Cock & Bull - Laura Barnard Page 0,23
they’re being ridiculously over protective, but all I can hear is the chattering of my teeth. I’m thrown into bed in just my bra and knickers and wrapped tightly with my duvet.
‘What are you doing?’ Ella asks him. I can vaguely make out the rustle of clothes.
‘She’s not warming up quick enough.’ I can hear the worry in his voice.
Next thing I know the duvet is yanked back and his body is on top of mine. It’s so warm it feels almost scorching to my frozen skin.
‘Ella, go find any hot water bottles and blankets. Anything to help her get warm.’
He wraps his arms around my body, pressing me into him. If I wasn’t so cold I’d push him away, but I allow him to press up against me. I feel myself thawing out enough to cling onto his body. My hands are shaking, my bandaged thumb throbbing. He rolls over, bringing me with him so I’m lying on his chest.
I press my face unashamedly against it. I listen to his heartbeat as my breathing turns from shallow and husky to more relaxed and even.
‘Are you feeling warmer?’ he asks.
‘Yes,’ I nod, suddenly feeling embarrassed by the whole situation. I mean, I’m in my bra and knickers on top of him in my bed.
His hand starts stroking my back lazily. ‘You gave me a real fright there.’ He sounds genuinely worried.
I lift my heavy head up to look at him. ‘How did you know I was so cold?’
He scoffs. ‘Phoebe, your lips were blue and chattering, and you could hardly move. Most people don’t go for a swim in the lake in September.’
I try to push myself up and off him, but he grabs my arms and pulls me back onto his chest.
‘You’re still freezing. How did you fall in?’
I squirm away from him, humiliation heating my face.
‘I didn’t fall in,’ I admit, bringing my hands up to hide my face, when I should in fact be hiding my body.
‘You got in willingly?’ he asks, trying to hide his smile.
I nod. ‘I was a little freaked out after holding a dead rat in my hands!’
He smiles at me, but this smile is different to the other cocky ones he’s previously directed my way. This one almost looks… affectionate? Jesus, I must be concussed.
‘I got a hot water bottle,’ Ella says bursting into the room. She spots me sitting up. ‘Ah, thank god you’re looking better.’
I take the hot water bottle from her and turn back to Clooney.
‘You can put your clothes back on now,’ I say, needing his hot, naked body away from me before I do or say something stupid.
I don’t have the time or patience for a man in my life right now. Let alone one as self assured as him.
He steels his jaw, his shoulders tensing. ‘Gee, thanks for saving my life.’
I shrug. ‘Any excuse to get a girl naked.’
He scoffs. ‘Don’t flatter yourself, Poodles. And this is my bedroom now.’ He puts his hands behind his head, showing off a bronzed six pack. ‘I’ll expect your shit out of it by the end of the day.’
And just when I think he might have a redeeming quality he goes and shits on it.
Chapter Thirteen
Tuesday 29th September
Clooney relished in me packing up my things and having to share a bed with Ella. Keeps joking that we can sleep with him if we want. I’d rather die than get into bed with that man whore again. I can’t believe we’ve had our near naked bodies pressed together. No, what I really can’t believe is the horny dreams I’ve had about him since. Ella said I was moaning last night. I hope to god he didn’t hear through the wall.
Clooney has actually been worth his weight in gold business wise, even if he can’t work in the kitchen until we do our hygiene courses. He managed to get himself booked on the same course as us. He’s so good at pulling pints and I hate to admit it, but he has brought some people in. His little fan club of young women who flutter their eyelashes at him is sickening, but as long as they’re spending their money, I’m happy.
It's yet another slow afternoon so I decide to start asking him questions about his tattoos. Strangely I want to find out everything about him.
His left forearm has two playing cards on fire, surrounded by roses. The fumes of the smoke run up his arms to beneath his t-shirt sleeve. A