Chapter 8 – Friday
Two o'clock in the morning. The green glow of the bedside clock taunted me with its information and I turned over once again, pumping the pillow in a vain attempt to find a cool piece of material.
Beside me Richard slept on, oblivious to the heartache I was going through, the acute worry and stress that wouldn't let me sleep. The events of the evening kept running through my mind, tormenting me with the images of Mike, the words we had shared, and the feel of his lips on mine, the warm comfort of his arms that I just couldn't forget. I wanted him so badly and the yearning was a physical ache inside.
We had stayed in the dark car park for what seemed like ages after Jake had spoken to me with such crudeness, and just simply held each other. When we eventually returned to the table, I knew from the glances of Lisa, Jilly and Jake that we had been the main subject of conversation since we had left, and my guilt and confusion must have been apparent. The sudden knowledge that I no longer wanted to be with my husband was terrifying in its intensity, opening up a whole new set of problems that I just couldn't face.
Again and again I regretted this holiday and the devastating consequences we were now facing. How ironic that a trip meant to bring us together had succeeded in driving an even greater wedge between us. A wedge that was impossible to remove. I thought of our children and how they would suffer if I went through with my plans to leave Richard. The devastation in their lives it would cause and for what?
Outside an owl hooted and I sat up in bed, all thoughts of sleep driven from my mind by my worries. Making my way through to the small living room I opened the rear door carefully and stepped outside into the warmth of the summer night. Above, the stars were a myriad of twinkling lights and I heard the owl hoot again, closer now as I stood on the terrace and breathed in the scents of the garden.
It was so quiet and still and I could feel the rhythm of my heart beat slow as my body relaxed. I sank down into one of the chairs that faced the vineyards, the moon illuminating the rows of vines that stretched away into the distance. When I had returned to our room at the end of the evening, Richard was still comatose and in exactly the same position as I had left him. I had removed my make-up and slipped into bed next to him, my body tense in case my movements awoke him. The last thing I needed was for him to wake and question the events of the evening.
The journey back to Jake and Jilly's farmhouse had been awkward but Lisa hadn't probed into why I looked so drawn and tense and she probably guessed that my escape from the table had had something to do with Jake. She had driven while Mike had sat in the back of the car and I could feel his eyes on me throughout the journey. I couldn't get the sensation of his body next to mine out of my mind and to sit next to Lisa and appear as if nothing was wrong was one of the hardest things I'd ever had to do. I liked Lisa so much; her calm and capable nature made me feel relaxed and comfortable in her presence and I knew that given the right situation we could have been great friends. The knowledge that I desired her fiancé and had gone so far as to kiss and hold him made me feel the lowest of the low.
The owl hooted again and I heard a door being opened and closed again carefully. Holding my breath I looked around and saw Mike standing in the moonlight, bare to the waist, a pair of boxer shorts covering his modesty.
Silently he walked towards me and I gazed at him, hardly able to believe my eyes. He knelt down in front of me and took my hands in his, that same look of concern on his handsome features.
"I've been awake for ages and heard a door open. I wasn't sure if it was you or not, but I did hope...you can't sleep either?"
I shook my head. "Too much wine and too many worries."
I leant down and stroked his face but he grabbed my hand and kissed the palm, his lips dry and warm against my skin. "This is no good, Louise. You should be resting now, not sitting here worrying."
"I know."
"How's Richard?"
"Still asleep. He must have had a real skinful."
Mike smiled. "Yes, he had a few, but the worrying thing is that he was talking to Rob when we sat down to eat and they were together for quite a while."
A twist of fear shot through me at his words and I knew then that Rob had told Richard what he'd seen on Wednesday night. Mike saw the look in my eyes and leaned forward to hold me close.
"Rob's a nasty piece of work, Louise, but Richard knows that. Hopefully he'll dismiss whatever Rob said and choose to speak to you first."
I shook my head. "No, he won't, Mike. He's been in such a funny mood just lately. I've never seen him so jealous."
I couldn't tell him about the way he had made love to me the other day when he suspected I was having an affair with Mike. A suspicion that would now be correct.
"Don't worry, Louise. Richard won't take Rob's word over yours, surely?"
I shrugged. "What about Lisa? Did she ask you why we were missing after the meal?"
"No, she trusts me and always has. I think at the moment, though, she wouldn't care what I did. As I told you, we're more like brother and sister."
He gazed at me and I felt a slow burn of desire start inside. Taking my hand he led me towards the vineyards where a wooden bench stood under a canopy of trees. We could see the house in the distance and every room was in darkness. The owl hooted again and I could hear Mike chuckle softly next to me.
"Let's hope the owl doesn't tell anyone..."
He sat me down on the bench and knelt in front of me again, his hands slipping between the folds of my robe. His hands were warm on my breasts and I sighed as he brushed his fingers over my already stiffening nipples.
"This is for you, Louise," he murmured in my ear as he parted the robe completely. "Help you to sleep."
I smiled at the idiocy of his remark. With him kneeling in front of me the last thing I wanted to do was sleep. I needed him to do this so much, all those hours of longing were about to be fulfilled and I leaned back as he slipped the robe off my shoulders leaving me completely naked.
"You're so beautiful..."
I looked down at his dark head as his tongue teased my nipples, his breath warm on my exposed skin. Running my fingers through his hair I gave myself up to the sensations that were coursing through me as he expertly caressed my hardened peaks. Streams of pleasure were running down the length of my body and I opened my legs slightly drawing Mike into the circle of my thighs.
"Lay down," he asked and I spun around to lie along the length of the bench, my knees raised and open slightly. He gazed down at me and then his lips were kissing their way along my legs while his hands caressed and stroked my smooth skin.
"Oh, Mike," I breathed as his lips worked their way higher. The ache growing inside me was almost painful as I anticipated the feel of his mouth and tongue on my most sensitive region. "God that feels so good..."
He raised his head and looked at me and I gasped at the look of love in his eyes. "You feel good to me, Louise. Let me do this for you, hey?"
I nodded and lay back down, the feel of his warm mouth making me arch towards him, my back lifting off the bench as I felt him grow nearer my damp pussy. I looked over to the house again but nothing stirred and the thought of what we were doing, hidden by the trees, heightened my sense of pleasure. I felt Mike open my legs further and then his fingers were gently parting the folds of skin, seeking out that little bud of ecstasy that was eagerly awaiting his touch.
When his lips touched my bare skin I gasped at the sheer feelings that were running through me. His warm tongue ran along the length of my silky folds, his fingers holding me open for him to probe, kiss and lick. The combination of his warm tongue and the night air intensified the pleasure I was experiencing. I felt him delve deeper, seeking out the juices that were building inside me and he seemed to like my taste, his moans of approval making me smile as he held my legs open even wider.
"I want to make love to you properly, Louise," he groaned as he raised his head and looked at me. "But not like this, do you understand?"
I nodded and he kissed me on the mouth, my own scent on his lips. "I know, Mike, but I want you so much..."
He returned his attention back to my pussy and gently stroked at the opening, his eyes never leaving my face. "I want you to come for me. I want to give you that at least tonight."
I felt him slip a couple of fingers deep inside me and I moaned. With my right hand I reached down and started to rub the hard nub of my clitoris while with my left I squeezed my nipples. The slow but firm movements from Mike set me off on the path to orgasm and I moaned and squirmed on the hard bench, all thoughts of being discovered out of my head. I wanted this moment to last forever, the feel of Mike's fingers inside me, his eyes on mine as he watched the ecstasy I was feeling.
It didn't take long for me to achieve the climax I so needed. We had been building up to this all night and I just wished I could do the same for Mike, but he was too much of a gentleman to allow that. As the first waves of my orgasm washed over me I held out my arms to Mike and he cuddled me tightly as I came for him. We kissed each other deeply and the feel of him in my arms prolonged my pleasure, our breathing heavy and fast from the passion we were experiencing.
"I want you so much," I repeated and looked at him pleadingly. "Let me do something for you, please..."
He smiled but shook his head. "Not tonight. I want it to be special and I'm worried someone will come looking for us. I don't want to put you in another compromising position, Louise. I'd never forgive myself."
He reached down and picked up my discarded robe, helping me into it and then holding me close.
"You need to talk to Richard today and find out what Rob said. It might just have been an innocent chat but you need to know. I'm going to take Lisa off for the day and give her a break from Jilly. She's fed up with being here and I don't blame her. She's never liked the Harpers and comes along just to please me."
"Do you love her?" The words were out before I could stop them and I waited for Mike's reply as he ran his fingers through his hair.
"I suppose I do, but not in the way I should. There's a big age difference between us and sometimes I treat her like a child. Yet another source of contention."
"Jilly was asking about marriage and children yesterday. Lisa seemed uncomfortable talking about it."
"She would be. She knows as well as I do that marriage and a family are out of the question at the moment. I have a manager for the vineyard but the hours are still long and hard. And anyway, it would be a mistake. Our marriage wouldn't last."
"How do you know?" I looked at him and saw the pain in his eyes and felt guilty for bringing the subject up.
"I just do, Louise. The feelings we once had are gone and the only reason we're still together is because neither of us have the heart to bring it to an end."
He kissed me again and I relaxed into his arms, dreading the moment when we would have to return to our respective rooms. The warmth of his body was like a comforting quilt wrapped around me and I suddenly felt the return of my weariness. I wanted nothing more than to cuddle up to Mike and sleep the rest of the night away, but as if sensing my tiredness he steered me back towards the house and our separation.
"I'll see you at breakfast and then we're gone for the day. There's a village Lisa wants to see about an hour's drive away so we'll go there and have lunch."
He stopped and took my face in his hands. "But I'll be thinking of you the whole time, Louise. If you need me, just call me."
"Are you sure?"
He nodded. "I'll give you my number at breakfast. I'm there for you, don't forget that, OK?"
