Chapter 14 Juniper
Juniper
Afew evenings later, Juniper stepped out of Billy’s room, making her way to the kitchen just as Violet came in from the motorhome.
“You probably don’t want to do that,” Violet said.
“Huh? You don’t want a cuppa?”
“I do, but you don’t.”
“Ah, yes I do.” Juniper turned to look at Violet questioningly.
“Your man’s home. He got back about ten minutes ago, I would say.”
“What, how do you know that? Psychic flash?”
Violet gave a rich, deep chuckle. “No, darling. Jasper and I just took a walk down the street and saw a light come on up there.”
Juniper stood stock still in the kitchen for a long moment before whirling into action. She hurried, packing two shopping bags, then scurried to her bedroom to pack an overnight bag.
Shopping bags in hand, overnight bag slung over her shoulder, she paused long enough to kiss Violet on the cheek before moving towards the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow. I love you.”
“I love you too, June Bug. Have lots of orgasms!”
Juniper chuckled. “I will!”
The three-minute drive up to the lighthouse had never felt so long to Juniper but she was finally knocking on the door to the little house next to the lighthouse, her heart thudding in anticipation.
Then the door was swinging wide, and William was there, backlit by the wash of light from a single lamp in the lounge room.
“Hey.”
“Hey, yourself.” The pleasure in his eyes at the sight of her warmed her blood.
“Have you eaten?”
“I was just about to make a spaghetti jaffle.”
“Thank the stars, I arrived just in the nick of time.” She stepped inside, pressing a kiss to his lips but evading his arms and sliding past him.
She slipped her sandals off and dumped her overnight bag next to them, by the wall.
She took the shopping bags into the kitchen, heaving them onto the bench just as William switched the light on.
She started unpacking the bags, removing a saucepan, wooden spoon, pasta, homemade basil pesto, pine nuts, and parmesan cheese.
“You can set the table,” she said, handing him two ceramic candlestick holders and the accompanying candles.
As he took them from her, he leaned in to try and kiss her, but she just smiled and pushed at him.
“The table. And I’d love a glass of wine.
” She filled the saucepan with water and placed it on the stovetop, and then turned the dial up to high. “Good business trip?”
He was still wearing suit pants and his business shirt, unbuttoned at the collar and the tie discarded.
His hair looked disheveled, like he’d been running his fingers through it.
He shrugged as he handed her a glass of chilled white wine.
He’d traveled down to Melbourne to scout out a location in the Dandenong Ranges for a corporate retreat.
He’d been gone three days and God, she’d missed him.
But he didn’t look happy, his shrug indicating something was up.
“Mum and Dad are happy. The building is perfect for a retreat, the price is right, it needs some work so we can add value.” He shrugged again.
“What is it?”
“Nothing.”
She tilted her head to one side, looking at him for a long moment but he had that shuttered expression on his face that he sometimes got, so she didn’t push it.
Turning away, she put her wine glass down and opened the packet of fresh pasta, tipping it into the boiling water.
He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He then pressed a kiss to the side of her neck. “I’m sorry.”
She turned into his arms, brushing her lips lightly across his.
“You don’t have anything to apologize for.
” In a weary gesture, he dropped his forehead to hers so she just stood there.
She wrapped her arms around his waist, offering what comfort she could for whatever was bothering him.
After a little while, he leaned back and looked down at her, the slow heating in his eyes unmistakable.
He moved to lower his head, but she stopped him, pressing her fingertips to his lips. “Set the table.”
“Such a slave driver,” he said with a long-suffering sigh as he pulled away, making her chuckle.
By the time the pasta was cooked, Juniper was mixing in the pesto and parmesan, William had the table set and the candles lit.
“Lovely,” she said, bringing the bowl of pasta and her glass of wine over. “Now, it’s no spaghetti toastie, but I think you’ll like it,” she said as they sat down.
“I’ll do my best,” he replied, giving her a mischievous grin. “So, what have you been up to while I’ve been away?” He asked, topping up her wine glass.
“Oh, I took Billy, Nana and Jasper to the butterfly enclosure. That big blue butterfly sure does love the Bells, she couldn’t get enough of Billy.
She followed him around, landed on his head and wouldn’t’ get off.
He loved it at first but by the time we got to the exit, he was sick of it.
You should have seen his expression when she landed on his nose.
Cross eyed and cross at the same time. I’ll have to show you the photos. ”
He laughed appreciatively and she thought she was going some way to alleviating his mood. “This is amazing,” he said, twirling more pasta around his fork.
“Better than a toastie?”
He held up his finger and thumb, a small distance apart. “By about this much.”
“Cheeky.”
When their bowls were empty, Juniper leaned forward in her chair, resting her chin on her hand and wrapping her fingers around the stem of her wine glass.
William leaned back in his chair, one hand in his pocket, the other holding his glass.
She took a sip of wine, pleased with the way his eyes watched her every move.
“You’ve come here with a plan, tonight.”
“I have.”
He quirked an inquiring brow.
“The way I see it, the night’s going to go one of two ways.”
“Hmm?”
“Option one, you’re going to take me to bed, where we make slow, passionate love all night long.” Her skin warmed as the heat swirled in his eyes.
“I see. And option two?”
She waited a beat, before saying, “We don’t make it to the bedroom, and you take me hard up against the wall.
” She sipped her wine, feeling a tug of desire in her core.
She watched as he rose to his feet, never taking her eyes off him as he came around to her side of the table and taking her hand, pulled her to her feet.
“I’m taking option one,” he said, causing her to gasp as he swept her up in his arms.
“Hmm, a wise choice,” she replied sagely, wrapping her arms around his neck and nibbling on his ear.
“You’d better stop doing that, or we’ll quickly move to option two,” he said as he crossed the small lounge room, into his bedroom.
She stopped. Option one really did sound amazing. She kept her arms around his neck as he put her down on the floor next to the bed. She pulled him closer, pressing herself against him, finding his mouth with hers.
“I have to tell you something,” she whispered against his lips.
“Mm?” He lifted his head to look down at her.
“I’ve organized birth control.”
“You have?”
“Mm hmm. I did it the day after the music festival.”
He smiled. “You knew I was a sure thing, then.”
She smiled back. “I knew I wanted you. Here. Like this.” She found his mouth again, sliding her tongue over his bottom lip, nipping gently with her teeth.
He moved his hands from her waist down to her hips, pulling her against him.
She sighed as he opened his mouth and she slid her tongue across his, the taste of him was intoxicating.
She’d wanted this for what felt like an eternity and so the need was there, pushing at her.
She felt the swirling heat and reminded herself to slow down.
All the little touches, the kisses, that night in her kitchen, all leading to this moment.
Now they had all night and she wanted to make the most of it.
He moved his hands to her bottom, cupping her against him.
She felt his need for her, felt his erection and it only inflamed her more.
She kissed him more urgently, running her hands down his chest, pulling the hem of his shirt up, desperate to get her hands on his skin.
God, she just wanted to rip his shirt open, run her fingers through the hair on his chest, lick him. Everywhere.
He smiled against her lips. “Honey, slow down.”
“Can’t.” She reached for the buttons on his shirt with shaking fingers, fumbling with them.
He brought his hands up and covered hers, holding them still against his heart.
She looked up at him, noting the heat mixed with amusement in his eyes.
And something else. Something she couldn’t name.
He pulled her hands away and unbuttoned his shirt.
As soon as he’d undone the last one, she ran her palms up his chest. She pushed the shirt off his shoulders, pressing hot kisses along his neck, his collar bone, and down his chest. The heat was like a fever, flashing through her system before it settled as a dull ache between her legs.
She kissed him again, that delicious tangling of tongues.
She felt his hands at the zipper of her dress, the whisper as he lowered it with agonizing slowness, the caress of his fingertips up her spine before he reached her shoulders and grabbing the top of the dress, pulled it down until the sleeves were just above her elbows.
Then he tightened his grip at the back, so that she couldn’t move her arms, kissing her all the while.
His kisses were deep and drugging. He trailed soft, wet kisses down her neck, dipping his tongue in the groove at the base of her throat where her pulse throbbed, then lower, to her breast. He turned his body and shifted backwards until he reached the bed, sitting down and pulling her between his knees.
He still had her arms trapped and the urge to touch him caused her palms to itch.