Where did your heart go? (The Heart Trilogy Book 1) (30 page)

“Yes Mum” she said, as she perched on the stool and watched me.

“There is definitely something different about you Mum” she said, as she reached over and turned on the radio.

“Perhaps there is” I replied “
The plans for Rock on the River are going really well and I was wondering if you wanted a time slot for your group to dance?” I said, as I wandered over and put the kettle on.

“Yes please Mum that would be great. Can I see if Mitchell’s group want to take part too, I saw what they are planning to do for Thriller and its amazing” she gushed, as I s
aw her mind drift off for a split second.

“Yes, you can ask him next weekend when he’s here” I replied.

“Mum?”

“Yes Charlie”

“When Mitch stays next weekend can he share my room?” she asked, uncertainty in her voice.

“Yes of course he c
an, I trust you both” I replied “I’m guessing its getting serious between you too?”

“Yes Mum
and thanks Mum” Charlie said, as she popped off the stool and walked round to give me a hug.

“Shall I make us a Hot Chocolate?” Charlie asked

“Sounds good to me” I replied, as I watched my daughter load up the mugs.

When Charlotte handed me the mug I sensed a slight moment of hesitation, as if she wanted to say something else but then changed her mind.

“I’m off to bed” she finished

“Ok, night sweetheart” I said, watching her head for the stairs. Her pale skin seemed to glow in the evening light as her curls bounced on her shoulders, one hand with the mug of hot chocolate, the other her phone.

Chapter 37

When Charlotte stepped into her room she couldn’t stop herself from looking over at the new additions to her wardrobe. The helmet shone in the moonlight as she crossed to draw the curtains, pausing for a second to take in the stars that speckled the sky with their brightness. Then once undressed she jumped into bed and could just detect the faint scent of Mitchell’s aftershave on her pillow. She would read until he dropped her a text to say he was home and she reached for the diary. It was important that she finished this before the dance competition in a fortnight. She had wanted to say something to her Mum earlier and just ask her what had happened but it was easier to read the words before that conversation.

Charlie flicked through the next six weeks of entries as that was the next time her Mum had seen James. Was this when it all came to an end?

Friday 11
th
November, 1988

College has really dragged by today but I was soon home and in the shower. I ran the shaver over my legs and underarms as usual. I had been reading about girls being clean shaven or having their pubic hair shaped into lots of interesting things. I paused for a moment as the water trickled over my body, its caress waking up my dormant desires. In the end I tried to tidy it up and decided that I would ask James what he thought when I saw him, or what he would like. I had been reading loads of magazines trying to find ideas to try out with him like the ice cubes from last time. As I absently moved the shower head over my body I closed my eyes and remembered all the times we had been together in some form of water. All of them were happy memories.

I turned the water off and then headed to my room in my towel and almost dropped it in shock to find James already sitting on my bed. I rubbed my eyes just to make sure I wasn’t dreaming but he was very real as he stood up and closed the distance between us.

“Are you a beautiful sight for sore eyes” he murmured, his hands already in my wet hair.

“How did you get in without me hearing?” I asked, as I laid my head on his chest and through his jumper I could hear his heart beating.

“Your Mum let me in and said you were in your room and to go on up” he said, grinning “But much better to find you in just a towel” he said, his hand running along the top of the towel before he pulled it off in one swift tug.

He stood back and allowed his gaze to run down my body, like the water had just moments earlier, some of the droplets still hung there.
Then I felt his hands gently slid down over my shoulders and down to my breasts as he gently tugged each nipple between his fingers. I held my breath as he lent down and took each in turn into his mouth. The hotness of his tongue met the coolness of my skin in an explosion of sensations. I felt my legs start to quiver as James did too for he steered me over towards the bed and pushed me down onto the covers.

“This is definitely my favourite way to start the weekend” he murmured as his lips nuzzled my ear lobes and a whole set of nerve endings there started to tingle even more that before.

“I agree” I breathed, as I lay pinned to the bed under his weight, extremely aware of his body nudging my thigh.

“Would you like a drink?” my Mum suddenly shouted up the stairs from the landing below. We both froze as I managed to get enough breath to respond.

“We’ll be down in a minute Mum, coffee please”
I said. As we listened in silence to her receding footsteps on the stairs I looked up at James.

“We’ll have to finish this later”

“Oh, yes as there will be no distractions or interruptions at my place as my parents are away” he said, as with one final kiss he pulled away from me and I stood up. As James lounged on the bed he watched me pull on some jeans and a jumper and pack the last few items into my bag for the weekend.

“Do I need to bring anything special?” I asked

“No just special you” he replied “Now we’d better get our arses downstairs before your Mum gets suspicious about why our minute takes ten”

James picked up my bag and after a final check I grabbed my coat and followed him down the stairs to the kitchen.

“I was just about to send a search party up for you too” my Mum said, as she passed us our coffee.

“I just had to finish my packing” I said, as I glanced over at James who was looking amused as he bit into a biscuit. I blushed just thinking about what we had just been doing only two storeys above and knew I couldn’t wait until we got going.

“How’s the job?” Mum asked, as she sat down with her cup
.

“Great, loving every moment of it” J
ames replied “It’s hard work but on the whole it’s fantastic” As we had finished our drinks we stood up and headed out to the car.

“See you on
Sunday” I said, as I hugged Mum.

The drive was good and we were soon at my favourite place in the world, well that and Lytham St Anne’s. James raced round and as always opened the door for me, another of the little things that I loved about him. Once inside the house he turned to me and said “So what shall we do tonight?”

“Did you have anything in mind?” I responded

“I have plenty of things I want to do” he responded, grinning at me with the wicked glint in his eyes “but first off I think we need to finish what we started in your bedroom” he finished as he quickly picked me up and carried me upstairs to his bedroom.

He placed me on the bed and then started to slowly remove all my clothes, he paused to admire the new baby pink underwear that I had picked up the previous week as his hands slid over the silk and lace before they too lay on the floor. Lying naked in front of him I watched as he removed his jeans and jumper and spied the silk boxer shorts from his birthday. Even after all the time we had spent together I still felt shocked that someone so gorgeous was actually in love with me. Before we could continue James flicked the switch on the radio and the sound of ‘Waiting for a star to fall’ swirled around the room, as James’ lips captured mine and our tongues started to explore I let the lyrics into my mind and couldn’t believe how apt they were

“I wish I didn’t feel so strong about you

Like happiness and love revolve around you
”

Then the music faded as the beating of my heart increased with every touch on my skin as James indulged both him and me with the sensations his caresses bought to us both. As he entered me I pulled him close “I love you” I whispered “I love you more than you’ll ever really know or understand” I finished as I closed my eyes and let the gentle ripples turn to breaking waves crashing on rocks. I was shaking when he finally withdrew and curled up beside me. Finally he turned and said “Till the end of time” as his eyes closed and he slept beside me, while I gazed at him in awe.

As I rested too I suddenly heard the phone ring and as James remained asleep I crept out from under his arms and padded downstairs to answer it. When I did I just heard silence and the faint sound of someone breathing before the line went dead. Shaking my head I headed for the kitchen and searched in the fridge for some cold drinks. I found a half open bottle of white wine so I poured that and some lemonade into a glass before I grabbed a bottle of beer for James and returned back upstairs with them. He opened his eyes just as I headed through the door

“What a fucking hot
sight you are” he said “You should always be naked” he finished as he sat up and I handed him the cold beer.

“The phone rang but when I answered it there was just breathing on the other end before who ever it was rang off” I said
.

“That’
s strange” James replied but as I watched him he took a long gulp of his beer and seemed suddenly nervous.

“Shall we order take away for tea?” he asked.

“Yeah that will be lovely, I’m starving” I replied, suddenly hungry.

Handing me one of his shirts I shrugged it on with my knickers and James put on shorts and t-shirt as we headed back downstairs so he could ring up the Chinese. We enjoyed an evening of food and television only interrupted by the phone ringing. The first was his parents letting James know they had arrived safely in Scotland and the number for the hotel should he need it. The second call was just as we were heading upstairs to bed, so I continued as James answered it. I lay in bed wondering who it was and why the conversation seemed to be taking a long time. I was almost on the verge of heading back downstairs when I heard footsteps on the stairs followed by the usual sounds from the bathroom.

When James entered the room he looked slightly different, his usual smile replaced by a more sombre look.

“Is everything ok?” I asked

“Yes, just some stuff from work, nothing to worry about” he replied, as he seemed to quickly switch on a forced smile. I opened my arms to him as he undressed and wrapped his arms around me. Our lips came together and I took the lead and trailed kisses over his face and neck and chest, heading down his body. However his usual response to my touch never happened and he remained soft in my hands and mouth before he eventually pulled me up and nuzzled his face into my neck

“I think I’m just tired” he murmured, pulling me close “Sorry sweetheart” he finished. I smiled softly in the darkness and we settled down to sleep. But it eluded me as I lay there worrying about the phone call and his lack of response to my touch, I knew there was something wrong and I didn’t know how to ask him about it.

Saturday 12
th
November, 1988

When we awoke I looked through the crack in the curtains to find snow falling onto the ground. Even at sixteen snow always excited me and appealed to my inner child as I moved to the bottom of the bed and pulled the curtains wider apart to reveal a white wonderland below as a good couple of inches had fallen overnight. All of a sudden I felt hands grab me around the waist as James pulled me into his arms, all trace of last nights failure erased as I felt his hardness nudging my thigh immediately my body was against him

“You’re awake this morning” I said, as I twisted round so that I could kiss him
.

“Definitely, awake and raring to go” James responded

“Best be quick then as it’s snowing outside and I want to go and play in it” I replied, turning in his embrace so that I was on top of him. Playfully I eased myself down upon him and James ran his hands up my body to find my nipples with his fingers.

As we moved together I stared deeply into his eyes and tried to see the shadow that had been there the night before. It had disappeared and I abandoned my body to the feelings of love and desire that coursed through my hot skin and into James’ I had been worrying about nothing as he flooded into me and it mingled with the sweet wetness of my orgasm. Lying in each other’s arms I felt so safe and secure in my feelings for James, he was truly the love of my life. I hoped that I would be his too, as he gently ran his fingers through my hair and down my cheek, ensuring we were as close as possible.

“Come on, the snow might melt” I eventually said, as I pulled the covers back off our bodies.

“You’re just like a little kid” James said, laughing too as my enthusiasm infected him “But I think we should have breakfast first”

“Ok” I relented as I pulled my jeans and t-shirt on, followed by my thick jumper. After toast and coffee we pulled on our coats and gloves and headed out into the garden. I spun around looking up to the sky as the flakes continued to fall and kiss my face with their coldness and hang in my hair. I didn’t notice that James had bent down and shaped a snow ball until it flew and hit me on my back.

“Snowball fight” he shouted, as he scooped up more snow and I dodged behind one of the apple trees so that I had the chance to start an arsenal to attack.

We played a stealthy game of cat and mouse between the trees each getting some good shots in and also receiving some in return. Then I decided to make a run for it back towards the house as more snowballs pelted my behind until I just collapsed in the snow, the laughter shaking my body and making my side’s ache.

“I surrender” I called out, as I could see James advancing towards me with two final snowballs, one in each hand.

“Are you sure” he said, as he came closer and I looked up into his face, excitement glittered in his eyes

“Yes, please put down those balls I’m defenceless” I replied, as I surreptitiously scooped up some snow in the hand furthest away from him and smiled up at him.

“Ok” James replied as he dropped his to the ground and then bent down to pull me up and then I struck and landed mine straight into his face.

“That’s so fucking naughty” he spluttered through the mouthful of snow that covered his face.

“Sorry, I’ll make it up to you” I murmured, as he stopped trying to pull me up and sank down on top of me and the blanket of snow that surrounded us.