The next few days were spent with him working long hours and me padding around the house, trying to figure my life out. Our lovemaking had been incredible, the passion between us only growing in strength.
I woke Tuesday morning to the sound of logs crackling in the fireplace. The sheets where Alfie had been were cold and empty when I reached out to feel for him. Forcing my eyes open, I found him crouched next to the fireplace as he dusted his hands free of dust and pieces of bark. I greedily took in the way his shirt clung to his strong back and how the muscles in his thighs seemed to strain against the fabric of his gray trousers.
I’d never get over taking in the sight of Alfie dressed sharply in a suit and tie as he glanced over his shoulder to catch my eye.
He arched a teasing eyebrow at me. “See something that you like?”
“Very much,” I said and grinned sleepily at him. “What time is it? Did you get your work done last night?” I couldn’t remember him coming to bed with me, though I knew he woke me up to make love late into the night.
“It’s 6:30 a.m., and that’s a loaded question. I got done what I needed to get done, but there is always more to do.” He turned away from me and tossed another log onto the fire.
I flopped back onto my back with a tired sigh as the fire popped and crackled. There was something so cozy about being in the sheets in a cold room and a fire warming the place slow and steadily. It gave me an odd sense of peace.
“I feel like I need at least two months’ worth of sleep. Between the emotional drama of late and you making love to me like we might be the last two humans on earth, I’m worn out.” I laughed and rolled on my side to watch him again.
“You deserve it,” Alfie said as he stood and turned to face me. “You’ve got some time to spare to sleep in while you’re here. You’re supposed to be resting, and we can slow down on the love-making if—”
“Heavens no.” I pulled the covers up to my neck and smiled. “I wouldn’t wish that at all. It’s the best part of what happened here.”
Here. In Europe. Thinking about it that way left me realizing that Friday would be coming sooner than later, and I’d be headed home.
I didn’t want to think about going back to the States, but I had to return eventually. There was nothing holding me back in London besides great sex with Alfie. I chewed on my lip as I rolled onto by back stared up at the ceiling. I didn’t want to think about having to return to the States to explain to everyone what happened. Just the thought of it made my head hurt. I didn’t even know how I was going to explain what happened with Alfie either.
The mattress dipped down. The tip of Alfie’s tie tickled the center of my breasts as he leaned over me with his hands straddling my head. He leaned down to kiss me quickly on the lips.
“I have to head into work,” he said, pulling back to look at me with a glimmer of regret in his eyes. “I will probably be late tonight, so I left some numbers on the kitchen counter if you want to order some food on me.”
I smiled up at him. “This feels like Pretty Woman except the part about being a prostitute.”
“Naturally that part,” Alfie said, wryly. “I just don’t want you to starve while I’m gone. I don’t know how much money you have left after your shopping spree the other day.”
Grabbing ahold of his tie, I tugged Alfie down for a long, sensual kiss. We kissed for a few minutes before Alfie pulled back with a reluctant groan.
“Well, tempting as it is to stay here,” he said, pressing his lips against mine with a smile. “I have to go before the office starts calling me. The marketing team is having a hard time. Much harder than they should. In all honesty, they’re beginning to get on my nerves. It’s as if they lost all the knowledge they gleaned in University. I hate to say it, but I’m pretty sure I’m going to have to let go of a few of them. They’re just not performing anymore.”
I let the silk of Alfie’s tie slip through my fingers as he straightened up. Gathering the blankets, I clutched them to my chest while Alfie gathered his shoes from the closet.
“Anything I can help with?” I asked. “Marketing is my area of expertise, you know. I have a couple of degrees in that area and was quite good at what I did before I left the U.S.”
“I know,” he replied and tied his shoes quickly. “I might take you up on that offer if I can’t find a solution today. It’s a bit of a turn on to think you can help with some part of the company. Is that a bad thing?” He stood, and I held my breath. He was far too handsome for his own good. How in the hell didn’t he already have a ring on his finger?
Seemed crazy. The man was the full-package deal. There was no way in hell that I was the only one that had noticed that.
“Nope. I kinda like it.” I moved to my knees and let the covers fall, exposing myself to the chilled room and to him. “Come kiss me again.”
“Love. You’re going to be the death of me.” He moved to the edge of the bed and slid his strong hands over my hips to cup my bare ass. He squeezed softly and leaned in as I cupped his face. The kiss was long and needy from both of us. I pulled back, and he gripped my ass tighter.
“Don’t go just yet,” I mumbled against his lips, wanting to hold him close to me for just a little bit longer.
“I have to, bad girl.” He nipped at my lips. “Enjoy your day, and be like this when I get back home, hmmm?”
I pretended to pout and flopped back in the bed, enjoying his attention far more than I should have. The guilty thoughts about sleeping with Harry’s ex-best friend were all but gone. My ex-fiancé was an asshole, and there had never been any love or passion between us. The world might see it differently, but I hadn’t been one to ever succumb to peer pressure or otherwise.
“Have a great day, Alfie,” I called out and got out of the bed on the far side. Time to get the day started. I needed to find a flight back to the States on Friday or so and start planning to rebuild my life. I ignored the part of my heart that ached at the thought of leaving Europe, or rather, leaving Alfie.
I fixed me a quick cup of coffee and made some toast before heading to the back porch. It was chilly outside that early in the morning, but Alfie had heaters lining the ceiling above me. I flipped the switch and sat down with my phone.
Peyton needed to know that I was getting ready to book my flight. I knew she’d have no problem letting me stay with her, but it would be shitty of me to just show up unannounced.