Keeping the vibrator going with my right hand, I used my left to slip two fingers inside. She was wetter still, and her pussy tightened around my fingers like a warm welcome handshake as she neared orgasm. We did this push-and-pull thing where I was sure she’d force my fingers out, only to draw them back in as she got closer to climax number two. It took a while to get her to the brink again, and this delighted me to no end.
“Don’t come yet,” I said. “This is just too good.”
“Don’t worry,” she sucked in her breath. “I won’t. Now, shush.”
“Your clit is huge now, and you’re so tight inside; I think it’s going to be soon.”
“Stop talking.”
“What did I say?” I teased.
“Oh God, I’m nearly, oh yeah, I’m…there!”
She came with such force that I moved the vibrator away and just used my fingers to draw out the last spurts, hoping she could have a second and third release. The second climax was tiny, barely a shudder, but by the third, she held her breath, stilled her hips, and left the rest up to me. With everything I had, empowered by her willingness to let me lead, I read her clit as if it came with instructions. Increasing and decreasing in size, staying hard for longer periods until her clit was so full, I feared it’d burst. I must have done something right, because when her third orgasm began, she was barely breathing, hardly moving. With all our concentration on the most wondrous gift of all, she rode out the climax for longer than I thought humanly possible until her whole body shuddered and collapsed in on itself. Afterward, she lay on her back just staring at the ceiling for the longest time.
“Crikey. You are brilliant at using that thing. Must be from tons of practice.”
“Ha-ha, hardly.”
“Surely you make yourself come.”
“I don’t usually share those details with someone I just met.”
“After the shag we just had, I’d say we’re like an old married couple.”
“Is that what you say to all the girls?”
“Pardon? I don’t know which girls you mean.” Her pouty lips slanted upwards despite her best efforts to look offended.
“I beg to differ. You’re the biggest flirt in England, and possibly Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland too.” But I spoke with a deliberately playful lilt.
“That’s not fair, Jan, and you know it.” She tried harder to act all hurt, which resulted in a seriously lopsided smile so funny looking I promptly fell victim to a fit of giggles.
“Well, if the hiking boot fits,” I managed to say as I caught my breath.
“Oh?” She let the word drag out suggestively. “What about your handy supply of condoms? Wishful thinking or pre-planning?”
“I’ll have you know that condoms are wonderful for penetrating some entrances I’d rather not mention.”
She sat upright, the eager expression in her eyes too delicious to ignore.
“What’s with the mischievous glint you’re sporting there?” I asked with more than a twinkle of my own.
“Oh, just imagining you indulging in anal pleasures suggests you’re cooler than I thought.”
“Didn’t you think I was cool before?” I teased.
“Yes, but this new development sheds new light on your adventurous side, although it’s true that you’re afraid of nightjarring in the dark.”
“I’m not afraid, just sensibly cautious.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Oh, go on, then. Make fun, but remember retribution is a bitch.”
“Touché.”
She lay back down, and I snuggled up in the crook of her arm. We must have fallen asleep in that position, because at the first sign of daylight, my body ached, and we were stuck together in post-coital glue. Still, I stared at the wonder of her and counted myself lucky indeed. It was a shame to have to wake her, but I caressed her cheek, all warm and red with sleep, and placed a loving kiss on her lips. Rumblings deep within me already began calling out for more nocturnal delights, but we had sessions to attend, people to meet, and an agenda to get through.
I attempted a third time to rouse her. “Five more minutes, please.” She rolled over onto her back, and before I knew what happened, I was enveloped in her strong arms. I marveled at how muscular her upper body was for an academic and wanted to ask her what kind of workout she did, because she was ripped. “Good morning, you.”
“Good morning to you too. I’d say you’re most definitely awake now. A good sign.”
“Let’s stay in bed all day.”
“I’d love to, believe me, but you know as well as I, we will be missed.”
“Shame that.” She kissed the top of my head. “You were great last night.”
“You’re a dynamo! I’ve never known anyone to come that fiercely before.” My hand flew up to cover my mouth. “I can’t believe I just said that!”
She laughed. Before she had a chance to make a witty remark, although well deserved, I placed my hand over her mouth instead of mine. She tickled my fingers with her tongue, but I didn’t yield. So she flipped me onto my stomach and held me captive. “Let me go,” I said, doing my best damsel-in-distress routine.
“You’re funny.” She bent down and nibbled my ears, which tickled and sent shivers the length of my body.
“I could really get used to this,” I said more seriously, “but it’s really getting late.” I tried to get up, but she held me in place with an enticingly firm grip. “I see you’re not going to make this easy.”
She groaned. I guessed she was not a morning person.
“One of us needs to go first. Do you want to do the honors?” I asked.
When she didn’t budge, I extracted myself from within her grasp and went to wash up.
She joined me in the steamy bathroom wearing last night’s outfit, minus the blazer. She had that slung over her shoulder. She was just too cool for school.
“Where are you going?” I asked.
“Back to my room to get properly dressed. Meet you at breakfast?”
“Yes, breakfast.” I moved the shower curtain aside.
“Jan?”
“Robin?”
“Thank you for last night,” she said.
“My pleasure. See you in a few.”
Robin hung back long enough to take one last look at me before she left. In that moment, her intent gaze told me all I needed to know. She was as reluctant to leave as I was to let her go. I had a warm and fuzzy feeling inside. I didn’t want it to end.
I sang every happy song I knew as I got ready. The day’s lectures promised to be really interesting too.
CHAPTER 12
My heightened senses, along with a serious lack of appetite for anything except Robin’s body, attention and affection, had me reliving last night’s exploits in an endless loop. How could I fall this quickly for a woman I hardly knew, and why did she have to live so far away? If it’s true that ninety percent of the things we worry about never happen and the other ten percent we can’t change anyway, then why oh why did I constantly worry? This was the question I asked myself whenever I let anxiety get the best of me. As per typical Janalyn-style, when things seemed too good to be true, something dreadful would surely follow. Here I was getting dressed while in the afterglow of the best sex of my life, and I truly feared my contentment wouldn’t last. I couldn’t keep blaming Faith for this because, what good did it do?
Still, if I was going to make a life with Robin, even if I was getting way ahead of myself here, then I couldn’t imagine leaving everything I’d ever known for the uncertainty of a future in another country, nor could I expect the same of her. Realistically, I knew it wasn’t as if I didn’t speak the language or the culture was totally foreign, but what of my family, my friends, my work, and all the rest of what makes New York my ho
me?
This was crazy. I had to stop thinking so far ahead, but my nature made it hard not to at least entertain the what-ifs. She was not like any other woman I had ever met. Thoughts of never seeing her again consumed me, and I dreamed up every scenario whereupon I could stay. But idealizing my feelings prematurely had gotten me in trouble before. I needed to step back, take it a day at a time, and not jump to conclusions that Robin had the same feelings as I did. I needed to know without a shadow of a doubt that we were on the same page before I gave her my everything. No more, blind faith, pardon the pun. If Robin was my second chance at love, then I was going to seize the moment, but this time, with my eyes wide open. Stop assuming. Stop second-guessing, I told myself. Be open and above all be honest. Ask her what she needs and tell her my needs.
I opened the window and took a refreshing breath of sea air. Between the influence of Torquay, with its breathtaking views, and my positive outlook on life, I knew in my heart everything was going to be okay. I didn’t want more than I deserved, but I didn’t want to settle either. I left the room to head downstairs for breakfast, reliving our first night together with a smile.
We had made love. What we shared did not feel like a one-night stand at all. I walked off to find her, knowing I couldn’t kiss her publicly, but I could tell her with my eyes and body language exactly what was on my mind until we could be alone again.
After our mind-blowing sex, nothing distracted us that entire day—not the conference, the other attendees, nothing. Robin had eyes for only me and me for her. All the women she had looked at before last night might as well have gone home, for all the attention Robin paid them. I secretly rejoiced when Robin blew Lena off.
The meeting rooms were brighter than before, and it wasn’t because they changed the wattage of the bulbs. I had the infatuation energy most people would bottle if they could. I breezed through my panel discussion— my input was sound, if not a bit over-the-top optimistic. Debs couldn’t stop laughing at me in that teasing way, because she knew what had happened last night. Despite all the excitement of putting plans in place I really believed in, I was getting antsy to be alone with Robin. I needed her touch, I longed for the brush of her lips, the tip of her tongue. I longed for her to consume all of me.
I checked the clock a dozen times. The minutes passed too slowly. By four-thirty, I grew excited and fidgety. Deep in thought, I jumped when I felt her breath on my neck. Then I smiled. I was dying to kiss her. Dying, I tell you!
“Let’s skip out early and I’ll take you to a pub not far from here where we can be alone,” Robin said in my ear.
My relief made me want to follow her wherever she might go. “Really?”
“Sure. You ready?”
I didn’t have to think about it at all. “Yes.” The last two discussions were okay to miss, but even if they weren’t, I was so gaga by then, I couldn’t care less.
“How about we meet in the lobby in an hour?” she asked.
“Perfect.” A surge of excitement grew within me.
“Wear something sexy.”
“I will.”
It was torture to part ways, but the fact that I needed time to see if Debs had her little black dress with her helped.
She instantly did a happy dance around our room when I got there and told her the news. “Someone got laid! Someone got laid!” I laughed along as I grasped her shoulders, telling her to quit teasing or else.
“Please, Debs, I need something sexy to wear tonight. Please tell me you have something I can borrow.”
“As a matter of fact, I do indeed.” She threw me the skimpiest crimson dress I never thought I’d be caught dead in, let alone fit into.
“Don’t worry, it stretches.” She pulled at the fabric to demonstrate.
“Thank God, because I doubt it’ll fit a Barbie Doll.”
“Oh, it will fit, and I guarantee Robin will go nuts over your ass in this number.”
“You’re a lifesaver. Thank you.” I hugged Debs, and then let her help me into the dress. I didn’t usually wear red, and I certainly didn’t own anything as short and tight as the ‘glove’ she was lending me, but when we stepped over to the full length mirror, I nearly cried. Debs was a miracle worker. She even put my hair up—brushing and fastening it with hairpins and spray until we were both satisfied that I looked great.
“Just a touch of makeup, and you’re good to go.”
I glanced once more at my reflection and appreciated Debs’s handiwork. “Thank you.” We air kissed.
“Go get ‘em cowgirl,” she said. “You look hot, hot, hot. Oh and wear these shoes; I’ll wear yours. Tonight’s your night.”
“I love you, Debs.”
“Oh, honey, I love you too. It pleases me to no end to see you happy. She seems so good for you. Is she?”
“Yes. I don’t want to jinx it, but last night…well, let’s just say, I wouldn’t change a thing. I just worry.”
“That’s nothing new.”
“I know, but if she’s like Faith, too good to be true, it will kill me.”
“If she’s like Faith, I’ll kill her myself.”
“I know I have trust issues, and I want to trust Robin, but she lives in bloody England. How can I hope to make this work?”
Debs patted my shoulder. “One step at a time. First step is to let what’s meant to be be. I know that sounds simple, but if she’s worth it, and if she thinks you are too, then you will work it out, I promise.”
“I was so blind with Faith. The signs were there, but I chose to ignore them.” I straightened my body up so I was standing tall. “This time, I’m stronger, smarter and more demanding.”
“Yes, you go, girl! You are going to do this right this time. Now, go meet your girl and have a fantastic evening.” She hugged me then, and I felt her strength and conviction flow through me.
“You enjoy your night with Kirk too.”
“Thank you. We’ll talk tomorrow. Love ya,” she said and was gone.
I got down to the lobby at exactly 5:29 p.m.
By 5:35, I thought of excuses for her.
By 5:55, I was livid.
Where the hell was she? I had the reception clerk ring her room—no answer. I didn’t even have her cell phone number. What an idiot I was! All those glowing things about Robin I had just told Debs! I felt like such a fool.
Tears sprang to my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.
I asked a few of the attendees milling about the lobby who might know her if they had seen her, but nobody, not even Lena had seen hide or hair of Robin. That’s when I began to worry and conjure up every worst case scenario imaginable. I barged up to the reception desk, almost twisting my ankle from teetering on Debs’s awful high heels.
“Excuse me, ma’am. Which room is Dr. Robin Wright in?”
“We’re not privileged to give out guest information. We strictly adhere to a privacy policy for all our guests without exceptions.” The clerk wore heavy foundation that reminded me of my grandma’s pancake makeup and fire-engine red lipstick unbecoming a much older woman trying to pass herself off as half her age. Obviously nobody sent her the memo that beehive hairdos were no longer in style.
“You just rang her room. You have proof that we are attending the same conference, otherwise she wouldn’t be staying in the block of rooms allocated for our group,” I said in desperation. “Can’t you please, please, please just tell me the room number? She was supposed to meet me here at five-thirty, and there’s been no sign of her. What if she’s lying up there unconscious? Or worse?”
She shook her head. No help at all. I tapped my foot impatiently. I wanted to throttle this miserable woman and shout that it’s no use trying to be all professional with me when you’re clearly convinced I’m up to no good. Like what did she think I was going to do to Robi
n once I got to her room, hit her with a high heel?
“Surely if this were an emergency, there would be some way to get in touch with her.”
“I’m sorry, Miss. We can’t help you.”
“Well, please try her room again.”
I drummed my fingers on the desk while the clerk shot me dirty looks. Still no answer.
“What about her cell phone number?” I asked.
“We don’t give out mobile numbers either.” The clerk looked past me. “Next.”
Without her cell phone or room number, there was nothing I could do but wait, worry, and wonder. Exasperation set in, then anger. What if she stood me up again? Why would she invite me, tell me to dress sexy, and then not show? Was she the type of woman that just got off toying with other people’s emotions? That was probably the more likely scenario. Last night had been awesome, perfect even. She compared us to an ‘old married couple’—her words. What was that all about? New tears of frustration surfaced. Fuck it, I let them flow.
I was not going to stand around much longer and look like the loser I obviously was. If something bad had happened, then we’d have heard sirens or seen other indications of foul play. No, Robin had used me, plain and simple. Intimacy my ass! It was disconcerting to know that my first impression was more accurate than how I felt in her arms. Her strong arms. Those capable hands. Making me come like there was no tomorrow.
I had to stop tormenting myself. I stormed back over to the front desk, tapping my foot impatiently, when all I really wanted to do was kick something. While I awaited my turn, an idea struck me: I wanted to see the nightjars again before I left. It was a good thing I had filled out all the necessary car rental forms, now that I’d made the biggest pest out of myself with the hotel staff. I needed to get out of here, forget all about that two-timing, unreliable Robin, and spend a quiet evening with friendly birds that made no pretenses, had no agendas, and didn’t make empty promises.
Across the Pond Page 16