I held her hand as we walked up the steps to the coastal path and across the fields to my house. It was completely different from when she had seen it nearly three months ago and I tried to see her expression as she noticed the glass front and extension that she hadn’t been aware of.
It looked new; a new design, new ideas, something totally different. Yet behind it sat the old farmhouse that had held people and families for more than a hundred years. The mix of old and new was unusual, but it suited the place and it suited me.
“It looks incredible.”
I’d had lights placed outside so that the building was highlighted in the evenings. Any boats passing or people walking on the beach would catch sight of it. This wasn’t to show it off, more of chance to show that they weren’t alone, that someone, somewhere was awake too, that they weren’t the only soul on this part of the planet.
“Thank you. It’s almost finished. About three or four more weeks and it’ll be done.”
“It’s taken less time than I thought. You must’ve had contractors who were really efficient.”
“I called in a few favours.”
It turned out I’d been missed. As soon as word got around that I was starting projects again, I had calls from the companies that we worked with, asking whether I could help with a project. When they’d found out what I was doing with this place they offered to do what they could to get it completed fast.
It had taken a village. Or an island.
* * *
The door was unlocked,mainly because it was highly unlikely that anyone would try to break in around here anyway, but also because apart from my art, there was nothing worth stealing. I had electrical shit on order: a big TV, wireless sound system, some fancy coffee machine, they were all due to arrive in the next week or so, along with some kitchen appliance that Janie had told me I had to get, like a fancy fridge freezer that had a screen on the front showing you what was inside. I wasn’t entirely sure why I needed one, but I bought it anyway because it was easier than having the argument about it.
“Do I get a tour now?”
Her hand was still in mine, small and soft. I wasn’t sure I could ever let it go.
“Let me show you one thing first.”
I guided her out of the door and round to the side of the house, the gardens half-landscaped and not the easiest to navigate when it was fairly dark.
Between the barn and the house, I’d had a garage built, big enough for two cars. Car crime in the area wasn’t an issue, but the storms were and the salt in the air was problematic for paintwork.
I unlocked the garage door and watched her face as she saw the hybrid car I’d bought and driven back two weeks ago.
“Is this yours?”
“Just about. I can’t say I like driving it and I’d rather take a boat or a train, but I can just about get around in this.”
She didn’t respond.
“I had counselling. Still having it. One of the things we looked at was me being able to get in a vehicle and then drive again. I’m never going to be happy in a vehicle or relaxed, but I can drive. I need to for work sometimes. And if there’s an emergency.” My words were stilted. I hadn’t done this just because of the night when Harry broke his arm. That couldn’t be my sole reason for taking driving lessons, researching the safest cars and booking the instructor I was working with to sit with me while I drove my new car that had undergone more safety checks than it really needed to. Driving was something I had to do; for me.
“You’ve really worked at this.”
“Still working at it.”
She turned and put her arms around me, standing on tiptoes to pull herself up to press her lips to mine and then any restraint I’d been holding since the beach fell away because Anya was back and even in the thick blanket that night was casting, there was light.
She tasted of her. I gave her ten seconds of being the one who could make the demands before I started to make my own, holding her body against mine, feeling her warmth, her curves. Her.
“I can show you the master bedroom first. It has an ensuite.” I managed to pull myself away from her, aware that it was cold outside. I wanted this woman. I didn’t need her; three months of being apart had shown me that I could function as an individual, with her and without Ryan. But I wanted her. And I wanted more than a summer fling by the sea.
“I spent most of the summer in your barn. I’m hardly going to turn down that offer. Show me the rest of the house in the morning.”
We walked into the house, shedding clothes as soon as the door was shut and bolted behind us. There was so much to say, but none of it was important right now.
I carried her up the stairs with her legs wrapped round my waist, her hot centre pressing against my cock, making me ache for the relief of being inside her. It had been too long. I couldn’t be without her for this long again.
My bed was huge and central to the room, facing the window with a view of the sea. I laid her down and flicked on a lamp, needing to see how she looked. We were down to wearing pretty much nothing, just her pants and bra remained and they weren’t going to be there for much longer.
