And Then There Was You

  'Adam, what are you doing here?' I demanded, passing it to him.

  He took it, looking so lost. 'I...I...came to find you, Eve. I needed to see you...'

  'You needed to see me? Why? Why come all this way? You shouldn't be here, Adam. You should have stayed away.'

  'But, but...'

  'But what, Adam?'

  'I love you,' he said quietly.

  'No, you don't. It's clear to me now. You never loved me, not really.'

  'You're wrong, Eve.'

  I shook my head and turned away, grabbing my wine from the dining table and taking a swig.

  'Eve, I do love you. More than you could ever understand.'

  'No, you loved Lisa, and now that she's gone, you don't want to be alone.'

  Adam let the towel hang around his neck as he stepped forward and took my hand in his. 'No, you don't really believe that, do you? Please, Eve. I'm sorry, truly sorry for causing you so much pain. I never meant to, you know?'

  I turned to face him, letting him pull me closer to him. 'I know, Adam. I know you didn't do this on purpose. But we weren't meant to be. You shouldn't have come here.'

  'No?' he asked.

  I shook my head and pulled my hand away.

  'Don't you love me?' he whispered, and my breath stuck in my throat. 'I know you love me, Eve. Please don't push me away now. Tell me the truth... don't you love me?'

  I sobbed and stepped away.

  'Eve, please,' he said, tears falling down his cheeks. 'I love you so much and I want to make it up to you for the rest of my life.'

  'Adam, no. I can't take any more of this.'

  'Say it, say you don't love me anymore.'

  I opened my mouth to say it, but the words wouldn't come. How could I lie?

  'Oh, Adam,' I cried falling into his arms. 'I do love you, but I can't bear all this pain.'

  'I'll never hurt you again, Eve. I promise.'

  I looked up into his eyes and saw such love there. I wanted him. I'd always wanted him. But he hadn't been ready. Was he ready now?

  As I sat on his lap on the sofa, he pulled me towards him and our lips finally met in a tantalizingly erotic kiss that had every nerve ending through my body tingling with desire.

  'Evie... I want you so bad,' he whispered into my ear. 'I've missed you so much. I was devastated when you left.'

  Standing up, I took his hand and led him slowly upstairs to the bedroom, where I pushed him back onto the bed. For a minute, I left him there so I could go and put the plug back into the bath and started running it again. For some reason, I really wanted to have a bath with him. Then I returned to him and slowly removed his clothes. He just sat there, watching me as each shoe and sock was dropped to the floor. I unbuckled his belt and slowly pulled it through the loops, throwing it behind me. Next was his sweater; he held his arms up so I could slide it off. I took a few moments to unbutton his shirt, then I pulled it open, sliding my hands over his torso before sliding them down his jeans as he shrugged out of the shirt. I undid the top button teasingly slowly before the next. Then I pulled him to his feet so I could pull them down past his thighs. He lifted each leg, allowing me to remove them and fling them across the room. He stood in nothing but his boxer shorts, his erection straining against the fabric.

  I pulled at the elastic, letting it snap back against his skin with a half-smile.

  His face was flushed with desire as I slowly put my hands down the back of his shorts and cupped his rock hard buttocks, pulling him towards me. He groaned as his hardness pressed against my skin.

  Then I pushed him away and ran up the few steps so I could turn the tap off, before returning to remove his final piece of clothing. But before I did, I let my dressing gown drop to the floor.

  Adam stared at me, admiring my nudity, as I crouched down so my face was level with his crotch, then I used my fingers to gently pull down the shorts until they were on the floor. His hardness rested against my neck and I nuzzled it for a second before I slowly stood up, rubbing my entire body against him deliciously.

  I took his hand and led him up the stairs, where we both climbed into the tub. He lay back and I straddled him, grinding against him, leaning forward to breathe in what I'd been missing for so long. His scent filled me.

  'I've been wanting this for so long, Adam,' I whispered. 'But I thought I'd lost you for good.'

  'Me too,' he said, 'I'm sorry I hurt you. I'm sorry for all the pain I caused you. But I'm here now, and I'm not going anywhere. I love you, Eve,' he whispered into my ear, while his hands searched every part of my body, probing, stroking, fingering. His lips sucked wherever they could reach above the hot water. My body pulsed with desire as I eventually lifted myself up and lowered myself so that he filled me. A loud groan erupted from both of our lips as his tongue investigated my mouth, and he sucked my tongue erotically. I lifted and lowered myself slowly as he used his fingers to gently massage my clitoris and bottom at the same time, his fingers sliding up and down, rubbing from side to side. I pulled away, lifting myself off him before turning to face the other way, while his fingers continued to probe every part of me.

  It was like nothing before, not even our first time in London. This was different.

  'Let's get out,' he suggested from behind me.

  I nodded and we climbed out. Before we could get down the steps though, he was fucking me from behind and I groaned before pulling away from him, so we could at least make it down to the carpet.

  I made him lie on the soft floor and leaned over him, taking him in my mouth, gently playing with him using only my tongue. He turned me around so he could easily use his own probing tongue to gently caress me. I had to stop to get my breath back, groaning louder and louder by the second. Not wanting to come just yet, and wanting him back inside me, I turned back around and straddled him, fucking him harder and harder until the inevitable happened and we both came together in a blissful state of happiness.

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  I squealed at the sight of a Beluga whale gliding across the massive pool behind the glass. It was the most astounding creature I'd ever seen, the way it moved through the water was mesmerizing. I just stood, staring at it for a few minutes. The click of a camera distracted me and I turned to see Adam taking another photo of me with the whale at my side. I grinned.

  'Isn't it just the most beautiful sight you've ever seen?' I asked.

  He looked at me and nodded. 'She certainly is,' he teased, ruffling my hair with his hands. 'I do love your hair like this, you know?'

  'I know, you keep telling me.'

  'You just look so cute,' he said as he grabbed my hand. 'Come on, there's tonnes more to see.'

  He pulled me through Vancouver Aquarium until we got to the sloths, the animal he'd been going on about since we'd arrived. They were so fascinating to watch, almost appearing unreal, like teddy bears.

  'They don't look real,' I said as we looked up to see them hanging from the branches of the trees above us.

  'They're definitely real,' he replied. 'Look at that one, it's eating something,' he pointed.

  'Speaking of eating, I'm starving. Shall we go and find a cafe?' I suggested. When I saw his face, I added, 'We can always come back to the sloths, babe.'

  Smiling, Adam nodded. 'I think I saw one this way.'

  With coffee and cake on the table in front of us, we sat looking at each other, smiling.

  'What?' I asked. 'What are you smiling at?'

  'I'll tell you what I'm smiling about if you tell me what you're smiling about,' he teased.

  'Okay, after three. One, two, three... YOU!' we both said a little louder than we should have done. People in the cafe looked at us with raised eyebrows, and the two of us fell about laughing before we quietened down a bit.

  'So, how's the writing going? I'm sorry I haven't asked about it until now.'

  'It's amazing. I spent the first few days scribbling like a mad woman. I've been so inspired by this place, Adam. It's so beautiful. And now that you're her
e, everything is perfect. I've finally got my mojo back.'

  He grinned and squeezed my hand, 'I'm glad, babe. What have you been writing? Something new and exciting?'

  I smiled shyly. 'It's going to be a new series for teenagers. A supernatural series with mermaids, monsters, vampires and stuff.'

  'Really?” he asked, 'that sounds like something Amy would like. She loves all that stuff.'

  'Maybe she could be the first person to read it for me when it's finished?'

  'Eve, she would be honoured. I just know it.'

  'Maybe Clare would like to read it too,' I teased.

  He raised one eyebrow and then laughed. 'I'll ask her too, don't worry.'

  'What about you? How's work been, by the way? I can't believe we're only just getting round to talking about all this stuff.'

  'We've kind of had a lot going on,' he said sadly, leaning forward to kiss the side of my face.

  'Yes, we certainly have,' I replied, turning my head so that my lips caught his. The sound of someone clearing their throat made us both move away, embarrassed. We didn't look up to see who didn't approve of our embrace.

  'Erm, Eden Grove, yes,' Adam said, 'It's going well. The same as before, really. But I'm considering selling it.'

  'Oh? Just one of the garden centres? Like before?'

  'Before?' he asked.

  'Yes, the first time we met in London, you said you were there to sell a garden centre.'

  Adam smiled. 'You've got a good memory. Yes, that was one that wasn't doing so well, so I decided to get rid of it. But this time, I'm thinking of selling the entire business.'

  'Why?' I asked, sipping the hot coffee.

  'I'd like a little more time to devote to me... and you.'

  'Adam,' I breathed. 'You're going to sell your business for me?'

  'That's pretty much it, yes. After what happened with Lisa,' he paused for a second to take a breath, 'it made me realise that life is so precious and sometime so short. I don't want to be apart from you again, Eve.'

  'Gosh, I don't know what to say.'

  'Eve, you are my everything. I don't want to be pulled away to the other side of the country on business anymore. I never want to be too far from your side. I've made some mistakes over the past few months, and like I said before, I need to make things up to you. I don't want to leave your side ever again.'

  My stomach did little somersaults and I grinned, resting my head on his shoulder. 'I don't want you to be, either.'

  'Then that's settled. I'll email my lawyer later today. Have you finished?' he asked.

  I nodded.

  'Then let's go and celebrate with the sloths,' he laughed, pulling me up from my seat and kissing me passionately for all the patrons of the cafe to see.

  As we were walking out, I turned to see an elderly couple looking very embarrassed, a group of teenagers were grinning and nudging each other, and the woman behind the till nodded at us with a smile.

  oOo

  It was our last day in Canada and if I'd been alone, I would have been saddened by that fact. But with Adam by my side, it didn't matter where in the world I was. Walking through the shopping district, I stopped to fantasize outside a designer boutique, looking at the Prada handbags and Louboutin shoes.

  'Why don't you go in?' Adam asked.

  'Nah, no point. I couldn't spend that kind of money on something like that.'

  'Why not? You're buying quality.'

  'No, you're buying the name.'

  'Yes, I suppose that too. But it's an investment. You can always sell designer stuff later, when you've had enough of it. Come on, let's have a look,' he insisted.

  I relented and gingerly walked in, feeling decidedly out of place as the posh sales assistants looked us up and down the second we stepped over the threshold.

  'This is nice,' Adam said, walking to a brown leather handbag.

  'Adam, it's over a thousand dollars,' I said rigidly.

  He looked at me and laughed, putting the bag back on the shelf. 'What about these? They're rather sexy, aren't they?' he said, picking up a pair of sky high black patent heels with their trademark red sole.

  'Holy shit,' I said, a little louder. 'Look at the price. Let's get out of here. I feel like everyone's looking at us.'

  'Nobody's looking at us. You're imagining it,' he reassured me, as I looked around and realised he was absolutely right.

  'Why not just try them on?' he suggested.

  'No, I'm fine thanks,' I said standing so close to him that he could barely breathe.

  'Chill, Eve. Now sit down. What's your size? UK six right?' I nodded, doing exactly as I was told.

  He walked over to the sales assistant and smiled; they talked for a while and she grinned at him before disappearing, returning moments later with the right size.

  I took off my boot and sock as she removed the beautifully-made shoe from its box and then from within the cloth bag and placed it on my foot. I felt like Cinderella as it slipped on just like it had been made only for me.

  'And the other one,' Adam said.

  I removed my other boot and sock and she carefully placed it on, and I stood up. They were a little higher than any shoes I'd ever had and I struggled to gain my balance, but after a couple of moments, I looked at Adam and grinned. He watched as I walked from one end of the shop to the other.

  'Wow,' he muttered. 'They look beautiful on you.'

  'Yes they do.'

  'Are they comfortable?' he asked.

  'Surprisingly so, considering their height,' I replied before sitting back down and removing them, reluctantly handing them back to the young woman.

  'Well, I can now say that I've worn a pair of Louboutins.' I smiled as she put them back into the box and I put my socks and boots back on. In the meantime, Adam wandered off to browse the designer wares for gentlemen.

  Once I was ready, I stood up and looked around for him. After a couple of minutes or so, he appeared and smiled at me.

  'See anything you like?'

  'Nah, nothing really.'

  'Let's go then.'

  He took my hand and we walked out of the shop, the saleswoman smiling and saying goodbye as we left.

  'I can't imagine spending that amount of money on a pair of shoes, even if I was a millionaire,' I said as we wandered back down the street.

  'I'm sure you would, babe.'

  But I shook my head. 'It just seems like an obscene amount of money for a pair of shoes.'

  'They were comfortable though, right?' he asked

  I nodded and smiled. 'Very.'

  'And I bet they made you feel like a million dollars too, right?'

  I thought about it for a second and relented. 'Yes, I suppose they did.'

  'Now imagine wearing them with a nice dress...'

  'Oh yes, that would be nice.'

  Adam laughed and squeezed my hand. 'Exactly my point.'

  'Point taken.'

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  I was absolutely exhausted after the journey home and was so happy to walk through the door and just be alone, the two of us.

  Neither one of us could barely lift our bags, so we just went straight to bed and slept for fifteen hours straight, waking up at two in the afternoon, completely famished.

  I gently blew into Adam's ear until he woke up. Opening his eyes, he smiled.

  'Afternoon, sleepy head,' I whispered.

  Smiling, he grabbed me and pulled me back down under the covers. I yelped and tried to get away, but he held on tight until I stopped playing and let him kiss me tenderly.

  'Wow,' I whispered. 'Now that was a kiss.'

  Adam simply smiled before he sat up. I jumped out of bed and he smacked my bum as I walked past him, then I leaned over to him and grabbed him.

  'Come on, get out of bed.'

  He followed me and led me to the kitchen.

  I raised one eyebrow. 'I guess we probably need to go food shopping; is there anything to eat in the meantime?' I asked, opening the massive fridge and st
opping dead still to find it was fully stocked.

  'How the hell?'

  'Jack came down yesterday morning and sorted it out for us.'

  'Jack, I love you.' I sighed, pulling out eggs, bacon, sausages, mushrooms and tomatoes.

  'Full English? Sounds perfect,' Adam smiled. 'Why don't you let me do it? You could make some coffee?' he suggested.

  Eventually, we had devoured a man-sized full English breakfast and several cups of coffee. Both of us sat back and sighed happily.

  'That's better,' he said, rubbing his tummy.

  'Shower now?' I said.

  'I have a better idea,' he grinned.

  'On such a full stomach?'

  'Actually I was thinking of a nice warm bath. What were you thinking?' he teased.

  'Swimming pool,' I grinned.

  'Let's save that for when our breakfast has gone down.'

  I felt a tingle of anticipation between my legs just thinking about it.

  'Just make sure that Jack has no plans to stop by,' I joked, as I cleared everything from the table and started to stack the dishwasher.

  'Don't worry, we're quite safe. He's visiting Amy in Bournemouth this weekend,' he said, stopping me from cleaning, instead pulling me towards him so he could plant a deep kiss on my lips. I sighed with happiness.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  I'd missed Lisa’s funeral, but I was happy to be there for her memorial service.

  People of all ages dressed in all colours mingled throughout the manor. I smiled at the sight of everyone. It had been one of Lisa's last requests; she didn't want people to wear black at her memorial service. She wanted them to wear their favourite colour. She also didn't want anything morbid playing either, only her favourite songs. It was such a lovely idea and it really made people talk to each other about what colours, music, and things were favoured to each of them, including the favourite things they remembered about this remarkable and loving young woman. Lisa Oakwood had only been forty-five years old.