Divorced, Free, and Single

by Rosemary Lynch

  Half way through is first pint, his mouth stopped on the rim of the glass as his eyes caught sight of a woman in a short, tight fitting, purple dress. Her long, brunette hair, swished as she danced, she was laughing, and messing about with a group of girls. Alexander Hartley-Stone lowered the glass from his mouth as his heart jolted. It pounded in his chest, and for the first time in his entire life, he was mesmerised by a woman. It was as if a ray of sunshine illuminated her from the rest, she was beautiful, stunning, and every now and then, she glanced over her shoulder at him.

  At her fourth glance, he caught her eye and smiled, and his eyes widened as she smiled back. He needed to talk to her and find out who she was, but he was not certain whether he should, or even if he could for that matter. He never had time for a girlfriend, occasional flings and that was about it. Work was his life and no one ever touched his heart enough for him to consider giving it up. Yet, something about her sparked an immediate interest, and he was not sure why.

  ***

  The girls hit the dance floor with Emily and Edward, and during the crappy songs, they drank more. As Jane danced, a strange feeling washed over her, as if someone was looking at her. She turned and looked towards the bar, and there was a man sitting there, he was wearing a dark, pinstriped suit. She looked away, but as she joked about with the girls, she kept getting the urge to look back at him. It was as if he was willing her by the force of his gaze. As she turned for the fourth time, he caught her eyes and smiled. Embarrassed that he caught her staring at him, she twitched a smile and turned back.

  As the evening drew to a close Claire and Sophie decided to hook up with the two fellas they met, and they were taking the party back up to their room.

  “Jane, baby, are you sure you don’t want to come?” Sophie asked. She was totally pissed. Jane hugged her and shook her head, as she did not think she was quite ready for that yet.

  “No, I am fine, besides,” she said, glancing back over to the man who sat at the bar. “I have my eye on someone,” she told her. Sophie followed her gaze.

  “Oh yeah, baby,” she laughed, and she rummaged in her bag.

  “Here take these,” she said, pushing a packet of condoms into her hand.

  “Soph,” Jane said embarrassed, and she slipped them into her bag.

  “What, seriously, Jane, you would be mad not too,” she said, kissing her cheek. Jane glanced back at him, and thought how right she was.

  “Will you be okay, honey?” Claire asked, as she staggered over to her.

  “She’s got her eye on that guy at the bar,” Sophie told her. Claire glanced over to him and smiled at Jane.

  “Good for you hon, now get over there and pull him,” she ordered.

  “I don’t think I can,” Jane said. She gave birth to Jack and Michael after her seventeenth birthday, far too young, but she decided to keep her babies, and Sam had insisted on marrying her. To be honest, she did not know what sex with another man would be like. For her sex was not that great with Sam, his needs always came first and if she enjoyed it, it was her lucky night. She certainly never experienced any of those ‘amazing’ orgasms that Sophie and Claire were always going on about.

  Sam and Jane were divorced two weeks ago, although separated, for a year. In that time, Claire and Sophie tried, many times to fix her up with a fella. She could not bring herself around to the idea of sleeping with a stranger or doing it until she was official divorced and a free woman. Jane knew she had to get over it or become a nun for the rest of her life, and the latter she did not fancy.

  Claire slapped her face, quite hard.

  “What the hell did you do that for?” Jane yelled at her, holding her hand to her stinging cheek. The man at the bar looked over to them.

  “You make me sick,” she said, and she threw her glass of white wine over her dress.

  “Claire!” Jane screamed at her. “This dress cost sixty quid!” Claire winked at her, and turned around. She grabbed Sophie’s arm and dragged her away. They collected the fellas on the way through and disappeared out of the doorway, leaving Jane speechless and wet.

  “Here,” he said. She turned, and her legs wobbled as his deep, green eyes settled on hers. Close up, he was even more gorgeous, tall, dark, and handsome.

  “Sorry?” she mumbled, as her voice caught in her throat.

  “For the mess,” he said, gazing at her. In his hand, he held a cloth napkin.

  “Oh, right, thanks,” Jane, said, as she took it from him.

  “So what was that all about?” he asked, and his eyes skimmed her face; god, he thought, close up she was even more beautiful.

  “I have no idea,” she replied, wiping her dress and thinking that it didn’t look too bad.

  “Can I get you a drink?” he asked with a smile, they had broken the ice, so he was not about to let her walk away. She caught her breath at his sexy smile. “I am Alexander by the way - Alex.” He shortened.

  “Jane,” she replied. “Sure, I’d love a drink, thanks.” She followed him to the bar and climbed onto a stool.

  “What will you have?” he asked, as he sat next to her. He closed his eyes for a second and inhaled her and a surge of desire for her flooded through his entire body.

  “Champagne cocktail, please,” she said.

  “What the lady said and a pint, thank you,” he said to the bartender. She blinked at she looked at him, never in all her life was so attracted to a man as she was right now, it was bloody ridiculous. His smooth, well-spoken English accent was turning on like crazy. The bartender placed a glass in front of her, and when she could pull her eyes way from him, she picked it up and took a sip.

  “So where do you know Emily and Edward from?” she asked, making light conversation, and trying to keep her body from trembling every time he looked at her. It must be the alcohol, she told herself, and it was making her stupid.

  A flush of heat surge though Alex, and he took off his suit jacket and chucked it on the stool beside him. He leaned towards her, and as he spoke softly, his voice sent delightful shivers through her entire body.

  “I do not know either of them,” he confessed. He sat back up, and lifted his pint to his mouth and drank.

  “So what are you doing here?” Jane whispered.

  “I am here on business. I attended a meeting this afternoon that ran over, so I thought I would stop over for the night. Do you have any idea how boring it is sitting in a hotel room all by yourself.” She shook her head, and noticed he was not wearing a wedding ring. “I came down for a drink, saw the party, and thought, what the heck.”

  “That’s bold,” she said.

  “Not really, what is that chance of everyone knowing everyone at a party?”

  “None, I guess,” she agreed, and she took another gulp of her cocktail, alarmed by how aroused she was by him.

  “Exactly, see no risk at all. So, Jane, what do you do for a living?” he asked, glancing at her. His eyes wandered over her shoulders, he looked at her beautiful neck, her cleavage, and he took another sip of his lager.

  “I’m a PA,” she said, well she was almost, in other week. “You?” she asked.

  “A Director,” he said. She raised her eyebrows, impressed. “Very boring,” he added.

  “Why is that?” she asked. He shrugged.

  “I have been doing it for ever. Sometimes I think it would be nice to do something else. I hit forty a few weeks ago and I guess I am having that middle age crisis people always talk about,” he said, his eyes lifting to hers. “Are you married?” he asked. She shook her head.

  “No, two weeks divorced,” she replied, with relief in her voice and she looked up at him. “My husband had a mid-life crisis,” she said, with a smile. “His answer was a blonde bimbo half his age called Urshula.”

  “I am sorry,” he replied, raising an eyebrow. He was, but he was also glad she was not married.

  “Don’t be, I’m not,” she replied, swallowing at the realisation that she spent a whole year without having her face
rearranged.

  “He must have been mad,” he added, and her cheeks burned, her heart pumping at the intensity of his eyes on her. “You are very beautiful,” he added, before he could stop the words coming out of his mouth. She looked away from him, her cheeks burning, was he flirting with her? He smiled at her embarrassment; she was not used to having a man tell her she was beautiful, he liked that she did not realise how stunning she was.

  “What about you?” she asked, as she looked back at him. He shook his head.

  “No, I never had the time. Children?” he asked. She nodded.

  “Yes I have two boys at University, Michael, and Jack,” she said.

  “Really, you do not look old enough,” he replied. He was trying to guess her age and he put her around her early thirties.

  “Thanks. I had them very young. So if you could do what you wanted, what would you do?”

  “Well, first it would have to be a worldwide trip. The US, Australia, so on. After that, I have no idea.” Jane knocked back another champagne cocktail, even though her head was dizzy, she was looking for a little Dutch courage. This man was so hot, and the more she looked at him the more she wanted to sleep with him. Sam had been her one and only sexual partner, and the thought of sleeping with Alex was both terrifying and exciting. They chatted for an hour, ignoring the staff as they cleaned up the room behind them. She found Alex easy to talk too, and he made her laugh, a lot. The barman announced last orders and she sighed, as she was enjoying his company.

  Alex looked at her, and he was not ready to let her go yet. This was not his thing, picking up girls in bars, but he found himself unable to stop.

  “Fancy a nightcap, Jane?” he asked.

  “Sure, do you want to come back to my room?” she offered nonchalant, but the heat flooding to her cheeks gave her true thoughts away.

  “That would be nice,” he replied, with a smile and he brought a bottle of champagne.

  She was a little drunk, and she stumbled into the lift and leaned against the side to steady herself. Alex put one hand on the lift wall, and leaned into her. Jane’s heart was pumping ten to the dozen at the way he looked at her. Their eyes met and held, and lust smouldered like fire waiting to erupt.

  “So,” Jane said, in an attempt to distract herself. “Do you come here often?” Alex laughed and as he did, he swept his fingers through his hair. Jane’s legs almost gave way beneath as he moved his face towards her.

  “You are a very funny woman,” Alex said, and unable to control the urge, he kissed her. For a moment, Jane gave into his kiss, and it was like an elixir that sent a rush of arousal throughout her entire body. She pulled back, as a slight wave of panic shot through her. What was wrong with her? She was throwing herself at a man she had known for an hour.

  “Hey, who said you could kiss me?” she rushed, as her eyes caught his. For a second, Alex stood back as his common sense took over again.

  “I am sorry,” he said, “I could not help myself, you are so beautiful.” Her whole body buzzed with excitement as his gaze moved from her eyes back to her mouth. Alex stared at her, hell he wanted her so much. His free hand now on her hip, he pressed her against the lift wall and his mouth descended, his tongue slipping around hers. Oh god, she did not stand a chance, as his kiss was so deep, so sensual, it was like a drug, and she wanted more, lots more.

  The lift door pinged open, and she slipped out of his grip and made her way to her room. Alex followed behind, watching her as she fumbled with the key card.

  “So, can I come in or not?” he asked, he wanted to be with her, but he did not want to frighten her. She turned to him, took a breath, and pushed the door open wider. Alex stepped past her and flicked on the light. Jane, what are you doing! She could hear herself saying. He slung his jacket over a chair and put the bottle of champagne and glasses onto the dressing table. She glanced towards the bed and the contents of her overnight bag spilled out all over it.

  “Wow, nice room,” he said. “It is better than mine,” he added.

  “Yes, well I thought I would treat myself,” she replied as she hurried over, scooped the contents back inside her bag, and shoved it on the floor. He uncorked and poured the champagne.

  “There you go,” he said, giving it to her.

  “Thank you,” she said, taking it from him. The energy coming from him shook her to the core. She wanted to, but she was not sure what to do about it and to be honest, she was a little scared. As they sat down on the bed, Jane knocked back her drink.

  She inhaled his scent and despite her fear, it sent delightful shivers down her spine, and she wanted him to kiss her again.

  Alex looked at her, she was so stunning, and her eyes swallowed him whole. He put his glass onto the bedside table, and as he lifted a hand to her face, she flinched back. Alex’s heart leapt to his throat as he saw the panic in her eyes.

  “Hey, I am not going to hurt you,” he said, his eyebrow rising at her. She took a breath as he cupped her cheek. Her scent was intoxicating, and her skin so soft under his fingers, but he hated the thought of her being scared. As much as he wanted to love her, he would not if she was scared of him.

  “Jane, if you do not want to do this, that is fine,” he said. “We can just talk?” She shook her head, as she needed to get over this fear of men.

  “No, I – want to, Alex. It’s just, well I don’t really know you,” she replied.

  “Nor I you,” he replied, “but to be perfectly honest, I find you rather compelling.”

  Jane felt the heat rise to her cheeks and she found it hard not to fall into his deep, green eyes.

  “So tell me, Jane, what is your favourite sandwich?” he asked. She twitched a smile back at him.

  “Prawn, with lettuce, a little mayo on wholemeal.”

  “Mine is beef and horseradish, also on wholemeal. Your favourite pastime?” he asked.

  “Painting,” she replied.

  “Writing,” he replied, with a hand pressed to his chest. “Food?”

  “Chinese.”

  “Mine too,” he replied, with a rise of his eyebrow. “Type of book or movie?” he asked.

  “Fantasy or adventure, preferably both,” she whispered.

  “Really, mine too,” he whispered back, and his face moved nearer to hers. “See already we know so much more about each other, and it appears with have a lot in common.”

  Jane trembled at his breath as is caressed her face and she closed her eyes expectantly. His lips brushed lightly against hers, and it sent fire racing through her veins.

  Alex’s heart did a skip, hop, and a jump as his lips found hers. A charge of electricity shot though his entire body and he pulled her to him, his mouth claiming hers with a deep, demanding kiss.

  She dropped the glass to the floor and swept her arms around his neck as they lay back on the bed.

  “I do not usually do this,” he said, as he kissed her earlobe, and his hands burrowed into her hair.

  “What?” she asked.

  “Pick up women in hotels, really I do not,” he insisted.

  “Me - neither,” she said, and he was aware of her body tensing as he trailed kisses around her throat.

  He pulled back and looked at her.

  “Do not be scared of me, I would never hurt you, and if you want to stop, just say,” he said, insistently. Her eyes shot over him, and as she caught the softness in his eyes, she relaxed and let her body respond to his.

  “Your favourite colour?” he whispered.

  “Blue,” she murmured.

  “Mine too,” he mumbled. His mouth met hers again and she kissed him, long and hard.

  As his hand ran down the length of her body, he pushed against her, and she moaned as his erection rubbed against her thigh. God she wanted this so much, she wanted to know what it was like to have a man make love to her, and not just have sex.

  Jane unbuttoned his shirt, and she ran her hands across his firm, muscular, chest.

  Alex quivered at her touch, and his f
ingers slipped inside her dress and teased out her breast.

  She gave another gentle moan as he toyed with her nipple, and rubbed it between his finger and thumb. He broke from their kiss, and looked at her.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, and she nodded.

  “Favourite animal,” she moaned, the thought of making love to man, never enticed her as much as it did now, his eyes were wide and lustful, and it was driving her insane.

  “Cat,” he groaned.

  “Unicorn,” she whispered.

  “Not a real animal,” he replied.

  “Don’t care,” she gasped, and she slipped her hand to his trousers and fumbled to undo them; reaching inside she took his length.

  Alex moaned as she took hold of him, and as she ran her hand up and down his huge, hard, cock he wanted her so much. Alex shifted position, and he pressed his lips to her neck, inhaling her as he kissed her. He moved to her collarbone, and swept across her chest, moving down until his mouth found her nipple. A wave of pleasure shot though his body as he sucked and nipped at it hard. Jane could not help but cry out, as it sent a shock-wave of tingles straight down to her pussy.

  At her cry, Alex’s other hand moved to her back, and he undid her zip. She wriggled out of her dress, let it drop to the floor, and lay in her knickers. Alex stared at her sexy body, and his trembling fingers ran along the edge of the elastic, and with two hands, he pulled her knickers down to her ankles. He knew she was so turned on and most of all, she was not scared anymore.

  Alex looked at her, waiting, relaxed and ready for him and he was determined that she would not regret it in the morning. He slipped two, three fingers deep inside her, she was wet, and she gasped as she climbed. He swept them back and forth, in and out, up between her buttocks and back around the front, grabbing a handful of her pussy and squeezing it.

  Alex stopped, he lifted his eyes, and meeting hers, he smiled. He removed his hand from her, stood up, and slipped off his shirt.

  Jane gazed at his wonderful, strong body, he was fit, tight and muscular, not bad for a man recently turned forty.

  He slipped off his trousers, and her eyes widen as he removed his underpants, and she stared at his huge erection, ready for her.