I'Ve Got You

by Louise Forster

  ‘Oh … pffft,’ Lexie waved a dismissive hand. ‘Don’t worry, I haven’t. Even without them he’d make a nun horny.’

  Belle laughed. ‘Yeah, probably.’

  ‘Well, claustrophobic?’ Lexie prompted.

  Belle looked around the large and airy bedroom with double glass doors that led out to a private patio. Looking past the garden to the Coral Sea beyond, Belle paused, taking her time to collect her thoughts and give her sister an honest answer.

  ‘No hiding the important stuff, I want it all,’ Lexie ordered, snaking her index finger towards her.

  Belle held the bottle away from her sister. ‘Have you been drinking without me?’

  ‘I had a couple of glasses out by the pool, that’s all. It’s jetlag and sun … probably,’ she giggled.

  ‘Let’s go and sit outside,’ Belle suggested, nodding towards the sliding doors, and waited.

  ‘Oh … you want me to open that?’ Lexie giggled again.

  ‘No one would believe me if I told them you run a profitable event and catering business in LA.’

  Lexie lunged for the bottle, and said, ‘Yeah well I’m on a mini break, and you’re my sister, so that’s okay.’ She opened the bottle and poured them both a glass. ‘Here’s to you telling me the whole truth and nothing but.’

  Belle fortified herself with a good few gulps of wine. Lexie, elbows on the table, watched her like a hawk. Collecting her courage, Belle told her sister about what Greg, the sleaze, had done.

  Tears pricked behind Belle’s eyes. She emptied her glass, put it down and refilled hers and Lexie’s, then told her sister all about Annaliese and how her world had collapsed around her, the devastating heartache and grief she would never truly recover from.

  Lexie moved closer and hugged Belle tightly, sobbing into her shoulder while Belle did the same. After a while, when the tears slowed, Lexie moved back and said, ‘Why didn’t you tell me? Why, Belle?’

  ‘I didn’t want to worry you, and besides, what could you do over the phone from LA? Don’t you see, being so far away would’ve been horrible for you. It’s not like you can drop everything to come and hold my hand.’ Belle sniffed and had more wine.

  ‘Had I known you were going through such a horrific time—I would have dropped everything!’

  Belle nodded. ‘I’m sorry, Lexie.’

  ‘No, I’m sorry, Jeez, in hindsight I should have known better, I mean, it’s you losing a baby. And it’s you bottling it all up … again!’

  ‘Lexie, please,’ Belle pleaded.

  ‘Sorry … okay, just know, I would’ve been there for you. And I’m so sorry I wasn’t.’ Belle nodded and clutched Lexie’s hand. ‘What I really don’t get is why Mum and Dad didn’t see right through your I’m-all-right face.’

  ‘They were out of town getting a tour of the latest ecologically friendly village. And get this, Greg was showing them around.’ Belle shook her head in disgust. ‘He was insinuating himself into their lives, and through them trying to get to me, any way he could. Anything to get hold of Butterfly Island.’

  ‘Oh—my—God!’ Lexie squealed. ‘That’s … that’s … what a misogynistic, squirming, psychotic toad!’

  ‘I can’t argue with that. Here, have another sip of wine.’ Belle pushed Lexie’s glass forward.

  ‘What’s happening with you and Mr Hottie out there?’ Lexie grumbled, with a nod toward the doors.

  Belle confided in Lexie that she hadn’t had sex in well over a year, and had been afraid to even think about it, until Kabe who, without even trying, had her constantly thinking about it. ‘We’re connected. I’ve had my teenage fantasy on the beach, nearly had it on his yacht and a lot of touchy-feely in between.’

  Tears filled Lexie’s eyes and ran down her face. ‘Spare me the details … Wait, what am I saying?’ She gave herself an eye-roll. ‘We’ve known Kabe for years; we know he’s a solid, gorgeous guy. Come on, Sis, give. I bet you rocked his world … I bet he rocked yours.’

  A thrill rippled through Belle’s body and she shivered.

  Lexie didn’t miss her reaction, and thumped her on the shoulder. Reading each other, like they’d always done, they burst out laughing.

  Lexie quietened first; she heaved in a deep breath and sighed. ‘One day, I’ll find what you have … and I can hardly wait.’

  ‘You’ll have to stash your drum and join forces with whoever the lucky guy is.’

  Lexie paused, became thoughtful. ‘Hmm, he’d have to be very strong, mentally and physically.’

  ‘Oh, I know.’ Belle giggled.

  Chapter 9

  Thank goodness for a well-supplied guestroom and en-suite. Too much wine only made matters worse but, at times, better. Belle worried about Lexie’s reaction to her dreadful ordeal, but especially how distressed she was to hear about Annaliese. Now they both carried the dreadful memory. Lexie insisted she was fine, but after tucking her slightly drunk and exhausted sister into bed, Belle lay on top of the covers and cuddled her until she heard the soft breath of sleep. She eased herself off the bed and tiptoed out, quietly closing the door.

  Belle showered in the guest bathroom to wash away the tension before going in search of Kabe. Feeling pleasantly tipsy-warm-and-fuzzy, she wrapped a towel around herself and, carrying her clothes, crept into his unit. Moonlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling doors and windows of the open-plan living areas. Down the hallway a dim glow was coming through an open door; assuming it was Kabe’s bedroom she headed towards it.

  The moment she entered, his gentle eyes met hers.

  Bare-chested, tanned and beautiful, Kabe lay stretched out on his bed, a cool, white sheet barely covering his manly attributes. God, he looked amazing.

  ‘Hey, Babe,’ he murmured, switching off the TV then tossing the remote.

  ‘Hey,’ she replied.

  There was a long pause where he said nothing and his compassionate look didn’t change. Then a tender smile eased into his face. He rolled off the bed and, buck naked, headed straight for her.

  Eyes riveted on his stunning physique, Belle buckled at the knees and braced herself with a hand on the wall.

  Oh my God!

  He slowly brought his hands up her arms to her neck, and paused to feel her skin with his fingers before he slid them up into her wet hair, bunching it. Taking his time, he dipped his head. She slid her hands around his waist, up his back to his shoulders, luxuriating in every dip and curve of his muscles.

  His eyes searched hers. ‘You’ve been crying,’ he whispered and, as if he could wipe away the bitter memories, he tenderly kissed each eyelid. ‘You feel broken, crazed, bits of you everywhere.’

  Stomach in knots, Belle stared at him, wondering how he could read her so well.

  ‘Not grounded, not centred.’ The wicked but sweet smile that Kabe was so good at appeared. ‘I can put all your broken bits back together … if you’ll let me.’

  An arousing tingle washed through her body. ‘Kiss me,’ she whispered, ‘it’s been a long wait.’

  ‘Technically …’ he began as he dipped his head closer.

  ‘Shut up and kiss me.’ Belle tugged her towel loose and flung it aside.

  Lazily, Kabe feasted his eyes on her, then he moved in, hips and erection pressing into her belly, her hard nipples against his chest. One hand slowly snaked around her waist, the other slid up her back and into her hair. He grasped it, tilted her head back, and, voice rumbling against her mouth, said, ‘I can do that … and more.’ With care and, it seemed, the need to savour this moment, his mouth slowly eased onto hers. His tender kiss drove all negative thoughts from her head.

  The last vision Belle had before she closed her eyes was the subdued light bathing his tanned, broad chest.

  ‘Belle …’ Kabe’s eyes searched hers, ‘you okay with this?’ His deep velvet voice slid straight to her luscious place, filling her with delicious need, making her wet.

  ‘Yes,’ she replied, her voice rough. To prove she was ready, she s
lid her mouth along his jaw to his ear, sucking on the lobe, then curled her finger around his wrist, placed his hand on her belly and slid it down, down between her thighs. He moaned into her mouth and slipped his fingers into the wet folds. She gasped, rocked her hips and pressed harder against his fingers. His thumb rolled over her slick clit.

  ‘Babe,’ Kabe breathed, his voice husky with need, ‘you are so ready for me.’ He slipped two fingers inside her.

  She arched her back, thrust her hips forward and cried out with the pleasure he gave her.

  His free hand slowly caressed her breast then moved to the small of her back, putting pressure the, pulling her into him.

  Sliding her hand down his abdomen she wrapped her fingers around his shaft, and holding tight, she pumped; he groaned then nipped her lip before capturing her mouth again.

  ‘Kabe …’ she whispered, sounding urgent.

  Without taking his mouth off hers, he slid his hand away from between her thighs and pulling his hips back he forced her to let him go.

  Belle protested, a whimper escaping her throat. ‘Don’t stop … no, no, don’t stop.’

  ‘I want to taste you,’ Kabe replied, voice husky with need.

  One hand slid up and around her back while the other went behind her knees. He lifted her up, strode to his bed and gently placed her there.

  He hurried into the bathroom, and she heard the rustle of foil. Belle’s body hummed with expectation as she watched Kabe gracefully move to the end of the bed. Astonished, she raised herself onto her elbows: his big but gentle hands were caressing her feet. He kissed her arches, her ankles, and then ran his hands up her legs to her inner thighs, easing them apart. His mouth and tongue followed, softly sucking, licking, slowly closing on his target. Belle gasped, arched her back and gripped the sheets in her fists. His skilful mouth on her clit knew how to kiss her there, his tongue dipping inside then coming back to slide up her swollen lips.

  ‘Kabe …’ Belle, sounding desperate but unable to stop from rolling her hips, gripped his hair and tried to pull him up. ‘I want you inside me.’

  She could feel him smile then groan with satisfaction; the vibration of his voice against her clit sent her to the edge; then he slid a finger inside her and there it was—she arched her back and cried out with the longest, most beautifully intense orgasm she’d ever experienced.

  ‘Oh God … Kabe!’ Belle grabbed his hair and pulled him up to her mouth. She ran her hands down his shoulders and felt his body tremble. She rolled him over; now she was on top.

  ‘Belle …’ he sounded surprised, and on the edge of laughter.

  She took a moment to savour his body. Hands on his six-pack, she pushed back, sliding her bottom along his thighs, took hold of his beautiful erection and, positioning herself over him, eased down until Kabe filled her. Belle’s lingering orgasm clutched at his cock and made their connection exquisite.

  ‘Babe …’ he whispered, a hot smile on his handsome face. He lifted his head and looked down at where his body joined with hers, watching as she slid up and down on him. ‘Fuck,’ he growled.

  ‘Yes … Kabe yes.’ She ground her hips down, while he pushed up with his.

  Kabe took her hands and brought them down to his shoulders so he could reach her breasts. Finding her nipples with his tongue, he sucked one into his mouth then the other.

  ‘Oh God,’ Belle cried out. The sensation zipped straight from her nipple to her belly and bellow to her sex. She grabbed his hair, pulled him up and kissed him hard, their bodies intertwined. A giddy sense of sweet heat flooded the velvety swell of her groin and radiated out to her thighs, legs and toes until she could barely stand it.

  ‘Kabe …’ Belle cried out urgently, ‘do it now.’

  Staying inside her, he rolled over, taking her with him, and suddenly she was on her back and he was on top. ‘Oh yes,’ Belle gasped. She drew her legs up and locked her feet around his hips; with every thrust, she pulled him in harder. She groaned into his mouth as he plunged, faster, deeper, wilder. Hands planted in the mattress and biceps bulging, he supported his body over her and ran his tongue over her nipples and gently nipped the sensitive bud then took it in his mouth and sucked.

  Riding her, grinding his hips, Kabe drove her towards ecstasy again. Her body trembled with another orgasm building inside her to the point where it was within her grasp, but teased her at the edge of coming.

  ‘Kabe …’ she pleaded, her voice urgent.

  ‘You’re so fucking beautiful!’ Kabe voice rumbled against her chest. ‘I’m going to make you come again, Belle.’ He slammed in deep and ground his hips against her.

  Eyes on his, half-closed and smouldering with hunger, she dug her fingers into his butt, as an all-consuming orgasm pulsed through her, again, and again, it went on, her sex clutching his cock. Never losing eye contact, which was so unbelievably hot.

  Kabe shoved his head in her neck, his lips and tongue sliding over her skin, teeth grazing her flesh. He started moving again, hips bucking, slowly at first, then harder and faster

  Belle looked into his dark eyes and knew he was close. Then, hands under her knees he pulled her legs up over his shoulders, and clutching her hips, thrust in again, and again.

  Still aglow with her lingering orgasm, she panted, ‘Oh yes, even better.’ He filled her, pounding into her. One more thrust, he planted deep, held himself still, and then in sweet agony, called out, ‘Belle!’

  He took her mouth, rough and wet, while throbbing deep inside her, and she couldn’t help but smile into his kiss.

  Kabe rolled to his side taking Belle with him, holding her tight against him. She snuggled in and savoured every moment of the afterglow. Her heart, mind and body sang. Kabe had pulled her back together, completely.

  ‘Belle, how’re you doing?’ he murmured.

  How on earth could she possibly describe what she’d just experienced? In a daze, she lifted her chin and fixed her eyes on his; time stretched as Kabe patiently waited for her answer.

  ‘Belle?’ he whispered, hands on her face as he studied her.

  She focused. ‘I—I feel like laughing and crying, all at the same time. I feel as light as a feather, yet I can’t move a muscle.’

  Slowly, Kabe relaxed and kissed a tear that trailed from the corner of her eye. ‘You had me worried for a minute.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Thought maybe it was too soon after Lexie and your talk …’ he trailed off.

  ‘Hell no. This was perfect. I’m in lo—heaven.’ She’d almost said love.

  He didn’t miss her near slip. Fighting a smile, he gave her a meaningful look and tightened his hold.

  ‘What about you? How do you feel?’ she dared ask.

  ‘I can’t possibly describe what we just experienced, am still experiencing, and will for the rest of my life. And I know what you mean, I can’t move either.’

  For the rest of his life? She hardly dare think he felt the same.

  ‘Sorry,’ Kabe apologised, ‘what just happened means more than that. I’ve just lost my mind, can’t talk, can’t stop smiling. You belly danced on my hips, my cock inside you. My life has changed forever. And that’s it, from now on, we don’t leave this bed.’ When he turned to look at her the jokes were gone, replaced with a depth of tenderness she’d seen on his face a few times now. He was and always would be a beautiful man. ‘You’re mine now,’ he went on. ‘You realise that, don’t you?’ he stated firmly.

  ‘Um … what do you mean by that, exactly?’

  He slipped an arm around her waist and tugged her onto her side, facing him. ‘You and me, we’re a team.’ His hand came up to smooth hair from her face. ‘I want to wake up with you every morning. I want to spend my days with you. Fool around with you and kiss you goodnight. Turn around during the night, find you and curl my body around yours. Slide my hands over your skin; kiss your skin. Take you into the shower, wash you, feel you.’

  ‘Oh …’ Belle sighed. Thank God she was lying down, beca
use what he said next rocked her world anew.

  ‘Move in with me,’ he stated, driving what he said home by tightening his arms around her.

  ‘What?’ she felt her eyes widen in shock, and she couldn’t get enough oxygen into her constricted lungs. ‘I … I don’t know what to say,’ Belle told him honestly.

  ‘That’s okay, I can wait.’ Kabe lightly stroked her back. ‘You’re shivering!’

  ‘Seems I can’t stop,’ she said on a nervous giggle.

  ‘It’s not cold, so something has freaked you out. Is it me? Am I moving too fast?’

  ‘Could be, but then again, maybe not. I’ll be blunt.’ Belle watched his face closely in case he didn’t want blunt. On Kabe’s nod, she forged ahead. ‘I’m scared.’ He opened his mouth to speak; she touched a finger to his lips. ‘Remember that cliff I felt I was going to fall off? That hasn’t changed, I’m hanging on by my fingernails. To everyone around, I look fine and in control, but inside I’m a nervous wreck. And it’s not you necessarily that’s making me feel this way. Although …’ Belle closed her eyes, concentrated on forcing her body to still and quit shivering, which kind of worked. ‘No, ignore that. I’ve felt like this for a while, since Annaliese, except more stuff keeps piling on. Greg and his insane mind games. My parents— I’m starting to think they need to back off, on a few levels. Pop, who’s alone on an island when I know he used to love socialising. So for all Lexie and my arguments that he should be able to stay there and live his life as he sees fit, I feel something is wrong, but I don’t know what, and it’s driving me nuts.’

  Kabe looked down at her and waited.

  ‘What?’ Belle shrugged.

  ‘You’re not giving me all of it.’ His chin dropped and his dark, knowing eyes fixed on hers. ‘Babe … ?’ His arm around her waist flexed, which was his way of prompting that he wanted to know everything.

  She studied him, and saw in his eyes, in his warm but determined face, that he wasn’t going to back down. It was time to open up and get this out of the way as well. ‘I want this with you so much it hurts.’ She barely got that out as her throat tightened, then tears stung, welling in her eyes and Kabe’s face blurred. She blinked a few times to clear her vision. ‘God! I hate this … Ms Blubber Arse is at it again.’