Kiss It Better

by Jenny Schwartz

  A long, long silence. Cassie just sat there, letting him be. He was conscious of her beside him, concerned but making no demands. Giving him the space to release his tight hold on his emotions. He gazed out at the horizon. ‘Dad was stupid.’

  For answer, she wriggled her feet deeper into the warm sand.

  ‘When Dad loses his temper, he says stupid things. I guess the wonder of it is that he didn’t tell me earlier that I wasn’t his kid. We argued when I was a teenager.’

  The fact that he could easily say ‘Dad’ again reassured him. Some of the ice inside him, the anger and the fear of his loss of control, melted. ‘I should talk to them, but I need to know who I am in my head, so that they know who I am, too.’

  A confused sentence, but Cassie nodded. ‘Will you stay as CEO of Brigid Care?’

  And there was the heart of the question. Not whether he stayed in business or returned to being a doctor, but whether he believed he was a Morrigan and returned to the family. He knew — which was why he’d challenged his dad — that there was no one else in the family capable of filling the role. His cousin Neroli could in say ten years, but she was currently overseas, gaining experience in America.

  If he walked away, he was abandoning the Morrigans. A family member had always led the business. The board wouldn’t consider anyone else.

  If his dad stepped up, the stress would kill him. The reality was that if Gordon had been at the top of his game, he’d never have thrown the truth of his parentage at Theo as a weapon.

  ‘I love them,’ he said.

  Cassie smiled. ‘That’s who you are. A family guy.’

  ‘Not a sex god?’

  ‘Sex gods don’t wear wet jeans,’ she said mock-seriously.

  He pounced on her, pushing her flat to the sand and caging her in. It was a huge relief to stop discussing emotions. ‘Are you ticklish?’

  Her brilliant blue eyes flared wide. ‘No.’

  ‘Liar.’

  She squealed with laughter, writhed, kicked and slapped at his hands.

  He flung himself back onto the sand before the innocent play turned to something unsuited to a public beach. ‘Thanks, Cassie.’

  ‘No problems. Will you — ’ She cut off the question and scrambled up. ‘Time for lunch.’

  He could guess her questions: Will you phone your parents? Will you fly home? When are you leaving?

  The problem was, he wanted to stay right where he was: with Cassie.

  Chapter Nine

  Cassie had thought lunch at the local café would be the most effective way of showing the world, or at least the Jardin Bay corner of the world, that she and Theo were on the best of terms, notwithstanding Leighton’s lies in the media and his imminent arrest — something she didn’t want to think about. The café was gossip central, so it shouldn’t be hard to get the word out. The weekend crowd would have it bursting at the seams.

  Unfortunately, she succeeded beyond all expectations. Instead of a quiet lunch with Theo, their table kept expanding as people joined them or leaned in from neighbouring tables to eavesdrop. She wondered how he was taking it — but forget the scene on the beach — he was still Mr Cool.

  He grinned at her raised eyebrow. ‘They love you, Cassie, and like family, they’ll stick their noses in.’

  ‘Long noses,’ she grumbled.

  Around the table, people laughed and teased her, demonstrating the truth of Theo’s observation.

  She appreciated the love. Of course she did. But there was an uncomfortable, life-changing realisation stirring just under her conscious mind and she didn’t like it at all. Hadn’t she enough problems without doing something stupid like —

  ‘Are you staying long?’ someone asked Theo.

  Cassie focussed.

  ‘Not this time. The trip was unplanned and I’m needed in Melbourne.’

  And wasn’t that the truth? She froze, waiting for when he would say he planned to leave

  ‘I’m driving back to Perth tomorrow and flying out.’

  They had tonight.

  And there was the realisation she’d been fighting. She’d known on the beach and in the kitchen defending Theo to Aunt Gabby. She’d known as she sat in the sun outside the police station waiting for him. What she felt for Theo wasn’t casual.

  Their eyes met across the table.

  She looked away, aware that too many people were watching. ‘I need to get a few things from the supermarket.’ She’d thrown out milk and other perishables when she flew to Melbourne — was it only two days ago? They needed replacing. ‘I’ll see you back at the house.’

  She kissed family and friends, and got hugs from a few, along with whispered comments that Theo seemed like a good bloke and not to worry about Leighton and that they’d take care of Aunt Gabby. She loved her town.

  Although leaving Theo surrounded by their overwhelming curiosity and protectiveness — maybe that was cruel.

  ***

  Theo watched Cassie flee the café. It was a slow flight, hampered by people’s kindness and concern, but nonetheless she was running.

  He could have left for Melbourne, today. Down at the beach everything had shifted, reformed and settled into a pattern that he could live with. But how much of that pattern involved Cassie, he wasn’t sure.

  She felt it, though. A sense of connection. It was there when they looked at each other across the table, and then she ran.

  On the other hand, he glanced around at the busy café filled with interested people. She had a point. Whatever was between them, whether they chose to explore it or not, it was private.

  He stood. ‘If you’ll excuse me.’

  People grinned. They thought he was hurrying back to Cassie.

  He was, and then again he wasn’t. While she shopped he had to phone his mum and dad. He’d return to Melbourne tomorrow, but reassuring them and re-cementing family bonds couldn’t wait another day. Besides which, a phone call might be easier on all of them for this first discussion.

  The deck at the front of Cassie’s home, facing the Indian Ocean, was as good as and better than many places for the talk. He sat on a comfortable wicker chair and propped his feet on the railing. Then he dialled the number of the family home.

  His mum cried. His feet came down and he leaned forward, earnest and wanting to comfort her. ‘Mum, it’s okay. I love you.’

  She cried harder.

  His dad took the phone. ‘Son?’

  ‘Hi, Dad.’

  Gordon’s sigh echoed. ‘I am sorry.’

  ‘I know.’

  ‘You’re my son. I was there when you were born. I’ve loved you every day of your life.’

  ‘Dad.’

  ‘No, let me say it. I love you. I couldn’t be prouder of you. I’ll regret to my dying day that I ever made you doubt it.’

  ‘Forget it.’

  His dad breathed in heavily, controlling his emotion.

  In front of Theo, the view seemed a little wavery. But he was not crying. ‘I’ll be back tomorrow.’

  ‘You’re still CEO of Brigid Care,’ Gordon said. ‘Uncle Pat and the whole board refused to accept your resignation. You will stay, won’t you?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Good.’ A pause. ‘They gave me a hard time.’

  ‘You deserved it,’ Theo’s mum said faintly.

  ‘Your mum wants a word.’ Gordon handed over the phone and in the background, blew his nose honkingly.

  ‘Are you coming home?’ she asked.

  ‘Tomorrow.’

  ‘We’ll talk then. I have photos of Dave…did Cassie tell you?’

  ‘Yes.’ It felt strange to discuss a stranger, his biological father, with his dad listening.

  ‘Dave was a good man. Kind. Quiet. He’d be proud of you. He sang like a fallen angel.’

  Theo blinked. That was a bit poetic from his practical mum.

  ‘I was always a bit regretful that you didn’t inherit his voice.’

  ‘Can’t carry a tune in a bucket. Like
me.’ His dad.

  Theo smiled. ‘Never mind, Mum. I’ll see you, tomorrow.’

  ‘Both of us.’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘And bring Cassie.’

  Theo stared at the phone. ‘Why?’

  ‘I like her.’

  ‘Mum.’

  ‘Aunt Celeste likes her too.’

  He rolled his eyes. ‘Aunt Celeste is an interfering witch.’ One who thought she was a matchmaker. The good thing was that if his mum was scheming about this, then she really was feeling okay. ‘I’ll ask Cassie if she wants to fly to Melbourne for the second time in a couple of days.’

  ‘We’ll go shopping. Cassie said she wanted to shop.’

  Speaking of Cassie, he heard her arrive and the kitchen door bang. ‘I’ll ask her. I’ve got to go, Mum.’

  ‘All right. Love you, baby.’

  ‘Love you, too. And Dad. ‘Bye.’

  It felt good, really good, to reconnect to his family. He walked through the house and found Cassie in the kitchen, putting things away. ‘We’re a lot alike.’

  ‘Are we?’ She glanced at him.

  ‘Family’s important to us.’

  She focussed on the phone in his hand, and smiled huge. ‘You phoned your mum.’

  ‘I spoke to her and Dad. We’re okay.’

  ‘Theo, I’m so pleased.’ She approached him hurriedly, before rocking to a halt a step away.

  ‘Don’t I get a hug?’ He put the phone on the bench, leaving both hands free.

  ‘I…’

  ‘Mum wants to see you again. I promised to ask you to come with me to Melbourne.’

  Her beautiful blue eyes widened.

  He pulled her into a loose hug. ‘You can say no. Mum likes you, but I think she and Aunt Celeste are matchmaking.’

  ‘Matchmaking?’

  He tightened the hug. ‘We’ll ignore them. Don’t hyperventilate.’

  ‘We? Theo, you’re leaving.’

  ‘You’re very welcome to stay at my place in St Kilda. You can try the temp nursing we were talking about. No rent, so no pressure.’

  ‘I don’t think that’s a good idea.’ She pushed against his chest.

  Reluctantly, he released her. ‘The nursing opportunities are limited in Jardin Bay. It would be silly to give up your career without at least trying temping.’

  ‘I was going to try in Perth. If I try. I have friends there, contacts. My old hospital will probably give me a job.’

  ‘Nurses can get a job anywhere.’

  She folded her arms, a defensive gesture. ‘This isn’t about nursing.’

  ‘No,’ he agreed. ‘It’s about us. Whatever there is between us. I don’t trust easily, but I trust you. And you seem to feel the same. Add in the fact that sex between us would be amazing.’

  ‘Would it?’

  He unfolded her arms and placed her hands on his chest. ‘Do you doubt it?’ Her fingers flexed, digging in, feeling incredible. ‘Can you deny it?’

  ‘You’re talking about a relationship, Theo. This isn’t the best time for either of us. Our judgement…’

  ‘Or maybe this is the best time, when we’ve both been halted in our juggernaut progress through life.’

  ‘I’m not a juggernaut, merely focussed. That’s how I got through my studies. I hate not knowing what I’m doing next.’

  ‘Come to Melbourne.’ He covered her hands as they stroked lower, distracting him. ‘Explore your options in your career. It doesn’t have to be nursing. Try other temp work. Explore this between us; let’s see where it takes us.’

  ***

  Cassie hesitated. In terms of the amount of time she’d spent with Theo, it wasn’t much. But the intensity of the time they’d spent together…it was probably more significant than her connection to anyone else. He had trusted her with his emotions, which was hard for any guy. And she had trusted him with her fears and confusion; the admission, that he’d understood, that she was lonely.

  Despite the burnout from her experiences in Africa, she knew she was a strong person. Her partner had to be equally strong, and Theo was. He was also kind and honest. If they risked a relationship, he wouldn’t be playing games.

  So it was up to her not to play games either. Yes or no?

  ‘Yes.’

  Theo tensed under her hands. ‘Yes?’

  ‘Yes, to a relationship, to exploring what’s between us. Yes, to Melbourne. Although I am going to pay you rent.’

  ‘No, you’re not.’

  ‘Theo.’

  ‘Greek male.’

  ‘Half-Greek.’ She smiled because it was wonderful that he could tease about his parentage.

  He was sneaky, though. He drew her into his body, bent and kissed the sensitive skin just behind her ear.

  It sent shivers along her spine. How had he already worked out that happy spot? She forgot to argue.

  ‘If I take you to bed now, would that be rushing things?’

  Since she was shivering and clutching at him and…oh good grief, that was not a whimper! It was gentlemanly of him to ask. ‘Um.’

  ‘How about I play with your breasts while you think about it?’ He began unbuttoning her shirt, a smile dancing in his eyes.

  ‘Wouldn’t that be influencing my judgement?’ She watched his hands part her shirt and drag the material up and back, his fingers drifting against her skin. The shirt slipped off.

  Her bra was plain white, no lace or fancy touches, but Theo didn’t seem to mind. He looked and his tongue touched his bottom lip.

  Her nipples ached as she realised he was imagining sucking on her. She fumbled with her bra strap and did the awkward shimmy to dispose of it.

  ‘You have beautiful breasts.’

  She’d always thought they were ordinary, apple-shaped and medium-sized. Right now her nipples were extraordinarily sensitive, jutting out at the excitement of standing half-naked before Theo.

  He touched one nipple with an enquiring finger. Circled it. ‘Should I influence your decision?’

  It was damn obvious what her decision was. She shrugged and saw Theo’s expression tense as her breasts moved. ‘You can try.’

  ‘Darlin’, I aim to.’ Finally he cupped her breasts, hands closing possessively over the mounds so that her nipples pressed into his palms.

  Her knees weakened, so she gripped the kitchen counter behind her.

  ‘Better idea.’ He lifted her up, sitting her on the counter and moving between her legs.

  She slid forward so they were crotch to crotch, and this time she wasn’t wearing jeans but light cotton trousers. ‘Feels good.’

  ‘Wrong angle though.’ He rubbed her nipples.

  Her thighs tightened. ‘You’re kidding.’

  ‘Nope. I want to suck your breasts, but to do that, I have to step back. The angle’s wrong.’

  She was in no state to consider angles and solve problems of fit. She had him between her legs. He needed to stay there. But she was desperate to feel his mouth where his hands were teasing. She lay back against the smooth granite bench top. ‘Does this help?’

  ‘Yeah.’ His voice was low, raw. Seemed he liked her spread out like a feast. And his mouth on her breasts was everything he’d promised. He trapped her arms out wide, stopping her from touching him anywhere but where her thighs gripped him. He licked and circled and finally sucked.

  She sobbed and tried to lift up. ‘Please, please, please.’ There was the sharpest, sweetest pain of wanting between her thighs, and no matter how she writhed she couldn’t get close enough. ‘Please.’

  But Theo stepped away, and then his hand was there, offering a hard friction that she rode while he kissed his way to her other breast and sucked.

  She shattered.

  ‘Beautiful.’ He kissed her mouth with a lover’s claim and impatience, drinking in her sighs till she lay quiet. He released her arms, trailing his fingers up from her inner wrists, up and along till he reached her breasts.

  ‘Theo.’

  ‘Come to b
ed.’

  ***

  Theo led Cassie to the guest room, with its wide bed and sun-drenched view. The door was open, letting in the scent of the sea and the faint sound of the waves down below on the beach. He kissed her, enjoying the moment, knowing that she’d come for him, from no more than his hand and mouth. He hadn’t even been inside her, although he would be soon.

  She kissed him back, tongues tangling without haste. She pushed her hands under his T-shirt and up, higher and higher. He broke the kiss long enough to strip off the shirt. She leant in and licked the hollow at the base of his throat.

  ‘You taste of salt and man.’

  He groaned and unbuckled his jeans. Taking it slow was fine in theory, and he was determined not to rush Cassie, but she was killing him. He unfastened the button of the fly, while she tracked kisses up his throat to his all-too-hungry mouth. He unzipped, cautiously, as she sucked his tongue.

  Her hands slid down his chest, down over his stomach and gently brushed his own hands aside. A warm hand closed around him.

  His head went back.

  ‘I want you,’ she whispered. One lingering caress and she released him. She finished undressing and crawled onto the centre of the unmade bed. The white sheets outlined the warm colour of her skin. The breasts he’d kissed were taut and full.

  He realised he was standing there, still partly dressed, just watching her.

  She smiled, a little shy but totally honest. Totally Cassie.

  He found a condom in his wallet, shed the jeans and joined her. Nothing about this was casual, and he wanted to please her.

  But she seemed to feel it was her turn for touching. They touched and rolled, using the width of the bed to full advantage, tangling limbs and learning what turned the other on until his self-control was pretty much shredded. He pushed apart her thighs.

  She drew up her knees. ‘Theo.’

  Gazes locked, he pushed in slowly, feeling tight muscles cling. ‘So damn good.’

  ‘Yes.’ She arched up as she took all of him and he rested there a moment, his weight braced either side of her on his arms. Then she wrapped her legs around him and there was no more self-control, only sex rough and fierce, sweaty and real, that left them both gasping and coming and shouting out.