A Safe Pair of Hands Read online

  Sadie shivered at the blast of freezing air invaded the car, but the friendly face of the policeman calmed her sudden nerves.

  “Afternoon, folks – where are you heading?”

  “Good afternoon, officer; we are trying to get up to London as a matter of fact... is there a problem?”

  “Well, yes, there is a bit of a problem, I am afraid that the road is blocked just past the next junction.”

  Nick's lips tightened, but he kept his tone even. “Well we have been travelling for almost three hours now, too far to consider turning around and heading for home again – I think... so what would you suggest, officer?”

  “I agree; this weather is set to get worse once darkness comes. If you turn off at this next junction, rather than going straight past it, there is an industrial park about a mile or so in. It's got at least two travel inns – which I know of, and a couple of cafes as well.” He grinned suddenly, as he looked past Nick to Sadie. “But if I were you, I wouldn't hang about, with your Mrs, like; because they will be filling up fast with other stranded travellers!”

  Nick also glanced at Sadie, who blushed but did not correct the officer. He did not bother to correct him either.

  “Very well, officer; thank you for the tip.”

  “No problem, just you drive careful now,” he stepped back so that Nick could wind up the window again, and set the car back in motion.

  “I will call Mr Redding, once we've settled somewhere – and postpone our meeting for another time,” Nick murmured as they crawled along the road.

  The wind was starting to really howl, as they left the motorway, and visibility was almost down to zero as the snow thickened into a blizzard.

  Thankfully the industrial park was very easy to find, and the travel inn looked warm and welcoming.

  *

  There were a lot of cars already in the car park, and Sadie fretted that they might not even get a room.

  “I am sure that they won't see us out on the street,” Nick tried to reassure her, as she voiced her concerns.

  They took their luggage in with them as well, since the weather was just getting worse all the time.

  The lady at the reception desk, was all smiles and concern as she picked up a phone, and asked for hot drinks to be brought out whilst she sorted out some accommodation for them.

  “Two rooms, if you can manage that?” Nick asked as he pulled his credit card out of his wallet.

  The receptionist looked at him in surprise. “Oh I am sorry, sir; but I am under instructions to only give out one room to each party, I thought that you and the lady were...” she trailed off and looked distinctly uncomfortable for a moment.

  Nick glanced at Sadie who was also looking uncomfortable, but he also saw a little sparkle of what he guessed to be excitement in her eyes, as their eyes met and locked for a moment.

  It left a sense of anticipation deep within him, even as he wondered whether that look was more about wishful thinking on his part, than actual fact.

  “We will manage with just the one room, then – if you can make it a twin bed room?”

  The receptionist practically gushed at him. “Yes, of course that is no problem...” she hesitated as she took his credit card from him. “And would you like to be booked into the restaurant for tonight as well, sir?”

  “Yes, please; we have been travelling for quite a while, and I for one am getting hungry.” He glanced again at Sadie, who nodded in agreement.

  “Would seven o’clock suit you both?”

  Nick glanced at his watch, it was only three thirty, and seven o’clock seemed a long way off.

  “Could you make it a little earlier?”

  “I am sorry sir, but the restaurant does not open until seven,” she paused again and her eyes slid past them for a moment, and then fixed back onto Nick. “The room will need a little while to be prepared for you, and so if you leave your luggage here, and just take a seat over there, there is a hot pot of coffee, and some sandwiches and cakes for your enjoyment, whilst you wait.”

  Both Sadie and Nick beamed at the young receptionist. “That is very kind of you, thank you.”

  The table with the tray was situated just by one of the windows, and as they sat down, Sadie glanced out of the window.

  All that she could see was thick heavy snow, being blown around by the strong gale force winds.

  She gave a little shiver, as she appreciated the warmth and comfort of this place.

  “I am sorry about not being able to get a second room, Sadie,” Nick said a little uncomfortably. “If you wish to, we could try the other hotel; I don’t think that it is too far from here...”

  Sadie smiled in what she hoped was reassurance and not eagerness. “I really don’t fancy going out there again today, and I suspect that the other hotel will be using the same policy of one room per party.”

  “So you are not too upset about it?”

  She lifted the heavy pot of coffee, so that she would not have to look at him. “No, Nick; I am not upset... we will make do – I think.”

  The sandwiches and little cakes, certainly filled the empty spot in Sadie’s stomach, and the hot coffee was absolutely delicious. But neither of these things could take away the excited butterflies that tickled at her insides, giving her eyes a glitter, and her lips a shine – as she licked them without even realising what she was doing.

  It had Nick almost shaking with longing to just touch her. She was so incredibly beautiful, so absolutely desirable, and just so god damned sexy!

  “Your room is now ready for you, sir.” The receptionist walked over to where they were just finishing the last of the coffee, having demolished the plates of sandwiches and cakes.

  She held out a key card to Nick, and after he had taken it, she offered one to Sadie as well.

  “The elevator is just behind the reception desk – to the left of it, and you are on the third floor, room three zero eight.”

  *

  Nick carried both of their cases with ease, since they were both only small overnight ones, and they found that the elevator was already on the ground floor, and the doors opened as soon as Sadie pressed the button.

  There was no one around at the moment, and the place had a strange sense of hushed expectancy about it. Almost as though it had just sucked in a breath, and was now simply, waiting to exhale.

  The room on the third floor was a fairly small room, with twin single beds sitting side by side, with just a little gap in between them. They took up most of the space in the room, but there was a small chest of drawers besides each bed, and the one next to the bed, which Nick was now sitting on had a tray on it, with cups and a kettle, and tea and coffee making facilities.

  Fixed to the wall at the foot of the beds was a small flat screen television set, and the remote control for the television was in a little folder thing that was also attached to wall, right next to the television, and so Nick stood up again and walked across to picked it up.

  He pressed the button, and the television hummed and flickered, and then the news came on, and of course it was all about the weather.

  Nick had put Sadie’s case on the first bed, nearest to the second door of this room, which she guessed led to their bathroom.

  She glanced at her watch, to see that it was nearly four o’clock and decided to take a shower, and freshen up a little after hours spent in the car.

  She told Nick as much as she flicked open her case and began to pull out items.

  Nick flashed a quick smile. “You do that, and I will make us another cup of coffee, once I have given Mr Redding a call.”

  “Thank you,” she could not keep the surprise out of her voice, that the boss of the company that she worked for, the domineering Nicholas J Hargreaves – MD was offering to make her a drink.

  He grinned across at her as he easily read her expression.

  “I have lived on my own for most of my adult life,” he told her a little ruefully, “You would be surprised at how useful I am around a
kitchen... and other rooms too, for that matter,” he finished a little suggestively.

  “I don’t doubt that for a minute,” Sadie couldn’t resist saying as she grabbed her toiletries bag and bolted for the bathroom.

  Had he just been flirting with her?

  Sadie realised that she had been standing in the bathroom for several moments with her toiletries bag clutched to her chest like a child’s teddy bear.

  Nick would start to wonder what she was doing in here, if she loitered for too long.

  She put her bag on the counter next to the sink, and slowly and with trembling hands she began to undress.

  She stood under the shower for several minutes without soap or shampoo as she tried to compose herself.

  This playful side of Nick was a dangerous thing; this was the side of him that she had met three years ago, when she thought that she had found her soul mate.

  She knew that it would be a simple little thing, to fall for him – as she had three years ago.

  Sadie gave a watery little smile as she stood under the running water. Who was she kidding?

  She had fallen in love with Nick three years ago, and she had never fallen out of love with him since.

  He had been her soul mate then, she had been sure of it.

  He was her soul mate now.

  And he always would be her soul mate.

  Now all she had to do was to convince him of that!

  She grabbed the soap, and began to wash herself with a new sense of purpose.

  She soaped and shampooed and then rinsed off and wrapped the thick fluffy towel around her torso as she switched off the water.

  It was only after she had towelled herself dry that she realised, in her haste to leave Nick, and his flirting, she had forgotten to bring fresh clothing in with her.

  She now had two options.

  First she could put her slightly grubby travelling clothes back on.

  Or she could go back into the other room, wrapped in just this rather small fluffy white towel, and fetch her fresh clothing.

  And Sadie was more than a little bit disconcerted to find that the second option appealed a lot more than the first – and it was not because the clothes were a bit stale!

  Chapter Nine

  Nick had finished apologising to Mr Redding – even though the apologies were not necessary since that man had also been stranded – although he had been fortunate enough to be stranded at his own home.

  They had decided to postpone their meeting until the New Year, and Nick found himself whistling happily as he sorted through his clothes, he felt free now to do as he pleased, and he had Sadie with him as well.

  He had heard the shower running for a little while and then silence.

  Now as the bathroom door opened, he glanced up with a smile, and then froze, as Sadie – beautiful, adorable, sexy Sadie stepped into the room.

  She was wrapped in a little white towel, and her hair was a mass of damp strands hanging down her face and her back.

  She had obviously dried herself when she had stepped out of the shower, but even from across the room, Nick could see the places that she had missed.

  He stepped around the bed, almost without noticing, and moved across the short distance, until he was standing directly in front of her.

  He slowly lifted a hand, to gently brush at her shoulder.

  “You missed a spot,” he whispered huskily.

  She did not flinch.

  He had noticed how she stood waiting for him to get closer.

  She had looked a little nervous, but she also looked excited, and he could see it in her eyes now, as well.

  She wanted this.

  Almost as much as he ached for her, Nick suddenly realised that she wanted him too.

  He gently tilted her chin, so that he could stare into her beautiful grey eyes.

  “I want you so much,” he murmured. “I always have.”

  Sadie smiled up at him, and her eyes dilated.

  “Good,” she whispered, as she reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, to pull his head down, so that she could kiss him.

  Nick simply savoured this surprised pleasure of a kiss that she had instigated. For long moments he simply savoured her, and her warm contact.

  For long moments he allowed her to keep control.

  But it could not last. He could not hold back.

  With a soft groan, he scooped her up into his arms, and gently placed her onto one of the beds.

  He sensed that she was still nervous, and after everything that she had been through – in her marriage, he could hardly blame her.

  He knew that if he hesitated, then she might reconsider, and oh how he hoped that she would not change her mind.

  Even as he placed her on the bed, he followed down after her.

  She was wrapped in just a short damp towel, and he was fully clothed, but even so he felt right to her.

  This whole situation felt right to her.

  She wrapped her arms back around his neck, and pressed her lips to his, and she felt the tremble that rippled down him.

  He was nothing like Rick. Nick would never do anything to hurt her. She smiled softly. “I love you,” she whispered against his mouth.

  *

  Her words had been like magic to Nick; and the rush of emotion which he had felt when she had whispered those three little words.

  His eyes had flown open to look deeply into hers.

  His lips had stilled against hers for a moment, but only for a moment.

  He pressed his mouth harder to hers as he pulled off his clothing. A new sense of urgency seemed to possess him, as he tugged her towel from her, and began to kiss her skin. His naked flesh was rubbing against hers, and he could hear the soft groans that bubbled at the back of her throat.

  He knew that she was as excited as him, that she was as ready for him as he was for her.

  “I'm sorry, I just can't wait for you any longer,” he muttered as he gently nudged her legs apart.

  “No,” she murmured, and for one awful moment he thought that she was refusing him, rejecting him, but her eyes opened wider as they fixed squarely onto his. “No, don't wait; I don't want you to wait either, Nick!”

  *

  Making love to Sadie was the most amazing thing that Nick had ever experienced. She was warm and sensual, and so incredibly responsive to his touch.

  When he had first entered her, sliding in with one easy thrust, she had stretched and then closed around him in a warm embrace.

  She gave a soft gasp, and Nick paused with concern, had he hurt her?

  But her arms wrapped around his neck as she smiled up at him.

  She lifted herself up to kiss him, and her hips rose as well to draw him deeper into her.

  “I won't break, Nick... I want you too much, so don't be timid with me.”

  Her challenge went straight to his groin, wiping away any thoughts and concerns, but seeking only gratification, for him as well as for her.

  He had ached for Sadie for too long to be able to take things slow, and her words told him that she didn't want it like that either.

  He began a steady thrust and draw back motion, which had Sadie bucking her hips in unison.

  The motion picked up speed and intensity very quickly though, and as Nick lowered his shoulder to the bed, so that he would not crush her, his free hand began a fevered exploration of her body.

  He stroked and squeezed, and finally as his hand brushed against her nipple, he moved enough so that he could draw it into his mouth.

  Sadie went rigid beneath him. “Oh Nick!” she gasped as she shook and trembled through her first orgasm with him.

  It was enough to send Nick over the edge as well, as he pushed deeper into her, and then held himself there as his warm fluids flooded into her.

  Sadie did not think that she would ever feel cold again.

  As long as Nick was close to her, she would always be warmed by him, by his touch, by his smell – by the very idea of him in he
r life, she would never feel lonely, never feel cold again.

  **

  They went down to the hotel restaurant a little later, and anyone looking at them would have seen a young couple, deeply in love.

  Nick helped her into her seat, and sat across from her, where he simply watched as she self consciously picked up her menu.

  “A bottle of white wine, please,” he requested to the waiter.

  “I hope that white is okay with you?” he asked as the waiter left them to peruse the menu whilst he sorted out their drinks.

  Sadie smiled in reassurance. “Yes, I do enjoy a glass of wine, although I have never been fond of red.”

  “Good,” he looked positively relieved, and Sadie felt a rush of affection for him.

  He was her boss, and he had become a good friend, and now her lover as well, and so she thought how wonderful it was that as well as loving him, and being physically attracted to him, she liked him very much, as well.

  It brought a glow to her cheeks and a shine to her eyes that had Nick not being able to look away from her.

  “Have I told you yet – how absolutely stunning you look tonight?” he asked gruffly and Sadie nodded with a shy little blush.

  “As a matter of fact, yes you have... but I don't mind if you say it again – I don't mind at all!”

  He laughed huskily, and Sadie shivered in response.

  He was just too sexy for words right now!

  “Well you do – you look absolutely amazing!”

  It wasn't true really, Sadie thought that the silky blouse, in a deep purple colour was pretty – that was why she had purchased it in the first place, and the long black skirt with silver thread running through it, made her feel a little glamorous, her hair was swept up, to show her long slender neck, and she had dabbed on a little purple eye shadow, which had done the most amazing things to her usually grey eyes.

  She had been happy with the results as she had stepped into her spindly black sandals, just as Nick had stepped out of the bathroom, and stopped dead in his tracks as he looked at her in awe and wonder.