Lizzie Marshall's Wedding (13 page)

She did believe him. She raised her eyes to his. ‘You wouldn’t need to stop.’

He gazed into her eyes. ‘Are you saying ... Becky, are you sure? Are you really sure you want to do this? There’s no rush. After everything you’ve told me tonight about your life, I completely understand why you’d want to take things slowly; get to know me. I can wait until you’re ready. Honestly, I can wait.’

‘I can’t. I’m ready now.’ She stood on her tiptoes, grabbed his coat collar pulling him towards her, and kissed him on the lips.

He wrapped his arms tightly around her in response, kissing her deeply then he swept her up in his arms, carried her inside and kicked the door closed behind him.

It was everything she knew it would be – and a lot more besides. To say Max was a good lover would be a gross understatement. He was sensational. Becky had only had three lovers before him so she wasn’t widely experienced in this field but even she knew, any man who could give a woman that many orgasms in just one night and so much pleasure that, at one point, she honestly thought she would pass out from sheer bliss, was something special.

Even when she finally fell asleep, he gave her pleasure – she dreamed of him – and when she opened her eyes and found him staring at her, with a heated look of passion in his eyes, a tidal wave of excitement swept through her.

‘Good morning gorgeous,’ he said, when he finally pulled away from kissing her.

‘It certainly is. That’s the best wake-up call I’ve ever had.’

‘That’s just the slumber setting, wait till the bells really start ringing.’

He kissed her again and she wriggled herself closer to him, needing to feel every inch of his firm body against hers. He kissed her mouth, her neck and eyes, then back to her mouth again. His strong, smooth hands caressed her breasts and then his mouth replaced them. His hands slid down, gently stroking her stomach, her hips and then inside her thighs. His mouth followed.

When he slid his finger inside her, stroking her with his thumb she gave a gasp of sheer pleasure; almost surprised pleasure. Every time he’d done this last night it had felt different, better than before and this morning was no exception. New waves of excitement built within her; new yearnings took hold. She didn’t want it to stop and yet, she wasn’t sure how much of this her heart could take; it felt ready to burst from her chest, like the jet engine of a seven-four-seven, revving up, racing as momentum increased then roaring as it lifted off the ground and into the heavens.

Her blood grew red hot in her veins; her head pounded in time with the drum-beat of her heart; every nerve in her body sang out in operatic proportions then finally, deep inside, the climax, taking her completely by surprise even though she had felt it building and should have been expecting it.

His mouth found hers and she kissed him hungrily.

‘More?’ he said, passion still burning in his eyes.

‘Hell yes!’ She pushed him on to his back and kissed him then her mouth followed on his body, the exact path he’d taken on hers. She climbed on top of him and slid him into her, closing her eyes as she felt him inside her. She knew she gave him as much pleasure as he gave her and she revelled in it. Moving faster, rolling her hips to increase the depths he reached.

She had never felt this sensual or sexy or abandoned and she savoured every minute, every glorious second until he too, reached the point of climax and she slowed the pace down, drawing out the final moment until neither of them could hold back.

‘You’re incredible!’ he said after a few minutes. ‘And that’s not a line. I really mean it. I think I can honestly say, I’ve never wanted a woman as much as I want you or as many times in one night.’ He kissed her to prove his point.

‘It’s that perfume,’ she joked. ‘I told you it was called “Seduction”; it obviously works. Jess bought it for me for Christmas. The gift that goes on giving.’

‘Are you sure it’s not called “Viagra”? I’ve never taken it and thank God, I’ve never needed to but even I didn’t think it was physically possible to get so many erections without chemicals.’

She wriggled her hips so that she could slowly kiss his neck, then his eyes, then his ear lobes, then his nipples.

‘You’re insatiable,’ he moaned softly. ‘I’m not sure I’ve got any energy left.’

She lifted her head and her brown curls fell across her flushed cheeks. Her eyes filled with passion. ‘Well,’ she said ‘I’ll see if there’s something I can do about that.’ And she knew exactly what that was.

‘I needed that,’ Max said leaning back against the headboard and pulling Becky into his arms. ‘I hadn’t realised how hungry I was – for anything other than you, that is, until I smelt that toast.’

Becky had made toast and coffee, whilst Max had dozed off for a few minutes and she’d brought them up on a tray. When they finished eating, she moved the tray onto the bedside cabinet.

Resting her head against his chest, she revelled in the feeling of his skin against hers. His arms made her feel secure and she hadn’t felt like that in a very long time. As she listened to the rhythmic beating of his heart, she realised she didn’t want this moment to end; she didn’t want to let him go. She raised her face to his and looked into his eyes.

He smiled down at her ‘I could get used to this,’ he said, gently stroking her hair with one hand and holding her close with the other.

‘Me too.’ She kissed him softly on the lips then moved down to his neck.

‘Hold on,’ he said, pulling away from her. ‘Sorry to be unromantic but, I need to go to the loo; blame the coffee.’

She smiled and watched him get out of bed and head to the bathroom. The sight of his naked body made her hope he wouldn’t be long.

He wasn’t. ‘I hate to tell you this,’ he said, climbing back into bed beside her, ‘but it’s snowing again.’

Her mood changed instantly. ‘Really?’ Her eyes filled with tears.

‘What’s wrong Becky? Oh, it’s Lily isn’t it? More snow means she won’t be back today doesn’t it?’

She nodded. ‘Or anytime soon, at this rate. It took over a week for the roads to clear when we had that last lot of snow in January. Country roads aren’t high on the Council’s list of priorities.’

‘Why don’t you go and get her?’

‘I told you, I haven’t got a car.’

‘No – but I have. And I’m used to driving in the snow. I drive to France every year for skiing so this is no problem for me, I can assure you. Of course, I can’t account for others but I’m a good driver and I’ve never been involved in an accident. Sorry – that was tactless of me after what you told me about your parents. What I meant was ... well, Range Rovers are pretty safe to be in anyway. Just say the word and we’ll go.’

Becky’s eyes shot to his face. ‘Do you mean it? Really? You’d do that – for me?’

His brows knit together. ‘Of course I would. It’s not a big deal.’ He looked her straight in the eye. ‘I’d fight dragons for you Becky. No! Actually, that’s not true. I rather like dragons. Never bumped into one of course and I’m not sure I’d feel the same if one breathed fire on me but I’d like to think we could be friends. I’d fight monsters for you though, so going to pick up Lily’s a cinch.’

Becky laughed. ‘You’re mad.’

He studied her face for a moment then said, ‘About you, I think I am. Now give them a call and say we’ll be down in about an hour or so.’

‘Oh Max. I don’t know what to say. Thank you, thank you!’ She kissed him frantically.

He reached over and grabbed the phone from the bedside cabinet. ‘Call now, before I change my mind and decide not to let you move from this bed.’

She took the phone and dialled the Coopers. She told Sarah that a friend had offered to drive her and that she’d be picking Lily up. They were obviously surprised but Becky didn’t give them a chance to discuss it. ‘We’ll be there by eleven-thirty,’ she said. It was nine-forty-five when she hung up.

‘How can I ever thank you for this Max?’

‘You said they’re about an hour away, maybe a bit longer in this weather but we still have about twenty minutes. I know exactly how you can thank me. Come here Fifi.’

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

The snow had started to settle on top of the layer still remaining from the previous snowfall, and by the time they were nearing the Cooper’s, there was at least another inch on the pavements. Some of the main roads had been cleared and gritted but the new snow was covering the layer of grit and Becky knew she wouldn’t be happy until she, Lily and Max were safe and warm in Rosemary Cottage.

She was grateful to Max for doing this, and the journey down had been almost a breeze. There weren’t many other vehicles on the roads and they’d made good time, despite starting out a little later than planned. She never felt totally at ease in a car though, after losing her parents in a motorway pile-up and, although it was a freak accident, motorways made her anxious.

Max seemed to sense this and he told her funny stories about his childhood and the strange and wonderful Christmas presents his father had made him, like the money tree, where he’d got a branch and taped pound coins on every twig shooting off it, just to prove that money can grow on trees. To a six year old boy, that was magical.

‘Dad used to say we should believe in magic and that anything is possible if we want it enough. He died ten years ago – actually, just before I met Lizzie, and it really knocked me for six. I still miss him.’

‘He sounds like a wonderful father.’

‘He was the best.’

‘That’s one thing I feel torn about. In one way, I wish Jeremy had seen Lily but part of me is glad he didn’t. It was bad enough him abandoning me when I was pregnant but if it had been after Lily was born, it would have been worse somehow.’

‘I don’t know anything about it, apart from what you’ve told me and he obviously had a serious problem but I don’t know how any man could abandon his wife and child. I don’t think I ever could. I don’t know, of course, never having been in that position but, some things you just believe aren’t in your character.’

‘It happens more than you think,’ she said, glancing out of the passenger window and casting her mind back, to yet more painful memories.’

‘Is this the road?’ Max asked a few minutes later. The Sat Nav says it is, although she has been known to lie to me before.’ He grinned and slowed down until a woman’s voice said, ‘You’ve reached your destination.’

‘Sorry, I was miles away. Yes, this is it. Do you want to meet the Coopers?’

‘I’d better say Hello. It would be rude not to.’

They got out of the car and walked up the path. At the door, Max gave her a quick kiss.

‘Might be the last chance for a while,’ he said, smiling longingly at her.

Sarah Cooper opened the door before she had chance to reply and a mini version of Becky, all brown curls and deep brown eyes, threw herself into her mother’s waiting arms.

‘Mummy, Mummy! I love you!’ Lily squealed as Becky lifted her up and hugged her tightly to her.

‘I love you too sweetheart,’ Becky said, covering her daughter’s face in kisses.

‘Hi, I’m Becky’s friend Max.’ He held out his hand to Sarah Cooper and to her husband Harry who had joined the commotion at the door.

Sarah took Max’s hand and shook it gingerly, eyeing him up and down and clearly wondering what sort of “friend” he was to Becky.

‘Won’t you come in?’

‘Actually Sarah, Harry, if you don’t mind, we’d like to get straight back on the road. It’s still snowing and I won’t be happy till we’re home. Thanks so much for taking care of Lily. I’ll call you soon. Say ‘Goodbye’ to nanna and grandpa, darling.’

‘Bye. Are we going in that big car Mummy?’ Lily had already moved on to the next bit of excitement.

‘Yes darling, we are. This is Max and he is driving us. Say Hello, and say thank you to nanna and grandpa, Lily.’

Lily turned a beaming cherubic face towards Max ‘Hello.’ Then to her grandparents, ‘Thank you.’ Then, clinging to her mother, she turned her eyes back to the Range Rover, eager to get inside and see what new things she could find.

Harry handed Max Lily’s case and Max said goodbye to them as Becky thanked them and promised she’d call. She didn’t hug them and a slight tension was evident to all parties, except Lily.

Lily climbed onto the back seat and Becky strapped her in.

‘May I have my music please?’ Lily asked.

‘Of course you may.’ Becky reached into her daughter’s bag and pulled out her iPod.

‘Would you like me to sit next to you?’

‘No thank you Mummy, you can sit with the nice man.’ Lily switched on her music and beamed at Becky and then at Max. ‘This is a big car,’ she yelled above her music, ‘and it’s very nice.’

Max smiled at Becky. ‘She’s obviously got good taste – and five going on fifteen by the sound of her.’

Becky nodded and smiled at Lily who was now happily singing along to her favourite tunes and investigating her surroundings.

‘She’s very grown up for her age and so independent, it worries me sometimes.’

‘Never worry about that,’ Max said as they both got in and he pulled away from the Cooper’s house. ‘Independence is a good thing. Tell me to mind my own business if you want but, is there some tension between you and Jeremy’s parents?’

Becky’s eyes shot to his face. ‘Was it that obvious?’

‘Yes.’

‘Well, yes, there is. They were so shocked about what happened and, to be honest, we had some really bad arguments, in the beginning. They even said they were going to see if they could get a custody order for Lily.’

‘What?’

Becky nodded. ‘It was partly because they didn’t believe Jeremy would have done what he did; stolen the money and forged my signature on my inheritance fund and then, when he turned up in the river, Sarah almost accused me of taking the money myself and pushing Jeremy in!’

‘Shit! She didn’t! Sorry.’ He glanced in the rear-view mirror at Lily but she was still singing happily and making her teddy bear dance on her lap.

Becky glanced round too, smiled at her daughter then turned back to Max. ‘It was a truly awful time. I don’t really blame her. I couldn’t believe he’d done it myself so imagine how hard it was for them – and, he was their only son so they idolised him. I think people lose their sanity when someone dies, especially so suddenly and horribly and we all said things we wouldn’t have under normal circumstances. We didn’t speak for several months though, from just after Lily was born in the March, to her first Christmas. Harry sent a card and a present for her and I wrote and thanked them and said they could come and see her on Boxing Day for tea. It was not a fun day, I have to say but since then, things have got a lot better and last year, I let her stay with them for a few days every few months and that has increased now to a week or in this case, ten days. She’s their only grandchild so it’s important for them to spend time with her.’