by Fiona Lowe
‘My turn.’ The words came out on a wail as her hands tugged against his grip, wanting to touch him, but he shook his head.
His mouth trailed down her belly and his hand undid the top of her shorts. She lifted her hips and for a second he used both his hands to tug the denim out of the way but then he recaptured her hands.
His eyes stared down into hers. ‘You’re beautiful, Elly.’
‘So are you.’
He lowered his mouth and continued his delicious torture.
Her body screamed for him with ragged need. She wanted him so badly—needed him to fill her completely and stop the ache inside her—she thought she’d go mad. But then his mouth touched her most intimate place and all coherent thought vanished as her body took over, streaking away from frustration, consumed only with spiralling need that demanded complete and utter surrender. She gave in to it, letting Gabe send her flying beyond herself to a place with no mistakes.
She opened her eyes as she came back to earth. ‘Thank you. You’ve still got it.’
He grinned. ‘Oh, yeah.’
Her hands reached up and her fingers walked down his chest, across his abdomen and down, down, down until they circled what they’d ached to touch for so long.
Every part of him stilled. ‘Sweetheart, be very careful or you could end up very disappointed.’
‘Not possible.’ She kissed him as she guided him into her; his heat merging with hers.
With her legs wrapped around him, her arms clinging to him, she rose with him, matching him stroke for stroke until their movements were one. With a cry, he shattered first, his release catching hers and propelling her up with him toward the stars, where they hovered together for an instant before parting for separate journeys down.
CHAPTER NINE
THE triplets, with buckets of water in one hand and brushes in the other, were ‘painting’ the old concrete path that led down to the clothesline. Gabe smiled as he watched them and gave thanks to the sunshine for drying the job quickly so they just kept painting. He’d been smiling a lot lately.
Sex with Elly had always been amazing but this last week had been incredible. When she rang he never knew if she was calling because she needed help at the hospital or clinic, or if it was because she wanted sex, but just seeing her name on the liquid display of his phone made him hard.
When they’d been together, Elly had never been shy, but she’d never been this upfront before either. Her suggestion of friends with benefits had been a completely unexpected but welcome gift after the many nights of fitful sleep filled with dreams of her naked and totally responsive beneath him.
A ripple of unease moved through him, taking him by surprise. Things didn’t work out with that bloke. He’d never liked the idea of her being with Dev but did their breakup have anything to do with why he and Elly were now having sex?
Nah. He reassured himself they’d both put their cards on the table; he’d told her they couldn’t go back and she’d told him it was just sex and insisted on using contraception. He trusted her implicitly but it reminded him that when he got back to Melbourne he really needed to spend a day at a clinic and have a vasectomy so he never had to worry about another accidental pregnancy ever again. That decision made, he let go of a breath he hadn’t realised he’d been holding and relaxed again, losing himself in the recollections of how fantastic the sex continued to be.
Despite how much she’d hurt him and he’d hurt her, despite the fact he could never make a relationship work, he still craved her body. The fact she craved his made things perfect. They’d found being friends difficult but they made fabulous sex partners. The excitement of grabbing moments when both of them were free had him constantly buzzing in anticipation, although he always found the time too short and he hated leaving her alone in her bed. But introducing Elly as a sex mate to his parents just wasn’t something he was prepared to do, for all their sakes.
He wondered what Elly was doing right now. Usually she rang him but he hadn’t heard from her in twenty-four hours and he had a sudden urge to hear her voice.
He pulled out his phone and called her. It rang for so long that he marshalled his thoughts, ready to leave a message on her service but then her voice came down the line.
‘Hi. How’s the tough life of a doctor on holidays treating you?’
Her enthusiasm for life eddied around him and he found himself grinning for no reason as an elusive calm settled over him. ‘I’ve got the kids painting the path.’
She laughed. ‘You’re making them earn their keep from an early age.’
‘Well, those grammar-school fees are expensive.’
He could hear other voices in the background, and then a rustling noise crackled down the line as if Elly had put her hand over the phone, but he could faintly hear her saying, ‘Book an ECG and make an appointment with the cardiologist at Royal Hobart.’
Her voice then came back loud and clear. ‘It’s a bit frantic here at the moment, Gabe. Did you need something?’
‘You.’ He heard her sharp intake of breath and pictured her eyes shimmering with undisguised desire, the way they always did when he kissed her. His arms tensed, feeling empty.
She cleared her throat. ‘I’m afraid that’s not possible at the moment, Dr Lewis, because I have a waiting room of patients. I’ll check my schedule and get back to you.’
The line went dead and he stared at the phone in disbelief. She’d hung up on him.
She’s at work. The logic didn’t come close to easing his general dissatisfaction that he couldn’t talk with her when he wanted to.
His mother brought out a tray with icy poles for the triplets and two iced coffees. After they’d pulled the wrapping paper off the icy poles and the children were happily occupied eating and painting, his mother sat down next to him.
‘I can’t believe you’ve only got one more week of holidays.’ She squeezed his arm. ‘I love having the triplets here.’
‘We’ll be back at Easter and you’re welcome in Melbourne any time.’
‘I know, but it’s not quite the same as here. You don’t have the beach at the end of the street and we have to get into the car to go places where here we can walk.’
‘Mum, you know I can’t live in Midden Cove.’
‘I wasn’t suggesting it.’
His body tightened and he blew out a breath. ‘I’m an A and E specialist and my skills belong in a city hospital, not a tiny joint like this.’
She gave him a piercing look. ‘Are you trying to convince me, darling, or yourself?’
Her question irritated him and he didn’t reply.
Cathleen sipped her drink. ‘So how’s the friendship thing going with Elly?’
He sighed and decided short answers were the only way to get through this. ‘It’s going well.’
‘Don’t confuse sex with friendship, Gabe, because the two never go together unless you’re in a committed relationship.’
He stared at her, slack-jawed. His mother had never been so direct and on top of that he was stunned she knew because he thought he’d done a pretty good job of hiding his visits to Elly’s place.
‘You’re a grown man and I stopped giving you advice a long time ago, but you of all people should know that sex is never simple.’
Memories of Jenna assailed him but were quickly overlaid by Elly—sexy, fun but in control. ‘Mum, this is nothing like what happened with Jenna. Elly and I are just …’
What? Friends? Lovers? Exactly what are you? ‘We’re finding a way to move forward.’
Hah! That’s an Oscar-worthy bit of denial.
Cathleen gave him a serene smile. ‘Good.’
But the word was loaded with too much expectation and hope, and it settled over him like a prickly vest, scratching at his decision to live his life his own way, which didn’t include being part of a couple. Thankfully his father rounded the corner of the veranda and sat down with them.
‘Good timing, Dad. There’s something I want to give y
ou both. ‘ He pulled an envelope out of his pocket and handed it to his mother. ‘The triplets and I want to thank you both for a great holiday.’
‘Gabe, you didn’t have to give us anything—we love having you here.’
‘Mum, you’re going to sleep for a month when we leave.’
James laughed indignantly. ‘Sixty is the new fifty, son, and some days I look younger than you.’
‘Sadly, Dad, that’s true.’
‘Oh, Gabe, thank you.’ Cathleen’s eyes shone as she waved tickets to the latest musical spectacular in Melbourne.
‘And there’s more.’
‘What? Steak knives too?’ James peered over Cathleen’s shoulder as she opened up a letter.
‘A night at the Windsor Hotel!’ She rested her hand on James’s knee and smiled up at him.
A shot of melancholy tinged with green twisted through Gabe. His parents had a close and loving relationship built on trust, the type of relationship that had always eluded him. Even Elly—the woman he’d once thought might be the one—hadn’t trusted him enough to stay.
His mother suddenly frowned. ‘But the date on this says Wednesday. That’s before you leave.’
He nodded. ‘I know. Ideally this present should be in two weeks’ time, but live theatre waits for no man and the show closes next week, so it’s now or never. Besides, it’s only twenty-four hours and you’ll be back for our last three days.’
‘What about help at the crunch times with the triplets?’ His mother had the look of someone about to say, ‘Thanks but, no, thanks.’
He moved to reassure her. ‘It’ll be good practice for me because I won’t have you guys to fall back on when I’m back in Melbourne.’
‘You have the nannies there so you should get someone to help out.’ James stood up as Rory ran over and he swung his grandson up into his arms. ‘What about Elly? She was great with the triplets at the rock pools but they haven’t seen her since and Lucy keeps picking up her bucket and saying “Lee”.’
Gabe experienced the familiar zip of irritation that burned whenever he thought his parents were pushing him into a relationship, and he expected his mother to chime in but she was unusually silent. The feeling faded when he noticed his father’s expression was free of any agenda other than making sure he had help with the triplets.
A quiet realisation moved through him confirming that his father was right on both fronts. On the outings Elly had come along to, she’d been great with the kids, which made sense because, unlike him, she’d always had an easy affinity with children, but for some reason she hadn’t seen his gang in a week.
You started having sex, remember.
He couldn’t quite work out why that meant Elly hadn’t spent time with the kids but, like today, she’d been working pretty hard. Hell, he’d hardly seen her except in bed, and she’d just hung up on him because of work.
Saturday. He smiled as a plan unfurled, his parents’ trip to Melbourne creating a perfect situation. He and Elly could spend the whole day together and then all of the night.
‘Now, that was worth waiting for.’
‘I’d have to agree.’ Elly smiled as Gabe’s arms tightened around her. They lay snuggled together in her bed but it was late because she’d had a long day at the practice and there’d been no opportunity to get away any earlier to meet Gabe.
She moved to get comfortable and a sharp pain made her gasp.
‘You OK?’
She blew out a breath and the pain faded. She was used to ovulation pain each month but that had happened a week ago and this was different. ‘Fine. I think I must have pulled a muscle today when I was lifting some heavy boxes. Why is it that the one thing you need from newly delivered supplies is always at the bottom?’
‘Murphy’s law, but you need to be careful you don’t give yourself a hernia.’ His breath tickled her ear. ‘You know you could have asked me to come in today and help.’
‘Although it was a full day, nothing counted as an emergency, and you’re on holidays, remember.’
‘I am, but being with you is a fun part of my holiday.’
Holiday sex. As a shaft of emotional pain hit her, she wrapped her arms over his, knowing that at some point within the next half-hour he’d kiss her, roll away, pull on his clothes and walk out the door back to his real life. The one she played no part in, and the reason lay at her own feet. Up until two weeks ago she’d always blamed Gabe for breaking her heart but the stark truth was she’d broken her own heart two years ago when she hadn’t been prepared to give him time or trust him enough to change his mind about children.
She bit her lip against the old pain that caught her when she thought about his gorgeous triplets. She’d deliberately avoided spending more time with them in the last week because letting go of Gabe would be hard enough.
You could ask him to stay.
He stroked her hair. ‘I booked tickets home on the Spirit today.’
Ouch. Now, that’s real life.
Offer to go to Melbourne with him. The tempting thought terrified her. No. He told me in no uncertain terms that we can’t go back.
Still, what do you have to lose if you ask him?
Pride, self-respect, everything!
Coward.
She traced the outline of his hand. ‘So, you’re back to the old routine?’
‘Yep. Bella and Lauren start work the day after we get home and I’m back to work too.’
‘Is it lonely, being a single parent?’
‘I’m too busy to be lonely, Elly.’ A warning note sounded in his voice.
She didn’t believe him. ‘Don’t you miss having someone to talk to about your day, sharing what the kids did, stuff like that?’
‘No one misses what they’ve never had.’
She heard his long sigh and felt the exhaled breath like a whip against her skin, and she ached for him. For herself. He’d never experienced a parenting partnership with someone who loved him and he had no plans to try.
He pressed a kiss onto her shoulder. ‘Look, I know as my friend you’re concerned about me but you don’t have to be. I have colleagues at work to debrief with, and I have the nannies to talk to about the kids. Before you go joining in with my parents’ plot to match me up with someone, the kids have plenty of women in their lives so they’re not missing out either. We’re fine on our own, Elly. Absolutely fine.’
And there’s your answer loud and clear.
She closed her eyes, swallowed her shudder of regret and changed the subject. ‘Did I tell you? Just after I wave you goodbye, my sister’s bringing her twin daughters down for a beach holiday.’
‘You have twin nieces?’
The surprise in his voice vibrated through her, immediately chased by her own sorrow that they could be so in tune sexually yet so far apart in other ways. ‘I do.’
‘IVF twins? ‘ His voice sounded strained.
She shook her head. ‘No, Suzy kept the family tradition of twins going. Every generation of my family going back eighty years has at least one set of twins. The girls are a bit younger than the triplets, which I guess is why you didn’t know about them. I don’t get to see much of them so I’m really looking forward to their visit.’
But talking children just amplified her own barren state and made her feel wretched so she switched topics. ‘So do you have any plans for your last few days?’
‘I want us to go on a farewell picnic.’
She thought of the picnics they’d gone on with the triplets and wondered if she could get through another one without her heart taking a hammering. ‘That sounds lovely. Anything else?’
He ran his tongue around her ear and she immediately banished the seeds of the idea that she should ask him to stay, seeds that not only sprouted deep down inside her but were now clinging vines that threatened to choke her. She knew she should fight for him and tell him how she really felt, but she also knew she’d lost that battle when she’d walked out on him two years ago.
She loved hi
m but he was leaving soon and she was banking memories for the dark years ahead. As he extended his kiss, she rolled in his arms and melted into him, doing the only thing she could—she kissed him back.
Gabe had waved goodbye to his parents, dressed the triplets, ordered the picnic lunch and packed snack food for the kids. He had the beach shelter, kites and every conceivable beach toy that the triplets might want stowed in the car. Everything and everyone was ready to go. All he needed was Elly.
He glanced at his watch. She’d said she’d arrive at ten and it was now a quarter past. Lucy and Rory were playing with the wooden train, although Rory kept looking up to check Gabe was close by and Ben had been very clingy since his grandparents had left. As a result, Gabe had done most of the packing with Ben in his arms. ‘Hey, mate, where’s Elly?’
Ben didn’t even raise his head from Gabe’s shoulder to look around.
‘Lee. Where’s Lee?’ Lucy ran over from the trains.
Ben loved to swing on the front gate so perhaps if they went outside he’d get over his sads about his Nana and Pa-pa leaving. ‘Let’s go out into the garden and see if we can see her car.’
Lucy ran to the front door and Gabe followed, calling Rory at the same time. They spilled into the spacious and rambling garden, and Lucy clambered up onto the fence into her favourite position but Ben refused to budge out of Gabe’s arms and even Rory had to be coaxed up onto the gate. They counted two dogs, waved to the Gilberts, who walked past and had a chat, and they even saw a wallaby hop by, but there was no sign of Elly.
Just as Gabe shifted Ben from one arm to the other so he could pull his phone out of his pocket, Lucy squealed. ‘Lee, Lee!’
Gabe grinned, realising he was almost as excited as his daughter. Anticipation whizzed through him and he had the day planned down to the last detail—a day at the beach to exhaust the triplets, early bedtime for them and then the evening stretched ahead just for Elly and him. He had the champagne in the fridge, the prawns on ice and all he had to do was slice some mangoes and avocado, toss the rocket through the dressing, arrange it all on a plate, and that was dinner sorted. He’d bought her favourite chocolate for dessert, put fresh sheets on his bed and he had no qualms at all about handling the rest of the evening.