Never Again - 17

Chapter 17 - Barney's back

This must be what it’s like to have a child! Erin thought as she finally collapsed into a chair, Barney was home, and was as demanding as a toddler. She’d picked him up from her parents by lunchtime, and after a family meal, she’d bundled him into the car and driven him back home, late April the trip hadn’t been completely in the dark, but she was glad to see the familiar street looming ahead.

In the house Barney had acted like a stranger sniffing every inch of the apartment and the small front forecourt as well as the garden. He was ambling around and giving her doe eyes, but she’d seen him rushing around her parents’ farm far more enthusiastically than he was moving here. Now, he was settled on his sofa, looking at her pitifully.

                “Are you missing the farm already? Is that it?” He moved his head to the left and she could have sworn he sighed. “God animal! You sure know how to lay on the guilt!”

Instead of ignoring him as she should have, she fed him titbits from the leftovers her mother had packed up for her, chicken, his favourite.  But by eight pm he was still sulking. She hadn’t had time to think about the implications of the previous night, and she’d not thought about just what Jack meant to her. As she flicked on the TV, glad to see there was a James Bond film starting, she hoped that he wouldn’t invade her thoughts too much. After all, he was just a friend, and they’d just had a brief fling, she didn’t want to repeat it.

Even as she thought the words she knew that she was lying, last night was the next thing that had ever happened to her, she had never felt so special...so cherished. But she also knew that she had to compartmentalise this for what it was, a random screw with a hot man. It pained her to think like that, it had felt like SO much more, but she had to start thinking sensibly if she wanted to stay here in this town. And she did. She was enjoying finding herself, and this was the perfect City for her to do that, it was large, busy, full of so many opportunities, but miles away from Max, there was no chance of bumping into him.

She took a deep breath, then got up to boil the kettle, coffee, some of her mother’s cake and Daniel Craig...could a woman ask for more?

Half an hour later she realised that yes, they could...she could! There was a ring at the door, and as she pulled open the door, she gasped to see Jack leaning against the door frame.

                “Came to see the invalid...and you!”  He was a sight for sore eyes in his soft worn jeans and grey hoodie, his eyes sparkling from behind dark framed glasses, the intellectual looking Jack was as beautiful as the confident, sexy, sporty variety.

                “I didn’t know you wore glasses!” She exclaimed not stepping back to allow him in.

He grinned, “contacts normally, but for some reason I’ve spent the day sleeping! My eyes are sore! Anyway, you digress! How’s the casualty?” He pushed past her, firmly but without threat, and walked straight up to Barney, who with a complete lack of loyalty, starting wagging his tail! “He looks well!”

When Jack looked up he found Erin’s eyes fixed on him, and he felt as though he’d intercepted something, the look took his breath away. Standing, he reached for her, desperately.

Erin had been remembering, his lips, his hands, every moment of that night in glorious Technicolor 3D, and then he was looking at her, and she knew she was lusting after him like a teenager. As he stood and came for her, she tried to shake off her shame, but as he grabbed her, devoured her like a starving man, she hated the fact that he’d seen how much she desired him, how much he domineered her thoughts.

And then he was kissing her and nothing else mattered.

It wasn’t until his hands started to roam, finding the warm flesh of her spine, snaking under her t-shirt that she stopped him.

                “Reilly! Please!”  She pushed him gently away and he groaned.

                “What?” his mouth sought her neck, the velvet soft skin that bridged to her shoulder, drugging her back in to responding.

                “Stop Jack please.”  She felt like she was trying not to drown, her face trying to penetrate the surface of a deep pool, “please!”

He lifted his head and looked down at her, a hand straying from her spine to her cheek, fanning her jaw, a thumb dragging across her bottom lip, she couldn’t fight the moan than left her lips, and he smiled, “why do you want me to stop? We are so good together!”

His eyes watched her lazily as the confusion stormed through her brain, she was struggling to find a reason to stop him, after all every inch of her was desiring every inch of him.

Jack saw the exact moment she gave up her fight, the second that she realised that he was right, a smile crossed her lips and she reached up to him, with a grunt of satisfaction he met her in the middle.

Erin couldn’t believe herself, she’d never been so wanton, so desperate, but as he started to kiss her, she lost control, dragging at his clothing longing for the feel of his skin under her fingers. The fact that she was still halfway out in her hallway didn’t seem to matter, all she wanted was him.

Jack was equally needy, he’d struggled to concentrate on anything all day, all he could remember was Erin’s beautiful body responding enthusiastically to everything they’d shared. He’d always enjoyed sex, taken pleasure and pride his performances, but until last night...and this morning, he’d had no real concerns other than his own pleasure, satisfying his own lust. Most of his partners seemed to appreciate him, if they didn’t they faked rapture, but with Erin he found himself wanting to give her pleasure, wanting to see her eyes lose focus, watch her lose control, that was almost more addictive than his own needs.

Every part of her was perfect, he greedily digested all of her as she bared for him, when she stood in just her bra and jeans, he took her hand and led her through the lounge to her bedroom. Within seconds they were naked and he’d thrown her back onto the bed, climbing over her, he carried on the assault he’d started in the hallway.

Much later, they were sat on the sofa him in boxers, her in a t-shirt, the Bond film finished long ago.

                “So are you working tomorrow?” he asked, scooping one of her feet into his hands and massaging the instep.

An impromptu moan preceded her answer, “I’m trying to juggle my diary, I shouldn’t leave Barney for too long, I have to start at eight, but I’m hoping I can move things around to free up some time. It’s only awkward cos I’m still new!”

Jack instantly felt terrible, this whole mess was his fault, as if he needed more reminders of that awful day, “I can sit with him, or he can come to mine. I’ve got a doctor review at ten, but they still don’t want me training hard. So I can be with him. Free you up?”

Erin didn’t want to rely on him, and he could see that in her eyes, “it’s my fault! All this, so let me help, ok? I don’t have to be in your house without you, I can take him to mine, or wherever I go.”

She nodded, “a little help would be great. Thanks.”

                “See?” he grinned, “you don’t have to see me as a threat!”

Hmm, she thought as she watched him leave a little later, he was more than a threat on SO many levels. He’d wanted to stay, but she had to work, he was a distraction, she’d likely not sleep with him in her bed anyway.

But true to his word, he helped her out a lot over the next few days. She had unsociable hours, working into the evening, late starts, it was a hectic work. Despite not seeing much of him, Jack committed to dog-sitting at any point where Barney was being left for more than an hour. Thursday night there was an accident on the motorway, instead of getting home at seven it was after nine when she slipped her key in the lock. Jack had visited Barney earlier this afternoon, but was playing poker that evening, so she expected to come home to an empty house. But no sooner was the door open than she smelled something cooking, and that was unexpected.

Opening the door to the lounge, she gasped, there was Jack, in his usual jeans and t-shirt, but today with her “Carry on...Keep Cooking” apron in bright turquoise, laying the small dining table with her mismatched crockery and the gothic style silver candelabra she’d bought in a flea market in Paris years ago.

                “Wow! Ireland’s greatest striker is a domestic goddess?” She moved to scratch Barney on the head, he’d got off the sofa and limped towards her wagging his tail enthusiastically. “Finally glad to see me traitor?”

                “We both are!” Jack announced, “I think we’ve exhausted each other’s tolerance this week!”

She laughed, walking in the direction of the kitchen, she smiled as she got close to him, then ran a finger provocatively over his chest as she passed him. Laughing he snatched at the finger then propelled her into his arms, “you don’t have to look so happy about that!”

She leaned back in his arms looking up at him intently, “I have invested a lot of time and energy in that animal, I don’t appreciate him just switching loyalty like that!” She clicked her fingers to emphasise the speed of the turncoat.

Jack grinned, “If it’s any consolation, he turns back just as quickly, especially when he doesn’t have treats hand fed into his mouth!”

Erin giggled, “He hates bending to the floor for anything, let alone treats. He’s a big man you know!”

Jack swung her around so she couldn’t see Barney’s doe-eyes over her shoulder, “but I’m the BIGGER man! Hence me...to quote Charlie Sheen...‘WINNING’!”

With that he placed a very accommodating kiss on her lips. Erin tried not to swoon with desire, then spent a moment trying to peep past him to see what treats he was attempting. Then she spotted the cartons and a bag from a nearby Deli. Sighing she shook her head, “not!”

He laughed, “I’ve never cooked a meal in my life! This is as exotic as it gets!”

Despite her teasing the food was really good, as was the bottle of Prosecco that accompanied it.  Finally feeling human again, Erin smiled at him after clearing her plate, “that was good!”

                “I’m not ready to go to cooking school yet!”

The thought of him in any sport of classroom environment made her laugh, “no I can’t see that either.”

They’d settled into an easy friendship, the banter remained, but they were comfortable with each other, and Erin was starting to relax, let those defences down. As he looked at her with a smile, she knew he wanted to stay that night. It was a big decision, letting him encroach on her day-to-day life, Jack had been right the hotel, neutral territory - she sounded like the Jets in Westside Story, but it was equal, even. Him spending the night with her was a big risk, would she ever be able to imagine her home without him in it once he’d invaded it so fully?