Eternally North (Eternally North 1)

I gave him a brief thank-you kiss and stretched my arms high, easing the cricks from my overused body, and glanced to the window, noticing that it was still early and the sun was still rising.

My eyes squinted at the blindingly-bright glare. “What time is it?”

He shrugged his shoulders. “About eight a.m.”

My mouth dropped in disbelief. “Then why the heck are we up? We didn’t even get to bed until after three this morning!”

He just pursed his lips and waggled his eyebrows at me. We had spent most of the previous night in the hot tub, lazing and talking, finding out more little details about one another and just ignoring the real world for a little while. At around one in the morning, we had grown hungry and made some pancakes and brought them back to bed. I giggled quietly as I looked over to the bedside cabinet at the half-eaten midnight snack, blushing at the memory of why it had never been finished. I ran my hand down to my stomach, still sticky from the maple syrup, and smiled at the 9 ½ weeks-esque direction the night had taken.

Tudor, noticing my train of thought, shuffled down the bed and lapped at the residue on my belly. “Mmm… still delicious, and definitely something we will do again.”

That snapped me out of my trance. “Up, now, my body cannot take any more.” I tried to move his humongous shoulders off my over-sexed body and failed, badly.

He crawled back up, lying flush over me, nuzzling my neck. “Fine. I’m giving you today to recover, but tonight you’re mine again.”

“Tudor, you haven’t been home in days, and as much as I am enjoying you being here, I’m better now and you don’t have to stay twenty-four-seven. Plus, I can't have any more sex, I'm exhausted! I would like to be able to walk at school on Monday morning!"

He braced his arms and moved to look at me, a little put out. “I called in at home this morning when I was out getting food, everything is good, so if you would like, I could stay one more night. You know, just until Tink gets back?”

He looked so hopeful.

I grinned at his cute, puppy-dog face. “Oh, okay then, if you must!”

He moved in for a not-so-innocent kiss, and after several seconds his hands started roaming south into naughty places.

I pushed him back. “Oi! Sex fiend! NO!”

He sighed loudly for effect and rolled over, adjusting himself with one hand and covering his eyes with the other. “Today, Tash, that’s all you’re getting. Then it’s on,” he muttered, obviously in sexual pain. I had to smile to myself. I loved the impact I had on him.

I reached for the tray of food and tucked in. Tudor lay still for a while, huffing away his frustration, and after he had got over his not-so-little ‘trouser tent’ – or should it be marquee? – problem, got up and wandered into the front room. Seconds later he came back in, holding out my diamante-covered pink phone.

I took it from him and checked the screen, nothing. I checked the list of missed calls, emails and messages, nada. Tudor was standing to the side of the bed, all serious-looking, arms crossed tightly over his chest. I looked back at him in confusion.

He rubbed his hand over his stubbly chin. “You need to make a call or a text, preferably.”

“I do?” I asked.

He nodded his head with attitude. “You need to cancel your date.”

“Oh shit. Gage!” I launched upright, putting my hand on my head. He ground his teeth together at the mention of Gage's name.

Wait a bloody second!

I pushed my tray away and sat up on my knees, facing Mr. Moody-arse, not even bothered that I was stark naked. “Is that why we’re up so early on a Sunday morning?” I asked, slightly annoyed but also kind of proud of myself for foiling his plan.

He read my pissed-off tone right and pouted – yes, pouted, like an overgrown three-year-old. He spoke without looking up. “I couldn’t sleep knowing that you had agreed to be with me as my girlfriend and yet your date was still planned for today. It made me… uncomfortable. I'm not used to feeling like this and I don't like it,” he mumbled and began kicking the carpet.

I tried to be angry, but the six-foot-three hulk of brawn looked too cute, and I kind of liked that he felt so jealous. I held out my hand. “Come here.”

He moved as quickly as a snake, tackled me onto the bed and into my awaiting arms.

I kissed his head patronisingly. “Poor Tudor, do you have a case of the green-eyed monster?”

He narrowed his eyes. “Would you like it if I was meeting another woman today for coffee after we had just made love?”

Made love. Not had sex, but made love.

I locked still, he pulled a smug grin – he knew he'd got me.

“Pass me the phone.” I held out my hand and he dropped it into my awaiting palm.

He huffed in victory. I flicked through the numbers and pressed the call button on Gage’s name. Tudor wrapped his arms around my waist, laying his head on my sticky stomach.

Gage answered on the third ring. “Natasha! I was just thinking about you. I was wondering when you would be awake for me to call.”

He sounded happy. I knew Tudor could hear both sides of the conversation by the tensing of his arms around my middle.

I cleared my throat. “Hi Gage, I hope you’re okay?”

“I’m great knowing I’m seeing you today.”

I winced, and Tudor growled, like actually growled. I looked down in surprise and shook my head in disbelief at his strange reaction.