by Jay, Donna
Once her body stilled, Claire craned her neck and rested her sweaty forehead against Zoe’s. The sparkle in Claire’s eyes mirrored how Zoe felt inside, like she was positively glowing.
After a minute, Claire rolled off Zoe and pulled her onto her side. Zoe basked in the comfort of being pinned between the soft back of the sofa and Claire’s lithe body.
Heat flared in Zoe’s cheeks the minute the next words left her mouth. “Was it good for you?” She cringed, positive she couldn’t have said anything lamer or more clichéd.
Without a reply, Claire rolled off the sofa, landed on the floor with a thud and undid the front zip of her bodysuit. “God damn, it’s hot in here.”
The glow of the fire in the corner of the room cast an orange hue over the rug Claire lay on.
Suddenly feeling vulnerable in all her naked glory, Zoe snagged her shirt off the floor and slipped it on. Certain Claire wouldn’t mind, she straddled Claire’s hips and lowered herself until her sensitive backside was seated on Claire’s abdomen. The sheepskin rug was blessedly soft beneath her knees.
Claire’s pert breasts almost popped out of the bodysuit when she flipped Zoe onto her back. She pinned Zoe’s wrists above her head. “It was perfect. Are you happy, doll?”
When Zoe didn’t reply fast enough, Claire poked her in the ribs, tickling her.
Zoe burst into a fit of giggles. She wiggled and bucked her hips trying to get free, which chafed her backside. “Ouch, ouch, my butt.” The pain was minimal, but her cries were enough to stop the torment.
Alarm replaced Claire’s laughter in the span of a heartbeat. “Shit, sorry, doll.” She climbed off Zoe and offered a hand.
Back on their feet, standing face to face, Zoe entwined her fingers with Claire’s. “The answer is yes.” The reply came from deep within Zoe’s heart, emotion welling up inside her. Unlike her relationship with Samantha, the relationship developing between her and Claire was more than a silly infatuation.
Confusion knitted Claire’s brow as though she’d forgotten the question she’d asked.
With a gentle tug on Claire’s waist, Zoe pulled her forward. The heat of Claire’s body seeped into Zoe’s chest and wrapped around her heart. “Yes, I’m happy. So, very, very happy.”
A huge smile crinkled the corners of Claire’s eyes. She wrapped her arms around Zoe and kissed the living daylights out of her. She peppered kisses over Zoe’s eyelids, cheeks, and neck. “I’m incredibly happy too. I couldn’t have predicted a better outcome to our night away.”
Chapter 17
An hour later…
Unable to wipe the silly grin off her face, Claire hauled towels out of the washing machine, dumped them in the laundry basket and made her way outside. She ate up the distance between the cottage and the barn without seeing anything at all as though she had her head stuck in the clouds.
Warmth flooded her heart. Claire could no longer deny she was falling hard and fast for Zoe. It wasn’t a light bulb moment, or the haze of post-coital bliss. She’d known for weeks. She couldn’t explain why or how, it was just a feeling, like a dizzy spark that made her heart rate increase whenever Zoe was near.
The prospect of being in a relationship with Zoe filled her with joy and terrified her at the same time. Was it too soon to make declarations of love? What would other people think and did it even matter?
When Claire’s gaze landed on Zoe astride a bale of straw, cat bowl at her feet, cooing to Molly, she decided it didn’t. The time had come to put her own happiness before the fear of what others thought of her.
At the end of the day, the only ones that mattered were those who mattered, which included her immediate family and the few close friends she held dear. All of whom had taken an instant liking to Zoe.
As Claire’s mind continued to race, insecurities set in. What if sex and commitment were two different things to Zoe? Perhaps what they’d shared was nothing more than a fling to the gorgeous Canadian, something to enjoy before moving on. And what were her plans anyway?
Peering through a gap in the towels draped over the clothesline, the sight that greeted Claire put an end to her internal monologue. Zoe held a finger to her lips and beamed at Claire. She sat with her back to the barn wall, legs outstretched and Molly cradled in her lap.
The cat had her eyes closed, head held high, while Zoe scratched her under the chin. Claire didn’t know who wore the bigger grin, Zoe, the cat, or herself.
She kicked off her gumboots and trod through the scattering of straw in her woollen socks. Trod might not be the correct word, more like crept forward feeling like she was walking on eggshells.
Not wanting to spook Molly at the last minute, Claire spoke in a low voice as she approached. “Hey, girl. So you’ve met Zoe the pussy whisperer.” She shot Zoe a cheeky wink.
Zoe smirked, stifled a giggle with one hand, and continued to pet Molly with the other.
It probably wasn’t the best time to be cracking jokes, despite how much Claire loved to hear Zoe laugh. Unsure exactly when she’d become a walking hormone, Claire pushed images of Zoe’s breath whispering across her naked body out of her mind.
She got on her hands and knees and crawled the last two feet. “Hey, sweetie.”
Molly gave her a curious glance then went back to soaking up the attention being bestowed on her. Claire sat next to Zoe, flicked the hay and pebbles off her palms, and leaned into her side.
Even though the moment seemed so ordinary, an extraordinary sense of peace settled over Claire. She hadn’t had a pet since living on the farm. Amy hated animals. Claire shook her head to expel thoughts of the dreaded ex, without much success. An ex she should thank because if not for her, the gorgeous Canadian wouldn’t currently be sitting on the barn floor.
Perhaps fate had put them in the path of each other. Claire had heard of soul mates, witnessed it with Janie and her husband. Janie who often told her, ‘when you meet the right one you’ll just know. ’
Even though Claire had happily accepted Amy’s proposal, and had been upset when they broke up, she hadn’t suffered the all-consuming grief she’d expected. If anything, it had been a relief to be away from the constant head games Amy was apt to play.
Although, even after more than a year apart, Amy still messed with Claire’s head, which in a sense gave her a hold over Claire. The revelation shook Claire to the core. The time had come to put the past where it belonged and look to the future.
A sparrow flew into the barn and perched on a rafter. Molly leapt off Zoe’s lap and tore off after the bird.
Claire stood, her backside as cold as the concrete floor. She offered a hand to Zoe, pulled her to her feet, then shook out her legs to get the circulation going. Pins and needles pinged in her rear-end as the blood flow returned.
A grin formed on Zoe’s lips. “What’s up?”
Claire bounced on the balls of her feet. “My backside went numb.”
The smile on Zoe’s face grew wider. “You should take some of your own advice.”
Unsure what Zoe was talking about, Claire searched her brain for any advice she’d given. It didn’t amount to much, considering she tended to leave Zoe to her own devices.
Zoe scuffed her foot across the barn floor, “Concrete.” She snickered. “A cup, and you.”
The sassy twinkle in Zoe’s eyes made Claire grin despite being on the receiving end of her own joke. Have a cup of concrete and harden up. Tyler would’ve found it hilarious.
An amused looking Zoe bit her lip and gripped her sides like she was trying not to double over laughing.
Even though Claire was delighted to see her so happy, she managed to suppress a chuckle. “Brat. You’ll pay for that.” She grabbed Zoe’s hand and towed her toward the big red doors.
Before they exited the barn, Zoe pulled Claire to a stop. She faced her head on, her expression serious and shy all at once. “Does that mean what we just shared wasn’t a one-off fling?”
Hope flared in Claire’s chest and a self-depre
cating snort escaped her lips.
A crestfallen expression marred Zoe’s sweet face. She lowered her gaze. “Sorry. I should’ve known you wouldn’t want more.”
“Oh, no, no, doll. It’s me who’s sorry.” Claire cursed her stupid reaction.
Zoe had no way of knowing she’d been laughing at herself over all the ridiculous thoughts that had just run amuck in her mind. “I wasn’t laughing at you. God, I had the same concerns. I didn’t know if you’d want more than a fling.”
Finally, the corner of Zoe’s mouth curled up. For a moment, they just stared into each other’s eyes. Claire was sure the silly grin on her face matched the one on Zoe’s.
“Now what?” Zoe asked in a soft voice.
Before Claire could reply, a loud clutter drew their attention to the far corner of the barn. A spade hit the floor as Molly bounded over it in hot pursuit of what appeared to be a big black tom. Claire briefly wondered if they’d get up one day and find a barn full of kittens. They. Her and Zoe.
Feeling like a love-struck teenager, Claire took Zoe’s hands in her own, and proposed a question she’d never asked of another. “Will you be my girlfriend, Zoe Anderson?”
It surprised Claire how nerve wracking it was waiting for a reply. She’d always been pursued, so it was foreign territory. Her heart thudded in her chest and her hands felt clammy. Hands entwined with her lover’s. And that thought made her head spin – her lover.
The sweet giggle Claire would never tire of hearing, burst out of Zoe. The mood lifted in an instant. They were going to make a great couple; Claire could feel it in the pit of her stomach.
A ray of light shining through a gap in the barn walls sparkled in Zoe’s hazel eyes. She held her nose in the air and spoke in a haughty voice. “Why yes, Claire Evans, I’d be honoured to be your girlfriend.”
Claire blew out a breath, raising the hair on her forehead. “Phew, I might’ve cried if you’d said no.” She released Zoe’s grip and scrubbed her sweaty palms on her jeans.
Similar to the first time she’d shown Zoe around her home, Claire looped an arm through Zoe’s and headed out of the barn. Unlike the first time, this time she wasn’t worried about overstepping any invisible lines.
She nodded toward the glasshouse which had become Zoe’s pride and joy. “If you grab some lettuce and tomatoes, I’ll make a salad to go with dinner.”
They’d settled on calling the evening meal dinner. Claire couldn’t get her head around calling it supper, something she’d always associated with a late night snack, and Zoe couldn’t fathom referring to a meal as ‘tea’.
Zoe pulled her arm free of Claire’s, folded her arms across her chest, and narrowed her eyes. “Just because you’re my girlfriend, doesn’t give you rights to cooking duties.”
Feigning outrage, Claire held up her hands in mock surrender. “Forgive me for taking liberties?” She smirked, thriving on the friendly banter. “But correct me if I’m wrong, salad doesn’t require cooking.”
“Oh yeah.” Zoe huffed out a defeated breath, then chuckled. “I was only kidding anyway.”
Claire bumped Zoe with her shoulder. “If I get the urge to spend time in the kitchen, it’ll be to observe your prowess.” She winked. “With a spatula in my hand.”
The glazed look in Zoe’s eyes ignited a spark of desire in Claire. She left Zoe to ponder the threat, one she wouldn’t act on tonight. Zoe needed to fully recover from her earlier spanking. Although, the fact she’d managed to sit on the hard ground to pet Molly suggested she wasn’t overly sore.
Either way, by not acting today, the anticipation would grow. Claire would only need to step into the kitchen and she’d bet Zoe’s butt cheeks would clench. Oh yes, the suspense of not knowing when she’d strike would be half the fun.
***
The lawns around the perimeter of the house were in dire need of a trim. Small enough to be cut with a push mower rather than the ride-on necessary for the expansive vineyard, Claire yanked the mower out of the shed and fired it to life. The smell of two-stroke oil filled her nostrils before being picked up and swept away on a breeze.
She tidied up the outer area, then turned to mow the final strip around the back of the cottage, under Zoe’s bedroom window. Or was it Zoe’s room? Shit, most people dated before moving in together, at which time sharing a room was a no-brainer. What was the protocol when you did things arse about face?
The thought evaporated as she gazed at the ground. What the fuck . Claire turned the throttle down and let the mower idle. Her pulse sped up as she approached the muddy strip of ground under the eaves. She crouched and traced the unmistakable imprint of a shoe.
The hair on the back of her neck prickled as she stood and put her foot beside it. The print was slightly smaller than her gumboot and not very deep, which led her to believe whoever had been snooping around was more than likely female. Her first thought flew to Amy before she quickly dismissed it.
Only her family and friends knew where she lived, none of whom would tell Amy and she’d made sure to stay off the grid of social media. Her gaze followed the footsteps to the bedroom window. Sunlight peeking through a cloud illuminated what looked like two half circles with a dot in the middle on the glass. The outer edge of palms and a nose? Someone’s face framed by their hands?
The words she’d told Zoe on her very first night came back to haunt her. You won’t find any peeping toms out here. Maybe she should’ve added, but you might find a peeping Jane.
“Hey, it’s for you.”
The unexpected sound of Zoe’s voice sent a rush of adrenaline coursing through Claire’s veins. Her heart pounded in her chest as she spun around. “Bloody hell, woman, you scared the shit out of me.”
An apologetic look crossed Zoe’s face. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to.” She held her hand over the mouth piece of the portable phone. “It’s your mom, do you want me to tell her you’ll call back?”
Not wanting to alert Zoe to what she’d been studying, Claire shut off the mower, plucked the phone out of Zoe’s hands and pecked her on the lips. “Nah, it’s fine. I was daydreaming.” She eyed Zoe up and down and winked as though she’d been lost in a fantasy about them. “I’ll be in shortly.”
Zoe grinned and strolled toward the backdoor with an exaggerated sway to her sinfully sexy hips.
After filling her mother in on the trip away and her mum confessing she’d stopped by and helped herself to some parsley and basil from the greenhouse, Claire wandered into the warmth of the living room, convinced the footprints were from her mother nosing around.
Rather than pry and ask Claire if she was shacked up with her houseguest, she’d do a little harmless snooping, all under the cover of needing fresh herbs.
After dinner and cleaning up, Claire stretched out behind Zoe and snuggled up to her on the sofa, the flat screen television casting shadows over the floor. However, even Claire’s favourite sitcom, The Big Bang Theory, failed to hold her attention. She closed her eyes and absorbed Zoe’s body heat along with the tiny vibrations rumbling through Zoe’s chest every time she chuckled over Sheldon’s antics.
Not long ago, Claire would’ve sworn black and blue to anyone who cared to ask that she couldn’t be happier living on her own. She came and went as she pleased with no one to please but herself. While it sounded good in theory, in actuality, having no one to share her achievements or disappointments with made for a rather lonely and meaningless existence.
Around nine, Zoe’s breathing became shallow and her muscles twitched intermittently. Even though she’d slept soundly last night, wrapped in Claire’s arms in the hotel room, it’d been well after midnight when they’d finally drifted off to sleep.
Claire didn’t want to move, but she knew they’d both wake up sore if they spent the night on the sofa. Reluctantly, she roused Zoe. “Wake up, sleepyhead.” She spoke softly into Zoe’s ear. “Time for bed.”
In that moment, Claire remembered they hadn’t discussed if there would be any change in sleepi
ng arrangements. Not wanting to raise the topic while Zoe was dead on her feet, she decided to wait and see where those feet took Zoe.
Two minutes later she heard the toilet flush, followed by the squeak of the bathroom door. Allowing Zoe time to do her teeth, Claire checked the windows were secure, double checked that the door was locked, then flicked out the living room lights.
After using the bathroom and brushing her teeth, Claire stepped into the hallway, took a deep breath to brace herself for what would be, and finally dragged her gaze to the door at the far end of the hall. The door stood wide open, red bedspread pulled up over the pillows, the bed empty.
When she reached her bedroom door, joy exploded in her heart. It took all of her self-control not to twirl in a circle and do a happy dance. Zoe was cosily tucked in, her head peeking out from under the blankets, brown wavy hair a pretty contrast fanned out across the cream pillowcase.
Claire slipped in behind her, basking in the comforting effect of having Zoe’s warm body in her bed. She kissed the top of Zoe’s head and inhaled her scent. “Sleep tight, doll.” Within seconds of turning off the bedside lamp, Claire joined Zoe in slumber.
Chapter 18
For the fifth morning in a row, Zoe awoke from a peaceful sleep. The second Claire had slipped in behind her on Sunday night; all had been right in Zoe’s world. Even though they hadn’t discussed a change in sleeping arrangements, Zoe had followed her heart and it led her to the sanctuary of Claire’s bedroom. At least that’s what it felt like to Zoe, a safe haven. The familiar scent of Claire was more intoxicating than any sleeping pill.
The unspoken arrangement appeared to suit them both. Snippets of the frank conversation they’d had on Monday morning, upon Claire’s insistence, filtered into Zoe’s consciousness as she lay in the dreamy state between alertness and sleep.
***
“I’m going to ask you the same question you asked me weeks ago, and I want you to be honest with me, no matter what.” Claire’s expression was full of love and concern. Possibly even a hint of worry, like she wanted the truth but was afraid of the answer. “Don’t you get lonely living out here?”