“Please,” she screeched.
Mercifully his hands stopped their torture, but remained on her hips. Her hair fell over her face. She pushed it away and looked up at him. Mirth shone in the depths of his blue eyes, making them seem as bright as a summer sky. Her heart beat loudly in her chest and she splayed a hand across Jonas’s shirt, feeling the steady rhythm of his through the thin cotton. Heat coursed through her, firing her nerve endings to life. She wanted his lips to take possession of hers again.
As if he read her mind—or maybe it was written all over her face—he closed the distance, but halted mere millimetres from her.
“You are so beautiful, you take my breath away.” The gap closed and she sighed at the connection. Fighting against the attraction growing inside her was becoming impossible; she didn’t want to fight it anymore. She pressed herself closer to his body, her hands going to the hem of his shirt and pulling it from the waistband of his jeans. At last, she touched the bare flesh of his back. He moaned against her mouth as her fingers trailed up and down his spine.
She needed more.
Wanted more than just kisses and mere touches. She wanted Jonas to possess her. To kiss every inch of her body.
Pulling her lips away she leaned back and looked up at him. “I want you, Jonas.”
“I want you too, princess.”
Pandora looked around at the watering hole, a little bit of paradise in an otherwise barren landscape. “How private is it here?”
Jonas’s nostrils flared as he caught on quickly to what she was suggesting. “Moderately private. As much as I like what you’re thinking, when I have you for the first time it won’t be on a hard rocky ground. It will be on a firm mattress, where the chances of interruption are going to be nil. I want to take my time and not worry about getting caught.”
A full body shiver wracked her body at the intensity of his words and gaze. “Take me there.”
Jonas caught her up in another embrace, pressing a hard kiss against her mouth. Her fingers dug into the flesh of his back as he conveyed to her how much he liked her suggestion. When he broke the kiss they were both breathing heavily. “Let’s get out of here.”
As she followed him back to the car, the thought hit her—she’d follow him anywhere and it didn’t scare her like it would’ve three days ago.
Chapter Fourteen
The desire to push the speed limit on the trip back to the pub almost consumed him, but Jonas tempered himself. The last thing he wanted was to have an accident because he was letting his little brain lead the charge.
Pandora’s hand was firmly wrapped in his and rested on the console between them. He hadn’t wanted to do anything to jeopardise what was building between them. Or give Pandora the opportunity to think and change her mind. Although he didn’t think that was likely, considering she was the one who suggested they take the next step.
A low burn simmered in his body, ready to combust the second he got them back to the pub. At least he’d had the wherewithal to fire off a text to Pete, to let him know that his plans had changed and Jonas didn’t need the other man to come in early. The last thing he wanted was for him and Pandora to be interrupted. Not that Pete usually came and saw him in his private home, but there was always that first time.
“Are you having second thoughts?” Pandora’s sweet voice dissipated his thoughts, like a bubble bursting.
“No! Why would you ever think that?”
“You were frowning and looked really serious.”
He lifted their joined hands, like he did on the trip to the watering hole, and brushed his lips against the top of her palm. “Sorry, I was just thinking about …” He couldn’t really say he was having thoughts about being interrupted. “It wasn’t important what I was thinking, but there are definitely no second thoughts. Are you having them?”
She shook her head; the scent of coconut wafted around the truck. His already tight pants got a little tighter. “No.”
Taking a risk, even though he’d cautioned himself to not speed, he depressed the accelerator a fraction. Pandora laughed softly as if she knew why the car was going a little faster.
Fifteen minutes later he pulled into the lot behind the pub and turned the engine off. He was pretty sure that Pandora hadn’t changed her mind since they’d talked about it, but the need to reassure himself one last time wasn’t one he could ignore. He got out of the car and went around to open her door and leaned in. “You ready?” he asked, holding out his hand toward her. Not a direct question, but still a question all the same.
Her hand slipped into his and squeezed. “More than ready.”
Lightness filled him and he leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers lightly. Being behind the pub, they wouldn’t be seen. “Let me grab the food. I’ll pop it in my fridge.”
Keeping her hand tightly in his, he hauled the insulated bag out of the back and over his shoulder. There was still plenty of time before he had to open the pub, maybe they could enjoy a private picnic in his bed.
“Maybe we can still have a picnic. Just inside, instead of outside,” she murmured as they entered the small house attached to the side of the pub.
“Can you read minds?” he asked, thrilled that she’d had the same thought as him.
“Why do you ask?”
Jonas dumped the bag on the ground and hauled her close. “Because I had the exact same thought.” He kissed her again, losing himself in the magic that Pandora didn’t know she was weaving around him.
He would give himself this one day with her. One day where the spectre of her leaving wasn’t hanging over him. Where for a few hours he could imagine none of that mattered and a future could be a possibility.
Bending, he hooked his arm underneath her legs and hoisted her against his chest, all the while maintaining the kiss.
His house was small and, as a relatively neat person, he didn’t have to worry about tripping over shoes or anything else on his way to his bedroom. Habits instilled in him by his mother had followed him into adulthood, meaning his bedroom was tidy and his clothes put away.
Releasing her legs, he let her body slide down his and groaned when his erection brushed against her belly. He wanted nothing more than to rip his clothes off, then hers, and sink into her welcoming warmth. But Pandora deserved more. She didn’t deserve a quick roll in the sheets. He would worship every inch of her. Find out what made her sigh with pleasure and moan in desire.
As if she was feeling the same, her hands went to his shirt again, like they had at the watering hole. She pushed the fabric up and he helped her pull it over his head. No sooner had the fabric landed on the floor with a soft plop than her mouth was pressing kisses all over his chest.
He closed his eyes and clenched his fists, breathing through his nose in an attempt to control the lust consuming him. Maybe going slow could happen the second time around. Clearly, Pandora didn’t want to take her time, and he was okay with her taking the lead.
His breath hissed out when her hand cupped him over the top of his jeans. “Do whatever you need to do, princess.”
She squeezed him and he groaned. “You may want to rethink that,” she said huskily. A second later she had his button popped and was drawing his zipper down slowly. His head fell back when she finally got it open and pushed his jeans down around his ankles. He lifted one foot then the next before kicking them away.
“One of us is overdressed here.” He raised his eyebrow at her fully clothed state.
Pandora took a step back and her hands went to the buttons on the blouse she was wearing. “Well, we can’t have that, can we?” She popped the first button, then the next. Her tongue came out and teased her bottom lip. His dick twitched inside his boxers, spurring him into action.
His fingers joined hers, and moments later she was standing in front of him in a matching white lacy bra and panty set. “I’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating—you are stunning.”
A pink hue dusted her cheeks. “Thank you an
d I have to say, you’re pretty handsome too.” Her gaze travelled down his body, lingering on his erection before flitting back up to meet his eyes. “I’m burning up with need, Jonas.”
He reached out and took her hand in his. Handholding was such an underrated physical connection. There was nothing sweeter than lacing his fingers with the woman he desired more than any other woman he’d ever had. “Then let me help you douse that fire.”
Leading her to his bed, he pulled the comforter and sheet back and encouraged her to lay down. He joined her on the mattress and they wrapped their arms around each other as their mouths collided. Their moans mingled in the air, as if approving of the next step they were going to take.
Rolling Pandora to her back he trailed kisses along her jaw, down her neck, nuzzling her collar bone. She twitched beneath his mouth. “Oh, have I found another ticklish spot?” he teased.
“After the waterhole incident, you should know I’m ticklish all over.”
He looked up at her. “It’s always good to know where the best spots are.” He continued his exploration of the beautiful woman in his bed.
Through the lace of her bra he sucked on one nipple. Her fingers found purchase on his shoulder, digging in. He wanted the bra off. Releasing her nipple on a pop he reached around and found the back catch of the flimsy piece of lingerie. Pandora arched her back, giving him easier access and with a quick flick he had the bra undone and slid the straps down her arms. He flung it over his shoulder, uncaring where it landed.
He spent minutes caressing one breast with his mouth and tongue while massaging the other. Pandora writhed beneath him and he couldn’t wait until he tasted her. Leaving her breasts he continued on his adventure down her body, his tongue swirled around her belly button before he nipped her flesh softly.
She moaned louder and lifted her hips, encouraging him to move farther down. Trailing his hands down her sides, he hooked his fingers in her panties and dragged them down her legs. Repeating the same action as with her bra, he tossed the scrap of fabric to the ground.
He kissed the inside of her thighs before finding his prize. He closed his mouth over her slick folds and she almost shot off the bed. He laved, nipped and sucked, enjoying the taste of her. Her body shook beneath his fingertips as her orgasm washed over her and her cries filled his ears. It was the sweetest sound he’d ever heard.
Working his way back up her body, he pressed kisses against her quivering flesh. He nuzzled her neck before sitting up so that he could reach over and pull open the top drawer of the nightstand. Grabbing protection, he had the foil packet open and rolled the latex down his hard length in record time. Jonas lay back over her, but propped himself up on his hands so that only their hips and legs were brushing against each other.
Pandora’s blonde hair was fanned over his navy-blue pillowcase. She looked like she belonged in his bed. Even with her model gloss, she’d never looked out of place in Bunya Junction. She’d worked beside him as if she’d worked in a bar her whole life.
His heart stuttered in his chest and he closed his eyes, willing the unwavering emotions erupting inside of him away. He couldn’t fall for her. They were on different trajectories for their lives. But they had this moment and he would make it so she would never forget her time in a sleepy, Australian rural town.
Her hand come up and cupped his cheek. He turned his head and kissed the fleshy part of her palm.
“Jonas, take me,” she whispered and trailed her fingers down his spine until she reached his arse. She squeezed the firm flesh and rolled her hips.
A groan escaped him and he lowered the rest of his body until he was lying on her. Not enough to squash her, but enough so that a sliver of paper couldn’t come between them. Skimming his fingers down her side and across his belly he wrapped them around his engorged flesh and positioned himself at her entrance.
Once again taking possession of her lips, he kissed her and thrust into her at the same time. Her inner muscles grasped his flesh, as if they never wanted to let go. He pulled out and then slid back home.
Pandora wrenched her mouth away from his and bit his shoulder, the action sending spirals of pleasure darting in all directions through his body. Everything she did turned him on. Every touch. Bite. Kiss. All had him yearning for more.
He increased his pace, his orgasm so close to the surface, but he wanted Pandora to come again. Sliding an arm beneath her, he angled her hips up to deepen his penetration. The change was enough to send her close to the edge given the way her body clenched tightly around his hard length. A second later her cries filled the room and he followed her over the edge. His body pulsed inside of hers and he’d never felt as connected to anyone in his life as he did in that moment.
Jonas collapsed on top of her and rolled so that she was sprawled across him. He tightened his arms around her, not wanting to let her go.
She’d blown his mind and body and he was beginning to think she’d spoiled him for any other woman.
He was in major trouble.
Chapter Fifteen
Pandora squirmed and fought the need to wake up. She squirmed again, as something trailed down her spine.
“Go away,” she mumbled and reached behind to slap at whatever was tickling her back.
A very masculine chuckle echoed in her ear. “You’re such a joy to wake up in the morning.”
She cracked an eye open and found Jonas propped up on an elbow with a large smile on his face. “And your Mr Sunshine in the mornings act is so not a joy to wake up to.”
This was a game they had played with each other every morning since the first time they’d made love. With her career and the notorious early starts, she should be used to waking up as the sun was just rising. Unfortunately, it was one thing she hadn’t been able to get a good grasp on. Every good-morning kiss they shared reminded her that time was passing and she’d soon have to return to the city. A prospect she wasn’t looking forward to.
He dropped a peck on her lips before twirling a tendril of hair around his finger. “But you wouldn’t have it any other way.” He threw back the covers and got out of bed. “Someone’s phone has been dinging for the last half hour. I’ll be right back.”
Pandora admired the bunching of his back muscles as he pulled a pair of sweats on. She sighed when his delectable arse disappeared from view.
How the heck was she going to be able to walk away from him?
For the last few days their lives had been the most idyllic she’d ever experienced. They worked the bar together, an action that hadn’t raised any eyebrows from the townsfolk. In fact, they embraced her even more for helping Jonas. They laughed and joked with her as she prepared their drinks, some even going so far as to say that she poured a beer better than Jonas. She knew they were teasing, and so did Jonas, but it was a wonderful feeling and her life as an international supermodel seemed so far away. She’d been so wrong about Jonas and the good people of Bunya Junction.
When they had some spare time in the mornings, they’d searched the internet to see if they could find records of Ray’s marriage. They hadn’t found anything concrete, but they were waiting for a couple of calls which, hopefully, would lead to something positive for the older man. Pandora tried not to get her hopes up that they could reunite the star-crossed couple, but as her feelings grew for Jonas, she wanted to give Ray his happy ending too.
Laura had called a couple of times to give her updates, but was respecting the fact that she was taking a break. Every time she did, worry hit Pandora that her bubble was about to be burst. Jonas’s passing comment that a phone was buzzing a lot could only mean one thing—the bubble was getting ready to disintegrate and her life was about to go back to what it had been before Bunya Junction.
How could nearly two weeks in a quiet rural town feel like it had been a lifetime? She’d spent weeks abroad on location and had never experienced this major shift in time or her attitude. Her life would now consist of the time before Bunya Junction and time after Bunya Junc
tion. What concerned her the most was how different things were going to be after she returned to the city. Or, more importantly, how different she was going to be. The time away from her intense career had been good for her. She’d relaxed, even with working in the pub. She’d re-evaluated what she wanted out of her career and how she was going to go about getting it. One thing she knew for sure: her life after visiting this small town was going to include the one person who had made this time so special.
Jonas.
What was going to happen with them? Would he consider a long-distance relationship? Did she even want one?
She closed her eyes, her thoughts confusing her because there was no easy answer. Or the answer was one she didn’t want to face.
“Your phone is buzzing away like an insect, princess.” Jonas wandered in holding out her device.
Her stomach churned in dread. Continual notifications were not a good thing. “Do I want to know what’s happening?”
He shrugged. “It looks like one of your social media apps. Not sure which one, as I didn’t look too closely because it’s not my phone. Nor do I do much on those apps these days.”
His chivalry and respect for her privacy was to be admired, but she wished he’d looked further than just seeing that it was one of her apps sending a crazy number of notifications.
Clutching the covers to her chest she sat up and wiggled until her back rested against the headboard. “Thanks,” she said as she took the phone.
She woke up the screen and saw it was full of announcements from all the major apps. “Oh shit, this is not good.”
She unlocked her phone and opened her email. She’d look at the other stuff later. There were the usual newsletter emails, but there was one from Laura which only had the subject line: CALL ME NOW.
Why hadn’t Laura called her? Why send an email?
“Is everything all right?”
The bed depressed as Jonas sat next to her. “I’m not sure. But I’ve got way too many notices from all the major social media networks and Laura wants me to call ASAP.”
Runaway to the Outback Page 15