His American Fling (27 page)

He was sitting with his palms together, fingers touching his lips as in prayer. He finally looked at me over his glasses. “Miss McGee, you may attend the funeral and miss your
classes if you have the permission of your instructors to make up the work.”

I wasn’t sure if he was done so I waited.  He finally put down his hands and looked over at me, “Is there something else, Miss McGee?”

I shook my head, jumped up, grabbed my backpack and jettisoned myself out of his office, running across the lawns to my instructors’ offices, knocking on the door of my English Jurisprudence instructor. He wasn’t in so I went down to my International Law instructor. He wasn’t in either. I finally found my Estates instructor and explained the situation.  Being a few years younger than me, and hearing that Lord Adair had asked for my presence, he acquiesced and even gave me the work for the following week, should I need more time off. He reminded me of the fact that he taught estates and I was about to witness the transference of a large estate from one Earl to another. So, in essence, in these eyes, I was on an elaborate field trip. 

This was just what I needed. Once I had one instructor’s approval, I was able to truthfully tell my other instructors that everyone was accommodating me so far. To some degree or another they assisted me by giving me the lesson plans, insuring that I wouldn’t get too far behind. I was extremely grateful and
rather pleased that it looked as if there was a light school load for the next week.

I attended class for the next four days, while constantly checking my cell phone for messages, but I didn’t
receive any. At the end of Friday, I crossed Parker’s Piece in a real downpour, getting back to the townhouse soaking wet.  I put the kettle on first before stripping out of my clothes and into sweats and a T-shirt. 

I found some lunchmeat and made a sandwich, promising myself that I would buy more lunchmeat for Campbell the next day.  Sitting at the breakfast bar, I tried to call Henry, but there was no response.

I spent the next four hours working on the week’s assignments, doing the reading and writing an essay on the North Sea Convention.  I was bleary eyed by ten, so I put my work down and went up to take a shower. The water felt nice and warm against my cold skin. I used my Lavender shampoo and volumizing conditioner, shaved my legs and then turned off the water. Reaching for a towel I saw the door to the bathroom fly open. I jumped back in the tub, up against the tile, banging my head as I screamed for my life.

He didn’t hesitate; rapidly crossing the eight feet, he scooped me up and held me, “I’m
sorry, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you, but I was so excited about seeing you and when you didn’t answer me, I was worried. You can’t imagine how relieved I was when I came up the stairs and heard the shower.”

“Campbell,
what are you doing here?”

“I had to get away, I was suffocating. I told everyone that I had received a text requesting that I take a look at one of the petri dishes from the dorms. I told Henry as I left, that I would drive back tomorrow.  I think he knows I’m coming to see you. As I rolled up the window he said, “Tell her that I’ll see her tomorrow.”

I let out a breath. Just when I had given up on this group Campbell runs back to be with me. He clung onto my naked body, his hand running up and down my back, face buried in the crook of my neck. His rain coat was cool from having come in from the rain, his hair damp and falling down into his eyes. 

“Maggie, I just needed to be with you tonight.  I don’t want to think about Gemma, Henry, or the Earl of Falkirk.  I want to sleep in your arms tonight. I have to bury my father tomorrow and I have to get some sleep. But, I can’t sleep in that sepulcher of a house tonight…I feel my father all around me.”

I ran my hand through his wet brown hair and held him for several minutes before I started to shiver. He placed his hands on my face and tilted it up to kiss me.  Grazing his lips across my lips, Campbell rubbed his nose next to mine.

He smiled, “Come on, let’s get you warmed up, you’re shaking.”

I nodded and he put an arm around me as we made our way to the guest room. I wasn’t sure what to do, put on a gown or lay back and think of England. He took off his coat and threw it on the chair. Sitting on the bed, he started to untie his shoes, slipping them off as he continued to talk to me.

“It will be impossible for me continue to work at Addenbrooks and handle the estate affairs. I’m going through my father’s calendar for the year and there are meetings already scheduled out a year from now. He has several charity events and then dates for meeting with the estate managers, not to mention the daily work running the various businesses.”  Campbell’s voice seemed to get tighter as he talked about it.

I came to the conclusion as he continued to moan about the upcoming year that he best thing for him was for me to slip into bed naked and shag him until he fell asleep.  The guy definitely needed to get laid. 

“Honey, just get undressed and come to bed. We’ll deal with the Earl’s calendar tomorrow.”

He looked at me and smiled. “You know, that’s the nicest thing anyone has said to me in days.” 

He pulled off his pants and hung them neatly over the chair. The cable knit sweater was next and then the boxers. I liked watching him undress. He was so methodical and so handsome taking each piece off like a judge disrobing.  I wanted to giggle, but he was in his own world and I didn’t want him to know I found him slightly silly because of the effort he took to undress properly. I mean, come on, he had a naked woman waiting for him. 

He climbed into bed, finally noticing my loving gaze and gave me a broad grin. “God, you don’t know what a welcomed sight you are.  I really didn’t want you to leave the other night.”

“You didn’t need to hear us snipe at each other. Look how stressed you are. And your Mother seemed to be much more comfortable when Gemma was around.”

“Gemma worked for years with my father before running off with the Stock Boy.  My mother trusts her because she knows that Gemma is familiar with the estate, the family business and the people we’ll have to deal with and all its machinations.  So you see why this is complicated?  Gemma is genuinely the one person my mother can depend on…it certainly isn’t me.”

I heard the groan and realized it was coming from me.  Gemma was an essential person to the solution of his emotional and financial dilemma. Could this get any worse?

Chapter 16

Two and a Half Lovers

He snickered and then grabbed a handful of her hair. It felt like silk in his hands.  Campbell rubbed it between his fingers,
and then slowly dropped it.  They touched noses. Campbell’s was cold next to Maggie’s. He kissed the tip of her nose as his hand slipped down her spine to the small of her back.

Maggie leaned in and kissed Campbell as softly as possible, gently biting his lower lip. He took a deep breath, breathing in her mango shampoo and conditioner. His fingers slipped over the curve of her ass. Pulling her into his hips, they continued to share deep kisses, tongues making love as they did.

She could feel the excitement stir between them as his erection grew stronger, pushing into her thigh.  Reaching down, she slipped a hand under his balls, fondling them individually and then stroking up his shaft sending his heart into overdrive. Something felt different tonight; he had a hunger to be with her. He wanted the sex, but he wanted the connection more. 

Maggie could feel his need for her and she couldn’t help but respond.  Despite all the
obstacles in front of her, this was the first time that she knew she was in love, heart and soul, with this man. A wave of sadness washed through her as she embraced how she felt.  She knew that in two months, she would be leaving England, Campbell, and her heart.

Campbell could feel something change in Maggie, a subtle shift in her emotions. She seemed to have faded and then come back. “Maggie, where did you go?”

“Home. I just went home for a minute.”  She leaned in and kissed him again, her hand sliding up and down the thick, solid, shaft. 

Campbell pushed Maggie’s shoulder down to the pillow and stared into her eyes as her hand continued to give him pleasure by stroking him in a steady rhythm that increased as he kissed her again. Feeling between her legs he was excited to feel how wet she was.  He pulled away and then pushed her legs open slowly with his knee, not taking his eyes off of hers as he felt between the folds with the tip of his erection. It was slow and sensual as he pushed up inside of her.

She felt as if they were melding together. It was more than pleasure, it was spiritual, a slow spiritual dance in which neither of them could take their eyes off the other. 

“Maggie?” Campbell whispered as he
pushed inside her.

“Yes?” she whispered back as she felt him pull out and then slide back in.

“I love you.”

Maggie studied his eyes.
Is it the sex talking? No, there’s love there, I know it. 
Nodding, Maggie smiled and reached up to kiss him, “I love you too.”

Campbell closed his eyes as his face contorted from his ejaculation. She squeezed down with her muscles making him involuntarily toss his head back as the climax overtook him. “Oh, yes.” His voice was deep, husky. He fell on top of her, but didn’t pull out. Pulling her onto her side, he reached down between her wet thighs and started to rub. He was still hard enough that she could clamp down around him as he played with her clit. 

Maggie started to moan, holding onto his head, kissing him.  Sticking her tongue as far inside of his mouth as she could, she tasted him until the wave came. Campbell watched as she pulled her head back to take a deep breath. He began sucking her hard, ripe, nipples sending the orgasm through her body like white lightening searing her womb.  She clamped down again on his semi-flaccid penis, milking it until the waves subsided. Campbell slowly pulled out and put his hand gently on her breast, not in a sexual gesture, but one of intimacy.

“Can you wait until we get through the funeral before I tell Gemma? I need to walk a very fine line. My family needs her right now. I can’t afford to alienate her.”

She took his face in her hands. “I can wait.”

“Great.” He kissed her. “I’m tired.”

Maggie kissed him on the lips. “Go to sleep, honey. Go to sleep.”

He put his head on her breasts like he used to when they were living together, falling asleep almost immediately, his dark eyelashes resting on his cheeks and his face looking young and handsome and relaxed for the first time in days.

*********************

Fiona wished she had worn different shoes.  These were just slightly too big, making it difficult to scurry from the car and up the steps to the front door. She found the brick, pulled it out, rummaged for the key and put the brick back. Opening the door, Fiona heard someone fiddling with the lock downstairs in the kitchen and knew she had very little time. She shot up the stairs, bursting through the bedroom door, closed it and started grabbing men’s clothing up in her arms. 

Two sets of eyes flew wide open, staring up in shock from the bed. Fiona put a finger to her mouth to keep them from talking and mouthed the word,
Gemma!
  Campbell jumped up naked as Fiona pushed his clothes into his arms and pointed to the space next to the wardrobe where he wouldn’t be seen if someone barged in.  They could hear someone just starting up the from the first floor stairs.  Fiona threw off her sweater and climbed in bed, shoes and all. Just as Gemma burst through the guest room door, Fiona planted a kiss on Maggie’s lips, shocking both Maggie and Campbell who tried desperately to flatten himself out against the wall.

“
I’ve caught…”
  Gemma only then realized what she had caught. Not Campbell with Maggie, but Fiona. She was terribly confused.

Fiona and Maggie both pulled the duvet up to their necks. Fiona screamed,
“What the hell do you think you’re doing! Get the fuck out of here Gemma!”

Gemma was so dazed that she didn’t see Campbell’s belt on the floor under the chair, but Maggie and Fiona did. She backed out of the room and closed the door behind her. Fiona put a hand up to keep anyone from saying anything or moving. Footsteps went
down the hall to the master bedroom and then finally back down the stairs to the first floor.

Fiona looked at Campbell who was hastily putting on his clothes, “Well? What’s the story going to be? Why is your bed made and why aren’t you here? What do we tell her?”

Campbell thought as he did up his trousers and in hushed tones said. “I was here, but went over to Downing early this morning.  At that moment, his muffled cell phone rang from the pocket of his trousers. He quickly took it out and looked at the I.D.  Putting a finger up to his lips, he opened up the phone to answer.

“Hello
...Yes, I’m over at Downing.  I couldn’t sleep, but I’m on my way back home, where are you?”

There was a deep silence, “Yes, well start the kettle and, if you don’t mind, can you scrounge up some breakfast, I’m famished. Yes, I’ll be there in five minutes.”

He hung up and looked at Fiona and Maggie still in bed. “I’ve got to sneak out the front and pretend that I’m coming back from Downing.”

Fiona nodded. “I’ll go down and be righteously indignant which, along with cooking breakfast, should keep her preoccupied.”

Campbell gave Maggie a look of longing. “Soon, dear. Let’s just get through today.” He leaned over Fiona and kissed Maggie passionately as she leaned in towards him.

Fiona grimaced, “Break it up you two! We need to get cracking. Maggie you need a shower, you smell like Campbell and sex all rolled into one.”

Maggie nodded and jumped up naked, causing Campbell to smile broadly.

“Oh for God’s sakes Campbell, get your ass in gear.”  Fiona jumped out of bed in her bra and grabbed her sweater, putting it on as she made her way down the stairs to the kitchen. Campbell snuck out the front door.  Maggie rushed around, grabbing her toiletries and took a shower.

Fiona straightened up and, after clearing her throat, started screaming at Gemma, “What the hell was that about?” Fiona slammed her hand on the counter, causing the coiffed Gemma to jump back.

Gemma recovered and started smiling, almost grinning. “You can throw your fit, but when Campbell gets here, I’m chucking you and that tart out of here. I’m tired of you undermining our relationship. You’re doing everything you can to break us up again. I’m not going to let you do it to me twice and now—” She started giggling, “Now I know the
secret you’ve been keeping from all of us.  Let’s just see how often you get invited to things when they find out you’re a lesbian!”  She poured the water into the teapot still giggling to herself.

Campbell came through the front door and down the stairs, “Good morning Gemma, Fiona.” He walked over to Fiona, gave her a kiss on her cheek and then did the same to Gemma as he took his coat off. There was definitely something going on, the air was filled with tension. Campbell raised an eyebrow, “Okay, what did I miss?”

Maggie came down the stairs in her purple turtleneck sweater and gray slacks.  Campbell turned around and smiled at Maggie, “Good morning Mags. How are you?”

“Fine, thank you.”

Campbell winked at her behind Gemma’s back.

“Campbell, I think Maggie will be leaving us today.” Gemma said casually.

Campbell pulled his head back. “Really, Mags? Why?”

Gemma turned around to look at Fiona and Maggie. “I think Fiona might want Maggie to stay with her.”

Campbell poured himself a cup of tea, “Fiona?  Do you want Maggie to stay with you?”

Fiona snickered, “Not really Campbell.  You wouldn’t mind if I come over occasionally and shag Maggie would you?
              Campbell shrugged. “Why should I?”

Gemma turned on him, “Campbell, as forward thinking as we are, we can’t condone two lesbians having sex in the next bedroom!”

Campbell turned to Fiona. “She’s right Fi, would you and Maggie mind shagging in the bedroom on the third floor?”

Fiona snickered.

Gemma’s face turned a purple red, “Campbell, you can’t mean that!  They’re lesbians!”

“Sorry Gemma, I hate to correct you, but I’ve had sex with both of these women. I think the term is bisexual, at least in Maggie’s case. Fiona, I can’t speak for, I may have turned her into a full-fledge lesbian after we had sex decades ago.”

Fiona started to snicker. “Campbell, sex with you would turn any woman into a lesbian. Excuse me, Gemma, but it’s none of your business if I’m bisexual.”

Gemma calmed down, drinking her tea as she stood next to the breakfast bar. Fiona went over to the dining table and sat down.  Campbell, seeing that Gemma was in no mood
to make him breakfast took out some bangers and eggs from the refrigerator.

Campbell looked at Gemma and Fiona, “Can we table this discussion? I have to get back to Saffron Walden for the funeral as soon as I eat. And I’d rather not deal with this right now.”

Maggie went over and grabbed an egg from Campbell’s hand, gently pushing him out of the way.  She said softly, “I’ll do it.  Do you want it coddled?”

He smiled at her as he handed her the spatula, their fingers brushing as he let go, “Fried, the yoke not broken.”

“Sunnyside up?”

His face contorted. “Excuse me?”

“Sunny-side up?  Do you want your egg sunny-side up or fried on both sides?”

The colloquialism made him chuckle.  He had an urge to kiss her and tease her about it, but he knew they were being watched. “Yes, sunny
-side up would be nice, please.”

She nodded and grinned, but because she had her back to Gemma and Fiona, they couldn’t see. She also gave him a wink back.

Campbell wanted it all to be over—his father buried, Gemma gone, Maggie in his arms. He was exhausted and he didn’t want any more challenges in his life.  He watched her crack the eggs and begin to fry them for him.

“I need to call my mother, make sure she’s well, see if she needs anything before I get back to Robscott. Now, behave Gemma, everyone except you seems to know about Fiona’s proclivities. It’s hardly new news.”  Campbell gave Fiona a look to tell her that he was having fun with this supposed ‘revelation’ about her.

Fiona stood up. “I’m going to go home and get ready. What are the arrangements tonight?”

Campbell shrugged. “I thought you’d all stay over. I’ve already told Dobby to prepare two more rooms. I’m afraid some of you will have to double up. We have a full house.”

“Campbell, you’re not going to let Maggie and Fiona share the same room…not with your mother nearby.”

Campbell turned, his face tight with control and stared at her. “My mother, as much as I love her, has no say in this. Robscott Manor is now my home and I will house my guests as I see fit.”

Chills ran down Maggie’s spine as she turned to look at Campbell. Even Fiona, her eyebrows raised, seemed somewhat shocked by his response. In less than a week, Campbell had gone from unable to conceive of being the Earl to exerting his rights as Lord of the Manor.

“The Phoenix Rises,” Fiona said. 

Campbell smiled, “Besides, maybe Henry, Fiona and Maggie could all bunk together.  I’m sure Henry would be up for a threesome.”

Fiona snarled, “Sorry, I don’t share. Well, I’m off.” Fiona walked over to Maggie and pinched her butt, making Campbell snort and Maggie squeal. “I’ll pick you up later, Mags.”  She disappeared up the steps and out the door.

Campbell went over to Gemma and put his finger under her chin, “What is this animosity between you and Fiona?”