“Not now, Kipper,” she said affectionately to the cat. “I should never have given you bacon.” Lydia picked up the cat and put him out, opening the back door.
“That should give us some peace.” She put a mug of black coffee in front of Steve and nuzzled into his neck, murmuring something about him smelling nice. Automatically, he fed his arm around her narrow waist and tugged her close.
“This is nice. I could wake up to this every morning,” Steve said, hopefully.
“Not every morning is a day off, though. Not sure we’d have time for that sort of shower before work.”
“You’d just have to make up for it in the evening.” He kissed the top of her head. “Or set an earlier alarm.”
“Would I now?” She gave a little purr. It registered with Steve. He searched his memory. Where had he heard it before?
“Hang on. Were you Catwoman at the Halloween party?”
“Might have been.” She winked, and purred again. “I thought you knew.”
“If I’d known, missy, me and you would have been in bed weeks ago.” He grabbed her bottom, loving its firmness, and pulled her closer, his excitement and sheer horniness stirring, again. It was what this woman did to him.
“Oh, blast, the eggs…” Lydia leapt over to the stove, turned the gas down and flipped the fried eggs onto toast waiting patiently on two plates. She pulled the bacon and sausages out of the oven, hissing and sizzling, and poured on some baked beans, which she’d fetched from a silver microwave. All the time Steve appreciated the view of her curvy figure, remembering how good it had looked in the rubber costume. Lydia placed the loaded plate in front of Steve, handing him a knife and fork, then sat beside him. “Sorry, I’ve got no tomatoes or mushrooms. I hadn’t really planned last night.”
“Hey, this looks great.” Steve was going to need some serious work-out sessions in the gym before filming. He’d have to warn his personal trainer to set a strict exercise regime up at this rate. “As I’ve just found out I’ve slept with Catwoman, I’ll let you off the tomatoes and the mushrooms.”
“Cheeky.” She nudged him. “I was wondering…if you can stay all day?” Lydia met Steve’s gaze, then concentrated on her breakfast.
“I would love to.”
“Great, we could do something nice. Or just lounge around…”
“I’m liking the lounging around idea, maybe you could get that catsuit back on…”
“I’m sorry, I gave it back to my sister.” She gave him a warning glance.
“Damn shame.” Steve pretended to grimace with disappointment. Then it dawned on him; Ruby. “Actually, before we make plans, let me make a call to Roo first.” Steve winced apologetically, stroking her arm. “I promised we’d put the Christmas decorations up this weekend and get the tree in. We haven’t done it together since we were kids, you know?” For a moment he worried he’d given too much away. But maybe it wasn’t an abnormal statement. He’d never really thought of a story of how long he’d been travelling, plus, he tried avoiding telling lies to Lydia where he could. He wanted as much truth between them as possible. At Christmas, if all things continued as they were, he’d tell her the truth. After last night, he was more than certain he wanted her in his life.
They had to at least give it a go.
“Oh, of course.”
Steve finished his breakfast and as Lydia cleared the plates, he dug into his jeans pocket for his mobile phone. There wasn’t much battery left, he’d need to charge it. There weren’t many numbers on this phone, so it didn’t take him long to find Ruby’s and call it.
“Hello,” Ruby finally answered, groggily.
“Hey, Roo, it’s me. I’m with Lydia and she wanted to do something today. But I said about the Christmas tree. Can we do it tomorrow?”
“Oh, yeah, sure. That’s fine. That would suit me, too.”
“You okay?”
“Yeah, yeah, still in bed. Bit of a late night.”
“All right, okay…I’ll see you tonight.”
Steve grinned at Lydia, as he put his phone away. “It suits her to do it Sunday, too, so I’m all yours.”
Lydia had refilled the coffee mugs, and put them on the breakfast bar. She eased herself between Steve’s legs, as he remained on the stool, and removing his glasses, she circled her arms around his neck, pressing her breasts against him. She nuzzled his neck, grazing her teeth over his skin, making him rumble a groan of delight.
“Good,” she whispered.
***
Ruby put her phone down, sighing, and she was pulled tighter into her sleepy partner’s hold. It was well past eleven and they were still in bed.
“Who was that?” Brett’s breath, warm on her shoulder, caused the hairs on the back of her neck to rise. It brought back last night in exquisite detail, sending sexual delight through her body to every nerve ending.
“Just my brother,” Ruby replied, snuggling in closer. “I wasn’t the only one to get lucky last night.”
Brett started kissing her neck and shoulder, his palms gently cupping her breasts. She could feel him hardening against her hip as he rubbed her nipples to buds. “You’re about to get lucky again this morning.”
She turned, her mouth finding his, and between the kisses, mumbled, “I hope so.”
Last night had gone so well. Brett had picked her up, already reserving the VIP seats at the cinema, and letting her choose the restaurant for dinner. The night ended with them snogging in the car outside Ruby’s house. She hadn’t intended on sleeping with him, it had just kind of happened. Both of them were unable to tear apart from one another. And the same was happening right now.
Between them they wriggled until she was underneath. She stretched out, opening up the drawer in her bedside unit and fumbled for a foil packet, then passed it to Brett. She always kept some there, handy. Not that she regularly brought a guy home, but sometimes it happened. A woman needed to be prepared.
“I’ve fancied you since the day you interviewed me,” Brett said, rolling the condom on. He hovered over her.
“Really?” Ruby blushed. “I thought you thought I was some ice woman. What do you call me? Miss Whiplash?”
“That’s Callum, and I always tell him to shut up. Though you can whip me as much as you like.” He bent to kiss her, but, as Ruby’s eyes widened, stopped.
“What? You’re into that kind of stuff?” Ruby said, surprised.
Her expression must have been anxious, because Brett chuckled, shaking his head. “No, not really. I was joking.”
She clasped his bum, impatience growing, wanting him to make love to her. “Phew! Though…I don’t know…never say never and all that.”
“I’ll do whatever makes you happy.”
As they joined as one, she wrapped her legs around him, using her ankles to pull him in closer, and he grasped both of her hands, pushing them into the pillow either side of her head. He kissed her thoroughly, his tongue in rhythm with his thrusts. Slowly, withdrawing almost all the way so she felt its tip, he plunged back into her and sent ripples of pleasure through her body. She’d never made love like it. Or couldn’t remember it ever feeling this good with anyone else.
Pushing himself up onto his palms, and deeper into her, she reached with her tongue, circling, licking his left nipple. He moaned, closing his eyes. Last night she’d discovered it was pierced, and loved the sensation of the metal ring on her tongue. And he seemed to appreciate it too. Brett was lean but solid – she’d worried he looked skinny with his chef whites on – but get the guy naked, he was so damn sexy.
Once both satisfied and dizzy from the rush of the climax, they lay there puffing and panting, exhausted from their exertion, and Ruby breathed, “And I thought this was about Steve.”
Brett raised himself onto his elbow. “Who’s Steve?”
***
“I so thought you’d want to – you know? – shag Alice.”
Steve nearly spat his coffee back into the mug, but managed to swallow and looked up fr
om reading the newspaper, startled by Lydia’s abrupt words. She rarely swore for a start. The word ‘shag,’ albeit not a true swear word, had sounded harsh from her mouth. “What? Why’d you say that?”
“Well, she’s gorgeous, and bubbly, and you know, she’s got great…assets.”
“Yes, she has got…” Lydia’s eyes narrowed at him, “okay-ish tits.” Lydia was branding a sharp knife, admittedly for cutting up chicken breasts, but even so, Steve wasn’t stupid. Actually, he didn’t fancy Alice – even if she did have great tits – and legs – remember, she wasn’t the one wearing the catsuit. Maybe initially, because she did have that wow factor – she was extremely pretty, too. “But she’s a bit much for me. I like the quiet life.” Now he was lying. Well, he did like the quiet life; only he no longer got it with cameras pressed in his face wherever he went. With Lydia though, he would maybe be able to attain some semblance of it. She might bring him down from the celebrity lifestyle and give him the normality he needed, even craved for in his life.
They hadn’t gone out in the end, deciding to stay in and make the most of each other’s company. This way they could get cosy on the sofa, whereas in public, they’d be restricted. Not everyone wants to watch two lovers cavort. Even Kipper had turned his tail up at the two of them. And Lydia seemed to want to touch Steve, a lot. In places that wouldn’t be acceptable in public. Which Steve didn’t mind at all, as it meant he got to touch her back. But he was going to have to rectify the lack of condoms situation soon.
Now, Lydia was putting a lunch together for them. They’d spent the morning cuddled on the sofa chatting, and kissing.
“I just thought you wouldn’t be interested in me.”
Getting off the stool, Steve pulled Lydia into him, she dropped the knife – thankfully – but held her hands up awkwardly, having touched the raw chicken. “Believe me, when I say this, you are perfect.” He kissed her as she blushed, then let her get back to preparing the chicken, unable to resist affectionately tapping her backside.
“Stuart, that’s really sweet.”
She might have well stabbed him with the knife. Every time he heard that damn name, guilt cut into him.
The implications of what would happen if Ruby’s plan worked hadn’t been thought through. He hated that this relationship had started on a lie. So, okay, there were no guarantees. It might not last, but it would be the same with whoever he met. The thought of going home tonight actually hurt. Would she feel the same?
Chapter 22
Sunday 8th December
Steve hauled the eight foot Christmas tree through the back door, leaving a trail of needles behind. So much for non-drop needles. He’d just spent half an hour cutting off the bottom, and getting it into the Christmas tree stand outside in the cold. His knuckles ached from the icy air. He’d been thankful it hadn’t rained as predicted. Family tradition usually meant the tree was put up the second weekend before Christmas, but Ruby – and Steve – had been too excited to wait, so arranged to do it a weekend earlier. This way, too, Steve could convince Ruby to move into this house sooner, rather than later.
He’d spent the whole of yesterday with Lydia. Today, Sunday, was Ruby’s day. Although his phone would occasionally ping with a text from Lydia, which he craved to answer immediately. Oddly enough though, Ruby’s seemed to be doing the same too. He’d catch her stopping what she was doing, glancing at her phone with a smile on her face.
Now, Ruby stood on a stepladder, hanging decorations from the ceiling, going from one corner to the next. They had the stereo on, playing a Christmas CD – currently Shakin’ Stevens was singing Merry Christmas Everyone – and Ruby was singing her heart out to the lyrics. Not a bad effort either. Her voice wasn’t hurting his ears.
“I loved Shakin’ Stevens as a kid,” Ruby said, upon noticing Steve enter the room, hauling in the tree. “Even though he was before my time, Mum would always play his albums.”
Steve had a suspicion he might have been named after Shakin’ Stevens, not that Mum had ever admitted it. “Is this where you want the tree?” he asked as he dragged it into place.
“Oh, yes, in front of the window so the pretty lights will show outside.”
Steve nodded, centred the tree in the bay window, and unclipped the mesh holding it together, fanning it out so that the branches dropped. He had outside lights to put up too, Ruby had insisted. They’d gone barmy buying Christmas decorations, had spent a damn fortune. At this rate, they’d be here till midnight decorating the place. But hey, he didn’t know when he’d get to do it again, with his work schedule and everything. He wanted a proper family Christmas with Ruby.
Once happy the tree was in the right place and the best part of it faced the room, he checked the multi-coloured fairy lights worked, and whilst they were still on, he started wrapping them around the tree. Ruby stopped pinning up the foil decorations and joined Steve, hanging baubles and tinsel. They’d gone for the traditional colours of gold, red, and green.
The aroma of roast beef wafted in from the kitchen. Ruby went to check the cooking and returned holding two glasses of steaming mulled wine.
“Remember Mum used to always drink mulled wine while putting up the trimmings. She’d let you have a glass, but I was only allowed warmed blackcurrant,” she said, then breathed in the spicy scent before sipping. “Mmm…”
Steve drank his mulled wine, savouring the warmth it provided. They really were reliving their family Christmases and it felt good.
After the last bauble was placed on the tree, Steve grabbed the fairy to put on top, and climbed the stepladder, placing her in pride of place.
“There,” he said. “All done.”
Ruby approved, giving him a thumbs up. “Let’s have dinner, then we can finish the rest off afterwards.”
“Yeah, I’m hungry and the smell of that beef is making my mouth water.”
Steve laid the table in the dining room. The table was old, nothing special, yet it did have some sentimental value. If Ruby wanted to get rid of some of the old-fashioned furniture, he’d help her purchase what she wanted. He wouldn’t take no for an answer, either. He would help with the expenses.
One thing had been bothering him lately. He’d set up a fund for Ruby when his money had started pouring in, and well, she needed a new car, lived in a tiny rented two-bed terrace…
As they both tucked into their roast beef with Yorkshire puddings and perfect, fluffy roast potatoes, Steve decided to broach the subject. “Ruby?”
She swallowed then replied, “Yes?”
“I’ve been sending you money for the last couple of years, increasing it as things got better.” Steve tried to sound subtle, curious. “If you don’t mind me asking, what are you spending it on?”
“I’m not spending it.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t know. I just wanted to try and manage on my own.”
“Ruby, the money is there so you can enjoy life, relax a little.”
“I am relaxed.” Her knife clattered as it hit the plate.
“You could do something you enjoy, not spend all hours in the hotel.”
“I do enjoy my job.”
“Really?” Steve raised his eyebrows in an I-don’t-believe-you way.
“Oh, okay, I’ve never known what I wanted to do – unlike you. And that job came along, I’m good at it. It pays the bills.”
“The money I send you could easily pay for the running of this house.”
Her eyes narrowed. “I told you why I didn’t like living here. It reminded me too much of Mum.”
“But I would love you to live here.”
“Steve, I’m not sure. When you’re gone, it’ll be just me.”
“Brett seems a great guy – I’m assuming that’s who you were with yesterday.” Steve grinned.
“How’d you…? Yes it was, but we’ve only just started going out. So don’t get us married off yet. It really is early days. Like you and Lydia, only you don’t really have as much time as I d
o. How’s that going by the way?”
Steve washed his food down with some red wine, nodding. “Good. I feel damn guilty every time she calls me Stuart though.”
“Yeah, sorry, I didn’t think of that. I’m sure if she really loves you, she’ll forgive you.”
“I hope so! Anyway, you’re changing the subject.” He pointed his fork at her.
“No I’m not.”
“We’re talking about this house. Mum would have loved you to bring up your own family in this house. I believe it was her plan all along.”
Ruby clicked her tongue. “Hey, don’t start with all the emotional blackmail shit. Don’t ruin a good day.”
He held his hands up. “Okay, okay, but let us spend Christmas here – no point bothering with the decorations otherwise. Maybe on Christmas Eve we could have a little party. Get Brett and Lydia over, maybe Callum and Alice.” They’d all become friends. Real friends, which meant a lot to Steve. “Maybe start making some new memories in this house?”
Ruby placed her knife and fork together, leaving one roast potato and some veg. Steve nicked the roast potato, even though he knew full well he shouldn’t. Luckily, there weren’t any Yorkshire puddings left, or he’d be going for those too. He’d run an extra mile tomorrow. He’d been checking his weight and muscle tone, and regularly running, so he hadn’t completely lost it. He kept telling himself he’d have time to get some intense gym work in before filming.
“Okay,” she said. “That would be nice, and the six of us in this house would be much comfier than my little rabbit hutch of a place. Maybe Daphne would like to come too.”
“We’d better get the decorations finished with then.”
“I’ll load the dishwasher and clear up the kitchen, while you get those outside lights up.”
Steve groaned. He’d been dreading that particular job. “Okay, and later we’ll discuss you moving in here, and looking for a new career.”
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