Kindred Hearts

by Grace Lowrie

  Chapter Thirty-nine

  By the time I arrived in Brighton I was feeling upbeat – I still missed the twins, but knowing I’d soon have them all to myself had me smiling with jovial anticipation. Sam and her family wrapped me up in big hugs and smiles, even little Alex, before whisking me off to a bustling vegetarian restaurant, where we stuffed ourselves with wholesome burgers and cake – lining our stomachs in preparation for the night ahead. I was impressed that Rick had offered to stay at home and babysit while us girls went out on the town, but Sam confided that Rick had already been out with his mates the night before and that he was now paying for it – in more ways than one.

  I spent the afternoon playing games and pulling faces at Alex while Sam filled me in on his progress. She was shocked and appalled when I related a brief account of Dan’s unprovoked attack, but once I’d persuaded her that there was no lasting damage, she calmed down.

  ‘Celeste’s brother sounds like a real hero,’ she commented. ‘You sure he doesn’t have a thing for you, Tash?’ I shrugged non-committally, trying hard not to blush and quickly changed the subject.

  Karen had journeyed down from Scotland by train and was staying with Becky in Kemp Town – the girls were already at the bar ordering two pitchers of cocktails when Sam and I arrived, ready to party. The place was small but lively, a basement bar near the seafront with an eclectic mix of movies playing out silently on a large screen, while a whole host of different DJs took it in turns to play indie rock and dance tunes throughout the night. Entry was strictly by pre-purchased ticket only and by 9 p.m. the place was bursting with revellers, many of whom were clad in fancy dress and already wasted. The girls and I had a ball; catching up with all the gossip; sharing funny stories, and fending off amorous advances from various different men.

  ‘So when are you all coming up to Scotland to visit me?’ Karen bellowed over the music.

  ‘Well, when are you getting married? You’ll have to have a hen party beforehand and that would be a perfect excuse for us to visit!’ Sam grinned.

  Karen pulled a face. ‘We still haven’t set a date, so I wouldn’t wait for that!’

  ‘What’s the hold-up?’ Becky asked bluntly.

  ‘It’s the venue! We finally found a gorgeous little castle that we both love, but it has just changed hands and it’s being renovated. The new owners are reluctant to commit to any dates yet.’

  ‘What, not even for a year’s time?’ I said.

  Karen shook her head dejectedly.

  ‘Bloody hell. You’d better have another drink,’ Sam said, topping up Karen’s glass, while Becky and I hugged her sympathetically.

  When a very tall, gangly young man in a trilby offered to buy me a drink, my friends were pushy and keen to inform him of my single status and as I obligingly accepted a drink we fell into conversation. I learned he was an artist and a musician – sculpting in wood and metal by day and playing bass guitar in a rock band by night. He was cute and funny and easy to talk to and before I knew it, the evening had slipped away and the countdown to midnight had begun.

  I re-joined my friends where Becky eagerly passed me a flute of champagne and as the much anticipated hour struck, the room erupted with cheers, whistles, and singing. The girls and I hugged one another in a group before launching into a ragged, half-hearted verse of ‘Auld Lang Syne’ and staggering back over to the bar with satisfaction.

  Josh, the guy I’d been talking to, found me, chinked his glass against mine, and leaned in to kiss me. But I ducked away reflexively, surprising both him and myself. Maybe because Dan’s attack was too fresh in my mind, or maybe because at that moment I missed Sebastian and Celeste so very much that no one else would do. Whatever the reason, I muttered an apology to him before staggering away towards the toilets, feeling foolish.

  Once there I fished my mobile out of my handbag to find that I had missed a call from Celeste – the new year had started an hour earlier in France. But I was surprised to discover that I also had a text message from Sebastian. It said simply ‘I miss you’ and brought tears to my eyes. Coming from Sebastian this innocuous little phrase meant everything to me. I replied with ‘I miss you too’ in equally understated fashion and instantly felt better.

  As I entered the North Terminal on Monday morning, towing my suitcase behind me, my whole body trembled with excited anticipation. My eyes roved over the various signs and destination screens searching for directions, but before I found them I heard my name, my full first name spoken in a firm, familiar voice. As I turned, Sebastian took my arm and whisked me around a corner, his touch electrifying my senses. Before I could even say hello he gathered me in his arms and kissed me urgently, tenderly, and profoundly, sending blood singing through my body. I held him tightly, savouring the feel of his hair in my fingers, his taste on my tongue, his heady scent, and the low appreciative rumble in his chest.

  ‘God, I’ve missed you,’ he muttered against my lips, his hands gently squeezing my bottom despite the hundreds of people passing by.

  ‘Me too,’ I breathed as I leaned back to take in his beautiful face.

  He was as gorgeous as ever – clean-shaven, hair slightly damp, lips flushed, and eyes burning with undisguised desire. My legs felt unsteady. I laughed as I attempted to regain control of myself and think clearly and he smiled at me, dazzlingly, his eyes suddenly young and filled with light.

  ‘You are so beautiful,’ he said wonderingly.

  ‘I was just thinking the same about you,’ I said. ‘Where’s Celeste?’

  ‘She’s waiting for us at the desk.’ Sebastian reluctantly released me. ‘She thinks I’m in the gents but I just had to catch you alone.’

  I grinned helplessly at his touching confession.

  ‘Come on, we’d better get over there,’ he said taking my suitcase and leading the way.

  Celeste clocked me from twenty yards and came hurtling through the crowds, her arms thrown wide.

  ‘Darling!’ she exclaimed, hugging me tight. Celeste was luminous with delight, her pale eyes sparkling, her cheeks glowing, and her golden curls bouncing around her shoulders as she whispered excitedly in my ear about how much fun we were about to have. Sebastian stood close beside me, chuckling with amusement at our public display of happiness and affection. I was home.

  Chapter Forty

  The flight was an experience in itself – I’d never flown First Class before, I’d never travelled beyond Europe before, and now I knew I’d be reluctant to fly economy class again, no matter what the destination. We were attentively served gourmet food, champagne, and chocolates for the whole eight hours we were in the air, and our seats reclined all the way back to form comfortable beds. But I was far too happy to sleep. Celeste spent much of the flight regaling me with tales of all the parties she and Sebastian had attended in Paris and of all the charismatic and influential people she’d met, particularly within the fashion world. Sebastian was seated on the other side of Celeste and made occasional, insightful comments whenever Celeste paused for breath, but mostly he just watched me with undisguised affection, over Celeste’s head where she couldn’t see.

  Much sooner than seemed possible, we were landing at V.C. Bird International Airport and climbing into a waiting, chauffeur-driven car. It was mid-afternoon, blindingly sunny and an unbelievable 29⁰C although it felt even hotter with the humidity. We were all tired and tipsy after the flight and I sat in stunned silence in the back of the air-conditioned car as I absorbed our new surroundings through the window – colourfully painted buildings, exotic-looking vegetation, and endless blue sky. The car paused outside a lively looking hotel resort set in beautifully landscaped tropical gardens, while a sign outside boasted restaurants, swimming pools, tennis courts, water sports, a gym, a spa, and a bar.

  ‘Is this where we’re staying?’ I gasped.

  ‘Actually, no, but we will have free access to all the facilities here,’ Celeste said smugly, a twinkle in her eye.

  Further down the road we turned
down a narrow private driveway which snaked its way through a lush green jungle until we arrived – just five minutes, but a world away – at a beautiful white villa. The house was perched at the cliff-top edge of a secluded, half-moon cove. The walls were decorated with vines and wrap-around verandas which basked in the sunlight reflected off the clear turquoise sea below. Even from the car, the place took my breath away.

  While Sebastian paid the driver, Celeste excitedly led me through the pretty garden dotted with palm trees and into the house where she showed me around. Every room had spectacular views of sea, sky, and tropical flowers. Below us, beneath our own private freshwater swimming pool, a deserted stretch of white sandy beach spread in an arc around the lush green bay. To the north an endless blue sea reached to the distant horizon and to the east, just out of view in the next bay along, was the picturesque beach and resort that we had passed. The villa was pure, unadulterated luxury, with spacious, immaculately furnished living accommodation and a cavernous kitchen. Sliding doors opened up one whole side of the living area so that the interior and the terrace became one vast space, while the two beautiful en suite bedrooms had similar folding doors opening out onto more intimate verandas. One of the bathrooms had a large free-standing bathtub (not unlike Celeste’s own bath in London) and the other had an enormous walk-in shower behind a transparent glass wall. The house was fully equipped with modern conveniences and supplies and comfortable steps led down to the private jetty and beach.

  ‘Do we really have this all to ourselves?’ I asked Celeste when I’d recovered my ability to speak.

  ‘Yep!’ Celeste clapped her hands together, grinning. ‘Do you like it?’

  ‘Like it?’ I scoffed. ‘You have truly surpassed yourself Celeste – this is … paradise.’

  ‘It is, isn’t it,’ Celeste agreed, leading me by the hand. ‘You don’t mind if we share a room, do you? There are only two but Sebastian has offered to sleep on the sofa bed in the living room if you would rather have space to yourself?’

  ‘No, don’t be silly; I don’t mind sharing.’ I smiled at Celeste’s blush.

  By the time Celeste and I had unpacked and changed into some lighter clothes Sebastian had concocted a round of generously sized Mojitos with fresh mint leaves and copious amounts of crushed ice. We lounged in a row on the main veranda, staring out across the Caribbean Sea, sipping our drinks as birds sang in the trees and a warm, gentle breeze kissed our skin. I felt like I was dreaming.

  Before long Celeste got restless and we all went for a dip in the pool. It felt amazing; the water cool and refreshing, the sun warm on my skin, and all my worries and fears floating out of my head. The alcohol I had imbibed over the course of the long day had relaxed every part of my body and I couldn’t fail to notice how very appealing the twins looked – Celeste in a skimpy pink bikini, sunlight caressing her seductive curves and her soft creamy skin, and Sebastian in navy trunks, the fabric clinging to his muscles, and rivulets of water trickling down across his chest, his stomach, his hair-sprinkled thighs …

  For a while we hit a plastic ball back and forth in a loose version of water volleyball without a net; Sebastian versus us girls; but soon we were just splashing each other and giggling drowsily as the sun set dramatically across the water.

  At dusk, wrapped in fluffy white towels, we devoured slices of buttery, home-baked bread, and an exotic freshly prepared fruit salad directly from the fridge.

  ‘We should explore the beach tomorrow,’ said Celeste, licking sticky mango juice from her lips, ‘take a picnic.’

  Sebastian and I nodded in agreement as I tried to stifle a yawn that soon spread to the twins.

  ‘Let’s turn in,’ Celeste said, lazily taking my hand and leading me off to one of the bedrooms. ‘Goodnight, Sebastian,’ she called back over her shoulder.

  ‘Night,’ Sebastian murmured, his eyes burning into mine with barely concealed longing so that I could still see his gaze in my mind after Celeste had closed the door behind us.

  We brushed our teeth staring out in awe across the inky sea as millions of stars glittered in the sky above. Celeste lovingly brushed my hair and undressed me before peeling off her own bikini and lying down on the crisp white sheets – it was big enough to sleep a family of four. I lay down beside her, both of us on our sides facing each other, the open window bathing our naked bodies in moonlight and allowing the balmy air to caress our skin. Celeste took my hand, her fingers supple and petite.

  ‘I hate being away from you – I don’t want us to be apart again,’ she said.

  ‘Me too. I’m glad you had a good time though.’

  ‘I suppose I did …’ she said thoughtfully, ‘… but nothing is really special for me anymore unless you are there to share it.’

  ‘Oh, Celeste.’

  ‘No, I mean it – I meet so many other women, all the time, some of them sweet and pretty – and I look at them differently now, since you … I wonder if I’ve changed; I wonder if I am attracted to women now – but I’m not. I look at them and I don’t feel anything. It’s only you,’ she added.

  Celeste smiled but I was lost for words. Outside the window waves lapped rhythmically, making a hushing noise against the rocks below.

  ‘When I see you …’ she continued, ‘… even just hearing your voice; I feel it here.’ Celeste placed our joined hands over her heart, our fingers resting close to her nipple. ‘And I feel it here.’ Celeste moved our hands down to below her belly, our entwined fingers sinking down between her legs while her eyes held mine. She was hot and wet and I stroked her gently with my fingertips.

  ‘I feel real when I’m with you; like I don’t have to pretend; like I can be me and I can be happy; really, truly happy …’ she added, her voice husky.

  Celeste lifted her thigh to allow my hand greater access and gasped as I slid a finger inside her.

  ‘Oh, Tasha,’ she moaned ‘you turn me on so much.’

  ‘You have the same effect on me,’ I whispered, watching as her soft mouth parted, her eyes darkened, and she bent to delicately kiss each of my tingling nipples in turn. It had been more than two weeks and I wanted her; I wanted her to erase any last traces of Dan Stanton from my body and mind.

  ‘Kiss me, Celeste,’ I whispered as her mouth found mine; her lips yielding and warm, her tongue caressing me, her sweet breath intoxicating. Celeste’s full breasts pressed against me; her taut nipples rubbing my mine; sending waves of aching pleasure right down to between my legs. She pushed her head back against the pillows, her eyes shut as she ground rhythmically against the heel of my hand, my fingers slipping in and out of her, causing her to moan.

  Suddenly my attention was drawn to the corner of the room. Sebastian was standing motionless, silhouetted in the open doorway, his face in shadow. I froze in shock and Celeste, sensing it, opened her eyes and followed my gaze. But she was drunk and happy and close to climaxing; she was beyond caring. She closed her eyes again, almost with a shrug and resumed her rhythmic rocking against my hand without comment. I just stared at Sebastian through a haze of heady intoxication. What was he thinking? What was he going to do?

  After only a moment’s hesitation he turned and left the room without a word. Celeste continued to writhe against my hand; her muscles taut with mounting need and I watched, mesmerised as she came, her lips parted and eyes darkly fixed on mine. She was fiercely beautiful in that moment, but I could not join her. My head was full of Sebastian.

  We lay in silence as Celeste’s shudders subsided, her pulse rate slowed and my fear and anxiety spread. What had I done? Would Sebastian ever forgive me? What was Celeste thinking? What should I say? Where should I start?

  ‘You’re sleeping with Sebastian, aren’t you?’ Celeste said, the gentle warmth of her tone causing tears to spring to my eyes.

  ‘Yes,’ I whispered.

  ‘You love him.’

  ‘Yes, but I love you too,’ I said.

  Celeste smiled. ‘I know,’ she said, tenderly catching one of my
tears with her thumb.

  ‘You'd better go and check he’s OK.’

  I studied Celeste’s face for any trace of anger or pain but could only read compassion and concern in her eyes. I slowly pulled on a robe and made to leave.

  ‘Are we OK?’ I asked, afraid of the answer but needing to know.

  ‘Of course, darling,’ she said with a smile and a sleepy wave of her hand. ‘Always.’

  When I finally located Sebastian he was sitting alone at the end of the private wooden jetty, his feet trailing in the dark water, moonlight highlighting his bare shoulders and thighs. I walked out to him, the planked timber still warm, creaking slightly under my feet and increasing my sense of apprehension. Without looking up Sebastian shifted over to one side and I took this as an invitation to sit beside him. The water was cool at my toes.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ I said.

  Sebastian shook his head.

  ‘I am.’

  ‘No,’ he said cutting me off. ‘It’s okay,’ he added softly, turning to me and taking my hand, the familiarity of his touch soothing, reassuring, and quietly electrifying.

  ‘But how can it be?’ I said, unable to believe that it could be that easy; that both twins could be so accepting.

  ‘It just is,’ Sebastian said.

  As I gazed at him I realised there was barely contained heat simmering in his eyes. With his other hand he reached up cupped my chin and wiped his thumb firmly across my lips, as if removing all traces of Celeste’s mouth from mine. Before I could speak he dipped his head and kissed me passionately, possessively claiming me for himself. I returned his kiss eagerly; desperate with relief that I hadn’t lost him. His hands moved inside my robe, his long fingers exploring, kneading, caressing my body with long suppressed desire and I pulled him down with me as I lay back on the jetty, legs spread; craving reassurance and overwhelmed with need. He quickly removed his swimming trunks and eased himself inside me; sinking smoothly, deeply, while I let out a low moan. My doubts dissipated as I revelled in the heady fullness of our bodies reunited at last. Sebastian responded with deep, steady momentum, his fingers gripping my hips, his darkly glinting eyes restraining mine. As my body tightened and my mind became incapable of thought, we climaxed together, loudly, in an intensely carnal embrace.