Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
M y phone was ringing and it was after midnight and I wasn’t on call.
What the hell?
I’d had a busy few days since the garden party and had been really looking forward to an early night and a bit of downtime. Teddy and I had shared a few text messages since the party but hadn’t seen each other, which was probably for the best. I’d had no time to obsess about what had happened and definitely no time to replay the dance, the almost-kiss, or the treehouse conversation. It wasn’t on an incessant loop in my brain. Honestly.
Knocking my phone off the bedside table and onto the floor, I slithered from the bed and retrieved it from the rug, answering groggily.
“Yes?”
“Hannah, come quickly! It’s Deidre. She’s dying.” Teddy sounded panicked.
“What?”
“She’s dying! Hannah, come quickly!”
I took a moment and shook my head, hoping this would clear everything up and confirm that I was just having a dream.
“Hannah, are you there? I’ll come over there and drag your arse out of bed if you don’t come quickly.”
“When you say dying, what is she doing?”
“She’s lying down and groaning, and there’s some panting and puffing.” The sound of Deidre bleating mournfully in the background filtered through.
“Fine. Let me grab some bits and pieces and I’ll be there shortly. Stop panicking – it won’t help her.”
“Is she going to be ok?”
“I’ll do everything I can for her.”
I hung up the phone and pulled on jeans and a jumper over my pyjamas, then nipped to my car to load some essential items into a case before jogging round to Teddy’s.
Opening the door to his shed, I found him crouched over the prostrate goat, who was lying on her side and straining. He held a torch over her and was gently stroking her neck and whispering soothing words. As if he sensed my presence, he looked up and saw me, and the deep creases in his forehead relaxed.
“Thank Christ you’re here. She’s getting worse.”
Hopping over the gate, I assessed the scene – the churned-up straw, the heavy breathing, and the heaving flanks of the goat.
“Teddy, this is serious.”
All the colour drained from his face.
“What’s wrong with her?”
“Prepare yourself. I need to tell you something important that will change your life.” I paused for dramatic effect. “You’re going to be a daddy.”
“W-w-what?”
Teddy’s eyes turned huge.
“A goat daddy. Deidre’s not dying; she’s in labour.”
“Oh. Very funny, Hannah.” Loosing a shaky breath, he looked back where his hand was still smoothing the white coat on Deidre’s neck. “What should I do? Do you need hot water and towels? A midwife?”
I chuckled. “Some warm water and a towel would be great, but I reckon we can leave the midwife out of it.”
Teddy rushed away to get the water – little did he know it was just so I could wash my hands later – and I began to examine my patient more closely. The amniotic sack had burst and I quickly found a couple of little goat limbs and noses, jostling to get out into the world. With a little bit of manipulation, I worked out which limbs belonged to which snout and soon had the first little soggy bundle delivered. Clearing her little pink nose and giving her a rub with some clean straw to stimulate her breathing, I placed her under Deidre’s nose, and she immediately started licking and snuffling the new arrival, her delighted bleats matched only by the happy little sounds coming from her new baby.
Teddy arrived with about four bath towels under his arm and two huge buckets of steaming water. “Thank God I got the hot water working. Is this ok? Wow.”
He placed everything on the ground and crept over to where Deidre was busy with goat kid number one, and he watched in awe as the two animals softly snuffled at each other. Meanwhile, baby goat number two slipped out, again healthy and kicking, shaking his head and bleating loudly within minutes of landing in the straw. Quickly I placed him next to his slightly smaller sister, and Deidre delightedly started to fuss this one too.
“Twins?” Teddy whispered.
“Yes. Deidre’s done brilliantly.”
Checking for injuries and finding none at all, I stood up and helped myself to the warm water, washing off the inevitable slime and blood that accompanied all births. Then I sourced some more clean straw for fresh bedding for the new family, before sitting back and watching the miracle of life unfolding before me. This was the part that never ceased to be amazing, the magic and perfection of these tiny new beings who were already flexing their limbs, testing them and trying to stand. The love and dedication that Deidre showed as her instincts kicked in was beautiful and astounding, It was these special moments in my job that got me in the feels, every single time.
“Do we need to do anything else?” Teddy whispered.
“No, I think Deidre has it under control. I’ll pop back in the morning and check that she’s delivered all the afterbirth, but I think she’s done this before so we should just give them some space and let them get to know each other.”
“Do we need to wake Agnes up and tell her?”
“No. It’s pretty late so I think she’ll be ok to see them in the morning too.”
“Ok.” He hesitated before stepping back, unable to look away from the goats. “It’s amazing, isn’t it?”
“Yes, even after all the births I’ve seen, it never gets less incredible.”
Teddy turned to look at me, a soft light in his eyes.
“Thanks for coming and helping.”
“You’re welcome. And you didn’t even pass out at the blood. I’m impressed.”
“Well, I elected to stay away from the business end and let Deidre maintain some modesty.”
I laughed. “I reckon she appreciated your gentlemanly behaviour.”
Teddy smiled shyly and ducked his head, rubbing the back of his neck distractedly.
“Do you want a drink? I could really do with a drink.”
“A drink sounds great. Come on.” I picked up all the towels, handing him a few, and closed the shed door as we wandered slowly back towards the lights of The Rectory kitchen.
Inside, I slipped off my boots while Teddy got some glasses and poured a couple of fingers of whisky into each one. Whisky wasn’t my favourite, so in a practised move from my university days, I downed the lot in one and tried not to gag.
Teddy coughed and stared at me.
“That was a ten-year-old single malt, Hannah.”
“I don’t like whisky,” I replied, my voice rough and not unlike a sixty-a-day smoker.
“Oh. Right.” Teddy quickly finished his whisky too. “How about champagne, or is that too excessive?”
“For the celebration of new life? Definitely not.” I had a mid-week day off scheduled for tomorrow, so I absolutely was in the mood for a bit of champers. “That would be lovely.”
Teddy grinned and found some rather expensive-looking flutes then popped the cork from the bottle with a flourish.
“To new life,” he said, clinking his glass against mine. “And to Hannah, the ravishing vet, who saved me from yet another caprine emergency.”
“To Ted, the most attentive goat-father I’ve ever met.”
“I’m the goat-father? Just call me Ted Corleone,” he said in a poor imitation of Marlon Brando that made me laugh and snort a bit of champagne out of my nose, the bubbles burning my nostrils so that my eyes watered.
Grabbing the bottle and still chuckling, he ushered me into the sitting room, which was in the process of being renovated. A few candles were flickering in the fireplace and one small sofa was pulled up near the hearth. A couple of books were open on the floor and a pair of reading glasses lay neatly on top.
“Romantic evening for one?” I quipped, tilting my head towards the flickering flames and low lamplight that made the large room feel cosy.
“Something like that.”
Teddy sat down next to me, his proximity inevitable in the small seat, his solid thigh brushing mine. Quickly, I gulped more champagne as tingly warmth spread over my skin, but luckily Teddy seemed oblivious as he stared into his glass. I wriggled uncomfortably, trying to get some space, but just ended up rubbing my leg even more obviously against his. I knew it was dangerous to be alone and close to Teddy – I’d already struggled to keep my head in similar predicaments, and here I was leg- humping him and getting myself all hot and bothered again.
“You drank that one quickly. Are you ok?” Teddy asked, hesitantly filling my glass again.
“It’s lovely!” Taking another large swig, I felt any resolve that I had garnered since the party fully scarper. I was alone. Alone with a raging libido and a walking, talking sex god sitting perilously close to me. My inhibitions giggled gleefully as they too made a hasty exit.
Shit.
Teddy smiled as he took a sip of champagne. “Seriously, are you all right? You’re looking at me a little strangely, Hannah.”
“Baby goats!” I practically shouted at him, making him jump and spill a bit of champagne on his jeans. “They’re cute, right?”
“Erm, yep,” he replied, dabbing at his wet crotch before giving up with a sigh and looking a little fearfully in my direction. “Very cute. Maybe even cuter when not covered in birth slime and blood. I’ll reserve my judgement until they’re all clean and fluffy tomorrow.”
“Ha ha ha!” That was a weird noise. My attempt at laughing sounded particularly grating and false.
Have another sip of champagne you weirdo.
But my glass was empty again, and Teddy looked a little alarmed when I shook my flute under his nose. Leaning forwards, over his legs, my torso pressed against his thighs, I reached for the champagne bottle and topped myself up. Swinging back past his shocked face as I sat upright again, and using my hand on his knee to push myself up, I accidentally gave it a little squeeze. Accidentally. Yes. Absolutely by accident.
I was staring at him. I knew I was, but I didn’t seem to be able to help it. He was delicious, wasn’t he? I mean, really almost edible. With a face like that and such a firmly muscled body, why had I resisted this long? I considered moving my hand higher up his thigh, the chance of further squeezing opportunities filling my brain. I attempted a seductive smile in his direction.
Teddy chuckled. “Are you drunk already?”
“Nope. High on life, my friend, high on life.”
“Who are you and what have you done with my prickly hedgehog of a friend?”
“Ah yes, friendssssssssssssss. We need to chat about that.” I took another gulp of champagne and leant forwards.
“We do?”
“We do.” I nodded firmly, gesturing with my glass and sloshing more champagne on him. “Ooh sorry.”
I went to dab at the liquid on his blue-checked shirt and my fingers ended up caressing the smattering of hairs that were peeking over the V-shape of his open collar, unintentionally flicking open another button, and resting on the warm skin underneath.
Ooh this is rather nice. Very nice, in fact.
“Hannah…” Teddy said, his voice a little growly as it reverberated through his chest and electrified my fingertips. Reluctantly, I dragged my gaze from this point of contact and up to his face. His eyes were dark pools, his lips parted.
I wanted to kiss him so badly. Just as he’d said the other night, really fucking badly .
Placing my empty champagne flute on the ground, I turned back to face my quarry, my hand still nestled snugly inside his shirt. In one swift move, I swung my leg over so I was straddling his lap and looking down into his face, which he angled backwards, resting his head on the back of the sofa.
Slowly, I undid another button of his shirt before his free hand, the one not holding a champagne flute, gently grabbed mine.
“Hannah, what are you doing?”
“I’m seducing you. Badly, it would seem.”
“You don’t need to seduce me. I’m not having sex with you when you’re drunk.”
I pouted and leant down, my lips brushing the shell of his ear.
“What if I were offering you wild, uninhibited, do-anything-you-want-to-me sex right now on this sofa?”
Teddy moaned against my neck. It was a restless, wanton noise, a mix of need and frustration, a kind of animalistic sound that had me humming in response. After a moment during which his body had gone completely still, barely breathing, he whispered hoarsely, “I think this is just the champagne and cute baby goats talking. You don’t mean it and would hate me in the morning.”
“Are you turning me down, Edward Fraser?”
I sat up and pulled my hair out of its ponytail, letting the long strands fall around my shoulders and then wriggled seductively in his lap, feeling his body respond.
“Fuck, you’re really making this difficult for me.”
“Hard, some might say?” I replied and sniggered.
God, I’m really funny, aren’t I?
He raised an eyebrow. “Indeed.”
“One kiss, then? Just one and then I’ll leave you alone. And I won’t hate you in the morning.”
Teddy laughed. “You won’t?”
“I won’t, I promise,” I said, saluting.
I could do meaningless kissing with this man. I could just enjoy my own physical reaction to him, couldn’t I? No catching feelings. He smiled and my stomach flipped over.
Shit. Who am I kidding.
“All right, Havens. One kiss. And it’d better be your best porn star one or I won’t be happy.”
I licked my lips and he traced the edge of my jawline with his fingers before gently cupping the back of my head. I leant down again, and on a soft exhale with all the breathiness I could muster, I said, “Yes, sir.”
“Mmmmm, I never thought you’d say that to me.”
“Do you like it?”
“Oh yes, I fucking love it.”
My lips hovered over his, expecting him to come to me, but he didn’t. He remained exactly where he was, watching, waiting, letting me take control of this moment. So I did. I absolutely did. I went in for the kiss, brushing my lips tentatively against his, revelling in the sudden warmth and taste of him – the scratch of his beard against my skin and the huff of his breath mingling with mine. When he responded, eagerly, a blast of nostalgia and familiarity hit me in the chest with the full force of a hurricane, and I was a ship lost at sea, hopelessly bobbing in the tempest of my own feelings.
Hungrily, I pressed into him more firmly, sucking his bottom lip into my mouth and letting out a little gasp as his fingers tightened their hold in my hair. His mouth opened, urging me on. And I took that invitation wholeheartedly, allowing my tongue to explore against his, my mind starting to shatter with the growing intensity of the kiss as he pushed back at me.
A groan rumbled in his throat. Breaking away, I kissed his jaw, his neck and then back up to his lips, frantically touching his face, his shoulders, his chest, a sudden urgency coursing through me. But then he was changing the angle, pivoting until I began to slide underneath him. The champagne flute was magically gone as both of his hands were now covering my body, large and warm and desperate as he tugged at my clothes revealing more skin to the heat of his touch. He was showering me with attention, his solid weight caging me in – and I absolutely bloody loved it.
Every part of me was alive to the feel of him, every press of his lips, every stroke of his fingers a bolt of lightning, fuelling my desire and encouraging me to be reckless. I pulled at his shirt to open it, revealing an expanse of warm skin, and like an eager explorer my fingertips followed the dips and ridges of his chest and abdomen, heading south to the waistband of his jeans.
“Mmmmm, this is so nice , Teddy,” I murmured, instinctively arching up towards him.
“Shit, we need to stop. I need to stop,” Teddy rasped, breathless, his voice thick with lust and emotion as he attempted to pull away from me.
But I didn’t want to stop. I didn’t want to be sensible. I wanted to feel. I wanted to be wanted. I wanted to pretend I was desirable just for a few more moments. Reaching up to his face, I traced the line of his mouth.
“Please, Teddy. I need this.”
He looked torn, distraught. “I don’t want to do anything rash, anything that you’ll regret.”
“I won’t,” I promised, so hazy with passion that my words seemed to come out slurred, slow and deliberate.
But Teddy was already getting up off the sofa, releasing his hold on me as he tried to readjust his jeans and button up his shirt with shaky hands.
“It’s just meaningless fun between friends, right?” I said, sitting up.
My head was swimming but I desperately wanted to reassure him that I’d manage my own expectations; that he could rely on me not to fall for him. I knew, though, with absolute clarity, that I was too far gone already, but he didn’t need to know this. I could pop this into a little box and squirrel it away in the corner of my mind, in the dark and dusty place I kept reserved for all self-destructive thoughts.
“Meaningless?”
“Of course, Teddy. Don’t worry – I’m not going to fall in love with you.”
My laugh was bright but unconvincing to my own ears. I could feel my heart thudding along like a galloping horse, and I had to grasp the seat cushion to stop myself swaying.
“Right. Of course you won’t.” Rubbing his hands over his face, Teddy sat back down on the arm of the sofa, careful to remain out of touching distance. “That’s a relief.”
Trying not to let him see how much his indifference stung, I crawled across the sofa towards him.
“Can we do some more snogging now?”
Reaching over, he cupped my chin gently. He leant down, his lips hovering over mine, just out of reach.
“But we agreed just one, Hannah.”
“But that wasn’t my best porn star kiss, Teddy.” I pouted and pushed forward, trying to catch his mouth with mine.
Teddy moved back just a fraction, denying me.
“It wasn’t?”
“No.”
“Damn.”
He swallowed and rubbed a thumb over my lips, the rough pad catching on the aching and sensitive flesh there.
I could still taste him, feel him, hear his groan, and I wanted more. Wobbling slightly, I batted my eyelashes – hopefully coquettishly and not just as though I had something irritating my corneas.
“Shall we have another go, so I can show you?”
Teddy laughed a little sadly.
“I would absolutely love to have another go, but not now. Not until you’ve sobered up.” He paused, gazing into my eyes and pushing my hair behind my ear. “And not until you realise that when we kiss, Hannah, it’s never, ever, meaningless.”
He stood up and I fell forwards on the sofa into a jelly-like heap of uncertainty and chaos. A major internal malfunction was occurring. Something was happening inside my brain that I was wholly incapable of processing just now. The room began to spin and I remained motionless while Teddy tidied up around me. The faint sounds of him washing up came from the kitchen as my consciousness started to seep away, suddenly inexorably tired and groggy.
The feel of his arms around me as he lifted me gently from the sofa couldn’t even encourage me to open my eyes, but I did snuggle into his warmth, pressing my nose into his neck and inhaling deeply.
“You smell delicious, like spicy oranges and pheromones.”
Teddy laughed. “To bed, my inebriated little hedgehog of a friend.”
“At last, Teddy the sex god has shown up and is taking me to his bed!”
I giggled, feeling my body bounce against him as he carried me upstairs.
“You really are drunk, and on so little alcohol too. Impressive.”
He placed me down gently on my back, and I was immediately enveloped in fresh-smelling sheets. I burrowed down into the soft warmth of the bed and felt myself relax.
“Get some sleep, you gorgeous little weirdo,” he continued, placing a gentle lingering kiss on my forehead and turning out the lights.