Page 47 of Wild Swimming at Croftwood Lake
‘They’re our friends, of course you can. I suppose I was surprised how comfortable you are with the idea already.’
‘When I was so vehemently opposed before?’ he said easily.
‘Yes.’
‘I’d been wanting to do something like that for a while. I didn’t have the courage to talk to Betsy and Mama about it. The way you explained it was so clear, so black and white, it made it easy for me to explain. I couldn’t help thinking that selling anything would make me seem like a failure. But as you pointed out, things are different now. Preserving everything doesn’t mean keeping everything the same. What’s the point of all of these things just sitting there, some of them not even being admired or particularly cherished.’
Nora reached out and put her hand on Archie’s thigh, rubbing it reassuringly. ‘It’s a great decision. For you and for everyone who comes after you.’
He pulled the car into Nora’s driveway and switched the engine off. Making no move to get out, he turned in his seat.
‘I can hardly remember life without you.’
Nora took a breath, waiting for Archie to lean in and kiss her. She wanted him. She’d wanted him for a while now but tonight, she wasn’t going to let him leave.
‘Would you like to come in?’ she breathed.
‘Mmm.’
His hand was on her thigh now, slowly, easing further upwards. ‘Come on,’ she said, breaking the spell, because she wasn’t sure how much further they could get in this car. Not as far as she’d like.
Archie bolted out of the car, coming around to the passenger side to meet Nora, but she had climbed out herself before he could reach her. Her patience evaporated. All she could think of was getting Archie upstairs and into her bed.
‘If you stay, we could have a glass of wine,’ she said, suddenly slightly nervous at the prospect of what lay ahead. It was a while since she’d had sex with Julian and even longer since she’d had sex with anyone other than him. At least, she reasoned as she grabbed a bottle of wine and two glasses, Archie had seen a fair bit of her body already at the lake.
He stood awkwardly at the bottom of the stairs, his hands in his pockets and a bulge in his trousers.
‘Here,’ Nora said handing him the wine bottle. ‘This will help.’
Up in her bedroom, she sat on the edge of the bed while Archie poured the wine, handing Nora her glass. He downed his and refilled it before she’d taken a sip.
‘Bit of Dutch courage required as it happens,’ he said.
‘It’s been a while for me too,’ she said, hoping to put him at ease because however nervous she might be, he looked ten times worse.
She took the glass out of his hand and pulled him onto the bed. Once they’d resumed kissing, she could feel Archie relax — most of him at least — and he began exploring her body again. This time, he reached bare skin at the waistband of her tights, then pulled away, giving her a look that implored her to be more naked. She pulled her tights down, removing her knickers at the same time. Nora straddled him, loving the feel of his erection against her. She pulled his shirt from the waistband of his jeans and ran her hands underneath, up his torso, and back down his sides. He groaned and lifted from the bed so that she could pull his shirt and sweater over his head. His chest was sparse with hair and lean but lightly muscled. She was surprised how pale his skin was compared to the rest of him, but she couldn’t imagine him sunbathing in the garden or working with his top off or anything like that. And she liked she was one of only a very few people to see this part of him. She ran her finger around the waistband of his jeans, letting her finger linger in the dip between his hips and his abdomen, which was enticing her further. He shifted her off so that he could unbutton his jeans, and now it was Nora’s turn to groan when she saw him in all his glory.
She pulled his boxers down, and looked at him wide-eyed, never imagining that this had been waiting for her all along. What had they been waiting for? Archie took one end of the tie of her wrap dress, and looked at her with mischief in his eyes.
‘This dress…’ he said. ‘Perfect for tonight.’ He pulled the tie and the dress opened, revealing her favourite lacy bra. Thank god she’d had the foresight for that, even though she’d been in a rush. She shrugged off the dress and leant forward so that Archie could reach behind her and undo her bra.
What followed was the most delicious night that Nora could imagine. Archie was a tender, considerate lover, but so masterful. Nora swooned under his touch, knowing she’d been spoilt for anyone else. But if she had needed a sign that this man was someone special, tonight had been it. All the emotions that had been building between them, culminating in a consummation of their building love for each other. And Nora couldn’t be happier.
19
IT HAD BEEN a long time since Archie’d had a spring in his step but this morning, after leaving Nora, he drove home and left the Jag in the garage, using the short walk to the house to brace himself for an interrogation from his mother.
‘Morning, Ursula,’ he said. He’d gone through the back door to give himself half a chance of being undetected in his clothes from the night before, but if he had to come across someone, Ursula was his preference. She was making coffee in the kitchen and gave him a knowing look.
‘Good morning, Archie. Coffee?’
‘That would be wonderful,’ he said. ‘Perhaps I should get changed first.’
‘Good idea. Her ladyship hasn’t noticed that you stayed out last night. In case you were wondering.’
It was exasperating that it bothered him what his mother thought, but it did. And Ursula was proving to be a useful ally.
‘Thank you. I take it she’s not down for breakfast yet?’
