She
Felicity
Felicity Grainger nursed her broken fingernail and empty water bottle. Too much tapping on the steering wheel waiting for the rude city jerk to turn up and view the property. She had to drop by her father’s home and make sure her father took his diabetes medications, prepare his dinner and do anything else to make his life more comfortable before going home and getting ready for classes next semester.
“It won’t take long,” her friend, Sonia, cajouled. “Turn up, let him look through the property and get him to talk to me tomorrow.”
“I can’t – I need to look after dad.”
“I promise, these things never take more than ten to fifteen minutes, especially with this old house. He’ll walk in expecting a mansion and run out as soon as he sees what a money pit it could be. Still, I need to prove to the vendor that I’m still trying, but I can’t get there tomorrow. Please, Flick, I’m counting on you.”
Clearly, the potential buyer was a rich pompous arsehole who valued his own time over everyone else. Especially poor little country folk like Felicity. Probably used to fast paced life style and woke up one morning with a romantic notion of a house in the country that he planned to visit on weekends. He would – at least for the first year – he would even try and make friends with his neighbors.
Felicity hated labelling people with generalizations, but a drive down any street showed empty houses that locals couldn’t afford, but lay empty. All because rich owners couldn’t bother living in them any more but didn’t want to give up their romantic dreams and sell up.
No matter, almost a week’s wages to hang around until he showed. He was only an hour late. He’d better be worth it.
Erebus
Pulling over, Erebus found his phone from the back of the car. Throwing it in a fit of frustration not exactly his brightest move, but completely understandable. The GPS had sent his rental car off in the wrong direction. Yes, it was his fault for not downloading the latest update. Yes, he should have asked for directions after being lost for half an hour.
Surely, one of the benefits of being a small town is that you didn’t need a bloody map to find one house!
Now he was second guessing himself – did he plan to meet at the real estate office or the house? He finally stopped outside the office and found the contact number. Damn, he needed to meet some girl at the house. “Turn left at the corner, go through two intersections towards the beach, take a right,” the professional female voice recited, “Then another right and you can’t miss it. The big white house with an even larger tree out the front.
Clear and very precise instructions - whomever answered the phone sounded annoyed and rightly so. He’d never kept a client waiting and hated when they stuffed him around.
His phone assured him a florist lived at the end of the main street. For once, the phone knew best. He couldn’t give back the realter her day, but he could give her flowers and his best apology.
Wow. Just wow. Driving into the street, only one property stood out. A massive, white weatherboard house in need of more than a coat of paint, and with a relatively tiny “For Sale” sign stuck next to the driveway.
As he got out of the car, his shoulders immediately relaxed at the sound of the ocean nearby. Already he could imagine it lulling him to sleep after a day of surfing. Waking at dawn, surfing until lunchtime and then fish and chips on the beach covered in salt and sand! He licked the film of sea-spray from his lips.
Perfect.
The town, the house, the location was perfect. He needed a project and the photos didn’t hide the amount of time, work or money the house needed to be turned into a home, again. His home.
He wanted a place to settle down and move away from what his life had become. All he needed was to find this Felicity, beg her forgiveness and convince her to sell him the house for a price he could afford.
“Mr E,” a soft voice appeared from the side of the house as he walked up to the front verandah. A vision of dark brown hair, light blue eyes greeted him professionally but with distain. As he approached to shake her hand, he took in her simple long dress, the skirt flapping in the sea breeze. Either she wasn’t a typical realter or perhaps the owner? “I’m glad to welcome you to our town. have you been here before?”
Instead of shaking her hand, he held it a little longer. Capturing her eyes, he pleaded “I’m so terribly sorry for being late – it’s completely my fault for not looking up a map so I knew where I was going.” Turning up the charm, he offered her the flowers, noticing her surprise and awkwardness in how to respond. He smiled to himself, the perfect gift.
“Felicity, is it, the good part of being lost is I’ve had a lot of time looking around the area, and this town,” she rewarded his humility with a shy smile. “The whole area, this town is beautiful. Have you always lived here?”
“All my life, and my parents as well. You’ll find we have a strong mix of third and fourth generations and some city blow-ins.” A beautiful woman without guile – oblivious to how cutting her words sounded yet he knew she said them without malice.
“I have no idea whether I’m going to be a ‘blow-in’ or move here, but I’m at least interested in looking at the house if you are still willing to show it to me.” Tired and frustrated with being late, his words delivered harsher than he intended. But they had the desired effect.
Erebus followed her through the house, noting the old floor boards that creaked as he walked and sounded her way through the rooms with her heels. He hadn’t made an offer and already he imagined stripping the door frames of the sloppy, cheap paint job and replacing the white with a deep stain to bring out the natural woodgrain. Replacing glass in the windows and repainting the delicate cornice work on the ceiling. The room, no the whole house had strong bones and he couldn’t wait to lose himself working on it one room at a time. It could become the passion of love he needed.
He nodded, keeping his face as neutral as possible as they left the lounge room to the family room and then kitchen. More wooden boards, now some old wall paper that would be stripped and the panels either replaced or repaired and painted. An enormous amount of work required. This house needed someone with vision to know what was needed, the money to invest and the time to make sure it was done properly. The house needed someone like him.
A recent kitchen renovation put the room out of context of the broader home. Erebus traced the frame of where an old fire stove had been ripped out and replaced with expensive modern stainless steel appliances. What a shame – the old stove would have suited the character of the house or the owners could have found a way to merge the old character with the contemporary and new.
The woman, Felicity, followed him with a never ending script of nervous chatter about the home and the town. It was all white noise to his own journey. Every part of this house called out to him – it wanted to be a home again – every creak of a board and peel of paint wanted it to be his home.
The bedrooms needed carpet and curtains to be replaced, to match the recent paint jobs. The bathrooms were outdated and he shuddered at the thought of the plumbing bills. Oh well, it was only money – and in his line of work a cold shower was a good thing anyway.
“What do you think?” Felicity wanted his attention.
He shrugged, “Needs a lot of work.” She couldn’t argue, “A lot of expensive work.” Now she matched his eyes. No reason for her to think he had bundles of cash to throw around. “It also needs someone here to do the work, which is why the original listing is dated last year.”
“I’m sorry about what I said before, about blow-ins. I didn’t mean to imply …”
“Yes, you did,” he gave a wry smile, “I do know a little about small coastal town like this. Locals can’t afford any of the good properties in the town they grew up in because of all the money coming from out of town.”
“Like I said, I’m sorry.” Her words were humble, yet the tilt of her chin gave no such sign. She resented him being late and taking up more of her time. He tried again to win her over.
“Usually it takes someone at least a couple of minutes, sometimes even half an hour to decide they don’t like me and to insult me – you’re a lot faster than most.” Now his eyes sparkled to show he didn’t hold a grudge.
“Back to my question, what do you think and what do you need to see to be interested?” She was giving him nothing, not even the shape of her legs under her long, sensible skirt.
“It’s a lot to take in.”
He wandered around again, tapping the walls to find the studs, flicking away the peeling paint and kicking at the loose boards. Truthfully, he didn’t know if he could even do most of the work himself. The bills for the trades, well he shuddered to think. “There’s far more work than I expected. Let’s hope the backyard looks better?”
Now her face lit up, “That’s my favourite part of the whole house.” She almost ran outside, throwing the door open for him to see.
All the effort and love lacking inside was evident in the backyard. Well cared for garden beds raised, with composting set up down the back, chicken runs and evidence of vegetables and fruit trees. Walking through the garden beds, he recognized some of the vegetables left to grow to seed. His mum would have an old rhubarb and apple pie recipe for the purple stalks.
“Look,” he found some beans still growing wild, “They taste better fresh and raw.”
“They’re new, I didn’t see them on the weekend when Sonia and I came to clean up a bit.”
“You like?” he gave her a small handful. “The only way to eat them.” Her first genuine smile and all it took was to feed her!
This could become his home. A home to live with and love with someone special. A fresh start for the rest of his life.
Felicity
Everything she said came out wrong, Felicity admonished herself.
First, he’d had thrown her by being late, then by being from out of town, then again by the flowers and she hadn’t even gotten to his damn good looks. Like a stupid moth, she was drawn to his flame, her heart fluttering in a most unnatural and unfamiliar way!
Which meant her brain disengaged from her mouth and she sounded like a blabbering fool.
She knew every eligible man in town, grown up with them and found each of them completely unappealing. Looking after her father took time and energy, leaving her without the inclination to waste either by dating purely for not being alone.
Until a stranger came into town and now she struggled to hold two civil words together in an effort not to be noticed noticing him.
Every snide comment, every insult left her mouth before she could stop it. None was supposed to be a personal attack on him. When she called him a “blow in,” she really wanted to remind herself he wouldn’t stay for long. Now he’d think she was a bitch and not realize every careless statement was a reaction to how hard her brain was fighting her body not to respond.
To stop babbling, she stood in the doorway and watched him inspect the house. Trying to work out which rooms held his interest and any tips she could pass on to Sonia.
Liar! She couldn’t lie to herself any more than she could lie to a stranger. Yes, she cared whether or not he liked the house, but to stand back only to watch him? That was her entire pleasure knowing he’d probably leave in an hour or so, never to be seen again. This could be her only chance to check him out. In any case, she owed Sonia a full description as a reward for asking her to show him around!
The arms, so muscular – from working out or hard work? She sniffed, it really didn’t matter how he got them as long as he knew how to use them. The tan seemed natural so perhaps he was a laborer or tradesman. If so, it was easy to imagine his sweaty body working alone on the house … stop it, she silently cried to herself, going back outside to get some fresh air.
His hair, long dark, dirty blonde cried out for a woman to run her fingers through and keep it out of his eyes. Her fingers twitched at the chance to do the job.
But from the moment she saw him, it was his eyes – dark and deep blue – that rendered her knees incapable of holding her upright. It was as if her whole body wanted to lay down for him.
Damn it! She needed to get a grip. According to Sonia, the mysterious Mr E was the first interested buyer since the house listed almost a year ago. She wouldn’t allow her immature emotions lose the sale for her friend, but she could get to know him better.
“There you are,” he found her resting on the balustrade. “What are you thinking about?”
“Why are you looking at houses? Especially in the country. Do you have a wife and family?”
“No to either,” she tried hard not to smile, “I guess I’m getting to the age where I want something of my own.” He started to walk back towards the house, “Call it being ready to settle down or grow up.”
She followed him back inside, watching his hands caress the woodwork, “The truth is, I need to get away from the city – to come back to where values matter and people are honest.”
“Small country town values,” her words as soft as air.
“I looked at a heap of houses online but kept coming back to this one. I needed to see it for myself.”
“And now?” she held her breath.
“Miss Felicity, I’m sorry for making you wait, and I know I have no right to ask,” he trailed off. She resisted the urge to tell him he could have anything he wanted. “Could you help me find a room for the night? As I said, the house needs a lot more work than I expected, and I want to sleep on it. If you could recommend a place to stay, and where I can eat tonight, then I’ll stick around and have another look tomorrow.”
“I’ll,” thinking quickly - he wanted somewhere to sleep and she didn’t have a lot of options. Felicity thought about the local hotel which did have rooms for rent but usually by locals who were too drunk to drive home and would never be up to the standard he would expect. “I’ll make a phone call and see what I can do.” Sonia would have the answer. It was her commission on the line.
“Sonia, it’s Felicity. That guy is still here.” Casually leaning against the door, filling the room with his presence. Ahhhhh, she never felt like this. Never!
“I’ve been meaning to check in with you. How are things going? Is he scared off yet?”
“No, it’s going good. He wants somewhere to sleep tonight so he can think about it. What should I do?”
“What about the pub – if the house doesn’t scare him off, the pub won’t”
Felicity took another long look at the mysterious Mr E. Tall, strong, he appeared to know how to handle himself, but sometimes the local boys were not exactly welcoming. She smiled as he left for the backyard again.
“If that’s the only choice. Can you make the phone calls? He also wants me to recommend somewhere to eat.”
“Look, Felicity, I want the sale, I really do. But if he’s interested in the house he is going to have to get to know the town. Perhaps instead of old and boring, he’ll think it is quaint and charming. Take him to the pub for a meal and see how it goes.”
“Me! I need to get home to dad.”
“I know, and I’m sorry for asking a lot from you and I’ll pay you extra for your time and of course dinner is on me. Please Flick, buy him a meal, introduce him around and hopefully he’ll fit in and start playing snooker with the boys. If he does, hopefully by tomorrow night he’ll have joined the local football team and already handed over the cash.”
Felicity laughed nervously, spending the night with a man as charming as E could get her into a lot of trouble. “Thanks a lot.”
“I owe you one.”
“You owe me more than one.”
Felicity returned outside to where E had busied himself pulling weeds out of the garden beds and making a fresh stack on the compost. She smiled – perhaps the sale wouldn’t be so hard after all if he was already making improvements as small as they were.
“I’m afraid that our town doesn’t have a lot of options for accommodation. We’re arranging a room for you at the pub, but I’m not sure you’ll find it to your city standards.”
His laugh, deep and throaty affected her as much as his eyes. She grabbed the railing for momentary support.
“You obviously don’t know me well.” Another laugh and her knees threatened to give way. “If there’s a clean bed and a lock on the door, I’ll be fine.”
Felicity tightened her grip on the railing and smiled, “Okay, I’ll make sure to order a room with a lock.”
He set aside his gardening and brushed past her to go back inside.
“How is the surf? Got any pointers on the breaks?”
Felicity shook her head, giggling at the through of her surfing, “I’m sure you’ll get some advice from the guys at the pub – a word of warning – they don’t like blow ins crashing their waves. If you want to make friends, pay respect out there.”
Cool as a cucumber, he replied, “I always do. So where is this place?”
“If you want to follow me back into town, I’ll get you settled in and perhaps we can get a bite to eat.”
Erebus
Her last comment caught Erebus off guard. Not since his early days in finance had he met a “nice” girl, willing to be friends. He didn’t know how to respond – what if she wanted to know what he did for a living? Where he was living? Why he wanted to run away to the bush and spend hours alone in the surf.
Yet he wanted to give her answers.
Wanted her approval.
Needed to know her answers to the same questions.
For the moments she waited for a response, a sweet blush colored her cheeks. She shrugged, and said, “I’m sorry, that was very presumptuous of me.”
“Not at all,” he urged wanting to take her hand so she wouldn’t run away. “You caught me off guard, I’d love to buy you dinner – it’s the very least I can do for making you wait around for me today and allowing me to stick around and see the place again tomorrow.”
“Fine, well, if you’re sure.” He watched every graceful step towards the car. Unlike the women he met through his work, there was no exaggerated sway of the hips or toss of the head. Erebus reminded himself there were still normal women out there.
What did his father always say, “The harder to find, the greater the reward.”
He resisted the urge to take a photo of his house before pulling out of the driveway. The prints from the online site were in his bag if he needed reminders.
Taking a final look he felt the weight of the city loosen its grip and fall away. He didn’t need photos. This town and house were already calling him.
Then there was Felicity, what a stunning and unassuming woman. An unexpected joy to meet her and now to spend an evening eating and getting to know her better! He didn’t deserve to feel so much anticipation for a non-date.
For four years he accepted that from the moment his last trade went bust and his financial career collapsed, his life changed. He even accepted what he had to do to survive knowing everything was consensual and for the most part, enjoyable. He had explored and embraced the darker side of sex and passion to the extent he forgot what “normal” looked like.
A day driving around this beautiful town, an afternoon with Felicity made him start to remember what life used to be like. Now, dinner with Felicity and buying this house could be exactly what he needed to find himself again.
Felicity
Felicity tried to check her makeup in the rear vision mirror on the way back to town. Her foundation evaporated while she waited in the sun for E and now every freckle seemed the size of her nose. Any other girl would have foundation or at least a lip gloss in her handbag. Not practical Felicity – more likely to have a dozen spare pens than makeup.
Why should she care? He was here to buy a house, not to pick up a new girlfriend. And even if he was mildly interested, how could a country girl like her compete with the city sophistication E would be used to.
Stop it! She told herself in the mirror. Stop having crazy thoughts – she was far too busy to have fanciful thoughts about any man, let alone a stranger. Her father needed her, and as he often reminded her, one failed engagement straight out of high school was proof enough that she couldn’t trust her own instincts about men.
Young love and a quick engagement should have ended in marriage and babies. Her girlfriends convinced her to have a wild, two week holiday before the wedding. The last time she cut loose and had fun without a care in the world.
Coming home to find that her fiancé forgot who he promised to marry, sending her a text that broke her heart. “Sorry, met someone. 4 the best.” He met someone, and had already replaced her name on the wedding license. She tried to laugh it off as a first marriage tragedy which had been avoided. Unfortunately, her heart break took longer to heal and her trust in her own judgement and in the male species destroyed.
She thumped the steering wheel, making sure E was still following her. Years of being sensible, the good girl. Yet, all it took was some good looking guy from the city to waltz into town and she became beside herself with nerves and acting love struck.
One day. One meeting and her life turned upside down.
Minutes away from dinner with the hunky and fit Mr E, she wished for the glamour of magazines. That her clothes and shoes were the perfect ensemble and she craved to replicate the sophisticated and confident look of women he’d normally meet.
Nothing about tonight was her type of normal. She didn’t go out on dates – and now she was having dinner with a man, hours ago a stranger. She certainly didn’t hang out at the pub yet she was pulling into the carpark.
Oh, well, perhaps he’d start talking or playing pool or darts with the locals and she could excuse herself. After all, if he wanted her company at the house tomorrow, she needed to find something to wear.
Erebus
During the drive, he watched her eyes through her rear vision mirror. For the first time he understood how the eyes could be mirrors to the soul. Felicity was innocent, open, perfect.
Years of treating sex as an industry, a way to make a living had jaded his senses. Used to fulfil other people’s fantasies, he wanted to strip away the fake and superficial, to have a real connection with a woman. Someone like Felicity. He longed to have her eyes open for him as they made gentle love, love, not sex. The delicate coming together of two people, emotionally before physically. An old-fashioned movie style, romantic kind of love.
He didn’t even know her.
She didn’t have a clue about the real him. If she did, there would be no tomorrow, no encouragement to buy the house, and no chance for “them”.
Quickly jumping out of his car, Erebus opened Felicity’s car door, offering his hand to help her out. Their first touch since their initial greeting. This time he didn’t want to let go. It took everything within him to release his grip and settle for a gentle arm around her back as they entered the pub, resisting the urge to do more.
“Felicity, who’s your new friend?” He withstood the glare of the barman. “Not from around here?”
“Fred, this is Mr E. He’s in town on,” she paused, “Business.”
“Business, eh? Not much of that going on here. Anyway, a friend of Felicity is a friend of mine.” Keys and paperwork exchanged, he followed Felicity upstairs to the rooms.
“At least the bed looks clean,” she remarked, opening the window and blinds. He waited for the flirting or suggestive comment that the bed seemed big enough for two. Nothing. Clearly, she wasn’t as affected by him as he was of her.
For once in his life, Erebus didn’t know what to do around a female. He, who stripped in front of thousands, flirted and seduced any woman he pleased and pleased any woman he was paid to, suddenly incapable of doing anything to bridge the gap with this graceful creature.
“It’s only for one night, are you hungry yet?” he quickly closed and locked the door behind them and led Felicity back down to the restaurant, trying to get the vision of her standing next to his bed out of his mind.
“So, what do you recommend for dinner?”
“Well, there’s a ‘cook your own steak’ over the fire pit if you’re game?”
“I’ve never said ‘no’ to a steak – what about you?”
“Are you offering to cook me dinner?” the closest she had come to flirting.
“Well, since someone else has tracked it down, killed and skinned it. Cooking for you is the least I can do after you found me a bed for the night. Without you, I could still be homeless.” He tried his most engaging smile. Surely she wouldn’t be immune?
“I’m sure you would’ve found somewhere to sleep.” Did she mean that? Did she really think he was the type of person who could pick up any random just to get a bed for the night? Perhaps he could if he wanted to, but … no … never … not his style.
In the couple of hours since they had met, what had he done to make Felicity think that way about him?
To hell with this slowly and carefully crap. They were both young, as far as he could tell, single. He’d make one move and see how she responded. If she shot him down, he’d laugh it off as an ambit try and blame her beautiful eyes.
If it worked, well the only thing he had to fear was drowning too hard and too quickly in her eyes.
“Tell you what, you pick the steak and I’ll cook it for you. Then you can tell me all about yourself and this town and convince me to buy a house here.”
“Why would I want to do that.”
“Because,” this time Erebus was willing to take a leap of faith, surely not all the signals being transmitted at the table were innocent, “Of this,” and he took her hand and kissed her fingertips. “I want to get to know you well enough to kiss your hand, and not stop at the tips.”
Felicity
First reaction – run. Second reaction – keep running.
Felicity snatched back her hand, afraid she gave him the wrong impression. She had been polite, professional – how could he know this look, touch and even presence was turning her body inside and out. Had she betrayed herself by the way she looked at him? Smiled at him?
And yet, she couldn’t deny her body and how it responded. There was nothing professional in the way her nipples pushed against the confines of her bra, or the moistness she hoped he would not notice.
Yesterday, a boring school teacher spending her life caring for her father or other people’s children. Tonight, she walked into the room with all eyes upon them.
The hottest guy who had walked into the pub in years, if not generations and he was holding her hand. She didn’t feel boring or a dumped, pitiful ex-fiancée.
With E gazing upon her, she felt beautiful and wanted. Local girls were circling, waiting for her to turn her back so they could get an opportunity to meet E. “Back off bitches,” her eyes warned, reveling in the chance to be naughty and shake things up a little.
Carefully, she replaced her hand, allowing him to take it again. It could be fun to see how other girls lived, “Let’s see how good you are with meat, first” her feeble attempt to flirt was met with a huge grin, and she shivered as his hand found a new home on her back, fingers tickling to find the waistband of her panties as he escorted her to the fire and steak.
Erebus
He never left her side. Together they cooked themselves the perfect steak. He piled their plates high with roast vegetables. For one night only he gave up salad for comfort food. Tonight, the only woman he wanted to think about impressing was already by his side.
“He didn’t!”
“He really did!” she laughed. “I called this student’s home to remind them to bring in the signed permission slip or the child couldn’t go on the excursion. He answered the phone and I asked to speak with his mother.”
“And …”
“He said, ‘mummy’s in the shower’. So of course, I asked to speak to his father and he said ‘daddy’s in the shower, too – you better call back later because they’ll be a while.”
“Do you think he …”
“Knew what they were doing – no. Kids aren’t like that. They believe what they’re told.”
“You sound like you love teaching.”
“I love the kids. I love meeting the new class at the beginning of the year. Getting to know them, building up trust and then watching them amaze themselves with how smart they are.”
“You are amazing.” He never met someone as warm and generous as Felicity.
The hardest part of the evening was when she asked about him. The more he knew about her, her values and morals, the less she’d understand what he did and why he did it. The adoring gaze would turn to repulsion. He wanted to be adored a little longer.
“Everything you need to know about me, you can learn from my knowing my parents and how they raised me. Did I tell you about the time my dad took me onto the building site and I thought I’d help him by counting the wooden floor boards?”
“No.”
He shook his head as she refilled her glass. He needed to keep his wits about him and not say too much.
“I would have been about six or seven, just learning to count. So I got out my textas and wrote numbers on each board.”
“I’m sure he thought it was helpful.”
“Not at all – they were supposed to be the feature floor boards in the house. For the next two weekends, I had to sand off the texta before they could use them!”
“You would have been too young to use a sander.”
“That was the point – I had to sand by hand. With the grain!” He hadn’t thought about that in years. Working with his father had been hard but rewarding.
She looked at her watch with a start. “I didn’t realise how late it was getting.”
“School tomorrow, Miss?” he teased.
“No, it is still school holidays which is why I could come out to the house for Sonia today. It’s just …” He waited as she decided what to say, “I had a lovely time, thank you.”
“No, thank you. Look, Felicity, I’ve had a wonderful evening and I will never think of school teachers in the same way again,” he laughed, “And I think I need to track down a few of my old teachers and apologise for things I would not dream of confessing to you.”
“You can confess anything to me,” she slurred. Oh, but he couldn’t.
“Well, let’s get you home. I’ll walk with you.” Erebus refused to let her drive home after all that wine.
“I’m fine, really I’m fine.”
“You are more than fine, you’re perfect, but not to drive. Let me call you a cab.”
Her beautiful, soft laugh, “There is so much you need to learn about this town. There are no cabs once Mrs Johnston has made Old Bruce his cup of tea. You won’t get a cab until morning!”
“You are kidding? So, all the guys downing one drink after another?”
“That’s why there are so many rooms at the pub. Most of their business is from people who didn’t realize they would need somewhere to sleep it off.”
“Great. I’m looking forward to the sounds of drunken snores all night.” Hopefully, he packed his headphones. Not that he’d get much sleep while thinking of Felicity only a couple of miles away.
“You could stay at my house?”
The conversation didn’t dull as they walked the half mile to her home, yet he didn’t acknowledge her invitation. Felicity’s house was the epiphany of her – structured and orderly, linen on the table and a guest room ready for the surprise guest, complete with embroidered towels.
“As you can see, there’s heaps of room.”
“I don’t want to put you to any trouble.”
“It’s no trouble at all,” her smile so disarming and innocent. In his haste to walk her home before she changed her mind, he hadn’t grabbed a bag or any luggage. With nothing to unpack, he splashed some water on his face, smoothed his hair back and met her again in the kitchen.
“I thought I’d get some fresh bread going for the morning – white or wholemeal?”
His shock was exaggerated but real. Did people really make their own bread, “White is fine. Won’t it take all night to do all the rising?”
“Not at all,” that soft, gentle laugh, “I have an old bread maker that has never let me down. I’ll throw everything in tonight and set the timer for tomorrow morning.”
He watched her hands, every movement with a purpose. Measuring out the flour and water, replacing lids and putting the cannister away, wiping down the bench. Nothing out of place in her house or her. She was perfect.
“Cards or board games?” he asked, not wanting the night to end.
“I beg your pardon?”
“I’m sure you have one or the other, cards or board games?”
“Actually, I have both. My parents used to play them all the time and my father gave me his collection years ago.”
He watched her bend over to get out a dozen boxes of games from the bottom of an old wooden cupboard. He knew the image of her dress tightened over her curves would keep him awake all night.
The hours passed quickly as they started with cards and then moved to chess where Erebus proved himself a novice to Felicity’s strategic plays. After losing three games, they moved to Monopoly and the smell of rising bread filled the house.
“You realize that its almost impossible to win with only two players – we could go for weeks and never get a result,” he said, reclaiming the rent he paid her in the previous turn with her ill timed landing on his hotel.
“Would that be so bad?” She stretched and appeared shocked at the time.
“I guess,” he drawled, “There are worse games that two people could play.” Torn between wanting her, and not wanting to hurt her. He knew, without asking, she had little experience with men – and no experience with men like him. They had talked all night about their childhood, growing up, her career. Nothing about the intense desire he had for her. If she even suspected, she’d likely throw him out of the house and refuse to have anything to do with him again.
Oh, the things he wanted to do to her. No! He needed to protect her from anything and anyone sullied or control by dark romance, even if it was protecting her from himself.
Still they looked across the board game as he wished the night would never end.
“I’m sorry, but I need to get to bed,” she stood up in a rush, knocking over the board, “Oh, I didn’t mean that, I’m sorry.”
He picked up the board and pieces, putting them back in the box, “You have absolutely nothing to apologize for. It’s late and that’s my fault.” If tonight had to end, he needed something to look forward to, “Let me make it up to you with lunch tomorrow.”
“I’d like that, thank you.” She was shivering in the summer heat. He made her nervous. Hopefully, a good sign. She made him nervous, too.
Felicity walked him down the hallway to where the bedrooms diverged. Turning quickly, she caught him off guard with a kiss to the side of his lips.
Damn woman!
Instinctively, he pressed her against him, enclosing her mouth with his own, wanting her as he had not wanted a woman before. Her mouth opened to him, taking everything he had to give. Oh, he wanted her. Craved her. Shaken by his own desire, he stopped, remembering her inexperience. Again, his need to protect exceeded his need to have her beneath him.
“Felicity,” he caught his breath, “Look, it’s late and we are tired.”
The beautiful rose blush filled her cheeks. Her actions had taken them both by surprise. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what came over me.” She backed away from him, towards her closed bedroom door.
He wanted to let her go – for her own good.
Their eyes would not let go – he resisted the urge to break down her door with her in his arms.
He needed to say something.
Anything. The longer they stood in silence, the more awkward it became.
“It’s late and these things happen, but I’ll warn you – kiss me like that again tomorrow and I won’t stop you.”
He went inside his bedroom, lying down on the bed he knew he wouldn’t sleep on.
Felicity
Felicity leaned against her closed bedroom door, she looked at her bed with new awe. Would she really have been willing to lie wantonly with a man she only met today, or actually, yesterday?
Clearly, and most certainly, she would have.
Removing her dress, she stood at her mirror looking at her body from his perspective. She touched her breasts, wondering what it would be like to have his tanned hands against her creamy white skin.
Stop it! Again, she forced herself to stop thinking about him in that way. She had found other men attractive, but not followed through. It never seemed right. E was by far the most sexual beast of a man she had ever spent time with, had dinner with – invited to her home to spend the night!
Ahhhhh. Most women wouldn’t be spending their night sleeping in a different bed!
Every part about him oozed sex and yet he remained the perfect gentleman with her. The more he was restrained, the more she wanted to rip the shirt from his body and do the most unspeakable things to him. Things she only read about in dirty romance novels.
She brushed her hair, one hundred strokes, wanting to know if he liked it pulled up or hanging around her shoulders. Would it get in the way if they …
Damn it, she didn’t have time to think about men, especially not one like E! This year she moved to a different class and her days were spent with illiterate teens, helping them learn to read without losing their dignity. Her spare time was spent caring for her father and his diabetes. Each night spent alone – until tonight when she threw herself at a stranger.
Not a stranger, E.
As she lay awake in her own bed, she heard him tossing and turning. After their kiss, neither of them were sleeping. Perhaps, he was struggling also with what to do.
Felicity watched the clock slowly move forward. Wanting to go to him, and scared if he rejected her, again.
As dawn broke, she couldn’t bare listening to the sounds of competing voices in her head any more. Even if he left town and she never saw him again, didn’t she deserve one night of pleasure?
Even if she never meant anything to him, she wanted to feel what it was like to be with a man like E.
Decision made, she padded across to his room before she changed her mind, again. Opening the door, she trembled as he lay on top of the bed, wearing only white Y-fronts. Even though he seemed relaxed, she could still see every muscle ripped and count his tanned abs. Her bare feet made no sound as she crossed the floor to him, yet his eyes opened to greet her.
“Can’t sleep either?” he asked with the slow smile. Please, she thought, don’t turn me away again.
“I don’t know what I’m doing here,” she whispered, reaching out to stroke his chest, yes his abs were as hard as they looked. Ahh, she could touch him for hours.
“What do you want to do,” he didn’t stop her, but made no attempt to touch her in return. She did notice his chest moving quicker, almost in time with the pace of her own heart.
“I couldn’t sleep, and you are here and … well, I couldn’t sleep.”
“I see.” Their night had been filled with long pauses. If only she could read his mind. “I take it you don’t often bring men home with you?”
“No!” she was shocked at the question. “Not at all, at least not until you, I mean, now.”
He moved to the side, making room for her, “How about you lie here with me, and we’ll both get some sleep and see where things go tomorrow.”
The last thing she remembered before falling asleep was E curled around her, spooning her and knowing she wanted his hardness against more than her back.
Erebus
Erebus listened as her breathing deepened and she fell asleep in his arms. The thin nightdress did nothing to hide the shape of her body from him, and it took all his self control to keep his arm around her waist and not stretch his fingers to her breasts.
For the first time in years, he enjoyed the company of a woman without sex being the goal. And yet tonight found him in a bed with a beautiful woman who defied him in so many ways.
Felicity, what a beautiful name to roll off his tongue. The graceful, enigmatic, Felicity had shown him an innocence that he wanted to explore, without breaking. A sense of humor and intellect he found humbling and challenging at the same time. Thinking back, he couldn’t remember the last time he held a real conversation with a woman without playful and sexual innuendos.
This woman deserved to be, was worth more than a one night stand – for both of them. If this led to something in the morning, already he knew he wouldn’t want to walk away. Yet he didn’t know how he could stay in her life without her ending up hurt in some way.
Streams of daylight appeared through the window and his senses awoke to the smell of freshly baked bread. Felicity barely stirred as he moved his arms from around her. It took all of his self control not to kiss the rose-colored lips, barely visible through the blonde strands of hair down her face.
She deserved better than waking to a man lying next to her with an erection and he needed to do something before his primal urges replaced common decency.
He found the coffee machine and pods. She either didn’t entertain a lot or didn’t drink a lot of coffee herself – it usually took a whole pot to get him started in the morning. In the daylight, he learned more about her better by looking through the different board games in the cupboard as he returned the Monopoly. From the worn boxes he discovered she liked games of strategy rather than chance. There were some familiar titles and others he hoped to have the chance to get to learn.
Next to the cupboard were two, large wooden bookshelves. One filled with text books and books which he assumed she used for her teenage students. Yet another thing to admire about her. With her enthusiasm and energy, any school would love to have her in their primary school classes. But she had gone back to study so she could move on and work with teens who had become disengaged with school.
The other bookshelf contained double rows of biographies and autobiographies. A collection of politicians, sports stars and normal people. He thumbed through a few before settling on an amputee who cut off his own hand to save his life while rock climbing. Erebus remembered watching the guy interviewed after his rescue so it was easy to settle into one of Felicity’s comfortable arm chairs and start reading about the resilience and faith of a man fighting and willing to do anything to stay alive. Truthfully, it was easier to stay and read than to leave.
“Well, that’s a sight I didn’t expect to see this morning!” The most glorious vision, dressed and ready for the day walked into the room.
“I hate to tell you, but it’ll take me more than a day or two for me to finish reading all these books.”
“I’ll give you a couple of days, then you’ll get bored.” Her eyes became guarded. How could she think that of him!
Not caring that he lost his place in the book, he set it aside and within three large steps was close enough to pull her into his arms. “I’m not going anywhere unless you ask me to go.”
“I’m not asking,” she kissed him, tentatively at first and then he felt her desire burn.
“Felicity,” he stopped for a moment, kissing her on her perfect nose, “I told you last night what would happen if you kissed me again.”
“I remember,” her arms tightened around his neck, pulling his face to hers.
Oh, someone forgive him. He tried to be good and give her space and time to back out. Now, his body was taking over his head. He had been in a perpetual state of readiness since she first walked towards him at the house. Now every part of him wanted to unleash on this woman.
His hands explored everywhere over her clothes, feeling the curve of her waist, the soft cheek and firm legs. Avoiding the urge to draw her skirt up, he started again at the front, unbuttoning the top of her dress, exposing the pale pink, cotton bra. No lace or beads or anything to indicate she bought it with another man in mind. He would be the only man to remove it from her body, and expose …
She opened to his kisses, as he ravished her mouth. Soft bites on her lips, tongue caressing the inside.
What was he thinking!
While his hands expertly caressed and explored her body, Felicity remained in place, kissing him. Passionately, but something else was wrong. Her arms were still around his neck – they hadn’t moved down to his chest or below. Was it possible she didn’t know what else to do?
He checked himself, again.
“Wait, not yet.” Kissing her one last time before his arms returned to frame her hips. “You and I have a house to buy,” he kissed her gently lips to lips, “Then, I’m buying you lunch. Then we’re going to get to know each other better – and only then,” he kissed her, damning himself, “If you want to, we can take this further.”
Felicity
Felicity rang Sonia with the good news, “He’s emailing you a firm offer – cash with a quick settlement. Be warned, it is a lot less than what the house is on the market, but he has also prepared a list of all the work that’s required for it to be lived in.”
“Fantastic – how did you do it?”
“Nothing really. Once he saw the potential, he made up his mind,” she pulled her head away, to avoid being kissed while still talking to her friend. Still, she couldn’t take her eyes away from the man leaning against his rental car, his legs gently parted so she fit between.
“I hope it didn’t put you out, having to babysit him all night.”
“Not at all, we played some board games and cards and stuff.”
“And yet he still wants to buy the house! Thanks Flick, I owe you one. Gotta go.”
“I owe you a lot more than one,” E took away her phone before crushing her mouth with his own, again.
“Now you have the house, what do you want to do?” She was becoming more confident with every kiss, the long forgotten feelings stirring.
“Would you be shocked if I said, ‘You and very slowly’?” she shivered as his kisses trailed down her neck.
“E, we’re standing in the middle of the street,” she looked around at non-existent voyeurs, “What will the neighbors think!”
He broke away, “You are quite right, you deserve better than being ravaged in the driveway of a deserted house. Let’s go and let me buy you the lunch I promised.”
With a tinge of regret, Felicity locked up the house and drove them to the nearby beach. “Best fish and chips in the country.”
“That’s a big call.”
“I like making big calls.”
“Then I hope I live up to ours,” he squeezed her hand and she trembled again in anticipation.
They ate in silence, walking to the end of the beach, where the rocks met the point. With cat-like grace, he helped her sit on the highest point, where they could see beaches either side and nothing but ocean ahead.
“I’m not like you, Felicity. I don’t live in the same town I was born in, and, well, I’ve lived.”
She didn’t understand, “I don’t even know what that means.”
“I mean, I have a past.”
“Haven’t you figured me out yet? I don’t care where or what you’ve lived. I only care that you’re honest with me.”
He nodded, “I’m not married, no children and no crazy ex’s that might come out of the woodwork. I’ve changed careers a couple of times, and I’m looking to change again.”
“You never talked about that last night. Actually, any time I asked you changed the subject. What do you do for a living?”
“I pick up the odd laboring jobs – anything from brick laying to basic carpentry.”
“It must pay well.”
“As long as my body holds up, the money is okay.” Was that bitterness or regret she heard?
Felicity sighed as a seagull chirped overhead. Nothing about the last day was normal for her. Yet, sitting here they could be the only people in the world. She couldn’t let him go and never see him again.
“Will you live in the house?” She wanted to ask if he would be spending more time in town. Or would today be their only chance.
“That depends,” he turned to her and she lost her breathe in his eyes.
“On …” hoping.
“On you.”
This time, she didn’t want him to stop. Whatever was going to happen, she wanted him with every part of her body and soul. She also didn’t want to stop and go back to her house in case either of them changed their mind.
Thinking quickly, or at least trying to, she said, “Around here,” and pulled him around the rocks to a crevice, hidden from view and protected from the ocean. The perfect bed for their first time.
Erebus removed and lay his shirt on the ground to protect her from the sand.
“Are you sure,” he asked, lying next to her, his fingers tracing figure eights on her stomach.
“Very,” his chest glistened in the sunlight and he moaned as she stroked it gently.
“One more kiss, and I won’t be responsible,” he warned.
“Promises,” she leant up and kissed him, “Promises,” as he followed her to the sand.
“Promises,” with her third word, her hands found a life of their own, pulling him to her, weaving their way down to unleash him from his shorts. Oh, he was huge. Instinctively she held him in her hands, gliding them up and down, marveling at the power of it, and of him.
He slipped the dress from over her shoulders, taking one of the bra straps and exposing her breast. His lips soft as they closed around her nipple. As they tightened she felt his teeth nibble, sending an electric sensation through her body.
Her hands guided him towards her. One touch, all he would need was one touch and he would find her ready, ever so ready for him, wantonly so.
He poised above, removing her panties with one hand, his eyes never wavering.
She pulled his hips towards her, feeling him fill her as she adjusted her hips to accommodate his precious gift.
Then he took her on her own journey. His fingers, his mouth were everywhere and more. Pinning her to the sand, his fingers found their way, parting her cheeks as he thrust his hips to hers. As she dug her nails into his ass, he gently bit down on her nipple, again sending electric pulses through to her core.
Screaming his name, she clamored for more, with every thrust she clawed at him, until he went still, holding himself half inside her and half out.
His hands released from underneath her, one balancing him, and one with fingers finding her bud.
Panting, she looked up at him. She had never … well she had … but she never … ohhhhh.
As he rubbed her, she felt her body explode into ecstasy. This is what the books and the songs were written about. Ohhhhhhh.
Only after her shuddering slowed, did he continue until they came together.
Erebus
Erebus cleared his calendar for another two weeks. The real estate agent allowed him access to the house to measure up for some of the work that needed to be done, and he started looking for an old car to save money on renting every time he came to town.
He made friends with the locals as he purchased some clothes, filled Felicity’s refrigerator and even dropped in as a surprise guest at the library.
“That was seriously cool,” he hugged her as the last of her students left.
“I told you they’d like you.”
“Yeah, but I don’t think I’ve ever been so nervous,” he couldn’t tell Felicity that he’d rather get all his gear off in front of a crowded room of horny women than risk making a fool of himself in front of her students.
“I couldn’t tell, well,” she gave him a cute kiss on the cheek, “Maybe a little at the beginning. But once you started, I could tell they just wanted to be like you.”
If only she knew, he thought.
“They’re a tough audience, but I saw how scared they were at failing. Trying so hard to impress you and each other that they didn’t want to stuff up.”
“You got through to them.”
“It’s easier to connect when they think you’re just kidding around. I totally respect them for not giving up and trying one last time to learn to read.”
“I’ve tried for months to get them to want to, but now thanks to you, they’ve signed up for before school sessions.”
“My pleasure, although does that mean you’ll be getting out of bed earlier, because I have to warn you,” he grabbed her ass. “I’m not willing to share you with a bunch of teenage boys.”
“You could always join me …” her voice trailed off. An invitation to be an even greater part of her life. Crap, it was getting harder not to tell her the whole truth.
In no time at all, he was building a home – in this town and with this woman.
Felicity. Oh, sweet, graceful, smart, sexy Felicity. Everything he ever imagined or wanted. Smart, funny, and with a heart as beautiful as her body.
Oh, physically – every time he lay with her, she opened up more to him. He was still gentle and other than their first time, every time had been in her bed.
He prided himself on his restraint. Many times, when she stood in the kitchen or outside gardening, he resisted the urge to take her violently, holding her hands, pinning her body so he could be in control. After all, his heart was completely out of his control.
The weight of his lies and untruths grew bigger.
The darkness within him, he could never let her see. Felicity filled his heart with urges of making love and tender kisses. She could never understand and must never know the dark passion that built within.
Felicity
“Look at you, all dressed up for a Monday night,” Sonia stood behind her at the bottle shop.
“I’m just getting something for dinner.”
“Dinner, hey?” Sonia turned the bottle around to inspect the label. “I’m guessing this goes with a tall, blonde and fit owner of a white house that has the whole town talking?”
Felicity blushed as she finished paying for it. “Perhaps.”
“From the smile on your face, there is no ‘perhaps’ about it.” Sonia finished her own purchase and followed Felicity to her car. “I haven’t seen you for ages.”
“You know how it is,” between school and her father, every spare moment was with E. Truthfully, she ached to be apart for any length of time.
“I do and I’m happy for you. Is he treating you right?” Sonia had her share of misadventures in love. Her type seemed to be heros at first and cruel at closer inspection.
“He’s amazing. And I’m late.”
“Special night?”
“He goes back to the city tomorrow, for work.”
“Enjoy the evening – hope the wine goes with everything,” Sonia hugged her before she left.
By the time she arrived home, the dining room was filled with candles.
“Dinner is in the oven,” the rush from his first kiss never faded. Nor did her craving for his touch. She didn’t want to wait for the bedroom. Not with the scented candles surrounding them in a glow.
“I’m not interested in what’s in the oven,” she quickly pulled his shirt over his head before he had time to respond.
“I’m listening,” he returned the favor unzipping the back of her dress as she then moved to his shorts, dropping them to the floor with a flick of her wrist.
“I heard you were good with your hands,” she removed one strap of her dress as his eyes looked to where a small cotton triangle threatened to release her breast, “That you could make magic out of any craft,” with the other strap removed, her dress joined his shorts on the floor.
The plain underwear had been replaced by expensive lace, soft to the touch and from his reaction, visually pleasing. The teal was almost a match for his eyes and she shivered as he fingered the outline of her bra.
“What are you going to do about it?” she asked more boldly than she felt. Who was this woman!
In reply, Erebus picked her up and in one movement lay her down at the end of the long dining table. The long candles shook in their candlesticks as she tried to sit up.
“No, lie back and don’t move,” he said, opening her legs with kisses. “You don’t want to burn the place down.”
“The local firemen would save me.”
“Sweetheart, if any man sees you wearing this, I will kill him,” he growled.
Kisses, more kisses. Each one firmer, deeper than the last. By the time his fingers found her, she was ready. Not able to reach for him without losing her balance, she craved for more.
“Please, I want you,” she cried between kisses. Instead of climbing onto the table with her, he leaned down, pushing aside her panties with his teeth. Blowing hot air to where she was waiting for …
“Ohhhhhhhhhhh,” she cried as his tongue entered her. Throwing her head back the candles almost toppled.
“Steady, I said lie back and enjoy it,” before he went back to work. Long, deep thrusts and gentle nibbles around her inner thighs.
Without anything to do, she had to lie back and release herself to the sensation of what Erebus could do if she lay back and took it like a woman.
He pulled her hips closer to the edge of the table, fingers joining his tongue. Opening her, teasing her, fulfilling every desire she never knew she had.
Time and time again he bought her to the brink, only to return to kissing her outer lips and thighs.
“Please, for the love of … please,” she begged. “Either finish me or fuck me, I don’t care anymore, I want you now.”
He nibbled at her bud, tongue flickering all around until she couldn’t take it anymore and succumbed.
“Felicity,” he pulled her to him so finally their lips could join, “I’ve never said ‘I love you’ to a woman before. Never.”
She waited.
“When I say it to you, it won’t be like this. I want it to be the most special occasion you can imagine.”
Felicity couldn’t imagine anything that could be more special than her pre-dinner entrée!