Page 51 of The Accidental Nanny
I go back to my office and sit down.
One hour later, I’m the proud owner of a ‘new’ Volvo. I want to surprise Gemma, so I take it home without saying anything to her.
I shout her name as I walk through the door.
“In here. Why are you home?” Her muffled voice floats through the house. She sounds strained.
I run up the stairs and watch from the door of my bedroom. She’s caught up in my quilt cover.“What are you doing? I asked you to make the beds, not wrestle with them.” I chuckle. She is completely consumed by the quilt, lying flat on the bed.
“I’m stuck! Why is this so hard?” she grumbles.
“To change the sheets? It isn’t. You make it hard. Get out.”
“I don’t know how,” she moans.
“What do you mean you don’t know how?” I reach for the corner where her feet are sticking out.
“I’m lost,” she says, exasperated.
“It’s not Wonderland.” I open the end of the bedding for her. She tries to free herself but her legs are just hanging out of the bed. How is she still stuck? “Why do I pay you?” I ask her, trying not to laugh.
“Because the children wanted me,”
“That’s the only reason?” I ask.
“You couldn’t get anyone else in time.” Her body is still halfway in. She climbs out carefully as she is wearing a pleated cream mini skirt. I catch a glimpse of the edges of her black thong.
“You’re a pain in the arse. Here.” I help her fix the quilt. “You live here rent-free, don’t forget. Self-invited too, might I add.”
“Good job I did,” she says out of breath. Now she’s out, she smooths down her skirt. Her hair is flat and odd strands are stuck to her face.
A thought occurs to me, and I decide to ask her up front. “Why did you tell Penny that Eden was asleep in my bed?”
“You looked like you needed a way out of your date,” she replies like it’s a normal thing to do.
“Why?” I question her.
“Because you didn’t look happy. Eden did wake up, just so you know. It wasn’t a lie. If you wanted Penny to stay, you would have put Eden back.”
She looks hurt. As I move closer, my hand reaches out and brushes her hair away from her face. I look down into her eyes, and I see them gleaming up at me. Her lips form a pout that I want to nibble on.
“I can’t,” I tell her.
“Don’t do this to me again, Alex. Don’t. If you walk away this time, that’s it.”
A tear falls, and I wipe it away, feeling guilty. “Don’t cry. It’s not that I don’t want you. I do, God knows I do. But if we cross this line...”
She looks up at me. “It’s a line I’m willing to cross.”
That’s it, I’m done for. Leaning down, I kiss her plump red lips. This time it’s different. There’s no holding back. It isn’t the perfect moment I wanted it to be with her, but it would have to do. I couldn’t wait any longer and neither could she. Looking at the state of my bed, we go to her room.
Gemma
I hover by my bed, biting my nails as Alex closes the blackout curtains. I can’t take my eyes off him. Alex puts on my lamp, and the room is soon filled with a romantic atmosphere. I watch him closely, curious about his sudden need to be home. He unbuttons his shirt and drops it to the floor.
“I’m nervous.” I want to hide myself.
“I’ll keep you safe, I promise.” His voice is deep and low.With his shirt crumpled on the floor, I admire his body. Not too hairy, but not too smooth: what I would describe as just right. He pulls me to him. Our lips touch lightly; he steps away, looking into my eyes, before he’s back on me. This time he’s tasting me like he can’t get enough. It’s fast and demanding, taking what he wants, and I'm more than happy to give it to him.
