Tease Me, page 25
“Are you okay?” He reached for my hand and entwined his fingers in mine.
Was I? Whilst my mind wanted to deny it, my body was saying the opposite. Henry had introduced me to anal sex in a way that had made it gentle, interesting, and undeniably erotic. That orgasm had been unlike any other—it had been extraordinary. Finally, I nodded. “Yes, I’m fine.”
“I’m glad.” He reached for the champagne bottle, topped up our glasses, and handed one to each of us. “You’re extraordinary, Jane.”
I sipped my bubbles. “As are you, Henry.”
“Thank you,” he said, and we both laughed.
We sipped our drinks in silence, and I noted once again how comfortable it was with him. As I processed through my brain what he’d just done to me, I wondered what he was thinking.
“Have you done that before?” I wanted to slap myself at my nosiness. “Oh God, sorry. You don’t have to answer that.”
“It’s okay.” He touched my arm. “You can ask me anything.”
I gulped a big sip of champagne.
“When my wife and I first got married, we had amazing sex. She was adventurous, just like you.”
Sensing he wanted to tell me more, I put on my therapist’s hat and sipped my drink in silence.
“As the years went by, Helen lost her confidence. She was constantly worried about how she looked. But I didn’t care—I loved her. I loved her body, and after she had our beautiful children, I loved her even more.”
“What happened?”
“She started to push me away. Always worried about her weight and the stretch marks that came with childbirth. If we did make love, she wanted the lights off, and it was always me driving the passion, never her. She fell out of love with me, and I have no idea why.”
“Oh, Henry.” My heart crumbled at how forlorn he looked.
“We went for months without sex, then it became years.”
Knowing how amazing Henry was with a woman’s body, I couldn’t imagine what her reluctance was.
“One afternoon, she was out with her girlfriends—well, supposedly—and on a whim, I decided to drive around to my mate’s place with a six-pack of beer. He didn’t answer the door, but figuring he was out on his boat like he usually was, I went around the back. And that’s when I saw them. Caught them right in the middle of sex.”
“Oh, Henry. How horrible.” I squeezed his hand and felt every bit of his agony. “I know exactly how painful that would have been. And probably still is.”
“It was . . . until I met you. You taught me how to feel again. I’d become stone cold inside. Blocked out my ability to feel love and passion.”
I leaned over and kissed his cheek, and he curled his arm around my shoulder and drew me next to him. The warmth of his body was like a familiar blanket. I rolled my head onto his shoulder, and as I listened to his breathing, little stars slowly dotted the evening sky.
“Your story is almost exactly like mine.”
“Really?” Frowning, he blinked at me.
“I caught Alexander with my best friend having sex in his car.”
“What’s wrong with these people?”
“You know what the worst thing was?”
“Worse than that? What?”
“They tried to say it was my fault that he’d slept around. We had a huge screaming match during which he told me all the other women he’d had sex with while we were engaged. Apparently, every one of them was my fault.”
Henry curled his hand to my cheek and drew his lips to mine. The kiss was sweet and delicate. “It was never your fault.”
“I know that now. It took me a long time to believe myself, though. This year has helped.”
He smiled. “You’re one of the most erotic women I know.”
“Why, thank you, Mr. Addison.”
“I mean it, Jane. Too many women are worried about their appearance to truly let their bodies take over.”
I nodded, absorbing his words.
“I’m more interested in a woman’s open mind than how flat her stomach is.”
“No offense, but you’re not like most men.”
“I’ll think you’ll find I’m exactly like most men.”
I huffed, not entirely sure if I agreed with him.
“Here are some words of wisdom for you. Everybody gets old. Your body will wrinkle and sag with age. That’s inevitable. But your mind is what keeps you young.” He placed his hand on my knee. “Retain your sense of adventure. Do things spontaneously. Prance around naked and have sex on the kitchen counter. Those sorts of things will keep you young and make you feel much more alive than any Botox needle will.”
I entwined my fingers into his and breathed a contented sigh as I committed his words of wisdom to my brain. The water bubbled around us. The stars twinkled above us. And as the handsome man beside me held my hand, I tried to memorize everything about this truly exquisite moment.
It was an eternity before Henry unhooked our fingers. “Come on. You need to get ready for work.”
“Oh, bugger.” It was a rotten realization, but nonetheless, I let him lead me from the spa. He handed me a towel, and I dried myself off and redressed.
Carrying the ice bucket and glasses, we made our way back downstairs.
At the kitchen counter, I smiled at him. “Thank you for a wonderful evening.”
He kissed me. . . just a gentle, brief kiss. “Thank you, too. Now, off you go. Don’t want you getting into trouble.”
I huffed. “That’s true.”
“Oh, yeah. Was everything all right this morning?”
“Yes, it was fine.” I decided against enlightening Henry about what had happened after he left.
We said our goodbyes and I made my way back to my room. By the time I’d showered and dressed in my clothes for work I had just over an hour until I needed to head downstairs to start my shift.
I cooked salmon for dinner, taking particular care to make sure it was still dark pink in the middle, yet the skin was nice and crispy. From the fridge, I pulled out a crunchy salad that came in a packet and took about six seconds to toss. My stomach practically barked at me as I carried my dinner onto my balcony to eat.
Crispy-skin salmon was one of my favorite meals, and luckily for me, it was quick and easy to make. The first mouthful was heaven, as was every one after that. Within minutes, I’d devoured the whole lot.
A cool breeze drifted off the ocean and I went inside, grabbed a jacket and my diary, and returned to my seat.
I turned to the 23rd of September, and at the top, I wrote, Mr. Henry Addison, Room 52, my suave tutor.
In intimate detail, I described what we’d done in the spa and more importantly, how it had made me feel. I didn’t hold back and wrote down everything from feeling uncomfortable about the experience to how incredible it had been.
As I described how Henry had taught me yet another way to explore the intricacies of my body, I wrote Uncharted Waters beneath his name.
I closed my diary, and as I sipped a glass of water and stared out at the millions of stars across the inky black sky, I wondered how many more lessons I could learn before this year was over.
Chapter Thirty-One
At the end of my shift, I had every intention of going to my room and crawling into bed for a long sleep. However, once I stepped onto my balcony, I changed my mind. The weather was magnificent.
I dressed in my workout gear, pulled on my Nike runners, grabbed a hat and sunglasses, and headed back out my door. Ignoring Needledick as I crossed the lobby, I stepped through the sliding glass doors and was eternally grateful for my decision to go outside because walking up toward me was one of the hottest men on the planet.
“Jane.” His deep voice perfectly suited his muscular physique.
“Corben.” Unlike the last time we’d greeted, I was in control of my emotions.
“You heading out for a run?”
“I was about to. Would you like to join me?”
We met on the middle step. The urge to reach up and kiss him was a powerful magnet, but I couldn’t risk the chance of Needledick seeing it. Corben grunted and shook his head. “Wish I could. But my shift starts in half an hour, so I have to keep moving.”
“Pity. I was gearing up to whip your butt.” I couldn’t believe I’d said that and swallowed back the cheekiness.
He cocked his eyebrow. “Really? You can whip my butt later if you like.”
My insides did a little flip. “Maybe I will.”
Corben placed his hands on his hips and made his bulging biceps bulge even greater. “You’re getting a bit cheeky.”
I chewed on the inside of my bottom lip.
“Today’s your day off, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Right. Well, I’m taking you out tonight. Unless you had plans?”
I blinked at him. Taking me out? Me and Corben out together. On a date?
My knees wobbled at the wonderful prospect. “No. Just so happens I’m free tonight.”
“Lucky me.” His voice was smooth and in control.
“Lucky me, too.”
He grinned, and the transformation in his usually stern features was startling. “I’ll meet you right here at eight-thirty.”
He smacked my bottom and carried on up the stairs without waiting for my response. I blinked after him, unsure whether I should be happy or annoyed with his forthrightness, but my bubbling insides answered that question.
Happiness was going out in public with a man like Corben.
The spring in my step had me on the beach in no time, and I made my way to the sand that was nice and firm from the outgoing tide. I turned with the sun on my left-hand side and started jogging parallel to the shoreline. As I found my stride and pumped my arms back and forth, my head tumbled over a zillion questions about my evening with Corben.
Where was he taking me? What should I wear? Was this our first official date? And if so, were there many more to come?
The way I was feeling right, I hoped the last question would be answered with a big fat yes. Ten months ago, the idea of an evening with a hunk like Corben had seemed ludicrous. Now, though, it wasn’t just a possibility—it was a certainty.
With the sun on my cheek and the gentle breeze drifting off the ocean to lick the sweat off my neck and chest, I inhaled the crisp ocean air.
I have never felt this alive before.
I tried to clear my mind and concentrate on my stride, but it was impossible. Thoughts of Corben dominated every second of my workout. Yay me.
My energy levels were at a record high, and I continued past the surf lifesavers’ club for another ten minutes. It was only when my breathing became ragged that I slowed down to a steady jog and then stopped altogether.
Two men with surfboards walked toward me. They’d peeled their wetsuits down to their waists, allowing their finely-toned bodies to glisten in the sun. Their dazzling smiles and casual swagger added to their already stunning appearance.
They flanked me, one on either side, as they walked past, grinning.
“Good morning.”
“Hi there. Great day for a run.”
Like a dazzled virgin, a hot flush blazed up my neck and cheeks as they each spoke to me. “Yes, hi, and yes, it is.” My squeaky voice was that of an awkward teenage girl. The man closest to the shore turned to look over his shoulder and winked at me. Despite all my resolve, I couldn’t stop my jaw dropping.
He laughed, and they carried on walking.
My amazing day just got a whole lot better. I turned in their direction, and as I followed their tight little butts, I began my return journey home. The shorter of the two men shoved the other man in the shoulder, and he stumbled slightly before he regained his balance and then turned to walk back to me.
I continued my stride, but with every step we closed the distance between us, it became harder to breathe. I’d convinced myself that the guy was going to walk straight on past, but when he stopped a couple of paces before me and turned his board around so he was facing the same direction as me, I thought my lack of breath would have me passing out.
“Hi again.”
“Hi.” I grinned at him.
“I’m Tom.”
“Jane. Nice to meet you.”
He ran his free hand through his curly sun-bleached hair. “Are you here on holiday?”
I could hardly comprehend that this sexy stranger was actually talking to me. The Jane me. “No. Are you?”
“Yes, just up from Adelaide for a week.”
Our strides were matched perfectly, and as I tried to sneak glances at the man beside me, I was grateful for my dark sunglasses. “You’ve had incredible weather.”
“Yes, we have. Anyway . . .” He cleared his throat. “It’s my last night here tonight. Would you like to go out with me?”
I choked on my own tongue, and we stopped as he patted my back.
“Are you okay?”
“Sorry, sorry, it’s just, wow. Really?”
He laughed a glorious, manly, contagious laugh that made me relax. “Yes, really.”
I was seconds away from saying yes when I remembered Corben. Never in my whole life had I needed to choose between two men, and my thoughts spun around at the wonderful gloriousness of it.
Quick as a flash, I compared my two suitors. Both were stunning representations of the male species. While Corben was a hunky Mr. Universe, Tom was slender with lean muscles in all the right places. In the end, my decision was easy. I knew I’d have a wonderful evening with Corben, whereas this young man was an uncertainty—a sexy, fascinating uncertainty.
I curled a lock of hair behind my ear. “I’m sorry, I’m so flattered, but I already have a date.”
He huffed. “Bugger. Oh well, if he turns out to be a dick, we’re hanging out at the Surfers Paradise Beer Garden later. Come find me.” He winked at me and then jogged ahead to catch up to his mate.
My wonderful day had just shot into spectacular, and it took all my might not to break out a few cartwheels. I’m the luckiest woman in the world.
Turning toward the ocean, I spread my arms wide, breathed in deeply, and screamed, “Woohoooooo.”
Grinning like a crazy woman, I strolled back toward my hotel, and my mind skipped from one lovely thought to another. People walked along the beach with me, all looking equally as happy as I was. A young couple who couldn’t be any older than seventeen swung their clasped hands back and forth, and the girl’s pretty features reminded me of Chelsea-Lea.
My ex-best friend had been one of the most beautiful girls at my school, if not the most beautiful. Unlike me, it was nothing for her to be asked out two or three times a week. Sometimes on the same night. My mind flashed to her standard response. “Piss off, creep.”
We’d giggled at that a few times, but now, as I recalled the forlorn looks on those young boys’ faces, I was deeply saddened that I’d taken joy in their embarrassment.
Has she had her baby yet?
I must call Aunty Ann. I needed to catch up on all my hometown gossip.
Before I left the beach, I paused and turned to the ocean, making a point of taking in the entire panorama and confirming for the hundredth time that I lived in one of the most beautiful places in the world.
I avoided glancing at Needledick as I crossed the lobby, and fortunately, he didn’t talk to me either.
In my room, I had a quick shower and dressed in my cotton pajama shorts set. I made peanut butter on toast, matched that with a hot coffee in the cow mug Henry had given me and with my phone in my pocket, I carried my breakfast out to the balcony.
The simple breakfast was yummy, and I devoured it in minutes, then I picked up the phone and dialed Aunty Ann.
“Well, hello. How’s my gorgeous niece?”
“I’m excellent, Aunty Ann. How are you?”
“Same-o, same-o. Not a lot going on in my life, I’m afraid.”
“Are you going to Dad’s sixtieth?”
“Of course. I can’t wait to see you.”
“You, too. I miss you. Did you know Alexander is going?”
She sucked the air in between her teeth. “No, I didn’t. Your mom never mentioned that to me. Why would they invite that bastard?”
I pushed back and hoisted my legs up onto the other chair. “Apparently, Alexander and Dad are great friends. They go fishing together.”
“What? No! I can’t believe that.”
“That’s what I said.”
“After everything he did to you.”
“Yep. I’m so glad you’re on my side, Aunty Ann.”
“I’m going to ring your mother and give her a piece of my mind.”
I was two seconds away from objecting when I changed my mind. Maybe Mom would listen to her sister. “Thank you, but I doubt it’ll help. Hey, tell me what’s happening with Chelsea-Lea?”
“Oh, yes, you should see her. She’s the size of the Goodyear Blimp.” Aunty Ann’s coarse laughter rumbled down the phone, and I chuckled with her. Her laugh became a rugged cough, and as I waited for her to breathe again, I tried to picture Chelsea-Lea looking like that.
Aunty Ann cleared her throat. “You know how pregnant women usually have this glorious glow?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, she doesn’t. She’s really let herself go. Her hair’s all frizzy, and she has a skunk stripe because she hasn’t had it colored. You won’t even recognize her.”
“I can’t wait to see what she looks like.”
“She’ll have the baby by then.”
“I know. So, do you know who the father is?”
She huffed. “Word is it could be any number of guys. Nobody wants to own responsibility yet. So, there’ll be a few paternity tests once the poor little munchkin is born.”
I whistled. “Holy cow.”
“Yep, your friend has got herself into a right mess.”
“Not my friend.”
“Thank God. She was a bitch.”
“Who got what she deserved. It’s just a shame there’s an innocent baby involved now.”
“True. So, tell me about you. Got a man in your life?”
I smiled as I wondered which one I should mention, and then I decided there was no harm in the truth. “As a matter of fact, I have several, and would you believe two men asked me on a date just this morning?”
