Sweetly Isolated (The Swallow Barn Cottage Series, Book 1)

Celebrate With Me

"I started writing again," she said, and then frantically shook her head. "Wait, that's not important. Or it is, but– But you see, I couldn't write when you left because I was just so miserable, and–" She shook her head again. "I'm not saying it right. Let me start again."

She took a calming breath in, even closing her eyes for a second, shook her hands in the air - the fingers were starting to get cold - and then gave him a direct look.

"I don't want you to leave to London without me," she said firmly. Good. That's a good beginning. Keep going. "It felt horrible to be in my cottage alone, without you. But it's not even that you weren't there! I'm not saying you should be around at all times! It's just that I felt absolutely wretched. And I tried writing, and nothing happened, not even the porn, and–" She was tangling in her words again, and she groaned in frustration. "It's not you, you see. It's not you who's been arsing or not arsing up my writing!" She flailed her hands as usual. "It's me! It's because I've been so focused on my writing, limiting myself, and thinking anything else was a distraction. But it's not! I see it now!"

She scrutinised his face, but he had the same blank expression. She saw that his lips were pressed tightly, which she'd learnt to recognise as a sign of him being cheesed off. Try harder, Clementine. He's worth it.

"I'm sorry I dismissed you! That I dismissed our relationship for the sake of my writing. You said then, I would have chosen my writing over you." She pursed her lips and frowned. "And maybe I would have then– But I know now it would have been a mistake! Because you see, I really don't have to choose between being with you and writing! All of these feelings, and all the stories I write, they are parts of me. My logical side writes the Evelyn Cox novels. And my shag loving part writes the space pirate porn." She thought for a second his lips twitched, but it was probably just her wishful thinking. "And I still have enough of– me to be with you!" She folded her hands pleadingly. "If you let me. Please, let me try."

Her throat constricted, and she shuddered. It was bloody brass monkeys, and she had silk knickers, a suspender belt, and stockings with lacy tops under this puffy skirt of hers - and her nether regions weren't thanking her right now.

Focus on the man and not your freezing bottom, Clem!

"You were right, from the start, from the very first day when you criticised my cereal," she said and gave him an unsure smile. "You said I needed lean proteins and 'good fats.' You see, it's like a person can't live only on sugar, I can't live purely on writing! I've just been doing it for so long - just writing and eating cereal - because I've been scared to come out of my hiding. But I want to now! I want to get all five food groups! And I want– you! I want to have you in my life." Her voice broke, but it wasn't the right time to fall apart. "And once I sussed it out, my writing was back. And I made a schedule, and I can write both, and rework my novel, and I'm sure I'll be able to do it anywhere! So if you take me back, I'll rent a flat, and then when it works for both of us, we can get together and–" Don't say 'shag,' don't say 'shag!' You're making beautiful emotional confessions! You're basically being Mr. Knightley!

"Shag?" he deadpanned.

"Yeah," she squeaked, and gave him a hopeful look. "Would you– Would you be interested in that?"

He kept quiet for a few seconds - and then for some reason he started unbuttoning his coat. Surely, he didn't mean to start now!

"What are you doing?"

"You look cold," he grumbled, took a step forward, and threw his peacoat - oh, his cologne! Citrusy, and spicy, and so– John! - over her shoulders.

Clementine's nose twitched. He was so close! Her head spun from his proximity. Blimey, Popplewell, it's like you're a fainting duchess or something in a bodice-ripper book!

She slowly lifted her eyes. He was giving her a studying look down his long nose - and she swallowed a knot in her throat.

"Please, take me back," she whispered.

C'mon!

Oh...

Is that–

Did one corner of his lips just... twitch?

Yes?

Yes! Yes, it did!

Oh god, he's smirking! Lopsidedly!

Oh thank Goddess!

Clementine exhaled a shuddered breath, and he grinned and shook his head.

"You're trying too hard, Clementine." He tilted his head, and his gaze dropped to her lips. Her mouth went dry. Oh god, please, just kiss me already. "I'd take you back just for showing up."

All her senses were heightened. Her nose was full of his smell, and she saw his fluffy lashes, and the whiskers of his beard, and his soft bottom lip, and the brilliant blue of his eyes! It's because it's so baltic, you're shivering, and nerve signals intensify due to one's slowing down blood flow, just as you found out researching hypothermia that time when your character fell through ice on– Shut up! Look what he's doing!

His arms slowly wrapped around her, and he pulled, making her take a small step forward. She pressed into him flush, and something sweetly shook inside. She grabbed handfuls of his jumper and rose on her tiptoes. He leaned down, but didn't kiss her. His lips hovered over hers for a second, his breath trembling on them.

"Clemmie..."

Clementine softly placed her hand on the back of his neck and pulled him down.

Oh, finally...

Kissing him was 'raindrops on roses, and whiskers on kittens,' and definitely 'bright copper kettles, and warm woolen mittens,' and especially 'snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes.' He pulled her into him even more tightly, bunching up his coat on her back, and she stretched even higher, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"God, I missed you," he murmured, kissing her jaw.

Clementine squinted in pleasure.

"I baked you Nana's cake," she murmured, and he laughed and kissed her cheeks, and then her nose, and then her lips again.

"John, I– I–" Two weeks is enough to fall in love, right? She's not being mental, to confess this now? Or is he going to run?

"You're cold, aren't you?" he purred and kissed her ear. "Your legs must be nippy. Not that I don't appreciate the stockings." Yeah, definitely too early for confessions. "And the shoes." He gave her a cheeky grin. "Can't wait to take them off you. Actually maybe we can keep them on the first time."

Ooph, what a beast! Clementine's personal furry menace!

"Let's go inside, love, before you get sick." He kissed her cheek, and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "Dinner must be ready."

She started walking to the porch, and he lingered for some reason. She looked at him over her shoulder.

"What?"

"Blimey, Clementine, the– the lines–" He gestured up and down with his index finger, pointing at her legs. Ah, he means the back seams.

"Wait till you see the suspender belt," she said and walked up the steps, purposefully rocking her hips just a bit.

"God, I love you," he said and ran up after her.

She gawked at him, and he quickly leaned in and tenderly kissed her.

"Let's go, Popplewell. It's time to celebrate."

THE END