At least the fridge is stocked with eggs and veg. I was worried that due to her predicament she’d be avoiding food.
I opt for making omelettes as I call work and tell them that I won’t be coming in today. I’m lucky they haven’t yet fired me. My bosses are very understanding and they have more than enough people to cover my classes for a day or two, but it’s not the point. I’ve been unprofessional lately.
After searching the kitchen I find the utensils I need and give them a rinse before placing them on the side. I don’t want to make her breakfast too early but I also don’t want her to wake up before I’ve finished.
I can’t believe I’m going to be a dad.
I always thought that when it happened I’d be horrified but, apart from Elle, I can’t think of anything I want more. An image of a little red haired girl clinging to my legs, calling me daddy and screaming for attention makes me smile.
I knew I didn’t give up on my marriage for a reason. This was it. Our child was supposed to be created. Maybe I’m an idiot for thinking so but I don’t care. That’s how I feel.
I take the plate of food and the glass of orange juice into the bedroom and put them on the bedside table. Elle remains asleep on her side, turned away from me toward the window. The room is cold. It’s no surprise she has the blanket wrapped around her the way she does.
Hayley: Is she okay?
I stare at the message on my phone. Hayley really loves Eloise and I know that it’s reciprocated.
Hayley: The fact that she didn’t call last night tells me that something went right… right?
Isaac: She’s sleeping. Thank you for being here for her.
Hayley: Remember what you promised me five years ago?
I think back to the night in the car when Hayley drove me around town as we looked for my mum who had wandered off. She asked to be godmother to our future babies.
I smile and respond.
Isaac: I remember. I’ll think about it.
Hayley: Woohoo!
“Morning,” Elle says from under the blanket. She slowly peels it from her face and gives me a weak smile. Her eyes are puffy and swollen.
“Hey,” I bend over her, pinning her in between my arms as I kiss her forehead.
“Yesterday was pretty dramatic, huh?”
Grinning, I kiss the tip of her nose. “You can say that again.”
“Why? Are you getting deaf in your old age?”
My grin broadens. “Cheeky.” I kiss her lips and pull back before showing her the food.
Shuffling up the bed she takes the plate from me and smiles meekly. “Looks great.”
“I was worried that maybe you’d have morning sickness or…” I let my words trail off when she winces. “Are you that unhappy about the pregnancy?”
She pokes the omelette with a fork. “I’m still coming to terms with it, I guess.” Taking a bite, she moans. “I’ve missed your food. This is so good.”
“Good.” I want to ask again. I want to know everything, every tiny detail, but something tells me that she won’t divulge much at this point.
“Shall we do something fun today?”
My shock at her asking me this is apparent. I can’t hide it. “You want to?”
“Don’t make me feel worse than I already do.” She looks down at her plate and starts to poke at the remaining omelette with her fork. “I know I haven’t been fair to you.”
“Clean slate, Elle.”
She blinks up at me and sinks her teeth into her lower lip. I want to sink my teeth into her lower lip.
“What do you want to do?”
“I want to search for Nessie.”
A bark of laughter escapes me. “Seriously?”
“Yes, it’s only a two hour drive.” Her happiness and giddiness at the prospect draws me in.
“Fine.”
“Really?”
“It’s on my bucket list,” I state, because it is. Not to search for a monster that doesn’t exist, but to visit Loch Ness.
“Yay,” she cheers quietly, giving me a glimpse of the old Elle. It’s been a while since I saw her. “I’m going to have a shower and then we’ll go. So be ready.”
“I’m wearing yesterday's clothes.”
“Buy new ones.” She waves me off, disinterested, and skips out of the room. Moments later I hear the shower running and moments after that I follow the sound and enter the steamy wet room. Then I rid my body of my clothes and enter the spray of water beyond the curtain.
She doesn’t hide her glorious body from me, nor does she seem upset or surprised that I’ve joined her.
“May I?” I hold out my hand and she passes me a sponge from the shelf behind her. I’m not sure why I find it sexy when she squirts shower gel from a pink bottle onto the sponge. It might have something to do with the way she’s holding it, but I’m guessing it’s because I’ve only had sex once in five years. I’m desperate to taste her, to touch her, to feel her. I just don’t want to push her too quickly.
I start at her neck and begin to rub the thick suds into her flesh. She moans and rests her head back against the wall. The water washes away the soap as I massage it onto her skin so I have her squirt more onto the sponge.
She knocks it away and almost aggressively squirts the soap into my palms. “Use your hands.”
“Yes, Miss,” I smirk and gladly acquiesce. My fingers wrap around her shoulders and move slowly down her arms. The slickness of the water and soap has them moving easily across her pink skin.
She moans hoarsely and her hands flatten against the wall when I bring my fingertips up, over her ribs and then cup her heavy perfect, perky breasts. One in each hand.
“They’re bigger.” I say, weighing them as I tease them in my palms and roll the nipples with my thumbs.
“They’re so sensitive too.” She pants, her eyes still closed.
I’ve never heard her moan this way.
I’ve never seen her shudder this way either.
It spurs me on. I use more soap and foam as I rub her body, taking my time and paying attention to every beautiful inch of her. She keeps her eyes closed until I find the spot between her legs and push against it with two fingers.
I ache to be touched. My cock aches for release but I don’t want it. Not yet. I want her to be…
My thoughts are cut off when I feel a hungry mouth claim mine. I almost slip on the tiles as I catch her body and pin her between myself and the cold walls. Hot water sprays heavily on us both so I turn her, trapping the curtain between the wall and her back.
“I need you,” she half begs, her heavy lidded eyes gazing into mine.
I don’t need telling twice. Fuck chivalry…
My fingers continue to tease her delicate folds as she lifts a leg and hooks it over my hip. It seems standing sex has become our thing. Not that I’m complaining.
I rest myself against her entrance and demand her eyes as I sink into her inch by fucking inch.
“I need this,” she says loudly and rakes her fingers through my hair. It only makes my body shudder with built up pleasure and a slight sting of pain.
“This feels insane,” she whispers when I bury my face into her neck and bury myself to the hilt inside of her.
She’s right. I’m about to lose it.
“Fuck,” she curses and hoists herself up my body, her hands grappling the shower rail above us both. “Don’t stop.”
Her legs threaten to slip from my hands and hips so she locks her ankles behind me. I grip her soft, warm and amazing arse cheeks with my hands as I drive myself into her, wanting to feel all of her wrapped around me. My teeth nip at her neck and jaw as I concentrate on pleasing her before I fall into bliss.
I luckily don’t have to do much, nor do I have to wait long because within minutes, if that, she’s crying out my name and shuddering against me.
I follow so hard I almost fall to my knees. My thrusts become erratic and powerful and it’s not until I feel the cold, hard tiles under my back and
the shower curtain over my face that I realise we’ve fallen and Elle has brought the shower curtain down with her.
“I’m not done,” she pants almost desperately and pushes herself off my chest with her hands.
A strong, painful tingle sends a spasm through my body when she sinks onto me and starts grinding against me with wild abandon. I need a minute, but I also don’t. I’ve never seen her so loose, so free. She throws the shower curtain off us both and brings my hands up to her breasts. My body is uncomfortably positioned on the hard floor but I don’t care. I want to flip her over and continue but she’s in her own world and fuck if it isn’t the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.
“Christ, Elle,” I moan, feeling the build-up in my stomach as she bounces and grinds. My thumb finds her clit and she’s there again. This time she’s silent and her movements slow.
Her head hits my chest as her core throbs, pulses and clenches my dick.
Now I flip her over. Now it’s my turn to finish.
“I love you,” I tell her and kiss her lips. “So fucking much.”
Eloise
Isaac keeps something touching me at all times as we stand on the outside deck of the medium sized, white cruise boat, be it his hand, his leg, his chest against my back.
Skipper Elisia, or skipper E as she likes to be called, is well learned in the monster of the Loch and the Loch itself. We hold on to the side of the ‘Jacobite Queen’ and overlook the lake. “Some of you may be able to scent a metallic tang to the air,” Skipper E tells us and scratches at the odd looking mole on her chin. “It’s because we’re closer to the end that opens up to the sea.”
“Told you so,” I hiss at Isaac because I’ve mentioned the scent a few times now.
Isaac says he can’t smell anything which is annoying me because the smell is right there. How he can’t smell it is beyond me.
The lake is beautiful. Scotland is so bloody beautiful.
“How are you liking your new job?” Isaac asks quietly so we don’t disturb the others.
His chin rests on my shoulder and his arms wrap around my front. The boat sways, causing his body to gently rub against mine. It makes me want more of what we had this morning, despite my soreness.
“I love it. I’m learning so much. This apprenticeship is going to open up so many doors for me.”
“Good, you’ve earned it.”
I smile kindly at him and my heart tingles. I love him still, even after all these years, but I’m scared too. He was right in saying yesterday that he doesn’t want me to be with him simply because of my predicament. I don’t want to be with him simply because of my predicament.
“How are we going to do this? Last time long distance didn’t work for us and I’m not letting you leave your job for me.” I tell him.
“Your apprenticeship will only last a few months, won’t it? You’re already two weeks in.”
“But if I’m hired by Hamish’s company, I’ll probably have to move here. Or I’ll be travelling a lot, all over the UK with him for a year as he trains me.”
I feel him tense. “You aren’t going to be able to do that…” His hand flattens against my stomach. “You have a few months left before you leave work and then you won’t be going back for six months.”
The reality of what is actually happening to my life sinks in and tears spring to my eyes. “This is such shitty timing.”
“Don’t cry; we’ll figure it out.” He kisses my neck and points into the distance. “The water is stirring.”
“It’s just a fish,” I say flatly, not letting the fact I just got a little excited show to him. “I feel like I’m losing control of everything.”
Isaac kisses me again but doesn’t say anything. He can’t say anything because I’m right to feel that way.
“I’ll talk to Hamish, explain the situation and go from there.”
“If he says that he can’t keep you on after the three months… will you terminate?” His voice is guarded. No doubt his eyes will be too if I look into him.
“I’m not going to lie to you, Isaac. I’m not happy about my situation. I had the coil fitted to prevent this, but I’m not going to terminate for a job. If Hamish can’t take me on it doesn’t matter. As long as I work hard these next couple of months, I’ll have an excellent reference from one of the greatest architects of the twenty-first century. I’ll get a job elsewhere easily when the time comes.”
He grins and turns me to face him. “That you will.”
I press my lips to his and melt into his warm embrace. His body protects me from the chill in the air, but it doesn’t stop me from shivering.
“I love you,” he says softly. “We’ll figure all of this out. It won’t be like the last time.”
“I believe you.”
“It hurts that you’re sad.” He leans back and cups my face with a large, warm hand. “But I’m not going to lie. For me, this is the best thing that could have happened. I hate that it’s interfering with your plans, but if it brings us closer together I’m not complaining.”
I widen my eyes, gasp and stare in horror at a spot over his shoulder. He whips around to see what I’m seeing. When he sees nothing and turns back to me I’m laughing uncontrollably. He wasn’t the only one I fooled, but when the other passengers start grumbling miserably it only makes me laugh more.
Isaac grabs me by the back of my neck and brings his lips down onto mine. Kissing is how we spend the rest of the cruise.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Isaac
“So this will be the last time I’m visiting for a few weeks,” I say to my dad as we eat our lunch. I’m dying to tell him the news. I want to shout it from the rooftops but Elle and I agreed that we wouldn’t tell a soul until the twelfth week. She’s worried something will happen and both of us are more scared of how my dad will react if something does happen. Out of everyone we know, he’ll be the most excited.
“How come?”
“Elle and I are back together,” I say, nonchalant.
My dad stares at me for a long pause before beaming from ear to ear. His knife and fork hit the table. “You’re joking?”
“No. So I’m driving to visit her on the weekends.”
“It’s a seven hour drive.”
“We’re meeting in the middle.”
My dad winces. “That’s going to be expensive.”
I shrug. “It’ll be worth it.” I don’t tell him that we’ll most likely be camping in different locations to save money. It’ll be an adventure. This way we’ll get to discover different places.
This thought makes me angry with myself. I should never have let her walk away all those years ago. We’ve missed out on so many things.
I was a fool.
But no longer will I be.
“Speak of the devil…” I grin when her face lights up my screen and I bring the phone to my ear. “Hey.”
“Hey,” she responds, sounding cheery. “So, I just spoke to Hamish. Can you talk?”
I hold up my finger to my dad before leaving the kitchen and heading to the middle of the stairs where I sit. “Yeah, I can talk.”
“I explained the situation and he said that when I’m ready to go back there will be a place for me. He isn’t looking for new staff but he’s not going to pass on new, raw talent like mine! Those were his exact words.” She squeals with glee and I can’t help but chuckle. “Isn’t that amazing?”
“It is.”
“So, I’ll be able to move to Boston with you and we can raise the baby together.”
This is definitely good news. “New tenants move into the house next week and the lease on my apartment in Boston is up in two months, so we’ll be able to find somewhere a bit more permanent for us all.”
“It’s like everything's just falling into place.” She blows out a breath. “I’m so fucking happy right now.”
“Me too.”
“I’m going to sell the inn to Silas’ buyer.”
I still. “What?�
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“Well, this way I can buy another house or two instead of running a business that I don’t even know how to run.”
“You can’t! This is what you wanted…” That and I just remortgaged the house.
“I can’t afford to buy him out. I don’t want to run it alone and I don’t want to run it with him.” I need to tell her that I have the money she needs but I have a strong feeling she won’t accept it. “It was meant to be this way. If I sell it to him I’ll be making a decent profit.”
“Elle…”
“My mind is set. I’m settled in my decision.”
Fuck. “I remortgaged the house, Elle.”
She goes silent for a long beat and my palms begin to sweat.
I continue. “I have the money you need to buy Silas out.”
“What?”
“I was going to tell you this weekend.”
“You should have spoken to me first.”
Oh dear. “I wanted to…”
“You should have spoken to me first. Isaac… I’ve already signed the inn over.”
And she’s telling me that I should have spoken to her first? “Are you fucking kidding me?”
“It was never my dream. It was an opportunity that I invested in.”
“When the fuck did this all happen?”
“Don’t speak to me like that,” she snarls. “If I want to sell my inn, I’ll sell my inn.”
“But you just had a go at me for selling my house?” My head hurts. “Why is it okay for you and not for me?”
“Because…” Her voice trails off before she growls and snaps. “I’m hanging up now.” And the line goes dead, leaving me sitting in the middle of the stairs scratching my head. Confusion is all I feel right now.
Distinction: The Distraction Trilogy #3 Page 28