That Special Something: A heartwarming, small town romance to fall in love with

Eighteen

‘This is without doubt my best Monday ever,’ Tom said a few hours later, his voice still husky with desire despite the number of times they had already made love. Within five minutes of entering his room it was obvious to both of them that they wouldn’t be going downstairs to dinner, and between heated kisses, and half removed clothing, Tom had breathlessly called to cancel the reservation.

‘And mine,’ replied Hope, looking deep into his eyes.

That was not a lie. Or even an exaggeration. Hope had never experienced anything like the hours she had just spent with Tom. There were no superlatives that could do justice to Tom’s lovemaking skills. If she were comparing Tom with Rob – which she wasn’t … although in a way she was, Tom would win hands down.

And on the subject of hands, Tom had done things with his that had made Hope feel sensations she had only read about in magazines. Satisfaction with Tom was guaranteed, over and over again. And again. And again.

‘Are you hungry?’ Tom asked, momentarily stopping his kisses along her shoulders, and gently and enticingly running his fingers down towards her stomach instead, as a clock chimed ten p.m. in the distance.

‘Only for you,’ she said.

He raised one brow. ‘Again?’

She nodded slowly. ‘Again. If you can.’

His smile was bewitching and breathtaking and filled with promise.

‘Oh I can, Hope. And I want to. You have no idea how much.’

‘If it’s even half as much as I want you, believe me, I know.’

She wanted to scream out his name.

She wanted to make love with him all night and all day and the night and day after that.

She wanted to be with him for as long as she possibly could.

How long was that?

If she had her way it would be…

Forever.

She wanted to tell him she loved him.

Because she now knew that she did.

And it wasn’t because he was handsome, or lovely, or funny, or fantastic in bed.

It was because it felt as if she was meant to be with him.

As if Fate had thrown them together because they fit perfectly with one another.

His voice made her heart sing.

His smile made it jump out of her chest and into his.

His touch made her body float in the air and react in ways she hadn’t thought it could, or ever would.

His kisses made her melt but also feel as if she could take on the world and win no matter how hard the challenge it gave her.

With Tom by her side, she felt anything would be possible.

He laughed lovingly when, on asking her to stay the night, she told him she had left an overnight bag in the hotel cloakroom in the lobby.

‘You came prepared?’

‘I was … hopeful, let’s just say.’

‘So was I,’ he admitted. ‘But when you walked into the bar, I knew you were way out of my league. I still had Hope though.’

Now she laughed. ‘And having had Hope for several hours, do you still think I’m out of your league?’

‘Absolutely.’

‘I thought you were out of mine when I saw you,’ she said. ‘And yet, it felt as if we were meant to be.’

He moved his head to look her in the eye. ‘I felt that too. It was as if you and I were destined to meet. And as awful as this sounds, even Alice being ill and Della deciding not to join us, made it seem as if Fate was working in our favour.’

‘Yes,’ she said. ‘And let’s be honest. We were going to end up in bed together tonight whether Della was here or not.’

‘Without a doubt.’

Hope texted her mum to say she wouldn’t be home and was staying the night in town with a friend. She didn’t mention a name and luckily in her reply, Pat didn’t ask.

Tom called reception and had her belongings sent up, along with the food they both now desperately needed. Hope hadn’t eaten since lunch and all the exertion, as wonderful as it was, had depleted her reserves.

They ate until satiated, and then returned to one another’s arms seemingly unable to satiate their passion for each other.

‘I can’t get enough of you, Hope,’ Tom moaned softly, kissing her greedily and deeply.

‘Ditto,’ she whispered, matching his need. ‘Double ditto. Oh God! Treble ditt-o-o-o!’

They finally fell asleep in each other’s arms and awoke the next day as eager for one another as they had been the night before.

Hope spent as much of the day with him as she could, nipping back to his hotel room between meetings, and popping in to see her family.

‘Good night last night?’ Pat queried when they sat at the kitchen table for a coffee and a chat.

Hope nearly choked.

‘Better than I expected,’ she said.

That wasn’t a lie. She had expected it to be good but even her high hopes couldn’t have imagined just how good.

Tom was waiting for her in the hotel lobby after Hope had texted she was on her way back to him and they ran hand in hand to the lift and tumbled on the bed.

The next time she texted, he was waiting outside the grand entrance and almost tripped in his haste to get back inside.

‘Next time I text, if you’re already in here it might save a few precious minutes,’ Hope suggested.

‘I’ll be waiting here in bed,’ he joked.

‘Hmm. That might give us a few more seconds. Instead of you having to get undressed, you could be helping me.’

He laughed and pulled her to him. ‘You’re a genius, Hope.’

‘You bring out the best in me, Tom.’

She texted her mum to say she wouldn’t be home that night and was staying with the same friend. Again, Pat did not ask who the friend was. Hope wasn’t sure if she was relieved or not.