Just Rose

Chapter 27

Rose lay in bed, staring up in the semi-darkness, watching the shadows and moonlight flicker across the ceiling. Lost in euphoria with a warm muscular arm draped across her naked abdomen under the thin cotton sheets. His steady slow calm breathing, indicating he was asleep and made her body tingle all over again with the realisation that this was not a dream. She glanced down at his strong tanned back, his softly carved shoulders and long straight spine; the sheets cutting off her view at waist level and smiled. He was face down, his chiselled face partially hidden by her padded cushions, his thick black eyebrow smooth and flat with no sign of any expression, just peaceful slumber. He was the most beautiful sight to behold and Rose was glowing from every cell of her body inside and out.

She had slept a little after he had made love to her for hours. From fiery passion and raw longing to gentle affection, they had stayed in that room as shadows grew long and moonlight had overtaken. Lost in the passion they felt and undying urge to satisfy it. As a lover Rob Munro certainly did not disappoint, he had a confidence that hinted at someone who was no stranger to s*x and he had skills in between the sheets. Not that she minded his obvious experience, Rose had enjoyed the benefits with multiple rewards.

He stirred, almost as if sensing her eyes on him and rolled towards her, pulling her close.

‘Hungry?’ He asked huskily and smiled when she nodded in reply, she was far too sated to move but if he was offering food then she would attempt to get up.

‘I don’t really cook much, so if you’re looking for me to do it then I’m staying here.’ Rose giggled and reveled in the deep soft laugh that came from him.

‘Lucky for you then that I know my way around a kitchen. Besides... Seems only fair I cook for you after what you have given me for the last few hours.’ He leaned in, kissing her just below the jaw where her neck met, and a fresh wave of tingles erupted all over her skin. She wasn’t so sure he was accurate, he had been the one making the moves.

‘A man who cooks.... I may get used to that.’ Rose giggled, focused on the way his fingertips had trailed across her abdomen and sent a thousand tiny fireworks through her stomach.

‘Come on, keep me company while I make us food.’ He pulled her up with him, taking a moment to kiss her softly and let his eyes lazily trail down her naked body before handing her a rob from behind her door. He pulled on his jeans and then hooked her hand to pull her with him to the kitchen.

He cooked her bacon and eggs while laughing and teasing one another and Rose ended up helping, despite her statement that she wouldn’t cook. It was a little after midnight and together with coffee in hand they wrapped up in thick blankets and sat on the back step under the moonlight. Rob held her close under the furriness of the huge throw draped around them, naked skin on naked skin as they star gazed and sat in companionable silence for a moment.

‘What made you move here?’ he asked casually, nestling her against him between his legs, laying the mugs on the concrete steps beside them before sliding his arms back around her and resting his cheek against hers. She had her back to him and was watching the comets shooting by in the cloudless night sky.

‘Honestly.’ Rose sighed. ‘I wasn’t happy with my life; I just didn’t feel I belonged there and memories of being here with Olivia made me hope I could be happy like that again.’ She rested her head back against his neck, loving the feel of him wrapped around her and breathing in his own unique scent. Every part of her was almost singing with sheer joy.

‘You will be that happy again Rose, here with me. I guarantee it’ He grinned as Rose elbowed him lightly, the humour in his voice making her smile, his arrogance in that statement.

‘Well you’re confident, I’ll give you that!’ She giggled and closed her eyes as his mouth found her neck, kissing slowly to her ear and setting her skin ablaze again.

‘You were really close? To Olivia I mean.’ Rob continued, bringing her attention back to reality and not lost in some lusty euphoria where she had been heading. ‘I remember her; I liked her a lot when I was a kid, don’t think I ever came here though. She would like what you have done with it, It’s really a nice little home. Very you, with your pink and girly ways.’ His voice was sexy and deep with tiredness. Rose smiled and sighed down that tug of heartache that always raised when she talked of her aunt.

‘She was like a second mum to me.’ Roses voice trembled a little, as emotion caught in her throat, it was still hard thinking about her, the pain of missing her still so raw but somehow talking with Rob didn’t feel as bad as when her mother brought her up. ‘She was the one who taught me to paint, made me appreciate art and colour and well, I guess being the only niece, she just liked the company of a little girl. What with having no kids of her own. She would be happy that I put my own stamp on the cottage too, you’re right.’ Rob kissed her on top of the head and gave her a little squeeze feeling her sadness, able to sympathise with his own loss.

‘I wonder if we ever met ... As kids; while you were here.’ He queried, nudging her gently and pointing up to show her a blaze of sparkling meteor high in the velvet sky. They watched it for a second before it burned out, a beautiful sight to behold.

‘Maybe. I always went with her to the dances and fetes; the charity sales and church coffee mornings when I was here. I’m sure I would have remembered you though.’ Rose giggled, trying to picture him as a kid and guessing he would have been memorable with that black hair and those grey eyes.

‘I would have definitely remembered you.’ He smiled. ‘I can imagine little Rose with her big brown eyes and pouty face. Pretty sure I would have tried to ask you out or felt you up at least.’ He kissed her neck with a smile, squeezing her when she giggled. ‘Was she happy when she left here? I heard she met some rich English guy and trotted off down south.’ Rose squirmed as he breathed down onto her naked skin, the feeling of his warmth igniting so many sensations within her so easily, she wasn’t sure if he was doing it on purpose, but it was having an effect either way.

‘Yes. She had everything she wanted; love, a beautiful home, her dogs, her cats and gorgeous countryside. Despite never having children I think she was pretty content.’ Being here with him like this she could imagine the happiness Olivia felt with her husband. It made a world of difference being in the arms of a man who truly awakened you inside, the way Rob did with her.

‘I’m glad she found what she had been looking for. I guess that’s what we all want in this life... Tell me a little about you Rose; I mean London, that’s a big move for a girl on her own when you were young and starting your career. Do you miss it at all? Don’t your family want you closer to home?’ He nuzzled her close, this time pulling her in, so he could wrap his arms and his legs around her snuggly. Getting as much bodily contact as possible.

‘I guess I thought I wanted big city lights and excitement, but when I got there I just felt alone. I hated the city, I hated the fast-paced life and shallow people...... I was always independent; having my parents around all the time was never something I thought about but somehow London just made me so homesick and miserable. Sure, I miss them, but I can always visit them, or they can come here and coming back here made me feel better. They just want me to be happy, wherever that is.’ She was relaxed and content, exactly where she was this very second and could not imagine ever wanting anything else than this, right now, here with him.

‘You think you will be happy here? Forever?’ His voice had softened, he was trying to gauge what her long-term plans were, she guessed. She wondered if his questioning was to suss out if they had a real future.

‘I think so, I hope so anyway. I feel like since I came here I have finally found where I belong, and I have no intention of leaving.’ She raised her chin to look up at him from her angle and they smiled at one another.

‘I agree, you definitely belong here... Right here.’ He grinned, sliding his hands under her butt so she was lifted onto his lap in one swift move and immediately devoured by his mouth. Rose cried out in surprise and burst into giggles before she was mauled by the amorous man pulling her into him.

* * *

When they returned to bed, fed and watered he pulled her into him, tracing her curves with kisses and soon led her back into another long slow session of making love until her body had writhed and arched, giving into the crashing waves. Rose was no virgin; she had dated men in her past, but no man had ever connected with her body in so many ways, bringing her to so many levels of pleasure, so effortlessly.

Maybe this was the difference between s*x and love. It catapulted all of it to a much higher level of pleasure and satisfaction. She was in no doubt after tonight that she loved him. Even though it had happened fast, she had no doubts. She had never felt this way before. Her whole being was screaming it out and she could no longer deny it. Just lying by his side listening to him breath made her feel safe and secure. Content. As though lying by his side was what she had been waiting for all these years, a homecoming. She did not want to ever lie beside anyone else. She felt as if could get lost in these moments and never wake up.

Eventually they both drifted off to sleep, exhausted and satisfied, bodies unable to stay awake and more than happy to curl up together and finally be still.

* * *

A sharp shrill ringing broke into her happy dreams to break the spell. Coming from the side of the bed he was sleeping on from the discarded jeans. She knew it wasn’t her ring tone; he lifted his pillow from under his head without opening his eyes and laid it back down on top to drown it out, groaning and mumbling something incoherent. Rose smiled and let out a small giggle. It was such a boyish motion and made her love him all the more.

‘What if it’s Abby?’ She whispered under the edge of the cushion. He didn’t respond only tightened his arm over her abdomen, pulling her close against him and draped his leg over her legs under the sheets.

‘Rob!!’ She laughed louder ‘What if it is and she actually needs you?’ Rose didn’t exactly want that to be true, but she also knew it wasn’t exactly a normal hour for someone to be calling. It was still majorly early, so it had to be serious.

The pillow lifted as he raised his head, giving her a pained expression. Sleepy and stubbly. Complete s*x appeal. His brows knitting together in a frown and his eyes palest grey, looking exhausted.

‘I swear she better have broken bones and there better be a lot of blood!’. His voice was husky as he released Rose, moving across the bed on his stomach and leaning his long arm down to scoop his mobile from the jeans on the floor. Pausing to read the screen he immediately put it to his ear and greeted Abby by name.

The briefest conversation ensued, he sounded more irritated than concerned, he told her his whereabouts was his business and to stay put. Yes, he would be there soon, a few minutes. He cursed under his breath as he hung up. Throwing his phone back down on top of his pile of clothes strewn carelessly across the floor. Rose felt her heart sink.

This is what he had warned her about. Breaking the spell, life beckoning and he had to leave. He moved back towards her, placing a gentle kiss on her face, his hand tracing her shoulder and naked arm regretfully. Groaning as he moved away again, leaving Rose with that aching hollow feeling rising up inside her as he slid out of bed and hurriedly dressed. Even the sight of his naked taught body did not alleviate the mounting anxiety forming inside her. He began pulling his clothes on fast.

‘Everything okay?’ She didn’t want to sound like a clingy whiny woman so early in whatever this was.

‘I need to go home, Rose. Morag has shown up at the house drunk because I have been unreachable all afternoon and throwing another b***h fit. It’s...’ he paused to check his watch ‘After two, so she’s freaking out about where I am. Whose bed I’m...’ He sighed, stopping and turning to look at her apologetically, eyes full of remorse. ‘I can’t leave Abby to deal with her like that, she won’t calm down or leave. I’m sorry.’ He looked boyishly young like this and it just tugged at her even more. He slid across the bed, fully dressed and gently kissed her on the mouth, softly yet so much longing building between them again, even in the briefest touch. He frowned as he pulled away, holding her a moment to stare at her face, words poised on his lips, but she smiled and stroked his lips with her fingertip. Hushing him.

‘Don’t! ... I agreed to this remember. Go. Do what you need to do.’ She was good at pretending to be chipper and calm while inside she was disappointed, upset and frustrated. Reality returned but she wasn’t going to show him that.

‘I’ll call you in the morning. Sweet dreams beautiful.’ He kissed her on the forehead, then got up and left, grabbing his keys and phone from the bed where he had laid them. Rose watched him leave; torn between anger, sadness, and anxiety, happy and heartbreak, all at the same time and unsure whether to smile or bury her face and cry. Hearing the door click as it closed behind him, it suddenly felt so quiet and empty in the cottage. Aware that this was what it was going to be like if she continued this with him, sneaking around; lonely nights when he couldn’t stay.

She didn’t go back to sleep. How could she? So much had happened in the last few hours, so much turmoil and happiness. Her body had been touched and kissed in places she never knew existed. Her nerve endings tingling with the ecstasy he had given her body over and over and her heart had taken off to live on cloud nine while her brain was planting a foot in doubt and hell.

So much to process in her mind. Between complete ecstatic screaming happiness and searing ‘Oh my god, why me?’ pain. She could do this. She could deal with this short term. Sneaking around. Pretending to be nothing to him in public. If that is what it took to give him time to help his friend and have her come to terms with his moving on.

As long as he held her in private and kissed her like he had so many times in the last few hours, then she could deal with this right? Not being with him was more than she could bear so she would take what she could get. She didn’t fully understand the dynamics when it came to Morag, but she was sure he wouldn’t find this necessary unless it was the only way to deal with her. She didn’t want to pry, didn’t want to over question the complicated relationship. All she wanted to know was that she was his and only his and Morag was nothing except a friend. They could take everything else from there.