Different Worlds Ch. 05

"Are you okay?" he asked gruffly.

"Uh huh," she replied smiling up at him.

"You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that."

"How long?" she asked, before she could check herself.

"Since the very first time saw you."

"That can't be right, I was sitting in a walnut tree." But she was grinning a wide, stupid grin so big it was making her face hurt.

A lazy smouldering smile spread across his face too. Damn he was beautiful.

"Okay maybe not the very first time. I didn't get much of a look at you then, but at the party, you were wearing that ridiculous outfit, but you still looked..."

Laughing she interrupted him. "But Sara, I— aren't you two were a thing?"

"She's a work colleague, I known her for years, we were at uni together, but we're just friends, we've only ever been friends."

"I saw you together, after the meeting." She could see by the change in his expression that he knew exactly when she was talking about.

"I'm so stupid I didn't think. Of course it was going to look like she was my girlfriend." He sighed heavily and took both her hands in his own. "She'd just broken up with Simon and she was sad. That's why I invited her, she needed a change of scenery. It was obvious in hindsight you might jump to that conclusion but it didn't seem appropriate to say anything."

He paused for a moment, then continued

"And I'd been talking to her about the project for weeks so she wanted to see it. I wondered if you thought that she and I were a couple, and I desperately wanted to tell you that at the time that we were just friends but it seemed presumptuous."

Ivy nodded slowly, as it dawned on her how wrong she had been about everything that had happened that day. She'd made so many assumptions.

"She knew right away that I liked you," he smiled fondly, "I tried to deny it, but Sara can read me like a book."

She opened her mouth to reply, but the words didn't come so she closed it again. Ivy hadn't really considered whether Richard had been attracted to her. She'd spent much of the last few weeks dreading the Gala, and she'd been so busy trying to convince herself that she wasn't into him that how he felt hadn't even entered her mind.

He cupped her face in both his hands and tilted it upwards towards him, brushing his lips against hers, kissing her again. Small kisses, travelling along the line of her jaw. Each one setting off a cascade of sensations, rippling down her spine and settling low in her belly.

Ivy gulped in a lungful of air, she felt giddy, reckless, out of control and she wasn't sure she liked it. Although it was at least in part to do with the champagne she'd drunk she was learning that this was the effect that being around Richard had on her. Her cheeks warmed again and she was grateful that the dark night was hiding her blush -or at least she hoped it was.

"Shall we walk?" he asked suddenly, slipping his hand into hers and pulling her gently forward, away from of the wall. "We could go and see how they're doing with the fireworks."

She tried to process his suggestion through the haze of her desire-addled brain. Fireworks? Yes the fireworks, they would be setting them up. She didn't want to go back into the ballroom, she would feel too exposed in there. She didn't feel ready to face Sally or Terrence and especially not Will's angry stare.

She nodded "Okay."

He led them down some stairs and they wandered hand in hand across the lawn. There was a chill in the air and Ivy didn't have her jacket, but she wasn't uncomfortably cold. She looked around and she was struck by how beautiful everything was. A full moon was rising from behind the woods, large and orange and silently watchful. The light it cast seemed to give everything an otherworldly feel, like a fairy tale. She glanced behind her at Cartwright hall. It looked beautiful in the moonlight, so stately and grand. There were silhouettes moving past the windows as people danced and Ivy felt a rush fondness for the place.

When they reached the lake, they found a hive of activity. Ivy had never considered that setting up a fireworks display could be such a convoluted process. It was fascinating to watch.

There was a small outbuilding behind the lake that she'd never noticed before. It was partially obscured by trees and shrubs. It caught her interest. It seemed different to the other buildings on the grounds, more contemporary.

"That's the summer house," Richard said, from right behind her "would you like to take a look?"

She hesitated, nervous at the idea of being alone with him again, but curiosity won out and she nodded.

They set off towards the building.

"You seem very happy today."

"Do I?" He stopped and turned to face her, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear as he spoke. "Perhaps it's because I've finally kissed you."

Every time he touched her it felt as though small explosions were erupting against her skin, but at the same time the intimacy of the move unnerved her.

"No," she laughed, "before that. I noticed it as soon as you arrived, you seemed..." she paused, "I don't know —elated."

They started to walk again.

"I got some good news at work today. The contracts have just been signed for a big new project in Stockholm. We've been working towards it for a while now."

She nodded, a little intimidated by this world Richard lived in, a world that she knew very little about.

"I'm part of the design team so I'll get to go and be involved in the implementation stage, which is exciting. It's all very cutting edge."

She was about to ask him more about it when they arrived in the summer-house and she was distracted.

It was just one large room, the walls were white apart from one that was entirely glass over looking the lake. The furnishings were very plain and minimal. There was something very calming and tranquil about the place. She wondered what it would be like in daylight.

She was drawn towards the easel standing in the corner of the room. She released Richard's hand so she could drift over to get a better look at it. Behind it there were canvases of various shapes and sizes that leaned forlornly against the walls. Some of the paintings looked finished, some were only half complete. As she studied them he spoke and his voice came from just behind her.

"This was my mums studio, she used come here to paint." Even though she was facing away from him she could hear the smile in his voice as he added. "And to get away from all of us I think."

She turned to face him and found he was staring at the painting, a faraway look in his eyes.

"I haven't been in here very much in the last few years." He said, almost to himself.

She wasn't sure what to say. She had an urge to wrap her arms around him and press herself against him and hug him as hard as she could in the hope that it would somehow ease the pain he must be feeling, but she didn't. Instead she reached forward, took one of his hands in hers and squeezed. He turned to face her.

"I'm sorry," she said meeting his gaze, "About your mum I mean." The words felt pathetic, and wholly inadequate for the enormity of the situation but she wasn't sure what else to say.

He nodded. "Thank you, I still miss her."

"Of course."

They stood in silence for a while until Ivy spoke again.

"We should go back, the fireworks will be starting soon."

He smiled. "We wouldn't want to miss them."

They left the summer-house again still hand in hand, there was electrical current flowing between them.

They reached the ballroom. So much had changed in the short time since she had been in this room, and yet everything was as it had been before they left; couples dancing or standing in small groups chatting, the string quartet still played on their low stage in the corner, uniformed waiting staff hovered around collecting glasses that had been abandoned. She cast around, searching for Sally or Ruth but she couldn't see them instead she spotted Caroline in the corner talking to Terrence. He had his back to her, but Caroline caught her eye and grinned, and Ivy smiled back, wondering if she looked as embarrassed as she felt.

They grabbed their coats and hurried back outside. A crowd was starting to gather by the lake. Ruth and Sally were already there. Ivy was finally starting to feel the cold; she pulled her jacket on and drew it closed across her chest. They wandered in the general direction of her friends. As Ruth saw them approach her face lit up.

"Hey you two, we wondered where you'd got to."

Ivy tried to ignore the inquisitive look Ruth was giving her. Sally was watching them too, the scrutiny of her gaze hard to bear. Ivy was pleased when the fireworks started.

Richard stepped behind her and pulled her against him. Wrapping his hands around her waist he pressed his face up against the skin where neck met her shoulder and inhaled. The move was possessive and very public; there could be no doubt to any onlookers about the nature of their relationship now. As his lips tickled her throat she released an involuntary whimper. His answering chuckle reverberated through her, arousal unfurled inside her.

Still holding her close with one arm he raised the other to her neck and brushed tendrils of hair aside. He trailed his lips against the skin on her neck travelling tantalisingly upwards towards her ear. He wasn't kissing her exactly, or licking, he was using his lips to explore her skin. She wrapped her fingers around the arm that was holding her waist and clung on as the fireworks exploded around them filling her vision with light, mirroring her internal response to his touch.

What was this man doing to her?

The firework display finished and people began drifting away. From behind them the sound of music started again, not the orchestra of earlier but something sassier and more modern sounding. Richard stood behind her, his hands continuing to explore the contours of her torso, his mouth still on her shoulders and neck. When he spoke, his lips were so close to the shell of her ear and it tickled as the words came out. "Spend the night with me?"

She opened her mouth to reply but nothing came out, possibly because she hadn't figured out what her reply was going to be to this unexpectedly direct question. Was this what she wanted?

She hardly knew him, there was no commitment to a future together implicit in this request, no promise that it would ever happen again, no assumption of a relationship or even a friendship afterwards and they lived in entirely different worlds. But she wanted this, she wanted him. Even if it was only going to happen this once, even if it was her only chance to know him she was going to seize it. She had never felt this before, this consuming, almost violent hunger. It was so overwhelming it was threatening to swallow her whole and she was a tiny bit afraid. But she also knew she would forever wonder what might have happened if she didn't grab this moment with both hands.

He spun her around so she was facing him and they gazed at each other for what seemed like a small eternity. She looked around her, almost every one had left without her noticing and they where alone on the lawn, save for the pyrotechnics crew moving around behind the lake, dismantling their kit.

He cupped her cheeks in both his hands and lifted her face so she met his stare.

"Let me take you to bed." He spoke so quietly she only just heard the words. But still, a stab of desire shot through her core, so powerful her knees almost gave out beneath her. She swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry.

He began steal kisses up the column of her throat. And then before she could change her mind she was saying yes while she nodded her head and laughed at the recklessness of her mood.

A grin lit his face, and he kissed her mouth, there seemed to be a ravenous undercurrent coursing through them both of them. He grabbed her hand again, pulling her back towards the house. They reached the foyer, but instead of going to the ballroom he lead her down a corridor that brought them to a grand staircase.

Her legs seemed to be propelling her forward off their own volition as her heart skittered around in her chest. What was she doing? She didn't do things like this, she hardly knew him. But just as these misgivings were really starting to establish themselves in her mind he paused at the foot of a flight of stairs and pulled her into another heart stopping kiss. It was forceful, invading, erotic and her arms slid up his chest and curled around his neck and she stood on the very tips of her toes to reach him. When he stopped her heart was hammering and she was panting for breath and all thoughts of changing her mind had abruptly departed, replaced instead by a burning, all consuming need.

Okay, maybe she didn't normally do things like this but she was going to make an exception on this occasion.

"Wait here," he said, pecking her smartly on the lips, "I'll be back in a minute." He disappeared into a door behind the stairs.

And she was alone, standing at the foot of the stairs. Still breathless, she gripped the banister and sagged. Where on earth had he gone?

While she waited she took in the grand surroundings. The large foyer was lined with oak panels giving it an austere appearance. The stairs were carpeted, deep, red, thick carpet. The staircases swept up each side of the room meeting in the centre at a landing with a large, elaborate chandelier hanging above it. She shook her head. This place was too much.

Taking her mobile phone out of her pocket, she eyed it pensively. She ought to text Ruth, explain her disappearance, but what should she say? She started to type.

With R

might not be back l8er

didn't want U 2 worry

Ruth replied instantly.

OMG!!

She cringed, already anticipating the interrogation she was going to be on the receiving end of when she next saw her friend, slid her phone back into her pocket and looked up. Richard was walking towards her and somehow managing to hold a bottle and two champagne flutes in one hand, he was undoing his bow tie and the top buttons of his shirt with the other, lending him an uncharacteristically unkempt appearance that she was finding hard to marry with her earlier impressions of him. She eyed the fine smattering of dark blond hairs peeking out of his shirt. And when she met his gaze again he grinned at her and she had the feeling he'd noticed her admiring glance.

Her stomach did a little flip as he closed the distance between them. He kissed her as though their short time apart had been like a famine. Her back was pressed against awkwardly against the banister by the time the kiss ended and she was breathless again. Before she had a chance to catch her breath he was cupping her face in his hands and looking down at her, his expression serious.

"It occurred to me that I'm being rather selfish, stealing you away from the party so early. We can go back if you like," he traced the line of her jaw with a finger, "delay our gratification."

She shook her head emphatically. She realised she was much more interested in exploring this new intimacy they'd found than going back to the Gala.

"Come on then," he said and they started up the stairs.

She was only vaguely aware of the rows of grand gilt-framed portraits as they passed them, and the dark oak paneling that lined the walls, but none of it felt real. It was as though she was dreaming as he opened a door off the hallway and they went into his bedroom.

She looked around her, taking in the room. It was reminiscent of the summer-house with its white wash walls and clean modern lines. A stark contrast to the other parts of Cartwright hall she had seen.

Richard was watching her. Unable to bear his scrutiny she looked away again. There was a desk in the corner, with an expensive looking laptop sitting on it and a pile of architecture books. Suddenly she felt like an imposter, what had she been thinking coming here with this man she hardly knew. They had nothing in common. She began to wonder if she should make some excuse and leave but he had opened the champagne and was pouring her a glass. He filled it to the brim and she took a fortifying gulp.

"Ivy?"

She met his gaze again.

"Are you ok? You look nervous," he touched her face, "Am I moving too fast for you? We don't have to do this right now."

She had been worried, but he was looking at her with such an earnest expression that her doubts dissolved. Leaning forward, she clumsily stole a kiss, catching him off guard and before her nerves had a chance to creep back in again she said. "I want to."

At first he didn't move, but then he kissed her back, hungrily, running his hands upwards and grabbing fist fulls of her hair, messing up the hairstyle that Ruth had worked so diligently to construct just hours earlier.

Again, she was pressed against the wall, his hands encircling her waist. He grinned at her as he pressed himself up against her. His head dipped and he dragged his lips across hers. She arched, pushing herself against him.

He pulled away and took a deep shuddering breath. She felt drunk on him, dizzy with arousal and filled with a yearning need to take this further.

Gripping her waist in his hands, he turned her around so she was facing away from him. She leaned and pressed the palms of her hands flat against the wall to steady herself while he slid the zip down and peeled her dress off. She felt naked and exposed as his gaze fell on her.

*

Richard's breath caught at the sight of her. The curve of her waist, the way her hips flared. Her skin seemed to glow in the dim light and the urge to taste her swept through him. He fell to his knees and pressed his lips against the two dimples at the base of her spine, relishing the feel of her skin against his mouth. He was about to remove the last of her underwear but before he had a chance to she spun around and faced him again.

She hadn't worn a bra under her dress, it hadn't allowed for that and as his eyes travelled up, absorbing the sight of her almost naked body, the body he had spent so long trying to imagine. She was perfect she was absolutely perfect. Her breasts were now framed by her hair, which had begun to fall out of its style during their passion. Her small, pink nipples called to him, he wanted to abandon his quest to get her naked, so he could bury his face in them instead. He clenched his fists and tried to reign his control.

Two parts battled in his mind, half of him wanted to pick her up and throw her on to his bed so he could invade every part of her body with his own. He wanted feast on her delectable flesh, and sate this all-consuming appetite he had for her But at the same time his instinct was to use all of his wiles seduce her, to enchant her, to worship her, To bring her so much pleasure that she would never consider seeking fulfillment with any other man. He blinked, where were these thoughts coming from, he had turned into some kind of animal, filled with primitive, jealous urges.

He removed her underwear and the musky scent of her arousal surrounded him. Without conscious thought he gripped her hips with both his hands and leaned forward, burying his face between her thighs, seeking her out with his tongue, pulling his teeth across her clitoris. She melted against him, gripping his hair with both hands. He looked up and caught sight of her face. Her eyes were closed, her cheeks flushed. She sighed as her head fell back hiding her face from view. Knowing the effect he was having on her was so arousing it was almost painful. He reached up and captured her nipple between his thumb and forefinger and squeezed gently. He smiled when she whispered his name in response.

*

Nothing could have prepared Ivy for the riot of sensations that Richard's tongue would deliver. Looking down at the top of his head she wondered for a fleeting moment how this was happening, how she had ended up here at this point so unexpectedly. But soon her ability to think had slipped away as she was carried along on a turbulent sea of passion. When he drew her clitoris into his mouth and gently bit down, she gripped the wall and clinging to it for dear life, she prayed she would manage stay upright. The pleasure was almost unbearable. Her hands left the wall and clenched in his hair and she could feel herself beginning to unravel, as a multitude of sensations washed over her.