Short Soup(14)

“Don’t worry,” he muttered. “I’ll get you there.” His tongue returned to her.

The boat throbbed closer. Her flesh started to turn to jelly. Cameras winked in the sun, and people pointed at them.

“N – no.” She squeezed his shoulder. “Uh, there’s a boat full of people passing us. We’re about to make the six o’clock news.” He lifted his head. She wanted to scream in frustration.

“Bugger.” Dion picked her up in his arms and staggered behind the straggly bushes, where he collapsed onto the sand, laughing and heaving for breath. “That was close.” He chuckled, peering through the bushes to check the progress of the dolphin-watching cruiser before glancing back at her. She was stark naked, sand stuck into every crevice, her body still roaring for the pleasure he’d promised her. “Sweetie, we’ll have to take a raincheck on the grand finale. That’s the eleven o’clock tour. We have to get back. I’m going to be really behind my prep work today.”

“Oh no. It’s all my fault.” With a grimace she remembered her father urging her not to monopolise Dion’s time. She couldn’t even offer to help him because she’d be useless in the kitchen, and she knew he wouldn’t be asking his parents or hers for help. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have led you astray.”

“I’m not sorry. I’m glad you’re leading me astray for a change.” Reaching out, he cradled one of her breasts in the palm of his hand. “Let me repeat, I’m very glad.” His husky voice and caressing fingers sent a tremble through her veins. Oh boy, if he didn’t stop fondling her breast she was going to jump him again. He dropped his hand reluctantly, as if he’d read her mind. “Come on, let’s find your bikini.”


The bed squeaked in protest as Toni turned over for the umpteenth time. She just couldn’t get comfortable and sleep was far away even though it was almost midnight. Her mattress was too lumpy, the sheets too scratchy, the night too hot, the crickets too noisy. Sighing, she ran her fingers through her hair. No, she couldn’t lie to herself. The only reason she couldn’t sleep was because a certain hunky cook had taken over her entire being. After Dion had hurriedly dropped her off she’d been restless all day. Her mother had exclaimed at the amount of sand stuck in her hair and all over her body. She’d spent ages in the shower, but she imagined there were some grains lodged in her forever, a memento of her kayak trip with Dion.

The memory of the sun, the sand, and Dion driving her to the edge made her roll over, her hot limbs tossing about. She needed him, needed him desperately to finish off what he’d started on the beach. And soon, or she’d be climbing the walls. Nothing else would do. When would they get another chance to be alone before she had to head back to Sydney? The prospects didn’t look good. Tomorrow was her birthday, and her parents had planned a daytrip to Newcastle. In the evening they were going to dine at the Happy Palace, and the day after that she was driving back to Sydney. No time to rendezvous with Dion, especially given the necessity to keep it secret. And really she had no business distracting Dion at such a critical time. He needed to focus on the restaurant, and already he’d stumbled a little by turning up late today. All because of her and her inconvenient urges.

Flinging the sheets away, she sat up and turned on the bedside light. Not much had altered in her room since she’d last lived at home. The same white furniture, blue speckled walls, groaning bookshelves, good luck charms she used to collect. In some ways she was as unchanged as this bedroom. She was still finding her way in the world, still plagued by anxieties and doubt, still looking for love. Was Dion the answer to that last question? Or was she making a huge mistake? The sexual chemistry between them was scorching hot, but it was also dangerous because it clouded her judgement. She’d thought she’d found her soul mate in Nick, and look how that had turned out. Maybe she was repeating the same error with Dion.

No, Dion is nothing like Nick. Nothing. That unmistakeable fact hammered through her confusion. She knew Dion inside out. But he’s changed too. He’s not the same person any more. That too was undeniable. Groaning, she swung her legs out of bed and rested her bare feet on the cool wooden floorboards. She’d never get to sleep now.

Her mobile phone on the nightstand beeped. Her stomach muscles tightened as she saw Dion’s name pop up on the screen.

“Hi,” she said cautiously.

“Hey chuckle berry.” Like his voice, she’d heard his nonsense pet name for her often before, but suddenly they both made breathing difficult.

She attempted to sound matter-of-fact. “A bit late for a phone call, don’t you think?”

“You’re not asleep.”

“How d’you know that?”

“You just turned on your bedside light a moment ago.”

“Uh, you’re outside?”

“I’m parked across the road.”

The back of her neck began to tingle. “How did it go at the restaurant tonight? Did you get everything prepared on time?”

“I don’t want to talk about the restaurant right now.”

She waited, then, knowing the conversation was going to get tricky, said, “What do you want to talk about then?”

“Well …” His voice expanded like warm syrup. “For starters, tell me what you’re wearing right now.”

She glanced down at her Bugs Bunny T-shirt and three-quarter length pink cotton pants. Her usual comfy sleepwear. She hadn’t counted on a midnight caller. “Oh, well, let’s see. Tonight I’m wearing a black lace teddy.”

He swallowed audibly. “A lace teddy?”

“Mm. Low cut.” She rolled out a purr. “It’s so warm tonight I didn’t want to wear much.”

“Come to the window.” His voice roughened. “I want to see you.”

She gulped. This call was rapidly getting out of control. “Uh, better not, someone else might see me.” She waited for him to respond, but instead all she heard were rustling noises followed by the sound of heavy breathing. “Dion?”

From outside her bedroom window she heard shrubbery being stirred and footsteps approaching. “I’m by your window,” he said. “Climb out and come back to my place.”

“My parents are sleeping just across the hall!” she whispered fiercely.

“You’d better hurry up, then. Open your window, or do you want me to break in?”

She peeked around the curtain. From the garden below Dion gazed up at her, hands on hips, looking like he was about to scramble up the wooden lattice nailed to the wall.

“Wow, that’s some sexy T-shirt you’re wearing.” His eyes widened. “I don’t suppose the black lace teddy is hiding under Bugs Bunny?”

Pushing the window open, she leaned over the sill. “This is silly,” she hissed. “What’s gotten into you?”

“Come on, it’s an easy jump from there, and I’ll catch you, promise.” He held out his arms towards her. “I have a surprise for you back at my house.”

Not hard to guess what that surprise might be. The idea spiked her body heat even higher, and she knew there was no point trying to resist. “My parents are early risers. You have to get me back before six at the latest.”

“Yeah, sure, now hurry up before the neighbours call the cops.”

Before she could reconsider, she swung her legs over the windowsill and jumped down into Dion’s arms. He caught her and squeezed her tight, his grin gleaming in the moonlight. “That’s my girl.”

Her breasts tingled from the contact with his chest. He smelled pine-fresh, as if he’d just stepped out of a shower. He must have washed and changed after shutting the restaurant.

As he set her down, a twig snapped beneath her heel. “Damn, I forgot my shoes. I didn’t even bring my keys!” She’d been so eager to leap into his arms she’d forgotten everything, including her sensible side.

He reached up and slid the window until it was almost shut. “Don’t worry. When I bring you back I’ll boost you through the window. As for your shoes, you won’t be needing them.” With that he scooped her into his arms and carried her back to his SUV.


Dion followed after Toni as she entered his house, his gaze pinned to her figure.

“Oh, this is a nice place.” She glanced around his open-plan living and dining room. “I’ve never been here before.”

He dropped his keys in a bowl on a side table. “I moved in last year. Thought it was finally time to get my own place instead of sharing. It’s not very big, but it suits me.”

The accommodation consisted of one large, all-purpose room, which ran the full width of the house, a big main bedroom, a tiny second bedroom, and a bathroom. Nothing fancy, but that’s what he preferred, and the views through the trees to the water were spectacular. Glass sliding doors leading out to a balcony lined one entire wall. The room was furnished with a leather modular couch, a big TV, a stereo, a teak coffee table strewn with magazines and videos. No flowers or cushions or coasters. A real bachelor’s pad, he realised.

“I like it,” Toni said, spinning around a final time.