‘No. I won’t stay.’
She smiled, reaching up to caress his cheek. ‘That’s okay. You know that permanence isn’t my thing either. Just as long as we’ll be friends.’
The thought that wherever he was, he could always just pick up the phone and talk to Hannah warmed him. One thread, to anchor him to the past.
‘Always, Hannah. I may walk away, but I’ll never forget you.’
A sudden crash above their heads startled them. Then Hannah grinned. ‘Thank goodness. Do you think the storm’s coming our way?’
‘Let’s hope so.’ The oppressive heat that had been building up for days now seemed to have loosened its grip a little. Matt got up, drawing the drapes back and opening the sliding doors that were cut into the expanse of glass. There was no balcony outside, just a safety rail, but it allowed cool air to filter into the room. It felt as if the temperature had just dropped by ten degrees.
‘Oh! That’s lovely.’ She ran to his side, throwing up her arms so that the breeze could bathe her body. Then suddenly a sheet of rain started to fall, blowing in through open doors. Hannah squealed, and Matt caught her in his arms, kissing her.
‘Matt! Again?’ She’d felt his erection harden against her.
It came as a surprise to him as well. Just the thought of his father was usually enough to slake any thought of being close to anyone. But his thirst for Hannah was stronger than that. He felt her move against him, turning desire into blind longing. She wanted more too.
‘It’s not me. It’s you... I can’t get enough of you, Hannah.’ A thought crossed his mind. ‘Ever made love in a storm before?’
‘If I have I don’t remember it.’ She wound her arms around his neck, lifting herself to coil her legs around his hips, in an invitation to make her remember it this time.
Thunder still rolled over their heads, feeling as if it was shaking the whole building. Then lightning, bathing the whole room in sudden brilliance. Hannah’s kiss was like the touch of a hurricane, dragging him irresistibly into its force.
‘Now... Before it goes, Matt.’
He wanted that too. He wanted to hear her scream, carried away with the force of the storm. Everything else was blotted out, and now was the only thing that seemed real...
* * *
Hannah woke, shivering in the chill of the breeze from the open doors. The storm had left clear skies in its wake, and sunshine was filtering in through the windows. She pulled the duvet up around her shoulders, snuggling against Matt.
Last night had been life-changing. The force of the storm had been nothing in comparison to the journey they’d made together, and now he was sleeping soundly, his arm slung possessively around her waist. He really had possessed her last night, in every way possible. Head and heart, along with her body.
But there was no time for that today. No time to think about how this couldn’t last. They had things to do. She leaned towards him, riffling her fingers through his hair and kissing his cheek as his eyes fluttered open.
‘Hey, sleepyhead.’ Hannah had hoped for that smile, and it was everything that she wanted it to be.
‘Hey, yourself.’ He closed his eyes, drawing her close, and then opened them again suddenly. ‘What’s the time? Did we miss the alarm?’
Hannah twisted around so that she could see the clock. ‘Six o’clock. We didn’t miss the alarm.’
‘That’s good.’ He closed his eyes again. ‘We can take our time. Get up and have breakfast. Maybe review our list, before the media centre opens at ten.’
‘Yes. We could.’ Hannah snuggled against him, holding him tight, and she saw his lips curve into a smile.
‘Or... I think you haven’t quite made me your very own creature yet. You might want to seal the deal, so that I do everything you tell me today.’
‘You’re not my creature, Matt.’ He could be easygoing when he wanted to be, and that was most of the time. But last night he’d shown a controlled mastery, which had driven her beyond anything she’d thought she knew about sex, and had taken her breath away.
‘What am I then?’
Right now he was sleepy and smiling. Hannah knew that could change in an instant.
‘You’re my...teammate with benefits.’
He chuckled. ‘High five...?’
Matt held up his hand, and she grabbed it, kissing his fingers. Finally...finally he opened his eyes again.