The Cosy Teashop in the Castle

by Caroline Roberts

  ‘At least it’s a big step in the right direction. You must have done well putting your case across.’ Instinctively she reached her hand across the table and brushed his. His skin was warm, soft under her touch. Their eyes locked.

  Ooh, something deep inside told her she was falling for this guy. And maybe, just maybe, he was feeling the same way too.

  She smiled nervously, then looked down at their hands there together, his long fingers. She had the urge to take them one by one and kiss them, right on the fingertips. How good might it feel to have them brush over her bare skin. Would that ever happen? Should she ever let that happen? Where were her thoughts taking her, for goodness sake?

  ‘Right,’ she announced, ‘I’d better clear these away and get the pudding sorted.’ She got up before she did anything rash, like leaning over to kiss him. She’d only taste of garlic and red wine anyhow.

  ‘I’ll help.’ He lifted his empty plate and followed her back to the kitchen. ‘Can I wash up or anything?’

  ‘Well, I suppose you could rinse off these dishes while I put the cheesecake out.’ That’d clear some of the evidence for tomorrow. They’d better not leave anything for Doris to find in the dishwasher. ‘Are you up for cheesecake?’

  ‘Sure am. Never been known to refuse food.’

  She cut two neat slices, dressing the plate with fresh raspberries and coulis. She had to admit, it looked pretty cool, like something out of Masterchef.

  ‘Very impressive.’ He was at her shoulder drying a plate with a tea towel. ‘Are you sure you’re not a Michelin chef or something.’

  ‘Thanks. I just like making it look pretty, that’s all.’

  They were soon back at their ‘table à deux’ in the teashop.

  ‘Wow, that is amazing. Hang on,’ he put on a food-boffin style voice, his fork poised in the air, ‘I’m getting a hint of vanilla, cheese – yes cheese, and that lovely sharpness of raspberries.’ He grinned. ‘Seriously, Ellie, this is so good. Where did you learn to cook like this?’

  ‘I don’t know really. Probably my nanna.’

  ‘Ah, the infamous nanna of the Fuck’s Bizz, no less?’

  ‘It is indeed.’ She chuckled. ‘Now, she was an amazing cake-maker. I used to watch her baking on a Saturday morning. She’d make enough cakes and buns for Grandpa for the week. And then a whole load more to take with her to the old people’s home where she worked, bless her. And then, if it was a special occasion, she’d do her scrummy choffee cake.’

  ‘Now, that cake I remember from your interview day.’

  ‘Yep. It’s her own recipe, handwritten in that recipe book I keep on the shelf in the kitchen. Oops, shouldn’t have said that – giving away all my trade secrets.’

  ‘Well, I wouldn’t worry, there’s no chance of me stealing it and branching out into baking. I know my limits.’ He grinned. ‘You seem very fond of her,’ he continued.

  ‘I am … I still miss her.’

  ‘Oh, Ellie, I’m sorry.’ His hand went over hers.

  ‘It’s okay. She was an old lady; she’d had a good life. Not an easy life, but a good life. She was my inspiration.’ Ellie’s eyes were misty, but she was still smiling.

  ‘Sounds like she was a great role model.’

  ‘She was … still is.’

  There was a second or two of silence, then Ellie spooned the last of her cheesecake into her mouth.

  Joe was staring at her. ‘You have the most amazing lips, Ellie.’

  ‘Thanks,’ her voice came out as a squeak.

  And he reached across and brushed his thumb gently across her lower lip. ‘There was a crumb.’ He didn’t need an excuse to do that, in Ellie’s book. Her body felt like it was melting. He leaned across the table and planted a delicate cheesecake-tasting kiss on her lips. Then he sat back down, leaving her wanting more.

  Did she want more tonight, her mind was quizzing? What kind of more? And would it put him off if she seemed too keen? Would she be disappointed if it ended up as a one-night stand? Yes, probably. But a one-night stand at least means that you get some good sex with this hunky man. Her naughty subconscious was egging her on.

  ‘Joe,’ her voice came with a nervous lilt, ‘Would you like coffee?’

  ‘Ah, yes.’ His gaze was intense.

  ‘Back in my room.’ Jesus, she’d said it. She couldn’t believe she had been that forward. What the hell was she thinking?

  The rest of the washing up was going to have to wait.

  ‘Yes.’ His smile widened.

  She stood up, swiftly blowing out all the tea lights around the room, until it was just their solitary candle burning, which Joe blew out for her. For a second or two it was pitch black, then her eyes adjusted, and a silvery glimpse of moonlight shafted in through the windows. Joe was on his feet, her hand was in his, and they walked in a calm rush towards the door, tiptoeing across the courtyard. Both trying not to be noisy, not wanting to alert Lord Henry to their moonlight antics.

  She couldn’t remember if she’d left her room tidy. She hadn’t anticipated things moving on as quickly as they had. She unlocked the door, turned on the lamp. It was fairly neat, thank heavens. She grabbed the clothing that was strewn across the bed from her earlier clothes panic, and placed them on the chair. She turned to face Joe. He closed the door behind him. There was a second where they both stared at each other. He then took a step towards her, took her in his arms and kissed her, their bodies pressed together, both edging backwards until she was hard against the wall. It felt powerful, passionate. Her hands through his hair. Tongues entwined. His hands tracing the sides of her body, gripping her hips, reaching around to her buttocks. She pulled away just for a second, the kiss turning into a sigh. Then dived back in to kiss him again.

  * * *

  Joe

  Her soft moan at his ear sent his body crazy. Things were moving so quickly he was having trouble keeping up. Well, his body was doing fantastically well on that front, his mounting erection about to take over all sensible thought. Jesus, was this really happening? Should he let this happen?

  He didn’t want to rush her, though, not after what that prick of an ex had done to her. And he didn’t want to get it all wrong. But he had virtually been frog-marched from their supper in the tearooms across here for ‘coffee’ – there being no sign of coffee as yet, and plenty of snogging like a pair of teenagers.

  ‘Ellie.’ He pulled back. Giving himself chance to think. The rest of his body bar his brain shouting out ‘What the fuck are you doing, you idiot?’ He ignored it, ‘Are you sure about this … like absolutely certain?’

  She looked back at him, nodding with a nervous smile, ‘Yes … I’m sure.’

  Christ, she was so hot. Her bottom lip was trembling a little, her eyes dark, wanting.

  Whoa, he so wanted this gorgeous, sexy woman. What the hell was he waiting for?

  He buried his mouth against hers once more. Felt her hands tugging through his hair, in those sexy little pulls. Still kissing, she starting undoing the buttons of his shirt. He felt it loosening till it was flapping open, her hands exploring his chest with butterfly-teasing fingertips.

  He pulled back from her to lift the dress she was wearing up and over her head, revealing the most magnificent breasts, cupped in black lace. He couldn’t wait until his hands were the only things cupping them.

  * * *

  Ellie

  Oh … My … God … he was undoing her bra. No one had seen her naked in ages. Her boobs always seemed too full, too heavy, were much better trussed in.

  But he had a kind of awe on his face as he gazed down at them, then up at her, his eyes intense. ‘You’re beautiful, Ellie.’

  Did he really mean that, or was he just being nice?

  He moved even closer, placing a hand tentatively around her bare left breast, then placed a kiss tenderly on her lips, which were already parted in anticipation. Tenderness turned to passion. He was a great kisser, kind of fluid, his tongue sexily probing while his lips m
oved deliciously with hers, making every nerve ending in her body tingle. As his hand moved expertly to her nipple, it was more than just her nerve endings that were tingling.

  She delighted in his touch, in his kiss. Finally, she shifted, only to pull the shirt off his back and move him across to the bed, where he lay facing up at her. His chest was gorgeous, broad, and his stomach slim but toned in just the right places, with a lightly defined six pack, a dark trail of hair leading down to the waistband of his jeans. She kneeled up on the bed beside him in just her panties, leaning over to undo his jeans button and slowly unzip the fly, brushing her hand by accident over the hard shaft that lay ready beneath, its heat so promising beneath the back of her hand. A little of bubble of fear and anticipation rose within her. Oh My God! They were really doing this thing.

  She took a slow breath and moved her hand, fingertips trembling slightly, beneath the denim of the jeans, down below the soft jersey cotton of Joe’s boxer shorts, heard his oh-so-sexy groan as she touched the hot, smooth hardness of his penis, felt it throb against her palm. She held firmly, without moving her fingertips, lingered there. Then she released her grasp, moving her hands to pull his trousers down over his hips, the boxers coming off with them.

  It had been such a long time. Such a long time. But she had a feeling this was going to be worth the wait. He pulled her down to the bed now, kissing her mouth once more. His hand was exploring the soft mound of her stomach. She hope it didn’t feel too big and squooshy. She’d never been a flat-stomach kind of girl. He moved down to kiss the skin around her belly button, both of his hands gently stroking her inner thighs. Then, oooh, one hand was under the lace of her panties. Heat and longing soared within her as his fingertips worked tantalisingly and then slid gently, probing within her. Oh, My God! She wanted this man inside her and soon.

  Hold on – she wasn’t on the pill. They’d all got chucked in the bin the day she’d found Gavin with slutty Nadine. Never bothered with them since.

  ‘Joe,’ she sat bolt upright, abruptly interrupting proceedings, ‘Joe?’

  He lifted his head, his hand stopping its glorious glide.

  ‘Do you have anything?’

  ‘Oh, Christ, yes. Yes. My jeans pocket.’

  He scrabbled across the bed to reach over to the floor to grab them. His buttocks were peachy and glorious. Then resurfaced, holding up a silver square packet like a prize and, with a big grin, placed it on the bedside table.

  ‘Okay.’ She lay back, ready to resume where they left off. He kissed her, still grinning, then moved back down to pole position. She sighed as his hand slid down once more, moving exquisitely. There was the most gorgeous man now planting delicate kisses along her panty line, his fingers working their magic just below. He slipped off her lacy knickers, his fingers dipping and gliding once more. She could feel the delicious tension building within.

  ‘Joe …’ she whispered, ‘This is so good … but just hold fire there a sec.’ If she was going to come, she wanted to feel herself around him.

  ‘Okay,’ his voice came out a little croaky. He looked up with a sexy smile and shifted back up the bed to face her. Stroked her hair with his fingers, which smelled salty of her and sex, kissed her. Then he moved himself up and over her. Reached for the condom on the bedside table, tore it open and slipped it on as she watched. He shifted back over her, resting his body down against hers for a second or two, pressing her into the bed, nose to nose, chest to chest, breath mingling with hints of red wine and cheesecake. She could feel his erection, hot and hard, against her pubic mound. She reached her hands around his muscular buttocks.

  His eyes intense on hers, she nodded, parting her legs wider. But instead of plunging into her, he moved downwards to take her nipples into his mouth, licking them, one by one. Sucking oh-so slowly … curling his tongue around them as they hardened, sending electric pulses to her core.

  ‘Please,’ was all she could utter as she reached to grasp his cock. Oh My God … ‘Joe …’ her voice was weak, her body desperate to go to a place where speech was no longer possible.

  He pulled up from her breasts and suddenly, smoothly and deeply, his shaft was tight within her. She couldn’t stop her gasp as he filled her. And then the glide and thrust, setting up a glorious rhythm between them. She was lost to him.

  ‘Ellie, oh God, Ellie.’ She heard his half-groaned words at her ear. Felt the tension tighten through him. A deeper thrust. And then, ooooh, the pulsing of pure bliss around him. Yes, yes, YES.

  His weight dropped slowly down onto her as his body relaxed, spent. His head nestled against hers, his breath slowing at her ear. And the widest smile ever spread across her face. That was just beautiful, really, overwhelmingly, bloody, beautiful.

  18

  Ellie

  Seeing him there in the teashop the next day as he popped in for a quick ‘hi’ and takeaway coffee, she couldn’t help but picture his naked body – all that long, lean muscle, and ooh, how it had felt beneath her fingertips. She happened to be chopping cucumber for the salad at the time, and suddenly all she could think of was his erection. She was sure she was flushing bright red.

  ‘You okay?’ he asked.

  ‘Yeah.’ Her voice came out high-pitched.

  ‘Looks like it’s been busy here. I’d better let you get on … for now.’

  ‘Yeah, it has been.’ As she glanced up, the quirky smile he gave her said it all, along with the lust-tinged look in his eyes. I just can’t wait to be with you again.

  ‘Catch you later.’

  Those words held such promise.

  ‘Okay.’ Her voice came out all weak and breathy. Jeez, she’d got it bad.

  Doris marched in with a tray of dirty crockery, ready to load into the dishwasher.

  ‘Morning, Doris,’ Joe’s tone was bright, breezy and sexy.

  ‘My, you seem chirpy today.’

  Hmn, wonder why? The two of them raised their eyebrows and grinned conspiratorially behind Doris’s back.

  Ellie had left Joe in her bed at six-thirty, after giving him a very gentle morning kiss. He’d slept through the night like a starfish, while she’d tossed and turned thinking about everything, and despite it being a-m-a-z-i-n-g, she still hoped they were doing the right thing. She’d got up, headed to the teashop to wash up, clear away the many candles and hide every scrap of evidence of the dinner à deux. Then she came back up to have her shower and get ready for the day ahead. As she got back to her room, Joe was just getting up, with bed-head tousled dark hair and the hint of stubble across his chin. He had his boxer shorts on and was scrabbling about for his other clothes.

  ‘Where did you get to? Missed you.’

  ‘Ah, thought I’d better get the tearooms sorted for the day and to hide all the evidence. Don’t want Doris gossiping.’

  He moved across the room, gave her a lingeringly arousing morning kiss, and she half-wondered about inviting him into the shower with her, but he was already saying he’d better get going and started pulling on his jeans. Oh well, maybe another time.

  He grinned as he paused by the door, ‘Catch you later, gorgeous.’

  As he closed the door she’d felt like cartwheeling around her room. And then she felt weirdly sad that he’d gone. Yes, he was only upstairs. She knew that. She took herself off to the shower, and the prickle of the water on her body made her feel all sexy again. She wondered if he was in his shower up above her … lucky shower … having him all naked in there.

  *

  ‘Two jacket potatoes with cheese and beans, and a cheese-and-ham croissant,’ Doris was shrilling across the room. ‘Earth to planet, Ellie.’

  ‘Oh, sorry.’ Her lovely sexy reverie was broken – God, she was going to have to get a grip. She’d had him mentally in the shower again. Seemed to like that particular daydream. ‘Okay, I’m on to it.’

  ‘And two soups, and a quiche with salad.’ Nicola popped another white paper slip along the row. ‘Thanks.’

  Right. Focus. Work. Cook
ing to do … People are waiting for their lunches. She needed to impress the customers, keep them coming back for more. And the sooner she got through the day at the teashop, the sooner she could see him again.

  Now then, did she wait for him to come to her? Play it cool? Or go knocking on his door straight after work with a big smile and a hello, and her best underwear. Or would that seem too forward – forward? She’d just had full-on and very lovely sex with the man only last night. But she didn’t want to just turn up and get into bed with him again … Well, she supposed it wouldn’t be that bad. She held back a smug grin. But her sensible head kicked in, she felt that she didn’t want this to be some casual fling or a one-night stand. She knew now that she wanted more than that. But she didn’t want to scare him off, either.

  He’d come to the kitchen to see her, hadn’t he? That was a good sign. He hadn’t done a runner. How could he do a bloody runner, stupid cow? He lives here. Ooh, this could get really awkward. It was worse than an office affair. Not only did she work for him, they had to live in the same building too. What had she got herself into?

  All this was frazzling through her head as she was going up the sixteen stone steps to her room … She could just make it twenty-four, make a decision and head straight to his? Hussy.

  Nah, she was in too much of a dither and would come across all ditsy. She’d cool off in her own room. Chill out for a while after the hectic day she’d had in the tearooms, which had been busy again, thank God.

  She turned the lock, entered her room. The sunlight streamed across the bed. She lay down on it. It smelled gorgeous, the scent of him still lingering there, his musky cool aftershave, stirring up all kind of warm, sexy memor-ies, and she closed her eyes and let herself think about him. Wow – what a night! It had been like Christmas and birthdays all at once – with a big ice cream sundae on the top, plus a couple of chocolate brownies.

  Hmn, and she did rather want to experience that all over again.

  Tap. Rap.

  She opened her eyes with a start.

  Tap. Rap. Rap. Again.