“Good.” He gave her a light squeeze.
He only released her at the motorbike, reaching out to pick up her helmet and slide it over her head, fastening the strap beneath her chin.
“Maybe you need to teach me how to fasten it,” she commented.
“Maybe.” He winked suddenly, the flash of humour back in his eyes. “But I like doing it. Have you at my mercy.”
The heat those innocent words sent through her was surprising, a sudden flush at the thought of being at his mercy. As in being at his mercy.
She could only stand there, all that heat sluicing through her as she watched him slide his helmet on and fasten it, his gaze studying their surroundings, one arm lifting in a wave as a car passed and hooted.
That had her sucking in a breath she hadn’t realised she’d been holding. What was wrong with her?
Simon moved leisurely, swinging his leg over the bike, kicking off the stand and starting it with skilful ease before looking at her. “Hope on, bikie chick.”
Regardless of her perplexity at her emotions, she couldn’t help but respond to his light tone. “Am I going to have to get a tattoo one day?” She swung up behind him.
“Depends where it goes.”
“Huh?” In the act of settling behind him, she frowned at his back.
“And depends if I can see it or not.”
Oh boy.
“And if it’s not in a place easily seen, can I still check it out?”
Oh cripes.
“And if it’s-”
“Go no further.”
His warm, deep chuckle practically vibrated through her, she was sitting that close.
Smiling a little, she slid her arms around his waist. Okay, maybe she really didn’t have to do that until he opened the throttle, but she refused to consider that in-depth.
“Lis?”
“Mmm?” Realising he wouldn’t hear her, she added, “Yeah?”
“Join me for breakfast at the café?”
Right then, it sounded like a great idea. “Sure, I - wait, Ash and Scott will be expecting me.” Disappointment sluiced through her. “What if Ash has cooked breakfast already? It’d be terrible to tell her now.”
“Tell you what, how about I phone them now. If they’ve cooked your breakfast we can have a rain check on the café.” He pulled his helmet off before she could reply, resting it on the fuel tank as he slid his hand inside his jacket and pulled out something.
She guessed it was his mobile because she couldn’t see past his broad shoulders. In fact, the only view she had was his leather-clad back and upper arms. Unless she leaned over to peer around his arm, and she was afraid that her weight would throw the bike off balance, so she simply waited.
Sure enough, a mobile phone was placed up to Simon’s ear. Within seconds he said cheerfully, “Hey, Scott. Simon. Listen, I’ve got Elissa with me, thought we’d have breakfast at the café unless you’ve already cooked breakfast? Ash has only just got out of bed?” His laugh was sudden. “You’re dragging her back to bed? Roger that. See you later.” He flipped the phone shut and threw Elissa a glance over his shoulder. “Café it is, sweetheart.”
Probably a good plan. By the sound of it Scott was making good use of her absence from the house to have a little slap and tickle with Ash. “Um…I have no money on me.”
“My shout.”
“I’ll pay you back later, I promise.”
“No need.” He slid his helmet on.
Her lips tightened just a little. “I pay my way.”
He paused for several seconds before nodding. “I understand. You can buy me breakfast sometime, but only if you want to.”
Surprised, she blinked.
“Now hold on, we’re off.”
Automatically she tightened her arms around his waist, pressing close.
~*~
Sitting in the café at a booth near the window, Simon studied the woman opposite him. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes sparkled, and her normally neat hair was bundled into a messy bunch at the back of her head, the clip just managing to hold it in place. Several long strands spilled free to dance around her cheeks and shoulders.
Man, she looked cute, dishevelled, kind of like the way he wanted to see her every morning. Right after he rolled off her.
Completely truthful with himself, he acknowledged the fact that he was majorly attracted to Elissa. He’d been attracted to her from the first moment he’d seen her up on stage, from the time he’d sat beside her on the balcony, from her first, sweet, light ‘thank-you’ kiss, and definitely from the moment he’d caught her lips in a deeper kiss that even now had the power to make his blood thicken.
What had it thicken even more was the memory of her soft body pressed to his back, those generous breasts hard against him, those rounded thighs tucked behind his, the knowledge that her womanly secrets had been partially pressed against him.
That soft, luscious body that he could imagine beneath him, all those secrets bared to his gaze, his touch, his mouth.
At the stirring in his loins he tightened his grip on the mug, lifting it to take a deep, fortifying swallow of tea. Christ, he had to get his imagination under control - not to mention his libido - before he dragged her across the table to kiss her so hungrily he’d probably leave more than an astonished impression on the few people in the café - he’d be like to leave his seed in her body.
Hoo boy.
Taking another mouthful of tea, he watched over the rim as she gave her order to Cheryl, the older woman pointing at the menu with the end of her pen as both of them pondered the offerings. Finally Elissa made her choice and sat back, her gaze switching to him.
Oops, going by the way her eyes widened a little, maybe he wasn’t doing such a good job of hiding his distinctly carnal thoughts.
Ruthlessly shoving all dreamy, hot desires down, he flashed her a reassuring grin before turning his attention to Cheryl.
“What’ll it be, honey?” Cheryl asked. “Please remember I have other people to feed this morning as well.”
Simon placed his hand to his chest. “What are you insinuating, Cheryl?”
“I have enough food in the café to feed about twenty people. Then you came in and it magically reduced to fifteen.”
“Are you saying I eat enough food for five people?”
She just looked at him.
Simon switched his gaze to Elissa. “I’m hurt.”
She just dimpled, those delightful apple cheeks rounding. Sweet.
Returning his attention to Cheryl, he smiled winningly. “I’ll hold back.”
“This should be good,” Cheryl said dryly, placing pen tip to pad. “Let’s have it.”
“Mixed grill, a couple of hash browns as well - no, make that three - three slices of toast, only two fried eggs ‘cause I’m trying to cut down a little-”
“You don’t say.”
“I know, good of me, right? Could I also have a bran muffin, ‘cause that’s the cereal element, a glass of apple juice-”
“For the fruit, right?”
“You got it.”
Cheryl finished scribbling. “That it?”
“Thank you, yes.” Simon beamed at her. “How was that?”
“You should have just asked for the usual.” Cheryl walked off.
Grinning, he settled back in the seat to find Elissa watching him with raised eyebrows.
“What’s your usual?” she asked.
“What I just ordered.”
“Huh.” Her head angled slightly to one side as she studied him curiously. “Your usual means you come here often.”
“Yep.”
“Don’t you cook for yourself?”
“Sometimes.” Making himself comfortable, he was more than content to answer questions. Hell, he had nothing to hide. Plus he was more than happy to have his sweet little Lis curious about him.
“Do you live alone?”
“Yep. Well, until Arthur finally comes, then I’ll have a roomy.”
/> “Hmmm. So, house, flat or duplex?”
“We don’t have flats in this town. I live in a house.”
About to ask something else, she paused.
He gave a ‘come on’ gesture with his hands.
“Aren’t you a little offended that I’m prying?” she asked.
“Are you trying to be offending?”
“No.”
“Then I’m not offended.” Plus, he had an ulterior motive, but she didn’t need to know that yet. “Ask away.”
Those fine eyebrows rose again, inching up to that enticingly dishevelled hairline. “Is anything off topic?”
“We’ll find out. Hit me with it, sweetheart, I’m an open book.”
Light brown eyes regarded him with surprising frankness. “Is that so?”
He smiled congenially.
“I’m not so sure you are.”
“You’ll never know until you try.”
“Hmmm.” She stroked her chin. “Okay. You live alone in a house, currently in the process of interviewing your reluctant soon-to-be furry, cranky roomy. You’re a fireman.” She snapped her fingers. “Did you grow up here like Scott?”
“Nope.” Enjoying the way she studied him - hey, baby, look all you want - Simon waited.
Elissa ran her fingers up and down the glass of orange juice, the condensation trickling down the outside of it. Without taking her attention from him, she snagged a paper napkin from the holder in the middle of the table and set the glass on it, soaking up the moisture.
Hmmm, neat in habits as well as appearance. Well, not really appearance, not right now. Simon kept his gaze on her face but he had a good view of that lush body anyway. The way that magnificent bosom pressed against the pale blue jumper, those rounded arms, the pale skin revealed where she’d shoved the sleeves up to just below her elbows.
He certainly wouldn’t mind trailing his lips up the pale skin on the inside of her arm. No, by gosh, he wouldn’t mind at all. Trail it up higher and-
“Girlfriend?”
“What?” The question yanked him rudely from his entertaining thoughts. “No.”
“Fiancée? Wife?”
“Seriously?”
“Is that off topic?”
Unbelievable. “Would you be having breaky with me if I was?”
“Off topic?”
“Married or engaged.”
“No, Simon, I would not.”
“So you know I’m single and fancy-free.”
Well, look at that, a very confident nod from that curly-maned head.
“So why ask?”
“Because I could?” She burst out laughing at his sardonic eye rolling.
“I think there’s a tease under that deceivingly innocent demeanour.” And didn’t that just tickle his fancy.
“Bad habits are hard to break.”
“Lis, that’s a habit I happen to love.”
Silence greeted this, a sweeping down of her lashes to hide her thoughts before the thick, long lengths rose again to reveal sparkling eyes. “De facto?”
“And that right there is why some women get kissed into silence.”
“Because the men who do it are obnoxious?”
“More like lucky bastards.”
Elissa’s smile was wide enough to showcase a dimple in her cheek. Cripes, he’d like to lick that dimple, kiss it, follow the trail right down to those lush lips.
“I’ve never had a man kiss me into silence,” she said pertly, surprising him.
“I’m sure it will happen soon.” His gaze dropped to her lips, lingered. “I’m certain, in fact.” Oh yeah, am I ever.
Then his gaze lifted again to find her looking at him, but there was no indignation in her gaze, no confusion. No horror. No. But Jesus, there was a whole lot of heat. Heat so hot he could feel the scorch of it licking along his skin, and hello, his shaft was stirring in happy anticipation.
The heat in her eyes was so unexpected, so bloody welcome and astonishing at once that Simon couldn’t help it, felt his own answering heat flare out, gave her the full force of what he’d been keeping tamped down.
They looked at each other, an invisible strand of something reaching out to each other, touching, making him lean forward unconsciously, so very aware that she did the same. The tip of her tongue touched her upper lip, just a peek, enough to draw his hot eyes to those lush, lush lips. God, he wanted to taste them, lick them, sweep them softly with his mouth before bloody well devouring her in an open, searching, seeking and finding kiss that-
“Food’s up,” Cheryl said cheerfully, and instead of having Elissa laid out on the table before him, a plate of aromatic food heaped high was placed right in front of him, making him literally jump back. “Settle, honey, I’m not going to drop it. That’d give you a heart attack.”
“Ah - thanks, Cheryl.” Remembering where he was - holy cow, he’d never forgotten that before - Simon mentally steadied himself.
Shit, he hoped no one else had seen them, not because he could care, but because he didn’t want to embarrass Elissa or frighten her off. Frightening her off was so very far from his intentions.
Watching Elissa smile at Cheryl as she accepted the plate from her, all calm and in control, so at odds with what he’d seen mere seconds ago, he knew he wasn’t going to hide his emotions from her. Nope. No way. He’d never practiced subterfuge in the past and wasn’t about to start now.
It also didn’t mean he had to jump her like a dog in heat, though doggy-style wasn’t such a bad - hells bells!
Grabbing the knife and fork, Simon used the pretence of surveying his loaded plate to get a grip on his wayward thoughts. Okay, she’d given him a hot look as well, but that didn’t mean she would welcome him dragging her under the table and - get a bloody grip!
“Simon?”
At the sound of her soft voice, he looked up to see her watching him with a slightly wary expression. Okay, the wariness in her beautiful eyes wasn’t something he wanted to see when she looked at him. Confidence, happiness, amusement, yeah, but not wariness.
Forcing himself to relax, he smiled as he cut into some bacon. “Yep?”
“Are you all right?”
“Just hungry.” In more ways than one. “So, anything else you’d like to know about me?”
Still a little wary, she lightly salted her fried egg. “Sure you want to continue this?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“Why would you?”
Loaded question. Oh boy, was it loaded. Taking a mouthful of bacon and egg, he chewed it thoughtfully as he studied her. Was she referring to his less than innocent look of minutes ago, or to his sensibilities?
Give the woman credit, she looked him right in the eyes as she forked bacon and egg into her own mouth and chewed. Hands holding the knife and fork easily, she studied him right back without a qualm.
And it wasn’t his imagination, her wariness faded a little as he continued to watch her watching him.
He couldn’t help but be amused, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he conveyed his amusement to her.
Well, look at that, her eyes crinkled at the corners in answering amusement, and damned if those little laughter lines just gave her a light-hearted, almost merry air.
Swallowing a mouthful of tea, he placed the mug down on the table while still watching her, testing how far she’d go with the silence and laughing at him. This woman was proving to have a few surprises of her own.
Elissa took another mouthful of food, daintily cut a piece of toast and popped it in as well.
So he took a bigger forkful of steak and egg, topped it off with a good portion of toast and leaned back in the seat watching her as he ate. Hell, he didn’t mind, he could sit there all day and just watch her eat, those rosy lips closed, brown eyes sparkling.
Be better if he could taste her, but he’d settle for what he could get. For now. Which was her trust. Among other things.
It was Elissa who broke the silence. Taking a mouthful of orange juice,
she raised one brow at him. “Something wrong?”
“I’m not sure. Is there?”
“Depends on your definition of wrong.”
Oh boy.
“I have no problem on my side,” she continued. “Do you?”
“With whom?”
“Me.”
“I have no problem with you. Far from it.” Way far from it.
“You’ve gone silent.” She looked at his plate. “Or maybe you need to be quiet while working your way through that.”
He grinned. “I’ve been known to work my way through a lot more than this and still say my piece. Not that I’m bragging or anything.”
“Uh huh.” She cut up more bacon.
A body suddenly appeared at their table. “Hello, lovebirds.”
Startled, Elissa looked up.
Jesus. “Ryder.” Simon sighed.
“Yep. Shove over.” Ryder shoved his shoulder and, as Simon moved his plate along in resignation, his useless friend bellowed out, “Cheryl, my love! Can I grab a coffee over here?”
“No worries,” Cheryl called back.
“Thanks.” Ryder flopped into the seat, shoving his hair back with one hand as he grinned widely at Elissa. “Hey.”
“Hey.” She smiled.
She might feel like she had to be nice to the drongo, but Simon didn’t have any such inhibitions. “What do you want?”
“Sympathy,” Ryder replied. “Dee.”
Oh, that said it all at once. “Still in the shit for the kittens vandalizing her store?” Simon winked at Elissa.
“Jesus, that woman! All those poor little fur-bags did were run around.” Stretching out his legs, Ryder slouched back in the booth. “You’d think there wasn’t anything left standing.”
“I did see one of them playing with the EFTPOS machine,” Elissa said.
“It wasn’t like they were ringing up purchases.”
“And destroy the feather duster. Maybe Dee has a reason to be annoyed with you.”
Ryder turned to Simon with a pained expression. “And you’re feeding her?”
“Yep.” Simon grinned, forked in more food.
“Listen, Elissa, a few things you have to know about my fiancée, my babe, my pain-in-the-arse. She can be damned unreasonable.” Ryder looked up, that roguish, charming grin women seemed to fall for lighting up his face as Cheryl placed the mug of coffee in front of him. “Cheryl, I love you.”
Fly with Me Page 15
