Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
MORGAN
T he next morning, I don’t know if I avoid Rhys, or just act like nothing happened. I can’t believe I fucked myself on his thigh. What was I thinking? I wasn’t, and that’s the problem.
He said a few nice words and I threw myself at him. Pathetic.
“Oi, fuckers.” Beau calls from the open door. Ignoring him, I continue making my coffee before going to see what he wants.
“Where’s your kissing buddy?” He teases. I harden my hold on my coffee, reminding myself to not throw it, it’s too precious. But then he starts to mimic kissing. Sounds and all.
Fuck the coffee. Just as I’m about to throw my mug at his head, Rhys is behind me plucking the cup from my grasp.
“No wonder you get no action if that’s how you kiss.” Then the fucker downs my coffee. I stare at him in shock. “You clearly didn’t want the coffee, so why waste it?”
My mouth drops open. Asshole! My coffee.
He bends down and whispers in my ear, “If you don’t close that, I’ll put something in it.”
I snap my mouth shut.
“Good girl.”
I suck in a sharp breath as blush creeps on my cheeks, but anger quickly replaces it. He’s going to tease me then? Fine. Two can play that game.
Davis comes around the corner, hand still clutching his side as he faces Beau. “Have you told them yet, or are you just being an ass wipe?”
“Ah. Well, they don’t know, so you take a guess.”
Davis ignores him and faces Rhys, “Karijini?”
“Yes. Fuck yes.” Rhys doesn’t hesitate.
“Karijini?” I need someone to elaborate.
“A national park about five hours away.”
“Okay, well you guys have fun.” I turn and make my way back inside, apparently to make myself another coffee. A couple of days without them would be nice.
“No way. You’re coming”
I turn to face him. “Since when do you tell me what to do?” A wicked gleam shines in his eyes, and then what he said to me last night comes rushing back. “Fuck, don’t say it.”
“I won’t, but I will if you don’t go get ready.”
“Blackmail?” Because of course he would resort to that.
“Yep. Make sure you grab some bathers, and pack an overnight bag.”
“No.” He doesn’t get to blackmail me, and then tell me what to do.
“Why? Too good for camping, Princess?”
Fuck I think I prefer Morgana. Actually, I’d prefer my name, but I don’t think that’ll be happening anytime soon.
“I don’t have any bathers. ”
“Fine, we’ll stop in at Burra Point.”
“Fine.” I say through clenched teeth.
He turns to look at an amused Davis and Beau, then throws his own ‘fine’ over his shoulder.
Before I go anywhere, I need a shower, and I need to shave my legs. Once I’m undressed, I look down at the apex of my thighs and notice I haven’t shaved in like a month, five weeks? Maybe I’ll shave there as well. Maybe just my bikini line?
Just as I step out of the shower a knock comes at the door, “Morgan?”
Hey, he used my name, “Yeah, yeah I’m coming.”
“And so is Christmas.”
“Eat a dick.” I call back.
Soon enough, I’m dressed and have an overnight bag packed. When I walk outside, I see the four-wheel-drive is packed and just waiting for me.
“Come on, Esky.” Her tail wags, happy to be going for a drive.
“Ah yeah, no dogs are allowed.” Davis is the one to inform me.
“But she’s a dingo.”
They all kind of just look at me with sad eyes. Well, not Rhys. He’s smiling. Jerk.
Okay well I’m not going. I’d rather stay with my dingo then be with these morons anyway.
But as if reading my mind, Rhys picks her up. “No Morgan, you’re coming. You need to get off the station. Stop being cooped up.”
“As if I could be cooped up, out here.” I reach for Esky, but he moves her away.
“You know what I mean. What have you done since Shane picked you up?”
Fuck, he has a point, and I hate him for it. Maybe it’s not him, maybe I’m annoyed at myself. I haven’t ventured far from what has been base. Mum and Dads, and now the homestead. I have let Ethan control me for too long. I don’t have to look over my shoulder here. I can be free here.
“Fine.” I hold her head in between my hands, kiss between her ears then give them a scratch. “Be good.” And then I get in the car.
“It’s just a dingo.” Beau mutters, but he gets a quick punch from Davis. “Um, ouch.”
“Don’t be an ass.”
“But you like my ass.” Beau gives Davis a wink.
Davis on the other hand, widens his eyes while mouthing what the fuck. Beau shrugs and smiles in triumph as he slumps back into the driver’s seat.
“Are you two—?” I don’t exactly know how to finish the question.
“No,” Davis says. At the same time Beau says, “He doesn’t want to label it.”
How did I miss this?
Two and half hours later, we’re pulling up into a shopping centre carpark.
“You find something to wear to swim in, and we’ll get the last-minute things.”
I grunt my response and wave my hand in a way that I hope is telling him to fuck off, then it dawns on me.
“Wait. I don’t have my purse.”
Rhys throws me his wallet. “Don’t go crazy.”
I catch it, flick my eyes up to him and allow a smirk to slowly kick the corner of my mouth up, “Okay.”
He calls after me, “Morgan, I’m serious. ”
“Yeah, and I heard you.”
Leaving them to it, I walk past the K-Mart and the Target. And go straight to the surf shop. I haven’t stepped in one in years. I’m not sure what’s still relevant, but then I see the familiar names: Billabong. Rip Curl. Quicksilver.
I make my way to the bikini section, with one goal, Rhys’s wallet is heavy in my back pocket. Okay, so two goals. Find something to tease Rhys with, and spend his money.
Normally I don’t show much skin, well conditioned not to show too much more accurately. But with how Rhys was teasing this morning, he deserves it.
And I find the perfect bikini set.
I pick it up and go try it on. The crocheted top fits perfectly. I’m not overly blessed in the chest department; but they aren’t overly small either. The way the top hugs the curve of my breasts has my confidence growing.
I try on the bikini bottoms and swallow the lump that suddenly formed. It shows off more ass than I thought it would. But I remember goal one. Tease Rhys.
As I walk past the accessories, I suddenly remember goal two. Spend Rhys’s money.
By the time I make it to the cashier, I have a new pair of bikinis, a new towel, a sarong, a pair of thongs and a crocheted tote bag.
The girl behind the counter looks me up and down. I try not to let her bother me, but I can’t help but pick at everything. I’m in ripped denim shorts and a white tank top. Without thinking I run my hand through my hair. It’s probably uneven, since I cut it myself.
I force a smile while I place everything on the counter, “Hi. ”
She just purses her lips and starts scanning, while I try not to let this interaction bother me.
“That’ll be three hundred and seventy-seven dollars.”
My eyes grow wide; this was a mistake. She smirks at me. And as much as I want to put her in her place, I can’t spend three hundred and seventy-seven dollars. What was I thinking?
Just as I’m about to tell her I only want the bikini, the little hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
Rhys.
Cashier girl sees him and immediately turns into the friendliest person to ever grace the earth. She rearranges her boobs, and plasters on the biggest smile I have ever seen.
I can’t help but roll my eyes at her antics.
Yes, he is good looking, better than good looking.
Sharp jaw line always covered in a five o’clock shadow, full lips, those forest green eyes, he’s gorgeous.
Not that I’d ever tell him that. Then you throw in broad shoulders, arms that are covered in tattoos, which are currently being shown off.
The man is a woman’s walking wet dream. Not me though.
Some part of my mind laughs at me. I ignore that though. Because I can feel him closing in.
“Three hundred and seventy-seven dollars?” The timber of his voice seems to quieten my racing thoughts.
“Yeah, no I was going to prove a point?—”
“By spending three hundred and seventy-seven dollars?” He asks as the girl behind the counter looks at us in disbelief, as if someone of Rhys’s calibre could or would be with me, then she crosses her arms and once again purses her lips.
“Yes,” I say through clenched teeth. I take a breath, “But it’s three hundred and seventy-seven dollars, so I won’t be doing that, and I’ll just get the bikini. ”
Rhys pushes right up to my back and rests his chin on my head. I take a deep breath as one hand snakes around my waist, pulling me tightly to him. I can feel the panic ebb away, until he says “Nah, get it all.”
I whisper ‘what?’ He ignores me, his free hand moves to pluck his wallet from my hands and pays for my purchases.
I’m still lost in what just happened, that when Rhys says, “Yeah no, I won’t be calling you.” I feel like I missed a whole conversation.
I look at them in confusion, but Rhys turns me around.
I don’t miss the way she glares at me, though.
And we leave, he carries my purchases in one hand while his other is slung over my shoulders.
I leave it there. I try telling myself because it’s to prove a point to the bitch back there, and not because I like the way I feel having Rhys claim me as his in public.
We don’t say anything on the way out but when we get back to the car, I shrug his arm off me and look up at him. “What just happened?”
“She wrote her number on the bottom of the receipt, I said no. That’s about it.”
That’s about it? Okay, yeah sure. Wait, no.
“I mean, with the paying for my shit.” I point to the bag.
He shrugs, puts the bag in the back of the cruiser, “I could feel your anxiety coming off you in waves and I heard pressure can help, so I held you.” He shrugs, as if it’s the most natural thing, him helping me. “Thought you were spending too much?”
I hate him sometimes…. most of the time. I nod. I planned on spending his money but when it came to it I couldn’t .
“So, I treated you to new things. When was the last time you brought something for yourself?”
Ah yeah, that’s a good question. He seems to know my response without me saying anything.
“Exactly. Even if it was out of spite.”
I fight the smile that is tugging at the corner of my lips.
He rolls his eyes. “Oh, just smile.”
I let my lips curve.
“I like seeing you smile.” He steps forward. My breath stutters and the air shifts, something that happens often with us. He brushes a bit of my hair behind my ear, leaving his hand in my hair, he eats up the remaining space between us.
The electricity, zaps and arcs between us, and just as I think he’s going to lean in, a “Let’s get the fuck on the road.” breaks any and all tension.
And that’s probably for the best. We can’t cross that line anymore then we have. That doesn’t stop Rhys from glaring at Beau though.
We once again pile into the car. Rhys is driving now, Beau called shotgun so he’s in the front, leaving Davis and I in the back.
Rhys plays around with the Bluetooth, and as soon as it’s connected Wonder Wall covered by Bring me the Horizon blasts through the car. My smile is back, and when I flick my eyes up to the rear vision mirror, I notice Rhys looking at me.
My smile falters, and before I have any say over my body, I run my tongue over my bottom lip sucking in into my mouth and allowing it to get caught between my teeth, all while keeping eye contact with Rhys.
His gaze heats as he mutters a ‘fuck’, throws the car into first gear and takes off in the direction of Karijini.