Finding Love Down Under

by Jay, Donna

For once, an excited looking Zoe did as she was told without question or comment. She dropped to the floor, placed Claire’s foot in her lap and sensually dried her lower body.

  Somehow, Zoe managed to make being towel dried one of the most erotic things Claire had ever experienced. The terrycloth glided up her inner thigh, lightly grazed over her labia, then descended her other leg. With each inch of skin lovingly dried, the wetter Claire became.

  Totally focused on the task at hand, Zoe dried between each of Claire’s toes, little murmurs of delight escaping her lips as she worked.

  A pulse of pleasure shot through Claire when Zoe lifted Claire’s foot to her mouth and sucked on her big toe.

  “Fuck.” The word flew out of Claire’s mouth

  Zoe smiled around the digit.

  Allowing herself to simply feel, Claire tipped her head back and closed her eyes. The hot wet mouth felt like it was connected to every erogenous zone in her body. Senses fired to life. The throb between her legs increased. Her nipples stood out, painfully erect. A droplet of water ran down her neck, between her shoulder blades. Colour swirled behind her eyelids, as though mirroring the movement of Zoe’s tongue. The next thing Claire became aware of was cool air on her wet toes.

  Zoe smacked her lips together and gazed up at Claire, a tentative smile on her gorgeous face. “I’ve never done that before. Did you like it?”

  To show Zoe how much she’d enjoyed it, Claire dipped her hand between her legs then offered it to Zoe, silky wetness shimmering on her fingertips.

  Without hesitation, Zoe sucked her finger clean, sending another jolt of pleasure through Claire.

  “I’ll see to it you receive a bonus for your services.” As an afterthought, Claire added, “Provided the rest of your duties have been carried out to my satisfaction.”

  Even if they had been, Claire was certain she could invent some kind of infraction to punish the sexy maid making her body buzz with desire. She stood and pulled Zoe to her feet, feeling like her backside had a dent in it from the lip of the bathtub.

  A comfortable silence settled between them as Zoe helped Claire dress in the clothes she’d chosen for herself before slipping into the bathroom. A red corset, black miniskirt and fishnet stockings. No shoes, she hated wearing high heels.

  Besides, the pair she owned looked much better on Zoe. They added a sway to her hips and definition to her calves, both of which Claire couldn’t take her eyes off as they made their way back to the living room.

  Chapter 21

  A ray of sunlight streaming through the living room window illuminated a speck of dust on the coffee table. Anticipation rippled through Claire’s body as she lowered herself to the sofa. “Maid.” The tone of her voice was short and sharp. “You missed a spot.”

  An obedient Zoe clip-clopped across the room. “Sorry, Ms Evans.” Dust motes danced in the light when Zoe plucked up the duster. She returned and stood opposite Claire.

  Holding Zoe’s heated gaze, Claire shook her head no, then pointed to the gap between herself and the coffee table. Understanding flashed in Zoe’s eyes. She scurried around, turned her back to Claire, bent at the waist and flicked the duster over the wooden surface.

  Succulent flesh either side of Zoe’s white G-string made Claire’s mouth water. She licked her lips and delivered two open-handed slaps. The impact stung her palms and turned Zoe’s cheeks a rosy shade of pink.

  A gasp escaped Zoe, but she held her position.

  Intent on reprimanding Zoe regardless, Claire grabbed her ponytail and gave it a sharp yank. Zoe’s head tipped back moments before she landed in Claire’s lap. The sofa groaned on impact and the scent of strawberry shampoo tickled Claire’s nostrils. “That mistake cost you your bonus.”

  Zoe leapt up so fast anyone would think she’d sat on a pincushion. So much for enjoying some bodily contact.

  “Oh no, not my bonus.” Zoe batted thick black eyelashes at Claire. “Please, let me make it up to you.”

  Once again on the back foot, having no clue what Zoe’s intentions were, Claire folded her arms across her chest and narrowed her eyes. “And how do you propose to do that?”

  The devastating smile Zoe flashed Claire would’ve melted her panties if she’d been wearing any.

  Rather than answer Claire’s question, Zoe got busy, prancing around the room like a perfect little maid.

  Ten minutes later, Claire had a glass of wine in hand, soft jazz music drifted through the room, and the scent of Ylang-ylang infused the air. Those things were wonderful, but best of all, she had a submissive waiting on her hand and foot. To say she felt worshipped would be an understatement. Only one thing could make the moment perfect.

  Firelight danced off the wine glass Claire held in the air. “Please, join me for a drink.”

  Alarm flashed in Zoe’s eyes. “No!” Her expression softened. “Sorry, I can’t.”

  A painful lump settled in the pit of Claire’s stomach when the implications of Zoe’s reaction hit home. She didn’t trust Claire enough to let her guard down. Although Claire knew it took time to earn a person’s trust, especially someone who’d been burned like Zoe, her refusal still hurt like a bitch.

  Trying to play the bigger person, Claire plastered on a smile. “No worries, all the more wine for me.” At least her feeble attempt at humour lightened the mood.

  Eyeing the glass, Zoe’s pink tongue slowly circled her ruby red lips. “I’d hate to be fired for drinking on the job.” A devilish grin spread across her face.

  Relief washed over Claire. She almost cursed herself for jumping to the wrong conclusion. Thankfully, Zoe wasn’t bratty enough to add ‘gotcha.’

  After a frivolous glance at the clock above the fireplace, Claire pinned her gaze on Zoe. “Well, you’re still on my dime and the lady of the house would like you to join her for a drink.”

  The haughty tone of her voice earned her a chuckle from Zoe.

  A deep sense of achievement, at having turned a corner in their relationship, settled over Claire.

  Zoe sashayed across the room, poured herself a glass of wine, then returned and set it on the coffee table. “I put together some snacks for my lady.” She placed an arm across her waist and did a cute wee bow.

  The flash of cleavage made Claire suck in a breath.

  Zoe trotted back toward the kitchen. Along the way, she stopped, bent at the waist, and plucked a piece of fluff off the sheepskin rug. Which afforded Claire another flash of panties.

  All of a sudden, a thought slammed into Claire. Was Zoe playing her at her own game? Teasing her with glimpses of exposed creamy flesh, trying to drive her crazy with lust? If so, it was working.

  However, Claire was well versed at delayed gratification. It made the outcome all the more satisfying. Rather than let on that she was onto Zoe, Claire sat back and enjoyed the show. In all honesty, the combination of Zoe’s vulnerability and sass was highly seductive.

  The fridge door opened and closed with a squeak before Zoe returned carrying an old wooden serving tray. The aroma of fresh strawberries tickled Claire’s nostrils as the tray settled on the coffee table with a soft thud.

  A beaming Zoe sat beside Claire, poised on the edge of the sofa. Bubbles fizzed and jumped over the glass she held between them. The clink of glass on glass cut through the air. For a breath-taking minute, they stared into each other’s eyes, acknowledging they’d reached a milestone. The trust they’d forged was palpable.

  “To us.” Claire raised the glass to her lips and took a sip. Wine fizzed over her tongue, matching the bubbly feeling flowing through her veins.

  “To us.” Zoe mirrored her actions, taking a swig of wine before letting out an appreciative sigh. After placing her glass on the table, Zoe slid off the sofa and sat on her haunches, kneeling to the left of Claire’s feet.

  For the next twenty-minutes, they sipped wine and snacked on an assortment of cheese, hummus, crackers, cherry tomatoes, and home grown berries. The entire time, Zoe offered morsels of food to Clair
e and chatted about her afternoon.

  A portrait Claire had once seen of Cleopatra spread out on a sofa bed being waited on flashed through her mind. Zoe had said Claire reminded her of the infamous queen, and right then she felt like one too.

  After only one glass, a healthy wine glow coloured Zoe’s cheeks. With a flirtatious gleam in her eye, Zoe plucked up a strawberry, held it between her teeth and rose up on her knees.

  Unfortunately for Zoe, she hadn’t pulled the stem out first. Before her lips met Claire’s, Claire tugged the berry out of Zoe’s mouth and dropped it into her lap. It landed on Claire’s fishnets at the juncture of her thighs.

  “Oops. You better clean that up, Maid.” Claire suppressed a smile, almost certain she knew how Zoe would react. And she wasn’t wrong.

  “I’m so sorry, Ms. Evans.” Eyes fixed on the fallen berry, Zoe reached to pick it up.

  Before her hand made contact, Claire swatted it away. Confusion creased Zoe’s brow.

  Claire quickly continued. “It’s rude to eat with your hands. Use your mouth.” The firm tone of her voice brooked no argument.

  The flash of arousal that sparked in Zoe’s eyes let Claire know she’d made the right decision in taking back control. Zoe placed her hands behind her back and leaned forward.

  A pulse of desire shot through Claire when warm soft breasts pressed against her. This time, before Zoe made contact with the fruit, Claire spread her legs. Without hesitation, Zoe’s head dipped between her thighs. Rather than pluck the berry between her teeth, she took little nibbles. Pushing the fruit closer to Claire’s core. The warmth of her breath breezed through Claire’s fishnet pantyhose and ramped up her excitement.

  The sight of Zoe’s ponytail bobbing up and down reminded Claire of someone bobbing for apples. Except when Zoe came up for air, unlike a clean apple straight out of water, tiny bits of lint and fluff clinging to the berry made Claire grimace.

  A cross-eyed Zoe looked down her nose, screwed up her face and dropped it on the coffee table. The half chewed piece of fruit landed with a splat.

  Unwittingly, Zoe had walked straight into Claire’s plan of having her on the coffee table. “My, my, little maid. Fluff on the sofa and you’ve dirtied my beloved table.” Claire stood and thrust out her hip. “Must I do everything myself?” A loosely rolled length of twine caught Claire’s eye. She pointed to the breakfast bar. “And what’s that doing there?”

  Adoration radiated in Zoe’s eyes. “I found it in the glasshouse today and wanted to keep it.” She shifted on her knees, smiling up at Claire. “It’s something I’ll treasure along with the note.”

  A warm feeling worked its way into Claire’s corseted chest and spread throughout her body. Happiness. Overjoyed that Zoe appreciated her attempt of courtship, and equally as happy the same length of twine was about to come in handy again. “I’m ecstatic to hear that.” She hoped the soft tone of her voice conveyed the sincerity of her words.

  With her heart still aflutter, Claire schooled her features and hardened her tone. “However, it’s no excuse for not performing your duties to the highest of standards.”

  Back in maid mode, Zoe smoothed down her little white apron. “Sorry, Ms Evans. May I clear the table for you?”

  Anticipation rippled through Claire. “You may.”

  When she’d had the table custom made, her mending heart had hoped one day it might second as a play bench. An image of Zoe asking about the table the day Claire had bought her home raced through Claire’s mind. She bit back a smile wondering how Zoe would’ve reacted if she’d said, “the legs are short and stout so the table can safely withstand the weight of two people.” Back then, Zoe was so skittish, she probably would’ve asked for a lift back to town.

  Zoe’s knee let out a crack as she rose to her feet but she didn’t complain. She was hardier than Claire gave her credit for. The rugs scattered over the hardwood floor didn’t offer much of a barrier between wood and bone.

  The sway of Zoe’s hips as she sauntered toward the kitchen, tray in hand, made Claire’s heart skip a beat. When she returned, Claire held Zoe’s gaze as she walked back across the room. The look of hunger in Zoe’s eyes matched her own. She stood toe-to-toe with Claire, so close Claire could smell her perfume.

  Silently, Claire entwined their fingers. Relishing in the feel of Zoe’s soft palm against her work worn hand, she brushed a kiss across Zoe’s lips. Their chests rose and fell in unison. Time stood still as they gazed lovingly at each other.

  “I’m going to show you the best way to lay a table.” Even though Claire saw nothing but trust in Zoe’s eyes, she felt the need to remind Zoe she held the power to end things. “What’s your safe word?”

  “Kiwi.” The word was said with conviction.

  The mantra, kiwi means no, stop means go, darted through Claire’s mind before she issued an order. “Clothes off. Now!”

  Arousal flashed in Zoe’s eyes. “Yes, Clea.”

  The way she said Clee-a excited Claire as much as Zoe’s obedience. While role-play had its place, it let her know this wasn’t just a game, it was all about her and Zoe.

  The maid outfit landed in a heaping pile of black and white and, with a wiggle of Zoe’s hips, scant damp panties landed on top. And there she stood, clad in thigh-high nylons, garter belt and black heels.

  In Claire’s eyes, Zoe was pure perfection. “Good girl,” she praised, taking a moment to admire Zoe’s succulent breasts. Where Claire had small reddish-brown areolas, Zoe’s were large and pale pink, her plum coloured nipples small and erect. Resisting the urge to cup Zoe’s breasts and bury her face in luscious flesh, Claire pulled the throw rug off the sofa, folded it in half, and spread it along the length of the coffee table. Even though Zoe had quipped calling her a sadist, she was far from it.

  While Claire arranged things to her satisfaction, Zoe stood with her hands behind her back, tracking Claire’s every movement with her eyes.

  The scent of Ylang-ylang wrapped around them, and the light in the room slowly dimmed as the sun disappeared behind the hills.

  After smoothing out the blanket, Claire patted the bottom end of the mahogany coffee table and spoke in her best no-nonsense voice. “Backside here.” She scuttled sideways and tapped the head of the table. “Shoulders here.”

  “Yes, Clea.” Zoe replied as she reclined. Her breasts defied gravity and stayed atop her body, like two perfect jelly moulds.

  If Claire didn’t have intimate knowledge of the woman, she would’ve questioned if they were real. No doubt, overtime, age and babies would alter their firmness. Wow, where did that thought come from? Back up, Claire.

  The stereo clicked off just after Zoe settled on her back. Claire picked up the remote to hit play, then set it down again without doing so. She wanted to hear every moan and whimper she elicited out of Zoe. Instead, she retrieved the coil of twine. It was soft and slightly scratchy in her hand.

  Back at Zoe’s head, Claire peered into questioning eyes, alive with curiosity and perhaps even a tinge of apprehension.

  “The best way to lay a table is to make sure everything is secure.” She unwound the length of green string. “I’m going to restrain you.” Claire paused, giving Zoe the opportunity to protest. Of course she’d be disappointed if Zoe said no, or kiwi, or whatever other word would put an end to Claire’s intentions. But she’d prefer that over ruining the trust they were building.

  Swift movements put a stop to Claire’s unfounded concerns. Seemingly in one fluid motion, Zoe parted her thighs, lined her ankles up with the sturdy table legs, and snapped her arms to her sides. “Yes, Clea.”

  Her eagerness to please sent an arrow of fiery lust up Claire’s spine. “Good girl.”

  Their lips parted in unison as Claire leaned in for a kiss. The second their mouths met, an intoxicating combination of wine, strawberries, and Zoe, assailed Claire’s taste buds. Her legs turned to jelly and she lowered herself to her knees before they buckled, lips locked with Zoe’s.

 
Breathless, Claire finally broke the kiss. “Wow. That kiss was more potent than alcohol.”

  The smile that lit up Zoe’s eyes burned as bright as the small candle glowing in the base of the essential oil burner.

  The flickering light left a black spot in the corner of Claire’s eye as she shuffled to the end of the low table. Once there, she wound a length of twine around the thick mahogany leg and Zoe’s slender ankle, then tossed the length under the table and repeated the process on the other side. She left the twine loose enough so that if Zoe panicked, with a bit of manipulation, she’d be able to slip free.

  What Claire really wanted to do was truss Zoe up like a turkey. However, a small voice in the back of her mind kept reminding her that Zoe hadn’t been restrained since her ordeal, and there would be plenty more opportunities for Claire to take a harder stance.

  Not to mention, she had other ways of ensuring Zoe complied. “I’m not going to bind your hands today, but…” Claire paused letting the tension build. “If your hands leave your sides without permission, you’ll be denied an orgasm. Understood?”

  Like a soldier standing to attention, Zoe’s arms remained glued to her sides. “Yes, Clea. I understand.” Tension visibly left her shoulders. “And, thank you.”

  Outwardly, Claire gave a single nod of approval. Inwardly, she was ecstatic she’d made the right call not to bind Zoe’s hands. Complete and utter trust came with time. The fact Zoe had let her guard down enough to indulge in a glass of wine, in and of itself, was cause for celebration.

  And celebrate Claire would.

  The nearly empty wine bottle hovered above Zoe like a wrecking ball. But Claire had no intentions of letting it drop. “Can’t let this go to waste.” The fibres of the sheepskin rug caressed Claire’s feet as she moved to the foot of the table.

  Craning her neck, Zoe eyed Claire with curiosity as Claire dropped to her knees.

  A gasp escaped Zoe when cold wine crested over her pubic mound and trickled down her glistening folds. Her fingers flexed, but her arms remained pinned to her sides.

  The feast laid out before Claire made her lick her lips. Zoe had a beautiful pussy. Her outer labia were full and puffy; one of her inner lips slightly shorter than the other. And, they were begging to be licked and sucked.