Flora's Lot by Katie Fforde (13 inch ebook reader TXT) 📕

overhis shoulder. 'A decent hotel,' said Charles. 'Can you recommend anywhere?’

Flora hidher face in her hands, trying not to die from mortification. 'What will he think?’

Charles looked down at her and chuckled.'Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.’

Behind her hands, Flora laughed.

Chapter Twenty-Six

 Flora was still hiding behind her handswhen the taxi drew up, several minutes later. It wasn't surprising, really:they were in the centre of London; it was stuffed to the gills with hotels.

‘Thisshould do you. Small and discreet, just what you need, sir,' said thetaxi driver.

Flora clambered out of the taxi andstood next to Charles, blushing, while he paid. She followed at a safe distanceas he strode up the steps to the hotel. What couldhe possibly say at the desk that wouldn't make the whole situation lookincredibly sordid? She hung around in the foyer, studying the modern art whichsurrounded her, indifferent to her state of acute nervousness. It wasn't thatshe didn't want to rush up to a bedroom with Charles, it was just that theprocess of getting there was toe-curling, to say the least.

‘Come here and sign this,' said Charles.His words were commanding, but his tone wasgentle. Flora signed obediently, hardly glancing at the nice-lookingyoung woman behind the desk.

‘As you see, we haven't got any luggageso could you kindly send up toothbrushes, toothpaste and - do you needanything, darling?’

The 'darling' made them seem married but as it was the first timehe'd used that endearment it made her blush even more.

‘Somesort of moisturiser would be good,' she mumbled, still not looking up.

A horrid thought occurred to her. Whatabout contraception? But if she reminded himabout it now, he'd ask this nice woman for some condoms to be sent upwith the toothbrushes and then she reallywould die of mortification. Such a death might be a medical first, butshe was quite sure it was possible.

It wasn't the sort of hotel that toldyou which floor your room was on andexpected you to find it. Although there was a conspicuous lack of bagsto carry, a young man - gorgeous, Flora noted, and therefore even moreembarrassing - took them along carpeted corridors and down a little flight ofstairs to their room.

Once insidethe room, after showing them the wardrobe, the mini-bar and how to work the television, he left themto it.

Flora went straight to the bathroom toinspect the shampoos and shower gels andfound them to be Molton Brown - very satisfactory. When she went back,she found that Charles was inspecting the mini-bar.

It wasn't so much a bar as a cupboardwith a fridge in it. Inside the fridge wasgin, vodka, champagne, white wine, and the usual jelly beans and mixers.Outside was whisky, red wine, adisposable camera, snacks and something called a Comfort Pack.

Floraseized it and pulled off the top. 'Oh look! It's full ofuseful things! Sticking plaster, painkillers, a sewing kit and—' A packet of threecondoms fell out on to the bed.

‘Onlythree,' said Charles after a moment. 'That's a bit of a disappointment. But I expect they'll send up more if weask.’

Flora allowed her gaze to meet Charles'shead on for the first time since they leftthe restaurant. 'I can't believe we're doing this when we haven't evenkissed properly.’

He smiledat her and opened his arms. 'Then let's kiss — properly.’

His arms folded round her and his mouthlocked on to hers as if drawn by a magnet. He tasted minty, and she realised that he must have eaten abreath-cleansing sweet at somepoint. She wished she'd done the same —therewas something in her bag — but she hadn't thought of it. Then she stopped worrying, stoppedthinking, even, and just gave herself up to the sensation.

At first it was clumsy, too passionatefor technique, and it took a few secondsbefore his lips took control and Flora felt her body melt into his. Her kneesgave way and they subsided on to the bed, first sitting, and then lyingon all the bits and pieces from the Comfort Pack. Then he really appliedhimself to what he was doing and Flora began to catch fire.

He was just battling with the safety pinthat was holding Emma's jacket together atthe top of her breasts, when there was a knock on the door, so discreetthat Flora was sure the knocker knew what was going on inside the room.

Charles got up to open it, and Florafled to the bathroom so her flushed cheeks, rumpled hair and generaldishevelment weren't exposed to whoever it was came with the toothbrushes.Where did Charles learn to kiss like that? she wondered. Surely not fromAnnabelle! Banishing Annabelle firmly from her mind, she undid the safety pinwhile she was waiting for Charles to deal withroom service. It seemed to take a long time to deliver a couple oftoothbrushes and some moisturiser.

When she came out Charles was opening abottle of champagne.

‘That didn't come out of the mini-bar.It wouldn't fit,' she said.

‘It'scomplimentary. For honeymoon couples.’

Flora opened her eyes wide. 'But we'renot on our honeymoon! And it can't possibly look as if we are.’

Heshrugged. 'Maybe they mean honeymoon in a more metaphorical sense.’

Flora bit her lip and blushed.

‘I must have a shower before — we gettoo carried away,' he said. 'I've been on the road all day and must stink.’

Flora hadn't thought he stank. He had apleasant, metallic, masculine odour, ofcourse, but she'd liked the way he smelt. Now he'd mentioned it, shebegan to feel self-conscious about how longit had been since she had had a shower herself.

‘I mighthave a bath. I must stink, too.'

‘I'll go first, then I'll bring you aglass of champagne while you're in there.’

At least the first time he saw her nakedshe'd be covered in bubbles — Molton Brownbubbles. Flora found the thought surprisingly erotic. But she realisedany thought connected with Charles wassurprisingly erotic. She picked upthe small pot of moisturiser that had come with the champagne. It smeltdivine. This was a very expensive hotel. The taxi driver must have thought Charleslooked affluent and she supposed he did. His suitwas well cut, his shoulders were broad and his shoes were shiny. VeryAlpha Male. She giggled.

The Alpha Male marched back into thebedroom wearing only a towel