Eternally North (Eternally North 1)

Chapter 19

Getting to know you…

I stared at the ceiling, tracing circles around Tudor’s back with both of my hands, hypnotised by his soothing breath warming my neck, feeling safe as his arms wrapped tightly around me, holding me impossibly close.

My God! That was amazing! He actually wants me, he calls me beautiful, he makes me feel beautiful and he likes me for me, flaws and all and he doesn’t need a map to my G-spot – hallelujah!

It was definitely a dream. I subtly pinched myself again. “Ow!”

Tudor exhaled loudly and lifted up his body to move directly above me, looking disapprovingly at the second red mark that was forming. “Tash! Stop hurting yourself or you will force me to restrain your hands.” He smirked with bright eyes. “On second thoughts, we might be on to something there. Bruise away…”

I stuck out my tongue at him in response and he pecked my nose and stared into my eyes.

“Hey,” he whispered lovingly as his finger ghosted along my cheek.

“Hey.”

He closed his eyes and bit his lip, using his strong arms to lift his upper body. “Mmm, I don’t wanna move.” he complained.

“Then don’t. I’m good with staying like this for a while yet.”

He brushed my lips with his. They were so soft. “Did I hurt you? It felt too good and I lost it. I kind of ground you into the mattress towards the end.”

Mmm... didn’t you just. I still have the springs wedged in my spine to prove it.

I laughed and replied in a breathy, light voice, “Why no, but you have stolen my virtue, you thieving rotten scoundrel!”

Tudor risked a sly side-glance. “What are you on about, my crazy girl?”

“Oh just a little dirty role play I was imagining in my head during our impromptu tryst.” I teased.

He narrowed his eyes sceptically. “Was I at least a dark and brooding highwayman and you the rich and prim maiden?”

“Nope, you were an unscrupulous pirate and I was the virginal wench with untapped whorish tendencies.”

“Mmm… I think it’d be a best seller. Very… saucy,” he teased, leaning over to kiss me, differently this time, not rushed or hard, but slow and soft; one hand curled over my head, the other running gently up and down my side.

I let out a whimper, moving my hips, and he lifted from my greedy mouth and let out a single laugh.

“Again?”

I pursed my lips and nodded yes. “This wench has quite the carnal appetite, and she needs your swashbuckling… long sword to feed it!”

He laughed louder this time. “Well, you need to give me a few minutes to recover before you kill me!”

He pecked me on the mouth one last time and pulled away, causing me to wince. His face suddenly fell ashen. “Shit!” His eyes were incredibly wide and he shook his head profusely.

“What? What's wrong?” I questioned, slightly panicked.

His green eyes shifted to me, looking guilty. “Tash I'm sorry. We didn’t use anything. I didn’t use anything. I forgot protection, shit. I’m sorry, Sunshine. I’ve never forgotten before... I just got caught up in the moment and...”

I sucked in a panicked breath. “Me neither. Bugger, bugger, bugger!”

I buried my head into the pillow, muffling a curse-laden shout; he rubbed a hand over his face in worry.

After several tense seconds I lifted up, letting the duvet fall and I tugged on his arm, taking a calming breath. “Look, that shouldn’t have happened, we dropped the ball. I’m on birth control, so don’t panic about that... no eggs have been fertilised in the old womb-cubator –”

I paused mid-sentence, biting my lip. It wasn’t pregnancy I was concerned about. He is an actor, a very famous actor, one who could have – and no doubt had had – bimbos spreading their spindly legs for him on tap.

I glanced up to see him grinning at me. “What’s so funny?” I asked, confused.

“I’m clean, Tash. No worries there. You have such an expressive face. I’d love to play you at poker!”

Strip poker. Hello!

“Oh. Well, good. Me too, I mean on the STD thing anyway. I'm as clean as a whistle… that’s been polished… with bleach.”

“Message received, Tash. I get it, you’re clean.”

I sighed in disapproval, pursing my lips. “Honestly, you pirates! You just dock your vessels where you fancy and let loose your seamen willy-nilly!”

He dived at me and rolled me on top of him, nuzzling my neck, hiding his laughter. He pulled his head back, slowly losing the humour, and met my eyes, demanding my full attention. “I haven’t been with anyone in a long, long time, and haven’t wanted to be until you. I want you to know that.”

I gave him my best ‘whatever’ expression.

He put his finger on my highly arched brow, forcing it back down. “I’m serious.” he pushed, forcefully.

“Why? Look at you. Hot, built and famous, you must have vadge on demand!”

He let out a loud snort. “Tash! Do you ever think before you say these things?”

I shrugged unapologetically. “It’s true! You must have been knee-deep in fanny in LA. You’re as hot as a menopausal woman at a Dream Boys concert and you’re famous: Pure. Pussy. Magnet.” I exaggerated each word with a slap on his taut arse.

He gawked at me, mouth open, before bursting out laughing. I joined in. He took my hand, kissing the tip of every individual finger before laying it over his heart. “LA is nuts, you’re right. But I haven’t lived there in a few years. I got sick of sleeping around with leeches, people hungry for fame. It's sickening and gets old quick. Since then there’s been no-one special. I told you, I find it difficult to be with a girl emotionally.”