Summer Kisses

by Sarah Morgan

  ‘Flora…’

  She lifted her head. ‘Sorry—am I hurting you? Your face is sort of…twisted.’

  ‘You’re not hurting me,’ he said hoarsely, ‘but—’

  ‘Good.’ She lowered her head again and used her tongue and her lips until he gave a harsh groan, grabbed her and rolled her onto her back.

  ‘You have to stop. I’m not going to last five minutes if you…’ He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, tension etched in every line of his handsome face. ‘Give me a minute. Just give me a minute.’

  ‘Did I do something wrong?’ She was suddenly covered with embarrassment. ‘I—I haven’t actually done it before…’

  He shifted so that he was half on top of her, one leg pinning her to the mattress. ‘You’re full of surprises, do you know that? If you’ve never actually done it before, where did you—?’ His voice cracked and he cleared his throat. ‘Learn those tricks?’

  ‘From a book.’

  ‘A book?’ He gave a shaky laugh. ‘A book. Typical Flora.’ He bent his head and kissed her mouth expertly and her body trembled and ached in response.

  And he hadn’t even touched her yet.

  Desperate for him to do so, her hips moved against him and he put a hand on her hip to steady her. Only then did she realise that at some point he’d removed her underwear. And she hadn’t even noticed. She was about to ask him about it when he lowered his head and drew her nipple into his mouth.

  Sensation shot through her and she tried to move against him, but he held her firmly while he lavished attention on both her breasts. The pleasure was so intense it was almost unbearable, and when he finally lifted his head, her cheeks were flushed and her limbs were trembling. For a moment he just looked at her and she thought that she was going to be the one to beg, and then she felt his hand between her thighs and the expert stroke of his fingers as they discovered the heart of her.

  His touch was so intimate that for a moment she stiffened and instantly felt him pause. And the fact that he’d paused made her realise just how much care he was taking with her.

  ‘Conner—please—I don’t think I can wait.’

  With a skilled, knowing fingers he found exactly the right place and caressed her gently until the excitement grew from a slow ache to a maddening turmoil of sensation. As his exploration grew bolder and more intimate, she arched and writhed, silently begging for the possession that her body craved.

  ‘Look at me, Flora.’ He shifted over her, slid a hand under her bottom and she felt the blunt tip of his erection brushing against her. For a moment she couldn’t breathe, the excitement and anticipation so great that her entire body was trembling with need. And then he eased forward slowly and she gasped because it took her body a moment to accommodate him.

  He paused, his breath warming her neck. ‘Am I hurting you?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Relax, angel.’ He closed his mouth over hers, kissed her deeply and moved forward, driving deeper inside her. ‘Relax for me.’

  But she didn’t want to relax. She wanted—She wanted…

  Excitement exploded inside her and she rose instinctively to meet his thrusts.

  Her heart thudded wildly and she curved her hands over his bottom, urging him on. ‘Conner, Conner…’ She looked into his eyes and saw primitive need blazing there.

  He slowed the pace, his eyes holding hers. ‘Are you OK?’

  ‘Yes…’ Talking was difficult. ‘It’s just that you look—’ She broke off and moaned as he moved again in an agonisingly slow rhythm.

  ‘How do I look?’

  ‘Sort of—scary.’

  ‘I’m trying not to lose control.’ He gave a wry smile. ‘And it’s pretty hard.’

  ‘Then stop trying.’ She breathed the words against his mouth and felt him tense. ‘I’m not delicate, Conner. Make love to me the way you want to make love to me.’

  His eyes darkened and his breathing quickened. ‘I never want to hurt you, Flora.’

  ‘You won’t hurt me.’ But the fact that he cared enough to be careful with her increased the feeling of warmth growing inside her. ‘I’m OK. I’ve never been so OK,’ she murmured, and his mouth flickered into a half-smile and he surged into her again, this time going deeper.

  And she felt the change in him. He shifted his position, altered the rhythm, and her body hummed and fizzled and then tightened around his in an explosion of ecstasy so intense that it drove him to his own completion.

  Flora lay in his arms, stunned and breathless. ‘I—I had no idea that it would be like that.’

  He turned his head, a frown on his face. ‘You told me you weren’t a virgin.’

  ‘Technically I wasn’t.’ Her voice was soft and her eyes were misty. ‘But I suppose it depends on your definition. I’ve never done that before. Never felt like that before.’

  ‘I don’t think I want to hear about your past lovers.’ He folded her back against him in a possessive gesture and she smiled, feeling warm and protected and—just amazing.

  ‘Lover. Just the one.’

  ‘I definitely don’t want to hear this,’ Conner muttered darkly. ‘Knowing you, it must have been serious.’

  ‘I suppose it was a serious attempt to discover what all the fuss was about. He was a lawyer—very proper. Predictable. Chivalrous.’

  ‘All the things I’m not.’ Conner’s arms tightened. ‘He sounds like the perfect mate. You should have stuck with him.’

  She lay in the semi-darkness, staring at his profile, thinking of the care he’d taken with her. ‘I didn’t love him.’

  ‘Oh, please.’ He made an impatient sound and she turned her head.

  ‘It’s true. I know you don’t believe in love, but I do. And I didn’t love him. My feelings just weren’t right. There was no chemistry.’ She gave a short laugh. ‘That’s what you said to me.’

  ‘I was lying.’ Conner bent his head and kissed her. ‘And if you weren’t so naïve, you would have known I was lying, because I had a massive erection as I said it.’

  She gasped and then gave a strangled laugh. ‘Conner MacNeil, why must you always try and shock?’

  ‘The fact that you’re shocked proves my point. You’re naïve.’

  ‘I’m not naïve. And it’s hardly surprising that I didn’t notice anything because I was so upset, I was trying not to look at you. And it wasn’t hard to believe you when you said I didn’t turn you on, because I know I’m not sexy.’

  It was Conner’s turn to laugh. ‘Angel, if you were any sexier you’d have to carry a government health warning.’

  She slid her arm over his stomach and rested her chin on his chest. ‘Really?’

  ‘You need to ask?’ He guided her hand down his body and gave her a wicked smile. ‘You currently have a hold on the evidence.’

  She smiled. ‘Do you know what’s amazing? I don’t feel at all shy with you.’

  ‘I’d noticed. Permit me to say that your behaviour tonight would have thoroughly shocked the inhabitants of Glenmore.’

  ‘I don’t care about them,’ she said honestly, and he stroked her hair away from her face, his expression serious.

  ‘Yes, you do, and I don’t blame you for that. Glenmore is your home. Talking of which…’ He frowned suddenly and then released her and sprang out of bed. ‘Where did you park?’

  ‘Sorry?’

  ‘Your car. Where did you park your car?’

  She frowned. ‘Outside your barn. Where else?’

  ‘Someone could see it.’ He reached down and pulled her gently to her feet. ‘You have to leave, angel.’

  ‘Now?’ Bemused, she slid her arms around his neck. ‘I—I assumed I’d stay the night.’

  ‘At least eight islanders drive past my barn on the way to work in the morning. I don’t want them seeing your car.’ He gently unhooked her arms from his neck and retrieved her underwear from the floor. ‘You need to leave, Flora.’

  His words made her feel sick and her heart bumped uncomfortably.
‘So—that’s it?’

  He slid her arms into her bra and fastened it with as much skill as he’d shown unfastening it. ‘No, of course that’s not it.’ He lowered his head and kissed her swiftly. ‘Are you busy tomorrow night?’

  ‘No.’

  He smiled and winked at her. ‘Then you can cook me dinner. Meet me here at eight o’clock.’ Then he frowned. ‘On second thoughts, your place is probably better. Evanna’s cottage is off the main road.’

  She felt a rush of excitement and anticipation but tried to hide it. ‘Why can’t you cook me dinner?’

  ‘Because I’m rubbish in the kitchen and I’m assuming you’d rather not be poisoned,’ he drawled, sliding her silk knickers up her legs and then giving a tormented groan. ‘Why am I dressing you when all I want to do is undress you?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ she said breathlessly. ‘Why are you?’

  ‘Because I care about you. I care about your reputation.’

  She looked at him curiously. ‘That doesn’t exactly sound like Bad Conner.’

  ‘You’ve corrupted me,’ he said roughly. And then he took a deep breath, stepped back and lifted his hands. ‘Get out of here. Your coat is downstairs. For goodness’ sake, remember to button it or you’ll give everyone a cheap thrill. Go, quickly, before I change my mind.’

  CHAPTER NINE

  FLORA tried, she really tried, to keep their relationship secret. She made a point of not gazing at him when they were in public together and she kept their interaction brief and formal. But inside she trembled with insecurity when he didn’t glance at her and she knew why.

  No relationship of Conner’s had ever lasted. Why should theirs be any different?

  But even knowing that it was probably doomed, she wouldn’t have changed anything. And if she spent her days racked with doubt as to his feelings, when night came she was left in no doubt at all.

  Every evening he arrived at her cottage and spent time with her until the early hours. They ate, talked and made love, but he never stayed the whole night and Flora didn’t know whether she felt frustrated by that or grateful.

  On the one hand she was slightly relieved not to be the subject of local gossip, but on the other hand she was greedy for time with him. She loved the fact that he talked to her and sensed that he said things to her that he’d never said to anyone else.

  Occasionally the conversation turned to the topic of his father. ‘It’s hardly any wonder you virtually lived wild,’ she murmured one night as she lay with her head on his shoulder. ‘I don’t suppose there was much to go home to.’

  ‘It wasn’t exactly a laugh a minute.’ He stroked a hand over her hair. ‘After my mother left, he was pretty much drunk from the moment he woke up in the morning to the moment he keeled over at night. I stayed out of his way. Half the time I didn’t even go home. I slept on the beach or borrowed the MacDonalds’ barn. That was fine until the night I lit a fire to keep warm and the wind changed.’

  Flora’s heart twisted. ‘I guessed things were bad. I went up there once, to look for you. And he yelled at me so violently that my legs shook for days.’

  His arms tightened around her. ‘Why were you looking for me?’

  ‘After your mother left, I was worried about you. And I thought I understood what you were going through. How arrogant was that?’ She sighed and kissed him gently. ‘I suppose because I’d lost my mother, too, I thought I might be able to help you. But of course our situations were entirely different because I still had my dad.’

  ‘I didn’t want to be helped. I just wanted to be angry.’

  ‘I don’t blame you for being angry.’ She rubbed her cheek against his shoulder. ‘Was it the army that stopped you being angry?’

  ‘They taught me to channel my aggression. Running thirty miles with a pack on your back pretty much wipes it out of you.’

  ‘So they helped you?’

  ‘Yes, I suppose they did.’ He kissed the top of her head. ‘You’re such a gentle person, I don’t suppose you’ve ever been angry.’

  ‘Of course I have. Anger is a human emotion. But I didn’t have reason to be angry—not like you. I feel so bad for you. The locals should have done something.’

  ‘What could they have done? And, anyway, I didn’t exactly invite assistance.’

  ‘You basically grew up without parents.’ She raised herself on one elbow, her expression soft as she looked down at him. ‘Why did you become a doctor?’

  ‘I don’t know.’ His eyes closed again. ‘I spent my whole life on Glenmore being angry. I suppose it was a bit of a vicious circle. They thought the worst of me so I gave them the worst. And then I left and suddenly I was with people who didn’t know me. And I realised that I was tired of living my life like that. I went to an army recruitment day and it all happened from there.’

  ‘Did you ever hear from your Dad?’

  ‘No. And I never contacted him either.’

  ‘But you kept in touch with Logan.’

  Conner’s eyes opened. ‘Logan is a good man. Always was. He was the one who told me about my father’s cirrhosis. He arranged for his admission to hospital on the mainland and he did all the paperwork when he died. Logan did all the things I should have done.’ He hesitated. ‘He was also the one who thought I should come back and tie up some loose ends. Sell the house, bury some ghosts—that sort of thing.’

  ‘I’m glad you came back.’

  He looked at her. ‘I’m not good for you, Flora,’ he murmured, stroking his hands over her hair and then pulling her down so that he could kiss her. ‘I’m just going to hurt you.’

  ‘I’ll take that chance.’

  ‘Relationships are destructive, terrible things.’

  ‘I can understand why you’d think that, given everything that happened with your parents, but theirs was just one relationship, Conner. My parents’ relationship was different.’

  ‘Your mother died and your father was devastated,’ he said softly. ‘In its own way, that relationship was as traumatic as the one my parents had. Both ended in misery.’

  ‘It was traumatic, that’s true. But what my father and mother shared was so special that I know Dad wouldn’t have changed things, even if he’d been able to foresee what was going to happen. True love is rare and special—a real gift. You don’t turn that away, even if it comes with pain.’

  ‘Love is a curse, Flora Harris, not a gift.’

  ‘No, Conner.’ She kissed him gently. ‘The best thing that can happen to anyone is to be truly loved. Whatever happens in adult life, every child deserves to be loved unconditionally by their parents, and that didn’t happen to you. And I’m guessing you haven’t experienced it as an adult either, given the way you stomp through relationships.’

  ‘Don’t be so sure.’ He lifted an eyebrow. ‘Do you want to know how many women have told me that they love me?’

  ‘Actually, I don’t.’ She laughed, trying to ignore the queasy feeling in her stomach that his words had induced. ‘And I was talking about love, not sex.’

  ‘All right, it’s definitely time that you stopped talking.’ He rolled her swiftly onto her back and came down on top of her, pinning her still with his weight. ‘If the only thing on your mind is love, I’m going to have to do something brutal.’ But his eyes were gentle and she giggled softly.

  How did he feel about her?

  How did she feel about him?

  She really didn’t know.

  Their relationship was the most thrilling, exciting thing that had ever happened to her, but at the same time she knew that there couldn’t be a happy ending.

  But for the time being she was just going to live in the present.

  And that was what she did.

  But rumours were gradually spreading across Glenmore.

  * * *

  A few weeks into their relationship, Flora was in the pub with the rest of the medical centre staff, including an extremely pregnant Evanna.

  ‘At the weekend I’m taking you over
to the mainland.’ Logan raised his glass to his wife. ‘That baby is going to come any time now.’

  ‘No hurry.’ Evanna glanced at Flora. ‘Are you going to manage?’

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘Hey, Conner.’ Jim wandered over to their table and slapped Conner on the shoulders. ‘How are you doing?’

  Flora studied her grapefruit juice intently, careful not to look at Conner.

  ‘I’m good, Jim.’ Conner leaned back in his chair and stretched his legs out under the table. ‘And you?’

  ‘Bit tired.’ Jim winked at him. ‘Woken up by that bike of yours at three in the morning every night this week. Thought to myself, Young Conner’s been out on the hunt.’

  Flora felt her face flame, but Conner simply stifled a yawn, apparently unflustered. ‘Just relieving the boredom of being stuck on Glenmore, Jim. Do you blame me?’

  ‘No, but I envy you.’ Jim gave a delighted laugh. ‘Go on, lad. Tell us the name of the lucky girl. Knowing you, it’s someone different from the girl you were hiding in the waves the night we saw you on the beach.’

  ‘Of course. That was weeks ago and I’m not into long relationships.’ Conner didn’t falter but Flora’s breathing stopped and inside she suffered an agony of embarrassment.

  People were talking. Of course they were. How could she have imagined otherwise?

  How long would it take for people to put two and two together?

  And how would she cope with being on the receiving end of everyone’s nudges and winks?

  This time she’d be the one that everyone was talking about when they bought their apples in the greengrocer on the quay. She’d be the subject of speculative glances when she took her books back to the library.

  Flora tightened her fingers round her glass and tried to breathe steadily and slow her heart rate, but inside she was shrinking because she knew only too well what they’d all be saying.