Short Soup (10 page)

He retreated to the bedroom where he finalised his preparations then returned to the living room. Toni stood with hands clasped behind her back, her left foot wriggling back and forth, a sure sign of nerves. Breathing deeply, he took her hand and led her into the bedroom.

She stopped just inside the room. “Oh, Dion …” She gazed around her, eyes growing round as she took it all in. “This is amazing.”

His heart jumped, and he felt himself grinning like a fool. Dozens of candles dotted every surface, their flickering light filling the room with a golden glow. In the centre of the room the bed had been made up with fresh linen, and scattered over the sheets were red rose petals and White Rabbit sweets, the ubiquitous milk lolly that Chinese children all over the world had grown up with.

“When did you do all this?”

“After I finished work.” He shrugged.

Tonight he’d been off his cooking game, had made a series of stupid mistakes in the kitchen. For the first time he’d had to fight to regain focus, and by closing time he was wrung out. When he’d reached home he thought he’d fall asleep easily, but his exhaustion had vanished the instant he hit the pillows and became aware of how empty his bed felt. For a few minutes he’d tossed about as his imagination threw up image after image of Toni, naked and luscious on that beach, her curves covered in sand like sugar. She’d taken him by surprise, the way she’d kissed him so boldly. As he rolled about in bed, reliving every moment on that beach, he knew he’d never sleep without seeing her again and set about clearing up his bedroom, wanting to transform it from bachelor pad to boudoir. The White Rabbit sweets and candles were already in the house. The rose petals he’d gathered from his elderly neighbours’ garden under cover of darkness, promising to himself he’d make it up by offering to mow their lawn for them when they went on holiday.

“It’s wonderful, just wonderful.” Her left foot was twitching again, and her fingers were twined together. She obviously wasn’t going to make the first move like she had this afternoon.

“Would you like a White Rabbit?” He picked up a lolly from the bed.

“Uh, yeah. Haven’t had one of these in ages.”

She stepped closer. He unwrapped the lolly and lifted it towards her mouth. After a moment’s hesitation, she opened her mouth and allowed him to slide the sweet onto her tongue. The sensation of her lips sucking on his fingers set his blood hammering. Slowly he withdrew his fingers then licked them, his gaze never leaving hers. Her pupils dilated. He reached out and pulled her closer, dipping his head to close his mouth over hers. She kissed him back, passing the lolly into his mouth. The tactic electrified him. The rich, milky sweetness collided with his lust. He couldn’t get enough of her mouth. Their tongues tangled, her appetite matching his, her fingers gripping onto his shoulders.

Lifting the hem of her oversized T-shirt, he slid his palms up her flanks, stopping when he reached her ribcage. Her chest heaved beneath his hands. “I like Bugs Bunny,” he murmured in her ear, “but I think it’s time for him to go.” He pulled the T-shirt off over her head and then got busy with her ridiculous pink pants. When she was fully unclothed, he picked her up and lowered her onto the crisp sheets.

Candlelight slipped over her skin and glimmered in the depths of her eyes. “Your turn now,” she said huskily, wrestling with his shirt buttons. “Get these clothes off.”

With her help he shucked off his clothes. Not wanting to interrupt the flow later, he took care of condom business before stretching out next to her. He was almost painfully erect, and the lust was plain in her flushed face, but he didn’t want a rushed coupling. He wanted to savour every moment. This was their first time together, they’d never get another. He brushed the backs of his fingers over her cheeks, then traced the undulations of her waist and hips, before continuing onto the long line of her thighs. Taking her cue from him, she touched his body tenderly, her exploration slow and teasing.

“Were we five or six when we stopping taking baths together?” she asked almost shyly. “You’ve grown a bit since then.”

“I should hope so.”

Her cheeks went pink as she glanced towards his groin. “Yeah, more than a bit.”

He circled his fingers lazily around her breast. “I like the way you’ve grown too.”

She let out a quivery breath. “I never thought the two of us would land in bed together, but now that we have …” The tension mounted and stretched between them, dense and dizzying.

“Mm?” Caught in the trap of her loveliness, he stroked her nipple with the pad of his thumb.

She sucked in a breath, arched her body closer, the heat in her eyes dazzling him. “It’s amazing,” she whispered before rolling over on top of him and crushing her lips to his.

He came to her, opened up to her in a way he never had for anyone. Dazed by his fortune, he gave her everything, the emotions he’d trapped for so long finally finding expression. With care and tenderness he caressed her body, reining in his primitive urges in order to heighten her arousal. The world condensed to this candle-lit bed, and she was the pearl in the centre of this oyster, and when eventually he couldn’t hold off any longer, he entered her. The sensation of her flesh tightening around him, the sight of their bodies joined together, and the awe in her face as she stared at him, filled him with a sense of rightness. This was where he belonged, and now he finally knew what it was to make love with the woman of his heart.

Time lost its meaning as they moved in unison, her legs locked around his hips, his hands splayed across her buttocks. He could feel her every flutter, could sense the blood surging in her veins, her nuances guiding his movements. Their bodies thrust and swayed in harmony. As she reached her climax, she gripped him hard with legs and nails, nostrils flaring, earthy lust blazing in her damp face. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. She’d never seemed so beautiful to him, so open and honest. The connection between them went deep beyond the physical. Moments later his own peak couldn’t be put off any longer. When it was over he was sorry. He’d wanted it to last forever, even though they were both panting fast, their bodies bathed in fresh perspiration, his lungs burning from the effort.

He held her loosely in his arms until his breathing recovered, then wiped the moist hair away from her forehead and pressed his lips against her temple. “Okay?” he asked.

She nodded, eyes still wide, lips the same crushed red as the petals around them. “You have a White Rabbit stuck to your hair.” She teased a squished lolly from the side of his head, unwrapped it, and shared it with him.

Warm and sated, he couldn’t think of any other place he’d rather be. With Toni in his bed, there was nothing missing from his life. “Happy now?” he asked, knowing he shouldn’t have but unable to stop himself.

She stroked his jaw gently. “Yes …”

That was all she said, but he knew that wasn’t all she was thinking. For now she was happy, but now couldn’t last forever, and when they left this bed the outside world would intrude again. But now was more than he’d expected, and he was going to stretch it out for as long as he could.

“Good,” he said, “because in a few minutes I’m about to make you even happier.”

Later, she curled into his arms, warm and fuzzy and blissed out. Lying sideways, their faces inches apart, she traced the planes of his cheek, his stubble rough beneath her gentle fingertips. His eyes were like melted toffee, familiar and yet so startling.

“I still can’t quite believe what we’ve just done,” she murmured. “I think I’m a little in shock.”

His hand rested on her hip, a solid, reassuring weight. “Good shock or bad shock?”

“Good. But when I arrived a few days ago I never dreamt this would happen.”

He looked like he was about to say something but changed his mind at the last second. He stroked her hip slowly. “It feels right to me. Very right.” He leaned over her, his hand moving to cup her face, his lips hovering over hers.

Did it feel right to her? Making love with Dion was incredible and breath-taking, but was it the right thing to do? She wasn’t sure. As his lips tantalised hers, she pushed her niggling doubts away and wrapped her arms around his neck. She’d never felt so free and open with any other man, so filled with unfettered sensuality. Surely something this good couldn’t be wrong.

“Dion, are you awake?”

Dion peeled open his eyelids to find Toni bending over him, nudging him apologetically.

“Sorry.” She squeezed his upper arm. “You looked so peaceful sleeping I hate waking you, but it’s five-thirty already. I need to get back.”

“Right, of course.” Rubbing his eyes, he battled against the fog clogging his brain before heaving himself upright. A cool, pre-dawn greyness filtered through the curtains. The candles were long out, and the golden night was over. But what a night. He couldn’t help smiling as the memories came surging back. Maybe there was still time to make a few more memories. He glanced at Toni, but she was back in her Bugs Bunny T-shirt and searching about for her pink pants. Oh well, he shouldn’t be too greedy.

Outside, the birds were twittering and the sky was metallic blue-grey, signalling another clear, sunny day. Toni seemed oblivious to the serenity. She sat stiffly in the passenger seat, fidgeting with her seatbelt as he drove the short distance to her parents’ house. He wanted to talk about last night but sensed it wasn’t the right time. He understood the need to keep their parents in the dark for now. Things between him and Toni were just starting to blossom, and they didn’t need the added complication of two sets of interfering and opinionated parents.

“Stop here.” Toni waved her hand at him as they turned the corner into her street.

He pulled over. “Why are you whispering?”

“I’m anxious. I’ve never done this before.”

No, Toni had never been the wild teenager sneaking back home at the crack of dawn. That was more his style. “Don’t worry,” he said. “I have experience.”

“Don’t I know it.” She gave him a wry smile.

They managed to creep across the street without bumping into any nosy neighbours. The Laus’ house was quiet, and everyone appeared to be still asleep. The dewy grass was damp underfoot as they tiptoed through the garden to Toni’s bedroom window.

She beckoned him closer, eyes wide with apprehension. “Quick, help me up.”

He wrapped his arms around her thighs and boosted her up. Grabbing hold of the window, she scrambled over the sill and landed back in her room with a dull thud. Her anxious face reappeared. “I hope they didn’t hear that.”

Too late he realised he should have kissed her one last time while they were still in the car. He’d missed his chance. This sneaking around would have to stop very soon or he was going to bust.

“Hey, thanks for bringing me home.” Smiling shyly, she reached her hand towards him, her cheeks growing warm. “And thank you for last night too. You were wonderful.”

His heart swelled. He pressed her fingers to his mouth, the smell of her skin invading his senses. There were so many thing he wanted to tell her, so little he could express right there. “I just remembered something,” he said. “Happy birthday.”

“Thanks.” She grinned.

He held onto her hand, reluctant to let her go. “We’ll talk later,” he promised. He kissed her fingers a final time and watched as she withdrew her hand and closed the window.

As he trudged back to his SUV, the tiredness he’d held at bay came rolling back. On the journey home his eyelids began to droop, and he barely had enough energy to stumble into his bedroom and collapse onto his bed. The rumpled sheets smelled of Toni and roses and sugar. The evocative scent unravelled the last knots of pressure in his muscles. With a deep sigh he buried his head in the pillows. As he drifted off, a vague reminder nagged at the edges of his consciousness, but sleep was too irresistible, and without protest he slipped under.

Something was pounding on his brain. The noise hammered against his skull. Go away, he was too damn tired. The cacophony continued, bludgeoning away at his exhaustion until he had no choice but to open his eyes. Someone was at the door. Someone who was about to get a piece of his mind. Groaning, he hauled himself to his feet and shuffled half-blind to the front door.

Brilliant sunlight stabbed his face as he yanked the door open. “What?” he snarled. Through his bleariness he made out his father’s figure. “Dad? What’s up?”

Kai pushed past him. Dion blinked. His dad didn’t usually barge in like that. Then he saw his father’s livid expression, and his spine stiffened.

“You know what time it is?” Kai pushed up the sleeves of his thin nylon windcheater and waved his arms about.

“Uh, no.”

“Nine-thirty. Nine-thirty! All the good seafood gone now. Only lousy one left. What happened to you?”

Damn, damn, damn. He should have been at the fish co-op at seven to get his pick of the fish. The best seasonal produce, that’s what he’d promised his dad when he’d convinced
him he could take over the restaurant, and that meant getting down to the co-op good and early.

“Dad, I’m really sorry. I must have overslept.” He’d meant to set his alarm clock, but last night he’d been too distracted with Toni to remember.

Kai’s face, already red to start with, slowly turned puce as he puffed out his cheeks. “You look like hobo, so messy.” His raking glare brought Dion’s attention to his crumpled clothes and mussed up hair. Could his dad tell what he’d been up to? Involuntarily he took a step back. Kai’s eyes narrowed. “Why you oversleep? What you do last night?” His teeth clicked together with the grinding of his jaw. “Drugs. You smoking your drugs again. Aiya, what am I going to do with you?” He clutched his grey hair, his eyes wild.

At his father’s anguished despair Dion’s heart plummeted. “No, I’m not smoking anything! Dad, you’ve got to believe me.”

Kai didn’t appear to have heard him. “Your mother find out you break her heart. How can you do this to me? Waah! You let me down again!”

Dion grabbed hold of his father’s shoulder. “Listen to me, Dad. For the last time I’m not doing drugs. I overslept, that’s all. Nothing more.”