Doubt (The Connected Series Book 1)

by KA Hobbs

  “Why don’t you go and take a bath? It should all be ready. I’ll make dinner.” he pats my bottom and turns me in the direction on the big open plan bathroom.

  “I wanted to help...”

  “Not tonight, I want you to relax. Go.” he smiles, letting me know it’s okay. I walk into the bathroom.

  There are more candles here, and sitting on the side, is a new, fluffy white robe. Slipping off my clothes I put one toe into the water, the perfect temperature. I sink into the vanilla smelling bubbles and sigh contentedly. If the rest of the evening is this perfect, I’m in for a very special evening.

  ***

  After a divine soak in the bath, I wrap myself in my new bathrobe and make my way out to the kitchen. Doug has sexy music on, a slow, sexy sounding guitar and a male, deep, hypnotic voice fills the room. He has his back to me in the kitchen, he is humming to the song while he stirs the pan of ingredients, walking over, I place my hand gently on his hip. He turns around, wrapping me in his arms as he moves us both to the sultry sound.

  "I love dancing with you.” I breathe, feeling myself getting aroused, just by dancing with him.

  Any woman will tell you the allure and sexiness of a man who can dance well. The movement of your hips, the closeness, it is as near to sex with clothes on that you can get.

  "Not half as much as I love dancing with you, Miss Bennett.”He whispers, leaning down to kiss the sweet spot behind my ear, the moment his lips touch my neck, his arms grip me more firmly. My knees give way. Luckily he has his strong arms around me.

  "That isn't possible…” I whisper back feeling completely and utterly under his spell.

  The music and being this close to Doug is doing interesting things to my body, I have tingles all over, my breasts swell in arousal, and the steady throb between my legs gets stronger.

  “The music...” I whisper, closing my eyes to try and clear my foggy brain a little.

  “Yes....” he pushes his groin into me a fraction more, sending my pulse into overdrive, when I feel him hard on my tummy.

  “Its.... sexy....” he laughs against my cheek.

  “You think?” I grasp his face between my hands and look into his eyes.

  “Yes” I breathe into his face.

  “But maybe it’s just you...” I reach up, pressing my lips to his, pushing my breasts to his chest. He groans and rests his forehead to mine.

  “As much as I would like to continue this... Dinner will be ruined in about ten seconds if I don’t go check on it...” his eyes tell me, he doesn’t want this to stop either, “Can we take a rain-check?” his eyes are pleading.

  “Yes...” I step out of his embrace and over to the breakfast bar and take a seat while Doug attends to dinner. It smells delicious. Doug looks so domesticated in jeans and a white t shirt, moving around the kitchen getting dinner ready.

  “Wine?” he looks over his shoulder holding up a glass.

  “Yes please.” I can’t take my eyes off his back, as he reaches up for the plates, the muscles in his back ripple and his t shirt rides up a little, giving me a delightful peek of his lower back. I groan inwardly - he has left me in this worked up state and expects me to be able to eat?

  “So I was thinking, when I’m back from New York, we should go away, just the two of us. Work has been so crazy, for both of us, and by the sounds of your meetings today, it’s going to get even crazier, we should take the opportunity to have a break. What do you think?” glancing at me, he catches my heated eyes and smirks.

  “Sophie, you have a one track mind.”

  “What?” I try to focus on what he was talking about, but I can’t help but stare, how did I get so lucky?

  “What do you think?” he raises an eyebrow.

  “About....” think quick Sophie, you need to remember what he was saying.

  “Going away?” he can’t hide the smirk on his face.

  “Yes. Going away. Sounds good. Where were you thinking?” Going away does sound nice. We could forget work for a few days and just be together.

  “Somewhere hot? The weather isn’t really getting any better yet, I know I could do with some sun.”

  My mind drifts again. Doug in nothing but a pair of swimming trunks, sun shining, skin glistening with water, licking every drop of water off his delectable body...

  “Sophie!” Oooops, was I not listening again?

  “Sorry.” I blush, looking down.

  “Where is your mind tonight?”

  “I blame you. The dancing, the touching.You left me in a highly excited state. How can I possibly concentrate?” I pout, feeling a new wave of arousal flood my body when he bites down on his lower lip to stifle his laugh.

  “Come here.” I speak loud, clear.

  “Sophie, the dinner, it’s almost ready.” he looks lost for words.

  “I couldn’t give a fuck about dinner, Doug, I need you. ” his eyes widen at my words and he stalks towards me, turning the heat off so dinner isn’t spoiled.

  “You have a filthy mouth Miss Bennett. Who would have thought it?”

  He reaches for the tie on my robe, pulling it, and dipping his hand inside and grazing my nipple with his thumb.

  I almost come on the spot.

  “You’ve got to, Doug, I’m about ready to explode.”

  “We can’t have that can we?” his head lowers and he takes my nipple in his mouth. He sucks, and laps at my nipple and I can feel it in my sex, every swipe of his tongue feels like it is echoed there.

  “Enough teasing Doug, I need you inside me.” I am clutching the waistband of his jeans, pulling them open.

  “You really are a horny little thing tonight.”

  “Ssssssh.” I place a finger to his lips, “I just need you, is that allowed?” his hands move mine out of the way and he pushes his jeans over his hips, his cock springing free.

  “No pants?” I smile “Sexy.” I reach down, taking him in my hand.

  I guide him inside me, my head falling back and the sheer pleasure having him inside me brings. He knows I need him and doesn’t make me wait, he starts to move inside me and within seconds, I am coming around him, clenching around him while he continues to thrust, chasing his own orgasm.

  “You’re so fucking hot when you come.”

  Leaning down to take my nipple in his mouth he speeds up, getting close, I throw my arms around his back, pulling him deeper. When I feel another orgasm building, I sink my teeth into his shoulder. It tips him over the edge and he comes hard, shuddering his release. We stay, looking at each other, for what feels like ages.

  “Thank you, I really needed that.” he kisses my forehead and withdraws making me wince.

  “No need to thank me, it is always my pleasure.” he puts himself away and zips himself up.

  “Now, can we have dinner?” he cocks his head to the side smiling.

  “Yes, now we can eat.”

  ***

  “You know, after tonight, you going away is going to be even more difficult.” I can’t help the feeling of sadness that comes over me, lying on the rug by the fire, naked and curled up next to Doug under a blanket.

  “I can’t say I’m looking forward to going, but I need to go. I shouldn’t need to go for a while after this time.” he shifts so he can see my face.

  “I wish you would come with me.” Lifting my eyes to meet his, I force down the little voice in my head shouting at me to tell him I can.

  “I can’t Doug, I have to work.”

  “I know, it doesn’t stop me wishing though.” he kisses the top of my head and reaches for the iPod dock remote.

  “Can we listen to Bruno? I love his voice.” I ask, hoping the answer is yes.

  “Sure we can, we can do whatever you want.” He presses play and Just The Way You Are starts up.

  “I like this one” he whispers as he snuggles into my neck.

  “And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for a while, coz Soph you’re amazing, just the way you are...” he sings softly i
n my ear, making goose bumps raise over my skin.

  “I don’t think those are quite the words... But I love them all the same.” I smile, turning my head to kiss his lips.

  “I love you Sophie.”

  “I love you more.”

  Chapter Eight

  I am sitting in my flat, looking at pictures of Doug on my phone, tears running down my cheeks. We had decided to say goodbye on Tuesday morning, in the hopes this wouldn’t happen. But knowing he was sitting in his flat and I was sitting alone in mine was too much to bear. I jump in my car and drive over to Doug’s late Tuesday night. The look on his face when he opens his door is enough to floor me. He pulls me into his apartment and kisses me, pushed up against the door.

  “I thought we weren’t going to do this.” he searches my tear stained face for an answer.

  “I know, but I can’t sit in my flat knowing you’re here alone and leaving for five days tomorrow. I want to make the most of it, Doug, tell me you feel the same?” Doubt suddenly floods my mind, maybe he doesn’t want me here.

  “Of course I do, you don’t even need to ask that.” he pulls me into his embrace, resting his cheek on the top of my head.

  “Can I stay with you? Tonight?” tears flood my eyes and I can’t speak.

  “I’d love nothing more.” he takes my hand and leads me up the stairs to his room.

  The blinds were open and the room is in darkness. London twinkles up at me. U2 is playing over the sound system. I feel the crackle of need between us, like an electric current. We lock eyes on each other. I can’t remember who steps forward first but we are all hands and tongues, his hands in my hair, moving my head to the right angle to kiss me, my hands are wrapped around his neck, pulling him to me. We stumble over to the bed, undressing as we go, needing, more than ever, to be close to each other, skin on skin.

  “I love you.” I pant as I lay back, letting Doug settle between my thighs, “I love you, so much.”

  He takes my hand, linking our fingers, placing them at the side of my head, as he slowly enters me. He moves, slowly, never taking his eyes off mine. It is intense, like I’ve never experienced before. It is intimate and all consuming.

  Looking into each other’s eyes, Doug nods his head and I know he is close, I free my hands and take his face between them, holding the most precious thing in the world to me between my hands. We come, together, the sounds of our mutual release and groans filling the apartment.

  “Sophie...” Doug rests his head on my chest, getting his breath back.

  “Doug?” sensing there is something wrong, I hold him closer to me.

  “I.... “ I hold my breath, waiting.

  “I... you’re everything to me.” I release my breath in a rush.

  “You’re everything to me too.” I run my hands up and down his spine, feeling him relax.

  “You’ve got an early flight, shall we go to sleep?” I whisper. He nods and rolls off me, lying on his side, he pulls me into his chest. The music has stopped.

  “I’ll miss you.” he whispers into the darkness. Tears pool in my eyes, a lump in my throat, I snuggle closer, barely able to reply.

  “I’ll miss you too.”

  After a while his breathing slows and I know he is asleep. I don’t know how long I lie there, surrounded by Doug, silent tears falling into the pillow. Something has just changed between us. I can feel it.

  ***

  There are tears the next morning, after an amazing time together, it makes saying goodbye even worse. Looking down at me, Doug wipes the tears away with his thumbs.

  “Its only five days, it will fly by, I promise” he doesn’t look convinced and my heart clenches.

  “I’ll be okay. Will you phone me when you land?” I cling to any little bit of hope I can, knowing I will hear his voice soon.

  “I promise.” he smiles at me. Pressing his lips to mine he hugs me a little tighter.

  “I have to go, or I’ll miss my flight. Don’t be sad while I’m gone okay, we will speak every day, as much as you want. I’ll be back before you know it.” I wipe my eyes and smile.

  “And we have the charity dinner to look forward to when you’re back.” he smiles.

  “Exactly. I’ll speak to you later.” he picks up his bag and we walk towards the front door.

  “You have a key, stay here whenever you want.” he opens the door and calls the lift.

  “I love you Sophie, don’t forget that.” Leaning against the door, I wipe my eyes as fresh tears pool.

  “I love you too.” the lift arrives and he steps in, flashing me his knicker dropping smile.

  “I’ll be back before you know it.” the lift door closes and starts to descend and I stare, tears running down my face at the space he was standing just minutes ago.

  Its only five days Sophie, you can do it.

  ***

  I shower and get ready for my day. I’m having lunch with Miley and we are having a rare day of shopping together as its the holidays for school. I jump in my car and head over to Miley’s house. Ringing on the bell my phone buzzes in my bag. Fishing it out just as the door opens.

  “I just text you! Come in.” she laughs.

  I’m ushered in and we head to the kitchen. The kitchen is the centre of Miley and Jonathan’s house. It’s warm, cosy and has the most fabulous scrubbed wooden table. Whenever I come over, we always end up in here.

  “So, Doug’s gone for the next five days. Are you okay?” she sits down opposite me and grabs my hand.

  “I’ll be okay.” I’m an emotional wreck this morning and her kindness only makes me want to burst into tears.

  “Of course you will, I don’t doubt that. But are you okay, now?” lifting my head to meet her eyes I answer the only way I can with Miley, honestly.

  “No. I miss him and it feels like he has been gone years not a couple of hours Miley.” she stands up and wraps me in her arms.

  “Doug text this morning, he told me how you were when he left. Told me to do whatever it is I do to make you smile. So that’s what I plan to do.” she kisses my cheek and wipes the tears away.

  “Something changed last night,” I start trying to explain the feelings I had when we were together, while Miley puts the kettle on.

  “It was like nothing I ever felt before, it was more than having sex Miley, shit, it was more than making love. Something happened. Afterwards... I swear he wanted to tell me something, then he stopped himself.” filling our cups, she brings them over to the table.

  “Sounds like something pretty special, Soph. Do you feel like, you want things to move on from where they are?”

  I sigh “I feel like... Well... I feel like I need to be with him all the time. That living in separate places is too far away.”

  “So, you want to move in together? Ask him. I’ve seen the way he is with you, the looks, the touching, doing everything in his power to make sure you’re okay. He will want this too, Sophie, believe me.”

  Reaching for my phone, I wake it up so I can see the picture on the screen. It is a photo of Doug and I. It was taken last summer. We are in Green Park, sitting on the grass having a picnic with Miley and Jonathan. Doug sitting behind me, arms wrapped around me, I am settled in-between his legs, we are both looking into the camera, huge smiles on our faces. It was a perfect day.

  “I’ll ask him when he gets back.”

  *

  Shopping with Miley is just what I need. We laugh, we try on a million different outfits and only buy three but that is how we do shopping. I am exhausted by the time I get home. I’m just stepping into the flat when my phone rings, hoping it is Doug, I reach into my bag and answer straight away.

  “Hello?”

  “Loafy” I laugh.

  “Harry! How are you? Where are you? And why haven’t you called in forever?”

  I am delighted to hear my brother on the phone. Harry is two years younger than me and is off traveling the world.

  “Well, I’ve been kinda busy, but I’m coming home fo
r a while in a couple of weeks, any chance I can stay with you?”

  “You’re coming home? Of course you can, do mum and dad know?” I walk into the bedroom, dumping my purchases on the bed and removing my boots.

  “Not yet, but I thought I would check I could stay with you first, maybe we could drive down to see them together?”