Summer Fling

by Serenity Woods

  Wouldn’t she? He slowed his pace. She may turn him down. But life was too short for ifs and buts. He took risks for a living, and he’d trained himself to live a day at a time since his incarceration. Better to regret doing something than to regret not doing it.

  He stopped walking and stood for a moment, hands on hips, looking down at the sand. Then he turned around to stare at her. She stood on the deck, gazing at the sea, an expression of such sadness on her face that his heart immediately went out to her. Without another thought, he walked back along the sand, trying to ignore Stella’s delighted expression and Mat’s triumphant grin.

  As he neared the deck, Chloe caught sight of him out of the corner of her eye and turned. Surprise registered in her eyes, and then hope, and his heart beat faster.

  He slowed, paused at the base of the steps, and studied his keys for a moment before he looked up at her. He cleared his throat. “It just occurred to me, I’ll be going through Paihia. If you want to leave earlier than Stella, do you want a lift back?”

  Like the sun coming out, she smiled, and it lit up her face. “That would be lovely.” She turned to Stella. “Is it okay with you?”

  “Of course. I’ll sort the tent out. You get going.”

  “Okay. See you back home later.”

  The two girls hugged, and Chloe ran lightly down the steps. She kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you.”

  “You’re very welcome.”

  Was he doing the right thing? He supposed he should have been nervous about extending their one-night stand. But as they got in the car and he drove away, the main emotion spiraling inside him was excitement.

  ***

  The couple of hours it took to travel back to Paihia were possibly the nicest Chloe had ever spent. Garth was relaxed and funny, flirting openly with her, so light of spirit she forgot for a while what terrible things he’d undergone and what a shadow they’d cast over him. Most of the time he held her hand, squeezing occasionally as the mood took him, every touch sending little shivers shooting up her spine. But the look in his eyes warmed her even more than his touch.

  As they took the turnoff for Paihia, though, she realized it wouldn’t be long until they reached her house, and her jovial mood faded.

  “What’s up?” he asked.

  “You’re reading my mood now?” she teased, surprised he’d noticed.

  “You’re easy to read. You wear your heart on your sleeve.”

  Was that so? Could he read everything going through her head, then? She looked out of the window to hide her disappointment that the trip was coming to an end. It was important to her that she didn’t pressure him. Whether it was to do with the way her mother had whined to her boyfriends about their next date, or the fact that he treasured his freedom, she wasn’t sure. But she didn’t want to make him feel obliged to ask to see her again.

  “Nearly there,” he said.

  “Yep.”

  He cleared his throat. “What are you doing this afternoon? Are you going to Waitangi for the celebrations?”

  Her heart leaped, but she kept a firm hold on it, not sure where this was leading. Maybe he was just making polite conversation. “No, not this year. You?”

  “Me and crowds?”

  She laughed. “Oh yeah. Forgot about that.” She waited, but he didn’t add anything more. When she glanced across at him, he was frowning, concentrating on the road, so she turned her gaze back out the window at the flash of the river through the trees.

  They remained quiet until they reached the turnoff for Waitangi, and Garth steered the car around the roundabout toward Paihia town center. As they drove along the road, the bay glistening on their left, he indicated and pulled into one of the parking spaces by the beach. He kept the engine running, but turned toward her.

  “What’s up?” she asked, startled. Was he going to ask her to get out of the car?

  He unclipped his seatbelt and lifted his sunglasses onto the top of his head.

  Chloe’s heart thudded. His eyes were troubled, but also intense, and the last time she’d seen them like that had been on the beach, before he kissed her.

  Clearly, he had something similar in mind now. He stroked up her arm, all the way to her shoulder, his lips curving as she shivered in response. Then he slipped his hand to the nape of her neck and leaned across to kiss her.

  He brushed her lips with his tongue, then swept it into her mouth as she opened it. Her breasts tingled in response and her nipples tightened, and she reached up a hand to slip her fingers into his hair. His arms tightened around her, and she relaxed into the embrace, content to let him kiss her for as long as he wanted.

  After a while, he pulled back and looked down at her, eyes gentle as he stroked her cheek.

  “What was that for?” she asked, breathless.

  “Just checking.” He smiled then. “Would you like to come to lunch? Orion wants to meet you.”

  Delight welled inside her. “I’d love to.”

  “Come on then.” He fastened his seatbelt. “I’m hoping you like dogs. He can be a bit boisterous sometimes. He’s a boxer.”

  “I love dogs. And boxers are beautiful.”

  “Don’t tell him to his face—it’ll only give him a big head.”

  She laughed and joy surged through her at the thought of spending some more time with him.

  He drove into Paihia along the seafront with its shops and restaurants, then left the town behind and took the coastal route toward Opua. They chatted as they drove, buoyed by the beautiful weather and the prospect of additional time together. At one point she offered him a chocolate from the box in her bag. He shook his head with a smile, and she shrugged and ate one herself.

  When they reached the small town, Garth turned off and headed the car along a drive to a house perched on the edge of the hill over the bay. He pulled up on a large piece of tarmac at the back of the house behind a small convertible, and Chloe got out, eyes wide at the size and beauty of the house.

  “Wow.”

  “I know. I decided I needed a place I could feel comfortable in, first and foremost—and that means space. It’s the only thing I’ve spent any money on really, apart from Sky High.”

  She followed him to the door. He opened it with his key and a brindle bullet shot at his chest at a million miles an hour.

  “Careful, crazy.” He pushed the dog down and crouched to give him a hug and stroke his ears. “You nearly knocked me over.”

  “This must be Orion.” Chloe smiled and held out her hand to the boxer. He came over immediately, eager and curious to explore this new person to his master’s house.

  “Friend,” Garth said, and put his hand on Chloe’s. “Be nice now.”

  Chloe let Orion sniff her hands then stroked his head and scratched his ear as she’d watched Garth do.

  “Oh, you’ll be his friend for life if you carry on like that.”

  “Does the same thing work on his master?”

  His lips curved and his eyes grew hot, but before he could answer, a guy appeared in the doorway and looked at Chloe with interest.

  “Kia ora,” he said.

  “Kia ora,” she replied shyly. The man was probably the same age as Garth, she thought, blushing at his amused stare.

  She didn’t miss Garth’s warning look to him as he said, “Hey, Tim. This is Chloe. She’s come back for some lunch.”

  “Ah,” Tim said. “So you do exist.”

  “He told you about me?” Pleasure surged through her.

  “Oh, yes.” Tim came forward to shake Chloe’s hand. “Lovely to meet you.”

  “Everything all right?” Garth asked.

  “Yeah, cool. Orion ate, like, six bowls of dog food in the space of about an hour.”

  Garth rolled his eyes. “I told you, one only.”

  “He pleaded with me. He told me you’ve been starving him.”

  “Yeah, he looks half starved.” Chloe patted the boxer’s round stomach.

  Garth laughed. “You want to sta
y for lunch?” he asked Tim.

  “Nah, I’ll be off. Going over to Waitangi for a party.” Tim studied them both mischievously. “Did you have a good time yesterday?”

  “Yes, thanks.” Garth grinned. “I actually socialized.”

  Tim smiled. “Glad to hear it. Enjoy your afternoon. I’m off to get plastered. Nice to meet you, Chloe.”

  Garth let Orion run past him into the house, gesturing for Chloe to follow him. She waved goodbye to Tim as he got in his car, excitement and nervous anticipation threading through her at the thought that now she was alone in the house with Garth, bar the dog of course.

  She followed him in, through a large hallway that opened up into a huge, open-plan kitchen and living room, the whole front of the house made of windows that offered a splendid view over the bay.

  “Wow.” She stepped down from the kitchen area to the living room and crossed to the far side. Tim had left the sliding doors open, and she walked out onto the large deck to lean on the waist-high railing. “This is just beautiful.”

  Garth leaned next to her, and they looked at the curve of the harbor below them, the Pacific Ocean glittering blue in the sun.

  “I fell in love with it as soon as I walked in,” he said.

  She turned around and studied the polished kauri wood floors, the minimalist furniture, all of which conspired to give the place an atmosphere of light and space. “It’s perfect for you. It must make you feel free.”

  “Like you, Chloe Jackson.” And then he pulled her to him, and his lips were on hers, and he was kissing her so soundly, she didn’t have a chance to say anything else.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave herself up to the kiss. He rested one hand on her butt and pulled her hard against his hips, aroused and very ready for her.

  She pushed on his chest and looked up at him, dazzled by the speed and depth of his passion. “Garth, I… I shouldn’t.”

  He blinked, frowned with disappointment, and ran a hand through his hair. “Oh, Christ, I’m sorry, I thought…” He looked embarrassed.

  Chloe laughed. “No, I didn’t mean I don’t want to, only that I usually shower in the morning and I feel all sticky and salty and yucky.” She looked over her shoulder toward where she could see a bedroom at one end of the house. “I wonder if I could take a quick shower?”

  He studied her. Gradually, a smile spread over his face. “I’ve got a better idea than that.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Taking her hand, Garth led her through the house and into his bedroom. He left Orion outside in the kitchen and told him to go lie on his bed, then closed the door.

  She paused to look up at the ceiling. “Oh lord.”

  “I know.” A huge skylight above the bed meant that when he lay there, he could look up at night at the stars.

  She glanced at him. “Freedom.”

  He nodded, and his throat tightened at the thought that she understood him so well. He hadn’t spoken to anyone about how he felt since he returned to New Zealand, not his family, not even Mat, who knew most of what had happened, but not so much how he felt about it.

  Her sky blue eyes looked down, and a flush appeared in her cheeks as he ran his gaze along her body, taking in the soft curves of her breasts and waist, the long, pale length of her thighs. He wanted her, badly, and he wasn’t prepared to wait much longer.

  Saying nothing more, taking her hand again, he led her into the bathroom, opened the shower door, and switched it on. Leaving the water to heat up, he turned back to her and grasped the bottom of her cotton dress in both hands. Fixing her with his hot stare, he waited until she raised her arms obediently, and then he drew the dress up her body, dropping it on the floor.

  He stripped off his own T-shirt, then his swim shorts as she removed her bikini bottoms, and finally they stood there naked, facing each other in front of the large mirror that was slowly beginning to steam up.

  Moving closer, he rested his hands on her hips. The peaks of her firm breasts were swollen and soft as dusky pink velvet. Keeping her gaze locked to his, he brushed them with his thumbs. Her lips parted, and then as he squeezed her nipples gently, her eyes closed and a sigh escaped her lips. The velvet tips tightened to firm buttons in his fingers, and he hardened in response.

  He kissed her, and then he opened the bathroom cupboard and took out the box of condoms he’d bought when he returned from Afghanistan, before he’d found out his wife had left him for another man. He pushed that thought to the back of his mind, unwrapped the box, and took out a condom.

  After removing the clip from her hair, he took her hand and led her into the shower. Closing the shower door, he moved her under the spray. She tipped her head back and led the warm water soak her hair, arching her back automatically as she did so, her breasts lifting toward him. Garth swallowed. This woman severely tested his self-control.

  He poured shampoo into his hand, smoothed it onto her hair, and massaged it in, enjoying the feel of the silky locks. Then he turned her head under the water and let the spray rinse the golden strands clean.

  She did the same to him, washing his short hair, and he closed his eyes as she massaged his scalp, her fingers firm and slow. He rinsed his hair, then got the bottle of shower gel and squeezed some onto his hands.

  Chloe leaned back against the tiles, looking up at him with wide eyes, and he smiled wickedly. Her body gleamed like cream-colored porcelain, glazed and shining. He was going to enjoy this. He wanted to arouse her slowly, languorously, torturing her until she begged him to take her. Mine. The word flooded his brain, and the possessiveness that accompanied it surprised him. He might not be her first, but he damn well wanted to be her last. He didn’t ever want another man touching her like this.

  But he wouldn’t think about that now. He had to concentrate on the moment. The slide of the water over their hot bodies, the sensual silkiness of her skin under his fingertips, the spicy smell of the gel as he rubbed it over her body, the taste of her as he kissed her. She plunged her tongue into his mouth, and he tasted cherries and the creamy warmth of cocoa. He’d never be able to eat chocolate again without thinking of Chloe.

  He smoothed the lather over her arms and down to her hands, back up again, and over her body. He circled her breasts, his hand gliding over wet skin. After squeezing more gel onto his fingers, he lathered them and slid his hands over her back and down to her butt as he kissed her. The warm water poured over their chests while his tongue played with hers. He was desperate to be inside her, but he waited as long as he could, wanting to enjoy the moment.

  He trailed his fingers across her stomach and smiled as it quivered under his touch. Then he rubbed some of the lather into her pubic hair, circling his fingers. Her mouth opened beneath his as he brushed his fingers downward, and he nipped at her bottom lip as he teased her with small strokes, eliciting tiny gasps from her. He smiled and slid his fingers deeper into her.

  He groaned as he found her swollen, the folds of her skin slippery with her moisture, and hot desire flooded through him, turning him hard as a rock. He stroked her slowly, enjoying the way her eyes fluttered shut and her breathing grew erratic, and when he bent his head and took one of her nipples into his mouth, she cried out, her hands tightening in his wet hair as he sucked.

  It was no good—as much as he wanted to draw this out, he couldn’t wait any longer. He lifted his head and reached for the condom he’d left on the shelf, tore off the wrapper, and rolled it on. Then he turned her around. She placed her hands on the tiles and he moved back, bringing her with him so she bent at the waist. He slid a hand to the inside of her thigh, pushing gently to indicate he wanted her to spread her legs. She did so, breathing quickly, her pulse rapid in her throat.

  He moved his erection beneath her, held her hips, and gave short shallow thrusts for a while, stroking the tip along her swollen sex, arousing them both until she begged him, “Garth, please.”

  Hot with desire, he guided himself underneath until his tip push into her so
ft folds, and she tilted her hips. He glided straight into her and groaned, digging his fingers in her skin. Holding her tightly, he waited for her to adjust before he started to give long, slow thrusts.

  Her hands tightened into fists. “Oh, Garth.”

  “Is that nice, sweetheart?” He placed a hand on the tiles next to hers and leaned forward to slip his other hand over her breasts, then down between her legs, where he stroked her, thrusting inside her all the while.

  Her head fell forward, and she turned it slightly toward him. She bit her lovely, plump bottom lip, her eyes closed with pleasure. “Oh, that’s fantastic. Don’t stop.”

  “There’s not much chance of that.” Lust fired through him at how turned on she was. He kissed up her wet shoulder. Her pulse raced beneath his tongue, and he sucked hard in the crook of her neck, teeth grazing.

  “Ow!” In spite of her protest, she moaned and turned soft and liquid around him, and he closed his eyes as he slid easily into her welcoming flesh.

  Her long sighs and moans were driving him crazy. He moved his hand up to squeeze her nipples, dropping it again to rub the small button between her legs that obviously turned her on.

  “Yes…” She widened her legs more and pushed her hips against him, and he brought his other hand down to hold her hip as he plunged repeatedly inside her. She gasped. “Oh God, yes, don’t stop.”

  His voice came out hoarse. “Couldn’t if you wanted me to.” The hot water and her silky skin only added to his enjoyment of the position.

  “Harder,” she begged, and he lost it and deepened his thrusts. The wet slap of his body against hers was so erotic he had to grit his teeth to hang onto his control. She caught her breath, and then she cried out, clamping around him. He thrust even harder, the tightness of her muscles bringing him right to the edge of his climax. Holding on long enough to enjoy her cries and the shiver of her body against his, he finally erupted into her. Shuddering, he spilled inside her in short, jerky thrusts, until he was empty and exhausted, sated and happy.

  He leaned on the tiles, waiting for his heartbeat to slow before he withdrew from her, and she cried out as he did so, her legs trembling.