Page 89 of Mayfair Madame
“Ask her to marry me,” I said, part joking.
“I think that’s a great idea.”
“Don't be fucking stupid. What if she says no?” I chewed on a broken fingernail and cursed when it bled.
“And what if she says yes? What do you have to lose?”
“My dignity, my self-respect, my fucking mind!”
“Oh, don’t be so dramatic, Ellie. From what you’ve said about her, I think you’re worrying far too much. Go on holiday with her, and what better time to do it than at sunset on a beautiful beach? Find your romantic side, Ellie. God knows it’s been missing for years.”
“Hey, you don’t know that.”
“Unfortunately, my dear sister, I do. Now, I have to go. Henry brought a kitten home yesterday,and it’s scaling the curtains. Gotta go, sis. Love you.”
And with that, she was gone.
Naomi continued to improve day by day, but at night, as I’d expected, the nightmares returned. She’d often wake screaming and occasionally lash out, but I’d hold her until the trembling subsided and she went back to sleep.
Hopefully, some time away from London would help settle her. This break couldn’t come soon enough.
And then finally, we got the news we’d been waiting for. She was cleared to fly.Two weeks after the assault; we flew out to Portugal. We did very little. We sunbathed, swam, ate, and drank. Walking tired her, but that suited us fine. We’d come away to recuperate, and that was what we’d done.
And as one week moved into two, my feelings for her only grew. Spending time with her, with no distractions and only ourselves for company, I didn’t relish the thought of going back to how we were. I wanted her by my side. But how could I tell her?
With two days left to go, I’d decided. There was only one thing to do.
“What shall we do this evening?” I handed her a chilled bottle of water and sat on the edge of her sunbed. With only two nights left here, I was running out of time. “There’s that Michelin-starred restaurant Rupert mentioned, or we could go back to the little bistro in the village.”
The break had done her good. She looked amazing. Well rested and almost like her normal self. The wound had healed nicely, no doubt aided by the sun.
With no one around, she bathed topless, and you wouldn’t find me complaining. I got to take advantage of her beautiful body daily. How could I resist? I stroked her bare breasts. She was so responsive, and her nipples hardened.
“Why don’t we order in? All this lying around has me exhausted.” She arched her back in response to my touch.
“Maybe it was the sex this morning. We didn’t exactly hold back.” I’d been so careful at first, not wishing to damage her any further, but after three weeks of doing nothing, she’d dragged me into her bed and showed me exactly what I’d been missing.
From that day on, I’d let her know how much I wanted and craved her, every single day.
Even now, the thought of her made me wet. Naomi, of course, noticed the dark patch that had spread and slipped her finger beneath my bikini bottoms.
“Looks like you’d be up for some more.” She smiled slyly.
I groaned and opened my legs a little farther. I’d have been more than happy to continue, but time was ticking on, and we’d need to shower before we went out.
“Naomi.” Reluctantly, I moved her hand away. “I’m covered in sunscreen and need to shower, plus you need a nap before we go out. You know how tired you get.”
“You’re such a spoilsport, Ellie, but we will carry this on later. Are you sure you don’t want to stay in?”
“We could, but why don’t we go back to the bistro? I love the food there, and it means we don’t have to cook. Plus, I want to try their calamari. It looked delicious the last time we were there.”
“You’re right. It’s nice to be unhurried and do as we please, and I wish we could stay here forever.” She tucked a lock of hair behind my ear.
“But we have a life back in London. One I’m not eager to return to.
“All good things must come to an end, Ellie. We’d have to go back eventually. We have jobs, friends, and family. We can’t stay here forever, as much as I would love to spend eternity here with you.”
She was right of course, but it didn’t make the realisation any easier.
