Page 11 of Learning to Love

I’m absolutely exhausted. We trained in the morning, then started heading down to Auckland by morning teatime. After four long hours, I was back home. Showered, put on some fresh clothes, and drove straight away to the Shore to Cheeky Monkeys. And to Ellie. I feel like I've been running on a surge of adrenaline all day.

The moment I saw Ellie again I felt much she’s come to mean to me in such a short period of time. It’s not even been a week, and she’s occupying my thoughts like no one else before her.

She’s dressed in leggings and a baggy t-shirt that completely hides her figure. She could be wearing a rubbish bag and I would still want her.

We’re cruising slowly on the streets of Bella Vista, the old suburb I live in. She must be taking in the surroundings because she’s gone quiet. I don’t think she expected that I’d live somewhere like this. When we get closer to my house, the garage door opens, and I reverse in.

“Fancy digs.” She’s unreadable, a mystery to me.

I pick up her hand, and lead her in through the side door, into the hallway, past the bedrooms, and into the open-plan living kitchen area.

She looks around, touches the sofa cushions, the edge of the kitchen counters. “Beautiful home you have here.”

“It’s from 1910. Practically ancient when it comes to New Zealand homes.” My remark seems to put her at ease. “Would you like something to drink? Some more wine maybe?”

“What do you have?” She glides closer, and I show her my wine fridge.

“A wine fridge? Sam.” She looks at me like I've sprouted two heads then leans down to examine the bottles.

I don’t know what to say. Again. Ellie has me tongue tied. She picks out a bottle of Prosecco. “I think this one will work best with sushi.”

Shit. We were going to make sushi. I totally forgot. What's in the pantry? Rice. Soy sauce. Do I have fish? Yeah, fish in the fridge. Avocado. Okay. We can make this work.

I lay everything on the counter. “Let’s make some sushi then.”

Ellie prepares the rice while I slice the rest of the ingredients. As the rice cools down, I show her the outside area. It's small. No big lawns, just some loungers on the deck, a BBQ in the corner, and a dipping pool.

She extricates herself from my embrace. "I just need to make a quick call to let Tayla know I'm not around."

Without her in my arms, I feel strangely bereft. I go to check on the rice.

While on the call, her eyes take in the sights in the fresh evening air, and I imagine her living here, with me. Daisy, too, of course. My yard isn't as big as the one she has now. We would have to move house, perhaps. What the hell am I thinking? Playing house with a girl I've just met. Sure, I've never felt about anyone the way I feel about her, but she's not my future, the ocean is-the Olympics, the Sanders Cup. I can't give it my all if I'm at the mercy of a woman. Settling down is a route to trouble. I can’t keep these parts of my life separate. Can I?

***

Sam

Ellie comes back, stands on her tiptoes, and kisses the side of my neck and jaw.

"The rice is cool enough. Now it's time to throw everything in and roll." My hands are shaking. Does she know the effect she has on me?

We roll the sushi, and I try to slice it into equal pieces, a task which at this time is as difficult to do as steering a ship through a storm. Her nearness makes it impossible to focus on anything else.

"Looks great! I'm ravenous." She picks up a piece with chopsticks and dips it in soy sauce.

I don't trust my hands to be steady enough for chopsticks this evening, so a fork it is. I stab two pieces at once and start eating.

Her eyebrows shoot up at my use of a fork, and her laughter fills the house. She tries to pinch me with the chopsticks. I put down my fork and start chasing her around the house to get the chopsticks off her.

I don't know how long it's been since I've laughed with all my heart like this. Probably since I was a child, playing with my brother and Thea in O'Neill's Bay.

Using my larger size to advantage, I finally catch her, and we tumble onto the sofa. We start kissing with more urgency, riding waves of desire. I want to explore every inch of her, make her mine again. I can't believe I've lasted five days without hearing her voice, touching her, being in the same room as her.

She frees her dark hair from her ponytail, and it fans out onto the cushions. Tonight, I'll worship her body until she burns for me.

She takes off her oversized t-shirt, and pulls her leggings down her slim, tanned legs. I'm nearly drooling by this point. She's wearing some white plain cotton underwear that I'm dying to take off. I struggle to unclip her bra and curse my big hands. She sighs softly and helps me out. I cup her breasts, and place gentle kisses on her collarbone, the outline of her breast. Her nipples are begging for attention, so I rub my face stubble on them. She moans, and I struggle to keep a firm hold on my sanity.

Slowly, I kiss her belly, then slip her undies off, exposing her pussy. My rough stubble touching her thighs must make her feel extra sensitive. I take a first taste, she's divine. Ellie's moaning and whispering my name. I start licking and sucking her clit, and as her thighs tremble, I know she's ready to come for me. She cries out my name and comes hard.

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