‘If you’re choosing now to ask me for a raise, that would be inappropriate, don’t you think?’
‘Ha ha. I was going to ask you if you’re planning on being weird with me in the morning.Pleasedon’t be weird with me. I’ll die of embarrassment.’
‘What constitutes weird?’
‘Well, like, all stiff. And, you know. Socially awkward. Like you are most mornings, basically.’
He guffaws into my hair and wraps his top leg more tightly around my ass. I can feel him stirring again.
‘I’m pretty much guaranteed to be stiff with you around. But I promise you, I will be socially comfortable. Lubricated, even. Does that reassure you?’
‘Yeah.’ I nod and cling to him. He’s so warm. His skin is like velvet.
‘Saoirse. You know I would never make you feel uncomfortable. You’re in my hotel suite, for God’s sake. I seduced my employee and then you ask if I’ll give you the cold shoulder in the morning? Even I’m not that much of an arsehole. And as for most mornings: most mornings, I’m trying desperately to talk my hard-on down under the breakfast table, so that’s why I give you short shrift.’
I laugh. He’s sweet. He’s taken down his walls for me, and he’s seriously sweet. This warm, fuzzy Miles I can definitely handle.
‘Seriously.’ He kisses the top of my head. ‘You will find me fucking delighted to see you in the morning. Unfortunately, I’m going to have to take you to the spare room shortly. Desperate as I am to wake up with this body curled up against my cock, I’m even more desperate not to fuck my poor little daughter up. I can’t take the chance of her finding us in bed together.’
‘No, of course.’ I sit up. ‘Of course, that would be awful. I’ll just…’
‘Hey. I’m coming with you.’ He rolls over and pulls open his bedside drawer again.
‘What are you doing?’
He holds up the foil package triumphantly. ‘You don’t think I’d kick you out into a cold bed? I’m a gentleman. I’ll help you warm it up.’
I tut. ‘So chivalrous. By warm it up, you mean christen, I assume?’
‘Just covering my bases.’ He holds out a hand to me. ‘Come on, sweetheart.’
CHAPTER 24
Saoirse: Saturday 18 December
Iwake up to a delighted Bea standing over me, poking me in the shoulder.
‘Saoirse! It’s morning time!’ Her sweet voice is a sing-song.
‘Hi, pet.’ I roll over sleepily. My body’s heavy with sleep, and I’m sore between my legs in an extremely good way.
Oh, God.
Miles. Last night he kissed me, and licked me, and came inside me, and made me come—twice—and curled up behind me—oh, Jesus. He’s not still in bed with me, is he? I look around. No. Relief and disappointment in equal measure. I couldreallyhave done with waking up with his hard, warm body wrapped around me.
‘What time is it?’
Bea gives me aduhface. She’s once again managed an admirable level of bed-head overnight. ‘It’s morning time. My clock comed on.’
Ah. My room’s still dark, but Bea has a Gro Clock whose display lights up yellow at an appointed time. I glance at my phone on the bedside table. It’s seven-thirty.
‘Okay, sweetheart. Let’s go get you some brekkie. I’ll come through in a minute—I just have to brush my teeth, yeah?’
I freshen up and brush my hair out (it seems as though I achieved a Bea level of bed head myself last night) and put a plush white robe on over my camisole and pyjama bottoms. Miles helped me get my PJs on after the second time we had sex and stayed curled up behind me. I don’t even remember him going back to his own room.
I trudge through to the kitchen area to stick the kettle on and make Bea some toast. There are some basics up here, but anything fancier than tea and toast calls for room service.
‘Right, pet.’ I put on CBeebies and settle Bea on the sofa, tucking her blanket around her and putting a huge napkin on top. It’s Saturday, and it feels like a breakfast-on-the-couch kind of day. I connect my phone to the speaker in the kitchen and crank up theGleeChristmas playlist. It kicks into life withWe Need a Little Christmas.Deadly. The perky harmonies suit my mood perfectly. I am one happy girl this morning.
