Chapter 9
Eliza headed back to Willow Tree Cottage after an unexpected, but delicious, dinner with Vivi and Jean Pierre that quickly sobered them all up.
Winding down the country lanes in Daisy, she caught sight of herself in the rearview mirror.
Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes bright – and she realised for the first time in a long time she actually looked happy.
She’d forgotten this feeling, and how the absence of any kind of joy can hollow everything else in your life.
She adored this view, with the golden evening light spilling across the fields, and the daffodils spreading a yellow blanket of sunshine and happiness.
Pulling into the drive, she lingered just a moment to admire her primroses, which seemed to be welcoming her home, and she felt a kind of contentment and excitement about what lay ahead. Finally, it felt like a fresh start.
She leapt out of the car, and as she turned to unlock the door, she heard the gravel crunch behind her.
‘Here, let me get that for you.’
Luke.
His silhouette was backlit by the sunset, the amber glow highlighting his jaw and the curve of his shoulders. Her heart skipped a beat.
‘What are you doing here?’ Eliza asked, keys dangling from her fingertips.
He moved closer, close enough that she caught the scent of him – earth and wine and something distinctly Luke. ‘I didn’t get a chance to talk to you properly at the vineyard. Too many people watching.’
‘I noticed,’ she said, finding her voice. ‘Seems everyone in this village has an opinion about Luke Stanley.’
A smile played at his lips. ‘And what’s yours?’
‘Still forming,’ she replied, though her body was way ahead of her mind on that front.
She walked inside, her heart pounding, and he followed right behind her, deftly shutting the door with his foot.
He didn’t say another word, just looked at her and smiled, taking a step closer, his proximity now almost overwhelming.
He kissed her, his passion and desire at boiling point as he pushed her up against the dark panelled wall.
She responded immediately, searching his mouth, feeling him start to harden as he pressed against her.
Then reaching down, he took her arms and caged them back against the wall, taking control.
‘Hi again,’ he whispered, as he reached over and brushed a loose strand of hair from her face, his fingers lingering a moment too long on her skin. There was no turning back now.
‘Hi,’ she replied breathlessly.
‘I can’t stop thinking about you. Sitting next to you at the wine tasting was torture.’
‘What made you come?’ she whispered. ‘To the wine tasting I mean . . .’
She let out a little whimper as he kissed her neck, his breath so warm on her skin.
‘Well, in the countryside, not everything is pre-arranged. Sometimes it’s fun just to show up and see where the day takes you.’
Slowly he released her and backed away, unbuttoning his shirt, muscles rippling with every movement. She watched him, transfixed.
‘Perhaps I could buy into this impulsive way of life,’ she said slowly, unable to think clearly.
This wasn’t how she had expected her day to pan out, but she was definitely excited to see what happened next.
A day of drinking wine had, it seemed, taken away any inhibitions that might have been lurking.
Grabbing her by the hand, he led her upstairs, bending his head just in time to miss the low beam.
She wondered vaguely how he knew his way around the house, but the thought barely registered as she followed his naked torso up the stairs.
How she had gone from watching him in the river a few weeks ago to having him lead her to her bedroom, she wasn’t really quite sure, but there was no need to question it now.
As they turned into her bedroom, Luke pulled her sundress over her head and gently pushed her down onto the bed, his eyes searching hers.
She could feel herself getting lost in them, lost in the eyes of this wild lothario, who she couldn’t for one minute trust. How could she trust a man this beautiful who had never settled down?
But right now, none of that mattered. It definitely didn’t mean she couldn’t fuck him. In fact, she thought, there was probably no better way to ring in the rebound process.
His hand reached back to undo her bra, gently removing it. Luke’s eyes seemed to drink in the sight of her bare breasts. Finally his hands gently caressed them, thumbs brushing her hardening nipples. Eliza let out a soft gasp at his touch.
Luke quickly shed his remaining clothes and leant down to trail kisses along her collarbone. ‘You’re so fucking beautiful,’ he murmured.
Eliza ran her hands over the muscled planes of his back, relishing the feel of his warm skin under her fingertips.
Her body was on fire. As much as she had tried to play it cool, she had been aching for this moment since their encounter at his cabin.
Dreaming of what it would be like to have him inside her.
Luke’s mouth found hers again in a deep, passionate kiss as his hands roamed lower, sliding his fingers into the top of her knickers.
Eliza lifted her hips to help him slide them off, leaving her totally naked, ready for him.
Luke’s kisses trailed down Eliza’s neck and breasts, his tongue swirling around her nipples before moving lower.
Eliza caught her breath as he settled between her thighs, where she could feel his hot breath on her pulsating pussy.
At the first touch of his tongue, Eliza let out a moan of pleasure.
Luke took his time, slowly licking every part of her, teasing her, making her long for more, his tongue pushing hard onto her clitoris.
Eliza’s hips rocked against his mouth as the pleasure built.
Then, suddenly, Luke pulled back, moving up towards her mouth, his eyes holding hers.
Eliza whimpered at him pulling away, and was suddenly desperate to touch herself.
Instead, she took control, and said, ‘My turn.’
She pushed him over onto his back, and slowly moved down his body, putting his already hard cock into her mouth.
She took him deep into her throat, enjoying the sensation.
She slid her tongue up and down his shaft, circling with her tongue, tasting the saltiness.
His hands tangled in her hair as she teased him, his breathing growing increasingly ragged. She found it completely intoxicating.
‘Fuck, Eliza,’ Luke groaned, his eyes darkening with desire. ‘Come here.’
He pulled her up the length of his body, capturing her mouth in a searing kiss. In one fluid movement, he flipped her onto her back, positioning himself between her thighs. Eliza felt his hardness pressing against her pussy.
‘I need to be inside you,’ he said, his voice husky with desire.
‘Yes, you fucking do,’ Eliza breathed, pulling him down for a passionate kiss, realising she had never before felt as free as she did with Luke, so confident.
Luke positioned himself between her legs, the tip of his cock teasing her entrance.
He pushed himself in slowly, filling every part of her.
Eliza gasped at the exquisite sensation as he began to move.
Their bodies found a rhythm together, Luke driving into her with long, powerful strokes, as Eliza rocked her hips to meet him.
She clung to him, her nails digging into his back.
The pleasure was intense, building with each thrust. Luke’s lips found her neck, trailing hot kisses along the sensitive skin.
‘God, you feel amazing,’ Luke groaned, his breath hot against her ear.
Eliza could only moan in response, lost in the sensation coursing through her body.
She wrapped her legs tighter around Luke’s waist, urging him deeper.
Luke shifted his angle slightly, hitting just the right spot to make Eliza cry out.
He kept up the relentless pace, pushing her closer and closer to the edge.
Eliza felt the familiar tension coiling low in her belly, her climax approaching fast.
‘Luke, I’m so close,’ she gasped.
‘Come for me, Eliza, now,’ Luke urged.
A few more deep thrusts sent Eliza over the edge. She cried out Luke’s name as the orgasm washed over her in intense waves.
As she lay in his arms, wondering whether this is what heaven looked like, there was a loud knock at the door. She laughed. ‘Never in my whole life have I had as many visitors as I’ve had since I moved to Farmington. There seems to be no boundaries down here. People turn up whenever they fancy!’
‘Are you complaining?’ he asked, as he rolled back on top of her and started kissing her again, his fingers reaching back down into her wetness.
‘No complaints here,’ she gasped, more than ready for round two. ‘It was merely an observation . . .’
There was another loud knock. ‘Maybe I should go . . . after all whoever it is will know I’m home as my car’s here. As is yours come to think of it. That’s bound to set tongues wagging.’
‘Eliza?’ came a shout. ‘It’s Dan. Are you home? I was wondering if Luke was available to help me with something.’
Eliza looked at Luke, eyes wide, and then they both started laughing.
‘You are joking!’ said Eliza when she had vaguely recovered. ‘That’s it, if Dan knows, the whole world will. Is he spying on me?!’
‘This is Farmington, Eliza, everyone is spying on everyone. How else do you think they pass the day?’
‘Hold on, Dan,’ shouted Luke, climbing out of bed and pulling on his jeans. ‘I’m on my way! I was just fixing Eliza’s plumbing. I think we’re nearly there.’
Eliza let out a screech of giggles and turned to bury her face in the pillow. ‘Luke! That’s even worse!’
Luke grinned at her cheekily as he tugged on his boots. ‘See you downstairs,’ he said with a wink.
She hopped out of bed to find all her clothes, brush her hair, and make herself look less like she’d just had the ride of her life.
She found Luke and Dan downstairs chatting in the doorway.