Page 36 of Playing the Field
‘How much do you reckon a place like that would cost?’ he asks, still looking at the terrace. ‘It must be a lot– I suspect even I’d need a lottery win.’
‘Let’s buy a EuroMillions ticket, pick half the numbers each and split the winnings,’ I suggest. ‘You can buy this place. I’ll cover Crawford’s running costs for the next ten years.’
‘You’re on,’ he says with a grin. ‘Next shop we see.’
At the end of the long stretch of houses, we find a pub with tables and benches set out on the beach. We stop for a pint of orange and lemonade each– him because he’s driving and me because I’m already feeling giddy from the earlier wine and the fact that I’m now officially dating him.
I look around at the other customers. ‘Everyone seems so relaxed here. They all look so happy.’
‘Maybe we need a dog,’ he says, pointing out there’s one at almost every table.
‘I’d love one. It’s always been my retirement plan.’
‘Mine too, when life gets a bit more settled. I draw the line at matching anoraks, though,’ he says, nodding towards a couple with his and hers red cagoules. ‘Even when we’re seventy.’
I laugh, because I can’t believe he’s even joking about us being old together. ‘I think it’s sweet. But they were probably just on a two-for-one offer.’
‘It’s still a no,’ he says. ‘No matter how in love you might be.’
And I roll my eyes, but his use of the L word doesn’t escape me.
18
Back at the house that evening, I look up the lottery results while Ben grills some lamb chops to go with our leftovers.
‘Ooh.’
This makes him look up. ‘Have we won?’
‘Two pounds seventy,’ I confirm.
He laughs. ‘You’d better cancel that anorak order.’
‘And the deposit on that place by the sea. I should probably step up the Crawford fundraiser planning too. We’ve only got a couple more weeks.’
‘Let me know if I there’s anything I can do,’ he says. ‘I’d love to help.’
While he’s clearing up after we’ve eaten, he asks if I want to take a shower to wash the sea salt off my skin. ‘I probably should have offered before serving up, but you know what I’m like once I start thinking about my stomach.’
‘Why don’t you come in with me? To make up for it,’ I suggest.
He walks over and scoops me up in his arms. ‘Just try and stop me.’
Somehow he manages to carry me up the stairs without falling over, my legs curled round his waist, kissing me all the way. He sets me down in the master bathroom, which has a huge walk-in shower, pulls his T-shirt up over his head then turns his attention to mine, pushing my arms into the air so he can lift it clear and drop it on the floor with his.
‘Are we going in in our underwear again?’ I ask as he turns on the water. Which makes him pause for a moment while he studies my bra.
‘It’s very pretty, but not this time.’ He reaches behind me to release the clasp, his eyes lingering on my breasts as I shake my arms free of the straps.
He bends his head lower and brings his mouth to my nipples, teasing one then the other with his tongue. I feel the fire starting up between my legs and when he straightens up to kiss me again I can see the erection in his jeans.
He tugs at his buttons and pushes the material down to his ankles, stroking himself for a second as he steps clear before reaching again for me. I brush his hand to the side so I can undo my own buttons, but my jeans are too tight to easily step out of, so he lifts me up onto the sink edge and raises my legs so he can pull them free.
There’s a moment of hesitation during which I think we both contemplate having sex right there on the sink, but then he lifts me back to the floor and leads me into the shower, where jets of hot water spray us from all sides as well as above, reminding me of a fancy spa with even fancier facilities.
We take our time rubbing shower gel all over each other, his hands sweeping foam along my arms, across my back, down over my bum, then back to my breasts, where he focuses for a deliciously long time. I run my hands across his torso, his powerful biceps, feel the tautness in his backside and marvel at the rock-hard muscles in his thighs.
His erection nudges against me as he kisses me hungrily, and when he reaches down between us, bringing his fingers to my clit, each stroke sends an electric current to every one of my nerve endings. A gasp escapes from my lips as he pushes a finger inside me and I have to cling on to him for fear of my legs giving way beneath me.
