into the driveway, switches off the engine and presses the button for the gates. They start to close behind us then he turns in his seat to gaze at me.
“What?” I ask feeling shy.
Tristan smiles deeply at me then frowns. “Am I pushing too much?”
“What?”
“Wanting sex?”
“What? No, Tristan you’re not!” I admonish. “I was only teasing you,” I add.
“Ok,” he smiles his oh so sexy smile at me, my stomach flutters wildly in response. Then he slowly leans forward making his intention clear. Are we about to have car sex?
My throat instantly dries, my heart starts manically beating and my breath kicks up a few notches. His lips reach mine and begin their slow torture, his tongue teasing, taunting me. I moan and close my eyes, then wrap my hand around his neck and pull on his hair. He groans with pleasure and pushes his lips harder against mine.
“Oh what you do to me,” he growls against my lips.
“I could say the same,” I whisper breathlessly.
I look down and see his erection straining to be released from his jeans, I reach down and start to caress him. He closes his eyes, his breathing getting harder. I kiss him softly teasing him with my tongue. Then I tightly squeeze his erection and bite down on his full bottom lip.
“You’d better get me inside,” he hisses, “before I explode in the car.” Damn it!
“No car sex then?” I say pouting at him.
He shakes his head at me. “Another time,” he laughs. Then Tristan jumps out of the car, comes round to my side, hauls me out, slams the car door and carries me in his arms to the front door. Placing me down he unlocks the door, wraps his arm around my waist and swings me inside, I giggle aloud again. Then he punches in the code for the alarm and turns to stare at me with a hot, heated look.
I walk backwards towards the kitchen, beckoning him with my forefinger. He stalks towards me; his look making my legs tremble. I bump up against the breakfast ba
r and gasp, Tristan reaches me and snakes his hand around my waist.
“Take me,” I whisper. “Here, now…” I pant.
Without a word, he spins me around, so my back is against his front and pulls off my camisole. He caresses my breasts making my nipples strain against the strapless bra that I’m wearing. My head falls back against his shoulder, my mouth slack from his touch, then his hand slides down and undoes the button to my jeans.
“Tristan,” I whisper. He pulls the zipper down, skims his hand underneath the stretchy material and slowly pulls them down to my knees.
“You have such a sexy body,” he says all deep and husky.
Standing up he gently squeezes my backside with his one hand as his other moves my hair to the left, then he leans down and plants soft kisses across my neck, then a gentle blow, then another kiss, I can feel it all the way down there. He continues to kiss me across my right shoulder then my left, my whole body feels so sensitive, I shudder at his touch.
I move my hands round to his erection and continue rubbing him, then I feel him unclipping my bra, he throws it on the floor, revealing my full pert nipples. They are just aching for his touch. His one hand moves across my breasts teasing, softly pulling my nipples, his other hand heads south, slowly, across my belly, underneath my knickers and between my legs.
I gasp as his fingers reach my clitoris. He rubs gently a couple of time, then he moves and sinks a finger inside me.
“Ahh…” I cry out at the contact.
He pulls his finger back out and continues to tease my clitoris, slowly going round in circles, making me tremble inside. “You’re so ready,” he whispers in my ear.
I close my eyes to his touch. “Yes,” I moan.
“I want you!” He suddenly stops teasing my clitoris and slowly pulls my pants down to my knees, then I hear the sound of his belt being unclipped, his jeans being pulled down and the tell-tale sound of foil ripping.
He pulls me sharply against his body. I can feel his erection digging into me. “Look at me baby,” he softly says. I twist my head around, bow my back and stare up into his dark wide eyes.
CORAL - Fallen (A Romance Trilogy, Book 2) Page 7
