written on her face. He didn’t want to stop holding her, touching her. He’d made up his mind and he was going to act on his decision before it was too late – or before he lost his nerve.
“Do you want to get out of here?” he murmured finally.
Julia smiled up at him. “Not another pizza?”
“Not quite what I had in mind.”
He looked at her and she was suddenly certain what he wanted – because she wanted it too.
“Yes,” she whispered back. “Yes, I’d like nothing better than to get out of here.”
He took her to a bar nearby. It was quiet and had high-sided booths lining the walls, which afforded them privacy.
After ordering drinks, he took her hand and stared at it intently. It was peaceful in here, a contrast to the party they’d just left. Julia leaned back on the cool leather couch, closed her eyes and listened to the soft jazz playing. She felt Harri smooth a finger over her palm and onto the sensitive skin of her wrist. He lifted her hand and then kissed her there, his mouth hot and demanding. Still she didn’t open her eyes but let the sensations swirl around her, jolting a shot a pure sex to her core.
“Harri?” she said eventually and opened her eyes to find his face near hers and her mouth captured.
For a first kiss it was pretty good. One strong arm held her to him but, while his mouth plundered hers, he did not relinquish his hold on her hand.
Eventually they broke apart, content simply to gaze into one another’s eyes.
“God!” Julia said when she had her breath back. “Thank God,” she said and meant it.
Now he did let go of her hand and ran a finger down her cheek. It was hot and he smiled, pleased that he had made her so.
“I’ve wanted to do that for a while,” he said, his Welsh accent pronounced.
“Then why didn’t you?” Julia found she was breathing heavily and her eyes dropped to his mouth. She wanted him to kiss her again.
He sighed heavily. “Don’t get me wrong, I really wanted to but…in my line of work I have to be careful. I can’t go around, you know…”
“That’s the silliest thing I’ve ever heard!”
“Do you know, cariad, I couldn’t agree more.”
“Kiss me again,” she demanded.
He did so and then broke away to answer. “Besides I wasn’t sure how you felt.”
“I don’t think I was sure. Until now.” She traced a finger lightly over his generous lips. He had such a well-shaped mouth she thought, she hadn’t noticed it until now and wondered why.
Harri smiled again, he couldn’t seem to stop. “Well cariad, you were spending so much time with the lovely Daniel.”
Julia straightened. “He’s coaching me!” she said indignantly. “He’s a really good friend. And I think he’s gay anyway.” She blushed.
“He didn’t look very gay from where I was standing. Something tells me Daniel wants you as more than a friend.”
This time Julia grinned. “You’re jealous!” The realisation sent a warm glow spreading through her.
“You bet. It’s been tearing me apart.”
He raised a hand to the back of her neck and brought her close to him again. He was a little rough but Julia didn’t mind, she found she was exhilarated and the sexual tug, deep in her soul, pulled at her again. Their mouths met and this time neither held anything back.
The sound of their drinks being clinked down on the glass table in front of them had them springing apart and giggling.
“Let’s get out of here,” Harri threw down a note. “Which flat’s closest?”
“Mine,” Julia said and grabbed her coat. They went out into the icy December night where the white Christmas lights turned them monochrome.
“Islington, please,” she said to the taxi driver as they got into the cab. She was shivering violently but it wasn’t with cold.
“Might take a while love,” he replied, “traffic’s terrible tonight. Crowds out to see the lights, I expect.”
Julia and Harri didn’t notice how long the journey home was, nor did they notice the spectacular Christmas lights; they were too busy kissing. They broke off just long enough to unlock Julia’s front door and then it slammed behind them as Harri shoved her, none too gently, up against it. He took her hands in his and Julia felt open and vulnerable and incredibly turned on.
“I can’t stop kissing you,” he murmured, “I just can’t stop kissing you.” He tore her scarf away and kissed her neck, leaving a trail of fire. His knee nudged her legs apart and she felt him hard and demanding as he pressed against her. She’d never felt this sexually charged she thought incoherently, she was going to explode if she didn’t have him. He searched under her heavy coat, and then slid two fingers into a gap in the front of her shirt. A button tore but neither noticed as Harri tugged the delicate lace of Julia’s bra away and cupped her breast with his hand. Julia felt her knees give way, his hand was cold and the shock of it had her nipple zinging to life. Another button shot off and he took his burning mouth to her breast. The door rattled on its hinges under their combined weight and Julia would have been quite happy for him to take her there and then.
But Harri had other ideas, at heart he was a gentleman and it didn’t seem right to be doing what they doing up against the cold glass of Julia’s front door. And besides, he’d wanted her for so long that he was worried he wouldn’t last much longer. He backed off, his dark eyes veiled with lust. “Bed,” he managed, “where’s the bed?”
Julia nodded wordlessly, took him by the hand and led him to her bedroom. As they stumbled along clutching one another, unable to let go, they paused to kiss frantically. They ripped off some more clothes and left a trail of winter coats, scarves, bags. Then they fell onto the bed and wrestled with one another’s remaining clothes until they were skin on skin at long last. Julia was aware only of the erotic tickle of the soft hair on Harri’s chest against her breasts and the feel of his needy erection pressing against her stomach. She gasped as Harri almost immediately rolled her onto her back and slid into her.
“Sorry, cariad, can’t wait,” he muttered. “Oh Duw, I’ve wanted this for so long!”
Julia’s head arched back. She couldn’t believe it, she was beginning to come already. Wave after wave of ecstasy spiralled through her, around her, over her. She felt Harri tense, hang over her for a long second and then collapse onto her, crushing her with his weight. “Rwyn dy garu di,” he breathed. “I love you,” He added, in his head.
Julia woke first in the morning. It was still dark outside but she’d grown accustomed to waking early to get to Jan’s demanding rehearsals and today would be no different. She poked her nose above the duvet, shivered and pulled it round her again. She’d have to brace herself to go and turn on the heating. Funny how they’d not noticed the cold last night.
She twisted and gazed at Harri
