Mr Spencer: Chapter 17

“What the fuck?” Spencer splutters, wide eyed. “They’re fucking liars. I wasn’t in Ibiza. You know this shit is made up, I was with you the whole time. And I don’t even know May Allywell.”

I glare at him.

“This isn’t my fault,” he wails.

I sit forward in my seat. “Spencer, go to the bar and get me another drink, please. Why couldn’t you just keep your fucking dick in your pants all these years?” I whisper angrily.

“Believe me, I wonder the same thing,” he splutters in a fluster as he stands. “How many drinks do you want?”

I glare at him, feeling like red steam is shooting out of my ears.

“I’ll just get the whole bottle,” he mutters under his breath.

I continue my glaring and he scurries away to the bar to escape my rage.

I inhale deeply to try and calm myself down.

This is not going to plan.

Three hours later, and I’m reading my book on the plane. The engine is droning out all sound. On a normal trip I would be fast asleep by now.

“Are you still angry with me?” Spencer whispers.

“I’m not angry with you,” I say, deadpan, my eyes firmly on my book. I’m not even reading, I’m too mad to see the words. I have no idea how I’m going to explain this situation to my father and Edward once they see this story. What’s worse is that this is exactly what they didn’t want to happen. I feel like a fool knowing everyone thinks he’s playing up on me, even though I know that’s not true.

“You seem like you’re angry with me. You’re not exactly being friendly. You haven’t said a word in three hours.”

I look at him deadpan. “I am allowed to be angry with a situation. The whole world doesn’t revolve around you, you know.”

He widens his eyes. “Jeez.” He thinks for a moment. “Is this your PMT talking?”

I stare at him.

“I mean, what would you say to me if you didn’t have those bitch hormones running through your blood right now?”

Steam shoots from ears once more, this man can’t be that stupid, surely.

“What I would say to you is shut the hell up.”

He chuckles and lifts my hand to kiss the back of it. “You’re hot when you’re angry, Prescott.”

I exhale heavily and turn back to my book.

“You know it’s not true, right?”

“Yes.”

“So why are you still mad with me?”

“Because I look like a fool.”

“No, you don’t.”

“I do.”

“But we know the truth.” He frowns.

“Nobody else does.”

He exhales heavily. “Why are you so worried about what everyone else thinks? Care about what I think.”

I stare at him for a moment. “Okay, what do you think?”

“I think these people who work for the media and the magazines are idiots, and like I told you before, half of the shit they put out there is completely fabricated.”

“A picture tells a thousand words.”

“But does it? I’ve even been photographed with Seb’s girlfriends in the past and been in the stupid tabloids for it.”

“Why do they target you? I don’t understand why they target you specifically.” I do actually. He’s gorgeous, wealthy, and has enough boyish charm to light up the world… but I’m not letting him know that.

He shrugs. “It started about five years ago when I dated a girl who also happened to be a model. It was her they were after, and they got a few images of us together. Then I met another girl who, unbeknown to me, was an actress. We were photographed leaving a club together and they just assumed I was seeing both woman at the same time. That’s when they began this whole love rat bullshit.”

“Were you seeing both women at the same time?”

He smirks. “Possibly, but each of them knew we weren’t exclusive and they were seeing other people, too.”

I stare out the window and a wave of disappointment runs through me. Unable to stop it from happening, my eyes fill with tears.

“Angel,” he whispers, wrapping his arm around me. “Don’t be upset.”

“This isn’t how I wanted to announce my first relationship to my family, Spence,” I whisper.

“I know, baby.” I sit back and rest my head on his shoulder. “It’s shitty.” He kisses my temple. “But don’t let this crap affect our relationship. I don’t care what everyone else thinks, I don’t care if they hate me, but if I lose you because of shitty lies from people who don’t even know me…” His voice trails off.

He’s right. This isn’t his fault.

“Can we start the weekend again, please?” I ask hopefully.

He smiles down at me, his eyes filled with empathy. “We can do anything you want, angel.”

The car pulls into the private garage and I hunch my shoulders in excitement.

We’re in Santorini, Greece.

“Your villa is two doors down from ours. You have your own pool,” Spence tells the boys. “The key is in the mail box at the side.”

“Thank you.” They both smile, and I think that, secretly, they’re just as excited as me.

I love how Spencer always books their things and looks after their welfare, making sure they are well looked after. They have taken to him well and look to him for guidance now. It means a lot to me, and it says a lot about the type of man Spencer is.

“We’ll just check out your place first, if that’s okay?” Anthony asks.

“Of course.”

The boys grab our bags and then disappear inside, leaving me to bounce around in the car. I can’t remember ever being this excited. Spencer opens my door and holds his hand out for me to take.

“You ready, angel?” His face is alive with mischief, and I already know the place he’s booked is incredible.

“I am.” I beam at him as I take his hand and get out of the car. “Thank you for organising this. It’s amazing.”

“You haven’t even seen it yet.” He chuckles. “This isn’t our place. We’re camping on the beach with no bathroom.” He throws me one of those sexy winks he does so well. “I thought we could rough it. Really get to know each other.”

I laugh. “That would be amazing, too.”

He takes me into his arms and kisses me. “You are very easily pleased, Charlotte Prescott.”

“As long as I’m with you, I’m happy.”

We kiss again as the air around us swirls, our tabloid disaster has thankfully been left behind on the plane. We’ve decided not to think about it until Monday when we return. There’s no use worrying and ruining our time here over something that’s already done.

We are on the side of the mountain in Santorini, just near a village called Fira. All the houses and villas are white and overlook the sea. It looks like it’s straight out of a travel brochure.

“Let’s go inside,” I urge.

“Wait for the boys to finish first.”

Oh, he wants privacy. I love it when he wants privacy.

I giggle up at him and he holds me in his arms. “Greece agrees with you.” He smiles lovingly at me.

“I know.” I laugh. “It really does.”

He chuckles, and a few moments later we hear the words we’ve been waiting for. “All clear.”

“Thank you,” Spencer says as they walk back out into the garage. “I’ll call you in the morning. No plans, we’re just here to relax.”

“Okay.”

He slaps Wyatt on the back as he walks past him.

“We have our phones if you need us,” Anthony calls.

“Thanks.”

Spencer guides me through the huge timber double front doors, and my mouth falls open as my eyes bounce around the space.

“Oh my God,” I gasp.

It’s all white and minimalistic. The walls are made from rendered cement, and the floor has a beautiful terracotta tile to it.

The room is glowing pink and I’ve never seen anything more beautiful.

The sunset.

The entire back of the villa is made of glass that overlooks an exotic infinity pool and the most beautiful view. The sun is just setting over the water. Spencer leads me out through the French doors to a balcony that is decorated with exotic day beds and deckchairs. Beautiful cushions are scattered around the pool and I can’t help but smile as I take it all in.

“This is like some crazy movie scene,” I breathe, feeling the pink glow on my face. The sea breeze blows my hair around, and I look up to see Spencer smiling at the ocean. “Thank you,” I whisper.

He takes me in his arms and pushes the hair back from my face. “I’m sorry about today.”

“It’s not your fault.” I wrap my arms around his broad neck, and his lips touch mine. “Let’s go swimming.”

“Okay.” He immediately begins to undress, lifting his shirt over his shoulders. “What are you doing?” I ask.

“We’re skinny dipping.”

“I don’t think I want that on the front page of a magazine.” I hold my arm up to gesture to the villas above us on the hill. Who knows who can see us from up here?

“Didn’t think of that.” He kicks off his shoes, slides his jeans down, and he steps out of them. I’m rewarded with the sight of his tight, white boxer shorts. My eyes drop down his body and back to his face.

“Get your bikini on. Now.” He smirks darkly. “I’m about to fuck you in this pool.”

Goose bumps scatter up my arms and I giggle like a schoolgirl. I run inside and grab my bag, taking it through to the main bedroom.

This is the best weekend ever.

I stop dead in my tracks when I see the room.

Once again, I’m rendered speechless. There’s a king size bed made out of a pale timber that has beautiful white netting surrounding it. The back wall is made of glass windows, and it also has magnificent views of the ocean. Through a large mint green barn style door is a gigantic bathroom with a triple shower and a sunken spa bath in the middle.

I put my hands over my mouth in awe. I’ve never been anywhere so beautiful. I scramble through my bag and find my gold bikini. I throw it on and run back out to the pool. Spencer is sitting on the step and he smiles when he sees me.

I hold my hands out wide. “Ta-dah!” I announce.

Spencer’s eyes twinkle with a certain something I haven’t seen before. He stands and takes my hand, leading me into the pool.

“Look at you, you’re blossoming before my eyes.”

I frown in question.

“A month ago, you were self-conscious and shy, and now…” He holds his hand out to my bikini. “Sexy and confident as fuck. Exhibit A.”

I giggle as I wrap my arms and legs around him in the water. “Well, I have a very good teacher.”

He looks down at me, the sinking sun lighting his face. The water is still, and suddenly, it’s as if the whole world stops. Our eyes are locked, our bodies snuggled up tight together, but it’s his heart I’m here for. His big, beautiful, caring heart.

This is a tenderness I’ve never known—one that a lot of women will never know.

The closeness between us is everything.

His eyes search mine as if he feels it too, and for a long time, we just stare at each other in the twilight. Finally, he takes my face into his hands and his lips gently brush over mine.

“I love you, Charlotte,” he whispers.

“I love you, too.” I smile softly. Oh…. this is so perfect.

He is perfect.

We kiss, long and slow, and I can feel his erection up against my stomach.

“You didn’t have to bring me all the way to Greece to say that?” I smile down at him.

He gives me that cheeky, boyish grin I love. “I did. I fucked up the condom first, didn’t I?”

“Well, if you had just asked.”

“Can we not go back to that nightmare? I had visions of myself driving a minivan with five scruffy kids in the backseat.”

We laugh out loud, and then quickly fall serious again. “We came to Greece because I wanted the first time I said it to be special.”

I smile at him.

“This is a big fucking deal in my life, you know? I’ve been going on TTT therapy trips over this for years.”

I laugh against his lips and I squeeze him tight.

“Promise me that Edward won’t come between us,” he says.

“He won’t, baby.” I push his hair back from his forehead as I look into his big, blue eyes. “I promise.”

His lips take mine, and this time there’s an edge to his kiss. I know the times when I’m going to get it hard, and tonight is one of them. With his hands on my hips, he guides me back and forth over his hard length. The water begins to ripple around us.

“Bring your legs up,” he orders huskily, his focus shifting to my mouth.

I love it when he fixates on my mouth. I know he’s imagining how I would feel around him.

I bring my legs up onto the step on either side of him, and he inhales sharply as he grinds my body down onto him. “I’m going to fuck you right here, angel.”

“Hmm.”

He pulls my bikini to the side and begins to rub his thick cock through my wet flesh, back and forth, back and forth. I feel myself quiver already.

Damn it, I’m hopeless.

“Hold it,” he whispers. “Don’t come.”

I smile. “Like it’s a choice.”

With his hands on my behind, he guides me down onto him and we both moan at the burn as he goes a little way in.

He grabs my hand and puts it over his heart. I can feel it beating hard in his chest.

His eyes hold mine. “Every time, angel. Every time I’m with you my heart races.”

He grabs my jaw and kisses me hard and uncontrolled. He’s only an inch in, but I swear I’m going to come.

“I can’t get close enough to you,” he whispers. “I can’t get enough of you. Do you know how long I’ve waited to feel like this?”

My eyes fill with tears. I’m so in love with him.

Our kiss turns desperate, and he grabs my shoulders from behind, slamming me down onto his cock. It’s so hard, the air is knocked out of my lungs.

He’s thick, long, and hell, I’m blessed that the man I love is so virile and strong. His cock is rock hard… just for me. He slowly slides my body up and down onto him and circles himself deep inside.

His eyes are dark when he licks my open mouth. “I’m going to try something, okay, baby?”

His hand goes around to my behind and he puts a finger over my back entrance.

My body instantly tenses up.

“Shh.” He calms me as his dick moves in and out of my sex to its own rhythm.

“Lean forward,” he whispers.

I stare at him, and I know this is it—the moment he’s asking me to try something new.

And I want to, I want to be adventurous for him.

With my lips locked on his, I lean forward, and he slides a finger deep into my back entrance, slowly sliding me down onto his cock at the same time.

My eyes widen as they hold his. The look on his face is one of pure satisfaction.

“Feels good, angel, doesn’t it? I’m going to fuck you here one day.”

Hearing him say such filthy things does something to me, and I convulse immediately, my body spiralling into a throbbing orgasm. I moan loudly and completely lose control.

“Oh, my girl likes it,” he whispers in an unrecognisable voice as he begins to let me have it hard.

The water slams into the side of the pool, and it feels like the closer he gets, the deeper his finger and cock feel. “Lift your legs!” he barks.

I’m half scared to, but I lift my legs higher. He throws his head back and holds himself deep inside of me. I feel the telling jerk of his cock as it empties.

“Fucking… hell,” he moans. He continues to pump me full, and finally stills at once.

With his eyes locked on mine, his finger continues to move in and out of me. He’s fascinated.

He’s unable to stop.

I kneel over him, completely transfixed as he explores my body to satisfy his needs.

“Fuck, you turn me on.” He bites my nipple through my bikini top, his finger slowly sliding in and out, and I know he’s making the most of it while he has me like this. “Can we fuck here now?” he whispers up at me in awe.

I kiss his big beautiful lips. “One day.”

He smiles softly and continues to work me, and damn, it feels so intimate and raw.

So unexpectedly good.

Who would have ever thought that this would be a special moment?

He bites my nipple hard. It makes me wince and I wiggle away from his over exploring finger. He’s so naughty.

“You may just be The Devil himself, Mr Spencer.”

He smiles mischievously and fakes a bow. “At your service, My Lady.” He tips me back and bites my neck. “I look forward to our one day.”

The sun peeks over the horizon, and I smile in awe, sucking in a slow breath.

It’s early and I’m out on the deck watching the dawn of a new day. It’s too beautiful to go unwatched. I wrap my robe around me and smile as the golden glow bounces onto my face and the sea breeze swirls around me and whips my hair.

Heaven.

This place is something else. It’s so exotic and gorgeous… other worldly. I look down at all of the white villas on the cliff below us and I wonder who’s inside of them. Are the women down there as lucky as I am?

My beautiful Spencer is still fast asleep in bed, unaware he’s missing the most perfect sunrise ever. He’s also blissfully unaware of the fear that I have deep in the pit of my stomach. I don’t want Spence to know I’m worried about that stupid magazine story on our weekend away. I’m acting as hard as I can, but honestly, how can I not be scared? I’m shaken to my core.

I imagine Edward and my father reading the story and what they would be saying—or screaming—and I close my eyes with regret.

This is not how I wanted to tell them about Spencer. It couldn’t be farther from how I wanted to tell them, but of course, that choice has been taken out of my hands now. He will be judged before they even meet him. I have a feeling he already has been.

At least by Edward.

My mind goes to him visiting Spencer at work this week and how Spencer was annoyed that Edward didn’t make time to come and see me when he was in London.

If I’m honest, it did hurt my feelings but I would never let on to Spence that it did. It would only infuriate him, and I need to try and make the two of them get along. It will make my life so much easier.

But why didn’t Edward come and see me? I just don’t understand.

A boat is loading down in the water, and I watch the people board. Then as it slowly pulls out, I watch it disappear across the water. I wonder where they are going today? What adventure are they about to have?

I feel two large hands snake around my waist from behind and lips gently dust my temple. “Good morning, beautiful,” his deep voice purrs.

I smile and place my hand up on his face. “Morning,” I whisper. “How did you sleep?”

“Like a log.” He wraps his arms around me and holds me tight.

“God, it’s so beautiful here, Spence.”

He smiles as he looks out over the horizon. “It is, isn’t it?”

We stand in each other’s arms for a moment as we drink in our surroundings. “What are we doing today?” I ask.

“Sightseeing.”

I smile broadly.

“On mopeds.”

I flick around to face him. “Mopeds?” I gasp. “I’ve… I’ve never…”

Spencer laughs at my sheer terror. “Don’t worry, I’ll be driving. You’re just being my biker bitch.”

“Biker bitch?” I frown. “What the hell does a biker bitch do?”

“Me.” He winks. “You sit on the back of my bike all day, and then you sit on my cock all night.”

I burst out laughing. “You’re an idiot.”

With a huge smile, he bites at my neck and walks me backwards inside the house.

“But first you have to earn your leathers.”

“I don’t think this is a good idea.” Wyatt frowns.

I glance over at Wyatt as Spencer puts my motorbike helmet on. I don’t think this is a good idea, either, if I’m honest, but I’m trying my hardest to act braver than I really am.

Spencer frowns while he concentrates on fastening the strap under my chin.

“This makes me feel claustrophobic,” I say.

He smirks, choosing not to respond verbally.

“How much experience do you actually have on motorbikes?” I ask. I look at the nippy little machine parked in our garage.

“Heaps.” He knocks on my helmet three times. “I’ve only been to hospital three or four times. A few broken bones have been the worst of it.”

“What?” My eyes widen.

“Both legs, both arms,” he teases. “Fractured skull.”

“Tell me you’re joking.”

“I swear, if you crash with her on the back of that bike…” Wyatt interrupts.

Anthony laughs as he watches on.

“Stop laughing, Ant,” Wyatt warns. “This could be the last trip we ever come on.”

“Or last trip we ever make,” I mutter flatly.

Spencer’s eyes widen with delight. “Will you all fucking relax? I’m an excellent driver and…” He throws his leg over the bike and leans down, pretending to ride fast. “You won’t be able to keep up with Charlotte and me.”

Good grief, I may actually die today. “Spencer, I don’t know about this.”

“Get on, woman.” He gestures to the back of the bike with his chin.

I put my hands on my hips and smirk at him. He’s said that to me before, although the context was completely different. “Get on and wrap your legs around me.”

I do as I’m told, enjoying the way he helps me onto the seat behind him.

“You boys all right with everything?” Spencer asks them. Wyatt starts up his engine, followed by Anthony. Spencer starts our bike up, too.

“Go slow,” Wyatt warns him. “Don’t drive stupid.”

Spencer rolls his eyes. “You nag me to fucking death, Wyatt.”

Anthony chuckles. “Right?”

Spencer turns around and flips my little glass screen down over my eyes. “Hold on tight, angel.”

He pulls out slowly, and I scrunch my eyes tight and hold on.

He begins to pick up speed, and I squeeze him so tight that I’m afraid he may pop.

We pull out into the street and down the hill.

“You okay?” he calls.

I nod, too scared to reply. We ride on the cobblestone streets for a while, and I watch the people flash by us in a blur.

He runs his hand along my thigh. Hmm, maybe this isn’t so bad after all.

We pull out onto a wider road and he speeds up a little. Wyatt appears on his bike beside us out of nowhere, holding his hand up for Spencer.

“Slow down!” he calls to us.

Spencer shakes his head, flips him the bird, and accelerates away.

“Ah!” I scream as I am pushed back from the G-force.

I look behind us to see Wyatt and Anthony chasing us with a look of sheer terror on their faces. I giggle and shout out to Spencer, “Lose them.”

Spencer nods and twists his wrist to send us faster.

“See you later, motherfuckers,” he cries.

I hear Wyatt’s horn blare to life, and I put my head down on Spencer’s shoulder and laugh.

Being naughty is so much fun.

Three hours later, we pull into a beach and I smile goofily as I take my helmet off.

That was the most fun I think I’ve ever had. We’ve seen so much of the island and had a great time doing it, too.

Wyatt and Anthony pull in beside us, and Spencer laughs as soon as Wyatt takes his helmet off.

“I just aged fifty years thanks to you.” Wyatt huffs. “You’re a maniac driver.”

Spencer holds his hand out at the beach. “But look at your reward.”

We look around and see the most beautiful beach of black sand. It has deckchairs lined up in pairs with straw thatched beach umbrellas above them. The water is bright blue and crystal clear. There’s a beach bar, too, and people are sitting out the veranda drinking cocktails.

“May I present Perissa Beach on the Aegean Sea.”

“Wow.” I smile. “Impressive.”

“And, an added attraction of this beach is the spectacular view.” He gestures to the deckchairs where there are rows of beautiful women all oiled up and topless.

“This beach is also known as Juggernauts Hangout.”

We all laugh, and I roll my eyes. It’s such a Spencer thing to say.

“See, boys, I have your best interests at heart.” He winks mischievously.

“Excellent.” Anthony smirks.

Spencer helps me off the bike and he rests our helmets on the handlebars.

“Charlotte and I are going to have some lunch before we take a swim and lie around for a few hours. Do whatever you like,” Spencer tells them.

“We will be close,” Wyatt assures us.

“Not too close.” Spencer takes my hand in his. “Take the hint and go look at some boobs or something.”

I smirk at the boys. Being told to go and look at some boobs is not something I imagine that they have ever heard from their employer before.

“This way.” Spencer takes off towards the restaurant. Anthony walks beside him, and Wyatt gives me a lop-sided smile, as if he has something on his mind.

“What’s that look?” I ask as I link my arm with his and we turn to follow the other two.

“I like seeing you like this,” he says, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

“Like what?”

“Happy.”

I bump my shoulder with his. “Does it really show?”

“Like a beacon.”

We walk for a moment, and I see Spencer up ahead laughing out loud at something Anthony has said. His laugh is childish and carefree. “This is a lot better than suffocating in Nottingham, isn’t it?”

Wyatt smiles as he looks at our surroundings. “For all concerned.”

The late afternoon sun is warm on my face and I smile at the sky. We’ve been at Perissa Beach for hours. It’s simply too good to leave.

The boys are up the back somewhere, and we are down by the water on our deckchairs in our swimwear.

We’ve eaten, swam, drank, and I even had a little nap. Spencer has gone to the bar in search of some cocktails while I lie here in my bliss.

The sound of the waves, the seagulls, the laughter, and music in the distance… I think this may just be my most favourite place I’ve ever been to. And I’ve been to a lot of amazing places, but I think it’s because of who I’m here with.

Spencer is my favourite place. Anywhere with him is Heaven.

He reappears with two very pink and exotic looking drinks in his hands. I sit up with a frown. “Wow, what are these?”

He passes my tall glass, bright pink and bubbling with fancy straws placed in it. “A Pinky Sweetheart for my pinky sweetheart.”

I smile as I look at the glass suspiciously. It’s probably as toxic as all heck. “How am I a pinky sweetheart?”

He sips his drink and narrows his eyes. “Well, you’re my sweetheart, and your bits are a delicious shade of pink.” He shrugs. “Pinky sweetheart.”

I laugh and take a sip. He falls into the deckchair beside me. “This is delicious.” I nod. “Good choice.”

He raises his glass to me. “Not just a pretty face.”

Isn’t that the truth?

Spencer is so far from being just a pretty face that I don’t even notice he’s so good looking any more. It’s what’s inside him that I love. The two parts of him that make him so different to anyone I’ve ever met. He’s playful, honest, and sweet, but then he has this dominant side that only ever comes out properly when we’re in the bedroom. I remember how he was when he first met Wyatt and Anthony, and I know he’s no pushover to people who don’t know him.

Like Edward.

“Can I ask you something?”

He nods as he sucks through his straw. “This drink is lethal by the way. Don’t let us swim, we may die.”

I giggle. “You said that you went on a Triple P trip. What does that mean?”

“Oh.” He frowns. “Triple T?”

“Yes, that’s it. What’s a Triple T trip?”

“It’s a time to think trip. You know, when things get too much and you can’t handle it anymore, you have to escape life to have time to think.”

“So, what do you do?”

“I go away on my own for two to three weeks. Do nothing, speak to nobody, reflect.”

“Where do you go?”

“The Four Seasons in Maui. It has to be the Four Seasons in Maui.”

“You did this?”

“I’ve done it every year since I turned seventeen.”

My face falls. “Every year? You can’t handle things every year?” I ask, oh this is news…. what can’t he handle?

“The first time I went I was a hormonal teenager and my mother was at her wit’s end with me. She sent me to Maui in the hope that I would calm down.” He twists his lips. “I didn’t know anyone, and I didn’t talk to anyone.”

“Were you upset about your father?”

He shrugs. “Yeah. I would start the year off going mad and getting into trouble. My birthday is on the 31st of December, so I would spend the last day of every year waiting for him to call me.” He pauses and stares into space. “And then I’d spend the first day of every new year devastated that he hadn’t.”

“Your birthday is on New Year’s Eve?” I ask.

He smiles softly and nods. “That’s how the TTT trips started. As I grew older, I would go for a different reason.”

“What was the reason?” I reach over and take his hand in mine. “You can tell me. I won’t judge.”

“I thought I was broken. I never felt attached. I would meet all these great women and sleep with them, and then…” He shrugs. “Nothing.”

“Nothing?”

“Seriously, nothing. I would be in bed with them after sex, thinking about work and watching the clock tick to see when it was acceptable to leave without looking like a prick.”

I squeeze his hand and he gives me a sad smile.

“Every year it got worse. I began to beat myself up about being like him. I didn’t want to be near anyone on my birthday. I hated who I was becoming, and I would pretend to my family that I was away so I didn’t have to act happy.”

“Spence,” I whisper sadly. “So, you spent every New Years alone?”

“I did for a long time, until Masters’ wife died. Then Seb and I would spend it with him and the kids. He was in a darker place than I was.”

I smile softly. They are such good friends to look after each other. “What did you do last year?”

He smirks. “Played board games at Masters’ house. Such party animals.”

I pick up his hand and kiss the back of it again. “Can we come back here to Santorini for your birthday this year? We could bring Seb, Masters, and their family, if you like?”

He reaches over and cups my face in his hand, dusting his thumb over my bottom lip. “Do you know that I love you?”

I climb beside him on his deck chair and hold him tight. I get an image of him all alone for so many years on his birthday. New Year’s Eve! It makes me so sad.

“From now on it will be different, Spence,” I whisper as I hold him tight. “Now you have me, and I will never leave you alone.”

He crushes me to him and holds me close. “All this time, I thought I was broken. It turns out I was just waiting for you.”

My eyes fill with tears and we kiss. It’s long, tender, and perfect. “You should take me home for some intimate relations,” I whisper.

He smiles and his eyes widen. “Is it one day?”

“Don’t push your luck.”

We stumble into the bar on our last night in Santorini. It’s late, and we are messy. By messy, I mean we’ve had way too many cocktails and we’re laughing like fools.

Everything is hilarious.

I can’t remember ever being this relaxed and carefree. I don’t think I’ve looked in the mirror for three days. I don’t need to. Spencer makes me feel like I’m the most beautiful woman in the world just as I am.

I’m wearing a short yellow beach dress, with my hair down and messy. I have a red flower tucked behind one ear—a flower Spencer picked from a garden for me. He’s wearing a white linen shirt with the top buttons undone, and pink shorts with white hibiscus flowers on them. He’s also donning a bright green dinosaur cap that he bought for his niece.

The bar is practically empty, and there’s a one-man band playing on a small stage. He has a harmonica on a stand, a set of bongos, and a guitar. His long brown dreadlocks give him the ultimate hippy vibe, and his voice is beautiful.

Spencer’s eyes light up and he drags me to the dance floor. He grabs my hands, pushes me out, and then slams me back to his body. “I love this song.” He smiles down at me.

“I’ve never heard this before in my life.”

“Me neither.” He pushes me away and spins me again.

“Then how do you know you love it?”

“I love everything I do with you.” He smirks down at me, and the air swirls between us. Even drunk and disorderly, he’s the most perfect man in the entire world.

The song finishes, and we both clap and cheer to make up for the lack of enthusiasm from everyone else.

“What do you want me to play?” the singer asks in his thick accent.

Spencer points at him and his eyes widen. “Aussie?” he asks.

“Yeah, man.” The guy laughs.

Spencer high fives him as if they are long lost best friends. “I fucking love Australians.”

I turn to see Wyatt and Anthony snickering from the corner. They can deny it all they want but I know they like Spencer, too, now. How could anyone not? He’s the friendliest person I’ve ever known.

“What’s your name?” Spencer asks the singer.

“Reg.” The guy smiles.

“That’s a great name!” Spencer cries, as if it’s the most exciting piece of information he’s ever heard.

I laugh out loud again. Oh man, we are so drunk.

“Play us a song, Reggie.” He picks up my hand and kisses it, waiting for the song to start.

Reg takes a sip of his drink and picks up his guitar. “This song is called ‘Dream Catch Me.’”

Spencer smiles down at me and gives me one of his swoony winks. The song starts, and he begins to move me side to side to the beat. As the words pour out of Reggie, Spencer sings them to me, but with a delay. He’s listening to them first and then repeating everything clearly.

His timing is completely off.

We begin to really sway side to side as our dancing gets a bit out of control and I’m laughing as Spencer sings the wrong words as he dances and swings his hips.

His big beautiful smile covers his face as he sings to me and I laugh up at him in the goofy dinosaur hat as he swings me around like a ragdoll.

The chorus breaks out and Spencer lets go of me. He begins to bop, jumping up and down, having the time of his life.

“Jump.” He laughs.

I find myself mirroring his dancing, bopping along with him with a huge goofy smile across my face. What must we look like? Who even cares?

This is so much fun.

The music begins to wind down. “Great song.” Spencer claps. “Play it again.”

“Yes.” I laugh. “Again.”

Reg laughs with us and begins the song from the beginning. This time Spencer sort of knows the words and sings to me as he holds me in his arms.

There is nobody else on earth tonight.

Only him.

The chorus rings out again and he begins to bop once more.

I throw my head back and laugh, unable to stop myself from joining in. He looks utterly ridiculous in that dinosaur hat, yet he’s the happiest I’ve ever seen him. His huge smile is infectious. I glance over to see the boys are laughing out loud at the spectacle we are making of ourselves.

Spencer spins me around the entire dance floor. “Be anyone I want to be!” he sings to me. “But it is us I see… and I cannot believe I’m falling.” The song begins to wind down and he pulls me close. Our lips touch and he dips me back.

“You know what else I’m going to do one day, angel?” he whispers.

“What?” I smile up at him.

His eyes hold mine. “Marry you.”

My heart stops.

“What?” I whisper.

The chorus kicks in again, and Spencer kisses me quickly, pulling me up to bop around, once more.

“Jump!” he cries.

This isn’t even a song you can jump around to. It’s a ballad, and I begin to laugh so hard that I can hardly stand. He begins to dance like he’s crazy, jumping from side to side with his hands in the air like he’s at a rock concert. This is the funniest thing I’ve ever seen. I laugh so hard I have to rest my hands on my knees to hold myself up.

The song finishes, and we both clap with our hands in the air.

“Bravo, bravo.”

I laugh as I continue clapping.

“Brilliant, mate,” Spencer cries in excitement. “Best fucking song ever.”

Reg laughs and shakes his head at the lunatic in the bright green dinosaur cap. “You’re hectic, man.”

I’m laughing when Spencer drags me from the dance floor and signals to the door to the boys.

“Where are we going?” I ask.

“We need to go home.” He turns and puts the dinosaur hat on my head. “That dream song made me horny.”

“You’re always horny.”

He turns and takes me into his arms. “I’m only horny for my dreamcatcher.”

I smile up at him and my heart swells. He could say the word potato and I would find it romantic.

“I love you.” He smiles down at me.

“I love you more.” I run my hands through his hair.

“Oh, Jesus,” Wyatt moans behind us.

“Dream catch me when I fall,” Spencer sings at the top of his voice. “Or else I won’t go home at all.” We stumble outside the front steps and Spencer raises his hand like he’s drawing a sword. “To the kebab shop!” he cries.

We’re waiting in the boarding lounge, and I’m staring at the beautiful man in front of me. He’s more dishevelled than I’ve ever seen him and hungover like nothing else. I’m dreading going home and back to reality. We’ve had the most beautiful weekend in paradise, and I want to stay here in our little love bubble.

Spencer rebooked the villas for two weeks over New Year’s. I can’t think of anything more perfect.

My phone begins to bounce around the table as it vibrates. The name Edward lights up the screen.

My stomach drops.

I stare at it as it rings for a moment, and Spencer frowns in question when he looks over at me. I know I can’t avoid this call for forever.

“Hello,” I answer.

“Where are you?” Edward growls.

I close my eyes, hearing the obvious anger in his voice. “Greece.”

“Get your fucking arse back to Nottingham now!”

He hangs up, and my heart constricts. I look over at Spencer with fear running through me. I swallow the lump in my throat.

They’ve seen the magazine story.

“I need to go home to Nottingham,” I whisper. “Tonight.”