Ocean of Fire (12 page)

Peter sighed heavily. “I thought as much. No, I won’t try and stop you. There is only one thing I ask of you. I want you to ring your mother every night to tell her you’re all right. Promise me that much?”

She couldn’t believe it. He was letting her go. There wouldn’t be a scene, but of course that was something Peter Cameron would want to avoid at all costs.

“Yes, I’ll ring,” she finally agreed.

“O.K. Off you go then. Be careful, and I’ll see you in a week.”

“Bye Dad.” She didn’t respond to his outstretched hands. There was no way she was hugging him after what he’d done. Without a backward glance she left the building.

As they had arranged all their accommodation beforehand, Nicole was to stay in the city of Launceston on the first night. Once she left Hobart behind she began to enjoy the drive in the small hire car.

The countryside was lush and picturesque. Small yellow and white flowers dotted the roadside. Nicole passed through numerous townships, and stopped to take photographs, as well as browsing through a historical museum and several art galleries. She even treated herself to lunch at a country-style coffee shop in a sleepy little village the name of which she instantly forgot.

It was almost seven when she finally located her hotel. She contemplated buying something to eat at one of the take-away places she’d passed on the way, but wasn’t hungry enough to bother leaving her room again.

It felt strange being alone in an unfamiliar city. Nicole wasn’t afraid exactly, merely apprehensive. Ensuring the door was locked, she got ready for bed. There were two in the room; a double and a single. She decided on the larger, and changed into her night-shirt. Never having been one for filmy or enticing night attire, it was a rather chaste affair, but cool and comfortable.

After her lack of sleep the previous night due to her anxious tossing and turning, Nicole soon fell asleep.

The sound of insistent thumping woke her. When she opened her eyes she saw dusk had fallen, and, glancing at her travel clock, saw it was only nine-twenty.

Someone was knocking on her door, she realized. Wearily she slipped out of bed and trudged across the floor. She had unlocked and yanked the door open before realizing what she was doing. There could be an axe-wielding murderer on the other side, but when she peered around the edge she gasped out loud.

Standing there with hands thrust into pockets, wearing the tightest jeans, the trendiest black leather jacket, and the sexiest smile she’d ever seen, was the man of her dreams.

For a moment she merely gaped at him, wondering if her eyes were deceiving her. He was the last person she had expected to come knocking on her door, but the only one she wanted to see.

“Surprised?” Philip mirrored her thoughts.

“Ho- how did you find me?” she stammered, suddenly conscious of the intimate way he was regarding her.

He slid his gaze down her slender legs, to her small ankles, and bare feet. He grinned devilishly at her. “How do you think?”

“Trisha!” she cried, remembering the odd way her friend had insisted she’d enjoy her holiday. If Philip had been intending on joining her, whatever her father had said to him hadn’t put him off after all. The idea instantly filled her with a warm inner glow, for it could only mean one thing. He cared. He cared enough to seek her out despite Peter Cameron’s adamant insistence to the contrary.

“Of course. She was more than happy to give me the run down on your itinerary. Now are you going to let me in or not?”

She stepped aside. He picked up a bag she hadn’t noticed until then. Once he was inside the room, he dropped it onto the other bed.

“How did you get here? I went to your room this morning and found you already gone,” she admitted, as he walked across the floor. He slipped his large frame into one of the cane chairs in front of the television set

“I wanted to get to the bus station early, to ensure I got here before you left again. This place wasn’t easy to find... I could really do with a cup of coffee.” He raked a hand through his ebony hair.

“I’ll put the jug on,” Nicole replied, grateful for something to do. As she passed the bed she’d been sleeping in, she picked up her wrap and slipped it on. She was acutely conscious of his eyes following every move she made. As she busied herself spooning coffee into two cups, she asked the dreaded question. “What did my father say to you yesterday?”

“What do you think? He sent me packing.”

“You obviously didn’t listen,” she had to smile.

“When somebody tells me what to do, I’m inclined to do the exact opposite. I suppose it’s the rebel coming out in me, a left over trait from my school days when the urge to thwart authority was a way of life.”

“I can just imagine it.” The image in her mind was so clear it was uncanny. The way he was dressed now only seemed to intensify it. As she stood there waiting for the jug to boil, she took in the casual way he lounged in the chair with his long legs stretched out in front of him, his tousled long hair. He even had the face of a rebel; strong and determined.

“Besides I wanted to see Tasmania. You don’t mind if I join you?” The wicked gleam in his eyes warned her to say no, but now that he was with her, the last thing she wanted to do was send him away.

“Heaven help us if my father ever finds out,” she said, as the jug clicked off.

“I’ve been up against a lot worse, believe me. His threats don’t frighten me, and neither should they frighten you.”

She poured the coffee, and handed him one of the cups. “He doesn’t. This isn’t the first argument we’ve had, but it was very presumptuous of you to come here like this. What if I don’t want you to join me?”

“I’d know you’d be lying,” which of course was the truth. He took a sip. “Ahh! Just what I needed.”

“You’re a caffeine addict,” Nicole teased, taking a sip from her own cup. She sat down in the chair opposite.

“Better than a few other addictions I can think of. Some can destroy lives,” Philip muttered grimly. No doubt he was thinking of the people he defended in the law courts. It made her wonder whether that was the reason he didn’t touch alcohol, not even socially. He must have seen some sad and sorry cases, the same kind of cases she would be dealing with when she found a job.

In a few short gulps he’d drained the contents of his cup. He placed it on the coffee table beside his chair, turning his head so that his golden gaze locked with hers. “Are you glad I came, Nicole?”

“I… yes, yes I am.”

“Perhaps a little more persuasion is in order to convince you how perfectly we fit together.” He slipped out of his chair to kneel in front of her. He took hold of her foot, and to her amazement started kissing her toes. She had to place her half empty cup on the floor before she spilled it.

“Oh! Stop it,” she giggled trying to wriggle her ankle free of his grip. “That tickles!”

He ignored her protests, bringing his lips to her instep.

“You definitely have a foot fetish,” she teased.

“I’m going to make you squirm in more ways than one, my sweet,” he promised, and began kissing his way up her leg.

“Oh God!” she moaned, totally enthralled by the sight of him at her feet, and the sweet tingling of sensuality his caressing touch sent spiraling through her.

“You’ll love what I’m going to do to you, Nicole. And you don’t need to worry about risking pregnancy. I’ve got protection all under control.”

He didn’t go any further than the hem of her night-shirt. Instead he came up between her thighs, bringing his hands to cup both sides of her face. She trembled when she felt his lips against hers. He kissed her with such thoroughness it had her clinging to his wrists. He tasted so good, the coffee flavour mingling with his fervid passion. She could smell the leather of his jacket. It was a strong masculine scent, full of power, just like him.

“You’ve got me so hot, Nicole. I’m burning up for you. Feel!” he murmured, moving her hand to his heart, pushing it inside his jacket. She flattened her palm against the hard wall of his chest, feeling the heat from his body, and his heartbeat throbbing insistently under her touch.

He kissed her again, then moved his mouth across her cheek. His lips burned fire as he kissed his way down her neck. He still hadn’t touched her with his hands, and she desperately wanted to feel more of him, She ached to experience the sensation of his hot skin against hers.

What was happening to her? She’d never had such wanton thoughts in her life, but then she’d never met anyone quite like Philip Pelayo. Everything she believed about relationships seemed to have flown out of the window since meeting him. He had broken all the rules - and she was glad. There was no way she’d stop him now.

Suddenly he was on his feet, taking her with him. Still nuzzling her neck he slipped her wrap from her. It pooled on the floor. Then she felt his hands sliding down her back, rocking her against him. She became instantly aware of how aroused he was. It sent another red hot flame of burning desire burning through her.

“You feel it? That’s what you do to me, Nicole,” he groaned, taking her right hand in his. He brought it between them, so she could feel the firm hardness of him through his jeans. She had never touched a man there before, and was suddenly overcome with shyness. When she pulled her hand away he caught it again, and pressed it against the curve of his rear.

“Don’t be afraid to touch me, sweetheart. You have nothing to fear from me. I won’t hurt you, I promise.” She knew he was trying to reassure her, but this was all so new, so unfamiliar, and she couldn’t help feeling a little overcome.

He started moving with her towards the bed. She felt it against the backs of her knees. Philip placed his hands under her arms, easing her back onto it.

She lay there staring up at him as he removed his jacket, letting it drop to the floor. Then he kneeled down on the edge of the bed, straddling her thighs, and slowly began undoing the buttons of his shirt, never once taking his eyes off her. Nicole realized he was taking his time on purpose, when he finally slipped it off one powerful shoulder and then the other. Then he wrenched it free of his jeans and flung it across the room.

“What a performance,” Nicole laughed nervously, as he started with the buckle of his belt.

“Why don’t you help me then?” he grinned, reaching for her left hand, but she snatched it away. “Thought as much,” and unzipped his jeans with provocative slowness.

“Are you sure you never worked as a stripper, you big show off,” she remarked, as he slid the jeans down his thighs. He wriggled out of them and his briefs at the same time, then collapsed on top of her, bringing his hands to cup her face.

“I noticed the way you were staring at me the day we left Sydney. You thought about touching me, didn’t you?”

Nicole’s response was to blush furiously.

“Don’t be embarrassed. It’s only natural. I feel the same about you every time I see you in those sexy evening dresses. So touch me, Nicole. I’m all yours.”

He leant over her, kissing her, and tentatively she reached out to do as he urged. She slid her hands over the satiny skin of his back, his strong powerful shoulders, the crisp curling hair on his chest. He felt much better than she’d imagined he would, all sleek strength and power.

“You have the hands of an angel. I love the feel of them against my skin,” he murmured against her ear.

And she loved the feel of his hands on her. They slipped under her nightshirt. Nicole hadn’t expected such a big, powerful man to have such gentle hands. She shivered when she felt his fingers brush lightly against her breasts. He cupped them with his large palms, flicking his thumbs across her nipples.

“They feel perfect. Let’s see if they look perfect too,” he murmured huskily. In one fluid movement he pulled her nightshirt over her head, and it joined his jacket on the floor.

Instinctively she tried to cover herself, but he anticipated her action, manacling her wrists, pushing her hands down beside her. For a heart stopping moment she wondered if he’d be disappointed. Nicole realized with a jolt just how alive her teenage insecurities still were. She squeezed her eyes shut, not daring to look at him, but she felt the heat of his penetrating gaze drinking in the slender paleness of her body in the half light.

“Yes - perfect,” she finally heard him whisper. “Beautiful things do come in small packages.”

Her eyes shot open when she felt his mouth against one of her breasts. She stared in fascination at his dark head, at the way he flicked his tongue over her dusky-pink nipple. It immediately peaked into arousal, sending the most incredible sensation radiating through her. It was so intense, so powerful she gasped her pleasure out loud. He let go of her hands, and she brought them to his hair, gripping his skull as he moved to its twin, teasing it in the same erotic fashion.