Nymphomaniac: A Raw Romance

by Penny Henry

  It was a kiss that Beth hadn’t known before. A kiss that sent a tremble down her spine before gathering speed and racing round her body. It certainly wasn’t tame like Darren’s. It wasn’t lustful like Lucy’s. It had passion like Ali’s but something deeper. The kiss was a natural phenomenon. An earthquake. A tremor at the very least. Beth thought she heard trumpets blowing. Her senses were reeling. She never wanted it to end. She pushed so hard into Tom that she thought they might become one being. They were crushing each other’s lips against their teeth. The world was a crazy spinning merry-go-round. Lights were flashing inside her head. Tom’s hand slid under her skirt. His fingertips traced circles on her inner thigh. Then Beth passed out.

  “Beth? Beth?” Her eyes fluttered open. Tom was standing over her with a glass of water in his hand.

  “Thanks, Tom.” She reached out tremulously to take the glass and sip. She avoided looking at him. “I’m sorry Tom. I don’t know what happened.”

  “I can’t say I’ve ever had that effect on a woman before.”

  “Ha, ha.” She smiled up at him. For a nanosecond she imagined she saw a golden halo round his head. “I think it must be the strain of the last few days.” It was a pathetic excuse but it was all she had. She glanced at the clock. “I think I’d better be going, Tom... before we test my new-found resolve any longer.” He was smiling like a young god returned triumphant from battle. She unconsciously put out her hand. Tom took it to tug her to her feet. It was a huge mistake. He bent it behind her back and bent down to kiss her softly on the mouth. He drew back and Beth just stood there with the kiss on her lips and her eyes closed. She heaved a sigh before she opened her eyes again to look at him.

  “You’re wonderful, Beth. God only knows what you’re doing with someone like Darren.”

  A frown settled on Beth’s brow. She had so much to think about and standing close to Tom wasn’t the wisest thing to do. “I... I’d better go. Tom.” She looked round to make sure she hadn’t forgotten anything and Tom followed her to the door.

  He let her go first. “You know something, Beth. I’m going to tidy up before I go.”

  She twirled and grinned. “Okay, Mister Perfect. I’ve got to run.” Then she hesitated. “Tom, do you think there’s any chan―”

  “We agreed no promises, Beth.” He shut the door gently behind her.

  Beth walked a few steps before stopping to lean her back against the wall. That was Tom’s rule - not hers. It made her wonder. Then she gathered herself and stepped off quickly. Everything was back in the mix. Seeing Tom hadn’t helped her one little bit

  Darren was trying so hard that the constant smiling was hurting his jaw. Beth had barely said a word at the breakfast table. "What do you fancy doing today?" He moved across to the seat next to hers. Maybe Beth was having second thoughts. She was definitely thinking about something.

  Beth smiled despite herself. Darren had taken last night’s fiasco better that she thought he would. Then she remembered she had a question to ask. "Isn’t there something you’ve forgotten to tell me?"

  Darren looked quizzical. He racked his brains. What had Beth found out? Yesterday she’d had the day to herself. Maybe she had gone as into town. She might have popped into the restaurant. She might have bumped into Alfie. Bollocks! It was Lucy’s money.

  “Actually, I do have a surprise for you, sweetheart. Lucy’s money has come through. Isn’t that great? She’s looking for an apartment closer to town.”

  Beth gave a small smile. She should have realized that Lucy couldn't move out overnight. "Actually I saw Alfie yesterday and he did kind of mention it I'm sorry if I spoiled your surprise."

  "No worries. I would have told you last night but things got a bit tense with Ali.” He must remember to warn Lucy. She’d have to get some estate agent particulars or something. Just in case Beth took it into her mind to call round. He’d do it later. Just now he had another plan. “It’s a lazy Sunday, Beth. Why don’t we go up to your suite? I reckon you could do with a massage after all this stress. What do you say?”

  Beth felt an immediate physical reaction. She couldn’t help it. But her brain was racing. Darren suggestion had startled her. It wasn’t like him at all. Perhaps he was feeling guilty for neglecting that side of their relationship. A massage would be a start.

  “Mmmm, I’d like that, Darren. It would be a perfect way to start a Sunday. Then maybe a long lunch in the restaurant...” It sounded like a good way of mending some fences. What was more natural than Darren wanting to soothe away her troubles? She was in dire need of some kind of relief after last night in Tom’s arms. There was always the chance that Darren would lose himself in the moment. What the hell did it matter what Tom said? He hadn’t asked to see her again.

  The thought took Beth by surprise. Usually it was Ali’s disapproval she was thinking of. Damn Tom. She determined not to think about either of them. Darren was being especially thoughtful. Now might be a good time to mention what she’d talked about with Ali. “

  “I’ve been thinking, Darren. There’s something that’s been on my mind for a while.” He was giving her his full attention. “I'm considering setting up a charitable foundation so that we can share our good luck with others that aren't so fortunate."

  Darren’s eyebrows lowered. “What the hell for? There’s a welfare state for that sort of thing. What do you think we pay our taxes for?”

  “The government doesn’t care about them, Darren. They’re constantly cutting benefits and putting up their own wages and allowances. Without the charities we’ve got I dread to think of what would happen to them.”

  Darren stared at Beth and pondered what to say next. How could he have ever thought of spending the rest of his life with this woman? It wasn’t so long ago he had considered Beth a loser and taken up with Lucy. The Lottery win had done everything to change his opinion. Beth had accepted his apology and taken him back. But deep inside Darren still regarded her as a loser.

  "What are you thinking about, Darren?”

  He was under strict instructions from his father to pay Beth lots of attention. If she decided to sign the franchise agreement of her own free will, there wasn't a thing the bank could do about it. Jacob was relying on his son to do whatever it took.

  "I suppose you’ve got a point, Beth. Soldiers that fought for this country shouldn’t be sleeping on the streets.” It was the right thing to say. Beth’s face lit up. Maybe he could go a step further. “You’ve been looking worried this morning. Beth. I hope it hasn’t got anything to do with what Ali said last night. It’s how you’d expect a bank employee to react." He smiled scornfully. “You don't really think the bank cares about you, do you? It's only your money that interests them."

  Maybe Darren was right. She had been unimpressed with Ali last night. Ali worked for the bank and she had made that fact abundantly clear. She had her career to consider. It was all very confusing. Beth had come to trust Ali and valued her opinion. It was difficult to remember that she was speaking for the bank.

  "You could be right, Darren. We had a few words after everyone left. Perhaps I should listen to you a bit more. Darren almost jumped up and did a Mexican wave on his own. Beth looked at her fingernails before lifting her head and smiling weakly. "Let's finish our drinks and then you can keep your promise. A massage from the most handsome guy I know.” That was if she didn’t include Tom.

  “Maybe after lunch we could take a drive and look at the house that Clive found for us. I haven't been in your new car yet.”

  “Talking about cars, your new Mercedes will be arriving soon, won’t it?”

  “Next week. I’m really looking forward to it.”

  “You deserve it.”

  They finished their coffee and wandered to the elevator. Beth glanced at Darren. He was looking relaxed and happy. She allowed the tingles to start in her special area. Anything could happen.

  The ride up was a shade uncomfortable. Beth’s breathing was shallow and quick. Darren was hoping th
at it was all going to be worth the effort.

  "Take off your clothes and lie on the bed."

  Beth did exactly as she had been told. Darren stood at the side of the bed and looked at her naked body. He had to admit that she was beautiful. Her body was as perfect as he remembered. Smooth skin and glossy black hair that made Beth look like some sort of goddess. Her emerald eyes had captured the hearts of more men than she could ever have imagined. Her soft lips were dreamt of by men - and women that simply passed her in the street.

  Beth was feeling shameless. She was wet. Darren’s eyes glided over her body. He moved his eyes and watched her breasts lifting and falling in time with her rapid breathing. His eyes returned to her slightly parted thighs and the enticing vee of her groin. She was glistening with the first flow of juices as she reveled in being looked at. Darren was fully erect. He kicked off his shoes and clambered onto the bed, fitting his knees either side of Beth’s hips. He leant forward to grip her lightly muscled shoulders and began to work the tense flesh. Beth groaned and started to relax as Darren kneaded the muscles and worked his way down her back. She could feel his erection as he leant forward. She lifted her bottom against him. The touch of his hands was sending electric tremors through her spine. She was drifting into a state of sexual stupor.

  Darren was judging the right moment. “You won't get attention like this from the bank." He gave a chuckle. "Can you imagine Ali doing this?"

  Beth's eyes opened wide. Her body stiffened without Darren picking up on it. It would be the easiest thing in the world for Beth to imagine that it was Ali's hands moving over her back. She had been fighting to keep Ali out of her head. Darren had made that impossible. She lifted onto her elbows. She was suddenly feeling chilly and uncomfortable. She was naked on a bed with Darren out of pure frustration. She was experiencing a wave of doubts. Darren had said they should wait until after they were married. Why had he suddenly changed his strongly held beliefs?

  "What's wrong, Beth?" Darren’s voice held a note of concern. He sensed that Beth's mood had changed. He needed to do something fast. He loosened his belt and unzipped himself before shuffling backwards. He parted Beth’s legs with his knees and lifted her hips and before settling behind her. His hand was gripped to his throbbing manhood and guiding the tip to Beth’s slippery lips when she twisted away from him.

  “We agreed on a massage, Darren. Now I’ve got a headache coming on. I’d like you to leave.” She rolled from the bed and grabbed up a robe. Tom had told her to be more assertive. She wondered how this would suit the big man.

  Darren looked stunned. Beth had actually turned him down. The look on her face spoke volumes. He needed a change of plan and quickly. He pushed himself off the bed and smiled widely. “Phew, just in time, Beth. You’re so beautiful that I almost forgot our agreement.” Beth didn’t smile back. She was looking at him suspiciously. “I… I’ll see you later. Maybe we should skip lunch. What time shall I pick you up?”

  “What for?”

  "This afternoon. We’re going to look at the house.”

  “Oh.” She didn’t sound overly keen. “Two o’clock will be fine.”

  "I’ll meet you outside. I’ll call Clive and arrange it with him. Bye, Beth.”

  The door closed behind him and Darren scowled savagely. He was determined to push the house purchase through as quickly as possible. There would be time to bring Beth round to his way of thinking on the franchise scheme. As far as Clive's time-share offer was concerned he really couldn't care less. Clive had almost outlived his usefulness. But Darren would have that house whatever it took.

  Chapter Twelve

  A row of luxuriant hedges sheltered the isolated house. The grounds were untended and the property looked to have been vacant for some time. Several squat yew trees dotted the lawns at either side of the driveway. The dark green, flattened needles of the scrubby trees shaded stretches of grass in need of mowing. The house stood coldly aloof and Beth wasn't impressed by the mock Tudor frontage that was in need of urgent attention. Clive Francis was waiting by the side of a bronze C-class Mercedes parked in the drive. He strolled towards them as Beth rolled to a stop and they stepped from the car to meet the polished property agent.

  "Good afternoon, Beth. Hello, Darren." Clive shook hands with both of them. "Are you ready for the grand tour?"

  "Absolutely, Clive. Beth is keen to see what she's getting for her money.” Darren locked Beth’s arm in his own. He was ready to give Clive all the backing he needed to convince Beth that the property was a bargain. He could smell the money in his bank account.

  Clive led the way through the rambling house, extolling the potential of the run-down property. Darren made the appropriate noises and planned the interior design in an excited babble. The rooms were large and airy and Beth gradually lost her lackluster interest. She stretched her mind to see the house as Darren saw it. She was unwittingly being swept along by Clive's smooth sales patter and Darren’s undiluted enthusiasm. The drained swimming pool was smaller than she had expected but the tiles were sound and glass roof was in good order. By the time they inspected the outbuildings and forced an entry into the disused cottage, Beth was starting to feel positive about the neglected property. The prospect of owning the sizeable house and spending time developing the grounds and improving the facilities began to excite her inner child. With Darren’s prompting she began to see sense in the investment value. Clive's silken sales skills were subtly applied until Beth started to believe that it was her idea to make an offer of two million pounds.

  They said goodbye outside the house and Clive was looking forward to their Monday meeting at the hotel with renewed optimism. Darren took the chance for a whispered chat with Clive as Beth gave the property a last look. He appeared to be giving Clive directions. Maybe Clive had another appointment in the area. Beth had twenty-four hours to make a decision. She was feeling better about the property but Ali’s words about it being overvalued had stuck in her brain.

  "That was good of him,” said Darren as Beth guided the sleek motor back onto the access road. He’s gone to a lot of trouble on your behalf, Beth. It would be a shame to disappoint him. You’ve made a good choice there." Beth stared at the road, wondering when it had all become her idea.

  She listened to Darren’s multitude of reasons why she should jump at buying the property until they arrived back at the hotel and parted company. Darren had told Beth he was dropping in on his parents. He knew his mother's incessant chatter would bore Beth to death.

  Beth was happy to let him go. Darren’s mother was a snob. Beth didn’t get on with her and she had no inclination to listen to Jacob prattling on about the merits of the franchise operation for the entire evening. She’d had a long day and she did have a lot to thinking to do. She wandered into the hotel, day-dreaming about the house and wondering how Ali would react to the idea of making an offer. It didn't take long for her thoughts to dissolve from the business of buying a house to the fantasy of Ali's sultry eyes. By the time she reached her room and threw herself on the bed her brain was in turmoil. Business had been forgotten. Beth’s mind was wrapped up in dissecting every word and gesture that Ali had made in their short and volatile relationship. She was struggling to separate the composed financial advisor from the sensuous woman that had swooned in her arms before dismissing their powerful attraction as Beth’s bit of fun. She sighed. Tom had said she should keep Ali by her side. His name jolted her out of her melancholy thoughts - Tom. He had said a lot of things but he hadn’t tried to stop her leaving.

  Beth was suddenly angry. She threw off her clothes and stalked to the shower. The big man was suddenly in her head. She had been thinking about Ali. What was Tom doing in her thoughts? She didn’t know who to think about. She stopped thinking and stepped under the warm spray. She wasn’t trying to think about Tom but her hand slid down to her pulsing sex. Her mind tried to forget about the kiss. Her hand has its own path to follow.

  By the morning Beth had come to her senses
. Ali was the bank's representative. She had told Beth that, from now on, their relationship was strictly a business one. Beth knew had behaved badly and owed Ali an apology. After a late breakfast she telephoned Ali. She hadn’t been available and her answer-phone greeting was brief and formal. Beth left a short message before strolling through to the lounge. She had the morning to kill before she expected Darren to make an appearance. He had probably slept at his parents’ house and his doting mother would keep him there as long as she could. Beth picked up the morning papers and settled herself in an armchair to wait for Ali's call.

  By lunchtime Beth's mood had deteriorated. She had covered the newspapers from front to back and sank a jug of coffee. The staff had left her undisturbed. There had been no interruptions and no distractions. At regular intervals she had checked that her mobile was charged and switched on. Beth was bored. There was no excuse. Ali simply hadn't called.

  Darren joined Beth for a late lunch before spending another hour softening her up for Jacob. He chatted incessantly, talking over whenever she raised a point and repeating the spiel that his father had drummed into him that morning. Beth tried to remain polite, nodding at the appropriate pauses before lapsing into silence. Darren was blind to Beth's mood and the glazed expression that drifted across her eyes like a mist obscuring the deep blue sea. Tom’s eyes were blue.

  Beth's mood was not helped by Jacob’s early arrival. He was swiftly followed by Clive and lastly Lucy. They effortlessly moved to a quiet part of the lounge. Beth sat next to Darren, glumly flicking her gaze to the door. They made small-talk and sipped their drinks until Ali made her appearance. Beth instantly jumped from her seat, startling her companions and causing their heads to twist in the direction of her irate stare. She deliberately ignored the mystified looks and strode purposely to confront Ali.