Page 36 of Finding Love at Roseford Blooms
‘What is it?’ Simon looked perplexed.
‘Oh, I don’t know.’ Lizzie grinned before continuing. ‘I kind of figured that the lord of the manor would sleep in an ancient mahogany four-poster job, not a modern king-size divan with a flowery duvet cover!’
‘Have you ever actually slept in one of the “heritage” beds in this place?’ Simon joined in her laughter. ‘Because I can assure you, while they look wonderful, you won’t get a wink of sleep in them.’
Lizzie raised an eyebrow. ‘I wasn’t aware that we were actually planning on sleeping.’ She took Simon’s hand. ‘If we’re still thinking the same thing, that is?’
In response, Simon pulled her gently over to the bed. The room was so high up that there was no need to draw the curtains, and no need to worry about being interrupted. The top window was open, and Lizzie could hear the birds chirping outside, and the arrival of the first tourists of the day.
They sank down onto the bed, and Lizzie, mindful of her injury, was grateful when Simon allowed her to take the lead. He lay back against the duvet, and she settled herself next to him, rolling onto her good side to begin a long, leisurely line of kisses, beginning at Simon’s mouth and trailing over his neck, while he arched in pleasure at the touch of her lips. She tasted the sweet-saltiness of his skin, and nuzzled deeper into the crook between neck and shoulder, before he turned his head and their lips met again.
Soon, Simon’s T-shirt that Lizzie had observed with such amusement had been discarded by the side of the bed, and Lizzie saw for the first time just how well built Simon was. She’d had a fair inkling, from their near misses, but the sight of him, lying back against the pillows, made her draw in a quick, involuntary breath. The leanness of his body was underpinned by some definition, a flat stomach and a scattering of dark blond hair across his chest. Her eyes trailed down over his abdomen and further, and she wanted to explore every last inch of him.
Straddling his jeans-clad thighs, Lizzie took a moment to unbutton her shirt and throw it to the floor. She’d invested in a front-fastening bra after her car accident, and she carefully undid the clasp and removed that, too, noticing how Simon’s eyes widened and he shifted slightly beneath her. His hands, tanned from a summer of being outside on the Roseford estate, reached for her, caressing and stroking her breasts, and she felt herself responding to his touch.
She swiftly undid the brown leather belt of his jeans, and popped the button. She relished his sigh as she slowly, tantalisingly, pulled the zip and then shifted again as he rose to pull his jeans off. Sliding off him briefly, she quickly undid her own jeans and then lay back on her side next to him.
‘God, you’re everything I imagined you would be,’ Simon breathed as they became entwined again. Lizzie could feel his arousal through the fabric of his boxer shorts, and she pressed against him, willing those last, thin layers that separated them to disappear. Still mindful of her collarbone, she carefully reached down and they both removed the last barrier of clothing, wriggling under the duvet and the crisp white cotton sheet after they did so.
Simon ran a warm hand over Lizzie’s neck, and gently brushed her collarbone. Despite the fact that she didn’t need to wear the sling any more, Lizzie still tensed slightly as he did so.
‘I don’t want to hurt you,’ Simon murmured. ‘Feel free to do what you want to do. And if you don’t want it, to tell me to stop.’
Lizzie nodded. ‘I will.’ She leaned down and kissed his hand, and then, rising up on her good arm, she began to trail kisses down Simon’s chest, over his abdomen and further. She heard him release a shuddering sigh as her mouth made warm contact with his hardness, kissing and caressing until his hand on her shoulder guided her back to the top of the bed.
‘Careful,’ he said breathlessly. ‘I don’t want to go off half cocked!’
Lizzie giggled. ‘I’m sure you’ve got it all under control.’
In response, Simon’s blond head dipped below the sheet, and Lizzie found herself being explored by fingers and tongue until she herself was tingling and on the edge.
‘You areverygood at that,’ Lizzie breathed as her hips moved to meet Simon’s gentle, erotic caresses. She could feel herself building inexorably towards a deep, pulsing climax, and as she pushed over the edge, Simon’s warm breath and expert hands held her there.
‘Come here,’ she whispered.
Pausing briefly to grab a condom from his bedside drawer, Simon glanced down at her, and she immediately interpreted the question.
‘You’re sweet,’ she murmured. ‘Lie down and I’ll let you know if it gets uncomfortable.’ She was touched that, clearly concerned about crushing her and doing additional damage to her collarbone, he wanted to give her the control. She slid a thigh around his waist where he was lying on his side, and carefully guided him into her, the exquisite sensation of their bodies becoming joined enough to elicit a moan from Simon, who was more than ready. As they began to move, Lizzie found a rhythm that suited them both, and Simon’s hand began to caress her once more, until she was gasping and clenching around him. As he came, she felt herself fall with him, and for a long moment they just held fast, relishing the sensations and the wonderful heat.
A little time later, Lizzie lay snuggled into Simon’s chest. Her stomach, suddenly, gave an almighty rumble.
‘I thought you said you’d had breakfast,’ Simon chided gently, placing a kiss on the top of Lizzie’s head.
Lizzie giggled. ‘I guess we must have built up an appetite!’ She propped herself up on one elbow and looked down at him. ‘Do you have any plans for lunch?’
‘Anything, so long as it’s with you,’ Simon replied, and then grimaced. ‘Sorry. Can I put that down to post-coital sappiness?’
Laughing again, Lizzie gave him a kiss. ‘Forgiven.’ Settling back down again, she felt, for the first time since she’d been in Roseford, as though she was truly moving forward.
32
After a warm shower, and a cup of tea while she was getting dressed, which Lizzie greeted with great amusement, responding to the spotty mug with the observation that no one had ever brought her tea after sex before, but she supposed it fitted Roseford Hall perfectly, Simon and Lizzie decided to get some fresh air. Most of the businesses in Roseford were closed on a Sunday, but there were still plenty of people about, and Simon had been extended an invitation to the informal post-wedding buffet to be held in the Treloar Arms that afternoon.
‘Isn’t the village pub a bit of a parochial venue for a shindig for the wedding of a world-famous movie star?’ Lizzie asked as they headed down the main street towards the pub.
‘Montana stayed at the pub during the filming ofA Countess for Christmasa couple of years ago, and Serena grew up in the village, with it as her local, so they thought it might be a nice place to celebrate,’ Simon replied. ‘Most of the hangers-on will have departed to the four winds, so it’s a select gathering of friends and family, but I’m sure the happy couple won’t mind if you gatecrash, since you were my plus one for the wedding anyway.’
‘Are you sure?’ Lizzie replied, brow furrowing. ‘I wouldn’t want to intrude.’
