by Nicola Lowe
“We call her house the mini mansion, it’s gorgeous.” I explained.
“What does her husband do again?”
“Guy? I don’t understand it, something to do with importing produce, sounds boring. He doesn’t bother trying to tell me anymore. Luke would know.” I explained.
“Be amazing to have a place like this.”
“Well, Guy is five years older than us, so maybe you’ll have one in five years.” I squeezed his hand.
“Only want one if I have my perfect girl in it too.”
“What’s she like then?” I asked, enjoying our little game.
“To be honest, she has an incredible arse, and that distracts me so much I couldn’t tell you the rest.” He slid his hand behind me and squeezed my bottom with a firm touch.
I rolled my shoulders in a circle, aiming to ease the tension. “And there I was thinking you were a gentleman Zachary.”
His mouth lifted up at one side in a sexy smile. “I think you know that you’re my perfect girl Lily.”
My heart fluttered in excited ripples as we stopped outside a large, immaculate, beautiful home. “Here we are. Mini mansion.”
Cassie opened the door, her grin reached from ear to ear. I hadn’t even had chance to knock. Her eyes locked on the bare skin within my top. “Jesus Lily, I’m going to have to warn Guy!”
“Cassie, Zack. Zack, Cassie.” I shot her a warning glare.
Before the poor man knew what was happening, she had pulled him into a tight hug. “It’s so good to meet you in person. Come in, what do you want to drink?”
Seated around a beautiful glass dining table, on tall chairs that felt more comfortable than my couch, we ate succulent roast duck courtesy of Guy. Cassie had ordered in loads of different wine, wanting to make everyone feel at home.
Zack cleared his throat. “Cassie, I should thank you for introducing us. As random internet propositions go, it’s good.”
“I plan to open my matchmaking service next year,” she took a theatrical bow.
“I think you should quit while you’re ahead.” Guy smiled at her, full of adoration. They were such a loved-up couple.
“What is it you do Guy? Lily mentioned imports?”
Cassie rolled her eyes and motioned for me to follow her as the two of them began to discuss work.
“Did you spray those jeans on Lily? Surprised you could eat in them!” she teased.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about! So, you like Zack?”
“He’s gorgeous! I love him. In fact, I found him, so I’m going to keep him. I’m due a trade-up.”
“Pfft!” I grinned. “He’s great though, isn’t he?”
She nodded, as she plated up four beautiful desserts. “I had an interesting chat with Guy before.”
“Everything OK?” I asked.
“Yep, we’re going to try for another baby!” Cassie’s whole face lit up with happiness.
“Amazing news! Give me the nod if you want us to get going,” I winked. “You were right, by the way. This is lovely, doing couples stuff together.”
“I know! I can already imagine us all, summers in the south of France, kids crashed out while we drink fancy wine outside the villa.”
“Let’s give it a little longer before you book the next ten years in hey?” We carried the dessert plates through, to find Zack and Guy chatting away like old friends. It wasn’t just the wine making me feel warm and fuzzy as we said goodbye later on.
Zack and I fell through the front door of my flat. My hands held his face, to keep his kisses on me, as he gripped at my hips, pulling me against his body.
My heart was about to beat up and out of my throat as Zack pressed me against the wall. His hands slid down underneath me, and I whimpered slightly as I felt him lift me up. My legs wrapped around him, as if on a lustful autopilot. His lips moved from my mouth, down and across my neck.
“I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you for a minute,” he murmured to me between kisses.
My body felt out of my control as it reacted to him, but my mind wanted to know what he was thinking and feeling, I needed to know if this was as intense for him as it was for me. Or was I being naïve and reading more into the situation we found ourselves in? “What things were you thinking?” I asked as I squeezed my legs tighter.
“Things like this…” he replied as his finger stroked my skin from the top of my neck, down the exposed skin of my breastbone, then all the way back up. “How much I wanted to kiss you all week. That I miss you when we aren’t together. Those sorts of things,” he watched my reaction as he continued to run his hand up and down. “Also, how on earth you got into jeans that tight and sexy. How about you, what are you thinking?”
As I tried to speak, he pressed needy kisses along my collarbone, one of his hands squeezing the top of my thigh to hold me steady, as his other teased at my skin. A scorching flash of heat shot upwards through me as I tried to control my breath. “I think that… I don’t know what you’re doing to me, it’s like you’re taking me over, and I don’t want you to stop.” Zack carried me to the bedroom and placed me onto the bed, his mouth and hands never left me.
“Intrigued as I am by how tight these jeans are, I’m even more interested in how they come off,” he kissed the bare skin of my stomach as his hands grabbed the waistband and began to slowly wriggle them off me.
“You’re so beautiful, you take my breath away.” I saw a shiver pass over him. “It isn’t time yet, but there’s no harm in a little warm up?” He pressed his lips to mine as his hand skimmed across my now bare thighs, they scarcely touched me yet left a trail of desire. That trail continued up, as he reached into the black La Perla thong that I had worn, in case this happened.
His fingers applied a moment of delicious pressure, then he stopped, holding them there as he spoke. “Are you happy with this?” I nodded as I tried to catch my breath, praying he wouldn’t stop. “Still going slow, don’t try to trick me into more madam.” I laughed and felt his fingers move against me. “Just hands today, Lily.”
I gasped for air as he brought every single nerve ending to full attention, with fingers that teased, caressed and lingered in all the right places. I was shaking as I undid the buttons of his jeans. There had been a few occasions now where I had felt him through his clothes, the hardness of him against me when we woke up in the morning for example. My anxiety bubbled up within me, what if this didn’t go well? Now or never Lily.
Sucking his bottom lip, I glanced into his eyes as my fingers ran down him. I marvelled at the silkiness of his skin as I sensed the blood pulsing through him. My whole body hummed with desire, I wanted him so badly.
“Hands are nice, see?” Zack’s voice awoke me from my thoughts as his fingers pressed harder. My head cradled into the nook of his neck as I felt drunk on the feeling. “I said I’d like you speechless, remember?”
I nodded as I concentrated on him, relishing how he strained against my hand. “Wondering how I make you speechless in return.” My words just about came out in the right order as he pressed his thumb onto me.
Zack pulled me tighter against him, I wrapped my leg over his hip, my body wanted more. Yet at the same time this was too much, I basked in the feeling as Zack gave me what I craved. Moaning un-intelligible words into his ear as my whole body melted against him. He grabbed me with an urgency and kissed me, his breath ragged in my mouth as I felt a hot, stickiness in my hand. I’d never known that could turn me on so much.
Neither of us moved from our intimate locations as we stilled. Our lips still kissed at each other’s mouths softly as our eyes locked. Heart rates returned to normal, breaths slowed down, but our eyes never moved.
“All good?” Zack asked cautiously.
“Blissful.” I replied, as I finally let him go and took a long breath.
“I think this going slow is pretty damn sexy,” he smiled contentedly as he wrapped his arms around me tightly, cuddling us up ready for sleep. “Night, perf
ect girl.”
Five
Early on Wednesday afternoon, I dashed into work after a distracting lunchtime call with Zack. A delivery man followed me in through the main entrance with the most amazing bunch of dark red roses, the colours in them bright and vivid. Their scent flowed throughout the reception area.
“They alright here love?” He plonked them heavily down on the reception desk before I could answer.
I checked the card to see who they were for, hoping they were mine, but knowing probably not likely. That little white envelope didn’t let me down, Miss Lily Forshaw. The burgundy red blooms were stunning, separated by sprays of pure white Gypsophila. I couldn’t even count how many roses there were in the tight hessian wrap.
“Oh my god Lily!” mouthed Petra, the receptionist.
“I know!” I blushed.
Petra looked past me to the door in surprise, “Luke!” she almost shouted, as she stood up. “You’re back!”
“What?” I didn’t understand what Petra was saying. I turned around, holding the most romantic and expensive bouquet imaginable, and found myself eye to eye with my best friend, all the way back from Africa.
Luke looked at me with that cheeky smile, how I’d missed it! His blonde hair had always darkened over winter, but now he was back from the sunshine it was full of ice blonde highlights that would cost a fortune to try to recreate with dye. His white t-shirt, which I recognised from a gig we’d gone to together, was crumpled and creased which wasn’t like him. His eyes flicked to the flowers in my hands and then back to me, with confusion. There was a lot to fill him in on. I put them down on the desk and excitedly crossed the reception to him, smiling as he grabbed me into a tight hug.
“I missed you so much!” I said as I squeezed him tight. “We weren’t expecting to see you until next week.”
“There were problems with the flights,” he replied. “So, I had to come back now or stay an extra week. I knew I had appointments here I needed to be back for. Feels like I’ve been gone months to be honest.”
“You look all tanned, lucky thing!” I grinned, then noticed his bags behind him. “Did you come here before going home? That’s dedication.”
“I can’t find my house keys, must’ve packed them too well. Could I nip upstairs for your spare set?” he asked.
“Of course, I’ll come up with you. You OK for a few minutes Petra?”
“Sure am, don’t forget your flowers,” she grinned at me.
I blushed and saw Luke frown at the bouquet again as I picked it up and headed outside, chattering animatedly as we walked to the side entrance.
“Help yourself to a drink while I find them if you like.” I shouted over as I began to look through the sideboard drawers.
“I’m fine, don’t worry,” he replied. “Just exhausted from the flight so want to sleep to be honest. It’s going to be so nice to sleep in my own house again. The beds there were not good.”
“It’ll feel amazing!” I wrapped him into another giant hug. “I missed you so much! If you feel up to it later, I could come over and you can tell me all about the trip?”
“I’ll see how long I sleep for,” he yawned as he backed out of the hug. “Better dash or I’ll l be sleep walking back. Is everything good with you?” I saw his eyes dart around the living room, as if looking for something out of place.
“Yeah, all good. Great. I’ll fill you in soon, you look like you can barely keep your eyes open.” I smiled and pressed his keys into his hand. “I think Scarlet will be glad you’re back, yoga attendance has been through the floor without you there for the ladies to impress.”
Luke shot me a beautiful smile and laughed to himself before heading downstairs. I felt warm inside, knowing he was back. My eyes shot to the bouquet. I grabbed my phone and took a photograph before I opened the card.
To Lily,
I’m so glad you said yes to the date date
Love Zack xxx
Lily: You’re so sweet, they’re beautiful. Thank you xxxxx
P.S. I’m glad I said yes too x
In the end, the jet lag was too much for Luke, who I didn’t hear from until lunchtime the next day. Cassie was desperate to catch up with him too, so we arranged to go to his that evening. I was worried about my Zack news in case it made Luke all overprotective, but I was also excited to have a chance to talk about it all over again.
Cassie’s ‘falling in love’ theory was obviously correct, but I wasn’t ready to address that yet. Every now and then the speed of the last month would catch up with me and scare me, on balance those trust issues and fears were still there, they lurked just below the surface. I wanted to escape that cycle.
“Ahh it is SO good to have you back!” I beamed as Luke let me in to his house. He looked more like himself now, dressed in expensive jeans and a slate grey shirt which would never be described as crumpled or creased. “Was the internet that bad?” I raised my eyebrow accusingly, but with a smile.
“Well, we were pretty remote most of the time. I wanted to enjoy the downtime from modern life, you know what I mean?” he said, as we walked through to the living room. I loved Luke’s house, it felt like a second home. Despite always being immaculate and a definite bachelor pad, it felt welcoming and warm.
“Yeah, I get that. I saw a couple of the pics you put on Insta, it looked like an amazing trip.”
“It was, I want to do it again. But … I sort of get the impression you’ve been having adventures without me?” He looked serious; his blue eyes seemed darker for a moment.
“Yeah, I tried to call you while you were away, but I realised I’d be unlikely to get through. I had to rely on Cassie’s guidance so anything could happen now.” I giggled hoping it’d break the tension.
“So, you met someone?” Luke asked as he handed me a large glass of cold white wine. I sank down into the deep cushions of his soft, rolled arm sofa.
“Well, I promised Cassie I’d meet one person she chose from this dating site she was harping on about. More to shut her up than anything because you know I didn’t want to meet anybody or get involved…” I was rambling but couldn’t seem to stop. “He seemed so sweet when we went for coffee and I had to make a decision about whether to see him again. I remembered what you said before you left, about it being time to be brave so… I said yes.”
Luke looked at me, his eyes focused and intense. “That wasn’t what I meant with that advice but carry on.”
“One date became a lot of dates and I felt braver each time. I can see what people meant now about me wasting my life away because of what happened. I still feel weird about it sometimes, but it’s a good step forward hey?” I hoped he was going to reassure me. “You said I needed to trust my feelings, believe in myself again.”
“After four years of being scared to trust anyone, you are happy with trusting a random guy off the internet who Cassie found on a dating site?” His eyes searched mine. “You see why I’m concerned about this Lily? You know your happiness means the world to me,” he took hold of my hand with a gentle touch. “Please think how far it will set you back if it turns out he’s lying, or cheating, or has a wife, or god knows what else goes on in the world of internet dating?”
“I… I hadn’t thought about it like that,” I admitted. “I know he isn’t married though; I met his flatmate, I’ve been to his place.”
“A lot of people use those sites for sex. What if you think it’s more and it isn’t? You deserve better than to just be a fling.” Luke was watching me as he spoke.
“I don’t think Zack’s like that. Besides,” I blushed. “There hasn’t been any sex yet. I think he would’ve given up if that was all he was after.”
A look I couldn’t gauge flashed across Luke’s face. “Zack.” Luke repeated his name through a long breath out. “Does he know about everything that happened? Does he know about that night?”
I shrugged and took a large sip of wine. “The basic gist of it, I haven’t gone into detail.”
“
Do you think that maybe you should? So that he’s more aware? If it doesn’t work out, I can imagine you ending up back at square one. Please don’t think I’m being horrible Lily. I’m trying to look out for you.”
“I know, but the same could be said if I’d met a guy at a bar or through work. You don’t instantly know if a person is good or not. Nobody’s more surprised than me at the fact I am enjoying this. I trust him, I think he’s a good person. I have been backwards and forwards in my head, doubting myself like I always do. Really, unless I got together with someone I already knew, there would always be that risk wouldn’t there?” I wanted Luke to tell me he understood and that I was right.
Instead, he sighed and took a long drink. “Maybe that would’ve been a better option. Please be careful, I wish I’d been here for the start of this. I love Cassie, she is a bundle of pure enthusiasm, but I bet she was more interested in what dress you wore and how high your heels were, than what could go wrong?”
I nodded and put my wine glass down on the table, pressing my hand to Luke’s knee as I replied. “You’re right, I’ll slow down a little, have a think. What would I do without you hey?” I pulled him into another tight hug as we heard the doorbell go. Cassie, and an enormous Chinese banquet, had arrived.
“Hey sexy lawyer dude. Good trip?” Cassie grinned as she waltzed in, holding the box of food out to me before she pulled Luke into a hug.
“Great trip, but nice to be back.”
“Guy has been a proper mope without you. Can you play tennis or something with him at weekend, cheer him up?”
“I thought you’d be cheering him up enough at the moment Cassie?” I grinned as I spooned rice onto plates.
Luke put his hands over his ears, “I don’t want to know. Why am I cursed with girls for friends?”
Cassie thumped him on the arm good naturedly. “The kids missed you loads, you going to come see them at weekend?”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” he replied. “You coming over Lily?”