CHAPTER NINETEEN
ALEXIS
I never imagined the first time I woke in a guy’s bed would feel how it does. I pull the covers tighter under my chin and snuggle back into Alec’s chest. His hand spreads out on my stomach and he kisses my shoulder blade.
‘‘Good morning, beautiful,’’ he says in a deeper, huskier voice.
‘‘Good morning.’’ I smile and roll over, my head tucking into his neck. Our legs tangle.
‘‘Did you sleep well?’’
‘‘Hmm... I’d say so,’’ I joke.
‘‘Good.’’ He kisses my forehead. ‘‘I told you if you got a tattoo you wouldn’t be leaving my room for a while.’’
I smile into his neck and kiss him gently. ‘‘You were right.’’
He sighs and runs a hand down my back. ‘‘It’s raining.’’
‘‘Is it?’’ I tilt my head up and look at him.
‘‘You sound surprised about that.’’ He smirks.
‘‘I wanted some rain.’’ I shrug. ‘‘There’s only so much sun a person can take.’’
‘‘You take it pretty well though.’’ He lifts the covers and runs his eyes over my body. ‘‘Fuck, I forgot you were still naked.’’
He drops the cover and rolls onto his back. ‘‘Wrap yourself in that quilt tightly, Princess, or there isn’t a chance in hell of us seeing anything than the other side of these sheets today.’’
My mouth opens and closes before I do as I’m told. ‘‘Where are you going?’’
‘‘For a cold shower.’’ He gets up, still naked himself. And, um... I understand the term ‘morning glory’ now, cause damn, it definitely is glorious.
‘‘Lexy,’’ he growls. I snap my eyes back up to his face.
‘‘Sorry.’’
He looks at the door then back at me. He jumps back onto the bed and grabs the quilt, unravelling me. He straddles me and I raise a questioning eyebrow.
‘‘I’m pretty sure the shower will still be there in half an hour.’’
~
‘‘It was nice of Alec to stop by and pick you up some clothes,’’ Grammy says across the table. ‘‘You must have got caught in that rain last night pretty bad if they still weren’t dry this morning.’’
‘‘Something like that.’’ I smile at her and I know she’s caught me out.
‘‘I sure hope he looked after you.’’ Grammy goes on. ‘‘I’d hate for you to get a cold.’’
I hand her the packet of seeds and fight my smile. ‘‘He’s pretty good at looking after me.’’
‘‘Oh.’’ She waggles her eyebrows once. ‘‘I bet he’s really good at looking after you.’’
I stick my tongue out the side of my mouth and smile. ‘‘He heats a mean can of tomato soup.’’
‘‘Did he get it hot enough?’’ she enquires innocently.
‘‘Yep.’’ I look at her seriously. ‘‘And he got just the right amount of butter on my bread.’’
Grammy’s eyes widen and she half-gasps, half-laughs at me. ‘‘Alexis Mae Edwards!’’ she manages, her hand to her chest.
‘‘What?’’ I twirl my hair around my finger and pass her another pack of seeds. ‘‘You asked, Grammy. I was just letting you know he looked after me fine. You know I like butter on my bread.’’
She studies me for a second before her pale pink lips break into a grin.
‘‘I bet he really rocks it in the bedroom, huh? Fred Flintstone, move on over. Hubba hubba!’’ Grammy wiggles her body in the seat and I do a double-take.
‘‘Well, just come right on out with it, Grammy,’’ I sputter. ‘‘It’s a good job Mum’s not around. She’d go into cardiac arrest. She thinks I was at Jen’s.’’
‘‘No, Lexy girl. She thinks you think she thinks you were at Jen’s. Really, she doesn’t want you to know that she knows that you were practising for the creation of the next generation at Alec’s. But now you know she knows we can all live peacefully.’’
‘‘There were way too many thinks and knows in that, Gram.’’ I shake my head. ‘‘But I’m not creating anything.’’
‘‘Oh, I bet you are, darling.’’ Grammy carries on potting absently. ‘‘I might be sixty-eight, but I can tell you when a guy is a looker and on a scale of one to ten, Alec has broken the chart. Phew.’’ She fans her face. ‘‘And that’s just when he walks into a room. He’s like a walking radiator he’s so damn hot.’’
‘‘I don’t know if I should be agreeing with you, or smiling and nodding while pretending I’m not incredibly disturbed by this conversation,’’ I state.
‘‘Probably both,’’ Grammy admits.
‘‘Yeah, that’s kinda what I was thinking.’’
Grammy holds her hand out for more seeds. ‘‘Anyway, as I was saying...’’
‘‘I’m just a poor boy, nobody loves meeeee!’’ Bing sings at the top of his voice, walking into the kitchen.
‘‘Shut up, boy!’’ Gram throws a winter flower bulb at the back of his head and it bounces off.
‘‘What was that for?’’ My brother turns with an indignant look. ‘‘You, Grammy, dearest, are looking at next year’s Xfactor winner.’’
‘‘The only thing you’re likely to win is a trip to the dump wi’ my broken windows!’’ She cackles. ‘‘You might be a looker, my boy, but you sure as hell ain’t a singer.’’
‘‘You know, some people might take offence to your words, Gram.’’ He pours a glass of orange juice.
I get up and cross the kitchen. ‘‘Yeah, but since you know it’s true, you won’t.’’ I smirk and grab the glass before he can. ‘‘Thanks for the juice, by the way.’’
Bing glares at me and I smile sweetly.
‘‘I hear a certain little lady didn’t come home last night.’’ He pours another glass.
‘‘What’s it to you? I’m an adult now.’’ I retort.
‘‘I just wanna know if I need to kick ass.’’
‘‘Why?’’ I sit back at the table. ‘‘Are you not getting any?’’ I look at Gram. ‘‘It was the boxers. Good shout, Grammy.’’
She holds her hand up and I high-five her.
‘‘I’m still getting some,’’ Bing grumbles.
‘‘Yeah, but how far are you travelling for it?’’ I raise my eyebrows.
‘‘You know, Bing, you could do with finding yourself a nice young girl to settle down with. Would it kill you, really? You can’t live the ‘wham, bam thank you ma’am’ lifestyle forever. I know you might fancy yourself it, but you ain’t no Hugh Hefner,’’ Gram mentions. I snort and look at my brother’s shocked face.
‘‘Any idea when the men in white coats are coming?’’ he asks me.
‘‘Not a clue,’’ I respond without missing a beat. ‘‘But they’re coming to take you to nympho rehab, not for Grammy.’’
Grammy holds her hand up one more and I high-five her again.
‘‘She got my wit, boyo, so you’re better off quitting while you’re still ten miles behind,’’ she chuckles. ‘‘If you ever manage to catch up, bring Vino.’’
I duck my head as I smile and I hear Bing make a ‘pfft’ sound. He puts the glass on the side and leaves the room.
‘‘I love winding him up,’’ Grammy sniggers. ‘‘It’s so easy to do.’’
I grin over at her and she claps her hands off, standing up. ‘‘Let’s go and put these pots in the garden.’’
~
Rain beats down for two days solid. Grammy’s happy because her garden is getting a good watering, and I’m happy because last night’s storm got rid of the horrible muggy air that was hanging around. I’m not happy because I’ve been cooped up inside for those two days and I’m going stir crazy.
It’s testament to how much six weeks in Devon has changed me. I’m craving the outdoors, the fresh, salty air. Hell, I’m even craving the hideous smell of cow poo.
Yeah, it’s like that now.
I scroll down my Facebook news feed, boredom emanating from me. I never realised how full of bullshit my life was in London. All it was was partying, shopping and probably way too much bitching. A part of me... Doesn’t want to go back.
I sigh and shut down the laptop, wondering if there’s any way I can transfer universities. I know there’s one in Exeter and one in Plymouth. I’d love to spend more time with Grammy... And it would mean I wouldn’t have to really leave Alec.
I sigh again as Dad walks in.
‘‘What’s up, sweetheart?’’ he asks, stopping by the table.
‘‘Just thinking.’’ I smile up at him and look outside. The rain has stopped now. ‘‘Dad?’’
‘‘Hello?’’ He puts the kettle on.
‘‘What if I changed unis? Could I go to Exeter or Plymouth?’’
He narrows his eyes thoughtfully. ‘‘Of course you could. But, Lexy, why? Is it because of Alec?’’
I twist some hair between my fingers and examine it for split ends. ‘‘Mostly for Grammy, but yeah, a bit, I guess.’’
‘‘I didn’t realise it was that serious,’’ he folds his arms.
‘‘How did you and Mum do it?’’ I look at him. ‘‘You went to uni, right? How did you make it work?’’
He smiles fondly and I can see the love shining from his eyes. ‘‘She followed me. Even if she didn’t, I would have followed her to where she wanted to go. We were so in love, still are, that we would have followed each other to the ends of the earth and back a million times.’’
‘‘Then you get it.’’
‘‘Get what?’’ His lips twitch.
I look down at the table. ‘‘Why I don’t want to leave.’’
‘‘What if he’d go to London after you?’’
‘‘I wouldn’t ask him to do that. This is his home, Daddy. He’s too surfer boy for London.’’ I smirk at the thought of Alec living in the city. ‘‘No, I’d never ask him to leave his home for me. I know he wouldn’t be happy in London. I’d rather leave without him than force him into something he doesn’t want to do.’’
‘‘Let me see what I can do,’’ Dad says. I glance up. ‘‘I’ll make some calls and see what I can find out about switching.’’
I beam at him. ‘‘You’re the best, Daddy.’’
He winks at me and takes his coffee from the room.
A knock from the glass doors startles me and I jump in my seat. With my hand to my chest, I turn to see Alec stood there grinning. I glare at him, ignoring how incredibly, ridiculously, swoon-worthy he looks when he is soaking wet from the rain. Especially when he has a white t-shirt on.
I get up and slide the door open, leaning against it. ‘‘Can I help you?’’
His stormy eyes look me over and I smirk.
‘‘You most certainly can,’’ he flirts, stepping closer. ‘‘First though, I’d appreciate it if you could stop being so beautiful because I don’t know how much more my heart can take.’’
‘‘Oh, how he flatters me,’’ I tease.
‘‘You make me go weak at the knees with one flutter of those amazingly long lashes.’’ He steps forward again.
‘‘You.’’ I look up at him and smile. ‘‘Are the cheesiest guy in the history of the world. But it’s okay, cause I kinda like it.’’ I grab his shirt and lean up for a kiss.
‘‘Well if that’s all it takes for a kiss, how many more lines for a trip to bed?’’ He winks and I roll my eyes.
‘‘Let’s see. A bunch of flowers, a bottle of wine, a box of chocolates, and a night to drool over Taylor Lautner without any jealous, snarky comments.’’ I tick each one off my fingers.
‘‘Oh, she fancies herself a comedian.’’ Alec sighs dramatically and I laugh. He holds out his hand. ‘‘How about a walk on the beach then?’’
‘‘That I can do, I suppose.’’ I slide my hand into his and he locks our fingers together. I push the door shut and we head towards the coastal path leading to the Bay. The rain holds off as we walk in silence, the only sounds the crashing of the waves.
I love the comfortable silences between us. So many words are said with so little and it’s when I feel myself falling even deeper, if it’s possible. The silence is natural, like it’s supposed to be there.
He puts his hands on my waist and lifts me over the small gate onto the sand. He puts me down right in front of him and I touch his cheek softly. So many unsaid things pass between us, so many things understood by both of us.
He half-smiles and kisses my forehead before pulling me along to the rocks. The sand is horrible, wet and sloppy from all the rain. I climb up onto the rock ahead of him and he stands in front of me, his hands creeping slowly up my thighs.
‘‘What?’’ I ask him with a small smile.
‘‘I just...’’ He chuckles. ‘‘Nothing. Nothing.’’
I smile at him, confused, and he shrugs.
‘‘Oh, Princess,’’ he sighs. ‘‘I’m pretty damn glad you came here for the summer, you know?’’
‘‘I’m still deciding if I’m glad or not,’’ I joke.
‘‘Hey.’’ He pokes his tongue out and I poke it, laughing. ‘‘Oi!’’ He laughs.
I wrinkle my face and kiss the tip of his nose.
Rain begins to drop and I squeal, holding my hand over my head in a lame attempt to keep my hair dry. I push him away and jump off the rocks, heading for the bit of the cliff that juts out.
“You’re not going anywhere,” Alec laughs, grabbing me from behind.
“No, no, let me go!” I shriek. “I’m getting wet.”
I wriggle from his hold and run across the sand, which is quickly becoming even wetter. He grabs my hands again and pulls me up against him.
“I’ll never let you go, Princess. I’ll follow you anywhere,’’ he murmurs and kisses me.
I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him back, rain dripping down my face. He lifts me up and I squeak in shock. I wrap my legs around his waist and he holds me tighter to him.
‘‘Anywhere?’’ I ask softly, brushing my nose against his.
‘‘To Mars, Jupiter and Pluto,’’ he clarifies. ‘‘Maybe even back again.’’
I grin and kiss him again, still revelling in the touch of his lips to mine. Something about this guy has me head over heels in love. I’d follow him wherever he wanted to go without question.
His hand slides up my back and he leans me against the rock, his lips leaving mine. Little kisses dot on my jaw and down my neck.
‘‘I’ve always wanted sex in the rain,’’ he mutters as I slide my hand into his wet hair.
‘‘Oh yeah?’’ I ask, moving my head to the side.
‘‘Yep,’’ he answers, kissing me again, harder than before. My legs tighten around his waist and he groans quietly, moving away from the rock and lowering us to the sand behind the rock. He lies back, pulling me with him, and I straddle him.
‘‘Princess?’’ he says softly.
‘‘Mmm?’’
‘‘It’ll only ever be you, you know that, right?’’ Hooded blue-grey eyes meet mine.
‘‘Yeah.’’ I suck on his bottom lip lightly. ‘‘I know.’’
ALEC
My body sinks into the sand and her wet hair falls down, hiding us from the rest of the world. Here, with her in my arms, nothing else exists. There is only her.
She sucks lightly on my bottom lip again and I tighten my grip on her hips, my fingers digging into her wet skin. Her hips shift slightly, rubbing me. She moans into my mouth and I run my tongue along her top lip, forcing her to let me in. Her tongue meets every movement mine makes and she grabs my hair, her hips shifting again.
I grab the hem of her shirt and lift it over her head. I groan at the sight of her lacy black bra pushing her boobs together. Little droplets of water snake down them and I capture one with my mouth, licking a trail along the top of each cup. She shivers and lifts her hips, reaching behind and undoing my jeans with one hand.
“Impressive.” I kiss the word onto her skin and run my hands along her sides.
“Mhmm,” she breathes out, reaching under my jeans to where I have a raging hard on. Her fingers brush the tip of me and I explode.
I flip her onto her back, kissing down her stomach. My tongue swirls in her belly button and her back arches up. I pull her legs from where they’re wrapped round my waist and slide off her jeans. I chuck them to the rocks with my top.
Lexy moves her hands and grabs my neck, pulling my face back to hers.
“Nuh-uh.” I kiss her once and drag my lips along her neck, chest, stomach. I drop little kisses along her knicker line and her hips buck. I stroke her thighs gently, my fingers gradually becoming more probing. Moving the scrap of lace she calls underwear to the side, I lower my tongue even more until I can taste her.
She gasps and I find the part of her screaming for attention immediately. I draw slow, lazy circles with the tip of my tongue then flick gently. Long strokes along her tender flesh have her bucking her hips and I put my hands there to stop her. Her muscles tense and I focus all my attention on the little bundle of nerves until she screams out my name.
I pull my jeans and boxers to my knees, hook her legs over my hips and move towards her.
‘‘I need you, now.” Lexy nibbles my earlobe and I thrust my hips forward once, moving into her in one long, swift movement. Her muscles are still contracting from her orgasm and I clench my teeth.
She squeaks out a sound as I begin to move hard and fast. She meets me thrust for thrust, gripping my back, her nails digging in.
Our skin is slick from the rain still falling and she tilts her head back. I graze my teeth along the skin of her neck and groan. She moves her hips up, opening her legs slightly and I’m done.
She cries out at the same time I stop, ecstasy running through our bodies.
I grin lazily at her flushed face and parted lips. I kiss the corner of her mouth and she smiles sleepily.
“Alec?” Her brown eyes open and hold me prisoner in her gaze.
“What, Princess?”
“Thank you,” she whispers.
“What for?” I smooth some hair off her forehead.
“For being you. Just that.” She smiles and I know she’s thanking me for not giving up on her.
Like I’d ever give up on the girl who never gave up on me.