“Thank you, Santa, Merry Christmas.” She forced herself to get off his knee so the next girl in the line could take her place.
“No, you can’t sit on Santa’s knee,” Bryce told a grinning young man who followed the girl. “Only pretty young ladies get that privilege.”
“Oh, Santa, I’m crushed.”
“Too bad,” Santa replied with a chuckle.
Every employee received the same-sized envelope. On opening hers Caroline discovered a twelve-month free pass to any Melbourne drive-in or movie theater.
Santa’s visit broke the ice, and everyone started laughing and talking as they got into the festive spirit.
Several of the girls headed towards the pool. At their insistence, Caroline slipped out of her frock, glad that Judith had told her to wear her bathers underneath. Swimming was one of her favorite activities. Without vanity, she knew she was good. At school, the swimming coach used to tell her that if she took private lessons after school hours, she might make the Olympic training squad.
Her mother couldn’t afford the extra tuition fee. She battled to pay the school fees for her and Andy as it was. If they hadn’t received a special grant from the school trustees because they were the children of a former pupil, they wouldn’t have been able to attend such a prestigious school.
She dived into the pool where a number of others larked about. Gliding through the water, the liquid coolness stroked her skin. What bliss. No wonder the rich and famous guarded their lifestyle so tenaciously.
She executed a perfect turn before heading back towards the other end of the pool, oblivious to anything but the magic feel of the water. She did several more lengths before she realized everyone else had left the pool. Glancing up she saw they were all lined up watching her.
When she came up out of the water everyone cheered and she felt so embarrassed she didn’t know where to look. Scurrying towards her clothes, she was waylaid by Alexander Harrington.
“Wonderful exhibition, my dear. Where did you learn to swim so well?”
“At school. I…I didn’t realize anyone was watching. I tend to forget everything once I hit the water.”
“I didn’t know you could swim so well.” Bryce joined his father. “Have you had much coaching?”
“I did at school. My coach thought I was okay.”
“I’ll bet he did.” He stepped back a pace and let his gaze wander all over her, and once more she felt a hot rush of color to her cheeks.
Bryce was now dressed in beige shorts with a brown, short sleeved polo shirt. She tried not to stare at his sandaled feet and tanned, well-muscled legs.
“What would you like to drink?” His devastating white-toothed smile gave her goose-bumps. With a hand resting lightly on her shoulder, he steered her towards the drink waiter.
“Fruit punch, thanks. This will be my second one. I hope it isn’t alcoholic.”
He laughed. “It’s only fruit juice with a few strawberries floating around to make it look more exotic.”
Handing her a glass of the punch, he took a beer for himself.
“I should put my dress back on.” His intense scrutiny unnerved her. Remembering the last time they were alone and practically ripping each others clothes off, she wanted to cover herself as quickly as possible.
“You’re still wet. Besides, heaps of people are wearing bathers. It’s a pool party, for goodness sake.” He took a mouthful of beer. “I’d like a swim myself but…”
“But it wouldn’t do to rub shoulders with the workers?”
“Are you accusing me of being a snob?” His arctic tones could have frozen the swimming pool water.
“Aren’t you?” Why did she want to provoke him, knowing how hot-tempered he could be?
He hesitated for a moment. “No, I don’t think I’m a snob. In fact,” his lips twisted into a sneer. “I enjoy rubbing shoulders with my workers. Some more than others, of course.”
Before she realized his intention, he drew her into a darkened corner of the garden where a rose-covered trellis shielded them from any passerby. His mouth came down on hers, hard and angry. It was a punishing kiss, and he crushed her so tightly against him she feared she might suffocate. But, what bliss.
He forced her mouth open with his impatient, thrusting tongue and a sudden surge of electric current shot through her. He must have felt her almost instantaneous capitulation, because the kisses changed. They became gentle, sensuous, working her mouth until it trembled, eager to receive his tribute.
He kissed her eyelids, her throat and shoulders. When she felt him untying the halter neck of her bikini top she didn’t care. Bryce was the only man she would ever love. Nothing else mattered except him, now and always.
His impatient hands slid her bikini top down and his mouth found her nipple. He drew her breasts together and suckled both nipples until they became aroused and super-sensitive. Excitement swirled in frenzied, turbulent waves deep within her womanly recess as he drew the rosy tips even deeper into his hot mouth. This was as near to paradise as she would ever get on earth.
Finally he raised his head. “My God, what are you doing to me?”
He started moving his body slowly, sensuously against hers.
“Let’s get out of here and go somewhere more private,” he whispered.
Before she could frame an answer they heard Alexander Harrington calling out.
“Damn it.” Bryce dropped another more succulent curse. He moved quickly towards his father, giving Caroline time to adjust her bikini top.
“It’s time to eat, son. What on earth are you doing out here?”
“I’ve been discussing a work matter with Caroline.”
“For goodness sake, this isn’t the time or the place to be discussing business.”
Caroline came up to them, glad that the darkness hid her face from the older man. “I am starting to feel hungry. Must be the night air.” She wondered how she could speak after being kissed so thoroughly.
“Well, come along, both of you. The steaks are getting cold. I’ve been looking for you for more than five minutes.”
She followed the two men to where the cook barbecued steak and sausages. A number of people who had already received their meat congregated around a large table, helping themselves to an assortment of salads.
“Steak, Caroline?” Bryce asked, in a voice that sounded almost normal.
“Just a small piece, thanks.” She didn’t feel like eating. She was starving, but only for Bryce and the passion his kisses promised. She walked a tightrope to danger, but didn’t care. For once in her life she wasn’t going to be cautious, sensible Caroline Dennison.
A fat, juicy T-bone steak landed on her plate.
“If that’s a small piece, I’d hate to try a big one.” She smiled at Bryce as he helped himself to a large T-bone and a couple of sausages.
He picked up two miniature bread rolls, one for each of them.
“I’ll let you serve yourself the salad,” he said.
She followed him around the table, helping herself to coleslaw, lettuce and tomato. Jars of tiny black balls were probably caviar.
She wandered over to the pool and found a vacant deck-chair. Bryce followed and sat next to her.
They didn’t speak while they ate their food. “Who did you come with?” he asked.
“I met a group of girls outside work, and we came together. I’ll get a cab home.”
“No. I’ll take you.”
“Thanks, but I couldn’t take you out of your way. You’d have to come all the way back here again.”
“I’m staying at my own place. You should have asked me to give you a lift home.”
“I didn’t have the nerve.”
“Am I such an ogre? Don’t answer that.” He gave a deep rich chuckle that did funny things to her insides.
“I wasn’t going to on the grounds it might incriminate me.” Laughter gave a lilt to her voice. This was how it should be, laughing, teasing, enjoying each other’s company.
>
When they finished eating, he took their plates over to the table. “Come and have some dessert,” he said on his return, grasping her hands and pulling her up.
Fresh fruit salad, huge bowls of whipped cream, mud cake and strawberry pavlova. What a feast. After they’d filled their plates Bryce picked up a bottle of champagne and filled two crystal goblets and handed one to her.
“Merry Christmas, Caroline,” he said as they sat down
“Thanks. Same to you.” They touched glasses. Between mouthfuls of dessert, intermittently washed down with champagne, they discussed the test cricket.
“For a female you know a lot about cricket.”
“My brother used to play, so I went to a few games with him. I saw a couple of the Tests between Australia and England. I love the atmosphere. Everyone in their shorts and thongs, the guys loaded down with car fridges full of beer. There was even a streaker at one of the matches.” She laughed at the happy memories. She couldn’t remember when she had last felt so carefree.
“I’ll take our glasses back, won’t be long.” He stood and moved towards the table. Within a short time he was striding back towards her, moving with a loose-limbed grace. She would never tire of watching him. He sat down next to her and draped his arm across her shoulders.
“You don’t speak much about your family,” he finally said, as if he felt the need to break the silence stretching between them.
“I’ve only got a brother now.” She couldn’t hide the catch in her voice. “My parents are both dead.”
“I’m sorry.” He genuinely sounded like he cared. “It must be lonely for you. Do you see much of your brother?”
“No, but we’re close.”
As the night wore on, some of the guests drifted away. Just before midnight Bryce suggested they should leave also. Caroline had consumed several glasses of champagne and felt happy. In fact, she was slightly fuzzy in the head but ecstatically happy, because he had hardly left her side all night.
“I’m dropping Caroline off on my way home,” he told his father when they bid the old man goodbye. She was glad Bryce hadn’t forgotten his promise to take her home.
“Thank you for inviting me, Mr. Harrington. It was a great party,” Caroline told him with sincerity.
“That’s all right. Glad you enjoyed it. I think everything went off well, don’t you, son?”
“Yes, as always.” Bryce draped his arm across his father’s shoulders, and it moved her to see the genuine affection between the two men. Pity she had never had the chance to be close to her father.
Chapter Nine
Bryce clasped her hand as they strolled towards the Jaguar, parked in front of an enormous garage. This would have to be one of the best nights in her whole life. The champagne had gone to her head, making her reckless, and it urged her to throw caution to the wind.
“I’d like to go to your place for coffee,” she announced after they had been driving for a short time. This might be her only chance to see where he lived, but more importantly, she wanted to savor his company for as long as possible.
“I’m not sure that would be a good idea.”
“Just a quick cup of coffee, unless you don’t trust me,” she taunted.
“It’s not you I don’t trust. You’re playing with fire, little lady.”
“Please.” She reached out and caressed his cheek. “I’ve had such a wonderful time. I don’t want it to end yet.”
“You’re very sweet, I wish…” He gave a deep sigh.
“What do you wish?”
“Oh, forget it.”
Settling back in the comfortable seat, her eyes soon grew heavy. She shouldn’t have guzzled so much champagne. When the car stopped in a basement car park she awoke with a jolt.
“We’re here, sleepyhead.” He laughed softly as he locked his door and came around to the passenger side to help her out. With his arm draped across her shoulders, they headed towards an elevator.
They alighted at the tenth floor. Caroline followed him down a carpeted corridor to a wooden door. Without speaking he unlocked it and ushered her in. A subdued glow enveloped the room so there must have been a dimmer on the light switch.
“Have a seat while I put the percolator on. I could do with a coffee, it might clear my head.”
Sitting on the velour couch, she gratefully sank into its softness. Her legs were weak; her whole body felt fluid, as if it floated on a calm sea.
Her wavering vision scanned the room. White shag pile carpet covered the floor. A beautiful room, but what a shame it lacked warmth.
He returned with two ceramic coffee mugs. “White with one sugar, isn’t it?”
“Yes, thank you.”
They sipped the coffee in silence and her head began to clear. What a fool she had been to guzzle so much champagne when she wasn’t used to it. When she finished her coffee, he took the empty mug and placed it on the coffee table.
He put his arm around her to draw her close and the subtle scent of his aftershave lotion infused her nostrils, causing her to become light-headed again.
“Did you enjoy the party?”
“Yes, it was great.” But this is the best part of all. She had him to herself, if only for a short time.
He kissed her, gently, almost hesitantly at first. Madness, a voice screamed inside her head. She ignored it and returned his kisses with fervor, trying to tell him with actions what she couldn’t tell him in words. She loved him.
He eased her back onto the couch until she lay stretched out along the length of it.
His hands caressed her breasts through her frock and she trembled at his touch. She wanted to feel his hands on her bare flesh, wanted him to see her blossoming nipples. She wore her bikini bottoms but not the top. Without being asked, she slipped her dress up over her head. His strangled groan echoed around the room.
He shifted slightly so his body covered hers. His mouth devoured her lips, her throat and eyelids. “Oh, God,” he gasped the words out. “I want you so badly it’s killing me.”
He dragged off his shirt. The touch of his bare, hair-roughened chest against her breasts became an exquisite form of torture. Her womanly center pulsated with an urgency that matched his.
From her breasts to her navel he rained kisses, and when his fingers fumbled with the tie on her bikini briefs she didn’t care about anything except him.
“Will you stay the night with me?” he asked in a voice raw with emotion.
“Yes. I love you.” She was shocked when the last three words fell out of her mouth of their own volition.
“Prove it. Stay the night with me.”
Effortlessly he picked her up. Cradling her in his arms, he strode to his bedroom, turned back the sheets and laid her on the bed.
His mouth covered hers. His hands stroked her heated skin, fanning a passion she had never known existed until he brought it into raging life.
When he eased himself away she could hear him removing his clothing in the darkness. He was naked when he joined her on the bed.
His hand slid between her thighs and his fingers caressed her soft, feminine curls. She raised her knees, letting her legs fall open to give him easy access. He parted her quivering flesh with his thumbs. She felt his tongue slide into her hot moistness. He suckled her bud, tugging it gently with his teeth, taking it into his warm mouth, working her until she was demented with need.
Harsh rapid breathing echoed in her ears. She didn’t know or care which of them it belonged to. Perspiration dampened his shoulders by the time he entered her feminine recess with one long, powerful thrust.
For an agonized second she felt a tearing pain, followed by ecstasy as they moved together in a passionate frenzy. She had never been with a man before, but instinctively knew how to give and receive pleasure beyond anything she had dreamed possible before. “Bryce!” He brought her to an earth-shattering climax. A million stars exploded inside her head, the light so bright she was momentarily blinded.
He didn’t
move away, just kissed away the salty tears she didn’t even realize she had shed.
“I’m sorry.” He wrapped his arms around her. “I didn’t realize. Did I hurt you?”
“No, it was wonderful. I love you so much. You love me a little, don’t you?”
He didn’t answer, but by this time she felt too drowsy to notice as she floated on a cloud of after-sex euphoria.
He was cold-stone sober now. “Shit.” His head throbbed. He never drank champagne as a rule because it gave him a headache. Not that he had consumed all that many glasses anyway, but mixed with the couple of whiskies he’d shared with his father before the party, and two or three beers, it had proved a deadly combination. I’m a bloody fool to have even gotten behind the wheel of a car, let alone bring Caroline here.
He rolled away from her, sick with remorse now his passion had cooled. God alone knew what ramifications might follow, the regrets, the tears and recriminations. Caroline had given him something special tonight and he wasn’t a worthy recipient of such a gift. The women he used for love making were experienced. He cursed his stupidity for not having realized sooner, but it was the sixties, for God’s sake, free love and all that.
His head pounded, so he climbed out of bed and wandered into his bathroom. Fumbling around in the medicine cabinet he found a packet of pain-killing tablets and swallowed a couple with a mouthful of water.
Back in the bedroom Caroline still slept, so he slid carefully into bed to avoid waking her. He wasn’t looking forward to facing her in the cold light of day. He was in no fit state to drive now, and he couldn’t wake her up and bundle her into a cab. That would be too crass. She wasn’t a call girl and he would never treat her like one.
The next morning, as Bryce woke, he felt something warm and soft lying against him. Last night’s events came flooding back with shocking intensity. In the morning light she looked young, vulnerable, but oh, so beautiful. Her cheeks were still stained with tears, her well-shaped lips puckered. The sheet, having dropped away, left her creamy breasts and rosy nipples exposed.
His breath caught in his throat and once more he felt a fiery surge of desire. His manhood hardened. What was the matter with him? His excuse for seducing her last night had been that too much alcohol had impaired his judgment. No excuse for his carnal thoughts now except sheer, rampant lust.
Make Love Not War Page 9