“How much money do you actually have?”
“How much money?”
“Oh, sorry. I was thinking out loud.” Well done Rachel, that makes it sound even better. So she tried to explain herself. “Emily was worried about whether you could afford the cake. She has no idea you are giving her a house, it seemed a bit strange.”
“Oh, that. I have never really talked money with Emily. She is on a different wavelength to me, money means nothing to her. Not that it means a lot to me, but it sure beats being hard up.”
“Doesn’t she ever visit your house?”
“Yes, it’s not some billionaire's mansion though. I still live in the first house I bought, I like it there and it means I can plough the money back into my business, and afford to buy a house for my sister. Want to see it?”
“What, your house? Really, you don’t have to take me there; we could go back to my apartment.”
“We could, but I’d like to, I want to see if you like it.”
Rachel wondered why it would matter to him if she liked it or not. Deep down she was somewhat intrigued to see his home, it would tell her a lot about this man. She reminded herself of how little she knew about James, despite her feelings towards him.
“OK. I’d like that.”
He drove to a part of town where trees lined the streets and the houses were built for families. He turned into a quiet street and then on to a drive in front of a large house with an immaculate front garden. There was a big shady tree out front, with lawns and flowerbeds brimming with shrubs and pretty flowers,
He noticed her looking at the garden. “I find gardening relaxing, bit old before my time I’m afraid.”
“It looks fantastic. I love the flowers; I might have to use them as inspiration on Emily’s cake.”
“Come one, I’ll show you around.”
Rachel walked around the front garden while he opened the door; the smell of the flowers in the warm sunshine was wonderfully relaxing. She felt at ease here, despite the feelings in her stomach, like butterflies fluttering from bloom to bloom, reminding her of the need she had for James. When she turned to walk into his house, she had a good idea of what would happen between them before he took her home later. She hoped to find the courage to go through with it.
“Coming?” he asked, and Rachel had to summon all her strength to walk towards him and into his house.
It was pleasantly light, and decorated in a rather understated way, as though he was waiting for inspiration. Rachel would love to add colour to it, and make it a family home. There was a large family room, and a kitchen off it, filled with everything she could ever want. She imagined herself here, baking and making meals for James, and their children.
Catching her train of thought, she stopped it. This was getting ridiculous, she was carried away with meeting Emily, and talking weddings, she had to rein her expectations in a little. Yet when she turned to James, it was hard to deny the look on his face.
“Like it?” he asked, his voice low and sexy.
“Yes,” she answered, her fingers going to the smooth counter tops and running along them before gripping the edge to keep herself from rushing to him. A new vision flashed into her mind, and it had nothing to do with preparing food in this kitchen, but it had everything to do with the man standing in front of her.
“Shall I show you upstairs?”
It was an invitation, with no real pressure. Rachel worried if she did not give him some signal that she wanted him he would not make a move. He thought too much of her to push his desire and needs on to her.
So Rachel did something daring, and so out of character she shocked herself. “I would really like to see your bedroom.”
It sounded even cornier once the words had left her lips but he did not seem to care. Instead he came over to her and took her hand in his, wordlessly leading her upstairs. With each step, her excitement and anticipation grew, and her need to find out what making love to James would be like intensified. At last, her fears were reconciled; people all over the world took a chance on love every day, why should she be any different.
James stopped; he turned to her and raised his hand to stroke her cheek, his touch making her shiver with desire. “Are you sure?” he asked.
“Yes,” she answered, wanting to sound confident and strong, but she did not quite make it.
His hand moved down her neck, leaving a heated trail in its wake. Her breasts ached to be touched by him, and her lips longed to be kissed. Her tongue involuntarily slid over her lips to moisten them, and her eyes became enraptured by his mouth as he moved closer before touching her lips.
His mouth was firm, his tongue sliding out to entwine with hers and plunder her mouth. Although he was still patient there was an urgency in his touch that had not been there before. She felt wanted, he made her feel special. That despite her curves she was desirable to him above anyone else. This thought made her feel sexy and free, she wanted to meet him at least halfway, to show him she wanted him too.
Cautiously she used her hands to stroke his chest, growing braver, she ran her hands over his shoulders and then down his arms, his muscles so hard against her soft curves. She wanted to fulfil her fantasy of seeing him naked, and so taking her courage firmly in hand she began to unbutton his shirt.
Unable to resist the temptation she kissed his toned skin as it was revealed to her, bending her knees to kiss his stomach, feeling his sharp intake of breath as she got lower. Now she was faced with a dilemma, did she go further, and undo his pants and push them off his hips. Her nerve failed her, she rose back up and pushed his shirt off his shoulders instead, spending her time stroking and caressing him.
James turned his attention to getting her naked now, the pretty top was soon discarded, and then he turned her around and kissed her back, working his way down her spine while his fingers unclasped her bra. Her breasts burst forward, his hands wrapping around her and cupping them, massaging them in his large palms while his thumbs brushed her nipples. She leaned against the door frame for support, squeezing her thighs together to give some satisfaction to the demanding ache at the centre of her need.
She groaned her disapproval when he stopped the sweet torment on her breasts, and then held her breath when she realised he was going to undo her skirt, she would be almost naked. Her fear of being naked in front of him returned, but she was determined to see this through. So she held her breath while his fingers worked her skirt down over her hips, and then her panties.
All her worries left her instantly when his fingers slid down over her mound, and rubbed her clit. Pushing further back, he inserted one finger inside her, sliding easily into her slick sex. Trying to open her legs further for him she leaned back onto his shoulder for support, his mouth kissed her neck, and his free hand returned to her breasts.
She almost came, his touch too much for her, but before she crested the wave he turned her back towards him and lifted her up, her legs straddling his hard body. Carrying her easily he took her over to his bed and placed her down on the edge.
Her eyes were drawn to his hands, while they undid his belt, before his pants slid to the floor. Before her, he stripped until he was completely naked, and she took in the length and girth of him. She swallowed hard, her fear, now, that she would not be able to accommodate him. He looked so big, but then she had never seen a man naked before and had nothing to compare him to.
Moving closer to her, he pushed her gently down so she lay on the bed before him. Easing her thighs apart, he moved between them, and stayed there for a few minutes stroking her skin and kissing her lips until she had relaxed.
“Oh, I nearly forgot.” He reached down for his pants and pulled out a condom. Fitting it on quickly, she watched him slide it down his erect length.
This was real, it was going to happen. Fear gripped her again, but James went back to soothing her and arousing her, his fingers pushing inside her and making sure she was wet and ready for him. Then, holding himself firmly he guided his c
ock to brush against the entrance to her sex.
She wanted to cry, to get up and run away. What if she disappointed him, what if she did not satisfy him?
Then he eased forward and he breached her outer lips, rocking his hips to move in a little before pulling back out. In this way, he slowly penetrated her, giving her sex time to stretch for him. A moment of pain made her tense when he broke her, but seeing her tense his mouth claimed her breast and the exquisite torture of his tongue on her nipple soon made her forget everything but pleasure.
Pushing deeper he soon had her completely impaled on his thick cock. Her pussy felt stretched, and a little uncomfortable, for the first time she wondered if it was possible to come with him inside her. However, James soon moved with a rhythm that had her arousal growing with each stroke. He pulled out, and then thrust back in, over and over again, each time becoming stronger and harder.
Rachel’s body awoke, her hands stroking his skin, running over his chest, and then wrapping around him and holding him close while he moved. Her mouth opened in a wordless groan, her body tensing while James began to jerk harder into her.
He came, filling the condom with his seed, his mouth kissing and nipping her neck as his passion crested. She had satisfied him, and this realisation gave her the release she needed, her sex contracting around him. The feel of him inside her made her orgasm so strong and powerful, and she cried out his name.
They came together, and then when they were utterly spent they lay in each other's arms until they were hungry. Together they went down and made dinner in his kitchen, and it felt so natural that Rachel questioned why she had ever been afraid.
Chapter Seven
“Everybody loves the cake,” Emily gushed excitedly
“I am so glad, Emily. And you look fantastic, the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen.” Rachel meant every word.
Emily wore a very understated dress, very simple, but stunning. Her hair had been meticulously curled, but then pinned so that ringlets ran down her back, giving her a look of sophistication.
“Thank you, Rachel. Perhaps it might be your turn soon?”
“Oh yes, Rachel, but I think I might need a couple of months to get over this one.” James’s mom had come up to speak to Emily and had caught the conversation.
“I don’t think you have to worry about that. We haven't even talked about it.”
It was true; although they had been together for two months and practically lived together, they had never discussed weddings. Although she lived in the hope that in a couple of years James might pop the question. She kept telling herself there was no rush, but sometimes she simply wished their relationship were more permanent. The longer she spent in his arms the more she worried what she would do if he ever finished with her.
His arms wrapping around her made her body ache for him, even her with his sister and mom close by. “How are you doing, Emily?” he asked. “It’s all going well don’t you think?”
“So far so good. I’ve enjoyed every minute of the day but it’s more tiring than I could ever imagine.”
“I hope your new husband knows what a lucky man he is.”
“I hope so, and I will keep reminding him every day for the rest of our lives.”
James moved from Rachel and gave Emily a big kiss on the cheek. “When are you off on honeymoon?”
“Tomorrow afternoon. I am so glad it’s not early, I am not going to get up till noon.”
“Can you spare me an hour before you go?”
Emily looked surprised, “Sure, nothing wrong is there?”
She looked at the three faces in front of her. “What are you up to? Oh, have you already proposed to Rachel and keeping it from everyone until after the wedding?
Rachel blushed furiously, trying to hide from James. He looked equally as stunned, “No. Nothing like that at all.”
“Sorry. I just assumed.” She reached out and squeezed Rachel’s hand. “Sorry,” she repeated.
“Don’t be silly. Now, I think I can see your husband looking for you. I believe it’s time for your first dance.”
Emily soon forgot everything else, squealing in delight as she dashed over to embrace her husband. Rachel stood watching them as they glided across the dance floor, and then James took her hand and asked, “Shall we dance?”
She looked at him and smiled shyly, still a little upset over the incident with Emily. She decided it was best to change the subject and draw him onto something else.
“I would love to see Emily’s face when you show her the house.” They had joined other couples on the dance floor, and were carefully manoeuvring around a couple who had drunk a little too much already.
“You will. I mean, I thought you would be there with me.”
“I didn’t mean to invite myself.”
His arms tightened around her a little more, pulling her close, his mouth was right by her ear so that when he spoke his warm breath did naughty things to her body. “I want you to be there. You know how much you mean to me, and to the rest of my family. I’ve asked my parents to come along too.”
“Emily has no idea does she?” Rachel’s gaze drifted over to the newlyweds still dancing together as though there was no one else in the room.
“No. Not a clue. But then I do like surprising people. Especially in a nice way.” He kissed her neck, exciting her far more than was decent when they were in company. “Do you think if we give it another couple of hours they would mind if we went home, I really want to strip that dress off your body and kiss you all over.”
She did not want to object, her mind pictured the scene his words had conjured up and her body felt the sensation as though they were happening right now. However, she did not want to upset Emily. “You don’t think it will be a bit early?”
“Ten o'clock. I suppose, but I am sure they will understand. And I want to be up early in the morning to go over to the house and make sure everything is perfect for Emily. I’m feeling a bit nervous about the whole thing. You do think she will like it?”
She looked at James directly, still not used to the way such a strong hunk of a man could suffer any insecurities at all, especially over such a wonderful gift. “She is going to be blown away. It is the nicest gesture you could make.”
“I hope so.” However, he still sounded unsure.
“Come on, take me round the dance floor one more time and then I am going to try some of my cake.”
“You didn’t eat any?”
“No. It’s silly but I got really nervous about it. But Emily said people like it.”
“It was both stunning and delicious. So many people commented on it, I will be surprised if you don’t get some more orders from recommendations.”
“Do you think so? At the rate things are going I will need to take on another employee soon. Rosemary is already complaining she's working too hard.”
“Why don’t you expand, move to bigger premises?”
“I can’t afford to take out a bigger loan.”
“Then let me help you.”
Rachel stopped dancing, a little overcome by his offer. “I couldn’t. What if we split up or something?”
“Are you planning on dumping me?”
“No. Never...I mean, of course not.”
“Then let me help you.”
“I can’t, we've only been together a couple of months, it doesn’t seem right.” She tried to work out why she felt so upset about his offer. Her realisation was that this was the first time he had offered her something that took a bit of her independence away. She had always relied on herself, financially at least, to allow someone to have an opinion on her business made her uncomfortable. Would it be different if they were engaged, if their relationship was more permanent, she did not know. All it did was resurrect her fear over relationships.
“Think about it, maybe you'll see things differently in a day or two.”
His words sounded somewhat cryptic, but she did not have a chance to think about the before they
were split up by his parents. His mother wanted to dance with her son, and his father, whom she liked incredibly, escorted Rachel around the dance floor. He was nothing like James, having worked in an office his whole life, but he always made Rachel laugh, so that was one thing he had passed to his son.
They managed to stay until half past ten, by then Rachel’s feet were killing her and she could not wait to get her shoes off, so they said goodbye to the newlyweds and made their way out into the cool evening air. After the warmth of the reception room, the chill made Rachel shiver, and like the gentleman he was, James gave her his coat.
Soon they were both cosy in his car with the heater on, and they began the journey back to his house, which was about ten miles away. They discussed the day and how happy Emily seemed.
“I hope she always looks so happy. I never thought she was cut out for a permanent relationship, but they seem so in love.”
“Yes, they do. And I think they'll make a go of it.” Rachel had never heard James be so pessimistic. “They're very similar in their ways, and you are so different.”
“Am I?”
“Yes. You put your business first, while Emily put her relationship first.”
His face turned quite serious. “It took a priority, I agree, but now I am seeing things differently. I want the best of both worlds, is that selfish of me?
“No. In fact, I don’t think there is anything about you that is selfish. Look at the gift you are going to give your sister, and the way you offered to lend me money to help my business.”
“I might have ulterior motives there.”
“Oh?” Rachel did not know what he meant. Did he hope to in some way make her indebted to him?
“Yes. I want to see you both happy. The same with my parents, if they need anything I would do my utmost to get it for them. Is that not selfish?”
She laughed. “No. well perhaps a little, in a twisted way. But I think you are entitled to make people happy, if it makes you happy.”
“You know what makes me really happy, don’t you Rachel?” They had reached his house and pulled into the drive. Instead of getting out, he leaned across her seat with his arm on the headrest. Suddenly the car seemed to have become devoid of all air, and the temperature had risen by twenty degrees.
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