Chapter 20

The little things

I woke up to the heavenly feel of kisses down my spine.

It was a new and unexpected feeling of being treasured, and not being covered with a quilt during sex because my partner found looking at me offensive. For three years, I classed it as a special treat if Nathan actually fully removed his trousers before flip-flopping on top of me like a seal for his personal best of two minutes – Ar-Ar!

With Tudor, it was all different… it was nice, loving, attentive, everything I could want.

"Mmm... I could get used to this." I closed my eyes and enjoyed the loving caresses ghosting along my skin.

"How are you feeling, gorgeous?"

I smiled at the endearment. I rolled over, pulling him to lie down beside me. I took his hand.

"How am I feeling? Wow. Where do I start? Well, I can't actually believe that you're here with me, like this... finally! I can't believe that you, Tudor North, want me, Natasha Munro from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. And what I absolutely cannot believe... is how big you are in the downstairs department!" I nudged him with my arm, chuckling.

He moved in for a kiss, and my heart fluttered faster than a hummingbird's wings.

"How are you feeling?" I asked in return.

He lifted a strand of my hair to tease between his fingers. "How am I feeling? Well, where do I start? I can't believe you're here with me… finally! I can't believe that you want me, Tudor North from Victoria, British Columbia, especially after how I’ve acted towards you over the last couple of months. I really don’t deserve a second, no, third chance. But mostly I can't believe that I'm gonna have to deal with one of Tink's freakin’ lectures when we tell him we’re together!" He tickled my ribs making me giggle.

Together. One word that evokes so much joy and happiness.

He raised himself above me, laying his hand over my heart, (which was dangerously close to my left breast) all playfulness on pause. "I'm gonna make you happy, Tash, I promise. No more f**k-ups."

I nodded, placing my hand above his heart too (dangerously close to his pec). "I'm going to make you happy too, Tude. I promise."

He grinned and meshed our mouths together, sealing the vow with a kiss.

I patted his arms. "So, now that we've stopped playing with each other’s tits, I need a shower. I'm a little bit of a mess."

He pulled his lop-sided smirk. "Can I join you?"

Now that sounds tempting!

"I have a better idea," I announced as he peppered me with kisses all over my face.

"I'm all ears." He’s all muscles!

"Tink invested in a hot tub when we moved in, it’s on the deck. We could take advantage of that if you’d like?"

He nodded enthusiastically. "Only if the taking advantage would be me of you."

I guffawed. "You only have to look at me to get me to do your bidding, Mr. North, and you know it. That, or flash a piece of that panty-wetting tattoo."

He shook his head at my vulgarity, but then acknowledged my confession with a smirk. "Duly noted."

"Okay, let me up. I'll shower quickly and meet you out there. I think there's some prosecco in the fridge."

I moved swiftly out of the bed, purposely sashaying my apple-round arse to the bathroom. I knew I'd been successful in my seductive parade when I heard Tudor let out a low moan.

Take that Jessica Fucking Rabbit!

I loved that I had that effect on him, he made me love myself in a way I could never have done before.

Just as I was heading through the en-suite door, Tudor called out, "Tash!"

I popped my head around the door. "Yeah, hun?"

He lifted up his upper body, braced upon his elbows, his abs protruding from his stomach. "Don't bother putting on a swim suit. I want you ready and naked, no barriers between us. Yes?"

I nodded in submission and shut the door, bracing myself on the sink and looking at my wanton reflection pulling a smug smile.

Well Tash, better get chugging on gallons of cranberry juice and accept that you’ll be walking like John Wayne for next few days!

Once I had showered, I headed out to the deck. Slow music was serenading through the speakers, and Tudor was in the Jacuzzi, head back and lapping up the heat.

I slid in next to him, causing him to stir and hiss through teeth. "I approve of the attire." Or lack thereof!

He handed me a glass of bubbly, and we clinked our glasses with an obligatory 'cheers'.

He didn’t meet my eyes. “Tudor!”

He jerked at my shriek and spilt his drink in the water. He looked completely on edge. “What?”

I shook my head in anger. “You didn’t meet my eyes! Bloody hell, it must be the only time since I’ve met you that you haven’t bored holes into these peepers!”

He started laughing. “I love looking into your big chocolate eyes, but why are you getting all worked up about it now?”

I let out a frustrated ‘Argh!’ “Because, if you don’t make eye contact when you toast then you get seven years bad sex,” I nodded with wide eyes and pursed lips, conveying the seriousness of the situation.

Tudor lunged for the bottle of prosecco, filling our glasses to the rim. “Quick, quick, Sunshine, look deep into my eyes… not around them but right at them. You ready...? Cheers.”

I giggled, clinking my glass against his. “Cheers.”

I moved to sit opposite him and placed down my glass, still euphoric at our newly-expressed relationship status and how relaxed he seemed to be in my presence.