In a Class of His Own (22 page)

A little later, as we lay
in the hammock close together, we finally began to talk, openly and
honestly and freely. As I lay resting against him I listened to what
he had to say in amazement. He told me that he had loved me from
almost the first moment of seeing me.

“It
was when I walked into that first awful training day,” he began, in
that beguiling voice of his. “I could feel the resentment hit me as
soon as I walked in. Nothing unusual there.” He sighed. “But then
I saw you, bent over your diary. I thought you were the

loneliest person I'd ever
seen. Later on I realised you were the bravest person I'd ever come
across. There was nothing you wouldn't fight me on was there?”

I giggled a little and
let my fingers roam over the seductive muscles on his chest.

“I
was in such a mess trying to fight the attraction but, at the same
time, making sure I kept you as close to me as I could. There I was
convincing myself I was doing you such a big favour by offering you
the flat and all the time it was just a desperate attempt to see you.
It was torture.”

Jack laughed and the
sound vibrated delightfully. “The morning you walked in on me when
I was in the shower,” he groaned, “I just wanted to snatch you up
and take you right back in there with me!”

“Perhaps
we should try that later?” I suggested, in a coy whisper. Jack
laughed again but I felt his physical reaction. My own desire coiled
like quicksilver.

“Stop
distracting me. I'm trying to be sincere.” He kissed my temple and
his hand snuck up my T-shirt and began to caress my back. It was a
delicious feeling so I snuggled in further.

“Carry
on,” I murmured, determined to hear more flattery. “So when did
you realise you couldn't fight against my delectable charms. The
night of the gala?”

Jack gave an enormous
sigh. “Long before that. But you minx - making me undress you! Do
you have any idea of the amount of self-control I had to exercise
that night? I was so angry with myself for loving you.” His voice
deepened. “I wanted you so badly

that night.

“You
could have had your wicked way with me. I'd have been very willing. I
did tell you I loved you as I recall. Three times.” I closed my
eyes and inhaled the wonderful aroma of his maleness, mixing
exotically with the night air.

Jack went very still. “I
thought you were joking,” he said in a tight voice. “I thought
you were drunk.”

“I
was drunk but I wasn't joking,” I laughed, still absorbed in my
task of feeling every muscle and sinew on his beautiful, smooth
torso.

Jack took my chin in his
hand and gave it a little shake. “What time we've wasted,” he
said throatily, stroking my face tenderly and running a light finger
over my lips. “I ran away from you on the day afterwards. I ran off
to go skiing because I couldn't face you. And then as soon as I was
back I had to see you. I couldn't keep away. You're like a drug,
Nicky. My father was addicted to alcohol and you're my addiction.”

We
kissed again wonderingly, staring into each other’s
eyes. We were overcome at this amazing thing which we had created
between us.

Long promised thunder
began to rumble around the courtyard, echoing off the old, red brick
walls.

“I
think we ought to take this conversation indoors, don't you?” he
said, as a single hot drop of rain fell on us.

I thought of the designer
bed with its sumptuous coverings and sighed in pure happiness.

“I
thought you'd never ask.” Then I giggled through the resulting
kiss.

Jack lifted his head and
raised an eyebrow in enquiry. “What is it now?”

“Well,”
I began thoughtfully. “It's just occurred to me. You've met my
father and looked after me when I was drunk ...”

Jack looked puzzled and
then caught on, quick as ever at reading my mind. “You’ve met my
sister and I've nursed you when you were ill,” he replied, joining
in with the game.

“I've
seen you naked!” I giggled suggestively and received a dig in the
ribs from a long finger.

“And
I've undressed you and seen what God-awful things you wear in bed!”
he growled.

I
laughed again. “So we've done most of the things
couples do.” I paused and said, only half jokingly this time, “So
if we get the sex thing right ...”

“...
then we may make a go of this relationship,” he finished.
“Something tells me we'll get the sex thing right.” And he kissed
me so hard I saw stars - and they weren’t the ones in the sky. But
I wasn't about to let him have the final word.

“I’m
not too sure.” I pouted. In the flickering light cast from the
candles I saw Jack frown.

“I
think we should practice - a lot. To get it absolutely right.” I
finished decisively.

“Do
you think we ought to start now?” His glorious hands tightened on
my body.

“Agreed,”
I sighed.

But
any further response on my part was firmly quashed by Jack's mouth
against mine and the fact that he swept me into his arms
and carried me into the house.

Epilogue.

Training Day –
September Term.

I
parked my trusty old Fiat in the car
park overlooking the school, killed the engine and spent some time
staring at my place of employment. Jack’s car wasn’t parked in
its usual place and wouldn’t be again – he’d moved on. Exactly
one year ago I had parked, just in this position and had
appreciatively eyed up his curvy, old-fashioned sports car. Today it
was nowhere to be seen. I was on my own this time. With a sigh I
collected my things

and began the walk to the
next stage of my life…

I
screwed up my courage and straightened my shoulders. This was the
first day of the rest of my life. The Summer
break had been a crazy, love filled, hectic sorting out of
practicalities and passionate nights. Today it was back to reality.
Jack was now working in London and we were splitting our weekends
between here and the tiny flat he'd organised in Highgate. It wasn't
ideal but in some ways it worked - we could concentrate on our
onerous commitments during the week, leaving the weekends free for
us.

We had
managed to regularise our relationship in the Summer
in a brief ceremony that had appalled our relatives but had pleased
us with its business like efficiency. I did not underestimate the
difficulties Jack faced in carving out an intimate and trusting
relationship but I was prepared to do battle with him, as always, to
get what I wanted. But I had never been so happy. I was completely
his at last.

I
walked into the now sweetly familiar entrance to school and was
greeted by Mona
who gave me a hug.

"Good morning Mrs.
Thorpe. How lovely to see you again!" She smiled broadly. “And
may I add my congratulations!” As she retreated back to her office
she called over her shoulder, “I’ve put them in water. I hope you
don’t mind.”

I
walked into the head teacher's office and stopped dead. On the desk
stood an enormous bouquet of roses, yellow of course. I opened
the accompanying card and my eyes misted over as I read Jack’s
ridiculously romantic message. For someone not practised in the art
of romance he had been doing remarkably well with mushy gestures like
this.

I looked around the
office. Once Jack's, it was now mine. I’d been offered, and had
accepted, the acting headship. I flipped through the post with a
secret smile and then fingered the simple gold ring on my left hand.

The first day of the rest
of my life - and it was starting here.

The End.