Connected (F1 Story)

Chapter Forty Six: Recharge

It may have been the early hours of the morning, but I didn't want to sleep now. I wanted to stay up until dawn and watch the sun rise over this ever-evolving city and its magnificent skyline.

Our room wasn't called the Panoramic Suite for nothing, that's for sure.

Daniel and I spent a long time exploring our surroundings, opening every drawer and finding every secret compartment. It wasn't the usual rush of unpacking, cleaning teeth and jumping into bed when we reached a hotel.

Daniel was sat on the King sized bed, staring at me, staring out of the panel of glass. I heard his camera shutter go off and it took me a second or two to process the fact he'd just snapped a photo of me from behind on the sly.

"Does my arse look fat?" I called out, not turning around.

"No, just looks really good in those jeans when you stand like that. Took a photo because you might wanna put it on Instagram..."

"Let's have a look then," I tutted, turning at last to see him grinning bashfully, like a schoolboy who had been caught doing something naughty. Mind you, that was the reality of Dan's mischievous school days. He and his friends were always in trouble for pulling pranks or talking too much in class.

Dan showed me the photo and I was pretty certain that he was blushing. His cheeks had definitely turned a pinkish shade.

"Does look alright," I commented, pleased that I had been doing my 'No ifs, just BUTTS workout'. 10 minutes a day, seven days a week. It was beginning to pay off.

"See what I mean?"

"I kinda do," I whispered. "Now let's send a selfie to Adam and tell him how much of a little shit he is."

"Oh you do have a way with words," Dan chuckled with his eyes glinting.

"Says the Australian who drops the C bomb far too often when you think I'm not listening!"

"Oh fuck," he exclaimed, clasping his hand over his mouth. "I am so sorry."

"I really don't care," I giggled truthfully. "As long as you don't swear at me with it, I'm chill."

Dan mock wiped his brow and turned so our backs were against the window. Once he was happy that his teeth weren't going to blind Adam, we took a couple of photos on my iPhone.

I pinged one of them over the Adam, thanking him, and the other to Lizzie and my parents. And Daniels parents. And my cousin Sara. I couldn't leave her, Tim and baby Olivia out. That wouldn't be fair.

"Can we have sex yet?" Dan asked, taking off his trainers and putting them in the hallway by the door. I don't know why he didn't put them on the designated shoe rack.

"Wow, what a charmer," I replied, walked over and kissed him. "We can have the best night and morning ever."

He gulped, made a high pitched sound before swearing under his breath. I think he liked my answer.

---

An entangled set of limbs, we awoke at the same time, Dan caressing the soft patch of skin just below my hip bone.

The smell of his aftershave and the typical post-sex session smell hit me and I smiled to myself. We were crossing off new hotels, cities and counties all the time.

"I'm hungry," Dan whispered, kissing my cheek. He was unbelievably romantic for the most part. "But I don't want to move."

"I know what you mean," I said back, craning my neck to get a glimpse of his expression. I was met with his brown eyes staring back at mine. "I bet you're so pleased that you let me put the air con on last night."