Something to Talk About (Rose Hill, #2)

by Rachael Johns

  ‘Then why?’ she yelled, before deflating slightly. ‘Why did you apologise and then run the hell away?’

  She looked as if she might be close to tears and that would unravel him, but he couldn’t mess her about. ‘Because this isn’t right.’ He shoved his hands into his pockets to stop from reaching for her. ‘Kissing you was a selfish move. I’m not in the zone for a relationship. I’m only here temporarily, and even if I wasn’t—’

  Fergus was about to explain why nothing serious could ever happen between them, but she interrupted.

  ‘That’s very presumptuous of you.’

  ‘What?’ He blinked, confused.

  ‘Thinking that I want a relationship,’ she said. ‘Thinking that one kiss from you would have me falling in love, fantasising about the future. I’m not that kind of girl, Fergus. The day we met I told you I was quite happily single and I meant it. I’ve got my life mapped out for me and my baby; just because I’m attracted to you doesn’t change any of that. But it does frustrate the hell out of me.’

  And with those words, she closed the gap between them, pushed up on her toes and crushed her mouth against his. The force of her lips almost unbalanced him and he held onto her hips to save himself. As her tongue snuck into his mouth, his stomach muscles squeezed and he felt his resolve wavering. She tasted so damn good he wanted to eat her all up. But alarm bells clanged inside his head.

  How would they ever look each other in the eye if he let this go on?

  Once again, he somehow found it within himself to pull back.

  Tabitha let out a frustrated breath. ‘What now?’

  ‘I don’t want to do this and ruin our friendship,’ he said, thinking that the hard-on she must have felt against her belly probably called him out as a liar. He wanted to do this more than he wanted to do anything, he just wasn’t sure he should.

  ‘What friendship?’ she sneered, and he felt a prickle of hurt at her words. ‘We haven’t even known each other a month. Besides, you don’t think things aren’t going to be awkward between us after this anyway? We may as well ruin them entirely.’

  He cocked his head to one side. She had a point. And maybe if they succumbed to this chemistry between them they would get it out of their systems.

  ‘Stop thinking so much, Fergus,’ Tabitha said, her tone frustrated as she reached out and placed her hand on his crazily beating heart. ‘We’re both adults. We both want this, so let’s scratch the itch and move on.’

  ‘So just one time?’ he clarified.

  ‘What makes you think I’ll want any more?’

  He chuckled at that, but had to be absolutely sure she knew what she was doing. He didn’t want to get started and have her change her mind, or worse, feel remorse tomorrow morning. ‘You sure this isn’t just a reaction to the news about Ryder co—’

  She pulled his face down towards hers. ‘Would you just shut up and put your mouth back on mine?’

  And seriously, what court of law could say he hadn’t tried to offer her an out? So he did as she asked—he put his mouth back on hers as he scooped her up into his arms and carried her into the house, kicking the door shut behind them. Mrs Norris greeted them loudly and ferociously. Cursing the stupid cat, he reluctantly set Tabitha down as he switched on a light.

  ‘I’ll be right back,’ he said, and then went into the laundry to sprinkle biscuits into the cat’s bowl.

  But when he returned to the living room, Tabitha was nowhere to be found. His heart sank. For a second he thought she’d had second thoughts and left, but then he heard her calling from his bedroom. ‘How long does it take to feed a feline? I don’t have all night you know.’

  In a mere four strides he was in his room, swallowing at the sight of Tabitha completely naked on the bed, a soft glow from the bedside lamp spilling over her delicious body. His mouth went dry and his body hardened again as he looked his fill. Her skin was glowing, her hair tousled around her face, her breasts beautifully round and her belly slightly curved. With child.

  ‘This isn’t an art exhibition,’ she said as she stretched her arm out and ran it up and down the edge of the bed. ‘You can look with your hands as well as your eyes.’

  Her seductive tone sent shivers down his spine. He didn’t need to be asked twice. After toeing off his shoes and pushing the thought of the child from his mind, he stalked to the bed and lowered himself down beside her.

  She rolled towards him and smiled. ‘What took you so long?’

  In reply, he pulled her towards him and kissed her hard. He groaned as her breasts pressed against his chest. His jeans suddenly felt tight and he struggled to breathe as his erection pressed against the denim. He couldn’t wait to be inside her, but didn’t want to rush.

  Summoning all his self-control, he deepened the kiss. Tab groaned into his mouth as he moved his hand down over the curve of her breasts and then scraped his thumb over her already hard nipples.

  He pulled back to gaze at her. ‘You’re so damn beautiful.’

  Her cheeks flushed deliciously and she snuck her hand between them, cursing as she fumbled with the button on his jeans. ‘I want to touch you,’ she whispered.

  He remembered her mentioning that buttons were one of the few things she found difficult with only one hand. And he could have helped her. But once he was naked as well, he wouldn’t be able to control himself and he didn’t want this to be over barely before it had begun. If they were only going to do this once, he was going to take his time and make damn sure it was worth it.

  For both of them.

  ‘Soon.’ He grabbed her hand and lifted it to his mouth, sucking one finger into it. She shuddered and let out the sweetest sound he’d ever heard. If she reacted like that for a finger, he could only imagine the sounds she might make if he put his mouth elsewhere. And he wanted to. He wanted to taste every last inch of her.

  Placing a quick kiss on her lips, he pulled back, gazed down at her a moment and then dipped his head and sucked one nipple into his mouth.

  Man, she felt good, she tasted so good.

  ‘Oh Fergus.’ Her body bucked beneath him and he smiled around her nipple as he swirled his tongue, driving them both to insanity. ‘Please.’

  He lifted his lips again and grinned down at her. ‘You like that?’

  Already breathless, she simply nodded.

  ‘Then what about this?’ He licked under her breast, his hand cupping the other, before he moved his mouth lower, teasing her belly button before venturing even lower and puffing hot breath onto the apex of her thighs. Her legs fell apart and he put his mouth to her, pushing his tongue inside, tasting the very flavour of her. She was already so slippery and wet for him that it was all he could do not to yank his jeans down and surge into her.

  But this would be over in a matter of seconds if he did, so instead, he focused on the task at hand, licking and nibbling and touching and taunting until she was a writhing mess beneath him. He felt the pleasure shudder through her and lifted his head to meet her gaze.

  ‘Wow,’ she whispered, which only made him grin and grow harder. ‘Now I need to repay the favour.’

  ‘That was no favour,’ he growled, brushing his fingertips against her breasts before stooping to brush his lips across her mouth again. ‘That was pure selfishness. And so is this.’

  He rolled off her and, in record time, yanked his shirt over his head, ripped at the button of his jeans and shucked them down his legs. She gasped as he turned back to her; the way her eyes widened as she gazed at his erection was very good for his ego.

  ‘You’re pretty … big.’

  Fergus chuckled. ‘I could take that as a compliment, but this is all because of you.’

  Then, crawling back on top of her, he smashed his mouth to hers, positioned himself and … ‘Shit.’

  She stilled beneath him. ‘What is it?’

  ‘I don’t have any condoms.’ This wasn’t on his agenda.

  A little puff of amusement escaped her lips. ‘Well, I’m safe
, are you? Because you’re too late to get me pregnant.’

  And, not wanting to dwell on the fact, he covered her mouth with his again and thrust into her.

  As Fergus filled her so deliciously, Tabitha ran her hand down his back and then gripped his butt, wanting to drive him deeper and deeper, wanting the sensations flooding her body to never ever end.

  She couldn’t believe this was actually happening.

  She was having sex—real sex with a real man. And it was freaking fantastic. Her pregnancy hormones were very pleased with her indeed. Without them, she doubted she would have had the guts to follow this through, but lying beneath him now she was very glad she had.

  Tonight, she’d been more daring than she’d ever been before where men were concerned. Her fury had spurred her on to follow and confront him. Her bravado had surprised her but it had been worth it. She’d never felt so much like a woman than in that moment when he’d carried her into the house. And then the cat had interrupted them and the hiatus had given her a few moments to think.

  She’d glanced around the old woman’s house and fear had filled her body.

  What am I doing?

  She had no idea how to seduce a grown man, no idea how to have sex. It had been so long since the last time that she was practically a virgin again.

  What if I do it wrong? What if I’m not any good?

  There’d been two opposing forces in her head—the pregnancy hormones telling her to take what she wanted and to hell with the consequences, and the voice of reason telling her to snap out of this silliness and retreat.

  But she recognised the voice of reason as nerves and she’d be damned if she was going to let a little anxiety rob her of this experience. So, she’d hurried into the bedroom and stripped right out of her clothes before the voice of reason could grow stronger. It would be harder to run for the hills if she were naked. Lying spread-eagled on the bed, she’d called to him, telling herself if she feigned bravado, maybe she could do this without making a fool of herself.

  Her heart had nearly leapt out of her chest it was beating so fast as she heard Fergus’s footsteps coming towards her, but the jitters had evaporated the moment he entered the room and she realised that she was responsible for the hot look of lust in his eyes. It sent a shiver down her spine and her bravado had taken on a life of its own.

  She didn’t know where the flirtatious come-on—You can look with your hands as well as your eyes—had come from but she was definitely enjoying the results.

  As Fergus pounded into her and the ripples of pleasure built stronger within, they both opened their eyes and their gazes met. She saw fire in his eyes. He looked like a man possessed, and the knowledge she had the power to make him react so strongly sent an orgasm like nothing she’d ever felt before crashing through her.

  He let out a guttural groan as his release came only a second later.

  Together, the aftershocks of their frenzied union still rocking through them, they lay there trying to catch their breath and all Tab could think about was what she’d been missing all these years. It was a travesty.

  Sex with Ryder had never been like that. Maybe because there’d been so much more of a build-up with Ryder. They’d been two timid teens who’d talked about doing the deed for so long that it had been a bit of a let-down when they actually did. Maybe this had been so good because there’d been no time for building it up into something unrealistic. Some things were better if you didn’t think about them too much. Or maybe it was because Fergus was more experienced than Ryder had been. Maybe her senses were heightened by pregnancy. Or maybe … it didn’t matter.

  Whatever this was, it would be an experience she’d treasure always, even if it had probably ruined any friendship that might have been developing between herself and Fergus.

  That thought brought her crashing back to reality.

  She was lying here naked underneath a man she barely knew, he was still inside her, and she had no idea what she was supposed to do next. The urge to snuggle into him was strong, but that wasn’t part of the deal, so she palmed her hand on his chest and pushed upwards.

  ‘I need to …’ Her cheeks flamed as the words died on her tongue. Talking about cleaning herself up wasn’t sexy but the sooner she did, the sooner she could leave, which was what she was supposed to be doing. Wasn’t it?

  He nodded and rolled off her. ‘Do you know where the bathroom is?’

  ‘Yes.’ She couldn’t bring herself to look at him as she stooped to gather her clothes from the floor. Her shorts fell as she hurried across the room and, as she bent to pick them up again, she silently cursed her little arm. If she had two, this might be a whole lot easier and a whole lot less mortifying.

  ‘Do you want some help?’

  ‘No.’ She practically shouted the word, feeling his gaze boring into the back of her naked body. Why couldn’t he be a gentleman, ignore her mishap and look away?

  She made it to the bathroom—still stuck in the 1950s with lime-green tiles on the walls and a brown mosaic on the floor—and shut the door, her heart stammering as she leant against it. A shower would probably be a good idea, but part of her didn’t want to wash the scent of him from her skin just yet, and also it would take too long. After a quick clean up, she dressed and ventured out into the corridor.

  Fergus was standing there. He’d put his jeans back on but was still shirtless. Still gorgeous. ‘You okay?’

  ‘Yes.’ She summoned a smile for him. ‘Are you?’

  He nodded. ‘Are things going to be weird between us now?’

  The question made her smile real, but she wasn’t a liar, so she nodded. ‘Probably. But I don’t regret this. Do you?’

  He shook his head.

  ‘I guess I’ll be going then.’ She was already turning towards the front of the house.

  He followed her out onto the porch and part of her stupidly hoped he’d ask if they could see each other again, maybe even do it again, but all he did was kiss her on the cheek.

  ‘Goodbye, Tabitha. Drive safely.’

  Perhaps he hadn’t found it as mind-blowing as she had.

  Trying not to show her disappointment, she retreated to the van and, like the gentleman he was, he waited until she was safely inside before he went back into the house. Glancing in the rear-view mirror, she saw the porch light go off, and shook her head slightly as she focused back on the long driveway.

  What the hell had she just done?

  Chapter Twenty

  Tab didn’t sleep well that night and woke the following morning with her heart racing and her sheets wet and tangled. She hadn’t had an accident and her waters hadn’t broken early—thank God—it’s just that whenever she’d closed her eyes, her head had filled with images of Fergus and what they’d done together. So much for forgetting about her moment of reckless lust and moving on. At least he’d succeeded in taking her mind off Ryder, but now she felt like a beast who’d had the taste of blood and wanted more. Only she didn’t even have Fergus’s number, he was probably almost on his way to school and that hadn’t been what they agreed to.

  Maybe she would have to get a vibrator. But even as she thought this, she knew an inanimate object would never be able to make her feel, make her scream, satisfy her the way he had. Dammit, she’d have to find another way to take her mind of their X-rated liaison because somehow she had to get it out of her head.

  After throwing back the bedcovers and having an actual cold shower, Tab made herself some breakfast and then sat on the back step talking to Eliza as she ate. As much as she adored Meg, no way she’d be confessing to her sister-in-law, or anyone else, what she and Fergus had done, but she needed to talk about it with someone.

  However, Eliza found the whole situation amusing—her laughter echoing in the house behind them.

  ‘You’re as bad as Meg,’ Tab scolded as she stormed back inside, dumped her empty dishes in the sink and wondered what to do today.

  Mondays were usually her relaxing day—no housework
, pure chilling, either with a book or in front of the TV with her knitting needles. But today she knew that lazing around wasn’t going to relax her. She needed to do something to keep busy, to keep her mind from wandering.

  Perhaps it was time to make a start on the nursery. And focusing on her baby would help keep her focused on her priorities. Hot sex was all very well but it wouldn’t bring her the kind of love her baby would. The kind of unconditional, long-lasting love of family she craved.

  Some of her tension began to give way to excitement as she wandered upstairs and into the little room next to her bedroom, which she’d earmarked for the baby. It was pretty much empty as Meg had never used it, so Tab had a blank slate to do with it as she pleased. The first thing would be a coat of paint, but she wasn’t sure what colour. Even if she knew what she was having, she didn’t want to go the traditional pink or blue. Maybe a soft lemon would be nice. Yellow always made her feel chirpy, but then again, it would depend on what furniture she bought and what theme she went for.

  At this thought Tab had a sudden uncharacteristic urge to go shopping.

  She wasn’t a girly girl and didn’t usually find much joy in shopping for the sake of shopping, but today she had the best purpose of all. Decision made, she called her dad, in Bunbury, to see if he and her stepmum were up for lunch and a little retail therapy.

  They were delighted—Dad by the prospect of food and Sandra to have been asked to be involved in the baby shopping.

  Tab had been in Bunbury by 10 am and couldn’t remember having so much fun shopping in her life. She chose not to think about the tally on her Visa and only stopped when her van was full of flat-pack furniture, baby clothes, toys and some things she hadn’t even known existed until now. She’d spent way more money than she’d meant to, and half the stuff she probably could have got in good condition second-hand or borrowed from friends in Walsh. But she didn’t care, because her baby deserved the best and the shopping had well and truly succeeded in drawing her out of her funk.

  ‘Will you be okay with all of this at the other end, sweetheart?’ her dad asked as he clunked the back of the van shut on all her purchases.