Chapter 6 #2
His strokes were strong and firm. She followed behind doing what she could only describe as a granny-style breaststroke, with her head firmly out of the water, despite being completely drenched from her fall.
Gazing up at the canopy of trees and the tranquil water, Eliza realised this was something she’d missed so much. It felt good to be free.
Looking ahead, she saw Luke sitting on another riverbank, watching her swim towards him. No impatience, just waiting with a gorgeous willow tree hanging over him.
‘How are you finding the temperature?’ he hollered.
‘Refreshing,’ she managed to mumble back, wondering if she said it out loud whether she’d stop shivering quite so much.
As she neared the bank, he put out his hand to help pull her up. It took a moment to get close enough for him to grab her, and as she did he deftly slid his hand around her waist, guiding her to a sure footing.
‘So, this is it, the famous sight?’ she asked with a grin. ‘A little island in the middle of the river?’
‘It’s not just any old island, this used to be my treasure island when I was growing up, where I truly believed a chest full of gold was buried. I would swim out here on my own with a spade, digging here and there, hoping I was going to find it.’
‘And now?’ She looked up into his eyes, very aware he hadn’t removed his hand from around her waist. ‘Do you still dig for gold?’
He grinned. ‘No, now the reality of adulthood has sunk in, and I realise my only chance of a pot of gold is hard work and a stroke of luck! But I still love this little island, with its beautiful old willow tree in the middle. I think it will always be my favourite spot.’
‘Well, I feel so honoured that you’ve brought me here.’ She smiled back at him. ‘But is that the story you tell all the girls?’
‘Oh no,’ he challenged, stepping closer. ‘I usually tell them they are my pot of gold, but a sophisticated city lady like you wouldn’t fall for that now, would you?’
‘No, Luke, I absolutely wouldn’t,’ she replied.
He was staring at her so intently she thought she might just spontaneously orgasm.
His abs, which she could confirm were made of steel, were so close to her she could nearly feel them pulsate.
Did abs pulsate? She had no idea, but she knew her fanny was on fire.
She wondered if he was going to kiss her.
And what it would be like. And how many other girls he had brought out here to woo in the same way . . .
‘But I would like to know how much longer I need to wait for my courgette cake and glass of wine,’ she said to break the spell, turning to get back in the water.
He grabbed her as she turned away and caught her by the hand.
‘I don’t bring everyone here, just so you know. I like to keep my secrets secret.’
‘If you say so,’ she said slightly breathlessly, drawing her hand away as she turned and jumped back into the water.
‘Coming?’ She looked back at him with a challenge, tossing her hair off her shoulder.
He grinned and leapt in next to her.
‘What’s beyond your amazing little island?
’ asked Eliza, starting her second slice of courgette cake.
She felt extraordinarily content just sitting on a picnic blanket in the warm spring sunshine.
The cake was up there with Marjorie’s Victoria sponge, and at this rate her clothes weren’t going to fit by next week.
‘I thought I could see a cabin in the distance just past it, or something that looked like a house.’
‘Ah, that will be the house of my dreams,’ said Luke, as he reached to put his grey T-shirt back on.
‘The cabin I dream of owning one day. It’s on the river, a little dock out the front, but it’s owned by a family who are rarely here, and I’m not sure it will ever even come up for sale. I would sell my soul for it if it did!’
After taking a sip of wine, she lay down on the riverbank enjoying the flash of sunlight filtering through the trees.
‘Well, I’ve figured out lately that you’ve just got to start imagining yourself there, you know, manifesting it?
It’s all the rage and if you make it your endgame, it might just happen! ’
‘Oh, really? So I just need to wish for something and then it might happen?’
‘Maybe,’ she muttered, thankful she couldn’t see him because she was blushing all over. ‘I mean it can’t do any harm . . .’
And with that he leant over and kissed her.
First it was gentle, so quick she wondered if she had imagined it, as he pulled back, looking at her intently.
But then as if he couldn’t hold back, he pulled her into a passionate embrace.
His lips parted as they met hers, and Eliza let out a moan.
He let one hand wander down her side, lighting tiny sparks as he gently stroked her before reaching up and grazing his hand past her breast, making her gasp.
She didn’t think she had ever felt her body feel so on fire, so alive.
‘It worked,’ he said laughing, as he pulled away.
‘That wasn’t quite what I meant,’ Eliza whispered, as she sat up, running her hand through her hair, trying to regain some control of the situation, her mind spinning.
He settled down next to her, lying on the towel facing her, the water making his shirt stick to his body in an insanely pornographic way.
Taking a breath, she took him in, sooty eyelashes and clear breathtaking eyes. She wanted him and he was right here – and could provide every bit of rebound sex she could ever imagine. Maybe she needed to be the sexy siren who just took what she needed. She could pretend, couldn’t she?
Leaning towards him, she let her body do exactly what she wanted, and kissed him again, unable to stop herself.
She wanted more of him, needed him, every part of her body demanding his touch.
Immediately he pulled her towards him, lips firm, punishingly delicious – she couldn’t get enough.
His hands were moving over her arms towards her shoulders, then racing a blaze of fire across her back, as he allowed them to find their way under her swimming costume towards her breasts.
As he touched her nipple she stifled a cry of pleasure.
She was on top of him now, and could feel his hardness beneath her, pushing through his shorts.
She wanted him so badly, but she barely knew him.
Suddenly, it all felt too much. What if he did this to all the girls?
And she had only recently left Henry. This was all happening too quickly.
As much as she wanted to be this mysterious sexy rebound sex bombshell, she just couldn’t flip a switch and change her entire personality.
She didn’t want him to think she was an easy lay either, so she grabbed his hands and pushed them back above his head.
When she had caught her breath enough to speak, she looked down at him. ‘Well, that just complicated things a little bit, I guess.’
‘I guess so,’ he said, quirking an eyebrow seductively. ‘But then you did say you had come to Farmington for an adventure.’
‘Well, it’s been a hell of a ride so far. Who knew that you were hiding in the countryside, Luke? Maybe I would have started my Farmington life earlier had I known.’
Feeling more in control of the situation, and pleased she hadn’t done what she was yearning to do, she clambered off him and moved to stand up.
‘Come on, lazy bones, I think it’s time we headed back to check on all those puppies. After all, it’s starting to feel a little bit nippy out here in a damp bathing suit.’
Taking her in from the ground, his eyes seemed to see beneath her bluster, and she felt more naked now than she had when his hands had been inside her bathing suit.
God, he made her quiver all over. ‘Why yes, Eliza, I think you’re absolutely right, time to head back to check on Rose and see how she’s doing.
’ And with that he reached and pulled her back down to him, kissing her one last time, his tongue searching every corner of her mouth, his hardness pushing up against her.
She felt her resolve crumble; she could feel her wetness seeping through her swimming costume, and all she cared about was his tongue.
Then just as suddenly as it had started, he pulled back and leapt to his feet.
‘Would you like to come with me and meet the kids or shall I drop you home?’
Eliza smiled as confidently as she could with her heart hammering away. ‘Well, there’s no time like the present.’