by Fox Brison
“But…but…”
“No buts, Natalie. No more heavy lifting, sweetie, of me or delivery boxes. I enjoy seeing you in those silky shorts, and I want you back in them as soon as possible.” I saw relief in her eyes. “So is this why you’re here on the island?” I touched her knee, gently.
“Yes. I’m licking my wounds.”
I raised my eyebrows at her harsh tone. “Licking your wounds? More like putting on a cape and rushing about superhero style.” We sat in silence for a few minutes, which I appreciated immensely. I enjoyed the quiet and I liked that she didn’t feel the need to fill it with inane chatter. Stacy did. I had learned to switch her voice off; I quickly discovered the odd nod or uhm at regular intervals kept her happy enough.
“My family coddle me,” Natalie’s voice broke into my thoughts.
“And that’s bad because?”
“Because I’m angry. My career might be over and they coddle me like a baby, all wrapped up tightly in swaddling clothes.”
“OMG how awful. Honestly, how have you been coping?” I teased and then said seriously, “They love you and they’re probably finding this as hard to deal with as you are. Sometimes words are difficult to find, so we replace them with actions to show how we feel.”
“So what you’re saying is stop being an ungrateful bitch because your family loves you?”
“No, not in so many words... actually yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying!” I chuckled at the expression of abject dismay on her face. “Natalie, your Mam and Dad want what’s best for you. They always have. Give them a break and let them smother you with affection for a few weeks. If it gets too much, you can always hang out here and coddle me. But give yourself and your family a break. You’ll get through this and come back stronger than ever.”
“Thanks, Skye,” she leant her head on my shoulder.
Her hair, so thick and soft, felt like a pillow as I rested my head on it. It also smelled heavenly. I wonder which shampoo she uses? Oh yes, I could get used to that. I leant over and kissed her cheek and she blushed. “Newcastle sounds like fun.” I reverted back to the original discussion.
“Yeah, prodded and poked for an hour is the highlight of my week.”
“How about I take you to dinner after? We could stay in the city for the night?” I saw the gleam return to her eyes. “Just dinner, Nat,” I said softly.
“So, let me get this straight, we’re not friends with benefits, we’re girlfriends without benefits? I’ve heard of lesbian bed death but this is ridiculous, Skye.”
I still couldn’t believe this wonderful woman wanted to be with me in any other way but as a casual acquaintance. “Who said there wouldn’t be benefits?”
“Please don’t tease me,” she growled.
“Oh, honey, believe you me, I’m so not teasing,” I placed my head in her lap and she began to stroke my hair. “Is this not a benefit of us dating? Snuggling on the sofa, drinking decent wine, talking together.”
“I guess you’re right, there are certain benefits.” She bent down and kissed my forehead then laughed. “Just remind me to pick up a new pack of batteries in Newcastle tomorrow.”
Chapter 16
Natalie
“Okay so date night number two,” I began without preamble to Sara. “Skye and I are going out in Newcastle after rehab. She thought I was a drunk! That’s right. She thought I had a problem with alcohol!” I pulled out a chair at the kitchen table and poured a glass of orange juice. I was uber excited and running through what I would wear to impress. “I might take those black slacks, you know, the ones you bought me in London. Or maybe I should just go with jeans, casual like.”
Sara took a sip of her morning coffee. “Problem with alcohol, well, apart from rarely drinking it like any normal person you mean?” Her two kids were running around the house practically naked, screaming that the Vikings were coming. They must have eaten a pound of sugar that morning. Wow. They were like on helium or something. She was ignoring them and focussing entirely on me. It was disconcerting, she possessed this teacher’s voice and expression that made you feel like you were five years old and that you’d just failed the most important spelling test of your life.
“Exactly. I assumed you’d already told her about the injury.” I buttered cold toast and waited a few beats.
“You said not to,” she retorted sharply.
“Aye, but when has that ever stopped you?”
“Oh I don’t know, maybe when my little sister begs me not to say anything to the love of her life because she wants to hide the fact she’s fallible! Fer fucks sake, Nat, do you two talk about anything serious? Lord give me strength, you two are a car crash waiting to happen.”
Okay, so my sister was being just a tad condescending this morning. “Actually, yes, we do. More than you think.” And more than I wanted, if I were being totally honest. The few kisses we’d shared were rocket fuelled, and I thought her mouth was better suited to that than talking about anything important or otherwise.
“So can my studly little sister keep it in her pants when temptation is thrown at her? Jack stop hitting your sister with that cushion!” Wow. Eyes in the back of her head! “Do you think you can resist the one night stands and occasional shags? You’ve tried in the past and failed miserably,” she continued, sententiously, “what makes you think this time will be any different?”
“If I didn’t know your sarcasm was born of love… Sara, Skye is the corner piece in my jigsaw. She’s the part of me I’ve been missing my whole life,” I waxed a bit lyrically and blushed. I sounded like a loved up blithering idiot. Hell, I was a loved up blithering idiot and proud of it! “Does that sound crazy?”
“Yes.”
“Fuck you, Sara. Look, I know I’ve been focussed on my game and to be fair, I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t. But I’ve reached a point in my life where I’m ready to take the next step with someone. I’ve already told Harriet Davis I won’t be seeing her any more-”
“When has that ever stopped you in the past,” Sara interrupted but I didn’t let her side track me.
“I was never really ready to call it quits with her before, but now the time is right. I think I always knew Skye would be for me. Stupid, huh?”
“Not stupid, goofy.” Sara looked thoughtful. My sister and I had always had an honest and open relationship, particularly when it came to my love-life, but recently we’d both been holding back, neither of us willing to say something the other might regret. “Have you told Skye all this?”
“You want me to tell Skye how much my soul sings when she’s near me?” Sara put her finger down her throat and made gagging noises and I laughed. “And you say I don’t know enough about her! She’d run a million miles if I told her that golden nugget.” God my big sister wound me up, she really did. “You warned me her emotions were tied up tight, but I think I’m slowly getting through to her. This is the next step. I need your support, Sara.”
“It’s all hunky dory making these sacrifices when you’re career is up in the air, but what if you make a full recovery and the offer still stands? What then? Are you sure you’re not… I don’t know, using Skye as a human crutch?”
“No, honestly, it’s more than that. I promise I’ll cross that bridge if and when I come to it.”
“Just so long as you don’t burn that bridge for me and Skye once you cross it.”
Chapter 17
.
Skye
I waited, nervously, whilst Natalie checked us into the extremely plush hotel in Newcastle city centre where we’d stay, rather than running the tidal gauntlet back to the island.
Although… my mind drifted, pleasurably, at the thought of what might have transpired if we’d found ourselves stranded overnight in one of the huts.
Mmm.
I looked down at my watch and then at Natalie. It shouldn’t be taking quite so long to check in and Natalie was clearly uncomfortable; she kept glancing over her shoulder towards me before continuin
g her conversation with the concierge in a hurried, and harried, voice. Growing curious, I went over to the reception desk. “What’s up?” I placed my hand on the small of her back and leaned over to see what she was glaring at.
“They’re saying I only booked one room. I’m sure I booked two. I did it online. I know I was rushing, but I’m sure I booked the two.” Her hair was all over the place, she’d pulled on it so much. She was kinda cute, all rambling and nervous.
“So we only have one room?” I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. “Are there? No of course not. Hence the hair standing on end look you have going on.” I teased. Humour. It was my fall back to any awkward situation.
“It works? I thought it was a little mullety,” Natalie went with the joke, but she was still fidgeting. I took her hands and held them by her side.
“Never mullety, I promise you that. It’s,” I leant into her ear and whispered, “incredibly hot if you must know.” I kissed her cheek and turned to the waiting receptionist. “Can we check in?” He nodded and I smiled. “Good. Natalie, I’m going to wait over there whilst you sort us.” I pointed to the club chairs surrounded by leafy plants.
A few seconds later I felt her shadow looming over me and took the hand that was resting on my shoulder. “You have the key?” It came out huskily. I didn’t mean it to, it just did.
“Skye, I can find another room, there are plenty of other hotels around here, or we could just go home after dinner.”
“I’m sure you can keep your hands off of this,” I waved my hand up and down my body, “for one night?”
“I’m not so sure I can,” Natalie fired back. I was flattered.
Seriously flattered.
***
The room was opulent and the bed could have fitted a family of eight with enough space for their cats and dogs. If I slept on one edge and Natalie on the other, we’d probably be further apart than if we were in separate rooms at one of the Travelodges I was more accustomed to. Besides, if it became an issue I’m sure the good old fashioned pillow down the middle would suffice.
Natalie was making calls to her agent and team manager; it sounded like she was heading to London after this latest round of tests. I sat on the edge of the bed, anxious. I caught her eye a couple of times and she smiled, but then returned to her phone call talking a mile a minute in her soft Geordie accent.
“I’m going to be tied up for an hour or so at rehab then I have to take another conference call with my agent. But after that I’m all yours,” Nat said as she sat next to me.
“Is everything okay?”
“Yeah everything’s fine. It’s about next season and sponsorship, that sort of thing.” I felt she was being purposefully vague, but hey, she probably didn’t want to bore me, not that I would have been, I was super excited to be dating a sports star. I was a wag! Woo hoo!
“Well whilst you’re out I might partake of the excellent spa facilities and wondrously decadent dining room,” I read from the promotional material.
“Mhmm.” Natalie eased me back on the bed and began to nip and kiss my neck.
“Then of course there’s the world class swim…oh my,” her fingertips drifted down my arm and found the sensitive side of my breast.
I gulped.
“Go on,” she whispered.
“The sophisticated bar… mmm…” her hand was now cupping my breast and squeezing, her thumbs rubbing my nipples.
“Yes,” her mouth trailed down my neck, to the top of my v necked t-shirt where a little of my ample cleavage was on show, “the sophisticated bar?”
“The… god, oh yes, right there, yes, the sophisticated wine bar…” I stopped talking when her hand pulled my shirt out of my jeans and…
Shit.
There was a rapid knocking at the door. Natalie rolled off me and banged her head on the bed. “Please, Lord, will you ever give me a break, just one little break. What have I ever done to you?”
I giggled at her frustrations. “Go answer the door,” I jumped up and headed to the bathroom to freshen up, “and then we can reconvene our meeting of the Hilton Appreciation Society.”
“I’d rather reconvene the Appreciation of Skye Meeting,” she called as I closed the bathroom door with a chuckle. I could hear her voice, just, the door was very thick and when it went quiet I wrapped the soft white bathrobe around my naked body and went out into the bedroom. Natalie was reading a piece of paper, a note from the front desk I assumed, and she was frowning. She looked up and waved it at me. “Message from my physio. Looks like they received notification from my doc about upping the ante and she wanted to warn me.”
“So more pain?”
“Yes, but definitely more gain. I’d better head out, I’ll be back as quick as I can.”
“I’ll be here waiting.” I kissed her cheek and watched her leaving, both of us wearing matching smiles.
***
When she returned in high spirits, we went to the spa for a couples massage followed by a lounge in the hot tub. I enjoyed it, I really did, but I still think I preferred our simple lunches at the cottage followed by a make out session on the sofa. However, the most surprising and nicest aspect about the whole thing was how relaxed we were together. It was as if we’d been together for a lifetime.
Dinner was superb.
I saw a whole new side to Natalie. She scrubbed up well, seriously well. Her black pant suit was tailored to fit her perfectly. She wasn’t wearing a shirt under the jacket, the hint of high firm breasts was the biggest clue.
The second was when she came out of the bathroom with it undone and I saw her lacy scarlet bra.
I wore a little black dress. I owned one for faculty events and when I had to do meet and greets with alumni. Natalie was impressed. “Close it stud,” I said and she snapped her jaw shut, tight.
“Maybe we should have room service deliver,” Natalie’s eyes glinted.
“Or maybe you should take me out so I can show the world you’re mine,” I took her arm and we walked to the door.
We went to a small restaurant a short cab ride from the hotel. It was intimate and expensive. I knew male soccer players made a fortune, but their female counterparts, even those on a contract with the national team, weren’t blessed with riches “Nat, I would be just as happy with a pizza you know,” I said.
“I do know, but I think we’re a little bit overdressed for Pizza Hut. Look, Skye, I don’t do this often. Actually, I don’t do this ever. Please let me spoil you.”
She’d been very chivalrous up to this point; opening the cab door for me, holding the restaurant door as I passed by her, and so I decided I should shut up with my protestations. “You’ve twisted my arm, lead on.” She crooked her elbow and I took it as we were led to a booth in the farthest corner of the room.
The meal was self-indulgence wrapped up in a taste bud explosion. We shared a bottle of wine, well I shared it mainly with myself, so I was slightly tipsy when we left. “Can we walk?” I asked. I wanted to sober up a little before we returned to the hotel. Natalie smiled knowingly and we set off into the town, talking quietly but mainly just being together.
On the walk back to the hotel my nerves ramped up. Every so often Natalie would glance my way and smile, before taking my hand to her lips and kissing the back of it. I felt like an actress in one of those black and white romance movies from the forties.
It was not only sweet, it was perfect.
“I’ll just use the bathroom,” I said when we eventually returned to our room. She smiled and nodded, then began to undress. My breath caught as I saw her naked back and I hurried into the bathroom to regain some composure. Right now I was about to jump her, whether we were ready or not. I quickly brushed my teeth and wrapped the robe around my naked body. I swerved past her on my way out, careful to not touch her, and then lay down on the bed. I could hear the water and her electric toothbrush, sounds that were at once familiar and yet so strange. I swapped onto my side, my head resting on my hand in what I hoped was a
coquettish pose.
Or not.
I saw my reflection in the mirror and frowned. This was not the most flattering of positions for me, so I leant back and crossed my ankles. A nonchalant pose.
Or not.
I scowled at my reflection. Beneath the covers might be better. I removed my robe quickly and slipped under the duvet. Oh the mattress sang to me, a heavenly chorus of softness and warmth. Natalie’s toothbrush stopped its humming and I heard her gargling with mouthwash. Very thorough. Too thorough? I breathed on my cupped hand and then took a whiff. No, minty fresh. I was okay. Still no movement from the bathroom, so I relaxed back into the pillows. Oh. Wow. The pillows matched the mattress for softness and comfort. I nestled back and waited.
I woke to find an arm flung over my waist. I was clearly the little spoon. I didn’t mind, in fact I quite liked the safety and protection offered by the big spoon. “Did you sleep well,” Natalie asked her voice roughened with sleep.
“Yes.” I was mortified. I couldn’t believe I’d fallen asleep on her. “Nat-” she tightened her grip.
“If I enjoy making love with you as much as I enjoy sleeping with you, I’m going to be a very happy bunny,” she said.
“You’re not disappointed?” I was. Terribly.
“A little,” she said. She would never lie, it was one of the things I loved about her. “But this isn’t a one night thing, Skye. This isn’t a friends with benefits arrangement. At least I don’t think it is?” She left the question blowing in the wind.
“It’s not.” I wanted forever.
And I wanted it with Natalie Jeffries.
Chapter 18
Skye
I was, reluctantly, granted this sabbatical to complete my thesis, mainly because it was kudos for the department but also because, academically, it was quiet this time of the year. Also there was the added threat of me completely walking away, and the department head decided a temporary leave of absence was better than a permanent one. That being said, I only had a few more weeks left on the island; as agreed beforehand, the rest of my time off would be spent either mentoring undergrads back in Durham, or touring places Cuthbert had called home with visiting lecturers.