One Hour to Midnight

by Shirley Wine

  Veronica turned her head, kissed his neck suckling hard on the solid column of flesh. Her feminine heart leaped when he stiffened under the unexpected erotic caress. His arms tightened and in one smooth movement he lifted her from the chair and carried her through to his bed.

  At his bedside, he let her slide down his body, the unmistakeable feel of his hard arousal, a heady aphrodisiac. Since her surgery, he'd been so gentle and very restrained.

  Tonight that changed.

  He stripped back the covers with one hand and laid her on the lavender scented sheets then was kneeling over her, dark and demanding against the dim light slanting through the door. A savage pagan cloaked in naked desire.

  Veronica's heart thrummed, blood pulsed through her body, every nerve end leapt with excitement. Something in the way he was poised over her filled her with delicious exhilaration.

  With a husky imprecation, he unbuttoned her blouse, exposing her lacy bra then bent his head and kissed the tender flesh he exposed, laving her nipple with his tongue through the sheer fabric. Lightning bolted through her and her hand snaked up and held his head firmly against her breast so he could continue the delectable torment. She tossed her head restlessly.

  It wasn't enough.

  She undid the buttons and he lifted his head long enough to shrug the shirt off his shoulders. Her hands were all over him, caressing, tormenting seeking every pleasure spot on his broad back and shoulders.

  Leon undid the front catch of her bra and her breasts tumbled free of their confinement. His mouth sought hers and, with a potent kiss, plunged her into a dark and dizzying vortex of desire. Her nipples, abraded by the hair smattered across his broad chest, tightened into tiny nubs of aching need. Needy hands swiftly discarded the rest of their clothes.

  Leon's hands were everywhere, flowing over sensitive skin and pleasure spots. Trembling with delight, she gloried in the wondrous sensations wreaked by his inventive mouth. He loomed over her, her mysteriously sensuous lover.

  She, his willing slave.

  He explored her body without inhibition. His mouth sought and pleasured every inch of her heated skin as he kissed his way up her body from her ankles. When he reached the sensitive area on the inside of her thigh, Veronica's heart almost stopped from the sheer extravagance of the sensation. He lifted his head and looked at her for one long searing moment. Passion and need blazed from his intense grey eyes.

  With firm hands he parted her thighs and bent his head for the most intimate kiss of all. Veronica's body leapt under that sensual caress.

  "Leon...Leon..." she gasped tossing her head from side to side as he continued his erotic assault.

  And then she was beyond words, gripped in an unbearable spiral of sensation that had her crying out in mindless abandon. Still he pushed her higher until for one long, endless moment she was poised on the brink of darkness and she exploded in a splintered fiery burst of light that left her boneless and formless. He allowed her no time to descend from that peak, poised above her his face dark and intent. She closed her eyes.

  "Open your eyes. Look at me." The fierce demand had her slumberous eyelids fluttering open.

  "Leon?" Slowly he filled her. The sensation making her eyelids flutter downwards.

  "Look at me," he said fiercely. "I want you to know it's me making love to you."

  She opened her eyes at his demand and was nearly singed. He was inside her, driving her once more to that mindless place.

  He drove into her. Hard. Fast. Deep.

  He was merciless in his demands as he pushed her past all boundaries and peaks they'd scaled before. Higher…higher...

  She couldn't form one single coherent thought. Then it came, that blinding pinnacle of light splintered darkness and the entire world coalesced into a vortex of pure sensation.

  From some dim recess of her mind, Veronica heard someone cry out followed by a hoarse guttural growl as she spun into mindless, formless darkness.

  Leon moved from her and cradled her close. Gradually their breathing steadied to a slower rhythm.

  "A dead man can't love you that way," he murmured.

  Veronica stiffened and looked at him, frowning. "Pardon?"

  "Yannis is dead, Veronica," Leon said with biting softness. "I wanted you to be sure who was making love to you."

  She pushed away and sat up on one elbow and looked at him, bewildered. Why were they discussing this? Now? "I've never mistaken you for Yannis."

  "Never? You were asking for him when you came out from under the anaesthetic."

  Realisation hit. Hard. This was why he'd been so aloof and impersonal

  "What is it with you," she demanded in angry frustration. "The only thing I would ever want from that damned man is to tear a strip off his amoral hide."

  Leon grinned, grey eyes sparkling with amusement. "Feisty little thing aren't you?"

  "Ooooh." Veronica ground her teeth in frustration, reached up, caught his face in her hands and kissed him full on the mouth.

  Within moments her angry passion had gentled into a sweet sensuality that ensnared them both.

  Chapter Fourteen

  The angle of the sun slanting through the curtains made Veronica realise it was late morning. She rolled on her side and found Leon gone. Closing her eyes, a dreamy smile touched her lips.

  She frowned as she recalled Leon's hard edged passion. Did I really ask for Yannis when I came out of the anaesthetic?

  Recalling Leon's reaction was her answer.

  She toyed with an edge of the sheets.

  Given the turmoil of the past few weeks it was really no surprise Yannis and his treachery, was in the forefront of her mind. But over and above all this was relief.

  She couldn't keep the smile off her face. Jordan's making his own blood cells

  Her promise to visit Jordan impinged and worry leaked into her mind, scurrying like a mouse in a cornfield.

  Veronica closed her eyes tightly then opened them again, studying the reflection of the sun dancing on the ceiling.

  Somehow, she had to get past this barrier and demolish the bogey visiting Jordan had become in her mind. Restless she swung out of bed and padded through to the shower noticing Leon had picked up her scattered clothes and folded them neatly on a chair. A smile touched her lips.

  He was such a complex man.

  Tenderness often mixed with a breath stealing arrogance. And when you least expected it, compassion and understanding.

  While soaking under the shower, stiff in so many unexpected places, she pondered the best approach to take with Jordan. As she soaped her body she was struck with such force that her breath hitched in her throat.

  What is wrong with me?

  She was a teacher, and dealt with children on a daily basis. She would approach Jordan as if he was one of her pupils. What could be easier?

  She ignored the worrying whispers of doubt.

  Wrapped in a towel, she walked back through Leon's room and picked up her folded clothes. As she straightened she looked at the big dresser. Her heart stopped then began to race. The photo of Julia and Leon was gone.

  In its place sat one large photo in a silver frame.

  The photo was of Veronica and Leon, on their wedding day, as they stood on the steps of the Greek Orthodox Church.

  Mesmerised, Veronica walked closer and studied it. A pulse beat in her throat. Was that beautiful woman really her? And Leon…he looked spectacular.

  She dressed swiftly and walked through the house.

  Every photo of Julia was gone, even the huge one over the mantel in the formal reception room, in its place, hung a large oil painting of Auckland.

  Tears and the pang of homesickness was unexpected.

  Veronica studied the familiar scene. The Waitemata Harbour with the brooding cone of Rangitoto rising above the water.

  Who removed all the old photos? Even as she asked the question, she knew. Cassie would never have shifted them. And she hadn't.

  That only left Leon.

/>   The burning question was why?

  Later, as she walked towards Jordan's isolation unit, Veronica cursed her nervousness. Her hands trembled and her heart raced. She paused outside the door, commanding herself to take steady breaths. She counted the familiar mantra. One. Two. Three. Breathe.

  I can do this.

  Calmer, she opened the door and Jordan turned towards her. His wide smile and eager expression smote her conscience. With eager, anxious eyes she scanned his face. Lines of illness marked his youthful features. Although dark smudges shadowed them, his eyes were brighter.

  Leon was right Jordan was perkier.

  Veronica returned his smile and handed the new Game Boy she'd bought for him to his attending nurse. She picked up the speaking tube.

  "Hi kiddo how's things?" And just that easily, her nerves vanished. "Now you're on the mend I thought you'd have fun with a Game Boy."

  "Cool!" He leaned forward peering at the games she held. "What games did you bring?"

  "Poltergeist, alien monsters and underwater warriors, you know real boy stuff. I'll look out for more for you." Veronica fanned the game covers out so he could see them through the plastic. "Your nurse will unpack and load the games."

  "It'll be a change from TV."

  "I'd find that boring after a while." She searched her mind for more topics and then remembered his love of books and bikes. "Your dad said you like dirt biking. Do you have your own bike?"

  "Yeah, Dad bought me a dirt bike. We used to go to a track up in the ranges." His expressive eyes grew bleak. "We haven't been able to go since I got sick."

  Damn, she cursed her insensitivity. She should have considered this. Talking to a child as sick as Jordan was a delicate balancing act and one she lacked experience in.

  "You'll bounce back, Jordan." Shocked, Veronica heard the bracing pragmatism in her voice. She sounded like Kathleen. Well it had never hurt her as a child, and it wouldn't hurt Jordan now. "Hey! My blood cells are winning the war. Remember that. Did your dad tell you I teach children?"

  "Yeah. You don't look like a teacher." He watched her, his head on one side, reminding Veronica of a sparrow eying up a cat. Did he see her as a threat?

  "How am I to take that? What does a teacher look like?" She rolled her eyes, and was rewarded by a delighted laugh.

  "Teachers are old and wrinkled. You're pretty. What do I call you? You're not really my mum."

  Veronica blinked to suppress sudden tears. Trust a child to cut straight to the heart of a ticklish question, even if it tore her heart out. "Veronica will do just fine, Jordan, or Vic, if you prefer."

  Seeking for a less emotion charged topic she described some of her pupils. With droll humour she told Jordan about the young Japanese boy and his struggle to find the right English words for his lunch, and the quicksilver French girl with more mischief in her little finger than the whole class combined.

  Emotion clutched at her heart every time she heard Jordan laugh. To her it was worth more than a king's ransom.

  "Dad said you have a tiny house near the sea."

  This made Veronica laugh. "Not everybody lives in a house like Claremont, you know. There is only me and my cat."

  You've got the cat, the cottage and you're looking thirty in the eye. Watch out you don't end up like Kathleen. Veronica grinned as she recalled Tania's scathing words.

  Boy, have things changed.

  "You have a cat? What's his name? What's he like?" Jordan pelted her with questions face alight with eagerness.

  "His name is Mutley. His mother was a pedigree Burmese, his father an alley cat."

  "What's an alley cat?"

  "It's a half wild cat that doesn't belong to anyone and roams the city living on scraps. Every city has them."

  "That's way cool!"

  "Mutley thinks he's cool," Veronica said with a chuckle. "He thinks he owns me. He slinks around my legs demanding to be petted. When he wants to be fed, he stands on his hind legs and tries to open the fridge."

  Jordan's laugh delighted her.

  "Where is he?"

  "My friend, Kathleen is caring for him while I'm here." A lump formed in Veronica's throat. She missed her cat something fierce. "She'll take good care of hm."

  In that moment she was so glad Leon was away. It was so much easier to talk to Jordan without him overhearing every word.

  After half an hour Jordan's eyelids drooped and within a few heartbeats he was asleep. For the next hour, she just sat there. It was such a simple thing, watching her little boy sleep.

  But to Veronica it was as precious as gold.

  ~***~

  Since that confrontation with Leon, something deep inside Veronica had changed.

  Their whole relationship had changed.

  She'd gone through the house and every photo of Julia was gone except for one in Jordan's room. Veronica didn't have a problem with that. It was right Jordan have a photo of the woman he'd known as his mother. But her relief at the others being banished was immense. She no longer felt Julia was jealously overseeing her every move.

  The sense of freedom was heady.

  Curled up reading, she heard the doorbell ring then the murmur of Cassie's voice. A tap on the door, and the housekeeper looked in.

  "There's an express delivery here for you, Veronica."

  Curious she followed Cassie but before she reached the foyer a very familiar yowl echoed in the hall.

  "Mutley!" She raced to the front door, heart pounding in her throat. "Omigod, it's Mutley."

  There, sure enough, was the big cat she'd last seen at her Albany cottage. She crouched close to the cat carrier, touching him between the bars.

  "How did you get here?" She was laughing and crying at the same time. "Oh how I've missed you."

  The cat arched his back and yowled as if he reciprocated her sentiments. She swiped happy tears from her cheeks.

  A loud harrumph had her looking up to see the courier driver holding out a black electronic gizmo, his impatience clear. "Can you sign here please, ma'am."

  In two seconds Veronica dashed her signature onto the screen and turned her attention to her beloved cat.

  "I'll take him into the utility room until he's settled." She looked at Cassie. "Do we have any kitty litter? Or minced beef we can give him until I have time to get some cat food?"

  She took the carrier into the utility room, spread paper and filled a dish with water before releasing the cat. He jumped out obviously fed up with being in the confined space.

  Veronica laughed as she watched his energetic race around the room to stretch his limbs. He bounded over to her and leaped onto her lap.

  "There that's better isn't it old boy," she whispered stroking him as he purred against her knee, his back arched. "Have you missed me, too?"

  Cassie brought her a plate of minced beef. "He's probably hungry."

  Veronica watched Mutley sniff at the meat and then explore his new surroundings. He sniffed among the boots and jackets, hopped up on the garden baskets then, satisfied they weren't some sort of booby trap, came and rubbed up against her knee.

  Veronica lifted the big cat and cradled him against her as she looked up at the older woman. "How did he get here? Do you know anything about this?"

  "No, but I'm not surprised." She dropped Veronica a wink. "I suspect Leon organised it."

  "Didn't he have to be quarantined or something?" She hadn't the foggiest clue what arrangements were needed to get her cat here from New Zealand, but was delighted. She'd missed him.

  Mutley had shared too many lonely years with her.

  "As I understand it, domestic dogs and cats only need a vet certificate and up to date vaccinations to move between Australia and New Zealand." Cassie snapped her fingers at the cat and Mutley prowled over and sniffed at them and then arched his neck for her to stroke. "Aren't you a beauty?"

  "I was telling Jordan about him today." Veronica laughed softly. "Have we a camera somewhere so I can take some photos of him to show Jordan when I
visit tomorrow."

  Cassie bustled off and Veronica sat there stroking and petting her cat, questions fizzing around in her brain. When had Leon organised this? And more importantly why?

  Was he so sure she was here to stay?

  The next day when she visited Jordan there was a decided spring in Veronica's step. Yesterday's apprehension was now only a memory.

  He was playing his Game Boy with focused intensity. An activity so utterly normal, joy surged through her entire being.

  He looked up when she entered the room, grinned and paused his game. She was entranced all over again at this display of good manners.

  She picked up the speaking tube and indicated his game. "Hi, having fun?"

  "Yeah." His face lit up. "I've got some really high scores in this one. It's my favourite."

  He leaned forward, and showed her the paused game, the one with the deep sea divers battling it out under water.

  "It's not too hard?" She leaned close to the isolation tent so she could see the game through the clear plastic, so close their heads almost touched.

  "Heck, no." His animated smile soothed a tender ache in her breast.

  Veronica took the photos she'd taken of Mutley from her purse. She'd sorted out a couple with no revealing images of Claremont in the background. Remembering how upset Jordan had been when she'd mentioned dirt bikes, she knew he didn't need anything to make him homesick.

  "What are those?'

  "Photos of Mutley. Do you want to see them?"

  "Yeah." Jordan leaned forward his expression eager. Veronica fanned the photos out so he could see them through the side of his bubble.

  "He's huge."

  "He's always been a big cat." Veronica laughed. "He's also a crafty and not above stealing my food."

  "He's so cool." Jordan looked from the photos to her, his eyes shining. "We've never had any pets."

  As Veronica looked into the eyes she saw every day in the mirror, a soothing balm settled over the cracks in her shattered heart.

  "Mutley doesn't think he's a pet." She laughed softly. "He thinks he owns you."

  About to elaborate, she remembered. Jordan didn't know she was at Claremont, or married to his father.