Blue Moon

by J. A. Belfield

  “Oh …it’s just that I was coming past that way. I made you some tea. What with the weather being so cold, I figured you could use something to warm you up.”

  “You’ve made me tea?”

  As Josh met my stare, my eyebrow lifted.

  “Would it be okay to drop it into you? I won’t get in your way.”

  Nooooo! my mind screamed. I willed my head not to shake, kept my mouth shut. My teeth clenched with the effort.

  Josh combed his fingers through his hair. “That would be great.”

  “Would it be okay to come in to you? Or would you rather come out and meet me at the gates?”

  Josh turned toward the window. “You’re here already?”

  “Yes.”

  “You may as well come on in, then. I’m just in the apartment—the one I showed you . . .”

  “I know,” she said. “See you in a few seconds.”

  Josh hung up. “Marianne’s here.”

  My head bobbed. “I heard.”

  “Please . . .”

  “I’ll try.”

  “Jem.” His eyes pleaded.

  “I’ll try,” I said through pursed lips.

  Marianne waltzed into the room brandishing a silver—single-serving—flask. “Hey, Josh.”

  What sort of woman made flasks for men they barely knew?

  Skinny-fit jeans accentuated her slender figure, and her matching cable-knit jumper, gloves and her gilet enhanced the dowdiness of my coverall. Even my thrown-into-a-scrunchie hair faded into the background beside her lush, dark waves cascading in perfect twists.

  She approached Josh with lips spread wide, teeth revealed, eyes sparkling. The instant she turned to me, all warmth faded despite the smile that remained fixed in place. “It’s nice to see you again, Jem.”

  Josh’s body tensed.

  Although I wanted to tell her to take her stupid flask and disappear, I’d made a promise to Josh. “You, too.” My jaw almost seized in the effort to remain polite. “I have work to do.” I placed my foot on the bottom rung of the stepladder.

  “Do you want this now, Josh?” she asked.

  Unable to help myself, I glanced over my shoulder.

  Marianne smiled as she handed it to him. “You look as though you could use warming up.”

  Warming up? Josh stood before her in nothing but a muscle vest and had not a goosebump in sight.

  “Thanks.” He took it from her, twisted the lid, and his entire face scrunched up.

  The flower beds in Poppy’s garden smelled more consumable than whatever the flask held.

  My foot relocated to the floor, and I moved closer, eyebrow arched. “Tea?”

  Marianne smiled. “Yes.”

  “Doesn’t smell like tea to me.”

  “That’s because it’s herbal. I make it myself. It’s very good for your health, Jem. Helps you stay strong.”

  Josh held out the flask as though diseased, and my hand lifted to smother my smirk. He glanced up, panic widening his eyes.

  I barked out a laugh, choked it back with the pretence of a cough. “I’ll, um …put that in the office, if you like. You can have it when you take your break later.”

  I didn’t wait for him to respond, just took it from him as my strides carried me past. By the time he mumbled a thanks, I’d already left the room.

  • • •

  From the snug bucket seat of the Porsche, I cruised the country lanes toward the DIY Depot across town, scarf circled around my neck, Sean’s rock CD blasting through the speakers. I took advantage of the lack of police cars prior to hitting town traffic and drove way too fast, in a desperate need for coveralls that fit. Through the open window, the icy cold wind whipped my hair about my head.

  I barely met any other vehicles during my recklessness. Only a Nissan and Volvo came toward me, and a sleek, black Lexus, whose driver also didn’t seem averse to breaking the speed law, stuck in my rear-view throughout.

  When I reached the depot car park, I took the Porsche slow over the speed bumps, parked up and headed in.

  On the way to the protective clothing department, a set of bathroom taps caught my eye, and I veered right. The chrome contours slid beneath my inspecting fingers. My lids lowered as I pictured them on the suite I’d ordered—white curves amid silver walls to match the taps. The image moulded together in my mind—until a deep unease settled over me.

  My shoulders stiffened. My eyes flew open.

  A discreet inhalation revealed nothing to set my alarm bells ringing.

  To the left, my gaze met that of a middle-aged man with thinning hair and a paunchy stomach. Beyond him, a younger guy in jeans and T-shirt, his hair gelled.

  Behind my other shoulder stood a couple, both with their hands on a pushchair.

  I stared hard at the woman for a few seconds before turning my attention to the only other occupant in the bathroom aisle, a middle-aged woman with rich chestnut hair.

  She held a brochure, seemed to search the shelves for something.

  Still nothing—within visual or sniffing range—to cause concern.

  Shrugging it off, I reached up for a set of the taps and ducked off to find the coveralls I’d come for.

  • • •

  Wednesday morning, donned in my ridiculous white coverall and ugly boots, I began to decorate the walls of the apartment. With each sweep of the paint roller, my body relaxed. The sounds of the others doing their manly jobs and quiet tunes from the radio added to it.

  After an hour, Sean arrived. My arm continued to move as I assured him I was okay and allowed him a kiss to ease his withdrawal.

  With the promise of coffee on his next visit, he headed back out.

  Once again, I slipped into a trance-like state. My mind daydreamed about Sean, what I’d very much like to do to him, about the forest and hunting—all the good thoughts that aroused my body as well as my brain.

  Footsteps entered the apartment, disturbing my blissful oblivion, and neared the room I occupied.

  I turned, and my gaze fell on Marianne.

  “Hello, Jem.”

  Remembering my promise, I nodded and tried a small smile on for size—it didn’t fit very well.

  “Is Josh about?”

  “Didn’t you ring him first?”

  “I tried, but he didn’t answer.” She smiled as her cool stare travelled over me. “I assumed he couldn’t hear it.”

  Teeth gritted, I studied her for seconds whilst my inner attitude warred against the politeness I knew I had to offer. “I’ll try him for you . . .” …if it’ll get rid of you. I retrieved my mobile from the window ledge and dialled.

  Josh answered straight away. “Missing me, Jem?”

  “Always.” I smiled. “Marianne’s here.”

  “Where?”

  “Down here …with me.”

  Silence.

  “She did try calling you, but she said you didn’t answer.”

  “I didn’t hear it.”

  I glanced at Marianne. “That’s what she said.”

  “Tell him I brought more tea,” Marianne said.

  I reined in my smirk. “She’s made you more tea.”

  He hesitated, may even have groaned but covered it well. “Okay, tell her I’m coming.”

  I hung up. “He’s on his way.”

  “Thanks.” She sent me a smile sweet enough to rot teeth.

  “Sure.” I put my phone down, returned to the ladders and my painting.

  “Did you choose this colour?” she asked.

  I nodded.

  “It’s nice.”

  Maybe if I ignored her, she’d get the hint and wait outside. I’d done what she wanted. How much did she expect from me?

 
“I could help you out …if you needed it. I’m good at painting.”

  I paused mid-roll, peered over my shoulder.

  Her expression flashed to her faux friendly smile, yet I didn’t miss the calculating glint she had in her eye.

  My brow lifted as I prepared to give her a special look of my own, one learnt from Poppy, but Sean appeared in the doorway.

  His gaze met mine over Marianne’s head as though checking my mood at her being there. As she turned toward him, I shrugged.

  Sean gave her his attention before she could spot our exchange. “You here to see Josh?”

  “Yes.”

  “Does he know you’re here?” He glanced at me as he spoke. Perhaps he didn’t trust me to behave civilly.

  “Yes. Jem let him know.” She pointed a thumb my way as though she thought him incapable of figuring out who she meant. “You’re Sean, right?”

  “That’s right.”

  “I’m Marianne.” She extended her hand.

  I scowled.

  “Yes, I know.” Sean smiled as he allowed her a short handshake and stepped round her. “Jem, I’m about to make drinks. You want another?”

  My eyebrow arched up.

  “Stupid question?”

  I gave a slow nod.

  With a chuckle, Sean about-turned. As soon as he’d gone, I wished he hadn’t. Marianne looked at me as if she expected me to strike up friendly chatter.

  When familiar footsteps travelled across tiles, a sigh of relief eased past my lips.

  Josh stuck his grinning head round the doorframe. “Marianne.”

  She mirrored his expression. “Josh.”

  Gag!

  “Everything okay?” Although he spoke to Marianne, Josh faced me.

  “Yes, thanks.”

  “Jem says you made me some more tea.”

  “Yes, I did.” She took another single-serving thermos from her shoulder bag. “I hate to think of you being cold.”

  Behind her back, my head shake accompanied my eye roll. I could, I guessed, understand her thinking Josh wasn’t as warm as usual—his sleeved T-shirt replacing his regular vest confirmed it—but no one in their right mind would look at Josh and believe the guy was cold.

  Josh, though, broadened his smile and took the Thermos from her. “Thanks.” At least he showed no eagerness to get the lid off.

  My head tilted at footsteps outside. My nostrils flared as Sean squeezed past the two of them with a mug in each hand.

  “You found each other, then?” he asked.

  Marianne nodded. “I was offering my services to Jem before.” She turned to me. “You didn’t say, Jem, if you needed any help or not.”

  I took my coffee from Sean and sipped, giving me time to formulate a decent excuse. “Actually, you’re not covered on the insurance to work in here.” My lips almost curved in smugness as I shrugged. “It’s against health and safety regs.”

  “Oh, well …never mind.” Frostiness flashed in her eyes for a split second before she peered up at Josh. “Can I speak to you for a minute?”

  As soon as Josh shepherded her into the lounge, placing his flask of swamp water on the window ledge en route, Sean leaned in close to my ear. “Well done.”

  I tilted my head. “For what?”

  “For being polite to her when I know you can’t stand the sight of her.”

  “What makes you think that?” I whispered in a tone I knew would reach only Sean’s ears, thanks to a special connection that gave us the ability to communicate without anyone else overhearing. I half laughed at his raised eyebrows.

  “What’s wrong with her, anyway?” If he’d eavesdropped at all whilst I’d ranted at Josh on Saturday, he’d have had an idea.

  Sitting on the top step of the ladder brought me almost to Sean’s eye level, and his warm breath hit my cheek. From my position, I could see Josh and Marianne and the sharpened icicle glances she sent my way until her attention returned to Josh and her entire demeanour shifted faster than a flickering holograph.

  “Have you seen the way she looks at me?”

  Sean angled his face toward her. “Hmm. Maybe you should try smiling at her.”

  “I have tried smiling at her.”

  He gave a throaty chuckle. “That’s not a smile, Jem. That’s baring your teeth. You’ll frighten her.”

  “She’s not afraid of me.”

  “Flask?” Josh’s voice carried through to us.

  “The one I brought your tea in the other day?” said Marianne. “If I take it back with me, I’ll have a spare one at home.”

  “Oh …um . . .”

  “Josh said he hasn’t seen that flask since you took it from him,” Sean whispered.

  “That’s because I threw it in the bushes.”

  He snorted. “What if Josh wanted it?”

  “He didn’t. He was just too polite to say. I helped him out.”

  Josh moved to the doorway and stared pointedly at me. “Jem, do you remember where I put Marianne’s flask?”

  I hopped down to the floor. “Sure, I’ll fetch it.”

  • • •

  “Sounds good,” came Daniel’s voice as I passed back through the foyer with the retrieved flask in hand.

  I turned the corner to find him standing beside Josh, the two of them so similar in appearance—both with wide smiles. Even Sean wore a grin.

  Handle hooked over my finger, I strode across the room to Marianne. “Your flask.”

  “Thanks, Jem.”

  When her fingers folded round the cylinder, she gave a slight tug—one that may well have hurt a weaker person.

  A low warning growl left my throat before I could stop it, but I reined it in lest Marianne heard.

  The tilting heads of the boys told me it hadn’t gone undetected by them—as did the disappointment flashing within Josh’s eyes—and I streaked back to the kitchen.

  Tuning out the conversation in the other room did not come easy even as I picked up my equipment and stepped to the wall.

  Footsteps followed behind me. I didn’t turn, but identified Sean by his scent and the way his body met my back.

  His breaths hit my ear as his arms circled my waist. “Talk to me.”

  What could I say? Marianne tried to hurt me? How petty would I sound? I stayed mute.

  “You think I didn’t hear?”

  My shoulders lifted as my head tilted at the farewells being bid in the next room.

  “See you this weekend,” Josh said as Marianne’s steps carried her off.

  Quiet mumbles passed between Josh and Daniel before dwindling away to nothing.

  “You think Josh didn’t hear it?” Sean asked, bringing me back.

  He received another shrugged response from me.

  “You really don’t like her, do you?”

  I considered giving another shrug, but didn’t do lies or evasiveness with Sean, and so shook my head.

  “Is it because she’s after Josh?”

  “No. I just don’t like her.”

  “Why growl at her? She look at you funny? What?”

  “She bloody pulled that flask off my finger like she was trying to hurt me.”

  “Do you think she intended to hurt you?”

  Back to non-vocal responses, I jerked my shoulders up.

  “And why throw her flask in the bushes? You must have known she’d want it back. How’d you know Josh didn’t want it?”

  I glanced to my right at the fresh Thermos still sitting on the window ledge. “If he wants it so bad, why didn’t he take that one?” Sean leaned over my shoulder, and as his cheek brushed mine, I twisted my head to see him. “You didn’t smell the other one. It was disgusting. I helped him out.”

  His e
yebrow lifted. “And you took no personal pleasure from throwing it in the bushes, at all?”

  I held my finger and thumb close together. “A little.”

  His chuckle resonated within his chest, sending vibrations along my spine. As I leaned into him, he took the paint tray from me, planted it on the stepladder and unzipped my suit. It took him seconds to release my upper body from the tissue-like garment.

  When his fingers feathered across my stomach, down low to my hip line and back up to cup my breast, I almost groaned.

  I reached up and tangled my fingers in his hair. His breath warmed his trail of kisses across my shoulder and up my neck to my ear, where his teeth tugged on my lobe. Twisting to face him, I drew him closer, and my parted lips met his as our gazes locked.

  His tongue arrived for a taste. The musky scent oozing from him and the proximity of his body offered comfort as a ripple washed through me—one I knew he’d created.

  I clutched his T-shirt and swept it over his head.

  As Sean freed it from his arms and tossed it aside, my palms slid across the firm muscles of his chest. I paused at the tattoo over his heart, a wolf duet of intricate design—one that matched my own on my left shoulder blade—and my lips and tongue took over the caress.

  When my teeth scraped across his hardened nipple, Sean gave a low growl and fisted his hands in the papery fabric of my suit. He tore it, sending the tattered shreds to the concrete.

  I reached for his buttons, freed his waist of his jeans. A quick shove sent them down until stalled by his boots. My lips travelled over his topography as I bent, sliding back up again as I straightened.

  His hands grabbed my hips, and I collided with the wall.

  Sean’s body crushed mine as his mouth did my lips, and his dominant nature arrived to take the reins.

  The kiss deepened. Gazes connected, our breaths hastened, and the beat of our hearts increased.

  Sean urged my underwear south.

  My thighs embraced his hips, and I pressed into him.

  A throat cleared near the doorway.

  Our heads whipped round.

  Daniel stood with his head low in an obvious attempt not to look.

  Sean gave a low growl.

  “Your dad’s on his way down,” Daniel mumbled.

  “Stall him!” Sean’s snapped command merged with a snarl.