Chapter 41
41
The minute the door’s open, Tony’s inside. ‘You’ve not changed your mind, have you, beauty?’
I reach around his neck, pressing into him, kissing him hard. ‘Does it feel like I’ve changed my mind?’
He pulls back just far enough to look at me. ‘Nah, it don’t. And thank Christ for that. I’ve been counting down to this ever since you texted me. I honestly dunno what I’d have done, if it’d turned out you didn’t want me after all.’
‘Let’s go to bed.’
‘When I’m finished kissing you.’
The force of his lips on my hair, my neck, my mouth, is enough to push me back, one hand braced against the bare bricks. The kisses are mixed in with Tony murmuring my name, that I’m beautiful, that he’s missed me, that he wants me. And I can tell that’s true because he’s pushing against me, one leg between mine, his hand on my back pulling me close.
‘Tony, Tony, I can’t wait any longer.’
‘Come on, then. Upstairs.’
The second he lets me go, I’m pulling him along behind me. I push him down onto the foot of my bed and step back. There’s a moment of self-consciousness, looking at him looking at me.
‘I was going to dress up for you. But then I thought, this time, the first time, maybe it’s best just real, no tease, no games.’
He smiles softly. ‘Yeah, this is perfect. You’re perfect.’ His smile broadens. ‘Now get those fucking clothes off. But leave the necklace.’
I pull my t-shirt off. Not slowly or seductively, just trying to get rid of it, ripping off sweatpants too.
‘Now come here.’
I try to say something but it’s more of a wanting sort of noise, as I step over to Tony. He reaches up to unhook my bra, slipping it off my shoulders and waiting for it to fall to the floor before he slides my knickers off. I go to climb onto his knee, but he holds me away, hands on my hips. ‘Let me drink you in a minute. This is one I wanna remember.’
He looks at me, head to toe, then closes his eyes for a moment. ‘You, Genie, are solid gold. You knows that, don’t you? And gorgeous with it. Even if I’m gonna have to feed you up.’ Tony points at the floor-length mirror in the corner, ‘See what an absolute beauty you are?’
‘All I can see is that you’re wearing far too many clothes.’
‘That I am.’ His voice is muffled as he starts pulling off t-shirt and hoodie together. Before he can untangle himself, I’m already scrabbling at the buttons of his jeans. His hand holds mine still as he reaches into his pocket then holds out a condom.
‘Genie, you run the show this time, OK?’
His eyes are grave and I match him as I nod, then we’re both smiling and he’s kicking off jeans and briefs. And I know I’m supposed to say it’s Hollywood perfect, but it’s not. There’s the scrambling rush of wanting all of each other all at once, and the fumbling that’s part of finding out how we best fit together. But none of that matters, because Tony reaches up to my waist and his hands guide me into the rhythm that he needs. The second it’s right, he makes a noise in the back of his throat that’s half growl half groan. And that is perfect, knowing for once I can be as noisy as I want, because my voice will be wrapped up in his. Not that either of us manages actual words, until Tony’s almost there. As he climaxes, he’s panting, ‘Genie, Genie, you fucking angel. I fucking love you.’
We lie side by side, his arm under my neck, our bodies touching wherever they can. Tony waits until his breathing is close to normal, then says, ‘Genie, love, I’m sorry. I didn’t quite get you there, did I?’
My voice is sleepy and deeper than normal. ‘Nearly, though. Much closer than I usually get.’ I reach up to stroke his hand on my shoulder. ‘Sorry. Mostly, I fake, but I thought with you, that probably wasn’t necessary.’
He kisses the hair just above my ear. ‘It’s not. And honestly, I’d rather you didn’t. Cos I’m gonna have loads of fun working out all the stuff that does it for you, but it’ll be easier if you’re not play-acting.’ He runs his fingertips over me, tracing the line of the necklace first, then drawing rectangles over my stomach and figures of eight around my breasts. ‘Like I think you’re into this. Is that right?’
‘Umm, definitely.’
He begins to circle my nipple. ‘So this is probably nice too, yeah?’
‘Bliss.’
‘Which means this should work?’ He tugs my nipple, gently at first, then just to the edge of pain, until I moan and arch my back.
He begins to slide his hand down, finding my hip, then my thigh. ‘And if I remember right, you’re keen on this and all.’
He runs his fingers over my wetness, stroking and circling. It’s gentle at first, then firmer, with me lifting my hips, trying to rush him into building the pressure.
‘There’s no hurry, beauty. Just relax, let me take care of you.’ He keeps that up, murmuring into my ear that we’ve got all night, that he wants to take his time, that I feel good. And his fingers feel good too. So good that I let myself sink into the sensation, moaning and whimpering until I think I can’t bear it any longer.
‘Try to stay with me one more minute, OK?’
That’s enough to push me into pure pleasure, my head buried against Tony’s chest. It takes me a moment to come back to conscious thought and when I do, it’s nothing clever. Just, ‘Oh, Tony.’
‘You all right, love? Had a nice time?’
I prop myself up on my elbow so I can look at him. ‘The absolute best time.’
He grins. ‘Me too, beauty. Me too.’ He reaches up and strokes my face. ‘And Genie, I know it’s not the classiest time to have said it, but what I said, I meant it. I love you. And that’s not the sex talking. I’ve loved you for ages. I just weren’t sure, like, I dunno, about how to tell you, or maybe more, if I should, when I might not be right for you. All that.’
I shake my head and bend to kiss him gently. ‘You couldn’t be more right, Tony. And obviously, I love you too. Completely.’
‘You don’t have to say that, not if you’re not ready.’
‘Except I am. And it’s nothing to do with you being Tony Garratt, the best of his generation.’ I make my face thoughtful. ‘Though you do know, darling, I think that might have quite a lot to do with how much I want to fuck you.’
Tony laughs, the one that’s close to a roar. ‘Believe me, I’ve no complaints ’bout that. Cos, Genie, I love all the sides of you. Like sensible, smart Genie, she’s dead impressive. And worrier Genie, who needs a bit of looking after, it’s nice knowing I can give her what she needs. And sweet Genie, like tonight, obviously she’s my favourite. But slutty Genie, she gives her quite a run for her money, I can tell you.’
I run my fingers over his chest. ‘I’m pleased to hear it. Because I think she’ll be putting in another appearance shortly, if you’re going to be ready to go again any time soon?’
He smiles, lifts my fingers to his lips and sucks them, letting his teeth rake over the skin as he releases them. ‘Any minute, I’d say.’
Which makes it absolutely maddening that the doorbell rings. I make a disappointed noise, and Tony says, ‘Ignore it.’
But it keeps ringing and Roudie starts barking, and whoever it is, they’re not going away. I pull a face at Tony. ‘Sorry, it’s probably Sky, wanting to tell me how her game went. I’ll get rid of her.’
I’m at the bedroom door, when Tony calls, ‘Genie, aren’t you forgetting something? Like I know Sky reckons clothes are pretty much always an optional extra, but what if it’s a Jehovah’s Witness or one of your ancient neighbours looking for their lost cat or something?’
I shrug. ‘Well, if it scares them off…’ But I do pull on knickers and Tony’s t-shirt, which is long enough to skim my thighs. As I head for the stairs, Tony shouts, ‘That’d not scare me off, I can tell you. Fact there’d be no getting rid of me.’ So, I’m laughing when I open the door. But I stop right away because it’s Gavin.