Driftwood

by Mandy Magro

  Tom tried to mumble something, his lips curling faintly at the edges, and Taylor could have sworn he was smiling. She leant in so she could hear him, her ear close to his lips. ‘What did you say, Dad?’

  Shaky arms enfolded her and Tom’s tears wet her cheek. ‘My girl, my beautiful little girl, I’ve missed you so much, sweetheart.’

  Taylor rested her face on his chest and wept with him, savouring the fact she was cradled in her father’s arms. Feeling so safe and loved by him, the bond of father and daughter undeniable as he held her. She felt so blessed, she was beyond words.

  Patty appeared alongside her, rubbing Taylor’s back as she remained in her dad’s embrace. ‘I hope you don’t mind, love, but I kept telling Tom he had to tough this out, and that he had to survive, because his daughter was here at Waratah. I explained to him that you had the same photo and had been carrying it around for all these years, thinking he was dead. That was when the old bugger seemed to come back to life.’

  ‘Oi, fair go, I’m not that bloody old,’ Tom muttered, trying to crack a smile but instead wincing from the pain. The group chuckled; uplifted by the fact they were all together, and safe. Tom turned to Jay, who had squeezed in beside Taylor. ‘I told you this girl was a keeper. I could tell there was something special about her from the second I laid eyes on her.’

  ‘Yep, I can vouch for that, too,’ Patty said, grinning at Taylor.

  Jay laughed. ‘You both got that right.’ He took Taylor’s hand in his, smiling at her in a way that only a man in love could. ‘And now I have her, I ain’t ever letting her go.’

  CHAPTER

  26

  2012 — Far North Queensland

  Gritting her teeth while digging her boots firmly into the sodden ground, Taylor gave the fencing strainer one last pull, her blistered hands slipping as she tumbled backwards and landed into a puddle of putrid-smelling water. Laughing at her misfortune, she sat up. ‘I should thank my lucky stars it’s only you out here, Floyd. I must have looked like a bloody tool just then.’ She blew a couple of dirt-encrusted curls from her face as a few mucky drips rolled down her cheeks. ‘And I probably still do.’

  From the partly shaded back tray of Jay’s LandCruiser, Floyd stared nonchalantly back at her. His body was stretched out and his head rested on his paws, his tail smacking the metal rhythmically as she spoke to him. Still chuckling at herself, she stood. Reaching into her backpack she pulled out her water bottle and took a long slug, allowing some of the water to run down her neck and soak through her mud-splattered button-up shirt. Her body was so overheated she could almost feel the water sizzling against her red-hot skin. The soaring temperature had been relentless throughout the day, the soaked earth steaming beneath.

  The sun’s power had been so brutal at midday she’d had to seek shelter beneath a bottlebrush tree for a couple of hours while at the same time warding off an army of ants that was after her lunch. The insect numbers since the cyclone had multiplied hugely, especially at night, when they were trying to eat dinner while being bombed by moths and flying insects by the thousands. The odd bug succumbed to a sudden death as it plummeted into a gravy-rich stew or pile of mashed potato. That was where geckos came in handy: they helped cull the flying creepy-crawlies.

  Feeling proud of what she’d achieved for the day, Taylor hurled her weary body onto the tray of the LandCruiser. Gazing at the magnificent uninterrupted views from the ridge, she made herself comfortable beside Floyd, casually dangling her legs over the back. The landscape that was cyclone battered only weeks ago was now transforming as rich green grass emerged and bushes, trees and shrubs sprouted fresh leaves. Wild melon vines had begun creeping over the ground and up dead trees, too. It was as if the land was rejoicing in the fact it had survived Mother Nature’s fury.

  Pulling her hat down further to ward off the glare, Taylor peered into the dwindling afternoon sunshine, admiring her handiwork on the kilometres of fence line that disappeared into a distant steamy haze. The straining posts were now all sitting perfectly in line and the fencing itself had just enough give to help the animals bounce off it if run into, barged at or shoved against. Taylor was confident and proud that her work would provide a steadfast barrier.

  Giving Floyd a loving rub behind the ears, Taylor smiled. It was satisfying to see the fence standing strong again, to know that the cattle and horses that had survived the cyclone — surprisingly, most of them — would now be safely kept within the boundaries of Waratah Station. It had been heartbreaking finding dead cattle for a week afterwards, their bloated carcasses a horrific reminder of the cyclone.

  The hum of a distant vehicle grabbed her attention and she gazed down the track, her belly flip-flopping as she spotted Jay smiling gallantly at her from behind the wheel of her Jeep. Over the past few weeks all they seemed to do was eat, sleep and work. The restoration of Waratah Station was top priority for both of them. And considering all of them were sleeping in their swags in the restored lounge room of the homestead until they fixed the roof of the workers’ cottage and repaired the damage to the homestead’s four water-damaged bedrooms, privacy was a rarity. They only got stolen moments such as these, which were few and far between, and if she weren’t covered in mud from head to toe she would be tempted to rip Jay’s clothes off right now and ravish him on the spot.

  Taylor grinned back at him as he pulled in beside her, his gaze making her feel as dizzy as a lovesick teenager. The sensations he evoked deep inside her were ones she’d never felt before, physically or emotionally, and she was dying to make love to him to prove just how wildly and crazy in love he made her feel.

  ‘Hey there, sexy lady, need a lift somewhere? Although, you might have to strip off if you do, I ain’t letting you get in my Jeep covered in that stinky mud,’ Jay said, humorously pinching his nose, his grin so deliciously devilish it made her toes curl. ‘What in the heck have you been doing to get so covered in mud anyway, my gorgeous lady?’

  Without replying, Taylor slowly slid down from the tray of the LandCruiser and teasingly began to unbutton her shirt. Jay’s light-hearted smile faded as he dropped his gaze to the hint of her voluptuous breasts encased in a lacy black bra. Then he beckoned her towards him with a simple look. She bit her bottom lip, feeling somewhat coy, but continued on, releasing each button with unrushed hands, the heat between her and Jay escalating.

  Giving into the moment, Jay swung the door open and leapt from the Jeep, his need to feel Taylor’s beautiful naked body pressed against his own overwhelming him. He placed his hand over Taylor’s, halting her as she plucked open the very last button of her shirt and revealed the creamy flesh of her stomach. ‘Before we go any further, you have to come with me. I have a surprise waiting for you,’ Jay said, his voice rasping.

  Taylor smiled wickedly as she linked her fingers with his, her confidence allowing her to leave her shirt open. ‘You only have to ask me once, Jay Donnellson. Lead the way.’

  ‘We have a little bit of a drive. Ten minutes, max. Will Floyd be okay here for an hour or so till we get back?’

  Taylor glanced over at Floyd, who was staring sleepily towards them. ‘Yeah, he’ll be right.’ She gestured towards Floyd. ‘Stay here, boy, and mind the Cruiser. We’ll be back soon.’

  Floyd’s eyes closed, giving her his answer. Jay’s arms circled her waist and he picked her up from the ground. He carried her over to the Jeep. ‘I hope you like what I’ve done for you.’

  Taylor planted a lingering kiss on his lips, making him swagger slightly as he placed her on the passenger seat. ‘I’m sure I will.’

  Driving down to his secret spot, Jay found it hard to keep his focus on the pothole-filled track, his eyes continually wandering over Taylor as she leant in and trailed kisses down his face and neck, her cheeky grin enticing him. Then, positioning herself on his lap so he could see over her shoulder, she slowly unbuttoned his shirt, licking, kissing and biting his nipples as she did, her sweet heaven pressing into him as she swayed softly back an
d forth on his lap. His mind whirled, her tongue so sweet against his skin that he struggled to keep the Jeep on the trail, the fervent desire flooding him more powerful than anything he’d ever experienced before. He moaned as she ran her warm breath down his neck then sank her teeth into his skin. He loved it. And the way she was taking control of him at a time when he couldn’t touch her for fear of crashing the Jeep, as though his hands were tied behind his back, was just so damn sexy.

  Jay switched off the ignition as the dam’s bank finally came into view, and relief flooded him. He wrapped his arms around Taylor and pulled her into a hungry kiss, their tongues passionately exploring one another’s. Sliding his hands up her bare stomach, hovering over her breasts as he feathered his fingers over her nipples, he finally brought them to rest on her cheeks. He allowed himself to fall into her emerald green eyes. ‘I love you, Tays. So much, it scares me at times.’

  Taylor smiled gently. ‘Don’t be scared, Jay. I love you too. And I’m not going anywhere, ever, no matter how hard it might sometimes get. I promise you that.’

  Jay pulled her towards him once again and kissed her chest. ‘You, my beautiful minx, have a heart worth fighting for.’ He grinned. ‘Now, let’s go find your surprise, hey?’

  With the sun beginning its gradual descent over the distant mountains, a twilight hue bathed the landscape in gold, accentuating its beauty. Pulling at the door handle, Taylor pushed it with her boot, sliding herself off Jay’s lap and allowing him some space to step down. She took his outstretched hand as he led her through the scrub and down towards the water.

  ‘Now, close your eyes. And keep them closed,’ Jay said, suddenly stopping. She giggled as she bumped into his back.

  She did as she was told, not wanting to ruin his surprise, as she clutched his hand. Taking a few steps forward the sweet perfume of frangipanis filled her senses, and then the sensation of something soft and silky brushed against her skin. She heard what sounded like a lighter as Jay let go of her hand and moved away from her before returning and sliding his arm around her waist. He rested his head on her shoulder. ‘You can open your eyes now, gorgeous.’

  Flicking her eyes open, Taylor covered her mouth with her hands, the scene that lay before her absolutely breathtaking. Jay’s swag had been rolled out with crisp white sheets and two plump pillows, and sprinkled with frangipani flowers. All the way around the swag were candles, the flames flickering softly in the whisper of a breeze. Above the swag, suspended from the branch of a huge paperbark tree, was a mosquito net, draped so precisely it looked a little like a four-poster bed. In the middle of the swag was a long piece of red silk, a bottle of red wine and two glasses, and a box of chocolates.

  She spun around to face him. ‘Oh my God, Jay. I’ve never seen anything so beautiful in all my life. Thank you.’

  He smiled mischievously. ‘You’re welcome. I’m so glad you like it, Tays.’

  Ruffling her mass of muddy hair she grimaced. ‘But before we slide beneath those beautiful white sheets, I reckon I need to have a wash in the dam.’

  ‘Yeah, me too, considering I’ve been on a roof all day in the sun.’ Jay pulled a small bottle of vanilla-scented soap from his back pocket and waved it in front of her. ‘I tried to think of everything.’

  Taylor didn’t need any more persuading as she tore off her boots, socks and jeans and then cheekily ripped off her bra and pants, letting her black G-string hang from her fingertip as she smiled playfully at Jay, mocking shock as it dropped to the ground. Squealing, she ran for the water, her arms high in the air as she jumped in.

  Ducking under the water, Taylor rinsed the day’s mud from her naked body, emerging, refreshed, to the surface. She watched with longing as Jay began to strip off. She grinned as she observed him hesitate, his hand resting on the top of his jocks. ‘Go on! Get it all off,’ she called out, laughing.

  Jay grinned, hurriedly ripping them off then covering his manhood as he bolted for the water, crashing in beside Taylor, the pair of them hooting with laughter. Enjoying the moment of frivolity, they tossed water at one another, dodging and weaving to get out of each other’s path. Eventually Jay grabbed hold of Taylor and, tipping some soap into his hands, he spun her around and washed her shoulders and back, massaging at the same time, lingering in the spots where he could feel she needed it most. Taylor moaned, her aching muscles turning to butter beneath his touch.

  Dragging Jay with her, she paddled over to a huge flat rock that poked out from beneath the waterfall, slid herself on top of it, and then turned around to face him, enjoying the splashes of water against her back as the waterfall crashed behind her. With a flutter of her eyes, she gestured for him to wash the front of her. Hands already slippery from the soap, Jay started at her feet, rolling the balls of his thumbs pleasingly over them as he slowly made his way upwards, halting briefly on her thighs, teasing her as he massaged her.

  Jay squeezed more soap onto his hands. He took his time to reach her breasts, wanting to feel all of her gorgeous skin. Taylor moaned as he began to massage them, Jay teasingly avoiding her firm nipples as she writhed gently on the rock beneath his touch, her lips parted as she breathed deeply. Then, pulling his body out of the water, he straddled her, his manhood pressing against her as he brought his mouth down and kissed her erect nipples. She grabbed his hair, begging for him to bite them gently. He did, and her gratification at doing so almost tipped him over the edge.

  Sliding his tongue down to her bellybutton he kissed around it then slowly inched his way down further, stopping provocatively as he breathed warm air upon her. Taylor screamed out his name, pleading for him to taste her and begging for him to be inside of her. Jay took his time, wanting to savour every second. Submerging half his body back into the water, he feathered his lips over her then unhurriedly ran his tongue upwards, stopping at her ultimate pleasure spot then rolling the tip of his tongue around it in circles, allowing himself to taste her exquisite pureness.

  Taylor panted as she reached out and gripped the sides of the rock, her hips arching into Jay’s lusciously warm mouth, his tongue and lips seducing her into seventh heaven. Her eyes closed in ecstasy as she teetered on the edge, her entire body quivering. How could a man send her into a sexual trance so beyond the normal realm she felt as though she was floating into an abyss? Finally, succumbing to his enchanting mouth, she toppled over the edge of self-control and screamed out his name, pulsating against his ravishing tongue as she climaxed to the point of breathlessness, every centimetre of her shuddering.

  Lying in an otherworldly bliss, she sighed, her entire body electrified. Jay swam around behind her, giving her an upside down kiss. She slid her body off the rock and into his arms.

  After drying off with some towels that Jay had thoughtfully put beside the swag, they entwined once again, kissing hungrily as they edged down and onto the sheets, a glass of red wine balanced in their hands. Taylor rolled the pinot noir around in her mouth, relishing the depth of it before she swallowed. Jay plucked a chocolate from the box and placed it to her lips. It was delicious, sending her into sensory overload. She delighted in the gorgeousness of their surroundings and of Jay.

  Drinking the last of her wine, Taylor pulled the length of silk from beneath her and ordered Jay to lie down. It was time for her to indulge in him and she couldn’t wait to discover every bit of his muscular body. Jay did as she asked, his yearning for her evident. She wrapped the silk around his eyes, and then tied it at the back, happy he couldn’t see her as she wanted his sense of touch to be intensified. Straddling him, she lingered kisses on his lips, luxuriating in the firmness of them, and then trailed her mouth down his neck and chest, stopping to kiss and bite him along the way. Jay’s breathing intensified as she ran her tongue over his stomach and then edged her way down his firmness, spiralling her tongue the entire way as she savoured the taste of him in her mouth. Jay called out her name, his voice gorgeously husky.

  Pushing herself back up, Taylor took his manhood into her hands an
d edged it slowly inside her, until he was deep within. She began to roll her hips, unhurriedly sliding Jay in and out. She trembled with the euphoric sensation, not wanting to hurry the moment, relishing every second of it, every thrust, every gasp, every shiver, every moan. For this, right here, with Jay, was her ultimate fantasy.

  Jay ripped off his blindfold and gripped her hips, seizing her gaze with his own. He slowly slid out then pushed himself deeper into her, halting every time, stretching out the moment of mind-blowing, body-tingling bliss. Taylor arched her body into him, her cascading curls bouncing around her firm full breasts, her beauty taking him to a place where all that mattered was him and her, in this moment. God, how he wished he could stay like this for an eternity, the love he felt for her encompassing him and filling him with a sense of belonging, of him to her and of her to him. Being here with Taylor, enraptured by her essence, was what he envisioned true love to feel like. A love he would fight for, kill for and die for. And now she was showing him it could be his reality. And it was a reality he wanted to live out for the rest of his life. He would do anything to be with her, forever.

  Entangling their arms, they rocked and swayed until they hovered on the brink, crying out, reaching the tip of the summit and freefalling together, the rapture possessing them and stealing their breath as they quivered, tingled and pulsed, hearts hammering loudly in their chests.

  Physically defeated and emotionally high, they melted into each other’s embrace, catching their breath and savouring the erotic elation. Jay rested back, taking Taylor with him in his arms, the mosquito net now tangled among the bed sheets, entrapping them effectively within its confines. Taylor rested her head on his chest, inhaling his addictive scent, still floating among the clouds as she admired the sheath of glittering stars now emerging in the black, velvet-draped sky. Jay stroked her hair, the silence between them harmonious, and the sounds of the bush enveloping them as it crept into complete darkness, the flicker of the candles now their only light.