Page 17 of You've Got The Love
Amber
Watching Bas laugh earlier on the bank of the lake—at my expense, I may add—was the highlight of this trip toHollandso far. Not that this is really a‘trip’, but whatever. I have never seen him laugh like that. He’s gorgeous every minute of the day, but smiling and laughing like that really makes it impossible to remember why I shouldn’t fall for him.
As I try to peel myself out of these soaked jeans, I realise I’m smiling, thinking about him laughing. How he tickled me. Having his big hands on me—even to tickle me—is heaven. And walking back in each other's arms was everything I ever dreamed it would be. I love how petite he makes me feel and how my entire body comes alive in his presence. I wish so desperately that things could be different. It feels like a physical ache in the pit of my stomach that I can’t have him.
“Bell?” Bas calls from his bedroom.
“Yeah?” I shout at thedoor between us.
“What size shoe are you?”
“A UK size six. Why?” I frown.
“Okay, I’ll check through Sanne’s shoes here and see if she has anything that you could use in case you should need them. Yours could take a few days to dry out.”
“Thank you!”
I wonder if I need to order anything for my time here. I’ve no idea just how long I’ll be here, how long my life has to be on hold and is potentially in danger. I need to speak to Dad again today, even though he embarrassed the shit out of me yesterday, talking to Bas like I was a teenage girl, not a fully grown adult. I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me whole. I need to know if they are any closer to ending whatever this is so that I can go back to my life. If not, I’m hopping on Amazon and ordering pajama’s, boots, trainers, socks and a whole host of other things I forgot.Hollandhas Amazon, right?
Why does it feel like someone has suctioned these sodding jeans onto my bloody legs?
“URGGHHHH!” I shout as I sit on the floor with my jeans down to my thighs, kicking my legs like a goddamn toddler.
“Amber?” Bas calls through the door again.
“I’m fine, I just can't get my bloody jeans off! That lake water is like glue!”
I just hear his laughter get further and further away.
“Bastard!” I call after him with no malice in my voice whatsoever.
After what feels like a hundred years, I manage to get them off, thank goodness. Note to self: never get jeans soaked while wearing them again. I throw the rest of my clothes into a pile with my jeans and Bas’s hoodie and walk into his extremely impressive shower. As the hot water hits me, I let out a sigh and close my eyes. Like his bathtub, this is heavenly. After I’ve wet my hair, I realise my toiletries are in the bloody bedroom.Bugger. I eye Bas’ hair and body products in the built-in shelf. Would he even notice if I used them? He wouldn’t mind. I grab his shampoo—well, I think it’s shampoo—but it's all in Dutch, so I have to make a very uneducated guess. I dump a load into my hand and soap up my hair, and it’s at this point that I realise I haven’t brought any of my hair products with me from home.Shit. It will end up super frizzy and out of control. I’ll end up looking like a blondeRonald McDonald. Great. Suuuper sexy. Well, at least this shampoo is nice, it smells so good, like high-end salon products. After I’ve rinsed out all the bubbles, I apply conditioner, finger-comb it, and then leave it to work its magic while I begin to wash myself. Oh my God, his shower gel smells divine. Like citrusy, but clean, with a hint of sandalwood. I use way too much and take too much pleasure in knowing his shower gel is all over my body. As I wash myself, I start thinking about Bas being in here again, and I my body begins to heat up. I become very aware of my breasts, the weight of them and how good it feels squeezing them lightly… but no, I have to stop thinking like this.Urghhh. I just don’t have time for this, asI need to speak to Dad and find out if there’s any progress. Plus, I need to check in with Jess today.
I get out of the shower, unhappy that I didn’t have time to scratch the itch that thinking about naked Bas always leaves me with. But maybe I’ll make myself come in his bed tonight.Yummy. I quickly dry myself off and walk into his bedroom, where I find he’s left out some stripy pajama trousers and a clean t-shirt for me. I drop the towel I had wrapped around myself and lift his clothes to my face and breathe deeply. I love the smell of him. It makes me feel calm, which I can’t explain, but it does. It fills me with a sense of peace that I yearn for more and more, but I know I’ll never be able to keep it permanently.
“Oh my God, Jess! You did not meet up withMr Wears-a-Suit-to-the-Pub!” I screech, laughing so much I snort.
“You bet your bum I did! I was bored… there was nothing else to do,” she whines at me.
“So, you thought you’d‘do’him? That picture he sent you is still scarring my retinas, by the way.”
“I know, but he turned up not wearing a suit, and he very much knows what to do with his dick. FYI, he’s a grower, not a shower.”
“I really did not need to know that, Jess!” Bas enters the chat.
“Sorry, I’ve got you on loudspeaker while I oil my hair, and Bas just walked into the bedroom,” I explain, giggling as I watch him screw up his face.
“Bedroom? That was quicker than I thought it would be. Hey B-man! How’s it going with the unexpected house guest?” Jess asks.
“Fine. Except she forgot almost everything she needs, so she’s wearing my pajama trousers, which, when not rolled up, cover her feet, and she’s using my hair oil. Otherwise, fine,” he says, smiling.
“You oil your hair, like a girl?”
“Hey! I’ve got wavy hair, I learnt the hard way that I need to look after it,” Bas explains, flexing his biceps to defend his manliness, making me roll my eyes at him.
“Imagine if you’d run away with Ben from WP Jones’. He’s bald, you’d be fucked for hair care items, Bell,” Jess laughs.
“First of all, I didn’trun awaywith Bas; I wenton the runwith him. Two very different things,” I explain. “I wouldn’t have been able to use his shampoo and conditioner like I just did Bas’ either,” I giggle, peeking up at him.
