18
Back at the house that evening, I look up the lottery results while Ben grills some lamb chops to go with our leftovers.
‘Ooh.’
This makes him look up. ‘Have we won?’
‘Two pounds seventy,’ I confirm.
He laughs. ‘You’d better cancel that anorak order.’
‘And the deposit on that place by the sea. I should probably step up the Crawford fundraiser planning too. We’ve only got a couple more weeks.’
‘Let me know if I there’s anything I can do,’ he says. ‘I’d love to help.’
While he’s clearing up after we’ve eaten, he asks if I want to take a shower to wash the sea salt off my skin. ‘I probably should have offered before serving up, but you know what I’m like once I start thinking about my stomach.’
‘Why don’t you come in with me? To make up for it,’ I suggest.
He walks over and scoops me up in his arms. ‘Just try and stop me.’
Somehow he manages to carry me up the stairs without falling over, my legs curled round his waist, kissing me all the way. He sets me down in the master bathroom, which has a huge walk-in shower, pulls his T-shirt up over his head then turns his attention to mine, pushing my arms into the air so he can lift it clear and drop it on the floor with his.
‘Are we going in in our underwear again?’ I ask as he turns on the water. Which makes him pause for a moment while he studies my bra.
‘It’s very pretty, but not this time.’ He reaches behind me to release the clasp, his eyes lingering on my breasts as I shake my arms free of the straps.
He bends his head lower and brings his mouth to my nipples, teasing one then the other with his tongue. I feel the fire starting up between my legs and when he straightens up to kiss me again I can see the erection in his jeans.
He tugs at his buttons and pushes the material down to his ankles, stroking himself for a second as he steps clear before reaching again for me. I brush his hand to the side so I can undo my own buttons, but my jeans are too tight to easily step out of, so he lifts me up onto the sink edge and raises my legs so he can pull them free.
There’s a moment of hesitation during which I think we both contemplate having sex right there on the sink, but then he lifts me back to the floor and leads me into the shower, where jets of hot water spray us from all sides as well as above, reminding me of a fancy spa with even fancier facilities.
We take our time rubbing shower gel all over each other, his hands sweeping foam along my arms, across my back, down over my bum, then back to my breasts, where he focuses for a deliciously long time. I run my hands across his torso, his powerful biceps, feel the tautness in his backside and marvel at the rock-hard muscles in his thighs.
His erection nudges against me as he kisses me hungrily, and when he reaches down between us, bringing his fingers to my clit, each stroke sends an electric current to every one of my nerve endings. A gasp escapes from my lips as he pushes a finger inside me and I have to cling on to him for fear of my legs giving way beneath me.
He backs me gently against the wall to help me balance before adding another finger, bending to take my breasts in his mouth again, sucking and flicking my nipples with his tongue. There isn’t a single inch of my body that doesn’t feel alive from the sensations he’s creating.
And suddenly I want more. I want to feel him deeper inside me. So I draw him back up to kissing height and after one more seductive meeting of our lips, I slide my mouth round to his ear and whisper, ‘Make love to me.’
A smile creeps on to his lips as I withdraw his hands from my body and beckon for him to follow me over to the sink, where I lean over, looking back at him over my shoulder with an inviting wiggle of my hips.
As he pulls on a condom, I wipe the condensation from the mirror with my hand so I can see his reflection. He moves in behind me, spreads my legs a little wider and has one last play with my clit before he places a hand on each of my buttocks and guides himself inside me, making my whole body shudder as he presses himself against me.
His gaze stays down for a moment, a look of pure concentration on his face as he slides in and out agonisingly slowly. I close my eyes, savouring the sensuality of it, then meet his gaze in the mirror again when his thrusts take on more urgency.
It’s not long till we’re both breathing heavily, my body writhing as he pulses against me. I think it’s fair to say neither of us wants the exhilaration to end, but there’s also a desperate need for release.
Just as I think we’re both seconds from coming, he withdraws, grabs my hand and pulls me into his bedroom, tumbling us both on to the bed and rolling on top of me.
‘I want to see you properly,’ he says huskily as he moves quickly back inside me, pushing in deep and fast and never taking his eyes off me.
‘I’m going to come,’ I moan softly, biting down on my bottom lip. Then my head tilts back and my mouth falls open as I start bucking uncontrollably. He starts juddering moments later, not stopping till he collapses, panting, on top of me.
As he kisses my neck and buries his face in my hair, I can feel his heart pounding wildly in his chest. My own heart feels like it’s been blown wide open. If I thought I might be able to keep a handle on my feelings, I realise that’s no longer the case. I am wholly and irreversibly smitten with Ben.