Reasons Why - 13

Chapter 13

Chloe was having an out of body experience. With her head on Chris’ shoulder and a leg tossed over his, she was wrapped up in his arms, his chin on her forehead, the beat of his heart at her ear. She could barely tell where she ended and he began. She had no inclination to be dragged back to the here and now, more than happy to bask in the haze of pleasure, the aftermath of what had felt like so much more than great sex. It had been explosive, desperate, but also so divine.

She closed her eyes, it was too much and far too soon to analyse all that had happened. A grumble of hunger from Chris’ belly, magnified by the fact her ear was so close to it made her laugh. Lifting her head she looked down at him, his eyes were still closed, but a smile spread across his lips.

                “Hungry are we?”

He opened an eye, “for SO many things!”

She laughed, “well I did hear mention of steaks...”

                “Well, it it’s meat you want?” He suggested lewdly and was rewarded with a slap to the midriff.

Rolling slightly he brought himself over her, and dropped his lips onto hers, it was meant to be a little apology, but instantly the passion was reignited. After a few moments he lifted his lips, “if I don’t stop now we’ll never get dinner!”

She stretched provocatively, “I like mine medium rare!”

He grinned at her demand, “coming up!”

Chloe rolled onto her side and watched him climb out of bed. In the nearby chest, he opened a door and pulled out a pair of training shorts and slid them on. Chloe groaned at his perfect bum disappeared under the sweats.

Snapping around he grinned, “Are you perving on me Chloe Bridges?”

Giving an angelic look she replied innocently, “who me?”

Laughing he made for the door, “I’ll get started. Help yourself to my wardrobe!”

It was so tempting to fall asleep, to drift off into the dream world where this handsome man was worshipping her, devouring her. But the smell of cooking steak soon wafted through her nostrils, and like a Bisto child, she was trapped.

Finding a t-shirt, she slipped it on, loving that it smelled of him. The house was empty bar them and the t-shirt hung to mid thigh so she felt brave enough to head downstairs with nothing else.

Chris was at home in the kitchen, a huge bowl of salad sat on the bench that spilt the kitchen from the dining area, along with a very cold bottle of wine and two goldfish bowl glasses. Seeing him at the stove with an apron on made her giggle.

Glancing up he smiled, “I don’t want to burn my stomach! I don’t think naked cooking is going to take off as a trend!”

Chloe hitched herself onto a stool and watched him as he threw the two huge steaks onto the grill. When they sizzled loudly he grinned again, “Help yourself to wine.”

Reaching for the bottle she half filled two of the glasses with the straw coloured liquid then took a sip, murmuring in appreciation.

                “I’m aware it should be red with meat, but to be honest, there’s nothing nicer than ice cold white wine on a hot day like this.”

She nodded her appreciation as he came across the kitchen to take the glass she offered, sweeping down for a kiss first, his hand running over her naked thigh in a really primitive gesture, and an equally primitive moan left his throat as he encountered her bare buttocks.

                “You’ll be the death of me!” He exclaimed pulling back, “you are making breathing a hard job here!” As if to prove his point he leaned in and she was rewarded with the sensation of his hard desperate excitement against her inner thigh.

Reluctantly he pulled back and turned to flip the steaks, then retrieved two baked potatoes from the oven.

               

                “Do you want to eat in here or outside?”

                “Here’s fine,” she offered sipping her wine, watching as he pulled butter, sauces and sour cream from the fridge to set in front of her, then plates and cutlery. Everything was ready when he lifted the thick steaks off the grill.

Chloe was in culinary heaven, the steak was delicious and she took the opportunity to tell him repeatedly through the meal.  Chris basked in her praise, it was a simple meal, but he was pleased to be appreciated.  And it was great to see Chloe with such a healthy appetite.

                “That was amazing!” Chloe folded her hands across her stomach. “You get the job as my chef! I can have that meal every day!”

He laughed, “I’m glad that you enjoyed!”

Taking the plates, she made to start cleaning up when Chris pointed to a door further along the kitchen, “I’m a single man! That’s a dishwasher!”

Nodding knowingly, she loaded the plates, bowls and cutlery in to it, then turned back to Chris. He was watching her with an amused look on his face.  As she raised an eyebrow questioningly, he reached out and ensnared her, pulling her into his arms. He liked her presence here in the house, in his life, but didn’t know how to vocalise that. So instead he showed her how he felt instead.

Chloe opened an eye, for a moment the modern, airy and well lit bedroom was unfamiliar. Then she remembered where she was. Chris’ house.

Glancing to her left, she smiled, he was fast asleep, his beautiful face relaxed, his breathing even, his thigh tossed over hers and an arm possessively held her close. For a moment memories of the previous night flashed into her mind. No stone had been left unturned, and she couldn’t remember ever feeling so worshipped. She stretched, that was what she had been, desired, devoured and thoroughly consumed. Her body ached, in a wonderful way.

Glancing at the clock she realised it was almost six; she really needed to get back to Phil’s. Chris would drive her, she knew that, but he looked so content she didn’t want to disturb him. As she slipped from his embrace she denied to herself that this was running away, that she was putting a little distance between her and him.

She gathered her clothes, then dressed in the bathroom. When she emerged he was still asleep, so she left him. In the kitchen was a whet message board, and she scribbled a message to him on that.

                “You looked too comfortable to wake. You’re a great chef! Call me later, x”

Chloe deliberated over the kiss, but decided it wasn’t giving the wrong vibe and left it. Out on the street, in her yesterday’s clothes, the walk of shame started.  It was only as she started to walk away from the house that she realised how far away from Phil she was. She’d have to phone him, get him to pick her up. That was not a great thought. But then like a mirage in the desert, a taxi complete with a yellow for hire light, emerged from a road in front of her. Jumping into the road she waved it down then reeled off Phil’s address.

As the car whizzed along the coast, she thought of Chris waking without her. He’d find her note though and know why she’d left. Wouldn’t he? Her thoughts rolled back to the previous night, it had been amazing, the final part of the picture had fallen in to place, and now as the distance from his house increased, she wished she was back there with him ready for an encore.

It took less than five minutes to reach Phil’s home, but as she let herself in she heard a dramatic cough. Kicking off her shoes, she turned to see Phil, arms folded like an angry Dad, but he was trying, and failing to hide his laughter.

“Ok, ok, ok! I know! But I’m a big girl!” She responded.

Didi emerged from the lounge still in her pyjamas and play punched Phil’s shoulder. “Leave her alone, we were young once!”

“Thanks Didi! But I should’ve called last night maybe. But...”

The older woman smiled, “as I say love, we were young once too! Believe it or not!”

Phil and Didi had barely left for work when the phone rang.

                “I can’t believe you ran away!”

Chloe smiled to herself, she knew that Chris had his pride dented, “you looked so comfortable, I didn’t want to disturb you!”

                “Hell Chloe! You ran out on me like you’re embarrassed of something. Have you any idea how awful I felt waking up?”

Chloe really didn’t think about how he would feel. Her only thought had been to get out and regroup, work out what she was feeling in the aftermath of such a wonderful night. Now he was on the phone upset, hurt.

                “I’m sorry Chris.”

He sighed, “Yeah I know. Why do I feel that we take one step forward and three steps back? Jeez you drive me insane woman.”

She didn’t want to push him away, not anymore, the journey home had given her that clarity, maybe her early morning flit had backfired, “Chris, I’m sorry. I’m just...this is screwed up me ok? I don’t do the right things...”

                “Is that supposed to make it easier on me?”

                “Come for breakfast. I’ll cook for you...I don’t want us to argue Chris. I really enjoyed last night, I like being with you.”

He was stunned into silence for a moment, but he eventually managed, “I’ve got training at ten, but I’ll come for an hour first. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.” With that he hung up to deal with his own emotions.

Chloe sung as she showered, her World had seemed to re-tilt this morning; suddenly things were a little clearer. She’d met a wonderful man who wanted to spoil her, she worried about the future, whether her heart would cope when she left him, but she now knew she wanted to spend time with him, here, while she could.

She had finger combed her wet hair and pulled on her favourite denim shorts and a strappy top by the time the door bell rang. Both children were still asleep, so it would be just the two of them.

He was on the doorstep in training shorts and a t-shirt, shades covering his eyes so that she couldn’t read his mood. Rather than waiting for him to initiate a conversation, she leaned on to her tiptoes and placed her lips on his.

All protests and confusion were lost for Chris as he melted into the kiss, he was angry and hurt that much was true, but with Chloe wrapped around him kissing him so passionately, and a wonderful smell of breakfast wafting from the kitchen, he couldn’t be angry for long.