AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He pulled her over, so her body aligned closely with his. “In the meantime, we could practise our togetherness.”
Bonnie let herself absorb the brilliance of his smile. Not the wide smile he used on stage. This one transformed his whole face, warming his eyes to the fierce blue of her butane blowtorch. Like the sugar on acrème brûlée, she melted under the intensity. She didn’t have to hold back anymore. “Absolutely. I need to practise. It’s the perfect way to perfect the recipe.”
Nestling into his hold she nuzzled his throat, tasting the fresh-washed skin, still cool from the shower but heating under her touch. He gentled her onto her back, shifting over her to return the favour, capturing her earlobe with his teeth in a soft nip. The warmth permeated everywhere, pooling low in her stomach, tightening the muscles in expectation.
His sudden jerk startled her out of the zone, his language painting the room red as he flailed and then reached tipping point, hitting the floor with a thud she felt through the bedframe.
She leaned over the edge, her heart beating against the wall of her chest. “Are you all right?”
Flat on his back, Xander looked up at the ceiling, one hand on his chest, the other splayed out on the floor along with his legs. An expression she couldn’t read passed over his face. Almost surprise with the wide eyes, but the odd twist to his mouth could have been anything from anger and humiliation to…
A shout of laughter answered her unspoken question. He laughed and laughed, until she couldn’t help herself and the giggles bubbled up, and they both shook with an irrational mirth that had no relationship to the situation.
Finally he propped himself up on one arm. “That thing of yours is going to be the death of me.”
Enlightenment burst through her. “The pump. I totally forgot. I’m so sorry.”
“I’m kind of glad I can make you forget, but I guess it’s going to be part of my learning curve to take that into account. Also… no single beds where possible. The advantage of closeness is definitely offset by my tendency to fling myself around.”
With a swift twist, he pushed himself to his feet. Once he’d steadied himself, he flexed his shoulders and back with a grimace. “I think I may have a few aches and pains I’ll need some TLC for.”
“Is that a hint for a massage?”
His white teeth flashed in a narrow smile. “Maybe.”
Sitting on the side of the bed he picked up his phone from where he’d put it when tidying his clothes. “Two hours, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“Then if you fix up the pump, we might begin again.”
*
Xander carefully pulledhis cramping arm out from under Bonnie’s waist, aided by the slick satin pyjama fabric. The cold morning light brushed across her sleeping face and her lashes flickered in rebellion. Neither of them had slept much, though they’d plugged her pump back in after the two hours. There was an amazing contentment in lying there with Bonnie in his arms, talking quietly now and then, other times exchanging kisses without the fierce need for completion to distract them. He could imagine years of this. The excitement of physical attraction with the peaceful in-betweens of simply being there with each other.
Her lashes flickered again and this time they lifted, revealing the soft green of her eyes. They smiled at him, along with her lush mouth and the shadowed freckles of the past. His girl from yesterday, now truly the woman for all his tomorrows.
It was good to be home.
Epilogue
Bonnie firmed downthe soil around the last of the Italian parsley and braced herself against the half-buried spade to stand up. The vegetable garden was almost finished. All she needed were a few plants promised by Briar to complete the project.
Hoisting the watering can she walked slowly along the line of freshly planted herbs, humming as the water splashed onto the bright green leaves. Not long now.
Words to the tune brought her to a halt, halfway along the row.
“Remember me to one who lives there. She was once a true love of mine.”
Lowering the can to the ground she turned around, heart thumping. “Xander?”
“I’ve always thought that song rather depressing.” Which was funny because they’d often sung it together working in the kitchen with Flo.
He was in his familiar outfit of jeans and tee, a lightweight checked shirt over the top, the whole image looking good enough to eat. He stood at the edge of the garden beside one of the large woven cane trugs Briar used for carrying tools and seedlings around the farm. She had one similar and she took the moment to shed her gloves into it as she walked past on the way to meet Xander. The crunch of dry grass under her feet was softened by the fresh spring growth.
His wide grin welcomed her into his arms.
“Xander? I can’t believe it. You’re home.” Her chest felt tight and her eyes stung with unexpected tears.
