Part 8 (1/2)

”And it is very cold outside.”

He pulls the sweater over my head, kissing his way down my body as I'm turned to fall on my back. ”I can keep you warm.”

”And then there's this constant ache between my thighs I think needs checking over.”

He places his lips on my white lace panties and inhales. ”I'll help fix that.”

It's dark. Bitter cold and the ground is wet. The wind howls through the silent winter streets. The warm glow of the street lights flicker as the droplet from rain trickles loudly down the drainpipes. I'm small amongst the high buildings, I clasp my favourite teddy bear in my hand. I don't know how I got here.

I hear something.

Whispers. Lots of haunted like whispers. ”h.e.l.lo? Is... is anyone there?”

More whispers. I can hear my name.

”h.e.l.lo?”

”You can do it, Tamzin.”

Gran? My breath catches and I run in the direction of her soft elegant echoed voice. ”Gran?!”

”You are stronger than you think.”

”Where are you? Where's Grandpa?” My eyes scan the wet cobbles of the soundless street. The whispered echoes get louder with the wind and my tiny feet are frozen with the winter ice. I s.h.i.+ver as I stand in my pyjamas, my small infant body in the wide open s.p.a.ce. ”I-I can't see you.” I cry. ”Where are you?”

”Believe, Tamzin...” The high-pitched whisper sends chills down my back. ”You can do this.”

”I-I don't know how.” I turn behind me as a rush in cold air lifts my hair. I see nothing but dark wet streets. ”Tell me what I need to do.”

”Let him help you find your way...” The softness in her voice is slowly disappearing into the night.

”No. No, don't go. Come back.” Turning anxiously in the hope I find her, the ice breeze freezing my hot tears. ”Gran!”

”Always believe, Tamzin...” Her words are a distance whisper. ”Always... believe...”

”Gran! Gran!”

I bolt upright in the bed, gasping for air in the darkened room as the heat channels up my limbs. My body shakes, and my heart pounds as the whispers of her voice still rumble in my mind.

”Tami?” Noel's warm hand rests on my bare back as he sits up. ”You ok? You're all hot and sweaty.” His soft concerned voice, thick with sleep, is enough to have me blink back the tears. He strokes my back, easing the tension.

”I had a dream,” I whisper, not being able to work out if it was a bad one.

”Want to talk about it?”

There is nothing much to talk about. I was alone in the dark with voices. ”No.” I turn to look at him in the darkness, my eyes heavy, my mind confused. ”I just want you to hold me.”

”Ok,” he murmurs, brus.h.i.+ng the hair from my face and guiding us back down to the mattress. We lay in silence; his arms are the comfort that I need as I relax against him. Holding me close, he draws light circles on my skin. The last thing I can remember before my eyes drift close is thanking him for being with me.

I lay awake watching him sleep. It's just before six, the outside frosted air chilling the room. The light from Noels upstairs landing s.h.i.+nes through the doorway on his bare torso, highlighting the ripples of his chest. He sleeps soundless with one arm behind his head, the other over his hip. He's gorgeous. It's hard to believe that this man often seems older in his ways. My previous lovers were selfish and irritating a.s.sholes. My first spent more time with other women than he did me. The other, we just fizzled out. They weren't level-headed like Noel. He's focused, committed, hardworking and has numerous values and beliefs. Add that to the s.e.xy, pa.s.sionate yet leading men in the bedroom and you have the perfect package. His beliefs in family life and loyalty warm my heart. You can see the love behind his eyes when he talks about them.

I think back to last night's dream. The s.h.i.+ver down my spine is a sign it is still fresh in my thoughts, an uneasy feeling lying heavy in my stomach. It didn't scare me like my dreams did as a child but it left me unsettled. Maybe it was a sign. Of what I don't know, but Gran's words keep playing in my mind. Let him help you find your way.' Does she mean Noel? Could he help me?

Noel s.h.i.+fts in his sleep and the hours of watching him have awoken my desires. I lean forward to kiss his chest, causing his skin to bubble with chills. His nipples harden and I pull the bud between my teeth before I work my mouth down his torso. His hand immediately comes to my head.

”It seems my angel is feeling a little naughty this morning?” he croaks. I don't answer, I just carry on with my seduction. I sense him rub his eyes as I continue to pepper kisses, his morning wood on full show as I s.h.i.+ft myself down. ”How did you sleep? Want to talk about your dream?”

”No.” I have no intention of talking. ”I want to recreate the new one I had after.”

”Which was?” there's a smile behind his growl.

”The one where you're deep inside me making me scream to f.u.c.k me harder.” I breathe, turned on to the max. I take his hard length in my hand and hover my lips at the tip. My mouth waters at the sight, needing to take him and taste him. ”This is just one of many sights that highlight my day.” I flick my tongue over the tip. He groans. ”So what's it going to be, this time, Mr Thompson? Suck you or ride you?”

I don't give him chance to answer as I take him into my mouth, the satisfied growl is enough for me to take him all the way to the back of my throat as best as I can. His hand fists my hair. ”Jesus, Tami.” The thrill that always shoots through me when he calls me that sends sparks through my body as I work him with my mouth and pump the base with my fist. The position in which I'm on the bed gives him the perfect opportunity to plunge two fingers deep inside me, I moan into him, gripping my free hand on his thigh as he thrusts me hard.

”Tami, stop, I'm going to c.u.m.” He fists my hair tighter in his grip. I'm so wrapped up in him it blurs my vision. I want every part of him, his body, his breath... his heart. In a flash, I'm lifted from him with a squeal and brought to straddle him. ”Good morning,” he rasps, with a kiss to my neck. ”I like the sound of that dream.”

”You'll like it even more if you relive it with me.” He takes a condom from the bedside and rips it open. I take it from him and roll it on his steel length before easing myself down on him, taking all of his fullness inside of me and feeling every inch of my body come alive. Just the touch of his skin sends me dizzy. My head falls back with a moan as I rock my hips, he's so deep. He feels too good. Holding the hard muscle of his thighs I arch my back, I move faster, hitting that perfect spot as trails of pa.s.sion begin to fizz up my legs. ”Oh G.o.d, Noel. Your c.o.c.k drives me crazy,” I pant. Which is no lie, each time gets better, hotter, more intoxicating as he engulfs me with his whole being.

He sits forward, pulling my nipple with his teeth. ”Careful, Angel, you make it sound as though that's all you want from me.”

”Isn't that what this month's about?” I gasp. With his power, I'm quickly flipped and slammed onto my back. He thrusts hard into me, his. .h.i.ts like punishment, deep, forceful and almost on the brink of pain. Each pound is harder than the last and I love every f.u.c.king minute of it. I clench around him, crying out in a voice I don't recognise as my own. His own climax roars from his body, filling the condom with his hotness as he says my name in a harsh growl. He collapses his weight on top of me, feeling his heartbeat against my chest as he buries his head in the crook of my neck. I kiss his hair and envelop me arms around him. ”That was way better than any dream.”

Noel.

I don't know why her words of my c.o.c.k driving her crazy rattle me in the way they do. s.h.i.+t like that sends every man's ego through the roof, I should be thrilled. I had no doubt I gave her body endless pleasure but a part of me wanted to give her more than that, and not just what she was looking to gain in the month's festivities. Every second of every hour, Tamzin draws me closer in a way I can't even begin to rationalise. My urges for her are off the scale. It makes me question if I've made the right choice in asking her to spend the month with me. Because while I'm helping her through her suffering of December my heart is beginning to realise it wasn't just s.e.x I wanted.

”Noel, are you alright?” My mother's soft but concerned voice comes from across the kitchen island. She's doing her usual in preparing for Christmas by rolling out pastry for the next batch of mince pies. The Apple and Cinnamon loaf has not long come out of the oven and the house smells divine. Her question to me is not one where I can answer with a yeah, I'm fine.' Because I only ever watched her cook when there's something on my mind.

”How long did it take you to realise you loved Dad?” The rolling pin immediately stops as her head lifts up, that look of excitement flas.h.i.+ng in her green eyes. ”Don't get excited I'm just asking a question.”

She dusts her hands off and cuts a piece of fresh baked Apple and Cinnamon bread, handing it to me on a plate, along with an opened carton of custard from the fridge. I don't think twice about digging in to take a bite. My mother's cooking is f.u.c.king incredible. ”s.h.i.+t me this is good.”

”Thank you, but mind your mouth.”

She takes a sip of her mulled wine and looks into her gla.s.s. ”Everyone is different. Sometimes it's quicker than you thought it would be and for others, it's a little longer. But then there's those that know what they want but are scared to show it.”

”Why?”

”Rejection, darling. No woman wants that. Nor does a man for that matter.” Was that the issues with Tamzin? Does she feel worried about showing her feelings when it comes to relations.h.i.+ps? To me? ”So I take it you have feelings for Tamzin?” My mid-flow of eating stops as I look up at her. ”Your father told me. And don't think we haven't noticed you in this dreamy world these last couple weeks. He said she's nice.”

She's more than nice. She's incredible, breath-taking, sometimes a little frustrating.

”Her grandparents were her guardians, they both pa.s.sed away a few years ago and she's cut all ties with celebration since then because she felt guilty for living a life.”

”So let me guess you being the perfect gentlemen wanted to change her way of vision?”

”I asked to spend the month with her to help her through, have a little fun. Now I've gained more than I expected and have fallen for her.”

”December is the season of love after all.” She smiles. ”I met your father at Christmas. A year later we were married.”