Cold Comfort

by Isobel Hart

  He kissed me again, his hands running all over me now, touching my body through my clothes, but it wasn’t enough for him. He started peeling off my layers, and before I knew what had happened I was down to my bra and knickers. He swept me up in his arms and carried me to the bed, where he laid me gently down. I lay back, a bit intimidated by his urgency, unsure what I was meant to be doing. He must have sensed some of my anxiety. “Just let me make you feel good. You don’t have to do anything.” I nodded, relieved to have the pressure taken away.

  He began by tracing my body with the tips of his fingers. Goosebumps followed in his wake as my nerves jumped to attention at his touch. By the time he’d finished he’d touched nearly every part of my body, following up with gentle kisses. Within moments of stopping his initial exploration he’d removed my bra. “You’re perfect,” he told me, gazing down at me with obvious pleasure before leaning forward to kiss my breasts. When he took the nipple into his mouth, I felt a jolt run through my core and moaned. “That’s it, baby,” he said, “just feel it.”

  I did. As he suckled and tugged my arousal grew, making me ache for him. My head rolled back as I arched my back towards his mouth. He grunted his approval, then pulled his head away. I sensed him moving lower, to… there. With a quick rip he pulled my knickers apart to reveal me fully to him. Embarrassed I tried to push my legs together, but he wouldn’t let me. Slowly he opened them again, quieting my protests with a kiss, and this time I let him. “Fuck, even your pussy looks better than anyone else’s,” he groaned, before dipping his head down towards it.

  I felt his breath on my inner thighs first, and then the gentle press of his lips moving slowly downwards. He kissed me in my most intimate place, and while part of my brain told me this was embarrassing, another part of me – the bigger part – wanted to widen my legs further and give him more access. That was the part that won. I relaxed into the sensation as Cat growled with pleasure, the vibrations arousing me further. He licked and kissed and used his tongue in ways I’d never imagined, and it felt so good I soon lost all inhibitions and just wanted more. When his fingers pressed into me I came quickly in a rolling wave of sensation.

  In the aftermath I lay there incoherent for a time, only aware Cat was taking his clothes off. I heard the unmistakeable sound of a wrapper being opened, and then the snap of rubber as he rolled a condom on, followed by the feel of his weight moving over me. His erection nudged at me. “Look at me, Delilah,” he instructed. “I want to know you want this too.” My eyes opened immediately to find his piercing blues gazing down at me.

  “I want this,” I assured him.

  Without taking his eyes from my own he pressed slowly inside me. I couldn’t help the sounds that rose from me at the sensation. Eventually he was fully seated within me, making my body feel full to capacity, stretched exquisitely by his size. His eyes bore into me with an intensity that caught in my chest. “You feel so fucking amazing,” he told me, as he ground his pelvis against mine, trying to move even deeper inside. “You’re so tight. It’s taking everything I have not to blow my load right now,” he groaned, grinding against me again. I moaned at the sensation as he pressed hard. Then he pulled out slightly before pushing back in, and the sensations went up a notch. The second time he did it he thrust into me harder, the third harder still. Eventually he was relentlessly pulling out and slamming back into me hard, the pace frantic. He kissed me, his tongue possessing my mouth as he pushed my knees higher, trying to get ever deeper. I felt my core begin to tighten at the onslaught, slightly afraid of what this might do to me but unable to stop it, eventually hitting the top. I threw my head back and heard myself scream. Cat came as soon as I did with an accompanying roar before collapsing on top of me.

  For a time we both lay there panting, our bodies slick with sweat. I groaned as he pulled out, and then he disposed of the condom efficiently before pulling me back beside him. I was draped over his chest, his head burrowed into my neck. “Now you’re mine, Delilah,” he told me in the moments before we both fell asleep.

  *

  We woke a little before dinner. At least he woke me with the feel of his teeth on my breasts. This time when he entered me it was less frantic. His pace was more measured but no less relentless, as he brought us both to orgasm again. He certainly knew how to make a woman feel good. The thought of how many women he’d learned that technique with made me feel a little sick, but I pushed it aside, determined not to let my negative thoughts spoil the moment. We showered and then returned to the bedroom to get dressed. I looked at what remained of my knickers.

  “Go without. You won’t need clothes for long anyway,” he said, coming up behind me and grabbing hold of my breasts. Immediately I leaned back against him. One of his hands dropped lower, running over my flat tummy and down between my legs, and immediately I wanted him again. I felt him harden once more. “Jesus,” he groaned. “I fucking need you again.” I widened my legs in response to allow him easier access.

  “Cat, Delilah, dinner,” a voice barked through the door. It was Henry. “Put your fucking dick away for five minutes and come and eat.”

  We both groaned, our bodies in a state of heightened arousal. It seemed I couldn’t get enough of him. I pressed back against his body, needing to feel his erection, needing to know he needed me too. He was rock hard. His finger slipped into me, and he groaned again as he felt how slick I was for him. “I promised we’d go to dinner. We’ll eat fast.” Reluctantly we separated and began to dress. I turned to face him when I was ready.

  “Fuck, you shouldn’t be anywhere near other men looking like that,” he growled.

  “What do you mean?” I asked, immediately self-conscious, wondering what was wrong with me.

  “You look like a walking advert for arousal. Your lips are plump, your cheeks are flushed, your nipples are…” he paused as he struggled for words. “You look like sex on legs, and I don’t want you near other men.”

  “It’s only the band and Eddy.”

  “I love them all like brothers, but if one of them goes near you I may kill them.”

  I punched him lightly on the arm. “Don’t be silly.”

  “I’m being deadly serious,” he said without a smile. “Make sure you eat fast because I need to fuck you.” I laughed, and then stopped because I realised he wasn’t joking.

  He grabbed hold of my hand and pulled me along behind him, down the stairs and into the dining room. It was oddly formal. The seats were filled with the band, their manager and Eddy, and the table was heaving with the component parts of a roast dinner. Cat took the spare seat at the head of the table as I made to walk to the other unoccupied space beside Eddy at the opposite end. “Delilah, you sit there,” he said, pointing at the chair Matt was currently sitting in, situated beside his own.

  “Really, you don’t need to…” I started and then stopped as he glared at me. Matt grumbled but moved to the seat beside his brother. I slipped into the vacated chair, trying to ignore the way everyone was looking at the pair of us curiously.

  “Pass the fucking meat up,” Cat called down the table. “I’m starving.”

  “Not surprised,” Henry said, looking at me, “with the way you’ve been going at it.” I blushed, and Cat scowled.

  “Don’t even fucking look at her,” he said to Henry, who just rolled his eyes.

  “Hurry up and fuck her out your system,” he said. “This is getting tedious.” Cat started to stand, so I quickly placed my hand on his thigh to distract him.

  “Don’t,” I whispered when he looked at me. He looked down at my hand and then back at my face.

  “Eat fast,” he said as his gaze dropped down to my mouth. He ladled a hefty portion of beef onto my plate and the accompanying roast potatoes, broccoli, carrots and beans with an enormous Yorkshire pudding, then finished off by drowning it all with gravy and spooning a dollop of horseradish sauce on the side. The plate was heaving when he’d finished. I looked at it and then swapped my plate for his empty one bef
ore repeating the exercise with about half the content. “You need to keep your strength up,” he complained.

  “I’ll be up with indigestion for half the night if I eat that much,” I said, nodding at his plate. He grunted and then began shovelling food into his mouth at a rate of knots.

  The manager cleared his throat, clearly nervous around Cat after their last exchange. “So, er…” he started, “I’ve had a call from Radio 1.” Everyone stopped talking and looked at him. Radio 1 was the biggest national radio station in the UK. “They’ve got a Live Lounge month starting in September. They want you as part of it, kicking it off. You’ll get to play one of your songs and a cover. It’s a great chance to showcase a song from the new album. You up for it?”

  “Tell them we’ll do it if we can sing three songs,” Cat said. “An old one, a new one and a cover.”

  The manager looked pleased. “Yeah, I’m sure they’ll go for that. They want you on early doors, though – next week. Will you have a new song ready in time?”

  “We’ll sing the ballad with Delilah,” Cat informed him. “We’ll be ready.”

  Once again everyone gawped at him, including me. This time it was Matt who questioned his choice. “Are you sure, mate? She sounded great earlier, I know, but that’s a lot of pressure for a first live performance. I still get nervous doing live radio, and it’s hardly my first time.”

  “She’ll be fine,” was all Cat said, with a sureness I wished I felt. That was the end of the conversation. I’d always known Cat was the driving force behind Cold Comfort, but I hadn’t realised he made all the decisions.

  “Cat…” I tried. He glared at me, and I shut up. Eddy watched the exchange, scowling from the other end of the table.

  I’d barely put my knife and fork together when Cat stood and pulled my chair back from the table. “Delilah,” I heard Eddy call me as I stood.

  “She’ll see you tomorrow,” Cat told him in no uncertain terms.

  “I need to speak to her tonight,” Eddy insisted. Cat wanted to argue, I could tell, but I interceded before it could escalate.

  “Cat, you’re being ridiculous. Let me speak to him. I haven’t seen him all day.”

  “Five minutes,” he grumbled, sitting back down while I stood and joined Eddy at his end of the table.

  “Let’s go into the other room,” Eddy suggested. I looked over at Cat, but he was chatting to Henry. I nodded and we quickly walked into the small adjacent sitting room. “You okay?” Eddy asked, once we were alone.

  “Yeah Eddy, I really am,” I reassured him. “You don’t need to worry about me. He’s wonderful.”

  “Sometimes,” Eddy grumbled. “He’s not making you do anything you don’t want to?” he asked meaningfully.

  “No, he’s not,” I replied with emphasis.

  “Okay,” he said, somewhat reassured. I turned to go back into the dining room. “That’s not what I wanted to talk about,” he said, stopping me in my tracks. I turned back.

  “Oh?”

  “No… I just… well, I thought you should know there were photos doing the rounds last night.”

  “Photos?” I asked, confused.

  “Yeah, of you and Cat leaving the club and in the car. Your face was visible. They don’t know who you are yet, but anyone who knows you would be able to recognise you.” I finally realised what he was telling me.

  “Hardy,” I breathed.

  Chapter 19

  I sat down heavily in the leather armchair behind me as I tried to work out what this meant. My head dropped into my hands as I attempted to process my thoughts and separate rational thinking from the need to run. Eddy came up and sat on the arm of the chair, putting his arm around me for comfort. That was the moment Cat walked into the room. “What the fuck,” he said at the sight of Eddy with his arm round my shoulders. “What the fuck’s going on?” He looked at me more closely and finally realised Eddy was only offering comfort.

  “Calm down, Hulk,” Eddy said bitterly. “She needs help, not your jealous rage.”

  “What help? What’s the matter, baby?” Cat asked, moving to kneel in front of me and taking hold of both my hands. “Tell me. Let me sort it for you.”

  “You can’t sort this. It’s part of my history, and it’s not pretty. I’ll tell you about it… just not here. Can we go upstairs and talk?” Cat nodded and stood. I stood too and hugged Eddy. “Thanks for telling me. I’ll see you in the morning. Promise.”

  He nodded. “Sleep well, D. And remember, if you need anything… anything, you just shout, okay?”

  “She won’t need anything I can’t get for her,” Cat growled. Eddy rolled his eyes. I hugged him again, then let Cat lead me from the room and back up the stairs. We didn’t even say goodnight to the band.

  “What’s going on?” Cat asked as soon as we got into his room.

  “There were pictures of us leaving the club the other night on the internet.”

  “So? Who cares?”

  “I do.”

  “You ashamed to be seen with me or something?” he asked, sounding irritated.

  “No,” I said with a small smile. “Not at all. Just remember I told you about an ex-boyfriend who was looking for me?”

  “Harvey Poncyboy or something?”

  “Hardy Somerville, yes. Well, we just made it a lot easier for him to find me.”

  “Is that all? I’d like to see him try getting through me to get to you. That’s if he manages to get past my security. Seriously, we deal with mental people trying to get to us all the time. We’re used to it.” I nodded but still wasn’t sure. “Look, if he’s any sort of bother we’ll get a restraining order. The fucker won’t get near you.” This time I felt more reassured. A restraining order was a good idea. “So what’s his deal, then? Why does he think he’s still got a right to you? It is over, isn’t it?”

  “Yeah, it’s over,” I assured him, and then went into the details about my past with Hardy. His face darkened when I talked about promising to wait for him, only lightening when he heard how Hardy had fucked it all up. He was genuinely shocked when I told him about my Mama and nearly hit the roof after hearing they’d intended to use me the same way.

  “That fucker will never touch you, or even see you, if I have anything to do with it,” he promised. I smiled and stroked his face, before kissing him gently on the lips. “I mean it, Delilah. You’re with me now, and I’ll not stand for anyone else being near you like that.”

  “You can’t keep me in this room forever,” I said with a laugh.

  “I’d like to.”

  “You’d get bored with me. We need to have our own interests and pursuits and careers. That’s what will make us interesting people. If all I do is live vicariously through you, you’ll get bored with me. I might as well be one of your groupies.”

  “You can sing with me. That song we wrote was good – we can write more like that. Wayne was right when he said it was going to be a hit. I think it’s one of the best I’ve written.”

  “I don’t think the band will thank me if you turn into a ballad writer,” I said with a laugh. “One per album is fine, but you’re a rock band.”

  “We’ll see,” he grumbled.

  “I’m flattered you want me with you,” I said, clambering onto his lap. “I’m amazed you want to sing with me.” I kissed him, enjoying the feel of his growing erection. “I am so grateful that you’ll help to look after me.” I pulled at his lip with my teeth. “But I need to learn to look after myself too. Have a career, make my own money.” I could feel he wanted to protest, so I carried on; “You’ve taught me so much already,” I said, straddling him and pushing my core against him. “I want you to have all my pleasure.”

  “Damn right,” he grumbled.

  “I want you to teach me everything I need to know to pleasure you too.” He groaned then, picking me up as I clung to him and walking us over to the bed.

  “Now that I can do,” he assured me with a grin.

  *

  It
was four days before Cat had had sufficient fill of me that he’d allow me to get out of the bed. In that time we’d had sex in every position he knew, several times – and he knew a lot. I’d learned I was a natural at giving blowjobs – I think it helped that seeing him fall apart when I put my mouth on him was a massive turn-on for me. Cat quizzed me about where I’d learned my technique, the green-eyed monster looming large, but I assured him he was the only man I’d ever done any of this with before – apart from breaking my hymen with Robbie. There really was no comparison between that and what Cat and I had experienced together.

  The fact that he had been there for all my firsts seemed to really matter to him. He was more of a romantic than I had ever imagined. My only anxiety was caused by how possessive he became every time I tried to talk to him about my plans.

  Eddy had tried and failed to get Cat to allow me out to talk to him. I felt guilty about that, but I knew this insatiable need would fade eventually and we’d start functioning as people once more. At least I hoped it would. At the moment any time either of us looked at the other we needed to jump on each other again. The rest of the band had grown so sick of waiting for us to emerge, and the sounds of our sexual exploits, they’d gone back to London. Cat couldn’t seem to care less. It made me a little worried, particularly as we had the Live Lounge performance in two days and had barely done more than sing the new song through twice more.

  “You don’t need to practice, babe,” he’d assured me. “You know it by heart.”

  In the end the pause had been permitted only because I was getting so sore down below from the amount of sex we’d had. I needed a break physically, so reluctantly he allowed me to get dressed for the first time in days and called the band back to the house.

  We were sipping coffee in the kitchen when the car arrived and they all piled out. “You’ve lost weight, Delilah,” Eddy said. “You can’t afford to lose weight. You need to make sure she eats,” he said angrily to Cat.