Page 24 of Always Beth
‘I know but my settlement will cover it. No. No. I don’t think you’re being very fair.’
I glance up from the kitchen window and see James charging towards the cottage as if he’s about to go into battle. This solicitor is doing my head in and I can see James is about to add to this headache.
‘Sorry, please hold on, I’ve a lunatic at my door.’
I’ve barely unhooked the latch before he barges through straight into the kitchen. I allow the phone to fall from my ear, as he paces back and forth. Dick jumps into Poppy’s basket and she rolls over immediately. It’s quite sickening to watch.
James stops and glares at me, but I’ll be damned if I’m letting this call go – this solicitor is an arsehole and I’m not letting him off until I give him a piece of my mind.
‘Sorry, I was saying, I think this is discrimination. I’m not asking for legal aid. I’ll be paying you, just at the end— Yes, I know who my husband is, thank you, I was married to him for long enough. He isn’t the King of England, he’s a politician and not a very good one while we’re on the subject.’
James’ fists ball at his sides as he listens to me go at it with the idiot on the phone. Suddenly he towers above me and I struggle to take in everything the solicitor says as he bears down over me. He’s so close the tension is unbearable.
‘Beth, give me the phone.’
I cover the speaker as he tries to reach for the handset. ‘What? No, get off.’ I shrug him away and he tips his head back to the ceiling, running both of his hands through his hair.
‘Beth…’
I turn my body away from him and stare into the hallway. ‘I missed that, can you repeat—’
As the phone slides from my grip, James holds me at arm’s length as he squints at the name on the screen, lifting the phone to his ear.
‘Colin? Colin, is it? Listen here, Colin, by the sounds of it you couldn’t win a coin toss let alone a court case, so we won’t be needing your firm after all. Just remember when Ms Cross wins, which she will, that it was due to first-class representation, which isn’t a service you seem to offer.’ He smirks as he hangs up and gives the phone back to me.
‘I was handling that!’ I snatch the phone and push him hard in the chest.
‘Really?’
‘Really!’ My hands linger over his rock-hard abs and I can feel the rapid beat of his heart underneath my fingertips. Peering up through my lashes, I find him staring down at me and his face softens as his tongue swipes slowly over his bottom lip.
‘You can’t help yourself, can you?’ I whisper.
‘No, Beth. I can’t.’
His large hand drops to the small of my back as he pulls my body firmly into his, his other hand travels upwards, cradling my head, teasing at my hair. My anger subsides and all I can focus on is how it feels to be in his arms. He drops his head towards mine and as his nose brushes against mine, I close my eyes as our lips tentatively meet. He’s slow and gentle and nothing I expected him to be. My heartbeat echoes through my body, as he takes over me completely. His warmth, his touch, he’s all-encompassing, and for this moment I’ve forgotten everything, but him.
James
Her taste, I can’t quite put my finger on it, but whatever it is, I love it. It reminds me of another time.
Feeling her melt against me is everything I didn’t know I needed. In my blind rage, she’s calmed me, and I don’t want to forget, I want to remember everything – about this moment.
I move us gently through the kitchen, searching for any flat hard surface. A small whimper escapes as her back connects with the cold tiled wall. She claws blindly at my biceps and through her desperation I sense what she’s after; I’ve been with enough women to know. I bend and lift her until her legs are wrapped around my waist. My cock strains hard against the waistband of my jeans and with the force of my body pinning her against the wall, there’s no way she can’t feel this. A vibration stirs between us, and I tease her bottom lip with my teeth, finally releasing her from my kiss. ‘I hope that’s your phone.’ My words are strained, through lack of breath.
‘I, errr. Yeah. I should maybe…it could be important.’ I squeeze my eyes shut as she slides down my body and the feel of her dragging across my erection threatens to tip me over the edge.
‘Hello. Yes, speaking. Yes, I did leave a message, it’s about my divorce.’
I glance down to where Poppy and Dick are staring up from her basket. ‘What?’ I mouth.
I can’t believe we’re being judged by two dogs who went at it in a field. Lifting the kettle quietly, I fill it with water as I struggle to listen to Beth’s conversation. Throwing two teabags into the cups, I spy an open packet of custard creams on the side and smile. That’s what it was. She could have tasted of anything, berries, wine or chocolate. But no, it was custard creams.
‘Sorry, can you hold a moment?’ I hear her say tentatively.
I turn back into the kitchen and find her looking up at me nervously.
‘This solicitor is prepared to take on my case—’
