Outback Thunder

by Harrison, Ann B.

  Holy shit. I'm ready to jump him here and now. What is wrong with me?

  The door opened and Lucy stood at the door, her eyes skittering between Zoe and the floor.

  "Um, do you mind if I come in for a minute?"

  "Yes I do."

  Lucy stepped in and let the door close behind her. She clasped her hands behind her back and took a few steps closer to stand at the foot of the bed. "I should have come to you sooner but the moment never seemed to be right."

  "It's not now, so I would prefer it if you hiked your ass out of my room."

  "No, I have to say this Zoe. That night you caught me in your special place with Jonas, well it wasn't what it looked like."

  "Really. It looked pretty fucking obvious to me. You half naked and he was wrapped around you with his tongue down your throat."

  "No, it wasn't like that honestly. I kind of ambushed him." Lucy glanced up at Zoe and then back down at her feet. She coughed before continuing. "I knew he was waiting for you, I overheard Brandon ribbing him about it. I was jealous, okay. So I thought I would make a move on him before you got there. You had everything." She laughed a bitter sound. "I never had anything like you did. Family who loved you, a steady boyfriend, I was so envious of you and I wanted to hate you but you were always too nice to me. But I figured if you found us together you would spit and I was right."

  "Why the hell would you want to do that?" Zoe held her hand to her head as the pain shot to her temple.

  "Can I do something for you, Zoe?" Lucy made a move to come closer to the bed.

  "You can fuck off out of my room as soon as you tell me why."

  "I fancied him, plain and simple. Sadly with you around I never stood a chance." She crossed her arms and laughed again. "When you two started having trouble I figured it was my chance to get him. He was getting ready for you, hence the bare chest. I didn't give him a chance to push me away, I just pounced on him. I'm sorry."

  "Get out."

  Lucy turned and left, closing the door behind her.

  The tears streamed down Zoe's cheeks unchecked. Ten years wasted and for what?

  A stupid prank. That evil little bitch has a lot to answer for.

  Zoe had refused to listen to Jonas's explanations. It had been easier to run, just as he had said. How could he forgive her for this, she couldn't forgive herself. She had robbed her daughter of her father and Jonas of the child he said he hadn't been ready for. Even so, that was no reason to leave him.

  How the fuck am I going to fix this?

  The door opened and she dropped her head but not quick enough.

  "Zoe, what is it? Are you in pain?" Jonas was at her side in seconds. She brushed him away and reached for a tissue. She blew her nose giving herself time to pull it together.

  "Yes and no. Delayed reaction I think. Take me home Jonas."

  "I've just dragged the doctor from his bed so you can at least give him the courtesy of waiting for him to discharge you. Besides a cup of tea in bed won't hurt you." Jonas tidied up the sheets and eased her back on the pillows before handing her a fresh tissue. "The tea trolley is just down the hall and will be here in a minute."

  He stroked a strand of hair from her face and gave a crooked grin. "You had everyone worried, Zoe bird. Brandon was beside himself."

  She shredded the tissue in her hands, stifling the guilt rising in her chest.

  Jonas was in the chair beside her holding her hand when Dr. Bob walked in.

  "Desperate to leave us, Zoe?"

  "Yeah, sorry. I have to get home, I hate hospitals. I'm pretty sure you understand," she said giving him what she hoped was a stable grin.

  "How is the head this morning?" he asked holding her wrist to take her pulse.

  "Sore but I kind of expected that."

  "You'll no doubt have a cracker of a headache for the next couple of days." He took a light and shone it in her eyes, checking her pupils. "You look as I would expect, Zoe." Dr. Bob stood back with a stern look on his face. "Okay, here's the deal. You can go home only if you rest up. Today I don't want you to leave the house at all. Lounge around, watch television and take it easy. For the next couple of days I don't want you on a horse or doing any manual work, understood? You will probably have a couple of woo woo episodes and might need help with getting around."

  Zoe opened her mouth to argue but Doc stopped her.

  He held up his hand and frowned. "Don't even try to argue Zoe. I know you and if you don't listen to me you will stay here another day. If you had your way you would be out rounding up cattle tomorrow so it's just as well Jonas is here to hear this. You've had a nasty knock to the head. You have to be careful or you will be back here, okay? A relapse is possible and you don't want to know the consequences of that."

  "Yes, sir." Zoe made eyes at Jonas beside her.

  "She will do as she's told. I'll make sure of that." Jonas looked at her with his eyebrow raised and a seductive smile playing on his lips.

  Zoe almost mewled out loud at the suggestive movement and averted her eyes before he saw the passion lurking there. She mentally kicked herself when he squeezed her hand.

  Bastard saw way too much.

  "I'll get the paperwork signed and you can go. Just remember what I said, Zoe." Dr. Bob gave a small wave and left them alone.

  "Finish your tea and I'll see if your clothes are clean." Jonas followed the doctor from the room.

  When he came back he held Zoe's washed and pressed work clothes in his hands.

  "How did you manage this?" she asked glad that the blood soaked shirt was now fresh and not dripping her blood.

  "I asked, Zoe. Now I'm under orders to help you dress in case you have what Dr. Bob calls a woo woo moment."

  "Sure, Jonas." She shook her head at him and clamped her thighs tight, her inner goddess leaping for joy, throwing rose petals on the bed sheets.

  "I'm serious. Dr. Bob said you weren't to attempt anything like dressing or showering yourself just yet otherwise he will keep you here. You heard him yourself." He grinned at the look of disbelief on her face. "You can call him back and check if you like but I assured him that I could cope with the job."

  "I just bet you did."

  Zoe hugged the mug of tea in her hands and willed her body to stop humming in joy. She had to keep her distance from Jonas until she could get it straight in her mind that he hadn't lied to her. Not staying and telling him she was pregnant was going to come back and bite her ass, she just knew it. She could tell herself he didn't want children but that wouldn't last for long. He was always one for doing the right thing and she knew that even though he wouldn't have been impressed by the news he was going to be a father, he would have stepped up and taken on the responsibility. It was just the way he was, even as a teenager.

  The guilt would rise and swallow her if she didn't sort it out in her own way. She had made the most monumental fuck up and she had no idea how she was going to fix it. For so long she had denied herself the love of this beautiful man because she hadn't trusted him enough. And Zoe knew she should have total faith in the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. She had been ready to bear his children but couldn't deal with what had really happened that night, what they had done to each other. Just goes to show that her mother was right, she hadn't been ready for marriage or motherhood.

  Such a pity she was so damned pig headed.

  "Do you want a shower here or do you want to wait until you get home?"

  "Home please."

  Because I won't be able to have my way with you here and I don't know if I can hold back even if I wanted too.

  ****

  Zoe looked at the sports car in horror. It was filthy and the front bumper had a dent in it with a big chip of paint missing where it had hit something on the way into town.

  "Oh no, Jonas. Your poor car, it’s trashed."

  "It's just a car Zoe, it can be fixed."

  "Yeah but still..."

  Jonas opened the door and nudged the orderly who
was openly ogling the expensive machine.

  "Uh, sorry."

  He took Zoe's arm and helped her into the seat standing back letting Jonas put on her seat belt. When Jonas shut the door and thanked the orderly, he had no option but to take the wheelchair back inside.

  "That was mean," Zoe said when he got in beside her.

  "No it wasn't." He turned the key starting the car and the deep purring of the engine shivered over her skin. She had time to look over the car she was scornful about now that she wasn't semi unconscious and dripping blood.

  "Pretty nice toy."

  "Yes it is."

  "Will you let me drive it?" Zoe pursed her lips, fighting to keep the smile from taking over.

  Jonas looked over at her and shook his head. Once he exited the hospital gates he put his foot down, and the force of the car pushed Zoe back into the seat.

  "Wow."

  "Yeah, wow. That is why you won't be driving the car."

  "I get you. Still, I think that you should let me have a go eventually. Before you move back to town anyway." Zoe held her breath and waited for him to say he wasn't going to leave the farm again.

  The silence filled the car and she turned to look out the window watching the countryside drift past. Swallowing her disappointment she kept quiet until they turned into the driveway.

  ****

  Slowing down to avoid the pot holes in the drive, Jonas pulled up at the house and got out before Zoe could open her door. He undid her belt and slipped his arm under her butt and behind her back, lifting her easily in his arms.

  Brandon appeared at the door and with a cry, ran down to open the gate.

  "Zoe, God you had us worried. How are you feeling this morning?"

  "Just a bit slow on it. Don't worry Bran, I'll be fine."

  Jonas carried her up the stairs and headed for her bedroom.

  "Wait. Can't I sit in the lounge or something?"

  He gazed down at her. "Don't you want a shower first?"

  He smiled at the tinge of red flushing up her cheeks. His body reacted and he shifted positions wishing that Brandon was anywhere but in the same room as them right now.

  "Maybe I could have one shortly. Can I sit for a bit with Brandon?"

  Her big eyes pleaded with him while her lips were saying something else. Confused Jonas turned and carried her into the lounge, placing her in a large comfortable recliner chair and pulling over a stool for her feet. "I'll be back in an hour. By then you will probably want a rest. The doctor told me that's how it works." He looked over at Brandon. "Don't let her do anything. Doctor’s orders. I'm going to put the car away and catch up with Pete and then I'll be back to help you, Zoe."

  He turned and left the room. The first thing he had to do was brush his teeth and pull on a clean shirt. The one he was wearing was spotted with her blood and looking at it made his stomach roll. The shower could wait until later when she was asleep. He threw the shirt in the wash basket and grabbed a clean shirt from his wardrobe and pulled it on.

  Jonas stood brushing his teeth contemplating how he was going to repair things with her. He had no intention of going back to the city but he was holding that information close to his chest for now. There were things he had to sort out if he wanted to run his corporations from the farm and until everything was tied up how he wanted it, it was best left unsaid.

  The cool water he splashed on his face woke him up strengthening his resolve and made him more aware of what was ahead of him. His head was clear and determined when he walked down to the farm office.

  "How is Zoe?" Pete asked before Jonas put one foot into the office.

  "She'll be fine if she takes it easy, which is going to be a battle in itself. You know what she's like Pete. Doc said rest for a few days and nothing doing by herself. She had concussion, not to be taken lightly."

  "Yeah well we all know how stubborn she is. You were always the only one who could make her see sense."

  "That was a lifetime ago."

  "Some things never change. What can I do for you?" The farm manager sat back in his chair and motioned for him to sit.

  "I just want to see how we are faring getting the numbers for the sale."

  "I had a look over the sheets when the boys finished up yesterday and we have all the cows we need but there aren't really any young bulls that I would like to put up for offer." Pete picked up the stats sheet and handed it over.

  "Yeah, I see what you mean," Jonas said scanning the list. "We have a bit of time though to sort it out. I'll go up and scout around once Zoe is alright to leave on her own and see what I can find, maybe tomorrow. I bet they are hiding behind the ridges just over from where we started."

  "Can you flush them out with the chopper?"

  "I don't see why not. I can at least find them and if they won't budge the boys can go out and bring them in. Shouldn't be too hard. If I can find them with the chopper, that's half the battle."

  He went over more figures with Pete and other farm work giving Zoe time to talk to her brother before he wandered back up to the house.

  Brandon met him at the door. "Do you mind keeping an eye on Zoe while I go into town?"

  "Sure, take your time. I have office stuff to do of my own so once she is in bed resting I can work in the house. Have fun." Jonas punched him playfully on the shoulder and walked into the lounge.

  "Ready, Zoe?"

  She looked up at him and then looked back at the floor but not before he had seen the light in her eyes. He knew what that meant.

  Smiling to himself, he slid his arm around her back and one under her knees and carried her to her room. He sat Zoe on the edge of her bed and walked into the bathroom. Reaching in, Jonas turned on the shower. When he walked out she was sitting where he had left her.

  "Chin up, kid."

  He knelt in front of her and undid the buttons on the shirt, brushing it off her shoulders and sliding it from her arms. "Stand up and hold onto me and let me know if you have a fuzzy moment."

  Zoe reached her arms out and slid them around his waist, pulling herself to her feet.

  She shivered when Jonas ran his hands around her back and undid her bra the movement sending his blood racing. Letting it drop over her shoulders, he slid it down her arms and she let her hands fall.

  She stood in front of him half-naked and it took all of his self control not to push her back amongst the pillows and suck on her pert nipples. Reaching down Jonas undid the button on her jeans. He knelt again and slid the pants down over her hips. Zoe held his shoulders and one foot at a time, stepped out of her jeans.

  He stood up and kept his gaze on hers as she slid her fingers under the elastic of her panties and shimmied them over her thighs. He took a deep breath and picked her up, carrying her to the bathroom. She kept her hands around his neck when he put her down by the shower.

  Pushing her back gently under the water he raised his eyebrow when she pulled him in too. "I don't think you're up for games now, honey."

  "Always ready to play, you should know that." She ran a wet finger over his cheek and then down the front of his shirt to pinch playfully at his taut nipple through the wet cotton.

  When he made no move to stop her, Zoe undid the buttons and pushed the wet shirt over his arms and dropped it on the floor of the shower. She leaned in and flicked her tongue over the hard nub of flesh, biting him hard enough to make him gasp.

  "I don't think this is a good idea Zoe."

  "Don't be such a killjoy. You know you want to."

  He bit his tongue and shook his head. She was right. He wanted nothing more than to press her against the wall and take her. He unbuckled his belt and pushed his jeans over his hips, kicking them out of the shower in a wet heap on the bathroom floor. His boxer shorts clung to his erection, leaving her in no doubt that he was ready to play.

  Jonas stood still while she slid her hand up his thigh and under the wet fabric to grab his cock. Squeezing the head gently she grinned at him.

  "Told you so."
/>
  "Yeah, you did but I think we might take this to bed just in case you get a bit fuzzy. I don't want to have to explain another concussion to Doc." Jonas flicked off the shower and picked her up in his arms. He carried her out to the bedroom and stood her beside the bed on her feet while he pulled back the bedcovers.

  Zoe lay back across the bed, her sexy smile making his blood race. She poked her finger in her mouth swirling her tongue around it, all the time her gaze fixed on his. Pulling the glistening finger out, she trailed it down to her nipple, tweaking and pulling at the rosy bud of flesh.

  He stood over her and watched, his cock jerking in anticipation. This was another one of her favorite games, to see how far she could tease him before he buckled and took her.

  Her fingers trailed down to the small thatch of blond hair at her thighs. Parting her legs she slid her fingers down to her clit, tickling and tweaking until her fingers glistened with her juices.

  His breath hitched when she sucked that finger into her mouth moaning and squirming in front of him. Jonas dropped to his knees and grabbed her legs pulling her to the edge of the bed. He buried his face in her moist pussy desperate for a taste. He flicked his tongue up and along the length of her opening before plunging deep inside.

  Zoe grabbed his hair, clenching her fingers through his locks holding his head in place. She arched up to his face encouraging him to keep going and thrust her hips higher. Her muscles clenched under his manipulation when she neared her climax. He brought one hand down to play with her clit while he sucked and plundered with as she lay beneath him..

  "God, Jonas, don't stop."

  Using his other hand he slid it under her butt and lifted her up to give him deeper access to her throbbing pussy. She let go of his hair and grabbed handfuls of bed sheet as she shuddered under him. Warmth gushed into his mouth and she writhed under him.

  Zoe collapsed back into the bed panting.

  Jonas looked down at her face, relaxed as a small smile curved her lips. He kissed her mound and made a moist trail up her belly to her nipples. Taking one into his mouth he sucked it, nipping with his teeth while his hand worked on her other one.

  He lifted his head and gazed into her eyes. "Are you alright?"