Page 81 of A Summer of New Beginnings
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When Lachy had finished reading the string of text messages he handed the phone back.
‘So now you know,’ she whispered.
‘So now I know,’ he agreed. A silence fell upon them and Zara’s eyes gave way to more tears.
‘Hey… come on… don’t cry. It’s fine. You weren’t to know.’
She sniffed and wiped at her eyes. ‘But it’s all ruined.’
He tilted her chin and gazed into her eyes. ‘It’s only ruinedif we let it be.’
She gasped. ‘What… what do you mean?’
‘I honestly have no idea how all this works, Zara. It’s all completely new and ridiculously fast. But all I do know is how I felt when I kissed you that first time. Even before that, in fact, the first time I met you. No one hasevertaken up space in my mind and my heart like you have. When you rejected me that night I arrived at yourhotel, I was so confused. It broke my heart a little, I think. It’s the only explanation I can come up with because I’ve been walking round like a bloody zombie ever since. Then I thought I would try again at the awards. But you were so cold towards me. And you were withhim. Now, that really hurt. But then tonight, you show up here telling me that you regret what happened and… If I’d receivedyour text message I can assure you I would have been straight back to Inverness. I would have come right to you. I didn’t want to let you go the day you left for London and I still don’t. And to clarify, I was single and still am. Saskia has her own issues and she won’t be dragging me into them any more. I can promise you that. I was yours back then when we made love and I’ll happily be yours nowif you still want me?’ His voice cracked as he rested his forehead on hers.
She nodded and laughed through her tears. ‘I still want you.’
He pulled her into his lap and stroked her cheek but hesitated before his lips met hers. It seemed he was waiting for her to change her mind; his breath was short and staggered, his eyes pleading and filled with fear. It was her fault he was so reluctant,so she reached up and kissed him instead. Her hands slipped into his hair as she relished the feeling of his mouth on hers once again.
When the kiss ended she whispered, ‘Lachy, take me to bed.’
He scooped her into his arms and carried her, effortlessly, up the stairs to his room. He placed her gently down and kissed her again, his desire for her almost palpable. Feeling a little warmer nowher blood was rushing through her veins, she began to undress. She dropped the blanket and the other layers from her body until she was able to slip out of the shift dress and kick it aside.
He watched as she removed each piece of clothing, hunger and need visible in his tight jaw. Once she was down to her bra and panties he stood there for a moment devouring her with his gaze. Eventually somethingspurred him forward and he enveloped her once again, his mouth on hers with a passion that took the breath from her lungs.
‘Oh, God, I’ve missed you, Zara,’ he mumbled as he nibbled at the soft skin of her neck. Her legs weakened and she moaned at the pleasure radiating through her. She tugged on his jacket and swiftly removed it from his body, and then at his sweater and swept that from historso. She reached out and touched the flawless skin of his stomach and he inhaled sharply as her fingers reached his belt buckle.
Once Lachy was naked she pulled him backwards onto the bed. His fingers traced the outline of her breast under the lace of her bra and he leaned to kiss the mound of flesh it created above. He freed her from her lace panties and kissed her deeply as he reached roundto unfasten the clasp that was keeping her breasts from his touch. Before too long they were skin on skin; heavy breaths the only soundtrack this time as he moved slowly inside her; her legs wrapped round him and her hands on every inch of skin she could reach.
He rested himself on his elbows and locked his gaze on her as his mouth tilted up into a heart-stopping smile. ‘Thisis where I belong,’he whispered, and she closed her eyes and arched her back, making the connection deeper still.
He moved faster, pulling her closer, and she grasped at him, whispering his name as pleasure heated her blood and she cried out. He followed soon after and peppered her face and neck with gentle kisses as she floated back to earth.
As he held her in his arms she stroked his chest and he smiled. ‘Ican’t believe you’re here, Zara. After everything that happened I never thought I’d see you again.’ He tilted her chin and kissed her.
‘Can we just agree it was all a misunderstanding, Lachy? And can we just forget about it?’
He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. ‘Absolutely. I’m so sorry you didn’t win that award. I felt sure you would.’
‘Did you really?’
He nodded. ‘Really. It’s funnybecause when I told Saskia I was head over heels in love with someone else I never expected any of this. Although, knowing that you were still in Scotland, I was so tempted to come to you again. I knew that Josh had told so many lies and I wanted to make you see that. But… I suppose there’s only so many times a man can be rejected. So instead I came home and stayed busy to stop myself from comingback to try again.’
‘I wish you had tried again.’ She giggled. ‘Then I wouldn’t have had to drive Silver Dickhead Mark Two all the way up here and wait in the freezing cold.’
He laughed and tugged her on top of him. ‘Would you be okay if I said I want you again? Right now?’ His voice was a husky whisper.
Her heart leapt and her insides jellified. ‘More than okay,’ she breathed as he rolledher beneath him once more.
Zara awoke in Lachy’s arms, their limbs tangled beneath the sheets and his firm naked body wrapped round her. She sighed and snuggled deeper into his embrace.I’m finally home,she thought. Then it dawned on her that she wasn’t; that later the same day she would have to travel back to London. To herrealhome.
Without Lachy.
*
They sat at the table eating the scrambledegg and toast that Lachy had whipped up as Bess lay on Zara’s feet keeping them toasty warm. He kept looking across the table at her and smiling.
