To Mend a Broken Heart

by K. A. Hobbs

  “We can do it.”

  * * *

  Over the next two months, Daniel and I plan every single detail of our wedding together. Daniel finds our photographer, telling me the person he trusts to capture one of the most important days of his life has to be competent and he has to be incredible. I feel sorry for the poor guy when we meet with him, Daniel bombards him with questions which he answers with a smile. When Daniel admits he is a photographer himself, the guy smiles and asks to see his work. I lose them both then, they spend the next hour talking photography and by the end of it, we have ourselves a photographer.

  Tonight we’ve been out for dinner. Daniel told me before we left, he still wants to spoil me, he doesn’t want the fact we are getting married or living together to mean we stop trying. So we get dressed up and head out to our favourite restaurant not far from home. After the most delicious meal, we head back to home. Now we are approaching the end of September the nights are getting cooler, we are both cold and want nothing more than to sit and snuggle together by the fire. As Daniel opens the front door and steps in the warmth makes me groan.

  “It's so cold outside!” I shiver, removing my hat and gloves.

  “But it’s warm in here,” he tells me, taking my gloves and hat, “And I’m warm, you need to come and stand closer to me.”

  I look over at him as I remove my coat. His eyes are darker, his voice is thicker. I know that look. I know that voice. We head down the hallway and into the lounge. Daniel surprises me by walking over to the sound system and putting some music on. The sound of a guitar fills the room and Daniel walks back over. Holding out his hand to me, he waits for me to place my hand in his and step forward. When I take one step closer, his free arm comes around my waist and pulls me flat against his body. He moves his face closer to mine and softly runs his nose along mine, before resting his nose in the little indentation below my ear and inhaling.

  “You smell incredible. It’s so intoxicating to me,” he inhales deeply again and presses against me, “Sometimes, when we’re together, a breeze will carry your scent over to me, or you'll walk past me and I’ll be surrounded by you.”

  His lips trace my ear, his tongue sneaking out to taste the sensitive skin just below my ear making me shudder in his arms. His breath is hot against my neck, the light stubble on his jaw causing goosebumps to bloom over every inch of my skin. I feel his lips move against my neck as he begins to speak again, all the time moving us slowly to the song.

  “My whole body stiffens, Katie. Every inch of me reacts to you, reacts to your scent, your warmth, to you, and for ages afterwards I ache and my whole body is on high alert. Even when I’ve calmed down, all it takes is a look, a smile, another breeze to carry you back to me and it starts again. It’s the most delicious kind of torture.” he whispers the last few words causing a shiver to run up my spine.

  “What are you doing?” I groan, throwing my head back a little, exposing my throat to his lips a little more. He gets the idea, leaning down, he brushes his lips over the sensitive skin on my neck and collarbone. My breasts swell in arousal and need, wetness pools between my legs and I feel suddenly too hot, too constricted in the dress I’m wearing.

  “I’m telling you, I worship you. I’m telling you, you’re a Goddess. I’m telling you,” his lips trail lower and over the swell of my breasts, “that you have no idea what you do to me. That to be near you, to be loved by you, is my greatest pleasure. When I’m with you, nothing else matters and when we’re apart, the only thing I care about is when I’ll have you in my arms again.” He walks us both back until my bottom hits the dining table. I realise the song has started up again and I pull back, looking into Daniel’s eyes.

  “It's on repeat?”

  “It is.” He nods.

  “Why this song?”

  “I've always thought,” he murmurs against my neck, “That the beat of this song was perfect for making love to.”

  “You do, do you?” I turn my head a little to the side, granting him better access.

  “Listen. Feel.”

  “I am.” I groan as he trails his lips to the top of my dress where my cleavage is just visible.

  “I always wanted to test out the sturdiness of this table too.” His hands push my legs further apart as he steps in between them.

  The alcohol in Daniel’s system is loosening his tongue, making him lose his inhibitions, enabling me to see a different side to my sensitive, thoughtful man. His big hands skim over my breasts, down to the hem of my dress before disappearing underneath. I know what he is searching for. It takes him two seconds to find them. His hands grip the bare skin above the lace top stocking then up to the thin strap holding them up.

  “You drive me insane, Katie.”

  “Do you know what you do to me?” I ask him, gripping his face in my hands.

  “Tell me.” he pins me with his blue eyes and the words come tumbling out.

  “My whole body heats when you’re near me. Right now? I feel like I could go up in flames.” he pulls me to him and reaches behind me to unzip my dress.

  “Your touch, it makes me feel things I’ve never felt before. It takes me to places, I didn’t even know existed, over and over again. But it’s more than sex, it’s more than making love, it’s a connection so deep, it runs through my veins, I feel it in my bones.”

  Something that sounds like a growl escapes his lips, I feel it rumble deep in his chest, sending vibrations through me. He pushes my dress off my shoulders, leaving me standing in just my underwear and heels. I’m lifted and placed on top of the table while he steps back. He bends down and removes his shoes and socks, dropping them to the floor without a second glance. I watch as he unbuttons his shirt and drops it to the floor then steps forward and gathers me to him. I press kisses along his chest and down his flat stomach which tenses under my lips.

  “I need you,” I tell him, sitting back up and resting my hands on his strong shoulders.

  “And I need you.”

  He drops his head, kissing one nipple through the lace of my bra before paying the other the same attention. When I’m panting, unable to see clearly and about to explode, I pull him closer, my fingernails clawing at his bare back. His beautiful, muscled back.

  “Daniel… Please.”

  “What, Katie?” he grins against my lips.

  “Make love to me.”

  He looks down at me, then his hands go to his belt. I watch, utterly transfixed by this gorgeous man standing before me, dressed in just his trousers, so perfect and so completely mine. He removes his belt but not his trousers, he simply unzips them then reaches inside and releases himself. He springs free, hard and ready for me. I reach forward, grasping him in my hand, desperate to feel him. Desperate for him to feel me.

  He pushes me back slightly, then lines the very tip of himself at my core. He pauses, seeming to need a moment. Where he might need it, I just need him. I pull him closer, sliding him inside me. I groan. He groans. Then he begins to move. I’m surrounded by him, overpowered by him, but I’ve never felt safer. His is leaning completely over me, so strong and tall. His eyes are pinning me to the table, while his hands are holding mine captive. He is moving inside me, stroking a fire that I’m not sure I will survive.

  “Daniel..” I pant.

  “Katie,” he pants back, “Keep a hold of me, hold me so tight, I can’t think of anything but you, and for Gods sake, don’t let go of me. Ever.”

  I don’t speak, I do as he asks, I pull him closer, I wrap my arms and legs around him, crossing my ankles over his bottom and hooking him to me. One of his hands come to rest on my hip while the other travels up my spine and holds the back of my neck firmly, not too tight, just enough to know he is there, just enough to know the message he is trying to get across, I am his. and he is mine. My head falls back at the same time my eyes close.

  “Look at me, beautiful,” he whispers, “Let me see those eyes.”

  I open my eyes, giving him what he wants. The look he g
ives me, his hands on my skin, feeling him move inside me is enough to tip me over, my climax takes on a depth I’ve never experienced before. I cling to Daniel, desperately needing him to hold me. He follows me soon after, clinging to me just as much.

  “You see?” he whispers into my neck, “Nothing else matters.”

  “Nothing but this. Us. You. Me.” I whisper back.

  “Nothing.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  I’m not sure where the time goes, but we are six weeks away from our wedding date. Life with Daniel is incredible. We really are perfect together. We spend hours laying in bed together reading or in our reading room. Daniel makes us delicious coffee for breakfast on Saturday morning and I make us bacon sandwiches which we either eat in the kitchen or take back up to bed and eat them naked and snuggled together.

  I found my dream wedding dress and I’m due to have my final fitting in two weeks. Ginny’s ever expanding tummy is causing the seamstress concern. In order to make sure Ginny will have a dress to wear if she gives birth before the wedding or after, I’ve bought two dresses. It looks like Little Miss will be staying put till after the wedding but you never know, and yes, it is a Little Miss, Ginny and Ryan did find out what they were having and Aidan is going to be getting a little sister. It’s perfect. Today, it is a cold but sunny November day. After being stuck inside all week, Daniel and I have decided to take a trip into town and visit The Tower of London. As we walk down the cobbled path following the guard who is giving us a tour, I take Daniel’s hand and squeeze it, he looks down at me and smiles.

  “Are you listening?” he whispers.

  “Of course.” I whisper back.

  “Because, I’ll quiz you at the end.”

  “Maybe I’ll quiz you too!”

  At the end of the tour, we go into the chapel. It is so beautiful and so full of history I could stay in there for hours. When we leave, Daniel suggests we make our way over to the White Tower. Climbing the stairs we come face to face with the armour. I can’t help but giggle like a schoolgirl.

  “How big?” I whisper to Daniel, pointing to Henry VIII’s codpiece.

  “He was a… big man, clearly.”

  “Or that’s exactly what he wanted everyone to think!”

  “Stoke his ego, so to speak.”

  “Exactly.” I laugh.

  “I’m loving this.”

  “Looking at Henry’s codpiece?”

  “No,” he rolls his eyes, “This, being with you, our day out.”

  “I know, me too. Wedding stuff has got a little crazy lately.”

  “It has, but it will all be worth it.”

  “It will. Ryan asked about a stag night.”

  “Did he now?” I smile, making my way over to the coins.

  “Yes. Were there plans for it?”

  “I don’t know, were there? You’re the stag.”

  “Are you having a hen night?”

  “I don’t think so. I will probably have Ginny over the same night you have yours and we will do face packs.”

  “The bump is not good for nights out.”

  “No and in all honesty, I’m not bothered. The only thing I want to celebrate is the fact I’m marrying you.”

  “I think Ryan would like to do something, if you’re okay with that? It will probably be terribly boring seeing as we’re old men, well, I am at least,” he frowns, running his hand over his mouth, “But, it would be nice to do something with Ryan.”

  “Okay, firstly,” I step into him, “You’re not old, and secondly, of course I don’t mind. I’d really like you to have an evening, a day, whatever you’d like, out with Ryan.”

  “I’ll chat to him about it later.” he smiles, leaning down to give me a kiss.

  “Good. Now, my stomach is making noises and my bloodstream is running dangerously low on coffee, shall we have some lunch?”

  “Whatever you’d like.”

  “I like you,” I grin, leaning up on my tiptoes to kiss him again, “And coffee.”

  “Together?” he raises an eyebrow.

  “Always.”

  “Come on you, let’s get a coffee and something to eat, the lack of caffeine is making you all touchy feely.”

  “Are you actually complaining?”

  “No, never. Just seems a waste seeing as I can’t actually enjoy it fully right now.”

  “I’ll save it for when we get home then.”

  “And I’ll look forward to it.”

  After lunch we finish walking around the tower and see everything there is left to see. Today has been one of the best and something I’ll remember for a long time. Being able to be carefree and just enjoy being together is a joy I still relish being able to feel. The guilt I was once flooded with has long since passed. I know Richard is happy for me and since sending out all our wedding invites, I know my friends are too. No one has been anything but lovely about my new relationship with Daniel and why would they be? Who didn’t want someone to be happy?

  On the train ride home, Daniel sets his head back on his seat and closes his eyes, it has been a full on day and we are both a little tired. I’m hoping, when we get back there will be a bubble bath and Daniel will light the fire. I know there is a bottle of red and a box of After Eights to be eaten and I really hope my gorgeous man will share them with me, curled up by the fire. I take a sneaky moment just to look at him, he has a small smile on his lips and even with his eyes closed, it feels like his eyes are on me.

  “Are you staring?” he opens one eye and looks at me.

  “I might be.”

  “And why might you be staring?”

  “Because you’re a God like specimen who makes me feel all sorts of inappropriate things while we’re in public?” I grin at him.

  “What kind of inappropriate things?” he asks, his voice a little husky.

  “Now, now, Mr Lambert, that would be telling wouldn’t it?”

  “Now, now, Mrs Lambert, you can't tease me like that.”

  “I’m not Mrs Lambert yet!”

  “Oh, but you will be…”

  “Yes I will…” I lean closer and press my lips just under his jaw.

  Daniel has the most incredible bone structure, his jaw is strong, his nose is strong, he is strong and one of my favourite places to kiss him is right here. He always smells amazing here and my nose and lips just seem to fit, like they are made for that exact spot. I snuggle into his skin and inhale. A small groan of pleasure escapes his lips and I suddenly feel like I need to be with him, I need us to be joined together and I need it now. Looking up to see what station we’re at, I frown. Still six more stops to go until ours, then we have the drive home.

  “We’ll be home soon.” he tells me, almost like he is reading my mind.

  “I know.” I groan, pressing another kiss to his neck.

  “Fire? Wine? Pillows?” he pulls my face so I’m looking at him.

  “Yes, yes, yes.” I grin.

  “Then behave. We’ll be home in half an hour.” he presses a soft kiss to my nose and then wraps his arm around me.

  If he wants me to behave, he really shouldn’t be pressing his body right up against me, surrounding me in his scent and warmth. I will behave, I’m a grown woman. I can last half an hour without pawing all over my man.

  * * *

  Work functions. You either love them or you hate them. I actually love them, I work with a great team of people who I get on really well with. Tonight is one of the many functions we throw each year for our suppliers. Through the years I’ve attended lots of these so I know how it will go. We’ll all have nice things to drink and eat and we’ll chat with all our suppliers to make sure they are happy. There will be dancing and fun had by all. Tonight though, I have Daniel by my side. It’s the first time most of my colleagues will meet him, I’m excited and nervous, they met Richard too and I am always worried comparisons will be made.

  Feeling a little nervous, I know the one thing that will make me feel better is the 6’2, dark bl
onde beautiful man upstairs, just being near to him calms me and makes me feel better. I head up to Daniel’s bedroom, no, make that our bedroom and find him fresh from the shower. He is deliciously naked and dressed in just a towel. Perfect. I step up behind him and wrap my arms around his body, resting my cheek on his naked back. I take a deep breath in and inhale him, he always smells delicious, but even more so after a shower.

  “Did you just want to sniff me?” he laughs.

  “No.” I grin, darting my tongue out to taste a droplet of water that is lucky enough to be sliding down his back.