Not since Emily had he come close to this reaction to a woman. And then he’d been a mouthy kid, who hadn’t known his own arse from a hole in the ground. Eh, his reaction to Kaycee unnerved him. Made him feel shaky. And good.
He released a steadying breath, his thumb rubbing the soft underside of her wrist.
“Hmm, you’re awake.” Her fingers tangled in his chest hair.
“Eh, I am.” His balls tightened at the feel of her hardened nipples on his skin. “G’day, sheila.”
“Hmm.” Kaycee pressed into his body, her knee dangerously close to his rigid prick. “Did you sleep?”
“Not much.” Not at all, but he supposed that didn’t matter. Most nights, he slept from ten to four. If he got off schedule, he was fucked. And tired the next day. He hadn’t even tried to sleep. Not with her naked in his arms.
“You didn’t sleep much on the flight either.” She rose up onto an elbow to gaze down at him. “Are you sleepy?” She placed a single kiss on his mouth, her hand roaming across his chest, then slowly down his belly.
He gulped air at the feel of her palm on his prick.
“You seem very awake to me.” Gently, she rubbed the palm of her hand up and down his length before trying to wrap her hand around its width. Her hand was small like the rest of her. But he didn’t care. All he wanted was for her to keep touching him.
Slowly, her hand pulled up and down along the hard muscle.
“I thought you’d be in need of a meal.” Sweat prickled his skin at the need she intensified. Her hand tightened causing his teeth to clench.
“Oh, I’d like to go to the Sounds of Silence dinner at Ayers Rock later.” She moved her hand to tease the head of his prick. “Will you go with me?”
Sweat broke out on his chest. Dinner out at a tourist attraction? “Eh.” He’d agree to dinner out at Ayers Rock. He’d agree to anything she asked. Christ, he better not be expected to follow a conversation now. His hips arched.
“You like this…” Her teeth caught hold of her lower lip.
Lust moved along his bloodstream.
“Touching you like this…” her leg shifted along his, “…makes me wet.” She dropped her head, her lips trailing along his jaw to his throat.
Oh, fuck. “Kaycee.”
“Hmm.” Her tongue teased the underside of his ear. “You taste so good.”
Oh, fuck. “Sheila.” A hand tangled in the mass of her hair. He couldn’t recall anyone fondling him in such a way before. Christ, he was going to lose it. Spill like a bloody youth.
She gasped, lifting her head. Her lips parted as she leaned over. “Kiss me, Miller.”
Removing her hand from his prick, he did what she wanted. Claimed her mouth. Nibbled her lips. Suckled at her tongue. Teased her until her pussy rubbed along his hip.
He shuddered, grasping her arse to hold her still.
“Make love…” she panted into his mouth, “…to me.”
Make love. He’d never get used to her saying that. Damn if it didn’t make him feel as if this mattered. As if he mattered. She made him feel good. Needed. Wanted.
“I want you on top.” Her nails raked his nipple.
His hips jerked.
“I want to feel all…” her tongue teased his lips, “…your strength.”
Oh, fuck. She talks too much.
Balls drawn up tight against his body, he reached for a condom. With her darkened eyes watching his every move, his hand shook as he covered his prick.
She shifted away. Expectantly she got on her back. Her hand urged him to climb on. At the feel of her thighs cradling his hips, he shuddered. His prick rubbed her soaked pussy.
“Hmm. That feels good.”
Teeth clenched, he rocked against her clit.
“You feel so good.” Her hands clung to his shoulders.
Keeping the bulk of his weight off her, he rocked himself back and forth over her swollen flesh. She moaned every time he passed over her clit.
At the first arch of her hips, he pulled back and entered her hole. As he inched his way in, her inner walls sucked at him. He rolled his hips, burying himself deep.
She was tight. So bloody tight.
Sharp nails dug into his shoulders. Her legs and arms clamped around his body.
Muscles straining to hold back, he dropped his head to claim her mouth in a kiss. Her hands shifted into his hair while her mouth and body sucked at his tongue and prick. His thrusts turned brutal as he worked his body in and out of her clinging walls in frantic bursts.
Every stroke he gave her, she treated him to a gasp.
A moan of desire.
Sweat rolled along his back while he grunted and groaned.
Christ, he liked how she felt around his prick.
Liked how she rocked her body up to meet his driving force.
Liked the sounds she made while he fucked her.
“Miller…” Her body stiffened to arch under his. Her pussy clenched, convulsed around his working muscle. He fucked her faster, harder to draw out her pleasure. “Oh…” She breathed hot against his throat. Her hands continued to cling to him.
Letting himself go, he rode out his own climax. His mind went blank. Back arched, his prick jerked on each release of his come.
Chest heaving, he opened his eyes to stare down at Kaycee. Her feet rubbed over the backs of his legs.
Her pussy squeezed his semi-erect prick. “You feel so good inside me.” She lifted her head and kissed him full on the mouth. When she rested her head on the pillow her dimples flashed.
You feel so good inside me. A woman shouldn’t say that to a man if she expected him to be able to think of anything else.
Growling, he eased out of her to deal with the condom. Once done, he joined her back on the bed. The sheet had been pulled up over her breasts. “If you want dinner out at Ayers Rock we need to get going. It’s a long ride.”
“I was rather impulsive earlier.” She sighed. “When I asked you to go out to dinner with me.”
He grunted. He’d figured that much about her out on his own. She talked a lot too. Even during sex. At least for him. He wasn’t used to a lot of chatter.
She sat up, her loose hair fell around her shoulders. “You don’t mind going out there with me?”
“I don’t agree to things I don’t want to do.” Though he wasn’t entirely sure he’d be able to keep to that rule with her naked.
“That’s good to know.” She smiled, wrapping her arms around her knees. “I hear it’s spectacular out there. Have you been?”
“I’ve flown over it a few times.”
Kaycee’s teeth dragged over her lower lip. A habit of hers that he’d noted. “I guess we need to get ready then.” She stood, taking the sheet with her to shield her body. “Do you want to shower with me?”
Miller came off the bed while she walked backward from the room.
His prick thickened at the invitation.
“I’ll scrub your back.” Her smile was both sexy and mischievous before she disappeared from his view.
His hands curled into fists as his prick lengthened fully.
What the bloody hell am I doing with the Yank? He did not hang out with women. Not since Emily of his youth… Well, there’d been De. But neither woman had set him on edge like this. Neither had made him experience what Kaycee had him feeling. Wanting.
Mate, just get the protection.
So he did.
Kaycee’s muscles knotted in discomfort while she crouched down to zip up her bag. A delicious ache tingled between her legs. Even her thighs were sore.
Miller had given her the best workout of her life. She’d never felt so wanted.
“What do you think about flying over to Ayers Rock?”
“But we’ve this room for the night.” She looked up to find him towering over her. Wow… Did he look good in his worn clothes. Muscle-hugging T-shirt. Jeans. Boots. Yum. Yum. Yum. Slowly, she scanned back up his legs. On his belt rested his cell and a knife.
; She blinked. The man actually carried a knife.
“No worries. We’ll stay overnight there.” He shrugged a shoulder. “Watch the sunrise and come back here.”
How much would a hop cost? And another room. She’d been told Australia was expensive. She shook the concern off. What did it matter?
Life was about living, and she wanted every memory with the Aussie life would allow. “Well, sure.” She smiled. “It sounds fun.” It did. A whole lot of fun.
“Good. We’ll camp out then.”
“Oh…” She stood and moaned at the pulling in her inner thighs.
“You all right?” His lips compressed.
“Yes, it’s a heavenly discomfort.”
“What?”
“Oh, it’s nothing.” She waved a hand. “I’ve never camped out before.” Nope. She was a city girl.
“And you came to the outback?” He arched a blond eyebrow.
“I know.” She laughed and gave a little shake of her head. “It’s crazy. But something made me come here. I just had to. Australia is the most fascinating place I’ve ever read about.”
After a clear non-committal sound, he folded his arms. “Do you have decent boots?”
“Yes, I do.” She collected her hiking boots from her shoe bag. “See. They don’t do much for my vertical problem, but I’ve already worn them in.”
“They’ll do.”
Kaycee’s lips turned up. “Told you so.”
He looked away, out through the floor-to-ceiling window. “I’ll wait outside while you pack a bag.”
“Great.” She ogled his bottom while he made his way out onto the balcony.
It didn’t take her long to get ready. She noted Miller had collected all his things before they headed out. He’d left nothing behind in the room when the door closed after them. It startled her back into reality. Sadness stole over her. She’d like more time with Miller but it seemed as if he was already gone.
Her feet were slower on the way to the truck he’d rented. The mood didn’t last. She’d rather enjoy what time they did have left instead of worry about when it’d end.
On the way to the airport, they picked up sandwiches. She ate quietly as he drove. From time to time, she fed him a French fry from a large package. She took to feeding him two or three at a time. He appeared to like bigger bites.
Sweet sensations hummed to life when his tongue licked salt from her finger. “Want a bite of your burger?”
“Nope. I’ll eat once we’re at the birdie.”
Minutes later, she took the last juicy bite of hers to glance up and see they had somehow gotten out onto the tarmac. In the distance, an airplane lifted off. “Hm, I think this is illegal.”
“Not for me.”
He drove up close to a small place. “Sheila, say g’day to one of my birds.” He stopped the truck and cut off the engine.
“You’re a pilot?” She stared at him, her stomach dancing with butterflies, making her almost giddy. She didn’t know what to think. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
His knuckles whitened on the steering wheel.
“Oh, yeah.” She forced a smile that made her cheeks hurt. “Casual sex. No unnecessary information exchanged.” She needed to remember that.
Her gaze dropped to her lap while she put her trash together. Tightness swelled under her breasts. Now, this is ridiculous. You knew what you were getting into. Still, hurt penetrated her nerves.
“Kaycee…”
Again, she forced her mouth into what she hoped resembled a smile. “Hey, no worries.” She purposely used his words. “You’d better eat so we can get going.”
He took the two burgers she passed him. While he unwrapped the first one, she shoved the trash into the bag.
In five or six bites, he woofed down a sandwich and then guzzled a bottle of water.
Okay, girl. Get over this funk. “I’m looking forward to the dinner.” She shrugged a shoulder. “And to the flight.”
“I’ve got four other birdies.” He ate two bites before he licked his lips. “I’m a bush pilot. Besides using my birds like Yanks use cars, I do some search-and-rescue flights.”
A thrill jumped in her stomach over the fact he’d opened up a bit. She did want to know things about him. She wanted to remember as much as she could about her Native. Even if it was only a fling.
She recalled what he’d said on the plane earlier. The training in Sydney he’d mentioned. “For the AusSAR?”
His blue gaze turned her way. “Eh, sheila.”
“That sounds dangerous.” She moistened her lips. Search and rescue did sound dangerous. Very much so. She’d never given the career much thought before.
He finished his second sandwich, then wadded up his trash. “Can be.” He added the wrappers to the bag. “But someone’s got to do it.” He uncapped a second water bottle. “It might as well be me. I’m a bloody good pilot.”
She tried not to smile at the show of his ego. But she failed. “That I’m glad to hear.”
When he regarded her once more, she reached out and clasped his jaw in her hand. At her urge to come closer, he did. She kissed his lips. “I’m looking forward to this date.”
The flare of his nostrils sent a shiver through her. After treating her to a dark, heavy-lidded glance, he kissed her back.
She moaned. Oh, yes, she was looking forward to this date.
Chapter Three
Miller sat at the candlelit table outside with Kaycee to his right.
A real, honest-to-Christ date.
He was on a date.
His first.
With Emily there’d been a whole lot of sneaking around. And with De their relationship had never been conventional. Kaycee weaved a web of almost…enchantment around him with her enthusiasm for him, for life in general.
If it weren’t for the other six people, he might actually enjoy himself.
Directly across from them sat Yank honeymooners. On his left sat a couple from Germany. And to Kaycee’s right sat two single men, one French, the other English.
The table was large and round, but the men were still too close to Kaycee.
He leaned over for Kaycee’s ear only. “You’ve got to eat something.”
A delicate shiver shook her body. She turned toward him to wrap her arm around his shoulders. “Oh my gosh, stop teasing. I can’t eat crocodile.”
Damn if his mouth didn’t pull up in amusement. She hadn’t enjoyed any of the Australian delicacies. He, on the other hand, had piled on emu, kangaroo, barramundi and bush salad.
After second helpings, he was full, while she’d consumed mostly wine.
“The Milky Way stretches across the entire sky.” She pointed up, clinging to him. “Isn’t it gorgeous?”
At glance, he took in the constellations. He didn’t pay them much mind anymore. There were countless stars visible in the southern hemisphere. He shifted his gaze to her nearby profile. “Eh, gorgeous.” Her beauty hadn’t failed to steal his breath yet.
“Thank you.” Her smile shone brighter for him than any star. She kissed him, allowed him to savor the wine she’d been drinking before she dove back into conversations around the table.
While he sat and brooded. He liked the personal attention she gave him. It wasn’t something he was used to. They had so little time left, he wanted all her attention.
Minutes later the Frenchman got her to laugh at something. His guts knotted up. He wanted to be the one to make her laugh and smile. But had no bloody idea how.
On edge, he leaned back in his chair. Some bug he’d never experienced had gotten up his arse. He had to get over his reaction to her.
He had to.
Tomorrow, they’d part ways. The thought didn’t sit well. He wanted more time with her. His teeth clenched. Meeting her had mixed up his world. Good things didn’t happen to him. Life had taught him this lesson time and again.
After dinner, an astronomer gave a brief talk while pointing out stars and constellations. Telescopes and bino
culars were set up for them all to get a closer view.
Kaycee straightened from taking a peek. “Oh, Miller. It’s as if we’ve stepped into the prehistoric age. With all the lights off, it feels as if we’ve traveled back in time. Nothing but emptiness and stars for miles and miles.”
He grunted and shuffled a foot. That pretty much summed up the never-never. The land went on forever with damn few people in comparison to populate it.
“I’d love to stay here forever.”
His chest constricted. “You don’t belong here, sheila.” No, she didn’t. She was soft. Small. And she appeared to be happy in general. A happy little vegemite. The outback would drain the joy of life right out of her. Hell, he knew men who’d blown their brains out. Others had tried to ease the loneliness and depression with alcohol.
No, the never-never was no place for the Yank.
She grew quiet when she went back to viewing the sky through the telescope.
He folded his arms, so not to reach out for her. Ambling over, he stopped at her side. “Australia is a hard land. The outback is one of the most unforgiving places on the planet.”
“I know. I was just talking.” She lifted her head. “The bugs would make me crazy.”
He snorted. The insects were the least of the outback hardships. Though as a native, he rarely noticed them.
“You want to look? Interesting how the Zodiac is all upside down here. But you can see all of Scorpio.”
“Have at it.” He shook his head, able to see the stars fine enough.
“Kaycee?”
They turned to see the Frenchman saddle up.
“Hey, want a peek?”
“No, thanks.” The man extended a glass he carried. “The waitress had a last call.”
“Oh, thank you.” She accepted the offering.
“I’m heading back to town. Enjoy the rest of your trip.”
“You too.” She lifted the glass. “It was nice meeting you.”
“A pleasure.” He finally addressed Miller. “You as well, mate.”
Miller put his hand out. “Hooroo, mate.”
Then they stood alone again. Miller stepped into her personal space.
“He was nice.” She sighed, leaning into his body. After a drink, she tossed the remainder of the wine out. The glass hung down from her hand that now dangled from her side.
True Blue Love: The Thorns, Book 3 Page 3