by Lyn Denison
“Can I come in?” Jess asked formally.
Chapter Eight
“Of course.” Kat stood back.
Jess wore a pair of faded denim jeans and a black sleeveless tank top that molded to her breasts and her flat stomach. Kat’s senses went into overdrive again, that same desire rising inside her, and she bit back a moan. “Sit down,” she offered, her voice almost steady.
“No. Thanks.” Jess thrust her hands in the pockets of her jeans. “I just called in because I thought we should talk. About yesterday.” Her gaze went to the hallway leading to Kat’s bedroom and just as quickly slid away. She took a deep breath. “Firstly, I think I should apologize for my unprofessional behavior. I don’t usually, well—”
“It’s okay,” Kat said quickly. “Don’t worry about it.” Her heart constricted in her chest. Obviously, Jess thought it was a mistake. Why had Kat allowed herself to think otherwise? “I can forget it ever happened,” she added, amazed at her capacity to lie. Tell me not to forget, she silently pleaded with Jess.
“Oh.” Jess seemed to be finding the tips of her sandals fascinating. “That’s good of you.” She looked back at Kat and away again. “Because I don’t do that sort of thing. Make passes at clients. Male or female. I can’t explain my lapse in judgment. I just—” Her gaze met Kat’s, and this time she didn’t look away.
Kat was sure she could see a jumble of conflicting emotions reflected there. Fear, definitely. And desire. Kat recognized it because she felt that same heady hunger. She stepped closer to Jess and Jess amazingly held her ground.
“I wasn’t offended,” Kat said carefully. “Quite the contrary.”
Jess’s laugh sounded a little forced. “So you’re used to, well, that?”
“No. It was a first actually.” Kat gave a crooked smile.
“For me, too,” Jess got out thickly.
They stood there looking at each other, and it seemed to Kat the silence enveloped them, keeping them captive. Time stood still, the universe holding its breath. Then a dull flush rose in Jess’s cheeks.
“I—” Her gaze moved over Kat’s body, settled on the rise of her breasts beneath the old T-shirt, and Kat’s body responded spontaneously. Slowly, Jess reached out and ran her fingertips over the swell of one of Kat’s breasts, reaching the taut peak.
Kat could barely breathe as pure sensation rose to completely engulf her. Her nerve endings sent pulses racing inside her, rising in a crescendo of desire. She felt exhilarated yet slightly lightheaded, and a low emotive moan escaped from deep in her chest.
Jess’s tongue tip dampened her lips. “I couldn’t keep away,” she said hoarsely and swallowed, her pulse beating wildly, erratically.
They moved into each other, lips, breasts, stomachs, thighs melting together. Their hands explored, caressed, teased feverishly. Kat held Jess close, feeling the sensation of standing poised on a precipice, in grave danger of tumbling into the unknown. Her T-shirt was discarded on the floor with Jess’s tank top and bra and when Kat pulled open the press-stud at the waist of Jess’s jeans, the sound seemed to explode about them.
Kat paused, her eyes meeting Jess’s, pleading an unspoken question.
Jess swallowed again, her lips swollen from Kat’s kisses, her eyes dark and desire-filled. She took Kat’s hand, moving them past the kitchen, into Kat’s darkened bedroom.
Kat felt around and flicked on the bedside lamp tossing pools of shadowy light about them. She threw back the bedspread, then turned back to Jess. Jess had stepped out of her jeans, and she reached out to slide Kat’s shorts down over her hips so they slipped to the floor. She reached for Kat, and they fell on the bed in a tangle of naked arms and legs, skin to burning skin.
Entranced, Kat ran her fingers over Jess’s body, her throat, her breasts, over the flat of her midriff, her stomach, then beneath the thin, silky material of her underpants. Jess pushed her undies down, wriggled out of them and her hand covered Kat’s, guiding it to her hair-covered mound. Kat rested her hand there for long moments as she kissed Jess’s breasts, her mouth settling around one nipple. And then her fingers found Jess’s centre.
Jess clutched Kat to her as she exploded into orgasm, and Kat held her close until Jess caught her breath. Then she felt Jess’s lips on her own body, her fingers seeking Kat’s sensitive places. Kat shifted her position slightly to thrust her pelvis against Jess’s hand, subtly giving Jess her rhythm. Moments later Kat cascaded into her own orgasm.
They clung together, both lingering in the elated aftermath of release. Jess’s lips playfully encircled Kat’s breast, kissing and suckling, and they moved together again, lips sliding, fingertips seeking and finding, until they were both spent.
With Jess clinging to her, Kat flicked off the lamp and drifted off to sleep, so aware of the steady beat of Jess’s heart. Jess in her arms, Kat thought euphorically, where Kat knew she was meant to be.
The sound of a phone woke them. Slowly, disorientated, they both peered into the darkness.
“Mine, I think,” said Jess sleepily. She leaned over the side of the bed and fumbled in the pocket of her discarded jeans. She checked the number and sat up on her elbow. “Miranda? Is something wrong?” She frowned. “You mean he’s physically throwing up? Where’s Dad? All right.”
She slid a glance at Kat and Kat reached out, cupping one of Jess’s naked breasts in her hand. A tremor ran through Jess. She closed her eyes then opened them and glanced at Kat. “I’m over at Kat’s place,” she told her daughter. “But I was just about to head off home. We got talking and lost track of the time.” Jess stopped and grimaced. “I’ll be home soon, love. Okay. ’Bye.”
Jess rang off. “I have to go,” she told Kat quickly. “The dog’s sick again.” She fiddled with the mobile, not meeting Kat’s gaze. “Lucas isn’t home from his meeting and Mark’s asleep. I have to get back.”
“I know,” Kat said reluctantly.
“I’m sorry.” Jess slid out of bed.
The lamplight highlighted the shape of her body, the shaded lines of its wonderful curves, and Kat groaned regretfully. “I’m sorry, too. Really, really sorry,” she added softly as she stretched her aching muscles.
Jess watched her, her expression unreadable in the shadowy light. She pulled on her undies and jeans, looked about for her bra and top before remembering they were in the living room. She walked down the hallway.
Naked, Kat followed her.
Jess pulled on her tank top and turned back to Kat just as Kat went to retrieve her own discarded T-shirt. Before she could slip it over her head, Jess pulled her into her arms. She kissed Kat thoroughly, deeply, a long drugging kiss, then released her and headed for the door.
“Night,” she said huskily as she left.
Kat stood there until she heard the sound of Jess’s car disappear into the darkness.
The sound of Tom Worrall next door busily mowing his lawn woke Kat the next morning. She glanced at the bedside clock in amazement. It was after ten o’clock. She’d well and truly overslept. Which wasn’t all that surprising really after the emotional day she’d had, first with Beth, then those wonderful, incredible hours she’d spent with Jess.
Kat stretched languidly and tried to wipe the smile off her face. She clutched the other pillow to her, breathing in Jess’s scent. Proof, she told herself, that she hadn’t been dreaming, that Jess had been here in Kat’s bed and that they’d made amazing, incredible love.
Reluctantly she got out of bed and headed for the shower. She made herself a late breakfast and ate hungrily, acknowledging that she hadn’t felt so alive in years.
And then niggling doubts began to set in. Jess had left hurriedly. But she’d kissed Kat goodbye, she reminded herself. Yet she couldn’t prevent herself from wondering if Jess would want to come back.
Positives and negatives raged inside Kat as she tried to get more work done on the house. Eventually, she told herself that if Jess didn’t call her by dinnertime, she’d call her. Simple. Decision made. And
she set to preparing the second bathroom for the tradesmen who were scheduled to arrive in a couple of days.
A few hours later someone knocked on her door, and she felt herself begin to smile. She wiped her hands and walked through to the living room.
Kat opened the door, Jess in her thoughts, as she seemed to have been forever. She was still smiling. Her mind flashed images from the night before intermingled with the here and now. It didn’t take much of a stretch of her vivid imagination to see herself pulling Jess back into her arms, burying herself in Jess, the soft, tropical fruit smell of her shampoo, the taste of her skin.
But it wasn’t Jess and Kat felt her smile fade. To her surprise Shael stood there in the light cascading onto the veranda from the hot summer sun. One dark eyebrow climbed sardonically, and she inclined her head, her dark hair shimmering in the light. “Hello, Kat.”
“Shael? Hello.” Kat glanced past her ex-partner, expecting to see Meggie there behind her. “Is Meggie with you? Is she all right?” Concern rose inside Kat. Why else would Shael be here?
“No, she’s not with me. And yes, she’s fine,” Shael said pleasantly enough. “She’s gone shopping with Mum and Dad. So. Can I come in?”
Kat hesitated and then reluctantly stood back. What could Shael want? For her to drive all this way Kat could only think from past experience that it probably wouldn’t bode well for Kat. She couldn’t prevent herself from checking Shael’s car parked at the curb on the other side of the road, but she couldn’t see any sign of Tori.
“I came alone.” Shael grimaced. “Tori’s not with me if that’s what you’re concerned about.”
Kat made no comment as Shael stepped into the living room and looked around. “I thought Meggie said you didn’t have furniture.”
Kat shrugged. “I didn’t. In the beginning. Second-hand shops were handy.”
Shael frowned slightly. “You know if you want money you just have to ask. And you can have any of the furniture at home if you want it.”
“Thanks. But I’m fine. I’ll give it some thought though.” Kat bit her lip. “That’s not what you said before, when I moved out.”
Shael made an irritated movement with her hand. “Things were heated. The situation wasn’t ideal. We were angry.”
“Oh. As I seem to recall it, you were angry. I was—” Kat shook her head. What had she been? Stunned? Even though she suspected Shael was having an affair, yes, she’d been stunned. Disappointed? That, too. Disappointed that Shael had betrayed her yet again.
“Kat.” Shael took a step closer, smiled the smile that had first attracted Kat. “Let’s forget all that, put it behind us. We can’t live in the past. It’s not healthy.”
Where was all this heading? Kat knew Shael of old. She had to have an agenda. Otherwise why was she here? All Kat’s instincts told her to show Shael to the door, and she would have, if it hadn’t been for Meggie.
“How about some coffee?” Shael suggested easily. “I had a quick bite to eat before I left the hospital, but I didn’t stop for coffee.”
Kat paused again. She knew she should open some dialogue with Shael about the house and their shared assets, but all she really wanted was to discuss Meggie, and she knew she’d have to step cautiously there.
“I won’t bite, you know.”
Kat looked up in surprise to see Shael had stepped even closer to her.
“I never have, have I? Bitten you, I mean.” Shael gave a crooked smile. “Not unless you asked me to.”
Kat swallowed, her face coloring. Shael was obviously confusing her with one of her other women. “You know I’m not into that.” She had a sudden flash from last night of her nibbling tantalizing little bites downwards, over the smooth skin of Jess’s midriff, her stomach. And she gave a soft cough.
Shael laughed. “I know you weren’t. I was just teasing you. You always look so cute when you’re being oh-so-proper.”
“Shael, what do you want?”
“Megghan talks constantly about your renovations. I thought I’d come and see for myself.”
Kat didn’t believe that for a minute. Past experience had taught her that.
“So, it seems like the work’s well under way.” Shael looked up at the now uncovered pressed metal ceiling but made no comment about it. “Aren’t you going to show me around?”
Kat made no move to give her a grand tour but she reluctantly told her about the plans she had for the house.
“Impressive.” Shael moved across the room towards the breakfast bar. “I have to say it looks good so far. It will certainly add to the price of the place. So do I get coffee?” she asked, turning her best smile on for Kat.
Perhaps Shael had just come to check the house was a reasonable environment for Meggie. No matter what Kat thought of Shael regarding their relationship, she couldn’t deny Shael was a good mother to Meggie. Kat decided she could be misjudging Shael. She relaxed a little and went into the kitchen. “I’ve only got instant coffee,” she said as she set the kettle boiling.
“That will be fine.” Uninvited, Shael moved about the house. When she stood in the doorway of the bedroom and looked inside Kat tensed, her nerves and her emotions skittering about in a jumble of mixed sensations from the past and the present. She took a deep breath, not wanting to give Shael anything to hone in on about her life here and now. Kat knew Shael was a past master at relegating Kat’s life, her hopes, her dreams, to the inconsequential. Kat had no intentions of allowing Shael to negate her life now. Not her work on the house. And definitely not her feelings for Jess Andrews. Because she knew Shael was capable of doing just that with a word.
Yet, it hadn’t always been so. In the beginning they had been friends. In the beginning Kat would have told her about her growing love for transforming this old house. And she would have told her about the upheaval in her life finding out that Beth was her biological mother. But not now. “White. No sugar. Right?” she said as evenly as she could.
Shael rejoined her in the kitchen. “How could you forget?” she asked, her voice low.
Kat made no comment. She simply handed Shael her coffee before picking up her own cup and indicating that they return to the living room. She sat down in a chair and waited while Shael sat opposite her.
Shael took a sip of coffee. “Mmm. Just the way I like it. You always could make a great cup of coffee.”
Kat shrugged. “Anyone can pour hot water onto a spoonful of coffee granules,” she remarked dryly. That would be a point to me, she said to herself, watching Shael’s eyebrows rise in acknowledgment. However, the other woman made no comment.
“So how have you been?” Shael deftly changed the subject.
Kat looked across at her in surprise. Was Shael genuinely interested? And why now? “I’m fine,” she said carefully. Basically, I’m over you, Kat wanted to add, but what would be the point. It would only be more ammunition for Shael and as far as Kat was concerned, that particular war was over.
“So who’s this Jess Megghan can’t stop talking about?”
Ah, was this the point of Shael’s visit? If so, it begged the question why did Shael care. Kat pulled herself together. She was in a quandary trying to analyse everything Shael said. Was she reading far more into her questions and her motives? Shael had been the one who called off their relationship. It might just be innocent curiosity on Shael’s part. Yet the latter part of their relationship made it difficult for Kat not to consider underlying angles.
“Jess? She’s Miranda’s mother,” she said with as much composure as she could muster, considering just the mention of Jess’s name changed Kat’s entire focus. Her heart beat faster, rising in her throat. Her mouth went dry. Her lips softened anticipating Jess’s kiss. A spiral of wanting teased the pit of her stomach. And her fingers tingled just to have Jess there so she could reach out and touch her.
“Oh, yes. Miranda.” Shael nodded. “Megghan’s new friend.”
“She’s in the cricket team Meggie’s just joined. Jess is one of the co
aches.”
“And I spoke to her? When I was in Sydney. That was Jess?”
“Yes.” Kat nodded.
“So you met Miranda and Jess at cricket?”
“Well, no.” Kat could have bitten her tongue. Why did she have to be so candid? She should have left it at that. It was far too dangerous to discuss Jess with Shael. “She owns the company doing my house renovations,” Kat added quickly.
“I see.” Shael gave a knowing smile. “Don’t you just love a woman with power tools?”
“She doesn’t do the hands-on stuff.” Even as she said it Kat had a flash of memory from the night before, Jess’s hands moving on her body, and she felt herself flush. “She handles the office side of the business. Her husband and her cousin run the actual building section.”
“Oh.” Shael’s eyebrows shot up again. “She’s married then?”
Kat knew she should tell Shael that Jess and Mark were divorced, but this time she resisted the urge to comment.
“Well, you know what they say about married women. Far too complicated.”
“Shael, I don’t understand where this is going?” Kat decided she’d had enough of whatever game Shael was playing.
“I can’t simply just be concerned about you?” Shael appealed innocently.
“There’s no need for your concern. I told you I was fine and I am.”
Shael held Kat’s gaze and Kat made herself remain calm and outwardly relaxed. “You haven’t asked about me?” Shael said at last, momentarily disconcerting Kat, and she paused again before replying.
“Then how are you?” she asked at last.
“Not as fine as you are. Apparently,” Shael added wryly. She set her mug on the coffee table and stood up, crossed the room to stand gazing out the window. “Tori’s left me,” she said flatly.
“She has?” Kat stood up too. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Are you? Really, I mean?” Shael gave a soft laugh and turned to face Kat. “And you don’t want to say, I told you so?”
