Paradise Found

36

ELOISE

He loves me!

I wasn’t expecting his declarations of love while he fucked me in his parents’ garden. I wanted to say that I felt the same way as him in that moment, but the words got stuck in my throat. I hesitated, worried because what I feel for him is so overwhelming, and I’m concerned if I go all in that if things don’t work out between us, it’s going to crush me.

“There’s an abandoned cottage up ahead,” Alistair says, pulling me off the path and through the meadow toward a thatched cottage. It appears out of nowhere like something out of a fairy tale. “This was my favorite place to get away from my brother when I was younger. He never came this far into the woods, not once I filled his head with ghost stories.” Alistair chuckles, remembering a strong memory.

We reach the cottage, and Alistair lets go of my hand and gives the rusted door handle a turn. It seems to turn easily enough, but who knows what’s behind that wooden door? There are probably a million and one spider webs. Not my idea of sexy, but he wants me to share his special place, and that’s kind of cute, and I guess worth running into spiders for.

The door slowly creaks open. “Let me double-check there are no rouge animals in here,” he tells me, disappearing behind the door, and moments later, he comes back out with a smile on his face. “All good, come on in,” he says, inviting me into his private space.

Stepping over the threshold and into the semi-darkness of the cottage, I pause when I see what is in front of me. What in the world? The cottage has been transformed into a magical wonderland. Fairy lights are strung along the wooden beams, there’s a table with a gorgeous bouquet of flowers in the middle, and a platter of chocolate-dipped strawberries and assorted cheeses. A bottle of champagne with two crystal glasses is beside the beautiful flowers.

My eyes look further into the cottage, where a gorgeous wooden four-poster bed sits with white material draped around the sides. Large pillows are stacked neatly against the headboard, a fluffy navy duvet sits on top of the bed.

“Alistair,” I say his name shocked at what I’m seeing before me. “You …” My chest constricts at what he has created for me.

“I called Paul earlier in the week and asked him to help me. I knew this weekend was going to be tough, and I wanted a place where we could get away from it all. Just the two of us.”

My hand covers my mouth in awe. No one has ever gone to this much effort for me. “I love it.”

“This is where I was wanting to take you. But after what happened in the marquee, I needed you right there and then,” he confesses.

“You never have to apologize for fucking me against a stone wall,” I reply, making him grin.

“Come lay down and let me feed you,” he says.

“Sounds great, but firstly is there a bathroom?” I ask, needing a refresh.

“Down the hall.” He points.

I head down the short hall and freshen up, and by the time I get back, he’s lying in bed with the platter of chocolate-dipped strawberries beside him and a glass of champagne in his hand. There’s a glass waiting for me on the side table, so I kick off my heels and jump into bed with him before picking it up and taking a sip, letting the bubbles flow through me.

“Open wide …” He offers me a strawberry, and I do as I’m told, biting into the fruit. It tastes delicious. I hum in delight as I nibble on the chocolatey goodness. “This is where I wanted to tell you my feelings,” Ali explains.

Did he plan all this so he could tell me he loves me?Oh, my goodness, can this man get any more charming?

“I liked you telling me when your dick was still in me,” I say, grinning over a strawberry.

“Is that so?” Ali raises a brow.

“Everything feels better when your dick is inside me.” I chuckle.

“Good to know.” He reaches out and pulls me into the crook of his neck, where we stay in silence, enjoying each other’s company.

“Wasn’t it strange that Mum thought you reminded her of someone?” he muses.

Well, damn! I was kind of hoping he had forgotten that conversation.

“And you thought you’d been here before?”

Urgh. He picks up on everything.

The problem is I have a sneaking suspicion that Ihavebeen here before, a long time ago with my parents, but I am praying that there are a million other red-bricked country estates dotted around here that all look the same.

“Do you think the Universe is telling us we’re meant to be together?” he asks.