Page 65 of Be More Octopus

'I could see your reflection in the dining room mirror.'

So much for being subtle. She pulled away from him slightly to admire his bare chest.

'I haven't seen this view before.' She slid her index finger slowly down his torso to the top of his trousers.

He gently held her hand to stop her from going any further.

'Hold that thought. I need something from the bedroom,' he whispered in her ear. He held her tightly as he stood up while she was still on his lap.

'Impressive.' She wrapped her legs around him.

'I hope you'll be even more impressed in a minute,' he said as he carried her across the room.

Em was relaxing in Karl's arms as they lay exhausted in his bed.

'Jack's a fool,' he said.

'Jack?' Em tensed. How did Karl know about Jack?

'Your ex. You moaned 'Oh Jack' at the moment of truth.'

'Did I? I'm so sorry.' Had she really said that? Em was mortified. She hadn't intended to, but somehow as soon as Karl had put her down on the bed, all she could think about was Jack, imagining it was his hands gently caressing her in all the right places, his breath blowing softly in her ear, his lips covering her neck in delicate kisses.She decided not to correct Karl's assumption about who Jack was. The truth would sound even worse.

'I'll let you off.' Karl smiled. 'I often imagine I'm making love to my ex, though not tonight.'

'What was she like, your ex?'

'Sophie looked a lot like you. We were together for over two years. I thought she was the one. But somebody else thought that too. Someone with a fuck off big house and a Ferrari. I couldn't compete with that.'

'She must be a fool as well.'

'Thanks.' He gently put a stray lock of Em's hair back behind her ear.

'How long since you split up?' she asked.

'Eleven months and five days. Not that I'm counting.' He lay back on the pillow.

'Would you take her back?'

'She married him on Valentine's Day. And now she's pregnant, so that ship has well and truly sailed.'

'I'm sorry.'

'Nothing you can do about it. Apart from taking my mind off it.'

'I was thinking I ought to leave you now so you can get some sleep.' Em sat up.

'I don't want to go to sleep just yet.' He started kissing her neck again, easing her back onto the bed.

She arched her back in pleasure as he slowly worked his way down her body. 'If you insist. I promise I'll only think about you this time.'

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

Em left Karl sleeping. She decided to walk back along the beach to the cottage. The cool breeze cleared her head. The beach was nearly empty. The sea and sky looked beautiful in the early morning sunlight. A perfect start to the day. She felt more alive than she'd done for a long time.

The view would make a good painting. She stopped to take a few photos.

She took the path up the dunes, hoping to sneak into the cottage unnoticed via the back door. No such luck. Lucy was in the kitchen when Em walked in.