Free Dirty Minds by T A Williams

set off. The kids were delighted to spend some time with their grandparents, knowing full well they would be spoilt rotten.
    It was mid afternoon by the time they got there, after stopping for soup and a sandwich en route. The hotel he had chosen was near Woodstock, just to the north of Oxford. It was a charming country house set in its own parkland. They were shown to a large, high-ceilinged room, overlooking the gardens. There was an enormous bed and a marble-clad bathroom. Outside, the temperature was already approaching zero. Inside it was as warm as toast. She stood at the window, staring out into the grounds. A pair of squirrels chased each other up a huge oak tree. Otherwise there was no sign of life anywhere.
    Luca came up behind her and kissed her neck. She leant back against him.
    ‘You know, darling, this was a really, really good idea. It is so good to have a change of scene.’ As she spoke, she let her hands run round behind her back. She felt for him. She was not surprised to feel his erection.
    ‘Well, well, well, I didn’t see you pack that.’
    ‘I’m glad we weren’t flying anywhere. The way I feel this weekend, I’d have to pay excess baggage on it.’ His hands reached up from her waist, under her jumper to her breasts. ‘I wonder how many other couples are as lucky as us. It’s been almost ten years, you know.’
    ‘I love you to pieces, Luca Rossi.’ She turned her head to kiss him.
    With gentle pressure on her shoulders, he kept her facing out of the window, as he stripped her naked. At first, she cast anxious glances out through the glass, afraid of being observed. Then, as his hands began their magic, she let her eyes close and went with the flow.
    It was seven o’clock, and pitch black outside, before they surfaced. She couldn’t remember a time, even in their early days together, when they had made love for three, or was it four, hours without a break. She moved tentatively, seriously wondering if she would be able to walk again.
    ‘Are you awake darling?’
    He grunted and shifted in the bed beside her. ‘I wasn’t, but I am now. Ouch. My arm has gone to sleep. You must have been lying on it.’
    ‘Well, if it’s any consolation, I believe you will have to carry me down to dinner.’
    Pulling herself onto her elbow, she reached out and scrabbled about until she found a light switch. They both blinked as it came on. She looked down at him fondly.
    ‘Well, if the next ten are as good as the last ten, we can’t complain.’
    He kissed the side of her breast. ‘Like I said about a million years ago, we’re lucky people. Mind you,’ he massaged his arm back to life, ‘I think we have your future co-writer to thank for this upturn in our marital relations.’ A tone of awe entered his voice. ‘We’ve never been quite as–’ he searched for the word.
    ‘Rampant.’ She finished the sentence for him. ‘I know what you mean. These last few days have been amazing.’ She lowered her head to kiss his cheek. ‘I love you, darling, I always have and I always will, but wow!’
    ‘The power of the written word. And you haven’t even started writing yet!’
    He dragged himself into a sitting position and looked at his watch. ‘Seven thirty. I suppose we had better start thinking about dinner.’
    ‘A bath first, I think. That’s if I can stand.’
    ‘You go first. I’ll phone and see how the kids are doing.’
    It was half past eight by the time they got down to the restaurant. Their table was in a corner, their only other companions a group of four, seated at a table on the far side of the room.
    ‘Is it something we said?’ She eyed the empty tables.
    ‘I suppose it is February, after all. Mind you, at least we can talk freely.’
    ‘And we both know what we’ve got to talk about.’
    ‘What, when and where.’
    She nodded. ‘Precisely. But first we’d better order.’
    The menu was vast and impressive. He decided on a steak, while she chose salmon. For starters they