“No,” she says looking puzzled, maybe is was a stupid question, “I’ve got some nice chocolates!”
“They’ll be fine, thank you.” She places the little packet of luxury chocolates on my tray and I hand her my Coutts debit card. She looks at it, looks at me, smiles and swipes the card, her hand held machine whirs producing a slip which she presents to me for signature.
I nudge James and hand him the bottle, he opens it and pours us each a glass. “To us, to the future.” I say raising the tumbler towards my handsome bloke. He smiles and kisses my cheek, “God, I love you!”
“I’m going to be free James…Free. Can you believe it, can you really believe it?” I’ve such an excited feeling in my stomach, I want to run around waving my arms like a mad woman, I really do. The bastard is on his way out, I have an amazing lover and a new best friend in James – What more could a girl want?
“You deserve nothing more Blossom, really and truly.”
We sit sipping our fizz holding on to each other’s hands, so happy just to be in each other’s company. I open the little bag of chocolates. “Want one?” I ask offering James first choice.
“Chocolates! I didn’t see you get those!” He grins.
“Umm, they didn’t have anything strawberry flavoured so you’ll have to make do with chocolate.” I say as I pop a Bailey’s truffle in my mouth. “What is it with strawberries anyway?”
“The ancient Greeks thought of them as the fruit of temptation and seduction.” He says with an incredibly sexy smile. He bends towards me and places as chaste kiss on my lips which earns us a filthy look from the bloke sat next to me.
“Really, well I never knew that. I know that they can be used to clean your teeth, but I didn’t know the Greeks had any form of mythology about strawberries.” I’m surprised, I really am.
“Well, they say that when Adonis died the Goddess Aphrodite wept with such passion that her tears fell as small red hearts, strawberries, as the years passed they became associated with temptation and seduction…and anyway I love them, but I really like the British ones, when they’re in season.” He says as he takes a deep swallow of his wine and another chocolate. I look at the bag, “There’s only three left!” I complain, “How many have you had?” I look at him sternly.
“Only two or three.” He mutters.
“Two or three! There were only eight in there to start off with and I’ve had one!” I tease him. Honestly, I’m not overly bothered about the chocolates anyway and only got them for the Bossman.
“I need the loo,” I whisper to him, “won’t be a moment.” I look around and see that the toilet at the front of the aircraft is vacant; the podgy man next to me is now dozing as I squeeze past him and into the aisle. It’s a small aircraft with several seats unoccupied; the cabin crew are at the rear of the plane continuing with their service. “Wait,” I hear James hiss from behind me. He stands and puts his arm around my waist, “Want to join the mile-high club?” He whispers.
I look at him shocked, “Really?” I gasp.
“Really! Come on, no-one’s looking.” He speaks so softly, so quietly, his smile is playful, mischievous.
I squeeze forward as James follows closely behind me. I open the door of the toilet and check again, nobody’s watching us, I wink at James and we both cram into the tiny cubicle giggling and laughing as we do.
Once the door’s locked he pulls me close and holds on to me tightly. He plants his firm soft lips on mine kissing me deeply, his tongue lapping at my bottom lip, prising my lips apart. I throw my arms around his neck banging my elbows against the walls of the cubicle and sending a bottle of hand soap flying. His hands drop towards the waistband of my jeans and he undoes the top button quickly, deftly. He reaches for the tab of my zip and pulls it down, all the time his mouth upon mine, my jaw and my neck. His hands slide into my jeans and he eases them down over my bum, I wriggle out of the denim, kicking my shoes off and pushing the legs of my jeans over each foot with the other. He undoes his own jeans and I help push them as far as his knees, I shove his boxers down as his huge cock springs free straight at me. I laugh, “I thought the mile-high club was a myth?”
“Well, we’re going to be part of it!” He mumbles as he lifts me up and places my arse on the edge of the sink, “You’re going to have to hold on baby, I don’t want you to fall.”
I put my arms around his neck as he holds me and wrap my legs around his waist as he finds my entrance, he thrusts forward, filling me. “Good God Alex, you’re so fucking ready for this!” He murmurs, “It’s going to be hard and fast baby, no time for anything else! You ready?”
“Very ready Boss.” I gasp.
He pounds into me as I cry out, “Quiet Alex, you’ve got to keep it down.” He whispers.
“You try being fucked hard without making a sound then!” I snap back as he continues to drive into me harder and harder.
I gasp again “God James, Hell!”
“Sssh,” He whispers again to my ear. “You’ve got to keep it down baby. Be quiet!” He grumbles.
I dig my fingers into his shoulders, my lips against his ear, “I can’t. James, you’re a bloody arse, you can’t expect me to be silent…not when it’s this …Oh James, James!” I try my hardest to restrain my voice.
“It’s all about pleasure baby, all about pleasure.” He growls as I shatter around him, as he releases holding me so tightly, I feel him pulse in me over and over again. We hold onto each other. Our breathing rapid against each other’s neck and cheeks.
“We need to get gone,” He laughs as he lowers me to the floor; I’m feeling dishevelled, satisfied but wrecked! “I’ll go first.” He pulls his boxers and jeans up, rearranging himself, checks himself in the mirror, running his fingers through his gorgeous curls and opens the door slightly. “Clear.” He slips out of the cubicle and I lock the door after him. I try to reassemble my clothing and make myself look a bit presentable, if nothing else.
I use the toilet and splash some water over my face. Dressing awkwardly in the cramped confines of the tiny cubicle before I leave. There’s a lady waiting as I exit, I’m sure I look flushed, she smiles sweetly at me, she knows I think to myself. I continue to mess with my hair as I return to James squeezing past the still sleeping podgy man as I go. I drop into my seat and fasten my seat belt as James leans forward and kisses my cheek so softly, “You’re amazing Alex.” I smile back at him, there’s no need for words.
The flight passes quickly and we’re soon dropping into London City Airport. “You did ask Archie to pick us up?” James nudges me.
“I did, I gave him the flight number and all the details. He’ll be there, you know he’s ultra reliable.”
We pass quickly through the airport and after we’ve collected our luggage, which I am not permitted to carry, we exit through the automatic doors and find Archie waiting for us. As usual he’s impeccably turned out in his silver grey suit his dark blonde hair groomed to perfection, he smiles warmly as we walk towards him, “Good trip Mrs Drake, Mr Aconi?” He asks, his bright blue eyes twinkling as he opens the door for me.
“Great thanks, and please it’s Alex!” I smile. He acknowledges me with a nod. Archie is so prim and proper, insisting that things are done the right way. Will he ever call me Alex?
I climb into the back of the Mercedes and reach for the door to close it but am beaten to it by Archie who shuts it and walks to the rear of the car to help James with our cases, although James seems perfectly capable of doing this himself, I think it’s an Archie thing, the desire to help with every little thing!
Once were all settled he pulls the car away and we’re soon into the heavy mid-day London traffic but, unlike me who detests driving in London, Archie makes it look so easy, we move smoothly, negotiating the day to day obstacles with ease, the cars pulling out in all directions, pedestrians stepping out from footpaths, the bicycles, the heavy goods vehicles and the huge red London buses, not to mention the black cabs.
“Can you drop me
at the hotel before you take Alex home?” James asks.
“Of course,” replies Archie from the front of the car.
I frown at The Bossman sitting next to me in his jeans and customary white t-shirt, “I thought we would be both going home before you went to work? You said you were taking over from Robbie this evening.” I mutter sulkily.
“I am, but I need a hand-over from him too! I can’t just rock up when he finishes later on and simply take over; I need to know what’s been going on, who’s booked in, if any rooms need special preparation. You don’t own a bed and breakfast Alex; you own one of London’s finest!” He explains whilst looking out of the window as we move along, our route now deviated towards the hotel.
“I know that! But does it take a whole afternoon to do a hand-over? Surely nothing major will have gone wrong or changed?” I’m whining now, I know I am, I look out of the my window, I know I’m sulking and to be totally frank, I don’t care! I’ve had the most wonderful few days with my lover which couldn’t have come at a better time and now he’s dumping me to go to work!
Yes, the last few months have been horrendous, such a lot has happened, including relocating to London, and Lewis - my deranged soon to be ex who seems hell-bent on making this divorce as messy and protracted as possible, until some kind person broke both of his legs, now he’s laid up and I assume still being bloody awkward about everything imaginable. I also discovered that my Aunt, my benefactor, was in fact my birth mother and that her sister and brother-in-law adopted me when I was very young, raising me as their own. It’s been a maelstrom of events but the catalyst for change, the huge legacy allowing me to walk away from my twenty-two year abusive marriage to Lewis and begin what I hope will be a new life.
We soon pull up outside of the hotel; James leans over and kisses me softly, “I’ll call you later. Remember I won’t be home tonight?” He says, his deep voice is hushed.
I shrug my shoulders, I don’t want to speak to him, and I know that if I do I’ll probably break down. Inside I feel twisted, churned, there’s a lump in my throat that I can’t swallow. I take a deep breath, a huge breath. “I’ll miss you – lots. Please think about what I said…please.” I’m fighting back the tears and practically begging him to give this up. If we’re to have any future together I need him to be there at night, whatever happens to me in the future whether it's with James or anyone else I’m not going back to a life of being on my own day in and day out, to a life of being expected to keep house. My life is different now, with or without James it is so far removed from where I came from. The money’s great but it’s not just about that, it’s about being wanted for who I am, not just someone at home and certainly not as a punch bag.
“I’ll think about it, but I’m telling you now, I will not be a kept man and besides which, I quite like my job,” He pauses “you’ll be okay tonight, won’t you? Make sure you lock the doors, front and back, and put the chain on the front door. Take your phone to bed with you, and the panic button.” He issues his instructions whilst looking at me with those intense eyes of his.
“Okay, okay – I’ll make sure everything’s locked.” I huff, wishing him out of the car before I let the waterworks loose.
He climbs out and looks back at me, “See you tomorrow morning Blossom, I’ll try and get back for 10’ish.”
I watch James walk into the hotel, my heart feels so heavy watching him go, leaving me. I wring my hands and breathe deeply, doing my utmost to keep the tears at bay, I know I can do it, years and years of practise have taught me how. Doesn’t do me much good, holding it all in, I know that, but I can, I can do this!
“Straight home?” Archie asks, snapping me out of my thoughts.
“Please, thank you Archie.”
We continue our journey in silence, we have truly had a wonderful few days and now I feel that it’s ended flatly, what an anti-climax! I’m returning to an empty home as Anna, my daughter, is still at the house in California for another week with her best friend, Katie. The house is one of the two holiday homes that were left to me by Maggie, the other being the villa in Tuscany that we have just returned from.
Archie soon pulls up outside my large Chelsea home. I don’t wait for him to open the door, I can’t be bothered with the ceremony and anyway why do I have to have my car door opened for me? I’m perfectly capable of opening it and letting myself out, there is no reason whatsoever that Archie should do this for me, well not in front of my own home anyway! Or maybe it’s just me, am I just being totally awkward and obtuse?
I slowly walk up the steps that lead to my shiny black front door, stroking the paintwork as I put my key in the lock; it’s so very, very smooth. Before I’ve had chance to turn the key, Muriel – my newly employed housekeeper opens the door from inside, “Mrs Drake, good to see you pet. How was Italy?” She gushes. I like Muriel, I liked her when I first met her only a couple of weeks ago. She reminded me a little of my Mum although unlike my Mum she’s very slim and very fair, the palest blonde hair and ice blue eyes.
“It was good thank you. Has everything been okay here?” I ask as I follow her back to the kitchen and see that there’s a pot of tea made.
“Everything’s been fine pet. I’ve just finished for today so I’ll sort myself out and then I’ll be off.” She removes her apron and starts to pull all of her things together, ready to go. “Your laundry’s all up to date, washed and pressed, I’ve hung the clothes that need to be hung on the outside of your wardrobe, I don’t do going in people’s cupboards and drawers, and everything else is folded on your beds. Mr Aconi‘s things are in the room he’s using, at the back? I’ve cleaned through and also did the windows, inside anyway; you’ll need to arrange a window cleaner for outside. I haven’t done a meal for you today because I didn’t know what you’d be wanting, I hope that’s okay?” She rambles off what she’s done and what hasn’t been done looking for reassurance. I nod, to be frank I really don’t care if she’s made something or not, the way I feel now I really couldn’t eat anyway and to top it all I’m going to be here in this bloody house on my own!
“You’ve done a great job, thank you. Are you sure you won’t stay for a cup of tea?” Please, please, please stay I will her to say yes.
“Sorry pet, I can’t this afternoon, I’m meeting my daughter,” she frowns “maybe we can have a catch up tomorrow?” She offers as she places a hand on my arm.
“Not to worry.” I sigh.
She gathers her things together and starts to leave, “See you tomorrow.” she calls as she walks along the hall and to the front door passing Archie as she goes.
“Do you want these taking upstairs?” Archie calls as he stands in my hallway with two suitcases, he looks rooted to the spot, as if he won’t move inside my home until told to.
“Please, if you don’t mind that is?” I call back, walking towards him, “The room on the front, to the left.” I indicate towards the location of our bedroom.
He trudges off upstairs with the cases as I start about pouring a cup of tea from the pot that Muriel left. I’m standing at the island flicking through a free newspaper when Archie returns.
“Will that be all Mrs Drake?” He stands in the hall and asks.
“Archie, please call me Alex!” I look at him firmly, he smiles clearly ignoring what I’ve just asked. “Do you want a cuppa, before you go?” I ask looking at the pot, I really don’t want to be on my own, not just yet anyway.
“If you’re making. I’ve nothing planned for the rest of the afternoon.” He says as he walks into my kitchen.
“Is Sam keeping you busy?” Sam, the concierge at the hotel was overjoyed when he learnt that we’d taken on a driver. I initially employed Archie to ferry me around as I have a fear of driving in the city but as the concept developed and blossomed James and I decided that he would best employed by the hotel rather than me, thus giving our guests an additional service of a chauffeur if they wanted to tap into it.
“Yes, he is”.
“Sit down Archie.” I flap my hand towards the stools dotted around the island.
He pulls a stool out and sits resting his hands on the granite surface. “Tea or coffee?” I ask as I pull two mugs from the cupboard.
“Tea please, milk and two sugars please.” He’s very softly spoken but I can imagine him being hard, if he had to.
I pass Archie a mug, “I’m glad you’ve settled in,” I smile as he takes the drink from me.
“Was that your housekeeper that left as we arrived?” He asks as he takes a drink of his tea.
“Yes, Muriel. She started at pretty much the same time as you.”
“She’s very familiar, although I don’t think I know her, just something about her, her eyes and her hair, so very fair. Oh, ignore me; she must have one of those faces.” He frowns, I can see that he’s thinking deeply, he stands as he finishes his tea, “I’d best be off then Mrs Drake unless there’s anything else you need me for?”
“No, you’re fine Archie, you get yourself off,” I I stand to show him out, “and please, it’s Alex.” I reiterate yet again.
He smiles as I walk him to the door and wave him off. I’m on my own….
Freeing Alex (The Alexandra Drake Series) Page 30