Up for Love in London (7 page)

I wish we could
all be together on this special night, me, my family and Charles.
Thinking about the possibility makes me smile. I slip easily into
dreamland and wonder if the solution to jet lag is really as simple
as a posh suite in a five-star hotel.

CHAPTER 7 ~
His Christmas Secret

I had set the alarm but I waken
earlier, my internal clock being more reliable. Or perhaps it’s
just the anticipation of seeing Charles again. I’m as excited as a
little kid waiting for Santa. I shower quickly, just to wash my
hair. I’d like to go for a quick walk before we meet – even if it’s
only around the block, to knock the fog from my brain and get some
natural colour into my cheeks.

After my hair
is dried and flat-ironed, I touch up my manicure and apply my
makeup. I tuck my cell phone, key card and a few pounds into my
pocket, in case I want to buy a snack. It’s 4:45 and dusk is
already settling in. In the lobby, a few crews from other bases
have gathered around the bar. I’m tempted to stop and chat but I
know I’ll be sidetracked so I sneak out through the hotel’s side
door.

I pull my hood
up and quickly hike the two blocks to the High Street for a granola
bar and can of Red Bull – the flight attendant’s breakfast, as
Richard likes to say.

The streets are
almost bare. It’s too late for last-minute shopping as most stores
are already closed. But the Christmas lights remain on, adding a
faintly melancholy feeling. I take a deep, cleansing breath and the
air feels good in my lungs.

The Greek
restaurant isn’t open yet, but the smell of garlic and grilled meat
wafts outside. Inside, a rainbow of Christmas lights drape across
the ceiling and around the windows. The tables are covered with
checkered blue and white linens and a few are pushed together for
the crews. Normally, I’d be happy to join them but tonight I have
other plans.

I slip into the
hotel again and walk up the first flight of stairs, to avoid
bumping into anyone, and take the elevator to my suite.

After draping my coat over a dining room chair, I flick on the
fireplace, as easy as using the remote TV changer and beam.
I could easily live like this.
I strip and change into my new red dress. It’s so
perfectly fitted, I don’t want to ruin the line with underwear. To
complete the look, I step into the shoes, apply my lipstick and
wait.

~

The park is now
hidden by the blackness of night. In the distance, lights flicker
on in splendid red brick homes. It’s 6:10 and my stomach is really
grumbling. I check my cell phone – again, and pick up the hotel
phone – again, to see if it’s working They both are.

Where is
Charles? He wouldn’t go to all this trouble just to stand me up. I
know he’s only ten minutes late but as my insecurities kick in, I
need to relax.

I inhale deeply
a few times, and then open the fridge door. The Chablis looks
inviting, so I uncork it and pour myself a large glass. The aroma
is exquisite, all grass and pale fruit, and the liquid slips down
my throat like silk.

I’ve just
poured my second glass, shoes kicked off when I hear a rap at the
door.

“Darling, it’s
me, Charles.”

At last!
“Hello, I’ll be right there.” I squeeze into my shoes and am about
to apply fresh lipstick when the door opens. I should have assumed
he’d have his own key.

“I’m so sorry
I’m late,” and he kisses me gently on my cheek, before taking my
hand and standing back to look at me.

“Absolutely
gorgeous as ever. And you make the dress look stunningly beautiful
as I knew you would.”

“Thank you,” I
reply modestly and immediately forget to be angry.

He walks to the
closet, shrugs off his coat and jacket and hangs them up. I can see
he’s been here before, though I suppose that makes sense – it is
his hotel, after all. I was expecting more of a romantic greeting,
in light of our last encounter. He seems tense, or maybe he’s just
tired. Perhaps he’s had a busy week.

He peels off
his tie and tosses it on the couch then picks up the wine bottle.
“Chablis, perfect. Mind if I join you?” He pours himself a large
glass.

I twirl my
glass before answering, “Certainly. I’m a bit hungry though – silly
me, I haven’t eaten yet.”

“Well, why
should you? I did promise you dinner tonight. Cheers, darling.” We
clink glasses and finally share a long, thrilling kiss. “Now let me
call room service.”

“Room service!”
I blink back my amazement, stand and walk to the windows, still
holding my drink. Charles follows me, and placing both hands on my
shoulders, nuzzles into my neck. “You smell deliciously yummy.”

I wonder if
it’s too early in the relationship to pout. His kisses make me
tingle and the scent of his cologne brings the memories of our
first lovemaking flashing back. I turn to face him with a tiny
frown. “I thought we were going out for dinner.”

He lifts my
chin with one finger, looking directly at me. His eyes glint like
fiery blue sapphires and his gorgeous mouth curves into a smile. “I
never said we’d go out for dinner Lauren, so don’t look so
disappointed. It’s Christmas Eve, how many fine restaurants do you
think are open tonight? Not many, I can assure you. And I paid the
chef extra to stay late and prepare a special meal just for you,
for us.”

Now I feel
really bad, until he kisses me on the lips, softly, firmly. My
mouth is too busy to apologize but I’m sure he knows I’m okay with
staying in. “The room certainly is lovely,” I say, when we finally
break away. “It’s almost a shame to leave…”

Charles glances
at his watch and leads me to the sofa. “I’ll ring now and dinner
should be here whenever we like. I’ll ask them to send the hors
d’oeuvres first.”

I snuggle into
his shoulder, safe in his comfortable arms as he places the order.
He kisses me on the forehead, then uses the remote to adjust the
fireplace so it makes crackly burning log sounds. The scene is set
as he turns on a sexy jazz station and puts his feet up on the
coffee table.

We cuddle like
this for a while, his arm draped over my bare shoulder as he runs
his fingers through my hair. I put my hand on his thigh and turn to
kiss him. Our lips meet and the passion from our last escapade
rises again. His lips are tasty and warm and his hands strong as he
caresses my shoulder, neck and breasts. My nipples harden beneath
his touch but my stomach is also grumbling.

We both laugh
and at the same time, a knock announce the arrival of room service.
If the young waiter noticed the bulge in Charles’ pants when he
opened the door, he was too polite to stare. He also averted his
eyes from my perky bosom. He probably senses that he should drop
the food and leave, but he still has to set the table. Charles
offers directions.

“We’ll have
this course on the coffee table and the rest in the dining room.
I’ll ring again when we’re ready.”

“As you wish,
sir.” The waiter deftly removes the remote control and magazines
from the table before laying a white napkin and depositing the
tray.

He then clears
the dining room table. He spreads a large linen table cloth over it
and lights two taper candles in crystal holders before moving the
bouquet back onto the centre.

Charles shakes
his hand and slips him a generous tip which the waiter discreetly
tucks into his pocket. He leaves, closing the door behind him
Charles is already beside me on the sofa.

“Let’s see what magic Chef has created for us,” and he lifts
the silver dome. The platter looks delicious, an array of tapas
almost too beautiful to eat.
Chilli tiger
prawns, lemon-baked mussels, herbed leek and potato tortilla,
tomato bread with thin slices of serrano ham and as if that wasn’t
enough, smoked chicken skewers with garlic mayonnaise.
Charles makes a selection and offers it to me
before filling his own plate.

The food is
welcome and I feel like gulping it all at once but it’s so
scrumptious I want to savour every morsel. “Christmas in Spain,”
Charles says.

In between
bites of foods and sips of Chablis, we nibble at each other. He
then pulls me toward the window, where we embrace and admire the
view. Snow is falling softly under the yellow street lamps and a
light dusting appears on the evergreens in the park.

He puts his
arms around me and his lips are soft and insistent. He starts
kissing my mouth, then his lips travel down my throat, around the
back of my neck. I quiver with delight, my neck is my secret hot
spot and Charles lingers just long enough to make my body crave
more than kisses.

He brushes my
hair aside and reaches for the zipper on my dress, pulling it down
slowly and deliberately, kissing my back as he does. His fingers
gently edge the straps off my shoulders and the dress slips to the
floor. I’m naked, in front of Charles, in front of the window. His
eyes tell me he’s pleased with what he sees. I’m enjoying the
moment too.

Charles looks
at me in a way that makes me feel more beautiful and desired than
any man before him ever has. There’s an adoring tenderness in his
gaze and a fiery passion as well. When he cups my breasts in his
hands, massaging my nipples with his thumbs, I feel a tingling rush
of heat that travels straight to between my thighs. I’m so
transported by his touch, I forget my resentment at dining in.

“Lauren, you’re
exquisite. I want you more than anything else in the world.” He
kisses me softly on my mouth.

“Charles, I
want you too.”

As he carries
me to the bedroom, his crisp shirt rubs against my skin and reminds
me of my nakedness. He places me on the edge of the bed and sits
beside me, stroking my face and my hair. I had planned to slowly
undress him though now I can hardly wait to feel him inside me. He
leans forward, places his hands around my waist and nuzzles my
breasts.

I unbutton his
shirt, remove the cufflinks and place them on the night table. I
release his belt and tug off his trousers. In the soft glow from
the bedside lamps, his body is as amazing as I knew it would be. I
run my hands down his hard chest to the waistband of his shorts and
a low moan escapes his lips. “Lauren, you’re making me crazy,” he
says. He strips off the rest of his clothes and kisses me hard and
fast. His blue eyes blaze as he lowers me onto the bed.

Our lovemaking
is more leisurely this time. He lies beside me, one arm around my
shoulder. His mouth grazes my cheek before moving to my neck. His
warm hand cups my breast, gently tweaking the nipple before sliding
down my belly and between my legs. I’m enjoying the sensations
immensely when his fingers start to explore the heat that’s
building inside me. Once again, I’m a bit suspicious of his
lovemaking expertise, until I realize he’s responding to my clues –
a sigh, a slight shift of my torso, the bend of my leg.

I bring his
face to mine but after one long, satisfying kiss, he pulls away and
his lips follow the path south, nibbling on a nipple, before
leaving a trail of electrifying kisses on my stomach. I’m thrilled
and nervous as he gently pushes my legs apart and burrows in
between. I can feel his hot breath on my thighs and his tongue,
teasing playfully until I can no longer wait.

“Please,” I
murmur. Though my body language already shows how much my body
aches to feel him stroking inside me, he continues using his tongue
and mouth until I explode in a string of long, rolling peaks.

This time, when
I pull him to me, he quickly obliges, burrowing his face in my neck
and his firm cock into my wet heat. As we move deeply and intently
together in the huge hotel bed, I have time to enjoy his warm,
smooth skin, bask in the strength of his arms and savour again his
unique citrus and leather scent. He leans back and holds my gaze,
his pupils dilated so that his eyes are thin rings of midnight
blue. His dark brows are drawn and I sense he’s close to the edge –
I know I am again, too. I press my cheek against his and he
whispers, “I’m waiting for you.”

My heart flips
and I grab his fine derriere, adjusting his pace to suit my needs,
and bringing us both to a crashing climax, me first and him soon
after.

We stretch out
across the gigantic mattress, bodies locked, catching our breath.
He looks at me and smiles, tracing a finger across my lips. “That
certainly builds up an appetite. Shall we order the rest of our
dinner now?”

I’m having a
hard time thinking about food after a session like that, but
Charles is already on the phone. “It will be here in 30 minutes.
I’m going to shower, darling – care to join me?”

How could I
resist? I pin my hair onto of my head and we both step into the
spacious stall. As we suds each other from top to toes, passions
rise again and we indulge in a quickie –my hands pressed against
the marble wall as he grabs my hips and enters from behind me. Now
thoroughly spent, we towel each other off before stepping out of
the stall.

We barely have
time to don the fluffy hotel robes when the phone rings – dinner is
on the way.

“Should I wear
my dress?” I gaze into the bathroom mirror, with Charles beside me
and think what a handsome couple we make.

He brushes a
stray lock from my forehead, cups my chin and kisses me gently.
“No, let’s dine as we are. It’s much more decadent.” He rakes a
hand through his damp hair before escorting me to the dining
room.

The waiter
wheels in a delightful meal, simple and perfectly suited to the
festive occasion. Steamed lobster, herbed rice and tiny green peas,
red white and green. The table is set, candles lit, Champagne cork
popped and once again, we’re alone.

I’m not really
that hungry, but eating lobster is fun. Charles cracks the claws
for me and I scoop out the tender flesh, adding a squeeze of lemon
to cut the rich flavour but ignoring the garlic butter. Too many
calories for too little reward.