Cocky Carpenter: A Hero Club Novel

by Maggie Mundy

  “I’ll do some salad. And the rest sounds wonderful but I think I need a repeat performance in case I missed anything.”

  Brett kissed her as he held her body against him. If he didn’t let go, he would have her up against the wall and that was not the way he wanted their first time to be. Maybe their second or third, he thought. He planned on having sex with her every which way he could.

  His work around the place was done and he’d marinated some steak for them. He had a bottle of red and a sick dog. Bluey had better stay on his big beanbag and sleep all night if he knew what was good for him. Otherwise, Brett might be the cause of his pet ending up back at the vet’s.

  Brett knocked on the door and Autumn answered it and beckoned for him to follow her inside. “I was just going to Skype my friend in the States again when I realized it’s one-thirty in the morning. He’s always saying I call at the wrong time. So, I’ll do it when I get up tomorrow. He texted me earlier about the dates when they’ll be over. I’m so excited and I’d like you to meet them.”

  Brett plopped Bluey’s beanbag in the main room and the dog lay down. He headed out the back of the cottage to light the barbecue. Autumn came out a moment later with two glasses of wine.

  “So, who are these friends? Can I ask?”

  “It’s a fellow doctor I trained with called Simon and his partner and her little boy. They have twin girls too but they’re toddlers so they will be staying with their nan in the States. They visited me in London and talked about coming here but I never thought they actually would. Australia is so far away from everything.”

  How would he fit in with the technical conversations? Oh well. Autumn wanted his company for his prowess in the bedroom not his mind. He was not going to complain. He didn’t feel less around her but was not so sure about the visitors. “So, when are you expecting them?”

  “Simon has applied to go to another conference in Sydney a few days after mine in July. He’s a surgeon. I never wanted to go down that track. I like dealing with people on a long-term basis. Also, it scared the crap out of me, cutting into someone’s flesh.”

  “A squeamish doctor. I didn’t think there was such a thing.”

  “I can stitch someone up if I have to, but the paper I’m doing is on asthma. That is more my cup of tea.”

  “Well, if you need a cheer squad to yell and applaud you at the end of your talk, I’ll be there.”

  “That is very kind of you.”

  The steak was cooked and they headed back inside. Bluey came over to the table and sat, expecting some steak, but he was on a light diet so that was not happening.

  “You’ll get over it, boy. Plus, I don’t want to clean up if you’re sick.”

  Bluey moved to the other side of the table to see if he would have better luck with Autumn. When it didn’t work, he skulked back to his beanbag.

  “I know you will be busy most of the week, but like I promised, I want to take you to see more of the local attractions.”

  “As long as we don’t get lost again.”

  “As you said yourself, there was a silver lining as you got to spend a whole night with me.”

  They finished eating and he would have headed straight to bed, even though it was early, but Autumn wanted to watch a show that she had been downloading. It was funny, but he sensed she was delaying things. Had he said something to make her change her mind? He didn’t think so. Maybe it was hearing from her friends. The two of them had been living in a bubble since he’d got back from Melbourne.

  The show finished and he let Bluey out to relieve himself. “I promise if he makes a mess, I’ll come around with the pooper scooper in the morning.”

  When he had settled Bluey down for the night, he wandered to the bedroom and found Autumn perched on the edge of the bed. He sat beside her and took her hand. “What’s going on here? You know we don’t have to do anything.”

  Autumn turned to him and gave him a peck on the lips. Did he take that to mean things were okay?

  “I got a little panicky today. For so long back home, I did nothing but go to work and come home. Then I made the decision to come here, which was huge, and within weeks I have decided to have a friends-with-benefits relationship with someone I have just met.”

  “Well, when you put it that way, I can understand you feeling nervous. Tell me what I can do to help.”

  “I’m not going back to locking myself away from everyone again. I want to have sex with you tonight. If it’s mind-blowing that would be even better.” She smirked self-consciously.

  “I think I can accommodate, but I want to ask something. Why did you lock yourself away? If you don’t want to answer then tell me to get lost.” If they were going to be getting jiggy on a regular basis, stuff would come out. He didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable.

  She took a deep breath. “I was a social butterfly before I got married. I went out to parties when I wasn’t studying. Then I met Jonathan. I didn’t notice a change after we were married, I guess because I was either busy at the hospital or at home writing papers. Doctors work hard, especially in the early years. When the marriage ended, I believed I had caused it in some way.”

  “That is bullshit. He just didn’t realize what he had. I would’ve been knocking off early.”

  “That is lovely of you to say that. After we broke up, it took a bit of time but I got back out there and was starting to dip my toe in the dating waters again.” She clammed up.

  He could sense this was the real issue that was affecting her.

  “I was leaving work one night and someone drove into my car.” She gripped his hand. “The driver worked at the hospital too. I lost my foot, as you know. Then he became a friend and helped me through it. When I started to feel better, he got strange because I didn’t need him as much. I ended up taking out a restraining order against him.” Tears started to fall down her cheeks.

  It looked to him as if a floodgate had been opened. Brett put his arm around her. This amazing woman deserved so much and he planned on making their time together special. “I’m here and you are safe. Do you believe me?”

  Autumn nodded as she wiped the tears away and blew her nose loudly. Even with a blotchy face she was cute.

  “Now I plan on undressing you and adoring your body.” Brett knelt in front of her and took her good foot in his hand and removed her shoe. He then took off the shoe on her prosthesis.

  Dear God, he hoped he wasn’t going to upset her. Brett reached up to her waist and undid the button and zip on her jeans and pulled out her T-shirt. Leaning forward, he traced kisses around her waist. Her hands went to his head, delicately touching his scalp in a way that sent shivers through him. This night would end well or he was going to lose a tenant, a friend and lover.

  “Lift that sexy butt of yours.”

  Autumn raised an eyebrow but lifted her cute ass up so he could pull her jeans off. He sat and pulled off his T-shirt. He would be naked and defenseless before her if it made her feel better. She removed her top and then put her hands behind her back and undid her bra twirling it about on her finger and then threw it across the room.

  Brett raised an eyebrow. Okay, where did that come from? Not that I am complaining.

  He leaned forward and took her right nipple in his mouth and sucked and nipped. Her body drove him insane.

  He eventually moved away from her breasts. It was one of the hardest things he had ever done. When he sat back at her feet, she frowned at him. It was his time to take a deep breath.

  Brett ran his hands down her legs and stopped at her prosthesis then he looked up. “Tell me what to do. I want to take it off. I want you naked and with me completely.”

  “This is so weird. I’ve never spoken about it since learning how to do it myself. Okay, there’s a release button.”

  She showed him where the button was and he pressed it and removed the prosthesis. It revealed a thick sleeve covering the stump.

  “You remove this by pulling it back and the same with the
soft material sock.”

  Her skin was revealed. He ran his thumb over the scar. His heart went out to her because of the pain she must have experienced. “I can’t change the things that happened to you in the past, but I can reassure you that this makes no difference to the way I see you as a beautiful woman.” Her eyes were watering. He didn’t want to make her cry.

  “Thank you. It took me a while after it happened, but I like to think I’m still me and not seen for my disability.”

  Brett stood, scooped her up in his arms, and lay her on the bed. Within seconds, he had removed his remaining clothes and was lying beside her.

  “We need to talk about something else as well. I have condoms and if you want, I am happy to cover myself. I want you to know my tests came back clean and I haven’t been with anyone else.”

  “I’m happy to go without as long as things don’t change. I also have a Mirena device in so I won’t get pregnant. Thank you for raising it.”

  This was definitely a different relationship to anything he had experienced in the past, it felt almost clinical, but he would do what he had to, to make it work

  Brett ran a finger from her lips to her chin and down her body until his hand cupped her mound. His hand slid between her legs and he could feel the heat coming from her pussy. The silky panties were wet already.

  “You can have no idea how it turns me on that you are hot and wet for me.”

  “It’s the same for me when I see you hard. I like that I’m doing that to you.”

  “You mean putting me through agony because my dog keeps getting in the way of us being together in the sack?”

  “Well, let’s hope we can put you out of your misery now.”

  Chapter Nine

  Autumn’s heart swelled. She had thought she had closed it up so tight no one would get in and hurt her again. She had asked for a sexual relationship with her head, but her heart was singing a completely different song.

  The way he looked at her with pure lust in his eyes as he touched her body sent her over the edge. It had been so long since anyone had looked at her like that—like a desirable woman.

  Brett bent and kissed her and as before, the world around her faded away. There was only him igniting the passion in her. His kisses trailed to her breasts where he tugged at her nipple with one hand and sucked and swirled his tongue around the other. The whole night could pass and she would not know as she was living in the moment for once.

  Brett stopped and moved from between her legs so he could ease her panties down. She lay back and closed her eyes as he kissed her groin and then worked across to her clitoris and labia. This man’s tongue and fingers were magic. When he moved up, she could feel his cock push into her. Autumn wrapped her legs around his hips so he could push deeper. She wanted all of him. She had never felt like this before and wanted to be consumed by the sensations spreading through her body as he moved slowly back and forth.

  He kissed her passionately, his tongue fighting with hers. Brett moved his hand between them and massaged her sensitive nub until the vibrations built. The sensation started to waft over her as she screamed her release. Still, he kept moving, and she orgasmed again. This time he slowed while she pulsed around him.

  Brett pushed her fringe back and kissed her forehead, then looked her in the eyes. “Your orgasm is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever heard, and I want to hear it again. Are you ready?”

  Autumn nodded. She couldn’t speak.

  Brett started to move again but this time with more force. He pulled back and thrust harder. Her hips moved up to his and he flicked her clitoris. Harder and faster, he plunged into her until her orgasm grew once more. Autumn gripped his shoulders as her body trembled. Brett wasn’t far behind her as he shuddered and grunted his release.

  Brett lay quietly on her as she ran her fingers up and down his spine. This man’s body was wonderful and she had never felt so satisfied.

  When he eventually rolled off, he picked up her hand and kissed it. She sighed with contentment. Autumn wanted to say thank you but the words seemed so inadequate. Not just for the sex but for the things he had said, and the way he had gazed at her. She felt like a complete woman again for the first time in years.

  Autumn turned to him.

  “You are one amazing lady.”

  “You’re not so bad yourself, kind sir.”

  “So, what’s the deal with the fuck buddy thing? Do I get sent home now I have done the deed?”

  “I think you should stay till morning. I wouldn’t want to disturb Bluey. I like the idea of you staying most nights, to be honest.”

  “I like that idea too. I’ll go and check on the little rascal.”

  Brett wandered naked to the other room and Autumn was glad the curtains were closed. Dorothy would have gotten an eyeful if the lights had been on and he’d been walking around like that. He strolled back in and settled into the bed beside her. They didn’t whisper sweet nothings as that was not what this was about. She had no idea where this relationship might end up but she was enjoying where it had started.

  Brett cuddled up to her back and wrapped his arm around her. It would be lovely to wake up every day for the rest of the year like this.

  A bark from the other room woke her. Bluey had stayed overnight, along with his owner. The sex was amazing. Autumn glanced across, and Brett was just starting to wake. And she admired his gorgeous body. She was tempted to run her hands over his chest. He grinned and Autumn blew him a kiss. She grabbed her nightie and pulled it on, and then got her crutches and went out to see how the silly mutt was doing. He probably needed to pee and so did she.

  Bluey ran over and licked her. He seemed almost back to his normal self. Autumn opened the door and let him outside. When she came back from the bathroom, Brett was there in his briefs. It was a crime for a guy to have a body that buff.

  “I’ll make some coffee if you want?” Autumn offered. “I want to try calling Simon in the States.”

  Brett sauntered across and put his arms around her waist. “Before you do that, I want to tell you that you’re a fucking incredible woman. You better be leaving that shell in the postbox a lot or I’ll be begging at the front door, and we wouldn’t want to gain Dorothy’s attention.”

  “Knowing her, the fact you’ve stayed here is traveling around the neighborhood by text message as we speak.”

  Brett smirked and kissed her. She would have been happy to go back to bed but Bluey, however, was scratching on the door.

  Brett shook his head. “That darn dog again. If he was a cat, he would have used up most of his nine lives in the past two days. I’ll let him in and make the coffee. You call your friend.”

  Autumn opened her computer and set up the connection. There would be questions. Simon might be polite now, but she knew he would grill her with texts about Brett until he found out all the details of what was going on later.

  She got through and could see Simon sitting in his kitchen with Bridget cooking in the background. He was one of the few people she would let see her in the morning with no makeup. Now she could add Brett to that list.

  “Hi, Simon. Great to see you. I just got up and haven’t had a coffee yet.”

  Simon smiled. “You still look great. So, did you get all my messages with the dates of when we’re coming over?”

  Autumn couldn’t keep the smile off her face. “I did, and I’ve worked out my presentation is a couple of days before yours.”

  “That’s amazing. You will knock their socks off. We’re going to Cairns for a few days before and doing a trip out to the reef. Then we’ll stay in Sydney.”

  “You can come and stay here for a bit too. The Blue Mountains are beautiful, though it will be cold that time of year.”

  Brett placed her mug next to her and headed back to the bedroom. From the way Simon’s mouth hung open, he had noticed.

  “Do I need glasses or did a man only wearing his briefs walk by? Is that the neighbor you mentioned?”

 
; Autumn’s face heated up as she sipped on her coffee.

  “That was Brett, and yes, he is my neighbor and he owns the house I’m renting.”

  “From what I could see, he is more than your neighbor. Are you getting the rent cheaper?” He grinned. “I think we’re going to have a lot to talk about when I get there. I definitely want you to introduce us.”

  At that moment, Bluey wandered over, jumped up, and licked her face.

  “Simon, this is Bluey.” She smiled. “He belongs to Brett. He got bitten by a snake, so we’ve been keeping a close eye on him.

  “And you have been keeping a close eye on his owner too?”

  Brendan came and looked over Simon’s shoulder.

  “They have snakes. Cool. Mom, can we have a dog?”

  Autumn heard Bridget’s distinct voice say, “No,” in the background.

  “I’m sure we can work out some things. I’m thinking of climbing the Sydney Harbor Bridge if you want to join.”

  “Wow. I’m impressed. We will definitely take you up on that one.”

  They chatted about their presentations for a while.

  “I will be marking the days off on the calendar till you come over. Take care.”

  “Bye, Autumn. We’ll talk again soon.”

  Brett came out of her bedroom and was dressed. She hoped he wasn’t going home.

  “So, I heard you say you will climb the bridge. Give me the dates and I’ll book it. You can’t back out of it then.”

  “I’ve no intention of backing out. I may vomit out of fear but I will do it.”

  “Good, because over the next few months, I plan on pushing you to some limits, especially some that require you have no clothes on.” He pulled her into his arms.

  “I can’t wait.”

  The past week had been the best of her life. She had worked hard all day but had put the shell in the postbox and had a visit from Brett every night. Autumn was aware this was all new and fun so she was going to enjoy it while it lasted. The shine might wear off soon enough.