Forget Me Never (5 page)

              When I emerged from the bedroom he was standing on the balcony gazing out over the city. I gingerly joined him and stood silently beside him,

              “This is spectacular,” he marvelled.

              “It is,” I agreed. He turned to face me, looked me up and down, which made me feel self-conscious, “Is this okay?” I asked.

              “You always look sensational, no matter what you wear, Grace, everything looks incredible on you.”

              “Wait until you see me in my jogging bottoms and hoody then,” I joked.

              “Something I am already looking forward to.” He grinned

              I took that as a huge hint that he wanted to see me again, I just didn’t know where this would go. “Are we going now?” I asked.

              “I just have something to do first,” he stated.

              “Okay, well I’ll…” before I could utter another word he swept me into his arms and pulled me against his body. “I thought you had something to do,” I queried.

              “I do,” he smiled, “this.” He then pressed his soft lips to mine, this kiss was so much more than yesterday, deeper and more intense. This kiss caused my insides to flip around and my heart to thud in my chest, not to mention what was going on between my legs. Long and lingering, moving his lips as if he were tasting me, his tongue swept over mine and I saw stars, though I am sure they were not the stars Saff was referring to.

As his lips slowed, he pulled his mouth away his lips were smeared in my lip gloss, I smiled slightly and wiped my thump over his lips,

“Doesn’t the colour suit me or something?” he asked playfully.

              “No, it clashes with your shorts.” I replied flicking my eyes down at his chest, the few dark hairs peeping out of the top made my mouth water, why did I have to do that? Now I felt my cheeks redden again.

              “I have thought about you all night, I dreamed about you and I know its early days, but you have no idea of how much I want you right now.”

              With the throbbing appeasing between my legs, I did know, “You’d be surprised how much I understand where you are coming from.”

              “If I don’t let go of you now, I never will,” he smiled.

              “Then don’t let me go, ever.” I said and dived at his lips once more, he had fed me teaser taste of honey and now I wanted the whole hive.

              I pressed against him, his arms holding me firmly, his bulge in his shorts pressing against my thigh. I pushed my fingers through his hair, grabbing fistfuls. His fingers caressed my neck and I tingled. Just as I felt sure this was going to be it, I slowed my kissing, I chickened out.
Three days
, I told myself, three days was way too soon. I eventually pulled from his lips and gazed into his chocolate eyes.

              “Sorry, I don’t usually do or say things like that,” I explained.

              “Don’t ever apologise for anything to me, you are insatiable and I think I am hooked, Miss Matthews.” I couldn’t think of anything to say to that, it knocked me for six.

              “We should go for some, um, some breakfast before we leave.” I said pulling from his arms. He took out a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his lips. My eyes lingered on his crotch,
Dear God
, what the hell was wrong with me?

              “Ready when you are,” I snapped my eyes up to meet his and nodded.

              While in the lift I touched up my lip gloss and gazed at my green eyes, sparkling like fireworks were going off in them.

              “You look beautiful, Grace,” he remarked. I broke my gaze and looked at him, “No one has ever told you that before, have they?”

              “Only my dad,” I shrugged.

              “I like your dad already,” he beamed holding out his hand, I slipped my hand into his and enjoyed the warmth it gave me.

The lift opened and we walked to a table, I decided that I would just have a fruit salad. I needed something refreshing. Alec had ordered an omelette and fruit juice and I sipped warm tea while we waited. I smiled at him from across the table and tried very hard to convince myself that this was a holiday fling, that we would say goodbye in ten days and that would be the end of us. I wanted to believe it too, but something about him made me wonder if maybe we were meant to meet, maybe this was our destiny and maybe I was just some silly romantic who read too many books believing that valiant Knights fought for honour and that the good girl always gets the guy in the end.

              “What’s on your mind?” he asked.

              “Nothing,” I swallowed.

              “Are you finished then? We really should get going.” Then he frowned. “It’s Daniel’s day off, I don’t know if there will be another driver available.”

              “I have a sat nav, if you can put up with my driving, I will drive us.”

              “If you are sure?” he checked. I nodded and stood.

              “Come on, the dolphins and whales are calling us.”

I drove us to San Diego along the I-5. Alec commented on my driving a few times as we headed out of LA, but had relaxed a little more once we were out of the city. I was nervous of having him in the car with me, scrutinising my every move, it had put me on edge, when he finally relaxed, I did too and my driving improved.

We talked a lot more during the drive. He spoke proudly of his sister and her family, he told me more about his friends and how he felt sure they would like me. He reached over during the drive and lifted my hand, holding it on his lap as we rode the highway.

We arrived at SeaWorld just as it opened and as it was a Saturday, it was extremely busy. It felt good using the other ticket I had pre-booked on Alec. Though he insisted he pay me for the ticket, I refused to take the money from him. Instead I agreed that he could buy a park guide so we could find our way around.

I had no idea that SeaWorld was actually a theme park with rides and shows. I just thought it was sharks and dolphins a penguin or two, not a massive theme park with screamers on roller coasters and humans cooking in animal costumes. It all looked amazing, don’t get me wrong, but not what I had built up in my mind.

              We wondered around the many aquariums and tanks, we fed the ray fish and I actually touched the head of a dolphin, which is something I had always wanted to do. We watched the killer whale show and got soaked to the bone from the huge splashes they made in the pools. We laughed at the sea lions as they displayed their quirky little tricks and as the day progressed I enjoyed it a little more. Wandering around, hand in hand with Alec made me feel ten feet tall and I suppose as long as he was holding my hand, I would have gone anywhere.

We found a practically empty snack bar hidden along the path just up from the penguins and ordered hot dogs for lunch. Then we sat at a table and ate them in the blistering sun. I drank my soda dry and gazed around at a family feeding their children,

“Are you having a nice day?” he asked.

“Yes,” I smiled, “are you?”

“I am actually, although it has changed a lot since I was last here.” He replied.

“Would you mind if we go? I honestly only want to see the sea life.” I asked.

“Where shall we go next?”

“I don’t know,” I frowned.

“There are some beautiful beaches in the area, we could take a leisurely walk.” I knew what I wanted to do, I wanted to take him back to my room, but we had to adults, even if it was just for the afternoon.

I nodded my head and stood, “Do you know the way?” I asked him.

“Yes I do as it happens; I know the area quite well.”

“Lead the way,” I grinned.

Four

We parked the car and climbed out. The sea breeze was cool and fresh and tingled on my warm skin. Surrounded by hills, the beach looked absolutely beautiful, golden sand and a bright blue ocean reflecting the cloudless sky. Alec walked around the car and held out his hand, I placed my hand in his and we walked towards the sand.

“So, what do you think?” he asked as we stepped off the promenade onto the warm, yellow sand.

“It is gorgeous,” I nodded. “In fact, I think it knocks spots off Venice Beach.”

“When I retire, this is where I am buying a second home, a holiday home. Summers at home and winters over here, no snow or ice, hardly any rain…”

“Earth quakes, forest fires,” I added.

“Okay, but we have had fires in London too,” he said squeezing my hand.

“That is true,” I agreed as we reached the water’s edge. I stepped out of my sandals and dipped my toes into the water. It didn’t feel as cold although I knew that was impossible, it was the same Pacific Ocean after all. “So, can you see yourself doing your job until you retire?” I asked.

“Um, I don’t know, the pay is brilliant, but the stress and this overseas malarkey is a bit much. I think I’d like to run a different type of company one day.”

“I’d like to be a publisher,”

“Of books?”

I smiled, “Yes, I love to read and I know there are some amazing authors out there trying very hard to make it. I want to change the industry and make it fairer, I’d certainly stop all of these so called celebs who claim they have written books when they have actually used ghost writers and just put their name on it. That is just wrong and biographies, seriously, if I wanted to know something about a star, I’d Google them.” He just stared and smiled, “What?”

“You are very passionate about this.”

“I am, I am sick of hearing about agents ripping off authors and publishers not backing them in plagiarism cases. I want a press that looks after its authors, one they can rely on and trust.”

“Well, I really hope you get that, Grace, I had no idea it was like that.”

“I have heard a few things,” I smiled, slightly embarrassed by my rant.

“I also read, who is or are your favourite authors?”

“Too many to name, although the indie world is full of them, I probably have more indie authors on my e-reader than anything.” I replied, “You?”

“Anything that keeps me on my toes, thrillers and horrors are my favourites and I love Stephen King books.” He added and turned around, he walked back from the water’s edge and sat on the sand. I joined him and we gazed silently at the water. He folded his arm around me and pulled me into the side of his body. “I need to ask you something, I don’t want you to get upset but, well, you know I like you and by the way you kissed me earlier, I am guessing you like me too, I just need to know if I am catching you on the rebound.”

“No,” I answered honestly, “definitely not.”

“Good, because I don’t want this to just be a holiday fling, I want to see you when we are back in London,” he explained. “If you want that too of course.”

“I do,” I nodded and rested my head against his shoulder.

He lifted my hand to his mouth and pecked my fingers, then pushing his hand into my hair and pressing it against the side of my face, he touched his lips to mine. Slowly at first, then pushing his tongue into my mouth, I fell back on the sand pulling him on top of me, his leg pushed between my legs as my pulse began to thud again. His hands moved down my shoulders and arms, caressing the side of my breasts, causing me to press against his leg, the hunger I felt for him was driving me wild, I had never been like this before. His tongue pushed in deeper and I pushed my hand under the collar of his shirt, touching his neck and ears, I could feel him smile under my mouth, but as if some kind of force was trying to stop us from going any further, cold water splashed over my feet and up my legs.

He stopped kissing me and lifted from my body looking down the front of him, my eyes followed his… Oh my God, a huge bulge pressed against his shorts and where the sea had soaked us, it had left his shorts wet over the front.

“Bugger,” he groaned and knelt up. “I look like I have wet myself.”

“Oh, don’t worry,” I smiled tapping his shoulder lightly, “happens to the best of us.”

“Is that right?” he grinned. “It’s probably your fault, something had to cool us down and I think you summoned the waves to soak us.”

“So, now I am a sea witch as well as Kryptonite,” I grinned.

“I never said you were a witch, but the Krypto thing, I still believe that is true,” he smiled and stood. He held out his hand, when I placed my hands into his, he pulled me to my feet pecking my lips as I met him. “You are incredible; you know that?”

“So are you,” I muttered. “Shall we head back to LA?” I asked, I had a heat raging my body that not even the cold waves of the Pacific could cool.

He grinned, “Miss Matthews, are you going to seduce me?”

I couldn’t help but smile as my cheeks warmed, “Maybe,” I replied coyly.

“Then let’s go.”

Of course there was traffic and of course it was over two miles long because that was my life, Karma always seemed to have her fill at my expense. So we sat there, wanting each other, almost on fire with a couple of miles of traffic to wade through before we could do anything about it.

              “I am going to book us a room in a motel if this takes any longer,” he grumbled.

              I thought about the idea, we would be totally incognito, “Well, neither of us has anything to go back for,” I smiled.

              I felt his eyes on me, “Okay, take the next exit.” I didn’t need to be told twice.

              I didn’t necessarily enjoy sex with Kevin, the man was a self-centred arse when it came to the bedroom, but I missed the closeness it sometimes gave me and I hoped that I would find that again.

We found a clean looking motel after taking the next exit off the interstate. To be honest, it could have been a roach motel for all I cared, I had a thirst, a hunger burning inside and I knew Alec was the only one who could quench it. I parked the car as he went into the lobby to check us in. I shook with trepidation, but it wasn’t a fear of Alec, it was a fear of being that pathetic pillow Kevin called me after we split up. He blamed his lack of performance on me and after all those years we were together, I did wonder if it was true, maybe that’s why he went elsewhere. What if Alec discovered he was right? What if Alec felt like he was humping a pillow with me?

He opened the door and I jumped out of my skin,

“Park over there, we can take the outside staircase to the room.” I nodded and started the engine. I parked where he instructed and climbed out of the car. Just before climbing the stairs I stopped, “Grace?” he frowned.

“I don’t normally do this,” I said, “In fact, there has only ever been Kevin, so, um…”

“You’re scared?” he checked. I heaved a sigh and nodded. “So am I.” He took hold of my shaking hand. “You are quivering, Grace, we don’t have to do this. If you want to wait, then its fine with me.”

“I want to, Oh God, I want to; I am just…” A man came out of a room, turned to us and smiled. “Let’s go to the room.” I said and hurried up the stairs. I didn’t know if he had followed me, but when I got to the top he had joined me.

“It’s down here I think.” He said and took the lead, I nodded and followed him down the walkway.

He stopped at a door and opened it. He moved back allowing me to enter, the room was painted a light green colour and the two double beds in the middle were covered with green and gold blankets. The air conditioning in the room was loud, but it was clean and fresh looking. Nicely decorated and the bathroom was spotless. I turned to him as he closed the door.

“I have never done this before either,” he stated quietly.

“No, but I bet you have had more than one partner before.” I retorted.

“Not as many as you think, I expect.” He sat on one of the chairs surrounding a small table. “So, ask me anything, I won’t lie, I will tell you anything you want to know. I am not a maniac or anything like that.”

“I didn’t presume you to be,” I muttered.

“Okay, what would you like to know?”

“Nothing, it’s not you, it’s… well, I... You know what, sod it. I refuse to let that idiot have any more control on my life.” I removed my shirt and lifted my top over my head.

“Grace, I am not touching you unless you tell me you are absolutely sure of this.” He stood from the chair.

“I am sure,” I nodded and launched at his lips.

I pulled his shirt over his head and kissed his neck, pulling him into my body. He trailed kisses across my shoulder and up to my hairline as that fire within began to burn once more. I pushed off my shorts and pulled Alec toward the bed. I sat in front of him and rubbed my fingertips over his torso, slowly down towards his button on his shorts where I stopped.

He knelt in front of me and pushed my white bra straps over my shoulders, while kissing me deeply, moving his fingers around my back, he unclasped my bra and it fell to my lap. His hands moved lower, cupping my breasts and stroking his fingers down the centre of them. I leaned back against the bed and pulled him on top of me, his hands moved over my body as his lips caressed my neck and shoulders. While he devoured my body, my senses, heightened by the intensity and burst into to life.

He stopped kissing me and gazed into my eyes, I knew they were smouldering, I could feel it.

“You are so beautiful,” he grinned. “I need to check on something,” he said and put his hand into his back pocket and pulled his wallet out. He opened it and pulled out a wrapped condom and held it up. “I am going to ask one last time, are you sure?” If I had answered, I would have said no, if I had allowed my brain to control my mouth, I would have said no. But my body wanted him, I wanted him and I suppose I wanted to know if I was as bad in bed as Kevin said I was.

I sat up and reached forward to his shorts, hooking my finger behind the button, I pulled at the button until it popped open. He looked down and then back at me, popping the condom between his teeth, he pushed off his shorts. His black boxer shorts were pressing tightly across his hard on and I have to be honest, he made Kevin look like a child. Seriously, I almost allowed my mouth to drop open. I laid back down as he moved back up the bed, lightly dragging his fingers over my legs and up the inside of them. All the while, he trailed his soft lips over my body.

Once back at my side, he paused and gazed into my eyes,

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“Let’s put it this way, if you don’t get a move on, I am going to burst into flames.” With that he pushed his hand into my underwear and deep within me.

“You are hot, aren’t you?”

“So, they tell me,” I grinned.

He laid on his back and pushed off his boxers, I had never seen a circumcised man before in the flesh and watched intensely as he pulled on the condom. Something else Kevin and I never really used. I was on the pill and as we were each other’s first, neither of us had a history to worry about, after a scare of me forgetting to take it one time, I had implant put into my arm, so no more scares or accidents for me. He climbed between my legs and hooked his fingers under the white lace of my knickers, slowly pulling them down my legs and off my feet.

As he gently eased inside of me, I bit on my bottom lip to suppress my moan. He gazed into my eyes and smiled before he kissed me. As he began to move, I pressed my legs against him, his mouth moved over my lips, face, my neck. We moved together, and the deeper he stirred within me, I wanted him to go a little bit further. He lifted up from my body and pulled me up to meet him, pulling me against his slick chest. I slowly dragged my nails up his back as pressure began to build, the throb thudded with my heart and the burning wouldn’t stop.

Heat rushed through my body, I cried out as a spine tingling orgasm rocked my core and burst throughout my nerves, from the tips of my toes to the top of my head. I pushed against him, as he began to moan lightly into my hair, finally he let out,

“Oh my God!” And his body seized, locking inside of me, he lightly nipped my shoulder and smiled as he finally relaxed against me. “Bloody hell,” he panted.

“That was incredible,” I grinned.

“It was that good for you then?”

“Trust me, I feel like a new woman,” I admitted. He grinned proudly. “You have no idea what you have done to me.” I said as I climbed from him and laid on the bed, he laid beside me and turned on his side.

“It was just as amazing for me too,” he stated.

“Alec, that was my, um, my first ever, um…”

“You are kidding?”  he asked. I shook my head. “So, the idiot who let you go never gave you an orgasm?”

“Not during sex, maybe once when we were first going out, I got drunk and allowed him to touch me, but he could never hit the spot during sex and I wondered if there was something wrong with me.”

“I can’t believe that, didn’t it bother him?” 

“I never let on, I uh, I faked it.”

“You poor girl,” he said and pecked my shoulder. “The man should be hung, drawn and quartered. You are such a wonderful person, Grace, he should have tendered to your every need. I’d know if a girl faked it, I haven’t had that many, but I would know if I did it for them. It’s not just about the vocals, everything changes.” He smiled. “Well, now you have me, you never have to worry about that again.”