Authors: Kasey Millstead
Constable Clarke raises his eyebrows in surprise. “Long way from Melbourne,” Clarke mutters. “What’s in Pine Creek?”
“My aunt owns a pub, she’s got a job for me if I want it. After tonight, I’ve decided I want it,” I say with a humourless laugh.
The constable nods his head in agreement, his face pensive. “Stay safe, Sienna. And, stay contactable. Here’s my card, you’re welcome to contact me at any time for any reason. Even if you remember the slightest thing, please don’t hesitate to reach out.”
“I will. Thank you both – for everything. I really appreciate it,” I say, my throat clogging with emotion.
“Good luck in Pine Creek.” He smiles and gathers his paperwork. They both reach over in turn to shake my hand gently and then they leave. When they close the door softly behind them, and I’m left in the solitary quiet, I close my eyes and drift into a dreamless slumber.
Two Years Later
“Mmm, Zeke,” I moan through a smile, stretching my body out as he sets fire to my blood. My fingers thread lazily through his hair, my eyes still closed as my mind slowly wakes. “That feels so good.”
“You feel good,” he murmurs against my skin as he continues kissing his way across my stomach, dipping his tongue into my belly button, earning him a sleepy giggle from me.
I gasp and my pelvis jerks up as his lips skim across my pubic bone, the feather-light kisses sending shivers up my spine in the most delicious way.
Heat floods my centre and I feel myself grow even wetter as he drifts torturously slowly towards his prize. I squirm with frustration and need.
“Please.” My voice sounds husky even to my own ears.
“Stay still,” he commands, pressing a firm hand to my stomach to keep me from moving.
My sex throbs, waiting, wanting.
“Please. Please. Don’t make me wait.” My hands come up of their own accord and I pluck my nipples, sending a zing of awareness through my body and straight down to my swollen clit.
“Do you want this?” he asks, his warm breath skating across my wet sex.
“Yes, oh God, yes, please.” My eyes squeeze shut and my sex clenches in anticipation, awaiting that delicious first, long, wet lick, and I know, I just
fucking
know
I’m going to come shamefully fast.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
My alarm clock screams in my ear and I jolt upright, my chest heaving, my body sweaty, my nipples painfully tight and my vagina throbbing.
Goddamn it!
I scrub my hands over my face in frustration and then climb out of bed and walk straight into a cold shower.
I can’t believe I almost came in my sleep, like a horny fourteen-year-old boy having a wet dream. Jesus!
This shit has got to stop.
***
Putting the last dirty glass into the dishwasher, I slide the door closed and press the green button to activate the cleaning process. Then, I lean up against the bench and wipe the sweat from my forehead with the back of my hand.
God, it’s fucking hot up here!
It’s definitely taking some time to adjust to the weather in the Northern Territory, compared to Melbourne – where I moved from. Of course, I visited Aunty Dory a couple of times when I was a kid, but I obviously didn’t feel the heat as much then – or I just don’t remember it! Even though I’ve been here for two summers already, I still haven’t adjusted properly to the intense heat and humidity.
I hear movement in the bar, so I make my way back out to serve and halt mid-step. Rolling my eyes, I continue on my way towards my customer. Zeke
freaking
Stewart.
He is by far and away the sexiest man I have ever laid my eyes on. He’s tall – taller than six foot, by a good couple of inches – and he’s broad.
God
, so broad. His pale blue t-shirt strains as it stretches to fit across his chest, outlining the muscles that lie beneath. And he’s been the star in my fantasies for far too fucking long.
“Hey, Zeke,” I greet with a friendly smile, determined not to show him how he affects me, determined not to expose my inner sexual thoughts of him.
“Sienna,” he drawls, his deep voice sending shivers through my entire body.
“What can I getcha?” I ask, studiously avoiding his mesmerizing ice-blue eyes.
“That depends…”
“On?”
“What you’re offering,” he says with a smirk.
Bastard.
I roll my eyes and pull him a beer, knowing that’s what he will order anyway. Zeke moved here a few months after me. He runs the local tattoo studio – Premier Ink – with his brother, Luke, who is married to my friend, Laura. Laura owns the local beauty salon – Inner Beauty – and she was the first friend I made after I arrived.
“It’s hot out,” Zeke rumbles. “Maybe we should go for a swim later.”
“Or not,” I rebuff, gritting my teeth and hating the way I’m now picturing him, naked and wet. God,
I want to lick the water droplets off his body
. My face flushes at the thought and I shake my head once slightly to clear my mind.
He’s been like this since the first time I met him. In the beginning, my defences were strong, but every day he wears me down just a little more. I’m afraid one day I’ll give in, and then I’ll be right back where I started.
Of course, Zeke doesn’t look like the kind of guy who would keep secret pictures and hit me, but what does a guy like that look like anyway?
I don’t know, but one thing I know for sure is I’m going to do everything I can to stay away from Zeke Stewart and all of his badass, country-boy charm.
“You sure, darlin’? You’re looking a little hot under the collar.”
“You know, for someone who doesn’t talk a whole lot usually, you sure have a lot to say when you’re around me.”
“Guess you bring out the best in me.”
I shake my head and roll my eyes, walking away, leaving him there with his beer. I’ve got benches to wipe and glasses to collect. I’m a busy girl…too busy to be spending time going back and forth with Zeke Stewart – or any man for that matter.
By the time midnight rolls around, I’ve been on my feet in the bar for twelve hours and my feet are killing me. Even though it’s late, the air is still humid, so I plan on locking up the pub and going to a quick swim in the pool out back to cool off before I fall into bed and sleep until noon tomorrow.
“You right to get home, Ellis?” I ask the old man, as he stumbles past me.
“Yesh. The wife’ll be here shoon,” he slurs.
“Have a good night then.” I nod.
“You, too, Shienna.” He plonks down on the table out front and his head falls back to rest against the side of the pub. Just as I shut the door, he begins to snore – you know, that bone rattling, choking, deep, loud snore that men do when they’re drunk off their heads? Yeah, well he’s doing that. Thankfully, my cabin is at the back of the pub, so I won’t have to listen to it!
I lock up and walk back through the pub, flicking the lights off as I go. When I reach the back entrance, I lock it, too, and make my way straight to the pool area. I’m not going to bother going back to my cabin and changing into my swimmers first. My underwear will do just fine – besides, it’s dark and I’m the only one here tonight. Usually we have at least one cabin rented out to travellers, but tonight we’re completely vacant. Suits me fine.
I toss my clothes onto the lounger and then dive straight into the cool water.
I’ve just finished my fourth lap down the pool when I catch sight of something by the water’s edge. I stop swimming to stand and look.
“You didn’t come and find me first,” Zeke remarks.
I don’t bother answering. If I stay silent, maybe he’ll get the hint and leave me be.
Yeah right!
I swim the rest of the way to the edge, and by the time I get there, he’s sitting down, with his jeans rolled up and his legs in the water.
“You don’t take a hint very well, do you?” I sigh.
He clicks his tongue and pretends to think. “I think it’s you. You’re making me change my game.”
“Oh, is that right?” I laugh. “So, it’s my own fault that you’re a pain in my arse, because I brought that on myself?”
Ugh! I want to kick myself for flirting with him!
“That about covers it.”
“You’re such a—” instead of calling him a dick or something similar, I bring my palm through the water and flick it, splashing water all over him.
“Oh, you’re gonna get it now.” He slides his body into the water and I push off the edge, flinging myself back while trying not to swallow a mouthful of water as I laugh aloud. I keep flicking him with water and walking backwards as he comes at me, a determined look on his ruggedly handsome face.
I scream, laughing uncontrollably, as he launches himself at me, tackling me in the water. His strong arms go around my waist and he pulls me close to him. My nipples strain against my bra and my body thrums with the contact.
“Zeke!” I cry when he begins tickling me. I thrash in the water, trying to escape. “Zeke, please,” I beg.
“Are you going to splash me again?”
“No. No! I promise.”
“Why don’t I believe you?” he laughs, tickling me harder. I splash his face and I grab a hold of him, my small hands resting on his wide, tanned, muscled shoulders. Suddenly, he stops and we’re both panting, smiles on our faces. His mouth is so close to mine, the air around us is silent as our breath mingles together. He looks deep into my eyes, our smiles disappearing, as we share a moment.
The moment
. The one you see on movies and you know, you just
know
, that shit’s about to change.
That’s
the kind of moment we’re having. And, it freaks me the fuck out, but damned if I want it to stop.
“Better get out and dry off,” he says, the lust clearing from his eyes. I swallow, completely confused as to why he’s had a sudden change of heart.
“Uh, yeah. I better get to bed. It must be nearing one a.m.” I swim off away from him, ignoring the sinking feeling in my stomach, and trying my hardest not to show my emotion on my face.
Silently, we both climb out of the water. I grab a towel from the shelf and wrap it tightly around myself before tossing one to Zeke. Gathering my things up, I glance up at him. He’s watching me intently, all playfulness gone from his features.
“See you around, Zeke,” I say quietly, before scurrying off to my cabin.
***
The cabin I’m staying in is the same one Edie rented when she first arrived in Pine Creek. It’s a simple layout, but I’ve managed to make it my own over the last two years. What it lacks in size, it makes up for in practicality. I don’t pay rent or electricity and it’s close to work, meaning I don’t have to drive. Having barely any expenses has meant I’ve managed to save a fair chunk of change since I’ve been here. I plan on buying a house here one day, and the money in my bank account will make for a nice deposit.
I hang my wet towel on the railing and make my way inside, turning lights on as I go. I strip out of my underwear and then climb into the shower, all the while trying my hardest not to think about Zeke, and the way my body heats simply at the mention of his name.
I need to harden my resolve. I need to strengthen my walls. I feel them crumbling more and more every day, and the thought of letting him in, it terrifies me.
I climb into bed and as my eyes drift shut, even though I try to fight it, my mind wanders to Zeke.
When I wake in the morning, I’m panting, throbbing and wet between my thighs after dreaming of him fucking me against the side of the pool.
It’s going to be a long day…
“Sienna, you back here?”
“Yeah,” I call out, replying to Aunt Dory. “Just getting some ice.”
“You’ve been in there for fifteen minutes.”
Shit, sprung.
I snuck in here to the large cool-room what felt like two minutes ago, to try and get a bit of relief from the heat and humidity. I didn’t realise fifteen minutes had passed by.
“Coming.” I grab a bag of ice on my way past the frozen shelves and then head back out to the bar.
I don’t think Aunty Doreen knows why I suddenly had a change of heart and agreed to take her up on her job offer, but by the same token, I don’t think she really cares. All she cares about is the fact that I’m here now. The past is the past, and all that.
Recently, she’s been talking of retiring and having me manage the pub. It will be a lot to take on, but I’m up for the challenge. I’m currently in the process of hiring a new bartender, and Dory says that she will see out the rest of the year and then that will be it. So, I’ll have to look at hiring one more person to take her place. It’s going to be a busy couple of months, that’s for sure.