by Lily Harlem
She pushed her underwear slowly down her legs, bending double, then stepped out of them.
Harry stooped and plucked them from the sand. “You should take evening dips more often.”
She smiled and ran her hands over her waist and hips then angled her fingers toward her pubic hair. Each of the men were following her every move.
Sliding her palms upward, she cupped her breasts, tugged her nipples then crossed her arms over her chest, hugging her shoulders. “Though I really am getting cold.”
“Si, si, it is here.” Raul quickly wrapped the towel around her like a huge shawl. He engulfed her in his arms. “Do not get colder.” He pressed in tight, and instantly heat from his torso blasted onto her.
“I’ll hang these to dry,” Harry said, holding up her t-shirt and tiny pair of panties. “Not that there’s much material here.”
“Come to the fire,” Raul said. “And eat.” He led her up the bank.
With each step, warmth came back to her body and as Raul sat her on the log next to Evan the flames’ warmth radiated onto her face.
The towel was huge and almost scraped on the floor. She dragged it tighter under her chin.
Evan cuddled close, his arm across her shoulder. “You okay?”
“Yes.” She leaned against him.
“That was my undoing,” he whispered into her ear.
“What was?”
“Your sweet little tits. That day at the waterfall.” He shook his head. “All pretty and wet, your cute nipples hard and poking at your bikini. I didn’t stand a chance.”
She loved the way he was speaking low and sexy just to her. “A chance at what?” she asked quietly.
“At resisting you.”
“I’m glad you didn’t.”
“Me too.” He pressed a kiss to the side of her damp head.
“Here.” Raul handed her a plastic bowl of paella that had a fork jabbed into it. The herby aroma coming from it was amazing.
She was forced to slide a hand from the gap in the towel to hold it. “Thanks. This looks great, Raul.”
“It will warm you. Rum would be better but we do not have any. So paella will have to do.”
“Hey, we didn’t have the cash.” Evan laughed. “Quit going on about the rum, you damn pirate.”
Raul chuckled and turned back to the pan of paella. “I like being a pirate.”
Chapter Nine
Raul’s paella was delicious and they all filled up on it. Luckily he’d made a large enough quantity to satisfy five hungry men and one woman.
An owl hooted nearby and the conversation turned to money. They’d soon be out of food and the prospect of no supper the next evening didn’t appeal to anyone.
“We could make more of this, sell it on the roadside,” Mason suggested. “I’d pay good money for Raul’s paella.”
“But we have no cash to buy the ingredients,” Olivia pointed out.
“Mmm.” Mason frowned. “True.”
“Perhaps I see restaurant that needs chef.” Raul rubbed his hands together then did a chopping action. “I work, get money, feed us.”
“You have a cool skill, Raul,” Evan said. “But chances of that happening are slim.”
Raul tipped his hand from side to side. “I have done it before, worked here and there. Restaurant might need waitress too, or potato peelers and pot-washers. Jobs for everyone.”
“That would be ideal.” Evan nodded. “But we can’t rely on it.”
“Fruit,” Lucas said.
Everyone turned to him.
“Soon we’ll be in fruit-picking country. The kind of place that has casual labor.”
Harry nodded. “I reckon you’re right.”
“Yeah.” Evan grinned. “That might be just the job.”
“Did you see anything?” Mason asked Lucas. “On the way here?”
“Aye, a few orchards, but apples aren’t in season yet, too early.” He took a sip from his bottle of water. “Berries is what we want.”
“In that case we’ll keep our eyes peeled for berries tomorrow and hope something comes of it.” Olivia stood, clamping the towel to her body. “I’m going to hit the sack, I’m exhausted.”
“Get a good sleep,” Evan said, smoothing his hand down her butt. “It’s going to be a long day tomorrow.”
“I will.” She leaned over and kissed Raul’s cheek. “Thanks for dinner.”
“Any time.” He smiled.
“Night, Harry.”
He blew her a kiss from the other side of the fire. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
“Which doesn’t leave a lot.” She laughed then stepped past Mason and Lucas. “I’ll see you guys in a minute.”
“You will,” Mason said.
She nipped into their tent and grabbed her toothbrush. After brushing her teeth using her water bottle and listening to the owl, she hung the towel on the guide rope and slipped back inside.
Her skin was goosebumped and she pulled on her sweats and fresh t-shirt. Dampness lingered in her hair and in the darkness she quickly brushed and plaited it again so it wouldn’t bother her overnight. After a slick of facial moisturizer and Chapstick, she crawled into her sleeping bag.
The sensation of the silky material was soothing, reminding her of camping trips as a child and the odd time she’d used sleeping bags on boats. Although the roll mat was thin, it was excellent quality and comfortable.
Her eyes were heavy and her body like a leaden weight.
The guys were still talking, their deep voices drifting toward her. Thoughts of the open road, her bike, the sky and the lake filled her mind. She remembered her night with Raul and how special it had been. Thought of Harry at the supermarket and the dirty, thrilling things he’d said. Briefly she wondered if her picture was plastered all over Twitter, her being bent back and kissed by Harrington Vidal. Her best friend Sandy would have a fit, not least because she had a bit of a thing for Harry.
Olivia smiled as her thoughts fudged; sleep was stealing up on her. She hoped Mason and Lucas wouldn’t be too much longer. Not that she had the energy for sex, not now, but she wanted to feel their bodies on either side of hers.
She turned over and yawned, then settled her head back onto the pillow. The owl hooted again, there was a rustling outside. The sounds of nature soothed her.
“Hey, sleepy head.”
She opened one eye.
Unsure if it was Mason or Lucas hovering next to her, she glanced at his hand.
Mason.
“Hey,” she murmured.
“Shh.” He stroked her hair. “Go back to sleep.”
“I wasn’t.” She closed her eye again.
“You were nearly.” He pressed his hand over her forehead, covering her eyes a little.
“But…” She shifted in her sleeping bag.
Keep his hand covering her eyes, he brushed his lips over hers. “Shh, go to sleep.”
She was happy to do as he’d instructed and released a long, low breath.
There were soft noises as he removed his sweats and climbed into his sleeping bag.
He then slotted in close, spooning her through the material and winding his arm over her waist.
She leaned back onto him, enjoying the feel of his breaths and the steady rise of his chest against her body.
Just as sleep was beckoning, she was aware of Lucas slipping into his sleeping bag. She forced her eyes open again, enjoying the sight of his broad chest up close and the flash of his tattoo in the weak light.
“You’re tired,” he said, shuffling down then patting his pillow into shape.
She nodded. “Goodnight, Lucas.”
“Goodnight, gorgeous.” He stroked his fingertip down her cheek and around her jaw to her chin. “Sweet dreams.”
With Mason behind her and Lucas in front, Olivia had a wonderful sense of contentment and a deep sleep claimed her.
When she awoke, sunlight was penetrating the green canvas of the tent, creating a cheerful glow.
Mason was still lodged in behind her with one arm slung over her waist. She wriggled against him then froze.
Whoa.
Even through the material of the sleeping bags she could feel his erection. Somehow it was slotted between her ass cheeks.
She wriggled again, wondering if it were her imagination.
He groaned.
Nope, not her imagination.
“Keep still,” he murmured into her ear as he tightened his grip around her. “You’re interrupting the hot dream I’m having about you.”
She grinned and closed her eyes again. “Tell me about the dream,” she whispered.
“You and me,” he said, “out in a field, in the rain, naked, dancing.”
“Go on.”
“That’s how it started.” He paused. “But now we’re down in the mud, covered in it. It’s warm and wet, so are you, and I’m taking you from behind.”
Olivia squeezed her thighs together and pictured the scene he’d created.
“You’re loving it,” he said gruffly, “so am I.” He ground up against her. “Oh fuck, yeah.”
She grinned and clasped his hand, the one pressed to her belly.
“It’s raining, there’s mud everywhere. You’re writhing, but I’m holding your hips, tight.”
“It’s a filthy dream, all that mud.”
“Aye, really fucking dirty.” He kissed the back of her head.
She spun around to face him and realized how stiff her limbs had gotten from lying in one position for so long. “So I guess you’re hoping for a field and rain today.”
“Today, tomorrow, now.”
“Now?”
“We’re in a field, sort of.” He stared into her eyes. “I’m hard, you’re hot.”
“Lucas is sleeping next to us.”
Mason said nothing.
“It would be a weird way for him to wake up to his brother shagging, don’t you think?”
Still Mason said nothing. Clearly he wasn’t too worried about that. But she was.
“Hold that thought, our time will come.” She placed the tip of her finger on his tattoo and traced the lion with the blue mane. “What is the meaning of this?”
“The blue lion is the emblem of our clan.”
“He’s beautiful.”
“He’s strong, wise and fair.”
“Like you.”
“We try to be.”
She slipped her finger lower down his biceps to the Celtic cross. “And this?”
“Scotland is our land. That’s our cross.”
“I love it,” she said. “But it must have taken ages.”
“A fair few sittings.”
“Are they both exactly the same? Yours and Lucas’s?”
He grinned. “Identical.”
She hesitated, then, “But you’re quite different, really.”
“Only to people who know us.” He lifted his arm, forcing her to stop tracing his ink. “Which you most certainly do.” He touched the tip of her nose. “I gotta get up, hen. I suddenly need to pee.”
She smiled. “Go for it. And if you can make me a cup of tea I’ll love you forever.”
“In that case, one cup of tea coming up.”
He sat and shoved at his sleeping bag, the muscles in the side of his wide torso rippling. After enjoying a view of his ass encased in black boxers as he crawled from the tent, she flipped onto her back and stared upward.
“Morning,” Lucas said, reaching for her hand.
She turned to him and smiled.
He kissed her knuckles.
“What time is it?” he asked.
“No idea.”
“Must have had enough sleep if we’re awake.” He set his head back on the pillow and gazed at her.
“Did you dream?” she asked.
“Nah, I slept like I was dead.”
“Don’t say that.”
He chuckled. “I was knackered.”
“Me too.” She paused. “Sorry if…”
“What?”
“Well, you asked me to sleep in here with you. I wasn’t much company.”
He frowned. “You were here, that’s all we wanted.” He propped up onto his elbow and stared down at her, his face filling her vision. “Olivia, you’re special, you’ve proved that in so many ways. It’s you we want to be with, and much as you’re seriously sexy, it’s not just that… sex… that we’re after.”
“You should talk to your brother about his dirty dream then.” She grinned. “He’d definitely like some action.”
Lucas huffed. “Mason’s always had an active imagination when it comes to women.”
“And you?” She looked deep into his eyes, wanting to know what was there, at the very core of him. What was in his imagination?
“And me…” He glanced away, as if holding eye contact was too much of a struggle.
She was silent.
Eventually he returned his gaze to hers. “My imagination is in good working order, I just haven’t much experience to go on.”
“What do you mean?”
He swallowed and closed his eyes.
“Lucas, this is me, you can say it.” She rested her palm on his chest, so her fingers rested just beneath the hollow of his throat.
He pulled in a breath. “I haven’t had a serious girlfriend before.”
She nodded. That wasn’t new news. “And now?”
“You’re my girlfriend, right?”
“Right. If you don’t mind sharing.”
“I’ve shared all my life, it’s something twins can do. So if you want your own little harem of men going on, that’s fine with me, Olivia.” He paused. “But don’t worry, I only want you, no other girls.”
“Good.” She didn’t like the thought of any of the guys with anyone else. It made her feel a bit icky, but she pushed that sensation away. “Lucas, can I ask you something?”
“Aye.”
“Have you made love to a woman before?”
He closed his eyes again, and a sudden flush of pink stained his cheeks. “It’s pathetic, isn’t it?”
“What, being a virgin? Absolutely not.” Okay, so now he’d confirmed her suspicions. And she knew damn well it wasn’t because Lucas wasn’t handsome enough to get a girl into bed, it was because he’d chosen not to. “I think it’s admirable to wait until the right person comes along.”
He opened his eyes again. A slight frown creased his brow. “And that’s you, Olivia. You do know that? You’re the right person for me.”
“Yes, and I’m glad,” she whispered then brushed her lips over his. “And honored.”
He smiled, just a little. “I knew you’d understand.”
“I do.” She kissed him again, firmer this time, and ran her hand lower, to his sternum. “And we’re going to have so much fun.”
Her mind was spinning and her heart thumping wildly. She wanted Lucas to revel in the delights of sex. To learn how much pleasure his body could give and receive. “Let’s do it now,” she said, delving into his sleeping bag and running her palm across his muscular belly. She tickled over the hair leading to his boxers. “Before the others wake up.”
He grabbed her wrist and stilled her movements. “No.”
“No?”
“Not here. Not like this.” He frowned and bit on his bottom lip. It was as if his mouth was at war with his brain whether or not to say the next words.
“So how?” she asked, desire spreading over body and heating her skin. She was in the mood for some naked action.
“Not in a tent. Rushed.” He shook his head. “I can’t see you properly, touch you… taste you.”
She pulled her hand from his sleeping bag. “Okay, what do you have in mind?” She studied him, curiosity gnawing at her.
“A whole night, ju
st us, no one to disturb us. A nice hotel, a bottle of wine, maybe a long, deep bubble bath together. I want to take my time… do it more than once. Heck, I’ve waited long enough.”
“If that’s what you want, Lucas, that’s what you’ll get, I promise.” Much as her body was longing for his, the plan he had for losing his virginity suited her. She didn’t want to rush exploring his gorgeous body either. “We might just be working in the fruit fields a bit longer than expected, though, to afford a fancy hotel.”
“We’ll be able to afford it.” He smiled. “Leave it with me.”
Chapter Ten
The group were packed and heading out of camp by seven a.m. having not realized how early it was when they’d all crawled out of their tents.
“It’s good to be hitting the road now,” Harry said as he’d pulled up his neck scarf to meet his shades and jabbed on his helmet. “Gives us more time to find work.”
“Which we’ve got to do,” Evan said. “We’ve just eaten the last of our food.”
Olivia started her bike. Her stomach was full of bread, beans and eggs, and she couldn’t imagine being hungry again. But she knew she would be. A few hours burning rubber would do that.
They headed back to the highway, the Harley’s engines thundering around the quiet forest, and were soon heading west.
The drive was easy, the traffic quiet, and Olivia admired the rolling green hills in the distance. Eventually, as the sun climbed higher in the sky, farmland began to dominate the landscape.
Evan pointed to a huge field of corn and they turned off, hoping to find the farmhouse and an offer of work. But there was none, only a big gate warning of guard dogs.
After stretching their legs and quenching their thirst, they backtracked to the highway again and carried on.
Olivia’s stomach gurgled and the water sloshed around in it.
A large white sign came into view on the horizon. Olivia peered forward. It appeared to have an image of a large raspberry and blueberry on one side and an ear of corn on the other. Granfield Fruit Farm was scrawled between them in swirling black writing.
As they approached, Evan flicked his arm to the right, indicating they were going the way the sign told them to.
