“What are we doing?” I ask when Jay pulls off the road into a small parking area.
“I thought we could experience the lake close up.”
I hop out the car and follow him down the track to a small beach like spot at the edge of the water.
The sun’s shining, and in this secluded little corner, we’re sheltered from the cold wind.
“If I ever win the lottery, I want a view like this from my house.”
“I could live with that,” he agrees as he rests back on his elbows next to me.
We’re both silent as we soak it all up; the sound of the water, and the bird song from the trees above us. I allow myself to get lost in the peace this place has to offer.
Jay scares me when he suddenly jumps up. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” he says as he pulls his hoodie and t-shirt off at the same time.
“What are you—” My question gets cut short when he slips his trainers off before dropping his jeans.
“Burning off breakfast. Join me?”
“No, you’re okay.” He may have got me in the sea before, but it’s not happening again. Once was cold enough.
“Your loss,” he says before he turns his back on me and drops his boxers.
My mouth falls open as I stare at his naked behind—he has the most perfect arse. I watch as he walks towards the water before his bottom half disappears into what I can imagine feels like an ice bath. It doesn’t seem to bother him; he ducks under before swimming off into the lake.
I watch him but the image of his naked arse seems to be burned onto the inside of my eyelids.
Thankfully—or sadly, actually, I’m not really sure—he covers himself when he eventually emerges from the water. To be fair, it must’ve been so cold that I can’t imagine there’s much to show off right now.
He quickly dresses before asking if I’m ready to take off.
We spend the afternoon driving around and taking everything in. We stop in a cute little village bakery when we start to get hungry and indulge in gorgeous cream cakes, before getting back in the car to head towards our accommodation for the night.
“You booked a room in Gretna Green?”
“Yeah, I’ve always been intrigued by the place so thought it was the perfect opportunity to check it out.”
To say I’m relieved would be putting it mildly when he pulls into the car park of a fancy looking hotel. “I thought we were keeping to cheap B&Bs?” I ask on our way towards the expensive room Jay had already booked.
“I told you earlier, you deserve it after last night.”
“Last night wasn’t good, but that doesn’t mean you need to spend loads. I’d be more than happy with a bog standard B&B.”
“I know you would, but I wanted to treat you.”
I can’t help but swoon a little at his words. I know I made a bit of a fuss about that place last night, but it wasn’t because I expected to be staying in swanky places, just clean ones with a couple more pieces of furniture, and without the epic creep we had to share the building with.
“Thank you,” I say sincerely when we come to a stop outside our door. I reach up on my tiptoes and give him a quick kiss.
“I know how you could thank me properly.” My eyes widen and my mouth drops. “I’m joking,” he quickly adds on. “No need to look so worried.”
Was I worried? I wonder as I follow him into the room. No, I’m pretty sure the tingles I felt when he said it were more to do with excitement.
“Oh my god, look at that bath.” Sat in the middle of the bathroom is a huge free standing tub just calling out to be used.
“Knock yourself out. We don’t have dinner reservations until nine.”
I don’t need any more convincing than that. I get the water the right temperature before searching for the complimentary bubble bath. When I find it I let out a sigh of relief that it’s not the standard lavender scent I hate. Instead, it’s a fresh mandarin and grapefruit flavour that makes my mouth water.
I check to ensure I’m covered in bubbles before telling Jay he can come in when he knocks. He opens the door and peeks through before walking in with a glass of bubbles.
“Champagne and a bath full of bubbles. What could be better?”
“Well, technically it’s prosecco, but close enough. And you forgot to mention the hot man.”
“Must have been an oversight. Thank you,” I say, reaching an arm out to take the glass. “What’s wrong?” He’s got an odd look on his face.
“I’m disappointed.”
“Why?”
“I was at least hoping to see some boob.”
“Oh, get out,” I say, flicking bubbles at him.
“What? It’s not like I haven’t already seen them.” That may be true but it doesn’t stop me blushing at the thought of exposing myself to him.
“Get out.”
“Or licked them,” he mutters as he steps back. His eyes darken as they drop from mine down to where my boobs are hiding behind the bubbles. I raise an eyebrow at him. “Okay, okay, I’m going,” he says with a pout but before he turns, he scoops up the bubbles covering me and puts them on my head. I manage to hold my smile until he shuts the door.
* * *
“Fuck me, you look good,” Jay announces when I emerge from the bathroom a long time later. Luckily, I packed a dress just in case. It’s a classic black prom dress, paired with a thin red belt and red peep toe court shoes. My only jewellery is a heavy silver bracelet consisting of a series of solid squares; it’s one of my favourites but can only be worn with something simple because of its size. My make-up is done—nothing exciting, just a bit of mascara, blusher and gloss. The only thing left to do is my hair.
“Thank you.” I run my eyes over him as he does the same to me. He’s wearing a dark pair of jeans and a plain white shirt. He looks incredibly sexy, resting back against the headboard where he’s been watching TV.
I sit myself down at the dressing table and pull the hotel hair dryer from the drawer. I feel his eyes on me the entire time; they burn into my skin and ensure the tingles he started when he came into the bathroom earlier continue to simmer just under the surface.
“Keep in down,” he instructs when I go to pull my hair back. I mostly get on fine with my hair; it’s easy and low maintenance because it’s always straight, but when I get dressed up I always feel like it’s lacking because I can’t do anything fancy with it.
“Why?”
“Because you look sexy.” His eyes hold mine in the mirror and the heat in them ensures I do as he says. “Come on, it’s time to go.”
The short journey in the lift is torturous with his scent filling my nose while the heat of his hand burns into my lower back. I feel his fingers twitching where I can only assume he’s as desperate to move it as I am. The memory of how it felt when he had his hands on me last night is right at the forefront of my mind.
I let out a breath when the doors open and I swear I hear him do the same. He leads me towards the restaurant and pushes the waiter out of the way so he can be the one to pull my chair out. I try not to let his gentlemanly actions affect me but it’s no hope, I swoon hard. When I look up into his eyes to thank him, I feel myself fall for him even more than I already have. That’s the moment I know I’m never going to be able to get him out from under my skin.
He orders us more wine. I’m already buzzing from the two glasses I had in our room but I don’t argue; it’s not every day this I get this kind of treatment so I’m going to enjoy it while I can.
By the time we’ve eaten and Jay suggests we sit in the bar, I can already feel the room spinning a little, so when he places a cocktail down on the coffee table in front of me, I know I’m making a huge mistake by drinking it, but I’m flying too high to care.
Some amount of time later, I feel Jay wrap his arm around my waist and attempt to get me to the lift. My legs are like jelly and I swear I’m going to hit the floor any second. I wrap my arms around him to stop me from falling.
“I could get used to this,” he whispers in my ear as we wait for the lift.
“Hmmm, I think you’d better, soldier boy, because I’m not letting you go.”
“And I definitely like the sound of that.” His words are at odds with his previous warning about this being a two week only thing but I’m too drunk to read too much into it.
By the time the doors open, I’m stood in front of Jay, looking up in to his gorgeous grey eyes. I feel him push me back by my hips and my legs must do as they’re told because a few seconds later, I feel the handrail in the lift press into my back.
Jay doesn’t move until the doors shut. Then, he presses himself against me and takes my lips in a hot and dirty kiss. My hands grasp at his shirt as my leg lifts around his waist as I try to get closer to him.
I feel the vibration of his moan all the way to my clit. Fucking hell, this man is like a drug; I don’t think I’ve ever craved something so much in my entire life.
I feel myself being lifted from the floor, and the next thing I know, I’m in his arms as we head down the corridor towards our room.
He sits me on the bed before I feel my shoes being slipped off. Soft kisses run up the inside of my leg before I feel him almost at my knickers. I suck in a breath as I prepare for what’s about to happen but he pulls back, and seconds later I feel him undoing my belt and unzipping my dress. Then, my bra’s gone, and I feel the burning heat of his palms against my breasts. My head falls back as I focus on the sensation of him squeezing and pinching.
I fall back onto the bed when he encourages me to do so. My alcohol filled brain doesn’t let me worry about being totally bare for him when I feel my underwear slide down my thighs and over my feet. The mattress dips as he crawls on top of me, and when I look down I see he’s gloriously naked, only I don’t get a chance to see everything because he folds himself over me and kisses me senseless. I feel him at my entrance and my muscles clench as they prepare for what it might feel like having him push his way inside me. I watch as he sits back, and he’s just about to thrust forward when my eyes spring open.
* * *
I stare ahead. The room’s light and the side of bed next to me is empty. What the fuck?
Then I hear something. When I look towards the noise, I find Jay once again doing sit ups. My heart continues to pound at the same speed as my clit as the images that were just so vivid in my mind continue to play out as I watch him. His muscles stretch and pull with each movement and his damp skin glistens in the morning sunlight.
I’m almost back on level ground by the time he stops and stands. “Sorry, did I wake you?” he asks when he sees I’m watching.
The second his eyes land on me, I feel my face fill with heat. Fuck.
“What?” he asks, a small smirk playing on his lips.
“Nothing.”
“Skittles, you’re flushed as red as a fucking tomato and your eyes are wide as fuck. That’s not nothing.”
“I…uh…just woke up all of a sudden and I didn’t know where I was,” I lie.
His cheeky smile finally breaks free. “Right.” I watch as he climbs on to the bed. He’s only in his boxers so I get a nice close up of his chest and stomach. “How about you tell me the real reason?” he says as he runs his fingers over my cheek and down my neck to my collarbone.
“I was dreaming,” I whisper.
“Do tell.” He’s got a wicked glint in his eye.
“I can’t really remember it now.”
“Liar.”
I shift onto my side and realise I’m dressed in his shirt, and I’m wearing knickers. “Did you put me to bed last night?” I ask, because other than the dream I have no recollection of leaving the bar, and I’m thinking it was just that: a dream.
“You don’t remember?”
My cheeks flush once again as I shake my head.
“That’s a real shame, Skittles, a real shame.”
“What happened?”
“I couldn’t possibly tell.”
“Wanker,” I mutter.
He has a little laugh to himself but he doesn’t say any more.
It was just a dream, I’m sure of it. He told me he wouldn’t do anything until I begged for it so I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t take advantage when I’m drunk. Right?
This question rolls around my head the whole time I’m getting ready and throughout breakfast. I’m fairly sure it was all a dream. I’m desperate to ask him more, but at the same time I’m scared he’ll make me admit what I think may or may not have happened—or worse, the details of my dream.
When we get to the bit of Gretna Green where they do all the weddings, there’s a bride and groom having their photos taken. We stop on a little grass bank and watch the happy couple posing and laughing. They look unbelievably happy about the new chapter of their lives they’ve just embarked on.
Nothing’s said between us for the longest time as we sit and watch the world go by, so when Jay suddenly speaks up, it startles me a little.
“Wanna get married?”
“What?” I ask, thinking I just heard him wrong.
“Let’s get married.”
“It’s weird, because I thought you just asked me to marry you…twice,” I say with a laugh.
“I guess I did. What do you say?”
“I say you’re crazy. We can’t just get married.”
“Why not? We’re here and this is where all kinds of crazy shit goes down, marriage-wise.”
“You can’t just turn up here nowadays, say ‘I do’, and be on your way. You still need to register and stuff beforehand.”
“Well, that wasn’t a no,” he comments with a laugh.
“I’m not going to respond to your craziness with an answer, Jay. It’s totally insane.”
“But the wedding night,” he pouts.
“Seriously, you’re nuts.”
His focus is still on the couple and photographer in front of us but he has this wistful look on his face that I haven’t seen since we started this road trip. The sudden moment of seriousness reminds me of everything I’m running away from and the plans I need to make about my future. It’s unrealistic to think I’ll finish uni next year and work with mum in her shop, because it’s going to be gone unless she makes some drastic changes. I need a plan for me, not her. If I’m going to focus on my jewellery then I need to find more stockists, look at going to trade shows, get my name out there, a million and one things really.
“Ready to make a move?” Jay eventually asks, distracting me from thoughts of my future.
“Yes.”
We grab a couple of takeout coffees from a café before getting back in Peggy and heading farther up north.
* * *
“There’s a classic car show this weekend, look,” Jay says excitedly as we drive towards Inverness. “Can we go?” I can’t help but laugh because he sounds like an excited little child.
“Sure.”
“We can stay here somewhere tonight, and then go tomorrow.”
His excitement is infectious, and I find myself looking forward to a day staring at old cars—not because I want to, but because more than anything I want him to be happy, and right now he’s buzzing.
We spend all afternoon driving around the country roads, taking in the scenery before heading into town to find somewhere to stay for the night.
“What about there?” I say, pointing to a vacancies sign on the side of the road.
We continue up the long driveway to reveal a quaint bungalow. It definitely doesn’t have the grandeur of the hotel last night, but equally, it looks loads better than the dilapidated farmhouse from the night before. We may have found a happy medium, even if it does look more like someone’s home than a B&B.
We stand hand in hand waiting for someone to answer the door, and eventually an elderly lady pulls it open. She shouts something behind her but fuck knows what she says because her Scottish accent is so strong she may as well be speaking another language. I glance over at Jay, whose ey
ebrows are raised slightly, showing he has no clue either.
“Good evening, come in,” she says to us. Thankfully, it’s slower, and easier to understand.
She ushers us into their living room where her husband is sat watching TV.
“Good evening. I’m William, and this is my wife Mary. Are you looking for a room?”
“Yes, we saw your vacancy sign. I’m Jay and this is Erin.”
I stand awkwardly as Mary looks us both up and down. She gives her husband a nod before he asks what kind of room we want.
“Double would be great,” Jay answers without missing a beat.
“I presume you’re married,” Mary says, looking down at my left hand.
“Uh…no.” Thankfully Jay doesn’t elaborate and tell this obviously traditional couple that we’ve only known each other a few days.
“You’re welcome to stay but only married couples will share a room under my roof,” Mary says when William fails to do his job by the look of the stare he receives.
Jay looks over at me. The expression on his face makes me smile, because I can tell he’s begging for me to apologise and be on our way so we can find a double bed. Unfortunately for him, I do the opposite. I’m not sure if it’s for my own amusement or torture, but I tell Mary it won’t be an issue and that we’ll have a single room each. As the words leave my mouth, Jay’s chin drops and his eyes narrow at me. I just smile at him.
“The rooms are next door to each other but there will be no sneaking into each other’s in the middle of the night.”
“Of course not,” I say politely, earning me another death stare from Jay.
We stand by our doors as we watch Mary retreat down the hallway after offering us dinner.
“What the hell, Erin?”
“What?” I ask innocently. “I didn’t want to carry on looking for us not to find anything, or worse, another shithole. This will be fine and it’s only for one night. I’m sure you can cope.”
Never Forget Him: Never Forget #1 Page 7