Outback Thunder

by Harrison, Ann B.

  Bill and Tony both called it a night and settled down for sleep leaving Brandon and Jonas to keep the conversation going. They sipped their coffee discussing the stock numbers before they too headed for bed.

  ****

  A smack in the face woke Jonas with a start. The night sky was clear and the fire was almost burned down. A few coals glowed in the dark night competing with the stars above. He looked over at Zoe who had thrown her arm over his face in her sleep. Nudging it down he clutched her fingers in his and rolled over in her direction. She was smiling in her sleep and he watched her eyelids fluttering while her dream raced through her mind. She muttered and laughed, having an animated conversation with someone in her dream. She was beautiful when she was relaxed and forgot to be angry with him.

  He closed his eyes and drifted back to sleep, her hand warm in his.

  Jonas snapped awake when someone kicked the end of his swag.

  "Having a sleep in, boss?"

  Zoe stood over him, coffee in hand and her head cocked to one side as he struggled to wake up. His gaze travelled slowly up the long jean clad legs to her ass. His palms itched to rise and grasp her butt cheeks and pull her down to his bed. He closed his eyes to rid himself of the image.

  Unzipping the swag he pulled himself up and grabbed his boots, shaking them make sure they were clear of spiders and bugs before pulling them on. Zoe sauntered away as he stood up and her hips swayed with each exaggerated move.

  Jonas watched every swing before he shook his head and glanced toward the fire when he heard a slight cough. The boys were all standing there with grins on their faces and he immediately scowled at them.

  "Coffee, Jonas?" Brandon called, a smirk on his face.

  "Thanks."

  "We'll just go saddle our horses," Tony said, Bill nodding as he followed. They avoided meeting Jonas's gaze.

  He rolled his swag up, tightening the straps. He stood again, searching for Zoe. She leaned against a tree, one hand slipped inside the front pocket of her jeans, the other holding the tin mug to her lips. She quirked an eyebrow at him before running her tongue over her lips.

  Jonas couldn't help but smile at her cheek and the sexual innuendo guaranteed to make his blood heat up. She knew him so well. That much at least hadn't changed. They were both so into the sex games of teasing each other and she hadn't lost her touch. He shook his head and walked over to Brandon. "You sorted for this morning?"

  "Yeah, under control. The stock hasn't wandered much so just let us know where the rest are once you're in the air and we can bring them in." He nodded in Zoe's direction. "I wonder if you should see if Zoe wants a lift home. She didn't shape up too well yesterday regardless of how she's stirring you up now."

  "I wouldn't dream of asking her, not at the risk of losing my head." Jonas looked over his shoulder at her still lounging against the tree soaking up the morning sunshine. "Let me know if she struggles and I might put my head on the block later but it's not how I want to start my day."

  "Fair enough," Brandon said nodding his head. "Here she comes."

  "Ready for the easy ride home, Jonas?"

  "Swap you any day . I enjoy the saddle and riding with the boys." He glanced at her from head to toe, noting the stiff way in which she held herself. She was still sore and he had no doubt she would slap him if he said anything.

  "I must say I missed it too. I might be a bit sore by the time we get home but I wouldn't swap it for your gig." She threw the dregs of her coffee into the hot coals of the fire grinning like a schoolgirl when the embers spat.

  Jonas saw her walk over to her backpack and jam her mug inside, doing up the strap. She lifted it up and swung it over her shoulder, wincing slightly as the weight settled against her back. She whistled for her horse and Midnight lifted his head gazing at her before slowly sauntering toward her.

  This should be interesting.

  He spoke to Brandon while keeping an eye on her saddling the horse. The stifled gasps coming from her tight lips let him know how sore she still felt. Gritting his teeth Jonas jammed his hands in his back pockets, stilling the need to rush over and help her knowing full well that she would push him aside.

  Chapter Six

  Zoe was hell bent on hiding how much this was hurting. The last thing she needed was Jonas preening over how soft she had become while she was away. The blisters on her hands would have been a lot worse if it wasn't for the new gloves Pete had handed her but that didn't help her pain. She was used to manicured nails and soft skin now. Her palms were red raw and most of her nails were chipped, broken or both. She grimaced and sucked in a deep breath.

  Slipping Midnights bridle on, she did up the buckles, tearing another nail.

  "Fuck."

  She chewed the jagged edge and spat it onto the dry dusty ground. Zoe counted to ten before she plastered a bright smile on her face and walked over to grab her saddle.

  "Okay?" Brandon called out to her.

  "Yep, right as rain, brother."

  The muscles in her back screamed when she leaned down to grab the saddle but she kept the smile on her face. Not until she turned back to her horse did she screw up her face and curse to herself. Stars floated in front of her eyes as she carried it back. Zoe counted three deep breaths before she hoisted the saddle onto Midnight’s back. The sweat ran down her spine and trickled past her jeans to dampen her the back of her panties. The salt stung her already chaffed behind and she longed to strip down and sit in cool water.

  A gentle hand landed on her shoulder just as she pulled the girth strap tight.

  "You going to be alright, kid?"

  "Sure Bran, I'm fine." She looked over his shoulder, putting the smile back on her face for Jonas's benefit. "You know how it is. It won't take me long to get used to the saddle again."

  Brandon threw her swag up and tied it behind the saddle for her.

  Zoe hooked her foot in the stirrup and swung herself up and over to rest in the saddle. She pulled the gloves from her front pocket and pulled them on while she gazed around at the milling stock. "Let's get moving before it gets too hot and the stock buggers off looking for a shady spot to cool down."

  She turned her horse and started to round up the first of the wanderers. The sound of the helicopter soon reached her ears and she relaxed in the saddle now that Jonas was no longer watching her.

  The sound of hoofs coming toward her got her attention. She turned her head swatting the flies that were buzzing and crawling over her and grinned at her brother.

  "Don't tell me Jonas thinks I should go home already?"

  "Yeah, but you have to expect it Zoe. You really shouldn't have done this muster without at least some riding beforehand and I don't believe that outing the other day to the dam was classed as a decent ride."

  "Yeah well, be that as it may. I have to do this and you know that." She brushed her hand across her face and growled. "I have missed everything except these bloody flies."

  "Even Jonas?"

  She looked at him, frowning as she mulled the words over in her mind. Her brother knew her too well, he always had. How the hell was she supposed to keep anything to herself on this farm. Her brother and her ex-lover, they both read her like a book. "I guess the time hasn't dulled the hurt as much as I had hoped. He still has the uncanny ability to push all the right buttons."

  "Well maybe—"

  "No! Don't even go there or I swear to God I will kick your ass. It's over, okay? He couldn't keep it in his pants then and from all accounts he hasn't changed at all. We had different ideas of what we wanted for the future. Let's do this."

  She flicked the reins and the horse bolted forward stilling the conversation.

  All day she rode hard bringing in the cattle, chasing the strays that didn't want to follow the herd and reuniting mothers and lost calves. It was after dinner by the time they reached the home paddock and met up with the other teams who had brought their cattle in earlier.

  Zoe rode to the stable and slid off Midnight. She leane
d into his side until she was certain her weak legs would hold her. Someone gave her a gentle nudge and bent to unsaddle the horse.

  "No, leave it," she groaned pushing Pete out of the way.

  "Don't be bloody stubborn. You're knackered and look like you will fall down any minute."

  "I can do it." Zoe reached up and pulled the saddle down, letting it almost touch the ground as the weight settled in her sore hands. She struggled to hold it and walked over to the stable, gingerly lifting it over the rail.

  "You don't have anything to prove, kid, not to me anyway."

  "Yeah, I do." She grabbed a hose and let the water run over her horse cleaning the dust from his coat and cooling him down.

  Pete shook his head and stormed back to the office slamming the door behind him and leaving her to do her own thing. Once she had filled the hay net and led Midnight into the stable, she headed for the house. Her body protested with each movement but it was like a beacon calling her to safety. She sunk to the bottom step to pull off her dusty boots and sweaty socks, dumping them on the path.

  Zoe breathed a sigh of relief and wiggled her toes now free of the hot cramped boots. She wanted to sink into a large tub of scented water and close her eyes but that would mean getting up and walking into the house. For now she was content to just sit and watch the stars shining brightly in the sky above. Legs stretched out in front of her, she leaned her elbows back on the steps and relaxed.

  "Zoe, hey Zoe." A voice niggled and an insistent nudge on her shoulder startled her.

  "Wha…what are you doing?" The back of the step was digging into her neck and a chill was creeping over her bare feet. Jonas crouched in front of her holding onto her arm.

  "You fell asleep."

  "No, no I didn't. I was just resting here watching the stars." She rubbed her eyes. "You don't get them like that in London, too much smog. I missed the clear skies of home."

  He planted his butt on the path in front of her and leaned back on his hands. "It was the same in the States. When I was in San Francisco the fog hid most of them. It's funny what you get used to and how you miss it when it's no longer there."

  She looked into the eyes of the man that she had loved with a vengeance and wondered if she had ever really known him. "Why San Francisco?"

  "Because it seemed like a good idea at the time, still is truth be told. I have a couple of business ventures there that I wanted to see more of firsthand."

  "What kind of business ventures?"

  "Property, mainly. Although I do own shares in an up and coming research company I have great hopes for."

  "What kind of research?" Zoe pulled her knees up and rested her chin on them. This was something she didn't know and she was strangely interested.

  "Cancer research mainly. I have a friend who was looking for funding who just might make a big difference to the world with my help."

  "Why not do it here in Australia?"

  "Different restrictions. We will get it here eventually once it has undergone the testing we want but for now it stays overseas. It's in good hands."

  "Hmm, how come that never made the papers, Jonas? It seems the real you is a bit of a mystery after all." Zoe grinned at him.

  "You know me well enough, you always have. I haven't changed at all. Made money and learnt plenty along the way for sure. But I'm still the same guy I always was. How about you? You've done alright by what I can tell."

  "Yes I have and I enjoy my life and my job. This is pushing the friendship though being away. Luckily I have good staff but they can't take my place forever." Zoe picked at a piece of grass on the edge of the path. "So, all those media stories about you and your women, are they true?" Zoe held her breath for his answer, wishing she could tell him about Lilly. It should be them that he was escorting to balls and events, not some big breasted woman that didn't have the connection with him they did.

  "I can't control the media and to tell you the truth, I really don't care what they print."

  "So... all of those women you get caught with, not the real you?"

  "I'm a man, Zoe. I have needs and one of them just happens to be female company. Why should that change?" A scowl marred his face and she drew in a quick breath. "Did you expect me to turn celibate just because you saw something that insulted your twisted ideas of right and wrong?"

  "What do you mean, twisted. I caught you in our secret place with that slutty girl who just happened to be half naked. What the hell was I supposed to think?"

  Zoe made to stand but cried out in pain when her body protested.

  Jonas jumped to his feet and easily lifted her in his arms. "You stubborn little brat. You wouldn't ask for help would you?" He walked up the steps with her protesting to be put down. "This was too much for someone who hadn't been in the saddle for years. Bloody hell, Zoe."

  "Put me down now Jonas or I'll—"

  "What, kick my ass? I doubt you could pull the skin from a rice pudding in the state you're in. Sit still while I run you a bath and stop protesting."

  He gently sat her on a kitchen chair and walked down the hallway to her room. Zoe heard the sound of running water as he filled her bath and she struggled to stand. Her body had seized up, the muscles in her legs and back wracked with spasms when she moved. Holding her hands out against the wall, she made her way to her bedroom. The smell of bubble bath came from her bathroom and she ached to sink below the warm water.

  "I told you to sit." Jonas came out with his sleeves rolled up and a frown on his face.

  "I'm not a baby."

  "Can you get out of those clothes by yourself?" He stood in front of her, hands on his hips as he looked down at her.

  Zoe dropped her head so he couldn't see the heat rolling over her cheeks.

  "I'm not here to drag you to bed. If you need some help, just ask. It's either me or you wait for Brandon."

  The thought of her brother seeing her naked was worse than letting Jonas see her in that state again. "Um, if you wouldn't mind I could use the help. I don't think my fingers want to work after that muster."

  She kept her head averted as he undid the buttons on her shirt. He threw it on the floor and undid the button on her jeans then slid down the zip. Her breath sucked in and she closed her eyes when Jonas pulled them down her legs. Zoe had to put a hand on his shoulder when he helped her step out of the jeans. She stood before him in her bra and panties.

  "Okay with the rest if I just unhook the bra?"

  Zoe held her hands over her breasts and nodded her head. She swallowed when his fingers traced over her back before unclipping her bra.

  "Thanks." She walked gingerly to her bathroom.

  "Yell if you need me. I won't be far away."

  She let her breath out as his footsteps faded down the hallway. Dropping the bra from her shoulders she let it slide off her arms and fall to the floor. Zoe leaned against the wall and slid her panties down her hips and kicked them off. On shaky feet, she shuffled closer to the bath before holding onto the edge and putting one foot into the water.

  Perfect.

  Carefully she slid under the bubbles and leaned back closing her eyes. Bliss after two days in the saddle. She ran her fingers over her palms and outlined each of the blisters. Hard earned battle scars.

  It was good to be home though. Back where she belonged but she couldn't stay here with Jonas so close, even if she didn't have to go back to her own business. If she could outlast him he would go back to his other businesses and she could relax again. That was if she could keep him at a distance until then.

  There was a knock on the door. "Are you alright, Zoe?"

  "Um, yeah fine, thanks."

  "I'm making soup and toast for dinner. Should be ready in five."

  "Okay, cheers."

  Zoe sat up and watched the water run down her breasts. Her nipples puckered and she blamed the cool air but her gut told her it was the man outside the door. Keeping her distance was going to be hard when all she wanted to do was rip his clothes off and throw him
to the floor. Maybe if she did that and got it out of her system once and for all she would survive with him so close.

  They could just be friends with benefits for the duration of his stay here. It would work for her and she was sure he wouldn't turn down sex without strings. He'd already made the comment of being a man and having needs. They always had great chemistry and that hadn't changed by the look of things.

  Zoe pulled the plug from the bath and watched the water spiral down the drain. When her skin started to chill she pulled herself up on aching arms and climbed out of the bath. She wrapped herself in a towel and walked into the bedroom to choose clothes that were easy to put on. Looking through her closet she settled on sweat pants and a flannel shirt, her fingers struggling with the buttons. A quick brush through her hair and she was ready for hot food.

  Jonas looked up when she walked into the kitchen.

  "Thanks, that feels much better," she said.

  "Welcome. Sit down and I'll grab you a bowl of soup."

  "Where's Bran?"

  "Down at the shed. Haven't you noticed the new roustabout?"

  "No way, Bran has a girlfriend?" She laughed, the sound filling the quiet room. " I never thought that would happen. Smitten, eh?"

  "It would appear so. They've had eyes for each other since she arrived a few weeks back." Jonas put a bowl of steaming soup in front of her and sat opposite. "Dig in."

  The smell wafting up made her stomach rumble and she realized just how hungry she was. Zoe dipped her spoon in the bowl and blew on the rich golden soup before she sipped. "Hmmmm, really good Jonas. Tinned?"

  "This time of night, yes. If you want homemade I need more warning but it's possible. Have some garlic toast." He pushed the plate toward her and she took a slice dipping it in the soup bowl before taking a hearty bite. Zoe closed her eyes and groaned with pleasure after licking her lips.

  The sharp intake of breath Zoe open her eyes. Jonas was staring at her, his eyes dark and the sexual vibes coming from him had her clenching her thighs together under the table.