Natural Attraction

by C L Green

  The idea does sound appealing however. Under normal circumstances, if he had been someone that I knew better, or someone I had been friends with for a while, I would have arranged feeders for the dogs before I’d left home so I could have stayed overnight to save the big drive.

  Perhaps I could ring Jen? She has a spare key to my place anyway so the idea is not as far-fetched as it first sounds.

  “Um, I suppose so.” I respond slowly as I consider whether staying is an offer I want to follow through with. Wouldn’t it all feel a bit weird staying over?

  A brief vision of us both naked rolling around in bed skims through my mind.

  Crap!

  There is no way I am going there this soon after meeting a guy, what am I thinking? It is probably the furthest thing from his mind too. I physically shake my head to clear the X-rated thoughts streaming in.

  “If you’re really okay with it, I suppose I could do that. Are you sure you want me here wrecking your Saturday night? Surely a good-looking guy like you already has other plans for his Saturday night?”

  I hint at the fact that he might have already planned to spend some time-out on the town with his mates. Or perhaps he already has plans to spend some time with a woman friend.

  The latter thought spikes an odd sense of jealousy in my soul that makes my blood run just a little cold. It occurs to me that I am being a little overdone on the jealousy emotion when I hardly know the guy.

  “Well I do sometimes head over to Luke and Teagan’s place for a few beers on a Saturday night, but no, I don’t usually head out on the town. I’m more one for quiet nights and good movies if you get my drift. Please stay, I’d like you to.”

  He sounds sincere. I am tired. Why not?

  “Okay. If you’re sure it's no trouble. What should I do with Maverick? Put him back in the day yard?”

  “Nope, I’ve got a spare paddock he can go in. It's got plenty of feed and it will give him space to wind down and graze. He’s probably just as tired as you are. Here, give him to me. I’ll take him and settle him in while you ring Jen and get your dogs sorted.”

  Jen, of course. I’d almost forgotten about her and my dogs already. Thank god Jax was on the ball.

  “Sure, thanks.”

  I hand Maverick’s lead over to Jax and head towards my car. I fold into the front passenger seat to take the weight off my feet while I ring Jen. My feet are now officially aching. I wonder if Jax would mind if I took a bath? Hot water and Epsom Salts might even be called for.

  I punch the speed dial for Jen’s mobile phone and she answers on the first ring.

  “Were you sitting there waiting for my call?” I jib flippantly.

  “Sure were! Why the fuck haven’t you rung me already biatch? Are you home? How was your day with Ja-a-axx? How did Maverick go? Did you have any sex?” Jen is rapid firing questions at me too fast for any answers.

  “No I did NOT have any sex. Get your mind out of the gutter woman. My day is great, Maverick is a star but no, I’m not home.”

  “Where are you?” She immediately sounds concerned. “Did you break down? Do you need me to come get you?”

  “No, nothing like that. I’m still at Jax’s house and I’ve decided to stay the night. I am ringing to ask if you can feed my dogs for me.”

  “You’re staying there tonight? You’re gunna have sex aren’t you? I knew it. I could feel it with my sixth sex sense. Sure I’ll feed your dogs, how much and what do you give them? There is no way I would want to be the cause of you missing out on a night with Mr.Hottie himself.

  Fuck you do move fast though, I don’t remember sleeping with Jason until about the third week of us seeing each other. Then again, I suppose jumping in the sack on Day One fits with your take me or leave me MO so go on, knock yourself out, let him take you.”

  I launch in to defend myself while Jen is taking a breath.

  “I am NOT having sex with Jax anytime soon! I can assure you of that. I will be sleeping in his spare room. It is only to save me the two hour drive home and back so we can keep working with Maverick tomorrow. I haven’t even ridden Maverick for him yet and I’m sure that’s the only reason Jax wants me to stay.”

  “Riggghhht,” Jen drawls slowly. “Have you got any sausage suits with you?”

  “No I don’t have any sausage suits with me. Would you quit ignoring what I am saying? I am not having sex tonight and I won’t be needing condoms. Subject closed. Dog food is in the laundry cupboard and they each get a full scoop. Bowls are still in the dishwasher, but should be clean because I set it off before I left this morning. Now stop worrying about my sex life and go and manage your own. Good-bye.”

  I stab at the red button on my phone and hang up before she can say any more. I know Jen will not have taken any offense at what I’ve said or done. She loves me too much.

  I lean back in my seat and sigh. A little catnap would be perfect about now. Although I should go help Jax with Maverick.

  Perhaps just five minutes?

  I feel my eyelids drooping slowly over my eyes. I swing my eyes to the dashboard clock and notice it is just after six o’clock. It's hard to believe I am so tired so early in the day.

  I feel myself drifting off and wonder if I can just manage forty or so winks before Jax returns.

  *****

  I hear the soft click of my car door and feel a strong arm sliding underneath my knees and another around my back. Before I can register what is happening, I feel myself being gently lifted out of my car and settled firmly against Jax’s chest as he spins to shut the car door with his butt.

  “Sorry, I think I nodded off.” I mumble into his chest, once again taking the opportunity to enjoy his gorgeous aroma. “You can put me down, I can walk you know.”

  “I’d rather carry you. Go back to sleep. You’re fine. You’ve only been asleep for an hour or so anyway.” Jax talks as he keeps walking. “I’ve managed to feed all the horses and settle things out here so you can keep napping while I get tea ready if you like.”

  “An hour!” I yelp and suddenly jolt back to life. “Oh my god, how rude. I’m so sorry. Put me down, plleeasse.” I beg unashamedly and start to wriggle against his strong arms in an attempt to point my feet towards the ground.

  I feel Jax’s arms clamping tighter around me and he gives a shrug to resettle me against his chest. “Quit your fidgeting.”

  “Put.Me.The.Fuck.Down.”

  Now I am starting to get pissed, he is treating me like a baby. I double my efforts to wiggle free of his viselike grip. It is, however, a futile effort as I feel him clamp down even harder and just increase his pace as we lurch towards the house. I start to marvel at the sheer power of this guy and visions of him spending half his day at the gym building muscle flash across my mind.

  “Ash, just relax, your exhausted and I want to look after you.”

  I give up. What else is there for it? Obviously I’m not going to get a choice in the matter anyway. Why not save myself the effort of walking if he wants to do it for me anyway? I relax into his chest and sigh. I feel his arms relax a little and I settle in to enjoy the ride.

  This has to be the weirdest day I have ever had in my entire life. As I concentrate on the gentle rocking motion of Jax striding out towards his house I once again start to feel my eyelids drooping.

  Don’t fall asleep again.

  I have barely finished saying the words in a slow chant to myself when I do exactly that. Fall asleep, again.

  *****

  This time I wake to find myself stretched out comfortably under a blanket on an enormous dark leather couch in a dimly lit room. Clearly this piece of furniture was made for a giant because even with me stretched out in all my glory, I am barely covering two of its massive cushions. There is a soft, fluffy pillow under my cheek and the leather feels chamois soft. I feel like I am lying on a cloud.

  I lie quietly for a minute or two letting my eyes become accustomed to the dimly lit room. Sitting up slowly, I stretch and feel some o
f my poor war torn muscles twang to remind me that I am going to be stiff by the morning. My boots and socks are gone and a fleeting thought of worry that my feet had probably been hot and smelly when Jax took my boots off crosses my mind.

  There goes one of my well-kept personal secrets.

  I glance around the darkened room and take in a massive flat screen television sitting on a low unit in front of me. The unit wings a massive set of speakers and what I suspect is a huge subwoofer too. It's a bit hard to make it out in the dark. There is a cabinet over to my right covered in lots of photo frames with pictures of people who I can’t make out in the dark.

  My other senses soon register clanging and rattling noises coming from a room behind me somewhere and I assume they are being made by Jax in his kitchen. I smell what I think could be steak frying and then notice my stomach grumbling. My mouth starts watering shortly after that.

  Shit or is that drool?

  I quickly check the pillow with the palm of my hand for signs of drooling and am most relieved to find none. Obviously eating a massive meal at lunchtime hasn’t in fact wrecked my appetite for an evening meal and I haven’t drooled on someone else’s pillow.

  Thank God!

  I swing my feet to the floor and feel them sink into deep, soft, carpet. Boy does this guy like his creature comforts. As I wriggle my toes and revel in the softness brushing against them I hear a door creak behind me. I turn to see Jax peering through a crack in the doorway towards me.

  “You’re awake little girl. Cool. Tea’s ready.”

  I barely have time to register what he is saying and he vanishes again.

  I get up and head through the now-cracked open door and find myself in the hallway Jax had dragged me along earlier that day. Gathering my sense of direction I find the laundry and set about washing my hands. As I wash my filthy hands I hope I haven’t left horse dirt all over his couch.

  I then find the toilet and not feeling particularly adventurous I settle on using the laundry again to wash my hands afterwards. When I make it back down the hallway and into the dining room, Jax is placing two plates on the table. Each plate is covered in what I am quietly convinced is half a cow.

  These two enormous slabs of meat are each cuddling up to a mountain of salad with enough colors in the salad to keep a preschool child happy on finger painting day.

  I love steak, and I’d be happy to eat it every day, but really, this could be a bit much.

  A ping of regret flies through my system about eating an animal. I have these fleeting thoughts now and then. Unfortunately, the cold hard truth is that I love animals but I love to eat them even more. How can that be, it’s almost my own personal paradox.

  “I assumed you weren’t vegetarian after the lasagna and I made a quick salad too.” He says looking up at me displaying his signature grin. I’m sure he is highly amused at the look of terror on my face at the size of the steak.

  “You made steak and salad when there is a military platoons worth of rations scattered throughout your refrigerator and pantry in Tupperware containers?” I ask.

  “Yep, to be honest I haven’t cooked for myself for a while but tonight I felt like it. If Ma finds out, she’s gunna be shocked.”

  He slides a chair back for me and prompts me to take a seat.

  “Go figure. You’re probably a champion MasterChef as well.” I mumble mainly to myself but hear Jax chuckling so figure it is a bit louder than I expected it to be.

  With my stomach growling at an almost audible level, I make haste and slide into my seat. Not waiting for any more prompting, I grab some cutlery and slice off a huge chunk of steak and ram it in my mouth while Jax slides in next to me.

  Now acutely aware that Jax is sitting close to me, I start to chew.

  When I start to chew, I take the opportunity to give him a good look over. I notice that his hair is damp and messy and he is wearing a fresh white t-shirt and clean blue jeans. Add to that the smell of fresh soap, an amazing cologne and the taste of the most tender, mouthwatering, peppered steak I have ever eaten rolling around in my mouth, I let a small moan slip through my lips.

  “Good?” He asks lifting one eyebrow and fixing his crystal blue eyes on my mouth as I keep chewing.

  “Awesome.” I reply, honestly not knowing whether I am talking about the steak or the man.

  Jax continues to stare at my mouth for a while longer then sets about attacking his own cow with gusto.

  I enjoy watching his mouth chew for a while, noting that his lips look plump and soft. Finding my body temperature inappropriately rising, I decide I need a distraction so begin to attack my salad mountain.

  As I should have expected by all the colouring, it is delicious. Chock full of salad greens, peppers and various colored tomatoes, I start considering whether I can hire him as a private chef as well as a horse trainer.

  “I must stink.” I announce as I dive in for a second attack at the salad mountain.

  A day in the sun, various forms of Mavericks DNA sources wiped on both my front and back, all peppered down with a good dusting of Jax’s round yard sand is surely kicking my deodorants ass by now.

  “Not from where I’m sitting,” he shakes his head as he shovels another chunk of steak into his mouth. He continues to stare intensely at me before adding, “You smell fine to me.”

  “Honesty hey? You’re as good a bullshit artist as the rest of them.” I snitch putting my fork down ready to go into battle about liars and how I feel about them. There is no way I smell anything but disgusting right now.

  I see the corner of his mouth twitch a little and without responding, he cuts another chunk of his steak and holds it up to my mouth. For some reason (probably having been trained to open for the aeroplane when I was baby) I open my mouth and let him deposit the tasty treat on my tongue.

  I can’t remember a single experience in my adult life where someone else has fed me and quite frankly, it’s hot. He’s hot.

  Holy shit, please don’t do that again or I might abandon my own plate completely.

  He’s damned distracting too. What was I angry about?

  “You smell like horses and hair spray. Horses being one of my favorite smells, with hair spray coming along a fast second. That all adds up to you smelling pretty good to me. Shut up and eat little girl.”

  He continues his intent staring at my chewing methods and starts attacking his own salad mountain. I decide that I can’t take that line of conversation any further so I retract my imaginary claws and focus on attacking my salad mountain as well.

  “Have you got a bath?” I ask fully expecting a yes answer, because, let’s face it, who has a house this size and doesn’t have at least one bath in it?

  “Yep.”

  “Can I use it after tea?” Again I am already expecting the yes answer but I suppose you never know. It might be broken or there might be a water shortage.

  “Yep.”

  “Do you have Epsom Salts?”

  “Yep.”

  He shovels another piece of steak into his mouth and resumes his intense Ash watching duties.

  “Can I put some in my bath?”

  “Yep.”

  “Should I shut up and eat?”

  “Yep.”

  Dimples and a cheeky grin.

  Thank god, I was starting to wonder if he was jammed in yep mode or something.

  I watch as Jax makes short work of plowing the rest of his steak into his mouth. Looking back down at my plate I realize I’ve only eaten about half of my steak and most of my salad. I am however feeling very full.

  Having finished, Jax carefully places his cutlery on his plate and starts to make motions towards gathering his plate up and leaving the table. Before he can do so, I quickly grab his plate, slid mine into its place and put his empty plate in front of me grinning at him cheekily.

  Without saying a word, he shrugs his shoulders, grins and sets about cutting up his new piece of steak and shoveling it in.

  I make a mental note
to myself that if I ever get a chance to invite him out to tea, I probably can’t afford to take him to a steak house. To eat that much steak out on the town would more than likely send me broke.

  I watch him devour and clear my plate. Not a bad way to spend the next few minutes. He is just that gorgeous and spending my evening sitting watching him enjoy his food is a good way to spend my time.

  This said, after five minutes of this, I’m starting to think that watching a person eat may just be a small form of erotic torture.

  “Right then, it must be bath time for the little girl,” he announces cheerfully pushing his chair back and gathering both of our plates up. “Will I be joining you?”

  “No!” I almost choke on air.

  Although my dirty mind wouldn’t mind considering it, I’d die of shock at the thought of showing myself naked to anyone. This would be even worse with a stranger, a male stranger at that. I clearly have self-image issues because I’m the girl who can’t even wear a bikini uncovered at the beach. I wear a bikini, but I cover it modestly with a pair of shorts and a singlet. A pair of shorts and a singlet that I never take off, not even to swim.

  “Of course not!”

  What the hell?

  “Just joking of course, I’ve already had a shower. A man can't help try his luck though.” I hear him chuckling as he heads for the kitchen. “Come with me and you can use the spa in my en suite if you like.”

  I nod and get up to follow him, a spa sounds good.

  “Do you want me to help clean up here first?” I offer, suddenly aware that he’s done all the work so far and I can see that he is quickly and efficiently stacking our dirty plates into a pristinely empty dishwasher. Obviously the women didn’t even leave any dishes when they went.

  “Nah, I’ve got it. You need to have your bath and then we might just watch a movie, what do you reckon?” I watch him disappear into his pantry and reemerge with an already opened box of Epsom salts. “C’mon, let’s get you organized.”

  I obediently follow him through another door that runs off from the kitchen. This in turn leads to a small sitting room that adjoins his bedroom. We continue straight on through his bedroom where I only manage a brief glimpse of his massive king-sized four-poster bed. I notice it has matching bedside tables and ornate cast iron bedside lamps.