by Juanita Kees
‘I am not and never will be engaged to Maria. Our families thought it might be a great merger. Two old families from the valley coming together sounded like a great idea. But it’s not what I want.’
‘It looked like she wanted it and your mum looked pretty happy about that.’ Still the old insecurities niggled at her mind, eating away at hope.
‘She’s gone for good, Peta. I put her on a plane and made sure she left right before I came looking for you. There will be no further misunderstandings or interference. Not from Maria, not from my parents and definitely not from your mother. I give you my absolute word that I’m here for the long haul,’ he promised.
‘I believe you, Jaime,’ she reassured him, seeing his searching look. Peta smiled sadly as she heard him exhale in relief. ‘But there’ll always be that part of me waiting for you to change your mind again.’
She stood up and wandered back down to the river’s edge. Her pulse raced as Jaime came up behind her to stand close. His heat against her back sent delicious shivers down her spine. She wanted to turn around and bury herself in his warmth, let him kiss away the doubt that churned inside her. Instead she fought to focus on settling the questions between them. It had to be done before they could move forward. She folded her arms under her breasts, but couldn’t resist leaning back against him.
He moved closer and placed his arms around hers, his chin against her hair. She wanted to settle in his arms, forget what had happened in the past and make new memories instead, but if they didn’t lay the ghosts and doubt to rest, they’d always be a barrier between them.
‘What if we’ve changed too much, Jaime?’ The words came out husky and emotional, more so than she’d intended them to be.
‘Then we’ll work through it together,’ he reassured her.
‘What if we go through all this again only to discover that marriage still scares you and you find the permanency stifling? Will you run away again, Jaime?’ Peta tipped her head back against his shoulder and looked up at him.
Jaime kissed her forehead. ‘No, this time there’s no running away. I made that mistake once. I do try to learn from my mistakes. I have spent ten long years comparing other women to you, Peta. None of them ever measured up.’
‘Why didn’t you call me, or write to me, or bloody hell, even send me a text? You stayed in touch with Mark.’
Jaime shrugged and held her closer. ‘I often thought of contacting you, but I was under the impression that you were happily married and didn’t want to make any waves. There didn’t seem any point to rubbing salt into my wounds.’ He sighed. ‘Mark used to talk about you every time we caught up over the years, but he never let on that your marriage wasn’t a happy one.’
‘I swore him to secrecy, especially when things started going wrong. Then Paul got in deeper with Albero and Bennetti. I didn’t want Mum to know that we had an outlaw gang frequenting the club or that Paul was into anything other than running The Golden Diva. I had to protect my family. Beyond Hell’s Reach don’t like snitches. In the end, I couldn’t. Paul got Bella anyway.’
‘And now you have her back.’
‘Yes, I have her back and Paul is locked away. The focus is off me and The Golden Diva will be shut down for good with the evidence Mark has.’ She sighed, the reality of that door closing in her life sinking in. ‘It’s over.’
Jaime turned her around in his arms, their bodies touching, igniting fires that cried out for satiation. She moved closer, seeking the comfort of his warmth. Peta reached up and touched his face, needing to feel his skin against her palm, to make sure he was really there with his arms around her and not just another dream that would fade with the sunrise.
He turned his head and placed a kiss in her palm. ‘Where do we go from here?’
Peta shook her head. ‘I really don’t know, Jaime. I want to believe that this is happening, but I can’t help wondering if it’s too good to be true. It’s not just ourselves we have to consider. Bella might get hurt if you decide fatherhood isn’t for you and I couldn’t bear for that to happen.’
Jaime pressed her head down against his shoulder and kissed the top of her head. ‘How about we give it a trial? That’s what we’d agreed to before this fiasco. Remember, one step at a time?’ He stroked her hair, a soothing movement that had her relaxing against him. ‘We won’t make any permanent plans until we’re both comfortable with our progress. It will give me a chance to get to know Bella and for her to get used to me.’
‘Are you angry with me for not telling you about her?’ Peta asked.
Jaime shook his head. ‘No, I understand your reasons for not telling me. I am sorry I missed so much of her life, but I will make it up to both of you. Let’s leave the past where it belongs and work together on building our future. We have a lot of good years left. Let’s use them to our advantage.’
‘One day at a time?’ Peta searched his face for any traces of doubt and found none.
‘One day at a time,’ he agreed.
His face was close to hers, their lips a millisecond apart. Peta met him halfway, winding her arms around his neck to pull him closer. She felt the heat of his arousal against her stomach and snuggled closer. He sighed as he nibbled at her lower lip.
‘God, I’ve missed your taste.’
His arms tightened as she recaptured his mouth with crushing intensity. Her hands strayed under his shirt, running them along the hard muscular contours. Jaime’s lips made slow progress down her neck, nipping at the pulse at the base of her throat, turning her knees weak until she collapsed against him. He placed a hand on her buttocks and lifted her against his rigidness so she could feel his need. Peta closed her eyes and sighed as his hand found her breast and gently caressed the peaks.
‘Jaime,’ she whispered, opening her eyes to meet his gaze full of hot need in the fading light.
His cheeks dimpled in a smile as he moved his mouth and whispered something against her ear but she heard nothing, the roar of blood in her head drowning out his words, the smell of his cologne filling her senses and the taste of his skin only a whisper away.
His breath against her ear sent her imagination into overdrive. She closed her eyes and absorbed the sensation, trying to remember how to breathe. The grip on her bottom tightened, forcing her to look at him again. He closed the gap between their mouths and the world around her faded away, leaving only Jaime.
Her lips parted on a whisper, inviting him in. His tongue explored her mouth, seeking, deepening when she matched him stroke for stroke. His palm rested on her thigh at the hemline of her skirt, fingers playing on the sensitive skin, inching the material up. Peta reached for his face and brought him closer still, the feel of him in her hands turning the sweet ache inside her to a burn.
Jaime’s arms tightened around her, drawing her up against him to feel the heat that pulsed between them. Warmth flooded her and she arched her hips against his, desperate to feel him where she needed him to be. His hands ran a path down her spine, fire trailing in their wake then his hand cupped her bottom, pressed her closer and she found the comfort of his length, rode it, wanted it to end this desperate need for him.
Peta gave her hands free rein and flicked loose the buttons on his shirt. She slid her hand inside and ran her palm across his chest, thrilling in the feel of the coarse hair against her skin. She felt him hesitate before breaking contact with her lips. He pressed her hand closer with his.
For a second their eyes met, his full of promise, before he kissed the sensitive spot below her earlobe and trailed down to her neck, nibbling at her skin.
Her blouse drifted off her shoulder and he kissed the exposed skin. Peta arched her neck, swallowing a whimper as he continued a path down towards her breasts where she welcomed his lips. Pulling his shirt from his jeans, her hands roamed the contours of his back, up into his hair, holding his head against her heart.
Jaime’s lips moved to her beautiful firm breasts, nipped at the pebbled nipples. Ripples of ecstasy flowed over her ski
n as she reached for his belt, loosening it with desperate fingers. Then she lowered his zipper to encase his length in her hand—warm, silky and ready as he pressed into her palm.
Lifting his head, he laid his forehead against hers, his breath coming in short bursts. Jaime pulled her blouse together. She wanted to stop his hands from doing up the buttons, drag them back to her body, but they fisted on the edges of the material that covered her breasts.
‘Sweet Jesus, Peta. Any more of that and I won’t be able to stop,’ he whispered against her head.
‘Then don’t.’ She’d resort to begging if she had to. Tonight was for rediscovery, tomorrow their journey would begin again. Now was for them and the fire that burned inside them, ready to cleanse the ghosts of the past.
She’d make him stop thinking. Tonight had no place for second thoughts, not if they wanted to move forward. She dropped butterfly light kisses along his jaw, her tongue finding the cleft in his chin.
His hands moved over her shoulders and eased her blouse down, the cool evening air sending a trail of goosebumps across her skin. Jaime kissed her lips before following the trail of his hands. He found the zipper and eased her skirt down over her hips, watching her face for signs of hesitation or doubt. He wouldn’t find any. Not tonight, not ever. Then she stood before him naked and he stepped back.
‘God, you’re beautiful, Peta.’ His voice filled with pride. ‘I’ve missed you so much. I want to go to sleep holding you, wake up with you next to me. Promise me you’ll stay.’
Peta smiled at him. Hesitating only slightly, she moved forward to remove his shirt while he stepped out of his jeans. ‘I’m not going anywhere,’ she whispered.
They stood close, their bodies touching, the heat between them enough to ward off the cool night air.
‘No doubts?’ he whispered, nibbling at her ear. ‘All you have to do is say the word and I’ll stop.’
Peta shook her head and dropped fiery kisses across his chest. She buried her nose in the light sprinkling of hair across his chest and inhaled his scent.
He lowered her onto the soft grass. Their lips met and clung. Tasting, releasing and sipping again, like a wine that needed to be savoured, appreciated. Jaime broke the kiss and looked into her eyes as his hands worked their magic on her body. Murmuring soft words, his hands moved down her body, gliding, moulding and loving, starting little fires under her skin.
His hands found the spot where she ached for him most, stroking and teasing until she was wet against his fingers, writhing under him, begging him to come to her. Jaime lowered himself until they were matched hip-to-hip, thigh-to-thigh. His hard, satiny length pressed against her. Peta drew his head down, her lips clinging to his while her body arched against his. He rose on his arms and she parted her thighs for him, ready to cradle him there. Slowly he descended and guided his length inside her, his eyes on hers.
Together they began the gentle rhythm as old as time and Peta’s body accepted him willingly, stretched to accommodate him fully. Heat and passion built to frenzy as they moved together, whispering between kisses. Then the world exploded around them and Jaime cried out as his warmth flooded her. She clung to his shoulders, his faced pressed into her neck where his breathing feathered her skin, and held on for the journey back to reality.
Jaime lifted his head and kissed her forehead, her nose, her cheeks then he rolled onto his back, taking her with him so that she lay cradled on his chest, her head on his thundering heart. One hand on the small of her back held her to him, the other drew circles up and down her back. ‘I thought we were going to take this one step at a time?’
‘That was a step, wasn’t it?’ she teased.
‘We have to be sensible, Peta. I don’t want to rush things. We have to get it right this time.’ He caressed her face gently.
That was at least one thing they agreed on, Peta thought silently. As beautiful as this time between them was, they still had fences to mend. ‘It’s time for another step, Jaime. We need to get this thing sorted with your parents.’
‘I know, but I’d like to spend more time with you and Bella before we do.’ He kissed her hard before gently lifting her off him and rolling her aside. ‘Let’s go pick up our daughter.’
She slipped her hand into his and let him pull her up. ‘Let’s do that.’
In the car, he turned and said, ‘This time, we’re getting married. I won’t leave you behind again.’
Peta smiled. ‘I’m ready. Are you?’
He looked down at her and grinned. ‘You’re stuck with me now. I won’t make the same mistake again.’ He leaned over and kissed her hard.
‘I think I can handle having you around.’ She placed a hand on his thigh and squeezed.
He held it there for a moment before straightening up and starting the car. ‘Good, because I’m never letting you go. We’re in this together for the long haul, baby.’
‘And if Maria comes back?’
He shuddered. ‘It’ll be your turn to send her packing.’
‘I can do that.’ Peta smiled as he put the car in gear and pulled away. ‘I think I might even enjoy it.’
Jaime chuckled. ‘I love you, Peta.’
‘Don’t ever stop saying it.’
The short drive to Mark’s house was filled with fleeting touches, warm smiles, and promises of more when night had settled in, Bella was asleep and they were alone again. Mark grinned from ear to ear when he opened the door to them.
‘Hey, you two, did you get everything sorted out?’ he asked, sighing with relief when they nodded and smiled at each other. ‘Come on in then. Bella’s like a bloody cat on hot bricks. She’s been bouncing between the window and the television since you left.’ His grin said he had no problem with that at all.
‘She’ll keep you on your toes, Markie boy.’ Peta pressed a finger against his stomach. ‘Keeps you in shape.’
Jaime held out his arms as Bella rushed towards them. ‘Hello, sweetheart,’ he said, hugging her tightly like he was still having a hard time believing it. ‘Ready to go home?’
Bella smiled brightly and nodded. ‘Yeah!’
Peta watched the two together, a warm feeling encompassing her heart and with a flash of insight, knew it would all work out. How could it not? Mark put his arm around her. Peta looked up at him and hugged him around his waist.
‘Thank you. For everything,’ she said.
‘You’re welcome. I hope the two of you will be very happy together. You deserve to be.’ He hugged her back.
‘Your turn will come,’ she told him.
He laughed. ‘I’m not finished playing playboy yet. Cut me some slack here.’
Peta grinned. ‘Your days are numbered, my boy. Once word gets around that you’re no longer my personal escort-cum-bodyguard, you’ve had it. Half the town will be queuing up at your door. You’re far too much of a hero to be alone. Just remember whoever you pick has to pass my test first.’
‘Well, that should scare them all away then. Lucky I’m moving to Perth. Harold and I have been assigned to head up the taskforce investigation into the connection between the Perth chapter of Beyond Hell’s Reach and the Tag Raiders. We need to get ice off the streets. Bennetti and Albero have moved operations from Melbourne to Perth now that The Golden Diva is closed and they’ve lost their cover.’
Peta shivered. ‘Be careful, Mark. Those guys are brutal. I don’t like it, but I know what you have to do.’
‘You’re safe. That’s what matters. Now I have to make the streets safe too.’
Jaime and Bella joined them. ‘Looks like I’m your bodyguard now,’ Jaime teased.
Mark removed his hands from Peta’s shoulders and held them up in the air. ‘She’s all yours, mate. You have no idea how exhausting it is playing bodyguard to a superstar.’ He dodged the punch Peta aimed at his arm.
‘Just as well I know how to tame her then.’
‘Oh God, I don’t want to know.’ Mark covered his ears with his hands.
Jaime grin
ned. ‘Well, let’s go, guys. We have to see if your room at the Williams Hotel is still available,’ Jaime prompted.
Much later, fed and housed in the honeymoon cottage in the picturesque gardens behind the Williams Hotel, they settled Bella down for the night.
‘You never did say how you managed to track me down,’ Peta reminded Jaime as they shared a mug of steaming coffee.
‘I went to see your mother,’ he replied with a grimace.
Peta’s eyebrows flew up. ‘That was a brave move. How was she?’
Jaime pulled a face. ‘At first, I thought she would beat me to a pulp with her broomstick. But once I explained it all to her, she was okay.’
Peta laughed. ‘You’re lucky. A few years ago she was ready to hang you.’
Jaime shivered. ‘Scary thought, I hate that we wasted all this precious time.’
Peta hugged him. ‘But think of all the fun we’re going to have making up for lost time.’
He kissed her hard. She returned it, tasting the eagerness on his lips.
‘Stay here tonight,’ she whispered.
A moment of panic seized her. She didn’t want him out of her sight. But Jaime was not going to run again, she tried to reassure herself. He was just being sensible and she needed to be too. They needed to pace themselves so that emotion didn’t rule over sensibility.
He read the panic in her eyes and pressed kisses over them. ‘Peta, there’s nothing I would like more than to take you into that bedroom and show you again just how much I love you and have missed you, but that would defeat the purpose. We have to take things one step at a time. I promised you that and by God, you’re going to get it. And at the end of it all, there will be no doubts left that we belong together, forever.’
Peta bit her lip and nodded. He ran a finger over her lips before placing a kiss on them. She knew he was right. Neither of them needed to rush into anything, they had the rest of their lives.