Cocky Carpenter: A Hero Club Novel

by Maggie Mundy

  He moved a hand inside her jacket and under her T-shirt so he could cup her breast. She was beautiful. Her nipple hardened and pushed through the fine material of her bra, driving him crazy. He ran his thumb back and forth, making her stiffen even more. Brett would get his mouth on them when he could. Damn, why was he stuck in the bush at a time like this? He needed more.

  There was a loud screech from the tree nearby and Autumn jumped. Something screeched again.

  “Oh my God. What was that?”

  “It’s a bunyip. Just kidding, it’s an owl. They tend to make a racket at night. He probably thinks we should get out of his backyard.”

  The moment was gone.

  Autumn shivered. It was getting cold now the sun had gone down. He hadn’t noticed while they were kissing. He rummaged through his bag to find the thermal blanket and covered them both in it.

  “Of course, getting naked and having skin-on-skin contact would keep us warm, but I don’t fancy the prickles,” Brett said.

  “I don’t want to get hypothermia, but I think we’ll keep our clothes on for now.” She laughed and then gasped. “Wow. Look at the stars.”

  The clouds had cleared and the sky was awash with stars. With no lights around them, the Milky Way shone in all its glory. He couldn’t see her face but she squeezed his hand and cuddled in.

  “I reckon it’s even better than the glowworms. Don’t you think?”

  “It is, but I’m wondering how are you going to top it.”

  “I don’t think I can, but I do have chocolate.”

  “Chocolate is good,” she said putting out her hand for some. “By the way, what the heck is a bunyip?”

  “It’s an imaginary Australian creature that lives in rivers, so you are okay, probably.”

  Autumn dug her elbow into him.

  The two of them sat there eating chocolate and staring at the night sky. He wasn’t sure how well they would sleep but for now, things were perfect.

  “Thanks for this. When life has gone wrong in the past, it hasn’t turned out well. Tonight has had a silver lining, just like you said it would.”

  “I hope that means the kiss as well as the stars?”

  “I can safely say I look forward to more when I don’t have sticks poking in my back and birds screeching overhead.”

  The two of them settled down for the night as she turned on her side and he cuddled up beside her. Autumn would have noticed the bulge in his pants pressing against her back but she didn’t move away. Things were turning out well. He could put all thoughts of Melbourne and family issues behind him while he devoted his time to making Autumn happy.

  Chapter Seven

  A magpie warbled nearby and then a kookaburra started to cackle. Autumn took a moment to work out where she was as she opened her eyes. Then it all came back. Her whole body ached and she was sure the ground beneath was tunneling into her hip.

  Two things were apparent at the moment. One being, the big body of Brett was spooning her and he had an erection pushing into her back. She might be uncomfortable, but the idea that she was turning him on made her smile. Then reality kicked in and he probably needed to pee, just like she did. She wriggled and he hugged her tighter.

  “I need to pee, Brett.”

  “I was just holding onto the moment of feeling your ass pressed against me. It was a great way to wake up.”

  “I noticed, plus your erection, which is hard to miss. Now I am going to relieve myself and hope a snake doesn’t bite my bottom when I do.”

  “The way you say bottom is so English. You even sound cute when talking about butts.”

  When she returned, Brett was up with the backpack on and the water bottle in his hand. There was a buzzing noise that sounded like a chain saw coming from a distance.

  “Have a drink of this and we can be on our way. I think the local forestry guys may have found the fallen branch blocking the path. We can head toward the sound and hopefully get out of here without falling off a cliff.”

  They walked along and she thought of reaching out and taking his hand. They had been physically close last night but that was to do with sex. To hold his hand casually would mean something else and she didn’t want to go there. Fun was what she required. The last thing she needed was a relationship. Her track record was terrible. It would be simpler this way.

  After about half an hour, they found the fallen tree branch and the men working on cutting it up. The smell of eucalyptus was strong. She closed her eyes and breathed in. It was beautiful and soothing despite the noise. A part of her was sad now they were back with humanity again. It had been fun to just be the two of them under the stars, and then there was that kiss. Her life had been missing something and that kiss was just what the doctor ordered. The world had seemed a million miles away.

  Brett stopped on the way home and bought them coffee and breakfast which she gobbled down with relish. As they drove back to the cottages, she wasn’t sure what to say about the next step in their arrangement. Maybe she would google how to deal with a fuck buddy when she got home.

  Brett smiled and glanced across at her. “Penny for your thoughts. You look a bit worried. Not taking back the offer you made last night, are you?”

  “No. I was just wondering where we go from here. Do I call you when I’m randy or shall we set up certain days of the week you can come around?”

  “Whoa. You really are looking at this as me servicing you, aren’t you?”

  “I’m sorry. I’ve never done this kind of thing before. I’m not sure of the etiquette.”

  “I don’t think there is any. I can assure you I’ll always be randy where you are concerned. You can let me know when you want me to come around by putting a shell from the collection on your front porch in my letterbox.”

  “I think it should be reciprocal, and you should put a pebble from your front path in mine. Of course, we could just text.” She laughed. “That said, the secret messages in the letterbox is cute.”

  “You know Dorothy will be watching and work us out. I swear, the birds in the garden talk to her about everyone’s goings-on. She’s like Doctor Doolittle.” Brett pulled up outside of the cottages and sure enough, Dorothy was out front and waved.

  “Well, I was thinking I might have a bath to ease my aches and pains.”

  “Can I join you? I mean, I was hoping that was what you were going to say next. I can give a good massage and help.”

  “I’d like that. Give me twenty minutes and come over. I’ll leave the back door open. That way Dorothy won’t see you.”

  The big smile on his face made her excited about what was to come.

  Autumn ran the bath and filled it with bubbles. Now the moment had arrived, she was nervous about him seeing her nude again. Yes, she had fallen in the bath and he had helped her out, but this was different. Also, the bubbles would hide her foot, or lack thereof. In this setting she could feel normal and sexy and complete for a while.

  She had left the latch off the door and hoped no one else decided to come into the house. Knowing her luck, Dorothy would want a cup of sugar.

  Autumn could not believe she was going to do this—just have casual sex with someone. In the past, she had always thought about finding “the one.” Well, that hadn’t worked out too well. Jonathan had been her one and everyone else’s too. There was no such thing as love. It was just chemical reactions in the body to certain stimuli. Sexual attraction and lust were things that could be tested, but the mythical thing called love—how could you prove it existed?

  The look in Simon’s eyes when he gazed at Bridget made her accept love was real though. It was just for other people—not her. Brett was an amazing kisser and if he was as good at everything else, she would have a fabulous time with him. No love was required.

  She had messed up at love when her figure had been normal and now, she couldn’t see a future with someone. Even with her body hidden under the bubbles, her disability would still be there in the room. She needed a chair beside the
bath and her prosthesis on the floor. She hoped Brett would not kick it across the room this time. He was such a big klutz sometimes, but adorable as well.

  Autumn settled in the bubbles and waited. She was just drifting off to sleep when she heard the back door close. Her heart thumped in her chest at the thought of this sexy man getting naked with her and making her scream with pleasure.

  He knocked on the door.

  “Come on in. The water’s fine,” she called out, and was amazed at her own ability to be calm right now. She had a feeling keeping the tone light was the only way she could go through with it.

  There he was—tall, handsome, and eager, she hoped.

  Brett stared at her in the bath from head to toe as if he was trying to use X-ray vision to see what lay beneath the suds. The look of lust in his eyes made her decidedly hot between the legs and it had nothing to do with the water temperature.

  “I promise you’re not going to regret this. You’ll never want to bathe on your own again,” he said.

  That sounded wonderful.

  He bent down and took off his boots, then pulled his T-shirt over his head. She had seen the bottom half of his chest when she had examined him, but now, his muscles were on display in all their glory. No wonder he had picked her up out of the bath so easily. Brett’s arms were huge from working the wood. His chest was powerful with a fine smattering of hair that led in a trail to the waistband of his jeans.

  Autumn bit her bottom lip as she stared at the bulge in his jeans. The poor guy would be cutting his circulation off soon if he didn’t get undressed.

  He winked at her as he flicked the button on his jeans and undid the zip. “Like what you see so far?”

  “I’m definitely appreciating the view, but I want to see more.”

  “I obey your every wish.”

  Autumn had never had a man say anything remotely like that before. It was wonderful to have this be so freeing and just about the sex. She didn’t have to worry about second-guessing his intentions. From his erection, it was clear what they were.

  Brett pushed his jeans and briefs down over his hips to the floor. She had seen him naked before but not erect. His physique was beautiful with a six-pack and the perfect V-shape leading her gaze down. He was impressive, and she clenched a bit inside at the thought of sex with him. Like most men, he didn’t seem at all embarrassed about being naked.

  “Sit forward and I’ll jump in behind you. I promised you a massage and I like to keep my promises.”

  She shuffled a bit. Brett settled in and the water rose but luckily did not spill over the edge. Autumn leaned slightly forward as he pulled her hair to the side. His firm hands started kneading away at the base of her neck and slowly worked their way down her spine. It hurt sometimes as he pressed with his thumbs but it was a good pain. There were years of stress trapped in her shoulders and she could not see how he would be able to get rid of it that quickly.

  “I think I’m going to have to do a lot of this. You’re like concrete back here.”

  It was not a very flattering description but probably an accurate one. “I am happy to take you up on as many massages as you want to give. I’ll have to think of something I can do for you in return.”

  “Trust me, there are lots of things you can do for me. All of them involve sex and all the different positions I can come up with.”

  “I think I am getting the better end of the deal here.”

  Brett’s hands went to the bottom of her spine and his thumbs worked their magic.

  “That is so good.”

  “It’s all that wobbling on one leg. It can’t be good for your back.”

  No one ever brought up her deformity. Well, apart from Simon. Brett casually dropped it in the conversation as if it meant nothing. She liked him for that. For so long, she had avoided the subject. “You really don’t care about my foot or lack thereof, do you?”

  “I think you have so many gorgeous parts to your body, I’m not going to worry about the bit that’s not there.”

  “Thank you. That means more than you can know.”

  “Well, now lean back as I find some other body parts to explore.”

  Autumn couldn’t help the giggle that escaped her. This guy made her happy. She could feel his erection pressing into her lower back and her mind was working overtime as she imagined what it would feel like to have him inside her. She lay her head on his chest and he bent down so he could kiss her neck. Last night he had done those little swirls with his tongue and he was doing it again just below her ear. She might be in hot water but it sent a shiver of delight through her.

  His arms were so big and strong that they wrapped around her with ease. It was as if he was holding her close in an embrace against the world and its worries. She was enjoying every moment of it. He pulled her toward him a bit more so her breasts were uncovered by the water.

  “Now that’s what I wanted to see. The bubbles were hiding these beauties.”

  His large hands gently cupped her breasts as he ran his thumbs back and forth across her nipples. Autumn gazed down to see the pink buds standing to attention. She had never known them to be so sensitive. As he continued to kiss her neck, he caressed her breasts. Her core ached more with each movement.

  “Tell me what you want me to do,” he whispered in her ear.

  “Lower.” It was the only word she could say.

  Brett didn’t need to be told twice and immediately followed her directions. His right hand slipped below the water and followed the curves of her body to her pussy. She let her legs fall apart so they rested against his. He touched her most sensitive areas and she gasped.

  “Let me know exactly how you like it?”

  To be with a man who wanted to make her fulfilled turned her on more than his touch did. She had a feeling Brett could become an addiction she would not want to give up.

  He filled her with his fingers as he flicked her clitoris until she could not hold back any longer. Autumn gripped his legs as her orgasm spread through her body.

  “That’s it, Autumn. Come for me. Let me hear you enjoy it.” Slowly, he moved his fingers inside of her as she throbbed.

  When she calmed, Autumn lay her head back against his chest. She wanted to say, “thank you,” but it didn’t seem enough. He was chipping away at her reserve, and she needed to stop herself from saying more than she should.

  Eventually, he moved his hands and embraced her.

  “I think I could get used to that,” she said and shivered. The water now only lukewarm.

  “I think it’s time we get out and I take you to bed, or I’ll be living with a boner all afternoon.”

  Autumn leaned forward and he jumped out, dried off, and wrapped a towel around himself. She pulled the plug and took a deep breath. He would see her stump on her left leg. It was just easier to get out when there was no water. Autumn grabbed the edges of the bath and lifted herself forward onto one knee. She would normally struggle to get over the side and sit on the chair.

  This time she didn’t need to as Brett scooped her up and sat her on the towel on the chair. “I think I’ll put some handrails in to help you,” he said and pecked her on the cheek. “I’m sorry I didn’t put a separate shower in, the room’s big enough for one. I also see you’ve bought a new shower curtain. I need to give you money for that.”

  “There’s no need for a new shower other than this one, but I wouldn’t mind the handrails.” She wrapped the bath sheet around herself and dried off. It meant so much to her that he thought about what she needed.

  Yelping and barking sounded from next door. It had to be Bluey.

  “Okay, come here, lovely lady.” Brett carried her to the bedroom and laid her on the bed. “I’ll chuck my jeans on and go check him out. He likes to chase and attack the snakes. Costs me a bloody fortune at the vet.”

  “Could you bring back my prosthesis or my crutches? There was no way she wanted to be left there if he was stuck with his dog.

  He came back, ki
ssed her on the lips, and headed off. Bluey was such a sweetie of a dog, she hoped he would be alright. She grabbed her bathrobe and wrapped it around herself. Her phone pinged with a text from Brett.

  Brett: Bluey has had a snake bite and I’m taking him to the vets.

  Autumn: Let me know how he is?

  Now what would she do? She sat on the edge of the bed but didn’t want to sleep. Her body was too keyed up. She read for a bit and then did some more work on her research project and presentation. Autumn needed to talk to someone about the decision she had made about Brett so she Skyped Simon. He replied and looked relaxed in a T-shirt and sweats. She missed her friend.

  “I’m going to have to get a you a giant world clock. You always call at crazy times. The twins never seem to get the idea of sleeping at the right time either. That aside, how are you going?” Simon asked.

  Autumn could not hold it in any longer. “I am good. Incredible actually. I’ve met someone, Simon. He’s my neighbor, and I might be getting close to him.”

  Simon would realize how big an issue this was. It wasn’t necessary, but she felt as if she required his approval.

  “Yes! I knew Australia would be good for you. Sometimes you have to take that chance and do something you never thought you would. I hope you have lots of fun getting your rocks off with him.” Simon gave her a thumbs up. “By the way, we will definitely be visiting in July. I hope we get to meet him.”

  “I hope so too. You’ll have to play nice, though.”

  “I always do. I’ll send you the dates for our trip. Don’t hate me, but the girls are staying with Bridget’s mom. We thought it would be too much.”

  Autumn pouted. “I understand. I’ll just have to come and see you one day instead.”

  The two of them chatted on about the upcoming conference and then she started to yawn. The Skype ended with Simon, and she glanced to the door. Still no sexy neighbor. She’d had a great morning with him so Autumn couldn’t complain. This arrangement with Brett would work, as long as Bluey did not get in the way.