Grounded

Chapter 6: Distraction

by Lynn Saunders


It has been a distressingly long time since Anna has awoken to the comforting bulk of a man pressed tightly against her back, but his presence today is unmistakable. He trails lazy kisses across her shoulders, his stubble scraping deliciously against the back of her neck, and she smiles into her pillow without opening her eyes. He gives a little grunt, nuzzling her, pressing his nose behind her ear. She imagines his eyes crinkling with his own smile as he senses that she is indeed awake.

She's thinking of the previous evening, a hot whirlwind of colour and sensation, movements both fervent and careful, and the pleasing stoutness of his body. John has a sturdy chest, thick thighs and calves, and a fading surgical scar above his right knee that inspired her to hold onto him a bit tighter in the night, fiercely proud of him already. He'd watched her so intently as they came together once more, his pupils onyx as he moved over her, flashing in the dark. Their second joining was slow, purposeful and binding, and he'd shuddered as she wrapped her legs around him, marking his shoulder with her teeth. Afterward, hunger finally coaxed them from the bed, and they shared leftovers and surprisingly easy conversation before lingering in the heat of the shower spray together. She'd traced the purplish mark on his collar bone with her fingertip and given him a decidedly satisfied smile.

Now, his large hands begin to wander gently, reclaiming her waist, spreading across her hips and thighs. She gives a contented sigh, a bit surprised when she finds herself pushing back against him with a new surge of interest. Her overly-ordered life has needed a little shaking up, and what a way to do it. This has got to be some kind of a personal record.

She lets her eyes drift open, and as her vision adjusts, she's met with the sight of the lopsided bedside chair. His dress shirt is still crumpled into the cushions, and she grins at the memory. Pure white sunlight glows against the frosted windowpanes, and she realizes that it must've snowed all night, that it's already mid-morning, and they've enjoyed quite a lie in. Thank God for Saturdays.

She turns and moves into his embrace, humming at the warm press of his skin against hers. The weather outside might be poor, but inside her small flat, they're bundled in cozy blankets, basking in the cool lustre of the winter morning. They grin, and he nuzzles her neck as she hugs him close. Each time their lips meet, it's both new and comforting. John is real and warm and large, and he tugs her slightly on top of him, tangling his fingers in her hair. She's so distracted by his roaming hands that she doesn't notice the quiet click of the deadbolt or Castle's irritable chirp from the hall.

"Anna, let's go! I stopped for coffee, but I didn't see your fit barista-"

Gwen's voice has come as an absolute shock, and they all stare at one another in dumbfounded silence for a moment as she stands stock-still in the bedroom doorway, holding two styrofoam coffee cups, her mouth agape. Thankfully, she comes to her senses quickly and leaps back out into the hall.

"Bloody hell! I'm so sorry, I thought… Never mind. I was never here. Carry on!" Gwen scurries noisily out the way she came. "This sort of thing is precisely why I didn't want to use the key!" she complains before the flat's door closes with a thud, and her delighted cackle echoes through the exterior hall.

Anna sinks down beside John and tugs the duvet up over her head, groaning with embarrassment as he laughs heartily beside her.

"I gather that's Gwen," he says, and she can hear his smile.

Anna sighs. "We were supposed to wrap up Christmas shopping, but clearly I forgot."

Her voice is muffled by the blanket, and he gently tugs at the bedding until he can see her face. His hair flops endearingly across the right side of his brow as he props up on his elbow beside her.

"Well, you did say that your friend has notoriously bad timing."

She can't help but pet him, and he leans into her touch. "I must've been distracted," she admits. "I don't usually have this sort of company."

"I'm honoured." His striking green eyes are full of merriment, and he brushes her hair from her temple with a mischievous smile. "So, who's the lucky barista she mentioned?"

Anna blushes and presses her fingers to her forehead, but he gently pulls her hand away.

"He's a lucky bloke if you fancy him."

"Well, I fancied him from the start." She raises an eyebrow, running her hands over his shoulders. "But I wasn't sure if he was keen on me."

"Oh, I'd say he's keen," he whispers, kissing her softly. "I'd say he's very keen indeed."

He kicks the covers off, lowering his lips to her neck. She's already soft and slick from his kisses, and presently yet another gold wrapper flutters to the floor as they gasp and smile together.


Gwen sinks into the restaurant chair without so much as a hello and fixes Anna with an amused stare. "You're shagging the hot barista, and you didn't tell me?"

"No! Well, I mean, yes, but I wasn't going to keep it secret. Not exactly." Anna laughs and shakes her head. "I am truly sorry about this morning."

"Are you kidding? I was so excited for you that I needed a ciggy after."

"You didn't."

Gwen rolls her eyes. "No, but I did have both of our coffees so that I could get through the morning of shopping before Marc and the wee one had the opportunity get into too much trouble - set fire to our flat, perhaps? Or worse, try to bake something."

Anna gives a thoughtful nod. "The fire and baking would likely go hand-in-hand. You love them, though."

Gwen gives her best impression of a world-weary sigh. "Yes, I suppose I do. The beggars. So… where is the barista tonight?"

"John is closing the shop for the evening."

"And is he as good as he looks?"

Anna smiles and blushes hotly. "Gwen…"

"Alright, alright. We won't talk about it yet." Gwen pretends to be engrossed in reading the menu. "But don't think I didn't notice that the bedroom chair was broken."

Anna only sips her tea and smiles.


* For awesomegreentie.

* Special thanks to terriejane, giginutshell, froggattcoyles, and downtonluvr for beta. Any mistakes are my own.

* giginutshell got to pick Gwen's husband's name.