French Kissing Read Online Free PDF Page B

start, my heart beating furiously. Nick, lying next to me, muttered something in his sleep and rolled over onto his side, taking the duvet with him. Guilt washed over me. I was in bed with my boyfriend and I was having erotic dreams about Alex.
    But it was just a dream. It didn’t mean anything. And if Nick had made love to me last night, instead of falling asleep as soon as we were in bed, I probably wouldn’t have dreamt about another man. I glanced at the clock on my nightstand. 8.00 a.m. Way too early to be getting up on a Sunday, but I knew I wasn’t going to be able to get back to sleep. Careful not to disturb Nick, I slid off the bed, pulled on a sweatshirt over my pyjamas, and padded out of my bedroom, closing the door quietly behind me.
    In the kitchen, I found Alex making coffee. For a moment, my dream still vivid in my head, I was acutely embarrassed to be in his presence. Then I reminded myself that he couldn’t possibly know I’d been dreaming about him.
    I said, ‘You’re up early.’
    â€˜I’ve only just got in.’
    I realised that he was dressed in the same shirt and jeans he’d worn last night. He still looked jaw-droppingly gorgeous.
    â€˜Oh, so you’ve not been to bed yet …’
    â€˜I stayed at Izzy’s,’ Alex said.
    â€˜Ah.’
    â€˜I saw her home after the party.’
    â€˜And you stayed over.’
    â€˜Yeah. Do you want coffee?’
    â€˜Tea. I’ll make it.’ Alex had slept with Izzy. The thought of the two of them together left me feeling oddly disquieted.
    Alex said, ‘Don’t you trust me?’
    â€˜What?’
    â€˜To make you a pot of tea. I may be French, but I do know how. My English mother made sure of that.’
    Alex had slept with Izzy. ‘OK. You make the tea. I’ll make toast.’
    â€˜French toast?’
    â€˜Absolutely not. You’re living in England now, monsieur. You’ll have toast and Marmite and like it.’
    Grinning, Alex filled the kettle, and I shoved two slices of bread in the toaster.
    I said, ‘So are you going to see Izzy again? Are you going to ask her out?’
    â€˜You mean, am I going to ask her on a date? No I’m not. I’ve just been through the break-up of a serious, long-term relationship. I’ve no intention of getting involved with anyone else right now.’
    So it was just a one night stand. Did Izzy know that, or was she sitting at home, wondering when – if – Alexandre was going to call?
    Aloud, I said, ‘Alex, do me a favour. Try not to break anyone’s heart while you’re in London. At least, not any of my friends’ hearts.’
    â€˜I’ll do my best.’
    â€˜I’m serious.’
    Alex gave me a quizzical look. ‘You’re in a strange mood, Anna. Have I done something that’s upset you?’
    He’d slept with my friend. And it shouldn’t matter. But it did. And I wasn’t sure why. ‘Of course not.’ I forced myself to smile. ‘So. What are your plans for today?’
    â€˜I thought I might do some more sight-seeing –’
    â€˜There you are, Anna.’ Nick stepped into the kitchen, yawning and rubbing his eyes. Seeing him standing there in his boxers and crumpled T-shirt, I felt a surge of affection for him. OK, maybe we didn’t have sex as often as we used to, but I suspected that was true of most couples who’d been together as long as we had.
    â€˜Good morning, Nicholas,’ Alex said.
    â€˜Morning, Alexandre,’ Nick said. ‘Did you enjoy the party?’
    â€˜Very much,’ Alex said.
    I’ll bet he did, I thought.
    Further conversation was interrupted by the ping of the toaster.
    â€˜Toast,’ I said, somewhat unnecessarily, rooting in the fridge for butter.
    â€˜Tea,’ Alex said, colliding with me as he reached for the tea-pot.
    I ducked under his arm and retrieved jam, peanut butter, and