Lizzie's List

by Melling, Diane

  “That was great!” James says some time later. “When can we do that again?” I find it difficult to reply because I now have ridiculous tears streaming down my face and don’t want James to see, but he feels them as they drip onto his hot, skin. “Lizzie what’s wrong – have I hurt you?” he asks in concern.

  Gulping back my absurd tears and feeling foolish, I try to explain. “No you haven’t hurt me at all. I’m fine honestly. I can’t believe I’m crying.” If he still likes me after this performance, it must be love – pull yourself together Lizzie. “It’s just that I’ve never had ... erm not had ... ever ... erm an orgasm. I feel a little silly that at the age of 29 I am saying this to you, but ... well that was just so amazing; I’ve got all emotional. Honestly, James, you haven’t hurt me –it just felt fantastic, and I can now tick off another item on my list!”

  “It’s your first orgasm? Lizzie, seriously, you’ve obviously had some rubbish boyfriends in the past. There’s plenty more where that came from, if you’d like to do it again with me some time.”

  “Of course I bloody would. Now I know what it’s like, you’re going to be a very active man James Colley, but right now I’m starving – how about that meal?” I ask.

  Task 7 – Have an orgasm.

  I imagine some of you reading this will find it strange that I haven’t had an orgasm by now or even faked one for a peaceful life. Let me remind you that I’ve never been in love (until now) or had a boyfriend whom I lusted after. Maybe I always chose the wrong men or hadn’t met the right one. So there it is, I’ve never experienced an orgasm before. If you’ve never experienced something, how can you possibly miss it. Therefore, not having had an orgasm has never particularly bothered me. In the past, this is something I’ve not admitted to many people (hardly anybody), but right now, I don’t mind telling you and am not embarrassed by it–perhaps this is the consequences of my list.

  It was only when I was compiling my list that I thought about things I haven’t done or ever experiences, so I put this one on my list out of pure curiosity. If I’d known orgasms were this good, I wouldn’t have left it so long to visit that sex shop and may have made a different purchase to body chocolate!

  Now I do know what I was missing, therefore I am very keen to experience it again. It’s a little like hot chocolate fudge cake, the more you have it, the more you want it–that said, I would still find it difficult to choose between the two, although with my body chocolate I can combine the two experiences. And guess what? I’ve now ticked off two items on my list in one weekend, the second being somewhat unplanned and therefore unexpected.

  I slip on James’ bath robe and he in his jeans, then we head back outside to enjoy the isolated and private position of the cottage garden, where we can be relaxed about our state of semi-undress. Whilst James goes back in to get our food, I smile to myself, feeling the satisfied glow of a woman who has been thoroughly made love to. As James reappears with two plates, my attention turns to what he has made to eat because I am now absolutely ravenous. Yum–this man is not only good in the bedroom, but he can cook too–chicken breast wrapped in parma ham, complemented with couscous and salad.

  “This smells delicious!” I enthuse as I inhale the inviting aroma. We both tuck in greedily, now starving after our exertion. Digging into the breast I find it is filled with goat’s cheese, which he knows I adore from my dinner party last night. “I thought you said you couldn’t cook very well, but, this is scrumptious.” James looks slightly sheepish in response to my comment. “James; have you actually made this?” I ask sussing out something is not quite right. You can’t have everything in a man–can you?

  “Well I did put it in the oven, but in terms of actually putting this together, I erm ... had a little help from Pete,” he mutters. I giggle–Ruth has mentioned Pete’s culinary skills many times and I have tasted his food during our weekend at the centre. “Well my motto in life is–use all resources you have on offer, and Pete offered. Well, actually, he refused to allow me to give you beans on toast. Now that’s something I’m fantastic at making – beans on toast!”

  “Well I shall thank Pete next time I see him and congratulations on achieving the correct oven temperature – you’d be surprised how crucial that is to a dish, especially chicken.”

  “That’s thanks to Pete’s instructions as well, if I’m honest or I would have put it at the highest temperature and burned the lot.”

  “Well you’ve actually done very well, considering the delay in us eating – thank you.”

  As we continue our meal, daylight fades, allowing the lanterns’ glow to illuminate the garden causing a romantic ambience. The gentle breeze causes them to sway delicately, creating magical moving shadows. Conversation is entertaining, with both of us feeling at ease enough to tease each other over various topics, so that I have no hesitation in telling him my thoughts. He accepts me for who I am, and since many of our previous meetings have involved me in slightly unusual situations, I have lost the ability to be embarrassed in front of this man. After we devour the delectable meal, James heads in for our dessert, whilst I venerate his rear. Yet again he turns and catches me responding with, “Are you looking at my bum again, Lizzie?”

  “Yes I am and it’s lovely,” I respond with an unashamedly cheeky grin.

  “Dessert!” he announces as he returns with an enormous slice of chocolate fudge cake – oh heaven.

  Chocolate fudge cake and my first orgasm in one night – life just can’t get better than this! “This is one of my favourites, but just to be sure of what I’m eating–did you make this, or Pete?” I ask.

  “Well I have to confess–I bought this. Since you are part owner of The Tea Cosy, famous locally for its fabulous cakes, which you make yourself–I didn’t even try to compete by making something myself.”

  Imagining I would be slightly disappointed, because shop bought cakes are never the same as homemade, I taste the dessert and have to admit that it is sumptuously moist and flavoursome, but without being too sickly, which can be an issue with chocolate cake – getting the right balance is hard. This one is nearly as good as my own chocolate fudge cake, so good in fact, that it has unnerved me a little. I am not being big headed about this–I am just confident that mine is really good. “James this is superb – not quite as good as the one I make, but fabulous nevertheless!”

  “Erm ... well that’s where you’re wrong Lizzie. It is as good as yours,” he replies determinedly, which causes an instant rising of my heckles at his ludicrous suggestion.

  “James, after such a wonderful evening, please don’t insult my palate, which is so attuned to chocolate fudge cake, I could only be described as a chocolate fudge cake connoisseur. Trust me, I know my stuff and this is not as good as my own,” I answer knowingly.

  “Well Lizzie, I’m sorry but you’re wrong.” James says still looking confident, despite my stern, glare. “And the reason why you’re wrong is because this is your chocolate fudge cake – I bought it from The Tea Cosy,” he says with smug satisfaction written all over his face in huge letters and cherry on top.

  “What!” I practically pounce out. “How on earth did you get hold of this without my knowing?” I ask trying to hide my annoyance at his cunning trick and also the fact that he is right.

  “Well last night at your place, I quietly asked Kate if I could buy some on the promise that you would have a much better time tonight eating your own creations, rather than something I attempt. But all of the table and garden decorations are my own efforts,” he answers with his hand gesturing to the garden.

  There are not many times, when I am lost for words, but this will go down in my history book as one of them as my mouth opens and closes silently, whilst my brain organises my thoughts into one coherent sentence. However, I am secretly pleased at the sneaky methods he used to please me and all that he has done to try and make this romantic. Hey, he’s given me my first orgasm �
�� I can hardly complain.

  Finally finding words, I reply with a mocked huffiness, “Well she mustn’t have given you the freshest batch and that’s why my palate was confused. I’d ask for my money back if I were you!” James just laughs, kissing me again, before he looks at his half-eaten fudge cake suggestively.

  “What do you think?” he asks nodding towards his bowl.

  “I’ve already told you that it tastes lovely,” I answer not quite sure what he is getting at.

  “Well, ever since seeing your body chocolate, I’ve been dying to try it with you – how about we use this instead?”

  “What a fantastic idea,” I reply as James smears my body with his remaining cake. You can probably imagine what happened next. And what he doesn’t know, is, that I have the jar in the car, should we need any more.

  Much later, after clearing the table, James brings a blanket and some cushions outside, where we lie down watching the disappearing light and welcoming the stars as they gradually appear like jewels in the dusky sky. Both silent, deep in thought, I sigh and snuggle into James’ arm feeling very contented.

  The stars twinkle as if waving to us from above, and the moon is reflected in the shimmering silver-ribbon of the stream trickling down the valley. James twists slightly allowing our skin contact to increase since the bath robe has come open. Unable to fight our arousal, we make love again, wrapped in the blanket under the stars, but this time less hurried, slow, deliberate, gentle love making. That’s the last thing I remember before falling asleep, enveloped in James body.

  On waking the next morning, I find myself in James’ bed – he must have carried me up last night. Smells of bacon waft through the open door, making me feel ravenous, so I head in the direction of the smells, my nose leading the way. “Morning,” I say as I enter the kitchen, wrapped in James’ robe.

  “Morning – you looked too comfortable to wake. Would you like a bacon sandwich? I made them all by myself without any help from Pete. I was just about to bring one up to you.”

  “I’d love one!” I reply, still thinking about last night’s loveliness.

  “Unfortunately I have to go soon. We’ve got guests arriving this morning, but take your time getting ready – stay as long as you want – just pull the door to behind you when you leave. Watch out for Jack, he’s a little sneak at getting locked outside.” James hands me a plate with doorstep sized wedges of bread dripping in butter and overflowing with bacon, then briefly kisses me and head out. “Have a good day!” are his only words as he closes the door behind him.

  Feeling a little like my bubble has wobbled, I try to flap away feelings of disappointment. Obviously James has to go to work, but he is in such a rush, I only get a quick peck with no mention of another date. I am sure he’ll call me, but still those little seeds of doubt make me question his abrupt departure and whether I should have slept with him so soon. As James mentioned, I’ve had rubbish boyfriends up to now, but James is different. Get a grip Lizzie–after all this is one mean bacon sandwich!

  Note to Self

  Ask James where my bra went – I cannot find it and it’s too nice to lose.

  Have lots more orgasms – lots.

  Pick some flowers from the garden before I go – they’d look lovely on the dining room table. Is it too soon to be adding feminine touches to his house?

  Chapter 13

  Bluebells all around

  Despite my initial concerns, a few hours later a text bleeps on my phone and it’s from James, “Hi sexy.” So with a spring in my step, I head out to visit Kate with it being our day off. I have plenty to tell her and we have loads to discuss about her wedding and also some plans we have for our business. We never seem to have the chance to talk without interruptions at work.

  Kate already has the kettle boiling when I arrive and listens to me ramble on about my night with James, gushing like a dog-lover does over their new puppy. Realising that perhaps I am revealing far too much information, I start off our meeting. “Anyway, let’s get down to business – what shall we discuss first, The Tea Cosy or your wedding?”

  “Let’s save the wedding stuff till later and make the harder decisions now,” Kate replies in a business-like manner.

  We have recently batted around ideas about opening another Tea Cosy in a different location and also the need to recruit staff as we wouldn’t be able to manage with just the two of us with even more work. Kate and I are stretched to the limit and if we are to expand, we will require some help. With her business brain, Kate has found potential venues, which we are going to view soon and see if they fit in with the image we’ve create with The Tea Cosy. We are keen to maintain the same style and quality of The Tea Cosy within any new premises, especially since we have built up a good reputation for ourselves locally. Our thoughts are to employ somebody to run The Tea Cosy here, in Chipham Green, so that Kate and I can concentrate on opening a new cafe and developing the catering side of the business. The person must be right for the job before we can move forward with anything else. We’ve all been to cafes where the service is as sloppy as the custard – well there is not a chance that Kate and I would leave The Tea Cosy in the hands of anybody who we don’t trust.

  After several hours discussing finance, recruitment and locations, we seem to have the bones of a business plan sketched out, which Kate is going to develop, whilst I take charge of finding the perfect person for our beloved Tea Cosy. Our next step is to check out potential premises and then we can continue from there.

  “Well, now that that’s sorted, it’s time for the fun part – my wedding. Take a look at these pictures of bridesmaid dresses Lizzie, and let me know which you prefer? There are also some material swatches over there – I was thinking of a bluebell colour theme since it’d be the right time of year and I could then have bluebells featuring in the bouquets.” Now Kate is gushing, but I let her enjoy these precious moments of her discussing what will be one of the most important days of her life and love to see her eyes dance majestically with enthusiasm. “It reminds me of when we were younger and used to love playing in the woods carpeted with bluebells, pretending we were brides with our bluebell bouquets. Then when we got older, you used to call your privates your ... bluebell!” laughs Kate.

  “I still call it that Kate – you know I hate the V word and would be very happy if you keep that to yourself. It’s not the sort of thing I want to admit to many people at the age of 29.”

  “Sorry I already told Ben that story – he thinks it’s a hilarious name for it by the way! I didn’t know it was still your terminology for that region – sorry,” Kate giggles.

  “Oh fantastic, let’s hope he keeps it quiet. I think a bluebell theme is perfect – after all Ben did propose on Bluebell Hill,” I reply.

  “Great – that’s settled then.”

  Over the next hour, Kate and I discuss all of her ideas and I help her make decisions, even though she has a pretty good vision of what she wants. She has also informed me that she wants me to make the wedding cake – arrrgh, I’ve never done anything so grand before, but am up to the challenge.

  After leaving Kate’s, I head home with an important task to do – Dad’s birthday present. After my conversation with him about his wish to visit the Lake District, I thought I could buy him some maps and guides for the Lake District – maybe the famous Wainwright ones. It might encourage him to organise a trip up there. If not, then that’s my 60th birthday present sorted for him next year. Gosh I’m just so organised right now.

  Sitting at my laptop, I google Amazon to see what I can find, when an email pings up from Tabitha.

  Hi Lizzie,

  Mark spoke to James this morning -call me soon. It sounds like he’s very taken with you – I want details – call me!

  Love Tabitha

  Hi Tabitha

  Thanks partly to your red dress, we had a great (use your imagination) time. I
’ll call you soon.

  Love Lizzie

  Notes to Self

  Think of ways to bribe Ben should he ever choose to reveal my bluebell name secret and whilst on the subject, come to terms with the V word. Maybe I could just call it my flower or front bottom.

  Start thinking about bluebell themed ideas for wedding cakes – this is one task I cannot mess up.

  Grill Tabitha on what she means by ‘taken with you’.

  Chapter 14

  New beginnings

  The next few weeks fly by like a carousel spinning out of control, causing James and me to spend most of our time working, but grasping any spare moment we can to be together. Things are progressing pleasantly and we are getting to know each other more. He is even coming to my parents’ house this weekend for dad’s birthday lunch.

  This morning, Kate and I are off to view two potential premises for our new Tea Cosy venture. One of them is in the centre of a small nearby town. The other, is part of a barn conversion on a farm that houses various small shops in which artists hire to display and sell their work. Although the farm isn’t located close to towns or villages, it is growing into a tourist attraction which people visit for a coffee and cake whilst browsing amongst the unique shops. The farm also has events throughout the year, such as farmers’ markets or autumn festivals attracting visitors who are likely to stop for refreshments.