"So you're the strong quiet type, are you?" she whispered as they strolled out onto the veranda and stared in the darkness at rain that had begun to fall.
"Well, Miss Voss, shall we run like idiots or walk like professionals and get soaking wet?" Noel asked with a grin. Neither of them had the forethought to bring raincoats across with them.
"Mr. Overworth," Kate chuckled. "I shall be running."
They dashed into the darkness. The path was lit with a series of orange coloured lights that reflected eerily through the rain and in the puddles. They continued across an open lawn space and finally into the dormitory block standing like an oasis of security with almost every window lit up behind white curtains.
"That rain really gets one wet," Kate sighed as she looked up at Noel with her hair plastered down and the blouse clinging under her saturated suit. Noel felt no better with his clothes as wet as hers.
For a moment they glanced at each other. "If you want more than just company, I'm in Room 27," she blurted out and disappeared upstairs where the women's rooms were situated.
Noel glanced after her, frowned at her words and walked along to his room.
He stared around the cubical. The bed filled half the room. In front was a tiny window with orange light from an outside light reflecting in. On his right was a small wardrobe with a platform at the bottom where he had placed his overnight bag. He switched on the light and stared at his image in the mirror above a little sink and cupboard. He was indeed a saturated mess. He slipped out of his wet clothes, towelled himself dry, put on pyjamas and climbed into the narrow bed. After reading a few pages of an historical novel his eyes grew heavy so he switched off the light and thought about his tiny daughter until he finally drifted asleep.
In the early hours of the morning he awoke but it wasn't Lisa or even Margaret he had been dreaming about but his assistant. My God, he dreamt about Kate and she was upstairs right now. Then he remembered. She practically invited him into see her. It was Room 27.
Feeling guilty but also excited, he glanced at his watch. Two thirty! Nobody would be around. He put a dressing gown on and slipped outside. Small blue security lights lit the corridor like distant stars as he made his way upstairs and read the numbers until he came to twenty-seven. He reached for the door handle. God it was unlocked! He gave the door a slight push and it opened a fraction with a squeak that made him jump in fright. However, his conscience pricked. What an idiot he was! He was acting like an oversexed high school kid at a boarding school. With infinite care, he closed the door and made sure it was latched.
His heart raced as he made his way briskly back down the stairs. He breathed in relief when he reached his own room. Luckily, during the whole ten minutes or so he'd never seen a sole. He grinned, crawled beneath the blankets and switched off the light. Oh well, no harm was done.
HE DRIFTED ASLEEP BUT seemly moments later, jerked awake.
Something had awoken him, he was sure. It was semi-dark in the unfamiliar room with reflected light from an outside security light. Half-drawn curtains blew faintly against the window. Damn, the door was opening. He'd forgotten to snap the lock. He was about to tell the person he had got the wrong room when he saw who was silhouetted in the doorframe.
"Kate!" he whispered.
Without a sound she walked in and shut the door. She was dressed in a white dressing gown held around her waist by a narrow sash. She pulled the cord and slipped it off to show frilly pyjamas that hid practically nothing.
"I waited for you to come in but you went away," she whispered.
"What?" Noel tried to sound annoyed.
"I saw you, Noel," Kate said. "When I got to the door I saw you walking away."
"It's not what you think," Noel protested.
"Isn't it?" Kate whispered and stepped closer.
Noel sat up and stared at her breasts outlined beneath the thin translucent material. Her scent smelt irresistible as she reached down, ran a finger over his lips and sat on the edge of the bed. She was now in his arms and they kissed a shy kiss of relatives meeting that became more passionate as inhibitions were cast aside.
"It's okay, Noel," she whispered. "There's no going back, now."
"Oh, Kate!" He groaned. She wiggled in close, spread her legs around him and moaned. My God, she was hypersensitive..
"Noel!" she moaned and grabbed at him with her fingernails digging into his back. Her whole body was now quivering as he undressed her and began to make passionate love.
. "You're hurting!" she howled but didn't retreat so it was clear she wanted him to continue.
His sperm ejaculated inside the third woman he'd ever made love to. He held on as her desperate body shook, her loud moans became sobs and he finally withdrew. She remained there gasping for breath while he held her gently in his arms.
"If we didn't do it tonight we might never have. I almost visited last night but chickened out when one of the men ambled out of the showers up the corridor." Kate giggled. "I reckon he got a bigger fright than I did when he saw me standing there."
She wriggled up and he noticed blood on the inside of her leg. Damn, the sheet had blood on it, too.
"I'm sorry," he gulped. "Your period, I shouldn't have."
"Oh Noel," she said. "Didn't you guess?"."
"Oh my God, were you a virgin?"
"Yes," she replied. "But you solved that small problem didn't you?" She smiled at his flushed face.
Noel shuddered. "I shouldn't have," he gasped.
"And why not?" Kate whispered, "I have no regrets." She tucked her arms around his neck gave him a kiss on the mouth, pulled her pyjamas on and, with almost a skip, disappeared out of the room.
THE NEXT MORNING, KATE came up to Noel as he ate his breakfast. She smiled, sat down and poured milk over her breakfast serial.
"I wish I could eat that," she said. "I eat Cornflakes and I'm still too fat."
Noel frowned. "No you aren't Kate," he said. "You are an attractive young lady."
"Thank you, Noel," she responded, their eyes met and she smiled. "You don't know how I appreciate you saying that.
Nothing else was said about the previous night until they were driving half way back from Dunedin that afternoon.
"Noel?" Kate said and glanced across at him. "We need to talk."
"It's about last night, isn't it?"
Kate nodded. "Please don't tell anyone, Noel. My parents are strict Presbyterians who even frown at dancing."
"Of course not," Noel promised. "It was more than just sex last night, you know."
"Was it Noel?"
"Yes," he replied and didn't really know if he was just trying to comfort the woman beside him or he did feel something more. "You are one wonderful person, Kate and have a spot on figure, too."
Kate suddenly reached across and kissed Noel on the cheek. "If you get tired of Margaret perhaps we..." Her voice trailed off.
"How did you know about her?" Noel replied. "I thought we were very discrete."
"Oh, you are," Kate replied. "I followed you one Friday evening after Sarah told me you pay a regular visit to a Balclutha and never get home until the wee hours. I know you haven't the habit of frequenting pubs and was curious. I waited outside Balclutha two weeks back and followed the old FJ all the way to Margaret's flat. The kiss she gave you at the door was more than one gives to a casual friend." She frowned. "I was being sneaky, wasn't I?"
"You were," Noel replied and somehow he felt honoured rather than annoyed. He glanced at the road ahead and saw they were near the small town of Milton. "What say we stop and I'll shout you a cup of coffee?"
"Noel," laughed his companion. "I think that is a marvellous idea. I'd even like one of those doughnuts filled with whipped cream. Who cares if it's fattening."
WHEN NOEL ARRIVED HOME that night Sarah met him at the drive with Alexia in her arms.
"God, we missed you," she said, handed the baby over and kissed him on the cheek. "Did anything unexpected happen?"
"
No," Noel replied. He stopped and studied his daughter's grandmother, "Why do you ask?"
"Margaret rang and wondered where you were," Sarah replied. Her eyes were curious. "I said you weren't going into Balclutha as you'd been away all week at a course. Was that right?"
Damn. He'd forgotten all about Margaret.
"Yes, sure," Noel replied, perhaps a little too hastily. "I'd better call her."
Sarah studied him. "What you do, Noel is your business, of course..."
"But," Noel retorted with a spark of anger in his voice.
Sarah shrugged. "Kate is a very pleasant person, isn't she, Noel?"
Noel flushed. "Okay, Sarah," he said in a quiet voice. "I admit I've been with Margaret but is it so wrong? She is separated, you know."
"But still married, Noel."
"I guess."
Sarah's eyes fixed on him and she broke into a grin. "It's been hard since Lisa's death, hasn't it?"
Noel nodded.
"Just a wee word of advice Noel, if you don't mind."
"No." Noel felt uncomfortable.
"Margaret's a lonely woman, Noel and an attractive one, too, I might add but so is Kate. Lonely people can get hurt easily."
"Kate is only my assistant and as for Margaret..." He gulped. "Well, it's nothing permanent."
"Okay," Sarah replied but her glance told Noel she knew something had happened during the week.
He shrugged and still with Alexia on his hip, went and rang Margaret.
"That's fine, Noel," she said. "I realize it's been a long week and you just got back. I thought you might have called in on your way through, that's all."
"I had others in my car," Noel replied with a half-truth.
"Well, how about tomorrow?" Margaret replied.
"Yes, sure," Noel replied. "Same time as usual, then."
He hung up, avoided Sarah's look of disapproval and went to unpack the car. He knew she was right but the sex with Margaret was still exciting and with Kate it was only a one-night stand, anyhow. But was it? Noel had to admit something stirred inside him when he thought about his assistant.
WITH KATE SO CLOSE all the time Noel found he was even more attracted to her and this came to a climax the following Wednesday after school when she was in the storeroom on a ladder reaching to a high shelf. Noel walked in and noticed her above him.
Oh shit! He could see her panties.
He needed her and now! Blood rushed to his penis in anticipation of what might happen and he quietly snapped the Yale Lock shut.
Kate was still reaching up and had a box of readers in her arms when Noel climbed the ladder and held her by the waist.
"Noel!" the woman protested and glanced down at him. "Stop it. I'll fall."
Noel grinned, stepped back and allowed Kate to descend the ladder. As her feet hit the ground, though, he grabbed her from behind and placed a kiss on the back of her neck.
"Noel!" she gasped but his hand was already around up her blouse and fondling inside.
"Cut it out!" Kate hissed and jumped in alarm. "Let me go!"
She wriggled but only succeeded in being gripped tighter was Noel kissed her ear and unclipped her bra. He lifted her skirt again and pressed into her. She turned with her eyes opened wide in surprise.
"Not here," she whispered.
"Yes, here and now," the aroused man replied.
He reached forward and pulled her bra. The left strap slipped down to expose a massive breast. He seized it and within seconds the whole garment and blouse were on the floor.
Kate wriggled and turned her face away as he kissed her. Noel stopped and realized what he was doing. He flushed and stepped back.
"Damn, I'm sorry, Kate," he muttered
"You can ask a bloody girl, first," Kate snorted but made no attempt to open the door and stood waiting with a quizzical expression across her face.
Noel grinned and dropped his trousers and underpants. He reached forward, grabbed her buttocks, lifted her and within seconds penetrated her in massive thrusts.
"God, you are in a hurry, " Kate whispered as Noel let her stand again. "Now get out of here."
She was, though, grinning as they redressed and, without another word, Noel retreated, headed for his the classroom and began to frantically sweep the floor.
He'd almost finished the whole room when Kate appeared and sat on his desk. "So you went back to Margaret on Saturday?" she whispered.
Noel glowered. "Did you follow again?" he muttered.
"No," Kate replied. "A guess that was all but you did, didn't you?
"Things are happening too quickly," he stuttered.
Kate frowned for the first time. "No more attacks in the storeroom, Noel. We do it civilized like, next time."
"Meaning what?" he muttered and avoided her eyes.
"I want to be your lover, Noel," Kate said in a whisper. "If you need to continue with Margaret, I can't stop you. I'll say nothing but..."
"What," Noel replied miserably.
She grinned, flung her arms around his neck and kissed him on the lips. "Every Thursday in the medical room. It's got a lock and frosted windows. With that women's group meeting in Owaka everyone goes early on Thursday."
He grinned. Kate was proving to be far more formidable than Margaret was.
"Okay."
"Starting tomorrow," Kate snorted, turned and walked out.
Noel felt trapped but by the following afternoon he was frantic with desire as three forty came and the parents disappeared. Without, a word the two retreated to the medical room and made passionate love on a mattress swab Kate had pulled onto the floor. This time she dominated the whole act and reached an orgasm that left Noel exhausted and determined to break it off with Margaret.
FRIDAY NIGHT WAS GOING to be it. Noel drove into Margaret's drive with his speech prepared. He'd come straight out and say he had a new girlfriend and he would not be returning.
"Hi," the woman said when she answered his knock. "I thought you'd just walk in. Cindy is still awake so would you like a coffee, first?"
"Margaret..." Noel began and avoided her eyes.
She wasn't listening but had reached in the cupboard and produced an iced fruitcake that she placed on the table. "Happy Birthday, Noel," she said and produced a gift from nowhere.
"How did you know?" Noel gasped.
"I saw your driver's license a few weeks back," Margaret smirked. "You thought you'd get away without telling anybody."
She tucked her arms around his neck and kissed him. Hell, she had that perfume on again. It was the one she used that very first time in the farmhouse. They kissed and blood surged in Noel's lower body.
"You had something to say, before?" Margaret asked casually. "It sounded serious."
"I just wondered about your marriage, that's all," Noel lied. "Is Wesley still causing problems?"
Margaret smiled. "Didn't you hear, my pet? He's given up and got himself a girlfriend. It's an old family friend," She laughed. "The two have been screwing for three years now, long before I met you. They've just made it official, I guess. June Demire has taken her two children and shifted in with him."
"Damn," Noel replied. He knew the woman. June was one of the parents from school. She was a quiet, almost mousy woman who didn't really take part in school activities and was the last he would expect to have an extramarital relationship.
"The quiet ones are the worse, Noel," Margaret said and chuckled. "Well, aren't you going to open your present?"
"Yes, of course," Noel replied but inwardly cursed. How could he tell Margaret they were finished now? He'd explain to Kate and break it off with Margaret next week.
But he didn't. The week became a month and by December he was into the routine of having an intimate relationship with two women. Kate knew about Margaret but said nothing and he was sure Margaret suspected he was having an affair with Kate. She, though, only made brief hints that perhaps he needed a younger woman without the burden of a six-year-old daughter. He was burning the
candle at both ends, as Sarah told him and it would not last.
"I mean it, Noel," she snorted. "You try looking after your little girl for a while by yourself and you won't have time to carry on with these two women. You owe it to Alexia, Noel. Think of your daughter even if you don't care if you hurt Margaret or Kate's feelings. Frankly, I am disappointed in you." She glowered at him. "If you haven't solved your love triangle by the Christmas holidays, I'm going home and that's it!"
Noel sighed when Sarah walked away. Everything she said was true. He knew Kate was hurting but ... Damn, this was what Lisa had predicted when they were back in Taihape. He just had to do something.
AS IT WORKED OUT, CIRCUMSTANCES changed before the school year ended. A letter that arrived from the Wanganui Education Board that made Noel come to a hasty decision about his future.
Dear Mr. Overworth, the standard letter stated. We are pleased to advise you...
Damn, he had been appointed the principal at Kimbolton School in northern Manawatu, a four-teacher school with almost a hundred pupils and they wanted him to begin in the New Year.
CHAPTER 11
Mr. Overworth, Miss Voss!" screamed a dozen voices as a group of children appeared at the staffroom door, "Wendy's caught in the swamp."
Noel was chatting to Kate and Sarah who, as usual, had brought the baby over to school at lunchtime. He leaped to his feet as the jabber of distressed voices all spoke at once.
"Simmer down!" he snapped and glanced at the eldest child there. "John, you tell me."
"Wendy's stuck in the swamp," the ten year old explained in a panicky voice. "Right up to her neck, Mr. Overworth. You have to come!"
"Right," Noel replied.
He broke into a run down the corridor and out to the playground. After racing across the football field, he leapt over the end gate and into the school pine plantation that covered a steep bank down to a gully. Noel almost slid to the bottom and pushed his way through thick undergrowth of creeper to the school boundary fence. Just about the whole school was there and parted to let him through
Wind Across the Playground Page 9