We made love all day. Slow, soft and meaningful love. He looked down at me, our breath mingling, our hands exploring, as he drove into me firm and exact, over and over. It was blissful. It was beyond incredible. It left me dazed and struggling to keep my eyes open. Which is a good thing, because I didn’t have the energy to disintegrate when he kissed me gently on the forehead before he left last night.

I fell into a deep slumber and dreamed of Jack. It was the most satisfying night’s sleep I’ve ever had. The only thing that would have made it better would have been to have Jack wrapped around me the whole night through. But entering into this, I have to accept that that can never happen. It feels like a small price to pay after the time we’ve just spent together, full of acceptance and total devotion. Just a small price to pay. For now.

I feel full of life and energy as I shower. Strangely, there’s an overwhelming sense of relief, like a weight has been lifted from my tired shoulders. Like I have someone else to help carry the burden of my choices with me.

I’m standing in the mirror looking at myself, kitted from top to toe in sportswear. My cheeks have a healthy glow, my dark hair is glossy and my light green eyes are sparkling brightly. And I have a delicious heaviness between my thighs. I feel good, and ignorant as it may seem, I don’t question it.

I grab my iPod, load a playlist and hit the street. A run. I have no idea where the urge has come from, but I’m going to make the most of it while I have the drive. The sun is warm on my back as I make tracks towards Hyde Park, feeling fresh and rejuvenated. That may not be the case in a few miles, but for now my legs are working with little effort and my breathing is consistent and easy. It defies the fact that I haven’t worked out in over a year. And I’m smiling. Above & Beyond’s ‘Sun & Moon’ is pumping in my ear, spurring me on, as I race through the park, my focus set firmly forward. Fellow runners nod and return my smile as I continue to breathe steadily.

Jack is a constant vision in my mind, except now I’m not fighting to get him out. He’s embedded in my brain, and I like him there. His grin, his sparkling eyes. His voice, his laugh, his cheeky banter. His passion for my work and his encouragement. Everything about him. Our moments have been just stolen pieces of time, but no matter how brief, they’re still so incredibly powerful, the feelings lingering on, and I’m hoping that makes the time in between without him more manageable.

I smile and take a sharp right, running towards the Serpentine, the fresh morning air breezing across my skin. Something catches my attention out of the corner of my eye and I look across the grass to see Micky waving frantically at me. I pull the buds out of my ears and wave back.

‘What the fuck’s got into you?’ he shouts, showing the sky his palms.

‘Felt like a run!’ I call, keeping up my pace.

He laughs loudly and then turns to the woman who’s on her hands and knees in front of him, her long blonde hair skimming the grass. I smile like crazy when I see him drop to one knee and take her hips, looking over to me and fist-pumping the air. ‘Tart,’ I say to myself, following the path and heading up alongside him, watching as he manipulates the woman into various positions.

‘Morning.’

‘Shit!’ I yelp, jumping mid-stride, looking up to see Jack running next to me. I blink rapidly when his shimmering beauty hits me like a right hook to the eye. Fucking hell; he looks otherworldly. My breathing that was perfectly controlled goes to shit. I’m breathless. ‘What are you doing here?’

‘I run every morning.’ He performs a quick, expert turn and starts jogging backwards a few paces in front of me. ‘But I’ve never had this amazing view before.’ He puckers his lips and kisses the air.

I laugh through my laboured breathing, dropping my eyes to that lovely, huge, solid chest. ‘Do you always run bare-chested?’ I ask, ripping my stare away from the thrilling sight.

‘Only when I’m trying to impress.’ He turns back the right way, and I feel him look down at me. I peek out of the corner of my eye. He winks cheekily.

I grin. ‘I’m impressed.’

‘Me too,’ he counters, taking a lazy trip down my body with equally lazy eyes. ‘Really impressed.’

I suddenly feel more eyes on me and look across the grass to find Micky standing again, watching us warily. Shit. ‘Micky’s here,’ I say, returning my focus forward and trying my hardest not to look guilty. Just a pleasant morning run with a colleague. The colleague who fucked me stupid. The colleague who is married. The colleague who I’m now having an affair with. ‘Don’t look.’ I snap when I see Jack start to glance around. ‘He will seriously lose the plot if he finds out about us.’

‘Take a left up here,’ he orders.

I look up to see the path forking up ahead and follow his instruction, peering over my shoulder to find Micky no longer in view. ‘Jack, we can’t be seen together,’ I pant, now struggling like hell with my breathing, maybe assisted by a little panic.

He turns to me mid-stride and grabs me, swiping me from my feet and carrying me behind a tree, his hand slapped over my mouth. Once he has me pushed up against the bark, he removes his palm and replaces it with his mouth. I’m instantly consumed, matching his hungry kiss. My hands are on a mission, feeling every part of his bare chest. ‘Hmmm, you taste fucking good, girl.’

I smile into his mouth and reach up to fist his hair. ‘I’m sweating.’

‘And I want to lick it all off.’ Jack’s tongue runs from my cheek to my ear and traces the shell, making me pant, shudder and push myself onto his mouth. He growls, circling his hips into my lower tummy. ‘So fucking good.’

‘You have a thing for licking me, don’t you?’

He pulls back, a spectacular smile on his face. ‘Are you objecting?’

‘No.’ He can lick me until I disappear for all I care.

He reaches forward and traces the bridge of my nose, looking at me fondly. ‘What are you doing today?’

‘Finalising some drawings, submitting an application, chasing decisions on another one.’

He stifles a yawn, glancing away, losing interest completely. ‘Sounds riveting.’

‘Hey!’ I smack his arm, spiking the cutest chuckle.

He grabs my cheeks and squeezes them until my lips are pouting. Jack mirrors my protruding pout around a grin. ‘I’m not sure how I feel about being with a woman who’s potentially more talented than me.’

‘Potentially?’ I mumble through my squished mouth.

‘Well.’ He shrugs. ‘The jury’s still out over your bedroom skills.’

I gasp, disgusted, and Jack mimics it, totally taking the piss. I scowl at him, and he scowls right back. My nose wrinkles, and his wrinkles in return. I force my tongue through my lips, childishly sticking it out at him in a demonstration of how affronted I am. He grins and releases my cheeks, hauling me into his chest and cuddling me. ‘I love your work ethic, for the record. Not many people can say they love their job. You’re one of the lucky people in this world who get something more than money out of it.’

I return Jack’s hug. ‘And what about your job? Are you one of the lucky people?’

‘I guess so,’ he says into my hair. ‘Though my work is more of a good distraction these days.’ He releases me and fusses over my face for a few moments, ridding my sticky skin of hair. I’m not sure how to read that statement. So I don’t.

‘Ready?’

‘Yes,’ I assert, joining him when he starts to jog back to the main path. ‘Act normal,’ I say, knowing Micky is about to come into view again at any moment.

‘Right,’ Jack says sharply. ‘How was your day yesterday?’

I throw him an incredulous look. ‘What?’

‘I’m making conversation.’

‘Seriously?’

‘Yes, I want to know how your day was.’ He’s hiding a smirk as he focuses forward, not indulging my narrowed eyes.

‘Amazing,’ I confess, deciding to go along with his playful banter. ‘But I didn’t get much work done. Yours?’

‘I got lots of “work” done.’ He grins. ‘And it was the best day ever.’

I smile up at him and he looks down at me, his grey eyes the brightest I’ve ever seen them. The notion that I am the cause of such a beautiful sight does things to my heart that are beyond comprehension.

Puckering his lips, he kisses the air. ‘I better go. Call you later, gorgeous.’ He sprints off and I get the pleasure of his wet, naked back for too short a time before he disappears from view as I gradually slow my pace and come to a stop.

‘What the hell did he want?’ Micky asks, strolling across the grass towards me.

‘Nothing.’ I raise my arms in the air and stretch, dead set on nailing coolness.

‘Is he bothering you?’

‘No.’

‘Then what did he want?’

‘I bumped into him, that’s all,’ I say tiredly, dropping my palms and pushing them into the ground, looking up at him. ‘It’s done with, Micky. I already told you that.’

He’s bristling like a threatened bear, but it doesn’t stop him from pushing his palm into my back. ‘Straighten your back,’ he grumbles. ‘If you’re going to stretch, do it properly.’

‘Your man-bun is wonky,’ I quip, hissing when my hamstrings burn. ‘That hurts!’

‘Quit complaining.’

I unbend and stand up straight, tossing him a dirty look. ‘Go and stretch your client.’

He frowns and looks towards the woman currently spread-eagled on the grass. ‘I’m working on it.’

I laugh. ‘Is that Charlie?’

‘Yes.’

‘You’re losing your magic, Micky.’

He scoffs and loops his arm around my neck, hauling me in. ‘I am not losing my magic.’ He leads me back towards his client, roughing up my ponytail. ‘And if I ever do, you must kill me.’

‘That would be an injustice to female eyes everywhere.’

‘True,’ he agrees, releasing me when we reach his workout area. ‘Charlie, this is Annie.’

She smiles coyly, her pretty face flushing. ‘I’ve heard a lot about you.’

‘I bet,’ I laugh, backing away. ‘I’ll leave you guys to it. I have to get to work. Nice to meet you, Charlie.’

‘And you!’

I flip Micky an approving look before turning and jogging home.

 

I glug back a pint of water and toss my iPod into the fruit basket before throwing the double doors open and breathing in some more air. I push my way through the leaves of the willow tree and land in the deckchair, stretching my legs while checking my phone. I have a text message from Jack. I open it quickly.

 

Running with a hard-on is fucking painful.

 

I laugh loudly and relax back in my chair, daydreaming for a few minutes as I think back over yesterday and this morning. Jack runs every morning, which means I might have to too. Will half an hour every day be part of our ongoing routine? I want to be grumpy about it, but I can’t, not when it means that 1) I’ll get to see Jack, and 2) I’ll tone up in the process. We just might have to think about where we run to avoid being seen together. I start to punch out a reply to him, but I’m interrupted halfway through my message when my phone rings.

I don’t recognise the number. ‘Annie Ryan,’ I announce when I answer.

‘Miss Ryan, my name’s Terrence Pink, CEO of Brawler’s.’

‘Oh, hello.’ I sit up straight in my chair, wondering why a world-renowned tech company would be calling little old me. ‘How can I help you?’ I’m raging with curiosity.

‘We’re expanding, building new premises, and we’ve heard your name on the grapevine. I’m hoping we could meet to discuss.’

They’ve heard of my name? ‘Of course.’ I rush into the kitchen and grab my diary. ‘When is convenient for you?’

‘The sooner the better. Today?’

I wince. My day is packed, especially after yesterday when I achieved a great big fat zero in the studio. ‘Could we do tomorrow?’

‘I’m sorry; I know it’s short notice, but we’ve already seen other people and hope to make a decision very soon so the project can move forward.’

I bite my lip and bite the bullet. This is too good an opportunity. ‘Two o’clock?’

‘Two o’clock it is. We’re floor ten, 25 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf.’

I scribble it down. ‘See you then.’ I hang up and the message I’d half typed out in reply to Jack appears on my screen.

 

Morning sex would remedy . . .

 

But I delete it instead of finishing it and sending it. Because that would just be reminding him that there will be no morning sex in this relationship, and I don’t want him to feel as grumpy as me at that notion. I pout, bringing my phone to my mouth and chewing the corner. No morning sex yet, but when? No snuggling in bed and simply being together, either. I stamp those thoughts away and run into my office ready to hit Google and research Brawler’s in preparation for the meeting.