The Glass Knot-mmf (19 page)

“No,
I can’t be bothered with all the questions the guys will ask,” he said with a
grin. “Me showing up with a beautiful woman on my arm, I’ll never hear the end
of it.” He pulled me close. “But of course they’ll have to meet you sooner or
later.”

“They
will?”

“Yeah,
you’re going to be sticking around for a bit, aren’t you?”

I
thought of my damp, miserable flat and the way my heart soared ten times a
minute when I was at Barn View. “Yes, for a while.”

He
kissed me, his soft lips gentle but at the same time strong.

I
slotted my arms around his waist, absorbing his strength and his heat. When he
broke the kiss I asked, “Don’t they know about Nick?”

He
frowned slightly. “I don’t advertise the fact that I’m in a gay marriage, but
it’s not a big secret either. They’re a good bunch of blokes. Yeah, of course
there was some ribbing, still is, and occasionally there’s a nasty comment, but
it’s usually from an outsider and then my team are quick to fight my corner.”

“They
sound like good friends.”

“They
are. It’s what comes from facing life-and-death situations together. You become
a lot more tolerant, a lot more willing to live and let live.” He looked
thoughtful.

“What?”

“Well,
I suppose I need to have a re-think. Yes, I’m married to a guy, but you’re in
my life now.”

I
cocked my head for him to go on. I sensed there was more.

“I
always knew I wasn’t on the extreme end of gay. That possibly I was bi, but I
never actually thought anything would come of it, especially after I married
Nick.”

“And
now I’ve gone and changed that.”

He
grinned. “You certainly have, but I can’t imagine being with any other woman other
than you, and I certainly can’t imagine my life without Nick.”

“You
don’t need to, you have both of us.” I glanced at the clock. “But you should
go, you’ll be late.”

He
checked his watch. “Oh, shit, yes, you’re right. See you later.”

“I’m
cooking,” I said. “So don’t grab anything to eat while you’re out.”

He
swooped up his jacket and dashed out the kitchen door. Two minutes later the
meaty roar of his Subaru vibrated around the cottage.

“He’s
finally got himself going then,” Nick said, strolling into the kitchen and
flicking on the kettle.

“Yes,
and I’m going to walk to the farm shop at the other end of the village and get
something for dinner. I’ll cook.”

“You
want me to drive you?”

“No,
it’s fine, I fancy the walk.”

He
peered out the window. “It looks like rain. Have you got a coat?”

What’s
with the fussing?

“I’ll
be fine, it’s not far.”

“Well
here’s some cash, they don’t take cards up there.”

I
stared at the two twenty pound notes he tossed onto the island. I’d been
relying on using my credit card. One of them, if I’d worked it out correctly,
had another thirty pounds before I hit my limit. “Oh,” I managed. “They don’t?”

“No,
so take it,” Nick said. “And get a bottle of wine too. They do English wine
there, it’s really good.”

Wishing
I could afford to treat them both to dinner but knowing it was impossible, I
took the cash and folded it into my purse. “I’ll see you in an hour or so
then.”

He
studied me with a frown. “You sure you don’t want me to take you?”

I
walked over to him, rested my hand on his upper arm. “I’ll be fine. I’ve got
some things to straighten out in my head, and then, perhaps, when I come back
we’ll make dinner together. I’d like that.”

He
smiled, a warm genuine smile that stretched the tiny scar on his chin, the bit
where no stubble grew. I noticed the hint of a dimple too—a dimple that
just didn’t belong on such a masculine face.

It
was then I realized Nick was getting under my skin and into my heart just as
much as Josh was. If I’d been denying that fact, then I couldn’t any longer.
Nick was part of
us
.

Two
hours later, with carrier bag handles digging into the soft pads of my fingers
and huge rain spots peppering my t-shirt, I wished I’d taken Nick up on his
offer of a lift. The sky was the color of steel, the humid air oppressive. I
still had the High Street to walk down before I got back to Barn View and the
thought of the Bentley was very appealing.

I
picked up my pace against sheets of water blasting across from the fields like
vaporous ghosts. At least I’d found all the ingredients I wanted for dinner.
Olives, chutney and turkey breasts, plus I’d loaded up with every fresh
seasonal vegetable I could get my hands on and newly baked bread. Nick’s
request for English wine, however, was what was weighing down the bag, as was
the huge lump of mature cheddar I just hadn’t been able to resist.

Several
cars passed by, their tires hissing through the growing puddles. A bus splashed
water up from the gutter, soaking my feet. Eventually, I pushed my way through
the garden gate. Water dripped off the end of my nose, and as a streak of
lightning was accompanied by a wild clap of thunder, I ran the last few steps
up to the door. It wasn’t locked and I barged in, my breaths short and my clothes
sticking to my skin.

“I
was just coming to look for you.”
Nick
stood in the center of the hallway with his feet hip width apart and car keys
in hand.

I
slammed the door and leaned back against it, catching my breath. I blinked away
rain drops and looked at him as a blinding flash of lightning seared through
the bay window. His outline flickered, his face coming twice, three times into
brilliant, bright definition.

“It’s
horrid out there.” I put the bag on the floor, being careful to place it on the
hessian mat and not on the wooden flooring. “I should have a towel before I
drip everywhere.”

There
was not a dry square inch on my whole body. My t-shirt had become see- through,
my thin lace bra outlined in detail, and my nipples, much to my embarrassment,
could be clearly made out.

I
shivered as trickles of water ran from the hem of my short skirt onto my knees
and down my shins. Pulled my wet hair from where it had stuck to my cheeks, and
looked at Nick again.

He
was staring at me, lips parted, brows low, eyes ablaze.

A
huge crack of thunder roared around us.

Suddenly
I didn’t feel so chilled anymore. There was something wild about his expression
that was making me as hot as hell. My heart skipped, like a stone over a pond,
tripping and fast.

His
keys landed on the hard floor with a noisy clatter.

“Nick?”

Silence.

“Nick,
what is it?”

Silence.

“Nick,
you’re scaring me.”

“Not
half as fucking much as I’m scaring myself.” His sizzling gaze roamed my body,
from my head right down to my toes. The hairs on my arms rose, goosebumps
attacked me, my nipples jutted out even farther.

“What…what
do you mean?” I asked.

“I
need to try something.”

Between
one gasping breath and the next he was in front of me. His nostrils flared and
his teeth gritted as he harnessed my wrists and pinned them to the door on
either side of my head.

“Nick,
I…what…?”

He
dropped his head to mine, his lips just a hair’s-breadth away. I could see
flecks of amber at the base of his irises, like whiskey glinting through
crystal.

“Keep
still,” he snapped.

I
sucked in a sharp breath, breathed in his darkly spiced scent.

“Don’t
move,” he murmured, a twitch tugging at his cheek.

His
lips touched mine, just, gently at first, but within a few seconds urgency
overspilled.

“Nick,”
I gasped, thoughts, emotions and desire spinning inside me. “What—?”

“Ah,
you feel and taste amazing. I knew you would. I want you, Laura. I want to hear
you come again. I want to feel your pussy around my dick and your little body
in my arms. I want to have what Josh has with you. I want you to be mine too.”

Oh
my God.

I
didn’t get a chance to respond, because he was kissing me again, hard and
desperate. His tongue delving deep and his stubble raking over my chin. I was
glad to be pinned to the door, because his frenetic determination to kiss and
get close to me had my knees watery and weak and my stomach doing wild
somersaults. I never thought Nick would want me. But it seemed he did.

I
kissed him back, showing him with my mouth and my tongue how much I approved of
his advances. I wanted him too. Desperately.

Oh,
my God, what are we doing?

I
struggled and twisted from his kiss. “Nick, we can’t, what about Josh?” How
could I do this again, come between them? I was such a selfish cow.

“It’s
okay, it will be okay,” he said breathlessly, his body pressing into mine and
holding me secure.

“But
we can’t go behind his back, we can’t do this and—”

“Shh.”
His lips were hovering over mine. “Josh will understand, in fact he’ll be
thrilled if we get it together.” He kissed me again.

“Nick,”
I mumbled into his mouth. “I—”

“And
it’s not behind his back, we’ll tell him the minute he gets in. Josh will be
cool with it, like I said before, I know him better than he knows himself.”

“Are
you sure?” I searched his eyes, desperate to see the truth in what he was
saying.

“Yes,
Josh will understand, perfectly, Laura, things are different now, trust me.”

I
swallowed tightly and tried to keep sight of rational thought through my foggy
haze of lust.

“Laura,
do you want me?” Nick’s voice was tense, fraught.

“Yes,
oh, yes, but I don’t know how when I want Josh too.” I shook my head, confusion
spinning in my brain. “But yes, Nick, yes, I care about you so much and I want
you too.”

The
twitching muscle in his cheek was hammering along at an alarming pace. “And you
understand me?” he asked through gritted teeth.

“Yes,
I do, I really understand you, what you want and what you need.”

“So
what the hell are we waiting for?”

“But,
Josh—?”

“This
will make Josh’s fucking day. I promise.”

Okay,
I’m persuaded.

It
was me who kissed Nick this time, my need and want billowing up my body and
pouring out through my lips.

He
groaned, captured my wrists in one hand and hoisted them way above my head. With
his other, he palmed my breasts.

I
arched my back, always wanting more on my breasts. The sensation of wet
material and firm big hands was exquisitely rough and I gave into my greed.

His
kisses traveled across my damp cheek and down my dripping neck. “I didn’t think
I’d ever feel like this again for a woman,” he gasped. “But I can’t help myself
with you.”

“Nick,
oh, God, please…”

He
grabbed the base of my skirt and yanked the small scrap of material upward, over
my hips. There was tightness around my buttocks and a ripping sound. My thong being
swiftly removed.

Finally
he released my wrists, but only so he could tear open his fly.

I
grabbed his shoulders, unable to bear a moment of no connection. His hard
muscles were tight and moving frantically.

“Ah,
sweet baby,” he said, slamming my body into the door with his own. “I need to
get inside you.” In one swift move he lifted me up so we were face level.

I
wrapped my legs around his waist. My wet clothes stuck to his now damp ones,
but I barely registered the cold anymore. His plump cock was nudging at my
entrance. His hard, wide head prodding forward. Getting him inside me was all
that mattered.

A
strobe of lightning filled the now dark hallway, thunder bellowed alongside it.
He tunneled right to the hilt on the first thrust, his cock long and rigid. Our
cries mingled with the thunder shaking the cottage.

“Ah,
yeah, that’s amazing,” he ground out. “Ah, fuck, Laura. Is this what you want?”

I
locked my feet in the small of his back, cupped his sharply stubbled cheeks in
my palms. “Yes, I want you to be part of me too,” I panted onto his lips. “So fuck
me, Nick, make me come again.”

It
was as though something in him snapped. If he’d been wild before, now he was
positively animalistic. He shunted in, pulled out, forged back in harder. I
hung on for the wild ride, my back pressed against the door and my thighs
clinging to his waist. His thrusts were too jarring for us to kiss. It was all
about satisfaction, increasing the speed, the friction, the pressure building
in our bodies.

I
shouted out, loud and abandoned to let him know how fabulous he was making me
feel.