Passionate Harvest (11 page)

“Funny, I’m lying here in bed wondering the same thing about you.” Damn, she hadn’t meant to say that.

His chuckle made the phone vibrate slightly against her ear. “You know now of course that I’m trying to picture you in bed?”

Heat spread through her body and dampness pooled between her legs as she remembered how he’d felt pressed against her just a few hours earlier.

“I’m in bed myself.” He continued. Her imagination swiftly furnished an image of Dominic naked in the bed of his sparsely furnished room. The navy covers tumbled about him as he lay chatting to her on his phone.

“I, um, I’m not sure I needed to know that.” Her voice emerged as a high pitched squeak.

“I’ll pick you up tomorrow from Maggie’s.”

She could hear the smile in his voice and her breasts ached with desire.

“Okay.” 

“Goodnight, Lucy, sweet dreams.”

She placed the mobile down on her beside table, her hand trembling with unresolved need.

Maggie had already left for her outing with her church group when Lucy got up. She’d slept badly after the phone call from Dominic. Troubling erotic images had filled her dreams leaving her tense and anxious about what she had let herself in for by agreeing to meet him.

She flitted around the house tidying things which were already tidy and worrying about her clothes. What was the dress code for lunch with benefits anyway? It wasn’t as if either of them had said how this date would go but the implications had been pretty clear. In the end she plumped for a simple halter-neck sundress and her best knickers.

Dominic hadn’t said what time he’d call and she wished now she’d insisted that she would drive her own car over to his cottage. Except – she would probably have chickened out, or crashed into a ditch on the way. 

By the time his car pulled to a halt outside the house she’d almost convinced herself that he wasn’t coming. She opened the door before he pushed the doorbell, unsure her nerves could take the sound.

“Hey.” He smiled at her.

“Hey, yourself.” He had dressed for the heat of the day in casual khaki board shorts and a plain white collarless buttoned tee shirt that emphasised his tan.

She hitched the strap of her bag a little further onto her shoulder and pulled the front door shut behind her as she joined him on the step. Her heart hammered so hard against the wall of her chest she thought she might pass out. She couldn’t believe she was actually going to do this.

Dominic seemed to sense her feelings, reaching out to take her hand protectively as they walked the few paces to the car. The tender touch of his hand reassured her.

“You look beautiful.” He kissed her lightly on the lips and opened the car door for her.

She waited for him to climb in the driver’s seat before replying. 

“Thank you.”

He turned the stereo onto a classical station and they drove along to the soothing sounds of Chopin. She hadn’t asked him where they were going. She wasn’t sure if he planned to take her out or if he’d made lunch back at his cottage. Or maybe even skip the pretence of eating and go straight to bed. 

They hadn’t gone far out into the countryside when he turned off the road into a narrow lane bordered by long grasses which reached in to brush against the sides of the car as they bumped along the rutted track.

“Not far now.” He answered her unspoken question.

A locked gate blocked the road and he jumped out to open it, drove through and then locked it again behind them.

“Where are we?” Lucy asked. They were in the middle of a large field. Tyre tracks in the long golden grass in front of them led the way up the gentle brow of a hill. As they crested the hill and turned down Lucy realised they were at the side of the river. Tall weeping willows draped their long, whippy branches into the water and large white daisies nodded their heads in the soft breeze.

Dominic pulled the car to a halt on the river bank.

“I haven’t been here since I was a teenager.” Lucy looked around her, recognition slowly dawning.

Dominic jumped down from the car and opened the boot. Lucy followed him, automatically helping him to lift out rugs, cushions and a picnic hamper.

“I used to come here with Nick, it was one of his favourite places.” Dominic spread the rugs on a flat piece of ground.

“I remember. He liked to fish just down there.” She nodded her head towards a small wooden jetty protruding from the river margin into the water. She dropped the cushions she had in her arms down on to the rug.

“It’s a lovely spot.” Dominic seated himself and opened the lid of the picnic box. “I hope you’re feeling hungry.”

Lucy sat, curling her legs to one side and tucking the skirt of her sundress down as Dominic offered her various items of food. The air was scented with the green smell of the grass and the coconut sunscreen she’d applied as a precaution after her shower.

“This is really nice, thanks for bringing me here.” She pushed her empty plate away with a sigh. She’d eaten more than she’d thought she would. Dominic’s gentle conversation and jokes made her laugh and almost forget the sexual tension which shimmered beneath the surface of their lunch.

She lay back on the rug, a cushion beneath her head and looked up at the sky. “It’s a beautiful day.” She stretched out, feeling relaxed and suddenly reckless under the combination of sun, food and Dominic.

“Hmm.” He turned on to his side to face her. He raised his head and supported it with his hand so his face was above hers.

Lucy moved her head so she could study his face as he took a strand of her hair between his fingers and smoothed it away from her cheek.

His kiss was slow and gentle and she shivered as he ran his hand across the top of her shoulder loosening the knot of her halter top. She ran her fingers through his hair caressing the silky strands as his kiss deepened and became more urgent. 

She let out an involuntary gasp as the slightly cooler air rushed across the newly exposed bare skin of her breasts where he had undone her dress. As he moved his head to taste and suck on her nipples she clutched at his tee shirt pulling it up over his head desperate to feel his body against hers, skin to skin. His mouth explored her breasts teasing her nipples with his tongue until she was light-headed with desire.

His hands slid under the soft cotton of her sundress to ease her knickers from her hips tossing the tiny garment to one side. He continued to torment her breast with his mouth while his fingers found their own rhythm, stroking at the moist entrance of her sex until she bucked against him, teetering on the edge. She moaned against him as he moved to kneel between her legs and reciprocated his actions by unfastening the fly of his board shorts desperate to feel him against her, inside her.

Before discarding his shorts he took a condom from the rear pocket. Lucy thought she would explode with desire as she waited for him to tear the foil open. She licked her lips wantonly admiring his length, her legs falling open in invitation. He covered her with his body making her cling to him as he stroked and touched all her sensitive places until she rocked her hips against him silently begging him to enter her.

She held him tight as he buried himself in her, synchronising the movements of her pelvis with his. He filled her making her muscles tighten around him increasing her pleasure. Their bodies united in perfect harmony, each movement driving her higher and higher until she orgasmed in splintering pleasure, crying out to the emptiness of the field. He followed immediately, the guttural muttered oath of his climax sweet music to her ears.

He stroked her hair and shifted his weight as she recaptured her breath.

“Wow.” She’d murmured the word so quietly she didn’t think he’d heard. The twitch of amusement at the corners of his mouth told her otherwise as she moved her head to look at him.

Dominic traced his finger down the side of her neck to her breast circling the nipple till it peaked once more before he took her into his mouth, his tongue hot and hungry on her sensitised skin.

“Dominic.” She splayed her fingers against the wall of his chest, relishing the hard nub of his nipple as his body responded to hers.

He lifted his head breaking the heavenly contact that made it so hard for her to think.

“You’re so beautiful.” He looked into her eyes and her breath caught in her throat. She couldn’t quite believe she was there, naked in a field, in his arms.

“I…” She wasn’t sure what she wanted to say. All she knew was that she wanted him again.

 His eyes darkened with desire and before she could speak he rolled her so she was on top and he was underneath.

“I want to look at you.” He placed his hands, warm over her breasts making her gasp.

She moved her hips, rubbing herself against him and smiled with satisfaction as she felt him stir beneath her. Rising to a sitting position she brushed her hair back from her face and licked her lips. Unable to resist she continued to move against him. The friction of his erection against her stimulated a fresh wave of desire. Sensing her need, he pinched and tweaked her nipples with his fingers heightening the sensations racing through her. She spotted the condoms lying next to them on the rug. 

Dominic’s gaze remained fixed on her face, a small smile at the corners of his mouth. She picked up the packet and pulled out another condom. If she intended being reckless then she might as well go for broke.

“I swore this would never happen.” Lucy bent her neck to allow Dominic to retie the halter-neck of her dress.

“That makes two of us.” He gave the knot a gentle tug to ensure it was secure and kissed the top of her shoulder sending gentle shock waves along her sensitised skin.

“Does that mean you wish we hadn’t…” Her voice trailed off oddly embarrassed at having to frame in words the thought at the forefront of her mind.

He tilted her chin upwards so her gaze met his. “No. Do you?”

Mutely, she shook her head, relief stealing through her that he wasn’t having second thoughts.

He piled the remains of their picnic debris back into the hamper and loaded it into the boot of the car. Lucy smoothed the crumples from the skirt of her sundress and picked up the cushions.

Dominic took them from her and threw them into the car next to the hamper. His hands brushed against hers rekindling the electricity in her body.

“Come back to the cottage with me?” He murmured the question against her mouth.

“Okay.” She could barely whisper her response. 

He opened the passenger door for her to climb inside before he jumped into the driver’s seat. It only took a few minutes through the back lanes to reach Dominic’s house. Mutley ran to the gate to greet them, his tail wagging with delight at his master’s return.

Lucy stepped out of the car and petted his head over the top of the gate. “Poor baby. Did you miss Dominic?”

“There is nothing poor about that dog, I can assure you.” Dominic joined her, key at the ready to unlock the gate.

He gave her a smile that sent all her senses into alert mode as he opened the gate, catching hold of the dog’s collar before he could jump up at Lucy. Once the dog had been fussed, he calmed down and Dominic released him before walking with Lucy to the back door of the cottage.

“Go on inside while I take Mutley round the block, I’ll be two minutes, I promise.” He placed another tender kiss on her lips as she entered the house.

She longed to head up to the bathroom for a quick shower to freshen up but didn’t like to make herself so at home in Dominic’s house while he wasn’t there. She amused herself instead while she waited by daydreaming about the uses they could make of Dominic’s white tiled shower cubicle when he returned. Her whole body flushing as she remembered how uninhibited they had both been in the meadow together.

The back door clicked as she splashed cool water on her hands and face at the kitchen sink, trying to freshen up ready for his return.

“Dominic, surprise!” A tall sun-kissed blonde girl in teeny-tiny denim shorts and a white skimpy vest top stood in the doorway staring at Lucy with unabashed surprise. A tall dark haired man appeared behind her towing a large black suitcase. 

From his marked resemblance to Dominic, Lucy finally realised he had to be his older brother.

“Who are you? Where’s Dominic?” The blonde demanded.

“I’m Lucy. Dominic will be back any minute, he’s walking the dog.” Lucy forced her brain into gear and ignored the woman’s rudeness. She had to be Dominic’s sister-in-law.

“I’m Jake, and this is Sasha.” Dominic’s brother stepped around the blonde and extended his free hand to Lucy. 

“It’s nice to meet you, Dom said you were coming to stay.” She extricated her hand and wondered if she should shake hands with Sasha. “Have you come straight from the airport?” This was so awkward, she prayed Dominic would hurry.

“No, we arrived the day before yesterday and stayed in London until this morning. We thought we’d drive down today and surprise Dominic.” Sasha took a seat at the kitchen table, a small pout on her full mouth.

A crescendo of barks outside the window announced Mutley’s arrival back at the house.

“Dominic’s back.” Lucy hoped she didn’t sound too relieved.

Sasha immediately perked up and arranged herself so her long legs were displayed to full advantage.

Lucy watched the range of emotions flicker across Dominic’s face as he walked in to find his brother and sister-in-law seated at his kitchen table. Surprise? Dismay? And then a mask seemed to slide over his features leaving her uncertain of what she’d seen. Anyone watching him now as he hugged his brother and kissed Sasha’s cheek would think him delighted to see them.

“I take it you’ve both already met Lucy? She’s my new partner at the vineyard.”

Jake looked at Lucy. “Then you must be Nick’s god-daughter. I’m so sorry for your recent loss.”

She nodded and wished she’d driven over in her own car so she could have made her escape.

Jake smiled. “What’s it like working with my brother?” He clapped a hand on Dominic’s shoulder.

“Give Lucy a chance. She’s only known me for a couple of weeks.”