Page 21 of Strawberry Moon
I look to my side and find a black and white cow sticking its head over the fence. It’s chewing grass, or maybe another silly human. I don’t know, and I’m not going near enough to find out. It’s watching me placidly, as if I didn’t just break the sound barrier with my screech.
“See it’s fine. Just a cow. A little one too.” Harry’s voice shakes, and I look at him suspiciously.
His face is contorted into what some might think is genuine concern, but I know him too well.
I sigh. “Go on,” I say.
He bursts into laughter, falling against the wall and laughing until tears run down his face. I watch him affectionately, fighting a smile of my own. Then I try to step towards him and hiss.
“My bloody ankle,” I grit out.
His laughter stops and he leaps forwards. “Oh, I forgot. You’ve probably just turned it. Lean on me.”
“I think I should probably take the pain,” I say honestly. I might deserve it. Guilt is already stirring at how I just manipulated the situation with him. I don’t need my conscience to tell me it was wrong despite the results being so spectacular. I wonder if Fiona ever felt guilty between her sighs.
He stops walking. “What?”
“Karma is a very powerful thing,” I tell him. He nods but his expression is confused. I look back towards the cow. “It’ll get you too, bovine cockblocker,” I call, and we limp down the road towards the car with Harry’s laughter loud on the air.
My ankle does hurt, but karma may have done me a favour. I savour every inch of our walk as I lean on his hard, warm body. I also manage to push the guilt away. For now.
CHAPTER FOUR
I wake up in slow stages. I’m snuggled under the duvet and the sunlight is warm on my face. Strong arms are wrapped around me, Harry’s body a hot, muscled length against me. His chest hair tickles my back, and his long legs are entwined with mine. You couldn’t get a piece of paper between us, and I love it.
I nestle back, pushing my arse into his lap. I resist the urge to rub on his hard cock, staying still to listen to his soft breaths.
Last night, his parents had still been with his grandad when we got back, and the house had been dark. Harry had helped me up the stairs and had been a total gentleman, getting me into bed and making sure I was comfortable. I’d probably have been more comfortable if he’d lain on top of me, but I’d let him fuss, because it always makes me feel happy and safe.
As the youngest child in a big family, I’ve had to develop the biggest mouth to get noticed. By the time my mum and dad had me they’d obviously rubbed the shine off their parenting skills, and everything was rather absentminded. That’s not to criticise them. I love them fiercely and know they love me, but I often had to make a fuss to get their attention.
This isn’t the case with Harry. He focuses on me freely and in a way that makes me feel treasured. Like I’m a flower blooming under his rays of light.
I wriggle my ankle experimentally. He’d insisted on putting a bandage on it despite my reassurances. His hands had been gentle and his face soft, and in the warm glow of the bedroom light, I’d never had such an intimate feeling.
My ankle seems much better this morning, which is more than can be said for my conscience. It seems my grandfather’s plan is not getting a lot of approval from the universe, and maybe I should stop behaving like Fiona and start acting like Clem.
The idea seems sound, and I continue to snuggle into Harry’s body. He’s so warm and his scent surrounds me in the sheets. One arm is lying over my waist his big hand resting on my stomach. It’s only an inch away from my dick which has passed early morning hard-on to fully turned on and is straining as if attempting to get his hand on me.
His breathing changes and his arm tightens, and I wait with bated breath. Is he going to jump away and pretend none of this is happening? He’d seemed inclined that way last night, concerned as he was with age gaps and boss worries. I prepare myself for his speedy exit from the bed, but instead, he gives a sleepy grumble, and I jump as he presses a kiss to my neck.
“Did you sleep well?”
His voice is hoarse with sleep, and I can’t help wriggling and pushing against that hard cock again. He stays still for a long few seconds, and then he pulls me over so I’m lying flat on my back staring up at him. His jaw is rough with morning beard and his eyes are very dark. We look at each other intently.
“I want you,” he finally says, and I can’t stop my arch towards him. He pulls back, his face full of concern. “I don’t want to rush you, though. This is very fast.”
That makes me smile despite myself. “Is itreally?”
He freezes. “What do you mean?”
I reach up and cup his strong jaw. “It means that I’ve wanted you since the first moment I saw you, Harry.” He gasps, and I pet his lips, sliding my finger over the lower one.
“You have?”
I nod, sighing as he licks my finger, before taking the tip into his mouth and biting gently. I gasp, and he releases it.
“It feels like I’ve always wanted you.” I wonder what Fiona would say in this situation, but she’s probably still knocking grown men over with the force of her sighs, so I’m on my own. It’s time for me to be myself. “I know you worry over an age gap and being my boss, but let’s face it—I manageyouin the shop.” His mouth twitches and I rush on. “To me, you’re not my boss, and you’re not the handsome older man who’s sweeping me off my feet.”
