Outback Affair: An Affair Novel (Entangled Indulgence) (11 page)

“Your place or mine?” she murmured against his mouth.

“Mine,” he said with a quiet laugh. “Bowser’s in yours.”

…

Alex followed Jess up the hill, unable to keep his hands away from her. They stopped at the top, where she lifted her arms and he pulled the strappy top over her head. She leaned back, her breasts enticing him, and he took a rigid nipple into his mouth. She arched back with a soft moan as he sucked and twirled his tongue around the hard skin. Jess dropped her hands and gently ran her fingers around the top of his erection, and a feral growl escaped his lips. He bent and put his arms beneath her knees, sweeping her into his arms, and strode the short distance to the swag. The heat between them pushed all thoughts of anything but the feel of her from his mind.

“Boy scout?” she whispered against his lips, and sanity returned for a brief moment. Alex stood her gently on the ground and reached down to unzip the swag.

“Get in there and wait for me, woman.” His heart rate picked up even more as she ran a finger down his chest and reached up to kiss him.

“Don’t be long.” Even her voice was temptation.

Jess bent and climbed into the swag, and the sight of her long legs disappearing into the small tent was enough to make Alex pick up the pace as he strode across to his truck.

“Stay.” Bowser turned his back and curled back up on the floor as Alex scrabbled on the floor until he found the small box he’d thrown through the window earlier. A moment later, he dropped down and crawled into the swag where Jess was waiting for him. Her head was on his pillow, her damp golden hair spread around her head. His gaze traveled down her body, past her slender neck, her dark and peaked nipples, over her flat stomach, and down to the tangle of golden hair between her thighs. Alex caught his breath—she was every bit as beautiful as he’d imagined.

Warmth filled his insides as he anticipated tasting her, and the sight of her lying before him in the soft moonlight shining through the net at the top of his swag pushed his blood around his body in thick, slow beats.

Jess drew a breath as he kneeled beside her. He placed his hands on each side of her face and took her mouth in a slow, gentle kiss and then lay down beside her. He turned on his side and ran his fingers down her throat, circling each breast before trailing his fingers down over her stomach. She lifted her head, feathering kisses along his jaw until she reached his neck and bit him. He arched and caught his breath and lowered his head to her nipple, biting and sucking each in turn as his hand found her slick, wet heat.

“Oh, God, Alex.” Her voice was soft and wanting.

He held her tightly, his palm cupped over her sex as his fingers explored her and then released her, circling her hard nub with his finger. As he increased the pressure, he moved his mouth to hers and plunged his tongue into her. Her hips rocked as she moaned into his mouth, and he couldn’t wait any more. He rolled off and snagged the foil packet between his teeth, ripping it open. Jess ran her fingers down his chest to his stomach as he slid the condom on, and his breath hitched as her fingers tangled with his.

She lay on her back looking at him as he got on top of her, desire and need replacing rational thought. Wet, slick heat welcomed him as he plunged into her in one movement. Jess raised her hips and lifted her legs to ensnare him, and her breasts pressed against his chest. The smell of the storm outside mingled with her sex, intoxicating him, drawing him into her even further. He gasped and watched her until his release came, and she held his gaze, adding to his pleasure.

After a moment, Alex dropped his forehead to hers, and she wrapped her arms around his back. He took her mouth as she trembled in his arms, and he gave in to a state of satisfied bliss.

“Not fair,” she whispered against his lips.

“What’s not fair?” He lifted his head and looked down at her, pleased to see satisfaction filling her expression.

“You’ve got the five star room.”

“Okay, caught me,” he said. “I admit it. I was trying to teach you a lesson.”

“What sort of lesson?”

“A lesson about the danger of taking lifts with strangers in the outback.” He laughed. “But it sort of backfired on me, didn’t it?”

She shot a grin up at him. “I think it turned out pretty well…for both of us. I can only see one problem.”

“What’s that?” He dropped another kiss on her nose. He was feeling bloody good and hoped it wasn’t too bad a problem she’d come up with. He wouldn’t mind doing that again in the very near future.

“It’s a long way to the en suite.”

Chapter Eleven

Jess squeezed the water from her hair and let it run down her neck. The temperature of the pool was cooler this morning, because the sun hadn’t reached its peak yet. Alex wanted to get an early start.

They’d had little sleep through the night, and he was keen to get on the road before it rained. The sky was dark and heavy, very different from the starry clear sky that had been above them when they went down for another swim in the middle of the night. They’d dived and frolicked, unable to keep their hands off each other. Their play was interrupted by trailing fingers and lingering kisses at regular intervals.

When they dried off and returned to the swag, Jess dropped into a deep sleep until Alex woke her at sunrise, pointing to the ominous sky, and she’d hurried down the hill for a quick wash. If she was turning up at a luxury world-class resort, she wanted to look the part. Or at least somewhat clean.

She climbed the rocky slope, and Alex’s deep voice reached her. He beckoned her over as he spoke on the phone.

“Thanks, mate. Yeah, it’s a shame. I’ll tell her and get back to you to book the helicopter seat.”

He reached over and put the phone back inside the truck, a frown on his face. “Sorry, Jess. Bad news.”

“For me or you?”

“I suppose it depends which way you look at it.” Alex put his arms loosely around her waist and held her gaze. “No room at the inn, as they say.”

“Oh no, it’s full?”

“Yes. My mate, Mitch, checked for me. So, what now?”

Jess chewed on her lip, and the smile dropped from Alex’s face, replaced by an expression she couldn’t read. He dropped his arms and his voice was distant.

“Do you want me to get them to book the helicopter to Darwin for you?”

Disappointment pierced Jess’s chest. Until a minute ago, Alex had been friendly and playful, even after he took the call. Something had changed his mood instantly, and she had no idea what she’d done.

“I still want to try and get my interview.” She folded her arms across her chest and stuck her chin out. “I’m not going to spend two days crossing the outback and then just hop into a helicopter and go home. It would have all been for nothing.”

Alex grabbed her shoulders and stared down at her. “All of it, Jess? All for nothing?” He dropped his head and took her mouth in a hard kiss. She stepped back and touched her fingers to her lips.

“No, some of it was good. Wonderful, in fact.” When he turned away without commenting, she followed him, wanting to lash out. She was sick of men and their ability to hurt her. At least with Harrison she’d known he was after her money. Alex knew nothing—or very little—about the real Jess and still he turned away from her. Tears stung the backs of her eyes and she couldn’t help the feeling that it was all coming to an end. “Yes, the scenery was magnificent and the swimming hole was fun. Yesterday, you offered me a room at your place. Does that offer still stand, or now that you’ve had your fun with the easy Yank, have you changed your mind?”

“Jess, don’t talk like that.” He strode over to the fire and began to pack up, and she knew he didn’t want to be near her. “Don’t put yourself down.”

“Well, does the room offer still stand?” Her voice sounded as though she was begging, and she hated it. “I’d love to stay with you while I chase up Ricardo. And my great organizational skills have kicked in yet again, and now there’s no room at the resort, so can I stay with you or not?”

Alex ran his hand through his hair and absentmindedly dug in his pocket for a piece of string. He held her gaze while he tied his hair back. His cheeks were covered with dark stubble, and his expression was grim. If she hadn’t known better, she would have found him intimidating, but she knew he was a good person. He’d looked out for her throughout the trip, and it was only this morning that he’d changed back into the gruff fisherman.

Something was bothering him.

“Did you get some bad news on the telephone? Oh well, it’s none of my business.” She turned away, gathered up her things, and looked down at her dirty clothes. “Besides, they probably wouldn’t have given me a room anyway, looking like a stray from the outback.”

Warm hands descended on her shoulders, and she held his gaze.

“I offered a room to you, and I am a man of my word.” Alex tugged gently on her arm, and Jess turned around to face him. “If you want to stay, my offer still stands.”

He held her gaze, and she tried not to react as she looked up into his deep blue eyes, wanting to ignore the warm shivers that were igniting a fire low in her belly.

“I don’t want to see you disappointed when you don’t get your interview,” he said. “I like you, Jess. I like you a little too much for my own peace of mind, and I’d hate to see you hurt.”

“That’s a strange term to use, Alex. Disappointed maybe, but not hurt.”

He leaned down and brushed a much gentler kiss across her lips. “Come on, I want to beat this rain.”

Quietly, she helped him pack up the truck and throw sand on the glowing embers of the fire. As Jess walked to the truck and opened the door, she looked around. She would always hold this campsite in the middle of the outback close to her heart.

…

When Jess had chewed her lip and looked up at him with those wide green eyes, remorse had spiked Alex’s chest. Unfamiliar warmth that had nothing to do with sex stole over him, and he knew he didn’t want to hurt this woman. There was only one way this could end if she found out who he was. She’d assume he’d been lying to her about everything and slaked his sexual need with the ‘easy Yank,’ as she’d called herself. Someone had obviously done a number on her. Underneath her confidence, he could see how sensitive she was—and easy to hurt.

Shit.
He was going to be so bloody careful when they reached Cockatoo Springs. As well as not wanting to reveal who he was to a freelance journalist, he didn’t want to hurt her, either.

He turned the truck onto the road and glanced across at Jess. Bowser was curled up on her lap, and she was staring thoughtfully out the window.

Easy Yank.
Nothing could be further from the truth, and he felt guilty that she thought that. He wanted her on that helicopter and out of here before she could mess up his life and get herself hurt in the process. He’d been more than content, happy with the way things were, before she’d arrived on the scene.

Mitch had been taken aback when he’d told him he was bringing in a guest, and more so when he’d asked him to say there were no rooms available. In reality, the resort was half-empty, but he didn’t want her anywhere near it, snooping around without him nearby. It would get busier in a couple of days when Clayton ran his first course and the international chefs arrived on the helicopter from Darwin. If she still insisted on staying with him he would have to keep her close by. And that was going to be hard because the CEO of the luxury travel company was there for their meeting. Mitch said he’d flown in early, and if he didn’t see him straight away, the deal was at risk. It was the last big deal he had to finalize before his contract came to an end, so he’d have to book Jess on a tour tomorrow, if she stayed, while he got himself cleaned up and into a business meeting.

And my family is about to hit the resort too.
Alex ran his hand though his hair.

“Worried?”

“Huh?”

“You look worried,” she said. “Are you worried about the rain coming?”

“No, we’ll be fine. Mitch said it’s clear over on the coast.” He straightened his shoulders and smiled at her. “It’s only about a two hour drive from here. I’ll bet you’re wishing you took the helicopter in? The flight from Darwin only takes twenty minutes.”

“I’ve seen the true outback.” She lifted her hands and her brow wrinkled in a frown. “But a manicure will be nice.”

“So you’re going to stay for a day or so?”

She glanced across at him from beneath her lashes. “More if the mood takes me. It all depends on what happens when we get there.”

Shit.
He would have to put a plan in place fast. He wasn’t used to this sort of double dealing. Using Alessandro Ricardo for the business promotion had never been a problem before. Mitch handled the staff, and he’d always had the business meetings with clients in Darwin. Because of the isolation of the resort, the staff changed over frequently, and they rarely stayed more than a few months. Those who knew him knew him as simply Alex the fisherman.

But he had a feeling his life was about to get very complicated.

Chapter Twelve

Alex held the door open and gestured for her to enter the small cabin. Jess had been expecting a fishing cabin like the one at Daly River where he’d picked up the boat, but this cabin beside the resort was quite luxurious.

“Is this yours?” She turned to him curiously as he followed her inside.

“Ah…sort of.” He bent down and picked up Bowser, carried him across to the sink in the small utility room, and turned the tap on to fill the tub. “I…er…rent it from the resort and use it as a base most if the time I’m up here.” Alex looked away and busied himself with Bowser, lifting him into the tub and sponging the red dust of his coat. “Let me clean up this little guy, and then I’ll show you around.”

Jess wandered across to the window past a white leather sofa. Soft
flokati
rugs were scattered across the polished timber floor. The whole place screamed money, and she could see why Bowser was having a wash before he was allowed inside.

A water sprinkler spun lazily in the early afternoon sun, throwing rainbows across the lush grass at the front of the cabin. Across the road, a gleaming expanse of white sand shimmered in the midday sun, and in the far distance a couple strolled along the beach hand in hand.

Alex walked across to the window, toweling the dog with a large white cloth.

“So we’re close to the resort?” she asked.

“Yes.” He put the dog down and Bowser’s claws tapped on the timber floor as he ran across to Jess and put his paws up on her knees.

Alex stood close, and she could feel the heat of his body. She closed her eyes, fighting the need to lean into him.

“Yes, it’s just through that high hedge over there. See that wall? There’s a gate a short way along.” He moved away, and Jess opened her eyes as he opened a door leading out to the small front balcony. She followed him and he pointed to the north when she heard a helicopter.

“There’s the early afternoon helicopter. It comes in twice a day. Few people come here by road. The boat comes in twice a week and brings a lot of the supplies in.” He leaned back on the timber railing and stared at her intently. “Do you want me to see if I can get you onto the helicopter tomorrow morning?”

Jess clenched her jaw and gripped the railing. “Alex, just come straight to the point.” She didn’t look at him and kept her eyes on the dark blue helicopter that was swooping low over the beach. “I appreciate that you got me here, but if you don’t want me to stay here, just come out and say it. I told you I didn’t come all this way to get here and give up.”

Alex didn’t speak until the helicopter disappeared and the only sound was the wind rustling the palm trees on the sandy beach in front of them. He put his hand over hers on the railing, and she held her breath waiting for his reply.

“I just don’t want you disappointed.” He gazed out to the water. “It’s going to be boring for you. You won’t be able to go to the resort. They…I mean…Mitch…is really strict about that. The facilities are only for guests.” He slapped his free hand on his hip and turned to her. “I know what I can try for you. I will ask Mitch if you can go on one of the tours while you are here. There’s probably a bush tucker tour tomorrow. What do you reckon?”

“What do I reckon?” She grinned at him, mimicking his Australian drawl. “I reckon that sounds just the sort of thing that would help me find out a bit more about Ricardo’s chef school.”

Hope filled her. Maybe she could go on the bush tucker tour, get to spend more time with Alex, and get material for her article at the same time.

“As long as I have a bed.” Heat filled her cheeks as she thought of sharing a real bed with him. “I’ll do the tour and stay a couple of days.” She looked at him as determination filled her. “I’m not sure about what to do yet. I might check out the restaurant before I go looking for Ricardo. If you’ve any friends in the kitchen, perhaps you could ask if there are any kitchen hands needed? I could do some hands on research.”

“Okay.” He lifted his hand from hers. “Come on. I’ll show you your room and get your bags out of the truck. While you get yourself settled, I’ll see Mitch about…the fish. So I’ll ask around for you.”

Alex showed her a small bedroom off the living room and pointed out the adjacent bathroom before he went to the truck and brought her bags to the back porch. He set them down and went into the utility room, and came back out with a handful of cloths.

“Sorry. It’s got a bit dusty, and I think the oil from the outboard has leaked into one of your bags. There’s a washing machine in the cupboard if you want to wash anything while I’m gone.”

“Thanks.” Jess took the cloths from him and began to wipe the red dust from her large suitcase.

“Make yourself at home.” Alex reached around the doorway and flicked a switch.

“That’ll cool the place down a bit for you.” Alex walked over to the truck and opened the door. “There’s coffee in here, but no food. I’ll be gone a while, but I’ll sort dinner out. I’ll leave the cooler here in case you get hungry, and Jess, be careful. Don’t go wandering around. The resort is fenced in, but this cabin is out in the open, and there could be salties around.”

“Great,” she muttered to herself as the truck drove off. “Don’t worry. I won’t be going anywhere.”

She’d been stuck with him in a pickup for the last forty-eight hours. What was one more day stuck in his cabin?

…

Jess unpacked and rinsed the red dirt from her clothes, putting anything that wasn’t made of silk in the small clothes drier. Alex had her so spooked about crocodiles slithering through the garden she wasn’t brave enough to go to the small clothesline outside on the grass, so she draped her silk shirts and wraps over the living room furniture. She took a quick shower in the bathroom, surprised at the luxury of Italian tiles in a worker’s cabin.

Wandering into the bedroom where Alex had put her other bags, Jess hitched up the towel tied around her chest. It was a large white bath towel monogrammed with the letters ‘CS’—the resort obviously looked after this cabin. Alex said he’d be a while, and she was waiting for her things to dry. Jess reached up and twirled her wet hair into a knot and dug into her bag for a clip, and her fingers brushed against her phone.

“Shit, Monica.”

Grabbing it, she turned it on and sighed with relief when five high bars indicated full service. She hadn’t given Monica a thought all day, and her friend was probably panicking wondering what the hell had happened to her.

Yep, eight missed calls.

Every hour, on the hour, until a couple of hours ago.

Jess pressed the return call button and held her wet hair back with one hand, waiting for the greeting she knew would come.

“Jessica Trent!”

She let Monica speak for a full minute before she interrupted. “Calm down, Mon. I’m okay.”

“Where the hell have you been? Is there no phone service in the outback? That had better be the case, Jessica, because I am fit to kill you. Even Gareth was worried when you didn’t call.”

“I’m okay. I’ve just arrived at the Cockatoo Springs…sort of.”

“Where have you been? Did you get the interview yet? What do you mean sort of?”

“No, no interview yet. I had a bit of a detour. I’ll tell you all about it when I get home.”

“So what’s the deal with Ricardo? Can you get an appointment with him?”

Jess sighed. “I’ll tell you all about it when I come home. I’m back in civilization now. I’ll email if I have any news and let you know when I’m flying out. I don’t even know if Ricardo is here; he is such a recluse.”

“He
is
there,” Monica said.

Jess dropped her wet hair and sat forward on the edge of the bed. It fell to her shoulder. Cool water trickled down between her breasts, and she took a quick breath as Monica continued.

“There’s a big deal going down. Gareth was reading the
Wall Street Journal
to me this morning and commented on how great your timing was.”

“What sort of deal?”

“Larry Bartholomew,
your
boss
,
is over there with one of his other companies, Worldwide Luxury Tours. Apparently he’s at Cockatoo Springs negotiating with Ricardo as we speak.”

Jess jumped up and did a happy dance, punching the air as Monica continued. “All you have to do is wander around the resort until you bump into him, and voila, one look at Jess Trent, the beautiful journalist, and you will have no trouble getting Ricardo to talk to you.”

Ricardo was here. First problem solved. But getting him to talk to her was going to be a bit harder than what Monica thought. She was going to have to approach this very carefully, especially with Larry in the picture.

“It’s going to be a little bit tougher than that, I think. I can’t believe Larry’s over here. And I can’t just wander around, I’m not even—” Jess cut off her words so she didn’t have to explain it all to Monica and flopped back down on the bed. She dropped her head into one hand.

Wander around the resort?
How the hell was she going to do that?

“Mon, do me a favor?”

“What?” Monica’s voice was suspicious. “I know your favors.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake. All I want is the phone number for Cockatoo Springs.”

“Why? Just look at the stuff in your room. They always have it all over the pens and books next to the bed.”

Jessica took a deep breath. “Sweets, just look up the number for me, and I’ll explain when I get back.”

“Okay, give me one minute. I’ll Google it.”

Opening the sliding glass door to the small veranda off her room, Jess stood looking across at the high brick wall covered with tropical vines as Monica looked for the number. So close…

“Here it is.”

She hurried back inside, grabbed a pen, and wrote the number on the back of her business card.

“You’re a lifesaver. I’ll email you as soon as I get my computer hooked up to the Wi-Fi.”

“Jess, what’s happening over there? I know when you’re up to something. Just keep safe, okay?”

“Don’t stress. I’m having a fabulous break, and I’ve got lots to tell you.” She ended the call and threw her phone onto the bed before hurrying into the bathroom to dry her hair and put some make-up on. If all went to plan, she was going to brave the crocodiles, get over to the resort, and get her interview after all.