‘I’m out of practice.Plus, you kept me up last night.’
I shot Lydia a smirk over the rim of my cup.‘Oh, I’m sorry.Did you not appreciate the multiple orgasms?’
She hummed, and I knew from her sly smile it was the opposite.
I kicked off my shoes and slid back into bed beside her.She was warm, and I couldn’t help myself.I pulled her close, breathing her in, my fingers splaying over the small of her back.I needed her close.I’d thought about this too many times – these small, domestic moments that meant she was mine.
She sipped her coffee, shooting me a curious look.‘Why do you call me Sunshine?You know it’s funny.’ She huffed.‘When Mum plotted to get me out of my funk, she called it Operation Sunshine.Weird.’ She leaned over to put her coffee down, and then lay on my chest, her hand splayed across it, like she owned me.I liked that a little too much.
‘Well.’ She shifted, laying her head on her hand, as she looked up at me.My throat thickened.‘I call you Sunshine because when I was feeling my lowest, you never left.You didn’t ask anything of me.You just stayed.A therapist once said that we can always depend on some things.That the earth will keep spinning.The tides will come in.And the sun will always rise in the morning.At my lowest, I clung to that idea.No matter what my brain was putting me through, the sun would rise.Just like I could depend that you’d be there, too.’
‘Can,’ she said, blinking.‘You can depend that I’m there.’
‘I know,’ I said, smiling.‘And it was called Operation Sunshine because I named it.’
Her lips parted in surprise, her eyes shifting between mine like she was trying to understand what I was saying.
‘When I texted your mum to check you were okay, we got to scheming.’
‘You booked the spa?’
‘Well, she wanted to get you out of your funk.And before I knew it, I’d sent the link.I knew the combination of Pilatesandaward-winning coffee would get you.’ I smiled down at Lydia.Her eyes were a little glassy.‘I’d also suggested they take you to Formby ’cos it’s your favourite beach.And then, I said they had to take you to the Green Plate for their Burrito Bowl, but it had to be followed by a trip to Sugar and Spice on Manchester Road for the waffles or you’d crash.’ I paused.‘But they didn’t take all of my suggestions.Which pissed me off a bit.’
I’d wanted to be there so badly.I’d wanted to bring her coffee and drive her around and make her laugh.But instead I was on the outside, only able to make pathetic suggestions by text.
Lydia shifted, sitting up.‘Ren – I had no idea.’
‘I know,’ I said, running a hand down her hair.‘I preferred it that way.I didn’t want you to know.I just wanted you to feel good.You deserve that.’
‘How did you know exactly what to do?’
‘How did you know that I’d need the visit to Glynmere Farm?’ I shrugged.‘We know each other, Lyds.One of the many benefits of being friends for so long.Even if it’s probably also why it’s taken us longer to be able to do this—’
I pulled her into a kiss, soft and languid.I love you, I tried to say.So much, I followed with the swipe of my tongue, making her moan.
Lydia pulled back, taking my coffee from my hands, placing it on the side table, and then straddled me, and all the blood left my head.She smiled triumphantly, and I reached up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.God, she was so gorgeous!
‘I should find a way to thank you.’ She grinned, with a slight roll of her hips that made me groan.Then her hands were exploring my chest, her lips were on my throat.
‘As much as I very much want tha – Lydia,’ I groaned, as she bit my earlobe.‘Love.’
That word seemed to make things worse – or much better – because she rolled her hips, making my cock twitch.Brain, brain, come on.Something was important.
‘Lydia.’
‘Ren.’
‘Time.The time.’
Finally, Lydia’s head shot up, and I angled mine to check the digital clock, flashing green.I was still trapped under her body, and not at all mad about it.
Lydia groaned, running her hand through her hair.‘Shit.It’s seven.We leave in half an hour.’
My head flopped back on to the pillow.I was basically panting.Lydia shifted.
‘Mercy, please.’ I groaned into a laugh.
Lydia chuckled, and leaned down to whisper in my ear, ‘It’s okay, I can make it up to you in the shower.Much quicker.’
