Where did your heart go? (The Heart Trilogy Book 1) (13 page)

Slowly his hands ran down my stomach and I shut my eyes, trying to control my slightly panicky breathing as he knelt down and ran them over my legs and slowly back up. I knew he was seeing all of me for the first time as I heard his breath shorten as his hands steadied themselves on my upper thighs.

Suddenly we heard the phone ringing and this seemed to break the spell as James quickly hopped out of the shower and grabbing his dressing gown he ran downstairs to answer it.

I breathed out slowly and turned the shower off, so that by the time James had returned upstairs I
was already wrapped in a towel.

“Who was it?”

“Felicity asking if I could work this evening so I told her no” he replied as he reached for me and I entered the safe circle of his arms.

“Have I told you how beautiful you are recently” he murmured
.

“Yes, but you can tell me again if you like” I sighed, as his lips met mine.

We spent the day shopping in nearby Warwick, I bought him some more shower gel as we had almost emptied the bottle this morning, I didn’t notice that James had picked up a bottle of baby oil until he dropped it into my bag.

“What’s that for?”

“Later” he replied.

We went to the supermarket as James was going to cook for me when we got back; Spaghetti Bolognese was on the menu along with a bottle of wine.

“Are you trying to get me drunk later then?” I giggled, as we held hands at the checkout and I could see the girl serving us was obviously impressed by James. I couldn’t help the s
mug smile that crept over my face.

Back at home I helped in the kitchen and then I headed upstairs to get changed for the occasion. I had bought a new lilac dress and it was quite short and very figure hugging and I wanted to see what James thought of it. I piled my hair up in a loose ponytail and applied a slick of lipstick, which was hardly on for 2 seconds as I entered the dining room and James took in the effort that I had made for him.

“We are definitely not going out with you in that outfit, I would never stop all the other guys staring at you” he breathed as he carefully planted kisses on the back of my neck.

“And I would never be able to keep my hands off you either” he finished as they coiled around me and pulled me close.

The food was lovely, the wine made me dizzy and the company was superb. When we finished James grabbed my hand and we disappeared upstairs to his bedroom

“I am going to give you a massage this evening” he declared as he pulled me close and I abandoned myself to his kisses as he carefully removed my clothes
. I caught his smile when he noticed the underwear was the set he had bought me for my birthday but which was soon discarded. I lay on the bed face down so he could do my back first closing my eyes it was lovely to feel the baby oil sliding over my skin under James’ touch. I had never had a massage before so I couldn’t comment as to whether it was good or not, all I knew is that I felt both relaxed and aroused at the same time.

“Turn over” he commanded. As the room was lit by a small bedside lamp I breathed in and turned over, allowing James access to the whole of my body. I was naked under his gaze, totally aware of the blush spreading all over my skin.

“Close your eyes if it helps” he whispered as his lips kissed my forehead “Just say stop at any moment, you know I won’t mind” he continued as he tipped more oil onto my skin. I was on fire, trembling and breathless under his touch, his fingers touched me everywhere
and I didn’t care, I was his, he was mine. I was falling, drowning, floating words could not begin to describe it. This felt better than any of the books I had read or any of the films I had seen, it was in my mind the lyrics from my favourite George Michael song Father Figure

             
“That’s all I wanted, something special, something sacred – in your eyes. For just one moment to be bold and naked at your side. Sometimes I think that you’ll never understand me. Maybe this time is forever….say it can be”

The spell was broken when James suddenly looked up and said.

“What are you smiling at in that strang
e way?” I blushed again and said

“I’ve been singing Father Figure in my head”

“Shall I put it on the stereo?” he asked.

“Yes, please” I responded, suddenly shy beneath his gaze so I quickly pulled the duvet over me.
He reached for his copy of Faith and then carefully placed the needle over the second track as the melody in my head suddenly filled the room.

Cuddling up to me under the duvet we
listened in silence, I could see a slow smile spreading over James lips as he said in time with the song.

“I will be the one who loves you till the end of time”
It was the most perfect moment in my whole life.

I wiped the tears away that were shamelessly falling down my cheeks, as I put the diary aside. What had happened to the end of time? My love had finished far too early and I could never move on. I was trapped once again in that exquisite moment knowing the joys that were to come, further in the diary, followed by the horrific aftermath that had changed my life forever. Suddenly I realised that it was gone eleven and I needed to get ready for work. I did the lunchtime request session on Love Shack radio. I never knew what songs would be asked for on a day? I might even get to play George Michael although perhaps it was not a good idea to dredge all those memories up again from the past, after all I had moved on. Or had I?

Chapter 16

It was the weekend of the Midland
dance finals and Charlotte was a bundle of nerves as I helped her gather her outfit together so that she wouldn’t miss the bus. I noticed that she looked rather radiant and extremely excited all at the same time.

“Shal
l I keep my fingers crossed for you?” I asked before she headed to catch up with Julia and get their seats on the bus.

“Yes Mum, I’ll text you and let you know how we get on” she promised.

I waved and watched the bus head out of sight before I headed off to work.

“God I am so excited” breathed Charlotte as she sat down next to Julia.

“
Mitchell” Julia replied

“Yes, I have alrea
dy texted him today saying I am looking forward to seeing him again at the competition”

“You have got it bad” Julia
laughed, as she watched Charlie get her mirror out of her bag and check her make-up.

“You look fine” Julia said

“Fine’s not good enough I want to bowl him over the first moment he sees me again” Charlie replied, smiling back at her reflection.

The bus journey seemed to drag but soon they were once again outside the grandeur of the LG arena. There seemed to be a heightened level of excitement and nerves buzzing around the whole place. This time they had to perform two dances, a repeat of their winning dance from the heats followed in the afternoon by their new dance. As Charlotte and Julia wandered around, she was suddenly startled to hear her name being called.

“Charlie….Charlie” came the male voice, as she turned to see Mitchell running down the corridor towards them.

“Mitch” she breathed, feeling the blush spreading over her face, and desperately hoping he wouldn’t notice it.

He stopped in front of the two of them and there was an awkward silence.

“I’ll go get us a bottle of water?” Julia said, “Nice to meet you again” she finished as she turned and dropped
Charlotte a wink.

“How are you?” they both said at almost the same time, then both laughed and looked away, Charlotte could feel herself shaking with nerves.

“Fine, bit nervous though” Mitch said, as they walked along together towards the café area.

“Me too” responded
Charlotte “Thanks for sending me the clip of Umbrella, it looked great”

“You are one hell of a dancer” Mitch responded.

“You’re not bad yourself” Charlie replied, shyly looking up at him to notice that he was looking back at her.

“What are you dancing too later?” he asked

“Skyfall so you had better be warned I have a gun and am armed for most of the routine”

“Cool….I’ll try not to get shaken or stirred” he laughed, using the
famous punch line from all the Bond films.

“Well, I had better go”
Charlotte said reluctantly, as she spotted Julia beckoning for her.

“Yes, me too, shall we met up at lunchtime?” he asked

“Yes, I’d like that” Charlotte replied.

“I’ll bring my mate too, he says he fancies your mate Julia so it would be a shame to not introduce them” he laughed as before she knew it he had leant down and dropped a light kiss on her cheek “Catch you later”

“Later” Charlotte breathed, revelling in the feel of his lips on her hot skin.

The morning flew by and as Charlotte and Julia hurried to the canteen they could hardly contain their excitement at meeting the two guys. The lunch hour was too short as they all needed to get back for the second part of the competition. The guys were the first on stage and this time Charlotte remembered to record their routine on her phone, it was breathtaking to watch Mitchell move across the floor or flying through the air in a series of somersaults in between the attitude of their street routine. Then it was their turn, as they walked towards the stage she spotted Mitch who raised his hand to her, she smiled and aimed her fake gun at him. She saw him laughing at the gesture.

When Charlotte dropped into the splits at the end of their routine all she could hear was a wave of applause hitting the stage as she remained still for a few seconds to gather her breath. They had absolutely stormed it, all they needed now was for the judges to put them into the top two who would go through to the London final and get to compete against the rest of the country. All she hoped was that Mitchell and his friends would be the other chosen team, then it would be perfect.

After a break to freshen up the groups all assembled again for the nerve racking decision to be made. Charlotte almost failed to hear their name being called from the beating of her heart in her chest, they had made it and so had Mitchell’s group. It was fate, it was destiny that they had both been chosen and now she had a weekend in London to look forward to, as well as countless more texts and messages she hoped.

As they started to gather up their bags for the journey home Charlotte spotted Mitchell and wandered over to him for the final time.

“I can’t believe we both made it” she said
, as she looked up into his green eyes.

“Fantastic” he replied “You looked amazing up there, I loved the outfit”

“You were too, how on earth do you get so high in the air with your somersaults?”

“I learnt at the swimming pool, my Dad was a good diver and he taught me, then I just transferred it to dry land” he responded.

“You?”

“Ballet and Gymnastics when I was younger, Mum let me do whatever I wanted too, I
think she knows it has paid off. She will be well pleased to hear she can spend a weekend in London for the finals” Charlie said.

“Yes, I think my Dad is going to come and watch, I don’t see my Mum anymore, my parents split up when I was two and Mum didn’t want to look after me so it’s just been me, Dad and my older brother Darren”

“Yes, I spotted your brother’s name on your Face Book”

“I showed him your picture, he thinks you look nice….I think you look gorgeous especially with your new red hair” he said blushing a little.

“Thanks, you
’re pretty fit yourself” Charlie replied “I hope we can continue to stay in touch between now and the final?”

“Yes, perhaps your Mum might let you meet me sometime, perhaps for a wander around the Bullring shopping centre between now and then?”

“Is that a date?”

“Yeah
, I really like you Charlie and want to spend some more time getting to know you if that’s?” he finished.

Breathing slowly Charlotte could hardly believe the way this conversation was going, he liked her enough to want to spend some more time with her, and she just hoped her Mum would say yes.

“Yes, I
’d love too” Charlie replied in a daze “I’ll ask my Mum when I get home and drop you a text later this evening and we can arrange a date”

There was a pause and before she could say anything else he caught her hand in his and pulled her into his arms.

“You definitely stirred me earlier” he murmured into her ear. As ever so slowly his lips came down to hers and they kissed, a kiss so seductive and sensual that Charlotte could feel her legs trembling beneath her.

“Don’t forget my text later” he said, as he pulled away and started back towards his rehearsal room

“I won’t” Charlotte replied, unable to move as she watched him walk away.

She now knew exactly how her Mum had felt when James had walked away, a pull, a longing in her heart for more. Would there be more? She really hoped so. He turned and waved just before she had chance to move, she waved back and smiled as she turned and ran back to where Julia was waiting for her. Today was the best day of her life so far, Craig a long distant memory as she relived the feel of being in Mitch’s arms and his kiss on her lips. What a kiss! On the way home she chatted to Julia and at the same time thought of the way that Mitchell made her feel.

As she got off the bus, she promised to give Julia a call the next day and update her on any further progress on the Mitchell front. Then she spotted her Mum waiting for her and quickly raced over to tell her the good news, they had got through.

I noticed over Chinese that Charlie seemed to be waiting for the best moment to say something.

“What’s eating you?” I finally asked, as she looked up from her phone.

“Can I go shopping in Birmingham for the day?” she asked

“With Julia?”

“Well, not exactly, but Julia can come if you would rather that I didn’t go on my own” she burtled out, I spotted a blush rising up her neck.

“Go on” I pushed, realising that th
is request possibly had something to do with this guy that she had been texting recently.

“Mum, I met a guy at the last dance
competition and I met him again today and he’s going to be at the finals as well and he asked if I would like to go on a date with him as long as it is ok with you?” she said, hardly stopping for breath.

“Well, perhaps if Sarah and I decide we would like a day out in Birmingham then you can go, so long as I can meet him at the same time”

“Uh…..ok but you’ll have to be cool, I don’t want you
or Aunt Sarah to embarrass me in front of him”

“Would we
?” I laughed

“Yes, you know you would” Charlie laughed too, relief that her secret had been sprung and a positive outcome had been reached.

“What’s his name?”

“Mitchell, or Mitch for short
, Mum he’s gorgeous” she sighed

“How old?”

“I think he’s 20, see this is what he looks like” she said, as she pushed her phone across the table, he’s the one that does all the somersaults” she finished, as I pressed play on the video clip and watched with admiration the wonderful dance routine that unfolded.

“Fantastic dancer and acrobat” I replied, handing the phone back to her “I can see why you fancy him”

“Mum” Charlie blushed and then disappeared up to her room to no doubt let Mitchell know that they could meet so long as he didn’t mind meeting her Mum at the same time.

Once in her room, Charlotte danced with joy, she was going to see Mitch again soon, she hoped the fact that her Mum would be there when they arrived would not put him off too much. What would she wear? What would they talk about all day? Would he still like her at the end of the day? So much to think about, as she stretched out on the bed and after sending Mitch a text she settled down to more of her Mum’s diaries. She wanted to know how long they had waited, who had made the next move? was sex as wonderful as she imagined it to be when you were deeply in love with someone?