Page 39 of One More Time

Resting back on the window ledge, she closed her eyes and gave in to the delicious quivers throughout her body. After such a terrible ending to their first romantic night in ages, this shouldn’t feel so good, so right, so natural. It had been so long since she’d allowed him to touch her in such an intimate way, and now she was allowing herself to freefall into him. It felt like coming home to the softest of landing places. Moans escaped her parted lips as he circled and suckled, plunging his tongue then pausing to tease her, every single movement precise, meaningful, momentous. This man knew her, inside and out. He knew exactly what she liked and what drove her wild, and that incredible insight into her deepest yearnings made her want him all the more.

With Charlie’s acquainted touch rekindling the dying embers of their love, her heart, mind, body and soul fired to blazing life as he built her to a rising climax. On the verge of ecstasy, she pressed against his mouth, gasping in the salty sea air drifting through the open window. He didn’t stop until she shuddered shamelessly against his hot mouth, her fingers gripped in his head and her head high in the clouds. As she came back to earth and caught her breath, he lingered one last kiss against the heat of her most secret of places.

‘I want you inside me, Charlie. I want to feel at one with you.’ Her ravenous demand came from a place deep inside of her, one that longed for far more than just a physical release.

He said nothing as he rose, lifting her from the ground and carrying her over to their bed. His gaze filled with profound longing, he laid her down gently, stripped off and climbed on top of her. Soft light spilled from the lamp on the bedside, igniting his features, making his already chiselled jaw seem more angled, his dimples deeper. Her hands explored the fine scattering of hair on his chest, over his broad shoulders, and down to the muscular ripples of his stomach.

They found each other’s lips again as he slid deep inside her, and then stopped. His eyes searching hers, the blue seemed to deepen and darken. ‘With every single beat of my heart, I love you all the more, Grace.’ He moved a tendril of hair from her face. ‘Always have, and forever will.’

The heat and need in his eyes matched hers. ‘Oh, Charlie. I love you too.’ Her voice was raspy as she almost lost all control.

Moving slowly, he tenderly stroked her insides, pacing himself as he gave her time to catch him until they were moving in perfect union. The way he held her, the way he possessed, the way he was making love to her, made her feel so feminine and powerful and safe, and so loved. If any doubts remained about just how much she loved him, about whether they were going to make it together in this life, they were conquered by his tenderness, affection and attention. Taking one of her legs, he angled himself so he could go even deeper. Then, rocking forward, he increased the pressure where he knew she needed it most, his chest brushing up against her breasts with every measured stroke. Curling her hands into the sheets, she arched in euphoric pleasure, gasping and writhing beneath him as he transported her into a plethora of stars. His muscles tensed and she knew he was nearing the ledge she’d already tumbled over once, and was about to again. Groaning, he buried his head into her neck as he neared the threshold. He was close; she was even closer. Their fingers intertwined as they soared that little bit higher then, losing herself to all that was him, they plunged over the edge of rapture together, rolling waves of pleasure stealing her breath as he cried out in gratification.

Their hearts and souls bound together, Charlie rolled to the side, taking her with him, and they nestled into one another as they caught their breath, their legs entwined, and the sheets tangled around them.

Luxuriating in the afterglow of rediscovering one another, Grace smiled softly as Charlie placed a tender kiss on her back. She snuggled closer, wanting not an inch between them. Satisfied, silent and comfortably snug, she didn’t want him to ever let her go. This was the them she’d reminisced over, and now distinctly remembered. And as her heart’s rhythm evened out and Charlie’s arms tightened a little more around her, she felt herself drifting into the most blissful sleep, where their life as a family was effortless, their future was peaceful, and their love was the only thing they needed.

CHAPTER

12

1985

Weddings did weird things to people. Especially the lucky ones who’d felt the throes of passionate can’t-breathe-without-each-other kind of love.

Well, we certainly had that.

The Saturday night she and Jenny had been planning for almost a year had been a picture of perfection. Sitting in the sparkling clean lavatory of the swanky hotel, Grace wished she was twenty-three again, waiting for the moment when Charlie would pull in and whip her off to somewhere private, where they’d kiss and laugh and tell each other how in love they were. Before they made all the promises they had broken.

She sighed sadly. Hindsight was doing her no favours. Hips and back aching, Grace waddled out from what felt like her tenth pee in the past hour when a swift kick brought her hand to the monstrous mound of her belly. As she rubbed it in a bid to soothe her babies, she imagined her two boys snuggled inside. Only five more weeks. She was excited to finally meet each bundle of joy, and to hold them against her bosom. Charlie was excited too, as far as she could tell. She couldn’t remember the last time they had sat down and talked. Her business was booming and Charlie was climbing the ranks at the prison, going from a corrections officer to prison shift manager. It meant more pay, but also more hours. They had a goal to build a future that would give their children financial stability, and they were both giving their all to make it so, but it had its downsides. A relationship needed nurturing, and they just never seemed to find enough time. Grace often found herself lonely and lost without him. She couldn’t help but feel that, once again, little by little, they were helplessly drifting apart.

The bass of the five-piece band carried throughout the hotel and echoed into the ladies bathroom. Pausing in front of the mirror to wash her hands, she glanced at her reflection. Her make-up was doing a fine job of covering up the mixture of high emotions and utter exhaustion. So much had happened the past eight months – it had been a whirlwind of highs and lows. With the underlying tension between her and Charlie, she was relieved to be able to focus wholly and solely on Jenny and Marty’s special day. Their moving declarations of love had brought her to tears, even more so with the hormones that were raging throughout her body. Times two. She’d learnt of late that once she started tearing up, she found it almost impossible to stop, and today had been an emotionally charged day.

Toddling from the toilets and past the chattering guests, Grace found her seat at the bridal party’s designated table and sat rather clumsily. Gracefulness wasn’t an option for an almost-eight-months-pregnant woman.

With precious time to herself, after an extremely busy day, she found herself reflecting over the past year. She had no idea where the time had gone – the days, weeks and months had rolled into each other. Some of the times were easy and effortless, others were bewildering and hard, and in between it all, snippets of sweetest of memories were made as she, Charlie and Hope weaved their way through life.

A waiter offered her a glass of champagne. She looked from him to her rotund stomach and grinned. ‘This isn’t from too much food, so I don’t think that would be a good idea.’

The young man followed her gaze and smiled sheepishly. ‘Oh, yes, sorry.’ He turned a bright shade of red. ‘Would you like me to get you an orange juice, or maybe a nice cup of tea?’

Grace felt sorry for his awkwardness – she’d been hoping to entice a chuckle. ‘An orange juice would be lovely, thank you, but only when you get a minute.’

‘No problem, I’ll be back soon.’ And off he dashed.

Glancing around the elaborate ballroom, Grace looked for Charlie, trying to make sure he wasn’t anywhere near Rodger Burrows. She tried to block out the memory of the rehearsal dinner, where Rodger and Charlie had been at each other’s throats. She wouldn’t allow their petty feud to ruin Jenny’s special day. Their battle was getting old and everyone was tiring of it, especially her. One said something, the other responded, neither ever wanted to accept it was their fault. She was equally mad with Rodger, but she didn’t have to live with him. That was his wife’s job.

Candelabras and roses adorned each table, and long silk drapes hung as a backdrop to the dance floor. Jenny’s wedding day was even more beautiful than they’d envisioned. Their entrée had consisted of prawn cocktails and warm baked bread, and the main course had been an absolute winner – an alternating drop of juicy roast beef with all the trimmings and a creamy chicken Kiev with honeyed carrots, green beans, and potatoes dauphinoise. All very elegant and trendy. As for the cake, she’d been in charge and created a spectacular four-tiered masterpiece with a different flavour for each layer – vanilla, chocolate, strawberry and Jenny’s favourite of caramel for the top. It had taken her two days to make and the guests only half an hour to devour, but her efforts had been worth it. The smiles on Jenny and Marty’s faces had been priceless.

The compere announced it was time for the bridal waltz. To the tune of Foreigner’s ‘I Want To Know What Love Is’, she watched with a buoyed heart as Marty spun his wife around the dance floor, the pair of them looking more in love than ever. Grace’s joy was punctured by the realisation that the matron of honour and the best man were to dance next – which meant she was going to be dancing with Rodger.

She looked to Charlie, now back beside her. ‘We were like them, many years ago.’

‘What do you mean? We’re still like them.’ His charming smile once would have curbed her niggling doubts.

She offered a tight smile. ‘If you say so.’

‘I know so.’ He took her hand. ‘What’s wrong, Grace? You’ve been short with me all day.’