Forked Roads Back

56 - TESSA

"BABE, THAT SMELLS INCREDIBLE," Jamie calls from bed the next morning.

I smile as I turn the black pudding off and get the plates out of the oven.

"Well it's nearly ready," I call. "Can you come and set the table?"

He saunters over to me in just his boxers, his hair tousled and face covered in a grin. "Morning again," he says, pecking my lips before finding the mats and setting the table.

We ended up having dinner quite late yesterday, after our exploits, so we had decided to lie in and have brunch instead of breakfast, before we went exploring properly later.

As he finishes the table, I place his food down in front of him and tell him to tuck in whilst I got my plate and the teapot. By the time I sit back down, he's finished half of his plate, so he must have been hungry. As I had been nibbling on bread as I cooked it, I end up giving half of my plate to him anyway, before he started scavenging for it.

"Tea?" I ask and he nods, finishing the last mouthful of sausage before sitting back with a sigh.

I pour him a cup and he pushes back his chair. He raises his mug in the air. "Cheers," he says, chuckling.

"Cheers!" I hold up my mug too. "To dissertations being handed in, exams being done and to the amazing breakfast we've just had."

"Amen to that babe," he says, taking a swig. "All of the above."

"As well as the incredible time you gave me last night." As ridiculous as it sounded, I wasn't walking straight this morning." I giggle to myself but shake my head at my private thought as Jamie's eyes meet mine.

"I told you we'd be making a racket," he chuckles.

"I think the walls were soundproofed enough," I tell him. "But I'm happy to return the favour," I add, before standing and walking over to him.

"Oh yeah?" He puts his mug down before I straddle his lap. He places his hand on my bum as I deliberately, slowly grind myself against him. "Aw jeez, you killing me." He groans as I move again, and I feel him harden on cue beneath me. "Babe. If you want to do this, you're going to have to be on t-" I cut him off with my lips, and before I know it, we're on the bed, breakfast completely forgotten about.

***

WE SPEND PRETTY MUCH the whole of Friday in bed, and even though the daylight remains throughout the day, we decide to stay in for the evening, snacking on fresh bread and crisps for dinner, neither of us bothered with cooking the pork we had bought.

On Saturday, we sleep in a bit more, and then explore the grounds for an hour, before meeting up with Sophie and Ellis, along with their two year-old, Ethan. He's a very similar age to Ellie, and spending time with him makes me miss her even more.

What makes me happy though, is how much Jamie seems to love Ethan. After his quip about having kids last year, making it clear he doesn't want them, the way he is with Ethan is such a relief. He's practically smitten, and when we leave to head back, fully laden with clothes and fancy fudge, he talks about nothing else.

As he cuts the engine, he sighs and looks at me. "I am beat." He takes my hand and kisses each of my knuckles individually, making my stomach flip for thousandth time today.

"Me too. I'm so full as well." I tap my stomach, which is hard, full of a huge cheese platter I'd polished off by myself.

"That should hold you until our dinner tomorrow." He chuckles. "I'm thinking just pyjamas, film and bed tonight. Ethan's completely worn me out."