Never Again - 37

Chapter 37 -  Soul mate

After dumping the car back at his apartment, Jack took Erin by the hand and led her out into London. It was a long time since Jack had just kicked back and enjoyed being himself, and enjoying where he was. When he’d first come to London as a teenager, he’d loved it, and had spent many a day walking through the streets absorbing the hectic life that he observed. But once he’d become richer, more well known, he’d stopped appreciating the little things in life. Now, with Erin beside him, he felt like skipping like a teenager, everything was wonderful, and not even the cold day could upset his happiness.

Erin glanced over at Jack repeatedly, he was grinning, and it made her laugh. Hearing her laugh he looked at her.

                “What?”

She shrugged, “nothing, you look happy!”

He nodded, “I am.  But then how could I not be?”

                “So what have you got planned for this afternoon?” She’d been wondering since he disappeared to make phone calls before leaving Michelle’s home. And the one thing she knew about Jack was that he was no good at keeping things secret. His beaming face was a giveaway that he had something planned.

                “It’s a surprise!” he announced resolutely, “I want to surprise you, so don’t ask again! OK?”

Erin grinned and allowed him to lead her off into the distance.

As they walked along the Embankment, past the London Eye, and then Cleopatra’s Needle, several people stopped him to ask for photos or autographs. Initially he checked with her, and it tugged at her emotions that he would ignore his fans to keep her happy, but she couldn’t let him. So she paused patiently as he made the day of several men and children, loving that side of him as much as every other side.

Checking his watch, he broke into a smile, “right, Erin Bailey, it’s time!”

Taking her hand he dragged her at a jog a little further along the river, and down a ramp to the edge of the water. There a large cruiser was moored, an impeccably dressed captain, complete with peaked hat stood waiting.

                “Afternoon Mr Reilly, we’re all set to cruise...”

Jack smiled at the man then helped Erin on to the deck. She was amazed at the boat. She’d spent many a trip on various luxury yachts in the south of France, she was lucky in that way, but this was a whole different ball game. The whole of the inner level was surrounded by a wall of glass, which was tinted, so whilst you couldn’t see in, the whole of London was like a panoramic poster wrapped around them. There was a single table laid for two in the centre of the huge room, and the furthest wall housed a fully stocked bar, where another liveried man was awaiting their order.

A maitre’d saw them to the table, pulling out the chair for Erin to sit in, then smiled at Jack, who gave a slight nod. The man gestured to the man at the bar, and suddenly the barman appeared with a bottle of exquisite looking red wine, pouring a small amount into Jack’s glass. He savoured a taste, then nodded again, and they both watched the barman fill both glasses then disappeared.

Erin smiled at him as the engines of the boat kicked into action and the boat moved into the flowing waters of the Thames, “so what’s all this then?”

He smiled, “a luxury meal, drinks, dancing...somewhere we won’t be disturbed, and we can be dropped off somewhere quiet so no paps will be trying to photograph us. Just me and you, you and me!” He took her hands, “about time, hey?”

In the whole scheme of things, this constituted the perfect date, and was exactly what the doctor ordered. She felt herself relax, fully, “so what’s for dinner?”

He grinned, “well seeing as I’m thinking I know you quite well, I’ve suggested a menu to the chef here, who has two Michelin stars, I hasten to add!”

And so began the best meal Erin could ever remember eating, firstly confit of duck, a perfect start,  then braised lamb served with perfect vegetables, and a hearty French red, then there was tiramisu for dessert, her absolute favourite.

As the meal progressed, Jack managed to broach the subject that he’d avoided so carefully since finding Erin again.

                “How are you feeling now? About...what happened?”

She sighed, placing her cutlery down and sitting back in her chair, “the baby? Or rather the miscarriage?”

He nodded, glad that she’d said those words. He still couldn't bring himself to say it, which seemed stupid.

                “Well, I saw Dr Carter ten days ago, she’s happy that everything is ok. The ultrasound showed that everything has healed...there’s no reason to think I can’t get pregnant again.”

                “That’s good?” it was a question, Jack was still unsure how she felt about that.

She nodded, “Jack, I know it may not have been all that you wanted, kids, but that was the final straw in my marriage, despite everything else that he did, he refused to consider it. I’m thirty one, I want children, that’s a huge part of what I want to be. It forced me to look at things more closely, and was the start of me realising he wasn't right for me. If you don’t feel the same way...”

                “I do!” He interrupted her, “I’ve just been too nervous of admitting that, despite what you think, I want you more than children, but over the last six months I’ve been thinking about the future...when it wasn’t scaring me, and I see kids as part of that...but not instead of you. If there’s a chance of it happening again, I don’t know that I could see you even take that risk.”

She smiled, “there’s as much chance of it happening to me as anyone else. Dr Carter was confident about that.”

His relief was palpable, and she smiled as he visibly relaxed. “It’s important to you?”

Erin nodded, “as important as it gets.”

He refilled her glass, “then we’ll go for it. As many as you want!”

She grinned, at his dazzling smile, then turned back to the remains of her dessert, but could barely manage the coffee and after dinner mint that completed the feast.

Sitting back she linked her fingers over her stomach that felt distended from the rich food, “that was amazing...the best meal I’ve ever had!” With that she tried to hide a yawn.

He grinned, “Making you satiated and sleepy wasn’t my first intention...”

He’d been so attentive for the duration of the meal, and even now as he watched her intently, his love for her shone form his eyes so obviously, it was like an aphrodisiac to her.

                “It’s perfect, everything is perfect, the food, the location...” she looked to her left to see the O2 arena, lights blazing into the early evening sky. “The boat, the company...” at that she took his hands and he smiled.

                “Perfect was the intention...that’s more like it!”

At that moment some music started, there’d been background music throughout the meal, but now the big band tunes were more obvious.

                “Dance?”

She lifted her eyes to meet his and smiled, “here?”

He nodded and she noticed the tune, ‘It had to be you’, the same tune they’d dance to six months ago in the Manchester hotel, before they’d booked a room and taken their relationship to the next level.

                “You’re very thorough! Aren’t you?”

Jack’s grin could stop traffic, she’d not realised he had a sentimental bone in his body, but here he was creating an evening that catered to her every whim. Sliding into his embrace, she leaned into him, resting her head into the curve of his neck, the smell that was quintessentially him was wafting through her nostrils and making her dizzy, his hands held her tight, scorching her skin through the light fabric of her blouse.

Jack sighed and she could feel every inch of his body against his, and where she was relaxed, almost draped around him, the fact that he was tense, primed, waiting made her smiled into the slightly stubbled skin on the underside of his jaw.

                “Finding something funny?” he asked his lips touching the top of her head.

She didn’t reply, but rubbed her pelvis against his, then giggled at the groan that escaped his lips.

                “You little bitch!” His voice was a hoarse groan.

Lifting his head he gestured to the barman over the top of her, and then lowered his mouth back to her ear, “for that you get part two!”

Her whole body shuddered at the thought of what that could mean, and it was Jack’s turn to laugh, “Ahh, I think we call that touché!” 

They alighted from the boat less than half a mile from his apartment, and taking her hand he led there at a pace almost too rapid for her heeled boots.

                “Impatient?” She asked as they finally stopped at the lift shaft. The antique cage appeared within moments and it wasn’t until they were safely inside that he spoke.

                “Impatient doesn’t come close! I have waited six months for this...for you...I wanted to court you properly...wait...”

Erin laughed as she slid her arms around his neck, pressing her breasts into his hard chest, “there’s be no point in that, it’d just be torture, and I’m no masochist...” the lift stopped and she waited for him to slide open the door before she stepped out and tossed over her shoulder, “and we both know it’s going to be spectacular!”

It was Jack’s turn to gulp, to fight the surges of desire that almost floored him. He’d dreamed of this moment, the time when he could finally get back to basics, strip her, love her, tease her. He wanted to hear her gasps, to see her eyes flare as passion and pleasure overtook her, he wanted to give her all of him. He almost shook himself at the thought, he wouldn’t describe himself as a lazy lover, or even that selfish, but he had never anticipated someone else’s pleasure as much as he did her. This was love!

She entered the apartment and was staring at him frozen at the doorway, his face a mask of emotions. But when he looked up, it was all worthwhile, he looked like he wanted to eat her, it was the most erotic gaze she’d ever witnessed, and she was tempted to strip off and drape herself in front of him, but that was too easy. Shaking herself, she reached out a hand to him and he took it, pulling her into his arms.

As he kicked shut the door, he backed her up to the unforgiving wood, pinning her into a corner where she couldn’t escape. As his lips found hers, that hunger that they’d always shared was lit like a fuse, and within seconds they were ripping at each other’s clothes. All thoughts of tender love, tasting, touching, teasing, went out of the window, this was pure hardcore passion, and neither of them could fight it. 

Lifting his sweater, Erin parted from his lips for the briefest of seconds, then ran her fingers all over his bare, muscular chest. When she moaned in appreciation, he chuckled, “my turn!”

His hands were like wildfire divesting her of her shirt, then bra, his face nuzzled in her cleavage as he reached for the belt of her jeans.

                “Boots!” she murmured, nudging his head away from her. He met her eyes passion causing them to glitter, and then dropped to his knees. From there he could tug off each boot, each sock, and then at eye height her belt and then jeans. His hands on her naked belly caused her to flinch, it was more than electric shocks, it was heat, fire, everything unbearable, yet essential.

Jack’s hands were rough as they slid up her calves, her thighs, and his tongue followed a damp trail over her quivering muscles. Erin’s head was thrown back against the door, but as his fingers reached for the lace of her knickers, her head shot forward to look down at him. Encouraging her to step out of the scrap of material, his fingers continued their exploration of her most sensitive parts.

Erin clamped her thighs together, blocking his access, his response was a chuckle against her tummy. Instead his fingers climbed to her pelvis and gently touched the scar there, the reminder of her recent surgery.

Looking up at her he sighed, “Can we...is it ok?”

He wanted to know if she was physically recovered. That was the easy part, wasn’t it? Holding out a hand to him, she nodded, and he pulled himself up level with her. Then in a grand gesture he swept her up into his arms and carried her to the bedroom. Tossing her onto the duvet, he chuckled as she bounced before arranging herself on the pillows watching as he kicked off his shoes then jeans, and boxers.

Erin gasped as he fully revealed himself, he was more than primed, ready, and completely beautiful, and as he climbed on to the bed, stalking towards her like a lion to prey, she ensnared him with her thighs and rolled him onto his back. Sat astride him, she took the lead, lowering herself onto him, slowly but firmly. Jack’s eyes rolled to the back of his head and he let out a primeval groan.

He tried to tolerate her slow, rhythmical pace, but it was difficult, she tormented him so. Smiling at him squirming, she took his hands and lifted them to her breasts. Even that couldn’t distract him from the need to control this, to drive into her.

“Sorry!” he muttered as he rolled her over, wrapping her legs around his shoulders. Then in an almost animalistic fashion he drove them both over the edge.

Erin clung to him, their bodies slick with sweat, touching from nose to toe. She could barely feel her body, she was definitely numb from the waist down, as she wriggled slightly, trying to wake up her extremities, Jack lifted his head.

                “You trying to kill me?”

She laughed, then pulled him down for an absorbing kiss, “I love you!” She breathed as the kiss finally ended, but by then he was ready for a repeat action.

                “That backfired!” She giggled, but her words were lost against his lips.

How could you feel so wonderful when you’d had so little sleep? Erin didn’t know, but she knew she felt amazing before she’d opened her eyes. She’d catnapped through the night, between the explosive couplings that had been inevitable every time they touched. There was something so amazing about making love with a man that you knew REALLY loved you. It seemed to strip all her insecurities, her inhibitions and any doubt. At some point around midnight she felt that she actually became part of him, and he part of her.

Unable to wipe the grin off her face, she opened her eyes when her hands failed to find Jack in the bed. The room was empty. Groaning, she reluctantly pulled herself into sitting. Then stretched, she ached in ways she hadn’t for ages, and it was delicious. There was no clothing to hand, after all he’d stripped her in the hallway, so she rummaged in a drawer and found a t-shirt, it didn’t hide much, but it was a little more comfortable than walking out into the unknown naked!

Striding out into the lounge, she smiled to see Jack making coffee in just his boxer shorts. Creeping up behind him, she slid her arms around him and hugged him tightly. Turning  in her embrace he smiled for the brief second before his lips found hers. Like with every other time in the last twelve hours, the kiss sparked more passion and desire than either could hide, and so Jack lifted her onto the work surface, her legs around him, and they christened yet another room of the apartment.

A little later Erin had the use of her legs back, and was watching Jack fill two coffee mugs. As he handed her one, she smiled.

                “So why are we up so early?”

He smiled, “three reasons, firstly I’ve just heard that that bastard Max Thomas has been charged, with blackmail and extortion, as well as several counts of fraud. My legal man just called, he’s looking at three to five years!” When she smiled sadly he realised her conflict, at one time she’d loved Max, it was never great to know they were in such dire straits. “He doesn’t deserve your pity, ok?”

She nodded, “what are the other two?”

                “Well, I’ve got to make a TV ad, in Birmingham, so I need to be there by two o’clock.”

Erin groaned, gutted that their little bubble was about to burst, “it’s only a couple of hours away...there’s no rush!”

Pulling her into his arms, he shook his head, “au contraire, we have to go via Gloucestershire.” Jack only grinned when she looked puzzled.

                “Are you leaving me there?” The thought of being dumped unceremoniously back at her parents made her heart sink. She'd imagined going where Jack went from now on.

He shook his head, “quite the opposite. We’re getting all your things, including that overgrown mutt, then you’re coming back to Manchester with me. No arguments!”  She waved her hands in surrender, not willing to admit she liked this possessive and dominant Jack, and that those were the exact words she wanted to hear. He dropped his arms and headed for the bedroom as he muttered, “and I need to ask for your father's permission to marry you!” Under his breath.

Erin froze watching him retreat, her mind whirring. She’d swore she’d never marry again, it went against everything she stood for, but she had to admit after last night she couldn’t imagine being apart from Jack ever again. He was more than just under her skin, he was inside her, around her, above her...everywhere she looked, and she loved it. She loved him.

But marriage? Possession? Ownership? That was what she feared more than anything. Until ninety seconds ago, when Jack had told her NOT asked her that she was going to live in Manchester with him. She’d liked that. She thought of Peter her brother, her parents, Michelle and Dave, Danni and Scott, all people who were happy with their soul mate. And Jack was hers, it was never Max, he was a mistake.

Sliding her mug along the work surface she ran to the bedroom uncaring of how the t-shirt flapped up and revealed far too much of her, then almost skidded to a halt. There on one knee in the middle of the bedroom was Jack, an open box in his hand, holding the most exquisite diamond solitaire.

He was grinning, he knew that she’d needed to come to terms with his more than subtle hint, and he also knew that she’d come to the right conclusion. The fact that he knew her that well, anticipated how she’d react, was all the more ammunition in his bow. They were meant to be together.

                “Will you marry me Erin Bailey?”

Biting her bottom lip she could only nod as he flew towards her in excitement. With a sigh she met his embrace and knew in her heart of hearts that she couldn’t ask for a more perfect man than Jack Reilly.