The next morning is just as frantic. Almost as soon as we wake up, we’re hungry for each other again. Sex with Eddie was worth the wait. I’m making up for all those years when the only satisfaction I got was by my own hand. I am insatiable, and so it appears, is Eddie.
We do manage to head out to lunch by the River Hamble, and I feel myself glowing as I share a gorgeous lunch with an equally gorgeous man.
As soon as we return to my flat, we’re at it again and I have never been so happy in my life.
However, it has to end as Eddie says regretfully, “I’m sorry, darling. I need to get back to London. I’m up early in the morning before the markets open.”
I push down my disappointment and pull him against me. “I understand. I have to work too. When will I see you again?”
He pulls me tightly against him as if he never wants to let me go and says roughly, “I can’t get away until Friday night. I’m sorry but work is so demanding and I can’t take time out to meet you.”
I nod in understanding and say lightly, “I could always come to London to see you. I don’t know, maybe spend some time at yours.”
He groans. “I wish you could but I work such long hours it wouldn’t be fair. I also share a flat with a very annoying group of guys and I would never put you through that torture. No, Friday night will be good because it will give me the whole week to imagine what I am going to do to you when I return.”
I feel a shiver run through me at his words. Sex with Eddie has been something else this weekend. He has introduced me to all kinds of things that I never thought I’d enjoy. It’s been more like fifty shades of fun because we have done things I certainly don’t want anyone else knowing about.
He kisses me deeply, and I melt into him. I could make love to Eddie all day and all night because he is that good. How on earth am I going to last a whole week without him?
Sadly, I wave him off and set about tidying my flat. Grinning, I toss the sheets in the washing machine and remember the pounding they’ve taken this weekend. Then I call my friend Carol and relive the whole experience, minus the kinky stuff, and then get myself ready for work. Maybe I do need a week to recover because I have never had a weekend like this one.
Outside of communicating online with Eddie, I do have a life to lead. My work at the local primary school is challenging and my evenings are spent marking and preparing lessons for the next day. I don’t think there’s anything odd about my relationship with him and as the weeks go by, all I think about is how much fun we have when he does come to stay.
I think it’s three weekends later that I broach the subject of him meeting some of my friends.
We are lying in bed after another marathon session and I stroke his chest lightly. “Do you fancy going to a party later?”
He sounds surprised. “Where?”
Shifting, I look into his eyes and say with excitement, “My friend Carol’s having a birthday party tonight, and she’s invited us to go. It will only be for a few hours and it may be fun and give me a chance to show you off.”
He shakes his head sadly and pulls me to his lips. After kissing me gently, he sighs, “I’m sorry, darling. I have to return to London this evening.”
I feel the disappointment washing over me. “Why?”
He groans. “There’s an important meeting first thing on Monday morning. I’m going to need to be at my desk early on Sunday morning to prepare for it. I should have told you but as soon as I saw you my mind turned to other things.”
He winks and I smile but feel the sadness behind it. He’s leaving – early.
Trying to put on a brave face, I say with disappointment. “I’m sorry, that’s a shame. You would have loved my friends.”
He kisses me again and murmurs, “I know I would because you wouldn’t spend time with anyone not worth liking.”
Once again, we forget everything other than making the most of the last few hours we have and as I wave him off, I just feel sad that the weekend has ended so soon.
* * *
That evening I head to the party alone and Carol says in surprise, “Oh, I thought you were bringing Eddie.”
Feeling a little awkward, I say apologetically, “He had to leave, I’m sorry, Carol, he sends his apologies.”
She looks concerned. “I’m sorry, is everything ok?”
“Just his work. He’s got such an important job it demands a lot of his time. Never mind, maybe we can catch up when he comes next time.”
Carol nods, but I don’t miss the doubt in her eyes. I don’t blame her; I’d be the same, but I know Eddie and what we have is real. You can’t fake the connection we share and it’s just a shame we live so far apart.
* * *
As the weeks go by, I fall deeper and deeper in love with Eddie. He sends me flowers and chocolates and little cards filled with sentimental verses. We speak on the phone a lot and our face-time calls are purely x-rated. I have never felt as alive as I do when I’m with him and so when he suggests a night away in a plush hotel in the Lake District, I’m beside myself with excitement.
I meet him at Euston station on Friday evening, and as soon as I see him, I run into his arms. We kiss like any lovers would after not seeing each other for days and my heart soars as he takes my hand in his and says lovingly, “I’ve missed you, darling.”
I couldn’t be any happier than I am now and for the whole journey, we kiss and cuddle on the train in a carriage with few people to witness us. At one point, we even make our way to the toilets and join the equivalent to the mile-high club. Life just can’t get any better than this, and I have never been so happy.
We are booked into a five-star luxury hotel with a spa at Lake Windermere. As we enter our room, I squeal with delight at the sight of the luxury four poster bed. Jumping into it, I stretch out and groan with ecstasy. “This is amazing. I love it here.”
Eddie joins me and we waste no time in christening the bed, and by the time we make our way down to dinner, I feel the luckiest woman in the world.
However, my luck doesn’t end there because amid the candlelight and champagne, Eddie produces a velvet-covered box and takes my hand in his, saying huskily, “Isabel Rawlins, I love you more than words can express and would be honoured if you would agree to be my wife.”
I just stare at him in shock, and my heart leaps. In fact, it thumps so hard I can almost hear it and as I drown in those sexy eyes, I say breathlessly, “Of course I will.”
Eddie opens the box and slides an amazing diamond ring onto my finger and then pulls me across the table and kisses me lingeringly. Then he whispers, “You have made me the happiest man alive.”
That night we eat like kings.
That night I have everything I ever wished for.
That night we pledge our souls to each other forever and that night we make love until the early hours.
That night I fall hopelessly and unequivocally in love with Eddie Butler and think I have the world.
That night I did have the world, but unfortunately, it didn’t last forever as I hoped. It didn’t even last a month because three weeks to the day everything changed.