Page 42 of My Summer of Magic Moments

She felt the pressure of him hard against her, she took a slow breath, and then he was gloriously filling her, tight as he became part of her. He cupped her breasts, both scarred and good, as he glided in and out, the feeling exquisite – sensual, long and slow, and then faster, harder. She gripped his buttocks, pushing him deeper. Wanting him so much. Heard herself moan.

‘Claire, oh, Claire.’ His words came in a hot breath by her ear.

She was so … damned … close. Bucked her thighs up against him. Oh god, yes-yes-yes-and-YES. Golden waves of pleasure throbbed within her and around him. His deep groan above her was a joy.

They slumped down on the bed together, her brain a fuzzy, happy mess. Blissful fade-out.

Bloody hell, that was amazing. She’d not had sex like that for a long, long time. In fact, had she ever had sex like that? ‘Aaaahh,’ she sighed.

And he curled around her, from behind, his face against her hair, his chest lining her back, knees locked gently behind hers.

‘Thank you,’ she whispered.

‘My pleasure,’ he answered. There was a pause. ‘It really was.’ And she could hear the smile in his voice.

No one else could have made her feel that way – so relaxed, so wanted.

Ed, you are one special guy.

And she dozed off, nestling back against him, his arm wrapped protectively around her.

18

‘There is no surprise more magical than the surprise of being loved.’

Charles Morgan

She woke to find his arm still round her. So this was real, not some wonderful fantasy dream. A slow, lazy morning smile spread across Claire’s face. She lay there feeling the warm skin of the gorgeous man beside her, noting the dark-blond hairs on his forearm. Turned slowly to look at his face, all mussed-up blond hair, his eyes still closed, little crags of laughter lines and dark-brown lashes.

His eyes opened.

‘Morning,’ she squeaked, caught out staring at him.

He smiled slowly, as if he was remembering last night too. ‘Hey.’ His voice was honey-warm.

She couldn’t think what to say, wanting to stay close and not break the spell. Could it possibly last? It had just been so magical – a whole night of magic moments. There would be plenty to add to her newspaper column, though it might have to be X-rated, she smirked. And maybe, just maybe – she hardly dared let herself hope there might be lots more magic moments for them.

She moved a hand to his face, touched his cheek, which felt prickly with morning stubble. Brushed the waves of hair off his forehead. She wanted to kiss him, but wondered if her breath would be all fusty and garlicky after last night’s langoustines. She could just nip to the bathroom and freshen up. She smiled at him, and began to wriggle sideways, realizing she was totally starkers. Could she brazenly just step out of bed? She knew he’d seen it all last night, but this was the cold light of day … She sat awkwardly with the duvet up around her breasts.

‘Do you want me to shut my eyes?’ he grinned, as if he knew she was being daft but was going along with it.

She nodded self-consciously.

‘Shame. You could pop my shirt on. It’s there on the chair next to you.’

‘Thanks.’ She leapt out of bed, betting anything he’d open his eyes anyhow and get an eyeful of her rear end. She whipped the shirt on and poked her head out. As she’d guessed, he was lying back watching her with a cheeky smile on his face, arms angled under his head on the pillows. She strolled out of the bedroom, trying to play it cool, found the bathroom opposite and brushed some paste around her teeth with her index finger. Had a quick pee too. That felt better. She had a cat-who’s-got-the-cream look on her face as she caught her eye in the mirror – and why not.

The day was theirs, she mused. She could just slip back between the sheets, and if he wanted to spend the whole day shagging her senseless, then so be it. Who was she to argue? She didn’t want to argue. Where were these brazen thoughts coming from? She’d definitely been out of action for far too long.

She slipped back under the duvet, still wearing his shirt, and snuggled up. His arm slid round her once more and she moved up tentatively for a morning kiss. It seemed a shy kiss compared with last night’s passion, but it was warm and tender. And she lay her head on his chest, feeling the rise and fall of his breathing, taking in the warm-toast smell of his skin along with the lingering scent of last night’s aftershave.

‘Have you got much on today?’ A leading question and she knew it.

‘I do have some work I need to do, sorry.’

Ah, so maybe that was it, the get-out clauses creeping in already. For all her talk of one-night stands being fine, she felt gutted.

‘Maybe later?’ he continued. ‘I just need a few hours to finish some designs I’ve been working on for a client. Then I’ll have some free time. We could go out and sample the delights of the village pub or something?’