Page 109 of Always Beth
Beth
Coming back to the cottage, I thought I’d get all the peace I needed for my first journalistic article in nearly a decade, but I’m well and truly distracted. A week of hot, unbridled sex will do that to a girl. I wonder if James is also finding it as hard to concentrate. Every time I try and commit my fingers to the keyboard, I find myself daydreaming about every last deliciously toe-curling orgasm he gave me. I’ve fired selfie after selfie to him the past three days, some perfectly acceptable to be opened in the office and some definitely not. Hearing him lose his mind over yesterday’s picture in his office bathroom, heavy breathing with his dick in his hand, was a definite turn-on, but it did nothing to suppress my need for him or my ability to meet this impending deadline. I rub Lorena’s back in circular motions as I re-read the same paragraph for the fifth time. I stand and wander to the back of the cottage and slowly take in the chaos that is Dick, Poppy and the dorkies. It’s not the most endearing name for a dachshund, Yorkie cross, but what can you do. They’re practically fully grown and there’s no way I can call them puppies any longer. I know that last week was the last time that David will take them, it’s an ask by the stretch of anyone’s imagination. They’re going to have to go, Poppy is exhausted and I think Dick’s had enough as well. I’m knackered with one baby let alone four.
The sun’s beginning to set and a chill runs in from outside. I place a gentle kiss on Lorena’s head and call softly from the window. ‘Dick, Pops, round them up, it’s time to come in.’
I find myself back at the kitchen window as I gently rock her from side to side. I glance at the clock and frown as it’s almost six and I haven’t heard from James all afternoon. Sliding my phone from my pocket, I hit dial and pin the phone between my ear and shoulder as I pace back and forth. The sun has now dropped below the trees and a shadow is cast over the hedgerow and I blink a few times before I realise what’s happening. I drop the phone from my ear and race to the door, unbolting the lock hastily. As our eyes meet, I raise my finger to my lips signalling that Lorena’s asleep.
‘How are my girls?’ James whispers
‘Perfect, now you’re here.’ In one hand he holds some wildflowers and the other a bottle of red and the memories resurface like it was yesterday.
‘Are you going to let me in or are you going to murder these flowers and destroy this rather delectable Argentinian red?’
I giggle quietly and step back, allowing him through. His lips brush the top of Lorena’s head before moving to mine, where he reminds me what I’ve been missing these past few days. Finally he steps back, gazing down at us both, slowly scooping her from my arms for a well overdue cuddle.
‘A rather delectable Argentinian red?’ I repeat. ‘What else did you learn in Argentina apart from that they have the best reds in the world?’
‘That I couldn’t live without you.’ He smiles. ‘That’s why I’m here earlier than planned. I had a phone call with Jacob today and it reminded me that I’ve been lucky enough to have this second chance with you and I’m not going to waste a minute of it.’
Jacob. I wasn’t sure I was going to hear that name pass his lips again. ‘So are you building bridges?’ I say slowly.
‘Something like that.’ Placing Lorena into her bassinet, he makes his way towards me. I take his hands in mine and a bolt of electricity sparks throughout me. ‘So will you see—’
He silences me with his kiss, practically devouring me. I begin to wonder if this insatiable need he has for intimacy will ever be quenched.
‘Let’s not talk about them right now, let’s talk about us.’
Them?
‘Wh-what do you want to talk about,’ I stammer, still processing his last sentence.
‘You, me, a sleeping baby, and the best twenty minutes of your life?’
I follow his eyes up the staircase and his mischievous expression hits me in all the right places.
Spreading my hands across his chest, I’m distracted by the firmness of his muscles. ‘Twenty minutes you say?’
‘It’s nineteen now, Beth.’
He gently taps my behind and I raise my eyebrows in mock disgust. He chuckles deeply and I melt from the sound.
‘Don’t pretend you don’t love it.’ His voice trickles across my shoulder as we hastily the climb the stairs.
I can’t stop the smile that spreads from ear to ear, he always knows the right things to say. Glancing over my shoulder, I pause momentarily. ‘I’d love it if you did it harder.’
His eyes light up and a wide grin mirrors my own. ‘Get upstairs, now.’
* * *
Bliss. Uninterrupted, unrivalled bliss. That’s what the last few days have brought us and there’s nowhere I’d rather be. I relax back in my chair as I look out across the front garden. I’ve just sent my first piece to my editor and having James around to bounce ideas off has made all the difference. He’s going to commute back and forth into London when he has a case and the rest of the time, he’ll stay here with us, and I don’t think I could be happier. This is where we fell in love, it’s where his most cherished memories are, and I can’t think of any other place that we should raise our daughter together. Everything is perfect.
‘I can’t take it anymore, Beth, they have to go.’ I jolt from my calmed state and turn in the direction of his cry. Well, things are mostly perfect.
‘They’re everywhere, all the time. I think I’m losing my mind. I don’t know how you coped with them. Look what she’s done to my shoe.’ Glancing up, I see James in the doorway with a dorkie under one arm whilst he thrusts a well-chewed brogue towards me.
‘She’s still learning.’
‘She’s going to need to learn somewhere else. What happened to the advert you put out for them?’
