by Jennie Jones
You couldn’t get any closer to a person than this, she thought. They were breathing into each other, skin fusing where it touched, with a sensual current.
‘Touch me, Charlotte. Put your hands on me.’
A wall of masculine strength, his perfect upper body raised from hers. She ran her hands from his shoulders to his tightened pectoral muscles and down to his waist. Then she gripped his arms, curling her fingers into biceps that didn’t budge beneath the pressure.
‘Alright?’ he asked.
Charlotte nodded.
He took her hand in his, raised it to his mouth and kissed her palm. ‘You’re so soft. I love your skin.’ He kissed her mouth, his lips open and warm. His clean-shaven cheekbones slid over hers and their noses clashed as they fought for satisfaction.
He ran his fingertips over her face then pressed his thumb against her mouth. Her lips parted under the slight pressure. His gaze moved over her features, down to her shoulders, to her breasts, her waist and to her hips.
Something about the way he was behaving, the way he was treating her, sent ripples of astonishment through her.
‘I thought you wanted to talk,’ she whispered.
‘We are talking.’
Charlotte tried to regain some balance, wanting time to speed up so that she reached the spine-tingling moment of release, while at the same time, fascinated by the rising anticipation he created in her.
‘I like this part of you.’ He took her face in his hands and kissed her forehead. ‘And this part.’ Her cheek, then her mouth. She tilted her chin so he could reach her throat. His hands moved down her body and cupped her hips, moving to between her thighs. ‘And especially here.’
Oh, my God! She rose to his touch and arched as his fingers brushed her.
‘Am I getting this right?’
She nodded, unable to speak.
‘You’re raising my temperature, Charlotte.’
His? Hers was off the scale. ‘My heart’s thumping …’
‘I feel it.’
‘Yours isn’t.’
‘It will, I promise you.’ He smiled at her. ‘This isn’t going to be over soon. I’m going to take my time with you.’
Wow. This was some chat.
Up until now their love-making had been a game. Filled with sexual fervour, yes, but a still a friendship game. They’d had fun, had laughed and teased during and after. This felt consummate.
‘Stay with me. I’ve only just got started.’
She’d do her best.
He slid his body down hers, slowly and deliberately feasting, and up again, covering her. She knew how every part of her body felt beneath his lips.
‘Now my heart’s thumping,’ he said, looking into her eyes.
‘I feel it.’
Where was the jocular dialogue they used to get themselves into sex and out of it? Those words smoothed the way for each, until they got dressed, kissed briefly and said goodbye. Without them she didn’t know what to do next because she felt so much passion; it outweighed lust about twenty to one. What was this?
‘Are you ready?’
She’d been ready for what seemed like hours. She tugged him to her, willing him to do it.
He took her slow and steady. Cradling her yet sculpting himself against her. Her skin burned and her mind went into a frenzy as delirious shockwaves engulfed her. Full-bodied sensations from slow, deliciously tantalising sex sank into her muscles and her bones. He smelled so Goddamned wonderful. If desire had an aroma, Daniel wore it and the fragrance enveloped the air, wrapping them both. Their limbs were tangled and warmed from their energy. Her legs were around his hips, pulling him in further. His arm anchored her body, hand at the base of her tingling spine, holding her and leading her.
‘Daniel …’
‘I know.’
He knew how to wind her up and keep her there. How and when to let her down. Oh, please let that be soon.
He curled his fingers in her hair, fastening her to him as he moved her towards the moment. Their eyes held. She wanted him physically and emotionally and in a split second she recognised the same want in him. ‘Now we’re running,’ he said, his voice low and his words devoted only to her. ‘Run with me, Charlotte.’
To hell with running, Charlotte’s blood galloped through her veins.
Pressed together, holding onto each other, moving in unison Charlotte felt, for the first time in her life, the joy when two people shared the moment. Coming together heightened the feelings and the release. It tightened the bond between two bodies willingly joined in mind-blowing physical exertion, leaving her overwhelmed, dazzled and breathless.
She stared at the ceiling and the little bubbles of flaked paint around the lighting fixture as her breathing relaxed. Daniel lay over her, his head buried next to hers in the pillow. No movement from either of them yet—they were all sighed out—but this time, there were no soft jibes at each other either.
Eventually, he lifted from her. He laced her fingers with his and kissed her.
‘Daniel, we … I mean, we, you know—at the same time.’
‘Yeah, and that’s normally something people have to work on.’ He kissed the tip of her nose. ‘The timing thing.’
‘Yeah,’ she agreed with a nod. ‘We must have pushed a button, or something.’ It had never happened to her before and she hadn’t expected such powerful sensations.
‘The passion button,’ he said, a Hotshot smile so wide on his handsome face, she knew that he was filled with the same infinite gratification at what they’d achieved as she was.
Wow. So this was the aftermath of extreme pleasure. It left her feeling emotionally shattered.
Dan shrugged into his T-shirt as Charlotte stepped into her running shorts. He snuck a glance at her. He usually hid his interest in how she got dressed. Didn’t want to embarrass her. She seemed to prefer it that way, although any number of times he’d wanted to hug the breath out of her and thank her for making him feel so … whole. On this occasion he was almost ready to get down on his knees and ask her to move in with him.
‘We’ve got the party Friday night,’ he said.
‘I know. Julia’s booked solid all day.’ Her mouth curled in a smile. ‘I think Mrs J wants fancy treatments—probably to impress Ray the farmer. I only just managed to get a late appointment so I can posh myself up.’
‘I was wondering, Charlotte …’ He watched her slide the tight singlet over her head and shoulders. ‘If perhaps you’d like to come with me. As my date.’
She looked across the room at him. Her mouth opened. Her fingers held the hem of the singlet. ‘You’re asking me on a date?’
Given the long pause, Dan didn’t feel he had to repeat himself. He nodded.
‘Wow,’ she said softly, eyes widening at him.
‘Wow good or wow bad?’
She went back to the singlet, pulling it down over her bare midriff. ‘Actually, Daniel …’
Dan’s heartbeat skipped. Actually, Daniel … Here it came. A negative. ‘Yeah?’ he asked, his throat thickened.
‘I was thinking perhaps we ought to back off for a bit.’
‘Really?’ Why? The unspoken word burned in his mouth.
She lifted her face, hands resting at her sides. ‘It’s a little tricky now that I have Grandy at the house.’
He shrugged and slid his hands into his jeans’ pockets. ‘It’s not sneaky if we come clean.’
She shook her head. ‘Not a good idea.’
‘Why not?’
She sat on his bed, picked up her sneakers and slid her foot into one. ‘Let’s wait until I’ve got the committee on my side, shall we?’
‘So that’s not a definite no?’
She let out a bewildered-sounding laugh, then slipped her other sneaker over her red-painted toenails and onto her foot. ‘Please don’t push it. Please.’ She looked up suddenly.
Dan smiled. ‘Have you gone shy on me, Red?’
She returned his smile, warmth on her cheeks. �
�A bit.’
‘Sorry. Forget I asked.’ He moved to the end of the bed and picked up her sports cardigan. ‘Come here, then. Let me do the gentlemanly thing and help you with your coat.’
She stood and turned her back to him, sliding her arms into the sleeves of the cardigan he held out. Dan unclenched his fingers from the soft material and slid his hands down her arms. Maybe he’d try again later, when she’d had time to think about his offer. Hell, when he’d had time to think about it. He’d extended a romantic offer her way and she’d refused.
‘Hey,’ he said as she ran her fingers through her hair, neatening it from the tumble his hands had left it in. ‘Got a few ideas about the tourist thing you were talking about.’
‘Oh?’ Interest sparked in her features.
‘Yeah.’ He pushed his hands into his pockets again. ‘I was thinking we might see what we can come up with at the party. You know … chat to a few people about what they’d like in town and what they wouldn’t.’
‘I’ve got a few ideas too.’
‘Great.’ He headed for the bedroom door, unlocked it and held it open. ‘Let me get you a coffee, see if we can hatch some plans for this quaint old town of ours.’
‘Good idea. I’ll switch the machine on while you put your shoes on.’ She looked over her shoulder. ‘I don’t fancy a run now.’ She walked into the corridor. ‘I probably look like I’ve been for one anyway.’
Dan stuck his feet into his sneakers and laced them. So she didn’t want to be with him while Grandy was living at the B&B. It would take up to two weeks to get the gear to fix Grandy’s farmhouse. Dan wasn’t sure he could take another two days without Charlotte, let alone two weeks. And he wasn’t talking about being in bed with her. He meant with her. Next to her, laughing with her, touching her. Just … with her.
He followed her into the empty bar. ‘Okay.’ He pulled the portafilter from the coffee machine as Charlotte settled onto a bar stool. ‘One flat white coming up.’ And don’t draw a heart in the froth. But he wanted to draw two hearts, intertwined. Man, what was happening here?
He packed the ground beans into the filter. Maybe she’d said no to a date because of everything that was going on with her. Everything Dan didn’t understand. He had to know what had happened to her and the only way he could do that was to drag the internet one more time. And how would that make him feel? Like a damned traitor.
Seventeen
Charlotte turned to Grandy at the open door of the Town Hall, her arm tucked in his.
‘Ready?’ he asked.
‘You look so handsome, Grandy.’
He pulled at the knot of his green tie. ‘I look like a stuffed turkey about to be carved.’
Charlotte laughed and squeezed his arm. ‘Thank you for escorting me here. I’m a bit nervous.’
‘No need. You got friends here now, you know that. And just wait until Dan sees you in that dress.’ He winked.
The warmth of the summer evening cloaked Charlotte’s bare shoulders and arms. The skirt of her vintage dress swirled around her legs and the diamantes on the bodice shone in the moonlight. Music from the jukebox Daniel had provided for the evening bubbled on the air, joining the chatter and laughter to dance down Main Street.
‘You know about Dan and me.’
‘Don’t worry, Charlotte. Not about anything. Not tonight.’
‘Sounds good.’ She had need of some freedom. A need to smile and chat and feel reasonably whole, even if only for a few hours. She stepped inside, the town’s patriarch and guest of honour at her side.
Someone turned the music down and Slim Dusty’s voice faded beneath the cheering and clapping.
‘Nonsensical,’ Grandy murmured.
Charlotte laughed. ‘Enjoy it. This is all about you.’ She stepped back and applauded along with everyone else as Grandy gave a bow.
People came forwards and shook his hand. The men slapped him on his shoulder and the women kissed his cheek. Charlotte retreated further. She smiled and nodded at those who spoke to her and felt a flush from the welcome but she longed to turn and greedily search the room for Daniel.
She glanced around the hall. Red, white and blue bunting lined the walls. The glitter-ball spun from the highest rafter. She brought her attention down and found Daniel. He stood over by the food-laden committee table, hands at his sides, staring at her. She held her breath, then nodded hello.
He moved towards her, his pace steady, eyes not leaving hers. He didn’t break the connection even when he stopped right in front of her.
‘Thought you’d never get here,’ he said at last.
‘I was asked to make an entrance with the birthday boy.’
‘Lucky birthday boy.’
‘Looking good.’ She smiled and nodded at his jacket. He looked so tempting she wanted to take a bite. Tan leather deck shoes, cream chinos, white shirt, and a chocolate-coloured jacket. No tie but he didn’t need one to look striking, clean-cut and altogether handsome. A twelve out of ten rating kind of handsome.
He tilted his head and gave her a smile she couldn’t read. ‘You’re not being fair, you know that, don’t you?’
She moistened her lips, tasting her cherry-red lipstick. ‘Oh?’
‘Bad Charlotte,’ he said quietly. ‘Very bad.’
‘Why? What have I done?’
He leaned closer. ‘You look beautiful beyond belief and I can’t do more than kiss you on the cheek.’ He kissed her cheek, his mouth lingering on her skin a fraction longer than normal. ‘Man, I’m not going to be able to take my eyes off you all night. That dress was built for you, Red. Dance with me so I can touch you.’
She laughed and stepped back from his hot words, his hot breath. ‘Maybe later.’
‘Don’t tease a man who’s enchanted.’
He lowered his voice as people walked by them, heading for the catering table, dragging chairs into circles and getting themselves sorted for the evening. ‘I’m gonna make you dance with me at some point.’
‘Later. We’ve got work to do tonight, remember?’
‘My mind went blank the moment you stepped into the room.’
She snuck a hand out and pinched his waist, beneath his jacket. He stepped back, hands raised. ‘Just warning you. Keep your eyes peeled and your senses humming because this bartender is going to catch you in a bear hug at some point.’
He backed away, grinning, then turned and headed for the area next to the committee table, and for Ted, who had been given pride of place on an old velveteen sofa Charlotte remembered seeing at the town meeting two weeks ago. Poor Ted, but at least he was here, and he’d been given a throne to sit on.
‘Hey, Charlotte.’
Charlotte turned to the twins. ‘Hi.’
‘The oldies know how to put on a decent party,’ Jillian said, nodding at Kookaburra’s jukebox, which was now thumping out an array of 1980s music.
‘Except there’s hardly any men our age to dance with.’
Charlotte glanced over the girls’ shoulders and spotted their dashing hero, Josh, talking to Mrs J.
‘Ask Daniel,’ Charlotte said. ‘He’s dying to dance.’
‘Great. We’ll catch him later,’ Jessica said. ‘Anyway, just wanted to let you know we got ourselves out of that mess.’
‘Yeah,’ Jillian chimed in. ‘We’re not getting prosecuted.’
‘In fact we’re not even going to court. Nothing. Whole thing is over and that lawyer you sent our way put us in touch with the cops, who’ve apparently given Knucklehead a real dressing down.’
‘We got the chance to prosecute him, but decided not to since Dad’s not well and Mum is under the hammer at the store.’
‘Well, at least the police know what happened, you’re both out of trouble and Knucklehead dare not make another mistake, because the police will be watching out for him.’
Jillian kissed Charlotte’s cheek. ‘Thanks very much for everything.’
‘I really didn’t do much.’
Jessica kiss
ed the other cheek. ‘Yeah, you did. Thanks.’
‘No problem at all.’ Charlotte stood alone as the twins left, heading for Josh, she noted with a smile.
‘Those two will turn out just fine.’
Charlotte greeted Mrs Tam with another smile. She would enjoy this evening, and there was the promise of being bearhugged in a dance with Daniel later, but for now, there was work to be done. ‘Mrs Tam, I’ve had an idea and I’d like to run it by you.’
Dan pulled up a chair next to Ted’s velvet sofa. ‘Glad to see you here, Ted. How’re you doing?’
Ted snuffled. ‘Not feeling too good.’
‘I reckon you’re bored, mate.’
‘Too right, Dan. Too right.’
‘Well, if you think you might be up for it—I was wondering if you’d help me out with something that’s bothering me.’
‘Oh?’ The rise of one of Ted’s eyebrows wasn’t entirely enthusiastic, but at least Dan had got his attention.
‘You’ve noticed yourself that we’ve been getting a lot more tourists coming through town these last couple of years.’
‘I have.’
‘And I’ve been trying to think up a way we can utilise this.’ Ted didn’t speak so Dan ploughed on. ‘You know—turn a profit here and there.’
‘For all of us?’
‘Absolutely. I’d like some advice on how you think we can develop Swallow’s Fall into a viable destination.’
‘You’re talking about a tourist manifesto.’ Ted frowned, but the slight glee in his eyes told Dan his interest had puffed up along with his pride.
‘Am I?’ Dan asked. ‘Not sure I’d know how to go about that. Sounds like it would involve quite a bit of work.’
‘Oh, it would.’
‘Sounds like something we’d have to involve not only the committee and the townspeople in, but also the shire.’ Dan slapped his hands on his thighs. ‘Not my field, I’m afraid. Damn it. And I thought I’d got it all figured. Hang on—haven’t you got buddies up at the shire?’