Page 17 of Andrew’s Outback Love

Linda didn’t answer. Instead, she placed a hand at the back of my head and pulled my face down until our lips brushed together. She wasn’t content with a soft sweet peck, she pushed closer and when I parted my lips slightly, her tongue shot inside. Then, it was on. Our kiss was deep and passionate. She moved closer and I could feel the hardness of her nipples as they brushed at my shirt. She might be saying she wanted to keep things light, but the desperation of her kiss was saying something entirely different.

My dick hardened until the pressure of being contained bordered on painful. Fuck. I wanted to kick open the door, throw her on the bed and fuck her senseless. So much for being a gentleman, huh?

I peeled myself away, it was fucking hard I can tell you, reached around and opened the door to her room.

“Goodnight, Linda. Get a good night’s sleep and I’ll see you in the morning.”

She nodded. Was that regret on her face? She turned and entered her room without a backward glance or saying another word. I waited until I heard the snick of the lock and stumbled down the hall to my room. It was going to be a long night if my body didn’t start behaving itself.

***

THE FOLLOWING DAY FLEW past, clinic in the morning followed by four hours of surgery in the afternoon. We’d all managed to grab a quick lunch at the local café before heading down to the hospital. Linda was proving very capable and Ruby had actually caught me alone to say she was impressed with her new colleague. We were all dog tired by the time we got everything cleaned and packed up and agreed to dinner at a local pub which was close to where we were staying.

Ruby returned home for a shower and to change. Cam, Linda and I returned to the motel to freshen up. Once I was ready, I waited outside Linda’s room. Cam sauntered towards me with a smirk on his face.

“Staking your claim? What was it you said about not causing any tension?”

“Shut the fuck up, Cam. She’s not an object to be claimed and I’m not a caveman. I was ready and thought I’d wait for her here. It is on the way out.”

Cam gave me a knowing smirk and I wanted to smack him upside the head. He really pissed me off sometimes. Before I could say anything else, Linda opened her door and stepped out. While my mouth fell open, Cam let out a long whistle.

Linda was even more gorgeous than I thought was possible. She was wearing a pretty sundress with thin straps. It hugged her slim waist and flared over her hips, she wore white sandals on her feet. Her hair, which I’d never seen worn in anything other than a ponytail, was loose and hung in waves almost down to her hips. Loose tendrils framed her heart shaped face. She had applied makeup for the first time since we’d met and the light application highlighted her natural beauty. She dropped her head and her face flushed at Cam’s whistle. I shot him a death glare but his eyes were riveted on my woman.

Hang on. Back up. My woman? What was that I said about not being a caveman? I needed to rein in my disrespectful thoughts.

“You look beautiful, sweetheart.” Cam reached out to take Linda’s hand.

Sweetheart? How dare he touch her. Yep, jealousy reared its ugly head but settled pretty quick when she stepped over to me and placed her hand in my elbow. I smirked triumphantly at Cam before leading Linda to the pub where Ruby would meet us.

***

DINNER WAS A QUIET, sober affair. We were all tired after a long day and didn’t linger once we’d eaten. After seeing Ruby safely to her car, Cam, Linda and I walked back to the motel. When we came to Linda’s room, I gave Cam a look which I hoped told him to head to his own. He took the hint, said goodnight and we watched as he unlocked his door and disappeared into his room. Once he was gone, I took Linda into my arms.

“Tired?”

She nodded. “Yeah. The work isn’t physical but it’s certainly mentally wearing and the heat takes its toll. I’ll sleep well tonight.”

“Are you enjoying it?”

“I am, very much. It’s so different to what I’m used to but I already love it. The kids are just gorgeous. Wide eyed, curious, interested in what is happening around them. The adults are so polite and grateful. I lost count of how many times they said thank you.”

“Yeah, they’re good people. At Tarara station, you’ll have the opportunity to sit and talk with some of them. Marge and Rex usually put on a smorgasbord for lunch while we’re between surgery and the clinic. Take the opportunity to talk to them about the land, their beliefs. We could live a dozen lifetimes and not have the knowledge about this country that they have.”

“I’ll look forward to it and I will definitely spend time learning about them.”

We stood quietly looking at each other, Linda’s eyes were heavy with weariness. I leaned forward to capture her lips. When I hesitated, she moved closer and pressed her mouth over mine. The kiss was tender, patient. One hand went to the back of her head, the other wrapped around her waist and I held her against me. Her hands rested on my chest where she must have been able to feel the thumping of my heart.

We parted, breathless and I stared into her eyes for a few moments. Every emotion she was feeling shone from her eyes and my body tightened with desire. Yes, desire – no, not lust. This woman was far too special to lust over.

“Well, early start tomorrow. Get a good night’s sleep and I’ll call for you around twenty past five. The four-wheel drives will be out front at five-thirty.”

“How long does it take to get to Tarara?”

“A little under three hours, it’s further from Bourke than Barrawon Station.”

“Surgery is first?”

“Yes. Surgery and then clinic after lunch.”