Goodbye, Cottage
The worst part hadn’t been leaving the flat, it had been leaving Jessica with Carter. She didn’t understand it but James had made it easy for her and she had to agree that the people you thought were friends were sometimes nothing more than people.
She tucked a piece of her loose hair behind her ear as she stared out at the passing countryside in the back of the all too familiar town car.
James sat next to her, dressed a lot more formally than her and looking a lot less emotional as well. He put his phone down on the seat.
“Are you feeling better?” It seemed such a mundane thing to ask after such a bitter day.
“No. My stomach…”
“You haven’t eaten much of anything today,” he noted.
“We’ve been in the car.”
“My Nan will have dinner ready; you need to try to eat.”
She agreed with hardly a voice.
He took her hand in her lap before she could drift her eyes back to the countryside. “Do you like the country here?”
She stared at their entwined hands. “It’s nice.”
“Would you like to live in this area?”
“Oh.” She looked up to him, surprised by the offer. The houses were much bigger than anything he’d suggested previously. “I don’t know.”
“Think about it while we’re staying here.”
She agreed with one nod and her eyes followed suit back to the window as the car slowed and pulled into Rose’s picturesque cottage.
Once the car came to a stop, James helped her out. “I should get the Jaguar delivered from Blackwell; my grandmother has more than enough space to park it. Maybe she’ll give me the garage for it.”
Kara gave him a distracted smile.
“I’ll call Andrew and see if he wants to drive it over.” He walked with her to the door as he thought about his car. He’d only got to drive it once after the amazing Christmas breakfast they’d endured. He knocked on the front door of the Victorian cottage and looked to her. “You look ill, I don’t like it.”
“Was it the wobble in my step?” she said without emotion.
“That and you’re pale.” He stepped into her and kissed her forehead.
She took a handful of his heavy coat to steady herself. “I don’t think I can take much more anxiety.”
“You shouldn’t have any more anxiety,” he assured her. “I’m glad we left. You need to be relaxed and that wouldn’t have happened with bloody Carter and Jessica.”
“You make it sound like they’re together.”
James grunted as the door opened.
Rose greeted them with a smile but it was only seconds until it faded and she looked concerned. “Oh, are you alright, Kara?”
Kara sighed. Fine, only sick to my stomach.
James took her into the house. “She needs to eat.”
Rose nodded. “Yes, I can see that.”
He took off her jacket for her and hung it on the near coat rack after he dropped a couple bags to the wood floors.
“I hope some stew can help. It’ll be ready soon.” Rose was sweet, and such a grandmother, something Kara felt like she needed all of a sudden.
Pulling her boots from her feet, she looked around to make sure that was the correct place to leave shoes long term.
Rose was quick to take her hand and lead her into the kitchen. “Sit, dear.”
James walked in behind them, looking over his cell phone. “I’m going to call about the car, I’ll be right back.”
Kara swallowed as he put the phone to his ear and walked away. Her stomach knotted up when he left. It had done that the entire day. She had started to notice her nerves liked it better when James was near. Rose came back to the table, tea pot in hand.
“Would you like some tea?”
Kara nodded. “That would be great, thank you.” She was a bit chilled and at least the warm drink would help with that problem, maybe even settle her stomach.
Rose poured them each a cup and sat across from her. “Did you not want to stay at Blackwell?”
“James didn’t leave it up to me.”
“I see.” Rose nodded. “Perhaps he thought Millie and Garrett might not be as understanding, considering their reactions at Christmas to the baby.”
Kara winced. “Yeah, maybe.”
Rose sipped her tea. “I wouldn’t worry about that though, dear. He’s like his father, when his mind is made up, James is committed.”
Kara shut her eyes and rubbed her hand along her forehead from the stress as it reared its ugly face. She wanted to curl up away from it all.
“Oh, Kara,” Rose said, reaching across to hold her jittery hand, “you and the baby are safe here, don’t worry.”
The rest of the evening was calm and pleasant. Rose didn’t ask many questions. She just seemed to bask in her grandson being in her house for so long. Kara guessed she missed him, though she wasn’t sure if it would be an easy stay on James. He already seemed annoyed about his grandmother’s doting but Kara liked that about her. She wanted to stay longer than a month or two he had promised.
When it was time to sleep, Rose showed them the beautiful master suite, which had a large queen-sized bed and minimal but antique furniture. The woman had mentioned she hadn’t used it in years, not since her husband had passed away—it was now the guest room. She left them there to fend for themselves and Kara found the easiest to wear item on the top of her bag, a sheer nightgown, not all that warm but the quilts looked cozy enough.
She stripped in the tiny washroom attached to the room and slipped into the nightie, brushing her hair and teeth—all the while left alone by James as he unpacked his clothing into the empty dresser in meticulous fashion.
She joined him in the room and flipped off the light to the bathroom. Her eyes went to the bed, where he was half covered in the quilts but the rest of his bare chest exposed.
“I like that little slip.” He watched her walk over.
Kara glanced at him and stopped in front of the nightstand. “I couldn’t find my pyjamas.”
His eyes stayed on her.
“What happened to your grandfather?” She finally got the question from her mouth that she’d been thinking about since being shown the room.
“He died before I was born.”
“But how?” she asked, removing the tiny earring studs she’d had on for the past day.
“Heart attack.”
“Oh, that’s horrible,” she breathed. “I’m sorry.”
He moved on rather quickly from the subject and put a hand to the bed beside him. “Come here, my love.”
Her heart skipped as she dropped the sparkling diamonds to the nightstand and crawled onto the lush bed toward him.
“That’s it.” He brought her into him and she dropped her cheek to his bare chest. The dark, peaceful silence of the countryside pulled her to shut her eyes. She suddenly loved it so much more than central London and all its constant noise.
“I’ll miss you when you leave tomorrow,” she whispered to him.
His hand around her waist tightened and he kissed the top of her head. “Yes, it’s a mutual feeling.”
She felt compelled among the calm silence to slip her leg over his lap. When she did, she adjusted the nightgown up her thighs and settled her centre along the smoothness of his boxer briefs, enjoying the light rubbing it allowed her. His hands found her hips and she hummed from his gentle touch.
“Mm.” His chest rumbled with a growl. “Naughty girl.”
Her eyes watched him in the moonlight filtering in as she rocked back and forth, her cheeks flushing just a bit.
“You know how you called me a woman earlier?”
He grabbed her waist with some impatience.
“No one’s ever called me that before. I’ve always been just a girl.” She swallowed, finishing her thought in her head. Just a Hunter.
He pushed off the bed and sat up, bringing his hands up and under her nightgown to completely remove it. “Girls don’t have these.” He ducked his mouth to her breasts and sucked one at a time, until she broke and fell forward on him with a soft giggle.
“James…”
He gripped her bottom with a strength that made her moan. “And not an ass like this.”
She nibbled at his neck as the spark in her core ignited. Her hips rocked against him with a bit more heed.
His eyes moved to hers. “And they definitley don’t climb on top and demand a fuck.”
“I didn’t do that,” she whispered to him as his fingers went between her thighs and rubbed her. Her moans threatened to leave her chest.
“Well, I didn’t start this but I don’t have a problem finishing it.”
She giggled again. “I knew you wouldn’t.”
He groaned and dropped her down in the bed, taking her to her back. His mouth inched hers and teased a kiss before dropping down her body in gentle bites.
She shut her eyes and enjoyed every moment of it, especially when his mouth stopped on her stomach and kissed her there. His palm covered her swollen belly and she sat up on an elbow to look at him. Her hand took his stubbled cheek and his eyes met hers as his mouth brushed a few more kisses along her abdomen.
“Thank you for protecting us,” she whispered.
“I’ll always protect you and the little one.” He pushed himself forward and crawled up her, their mouths meeting. He got his briefs off and didn’t wait a second more to push himself inside her.
“I know.” Her head fell back into the bed and she smiled, enjoying the entry.
He pressed kisses across her face, rocking them into a rhythm she loved. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders and held him close, repeating his name to him in his ear as he made love to her. His deep voiced reply held his usual indicative tone and he whispered all sorts of playful things back. Things she loved to hear. All the things.
“You love that, don’t you?”
She got hot from her building orgasm and nodded.
“Tell me yes.” His thrusts quickened.
She lifted her eyes to look at him as it exploded across her body, crashing through her limbs.
“Yes, sir.”
He growled so deep, she felt the rumble in her own chest and basked in how it all slotted together for her. He fucked her through the tightening of her muscles and the gush between her thighs.
“Bloody hell.” James paused above her and she knew better than to know he was finished. He caught his breath. “I love it when you call me that.”
“You know…” She brushed her hands along his chest. “I don’t think that’s normal.”
“Did you think I was normal?”
She smiled up at him and bit her lip with a shake of her head. “What else do you want to do to me?”
He watched her. “So much.”
“Yeah?” She giggled. “Tell me.”
“Not tonight.”
“James,” she pouted.
He growled in her ear, deep-seated in his chest, it made her brain switch off and all she could do was moan to him. However, she wasn’t normal either and being weird together would be just fine.
She woke the next morning to the dull light of the bathroom filtering out across the room. Taking a soft breath, she listened as the water ran, the clock beside her head flashing six thirty. His plane was soon and she didn’t want to think too much about it.
The need to empty her bladder became intense as the minutes went on and she walked to the bathroom.
James dropped his toothbrush to the countertop. “Morning, love.”
She nodded and moved to the toilet. “I need to pee. Bad.”
“Bad?” He smiled and walked out of the bathroom.
She sat and found much-needed relief, then finished and decided to brush her teeth and hair. As she adjusted the strap of the nightie on her shoulder, she headed back out into the room. Dressed in a pair of jeans and a fitted shirt, he walked from the closet to meet her.
She smiled and watched him adjust his sleeves. It was sort of nice watching him dress. Her thoughts wandered as he grabbed his belt off the bed.
He glanced at her. “Are you going back to sleep?”
She shrugged. “Are you leaving soon?”
“In three hours.” He put the black belt through the loops on his pants. “I’ll come say goodbye.”
She didn’t feel like sleeping anymore though. “I’ll stay up.” And spending more time with him seemed nicer than lying in bed alone.
He finished and walked towards her, bringing her into his chest. “You look tired.”
“I’ll go back to sleep after. I’m fine, not like I have a lot to do.”
He kissed her forehead, his hands rubbing her sides. “How do you feel?”
“Alright,” she mumbled.
He nuzzled her and took her hand. “Come eat breakfast with me then.”
She followed him out of the room and downstairs. The kitchen was dark and his grandmother obviously not up yet.
James walked to the fridge and opened it. “What would you like?”
Kara shrugged. “Granola and yogurt with berries.”
“I don’t think she has that.” He moved some things around.
She made a face. “I’ll just eat a cookie.” Walking to the counter, she opened the jar and pulled one out.
He watched her nibble. “Go get dressed, we’ll go out.”
She wrinkled her nose. “I’m comfy.”
James approached her and took the cookie from her fingers. “Go.”
She went to grab it back from him but he wouldn’t let her have it. “James.”
“If you won’t let me satisfy your cravings, you’ll have to satisfy mine and that might make things a bit awkward right now.”
Her cheeks reddened. “We did that last night.”
“It’s a new day, love.”
“What’s that mean?” Her eyebrows bounced with interest.
He ate the cookie and shooed her from the kitchen.
She groaned and left, jogging the stairs. Ripping apart her suitcase which wasn’t that organized to begin with. She took off her well-loved plain red shirt and hunted for a bra. She found a pink lace one but it was tighter. She needed new clothes. It was sort of getting desperate again, especially with her pant situation and wider hips.
“Kara.”
She turned to him as she clipped it together.
He took a deep breath when his eyes went to her sandwiched breasts in the bra. She turned a bit away to fix them.
“If you need help, you can call Becky and Andrew.”
What the hell does that mean? She made a face and grabbed a shirt. “Okay.”
“I put their phone numbers in your cell phone.”
Kara shrugged a shirt over her head then went on a search for pants. “Why would I need help?”
“With things… anything,” he clarified.
Kara gave him a look, like he’d thoroughly lost it “Kay…”
He sounded exasperated now. “Shopping, doctors, let’s say, your bloody ex-boyfriend.”
“I don’t think they can help me with that, James.”
“Just call them, if you need help. Alright?”
“Fine. I will call them if I need help.” She sighed and threw down the pants she held. “I need maternity pants, ones that won’t hurt my fat stomach!”
James chuckled. “Are you pouting?”
“No…” She grabbed a pair of leggings and pulled them on. “Maybe… whatever.”
He walked over to her as she struggled to get the leggings on, then finally accomplished her goal. She fitted the snug pants over herself and turned to him.
He kissed her cheek. “You look pretty.”
“Ugh, you’re too nice to me.” She walked away from him and out of the closet. “Now, I want pancakes with lots and lots of whipped cream and berries… Oh and I want those orange—”
He came up behind her and put a hand on her mouth. “Please stop. You’re exhausting my brain.”
She giggled and pulled back. “Why?”
“The random need for food of all bloody kinds.”
She turned towards him. “See how much you’re gone? You don’t even know how to deal with cravings—” Her sentence fell short as she saw her words hurt him, and she hadn’t meant to at all.
He sighed and pulled out his wallet. “I forgot to give you this.” He pulled out a silver credit card and gave it to her.
“It has my name on it…” She looked up at him quickly. “Why?”
“You’re going to be my wife. I think I can trust you with access to the bank.”
She tried not to smile at him. “So I can just buy things without asking you?”
“Yes.”
“Wow…” Kara bit her lip to hide her bud of excitement. It seemed like a bigger step than the ring on her finger. “You sure?”
“I’m sure.” His creased brow broke to his normal smirk. “Let’s go to breakfast, love.” He took her hand and led her out of the room before she could protest further.
They walked down the stairs and he grabbed his keys and jacket.
“I’m starving.” She pulled on a black puffy parka that stuck when she attempted the zipper. She’d barely worn it since buying it months ago, but the cold countryside weather outside that day provoked her need to wear it. It’s instant warmth she knew would do the trick in the cold car that morning. She found her purse hanging nearby, and put her first ever credit card in her wallet.
James finished tying the laces of his shoes and stood. “Good, a leisurely morning drive toward food then in my car.”
She smiled, then paused. “Oh, yeah, your car is here.”
“Right.” He returned with enthusiasm. “Come.”
She headed for the front door with him and walked out into the cool winter air.
Against the ice and snow, the black sports car looked perfect and maybe a little dangerous, but James’ paranoia calmed her as she settled in the seat. He was a good driver.
He started the car as she snapped her belt into place. “Do you want to go to the grocery store as well?”
“Why?” she breathed.
“So you can get whatever you’d like to eat, while I’m away.”
That idea didn’t sound half bad. “Okay.”
He nodded. “Breakfast first though.”
The drive was short, and he pulled up to a restaurant in the nearby town.
Inside, the decor was lavish, well-suited to James’ tastes.
She sat as soon as a waitress showed them to a table and she dropped her purse to the ground. James was more graceful with his movements.
The waitress passed them each a menu. “Anything to drink?”
Kara thought. “Do you have milkshakes?”
“In the morning, Kara?” James cut in, ordering a tea before she could reply.
She shrugged her shoulders.
“We do.” The girl bounced on her feet.
He looked over the menu. “A strawberry milkshake then, and a full breakfast for the both of us,” he concluded for her and she walked away.
Kara tried not to smile but it was sort of cute how he’d gotten the milkshake choice right. “Good flavour choice.”
“At least I know some things about you…”
Kara sighed. “James.”
“What?”
She studied him. “Does it hurt you that you’re away, missing all my stupid requests and demands?”
“Yes,” he admitted with annoyance.
Kara tilted her head and smiled. “Really?”
“What?” He grunted in defeat. “Some part of me is human, missing my pregnant fiancée and all that.”
She stood and he looked up, confused as she moved her chair beside him. “Better.” She sat. “I won’t see you for five days; we might as well be as close as possible.” She put her hand to his and held it, accompanied by a slow and lovely burn that took over her body on contact with him.
“We should have just stayed in bed.”
She giggled. “I know, last night was fun,” her whisper was accompanied by a full-on blush.
He chuckled. “How many times did you finish? I lost track.”
She elbowed him. “Stop… it’s not my fault it felt so good.”
“No, right, that was my fault.”
She giggled, leaning in to kiss him as the waitress stumbled into the table and put down the pot of tea. Kara pulled back to look up at her as James said thank you. She trotted back off.
“She’s really clumsy,” Kara noted. “I think she’s clumsier than me.”
“That’s questionable,” he teased her, pouring himself some tea. “Let’s change the subject.”
“To what?” she asked.
“Our wedding.”
She blinked. “What about it?”
“Let’s start with, have you thought of a date?”
“N-no. It’s been a week since you asked me.” The thought hadn’t even crossed her mind, even if she often touched and looked at the large diamond sitting on her finger. Real wedding plans had not been a spark in her imagination.
“How about in the spring?”
“That’s so soon,” she breathed and shook her head.
“It’s only January,” he pointed out. “The baby is due in late June and…”
She tilted her head. “And what?”
“And I just think we should get married before that.”
“What?” she was suddenly very confused.
“It’s not like it’s completely unrealistic.” He explained, “It doesn’t have to be extravagant.”
“I think it’s too soon, James.”
The waitress showed up with her milkshake. “Breakfast will be along shortly.”
He nodded to her and once she’d walked away, he laid in like Kara had been expecting. “What’s too soon about it? It’s three or four months away. I’m not asking for next weekend.”
“I know but—” She sighed. “It’s just…”
“Yes?” His annoyance only added to her lack of speech.
“Why does it have to be before the baby? I’m going to be so fat,” she said, pointing to her stomach.
He stayed quiet and it drove her insane.
“James?”
He leaned in. “Kara, we need to get married.”
“Yeah, but, why?” She was whispering now. “What’s the rush?”
He leaned back and looked away from her. “Do you want to marry me?”
She huffed. “I said yes, didn’t I?”
“That’s not the point,” he said in a low voice. “Agreeing and actually doing are two separate matters.” He let out a tight breath. “This needs to happen. For the sake of our reputation, I am saying we need to get married before we have the child. So, pick a bloody day.”
She stared at him. “If it wasn’t an option, then why didn’t you just say so?” Their eyes stayed locked, the disagreement between them smouldering, words no longer needed.
The waitress interrupted again, placing their food in front of them, asking them if they were in need of anything else, and scurrying away. Kara was sure she’d run off so quickly because of the way he looked.
She picked up her fork. “Stop looking so insulted.”
He smiled, turning his plate to what he wanted to eat first. “I wish I could win with you…”
“You do all the time.” She turned her cheek to him.
“Only when your pleasure is involved, I’m afraid.” He took a bite of his meal but her body had become tense with annoyance.
“That was degrading.”
“Which part?” he snapped. “Wanting to marry you or that I always give you what you want?”
Her body scorched with anger and she didn’t like the feeling. “You’re actually being a bit of an ass.”
He ate more of his meal and didn’t reply, making Kara insane in the process. She pushed her food away and sipped the milkshake instead. That alone irked him and it made her feel better.
“H-how is your meal, good?” The waitress had appeared without them noticing.
James shifted in his seat and before Kara had realized it, he was handing over his credit card. “We’re pressed for time. I’ll pay the bill now.”
She took the card, giving him a nod and walking away.
“Eat.”
“I’m not hungry anymore.”
He stared at her. “You need to eat.”
“Make me.” Kara boiled, deciding not to speak further with him.
He ate a last bite of his food, which he’d mostly finished and stood as the waitress brought back his card. His hands grabbed her coat on the back of her chair and he held it out for her.
Kara stood, ignoring how he could still be a gentleman in a fight as she put her arms through the sleeves. But even when he drove her to the store, where she picked out whatever she wanted, she stayed silent, pouting.
The car ride back to his grandmother’s was not any better, but James was good at making awkward silences even more painful. His throat clearing and grunting had begun to drive her insane and she cracked.
“Why are you being such a royal asshole!”
“I am not being an asshole,” he shot, “you’re being silly. Like usual.”
She lashed out and finally hit him.
“Do I look like a bloody punching bag?”
“Yes.” She played child, crossing her arms and looking away from him.
“You are being completely ridiculous.” He informed her.
“Whatever.”
“Acting like a child, not someone about to have one.”
She felt that lump in her throat plague her but she was determined to argue with him, and so she fell silent.
“Oh, no, I’ve shut you up again. Let’s go back to square one, shall we?”
She bit her lip to stop her words, looking out the window.
“Kara…” he huffed, his hands moving over the steering wheel. “I love you.”
She wrinkled her nose.
“Kara?”
She broke again, her need to argue with him getting to her. “Why don’t you just say what you really mean, James!”
“I’m trying to think of what I mean.” He informed her in a soft tone. “But I suppose the point is, well—” He paused. “It needs to look like this baby is mine, I told you that. Getting married will solidify it all. I need you and this baby.” He pulled the car into his grandmother’s drive and parked. Turning the engine off, he leaned over the console to her. “Can you just think it over, please?”
His closeness made her stomach flutter with butterflies and she couldn’t help softening at the sound of his deep voice. “Okay.”
Relief washed over his expression and he kissed her cheek.
She got out and walked to the trunk to help get bags but he managed them all. They walked inside Rose’s house and found the old woman at the kitchen table, sipping her morning tea.
“Hello, how was breakfast?”
James dropped the bags to the counters. “Good.”
Rose’s attention fell on the groceries. “What is all that?”
“Food for Kara.”
“Oh.” Rose stood. “Well, you can eat what I have, Kara.”
“It’s just some stuff that I like to have.” She tried to explain to the older woman without insulting her. The items were so random they seemed to perplex Rose as they unpacked them and that did the trick.
By the time they were done with the task, James had to leave and Kara felt the first stirrings of anxiety bud.
She heard him drop his duffle bag to the ground and that was it, she’d be single for five days. The week with him home had spoiled her and now reality was back in full swing.
Five days. She walked into the foyer and watched him slip on his jacket.
“Don’t look so depressed, love.”
She stayed quiet. Easy for you to say.
“I’ll be home soon.” He came to her side, his hands taking her hips. They still hadn’t quite made up for their argument, but it would have to do this time. He kissed her cheek. “I love you…”
“I’ll miss you,” she said, caving to her need to wrap her arms around him.
He took her chin so he could kiss her lips. “Be good.”
She tucked her face back into his chest. “Aren’t I always?”
“Debatable,” he chuckled.
She lifted her eyes to his and smiled, “Untrue.” Her fingers hooked on the open collar of his white dress shirt and pulled.
“I love you.” He paused, his grandmother called him from the kitchen and he quickly said, “see you soon.”
She nodded.
He pressed his hand to her stomach. “Also, I want a bigger bump to kiss when I get home.”
She took his cheeks playfully. “Awe, does that mean you like it so far?”
He kissed her gently. His hand moving under her shirt to brush against her distended belly button.
“It’s cute on you.”
It warmed her inside knowing he enjoyed the way her body had started to change even aside all the drama from it.
Rose stepped into the foyer.
“Bye, Jamie, have a good game.”
He lifted his face from Kara’s hands and smiled. “Bye, Nan.”
Kara let him go completely, trying to hide her embarrassment from being so physical with him, even if Rose hadn’t paid attention to it.
“Bye, my love,” he whispered to Kara one more time.
She smiled. “Good luck.”
“I’m sure we’ll need it, thank you.” He walked to the door and left them a moment later.
When he was gone, Kara felt the overwhelming desire to sleep. She wondered if she could sleep for five days straight and only wake when he got back. She planned on testing that theory after the last few days they’d just had.