The Geary Series Boxed Set (6 page)

At that moment as I stood there alone watching Jack leave, Elijah came to my side with a tray of delights that included coffee.

“Thank you, Elijah, I’m grateful for the warm welcome. Is Jack your twin? You both look to be the same age.”

“No, although there is less than a year between us. We’re not blood brothers, we’re adopted to the same parents but I’m his big brother. I should let him tell you about that, don’t tell him I said please.” He said with pride.

“No problem. You have a great place here Elijah, I love it.”

“That’s good to hear, make yourself at home. Pete over there, behind the bar will be at your service for as long as you are here. If there is anything you need, let him know. I have to attend to the boring stuff that you have to do when you own a bar so will be disappearing for a while. Could I join you for lunch?”

“I would like that, yes.”

“Excellent, I’ll be back in a few hours, I hope the writing flows for you today.” He said and then strode out of the main bar with the same confidence Jack had. He disappeared through the door near Pete and then I was on my own.

The bar area was perfect for writing, low murmurs of conversation that were not loud enough to penetrate my thoughts. Excellent coffee, each time I finished one pot another replaced it. I lost myself in forming the story I wanted to write. The story I’d wanted to write for a while started to take shape. I was still unsure that I’d the courage to delve too deeply into my head to fish it out. I’d spent so long burying my real life, hiding it from everyone. Writing romance novels allowed me to escape into a fantasy land that didn’t resemble my real life.

Just one day with Jack made me realise that I needed to live the life I wanted and the story I wanted to write poured out of me during the morning. When Elijah came back to me for lunch, I’d managed to map the chapters and write a sex scene based on last night and had written down the ideas for the story surrounding it. I was happy with the direction I wanted it to take.

Writing about last night had got me hot and bothered, and I hoped that Elijah didn’t notice my heightened state of horniness.

“Are you ready to eat?” Elijah asked, standing next to me and trying to read over my shoulder. I closed the lid of my laptop embarrassed at what he might have read.

“Yes, I’m starving.” I said blushing bright red, he had seen what I’d written because he was smirking.

“Throbbing cock was all I saw, Olivia, I think that sums up what you have been writing about all morning. Do you want to use my bathroom for a cold shower?” He asked me before bursting out laughing at my discomfort.

“I don’t think that will be needed.” I said, squirming in my seat, he had said throbbing cock slowly and seductively and had traced a finger down my arm. The shower would be needed if he kept that up. Elijah was just as flirtatious as Jack, and I had to keep my wits about me.

Elijah settled in a chair opposite me and continued to chuckle until he could control himself.

“I’ve ordered a medley of tapas nibbles, I hope that’s ok?” Elijah said.

“Sounds lovely, tell me about yourself Elijah. I want to know what makes you tick.”

Writing about Elijah would be a great story, he was an excellent lunch date, full of laughter and mirth. I learned a great deal about him and his life. I respected that he didn’t talk about Jack. Anything Jack wanted me to know should come from him. Elijah was still single but didn’t date often. He was yet to find a woman that didn’t get upset when he didn’t come home until two in the morning. They had an issue that he flirted with other women. He explained that it was a part of the job to charm customers so that they would want to come back. He had found that women reacted differently once they dated him and made unreasonable demands on him.

“Tell me something about you, tell me a funny story about a time in your life.” Elijah asked me.

“Oh blimey, there are so many to choose from, I seem to get myself into all sorts of predicaments all the time. Let me see.” I said as I tapped my pastry fork on my chin, tilting my head up to the ceiling. I was already missing the apple strudel I’d just finished.

“Alright, here goes, this stays between me and you though Elijah, Jack doesn’t need to know about this.”

“Scout’s honour, now spill it Gage, tell me. You’re a hilarious writer, and I want to hear a story that isn’t in your books.” Elijah said, settling back into the leather armchair.

“You have read my books?” I asked, thrown by his admission.

“Jack doesn’t stop talking about you, so after a while I thought I would read a few of your books. Men want happily ever after too you know. Romance is not just reserved for women.” He harrumphed. “Spill it Gage.” He demanded.

“Ok, ok, keep your pants on. Many years ago, when I was young, foolish and fearless, I went to Australia on my own. I’d always wanted to go, and I worked my arse off to save the money. I worked two jobs and had no social life for ten months and then booked my ticket and went.” I smiled at the memory of my friend telling me that she thought I was crazy stupid to go all that way on my own, but I didn’t care. I settled back in the chair and closed my eyes at the memory, cringing.

“I caught a cold on the flight over there and by the time I landed in Oz, twenty-four hours later, I could barely breathe. My chest was heavy, and my throat had closed up. I’d booked a hotel for the first three days I was there so that I knew I’d a safe place to stay. Then I planned go in search of the backpackers hostel I would stay at for the rest of the time. The hotel was my home for the entire time, I didn’t leave the bed, and I was exhausted and couldn’t eat or walk. I remained there for a week while I recovered and eventually I ventured out into the fresh air.”

I paused at this point and looked at Elijah, who was staring back, head to the side and folded arms across his chest.

“Come on, get to the good bit.” He goaded.

“Well, once I’d the energy I booked into the backpacker’s hostel and met up with fellow travellers and made fast friends. I’d come all this way and one of the things I wanted to do was explore the Australian beaches. One of the lads recommended a beach not too far away. I loved swimming and couldn’t wait to dive into the clear Perth waters. I packed my beach bag, had donned my brand new bikini and walked to the coast. It took about half an hour and by the time I reached the white sand I was weary. Flicking out my towel I made myself comfortable on the sand and lay under the autumn sun. It was heavenly. Once I’d suitably recovered from the walk I wanted to cool off in the water and go for a swim.”

“The beach was fairly empty, it was a week day and the middle of the day, so I assumed that most people were at work. I left my towel and belongings and walked into the sea. It was warm, and I could see my feet in the clear water. Swimming out in the calm water, I swam about until I grew tired. It hadn’t taken long because I was still recovering from the cold. I started to swim back into the shore and got to the point where the waves broke on the sand. The problem was that the waves broke quite away from the beach and whilst I’d been swimming about in the depths, the water had gotten choppy and the waves were quite high.”

“I asked for a funny story, not a horrific one.” Elijah said as he sat forward and frowned at me.

“It’s funny, be patient, young one.” I said, he chuckled, and he mined sealing his lips and locking a key.

“My feet couldn’t touch the floor, and I was trying to get to the shore, I timed my exit poorly and the wave rolled me and sucked me under the water. I rolled and rolled, and I thought that I was going to die on this beach before I’d seen any of Australia. I’d flown for twenty-four hours, sitting next to the most fidgety person in the world. Spent a week in a luxury hotel and not being able to take advantage of it just to drown on the beach the first time I escaped into the fresh air.”

“I was terrified that I was going to die, the water spat me out but not onto the shore, I was the wrong side of the breaking waves. The sea was relatively rough by this time, and I was bobbing about trying to suck air into my lungs. I was so tired I could barely keep afloat. I looked behind me to see where the next wave was coming from, and it was already on top of me and crashed down on my head. I managed to take a big lung full of air before I got sucked under again. Rolling around I tried not to struggle this time and let the waves take me where they needed to. I relaxed my muscles and gave in to the fact that I may not make it.”

“Holy fuck, Olivia, what happened next?”

“The waves spat me out onto the sand, I lay there for a few minutes breathing heavily getting my bearings. I was flat on my face, legs and arms sprawled. I slowly got onto my hands and knees and then I stood up and punched the air in celebration that I was alive. In fact, I was so damn delighted to be alive that I didn’t notice that I was standing there naked. I looked down and saw that I’d completely lost my bikini top and my bikini bottoms were wrapped around my ankles. I didn’t know what to cover first, I needed a second set of hands. I grabbed my breasts first and crossed my legs. I felt ridiculous. I immediately crouched down and rested my arse on my calves so that no one could see my bits. So then I was squatting on the shoreline with an audience of a group of lads, applauding me, whistling and cheering. None of them came to my rescue, the little shits. I must have been beetroot red hugging my knees. So I did what any self-respecting woman would do and brazen it out. I nonchalantly stood up, dragged up my bikini bottoms up. I walked up to the beach and put my t-shirt on and flopped down onto my towel.”

Elijah roared with laughter, and I looked around the bar to see the patrons looking our way. I remembered the incident like it was yesterday and still cringed at the memory.

“I bet those lads loved seeing you naked.”

“Yeah, I suppose, one of the lads did come over and see if I was all right once they stopped laughing. I got a date out of it. I’ve never been back in the water since. I don’t even like paddling.”

“I’m not surprised, thanks for telling me that story, I’ll try my best not to tell anyone. I now need to go and do some more work. So I’ll leave you to your writing.” He said still chuckling at my discomfort.

“You need to trade me a story Elijah, fair’s fair.” I called after him as he walked away.

“Maybe” he called back.

In a world of my own, I hadn’t realised that I had company in the form of Jack sitting opposite me in the large armchair that Elijah sat in earlier. His right ankle rested on his left knee, and the tips of his fingers arched and tapped against his lips. He was staring at me intently and didn’t register that I was staring back at him.

“Hi Jack, I didn’t see you there, have you been here long?” I said as I looked at my watch. It was six thirty, and there was a buzz about the place with post workers enjoying a drink.

Jack blinked a few times and smiled back at me with a killer gleam in his eye. He placed his foot back on the floor and leaned forward with his elbows on his knees.

“Did you know that your face is full of expression when you write, I could tell what you were writing about at each stage for the last hour? It was intriguing to watch, and I didn’t have the heart to disturb you. I wish that I could have that level of concentration when it comes to my writing. I can see now why your books drag me into the story so much.”

“I’d no idea you had read any of my books, which book have you read?” I asked, hoping that he had chosen one of my better ones.

“I’ve read them all.” He said.

That shocked the hell out of me. He was an erotic sex god and had read all of my books that have no sex at all in them.

“Wow, I’d no idea. I didn’t think that they would be your thing. You flatter me that you took the time.”

“I needed to understand you a little more than what you were telling me. Reading your books gave me a little insight. If I’m to help you with your writer’s block about writing explicit sex, I needed to know what you had already written.” Jack explained.

“Are you at a place where you can stop for the day?” he asked.

“Um, yes I can stop at this point. I have mapped out a story line and have come to a natural stop.”

Elijah had come over whilst I was packing up my laptop and notebooks, he was chatting to Jack quietly, and I couldn’t hear what they were saying. Once I was ready I stood up and faced them both, thanking Elijah for his hospitality.

“You’re most welcome to come every day while you’re in the city. I hope to see you again this week. I expect a story each day as well. Naked ones will be fine with me, I’ve a fantastic vision of today’s story.” He said and leaned forward and kissed my cheek.

“As far as I know the meaning of the word secret hasn’t changed Elijah, if you keep mentioning it I won’t tell you another.” I said sternly to him but couldn’t pull off a harsh tone. “Thanks for the coffee and food today, I made a lot of headway, this place must appeal to me.”

“Why are you telling my brother about your naked body?” Jack asked, irritated.

“He requested a story, and I obliged, he wasn’t supposed to mention it again.” I said glaring at Elijah. He raised his hands and walked away.

“I see, well, shall we go?” Jack asked while holding out his hand.

I took his hand, and he led me out of Blue’s and into the night darkness. I’d arrived in bright sunshine and was leaving in the dark. Cocooned in the bar anything could have happened in the world, and I wouldn’t have noticed. It was then I realised that I hadn’t checked my phone all day. I hadn’t given my husband a single thought all day either. I hadn’t answered any of the social media sites I’d setup, Cecily would be stunned.

It felt right to ignore the world for a while.

“What are the plans for tonight stud?” I asked him, keeping my tone playful.

“I thought that I could make you dinner, and then we could relax for a while until my play date arrives for the next part of your education.”

“Ok, sounds good, what are you going to cook me?” I grinned madly and rubbed my hands together at the prospect of someone else cooking for me. It had been so long since anyone had placed a meal in front of me. I’d done all the cooking all our married life, it wasn’t his fault he couldn’t cook.

Grabbing hold of my hand again, he pulled me closer to him and held on tighter. “Don’t get too excited sweetheart I can’t cook an awful lot, just enough to keep me fit and healthy. Does a warm tuna salad suit your desires?” He asked me.

Anything that had come out of his mouth would have been acceptable, but I adored fish and to have that made for me sounded scrumptious.

“It sounds incredible. I’m looking forward to a home cooked meal.”

“What do you usually eat?”

“Home cooked meals, but I make them all, so it’s going to be a real treat to be cooked for.”

“He has never cooked for you? What kind of husband is he? I’m going to kick his arse.”

I looked from him and to the trees in the park we were passing. I didn’t want him to see the tears forming. He had no idea about my husband because I never talked about him. It was better he thought of him as a non-cooking husband, rather than the one he was. I didn’t want Jack to think differently about me and what I’ve had to put up with for the last three years.

“Sorry,” he raised his palms to me “It’s none of my business, forget I commented. Let’s go in so that I can cook you dinner before the fun begins. I hope you’re wearing scandalously sexy underwear under those clothes. I’m going to have the pleasure of stripping you this evening.”

He winked and chuckled as he pulled me along with my mouth open agape. He was going to strip me, I shouldn’t, but I found the prospect exciting and I was looking forward to two things now.

He let us into his flat, and I watched him jog up the stairs in his suit with ease, it was a joy to watch, I could gaze at him all day, naked or dressed. I followed him up at a slower rate and made it through the opened door still able to breathe on my own and not needing oxygen. I wandered through to the main living room and kicked off my shoes and dropped my bag to the floor. I was not wearing heels today so was not sure what he would think about that later. I’d stashed a pair in my oversized handbag just in case.

Being nosey, I wandered around the room picking up various items around the room, photo frames with pictures of him and Elijah at different stages of their life. The photographs on the walls were all erotic pictures, glimpses of the top of a woman’s derriere, a side shot of a swollen breast. They were all in black and white and very tasteful. My favourite was one of a man sucking on a woman’s breast her head thrown back in orgasm.

“It’s beautiful isn’t it?” Jack whispered, his breath floated over my ear, and I shivered at his intimacy.

“It is, I’m quite envious of her pleasure. I think the photographer has captured the moment perfectly.” I answered.

“Yes, I agree, I always feel like I’m in the same room as them when I look at it.” He said and chuckled. “Dinner is ready, take a seat at the table and I’ll bring the food out.”

“What is so funny?” I asked.

“I took those photos. Now sit.” He pointed at the dinner table and ushered me to go and settle in the seat.

“Wow, you’re a talented photographer.”

“Thank you, sweetheart.”

“Do you need a hand with dinner?”

“No, just sit and help yourself to some wine if you want.”

I hadn’t noticed the dinner table settings, it had been set for two with fresh bread and salad bowl. He must have brought this in while I was looking at the images at the other end of the room. There were candles lit around the room but not on the table. It made the room intimate but not romantic, I liked it.

I took a seat and waited for Jack to come back before I poured the wine.

Moments later Jack walked to the table with two large white plates and placed one in front of me and one at his place setting. It had a seared tuna steak and some griddled cherry tomatoes. I could see a dressing drizzled over the tuna and tomatoes, and I couldn’t wait to taste it.

I dipped my little finger into the juice and sucked it into my mouth. It tasted sharp and then made my mouth warm. I closed my eyes to the sensations that were invading my mouth. It was fabulous, a hint of lemon to start and then the hot chilli bite to follow.

“You looked beautiful just then, lost in the bliss of the flavours. I wish I could have taken a photo as you drew out your finger from your puckered lips.” He said his voice low and lustful.

“It was beyond what I was expecting, it tastes amazing, did you make the sauce?”

“Yes I did, I made it all, eat up before it gets cold. Would you like some wine?”

I nodded but stopped him at half a glass. I wanted a clear head for tonight. I noticed that he hadn’t poured himself a drink, and he was sipping on iced water.

“Are you not drinking Jack?” I asked.

“I don’t drink when I have a play date, I had a horrible experience with a date and alcohol years ago and vowed not to mix the two.” He advised me.

I didn’t want to know what had happened, so I didn’t ask him to elaborate, I helped myself to salad and began to eat the dinner he had made us. It was all delicious.

We chatted through dinner, the subject mainly on my writing and why I chose to switch from clean romance to erotica. I successfully evaded going any deeper than the basics that could be read on my website. I’d started writing three years ago just after I got married as an outlet to my everyday life. Then after a lot of cajoling from Cecily I decided to change the genre of my books. The downside to this was that I had no knowledge of the sex scenes I wanted to write.

“I’ve been asking you to come to Scotland for months, why did you decide to come now? What changed your mind? You were so firm that we would never meet until a month ago.”

“My life changed, and my best friend tricked me into taking you up on your offer.”

“Well, I’m glad you’re here. Have you finished eating?” He asked me.

“Yes, that was delicious, let me help you with the dishes.”

“Leave them there, I’ll remove them later. I want to get you ready, they should be here very soon.”

“They?” I asked with a shaky voice, I was not expecting two people so soon in the week. I’d listed it as one of the scenes I would like to see but thought he would build up to that.

“Yes, they.” He said in a firm not to be argued with tone. His whole demeanour had changed, he seemed taller, stronger in his stature. I was not about to question him further.