Jaime closed her eyes. ‘I think you’ve spent quite enough time being responsible. Cut loose. Let it all hang.’
‘I’m hanging alright,’ he said, ‘by a thread.’
His hands moved slowly at first. Across her thighs, over her tummy, skimming around her belly ring, making their way inexorably towards her breasts. The slipperiness of the soap felt glorious. So warm and smooth.
She closed her eyes, wriggled a little in anticipation. He was nearly there.
He stopped. Went back to where he’d started. Began the whole journey all over again.
He repeated the motion over and over, until she was beside herself, straining to feel his hands on her breasts. Fondling them, massaging them, sending the soap and his fingers round and round those rosy peaks just aching for his caress.
Ohhhhhh … not again! She grabbed his hands as they landed on her legs. Forced them back up to her aching breasts. The low laughter tickling her ear was nearly too much.
‘Stirling McEvoy, if you don’t touch my breasts right now, I’m going to –’
‘You’re going to what? Tempt me?’
She could tell he was smiling. ‘I’m going to … oh my,’ she murmured as his fingers teased her flesh. ‘I can’t remember what I was going to say.’
‘Well, how about this?’ he said, and the soap suddenly dived into the water somewhere between her legs. ‘Does that help?’
Jaime gasped. Oh. My. Freakin’ …
Her eyes closed, legs wide open. All she could feel were his fingers between her thighs, gently searching, tickling, fondling, delving, catapulting her desire to new heights. She spread her legs wider. Wanting, needing, getting, climbing …
She felt his other hand, slathered in soap, skimming her nipples. She sighed. Finally. Warm, butterfly-like touches softly brushing across the tips. A thumb tickling her rounded contours. Fingers cupped her fullness, while below the caresses moved up a notch, urging her towards a precipice.
To Jaime it felt like Stirling was all around her. His deep breaths tickled her ear, the tips of his hair feathered her neck. His muscular chest cupped her back. His groin pressed against her bottom. His thigh muscles clenched along the outside of her legs. And his hands? Oh, his hands were just … everywhere.
She gasped, bucked in the water. Bubbles cascaded over the sides of the bath, but Jaime was oblivious, lost in the burst of delicious sensation. Nerves sprang and tingled like fireworks racing across the surface of her skin. Sketching a path of relentless rapture. Pure sensual pleasure. And then the residual sensation of contentment. Fulfilment. Her body feeling heavy, at peace.
She felt the edges of Stirling’s smile against her cheek. The fullness of his erection against her back. She opened her eyes and realised what a mess the bathroom was in. Oh well, she was sure Jean would understand. And time enough to worry about that later. First she needed to make love to this gorgeous man.
She climbed from the bath, then stood facing Stirling with a towel in her hand. ‘Okay, Marble Man, exit that tub.’
He grinned and lifted himself from the water. And, oh my … the water cascading down that amazing body … it was like watching Michelangelo’s David come to life.
Jaime knew she wanted more of him. Now.
She started towelling his chest but didn’t make it past his pectorals. He grabbed her hands before they could move in a southerly direction.
‘Don’t,’ he muttered in husky voice, ‘not yet.’
‘Oh,’ she said. And wasn’t sure what to do next.
Stirling took the towel and began drying her instead, sliding across her skin with soft downward strokes. He had her groaning with anticipation again, giggling with pleasure. Just when she thought she could take no more, he picked her up and carried her into the bedroom.
He laid her on the bed and covered her body with his own in one smooth movement. She was pinned beneath him. Smiling up into his face, she moved her hands across his still damp back, skimming them across the smooth skin. Squeezed and clenched at his muscles as he lifted himself to drive into her waiting wetness. She sighed with relief as she felt him inside her, her body desperate, as it finished its journey to exquisite pleasure.
When he came, she watched his face. Saw control stripped back to expose his very soul. Saw his vulnerability. His ultimate pleasure that bordered on pain. The relaxation of his senses as he sank into contentment.
After a minute, his eyes opened and looked at her with reverence. Then the look was gone, and in its place a wicked grin. She mirrored the grin, shutting away her mental picture of the awe in his eyes, the amazement on his face, to examine in detail later.
‘You’re pretty darn good at this, Marble Man,’ she said.
‘You’re not too bad yourself, Princess.’ He kissed her nose and rolled off to one side, completely relaxed. Replete.
Jaime lay curled on her side watching him. A little smile played around the edges of his mouth like he was reliving the whole experience all over again. She was pretty sure they were pleasant thoughts.
Jaime moved across and laid her head on Stirling’s broad chest. His arm wound around her shoulders to tuck her into his side and he rolled to spoon her body into his. A soft whisper tickled her ear, ‘That was incredible, Jaime.’
She smiled to herself. ‘It was, wasn’t it.’
And they lay like that until sleep overtook them.
Chapter 22
Jaime was standing in the dining area, waiting for Stirling to come back from their room with the breakfast tray Jean had sent up, compliments of the house, when she noticed a little red Audi parked in front of the pub. It looked out of place amongst the LandCruisers and Nissan utes jostling for parking space. Obviously the arrival of the police and their breathalyser had stopped more than a few revellers from driving home last night.
A moment later, an exotic-looking woman burst through the dining room door like a howling westerly wind – all gust and bluster.
‘I’m looking for Stirling McEvoy,’ she said. ‘The fellas outside said he was staying here. Know where he is?’
It took Jaime a few moments to process what the woman had said. After all, she hadn’t really got that much sleep last night. Or this morning for that matter.
A hand passed in front of her face. ‘Hell-oooooo? Anyone home? I’m looking for Stirling. My name’s Tiffany.’
Finally Jaime registered what the woman was saying. This was Tiffany? As in Fancy-pants Tiffany? Good grief. She was nothing like Jaime had imagined. She was dark, almost Mediterranean-looking. Italian perhaps? All brown eyes, big boobs and lashings of dark long hair, which she was currently flicking this way and that. Energy zapped from her like Stirling’s electric cattle-prod thingy. And she was dressed to perfection in a checked shirt with press-stud buttons and immaculate jeans sporting diamantés on the pockets. Jaime glanced at Tiffany’s footwear. Not that she’d needed to. Obviously, they were cowgirl boots.
Jaime looked down at her own clothes. A melon-coloured singlet top, cut-off shorts and her slip-ons. So not country chic.
Jean suddenly appeared as if by magic and stood close to Jaime. ‘Good morning, Tiffany.’ She almost shouted the name. ‘This is Jaime Hanrahan. She’s working at Polly’s Plains, Tiffany.’ Another shout.
Tiffany narrowed her big eyes at Jaime. ‘Oh yes, I’ve heard about you.’
Jaime’s hackles went up. Why did she have to sound so nasty? She didn’t even know the woman, and vice versa.
‘Really?’ she said. ‘How’s that?’
‘My Aunt Irene might have mentioned you, I think.’ The girl waved a dismissive hand and focused on Jean instead. ‘Know where Stirling is?’
‘Umm … yes, Tiffany,’ Jean shouted again. ‘He’s around somewhere.’
Jaime wondered why Jean kept yelling Tiffany’s name. Maybe the woman had a hearing problem? Then she heard Stirling’s voice, and turned to see him coming backwards through the dining room door holding their breakfast tray.
‘Jean
, that was one of the best breakfasts I’ve ever tasted!’
‘Stirling!’ cried Tiffany in honeyed tones. She moved practically through Jaime, who suddenly found herself backed up against a dinner table. Two seconds later Tiffany was plastered against Stirling like a starfish against a rock. Her hand brushed his chest. The chest that had been Jaime’s not five minutes before.
‘I’m back,’ she said.
Back? She could get her hands off him right now!
But, much to Jaime’s consternation, Stirling didn’t seem to object. Instead, he was stroking the woman’s shoulder. A little awkwardly, she had to admit, but he was also whispering to her. What the hell did he think he was playing at?
‘Yes, yes, I’ve met her,’ Tiffany said, flicking her hand like she was brushing away an insect. ‘But I’m back now. I’ve finished my course and been on a holiday. And now I’ve returned to yoouuuu.’
What? No way, Jaime thought. Not when she and Stirling had just got it together!
‘I’ve got a problem with my car,’ Tiffany purred. ‘Can you have a look at it for me, Stirling?’
Stirling tried again to point in Jaime’s direction but it was a wasted effort. Tiffany towed him through the dining room and out the pub door. The last Jaime saw of him was a glimpse of russet hair as he was dragged down the steps.
She could feel Jean looking at her in concern, so she turned away and glared out the window at the couple standing by the red Audi. Tiffany had one hand on her hip, the other on the bonnet, and was talking rapidly while pressing herself towards Stirling. Stirling, Jaime thought, looked like a bunny caught in the high beam of a torch. He wasn’t talking but did appear to be listening, and she was sure his body was leaning slightly towards Tiffany.
She crossed her arms and pursed her lips. Tiffany was determined, that much was obvious. But Jaime wasn’t out for the count. No way. Not after last night. Not after the last couple of weeks. This show wasn’t over yet. Not by a long shot.
Jaime sat in Ryan’s LandCruiser, with Ryan driving her home. Okay, so maybe she needed to do a rethink. This wasn’t how she’d imagined their romantic night away ending.
‘I know I’m second best,’ said Ryan, ‘but you could say something. Silence from you, JJ, is very disconcerting.’
She flung him a killer look. ‘Do not call me JJ.’
‘Aha. You have a voice. Great. Here I was thinking you’d left it back in Lake Grace.’
She might not have left her voice back in that crummy little town, but she sure had left Stirling. With Tiffany.
‘I can’t see why she couldn’t have taken her car to this Rick guy by herself,’ said Jaime in what she knew was a sulky voice.
Ryan shrugged. ‘She’s Tiffany. She doesn’t do much alone.’
‘But why couldn’t I go too? Surely this Rick can’t be that much of a hermit?’
‘He’s a bit dodgy with crowds.’
‘Three people is not a crowd.’ But she knew as she said it that three was a crowd around Tiffany. ‘Plus, why would a mechanic have issues with people? They provide his livelihood!’
‘He’s not really a mechanic,’ Ryan explained, ‘just a whiz with cars – anything mechanical actually. You should see his underground house. It’s so cool.’
Jaime would’ve loved to see his house, if she’ d been allowed to. She replayed her conversation with Stirling back at the hotel.
‘Princess, I’m going to have to help Tiff. Her engine light’s on.’ Stirling had sounded apologetic but also implacable. ‘I can’t let her drive out to Rick’s on her own.’ His next sentence was delivered to the man behind the bar. ‘Blue, ring Ryan, will you? He’s at Skinner’s. He can take the Cruiser home, along with Jaime. I’ll follow later in the Suzuki.’
Jaime’d been furious. She wasn’t a parcel to be handed along! And how could Ryan be a friend of Skinner’s?
‘I’ll come with you,’ she’d told Stirling. ‘I don’t mind the wait.’
‘Tiff’s car is a two-seater.’
‘Plus Rick’s not comfortable with newcomers,’ Tiffany added, her hand on Stirling’s arm. ‘We need to go, babe.’
Babe? Things had obviously moved fast out there beside the Audi.
‘He’s the only bloke around here who knows anything about European cars,’ explained Stirling.
Was his grimace apologetic? She really hoped so.
‘C’mon, Rick’ll take ages and I need to see Aunty Irene too.’ Tiffany plucked at Stirling’s cotton shirt, which Jaime knew was covering a muscled arm. The same arm that had been wrapped around her not half an hour ago.
‘I’m sorry, Jaime,’ he said. What happened to Princess?
‘Babe,’ said Tiffany the Tosser, peering at Jaime with impatience, ‘your hired help will be fine. Ryan will see her home. He’s probably due for a new distraction.’
Hired help? Distraction!
‘Come on, Stirling,’ Tiffany pressed, ‘we need to go. Rick’s probably down at the lake checking his pot.’
Okay, so this Rick was growing drugs. No wonder he didn’t like strangers. But still, she didn’t want Stirling to leave her behind. One last try.
‘I promise I won’t tell anyone he’s into drugs.’
Both Stirling and Tiffany recoiled. Together. What? What had she said?
‘Rick does not do drugs,’ Tiffany said. ‘He’s a highly respected artiste. The pot is for catching yabbies. C’mon, Stirling.’
She walked out of the pub, dismissing Jaime like an annoying little bug.
Stirling gave Jaime what she wanted to think was a beseeching look. ‘Sorry, Princess. Blue will sort you out, won’t you, mate?’
At least he’d called her Princess. She decided to revel in that. Just a little bit.
Stirling gave a tight grin in Bluey’s direction, then an even tighter one to Jaime, and followed his ex.
Jaime knew she couldn’t let him go like this, not after last night. She grabbed his hand before he got to the door and dragged him into a nearby passage. Ironically, it led up to the bedroom where, an hour before, they’d been making love.
‘Don’t go,’ she begged. ‘Let someone else sort it out. Bluey, Ryan … anyone. Don’t let this ruin our night together.’
‘I’m just taking her out to Rick’s. How’s that ruining our night together? Which, by the way, was fabulous.’
Stirling reached out to brush her cheek but Jaime dodged his caress. Why couldn’t he see what Tiffany was trying to do? Irene must have told her Jaime was here.
‘But we’re supposed to go home together. You know, finish the trip off.’
He shook his head, perplexed. ‘Jaime, I think you’re being a bit silly. We had a wonderful night together and I hope there’s more to come, but at the moment Tiffany needs my help. I can’t let her go out to Rick’s on her own. The car might break down.’
Precisely. And Jaime guessed that’s exactly what Tiffany the Tosser wanted to happen so she could cosy up to her ex-boyfriend. What had Amy said? ‘I think she thought he’ d sit around and wait for her … You turning up might stir things up.’
‘I bet she’s got a mobile phone,’ Jaime said. ‘She can ring someone if the car plays up.’
‘There’s no mobile reception out there.’
‘Okay then … well, if something goes wrong she can walk back to town or the nearest farm.’
‘Rick’s property overlooks the water on two sides, and his nearest neighbours moved away years ago. He likes his solitude and it’s miles back to Lake Grace.’ Stirling leant against the wall. ‘Princess, it’s just a car ride.’
But it wasn’t just a car ride. It was Tiffany trying to get Stirling back after Jaime had snagged him.
She gave it one last shot. ‘I really want you to take me home, Stirling.’
‘Well, sometimes we don’t get what we want.’ He was starting to sound annoyed. ‘I’m taking Tiffany out to Rick’s, then after that I’ll pick up Valerie’s ute and head home. You mightn’t understand this seeing y
ou’re not from the bush, but I need to help her out. She’s a mate.’
What did he mean she mightn’t understand? Did he think city people didn’t help each other too? That country people had the monopoly on being helpful and neighbourly? What a load of rubbish.
She thrust her chin into the air. ‘I do understand the meaning of helping out a friend, but in this instance I believe there’s far more to it.’ There she’d said it.
Stirling went still. Dangerously so. ‘What do you mean, more?’
‘Tiffany wants you back.’
‘Yeah, right,’ he scoffed. ‘She’s come all the way from Melbourne and made up some excuse about her car breaking down just so she can drag me away from the most amazing night and morning of my life.’ He went to draw Jaime into his arms. ‘She doesn’t even know you. How could she have known we were here together? You’re reading too much into this.’
She resisted the tug of his arms. Like hell she was reading too much into it. Irene had seen them together last night and got straight on the phone to Tiffany. And Jaime had clocked the look in Tiffany’s eyes when Stirling had entered the dining room. It was the same avariciousness Jaime felt when she saw a darling pair of Jimmy Choos in a store. She just had to have them.
There was only one thing for this. She placed her hands on her hips. ‘It’s her or me, Stirling. I’m not sharing.’
He shook his head, anger suffusing his face. ‘You’re being an idiot, Jaime.’
‘I’m many things but an idiot’s not one of them,’ she returned with heat.
‘Stirling, babe, where are you?’ called Tiffany from outside. ‘We have to go. Rick’s waiting for us.’
‘Coming,’ Stirling yelled back. ‘I’ll see you back at Polly’s Plains,’ he said to Jaime. His tone was tight, his eyes flinty. ‘We had a great time. Don’t spoil it by dreaming up stuff that’s not there.’
‘I know who’s ruining this and it’s not me!’
‘Stirling? Oh, there you are,’ said Tiffany, poked her head around the doorway. ‘Am I interrupting something?’
Rose River Page 16
