Doubt (The Connected Series Book 1) (26 page)

“To the most beautiful woman, who I am so lucky is mine.” Doug clinks his glass to mine.

“And to the most amazing man in the world, who is mine.” I smile back.

Dinner is delicious, we eat the most amazing king prawns I have ever tasted. We are sipping champagne and eating some kind of chocolate goodness.

“You have to choose!” I laugh.

“I can’t!” he takes another sip of his drink and frowns.

“Just play the bloody game, Doug.” I point my finger at him; he rubs his hands over his face, looking around us.

“Okay.... if I had to choose and I mean
had
to choose... I would choose Chocolate fingers.”

I burst out laughing; wiping the tears from my eyes I take a breath,

“Your turn to ask a question.” he cocks his head to one side and looks at me.

“You can only choose one right?” he checks, I nod.

“Right. My tongue or my fingers.” I almost spit out my drink.

“This isn’t a dirty game, Doug.” I cough, wiping my mouth on my napkin.

“Who said that was a dirty question, only to your filthy mind.”

I look him straight in the eyes; dip my finger into the remaining chocolate on my plate. Placing my finger in my mouth, I close my lips around it, licking it clean then answer.

“Your tongue. Without a shadow of a doubt.” His breath hitches, his eyes darken. I know I’ve got him.

“Okay... ready for your question?” I smile, licking my lips. He nods and swallows. I lower my head, looking up through my eyelashes.

“My mouth?...or my pussy?” I whisper. He visibly tenses and closes his eyes. After a minute, he opens his eyes; they are dark, heated, needy.

“Your sweet, sweet, pussy, Sophie. Every. Fucking. Time.”

I’m so busy absorbing his words, I don’t see him move, suddenly, he is on the sand in front of me, pulling me from my seat and onto his lap, his hands are in my hair and his tongue in thrusting into my mouth. I groan into his mouth, reaching up and taking his hair in my fingers, tugging on it making him growl. His hands travel down my sides, grasping my hips, and lifting me so I am straddling his lap.

Our kisses become more heated, our tongues brushing against each other, our hands gripping, hanging onto each other. A cough behind us breaks the haze. I look up and into the smiling face of our waiter.

“If that will be all, sir?” Doug looks up, nodding, then lifts me and places me on the sand beside him. He reaches into his pocket and hands him a $50 note.

“Thank you for this evening.” the waiter smiles and hands Doug the torch,

“If you would like to walk along the beach to your room. You will need this.” Doug takes it and smiles, “You won’t be able to see a thing otherwise...” he smiles at Doug and turns to collect our dinner things.

We walk, hand in hand to our room, stopping every few minutes to kiss under the stars. As we near our room, Doug heads into the shelter of the trees. Removing his shirt, he lays it down on the sand.

“What are you doing? I whisper, looking around.

“Making good on my promise.” he says dropping to his knees and pulling me down with him.

“Doug, we
can
’
t
,
anyone could see us.” Doug blows out the candle and we are thrown into darkness.

“Sophie, can you see anything right now?” I can’t see Doug in front of me, in fact, I can’t see anything.

“No...” I reply leaning forward till I touch his chest.

“Then no one will see you... Let me make love to you under the stars... in our own little piece of paradise.”

His mouth is on my neck, his hands pushing up my dress. I find the zip on his trousers and pull it down.

“I don’t want to be naked.” I whisper.

Doug nods against my skin, pulling the front of my dress down and taking a nipple into his mouth, I throw my head back, biting my lip to stop the moans. Doug lays me down, pushing his trousers off his hips and lies on top of me.

“I don’t need to see you to know how breathtakingly beautiful you are, Sophie.” he breaths into my ear “The sun, the stars, this place, it all pales in comparison to you.”

“I love you, So much, Doug.” I find his lips and press mine to his. Tears pool in my eyes, my heart swelling,

“I love you with everything I am, everything I will ever be.”

He enters me slowly, his hands on either side of my face, propping himself up. He makes sweet, tender love to me, under the stars. It is beautiful, perfect. It is ours. We come together, our mouths swallowing our mutual cries of pleasure. We lay there, together, for what feels like hours. With Doug’s hand slowing moving up and down my spine.

“I’m getting cold...” I say, not wanting to move.

“Shall we go in?” he asks, wrapping me in his arms more tightly.

“Do you mind?”

“Of course not.” he stands, wrapping his shirt around me, lifts me off my feet and walks us to our room.

“Thank you, for the most amazing night. I will remember it forever.” I kiss his neck.

“You deserve nothing but amazing, Sophie. And I will try to always give it to you.” I snuggle closer to him.

“You do, Doug. You really do.”

I’m not sure if it is the evening, the fact we are fast approaching the end of our holiday, or something else. When I wake in the middle of the night, Doug pulls me closer and tells me he loves me. Neither of us let each other go all night.

Chapter Twenty-five

“I’ve had the most amazing time of my life these past ten days, Doug.”

We are sitting in the reception of the island waiting for the boat to come and collect us to take us to the sea plane. He takes me hand, kissing my knuckles,

“Me too. It has been... “ I nod, not needing him to answer

“I know.” I tell him, looking at him. He sighs, looking down to the floor.

“What’s wrong?” he looks at me a worried look in his eyes.

“Everything will change when we get back home, Sophie. I don’t want to lose this, lose what we’ve found while we have been away. I need to know, whatever happens when we get back, we will be okay.” he leans in, resting his forehead on mine.

“I can’t do this without you.” he whispers. I look up into his face, full of doubt, concern and worry.

“I’ll be right there with you, Doug. Every step of the way.”

***

We touchdown in a very wet England.

“Talk about coming back to reality with a bump.” I grumble, wrapping my arms around myself to keep warm.

“It is a bit....
cooler
than we’ve been used to the past ten days.” Doug says, running his hands up and down my arms while we wait for his car keys.

I’ve never been so pleased to see Doug’s car in my life. I waste no time jumping in and turning up the heat. I hold my hands in front of the fans. Doug puts our bags in the car and hops in.

“Thank you for the most amazing break, Sophie. It was just what I needed.”

“Me too. Let’s do it again soon, please. Like... next week?” I grin taking his hand in mine and kissing it.

“Soon. I promise.” he starts the car and we start our journey home. Doug pulls up outside my flat and switches off the car.

“So... I’ll see you tomorrow?” he asks, looking at me with sad eyes.

“Yes... I’ll come over after work.” We sit there, looking at each other, neither of us moving.

“I don’t think I can get out of the car, Doug.” I whisper. “I don’t want to go up to my lonely, cold flat on my own.” I close my eyes, holding back the tears.

“Then don’t. Come back to mine.” he brushes his knuckles down my face and I open my eyes.

“I need clothes, and I have stuff to get ready for tomorrow. I can do this. One night, right?” I say, trying to convince myself. I open the car door and get my bag from the back.

“I’ll miss you tonight.” Doug has me up against his car, holding my face in his hands.

“Me too.” I lean in, kissing his lips.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.” I pull up the handle on my case and walk towards my door.

“Miss you already.” I call as I step into the entryway.

I step into my flat, its cold. No one has been in here for ten days. It’s dark and worst of all it is Doug-less. I wheel my case into the bedroom and switch on the light. Sadness washes over me. After ten, amazing days with Doug, the flat just feels sad. I decide to shower and go to bed. Stripping my clothes off, I walk into the bathroom and turn on the shower. Hoping that the heat will comfort me I step into the shower. I jump back letting out a squeal, I forgot, I turned the hot water off while I was away.
S
hit.
Throwing open the shower door, I grab a towel off the pile and stomp into the bedroom.

Opening the wardrobe doors; I grab a pair leggings, a camisole and a jumper. I tug them on and storm into the kitchen. Ignoring the pile of post scattered in my hallway. I walk over to the fridge and peer inside. I have nothing except some butter and a jar of marmalade. My stomach growls, a reminder that I am hungry. I don't know what comes over me, but I burst into tears. I’m sobbing loudly because I have no food. I'm
clearly
jet lagged.

Wiping my eyes on my sleeve, I get up and go back into my bedroom. Taking out my overnight bag from the wardrobe, I start putting in some clothes, underwear, stuff I would need if I stayed away. Wheeling my case with me that has all my work stuff in I switch off all the lights, pick up my handbag and open my front door. On the way down to the car, the tears start again and I know they aren't from having no food this time. They are from missing Doug. The lift pings and the doors open and I hurry out almost bumping into another car in the process. I chuck my bags in my car and jump in. Making my way over to Doug's in record time I don't even bother getting my bags out I just call the lift.

I am out of the lift and knocking on Doug's door before the lift doors have even closed. Tears running down my face, I wait. And I wait. And I wait. No answer. I knock again. Still no answer. Tears are falling faster now as I reach into my bag, searching for my phone. I swipe along the bottom of the screen, a fresh bout of tears falling when I see my new lock screen and background, both a pictures we took on holiday. I press the phone icon at the bottom of the screen and dial his number. Holding my breath, I listen to it ring in my ear, and then I hear it ringing in his apartment. It rings a few more times then goes to voicemail
Doug Roberts, Please leave a message.
I cut the call and ring again. This time, on the 3rd ring I hear footsteps and he picks up.

"Sophie?" He sounds surprised I am phoning him.

"D..d..d...ou..g?" I hiccup trying to stop the tears.

"Sophie? What's happened? Where are you?” I can hear him picking up his keys and coming towards the door a few seconds before his door opens. He steps out, sees me and drops to his knees.

"What happened?"

He searches my face, pulling my head to his chest and kissing the top of my head. I sob harder into his chest as he rocks me back and forth and asks me repeatedly what is wrong, when the tears slow down, I wipe my eyes on my sleeve again and look up.

"I knocked on the door. I called you. You didn't answer.”My voice breaks at the end and more tears swim in my eyes.

"I was taking a shower, I didn't hear. What's wrong , baby? What's happened?" He cradles me to him.

"N..n..n.. Nothing. I j..j..just c...c...can't be a...l..lone." He lifts my chin.

"It's okay." He brushes my cheek with his hand, "You can stay here."

I don't think he understands why I am in such a state, truthfully, neither do I. He lifts me up and carries me into the apartment. Kicking the door closed with his foot he walks over to his huge brown sofa and sits down with me on his lap. He doesn't talk, he just holds me. I don't know how long we sit there, but eventually, the tears dry up and I am no longer shuddering.

"I'm so sorry, Doug,” I whisper into his neck, "You must think I have gone crazy.” I try to laugh, but I still feel too raw and it just comes out like a choking sound.

"Of course not." He kisses my temple before whispering, “I think I nearly had a heart attack when I answered the phone. I was so scared something had happened to you.”

"I feel so stupid. I just... It all started with the shower, there was no hot water and then there was no food in the fridge... It all sounds so stupid." I cringe, burying my face further into Doug's neck.

"It doesn't matter. I am just so glad you are okay." He reaches for my chin, pulling my face up to look at his,”Now. There is plenty of hot water here, how about I run you a bath and then cook you something. I have a very full fridge thanks to Alison." He smiles.

"That sounds perfect. Thank you." I press my lips to his and exhale. I feel all the tension in my body leave me, ”I left my bag in the car..."

"Let me run you a bath then I will go get it."

He walks us into the bathroom, turning on the taps he pours in some of my favourite
Jo Malone
bath oil and kisses my shoulder.

"Slip in and relax. I'll be back in a minute.”

I slip out of my clothes and into the hot bubbles. Closing my eyes, the little voice in my head is telling at me
Ask him to move in with you.
I know I have to ask him, after spending the past ten days with him, I really cannot be apart from him any longer. I hear the front door open and a few seconds later, Doug appears in the doorway.

"How's that?" He asks walking in and crouching by the bathtub.

"Almost perfect." I smile.

"Almost?"

"Get in..," I scoot forward and look back. Doug is taking off his clothes and getting ready to step in. Sinking into the water and pulling me back, I lean in to him and sigh.

"Now it's perfect.”

We don’t speak. We are just together. The whole time my mind is racing. What if I ask him and he says no? With everything going on with Abigail right now, he might not want another big change. Although having said that, I am here most of the time anyway.

"Sophie, the water is getting cold, shall we get out?" I am snapped out of my thinking and realise the water
is
getting cold.