by Claire Adams
"Well, I can't make you trust me, but I can offer you something that will make it a little easier to do so," I continued calmly. "I've given Mr. Tucker a contract here that guarantees Marks Enterprises will only employ local labor on this project. It guarantees that there will be no foreign labor brought in and that all workers on the project will receive a bonus of two percent of their annual pay if the project is completed on time." A murmur ran through the crowd as the men discussed the proposal among themselves.
"And, that's including any overtime earned on the project, so all bonuses will be calculated using the added overtime," I added. The leaders of the protest looked to Buck for affirmation and when he nodded his head a cheer went up. The men pounded each other on the back, and then came to me and Buck to shake our hands and pound us on the back. I smiled and assured every one of them that I intended to make good on my word, and they thanked me for doing the right thing.
When we had finished shaking the last hand, Buck and I went back to his office and we both signed the contract. I sent a copy of it back to Bax and Buck filed a copy in the cabinet next to his computer.
"Well, mate, it looks like you did the right thing," Buck smiled.
"I want this to go smoothly, but it's of utmost importance that we do this right," I said very seriously. "I don't want anyone to feel that they are expendable. If that means spending a little extra money to ensure that sense of security, I'll do it."
"You certainly bottle your blood's worth, Austin Marks," Buck said as he again offered his hand. I shook it and smiled.
"You know, someday you're going to have to interpret all of these Aussie words for me, my friend," I laughed. "I've got an inkling of what you guys are saying, but sometimes, I feel like I'm listening to a foreign language!"
Buck let out a long loud laugh and said, "Let's just say that it all points to you being a damn good bloke, Marks."
"Now, that I get!" I laughed with him. "Right back at you, Buck."
I picked up my phone and texted the copter pilot that I was ready for pickup, and as he was setting down on the landing area, I looked at Buck and said, "If you need anything at all, don't hesitate to let me know, okay? I don't care how big or small it is. I just want to ensure that this project runs smoothly and that you have what you need to make it happen."
"Aye, aye, Captain," Buck said with a twinkle in his eye and a loose salute. I laughed and made my way back to the helicopter. Once safely inside and on the way up, I shouted, "Now back to the house, I've got an important dinner date with a very nice lady!"
"Gotcha, boss," the pilot shouted into his mic before tilting the copter sideways and heading back to Palm Beach where Emily was waiting for me.
Chapter Forty-Six
Austin
As the helicopter landed on the roof, I could see that it was dusk and the sun had sunk in the western horizon leaving behind a trace of light that was beginning to morph into darkness. The waters in the cove were calm and I could hear the night birds beginning to stir. As the copter took off and headed back to Sydney, I stood and watched a peregrine falcon come in and swiftly pick off a smaller bird in mid-flight. It was beautifully brutal and it reminded me that in the wild, only the strong survive, but in the human world, it took more than just brute force to win.
I walked down the stairs to the door that led to the interior of the house and paused before turning the knob and walking into the entryway. The whole house was bathed in the soft glow of evening, and as I entered the living room I saw her standing at the window looking out over the water. I inhaled sharply as she turned and smiled at me.
"You look...wow," I exhaled as I looked at her. Emily was wearing the dress that was my favorite. Its midnight blue hemline touched the floor and then bled into lighter shades of blue as it moved higher, finishing at the neck with a light robin's egg shade that highlighted her tan skin. But it was her face that mesmerized me. She'd pulled her hair up and tucked it loosely into a messy pile on her head that made me want to run my fingers through it and bring it cascading down around her shoulders like she'd worn it while we were swimming. Around her neck was a long delicate chain of brightly-colored stones that fell between her breasts and sparkled when she moved.
"Well, thank you very much," she said with a warm smile as she turned in place. "You made it all possible!"
"No, I just asked them to pick out pretty dresses," I said, still staring at her. She looked like an angel floating across the carpet, and I wanted to pull her into my arms and hold her close to me.
"Are you okay, Mr. Morning?" she laughed lightly. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
"No, fine...I'm...wow," I said again as I swept my eyes from head to toe. "You look so beautiful."
"You're too kind," she smiled. "But perhaps you'd like to go change and get ready for dinner? I think the chef is ready to begin serving and you're holding up the works!"
"Oh, right," I laughed. "I'll go change. Don't leave."
"Where on earth would I go, Mr. Morning?" she smiled warmly as she flicked her hands shooing me up the stairs.
I quickly showered and changed into jeans and a loose linen shirt that complimented the color of Emily's dress, left open at the neck. Barefoot, I padded back down to the living room, rolling up my sleeves as I did. When I walked back in, she looked me up and down as a wide smiled spread across her lips.
"You clean up good," she told me with a wink. I laughed and accepted the glass of wine she held out to me.
"Not as good as you do," I said admiring her again.
"Are you saying that I don't look good when I'm not cleaned up?" she asked as she raised an eyebrow and sipped from her own glass.
"No! That's not what I meant," I quickly said, and as I backpedaled trying to explain myself, I watched a mischievous grin blossom on her lips. I shook my head and said, “You’re an evil, evil woman."
"I'm not the least bit evil," she said with faux wide-eyed innocence. "I'm a very good girl."
"Speaking of which," I said, steering the conversation away from the dangerous curve we were heading for. "How did you spend your afternoon?"
"Well, RJ gave me a massage that I think reduced every muscle in my body to liquid form, then I sat in the sauna and melted a bit more before he dunked me in the cool tub and brought me back to life," she laughed. "Then I went up to the blue room and checked out all the wonderful surprises you'd left for me and took a long hot bubble bath and then got dressed! It was such a taxing afternoon. How about you? How was your meeting?"
"Ah, my meeting, yes," I said as I sipped some more wine. "It was a successful resolution of an ongoing issue that should never have been an issue."
"This is good, then. Right?" she asked as she moved closer and looked up at me. I glanced down and then looked away, knowing that if I got lost in her eyes, I wouldn't be able to hold back and that I'd break my promise to her, but she wasn't making it easy on me.
"It's definitely good," I nodded as I stepped back and looked toward the kitchen. "Did the chef say when he was going to serve dinner?"
"Um, he said as soon as you got back to let him know, so I did," she said as a small frown flitted across her lips. "I think he's serving us on outside on the balcony."
"Then, let's head out there, shall we?" I said as I offered her my arm. She smiled at me as she slipped her arm through mine and we walked out to find the balcony aglow in thousands of tiny little lights that looked like fireflies floating above the table. The table itself was almost a work of art. The plates were stacked artfully and the silverware sparkled. I looked at Emily and saw her eyes shining in the candlelight as I pulled out her chair and seated her at the table. We sat across from each other, staring into each other’s eyes as the candlelight glowed softly and far off in the distance, the sound of waves crashing into the shore provided a gentle soundtrack for the meal.
Soon, the chef sent out what would be a wave of delicious dishes: fresh garden vegetables layered with goat's cheese, fresh seafood chowder with lot
s of cracked pepper, and rare filets with a sauce made of roasted peppers, cream, and something I couldn't quiet identify until Emily said it was mint. The dishes came out one after another, and we talked and ate until we were full. We begged off dessert and got up from the table.
"I'm so full, I feel like I can't move," Emily laughed as she pushed herself away from the table and walked to the edge of deck. I followed carrying our wine glasses and we stood looking out over the cove as we talked about the beauty of the water in the twilight. Darkness had fallen and the stars were incredibly clear in the night sky.
"I don't think I've ever seen the stars so clear and close," she whispered as though raising her voice would cause them to disappear into the darkness.
"I don't think I've ever seen anything so lovely this clear and close," I said as I looked down at her. I could feel the stirring of something inside me, and I wasn't sure I could hold back. I knew that this was the moment I should probably walk away and let her be, but I couldn't make myself do it. I couldn't just walk away from Emily Warner and not at least kiss her. I whispered her name, "Emily."
"Austin," she whispered back as she held my gaze for the longest time. Neither of us moved, afraid to break the spell. And then I felt her fingers slipping down to intertwine with mine. It was such a small gesture, but so incredibly intimate and I held my breath as I waited to see where we would go next. I felt her hand squeezing mine as we stared into each other's eyes. I could feel my heart pounding hard in my chest, but I held back waiting.
"Austin?" she repeated in whisper that I would have missed had I not been listening for it.
"Yes?" I whispered back.
"Yes," she nodded.
"Are you sure?" I asked as I stared at her and when she nodded again, I knew that this was my chance. I raised a hand and gently caressed her cheek and as I did, I felt her sigh as she looked up at me and smiled. I let go of her hand and wrapped my arm around her waist as I slid my other hand up into her hair and tipped her face up toward mine before bending forward and brushing my lips across hers. I felt her shiver in my arms as I pressed my lips to hers and began kissing her with greater urgency. I wanted everything all at once. I wanted to kiss her and feel her and taste her right here on this railing with all the urgency I'd felt since the first time I'd touched her.
My fingers worked the pins out of her hair and I soon had it hanging loosely around her shoulders as I kissed her more urgently and probed her lips with my tongue. I pushed them open and she sighed as she gave me access to her soft mouth. My tongue danced between her lips as she pressed her body against mine and I felt her heart beating against my chest. I dipped my head and ran my tongue down her neck to where the curve of her breast began and heard her moan softly when I traced the same line back up to her ear where I nipped at her earlobe before kissing my way up her jaw and back to her lips.
I could feel her body straining against mine as she wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me to her. I held her tightly against me, kissing her deeply as I ran my fingers through her hair feeling her lips pressed to mine. I wanted more, so much more, but not here on the deck.
I opened my eyes and saw her looking up at me through a dizzy wave of desire. I didn't look away, nor did I let my lips leave hers as I bent down and scooped her up in my arms. She didn't protest, instead she kissed me harder as I carried her up the stairs to my room and laid her gently on the bed.
It was there that I knew for sure that I had fallen hard.
Chapter Forty-Seven
Emily
When Austin scooped me up and carried me up the stairs, I knew I was letting go of who I'd been and becoming who I was meant to be. I didn't have any idea what I was going to do about my marriage or what was in store for Austin and I. All I knew was that at this moment, I wanted Austin more than anyone or anything I'd ever wanted in my life.
When he gently laid me down on the bed, I knew we were headed somewhere that was unlike anywhere I'd ever been before. I could feel it as he lifted the hem of my dress and pulled the deep blue fabric up, up, up until it was bunched around my waist. He slipped his arm under my shoulder and pulled me up, kissing my lips as he pulled the dress up to my neck then leaning back, he pulled it up over my head as I held my arms up. I was only wearing a pair of lacy panties and I heard Austin inhale deeply as he looked at me lying on the bed nearly naked.
I sat up, reached out, and grabbed the hem of his shirt and lifted up until he, too, was topless. His chest was so broad and smooth, I couldn't help but run my hand across it and I heard him sigh as my fingers lightly teased his nipples. I stretched up and wrapped my arms around his neck so I could pull him back down to kiss me.
When our bare skin finally touched, I moaned softly and pulled him more tightly against me. He wrapped his arms around my body and rolled onto his back, pulling me on top of him. I could feel his hard shaft pressing against my thigh as I ran my fingers though his hair and kissed down along his jaw before running my tongue down his neck. He groaned and slipped his fingers into my hair as he pulled my head back up and kissed me more urgently.
"I need you, Em," he whispered into my lips. "All of you."
"Yes," I moaned into the kiss. "Yes, yes, yes."
Austin rolled sideways and tipped me off of his body onto my back on the bed. He quickly shed his pants and then knelt between my legs as he looped his fingers over the edges of my panties and slid them down my legs until he could remove them completely. Then, he just sat there staring at me.
"What are you doing?" I asked as I raised my arm to cover myself. He gently grabbed my arm and lowered it.
"I’m looking at the most beautiful thing I've ever seen," he said quietly as he ran a hand down the length of my body, starting at my cheek and gliding down until he was lightly stroking my inner thigh. I sighed as I felt his hand on my bare skin and he whispered, "You like that?"
"Mmm hmm," I nodded. "Very much."
He did it again, only this time he used both hands and stopped to trace circles around my nipples and he watched them swell under his touch before continuing his chosen path. It felt like hours that he just touched me. Sometimes lightly, sometimes more insistently, but he watched me to see what I responded to as he experimented. Soon, I was moving beneath him, seeking out his hands and pushing my body against them.
"God, you're so sexy," he whispered as he leaned down and kissed my lips. His hands continued their path down my abdomen, but this time, he found a new place to touch. He slipped a hand between my legs and lightly caressed the sensitive skin between them. I couldn't hold back the moan that escaped my lips as I pushed my hips up against his hand. He traced a path up and down my outer labia until I was moaning loudly, begging him to touch more.
Using his forefingers, he splayed my lips and began running his thumbs up and down the swollen inner lips, dipping down to drag them through the wetness now flowing freely. He carefully massaged my inner lips until I was again thrusting my hips upward in an attempt to find relief.
"Austin, please!" I begged. "Please!"
"Please what?" he whispered as he bent forward and ran his tongue along the outer edge of my ear, making me moan so loudly that later, I was sure everyone on the cove had heard me.
"Please, all of it. I need it all," I whimpered.
"Like this?" he asked as he slowly slid two of his fingers inside of my tight opening then flipped them and massaged the velvety inner walls hitting my g-spot and making me cry out.
"Oh yes! Oh yes!" I cried as he slowly pushed his fingers in and then slowly dragged them back out again. The sensation was overwhelming and I was so lost in the feeling of his fingers inside me that I nearly jumped out of my skin when he bent down and began running his tongue over my clit. He used soft slow strokes at first, building the tension between his tongue and fingers as he drove me closer and closer to the edge of pleasure.
When he felt me begin to tighten around his fingers, he made his tongue into a hard little point and began licking and sucking th
e erect little bud as I buried my fingers in his hair and pressed his face tightly between my legs. My hips were moving in time with his fingers and his tongue never stopped its beautiful rhythm, but I needed more and I knew it.
"Austin, more," I gasped. "You. More."
"Tell me what you need," he said, looking up from between my legs. "Tell me anything and I'll give it to you."
"You," I said decisively. "I need you, inside me. Now."
"Are you sure?" he panted.
"Never been more sure of anything in my life," I moaned. "You. Now!"
He smiled at me as he slowly pulled his fingers out of my wetness and sat up. He leaned over and grabbed something off of the nightstand and when I gave him a questioning look, he held up the little foil packet as he put it between his teeth and tore it open. It didn't take him more than a few seconds to roll on the condom, and then he was on top of me. His weight felt good, like it was holding me down on the ground instead of letting me float off into space,
Austin held his shaft in one hand as he slowly rubbed it between my swollen lips. I was so wet that when he finally pressed himself against my tight opening, he slid in with little effort. I could feel the entire length of his shaft sliding into me and the slow slide was deliciously agonizing and felt unlike anything I'd ever felt before.
Once completely inside me, he stayed perfectly still as he pressed his body down on top of mine and wrapped his arms around me. He bent his head and took possession of my lips in a way that let me know he felt like he was as much a part of me as I felt I was a part of him. Then, he slowly began to slide back and forth, every motion massaged my inner walls and made me moan as I felt him filling me over and over again.
I held on to him tightly as we worked to find a rhythm and once we did, he slipped his hand down between us and massaged my clit as he slid in and out over and over. I lost myself in the feeling of our bodies gliding over each other as the sweat coated our bodies and made us slippery. I felt Austin moving so deep inside me that I opened my eyes and found him watching me. Our eyes locked and as he moved his hips against mine, stroking both inner and outer pleasure points and driving me to the edge of orgasm. I pulsed my hips up to meet his thrusts and as I did, I felt his fingers working my clit more intensely, sending waves of pure pleasure shooting though my body.
