Page 39 of A Festive Surprise

Chapter Twelve

Holly

Holly wrapped her arm around Farid’s back as they ambled along the beach, his hand firmly planted on her shoulder. Being tall had always given her a sense of control. She owned her relationships, tugged the bulls by their horns and steered them as she wanted. She’d done it with Gavin right until the last stage, when everything went wrong and they’d fallen off the edge of the precipice. But something about Farid’s grip gave her a sense of being led and supported. The pressure of taking charge and making decisions was removed; she relaxed, letting go of everything but this moment.

He’d said she could make the rules and he’d play along. But did they need rules? Snatching this time together filled a gap in her soul. Couldn’t they let it grow organically, not push it in one direction or another?

A smile played on her lips alongside the memory of him hoisting her into the sea. The banner-waving feminist in her wanted to admonish him for daring. The businesswoman applauded him for standing up to her. The hidden princess rather enjoyed the experience.

They reached the edge of the beach where the sand met the embankment. Farid’s shoes and socks nestled together among the dried seaweed, shells and marram grass. He slipped away and picked them up. Behind them was a flat area of short stubby grass and Farid plonked onto it, brushing the sand from his shapely feet. Holly watched, absently trailing her finger down her neck. His soles were lighter than the tops, which were beautifully bronzed.

‘They haven’t dropped off,’ he said.

‘What?’ Holly flicked her eyes to his face.

‘My toes.’ He pulled on his sock. ‘Ah, so warm.’

Holly shuffled in beside him as he slipped on his second sock. ‘So, you not only survived crossing the Mediterranean in dangerous conditions, you also braved the Atlantic ocean in sub-zero temperatures.’

‘Quite the daredevil, aren’t I?’ He leaned over, slipped his hand behind her neck and pulled her closer.

‘You really are.’

The breeze ruffled the grass and Holly closed her eyes. Farid placed the softest kiss on her sensitive lips. She opened them again, holding his gaze. The sea and sand reflected in his sapphire-blue irises. Their lips were almost touching, separated only by a hair’s breadth. ‘I feel so much for you, jamilati.’ Farid smiled, running a thumb down her cheek. Holly’s insides melted; her brain was mush. When he kissed her again, it was hot and needy. She knitted her fingers into his curls and tugged him down. Lying back on the grass, she moaned as he rolled gently alongside, supporting her head, and shifting his weight until he was partially on top of her.

They had on enough layers to keep Victorian mothers happy as they embraced. She was on the beach from her dream, basking in the heat, though it wasn’t coming from the sun. It was all Farid and the scorching desire inside herself. Their kissing continued. Fast and deep. Holly thrust a hand inside his jacket, anchoring the fingers of the other in the back pocket of his jeans and clenching his tight buttock.

‘Oh, wallah,’ he groaned. ‘Are we crazy?’

‘Right now, I’m completely crazy about you.’ Holly tugged him back to her and resumed kissing him. Finesse be damned. This was pure, raw lust and she was surfing a wave of ecstasy, their kisses a desperate dance of lips and tongues. Lights burst in her brain. She couldn’t get air to her lungs fast enough.

Her head lolled back and she gasped. Muscles all over her body were acting of their own accord: twinges of deep satisfaction, numb legs, curled toes. Only her arms felt under control. She clung to Farid, preventing him from moving. He was still except for the slow rise and fall of his back, his head buried in her neck and his warm breaths touching her sensitive skin, making her twitch and tingle. His warm weight like a blanket of calm, protecting her after a storm.

‘Dear, dear,’ said a voice.

Farid leapt off Holly. She pulled herself up, eyes widening. Shit. A woman with a dog wandered down the beach, tutting and shaking her head.

Farid dropped his face into his hands.

‘Oops.’ Holly turned to him. ‘Are you ok?’

‘Yeah. I just hope she doesn’t know who we are.’

‘I doubt she will.’ She prised his hands away from his face. ‘Hey. Come on. Smile.’

He leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss on her cheek. Her heart sang again. ‘Ok. For you, jamilati, I do anything. You make me happy.’ He stroked her hair and sighed. ‘But we are very naughty.’

She chuckled. ‘Like I said, Santa won’t be visiting me this year.’

‘Maybe not.’ Farid smiled.

Holly trailed her fingertip down his cheek. Her senses were recovering from a flood of happy hormones and some unknown person on the beach wasn’t going to spoil that. Why couldn’t she release more spontaneous joy into her life? She glanced up at the sky. Clouds sailed over the sheet of blue and she huddled closer to Farid. Beauty was everywhere. So often she’d blinkered herself. Why did she refuse to see it?

‘Shall we go home?’ said Farid.

Home? The word threw her for a moment. Farid considered this home. Could she? What would it be like to be home? Really home. Her gaze landed on him and she furrowed her brow slightly.

‘I need hot chocolate now,’ he said.

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