Page 114 of The One That I Want

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GRETA

Waking up in Ewan’s bed the next morning, just as the warm glow of the sun peeks through a tiny gap in the curtains, my mind teems with memories from last night – each one more swoon-worthy than the last.

I have never known sex to be like that, especially the first time with someone.

I sigh quietly, basking in the sensations of my still-thrumming body, which was taken to the brink and back –twice.

‘Good morning,’ Ewan murmurs in my ear. He snuggles closer, big spoon to my little one, and starts kissing my neck. I close my eyes as his lips send shivers down my spine. His hand slides onto my waist, pulling me to him, and I reach for it as my eyes flutter open.

That’s when I realise there’s a dog watching us.

‘Um, Ewan?’

‘Mmm?’ He keeps kissing my neck until I gently nudge him in the stomach. ‘What’s up?’

‘Look.’

He lifts himself up and peers over my head.

‘Remy,out!’ he bellows.

Remy makes a whiny doggy noise that sounds like ‘aww’, which makes me giggle, then trots off, his claws clacking on the wooden floorboards.

‘At least he didn’t see anything,’ I say, sitting up. ‘Unless he was watching us last night.’

Ewan presses his palms into his eyes. ‘Oh god – hopefully not.’ He drops his hands and looks at me. ‘I’m sorry – I should have been paying more attention.’

‘I’d say your attention was exactly in the right place.’

‘Is that so?’ he asks, the left corner of his mouth curling up.

I lean over and press my mouth to his. ‘That is so.’ My eyes flick to his bedside table where his phone shows the time, and I groan.

‘Are you going to love me then leave me?’ he asks, wriggling closer and sliding his hand up my back.

‘I don’t want to,’ I say, relaxing into his embrace.

I’msotempted to call in sick, but what would I say? ‘Hello, this is Greta Davies. Can you please tell Anjali that I’m having lots of lovely sex and don’t want to get out of bed?’ I’m sure that would go down a treat, especially as we’re still in crisis-management mode – albeit at the tail end, but it’s a terrible time to skive off work.

‘But I have to,’ I say.

‘I could call in on your behalf. Tell a fantastical lie about why you can’t possibly come into work today.’

The word ‘lie’ feels like a pinprick to my heart. After last night – and this morning – I’m 99 per cent certain Ewan and I are embarking on a relationship. I ignore the irritating reminder that I haven’t been truthful with him about my writing assignment – but no need to bring it up now that it’s behind me.

‘What’s going on in that head of yours?’ he asks.

‘Oh, just trying to figure out if I need to shoot home quickly or if I can leave from here.’

Greta! Yet another lie!Though a pertinent one. I glance at the time again and do a quick series of calculations. If I leave directly from here in the next fifteen minutes, Ishouldmake it intoNouveaubefore nine.

‘Last chance – I am fully prepared to call your boss and tell them you’re on doggy daycare duty.’

I chuckle. ‘I already adore Remy, but I wouldn’t want to stay here without you.’

‘Oh, no, in this scenario I’m calling in sick too. I can do that, you know, being the owner.’

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