Page 32 of The British Bastard

I tug my shirt out of my waistband and begin unbuttoning it. "Writhe around a bit more, darling. I love watching you move."

She stretches her arms above her head and wriggles her hips.

By the time I've shed my clothes, my cock is hard as steel. Maybe I shouldn't have encouraged her to writhe about like an erotic serpent, because I don't know if I can wait more than thirty seconds to fuck her. Self-control is my forte, though, and I strip her swiftly. Then I take my time getting her ready for me, gorging myself on her cream until she comes for me like a dew-drenched flower blooming in my hands. We make love until we're too knackered to have another go, then we order room service. Cat informs she is "fair starved," so I choose a wide selection of dishes and desserts for us. After that, we can't shag again. Our bellies are too full. Instead, we crawl under the covers and sleep.

The next day, we stay in the suite to talk and shag. I won't see Cat again for another week, when she will finally come home. I'd survived six weeks away from her last year, so two weeks shouldn't seem like a terrible trial, but it does. Though I don't tell Catriona, on my way home I make a detour to Fernley to visit the only two people in the world who know all the things Cat wants me to tell her. She accepted not knowing, but I doubt she will go on accepting the secrecy forever.

Maybe that's why I need to be with her as much as possible.

A week later, I pick her up at the airport. Then I do something I've never done before, though I can't explain why I need to do it. I wait at the curb, leaning against the car, and the instant she walks out of the terminal, I pull her close for a deep, hot kiss. I don't give a stuff that everyone must be staring at us. When I pull away, Cat seems dazed.

I brush stray hairs away from her cheek. "Welcome home, love."

"Alex, I…" She glances around with a guilty expression. "You shouldn't do that in public."

"Why not? I missed you."

Her lips curl into an adorable smile. "I missed you too."

"I've decided you are forbidden from going anywhere without me ever again, not even to the grocery store." I open the passenger door and hold her hand while she climbs inside. "I won't survive another separation."

Can't believe I said that. Cat seems shocked too.

I pretend I haven't just confessed in the most embarrassing way and hurry to the driver's door. As I navigate the airport road, I avoid glancing at Catriona. Well, I try to do that. But my eyes insist on glancing her way.

She's smiling.

"We've reached another milestone," I say. "Today it's been exactly one year and ten months since we moved in together."

"That long? It feels like yesterday."

"How should we celebrate? I vote for sex."

She laughs. "You always vote for sex. If I asked what you want to eat for dinner, you'd say let's have a poke instead."

"Oh no, I would never say 'have a poke.' I would've told you let's shag, or possibly let's get a leg over."

"A man who's an expert on ancient sexual practices can do better than that."

"Is that a challenge?" I throw her a sideways smirk. "When we get home, I'll read you excerpts from a medieval collection calledThe Decameron. One of my favorite stories concerns randy nuns who each have their way with one young bloke. He must've been completely knackered but very happy after that."

"You should read me those stories. After dinner."

I sigh with no small amount of sarcasm. "Yes, I will feed you first."

"Thank you, Alex."

"But I will need to feast on you after."

She throws her head back and laughs so boisterously that, whilst admiring her joyful expression, I take my eyes off the road for a moment too long. A horn blares. I veer the car back into our lane just in time.

And Cat laughs again.

We do eat first, then shag between my recitations of bawdy medieval literature. By the time we finish, it's after midnight. We both need to get up early in the morning, but neither of us minds the lack of sufficient sleep. Memories of last night keep me awake all day.

Later in the week, I run a secret errand. Catriona has gone to the library to do research for the potential topic of her dissertation, so I seize the chance to do a bit of shopping on my own. Impulsive purchases are not my strong suit, but I felt inspired this afternoon, and since I had no classes after four o'clock, I decided to just do it.

I visit a jewelry store.

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