I Carry Your Heart (Heart Series Book 1) (25 page)

“I love you Iz.”

I smiled at his words I would never tire of hearing. “I love you too.” I kissed him with so much passion, when I pulled away I saw the lust burning deep in his eyes. “Now I need you to do something…”

“Anything.”

In that moment I believed he truly would. “I need you to take me upstairs and make me forget my own name.” I felt movement in his jeans. I loved it when my words had the intended impact.

A grin pulled on his lips. “I think I can manage that.” He stood up, lifting me with him. I wrapped my arms tightly around his neck and nibbled his ear.

“Oh yeah, you’ve more than proved yourself in that department.” I started laughing when he ran up the stairs two at a time.

“Yeah, but I’m about to take it to a whole new level.” He raised his eyebrows suggestively, his eyes dancing with excitement.

“There’s another level?” I asked surprised.

Seriously, how much better could it get?

His smile grew even wider at my response. “Oh yeah, got to keep my girl happy.” He kissed me hard on the lips, placing me down on the bed.

I bit my lip as he stood back, unceremoniously dropping his jeans down to the floor.

Holy shit!

My eyes widened at the sight of him stood to attention. This was definitely going to be an afternoon to remember.

* * *

I shuffled around in my seat trying to get comfortable. I was curled up tight on the chair, my body completely spent after an afternoon of pure and unadulterated pleasure. Flashbacks of our time together soon began creeping back inside my head.

Best. Afternoon. Ever.

I smiled, reliving Joel pressing me up hard against the wall. My legs wrapped tight around his waist, as our mouths desperately sought out each other’s, taking my breath away with each and every thrust. I felt my body shudder at the memory alone, but the click of the door quickly snapped me out of my thoughts, hearing my Mother return home from work.

Ten minutes later Joel appeared. I was busy peeling my way through a mountain of potatoes, with my Mother chatting away in the background.

“Hey Iz, Helen.” He dropped down to kiss my cheek and I blushed at the innocent exchange, compared to the things we had got up to hours earlier.

“Hello Joel, have you had a hard day? You look shattered,” My Mum asked, looking concerned.

Oh god.

I bit my lip trying to stifle a laugh. Joel’s lips twitched, trying hard to suppress a grin.

“Yeah it’s been hard,” he replied, managing to maintain a straight face.

I snorted at his words, quickly turning it into a pretend cough, when my Mother glared at me. “Yeah Joel’s a hard worker, he’s a real people pleaser.” I began focusing on peeling the potato, to detract myself from smiling.

“Well I like to give them what they want.” He grinned, picking up a potato. We both peeled together, continuing to shoot glances back and forth at each other.

“I think they will be more than satisfied with the level of service you give.”

His eyes stayed on me and I smiled, as delicious thoughts of this afternoon came flooding back. I felt my body already beginning to burn for him again.

“Well I do like to try my best but it is nice to hear.”

My eyes locked with his. “I think you more than reach the bench mark, in fact I would go as far to say you take it to a whole new level.”

He raised his eyebrows, grinning at me. “I do like to put smiles on faces.” He winked and my grin grew wider. He certainly had me smiling all afternoon.

“You certainly do that. I bet you have them shouting their approval.” I took a sip of my drink, trying to mask the laughter.

“Yeah, it certainly was noisy this afternoon.”

I spluttered out my drink, at how vocal I had been. “I can only imagine, complete customer satisfaction. You should get a raise, I think you’ve more than earned it.” Our hands brushed against each other, placing our potatoes together into the pan.

He grabbed my hand, staring deep into my eyes. “As long as I am fulfilling all my customer’s needs then I am a happy man.”

I smiled as he stroked my hand, our eyes locking onto each other. I concentrated on the shivers he was sending through my body.

“What the hell are you two talking about?” My Mother asked, interrupting our moment. We laughed hard at my Mother’s confused expression, as she shook her head in complete bewilderment.

* * *

After a week my ankle was almost back to normal. Joel was back at work much to my dismay and college was thankfully finished for the summer. With no more exams or assignments, I was finally free to relax.

Complete bliss.

We had stuck to my Mother’s rules sleeping apart, but it wasn’t through choice of our own and the pressure of being apart was soon taking its toll.

Walking out the bathroom I saw Joel standing in the doorway. He pushed me back inside, locking the door behind him. The grave look he gave me made me feel sick.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, staring into his large, sad eyes. He sighed, burying his head in my neck. My arms wrapped around him. “Joel, please tell me what’s wrong?”

“I never get to see you Iz. I hate sleeping alone knowing you’re just down the hallway. Do you know how many times a night, I have to talk myself out of coming to your door?”

I lifted his head to look at me, cupping his face. “I know it’s hard for me too, all I want is you beside me, but if she catches us you’ll be thrown out. I’m not having you go back there, I want you here safe with me.”

“I know, but it doesn’t make it any easier. I need to find my own place so we can be together.”

Did he really just say that?

“Really? You want to live with me?”

He scrunched his eyebrows together. “Of course but do you want to live with me though?”

“Errrmmm let me think about it…of course!” I almost laughed in disbelief, he was even wondering.

“You will?” His look of bewilderment pained me.

Why was he even questioning my answer?

I pulled him into a hug, our foreheads pressed against each other. “Do you even have to ask?”

“What about your Mum?” The fear was there in his eyes, he knew what her reaction would be.

I stroked his face gently with my hand. “I’m nineteen soon, she can’t stop me.”

He closed his eyes, letting out a soft sigh. “That’s all I want, I hate waking up alone, I want you in my arms every night.” He pressed his lips gently against my hair and my insides began doing somersaults.

“I’m going to ask around, see if anyone has heard of anything reasonably priced.”

I squealed in delight, wrapping my arms around his neck. He lifted me up, walking me over to the sink and placed me down. My arms and legs remained locked around him. I pulled him in close, my mouth now devouring his. We slowly became consumed in one another, but I knew we had to stop.

I leaned back panting and watched his lust filled eyes turn sad, querying my action. My thumb skimmed over his bottom lip, as we regulated our own breathing. “I can’t wait to move in with you Joel.” It would be a dream come true, for us to have our own place.

He smiled before pressing his lips against mine again, I pouted when he pulled away. “Better go before your Mum catches me.”

I grabbed his hand and kissed it. “Soon we won’t have to worry, it will just be us.”

“I can’t wait.” He stuck his head out the door, to check the all clear before kissing me again. “Night Iz, sweet dreams.”

“Night baby, dream of me.”

“I always do,” he replied winking, before disappearing out the door.

* * *

“Hey, here’s my favourite girl,” Joel shouted. I blushed at his loud announcement, walking through the pub door. I cringed as virtually everyone inside turned to look at me. He was far too loud for his own good but I secretly enjoyed his display of affection. Especially seeing a small group of girls sat opposite, intent on shooting daggers my way.

I stared, amused by their attire, they were way too over dressed for an afternoon in a pub. I was guessing by the seating arrangement, they were all vying for Joel’s attention. I smiled in delight, knowing his sole concentration would only be on me.

I walked though to the back to greet him in private. He smiled, pulling me into his arms and I sighed, it was my favourite place to be.

“Guess which lucky girl gets to work along side me over the summer?”

“Really?” I asked, leaning back to look into his eyes.

He nodded grinning. “Yes really.”

I squealed with delight. “That’s amazing!” I hugged him tighter, excited at the thought of seeing him more.

“You’ll be working three days a week and we need to get you a t-shirt.”

“Am I going to be working the same shifts as you though?” I frowned at the thought of being here without him.

He chuckled, tilting my chin up to look into his eyes. “Well I do the rota so yeah that’s a given.”

I squealed again, squeezing him tight. “Thank you.” Our lips connected and I momentarily lost myself, his kisses always had a habit of doing that.

“You’re more than welcome, especially if I get thanked this way. Now come on you need to practice pulling a pint.”

I made a face.

Oh god not right now!

I wasn’t up for any form of embarrassment, but Joel kissed my hand reassuringly, leading me out to the front of the bar. The girl’s instant smiles soon turned into scowls, openly glaring at Joel’s arm wrapped around me.

He dropped his arm momentarily, grabbing a glass, to demonstrate how to pull the perfect pint. It looked pretty easy enough, but then again this was me.

He smiled handing me a glass and I heard everyone as they turned to watch my first attempt.

Hmmm, no pressure then.

I pulled the lever forward, concentrating on the golden liquid beginning to fill the glass. I tilted it at an angle, like Joel had shown me. There was more head on mine, well basically half the glass was froth. Joel laughed when I frowned, holding the glass up.

Well that was an obvious failure.

He handed me another glass, this time standing behind me, his body pressed up tight behind mine.

How the hell could I concentrate now?

He helped angle the glass, as I pulled on the pump and this one was perfect. He kissed my hair and I grinned like a Cheshire cat.

“Now you try it.” He moved away much to my dismay. I began filling another glass and this one was just as good.

Success.

Joel held it aloft smiling, as all the pub cheered. “Now who wants Izzy’s first pint?” All hands shot up. I smiled, slightly embarrassed at the attention I was attracting, but more elated I had conquered pouring the pint.

Joel returned my smile. “Keep them coming Iz, looks like we have a lot of thirsty customers.”

I concentrated hard, filling each glass, smiling at my handy work. When I’d finally served the last customer Joel grabbed me, pulling me into a kiss.

“Iz, you’re a natural and you have all the guys charmed.”

I scrunched up my nose in disagreement.“ I don’t know about that...”

He chuckled kissing my nose. “I do, I’m going to be fighting them off.” He grinned and I rolled my eyes, at his over exaggerated words.

“Is this your girlfriend then Joel?” An old guy with a beard and flat cap asked.

“Yeah, this is my girl,” he said, drawing me in tighter. My back was pressed into his chest, as his arms wrapped tight around my waist.

“If you ever get sick of Joel, then I’m single love.” He flashed me a smile and I laughed in an awkward kind of way. He must have been around seventy.

“Hey William, anymore talk like that and you’re barred. Izzy is mine so hands off.” Everyone laughed at Joel’s joke, as he kissed my hair. “Are you ready for another surprise?” he whispered in my ear.

“Good surprise?” I asked, turning round to face him.

“The best.” He grinned, nodding over at Lee, who had just walked out front and was now serving. They had a silent exchange, before he led me out back, pulling out a blindfold.

No way.

I frowned, stepping back. I hated surprises and I hated blindfolds.

“It really is a good surprise,” he whispered, placing it over my eyes, so I was encased in darkness. I squealed in shock when he swept me up in his arms, clinging onto him for dear life.

He stopped shortly after, placing me down. I heard a jangle of a key. He kissed my head and took off the blindfold. “Surprise, welcome to our new home.” He grinned and pushed the door open, waiting intently for my reaction.

I gasped, spinning round to look into his excited eyes. “Really?” I needed assurance this was real, unable to take it all in.

He shook his head smiling.

“But how can we afford this?” I asked frowning.