by Georgia Rose
He gently pulled out of me, and rolling onto his side looked at me a little anxiously.
Emotionally overwhelmed, tears had formed, and though I tried to blink them away a couple leaked out, running down my temples. He noticed, and speaking softly but with a voice full of concern he asked: “Hey, what’s wrong?” I shook my head, suddenly unable to speak. “I’m sorry, was that not okay? I’m sure I can do better, it was a little rushed.” I couldn’t bear the look on his face; I’d ruined this for him and I hadn’t meant to. All of a sudden he didn’t seem his usual confident self at all, but more vulnerable, uncertain. “I’m sorry but I’ve been desperate for you since I last left here – you’ve been all I’ve been able to think about.”
“It wasn’t only you that found it a long two days,” I reassured him, finding my voice. “And that was…” I hesitated. “That was…” Incapable of thinking of the appropriate words, I saw his brow crease in concern. “That was…more than okay.” It was inadequate for how I was feeling but all I could come up with.
“More than,” he repeated, his face relaxing as he suddenly appeared inordinately pleased with himself.
“Yes…I’m sorry about my reaction, it was unexpected. I know it’s been a long time but I don’t remember it being quite that intense.”
“That must be the whole delayed gratification thing.”
“Maybe we should leave it another year before trying it again then,” I teased.
He replied dryly, “Yeah, I don’t think that will be happening.”
We lay there for a while, relaxed, and enjoying being with each other.
“Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” I asked.
“Tell you what?”
“How you felt about me.”
“I couldn’t risk you running from me.”
I stared at him, puzzled, as he explained further.
“When should I have told you, Em – at Christmas, your birthday, that night in the gym or on one of the many other times we’ve been together? Be honest with yourself, your mind has been so set against having a relationship, if I’d made a move, you would have run. I’d heard what you’d done to the others who’d asked you out and didn’t want to get blown out like that.”
I thought about this for a moment then nodded in agreement. “Yeah, I would have run.”
“It had to come from you, like I said, you had to be ready. It’s been my job to be patient…well, that and to keep Carlton off you.”
I grimaced at this uncomfortable reminder before responding, “I wasn’t sure how you felt at all, I couldn’t read you – you were always so calm, controlled, and you seemed unaffected by me. I even gave you an opportunity.” I was specifically thinking of our picnic on Eva’s birthday.
“I know. I nearly did take that…you have no idea,” he said, grinning at me, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “But…I decided to play hard to get instead.” We both burst out laughing at that, and once we’d lapsed back into silence he carried on, his tone more serious now.
“I was definitely not unaffected by you, believe me. I’ve been trying to give you the time you needed, that’s all,” and he kissed my cheek softly before briskly announcing, “Anyway…changing the subject, I’m sorry to have to bring this to an end but we’ve been invited up to the Manor for a barbecue this evening. I actually only came over to invite you to it but then you seduced me and it went clean out of my head.” He started laughing at the feigned look of outrage on my face.
“I’ve worked up quite an appetite as it happens so a barbecue is a great idea,” I said, getting up. “I’ll just go and have a shower, then I’ll be ready.”
Trent leapt out of bed eagerly. “I’ll join you.”
We arrived at the Manor half an hour later. Trent got out of the truck and came round to open my door for me. Climbing out he took my hand, then leaning towards me he asked somewhat shyly, “May I stay the night with you?”
I liked that, his formality, the natural air of authority he exuded still there but taking nothing for granted, which I appreciated. As I replied simply, “Yes,” his slightly anxious expression changed to one of elation. Holding my hand as we walked from the car he dropped it as we passed through the gateway into the walled garden.
Grace looked up and, spotting us arriving, came straight across the lawn, hugging Trent and saying, “Welcome back.”
“Thanks, Grace,” he responded. “It’s been quite a homecoming.” Grinning, he winked at me over the top of Grace’s shoulder, and as she pulled away from him I saw a look of curiosity on her face as she glanced fleetingly at me, a small smile forming on her lips. I started to blush and looked away, realising it had not gone unnoticed that we both had wet hair.
Trent went to his apartment to get changed into jeans and a tee shirt but was back quickly as separately we mingled, drinking, chatting and eating, but throughout the evening I was acutely conscious of his presence, several times finding myself looking for him, and each time I found his face his eyes would come to meet mine and he’d smile softly, reassuringly in my direction. Later I helped by carrying some dishes into the kitchen and as I walked back out Trent was coming in; as we passed our hands brushed fleetingly, inconspicuously, his hand briefly enclosing mine, giving it the slightest squeeze, a touch so deliciously intimate I could feel it tingling throughout my body.
It was looking like the gathering was going to go on for a while but at around ten I found Trent at my elbow announcing it was about time he got me back to do the late watering to give Carlton a break. We said our goodbyes and walked quickly out to the truck. When we got back to the yard I set off towards the stables but Trent quickly caught up with me, grabbing my hand and pulling me hard up against his body.
“I do actually have to do the watering you know, seeing as how you’ve cancelled Carlton.”
“I know and I’ll give you a hand with it. But come here first, I can’t keep my hands off you a moment longer.” Kissing me deeply he then added, “I’ve also cancelled your bodyguards – I told them I’d do the stint instead.”
“Oh…So I have my own personal bodyguard for the night…now that’s very appealing.”
We got the watering done at record-breaking speed and as we headed for the cottage Trent made a short detour to his truck and came back carrying a small bag.
“What’s in there, your pyjamas?” I teased.
He grinned across at me. “Damn it, I knew I forgot something…I’m not really used to the whole sleepover thing.”
“We’ll just have to see if we can manage without them then, won’t we?”
The next morning I woke to hear Trent moving around downstairs. My body was feeling relaxed though a little achy and I was tired, having not had much sleep. Pulling on my lounge pants and a vest top I went downstairs, greeting Susie when I entered the kitchen. Looking over at Trent I suddenly felt inexplicably shy. He was making breakfast and looked gorgeous with his hair all messed up; turning round he grinned at me.
“Morning, I have good news…I’ve made a breakthrough with Susie. She’s eaten the breakfast I made for her.” He was triumphant and it pleased me that it was so important to him. Coming across the kitchen he wrapped me up in his arms before he kissed me.
“Being invited into your bed last night has melted even her icy heart towards me. I was just going to bring you up some tea. How’re you feeling?” he asked.
“Well used,” I replied, smiling softly up at him. A look of concern clouded his face.
“I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
“No,” I reassured him. “I think I gave as good as I got…You were quite right though.”
He looked at me questioningly. “Right about what?”
“I can definitely remember you the next morning. In fact, every part of my body can remember everywhere you’ve been, every time it moves.” He glanced at me sheepishly; in fact, I thought I even detected him blushing a little. “And,” I added mischievously, “I’m damn glad I don’t have to get on a horse today.
” He chuckled. “I’d better go and get showered, dressed and out to work or there will be complaints from the yard about feeding being late,” I explained before kissing him, extricating myself from his arms and heading back upstairs. He soon joined me, hopping in the shower as I left it.
I’d finished feeding when he appeared by the feed room door.
“I’m going off to work. I’ll be busy over lunch but can I see you this evening?”
“I’d love that. I’m not going to go to the gym tonight so do you want to come round once you’re done? We could eat together,” I suggested.
“Excellent, see you later.” He kissed me longingly. “Something to keep me going,” he sighed before walking off to his truck.
I went in for breakfast and sat there dreamily, finding myself smiling as I thought about the night before. I turned the horses out into the paddock then started on the stables, singing to myself as I did so, only interrupted once by Stanton and Peters who arrived to do some work in the garden. I prepared everything for evening stables then turned my attention to tidying the yard.
I had some shopping to do so I went first to the saddlery for some fly repellent as both Monty and Zodiac were being bothered, and then the supermarket, thinking that if Trent was going to be staying over I’d better get in some supplies of food and drink. I was back by lunchtime and as I set about making myself a sandwich I noticed I’d received a food parcel from the Manor, including a small bunch of sweet peas in a vase on the table which must have come from the gardens.
After I’d eaten I had a nap, waking a couple of hours later feeling a lot better. I went to get the horses in and by six was back at the cottage and looking forward to seeing Trent, although aware it would probably be another hour or so by the time he’d hit the gym. As it was he arrived ten minutes later.
“I didn’t expect to see you yet,” I said, greeting him at the door, as he kissed me.
“I was eager to see you so thought I’d skip the gym,” he responded, smiling at me.
“That’s good to hear. I’d decided, before last night that is, that you were quite ambivalent in your feelings towards me.”
“What on earth would make you think that?” he replied, obviously surprised.
“Well the previous couple of times I’ve seen you, you more or less did a runner at the end of the evening, leaving me with a kiss on the forehead and another on the cheek. The signals you were giving out were quite confusing.”
“Sorry about that.” Putting his arms around me he continued, “You weren’t to know but I shouldn’t actually have been here at all. I had to snatch the brief trips home because I wanted to see you. However, it meant it was always a rushed visit and I couldn’t trust myself to kiss you the way I wanted to, knowing if I did I’d be lost in you and it would’ve been impossible for me to go back to work.” He looked down at me and I smiled gently.
“Show me,” I whispered and he brought his lips down to mine, his touch gentle, unexpectedly hesitant, and I knew what he meant when my body melted with desire.
He pulled back a little to look at me, his voice taut with need: “Bed?”
Taking his hand I led the way.
Sometime later, as we lay together, I asked quietly, “Can I ask you a question?”
“Anything.”
“How did you get your scars?” I’d noticed a second one, just above his hip, and I traced the line of it now with my finger.
“That one was from having my appendix out and the other one on my shoulder was the result of falling from a great height out of a tree and being impaled on a branch.”
“Ouch.” I was quiet for a moment, and then went off on a tangent. “I know I haven’t had that much experience of you yet but you do seem to have quite a voracious appetite for sex.” He chuckled. “So how have you managed all these months that I’ve known you without getting any?” I realised just as I said this that I’d made an assumption he hadn’t been getting any. For all I knew he’d been working his way through the estate, and this thought suddenly concerned me.
“I run every morning, work hard every day and work out harder in the gym every evening. All of that kind of takes the edge off.” He paused, before adding, “Plus I take cold showers,” and he closed his eyes as he reiterated, “lots and lots of cold showers. At least I’m not going to have to endure one of those for a while.”
“Ah, that explains the setting changes to my shower when you stayed here.” I remembered the water being freezing when I got in after him.
“Yes, that was a particularly difficult time, being that close to you – quite unbearable actually. Thank God that’s over.” Leaping out of bed he announced he was famished and was going to cook us some dinner.
“You cook? Brilliant, I’ll follow you down in a moment.”
Taking a quick shower I dressed in my lounge pants and a tee shirt before joining him in the kitchen. He had some new potatoes on to boil, a pan heating up and a bowl of salad made up and on the table.
“I see Mrs F has been busy,” he commented.
“Yes, I came back from shopping to find I’d received some treats in my absence. Isn’t she wonderful.”
“Absolutely,” he agreed as I walked up behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist in a hug before moving round to his side to see what he was cooking. He was dropping a steak into the pan and as I watched my eyes widened in surprise.
“Hey, wait a minute, what’s going on?” I questioned, gesticulating towards the pan.
“With what? I’m cooking the steaks how I’d normally do them – why, what would you usually do with them?”
“No, not that, the cooking is fine. It’s just there are two, two steaks. Don’t you see? If I get a food parcel I get one steak because there is one of me, not two. Why are there two steaks?” Hesitating, I stared at him, waiting for him to answer but he didn’t, he looked bemused, so I continued, explaining, “There are two steaks because they know you’re here, they know we’re together. How would they know that?” I asked in bewilderment. Trent had gone very still, didn’t answer and was concentrating hard, I thought, too hard on the steaks. “Trent? Have you told anyone?” I asked, although to be fair to him we hadn’t discussed keeping it from everyone else. It was just that I thought it was something private only the two of us were sharing for the moment.
“I haven’t told anyone…” he said slowly, still focusing on the steaks.
“But? Come on…I’m sensing hesitation,” I probed.
“I was whistling,” he admitted, his voice quiet.
“Whistling?” I repeated, not knowing what that had to do with anything.
“Yes, you know whistling, it’s a sign of happiness. I was doing it at work today…it was commented upon. Apparently I don’t normally sound happy.
“You must have been aware that some people have been watching us, Em, I think hoping we were going to get it together eventually and that is all it would have taken – me sounding happy. Plus the fact I cancelled Carlton doing the watering again, and the overnight guards, so I guess that confirmed it for them.”
“Ah.”
“Are you angry?” He winced theatrically, as if waiting for the blow to strike.
“No,” I laughed at his reaction as I said this. “I guess it was expecting a bit too much to keep anything secret around here and it’s probably a blessed relief for our friends. Anyway, I can hardly have a go at you when I could be accused of similar behaviour.” I made a face at him, looking a little guilty.
“Ah, now we’re getting it. What gave you away?”
“Singing…I was singing in the yard,” and I glanced up at him a little embarrassed.
“Oh, I would’ve loved to have heard that…What is it like, your singing?”
“Tuneless…but enthusiastic!”
“Brilliant,” he chuckled. “Right, dinner is ready. There’s a bottle of red over there I’ve opened for us as well.”
While we were eating I complimented him on his steak-cooking ability t
o which he replied, “Don’t get too excited about the fact you think I can cook, my range is basic.”
“I’m just delighted you know where the cooker is. How did you learn to cook?”
“By necessity rather than anything else. I’ve been on my own a long time so I had to do something to keep myself alive. But in fairness I’ve had a lot of support from Mrs F and a couple of others who’ve provided me with food, so like I said, my skills are fairly limited.” There was silence for a few moments while we concentrated on the food, then I couldn’t hold back any longer.
“A couple of others?” I questioned, looking at him expectantly. He gazed back at me with a puzzled expression on his face, feigning his lack of understanding.
“You said ‘Mrs F and a couple of others’,” I clarified.
“Ah…hoped I might have gotten away with that.”
“Not a chance,” I said, and he sighed.
“A couple of the girls have tried to…how would you put it…make advances on me over the years by trying ‘the way to a man’s heart is via his stomach’ route.”
“And did that work?” I questioned, trying to sound nonchalant.
“No, it didn’t. I’m not good at being pursued, and just so you know, Em, I’ve not had a relationship with anyone on the estate. I’ve actually not wanted to be in a relationship since Zoe and although I’ve tried the casual sex thing it doesn’t do it for me. I enjoy the chase, and let’s face it, no one has ever had to chase a girl for as long as I have had to chase you.” I felt some relief as this certainly allayed my earlier concerns.
“I’m surprised you wanted to, especially after I gave you such a hard time when I was first here.”
“I think that’s what interested me – you were a challenge, and who doesn’t like a challenge?” and he flashed his eyes at me, smiling as he said this.