I give a half-sigh, half-growl deep in my throat and slide my tongue into her mouth, and she inhales again, sharply this time. For a moment I think I’ve gone too far and she’s going to move back, but instead she gives a sexy little moan and tilts her head to the side to change the angle—subconsciously, I think—a move that tells me she wants more.So I slide my arms around her, and she lifts hers around my neck, and we indulge in a long, deep, luscious kiss that sends my heart banging on my ribs and makes other parts of me stir like a bear coming out of hibernation.When I finally lift my head, I’m breathless and hungry for more. Alice stares at me, the Christmas lights filling her eyes with flickering red and gold stars.“Oh my God,” she whispers, “yesterday I was close to never wanting to kiss anyone ever again. Why was that so amazing?”“Skill.” I mean it to sound sexy, but my voice cracks and comes out as a squeak, and we both laugh. I clear my throat. “Finish your drink, and I
She laughs and pushes the box over to me. “I love that you know that. Go on, open it.” I take the box. The lid closes like a flower, and I unfurl the petals. It contains a single chocolate truffle. I smile and take it out. “Happy birthday,” she says. “Thank you.” I bite it, dividing it in two, and offer her the other half. She looks at it for a moment. “I bought it for you.” “And I’m choosing to share it.” I gesture for her to take it, and she does, popping it in her mouth. “Off down the rabbit hole,” she says. I don’t quite get the reference, but I smile anyway, because she’s quirky, and I like that. She also has an amazing voice. When we first met, I was sure I recognized it, but I can’t think where from. We eat the truffle, which is rich and dark, then have a sip of wine. “Thank you,” I say, genuinely touched that she bothered. She wrinkles her nose. “Least I could do after you paid for dinner.” “Like I said, I’m old fashioned.” She smiles. “So come on then, tell me.Ali
Are you going to stay the night?” she asks. “I’ll understand if you’d rather go.” Her words seem emotionless, even cold. She doesn’t care what I do.I can’t get angry at her, because she hasn’t led me along at any point. Okay, she didn’t tell me up front that she only wanted a one-night stand, but I don’t blame her for that. I wasn’t particularly looking for more, either. She’s been very frank. I can’t really get upset because she’s treated me like a human vibrator. I should be thrilled. I had great fun, enjoyable sex, and no commitment. Every guy’s dream, right? Don’t be a pussy, Kip.But for some reason, maybe because I heard from Lesley, because of the unpleasant exchange with Craig yesterday, or because the connection I’ve had with Alice has made me realize that I’m actually quite lonely, I feel a sweep of self-pity and resentment.Then Alice moves, and I look down and see her rub her nose. I slide a hand beneath her chin and lift it so I can see her face. Her eyes shine with u
We don’t speak as the car sinks to the ground floor. There are several other people in with us, and anyway, I can’t think of anything to say. I want to blurt out my surname and where I live and tell him to call me, but what’s the point? I need to sever this neatly, because I’m sure it’ll make it easier than hanging onto hope that one day in a year or two’s time, we’ll somehow have a fairy tale ending.The doors open, and we walk into the lobby. Halfway across, we stop and turn to one another.“Thank you,” I tell him. “I’ve had a fantastic time, and you were amazing. I really appreciate you being so patient and kind.”He tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear. “Thank you for letting me be your first.” He brushes his thumb across my lips. “Can I give you a last kiss?”I hesitate, because I know I should say no, but the word won’t form. Taking that as affirmation, he slips a hand to the nape of my neck. He’s wearing his glasses, but he lifts them onto his hair, then moves up close a
She told me that she cares for her mother twenty-four-seven, which must mean she’s been confined to her home since she was sixteen. Reading must have been a comfort to her, something she could fit around looking after her mum. Maybe she started by doing a blog reviewing books and movies, and the podcast grew out of that. She’s done extremely well for herself, though, to develop it as well as she has.How does she make a living out of it, though? She must monetize her podcasts. I remember something then and g****e Wonderland and P*****n. Yeah, I was right—you can support her on P*****n and get extra interviews, reviews, discussions, and even merchandise. She’s also running a Kickstarter campaign to fund a proper studio that’s already passed its target amount. Wow. She’s quite the entrepreneur. Now I’m really impressed.Why didn’t she tell me any of this? I’d have been fascinated and would have loved to chat to her about it. But even as I form the question, I know the answer. It’s the sa
Mum looks away, toward the dining room table, and I follow her gaze. Sitting on the surface is a bouquet of flowers.Slowly, I get to my feet and go over to the table. The bouquet is wrapped in cellophane and tied with a big red bow. I count the flowers inside—it contains two dozen crimson roses.Claire appears beside me, and says, “Ohhh…”I remove the envelope that’s stapled to the cellophane, open it, and retrieve the card inside. It says, “Thanks for a great evening. You left me smiling like the Cheshire Cat. Kip x.” It ends with a“Cheshire Cat?” Charlie says. “Oh shit. He knows who you are.”“What does it say?” Mum asks.Claire reads out the card, while I stare at the flowers and cover my mouth with a hand.Did he know all along? Or did he just Google me when I left, the same way I did him?“Who is he?” June asks.I lift the bouquet, open the cellophane at the top, and sniff inside. Oh, they smell amazing. I turn to face them, still holding the bouquet. “His name’s Kip C
Least I could do after the orgasms you gave me.”I smile and blush. I did make him come. Several times. It gives me a warm feeling in my tummy.I don’t know what he meant about the distance between us being a hurdle rather than an obstacle. It’s not just the distance. I look after my mum, and that’s not going to change anytime soon. Maybe he’s thinking of suggesting getting someone in to care for her, but she wouldn’t want that. She’s a very private person, and I know she’d feel terribly embarrassed about having a stranger do some of the intimate things I have to do for her.I don’t want to lead him on. But I like him so much.On the other end of the line, I hear footsteps on tiles, the scrape of metal, then the squeak of furniture.“What are you doing?” I ask.“I opened the sliding doors so I could smell the jasmine,” he says. “It reminds me of your perfume.”“Aw.”“Now I’m lying on the sofa. What’s it like in your garden?”“It’s a lovely evening here. I’m sitting in front o
Chloe told me you’d moved in with Renée.”“You’ve spoken to her?”“I went to your house.”He studies the carpet for a moment. “Is she okay?”I feel sick to my stomach. “No, she’s not okay, you fucking idiot. She’s having to travel to the other side of the world with a four-month-old baby on her own.”“She doesn’t have to go,” Renée says.I look at him, not her. “Maybe she felt the need to see her parents, to have some support after her husband walked out on her, you know?”He lifts his gaze back to me. “It’s easy to pass judgment when you don’t know the whole story.”“No, I don’t, because you haven’t told me. I thought we were friends. I thought you’d talk to me if you were considering something as serious as walking out of your marriage.”“And have you lecture him about duty and responsibility?” Renée snorts. “Mr. Self-Righteous.”“Renée,” he snaps.“Oh, grow a pair,” she tells him. “Stand up for yourself.”He meets my eyes and then drops his gaze again. And it’s then tha