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‘Rosy, I meant every word. We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. I have no expectations.’
‘I know.’ She bit her lip. Now it came to it, she couldn’t quite find the words. ‘It’s just I’ve not done this before.’
She flushed hot at the surprise in his eyes, followed by understanding. ‘I see.’
‘It’s a princess thing, you see,’ she said hurriedly. ‘I don’t really date. The only people that ask me out are those that see the Princess, not the person, and that is possibly the least sexy thing I could imagine. Plus, there’s always that fear in the back of my mind, if things don’t work out, what if they go to the press? I couldn’t bear anyMy night of passion with the Princessheadlines. So there’s never been anyone I’ve been willing to risk it for before. Not before you.’
His eyes darkened even more as he took a step closer. ‘I don’t see the Princess. I see the woman. I see you, Rosy. And it’s you I want. But if it makes you feel better, I am just as nervous.’
‘You are?’ It was her turn to be surprised.
‘Of course I am. For a start, you are one hell of a woman and that would make any man nervous. Secondly, now I know it’s your first time I want to make it as special as I can. And thirdly, in a way it’s a first time for me. You see, I’ve only ever slept with Lily.’ Her gaze was glued to his but all she could see was candour and honesty.
‘Really?’
‘Really.’
‘But...’
‘It’s a little bit like the princess thing, I suppose. When I was younger the kind of girls who were attracted to my reputation weren’t the kind of girls I wanted to be with. Then I was married to Lily for ten years and, although it was an imperfect marriage, I took my marriage vows seriously. Since she died the girls come first and I haven’t even considered dating. So, it’s a first for me as well.’
‘Then I’m the one who’s honoured.’
It was as if their confidences had broken the ice. Her shyness had gone, her trepidation disappeared; all she wanted was this man now. She laughed a little breathlessly as he backed her onto the bed, luxuriating as she felt his weight upon her, as he kissed her until she could barely think any more, the last layers of clothing expertly discarded until there was nothing between them.
‘Is this okay?’ Jack kissed his way down her throat, one hand expertly palming her breast, and she moaned.
‘Yes.’
‘And this?’ He drew her nipple into his mouth and she bucked as sensation flooded through her, barely able to articulate assent.
‘And this? And this?’
He continued to murmur endearments, checking in as he explored her with a languid ease that left her panting and writhing until she was begging him to just please do itnow,crying out as he finally entered her, pulling him closer, demanding more.
‘Are you sure you haven’t done this before,’ he said many hours later as they lay tangled together. ‘I must be a very good teacher.’
She laughed, raising herself onto one elbow to look down on him and kiss him. ‘I didn’t say I was a total novice. I’d done stuff.’
‘Stuff? What stuff?’
‘Do you want me to show you?’
His smile was pure wolf. ‘Yes, please.’
She stayed there for a moment, drinking him in, luxuriating in his evident desire for her, for Rosy, not the Princess, and then bent her head, flicking her tongue along his chest and enjoying his intake of breath.
‘As you wish.’
What happened in the Isles of Scilly was supposed to stay in the Isles of Scilly, but although they had both agreed that it would be too difficult to carry on their relationship back in Polhallow, Jack managed to find time nearly every day to sneak over to the cottage to make love to Rosy. Despite their good intentions, one weekend together had not been nearly enough time and they couldn’t bring themselves to stop, not with the time till Rosy’s departure ticking away faster and faster, the nights and days flying by at unbearable speed.
They were very careful not to let anyone suspect what had happened, was happening, not to show by a single glance or touch that there was anything more between them than friendship. It was hard, fiendishly hard. Jack allowed his gaze to linger on Rosy, sitting at his kitchen table helping Tansy learn her lines for a forthcoming audition. She looked like summer personified in a lemon sundress, her curls escaping from her ponytail, and it was all he could do not to kiss the tempting back of her neck. He’d had his doubts about whether Rosy should see the girls regularly with her departure so close, but he couldn’t deny that she had a knack with them, especially Tansy, and as they didn’t know that there was more between their father and Rosy it seemed a shame to deny them the friendship.
As Jack had hoped, the sea air and the change of routine was working miracles with his oldest daughter and she was visibly blooming before his eyes. Thanks to her surf lessons and the theatre group, she’d started to make friends and she’d also stopped second-guessing his every decision and was acting more like a sister than a mother to Clover. Their relationship seemed far more normal now for siblings, and he was surprisingly relieved to hear them bicker over everything from which film to watch to what he should make for dinner.
‘That’s really good, Tansy.’ Rosy closed her copy of the script and smiled at his daughter. ‘You’re going to be a real asset to the theatre group, I can tell.’
Tansy’s face lit up. ‘You think?’
