An Acute Attraction (5 page)

Chapter 3

                While Marc carries the hamper, I help by carrying the large argyle blanket that also just happens to mysteriously appear. We walk through different parts of the woodland, drifting further and further away from the house and having the pick of acres of land, we choose a shaded area in a small clearing amongst the trees that must be hundreds of years old. They stand tall and proud, as though looking over and protecting us. We devour the feast that has been prepared for us and then lay back on the blanket. The kitchen did a great job of putting together an array of sweet and savoury delights and the bottle of Fizz was a lovely touch, even if Marc could only have one glass. Now we both lie back full and contented; Marc with one arm behind his head and his ankles crossed looks relaxed and satisfied. Having folded up a jumper, I rest my head back happy and enjoying the peace and tranquillity of the place. Just then Marc rolls on to his side, faces me and his voice breaks the silence.

               “How is it that you have never found happiness?”

                 Feeling him move a stray strand of hair away from my mouth I reply truthfully.

                “I thought I had at the time. I married for all of the right reasons and believed in the vows we exchanged. Unfortunately happiness got lost along the way through the actions of others; I also lost trust with it. I was with him for a long time and loved him with all of my heart, until he did what he did and I will never forgive him for it. The marriage ended a few years back now and thankfully he is no longer in our lives, so hopefully I will eventually find happiness or it will find me. The children don’t need another father, but I crave the companionship and physical contact. To live and laugh again with a soul partner isn’t much to ask for you would have thought, but it seems it is.” I didn’t mean to sound all melancholy, but that’s what some of my past is.

                 I turn to face him. “What about you? You’re an attractive, intelligent guy. I find it hard to believe that you’re on your own.”

                 Marc sniggers at my question and observation.

               “Believe it. I’ve had relationships, some might say a few too many, but once they see that money isn’t everything they pack up and leave. Don’t get me wrong I enjoy pampering and treating the woman in my life, but some took advantage of the situation. When I didn’t pull my Amex card out that week to buy the latest pair of shoes or designer bag a few would get either get bitchy or moody. I would like a woman to be with me for reasons beyond the dollar signs.”

                  Even though I can’t identify with his situation, I can still empathise with the frustration he must be feeling. Why can’t people take us for who we are?
                “I admit having money must be wonderful. Not having to worry as much, being able to do what you want when you want to. I’ve never experienced that, but being in this position I am appreciating so much more. I am not saying people with money don’t, but I can appreciate what it’s like to go without as well as the excitement of going with. In the end if a person is happy with what and who they’ve got, that’s all that matters. We are who we are and that should be good enough.”

                 “I couldn’t agr
ee with you more Miss Chambers. You are a wise, funny, beautiful woman and if anyone thinks anything different then more fool them. As for those in the past, it is their loss that they let you slip you away or hurt you and you deserve far better.”

                  Looking into his eyes, I can see right through to his heart and soul and I know instantly that he is talking with both of them.

                 There is a couple of seconds of stillness and quiet before Marc lowers his head down to kiss me. The softness of his lips is enticing. He rests one hand on my stomach and the other above my head for balance. We don’t rush. There is no-one else around, only us. I moan softly into his mouth and I feel the need to touch him, so bringing my hand up to his cheek I caress his slightly bristly jaw line. The connection between us makes my skin tingle and gradually Marc’s hand skims over my top, down towards the apex at my thighs. I instinctively open my legs so as to allow his hand to touch me there, where the ache for his touch is strongest. He accepts the invitation and moves his hand southwards. My breathing starts to quicken and breaking away from his lips I whisper,

                “Please Marc.”

                 At those two words Marc shifts down my body. Feeling his breath on my neck, I tilt my head back so that he has better access to allow him to trail feather like kisses down the side, creeping ever closer to my breast. I need more. I need to feel his skin against mine. I nonchalantly reach for the hem of his t-shirt, bringing it up over his head. Stretching his arms above him allows me to see his perfect torso.
Oh my!
My heart does literally skip a bit, and here’s me thinking that it only happens in romance novels! I lean forward to kiss his throat and down towards his midriff. I hear Marc moan and then returning his attention to me; he removes my top inhaling sharply as he sees my voluptuous bosom.

               “My Miss Chambers, I don’t believe I have had my dessert yet and I am not leaving here until I’ve had it!”

                 I giggle like a school girl,
yes I know
, when he bends down to kiss my breast. Marc shifts his body so that he is now straddling my hips. Looking down to where his body meets mine, I have no reason to ask if he is enjoying himself, the answer is there right in front of me! The waves of emotion I feel at this point overwhelm me.  Covering his body with mine we are lost. We’re in our own little bubble and nobody or anything around us exists.

Chapter 4

             Feeling rather flushed and flustered, Marc and I right our tops brushing off twigs and dead grass. Glancing up at him I see that he has the same ridiculously satiated grin up on his face, that I expect I am wearing. It is the first time I notice the dimples next to his upturned mouth and I can’t help but smile even more.
Dammit can this guy look any hotter
. Going by the image that has instantly popped into my head, the answer to that would be yup! I swallow hard trying not to think about it just yet, but failing miserably I just go with the flow. Dear God, I may just self-combust if I carry on day dreaming any longer. My facial expression must have altered enough to cause concern with Marc.

           “Are you Ok Isabel. You've gone pretty pale there?”

             Striding towards me Marc grabs a hold of my hand; like that is going to help the condition I am in!

           “Erm yes! I think I just stood up bit too quickly. I’ll be fine in a minute or two.”

            Holding me steady, he looks on with regard to my wellbeing.

           “Just take a few deep breaths. In through your nose, out through your mouth; in through your nose, out through your mouth.”

            Marc demonstrates this action which I then copy. In through my nose, I inhale the musky scent of this man. Out through my mouth, I release a soft moan. I am going to pass out at this rate. Repeating the action, trying to stifle the moans, I then nod my head. "I'm feeling a lot better now. Thank you Marc.”

            “Okay. I don’t think the heat is helping much either” he says

             You’re telling me, I think as I feel it radiating off him. Come on Chambers, snap yourself out of it woman! Eventually getting myself together I gather up the argyle blanket to give it a shake before folding it. Marc is packing away the food that is left over when I hear him clear his throat.

             “I have to do my presentation at Christ’s College in Cambridge tomorrow and so I'm afraid once we’ve driven back to the hotel, I am going to have to finish off some of the planning that I had to leave until now.”

               I gesture to show that I don’t mind. After all, this is what he came over here for in the first place.

             “Oh gosh, yes
of course.” What the heck! The personality change has already begun; I am morphing from a Midlander into a posh Suffolk lass. 

             “I hope it goes as well as it can. It must be quite daunting to stand up in front of so many prestigious academics; I don’t think I could do it. Fronting an assembly in front of 260 little cherubs is frightening enough for me.”

              I will never get enough of Marc’s laugh. “It’s not the first time I have done something like this, so it is easier than what it was. I have done the; picturing the audience in their underwear, to help ease the nerves. It really didn’t put me at ease much, especially when you consider that some of these men and women are 60 years old plus!”

               I shudder at the visualisation that is now firmly ingrained on my frontal lobe of my brain; a stereotypical wrinkled, semi naked body wearing only Y-fronts or thermals….really!

             “Ew! Yes, that’s not a good picture and I can see how that might make it worse for you.” I shudder one last time.

             Looking back to Marc, I see him laughing.
I really must get used to the idea that this guy quite possibly has a super power in mind reading. Then again, you can’t tell me you weren’t thinking the same.

             Getting back to the task at hand, it doesn't take long for us to pack everything away and walk back to the car. Oh gawd! I have to climb back into this monster of a vehicle. So in the most ungainly manner, I manage to settle into my seat. As soon as we get on to the road I take in the rolling Suffolk countryside. Putting my head against the rest I can’t believe how exhausted I suddenly feel and it is when I close my eyes that Marc decides to speak up.

            “The University is hosting a formal dinner and dance tomorrow evening at the college and I would really like for you to come along as my guest, my plus one.”

              Ok hold on a second; let’s just say my eyes don’t stay shut for long when I have to digest what he has said. There are so many verbs and adjectives in those two sentences that scare me.
You can tell I'm a teacher can’t you?

             “Right”, is all I can come out with at this time! Once I have taken in what he’s just said, I swear my heart starts to palpitate.
Come on Chambers; don’t have a panic attack now.
It’s not like he’s broken it to me while we’re 35,000 feet in the air.
Yes I have a fear of flying, don’t laugh.
This is something my best friend Jackie only very recently found out when we went to Spain. She knew about the fear, but not the extent of it. So sitting next to a sobbing, hyperventilating wreck of a woman on take-off, I am surprised she didn't slap me senseless and I wouldn’t have blamed her one bit! It took most of the 2 hour flight for her to get the circulation back into her hand, only for the same to happen on landing.

               Anyway back to now. Not realising how long I had been away with the fairies for, I hear Marc say,

              “So when my pants split.”
Yup! That brings me back with a thud
. I turn my head sharply to him. “Huh?”

               Marc chuckles, “Where were you? You were here in body, but certainly not in mind.”

               Pinching the bridge of my nose to get some thought process back, I reply,

             “I’m sorry, but I am positive you have just asked me if I would be your guest at a formal dinner and dance tomorrow evening.”

               He looks at me briefly, “I did and I meant it. “

               I think aloud, “I didn't imagine it then?”

             “No Miss Chambers you didn't.”

               The tone of his voice turns around and sounding slightly worried he asks, “Is that a real problem for you? There truly is nothing to worry about.”

               I need to reassure him, but stumbling with my words, I all of a sudden feel coy. Taking a slow deep breath, I twist in my seat to face him.

           “Marc I have never been to a formal dinner and dance before, I have no idea what the etiquette is for these events and at such a distinguished venue I well…”

            Not knowing how to finish the sentence I trail off. However Marc still manages to fathom out what I'm trying to say. Taking one hand off the steering wheel, he reaches for my hand.

           “You have absolutely nothing to worry about Isabel. It’s no different to any other event similar to this. I suppose the word Formal does make it sound quite scary, but the only formality is the dress code.”