Room to Breathe

by Nicole Brightman

  “Honey, is that your mobile?” Eric asks. I had been so caught up in him that I didn’t register the noise of my text alert.

  “Yep, it is,” I say as I roll over and grab it off the night table. I surprised to see it is from Maggie. Maybe she has given it some thought and changed her mind.

  Tell your pimp to leave me alone and stay the fuck out of my pub!

  Then again, maybe not. I have no idea what she is talking about but I can feel the heat rising in my face. If he went into that pub without telling me I am going to lose it.

  “Eric,” I start trying to keep my voice calm, “why did Maggie just send me a message asking me to tell you to leave her and the pub alone?”

  “Probably because I went there while you were sleeping to talk to her,” He answers in a casual tone.

  “Why would you do that? And why didn’t you tell me?” I can hear my voice already starting to shake.

  “I was trying to help. I thought that if I talked to her that maybe she would understand.”

  “Oh, really and how did that work out for you? Maggie is as stubborn as the day is long and she hates you. What on earth made you think she would listen to you?”

  “Well, honestly most people do. I very rarely have people argue with me. I figured she just needed to hear things from me.” He says very calmly.

  “What did she say?” I want to call him out on his arrogance but the truth is he is probably right. He is very handsome, rich, and incredibly charming. I don’t doubt that people rarely argue with him.

  “She wouldn’t even let me talk. I tried to reason with her. I told her she just needed to stop being emotional about it and look at from a logical point of view,” he says as he runs his hand through his hair.

  “I am sure that went over well.” I can just imagine what Maggie had to say to that.

  “Yes, well it was fairly bad. She started yelling things at me that I wouldn’t repeat in front of a lady. She demanded that I leave and never come back. I didn’t think there was anything that I could say at that point so I left. I just thought she is your family and your friend. If there was something I could say to make it right then I should at least try. I didn’t tell you about it because I didn’t want to upset you. If you have changed your mind about everything I understand. I could never ask you to give up any part of your family.”

  He looks down at the space on the bed between us. Looking at him I can see that I have changed my mind about him and this whole arrangement. The past two days have completely altered the way I feel.

  I don’t want to just have fun with him and don’t want to be part of an arrangement with anyone else. The truth is the only thing keeping me from walking out the door right now is the thought of not seeing him every day breaks my heart. It has been such a short amount of time that we have spent together but it has been some of the best times I have had in years.

  I want him. I want to be his and him to be mine. I know I can’t tell him exactly how I feel without him freaking out and throwing me out. I reach across the void between us and take his hand in mine. I quickly think of a way to express how I feel without really telling him.

  “She isn’t really my family or a friend. Family sticks together no matter what and she has disowned me at the first disagreement. Friends support each other even when they disagree because they want each other to be happy and she can’t see how happy I am. So, if she won’t accept me or my choices then she can kiss my arse,” I say the last part with my weak attempt at an English accent that makes him smile at me. His smile is so warm and kind in an instant I know the awful truth. I have fallen in love with him. Completely and totally in love with him. “So tell me what did she yell that was so bad?”

  “No, I refuse to talk that way to you. It was really pretty vulgar,” he responds running his hand through my hair. He seems to do that when he is nervous or stressed. It is kind of cute.

  “Um, do I need to remind you what has taken place in this bed over the past two days? It wasn’t what I would call proper.”

  “Well, no it wasn’t but there is a big difference there. Me telling you that I want to ‘fuck the hell out of you’ isn’t vulgar because it is just true. But if I were to say about ninety percent of the things that came out of her mouth in front of you it would just be wrong. I won’t ever speak that way to you even if it just repeating what someone else said.”

  “See, this is why people don’t argue with you. You are just too damn charming.” I say as I lean in and kiss him lightly on the lips. His lips are so soft and his kiss is so sweet I just want to kiss him for a few hours. There is another beep of cell phone notification. This time it is his. He pulls away from me to check the incoming message.

  “Oh, brilliant,” he says with a broad smile. “Get dressed. I have a surprise downstairs that should make up for any irritation you may still have with me.”

  “Well if it is that good how can I refuse?” I respond getting out of bed.

  Chapter 14

  “Leggings and a sweater work?” I ask since he has a suit on again.

  “Well I prefer you in nothing but your idea is probably more appropriate,” he says as he slides his slacks on and reaches for his shirt.

  I grab a pair of plum colored leggings and pull on a cream colored sweater over a matching tank. I smooth my hair into a low ponytail and apply a lite covering of lip gloss. I slip on a pair of ballet flats and turn to face Eric.

  He is wearing his shirt with the sleeves unbuttoned and rolled up with a buttoned up vest that matches his slacks. His hair is still a little bit of a mess from my hands being in it. For a moment I am not sure there is a surprise in the world worth leaving this room for.

  Just when I am about to attack him, Eric takes my hand and steers me toward the door. I can’t believe this is the first time I have left the room in over twenty-four hours. We reach the bottom of the stairs and head towards the front parlor. As Eric reaches for the door handle the door swings inward. A very pretty petite red head steps out of the room giggling and carrying a dress bag.

  “Oh, hi! I am Claire you must be Cora. It is so nice to meet you,” she says in a bubbly voice. Her accent is thicker than Eric’s and not as polished. She looks directly at Eric and an understanding seems to pass between them. “I really need to go take care of things in my room. I’ll see you at dinner.” She smiles and heads up the stairs. I really want to ask Eric more about her but now is clearly not the right time.

  “Cora! I am so happy to see you again!” Miranda says as she pulls me into the room by my hand. She looks as beautiful in her black pant suit and her long black hair in a ballerina bun. The room is set up like it was last time only with a lot more racks covered in clothing. Most of the clothing looks to be dresses. “So, Eric tells me you need the full treatment. So let’s start with some day clothes over here.”

  “What do you mean ‘the full treatment’?” I ask looking at Eric.

  “Well, you are going to need clothing for different occasions if you are going to stay here. We have a match-up weekend coming up soon and there is a formal ball as well. So, I asked Miranda to come and get you outfitted as a gift to you,” Eric answers with a satisfied look. He clearly thinks he has just given me a wonderful treat and he has. I mean what woman doesn’t love new clothing and shoes?

  “Oh, Eric are you sure you want to do this? I am sure I have something that will work.”

  “Absolutely, I know this is a different lifestyle than you are used to and I want you to be comfortable. Honestly, have fun and pick out what you need, no limit,” he says as he kisses me sweetly on the forehead. How could I not be falling for this man? In the past few hours he has driven all the way to my cousin’s pub and endured Maggie’s temper for me and now he is offering me an in-home shopping spree.

  “Okay, Miranda let’s have at it,” I smile at her.

  “I am going to be sitting over here working if you don’t mind. I am a little behind after being distracted for the past two days,” he says
as winks at me and walks over to same chair he sat in the other day.

  I let Miranda pull me further into the room. We stop in front of a rack full of black cocktail dresses. Miranda quickly pulls three down and after a moment grabs a fourth.

  “Every woman should have a killer LBD. Here let’s start with these,” she says as she carries the dress behind a set of screens set up in the corner of the room. I try on the first two and hate them right away. I try on the third and I don’t hate or love it. I step out from behind the screen for a second opinion.

  “It is good but not great,” Miranda comments barely glancing at me.

  “What are you talking about?” Eric asks furrowing his brow. He is sitting in a chair off to the side sipping a glass of what looks like scotch with his iPad resting in his lap. “She looks beautiful.”

  “She’s pretty so she is going to look pretty in a lot, but I think we can do better. Here, give me that last one back and try this,” Miranda takes the dress I didn’t try yet and hands me a dress with a very 1940’s vibe.

  Before I even have it on all the way I know this is perfect. This time when I step out for them to see I get a very different reaction. Miranda claps once and squeals a little.

  “Okay, well Miranda likes it. What do you think Eric?”

  “I think I am giving Miranda a raise. You look stunning and I really want to carry you up the stairs again,” he says with a wink.

  The next hour progresses much in the same way. Miranda insists that I need dresses for luncheons and dinners. She also thinks I need shoes and handbags to go with everything. Who am I to argue with the very nice lady? Eric spends most of the time pouring over his iPad. He looks up every now and then to give his opinion. His comments are getting more and more enticing.

  “Alright,” Miranda exclaims after I am sure I have enough clothing for a small town, “all we have left is a dress for the gala that is coming up.”

  “What kind of dress do I need for that?” I ask looking from her to Eric.

  “It is a formal ball. You will need something much more formal than the other dresses,” Eric responds still looking at his tablet.

  “Oh, the match making weekend. So soon?” I respond trying to hide the emotions trying to burst through. Eric must have heard some trace of them because he puts the tablet down and looks directly at me.

  “Not for you. It is much too soon for that, I think. Unless, you are tired of me,” he raises his eyebrows imploring me. I shake my head “no”. “Good. It is for Claire and Brad.”

  “Okay, so what did you have in mind?” I turn to Miranda who has been standing by silent for the first time today.

  “This one,” she smiles holding up a black dress bag. “I’ll help you in to it.”

  “Honey,” Eric calls from the other side of the screen. “I really need to look into something in my office. Come in there when you are done here.” I hear the door click closed behind him.

  “Good. This really should be a surprise for that night,” Miranda winks. She unzips the bag and pulls out a gorgeous light pink dress covered in sparkles. She holds the dress and helps me step into it. It is long reaching all the way to the floor. It is completely backless with a cowl back. The neckline is a high and there is a slit that comes just above mid-thigh. Miranda grabs a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes for me to wear. The heels are high enough that the length of the dress is now perfect. She steps to the side and motions for me to have a look. I step in front of the mirror and can’t believe how good this looks.

  “See how this fabric hugs every one of your curves? I knew it would look perfect on you! Cora, you are going to have men passing out when you walk into that room! I can’t wait to see it!”

  “You’re going to be there too?” I am so glad there will be at least one friendly face.

  “Yes, but just the one night. Don’t worry. Eric will take one look at you like this and you won’t be going anywhere until you want to.”

  “Oh, I, um, it isn’t that I don’t want to, I, um,” I stammer. Damn! Was I that obvious?

  “Relax he is oblivious and I would never say a thing. Be careful, though. People can be rather set in their ways. I have a few accessories to go with this and the others. I will have them all sent up to your room.”

  “Thank you, for everything.” I change back into my leggings and sweater. After saying my good byes to Miranda, I head down to Eric’s office to let him know I am finished. The door to his office is open and I can see him sitting at his desk. He is just hanging up his phone when I walk into the room.

  “Give me just a moment, honey,” he says as he types away on his keyboard. After a few seconds he closes the laptop and runs his hands through his dark hair. “Sorry I had to leave you like that. I take it you found a dress?”

  “Yep, Miranda is fantastic at her job.”

  “Yes, she is. She has done all my shopping and most of the charges shopping since she stayed with me in London.”

  “Um, she is your ex?”

  “Oh, no, not at all. She is an ex-charge but not someone I was close to in the way you are obviously thinking. If she was would that be a problem for you?”

  I want to be honest and tell him that it would be a huge problem. I don’t want to even meet girls he had sex with much less become friendly with them. I just can’t bring myself to say it. I am sure he would freak out if I tell him what I am really thinking but I can’t say I am okay with it either. I opt for a in between answer.

  “I realize you weren’t a virgin before yesterday, but that doesn’t mean I really want picture you with someone that just saw me half naked.” Just then something occurs to me. “You would tell me if you were sleeping with someone else, wouldn’t you?”

  “I don’t recall doing much ‘sleeping’ with you, but if I was with someone else I would tell you if you asked.”

  “Well, are you?” As soon as I said it I wish I hadn’t. I brace myself for his answer. He folds his hands in front of him and stares at me for a long moment.

  “No, you are the only person I am having sex with at the present time. If I was planning on having sex with someone else I promise that I would have told you.”

  “Okay,” I say flatly. The thought of him with someone else makes me feel sick and light headed. I can’t think about it too much or I am sure I will work myself up into a full panic attack.

  “Good. Now back to Miranda seeing you half naked. Is that something we can recreate? Please tell me she was half naked as well,” he smiles a wolfish grin at me and sits back in his chair. I walk to him as he turns his chair to the side to meet me. I step between his legs.

  “I am sorry to disappoint you but she was fully clothed.”

  “Well now that is disappointing.”

  “Would you like it if she wasn’t?”

  “Honey, I don’t know of any man that wouldn’t want to see both of you half naked or more.”

  “Hmm, well then maybe we will have to arrange that some time,” I tease as I step closer to him so that my legs are touching the chair. I am just messing with him. It is fun to watch him get worked up.

  “We certainly can see about that. Right now I really just want to kiss you for a moment,” he says as he reaches for my arms pulling me towards him.

  I lean over him and meet his lips softly. He kisses me gently and pulls me into his lap. I face him and wrap my legs around him. His hands are in my hair gently encouraging my mouth on his. It feels so good just to be this close to him. One of his hands reaches under my loose sweater and cups my breast. He gently rubs it before turning his attention to the nipple causing it to harden. I can feel his erection growing beneath my thin leggings. I reach down to pull my shirt off and he pulls back from me.

  “This isn’t a good place for that,” he says removing his hand from my breast. “Sorry, I got a bit carried away. It just seems to happen so easily with you. This isn’t a private place. The other day was different. Almost everyone was gone and those that weren’t were told to not disturb us for
any reason. Today is different and anyone could walk through that door. I am a lot of things but not much an exhibitionist.”

  “Alright, and I suppose you have too much to do down here to come up stairs with me.” I rotate my hips rubbing my aching center against his bulge.

  “As tempting as that is,” he says putting his hands on my hips to stop me, “I really do have a lot to do. The others should just be sitting down to tea in library if you want to join them. You should be okay in what you are wearing.”

  “Well, I guess if I can’t lure you away I might as well.” I get up off his lap and head for the door. I pause for just a moment in the door way. “If you change your mind, you know where to find me.” I smile over my shoulder and give my ass a little smack. I giggle and head out of the room.

  Chapter 15

  As I am closing the door I hear him mutter under his breath, “the end of me”. I turn back down the hall and start to walk to the library. The room looks exactly like what you would expect an English country home library to look like. It is very cozy in shades of brown with touches of warm deep red. There are of course several floor-to-ceiling book cases loaded with books.

  On one wall there is a large fireplace with a roaring fire. Seated in front are two very comfortable looking brown leather chairs. Miranda’s assistant, who’s name I never got, is in one and the in other is a man that must be Brad. He seems to be about six feet tall and muscular but lean. He has short messy blonde hair that is a little lighter than my own. I can tell he has a perfect tan and absolutely perfect white teeth from here as he smiles at me. He is wearing khaki colored pants with a dark blue sweater over a button-up shirt.

  There is a sitting area in the center of the room with a small sofa and a few chairs seated around a coffee table containing a tea set and assorted food items. Claire is sitting there along with Miranda and another woman that must be Lucinda.