Silly Games - Chapter 24

Chapter 24

  

Laura came around slowly, her eyelids were stuck together and her throat was drier than the Sahara desert. She was struggling to take a deep breath, then she registered the heavy thigh and arm tossed over her, pinning her to the pillow. She hid a groan that threatened to leave her lips, as the memories of the last few hours came rushing back. Peeling open one eye, turned to her left, and then snapped the eye closed again. Oh yes, Adam was next to her, and he was naked as far as the sheet that barely covered him decently.

Taking in her own state she realised quickly that she was naked too. Then it all came flooding back to her. It had been so explosive, so dramatic as they’d come together first time that she’d almost disbelieved it. Then he’d taken his time, spending even longer teasing her, encouraging her to reciprocate. Stretching her legs she felt bruises and aches where he never imagined they could exist, and he was by no way her first lover. But he was the best! By miles! A voice inside her screamed out.

Whilst it was all a little hazy, she knew that the previous night had been one of the most monumental in her life, and that nothing would ever be the same again. She thought about how awkward this could be, if things failed and it became difficult of acrimonious, it would break her father’s heart. Hell, her father! She had no idea what he’d think of this! He couldn’t be pleased. She knew that much.

Sitting bolt upright, she started to flit her eyes around the room for something to cover her body; she needed to get out of that room ASAP.  But instead two arms encircled her waist and pulled her back to him, turning her to look at him, he smiled, “going somewhere?”

                “What if my folks come back? I need to...” the words were lost against his lips. She rued her morning breath, or rather morning alcohol breath, but he seemed uncaring, in fact he seemed hungrier than ever.

For Laura it was the perfect distraction, she’d found last night that she was powerless to resist him, and as one hand ran into her hair, securing her lips for his kiss, the other hand trailed down her body and delighted every inch of skin it touched. When he disappeared under the duvet to add his mouth and tongue to the assault, she was lost.

                “Do you want a drink?” She whispered at the comatose man beside her. Hangover sex had been more spectacular than drunken sex, and whilst Adam seemed exhausted, Laura was parched. He grunted a yes, as she slid out of the bed. Reaching for his t-shirt, she slid it over her head, glancing at the damaged; make that ruined dress at her feet.

                “I’ll buy you ten, I told you that!”

Snapping her head around she glared at him wondering how he managed to read her mind. Without speaking she left the room for the kitchen.

Adam watched her go, his libido noticing the swell of her buttocks, the t-shirt was too short to be modest, but his brain noticed the distance, the barriers she’d already re-erected in the moments since the come down from that special high. And it was special. At the back of his mind he’d known it would be, but he’d denied that there was an attraction between them, now there was nothing to hide. It was going to be a little difficult; after all they shared a parent. But he was convinced that wasn’t a problem, not really.

Jumping out of bed, ignoring the protests of both his body and head, he pulled on his boxer shorts. Striding into the kitchen he saw her at the kitchen sink, head bowed. Moving across quietly, he slid his arms around her waist and she flinched. Despite not wanting to, he felt her lean back into his body, and it made him smile.

Dropping his mouth to her ear, he flicked out his tongue and ran it over the surprisingly sensitive flesh, then murmured, “You keep doing this...running away.”

Laura sighed, nothing was ever that easy, turning in his embrace, she made to protest, but his lips took the words from her mouth. She wanted to resist him, to have some time away from his to think, but when he kissed her, her body betrayed that. All she wanted was to devour him, and be devoured.

As his tongue slid into her mouth, she responded, duelling with him, challenging him. Her lips were everywhere and her hands were running over his chest, that broad, beautiful chest. When she lowered her head to bite at his nipple, he threw his head back and managed to contain the roar that threatened to burst out of him. Never had a woman made him feel so out of control.

Lifting her from the waist, he perched her on the edge of the work surface and settled between her thighs, and as her legs wrapped around him, he found the curve of her neck with his mouth. As she started to squirm, tried to press her body into him, he slid a hand up her thigh, his fingers delving, teasing, and Laura collapsed back on to her elbows. Smiling Adam leaned over her and bit at her pointed breasts that pushed against his t-shirt that she still wore.

                “I can’t get enough of you!” he whispered as he once again thrust into her, and the look of ecstasy on her face as his hands continued to tease her was etched into his memory.

Laura had no intention of that happening, but there was something about him, she couldn’t resist. One touch and she was clawing at him like a rampant rabbit.  It was quite obscene. His head was resting on her shoulder, his arms hauling her close to his body, and she was still poised on the edge of the work surface, her legs wrapped around him. She could barely tell where he ended and she began, and THAT was a sensation she’d never felt before, and it threatened her very independence.

With a sigh she lowered her legs, let them slide down to hang below her, then she gently nudged Adam away from her.

EH stood upright, pulling his shorts back up and adjusting her t-shirt, the wet patches where he’d practically tried to eat her through the fabric were a constant reminder of his uncontrollable desire for her.  Her eyes were guarded and Adam hated that.

                “Laura?”

She looked up, “you know this shouldn’t have happened Adam, it’s all wrong!”

He laughed, “once would be a mistake, but girl we have tried to break some sort of record here. I have never managed this many times in eight hours...ever!” He hoped for a flippant remark but she dropped her head in shame, pushing him away.

She wasn’t proud of the way she’d thrown herself at him, the way she’d had no defence for his actions, one crook of his finger and her resolve had disappeared.

                “It’s a mistake, even if I wanted this to happen again, it can’t. We’re family for god’s sake!”

She made to march past him, to run and find some physical and emotional armour to hide behind, but he ensnared her wrist, spun her around to face him.  “Whoa! Don’t think that you can pull that card on me?”

                “What card?” she snapped, squaring up to him, hating that he stopped her escape.

                “The ‘we’re family’ card!” The words were accompanied by a childish voice. “That is total bullshit and you know it!”

She laughed haughtily, “do we, or do we not have the same father?” When he reluctantly nodded, she added, “so that makes us family! Right?”

He wanted to shake that sarcastic look from his face, hell he wanted to drag her back to bed and show her exactly what they were to each other, but instead he shouted, “Not right! YOU keep reminding me I’m nothing to do with you. That’s all you have done for the last four months is insist that I am NOTHING to do with you! Now you want to change that around, now after the time we’ve spent together!”

                “So what we throw our lives into turmoil for a night of sex?”

It was his turn to laugh, sarcastically, “woman I, if not you, have just had an almost out of body experience. You’ve turned me upside and down and inside out and I have no intention of letting you run away from that!”

Wrenching her hand free of his grip, she stepped away from him, “have you thought about what this would do to my father? If he found out?”

Adam shrugged, “we’ve both adults. It is nothing to do with him!”

That annoyed Laura, “that’s about right, waltz into his life, be the son he always wanted, fuck his daughter then screw up the whole family in the process! This isn’t all about you...or all about me!”

                “There is SO much more to this relationship than you have just outlined...”

                “Relationship?” Laura was immediately feeling pleasure at being at loggerheads with him, it was safe. “This was a drunken screw Adam Purcell. Let’s not make more of it than it is!”

Reaching for her he took a fist of the neckline of the t-shirt she wore and pull her close, uncaring that the material lifted exposing more and more of her, “I am not drunk now, and neither are you! And can I just remind you that when you were screaming in pleasure on THAT kitchen work surface there...” he pointed to the recently occupied area of the kitchen, “that you were experiencing and enjoying more than just a screw. So don’t bullshit me Laura. Don’t do that!”

She shook her head, but he wouldn’t let her do this, “you can’t pretend this isn’t special, different.”

Laura took a deep breath, detangling the t-shirt from him and smoothing it out, “our lives will rarely cross; you live thousands of miles away. There’s no future even if I wanted it to be. I rarely see my father, so I’d rarely see you. Just let it go!”

As he was about to scream at her he took a calming deep breath, and it was then that they both heard the front door open and the voices of Maggie and Stafford in the hallway.

                “Shit!” Laura froze in front of him in full panic mode and Adam suddenly looked around, she in his non-covering t-shirt him in his boxers...it wasn’t a great scene for her parents to walk in on. There was no evidence of their earlier shenanigans, so he turned her and pushed her towards the spare room, and bundled her inside before reluctantly disappearing into Laura’s room himself.

Laura needed a shower, she had to wash the remnants of Adam from her skin, but she knew that it’d be a lot harder to get him out of her system. Dressing in what looked the least creased from her overnight bag, she stuffed everything else into it then rebraided her hair. It had been plaited since washing it the previous day and it was now a riotous mess. Rolling her eyes, she gathered everything and left her bags just inside the door of the room.

Her mother was sat on the sofa, her father mixing her a drink in the corner of the lounge, both were grinning like infatuated young lovers. Her mother glanced up and grinned.

                “Laura! Sorry about disappearing...”

Laura shrugged hoping her own guilt wasn’t as transparent on her own face, “you have to do what you have to do Mum...I’ve got a train in an hour.” It was a twist on the truth, but she was desperate to put some distance between her and Adam.

Her mother looked sad, but Laura needed that escape route.

                “I’ll drop you to the station!” Her father offered.

But Laura declined, “spend time with Adam; you don’t know how long he’s going to be here. I’ll call you guys ok?”

Adam was dressed but he was still shaken by the strength of his feelings for Laura. The thought of returning to the States, of not seeing her for a while was bordering on painful. There may be an element of post apocalyptic sex lust, but deep down he knew there was hell of a lot more to it than that. Gathering up her torn dress and underwear he stuffed them into his bag, he’d give them back later, then taking a deep breath and cursing his groin that lurched in excitement at just the thought of her, he made for the lounge.

No sign of Laura he noted immediately, though he knew he’d heard her voice. Stafford grinned; a knowing grin after a night of passion with his wife...Adam knew that feeling and was desperate to share it after a similar night with Stafford’s daughter. But there was a time and a place.

                “Are you both ok?”

Maggie smiled, “great. Just wish Laura wasn’t rushing off so quickly. Damn that flood, we missed spending a rare night with her!”

Adam’s heart was pounding, “she’d leaving now?”

                “I am!”

All three spun around to see Laura, her rucksack she’d collected from the bedroom over her shoulder stood in the doorway. Adam’s heart lurched, not his groin, not his libido, his heart. She looked amazing all leggy in skinny jeans and a tight t-shirt that hugged her lithe body, her small but perfect hand filling breasts. Was there any part of her body that he wouldn’t lust after lying in bed that night? He doubted it.

                “Shall I drop you to the station?”

She waved him away rather easily, “don’t be silly, I’ve called a taxi, you need to spend time with your father!”

Then with a theatrical wave she rushed out of the door!

Silly Games - Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Laura wanted to walk home, it was approaching midnight, and it was a two mile walk, but he indulged her, this had after all been a night for Laura. If she wanted to end the night with a walk, who was he to argue.

But after twenty minutes Adam was rolling his eyes at her protests, her feet ached, she was tired...

                “You wanted to walk!” he exclaimed stopping in the street. “I suggested a cab!”

He was right, but she’d wanted the time to sober up a little, she was feeling a little too close to Adam tonight, and curled up in a taxi...if he touched her. He shook her head; she didn’t want to think of what her reaction would be to that. She was so aware of him now, since he’d sung to her in the pub earlier, and he HAD sung it to her, rather deliberately, she’d been feeling a bit quivery, and the way he listened to her stories, her dreams, her past, was all contributing to her feeling like she wanted to throw herself at him, the one person she should least be inclined to. If he felt the same way it would be disastrous, and if he didn’t, she’d humiliate herself, neither was a great option, so she walked, hoping the pain in her feet and the fresh air would bring her back to a reality where she barely tolerated Adam Purcell.

                “Right! That’s it! Jump on!”

He half lowered himself in front of her offering his back, and she felt a shiver of fear wash over her.

                “I’m fine!”

He shook his head, “you’re being a diva, get on my back, we’ll get there in half the time, then I can relax without this incessant bleating!”

With a “Humph” of anger, she clung to his back as he directed. She was wearing a short dress, and her fear of it lifting to reveal her lacy shorts to the world was her foremost fear, until his hands connected with the flesh of her thighs, and he gripped her to him standing up ready to carry her home, her bare legs wrapped around his torso.  All she could feel was Adam invading every inch of her being, and it was as scary and exciting as she’d imagined it would be.

Adam took two paces before he froze. This was the greatest mistake he’d ever made. His hands were securing her firm bare thighs to his body; the heat of her pelvis was pressed against the small of his spine, and there was very little separating her from him.

Releasing her legs slowly he moaned as she slithered down his body, a body that shook with anticipation.  Closing his eyes, he felt her arms leave his neck, and he stood for a moment wondering why the hell he’d chosen the option of wrapping her around him. He’d had an erection for most of the evening, though he’d tried to deny it, and now he’d made himself REALLY aware of how attracted he was to Laura.

Opening his eyes, he turned slowly, expecting her to be fuming, but Laura was stood there, her bottom lip snagged between her teeth in an innocent gesture, and a bolt of lust shot through his body, as in reality it was sexy as hell. Their eyes met and suddenly he realised this wasn’t one sided, she was as lust driven as him.

Neither moved, but their eyes were locked. Laura couldn’t breathe. She didn’t know who took the first step forward, her or him. But there was a split second of realisation, consent, and they came together. Adam’s hands flew to her face, both hands cupping her jaws and pulling her towards him, when their lips met, Laura closed her eyes and sensations exploded through her.  She’d never felt this excitement, this desire, this pleasure in a simple kiss.

But the kiss was anything but simple; Adam’s lips represented an assault to every one of her senses. He smelled of citrus, clean, fresh, which was intoxicating in its own right, his soft lips were drugging pressuring, probing.  Then her lips finally parted under the pressure of his tongue, the taste of mint and whisky tingled the tip of her own tongue.

Then there were his fingers fanning into her hair, setting her scalp on fire, firm pressure on her skull, pulling her closer to him, and their bodies entwined almost naturally. Laura’s hands which were pumping in and out of fists in muted frustration at their lack of use, finally won the battle with her brain, the brain that was slowly getting more and more befuddled by this overwhelming man, and she slipped her arms around him, splaying out over his hard spine.

He moaned against her lips at the actions of her hands, and she felt another surge of heat engulf her, and she swayed as her knees weakened. It was Adam’s turn to smile, though the sensation barely made it as far as his industrious lips, he was too busy feeling like a horny teenager, out of control with a surge of testosterone. And he was thirty one, a distant voice called out to him, but he was as deaf to that as he was blind to what they were doing. In the street.

But her lips were so enticing, her tongue shy yet cheeky in it’s inquisition was firing his furnace. As her hands roamed under his t-shirt, tingling over the skin of his spine, he suddenly needed to do the same, feel her. Dropping his lips from hers, Adam licked and nibbled his way down to the soft contours of where her neck met her shoulder, unable to resist, he sank his teeth into her skin soft enough not to hurt, but hard enough to thrill.

                “Adam!” Laura gasped as his hands ran up her bare thighs, heading for her bum, lifting her dress as they went. “We’re in the street!”

Her voice was breathless, and when he lifted his lips from her collar bone, he almost shuddered at the look of desire in her eyes, her swollen lips were parted, inviting, full, red...he suddenly realised he could write poems about that thoroughly kissed mouth. But she was right, they were in the street.

                “Sorry, but I couldn’t...I can’t resist you.”

The words were music to Laura’s ears, but she also knew that this was ridiculous, that once they got a few moments to calm down that Adam’s ardour would calm. This is exactly what she’d wanted to avoid, now they had an awkward walk home.

Freeing herself from his arms, she turned in the direction of home, but a hand restrained her, circling her wrist. Without speaking he pulled her close, cupped her cheek again with that inquisitive hand, then planted his lips firmly on hers. This kiss was slightly less of an attack and far more promising, he was tasting her, teasing her rather than devouring her, and she once again squirmed ridiculously. This was so bloody stupid! But she was powerless to resist.

When he finally stopped the kiss, he lifted his head and nodded with a smile, “just because we’re in the street,” his voice was hoarse, “does not mean you can pretend this hasn’t happened. I have no intention of embarrassing you here, but once we get back to the apartment, I promise we will get back to this.”

Laura nodded mutely, there were so many questions, so many doubts, but she had to get home before she let him embarrass her in the street. For he’d proven that she had no restraint or control when it came to him.  His hand holding hers, he led her at a fast pace across the streets of Chelsea, until he saw the foreboding house on the horizon. Glancing over his shoulder he smiled at the mixed emotions contorting her face. He loved the confusion, the desire halted in such a dramatic fashion still evident in her eyes, then there was doubt. Not something he wanted to see.

Smiling Adam swooped down to claim her lips again, and within a few seconds of their lips touching, that flame wasn’t just reignited; it was burning like a furnace.

                “Oh Laura!” his lips nipped at her earlobe, as he pulled her close. She reciprocated his every move. With a groan, he grabbed her hand and ran up to the house, his hand dragging her along behind him.

As she opened the door to the apartment, and stepped inside, Laura felt petrified, she’d had that feeling of anxiety eating at her since she’d seen Adam singing to her hours earlier. The passionate kisses had only increased her unease. She had kissed many men, but she’d never felt as desperate or as hungry for someone as she did for him. As the door clicked closed and his hand reached for hers, panic flashed through her. It was wrong, she kept telling herself that, he was family, they were related. What would her parents say? SO many negatives, and then he tugged her, spinning her into his arms, and those equally blessed and cursed lips took hers once more.

Within seconds all doubts were washed away, all she knew was the raw desire for this man that overpowered her once again. All promise had gone and he kissed her with abandon, his teeth tugging at her lips, his tongue probing against them. With a sigh she ran her hands up to link behind his neck, and then parted her lips to meet his tongue with her own. It was furious, desperate, frantic even. His hands found the back of her thighs and lifted up to cup her lace clad buttocks, the exact same gesture that had caused them to separate earlier. But now, instead of the world seeing her exposed flesh, she was snug against the hallway wall.  Her back pressed against the wooden panelling.

                “We can’t do this!” She finally managed to rasp when his lips left hers to tease the skin of her neck.

                “I can’t stop...” it was more a plea than a statement. When she didn’t answer he lifted his head, looked down at her.

Laura was about to push him away, break this up, when a hand that was now on her ribs met the gentle curve of her breast. With a groan she pushed herself into his hand.

“You want this. Tell me you do!” He demanded, the other hand securing her head, forcing him to look at him.

After a pause, she nodded, she needed this more than wanted it, there’d be hell to pay the next day, but her desire for more of him outweighed anything else. She’d always been impulsive, reckless on times, but this didn’t seem like that, this was essential, she could no more walk away than she could stop breathing.

 

Taking her hand, he deliberately led her along the hallway to her bedroom, partly because he wanted this to be leisurely, luxurious, everything that she deserved, but also it gave her time to change her mind. But she followed obediently, only pausing to kick off her shoes.

A soft glow from the table lamp illuminated the room. Adam walked towards her with purpose, and Laura felt her heart pound frantically. Taking the initiative, she reached for the hem of his t-shirt before he had the chance to kiss her. Widening his eyes in surprise for a brief second, he stopped and lifted his arms, letting her slide the garment up over his shoulders. She’d seen him shirtless a few times, but never this close up. He was toned but not over muscular, and there was a thin smattering of hair, surrounding each flat nipple, before trailing down to his jeans. His broad shoulders bore a tattoo on each side, but she was too busy to study them.

Using her thumb nail she scratched at one of his nipples and was rewarded it with it wrinkling into a small point. He sighed at the touch, then almost whimpered as she lowered her head to bite it. He loved the mixture of confidence and insecurity; she was leading the way, but was really unsure of herself. And it turned him on beyond belief. As she nibbled at his chest, he lowered his lips to her cheek, then neck. Her dress was a halter neck, and tugging at the straps with his teeth, he was rewarded by a tearing sound, and the strap fell loose.

                “This is my new dress!” she chastised breathlessly. She’d bought it from a merchant at the festival just the previous week; it was limited edition, a one off.

Reaching behind her he grabbed the fabric in his hands, and tore it from top to bottom, “as the fabric fell to the floor, he grunted, “I’ll buy you ten more!” Then his eyes descended on her.

Laura was only glad that she’d worn reasonable underwear. Her strapless black lacy bra shaped her small breasts into an impressive cleavage, though she did wonder if he was a man who preferred more in that department. But the way his hands cupped her breasts, then pulled the cups down to free her dark pink nipples, he seemed enthralled. As he lowered his head to engulf one of her breasts with his mouth, his other hand found the clasp behind her and he scrambled the item away from her body.

When he eventually lifted his head, Laura was swaying on her feet, each touch was pulling a sensation deep within her stomach and she could barely concentrate. Reaching for his jeans, she was relieved when Adam actually helped her pull them off, though she had no idea of the view she was giving him of those cute lacy boy short panties, and how it was purely a selfish action.

When she stood back to face him in just her shorts, he sighed, “god you are beautiful Laura.” Bowling her back on to the bed, he kissed her again, before his hands started to run all over his body. She reciprocated, sweeping her hands over his buttocks, then around to the front of him. He was huge, impressive and rock hard, and the thought of what that meant, but as her fingers ran over her, he moaned, and it was such a liberating sound. Especially when Laura was feeling almost self conscious at the way she was throwing herself at him.

Adam threw her back onto the bed almost aggressively. “What the hell are you doing to me?”

Then things got frantic, he was struggling to devour every inch of her, she fought to free them of their remaining clothes, as she finally managed to kick her knickers across the room, Adam wedged himself between her thighs, and then buried his face in her.

Laura threw her head back, unable to cope with the wild sensations pulsing through her; every nerve ending was in tune with his tongue and the thumbs that exposed her, the fingers that probed her.

Then with a whoof of exquisite pleasure she exploded, blood surged around her pelvis, flushed her face and neck, and every nerve ending tingled as for a moment she became hypersensitive.

It took a few seconds to calm, for her racing heart to ease, and when she opened her eyes, Adam was above her, nose to nose, propped up on his elbows that rested either side of her shoulders. When he smiled at her, that lazy, sexy smile, she melted all over again.

                “Next time I want to watch you, cos it sure sounded like fun!”

Acutely aware of how exposed she was to him, she wrapped her legs around him, pulling him close until he was poised to move into her. He swept another kiss to her lips and at the same moment he thrust into her.

Within moments Adam knew he was struggling to stay in control, he’d thought the copious amounts of alcohol would have the opposite effect on his libido, but here he was about to explode like a teenager within seconds. Using his hands he teased her, exploring flesh still sensitive from her own pleasure just a few seconds earlier, and within seconds he was rewarded with her eyelashes fluttering and his name escaping as a moan from her lips. Uncaring now that she was ahead of him, he threw everything he could into loving her, and then almost screamed as pleasure overtook him and he wondered how the hell he’d got to thirty one without having this woman in her life before.

Silly Games - Chapter 22

Chapter 22

After three shots of tequila of all things, Adam managed to direct Laura to a nearby chip shop. He knew that chips would fill her up and stave off the alcohol. It seemed she was on a mission and he was a passenger to that.  

With the fried potatoes wrapped in newspaper, they made for a nearby bench, then sat and ate them. It was a warm evening, and it wasn’t unpleasant to sit and watch the world go by. As he sat he wondered when the last time he’d sat and eaten cheap fast food and wasted time doing nothing. He was experiencing a whole lot of firsts with this woman.

                “Do you think it’s a conspiracy?” Her words pulled him out of his daydream.

Pausing mid mouthful he turned to her a questioning look, “what?”

She chewed vigorously, before answering, “well you got a flood, in your apartment, then my parents. Flood in their basement? Coincidence?”

“I’d not thought about that!” He watched as her eyes twinkled, and she pulled out her mobile phone.

                “Mrs Edmunds?” She spoke with a smile as someone answered her call. “It’s Laura!”

She listened to the gushing response from the woman, at the same time she mouthed “the housekeeper” at him. The woman was enthusiastic and excited at hearing from Laura. So she listened in silence for a moment.

                “No, I was calling to surprise my mother...” Laura laughed, “she’s not there? I thought as she wasn’t in London...” She stared at Adam her eyes wide, “Oh, they’re NOT expected with you?...Everything’s ok?...Great!” She winked dramatically at Adam then added, “no, don’t tell them I called if they turn up. I’ll surprise them another time. OK? Speak soon!”

She hung up and deposited the remnants of her meal into the bin nearby, then turning she grinned at Adam, “Mrs Edmunds who lives with her husband on site hasn’t spoken to my parents since Wednesday, everything’s fine, and definitely no flood! Seems like a little subterfuge a foot!”

Adam laughed, “you think they were as aware of the awkwardness as we were?”

Laura shuddered, “I can’t think about my parents sloping off like teenagers for sex Adam, don’t make me!”

Laughing he threw the remainder of his food away too, “come on, didn’t someone mention a party?”

Two hours later, Adam was sat on a barstool laughing hysterically at Laura. She was on the small stage in the corner of the pub, a microphone in her hand, the whole building absorbed in her hilarious rendition of ‘You can go your own way’, by Fleetwood Mac on the karaoke. After much excitement at the thought of a nearby pub holding a karaoke night, Laura had dragged him into the building, and after a few nerve calming pints, she took the stage.

Belting out the vocals, what she lacked in musicality, she made up for in enthusiasm, the whole pub was enthralled with her, singing along at her shouts  of ‘come on everyone!’ And no one was more captivated than Adam, for all his laughter, he was starting to appreciate Laura in a way he never had. He’d always seen her as a strong, fiery and very independent woman, but today he was seeing her in a completely new light. She was funny, a little reckless, and very addictive.

As the song came to the end with a crescendo, the pub erupted and she turned to bow to her audience before skipping over to Adam and grabbing her pint. Gulping almost half of it, she sighed, then smiled at him.

                “You are the queen of performance!”

Laura laughed, “I got addicted to karaoke when I was in Oz years ago, don’t see it very often these days. This is such a treat! Your turn! What you going to sing?”

Adam appreciated the liveliness in her eyes, but he had no intention of singing, “nothing, I assure you! I have a singing voice that is worse than my handwriting!” With a grin, he reached into his back pocket and brought out a business card, on the back was scrawled something illegible.

She took the card and studied it, but couldn’t decipher anything. Handing it back to him she laughed, “bullshit! You are the sort of man who’s good at everything. Pick a song, or I’ll pick one for you!” With a menacing waggle of the eyebrows she left for the bathroom.

When she returned he was still resistant, he wasn’t the sort to get up and sing. For Adam surfing and golf was as much relaxation as he had in life, he had so many obligations and duties that he didn’t have much time for anything else. He’d started his first business whilst he was still in University, and it had kept growing and demanding like a family, taking up all his spare time. The last few months since he’d found his father had been the most slack of the last ten years. He was being called back on so many different levels, but so far he’d managed to resist. Tonight represented everything he’d avoided for years, frivolity with time and effort.

Laura slipped onto the seat next to him and looked up expectantly.

                “What?”

She smiled, “have you picked?”

Rolling his eyes he laughed, “Laura, I’m not singing. No way!” And he had no intention. Then he saw her expression change, as she jumped to her feet he felt a little nervous.

Laughing she skipped away from him, “oh yes you are!”

Ten minutes later the DJ called him up to sing. Adam shook his head, but Laura soon wound up their corner of the room to cheer and encourage him up to sing. The attention was so great that he couldn’t argue, and he’d look more of an idiot for not joining it.

Leaning in he placed his lips on her ear, “you will pay for this Laura Marshall...just you wait!” Then to cheers and wolf whistles, he marched across the room.

On the stage the lights blinded him from most of the pub, but he managed to find Laura and glare at her, he couldn’t wait to exact some sort of revenge later. The DJ handed him a microphone before announcing, “this is Adam, bringing the excitement down a notch...”

Adam felt sick, as he looked at the monitor in front of him he groaned, he was going to kill her!

The plink plonk of the piano started a song that made him cringe, ‘Tell Laura I Love Her’, he really would murder her.

Laura started to smirk as the music started, and Adam’s evil glare only made that harder to control. She’d almost burst with excitement when she saw the Ricky Valance song on the song sheet. When she was a girl her father had serenaded her with it whenever he wanted to embarrass her, now it was time to turn the tables. It was a hard song to sing, high pitched, with very little musical support, she rubbed her hands waiting for him to blush and screw it up. Revenge indeed for all the upheaval he’d caused in her life...That was until he started to sing and she realised he had lied, he had a really good voice.

                "Tell Laura I love her...tell Laura I need her...tell Laura not to cry, my love for her will never die...” he pinned her to the stool with his gaze, and he was using the song to embarrass her. And it was working of sorts. Suddenly her mouth was dry, her heart was pounding. The unease and awkwardness was all hers.

When he finished the whole place was silent for a moment, then applause and whistles as enthusiastically as they had been for Laura erupted around the room.  Swallowed the slight discomfort that the lyrics and the way he’d sung them had elicited in her, Laura she smiled as he stalked towards her.

                “Funny hey?” he asked as he sat next to her with a sullen face. “Your idea of fun?”

Laura shrugged, “pretty funny, though you have a voice far superior to your hand writing. So I just look a megalomaniac now!”

“There are at least a dozen men in here who would have said it to you honestly and without the need for music, but no, it was all about shaming me!” Smiling he added, “it worked!” Then he leaned forward and placed his lips once again on her ear to breathed, “as I say, you’ll pay for that.” Whilst it was said in jest, she also knew the she’d pushed their relationship to a different place. And she didn’t know exactly what that meant.

By the time they’d finished the next drink Adam was speaking to her again and they were talking US versus UK sports with a gang of guys at the bar. Laura loved that Adam was sociable, he knew lots about everything and could discuss the intricacies of cricket and ‘soccer’ as easily as he could ice hockey and basketball. The debate was intense but good natured and she chipped in on both sides as the men discussed the pros and cons.

                “You’re supposed to defend me!” he whispered as he joined her at the bar as she waited for refills.

Laura laughed, “Adam Purcell! You do not need anyone to defend you! And I thought after the singing, that I might need support from others, just in case, you know?”

He laid a hand on her arm, “I wouldn’t hurt you Laura.”  There was a sincerity in his voice that she knew was genuine, but then he broke into a grin, “...much!”

An hour later the DJ had finished the second stint of karaoke and announced the candidates for the ‘cash prize’. Laura’s ears pricked up and nudged Adam with her elbow. “Hear that?”

Adam laughed, “you are dreaming! Come on, let’s get going. I could do with some fresh air.” 

Groaning theatrically, she gathered her things and was about to stand when she heard, the same man announce.

                “We have six candidates, Sarah Martin with Billie Jean, Paul and Mike with Love Shack, then Laura Marshall with Go Your Own Way, and finally Adam Purcell with Tell Laura I love her. I have voting slips here, and at the bar. Twenty minutes and the winner of one hundred pounds will be announced!”

Laura grabbed Adam’s arm, but he was already groaning, she’d not miss out on that amount of money. As he paused, she looked up and grinned.

                “Running away rather than get your arse kicked by moi?”

Again he groaned, “Laura...is there anything you’re NOT competitive over?”

She shook her head, “It’s ONE HUNDRED POUNDS! And yes, I’d love to beat your backside in any competition you could mention!”

Raising an eyebrow, he leaned in close again, “I can think of so many events where I would kick you into next week...and I’d LOVE every moment!” He stepped back, “and that starts TONIGHT!”

Yep, she’d found and unleashed his competitive streak, and as her eyes widened she smiled, “game on!”

                “Winner buys dinner?” it was his compromising offer.

She turned to stare at him, “dinner? You win £100 and you’re offering me another bag of chips?”

As the DJ cleared his throat to announce the winners in reverse order, Adam glanced at her and murmured, “I was meaning tomorrow night, at Jonty’s your father tells me it’s the best place to dine!”

Laura barely heard as the results were announced, she was too busy processing that Adam wanted to take her to the most romantic, expensive AND exclusive restaurant in the whole of town.

                “Step up here Laura!”

The words barely penetrated her conscious level. The sharp elbow to the ribs did though.

                “What the...” she turned to berate Adam, but he was grinning.

                “You’d better start thinking of how you’re going to treat me with your winnings!” His face was lit with enthusiasm and pride as he pushed her towards the stage. Suddenly she realised that everyone in the bar was looking at her expectantly.

                “I won? I wasn’t listening...”

Adam merely kept grinning as he watched her zigzag through people to the stage.

                “THIS is what you do with a hundred quid? Really?”

Adam didn’t have a problem with heights, but standing in a glass pod moving at 1 kilometre an hour into the London night seemed the least celebratory event that he could imagine. BUt when he turned to look at Laura her face was a picture of excitement and happiness. She was staring out at the cityscape enthralled.

The London Eye didn’t open every night, and rarely this late, but today was one of the lucky times for Laura. Saying that, to ensure a pod to themselves he’d had to double the amount she’d won, and more. But he couldn’t bare spending half an hour with the party of Malaysian tourists, or three stag and hen parties that had queued with them. So they were in the pod alone, and Laura was still gazing out of the window.

Coming to stand beside her he tried to see what she did, but failed. He liked London, but it wasn’t his home, he didn’t have a reaction anywhere like hers.

                “Isn’t it wonderful?” she breathed, and when he didn’t answer she looked up at him. “Not your thing?”

He shrugged, “as cityscapes go, it’s cool.”

She turned her eyes back to the window, “but look, you can follow the River Thames knowing that it goes to the sea, that this city is closer to freedom than it looks, then you’re up near Big Ben, almost flying, reminds me of watching Mary Poppins when I was a kid.”

So that was it. “This wheel makes you realise that there’s life outside the city?”

She nodded, it had been her lifesaver when it was constructed. Even as a child she hated the oppression of the city, but as life went on her family seemed to spend more time there than anywhere. After a particularly hard day at sixth form she’d come here, jump in a pod and dream that she was anywhere but. She’d left the city a few years later, but she still associated the Eye as her crutch, she needed it to remind her that life went on outside of the trauma of her family or home.

Adam’s arm had dropped to rest around her shoulder, and with a sigh he pulled her close to him and kissed the top of her head. “Every time I think I got you, you say or do something to surprise me.”

He thought she’d resist, brush him off, so when she relaxed against him their proximity and isolation seemed like the worst combination he could have imagined. Or the best.

Enthusiastically she pointed out everything on the horizon, and after a few moments, he became embroiled in her memories and stories, soon he forgot that they were in the London Eye, and that he wasn’t that bothered about the place. Through her eyes he was seeing things anew, reliving her childhood hopes and dreams, and it was enlightening.

Silly Games - Chapter 21

Chapter 21

The cake was good, as was the ‘milk punch’ that Laura provided. They’d both sat either end of the sofa in the lounge with their hot mugs, and Laura pulled a throw over their legs.

                “So how was the rest of the festival?” Adam asked watching her drink.

She nodded, “good, busy, Ben was like King of the world. It was like his dream come true...but Alana’s a bit put out, he’s never been that enthusiastic about her.”

Adam laughed, “sounds like a woman! What is the deal with those two?”

Laura eyes him suspiciously, “typical man, calling all women gossips but wanting to know every last detail!”  He acknowledged her repost with a laugh, then listened as she tried to summarise the unusual and rather unpredictable relationship of her friends.

                “So let me get this right, Alana came from the fringe of the pro circuit in Hawaii to wet and cold Wales, and that man doesn’t really appreciate her?”

It sounded so awful in those terms, but that was the gist of the problems in this relationship.

                “Does he have to propose just because she chose to follow him? I mean that sounds really harsh.”

Adam shrugged, “I can see why she wants commitment, but no, I suppose her travelling is no prerequisite for a ring. Tough being stuck in the middle!”

Laura nodded but was looking at Adam quizzically.

                “What?”

She shrugged, “just didn’t expect a man to see Alana’s side!”

Laughing he placed his empty mug on a side table, “just because I can’t imagine marrying myself doesn’t mean I can’t understand the need in some people for commitment.”

                “Very deep!” she responded with a wry smile, “you are an evasive man Adam!”

He leaned against the back of the sofa and watched her through half closed eyes, “maybe.”

Suddenly he was looking tired again, “you need bed mister!”

Nodding he smiled when she rose an offered him a hand, accepting he moved with her as she pulled him to his feet, then they strolled down the corridor to their respective rooms.

                “Thanks for the drink...and the cake!” He stopped outside her bedroom, the room he was using. “And of course the bedroom!”

She grinned, “no problem, my pleasure!”

With a grin he pulled her into a bear hug, his arms wrapping around her slim form. And immediately Adam regretted his instinctive action. The sensation hit him in the stomach like a punch to the abdomen, and he gulped at a breath. Pushing her back to arm’s length; he offered an apologetic and awkward smile before disappearing into the room.

Leaving Laura to wonder what the hell had just happened. Legs that felt weirdly jelly like managed to get her to the spare room, but as she collapsed onto the bed, it was a different vein of thought that kept her awake well into the early hours.

After such poor sleep, and of course the journey up to London, she was shattered, and was mortified to see her phone displaying 10:41. For an early bird who rarely slept past six am, Laura was both shocked and surprised at this slovenly display. Though it was well needed, she had still been awake at five am. Stretching her stiff and aching body out of bed, she made for the lounge. Her mother was sat reading the Saturday morning paper, a delicate teacup of coffee sat in front of her.

                “Hi darling!” Her mother jumped up and rushed across the room.  “What a wonderful surprise!” She pulled her daughter into a tight embrace, “I really didn’t want to pressure you if you’re so busy, but it really is fantastic when you come home!”

Holding her at arm’s length her mother studied her intently, “you’ve lost weight! I’m going to have to feed you up this weekend! I am so sorry that Adam was in your bed. Was the spare room ok? He had a flood, and the poor boy was so tired!”

Laura allowed her mother to lead her to the sofa, “boy? Adam’s older than me, he’s at least thirty. That definitely makes him a man!”

Maggie Marshall nodded, “semantics darling, and he’ll always be a boy to me, just as you will always be my baby!”

Raising her eyebrows, Laura lowered herself to the seat, “mother!”

But it was no use, Maggie was ecstatic to be mother hen, and preened herself as she planned antics for her family for the rest of the weekend. In her almost ditzy way, she told Laura that her father and Adam were at the gold club, some competition that was vital.

                “But tonight, I wanted to order in some food, have some wine. Talk?” she offered the last word as a tentative suggestion, not knowing how her daughter would react to it.  When Laura agreed with no resistance, her mother literally bloomed.

As soon as Laura mentioned her hair, her mother lit up. Because she spent so long in the sea, and sun, her hair dried out to a wiry, frizzy mess, every week she treated it with hot oil, reconstructing shampoo, but once a month she treated it with an avocado hair mask. A homemade concoction of the avocado, conditioner, and a couple of essential oils really brought it all back to life, and as soon as her mother found out about it, she wanted to try it herself.

Two hours later, they were both wearing short pyjamas with the originally green, but now muddy brown sludge all over their hair, drinking a glass of Pimms and eating Pringles, in front of the open full length patio doors. There was no balcony as such, only what Laura described as a ledge with cast iron railings, but with the doors open it definitely brought the outdoors in, and with the avocado smelling like it was fermenting over their heads, they both sat in the sun giggling at how ridiculous they must look.

Until the door opened and Laura’s father, closely followed by Adam came bursting into the room.

                “Oh my gosh! What is that smell?” Stafford Marshall announced before he took in the sight of his scantily clad wife and daughter complete with a layer of what looked like mud all over their blonde hair.

                “Oh Staffie!” Her mother giggled, “we’re doing hair repair!”

This meant nothing to her father who merely shrugged in confusion, Laura, feeling a little exposed in her pyjamas smiled at them both. “My fault! It’s to repair you hair after being in the sea Dad. And it’s time to wash off.” Nodding an excuse she made to leave the room, but for a moment her eyes met with Adam’s, and the moment made her shudder. For just a second he seemed to be seeing into her, and rather than scare her, it excited her, she wanted to react, fight back...but her parents were there.

So she turned and made for the guest room and the shower.

Adam couldn’t believe his reaction to Laura. The last thing he’d expected was to see her there looking so cute and vulnerable, he’d seen in a lot less for Christ’s sake, but there was something about her stood there that tugged at something a hell of a lot deeper than his heartstrings. Hiding both the groan and the surge of excitement that shuddered through his body, he was mortified to find Laura’s eyes meet his, confusion and questions hidden there. Then she was gone and he found he could let go of the breath he didn’t realise he was holding.

Stafford strode into the lounge and over to the wet bar in the corner, “beer? Or something stronger?”

Adam stayed where he was behind the sofa, supporting himself on the back of it, to hide his reaction to Stafford’s daughter, and to give him strength until he regained the power in his legs. He hadn’t felt this way at seeing a woman since his mother’s best friend Bernie Powers had opened her front door to him as a fifteen year old boy in  a ridiculously see through negligee. He’d come to mow her lawns and ended up popping his cherry. Heat suffused his face at the connection he made, and he needed to close his eyes to regain composure, that was not the outcome he was looking for here.

                “Adam?”

His eyes snapped open and he realised his father was still waiting for an answer. “Beer is great, thanks!”

He watched as Stafford cracked open the bottle, then he strolled over, more calmly than he felt and collected it. They made small talk for a little while until Maggie’s voice called out Stafford’s name shrilly.

Stafford grinned, “she won’t blow dry her hair without a glass of wine!” He poured one, but as he left the room he waggled his eyebrows, and the sudden realisation that they may be about to do more than dry her hair flashed uncomfortably into his conscious level.

After a few minutes he strolled along the corridor to the spare room and knocked the door, he owed her an apology for her lecherous look earlier, but he also hoped she’d accompany him out of the place. The thought of his father and Maggie having sex was disturbing, hearing them would be more than uncomfortable.

Tapping the door, he waited until he heard a “yup?”

                “Laura, it’s me!”

Footsteps preceded the door opening, and then Laura stood there, her hair wet around her shoulders, wearing an oversized t-shirt and denim hot pants. “What’s up Bro?”

He laughed out loud, those were words he never thought he’d hear on her lips, “your father has gone to help your mother with a glint in his eye...I’m feeling a bit...nauseous! I wondered if you fancied coming to the pub for a drink, the thought of what they’re doing is bad enough...if I heard them!”

She laughed, “you think you’ll out grow that repulsion, but it seems parental sex is always taboo! You should see them on a Sunday! Dad emerging for strawberries, chocolate or whipped cream!”

Adam shook his head, “it seems so wrong! Though saying that, I’d love to be that sexually confident in my sixties!”

Laura laughed, “I know, when I was younger I used to hope that I’d be that happy at their age, that I’d chosen the right man.”

He hated that she sounded resigned to the fact that wouldn’t happen to her, the disappointment in her life and her choices caused him to feel a pain on her behalf. His second ridiculous reaction to her of the day.

                “You’ll be a foxy grandmother, I confidently predict! Now are you coming to the pub?”

Grinning she asked, “can you wait for me to dry my hair?”

He shook his head and turned her around, with deft and expert fingers; he divided her hair and wove it into a thick plait. Reaching out a hand he took the band she offered and secured it.

                “Five minutes! GO!”

As the door closed behind him, Laura slumped against the wall, his hands in her hair and been the most unsettling thing she’d ever experienced, and her body was struggling to regain composure.

When she finally met Adam in the hallway, her shorts and t-shirt swapped for a cute sun dress that she’d bought from a trader at the festival the previous week. With her favourite, oldest and most soft cowboy boots, she felt relaxed and confident. Adam was lounging against the wall in well worn jeans and a v-necked t-shirt that clung to his chest in a rather disconcerting way! She was about to make some witty comment about it when a high pitch squeal emerged from the lounge behind them, her mother, then the deeper chuckle of her father. Suddenly joking was on the backburner, grabbing a stunned Adam’s hand she dragged him out of the building.

The nearest pub was a light airy building, and it was busy for early evening. Adam led her to a table at the back of the room, and despite her protests made for the bat and ordered them drinks. The conversation as they’d drank had been calm. Laura like this relaxed and happy was funny, and quite endearing. Adam couldn’t remember being this relaxed in ages. His mother had called earlier, she was hinting heavily that she wanted him home as soon as possible, she had more chemotherapy, and she told him in great detail how awful it was making her feel.

But he’d given his mother a lot of time recently, and he was no rush to head back home just yet. Laura got up to get more drinks, and he watched her from a distance chatting with the barman. She stood out in the pub as unique, her clothes were different, she was  clean scrubbed, compared to the over primped and over made up women who otherwise occupied the pub, and she was unique, looking like a cross between a hippy and a country and western singer.

As she turned back to him and smiled he had to physically shake himself, as he was starting to swoon in her presence and that wouldn’t do.

Half an hour later her mother called, Laura’s phone bursting into the mating calls of a Brazilian Blue parrot on the table between them.

                “Mum? We’ve only come out to give you some space!”

Adam could hear the chuckle along the phone line, he could also hear her mother explain that they’d had a phone call, the country house had flooded, the cellars...they didn’t know details, but they had to rush off. She wanted reassurance that the two younger people would be ok. Laura did a good job at reassuring them, then as she hung up, she looked at him and rubbed her hands together in excitement.

                “Free night Adam! Let’s drink!”

With that she signalled to the barman for a couple of shots, shaking his head he couldn’t hide his laughter.