18 comments/ 40881 views/ 16 favorites The Edge Of The World By: The Edge Of The World "I have no doubt that you'll act like the perfect gentleman." I turned on my heel and motioned to him to follow me inside. It was lovely to step into the coolness of the kitchen after standing outside in the bright sunlight, and I went to sit at the kitchen table, watching as he slowly followed me in. It would have been fair to say that he dwarfed what I had always thought of as a big kitchen, and it wasn't until he was seated opposite from me at the table that I said anything. "While you're camping out there I don't really see the point in you cooking for yourself, it's just as easy for me to cook for two as for one, so long as you don't have a fondness for gourmet food. You can wash your clothes here, not that I think they do need washing of course, but I can imagine it's hard to get to a laundry when you've been out hiking for days." I could feel a blush starting to creep up from the neck of my t-shirt, warming my face while he looked at me, humour curving his mouth. "Quite an about face from the hostile, fiery haired banshee I encountered earlier on the beach, I don't know what to say but thanks, it's a more than generous offer. I only hope you don't extend the same hospitality to everyone that wanders into your space, I'm almost certain there are plenty out there that would take what you've offered and a whole lot more besides." "I can take care of myself if I have to and I've got Jess, usually she's pretty wary of strangers." Living so remotely there was always a possibility of danger, but it always seemed to me that I had more to fear from the elements than from a human hand, and had never been given cause to think any differently. "For all you know, I could be a wanted man back in Ireland Kate, did you not stop to think about that?" The seriously asked question didn't set my nerves jangling in the slightest. "Well I can't imagine that any great criminal mastermind would choose to go hiking around the Hebrides in favour of sunning themselves on a beach in Spain somewhere." "I suppose you make a fair point, but if there's anything you want to know about me, feel free to ask." I wanted to know everything, I felt like I was drowning under the weight of his stare and I was struggling to keep my breathing even. "Okay, which part of Ireland are you from and what do you do for a living?" I only just restrained myself from asking the more personal questions that were on the tip of my tongue. "Well I'm originally from Waterford, I'm living in Dublin now though where I work part-time as a courtroom artist and now and again I work for the local police, artists impressions and things like that." He sat back in his chair, running his fingers through his hair and back off his face. "You must be pretty talented then, why the commercial work?" "Quite simple, I got the impression when I was a penniless struggling student that I wasn't going to make a name for myself until I was dead and buried, money is no good when you're dead, but then isn't that always the way." He smiled ruefully before continuing. "Besides, my mother is quite liking the peace and quiet now that we've all flown the nest, I didn't want to go back home and spoil it." "So you've got brothers and sisters then?" I was guessing by the slightly spoiled look about him that he was probably the youngest of the family. "I've got three brothers and two sisters, my parents didn't get a television till they were married eight years." He laughed at my shocked look. Three hours later, we were still sitting there chatting, and I was charmed completely, as was Jess who had draped herself over his feet, gazing up at him adoringly from time to time. My stomach growled loudly, and I glanced at the clock, surprised at how much time had passed, and my eyes were drawn to the window where a large bank of ominous looking clouds were starting to explode on the horizon. The air did seem a little thicker, a bit heavier than it had earlier and I knew that we were probably going to have front row seats for a rogue storm. "How waterproof is your tent Seumais?" I asked him, drawing my head back round to face him. "Well, to be honest, I'm not entirely sure, I hate to admit it, but any time I've been out and the weather looks like it's about to turn, I've headed for the nearest bed and breakfast. Hardly one of the worlds greatest adventurers am I?" He looked like a naughty boy being caught doing something he shouldn't, but I laughed. "I think you're going to put it to the test tonight, the weather is going to turn, but you've got some shelter from the house." There was a slight smell of burnt flour in the air and it felt hotter than ever, sweat began to trickle its way down my spine making the soft material of my t-shirt cling to me. "I'd better go out and make sure everything is tied down securely then, I don't suppose there's a bed and breakfast nearby? Only kidding, I think I'll survive one night in the rain." As he headed outside, I couldn't help but feel like I had kicked a puppy, but even although we had gotten along well, he was still a stranger and I wasn't wholly convinced that offering him a bedroom for the night was the wisest idea. I made a large chicken salad and split it between two plates, and grabbed a couple of cans of juice from the back of the fridge. Butterflies were fluttering away in my stomach but they were overshadowed by the beginnings of a dull throbbing headache, which I could put down to the building storm. After putting the cold cans in my pockets, I added cutlery to the plates and made my way outside, stopping just short of the tent. I smiled as I listened to his cheerful whistling coming from inside, coughing loudly to let him know I was there. "I thought I'd save you going to the trouble of cooking, if you don't mind too much, I'll join you though." I held out a plate to him and set my own down on the ground at my feet, pulling the cans out of my pockets. "How could I object to being taken care of like this? To be honest I was getting a little sick of beans." He sat down cross-legged and popped the can before settling the plate on his lap. Together we ate, in companionable silence, watching the gunmetal grey clouds steadily covering the bright blue sky. The heat was getting more and more unbearable, but neither of us complained, content to watch the seabirds, wheeling and crying out over the water, which had changed in colour, mirroring the sky. As we finished our meal, the breeze picked up, bending the flowers in the machair back and forth, twisting the spiky marram grass. "I think we'd better clear up, the rain isn't too far away, you can see it on the horizon." I pointed towards the yellowish looking mass that had laid itself atop the sea in the distance. We hadn't had rain for a few weeks, unusually for us, so mother nature was sure to make up for what we had missed out on this evening. "I'll take your word for it Kate, I don't fancy being caught out and spending the night, soaking wet inside a tent." He handed me his plate and stood up, brushing down his ragged jeans, holding his hand out to me, to help me up. For the second time that day, I felt that frisson of awareness, and this time it was him that let go first, but not until he had explored the inside of my wrist once more, his eyes holding mine. I thought that he would say something then, but he didn't, his eyes speaking volumes, but his mouth unmoving. By the time I had reached the kitchen door the first fat drops of rain hit the ground and with a few muttered curses behind me I heard Seumais zipping himself into his tent. Jess followed me quickly inside and began to pace around the kitchen, whining softly as the first rumbles of thunder began to fill the air. I scraped the plates quickly and dumped them in the sink, retreating to the sofa to rub my temples. I knew that once the tension in the air eased, then so would my headache, but for the moment, it hurt even to keep my eyes open. Even with my eyes shut, I could still see the brilliant flash of lightning as it lit up the kitchen, and I started to count slowly, as I did when I was a child, trying to figure out how far away the storm was. Five miles and getting closer by the sounds of it; God, by the sounds of it had taken it into His head to rearrange the heavenly furniture, and he wasn't being too careful about it either. I felt Jess jump up onto the sofa and moved my legs so she could lie down at the back of my knees, all the while she whined. A couple of hours passed, with no sign of the storm abating, but my headache seemed to be easing considerably and I breathed a sigh of relief, opening my eyes slowly. The skies had grown much darker now, and although it was only eight in the evening, it looked much later. I got off the couch and went to stand at the sink, looking out to where Seumais had his tent, seeing the rain running off it and I hoped that there were no little holes in the material. With each flash of lightning the small bay was lit up, showing that the sea which had been completely calm earlier, was now transformed into a churning mass of darkest grey, topped by whitecaps that were breaking not too far away from the high tide line. Any higher and I would be raking seaweed out of the garden in the morning, normally an activity reserved for the wintertime. Suddenly the rain eased but a wind had struck up, whistling around the door, chilling my toes, as I stood barefoot on lookout. It probably wasn't as cold as I imagined, but with the earlier heat, the contrast was huge. Just when I was on the point of finding a pair of socks to slide my feet into, the hailstones started, beating on the window with a steady tattoo, drowning out the sound of the wind but equalled by the thunder as it rumbled overhead. I took one last look at the small tent being buffeted by the elements outside and put aside all concerns about taking him into my home for the night, there was just simply no way that I could leave him outside. Jess must have second-guessed my intentions because she was at the door before I was, scratching frantically at the wood for a few seconds before I pulled it open. "SEUMAIS!" I shouted, but the wind seemed to rip his name from the air, and I thought better of shouting a second time and ran as quickly as I could to the tent, which had semi-collapsed. My fingers found the zippered seam at the front and Jess barked while I tried to manipulate my fingers inside. He must have realised he wasn't alone because I found the zip sliding open and a very worried and pale looking Seumais staring into my face. "Who opened the gates of hell then Kate?" He retreated further into the tent and I shook my head at him. "You can't spend the night in there, the way the water comes down off the hillside sometimes, you'll get flooded, come into the house." I held my hand out to him and started to shiver as the rain started up again, soaking through my t-shirt in seconds. "I'll be okay in here Kate you get yourself back into the house." He was sitting with his legs crossed on his sleeping bag. "For the love of God, if you don't get out of that tent right now, I'll come in there and drag you out, and believe me when I say that I don't care whether I hurt you or not." A crash of thunder right over our heads punctuated my little speech and I watched him jump with fright. I realised then, that it wasn't that he didn't want to come into the house, it was more a case of him being too frightened to move and my heart went out to him. "It'll take less than a minute Seumais, you can't stay out here." I felt numb with the cold and wet but I dropped to my knees and leaned forward, offering him my hand. "You are going to have to do something extraordinary to take my mind off the thunder and lightning for long enough for me to get into the house, I hope you realise that." I grinned at him and sat back on my heels, wetting my lips. Whether it was a good idea or not, I didn't care, but I grabbed the sodden hem of my t-shirt and dragged it up slowly, exposing my midriff to his surprised eyes, then higher so that the now transparent material of my silky bra was on show. I knew without looking down that my hardened nipples were poking against the thin silk and I hauled the t-shirt completely off before I could change my mind. Seumais' face was a picture of incredulity, his mouth had dropped open and he sat stock still for long seconds. I held my hand out once more and without a word he took it, crawling forwards to me, only flinching slightly as lightning lit up the inside of the small tent. I edged my way back and felt my toes sinking into the soggy earth, the mud squishing about my toes as I stood up, the icy rain streaming down over my breasts. His backpack was the only thing he took with him as we ran to the kitchen door, gasping for breath because of the cold. I left him standing in the kitchen and made my way through to the bathroom, stripping out of my wet jeans and peeling my bra off. After towelling myself roughly I threw on my sleep shorts and a fresh t-shirt before taking a towel back to the kitchen for Seumais, who was doing his best to calm Jess down, sitting on the sofa with one arm around her, holding her close. What I wouldn't have given right at that moment to trade places with my dog, but I pushed the thought to the back of my head and passed the towel to him. It was typical that after braving the elements to rescue him that the storm would lessen in its fury. The thunder was less constant, and the rain was much lighter. "Well that was fun wasn't it Kate?" He dropped his head back and closed his eyes, loosening his arm enough for Jess to move and jump down to the floor. "So long as there are no encore performances. I wouldn't have slept at all tonight thinking of you sitting out there in your tent." I said, watching from the kitchen sink as he rubbed the towel over his hair. "Would you like a coffee to warm you up?" I switched the kettle on and spooned granules into a cup for myself. "That depends, I think seeing your delicious curves and those ripe breasts might heat me up quicker... but if that's not an option, then I guess coffee will have to do." He shot me a grin and I felt myself blush. "Hush, I couldn't think of any other way to get you out of your tent, so coffee it is then." The moon had broken through the heavy clouds and with the rain easing I could see most of the garden and the large shape of Seumais's tent being carried up and away on the wind. I dropped the spoon I was holding with a clatter, and without a word to Seumais himself, I bolted out of the kitchen with Jess at my heels. He could hardly hike around the island without his tent, and god alone knew if he had the money to replace it if it was lost. I should have thought to take it in when I had persuaded him to come inside the house, but the thought hadn't even crossed my mind. "Where the hell do you think you're going Kate!" I heard him yell after me but I ignored him and ran in the direction I had last seen his tent flying in. I felt the sharp shell laden soil of the machair under my feet and the brush of the grass against my legs as I ran on further, seeing the dark shape of the tent just a few feet away from me. I was being soaked for the second time that evening but I didn't care, and launched myself in a flying rugby tackle at the tent before the wind could take off with it again. The breath was knocked out of my lungs as I hit the ground but all I felt was relief, even though the fine spray of the surf was reaching back to where I was lying. I clutched the slippery wet material of the tent close to me as I heard Seumais's heavy breathing nearby. "Jesus Kate, you're crazier than any Irish woman I ever met before, it's only a tent for God's sake!" He dropped to his knees beside me and lifted a heavy dripping hank of hair away from the side of my face. "You can't camp if you don't have a bloody tent Seumais, you could try thanking me!" I took offence at him casting aspersions on my sanity. "It wasn't worth risking your neck over, have you noticed how close you are to the edge of the water?" I could hear the waves crashing quite close to where we were and turned my head to look, just in time to receive another face-full of spray. His hands slid underneath me and I felt myself being lifted up a little way but with a muffled curse from Seumais, I felt myself dropping back down, the breath knocked out of me as he landed across my back. "Bloody tent!" I let out a laugh as he moved, hearing him carry on cursing as he untangled his foot from one of the ropes. I was still laughing as I felt his hands hold me once more, but this time, instead of pulling me up, I felt myself being turned over, now face to face with eachother. "I'm glad I could provide some amusement for you and it's gratifying to know that the evening hasn't been a complete waste." He brought his head down, close to mine and I could feel his hot breath fanning against my cheek. "We should move you know, I'm soaked to the skin and you are too." I pulled my clinging t-shirt away from my body and let it drop down, moulding itself to my contours. "I really should help you out of those wet things, maybe return a favour or two, since you seem to have done nothing but bend over backwards since we met." I shivered as his fingers slid underneath my t-shirt, pulling it up over my stomach, stopping just at the bottom curve of my breasts. "Don't you think that it could wait until we get back to the house?" I whispered. "Why wait Kate, I don't think you could get any wetter than you are already." The way he spoke, made it sound as though he was talking about something completely different but I bit down on my bottom lip and nodded. The rain dripped from his face onto mine, but I didn't care, all I wanted at that moment was for him to kiss me and I brought my hands up, pushing them through his long hair; cradling his head. I had wanted this from the moment I had watched him knock in the pegs while he pitched his tent and now it was real. He angled his mouth against mine, questing softly, brushing his lips back and forth against mine lazily, nibbling on my bottom lip, tracing along the fullness with his tongue before deepening the kiss, spearing his tongue against mine. So hungry now for more, my moans of need were answered by him as he broke off the kiss and moved down my body. "Lift your arms up Kate." His words were a soft command and I did as I was told, lifting my back up at the same time so that he could pull the t-shirt free. After pulling his own t-shirt off, he dropped back down, nuzzling his face between my breasts, laving his tongue over each aching nipple, suckling while his thumbs massaged the valley between them. Most of my body might have been frozen with the cold but I could feel a wet heat begin to spread between my legs, a faint throb from my clit that begged to be touched and I squirmed beneath him, my hands pushing him down. "You're an impatient little thing aren't you?" He laughed against my belly, breath hot, stubble creating a spine tingling friction. "I'll practice patience later Seumais, I promise." I was rewarded when his hands pushed down my shorts and his tongue lapped almost delicately against my mound, teasing me. I wriggled and lifted my hips, feeling his hands push my shorts completely off and I gasped with shock as I dropped my hips back down onto the freezing cold tent. He moved quickly between my legs, pushing my thighs apart with his knees, both of his hands on my hips, holding me still as he buried his face between my legs, moving his face from side to side, bathing himself in my juices. His nose rubbed against my clit, while his tongue darted back and forth inside me and it was all that I could do to keep my thoughts sane. I grabbed two handfuls of the tent material and pushed my pussy up against his face and he slipped his hands underneath me, holding me up, drinking from me as I cried out. The Edge Of The World I was still sobbing as he drew away, his fingers working quickly on the button of his jeans, standing up so he could peel them down his legs. Soon though he was kneeling back down and I felt hot, the rain fell on us but I didn't feel it, all my attention was focused on his shadowy crotch and the faint outline of his erection. He covered me quickly, shielding me with his body, licking the raindrops from my face; kissing my eyelids shut with a gentleness that made me want to weep. As I felt the head of his cock slide into me, I opened my mouth wide, my cries swallowed up by him as he thrust long and hard straight to the heart of me. I felt a stinging as he began to move slowly inside me, I was stretched wide, but so wet that the pain started to ease almost as quickly as it had begun. Still he kissed me, his tongue mimicking the slow thrust of his hips, and I found myself answering, raising my hips up to meet his, our bodies beginning to slap against eachother. I let my hands drift over the bunched muscles of his arms, across his shoulders where his long hair lay plastered to his skin, much the same as my own. I drew my hands down and let my fingernails rake over his ass, biting into his flesh, pushing him down, kissing him back harder, all the time letting him know that I wanted more, I wanted to be fucked hard, right there and then. All the restraint was gone and all that was left was pure animalistic need, a wanting to mate, to be completed. I pulled my head to the side and away from his mouth as his cock hit the neck of my womb, my screams ringing out clearly, but I didn't want him to stop and kept meeting his thrusts, loving the way his balls continually slapped against my ass. The waves were so close now but I didn't care, he was so close to cumming and his cock seemed to grow harder than ever inside me. His head dropped down to my shoulder, his teeth grazing against my skin, biting down as I clenched myself tightly around him, and I was rewarded as I felt the scalding heat of his cum spurting inside me, filling me. His body felt hot as it collapsed against me, our breathing ragged, uncaring that we were naked and outside in the rain, content just to be. Slowly, our breathing started to get back to normal and I kept my eyes shut as he raised himself up from me slightly. "That may have been the most mind blowing experience of my life, but I think we should maybe consider moving." His cock was growing softer inside me and I didn't want the contact to end, but I sighed with resignation and nodded slightly as he withdrew carefully. "I don't know whether I'm numb or if it's not really as cold as I think it is, but you're right, we should get back to the house." I accepted his hand and he helped me up, before stooping down to grab a handful of the tent, dragging it behind us as we walked back through the machair to the cottage. Jess had made herself comfortable on the sofa, and was fast asleep, seemingly oblivious to the goings on of the evening. I dropped my heavy wet clothes in the basket by the washing machine and turned to face Seumais, suddenly very self-conscious about being naked in front of him, but he looked completely at ease and I smiled as I watched his cock start to stir once more. "You can get that look off your face right now Kate, we need to get cleaned up and warmed through, neither of us wants to catch cold." He picked up the towel he had discarded earlier and grabbed my hand, leading me out of the kitchen and through to the hallway leading to the bathroom. "For someone that's so concerned about our well-being you didn't show much caution when we were outside." I laughed and caught his eye. "The world could have exploded around us and I wouldn't have noticed. I'm not saying that the mud-streaked look doesn't do anything for you sweetheart, but..." He trailed off. "Point taken." I conceded and led him into the bathroom. The water was lukewarm, as we stepped into the shower cubicle, taking turns to soap eachother down. I felt as though every nerve ending was on fire before we were halfway done but I kept my feelings to myself, even although I could feel the length of his erection pressed against my back as he worked a glob of shampoo into my hair. Finally, though, we were both clean and rinsed off and I took him through to my bedroom so we would have more space to dry off. After a few minutes, he was done and left the room briefly, giving me enough time to pull a t-shirt from a drawer. I had just settled myself back down on the bed when he came back through, wearing a pair of boxer shorts to cover up and holding two steaming mugs. "I thought this might be more appropriate." He grinned briefly before sitting down on the edge of my bed, holding a cup out to me. "I'm sure you're right Seumais." I agreed with him, even although having a hot drink had been the last thing on my mind. While we sat there quietly drinking, I felt myself relaxing, the steady throbbing ache between my legs, a reminder of what we had shared. I closed my eyes and could still picture him above me, the strong column of his neck, half covered by his long hair, the way the moonlight caressed and emphasized his bunching muscles as he thrust inside me, over and over again. I could feel myself getting wet again so I quickly opened my eyes and met Seumais's stare, break-time was most definitely over. "I don't have to ask what was going through your mind Kate, you have the most openly expressive face." He put his cup down on the bedside table and lifted mine away from me, moving to sit further on the bed. "I'm sure that this isn't right, we don't really know eachother, but on the other hand, we have no expectations, we haven't the luxury of time for those." It was the first time since we had had sex that I had contemplated him moving on and leaving. "Take what we can, while we can then Kate?" He whispered, holding his arms out to me. "No promises, no regrets." I said, but my heart contracted painfully. Gently he drew me onto his lap, wrapping his arms around me, holding me close for the longest time and it felt as though I had been made especially to fit his body. I could hear the thump of his heart beneath my ear and it was as though I was being lulled, completely relaxed when his hand came up to tilt my head back, cupping while we shared a slow unhurried kiss. We had the rest of the night to explore and nothing to rush for in the morning. On our knees facing, taking turns, we undressed eachother, stopping just to look when we were both completely naked. His body wasn't perfection, not in the way that they shout about in magazines. There was a long scar running from three inches or so above his belly button to a couple of inches below it. I could see the ridges of a tracheotomy scar at the base of his throat and I wanted to ask what happened to him, but I held back, if he wanted me to know then, he would tell me in his own good time. His fingertips traced their way over my breasts, so slowly, as though committing each curve to memory, the pads of his thumbs pushing against my nipples, sending tiny electric shocks straight down my body. "I know it might seem a bit like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted, but are you really sure you want this?" He asked softly, his fingers dropping from my body. I reached forward and held his hands in mine, drawing them back to my breasts, covering them. "Does this not tell you?" I moved his hands across my nipples. "Or maybe this." He was completely silent; his eyes holding mine as I pushed one of his hands off my breast, and let it slide down over my stomach to the apex of my thighs, my mound, stopping only when I could feel his fingers resting along my wet slit. I brought my hands away and raised them up to cup his face, pulling him close, sucking gently at his bottom lip, kissing him softly, sighing against his mouth as his fingers began to move between my legs, sliding back and forth over the hard little nub. I felt like I was being played, and he was asking for nothing in return, taking me higher and higher until my hips were bucking back and forth on his hand as his fingers stroked. All the time I held onto him, scared that if I let go then I would fall, I was so close to cumming now, my cries were drawn into his mouth, swallowed up. Never once did he push his fingers inside me despite my efforts to move him in that direction, it was like an itch that needed scratching, but all his attention was focused on my clit, pushing me further. Suddenly I couldn't take any more and broke off the kiss, throwing my head back as he threw me over the edge and into a mind-shattering orgasm. I felt the tears start to trickle down from underneath my lashes, there was nothing I could do to stop them; he had given me something there and then that no man had ever done before. Without a word, he kissed the tears away, his hands pushing my hair back off my shoulders. I knew then that I needed to let him know that I wanted him as much as he wanted me; I wanted to feel him come undone under my hands. I smiled shyly at him and lowered myself down, my hair brushing against his belly as my lips brushed against the top of his cock, letting my tongue darting out to capture the bead of moisture that glistened at the tip, tasting slowly before taking him into my mouth. My hands moved onto his shaft, gripping gently, stroking while I ran my tongue around the head, taking more as his moans reached me. His hands rested on my shoulders, kneading lightly as I dipped my head low, laying my tongue flat, closing my lips tightly around him. As I moved faster on him, the pressure of his hands increased and he started to move his hips against my face, forcing more of his cock into my welcoming mouth. He felt like silk across my tongue and I couldn't get enough, but just as I was sure he was about to cum, he pulled me off completely, his breathing ragged, body shaking, the same way mine had been. "You're a spoilsport, why did you pull back?" I felt completely denied. "Because, sweetheart, I wasn't ready for it to be over so quickly, come here, let me make it up to you." He sat back and crossed his legs, holding his arms out to me, waiting for me. I didn't need to be asked twice and went to sit on his lap, wrapping my legs around his waist, my hands pressed flat against his chest. His hands gripped my hips tightly, raising me up, bringing me down hard, making the air rush out of my lungs in a whoosh. It hurt when we started to move against eachother but I didn't care, it was the most amazing kind of pain, a beautiful heat that was beginning to radiate right through me. His hands guided me into a slow bruising fuck; sweat broke out across my forehead and between my breasts as they brushed against his chest. He licked at the sweat, dragging his tongue up the valley between them, ending only when he came to my mouth. Our tongues danced against eachother as his hands forced me down harder, my pussy grinding down into him; that single touch on my clit, enough to send me flying into my own orgasm as he shouted out hoarsely, his cock jerking deep inside me, bathing my raw flesh with his cum. The clouds covered the moon just then, casting everything into a near darkness and I shivered, even although I was sweating. Still he said nothing but his arms held me close, as his cock grew softer inside me, I knew then that there was nowhere else in the world I would have rather been, than in his arms, being held as if I was the most precious thing in the world. My eyes drifted shut and I felt a wave of complete lethargy wash over me, I was energy sapped and put up no protest as he laid me back onto the bed gently, only putting up a token protest as he knelt between my thighs. I half opened my eyes as the moon came back out from behind a cloud and watched as he bent his head down, flicking his tongue over my swollen and bruised flesh, lapping at our slippery juices. He hadn't spent more than a minute cleaning me up when he slid back up my body, angling his mouth against mine, sharing with me what we had created together. Tasting his muskiness on my tongue filled me with a hunger I couldn't describe, it was simply intoxicating and I let out a sigh of regret as he broke off the kiss, slipping to the side of me, turning me over so we lay face to face. "Nobody has ever given themselves as freely to me as you have tonight Kate." His eyes drifted shut before me and I smiled. "You make me want to." I whispered, but he didn't hear me, he was already asleep. I didn't have to open my eyes to know that the sunshine was streaming through my bedroom window and the smell of the machair flowers seemed stronger than ever. My hands reached out but instead of encountering the slumbering form of Seumais, as I would have expected, they touched against something small and velvety. My eyes flew open and I saw flowers of every colour, orchids and yellow rattle, lady's tresses, flowers that he shouldn't have picked, but there was no way I could tell him off for making such a touching gesture. Quickly I got up and picked my t-shirt up off the floor where it had been flung the night before and walked through to the bathroom where I splashed my face with cold water before looking in the mirror. I had to do a double take when I saw just how wild my hair was. Usually I kept it tied back, but after the drenching it had gotten in the storm I had left it hanging loose after my shower and now it lay in a long curtain of untamed curls, nearly half way down my back. Purple shadows under my eyes looked like faint bruises and my eyes held a light in them that I had never seen before, it might have had something to do with Seumais, or maybe everything to do with him. I couldn't hear him in the kitchen, but no doubt, he was somewhere nearby. I washed quickly and found a fresh pair of shorts, pulling them on quickly before going to the kitchen for a drink. The door was wide open and I could hear his whistling nearby and an excited barking. I peeked out the window and saw that Jess had managed to persuade Seumais into a game of 'throw the stick and I'll consider chasing it', but was at that moment ignoring all sticks in favour of chasing her tail. I felt happier than I had for a long time, but I kept quiet while I waited for the kettle to boil. I didn't notice it at first but my eyes did a double take when they lit upon a very tidy looking backpack, the tent had been rolled up and sat leaning against the side of the sofa. I knew without asking that he wasn't going to stay for another day and I felt my stomach drop. We hadn't spoken about him moving on, and he had never given me reason to think that he would stop for longer, even although we had had sex. It's funny how perspective and life can change in the space of a day, mine had, and I was having one of those moments where I questioned living the way I did, but instead of the contentment I usually got when I thought about it, there was nothing but the prospect of endless days dwelling on what might have been. I took my coffee outside and squinted in the morning sun, walking over to where Seumais and Jess were resting, right where the machair drops away to the beach. "Seumais..." I began. "Kate, I wish with all my heart that I could stay with you right now, but there's something I have to do, something I need to do." His head dropped down for a moment before he turned to face me. "I didn't expect you to change your plans because of... well, after we had sex. We didn't make any promises." I could feel my voice starting to crack and I knew I was close to tears, but I held my head high and met his eyes. "What we shared wasn't just sex, hell Kate, anyone can have sex. Didn't you feel what I felt last night? I sure as hell wasn't expecting it but it happened, and part of me wishes that it had never happened, but only because I have to go away." I heard the sincerity in his voice, and knew by the look in his eyes that he was telling me the truth. "I just didn't think for one moment it would be this hard to say goodbye." I shook my head and turned round, unable to say any more for the tears that were starting to fall. "Don't say goodbye Kate, it sounds so final, I will come back." I heard his words but I carried on walking, shouting on Jess to follow me, and surprisingly she came straight away. I was in the kitchen when he came back in, but I said nothing. My hands gripped the edge of the sink, and I knew without looking that my knuckles would be showing a stark white, through the mass of freckles that coloured my skin. The tears had dried up, but as I listened to him struggle to put on his backpack I felt myself start to break. He cleared his throat and walked over to where I was standing, his hand stroking over one of my hands. "Never goodbye Kate." He whispered as his lips brushed against the side of my mouth. Jess let out a long low whine as he left the kitchen and I felt my heart break into a thousand pieces, but I stood where I was, frozen to the spot. The tide would still turn, the gulls would still cry, just because it felt as though my life had been turned upside down, it didn't mean everything else would change. Later that day I forced myself to go into my bedroom, and started crying as soon as I saw the flower strewn sheets, the lingering smell of our sex still in the air; the indent of his head still in the pillow. I couldn't bring myself to strip the bed; instead, I pulled the curtains and closed the door behind me on the way back to the kitchen. The next day I went back into the bedroom and collected the flowers, carefully pressing them in the huge family bible, they would be a token reminder. After a week had passed, I gave up waiting for a letter, the postman had nothing but junk mail and bills, which made me sink lower and lower. Food tasted like sawdust in my mouth, so I gave up, it didn't seem important. I started sleeping more than I ever had in my life beforehand, but I didn't question it, that would have taken mental energy I simply didn't have. Five weeks later, I knew that even although I had heard nothing from Seumais, I was going to have a permanent reminder of our night together and it marked a turning point for me. I didn't want to share my news with anyone; it was my secret and my hands curved around my still flat stomach, reassuring myself that everything was going to be okay. Getting rid of the pregnancy was never a consideration, even although my condition would more than likely be, a popular topic of conversation and speculation for the locals, for some time to come. I felt morning sickness almost from the beginning and it forced me to go to my doctor, the very doctor that had delivered me into the world, but he never uttered one word of condemnation, or surprise, and offered the support I desperately needed. When I hit the four month mark in my pregnancy, I was sent an appointment for my first scan and I felt excited for the first time in weeks, it was a bright spot on the horizon and it brought thoughts of Seumais. This was his child growing inside me; he should be at my side for this first glimpse of the little person we had created together. But, seeing as I had no way of knowing where he was, then there was no way he could know. With the scan scheduled for mid afternoon I drove to town in the middle of the morning, I had decided to decorate the cottage, after reading countless pregnancy magazines I was pretty sure that it was a nesting instinct kicking in and I wasn't about to resist. As I walked through the town, I became aware that I was the object of more than a few interested stares, pointing fingers and wide smiles. By the time I reached the paint shop at the far end of the high street, I was wondering if someone had tattooed 'freak' into my forehead. The Edge Of The World The shop was thankfully empty and I hurried inside, slamming the door shut behind me, startling Donald, the shop owner, and son of one of my father's closest friends. "It really is you Kate, we all wondered, but there's no doubt." His smile was broad. "Well of course it's me, last time I looked in the mirror, I was most definitely myself and noone else." I was completely confused. "You don't know, do you? Sweet heaven, you've no idea." He shook his head in disbelief and came round the counter, guiding me to the back of the shop, sitting me down on the set of steps he used for reaching the higher shelves. "For god's sake if you've got something to say Donald then out with it, you're giving me a headache!" I had the distinct impression that I wasn't going to like whatever he was going to say and I felt queasy for the first time in days. He was pacing around nervously and I closed my eyes, growing dizzy just watching him. "When did you last see the local rag?" "Around three months ago Donald; what's that got to do with anything?" I asked, still none the wiser. "Have you ever heard of James Hanlan? Better still, I think I still have last weeks copy of the paper somewhere around, give me a minute." The name didn't ring any bells at all. I could hear Donald opening and shutting drawers underneath the counter, then I heard him shaking out a paper. "Here Kate, have a look at this, because from what I can tell, this Mr Hanlan seems to have more than a little knowledge of you. I know you can't see the painting, but Moira the gallery owner knew it was you as soon as the painting was put up. There's no doubt about it, and there's no way it could be anyone else." I felt the paper being pushed into my hands and opened my eyes reluctantly, gasping with shock at the full page spread, detailing the new exhibit at the local art gallery. "Seumais..." I shook my head as I looked at his photo, standing proudly beside his new paintings, and one large one that stood alone in the middle of the gallery floor on a simple easel, covered over. I dropped the paper to the floor and trampled it as I made my way to the door, I felt completely numb. He had started painting, not only that but he had brought his paintings to the island, displaying them without a word to me; I would have felt hurt but just the thought of seeing him had my stomach doing summersaults. The gallery was only a couple of minutes walk away, but it felt as though I was walking through a thick syrup, I ignored greetings, seeing only the street sign that pointed the way to the gallery. My hand was shaking as I pushed the door open, my heels click-clacking on the polished floor. Despite having a small appearance on the outside, the inside of the gallery was vast, with a vaulted ceiling, painted a stark white, but the honeyed wood of the floor gave it a warm appearance. My brain couldn't quite take in what I was seeing, all the colours, huge canvases, rioting colours that could only be the machair. As I paused at each one it felt as though I was being drawn home, I could smell the heady scents of the flowers, the salt laden air. He hadn't forgotten at all, even my little whitewashed cottage featured, nestled at the foot of the hill. I had been putting it off but I couldn't any longer and I turned round and stood face to face with the main exhibit. My fingers reached out, clutching at the drape, slowly pulling it. My breath sounded loud in the large room as I exposed more and more of the painting; it was undoubtedly me, lying naked and fast asleep on my side, my hair brushing against the side of my breast, relaxed and quite clearly contented with the ghost of a smile about my mouth. All around me were a rainbow of flowers, and I looked beautiful. I was seeing myself as he saw me; just thinking about it took my breath away. Time passed, it could have been minutes, it could have been hours, I could have spent all day there and it would have seemed like no time at all. These were his paintings and it was easy to visualize him painting each brushstroke. I jumped when I heard the door to the gallery open, turning round quickly, I didn't want to share the space with anyone. With my eyes downcast, I walked quickly over to the door but was stopped short by a firm hand on my shoulder, a warm, heavy, familiar hand. My heart began to thump heavily in my chest as I slowly looked up at the man that had turned my life upside down. "You took your own sweet time Kate, I thought you would never get here." His words felt like a soothing balm over an open wound and I pulled in a shaky breath before I spoke. "I had no idea you... You've got some explaining to do James Hanlan." I wanted to be angry but I failed miserably and I grinned broadly, just simply for seeing him. "Lord Kate, you have no idea how much like my mother you sound, please call me Seumais, James is just my nom de wotsits, everyone calls me Seumais." I felt myself being caught up in his arms, held tightly the way I had dreamt of over the past few months. "I thought I was never going to see you again Seumais, you could have written or something." I gave up talking and just held onto him, trying my best not to turn into a blubbering wreck. "I told you it wasn't goodbye. You handed me inspiration and I took a leap of faith, but I knew there was no way I could get these paintings done with you around to distract me. The gallery owner was only too happy to display the paintings, given that they have a distinctly local flavour." I looked into his eyes and knew in that instant that I had found forever. "I hope you realise that I'm not too keen on having myself on show like that, no matter how beautiful you made me look." I cast a quick look over my shoulder at the painting and turned back, my lips brushing against his, drawn into a kiss that let loose all the frustrations and pent up feelings that had been blocked over the intervening weeks. Both of us were left gasping for air as we broke apart and I suddenly remembered why I had come to town in the first place. "You are beautiful Kate, besides, that painting is definitely not for sale, even although I've had a few more than generous offers for it." He winked and pulled me in the direction of the sales office. "Are you busy this afternoon Seumais, I've got a hospital appointment I have to keep and I'd like you to come with me." He stopped dead in his tracks and gripped my hand almost painfully. "God, you're not ill are you Kate, I thought you looked a bit thinner than the last time I saw you, and you're awfully pale, tell me you've not been ill all this time and I've been none the wiser!" Eventually he stopped for breath and I laughed, puzzled at my mirth. "I've been as sick as a dog to be honest, every morning, regular as clockwork, my lovely pert breasts are now swelling out of recognition and I've started crying watching television adverts." I walked past him and waited by the door for him to move, but he didn't. "Then it's lucky I've always had a thing for pregnant women, isn't it!" He reached me quickly, picking me up and whirling me round, much to the amusement of the gallery owner who had come out of the office to see what all the fuss was about. Mid afternoon saw us both sitting in the antenatal waiting room, nervous and excited, waiting to be called. I felt bloated with the amount of water I had been told to drink, but just as I thought my bladder was about to burst, we were taken through to a small room for the scan. My breath whooshed out of my lungs as the cold gel was smeared over my belly, but Seumais held my hands tightly in his, as much for his benefit as mine, I had never seen a man look so pale. It seemed to take forever before the monitor was turned around for us, but I couldn't make sense of what I was seeing. "Is there a history of twins in your family Kate?" The doctor asked, smiling widely. "Excuse me?" I wasn't exactly sure I had heard him right. "Lord woman, was one child not enough for you!" Seumais joked by my side, but I could see tears in his eyes. "Twins?" I whispered, looking back and forth between the doctor and Seumais. I was still testing the word out on my tongue a couple of hours later when Seumais took the car keys out of my numb fingers. The life that had stood still was now racing off with me barely able to cling onto it, but I was happier than ever. That evening we laid back on the machair, fingers entwined, watching the clouds, tinged pink and orange by the setting sun. Birds wheeled over our heads while the grass tickled the soles of our bare feet. "I've come home to a beautiful sunset." Seumais whispered, turning over to face me. "The sunsets are always perfect at the edge of the world." I answered, stroking the side of his face with my fingertips.