CORAL - Forever (A Romance Trilogy, Book 3) (35 page)

“
No.
”
Tristan says, getting
our luggage out of the boot.

“
You?
”
Jake asks me directly.

“
No
Jake, no surfing. I was in an accident, we’re here to relax and unwind.
”

“
Oh...
”
It seems to take a while
for his brain to register this.
“
Well...if
you feel like it, my best friend is having a party on Saturday, it
’
s his birthday,
”
he explains nodding his
head at the same time then continues.
“
You
guys should come along...it
’
ll
be cool
.”

“
We
’
ll bare that in mind
Jake, but right now I want to get inside and get something to eat – No offense,
”
Tristan adds, I grit my
teeth at him.

“
None
taken dude!
”
Jake
smiles at us both.
“
Catch
you later....
”
He
says, putting his hand in the air as he turns and walk down the hill.

I cross my arms and put on my stern face.

“
What?
”
Tristan says. His hands
and arms full of our luggage.

“
Why
were you being like that with him?” I say, scowling at him.

“
Isn
’
t it obvious?
”
He scoffs, climbing the
steps to the house.

I follow him up and stop when we reach the front door.
“
No. Well, it wasn
’
t to me?
”
I say.

“
Coral.
”
Tristan awkwardly hands
me the key.
“
Can you
unlock the door please?
”
I
do so, push the door open, and gesture for Tristan to go first. He walks into
the kitchen – which is very modern and spotlessly clean – and dumps our bags
down on the floor.

“
Well?
”
I say, still scowling.

“
Coral.
Are you blind?
”
He
says, casually strolling over to me, stripping his t-shirt off as he does.
Damn
he looks hot!
Now all he’s dressed in are a pair of dark blue, combat
shorts, and a pair of flip-flops.

I swallow hard.
“
Blind?
”
I whisper as he reaches
me, and pulls me against his body. I can feel his erection digging into my
belly. I put my hands on his arms, his strong arms – I’m swooning at him again!

“
Yes,
he was flirting with you.
”
Tristan
adds.

“
No
he wasn
’
t,
”
I laugh.
“
He was being more chatty
with you. Besides, I thought he was a nice kid, the harmless type, and I don't
think that very often about men, or boys which he evidently was.
”

“
Hmm
.
I still think he wanted
you,
”
he says.

“
Tristan
Freeman, are you jealous?
”
I titter.

“
No,
”
he growls, kissing me
hungrily.

I pull back feeling breathless.
“
If you think for one second that I
’
d be interested in a
young boy like that, you
’
ve
got another thing coming – besides he was a complete stoner! Did you see the
state of his eyes?
”
I chuckle.

“
Yes,
I did.
”
Tristan
says, gazing down at me with such a seductive look.

“
So,
what now?
”
I ask,
revelling in the fact that I am not in Brighton.

“
Food.
”
Tristan says in his
stern voice.

“
Really?
”
I squeak.
“
You
’
re hungry again?
”

“
Not
me, you. Remember what you said to me at the airport?
”
Ah yes, I do remember.

“
Just
let me get changed and we can head out for something, ok?
”
I say.

Tristan growls and kisses me hard again. “Wrap your legs
around me,” he says as he lifts me up. I do exactly that and kiss him back.
“We’re going to find the bedrooms first,” he croaks in that sexy, husky voice
of his. I smile against his lips, and he heads through the apartment in search
of a bed....

DAMN!
THAT WAS SEXY, SEX!
– I love that about us – that we just can't get seem
to get enough of each other, that Tristan feels the same way about me as I do
about him.

“So much for relaxing!” I giggle, trying to catch my breath.

“Sorry, I couldn’t help it. I wanted you, badly,” Tristan
says, turning on his side to look at me. “How are you feeling darling, in any
pain?” His serious face is back. He’s worried about me, I know that.

“No baby, no pain.” I say, reaching up and tenderly touching
his cheek.

His look changes, playful Tristan is back. He leans up and
rests his head on his hand. I am flat on back, staring up at him. Then he
places his forefinger at the hollow base of my throat, then slowly, he runs his
finger down my chest, between my breasts, all the way down my sternum, down my
abdomen, until finally, he reaches my sex.

My breath catches with the contact. I cannot take my eyes of
his. He slowly circles his forefinger down there, then shocking me again, he
reaches up and places his finger in his mouth and sucks.

“Hmm, delicious,” he says, his eyes glinting wickedly.

“Tristan Freeman, you are a dirty boy!” I playfully scold.

“So...is dirty Tristan another part of me that you love?” He
questions, suddenly going serious.

There’s a double meaning there – I’m sure there is.

“Yes,” I whisper shyly. My heart is racing against my chest.

He nods once, then reaching up he places his free hand
against my cheek. “Coral, there’s something’ – My stomach grumbles, very
loudly, stopping him in his tracks. “I’m going to go and get us something to eat.”
He says scrambling up from the bed.

“Wait, Tristan...” I take hold of his arm, stopping him.
“What we’re you about to say?”

“Not now Coral. You’re hungry, and so am I.” He dashes off
to the en-suite. When he returns, he yanks his shorts on, commando style and
stuffs his feet into his flip-flops. I can't help frowning up at him, he has
something to tell me, something important – I know he does.

“Baby...” He slides onto the bed. “I don't know about you,
but I feel like having something to eat, then going down to spend the afternoon
on the beach; and I thought, if I pick something up now, we could just eat in
tonight. What do you think?”

“Sounds great!” I beam.
Maybe he’ll tell me later?

He smiles that sexy, slow smile at me. “Ok,” he chuckles.
“What do you fancy for lunch?”

I think about it for a second. “A Cornish pasty.” I say.

“A Cornish pasty?” He questions quizzically.

“Um...yeah, I’ve never been to Cornwall Tristan. It’s one of
Gladys’s favourite places, she tried to bring me here once, for a holiday. I
was young...” I shake my head, remembering. “I had a meltdown in the car...she
had to turn back. I stayed with John and Joyce while she and Debs came down
here; they did that every year while we were kids.” I stop feeling guilty that
I put Gladys through that.

“What are you trying to tell me Coral?” He says, looking
worried.

I laugh nervously. “I...I’ve never had a holiday,” I whisper,
feeling embarrassed.

His mouth pops open. “You’ve never been...you’ve never had a
holiday?” Tristan balks, looking slightly alarmed.

I turn on my side so I’m facing him, look down at the bed
and shake my head.

Tristan gasps. “This is your first holiday – ever?”

“Actually my first holiday was going to Hastings with you.”

Tristan’s eyes are wide and he’s blinking rapidly at me. “Coral,
I knew you’d never been abroad but...are you saying you’ve never left
Brighton?” He asks, swallowing hard.

“Well no, I go to Worthing and Peavehaven, but that’s not
the same.” I shake my head again – I want to say ‘I’m a freaky fuck up remember’
but I don't, I know he won't like that.

“You’ve never had a holiday?” He repeats, incredulously.

“Well...yeah. Joyce would insist I did, but I’d just hang
out at the beach in Brighton. Rob has tried to get me to go abroad with him, plenty
of times; but I always said no. It felt safer like that. I think as a child, I
freaked out because I still didn’t trust Gladys, I thought she was taking me
away, making me go live somewhere else.” I say, staring up at him.

Tristan looks a little sick. Then he seems to regain his
composure. “So, why do you want a pasty?” He says, trying to shake it off.

“Gladys used to bring one back for me.” I smile, remembering
her doing that. “You know a real bona fide Cornish Pasty.”

“She did?” He says, stroking my cheek, smiling warmly at me.

“We don't have to have that if you want something else
Tristan.”

“No, pasty sounds good.” He says.

“When in Rome,” I giggle.

“What shall I bring back for tea?” He smiles.

“I don't know, surprise me,” I say.

“Ok, gorgeous. I won't be long.” He gets up off the bed, and
walks out the bedroom –
Damn he has a cute butt
. He stops halfway down
the hallway, and retracts his steps.

“Coral Stevens, I’m warning you now, if you do anything daft
while I’m gone’ – “Like what?” I challenge, trying not to laugh because he
looks so serious.

He cocks one eyebrow up at me, and crosses his arms –
Oh
fuck it!
Picking up a pillow, I throw it with accurate precision and it
hits him right in the face, making me giggle.

“Did you just throw a pillow at me?” He cocks his head to
the side.

“Yes!” I tease. “What are you going to do about it?”

“Oh...there are many, many things I could do about it,” he
says, his dark eyes burning with some unnamed emotion, pinning me to the bed. I
cannot look away and I can't move – I don't want to move!
Holy crap!
What is that look? He continues to stare down at me, then his eyes slowly work
their way down my naked body; it’s like he’s drinking me in? My lips part
automatically, my breathing hitches up and my heart is going like the clappers
–
Holy crap!
How can he turn me on so much by just looking at me? He’s
not even touching me for Christ sake!

‘Stay,’ I mouth as I sit up – because I want him again, now!

“As tempting as that is Miss Stevens, we need to eat!” Tristan
smiles his sexy smile at me, steps forward, arms still crossed, leans down
without touching me and pecks me on the lips. Then he stands and walks out of
the bedroom, but just as he reaches the door, he turns and mouths ‘later’ to me
–
Bastard!

I have to laugh. I shake my head at his teasing ways and lie
back down on the bed...

I
HAVE HAD THE MOST WONDERFUL
four days of my entire life. I feel so
relaxed, so content, I am blissfully happy. This morning after waking up and
feeling so good, Tristan agreed that we will go to the function tonight. Our flights
are booked, so we are heading over to the airport this afternoon – I’m quite
excited, and nervous. I want to make a good impression tonight, I want Tristan
to be proud of me. Then I realise that tomorrow is Saturday, and in one week,
I’ll be married...
Hmm, Mrs Coral Freeman
– I like the sound of that, it
has a lovely ring to it – I snort with laughter at my own words. Then I
remember -
Shit! The rings! –
We haven’t done that yet! We’d better get
that sorted tomorrow!

With a contented sigh, I sit up from my horizontal position.
Tristan and I are on the beach, soaking up some rays. Baby I Love Your Way by
Big Mountain is blasting in my ears, reminding me of Tristan, and how I feel
about him.

I quietly sing along as I take in my surroundings. The waves
are calm today, not many surfers out, but there are so many little kids out
with their parents, splashing about in the sea, playing in the rock pools,
building sand castles – I’m surprised at myself, I don’t feel angry like I used
to when I’d see happy families. Instead, I feel happy for them.

I watch a man throw his toddler up in the air, the kids face
is a picture as his father catches him, they both look so happy. Then I’m drawn
to a woman spraying her kid with sunscreen, she’s wriggling about, I guess she
doesn’t like it, but her mother soon finishes and I watch the little girl take
an older boys hand, they both dash down the beach and dive into the sea – The
only emotion I feel coming to the surface is that well, it’s pretty cute. All
these happy families – kind of making me think that it is possible after all.

I sigh contentedly, it’s so beautiful here. In fact I think
I could quite happily live here, forever! I frown at that thought, I never
thought I would want to leave Brighton – Yet here I am, seriously thinking
about it?
How odd!

I look up at the sky. It is yet another blue skied, sunshiny
day. How lucky we are to be having such lovely weather. I pick up the bottle of
water and take several glugs, then I look down at my watch – nearly lunchtime –
no wonder I’m hungry.
Honestly!

I shake my head at myself. I don't know how doing so little
can give a person such an appetite? ...
Maybe it’s all the sex?

I nod in agreement with myself and look across at Tristan, my
sexy man! I can tell by his face he is sleeping, I don't want to wake him. He
needs his rest as much as I do; but I need food! Which gives me an idea –
Pulling my little notepad out of my new beach bag that Tristan bought for me, I
scribble a note for him.