Ravenous (novella)

by Eden Summers

  “This is where he works?” Erin croaked.

  “Uh, huh.”

  Erin had been expecting this. She’d known the weekend would result in a situation with Jesse before they made the turn off into the city. Even before they left Holbrook and drove onto the highway leading to Sydney instead of Melbourne. Deep down she’d known as soon as Karen had mentioned the road trip. She’d only convinced herself otherwise so she didn’t turn into an emotional wreck.

  “You don’t have to go in.” Karen placed a hand around her waist and gave a sideways hug. “We only came here to shop…but that’s his place, Erin…it’s up to you where we go from here.”

  Tears stung her eyes and she blinked them away, raising her chin. “Can you give me a minute?”

  Karen gave a nod and walked away. Erin didn’t bother to look where she went. Her gaze was fixed on Bellerin. She inhaled deeply and closed her eyes. She blocked out the mass of people walking by, the kids screaming in strollers and the teenagers squealing and chatting. The last fourteen days had been spent thinking about the man she loved. The man she couldn’t live without. And all the things stopping her from taking what she wanted.

  His life was the city, hers the country, but none of that seemed important enough to keep her away anymore. Her fingers began to tingle and the sensation moved up her arms, into her chest and stopped nervously at the low of her belly. She peered over her shoulder and found her sister standing a few metres away. Erin motioned her over with the jerk of her head and turned back toward the restaurant while she waited for Karen to walk back over.

  “What’s the plan, Sis?”

  “I dunno.” The tingles turned into shakes and she felt her entire body vibrate with nerves. She tried to take steadying breaths to calm herself. “I don’t want to stuff things up again. He means too much to me.”

  “There’s a bar upstairs. We can go there for a drink and you can calm your nerves with a little liquid courage before you seek him out.”

  Erin glanced at Karen from the corner of her eye. “Why does your knowledge of the restaurant not surprise me?”

  Karen gave a devilish grin. “Because I’m wise and worldly?”

  With a half-hysterical snort, Erin made the first step toward the restaurant and breathed a thankful sigh when Karen strode ahead to speak with the maître d’. The friendly woman smiled at them both and welcomed them inside, giving directions to the bar.

  Erin needed a stiff drink. Her blood zipped through her veins like lightning and her gaze shot from one person to the next. She didn’t even require a glass. Drinking from the liquor bottle would do just fine.

  Patrons dined without paying them attention as they walked along the polished wood flooring to the staircase at the back of the room. They approached the kitchen and her heart stopped completely, her chest cavity hollowing even though she could still hear the deep thud in her ears. The bright yellow light over the serving window held her attention and as they approached she couldn’t look away.

  “Come on.” Karen paused in front of her, then moved behind to give her a helpful nudge to continue.

  Pasting on a smile, Erin nodded to herself, and clutched her handbag tight. As they passed the serving window she held her breath and stopped dead in her tracks.

  Where was that bottle when she needed it?

  The kitchen was abuzz with life. People in white chef uniforms worked among organised chaos. One chopped, another dished food while one tall man shuffled a pan over open flames on the stove. Then there was Jesse. He sat on a chair at the end of the stainless steel bench that ran down the middle of the room. His eyes were closed as an attractive blonde woman worked her fingers into his shoulders.

  Karen rammed into her from behind, making Erin stumble forward. They both swore, the expletives drawing the attention of the people in the kitchen.

  “Sorry. Didn’t realise you were stopping in the middle of nowhere,” Karen drawled.

  Erin ignored her sister’s sarcasm. Her attention had been captured by Jesse’s gaze. He stared at her while the woman touching him recovered from the shock of the swearing and continued to paw at him.

  “I think it might be too late for that drink,” Karen added.

  Erin’s stomach flipped and roiled as she looked back at her sister in panic. Her mind had decided to shut down and she didn’t know what to say or do, or even how to breathe.

  The swinging door to the kitchen flung open and her gaze shot to the man whose dominant stance overtook the doorway. “Erin?”

  Her head bobbed because she couldn’t form words.

  “And this would be my cue to find the ladies room.” Karen pivoted on her heels and strode away, leaving Erin to drown in a mix of hysteria and nervousness.

  “What are you doing here?” Jesse stepped forward, letting the door swing shut.

  “I…” Her gaze sought Karen, a waitress…anyone that could help give her a few seconds to find the perfect words to fix things between them. When her attention drifted back to him, he was resting against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest as he stared at the polished wood floor. “I need to apologise.”

  He glanced up through thick lashes and raised his eyebrows. “For?”

  She shuffled closer to the serving window, out of the way of a waitress walking past. “For everything…for being selfish. For not trying to compromise when you moved to Sydney. For blaming everything on you, when it was my fault all along.”

  Whispers from the kitchen drew her attention. She found a handsome, tanned man ogling her. Beside him stood the woman who’d been massaging Jesse’s shoulders, her eyebrows raised in question. Both were huddled close, leaning towards the serving window.

  “Umm, is there somewhere we can go to talk?”

  Jesse pushed from the wall and glared into the kitchen. “Get back to work!” He took a step back and pointed toward the stairs. “I’ll take you to my office.”

  Chapter 11

  Jesse placed his hand on Erin’s lower back and closed his eyes briefly at the feel of her soft flesh. With his heart in his throat he led her upstairs, past the packed bar and down the darkened hall to his office. When she stepped inside, he closed the door behind them, the soft click of the latch echoing in the silence.

  She didn’t look at him while he moved to the couch and rested against the arm. He needed to sit down before he collapsed, and the possibility of sinking into oblivion didn’t seem too far off.

  “Why are you here?” He swallowed and held his breath waiting for her response. As much as he wanted her, to feel her body in his arms, he needed to know she was here of her own volition–not because Karen dragged her here.

  She glanced at him with a sad smile. “I don’t know. It happened all of a sudden.”

  His heart took a dive into his stomach. “It’s over a five hour drive from Holbrook, Erin. So I gather you didn’t come here for me.” Standing on aching limbs, he moved toward his desk. He needed space between them, a buffer to keep his emotions at bay.

  She stopped him, moving into his path and placed a delicate palm on his chest. Her angelic face tilted up to him, her light green eyes glazed with the same heartache burning in his chest. “This morning I woke up to Karen banging on my door, demanding we go on a road trip. I’m not going to lie to you, if it wasn’t for Karen I wouldn’t be here but it was my choice to come and see you.” Tears welled in her eyes. “I just feel so ashamed of the way I’ve acted.”

  A single tear streaked down her flawless cheek and he concentrated on the trail it left. When another fell, she turned away. “That woman downstairs…is she…?”

  Unable to keep his arm at his side, he reached for her hand and pulled her into his chest. “My girlfriend?” They were thigh to thigh, her erratic heartbeat pulsing into his lungs and her lips bare inches from his.

  “Yes,” she whispered, staring at his throat.

  He paused, because evidently he was a jerk. After everything he’d been through he wanted her to wonder, even if for just
a few seconds whether he was already with another woman. “She’s a waitress. A rather flirty waitress, but I’m not sleeping with her.”

  She exhaled in a rush and he felt her body lose some of its rigidity. “I’m so sorry, Jesse.”

  Her arms encircled his waist and he held her tight. He had no idea what this meant or what her apology implied, all he knew was that he felt the same. He was sorry for everything. For not trying harder to keep her, or demanding they stay together even with the distance between them.

  “I don’t want to let you go.” Her breath heated his skin like liquid fire.

  His throat dried to the point of pain and he swallowed to release the tension. “I don’t want to let you go either.” He tilted her chin so they made eye contact and wiped away her drying tears. “I’m willing to try a long distance relationship if you are.”

  She shook her head and his hope crumpled.

  “I can’t do long distance.” Her hands climbed up his stomach to rest on his pecs. “But…,” her brow furrowed with concern and she focused over his shoulder, “I’m willing to give city life a try if you can help me find a place to stay.”

  He replayed the words in his mind, not entirely sure that he hadn’t dreamed them. Cupping her cheeks in his palms he stared into her uncertain eyes. “What did you say?”

  Her lips tilted in a soft smile. “I’ll move to Sydney if it means I can be with you.”

  Every inch of his body broke out in a sweat and the heavily compacted exhaustion vanished from his limbs. He slammed his mouth against hers and palmed the back of her head to keep her steady. His tongue swiped her lips, demanding immediate entrance and she moaned in acquiescence. He devoured her with hard licks, confident strokes and didn’t come up for air until she was mewling for more.

  “Tell me again.” He kissed the side of her lips, her cheek, her jaw, her neck.

  Her breath hitched and she clung to his uniform. “I love you.”

  His heart stopped and his lungs filled with cement. He lifted his head from her neck and peered down into her smiling eyes. “I swear I’m having trouble hearing properly.”

  She beamed back at him and stroked his cheek. “No, you heard right.” Her teeth grazed his bottom lip. “I love you, Jesse.”

  Closing his eyes, he breathed in the floral scent of her hair. He couldn’t wait to have the smell of her on his clothes, his pillows, through his entire house. “Move in with me.”

  Erin pulled back with a jerk and frowned at him. “You want me to move in straight away? Are you sure that isn’t a little too soon?”

  He removed the handbag strap from her shoulder and laid the bag on the floor. “I’d say it’s about eight years late.” He ran his hands down her waist and pulled her close. “And we have a lot of catching up to do.” Pressing his erection into her pelvis, he ground his hips into her.

  She arched her back, rubbing her breasts against him. He nuzzled her neck, licked the salty flesh and suckled. His cock throbbed with her scent, her taste, her softness. He wanted to be inside her, to be a part of her. Lifting the material of her skirt, he hitched it higher, over her thighs, her stomach, then over her head. He let the material fall to the floor in a puddle. She stood before him with a cheeky grin, in the most hypnotising baby pink lace bra and panties.

  “Do you like?”

  His heart drummed his answer and he replied with a nod. With a confident step forward she closed the distance between them and pulled at the buttons of his chef’s jacket. One by one they popped free until his chest was on display. Delicate fingers ran over his stomach, tracing the lines of muscles. When they reached his nipples he sucked in a breath, then cursed when she tweaked them until they grew painfully hard.

  Her hands slid around his waist and the hard bite of her nails pierced the skin of his back. His erection throbbed with every sharp swipe and he grabbed her ponytail, pulling her head back until they were peering into each other’s eyes. “After two weeks of thinking about nothing but your eyes,” he kissed her with unyielding force, “the way you moan my name,” he licked at her lips, “how your pussy clamps tight around me,” he ground his erection into her pelvis, “I want you more than I want my next breath.”

  Erin’s mouth opened in a sigh and he took her offering, kissing her until his chest ached for oxygen. He loved her so much, more than his restaurant, more than city life. He pulled back to tell her but she grabbed the waistband of his checkered trousers and eased them down his thighs, then did the same with his briefs. Before his brain could catch up his cock was on display, jutting towards her, jerking with enthusiasm.

  “Do you like?” He smiled down at her as she stared at his sex.

  Her eyes widened. “I love.”

  “I love you, too.” He gripped the back of her head and took her lips.

  Erin leaned back, breaking the connection. “You do?” Her eyes were intent, staring at him, waiting for an answer.

  “Of course. I thought you already knew that.”

  Bright white teeth sunk into her bottom lip and she shook her head. He leaned in, nuzzled her jaw and whispered in her ear. “I love you, Erin McDonald.” He would spend the rest of his life making sure she didn’t doubt it. His fingers ran under the lace of her panties, over the trimmed curls at the apex of her thighs and stroked her clit. “And once you move in with me, I’ll never let you leave.”

  Her panted breaths brushed his skin as his fingers moved lower, seeking her heat. He swiped her entrance and her slick juices covered his fingers. When she reached between them to grab his cock, his legs tensed at the jolt of pleasure.

  “I need you.” Her other hand ran around his hips and gripped his ass.

  She began to pump him, her velvet grip working him to the point of madness. Digging into his lowered pants pocket he withdrew his wallet. He rummaged for a condom, covered himself in quick jerks and drew Erin back into his body. He shuffled forward, leaning into her and she stumbled into the wall. Removing his fingers from her sheath he lifted her, encouraging her legs to wrap around his waist. She clung to his shoulders, nibbled at his neck and when he pushed her against the wall he sunk into her in one strong thrust.

  Erin gasped at the intrusion and clenched her thighs around him

  “Oh, God.” The warm feel of her core tightened on his sex.

  “I want it hard.” She sucked the sensitive skin below his ear, driving a shot of liquid pleasure to his balls.

  He thrust into her with force, banging her hips against the wall.

  “Yes,” she breathed, digging her fingers into his shoulders.

  He continued to withdraw and slam home, withdraw and slam, until her head fell back, her lace-covered breasts brushing against his chest. “You feel so good.” He withdrew and sunk to the hilt. “So tight.” Again. “So wet.” Again.

  “Jesse…I’m…” Her thighs tightened around him and she began to grind harder, riding him, leaning her shoulders against the wall and bearing her pussy down on his cock. A moan sounded over the rush of blood in his ears. She was coming, her body pulling him along for the ride. His orgasm built, driving him hard, making him thrust deeper, until he exploded.

  His lips sought hers while his seed shot from his body. He kissed her with all the love he’d withheld for years. With each thrust he let go of the heartache and regret. When he opened his eyes, Erin still clung to him, her slight frame wrapped around him like a koala, her head rested against his shoulder.

  He peppered her skin with tiny kisses, along her shoulder, her neck, her lips. “We better get back downstairs before they realise we aren’t up here talking.”

  Erin gasped, pushed from his chest and stumbled to her feet. “Shit, I forgot about Karen!”

  ***

  Erin descended the stairs, hand in hand with Jesse and caught sight of her sister. Karen was leaning into the serving window, one foot hooked over her other ankle as she giggled at the attractive chef on the other side. The man was lapping up the attention, moving around the kitchen with a wi
de grin while he cooked and chatted up her sister.

  “That’s Antonio. He’s a good guy.”

  She glanced to Jesse at her side. “What? I didn’t say anything.”

  One corner of his lips twitched. “Your back stiffened and you gripped my hand tighter.”

  “Oh.” She loosened her grip and he chuckled.

  “Don’t worry. I know you two are close.”

  Erin stopped at the bottom of the stairs, her gaze focused on Karen. The hardest part about moving to the city would be leaving her sister.

  Jesse faced her, his spare hand brushing away the hair from her cheek. “It’s not too late to back out of moving to the city. If you don’t think you can leave Holbrook, we can sort something else out.” His chin was high, his fingers holding hers tight.

  “I don’t want to leave my sister,” she glanced at Karen, then back at the man she loved, “but I can’t live without you anymore. You’re what I want, Jesse.” She flashed him a smile and leaned in close. “I want to make this work. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

  His mouth swept across hers, his tongue gliding over the join of her lips before retreating. “Don’t worry I’m not letting you go.” He squeezed her in a warm embrace and kissed her forehead before letting his hand drop. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”

  Her heart was on fire, the potent mix of love and hope and arousal making it hard for her to wipe the smile from her face. They reached Karen and her sister grinned at her, raising her eyebrows when she saw their entwined fingers.

  “So I guess the talk went well.” Karen smirked and turned her body from the window.

  Erin needed to get the topic of moving to Sydney off her chest. She could already feel the knife embedding itself between her ribs, grating against her bones with every passing minute. With a nod, she inhaled a deep breath. Jesse raised her hand to his lips for a reassuring kiss and gave her the thread of strength she needed.