His low groan stirred something in her and she began to reciprocate although she was horribly conscious that Leo was about. Thankfully Steve was too busy with his hands skimming over her body to expect any response. Although she was enjoying his touch, she hadn’t been yearning for it and the sex was how it always was – nice and straightforward.
He came with a noisy shout and Anna, beneath him, winced, hoping that Leo hadn’t heard.
‘Sorry, babe, I know you didn’t get there,’ he said collapsing on top of her.
She simply stroked his back. There was nothing to say. It was nothing new. They’d been together for two years and of course the excitement and passion had died down, although occasionally she wished he would slow down and focus on her but Steve didn’t like talking about sex. Actually that wasn’t fair, he wasn’t capable of talking about it. Whenever she tried to broach what she might like in bed he reverted to schoolboy humour and became silly and childish. He was a terrible prude.
She sighed. He rolled off her and, misinterpreting her sigh, said, ‘Glad it was good for you. God, I’m knackered. You’ve worn me out.’
Within minutes he was snoring softly.
Anna lay there for a quarter of an hour listening to him, conscious of time ticking away, before she finally poked him. It was after twelve and they still had the afternoon, although she’d have to cancel the planned boat trip. Despite her prod in his ribs, he didn’t wake.
‘Steve.’ She shook him but he shrugged her off.
‘Let me sleep,’ he said and turned over to burrow deeper into bed. Irritated with him, she decided to leave him be. No point in starting an argument. Instead she decided to take a quick shower and slipped out of the bedroom and across the hall, praying that Leo wouldn’t come downstairs. From above she could hear the sound of the music playing on his Spotify account. She smiled, thinking of their gentle bickering as they’d put their combined playlist together. A wave of sadness washed over her and she couldn’t think where it had come from.
Steve was still dead to the world when Anna came back to the bedroom to dress. She glared at his sleeping form, wrinkling her nose at the pungent fart that he’d let out. She vented her fury on the bedroom door as she slammed it behind her and went upstairs to the lounge. This was nothing new. Why the hell did she put up with it? When had she started allowing this sort of behaviour? Was it because going out with Steve had made her approval ratings within her family soar and she was loath to rock the boat?
Leo looked up as she marched in. ‘Don’t say a word,’ she growled.
His mouth closed with a snap and, focusing on the sandpaper block in his hand as if it was the most important thing in the world, he went back to rubbing down one of the chairs she’d rescued from the skip.
Anna stormed into the kitchen, grabbed another beer and, passing Leo again, strode out onto the roof terrace. Leaning against the rail she stared over the rooftops. In a short while she’d come to love the area; it was so green, quiet and restful. Living with Leo was actually a lot of fun and not what she had been expecting – had she imagined how messy he used to be? She shuddered and let out a quick laugh. No, there was no way anyone could forget how untidy he was. When had that changed?
‘You okay?’ Leo’s voice came from the open door.
She turned and nodded.
‘Mind if I join you?’ Typical Leo that he’d ask – and she knew if she said yes, he would retreat without taking offence.
‘No.’ She managed to dredge up a smile for him, suddenly appreciating his quiet presence.
‘I take it back about the furniture,’ he said, his back to the rail, tilting his head back and lifting a bottle of beer to his lips. In that moment, doused in sunlight, he looked strong and handsome. She watched him swallow, stifling an urge to run a hand down the strong column of his throat.
He flashed her a smile. ‘It’s looking good.’
So was he. And what was wrong with her? She’d just got out of bed with another man. A man she loved. Didn’t she?
Flustered by the unwelcome thoughts, she answered quickly, ‘It is, isn’t it?’ She filled the quick pause. ‘When did you have your Damascene conversion to tidiness?’
‘What conversion?’
‘A biblical reference. It means a complete about-face. You’re not messy anymore.’
Leo laughed. ‘You noticed.’
‘Couldn’t fail to miss it. Back then it was like living with a human tornado. What happened?’ With a teasing smile, she prodded his arm. ‘Is this the same Leo, or a Dr Who regeneration?’
‘I’m pretty sure Dr Who was the same but looked different,’ said Leo, his brow puckering as if giving the matter serious consideration.
‘You know what I mean.’
‘Maybe I grew up,’ said Leo with a quick shrug that immediately made Anna think he was hiding something.
‘Lover boy sleeping off his hangover?’ asked Leo, his face suddenly lighting up with a grin.
She pursed her lips. ‘Unfortunately.’
