Page 48 of Could It Be Magic?
‘But you do want to try?’ Nick teased back.
‘Oh, abso-fucking-lutely!’ Thea replied. She climbed carefully off Nick’s lap and settled back against his pillows. ‘But for goodness’ sake, don’t let me fall asleep or I’ll be in so much trouble when I get home.’
‘I promise.’ Nick settled down beside her. ‘We’ve got the rest of the coffee to keep us awake, anyhow, if you want me to go and get you a fresh cup.’
‘That would be amazing,’ Thea replied. She gave him a look that she hoped was mischievous. ‘On one condition.’
‘What’s that?’
‘You get it for me naked!’
Nick shook his head. ‘If you tell anyone I said yes…’
Thea lay back against the pillows and watched Nick’s rear view with appreciation as he left the room.
41
Nick shook his head, still unable to quite believe what had just happened. Thea Ashcombe was upstairs in his bed, requesting coffee after the best sex he’d ever had. And it had only been their first time. He didn’t want to jinx things, but he was already imagining many more interludes like that. He caught sight of his reflection in the kitchen window (thank goodness his cottage didn’t have any neighbours nearby, he thought), and couldn’t resist giving the soft-focus version of himself a thumbs up. Then, feeling embarrassed by his own daftness, he swiftly poured two cups of coffee, grabbed a packet of biscuits from the cupboard and took the whole lot upstairs on a tray.
Pushing open the bedroom door once more, he paused when he realised Thea had switched on the bedside light. She was sitting up in bed, staring at him in all of his very naked glory, a look of appreciation on her face. He couldn’t help wondering if it was for him or the tray of coffee and biscuits he was holding, as she grinned at him.
‘Great idea to bring the cookies – I’m starving after that!’ She reached for a biscuit and bit enthusiastically into it, scattering crumbs on the top of the duvet. ‘Bugger. Sorry. Where are my manners?’
Nick grinned at her. ‘If you were staying the night, you’d be sleeping on that side!’
Thea swatted at him playfully and then shuffled over while he got back into bed with her. They both sipped their coffee, and Nick was surprised at just how natural it felt to be sitting up in bed next to her. The passion of the past hour or so had given way to an easy intimacy, and he felt relaxed and, dare he say it, happier than he’d felt in ages. Careful, he chided himself. One evening of fabulous sex didn’t make a long-term relationship. He didn’t want to scare Thea away by getting too heavy, too soon.
‘What’s on your mind?’ Thea asked, obviously noticing he’d gone quiet. ‘Regret ravishing me on your immaculate white bedding?’
Nick laughed. ‘Not at all. In fact, I think it’s the best decision I’ve made in ages.’
Thea joined him in the laughter, but he couldn’t help noticing a look of uncertainty crossing her face before she did.
‘Is everything all right?’ he asked her. ‘Are you having second thoughts?’
Shaking her head, Thea put her coffee cup down on the tray on the bedside table and then turned back towards him. ‘No,’ she said quietly. ‘And that’s what’s worrying me.’
Nick’s heart gave a little lurch. ‘What do you mean?’
‘This feels too good to be true,’ Thea replied. ‘It feels as though the other shoe’s going to drop.’ She gave him a quick, slightly shaky smile. ‘I’m sorry. That probably doesn’t make any sense.’
Putting his own cup down, Nick reached out to Thea, who settled into his arms. She felt warm and right, resting against his chest, and he tightened his embrace, stroking her long, brownish blonde hair and trying to give her the reassurance with his body that he wanted to with words.
‘I never thought this would happen between us,’ he said, kissing the top of her head as she relaxed against him. ‘When we were younger, I always hoped it would, but when life took us in different directions, and we both moved on, it just seemed like some silly adolescent fantasy.’ He shifted slightly so he could look her in the eye. ‘I always fancied you, you know.’
‘Oh, shush!’ Thea laughed. ‘We were kids back then. This is different.’
‘What, you mean you didn’t fancy me back?’ Nick tried to assume an expression of mock outrage but couldn’t stop the grin that was spreading over his face.
‘You were my brother’s mate,’ Thea replied. ‘That would have been gross!’ She squeezed his arm. ‘Although, of course, there was that one time on the stairs… but perhaps it’s better that neither of us mentioned it again. We might not be sitting here if we’d got it all out of our system when we were kids!’ Thea grinned and leaned forward to kiss him. Nick felt his body responding as she deepened the kiss. The coffee had worked its magic, and they were both alert and awake once more, and, from the sensations he was beginning to feel, raring to go.
‘Do you have time for a replay?’ Nick said as he found himself lying underneath Thea, who was straddling his waist.
‘Oh, I think so,’ Thea said mischievously. ‘I told Gran not to wait up…’
Nick didn’t need any further encouragement, and as they made love for the second time, he found himself imagining what the future might look like for them, and this time he didn’t chide himself for getting ahead.
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