Page 28 of Lost In Someone

With a snap of his hips, he thrusts hard, sinking balls deep and forcing a ragged cry from my lips. I press my forearms to the wall as Ivan grips my hips. His fingers will probably cause bruises, but I don’t care. His shaft pounds up against my prostate, and sparks flash through my body to my balls, lighting them up like dynamite. My orgasm is simultaneous and hands-free as I shoot rope after rope of spunk over the tiles.

As I clamp around him, Ivan stiffens, then comes hard, crying out my name. He slumps against me and presses kisses over my shoulder and neck. “I love you,” he whispers and slowly pulls out. It stings, but it’s so worth it.

Ivan twists me around to face him, a cocky smile on his face. “Hands-free?”

“Yeah, yeah. You’re that good.” I laugh.

We finally stop touching each other and manage to wash up and get out.

“What did your mate say?” I scrub my hair with my towel, then wrap it around my waist.

“He was thrilled I accepted his offer. This gig is an easy one. I won’t have to travel far again. As long as I don’t mind the early mornings, I’ll be able to come most nights.”

He smiles broadly. Has he been bored being here all the time? He’s happily helped at the house and worked with Merlin, but he’s excited to do this. So why doesn’t he work for the Forestry Commission permanently?

Ivan is back in the bedroom, opening drawers and pulling on his underwear. He has such a great body, all lean and long. The few tattoos he has are cool tribal designs in black ink, reminding me of waves, the sea. Maybe that’s what they are. He does love the water. He and Drew have already been out surfing, but for me, it’s still too cold to try.

“How come this isn’t a full-time job for you?” I open my bag and rummage through it for some clean clothes. “I’m going to have to grab some more clothes unless I can use your washing machine.”

“Have at it. I’ve got some to go in too.” He pulls up his jeans. I lament the loss of his tight arse being on display. “And to answer your question, I like to spend my summers here. I teach surfing during the school holidays. So I bank what I can throughout the winter and surf and get the odd work here and there.”

I shouldn’t be surprised. He’s talked enough about his summer activities and the fun he’s had over the years. Will he feel trapped this summer? He’s used to his hook-ups and holiday fucks. Will I be enough, or will his eyes stray when the other surfers flock here for the weekend waves?

I dismiss the thoughts as soon as they pop up. Why would he cheat on me? He’s been open about his reasons for being single so long. I have to trust him and myself to be enough for him.

“Hey, what’s going on? You’ve gone all frowny.” He cups my face and kisses me sweetly. “You’re my everything, baby. Nothing’s going to change that.”

Why does that feel ominous?

“I’ve told you it’s okay, babe. The early mornings are a killer for you, so if you have to stay, then do it. I’m busy here too.” Boxes containing tiles for the kitchen walls and floor line the walls. Next to them is a separate pile for the two bathrooms and cloakroom. Ivan has been away for four weeks now and, up until this last week, has managed to come home most nights.

Unfortunately, we’ve both been so knackered we’ve fallen into bed with barely a word spoken between us. I miss him. I miss bouncing ideas about the house with him. I want him to be here with me, which means he gets a say in how it looks.

“There’s only another week or so to go, and honestly, Brode, I’ve had enough. I’m ready for the summer to start. I’ll try to make it back tomorrow.”

“Do what you can, okay? We can talk tonight when you’re done.”

“Okay, love you.”

“I love you too.”

I shove my phone back into my pocket and return to the house. Drew gives me a questioning look when I walk into the kitchen, which is almost finished. It’s not quite the bespoke one Merrick has but still pretty damned good. More rustic, keeping in tone with the farmhouse style, but behind the cupboard doors lie every mod con needed.

“Everything okay, mate?” Drew asks. “You’re scowling.”

“What? Yeah, sorry. Everything’s fine. Ivan can’t make it home tonight. They’re too far north to make it worthwhile. He’s knackered when he gets back.” Can I talk to Drew about him, about the worries I have for the summer?

“He’s changed, you know? Since he met you.” It seems I don’t have to ask. Drew beat me to it. “Settled, comfortable. He’s happy, and I haven’t seen him like that for a while now. He was very close to his dad, and his death hit him hard. He started chasing life in any way he could, and that led him to do some crazy shit. He’d go out on any wave, often by himself. He pushed his limits, but it was never enough. That’s when he turned to having hook-ups and messing around with anyone who caught his fancy. We were all worried about him.”

“How long ago was this?” He’s never mentioned his father to me, only that he died suddenly and that his mum moved out and gave him the house.

“About five or six years now. He had a heart attack on the golf course. Ivan was with him, and it wasn’t good.”

“Oh god! How dreadful. Poor man. I can understand why he went a little wild. Is that what it was like with him and Kate?”

“Has he told you about her?”

“Yeah, it was a while ago. Ivan didn’t want any secrets between us. He hasn’t heard anything from her, so we assume the baby is nothing to do with him.”

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