by Davina Stone
White-hot lust surged through her body.
“This…” With feverish fingers, she ruched up her skirt and let her thighs fall open. He made a sound of assent, a deep grunt she could somehow tell was full of awe and appreciation. Suddenly confident, she clasped his shoulders and guided his body down hers until he was kneeling between her thighs.
Gentle kisses ranged along her inner thigh, one by one, circling higher and higher. “Am I getting warm?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Warmer?”
“Mmmmmm!”
The sudden gentle pressure on her clitoris made her practically levitate out of her body. All he’d done, she realised, was press the pad of his tongue on her over her panties. She groaned her encouragement.
He sucked her over the top of her panties, and it had to be the most erotic sensation she’d ever experienced. Rainbows of colour gathered behind her eyelids. She needed more and it couldn’t wait. Barely able to think, she took his hand and guided it under the gusset of her panties. He kissed her fingers and everything was hot and steamy and musky scented as she felt the tug when he moved the little morsel of fabric aside.
And then, oh, oh, oh… the lap of his tongue between her folds, rhythmic, firm, and so utterly perfect until she was writhing with delight. She had to pull a cushion onto her chest and hug it tight because she didn’t have him to hug tight, because, well… obviously, he was down there working… wonders.
Then he slipped a finger inside her.
“Oh—OH—HOT!” She hadn’t realised she’d said it out loud until she felt the vibration of his laugh against her labia and then… he blew on her, right there, where the sensation was most intense.
God help her…
And now he was sucking again, alternating with that shaft of warmth as he blew…
back and forth until—
Hips rocking, Judith bit down on that darn cushion so hard as her orgasm gathered force. But when she came, there was no way to stop the words spilling out of her mouth in a garble of “oh my God”, and “Cart-errrrr!!!”
For a while, she could only lie limp and panting, staring at the decorative plaster rose in the centre of the ceiling and wondering why she’d never noticed how beautiful it was before.
But then he was removing the cushion from her hands and kissing her gently on the lips.
Looking down, one breast, the smaller one, peeped out and she could see his wistful look as he gently pulled her dress back over it.
What? He wasn’t taking this any further…
“You…?” she asked, incredulous.
He smiled, shook his head. “But, but… I want to give back to you.” Bewildered, she pushed up on her elbow and looked at him.
“We will. I promise. Just not now…” He took her fingers and again kissed each one in turn.
“B—but I want to do the same—to give you…”
Yet even as she said it a soporific heaviness was overcoming her senses. Her limbs leaden, her brain delightfully befuddled.
“Very soon. Just not tonight.”
Judith roused herself. “If it’s to do with no condom. I could—”
“Shsssh—” A finger came to his lips. “I’m going to put you to bed then leave you to sleep.”
With effort, she tried to protest again. “Ohh, no-no-no-no. Stay, pleaaasssse.”
“I’ll stay for a while.”
“You can’t drive,” she pleaded. “We drank the whole bottle of wine, you’ll be over the limit.”
He hesitated, stroking the damp hair away from her forehead, his eyes full of tenderness. “Okay, I’ll lie with you.”
She was so sleepy as he put her to bed, barely able to focus. Like a rag doll, she let him peel off her dress and when he pulled back the covers, she sank thankfully down on the mattress. When she felt him spoon into her back and his arms fold around her, she relaxed with a happy sigh.
“It’s an extra-long mattress,” she murmured sleepily. “Plenty of leg room.”
“Perfect,” he whispered, and she felt his lips on the soft skin just below her ear.
“Do you like me?” she mumbled drowsily. The question was unnecessary really, after what Carts had just gifted her; some last vestige of insecurity.
All she heard before slumber took her were the words, “More than you can ever imagine.”
As Carts walked, a gentle rain pattered onto his head and shoulders. The night was balmy, embracing him in a mist that was unusual for Perth in late summer, when usually the air was hot and dry. He lifted his face up to the sky and saw the moon, shadowy and soft behind a veil of clouds.
He felt wonderful, alive—more than alive. Like every cell in his body was vibrating with cosmic energy.
He’d given everything he had to pleasuring Judith, and sure, he’d been aroused (how could he not be), but not to the point where it was out of his control.
Every time he’d got close to the edge, he’d directed the energy back upwards into his heart and given it all to Judith. With every ounce of his being he’d focused on her body’s response, the pulse and rhythm of her build-up and release.
He’d always known that if he couldn’t attract a woman easily, he had to have other skills, and yeah, even when girls didn’t dig him that much, they always told him he was really good at getting them off.
It just seemed he could never quite win their hearts.
Until now.
The realisation that Judith wanted him as much as he wanted her blew him away. It almost overwhelmed him that he could inspire such strong desire in a woman. Here was a completely different image from the one he’d always had of himself. The guy who never quite made the grade. Like a bird with a damaged wing. He might be able to fly, but he’d always be a bit crooked and prone to ungainly landings.
But now he was soaring on the wings of an eagle. In the slipstream, gliding effortlessly.
The Proclaimers song, I’m Gonna Be suddenly sprang into his head.
Because he would, wouldn’t he? He’d walk 500 miles for her, wear the soles off his shoes, worship at her feet. Give her everything he had.
Which was probably why he didn’t realise that he’d walked not towards his townhouse in the city, but towards his parents’ rambling art deco home.
He almost laughed as he found himself on their street.
Judith’s house was in the neighbouring suburb; he guessed it was an easy enough error to make.
He sneaked round the back to where the spare key was always kept under a flower pot and groped around until he felt the cold metal of the key that opened the french doors to the music room.
Once inside, he tiptoed through the dimly lit room, making out the familiar shapes of the piano, of Avery’s flute stand in a corner, the scents of the house more intense in the darkness. They’d eaten Mum’s bolognese earlier; he could detect the smell of the herbs and spices she used.
He made his way up the stairs, carefully stepping over the one that creaked. His room, he knew, would be the same as when he’d left four years ago: the bed made up, a few knick knacks on the shelf, along with a photo of his university graduation; him a skinny beanpole with Mum and Dad smiling proudly at his side and Avery missing her two front teeth. It was as if Mum hoped he’d come back home one day. Never quite accepting he was an adult. Was that Mum’s problem now with Avery? Not wanting her baby to grow up and go out into the world?
As he made his way along the landing he paused outside Avery’s room. The door was partially open, so he slipped inside.
He could hear the steady low rasp of her breath, see the hump of her silhouette in the bed, and, caught in a beam of light from the street lamp outside, her hair splayed out on the pillow like a dark river.
He tiptoed closer, holding his breath.
Her thumb hovered around her mouth, the tip at her lips and he knew that even now, it would slide into her mouth at times.
Just like when she was a baby.
And then he saw Mutsy’s ear sticking up from un
der the covers.
She was cuddling dear old Mutsy.
That gesture struck him as so achingly beautiful, so utterly vulnerable. And suddenly the thought of her prancing off in that silver scrap of material tomorrow night froze him to the spot; he totally got why Mum was paranoid about it.
Avery was so innocent.
So oblivious to the mess of navigating this shit-show called growing up.
For Christ’s sake, he was thirty and he still couldn’t fathom the whole love thing out. Avery still had the war zone to work through, all the hurts and rejections to overcome.
A visceral pain constricted his chest. He hoped to God she’d work it out before she got to his age.
Gently, he reached out and curled the cover around battered old Mutsy. Two button eyes stared back, round and bemused, as if poor old Mutsy was constantly puzzled by the vagaries of life.
He patted Mutsy’s ear.
“Wouldn’t be young again for quids, eh Mutsy?” he whispered.
It seemed to Carts like those button eyes spelled their agreement.
Bending down, he dropped a kiss on Avery’s apple-scented hair before tiptoeing out of the room.
Chapter 13
Something soft tickled Judith’s nose, followed by a heady, sweet scent. Was she still dreaming? And if so, why had her dream taken her into a florist’s shop? She cracked open an eyelid to be met by a soft, deep red hue. Opened the other and blinked until the object came into focus.
A red rose. On her pillow.
She sat up abruptly as memories of the night before flooded in and warmth simultaneously flooded her body, followed by a cold snap of reality as she realised the coverlet was neatly smoothed over the other side of the bed.
Carts had not stayed the night.
But there was a rose. And next to it, a note.
She pushed the hair out of her eyes, unfolded the lined piece of paper torn from her shopping notepad in the kitchen.
Thank you for the most beautiful evening.
You filled my senses.
See you at yoga tonight.
Carts xxx
She heard a sound and realised she’d let out a big sigh. Sudden tears blurred her vision. No man had ever said anything so romantic to her before. He’d gifted her his lips, his tongue, worshipped her body like she was Venus de Milo.
And taken nothing in return.
Sinking back into the pillow, she relieved the pleasure of his touch, her fingers tracing dreamily down her breasts, to her nipple, caressing it briefly before moving across the soft swell of her belly and down…
She could honestly go all over again. Right now. Her eyes went hazy, recalling that dark head moving between her legs, administering such… her fingers found the soft curls, the swollen secret spot…
Her phone rang.
She snatched her hand back with a sheepish smile.
“Sis!”
“Pip”
“Are you at work?
“No, why—I mean,” she cast a look at the clock on the bedside table and then, horrified, threw back the covers.
“Oh my God, it’s 8.30!”
“Yeah, I know. What’s the problem?”
“I’m still in bed and I have our team meeting—like, NOW.” She’d never been late for work before. God, what a couple of years of pent-up orgasms could do to your sleep patterns. (Self-pleasure had nothing on Carts’ gold medal performance.)
She scrunched the phone against her ear, bounced off the bed and ran around to her clothes drawer, grabbing knickers and a bra before dashing into the bathroom.
“Are you alright?” Pippa asked.
“Yes, never better, and Pip—Shaz is so lovely. I am so happy for you.”
“Isn’t she freakin’ amazing?”
“Absolutely. You got all my messages, didn’t you?”
“Yes, and sorry I didn’t call you back yesterday. Work was crazy and then we had dinner with Shaz’s parents. And guess what? We’ve decided to move in together!”
“That’s wonderful!”
“Which is why I have to tell Dad and Mum.”
“Absolutely!” Judith turned the shower on full blast.
“Tonight.”
“Tonight!” This was sudden even by Pippa’s standards. “Maybe you shouldn’t spring this on them quite so soon. I mean, you know Mum isn’t that good with…”
“With what?” Judith watched the steam as it fogged up the mirror. “Go on say it.” Pip’s voice was suddenly strained.
“Things that are…”
“Deviant? Warped? is that what you mean?”
“No! of course not. I mean, things that are outside of her life experience.”
“That’s the litmus test, is it? Mum’s experience of life. If we went by her experience, we’d all be sent to hell for masturbating.”
Crikey, that was a close call, considering where her fingers had been heading when Pippa rang.
“How long are you going to make excuses for her?” Pippa demanded.
“I’m not.” Judith tested the water gushing out of the shower head and nearly burnt her fingers. Turned on the cold tap. “I just understand that her childhood was difficult and—”
“Honestly, right now, I don’t care about Mum’s childhood. That’s not my problem. Shaz and I discussed it after you’d left; the time is right. We’ve been dating for six months and now I’ve told you, that’s it, no more hiding in the shadows. The rest of the fam needs to know.”
“I get that.”
Pippa bowled on, barely drawing breath. “So listen, I’ve organised a table at Harry Tan’s. I’ve asked Luke and Kirsty to come too. Harry’s booked us the private room.”
“Oh, right, so everyone.”
“Yep, and Shaz will be holding my hand. I’m shouting our love to the whole fucking world. Actually, Harry already knows. We’ve been going there for Peking duck ever since we started dating.” A pause for breath. “Look babe, I need to practise what I’m going to say or I’m bound to shout at Mum. Can we catch up beforehand?”
Wham! Wham! Wham! There was so much to take in, her head was reeling. There went her plans for yoga. And seducing Carts afterwards. Judith gulped down her disappointment. But her sister needed her by her side now, probably more than at any other time.
“Of course I can. When… where?”
“Straight after work. At Glide. I’ll make sure I’m quick with my last patient.”
“I’ll be there,” Judith said firmly.
After Pip had declared undying love and appreciation and hung up, Judith stepped into the shower. Thoughts yapped at the periphery of her brain, but she knew there was no time to let them in because if she didn’t rush, Dr Jonathon Pritchard, Echidna Ward’s head psychiatrist (aka Dr Death, aptly named by Polly because of his morbidly pale skin and morose stare) would make toast of her in front of the whole team.
She made it into work in record time. Dr Death’s familiar drone met her ears as she hurried towards the staff meeting room. Quaking in her shoes, she finally summoned the courage to click the latch and push the door open.
The room looked haphazard. Polly lounged on one elbow at the far end of the table, sucking on the top of her pen. Her lips looked chafed, and she was wearing a bright yellow dress with poppies on it more suited to a summer party, incongruently paired with a black leather jacket that was way too big for her.
Solo’s short dark hair spiked more than usual, and a dreamy smile played around his lips.
There was an energy that was palpable.
It was the same kind of energy she sensed she was giving off. What Polly would call “right royally fucked”. Except she hadn’t been fucked exactly…
She slipped into her chair with a mumbled apology.
Dr Death stopped talking and looked around the room, an exasperated pull to his thin lips.
“Would anyone like to explain why you were all late this morning?”
After the team meeting, Judith scurried into the occupational therap
y storeroom and quickly dialled Carts’ number.
When he picked up, she had to sit down, her knees went so wobbly at the sound of his voice.
“It’s you,” she managed weakly.
“And it’s you.” She died a little at the warmth in his voice, then blurted, “I’m really sorry, I can’t make yoga tonight.”
She felt the energy change on the other end.
“Oh, right.”
“Pippa’s arranged to tell our whole family tonight. About being gay. She’s bringing Shaz. And I need to be there to make sure it goes okay.”
“Yes, of course you do.” It was genuine, but she could hear his disappointment.
“We could meet Saturday—maybe?” she supplied breathlessly.
A pause. “It’s this party thing of Avery’s. I’m kind of on big brother duty.”
“All night?” She rubbed at her constricted throat.
“Until ten.” A pause. “But we could, er, we could meet after, if you wanted.”
“Oh, yes! I’ve got a sewing project I can get on with and then… then you could come round to my place?”
“That’d be great. But I wouldn’t get there until around 10.45, if that’s not too late.”
“Never too late.” She knew she was blushing. “I’ll have a nightcap ready.”
“Sounds perfect.”
Her cheeks on fire now, she managed, “And thank you for… the rose… and—everything else.” How did you thank someone for the most intense orgasm of your life? “Oh, Polly’s here. I have to go.”
She heard him laugh softly before saying a quick goodbye. She tucked her phone into her pocket as Polly advanced into the storeroom, hugging the bulky leather jacket around her chest.
“Good time last night?” The way Polly said it and the accompanying smirk made Judith feel like she had been initiated into a special club; but that was silly, because how on earth would Polly know what happened last night?
She tried for a casual shrug. “I overslept.”
“Sure, you did.” Polly gave a throaty laugh.
“Anyway, I have a group in ten minutes, and I’ve got to prepare soooo—” Judith kept bustling around, grabbing tubes of paint and brushes. “Is there any other reason you’re here other than to gloat that I was late for work for the first time ever?”