Finding Love Down Under

by Jay, Donna

  The reply came easily to Zoe. She didn’t even stop to think about it. “No, I can’t say I do.” City life was all she’d known, but now that she’d experienced the tranquillity of country living, she knew which she preferred.

  A gorgeous smile graced Claire’s face. “I know you came to New Zealand to see the country. It’s a beautiful place. A great deal of which I’ve yet to see for myself.” She took Zoe’s hand in her own, running her thumb over Zoe’s knuckles. “If you’ll let me, I’d like to show you as much as I can. We could plan weekend getaways. Okay?”

  The offer sounded perfect to Zoe. They could travel as much as time and finances afforded them. But if she was going to stick around, she wanted to be able to contribute.

  As if Claire could read her thoughts, she asked the next question. “Tell me your dreams for the future, Zoe? What do you want?”

  The tenderness in Claire’s eyes, along with the emotion in her voice, gave Zoe the courage to speak the truth and risk ridicule. In her heart of hearts, she knew it was a pipedream.

  “I want to live off the land as much as possible, have a huge garden to complement the glasshouse, raise chickens, plant crops, and grow fruit trees. I could make preserves and sell them for a profit. But ultimately, my dream’s to have a lifestyle which will allow me to be a stay at home mom.”

  A lump formed in her throat and her chest grew tight as she braced herself for a variation of her mother’s reply. “Zoe Anderson, get your head out of the sand and stop dreaming, it’s the 21 st century.”

  But that didn’t happen. Claire pulled her into an embrace. Their bodies merged together like two halves made for each other. “Well, Ms Anderson, fate delivered you to the right place.” Claire’s big brown eyes warmed Zoe like hot chocolate.

  Of course Claire understood. After all, she’d been raised by her parents, not left to others to care for. Joy flooded Zoe’s soul. Claire got her. However, they were mature enough to admit kids weren’t going to factor into the equation anytime soon.

  By midweek, they were looking into their options for getting three or four chickens. Claire wanted to rescue some battery cage hens. Zoe loved the idea. That was the thing about Claire, just like her friends in Taupo had told Zoe, underneath the tough exterior she was a kind-hearted woman. And practical. Claire’s words of wisdom ran through Zoe’s head.

  “Folks say they can’t live on one income due to the high cost of living. But you know what, doll? It’s not the high cost of living it’s the cost of living high.”

  It took Zoe a minute to ponder what Claire meant. A quick inventory of the cottage and it made sense. Claire’s home was possibly one of the only houses Zoe had been in with only one television. A quick count up of her childhood home showed five. Wow, five televisions. One in each bedroom, one in the living room and her father even had one in the garage. Unlike her childhood home, Claire’s homestead was comfortable, not showy.

  ***

  The ear piercing screech of the alarm clock put an end to Zoe’s early morning daydream.

  Blankets shifted and tugged against her body as Claire rolled over and hit the alarm clock with a grumble.

  Even though Claire didn’t have to leave home to go to work, she set herself a gruelling schedule. Zoe helped her for a few hours most mornings, then took care of the greenhouse, meals and cleaning. And Zoe was happier than a pig in shit, as Claire liked to say.

  The tip of Claire’s cold nose nuzzled under Zoe’s hair and a shiver ran down Zoe spine.

  “Morning, did you sleep well, my dear?”

  The endearment made Zoe chuckle. “Dear? How old are you, sixty?”

  Mmm, Claire nibbled her neck. “I hear sixty-nine is better.” She hooked a leg over Zoe’s left thigh and slid her hand into Zoe’s panties.

  Warm soft fingers fired Zoe’s senses to life. As though they had a mind of their own, Zoe’s legs parted. Oh hell, who was she kidding? Her entire body reacted to Claire. A moan escaped Zoe before being swallowed by a passionate kiss. Her breath caught in her throat as Claire played her body like an instrument, bringing her to the edge within minutes, only to leave her teetering on the precipice. Zoe let out a frustrated groan when Claire removed her fingers from her aching centre.

  “So wet, doll.” Claire rolled Zoe’s nipple between her slick thumb and forefinger as if to prove a point.

  And god yes, she was wet with desire. She clenched her thighs to soothe the ache, without success.

  A chuckle vibrated in Claire’s chest. She hooked her foot under Zoe’s knee. “You want more, doll?”

  As if she needed to ask. “Yes, I want more. I want all of you.” And right then Zoe did. She turned onto her side and snuggled into Claire as if she could climb inside her.

  Their lips met, neither giving a damn about morning breath as they kissed deeply, pouring their love into each other.

  Claire broke the kiss, cheeks flushed, eyes glassy. “And good morning to you.”

  A shrill beep-beep-beep rang out before Zoe could reply.

  “Damn, that’s the end of snooze time.” Claire smacked the alarm off, rolled out of bed and winked down at Zoe. “I’ll finish what I started later.”

  The unspoken words rang loud and clear in Zoe’s head. Because if I want to tease you all day, I will.

  Ugh. “Sadist.” Zoe quipped.

  A wide-eyed Claire stormed back toward the bed, bare feet pounding across the hardwood floor.

  Zoe’s heart thudded in her chest. What had she done? Spanking was about the limit to her pain threshold. “I’m sorry.” Zoe scurried across the bed, the bottom sheet still warm from where Claire had been seconds before.

  A devilish smile lit up Claire’s face. “What’d you call me?”

  In the next heartbeat, the blankets were in a pile on the floor and Claire fanned the sheet over Zoe’s body, creating a huge draft of cold air.

  Goosebumps erupted over every inch of Zoe’s skin. Laughing, she snagged at the sheet, trying to rip it out of Claire’s hands. “Okay, okay, you win.”

  Happiness bubbled up in Zoe, relieved over not being shown what a true sadist was capable of, and enjoying the playful side of her lover.

  With an amused glint in her eye, Claire pulled a dressing gown off the back of the bedroom door and tossed it to Zoe. “See you in the kitchen after I’ve showered.”

  Even though Claire’s hair resembled a bird’s nest, Zoe couldn’t help but admire the lustrous dark strands as she exited the room, or the gait of her long toned legs.

  Hours spent around the vineyard kept Claire fit and toned. The woman seemed to have an endless supply of energy. Zoe loved it when that energy was channelled her way.

  The way Claire liked to tease Zoe turned her on and frustrated her in equal measure. Could two play the same game? A smile spread across Zoe’s face as a plan took hold.

  Chapter 19

  By the time Zoe made her way to the greenhouse, she’d lost sight of Claire among the rows of vines.

  Molly came running over and weaved a figure eight between her legs. “Hey, sweetie.” Zoe gave the cat a quick scratch under the chin before returning her attention to work.

  She wasn’t surprised to find the metal door handle hot to the touch, however she was a little disconcerted to discover the door ajar. The one time she hadn’t closed it properly birds had had a wonderful time feasting on strawberry plants. She’d made sure to firmly shut it ever since, or so she thought. Perhaps it was time to replace the door latch? She filed a mental note to discuss it with Claire later.

  A blast of hot air hit Zoe in the face the second she stepped inside. Even though the temperature outdoors wasn’t overly warm, the afternoon sun had turned the interior to something close to a sauna. Intent on plucking laterals off the budding tomato plants, Zoe pulled her hoody off and tied it around her waist.

  A white piece of paper at the foot of a string of green twine caught her eye. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end and she glanced around feeling as if someo
ne was watching her. No one appeared to be. Telling herself to stop being paranoid, she plucked up the piece of paper, brushed off the dirt and unfolded the note.

  Follow the line of rope.

  Excitement vied with apprehension. Was she going to find something wonderful or be caught in some kind of horrible trap? God, what if some sicko had left a pile of manure for whatever macabre reason?

  Once she reached the end of the aisle separating plants on either side, the length of twine disappeared to the left. When two birds landed on the roof, their feet like nails on a chalkboard, Zoe almost jumped out of her skin. With her heart lodged in her throat, Zoe lowered herself to her hands and knees. She had no clue why she felt the need to stay low.

  The scent of fresh herbs assailed her nostrils as she crawled the last few feet. Scared to look yet too intrigued not to, she counted to three, then peered around the corner.

  A second piece of paper sat at the foot of a big yellow sunflower. Even though the fear of being led to something nasty had fled, her pulse continued to race. Taking a deep breath, she crossed her ankles and sat on the dirt floor. The sun glared off the stark white paper as she unfolded it. Her smile grew wider with each line she read.

  Thank you for putting the sunshine back in my life. The day I drove under the golden arches in search of food, I never dreamed I’d find a little pot of gold – you. Xoxo”

  A happy tear ran down Zoe’s cheek. The words were hardly poetic but her heart melted as if it’d been zapped with a thousand watts of heat. Such a simple gesture meant more than all the wealth in the world.

  She climbed to her feet and tucked the note in the back pocket of her jeans then turned to open a window. A gentle breeze blew through the gap and Zoe smiled when the sunflower twirled on the stick. You couldn’t get anymore no frills than a plastic flower. On the bright side, she wouldn’t have to worry about her treasured gift dying of heat or thirst, unlike the other plants in need of attention.

  ***

  Around three o’clock, Zoe gathered the fruit and vegetables she’d need to serve her purposes and headed back indoors. Accustomed to Claire’s routine, she knew Claire would be in around four, being Friday. She wanted to be ready to spring her surprise. The fact they’d chosen the same day to surprise each other wasn’t lost on Zoe. Perhaps they were more attuned to each other than either of them realized, or it was just plain dumb luck.

  After preparing a platter of finger foods, and putting a bottle of sparkling wine in the fridge to chill, Zoe showered and dressed. Nerves and excitement fluttered low in her belly as she appraised herself in the floor-length mirror.

  The French maid outfit barely covered her backside and her ample breasts threatened to spill over the top of the low cut bodice. It felt good to be able to show off her assets, unlike when she’d tried to conceal them under baggie tops to avoid unwanted glances and advances from hormonal boys while attending college.

  The skirt fanned out when she did a little twirl. She loved the look and hoped Claire approved. The fact she’d left it up to Zoe to decide when she felt comfortable enough to dress up made it all the more special. However, something was missing. Shoes . She’d glimpsed a pair of black heels in the corner of Claire’s wardrobe, footwear she apparently no longer wore.

  A glance out the window revealed Claire advancing on the house. Zoe’s heart rate skyrocketed. Shit, shit, shit. Making a split second decision, she plucked the shoes up and slipped them on. She stumbled and almost fell flat on her face within two steps. They were too big. With her heart hammering against her ribcage and running out of time, she grabbed some tissues off the bedside table, stuffed them in the toes, then jammed her feet in. Perfect.

  The clip-clop of heels competed with the beat of her heart as she trotted out to the kitchen. Her hair, pulled into a ponytail, bounced off her shoulders in time to each step. Unsure how much time she had before the door swung open, Zoe added a few drops of Ylang-ylang to the incense burner. Not because they’d need the aphrodisiac effect it reportedly had, but because she loved the exotic floral scent.

  Movement on the other side of the leadlight glass panel of the front door caught her eye. Zoe inhaled a nervous breath, and plucked up the feather duster, praying she wasn’t about to make a fool of herself.

  A lose plank on the top of the porch steps creaked. In the next heartbeat the door clicked open.

  Show time!

  Chapter 20

  Happy to call it a day, Claire smiled to herself as she tossed the ball of twine and pruners into her carry-bag. No doubt, Zoe would’ve come across the large plastic sunflower along with her note by now. Hopefully she’d found both cute rather than cheesy. The words had spilled onto the page, Claire’s fingers barely able to keep up with her mind. When she’d read back over what she’d written, she’d briefly considered starting again. But if she had, Zoe would’ve received an edited and over thought version of how Claire felt, rather than words straight from her heart.

  Thigh muscles burned, and her back ached, as Claire trekked up the incline toward the cottage. If the thought of a hot shower followed by a glass of wine wasn’t enough to make her pick up her pace, the fact she had a sexy girlfriend to share the evening with certainly did. She still couldn’t believe she’d lucked out finding such a wonderful person to share her days with.

  After kicking off her gumboots and stowing her work tools, Claire bounded up the porch steps. The second she stepped foot inside, the unexpected sight that swam in her vision hit her with such force it almost knocked her on her arse.

  The French maid on the far side of the living room stole the breath from her lungs and rendered her speechless.

  With an air of innocence, Zoe stopped dusting the bookshelf. “Oh, hi, Ms Evans.” She waved her fingers over her shoulder. “I’ve almost finished up. Just pretend I’m not here.”

  That wasn’t going to happen.

  A spike of lust surged through Claire when Zoe bent at the waist to dust the bottom of the bookshelf. Black and white frills rose up like a curtain, revealing her backside inch by slow inch. The tiny white G-string Zoe wore left little to the imagination.

  After a quick wash of her hands in the kitchen sink, Claire marched across the room and cupped Zoe’s buttocks.

  Zoe gasped and spun around. “Oh, Ms Evans. I don’t think that’s appropriate.” A playful glint sparkled in her alluring gaze.

  With Zoe wearing high heels, and Claire in her socks, they were on a more even footing, so to speak.

  Before Claire could remind her who was boss in more than one sense of the word, Zoe continued. “I’ve taken the chill off the bathroom for you.”

  The gesture warmed Claire’s heart at the same time as it reminded her how badly she needed to shower. Thankfully, the essential oils infusing the air masked any hint of unpleasant body odour.

  Holding Claire’s gaze, Zoe fingered the feather duster. “Will five minutes be enough time for the lady of the house?”

  God her accent was sexy.

  The way Zoe pronounced lady of the house made Claire feel like royalty. “Plenty of time.” Making the most of the situation, she added, “I’ll expect you to be waiting to service me when I return.”

  A cheeky grin curved Zoe’s lips. “I wasn’t aware that was part of my employment agreement.”

  Quick on her feet, Claire replied without missing a beat. “You should’ve read the fine print.” She winked and sauntered out of the room.

  ***

  The scent of vanilla body wash mingled with the shower spray as Claire scrubbed every inch of her body, taking extra care to clean any dirt from under her fingernails. Her mind raced and her clit pulsed thinking about the sexy maid awaiting her attention.

  The gamble she’d taken buying the paddle and outfit at the sex party appeared to have paid off. At the time, she hadn’t known if she’d get to enjoy either with Zoe. But when she’d witnessed her reaction to the paddle, the sharp intake of breath, the flush of her cheeks, and nervous glances around t
he room, Claire had bought one on impulse.

  The sexy school girl outfit probably would’ve better suited the air of naivety that surrounded Zoe, but it cut a little too close to playing little girl and she never wanted to go there again. Claire shook her head, banishing thoughts of that person before they could take hold. She replaced them with visions of Zoe, cooking and cleaning, taking care of the household. On second thoughts, Zoe’s homely personality and desire to please made the French maid costume the perfect choice.

  Eager to get back to the living room, and the tasty treat awaiting her, Claire shut off the faucet over the claw foot bath. Soapy water gurgled and swirled down the drain. She jumped, momentarily taken aback by movement on the other side of the blue and white shower curtain. Even though she hadn’t heard the click of the door over the rush of water, there was no mistaking the silhouette of Zoe’s hourglass figure. Metal loops clanged across the rail as Claire flicked the plastic curtain aside.

  The world outside ceased to exist as they gazed at each other through a mist of steam. The situation felt surreal to Claire, not being the one calling all the shots. Something that made her feel cherished and anxious at the same time. Giving herself a mental kick to let go of control and go with the flow, Claire reached for the towel draped over Zoe’s arm.

  Rather than hand it to her, Zoe opened it so it spanned the width of her arms. “Please, allow me.”

  The submissive tone of Zoe’s voice and the look of longing in her eyes made gooseflesh prickle on Claire’s skin. She plucked a towel off a shelf next to the basin, quickly dried her upper body, then placed it on the edge of the bath and sat.

  A breath taking image of how eager Zoe had been to bow before her the day they’d returned from Taupo, shot through Claire’s mind. “On your knees, maid.” She pointed to the edge of the bathmat. “You should know better than to hover over the lady of the house.”