Chapter 19
When I arrived home from work, I felt tired and strung out, despite the two-hour pampering lunch courtesy of Mia. The last thing I wanted to do was entertain a guest, but I had invited Mitch to stay, so I couldn’t very well ignore him.
I discovered him wearing gym shorts and a tank top, with his bare feet up on the couch watching TV. My heart gave a little flutter when he turned his head and smiled when he saw me.
‘Hey you,’ he said, instantly muting the TV and swinging his feet down.
‘Hi,’ I replied cautiously. ‘How are you feeling?’
‘A bit sore,’ he admitted. ‘I need to take some more Nurofen.’
I eyed his clothing. ‘You haven’t been working out though?’
He looked down at his gym outfit. ‘These were the only clean clothes I had in my bag. And my t-shirt has blood on it.’
‘Give it to me, and anything else you want washed,’ I said briskly.
‘Only if it’s no trouble.’
‘It’s no trouble. I’ve got some things as well.’
I bustled out of the lounge to collect my dirty washing feeling a bit robotic. It was so weird having a man in my space.
Mitch came into the kitchen with his few items of clothing and leaned against the doorframe, watching as I sprayed his white t-shirt liberally with stain remover.
‘Not sure what you want to do for dinner, but I was thinking of ordering Deliveroo. To say thanks for the soup you made me, which was delicious by the way,’ he remarked.
I paused in my spraying. ‘Deliveroo?’
‘Yes, what restaurant do you like?’
My mind went blank, and I turned to face him. ‘Uh, I don’t normally eat takeout.’
‘I’ll make it more of a general question then. Do you like Chinese, Italian, Greek, Malaysian…?’
‘I like noodles—not spicy,’ I said firmly.
Mitch looked amused. ‘Great,’ he said. ‘I’ll get right on that.’
I returned to my spraying, unsure whether I liked this diversion from my usual routine.
Going with the flow wasn’t really in my makeup.
But the fridge was pretty much empty, and I couldn’t face going to the shops to get ingredients and cooking.
To be honest, it was a relief to let Mitch handle it.
And eating takeout for one night wasn’t going to kill me.
Before I could say “free prawn crackers”, I was in a t-shirt and trackies, the delicious aroma of pad thai was emanating through the lounge, and I was pouring out the rest of the white wine from the fridge. (I’d been good at lunch so I could indulge now).
‘Mia called me, by the way,’ said Mitch, twirling a large forkful of flat noodles in his cardboard container. ‘She was checking in to see how I was, so I assume you told her about what happened?’
I nodded.
‘We booked a time to discuss it next week when I was feeling better.’
I knew that was coming, so I wasn’t too surprised. ‘You didn’t say you were staying here, did you?’ I ventured.
Mitch lifted a large prawn to his mouth, and his eyes met mine. ‘No. Should I have?’
I shook my head. ‘It’s probably best you don’t mention it at your meeting either. I let her believe that you only rang and told me about the issue.’
Mitch’s eyes gleamed. ‘Naughty girl.’
I chuckled nervously. ‘Haha.’
‘Am I your guilty little secret, Portia?’
I took a sip of wine and didn’t reply. Fortunately, Mitch didn’t press me further and continued eating.
But he was right. I was enjoying having a secret guest, and despite the initial awkwardness, I was starting to relax in his company.
From a quick inspection of the flat, I discovered that, apart from soup splatters on the counter, there was nothing out of place.
Mitch was proving to be clean, tidy, and respectful of my space. And he’d watered the plants!
‘Wanna watch a movie?’ Mitch asked when we’d finished eating.
I shrugged. ‘Depends. Which one?’
‘There’s that new thriller.’ He switched on Netflix and went into My List. He’d added several titles. It gave me a bit of a shock to see that, but not a bad one. I liked that he felt comfortable here and that he was settling in. Plus, he had to do something during the day while I was at work.
Also, the thriller was one I wanted to watch, so I readily agreed. Mitch suggested turning off the lights to make it more suspenseful, but I didn’t like that idea. So we compromised and kept the side lamp on.
The movie turned out to have more of a horror aspect than I’d anticipated, so I found myself slowly gravitating towards him on the couch. During one particularly nerve-wracking scene, I squeezed his arm tightly.
‘Sorry,’ I muttered. ‘It’s a bit tense.’
Mitch chuckled and put his arm around me, so I was effectively curled up against him. The warmth of his body was comforting, even if what was happening on screen was not.
As we kept watching, I breathed in the aroma of fresh pine from the deodorant he was wearing and listened to the steady thump of his heart.
Mitch’s presence was like a soothing balm, and it felt so good to be held by him.
It was like coming into a cosy house in winter after being out all day in the cold.
A melting warmth spread throughout my whole body as he slowly rubbed my shoulder with his thumb, and I let out a deep exhale of contentment, hardly even watching the movie anymore.
I didn’t even care that our empty pad thai containers were scattered all over the coffee table.
The next thing I knew, my head was being gently laid on a couch cushion. I awoke with a start to find Mitch gazing down at me.
‘Sorry,’ he said. ‘You dozed off. I was trying not to disturb you.’
‘S’okay.’ I blinked at the rolling credits behind his shoulder. ‘What happened in the movie?’
Mitch’s lips curved. ‘The killer chased the group of tech consultants through the woods. Everyone but the main couple got murdered.’
I shivered. ‘I had a feeling it was going that way. Glad I missed it.’
Mitch’s large, solid hand was supporting my head, and his thumb rubbed lightly against the nape of my neck. My eyelids fluttered a little at his touch.
‘Well, I guess I’ll go to bed,’ he said, gently sliding his hand out but not moving away. We stared at each other.
‘I should go to bed, too.’ But I didn’t move a muscle.
My eyes wandered over his smooth brow and defined cheekbones; his sharp jaw had a light dusting of blond stubble.
There was a slightly vulnerable look in his blue eyes as he leaned down, and my breath caught in my throat as his inviting lips inched closer to mine.
He wants a goodnight kiss, I thought, highly tempted to let him give me one. But I wasn’t sure I could stop with just one kiss, and anything further would lead to all sorts of complications.
I cleared my throat. ‘But first…’
Mitch jerked back slightly. ‘What?’
‘I should probably change your dressings and check your wounds to see that they’re not infected,’ I murmured.
Mitch instantly retreated and got to his feet.
‘Yeah. Good idea. I was just thinking that,’ he said, running a hand through his hair distractedly. But from the way he’d been looking at me, and the bulge in his gym shorts, I had a feeling getting his wounds re-dressed had been the last thing on his mind.
Phew, that was close! I congratulated myself on my willpower. If I could resist Mitch when I was sleepy and not thinking straight, then I could surely resist him for the rest of the time he was staying here.
He was like a large tempting Victoria sponge—but if I eventually got used to looking at it, and telling myself I didn’t want it, eventually the cream would go off and I’d have to chuck the whole cake out.
Mitch’s back was healing nicely when I inspected it in the bathroom. But some of the deeper scratches had soaked the plasters with blood and they’d since dried. I told him I’d put some fresh ones on.
But to do that, first I had to remove them.
Mitch flinched as I carefully lifted an edge of one plaster, and it caught on the dried blood sticking to his skin. ‘Sorry, this might hurt a bit. I can go slowly, though.’
He gave a grunt. ‘Just rip it off. Otherwise, we’ll be here all night.’
I took a breath. ‘Okay, if you’re sure.’
‘Yes, I’m not five years old.’
I grasped the edge of the plaster and ripped it off. Mitch let out a squawk. ‘Fucking hell!’
I tried not to laugh. ‘Sorry! But you told me to do it!’
‘How many more are there?’ he asked, as I carefully sprayed antiseptic and stuck on a fresh plaster.
‘Two.’
‘I might need a treat after this, Nurse Portia,’ he drawled, readying himself against the chair.
My stomach jumped. ‘What did you have in mind? I’m all out of lollipops,’ I said, unable to resist bantering with him.
‘Hmm, I can think of a few things that involve sucking,’ he said in a husky voice. ‘And you owe me. Big time.’
I swallowed hard and grabbed the edge of the next bloodied plaster. Before I could think too deeply about what he was saying, I ripped it off his skin.
Mitch inhaled sharply. ‘I’m not sure if you’re killing my arousal or turning me on even more.’
I laughed. ‘Stop flirting.’
He twisted and gave me a brief grin before turning back. ‘You love it.’
‘I do not!’ I huffed and busied myself with sticking a fresh plaster on, berating myself for encouraging him. ‘One more to go,’ I said grimly. ‘Brace yourself.’
Ripping off the plaster earned me another whine of protest from Mitch.
‘I might do a Boots run and get some better plasters tomorrow,’ I mused. ‘These ones seem extra sticky.’
‘Can’t wait,’ he muttered. ‘Just my luck. Nurse Portia likes inflicting pain. I’m in my own horror movie.’
I chuckled darkly. ‘You have no idea what pain is. Try getting your pussy waxed and then talk to me.’
Turning away to clear up the rubbish, I bent over to put it in the bin. Then, when I straightened, I found that Mitch had swivelled around so he was facing me. I let out a surprised ‘Oh!’ as he grasped me around the waist and pulled me onto his lap. His very hard lap.
‘I’d like to hear more about your pussy being waxed,’ he whispered in my ear. ‘Do you have your legs open or closed when it’s being done?’
‘Mitch…’ I admonished.
‘What? You brought it up.’ He nipped at my earlobe, and I squirmed in his lap, enjoying the feeling of his erection against my buttocks. Knowing that I’d turned him on.
‘They get you to spread your legs,’ I said. ‘And everything’s on show.’
Mitch groaned softly in my ear and seemed to get even harder. ‘I can picture it so clearly. Your slit all pink and wet. Your clit begging to be licked. My cock is so fucking hard right now thinking about eating your pussy.’
A shiver of lust went through my entire body at his dirty talk (he’d improved!) and all the willpower I was so proud of earlier flew out the window. But I was sure sitting on the lap of a half-naked, gorgeous man with a hard-on this size would weaken even the staunchest of nuns!
‘What do you think?’ he murmured, stroking his hands lightly down my thighs and then running them up over my breasts. ‘Shall we take this to your bedroom?’
I leaned back against his bare chest, quivering with arousal as his fingers brushed over and around my nipples.
It felt so good to wallow in his attention, his warmth, his scent; nothing between me and his sexy body but a thin pair of gym shorts.
The thought of Mitch’s tongue flicking lazily at my clit was making it pulsate.
We had all night. I knew he’d edge me and wouldn’t let me come straight away, even if I begged him.
And fuck, I’d give him the same treatment.
I wanted to hear him moaning and beseeching me to let him come because he couldn’t stand it anymore.
But common sense was also prevailing. We couldn’t—shouldn’t—do it.
However, I couldn’t seem to say a word. Just kept enjoying Mitch nuzzling my cheek, and touching my breasts and him murmuring: ‘Fuck, you’re so sexy’ and ‘I want you so much’ and ‘I can’t stop thinking about you naked’.
His fingers dipped into the waistband of my track pants, and with an inward groan of frustration, I grabbed his hand, stopping him.
‘We can’t,’ I said abruptly. ‘We’re not at Suite Noir. This is my flat.’
Promptly, I stood up and moved away from him, regretting the loss of his body heat immediately.
Mitch’s face was the picture of confusion, and the bulge in his shorts looked painful.
Then he narrowed his eyes at me as if he knew I was purposely sabotaging this, and honestly, he was right.
I was. Our bodies were on fire for each other, yet I was intent on dousing our mutual passion in cold water, for a reason I didn’t fully understand myself.
‘I know we’re not at Suite Noir,’ he said roughly. ‘This is different.’
‘Why?’ I asked. ‘It sounds like you want a Shoshana.’
Mitch rolled his eyes. ‘Yeah, right. Look how that turned out.’ He sighed and reached for my hand. ‘No, I don’t want a Shoshana. I like you, Primrose. And I want to do things to your body that will make you feel good. Is that a crime?’
He squeezed my hand, and I bit my lip. ‘No, I guess it isn’t.’
‘And I’m assuming you like me a little too, since you asked me to stay?’
I nodded slowly. ‘You left tomato soup splatters on the counter, but apart from that, I’m… enjoying your… male presence.’
A smile tugged at the corner of Mitch’s lips as he leaned back against the chair. ‘My male presence?’
I gestured down at his broad chest, ripped abs and the large erection in his shorts, all of which were working efficiently in tandem to keep my arousal stoked. ‘Yes, your… presence is quite… um…’ I blushed hotly to the tips of my blonde roots.
Mitch grinned and released my hand. He slid down his gym shorts until they were pooled on the floor at his ankles, and his long, thick cock was standing free. It was even more impressive than I remembered. Saliva gathered in my mouth as if I were a primeval cavewoman.
‘Do you want to suck me off, Primrose?’ Mitch drawled, seeing I was practically drooling. ‘Because I really, really want you to.’
Oh God. The Victoria sponge was tempting me, wanting me to devour it, and I couldn’t resist. I couldn’t. But to be honest, I was sick of denying myself.
I dragged my gaze from Mitch’s cock, all the way up his bulky torso and taut pecs to his piercing blue eyes that were regarding me with heated curiosity.
Unconsciously, I wetted my dry lips with my tongue as if I were already imagining wrapping my mouth around his delectable dick. Fuck it. I wanted the Victoria sponge, all the jam and all the cream—all over me.
‘You’re right,’ I said, holding out my hand to him. ‘I owe you one. And Nurse Portia doesn’t like to be in debt.’