Restless Spirit (2 page)

Chapter Two

The upper room that had been my grandmother’s was now mine. The walls tilted in and at first it threw me off. I felt a bit off balance, but then it all came back to me – my love for the A-frame. Looking out of her upper windows to see bright sunlight throwing diamond shards of light off the lake water. Hearing geese and ducks when the weather warmed.

I stared at Nan’s bed and sighed. ‘It’s going to be weird.’

When nothing happened, I dropped my bag and kicked off my boots. I shimmied free of my dark grey jeans and unbuttoned my plaid shirt. In panties and a tank top, I wandered Nan’s room, remembering sitting on the small bench at the foot of her bed while she did her make-up at the vanity.

Out in the dark night, on her big plot of land, was the potting shed she’d loved so much and the barn. I saw a light in the potting shed and froze. Then it winked and was gone. That couldn’t be right. Adrian was in the barn. And if Adrian was in the barn then who was in the potting shed?

I craned my head, pushing my forehead to the cool window glass so I could see a bit of the barn. A light burned inside.

Weird.

‘Maybe it was a reflection, you goof.’ I was too tired to worry about it. I climbed into bed and stretched my arms and legs to work out the tension built up from the drive. My body made a lazy starfish shape in the bed. I reached as far as I could, groaning, releasing all my stress from being behind the wheel and from my life in general. Then I cut the bedside lamp off and waited to fall asleep.

And waited.

After an hour of listening to every creak and pop and groan of the old house, I considered a night cap. But laziness won out and I lay there waiting for my nerves to calm and my body to relax and my fatigue to take over.

I shut my eyes remembering my times with Adrian. His warm lips on mine – thin but soft lips that made him look like he was angry sometimes when he wasn’t. But when he smiled it touched my heart and my belly … and my cunt, to be honest. That grin of his showed the true nature of the man – good-hearted, funny, ornery and sexy.

Willing the image of his hands on me, I shimmied free of my panties and dropped them to the floor. My fingers slipping coolly over my clit made me shiver and I pressed a bit harder as I circled the swollen nub.

Adrian had done this thing where he clamped my nipple between his sharp white teeth and tugged, drawing the rosy tip out and away from my body. Biting down until it felt like too much, like the pain was too great. Then he’d release it and bury his face between my thighs, licking my pussy, sucking my clit, all the while his capable fingers stroked the tender nipple he’d just caused to throb.

I slid my fingers deep in my cunt, grinding my clit to the palm of my hand as I moved them. Slowly, fucking myself and rocking my hips up just enough to give myself deeper pleasure.

He’d had a talented tongue and he’d loved to drive the rigid tip into my wet slit until I bucked and danced for him and then he’d slide his hands under my ass and concentrate on my swollen clitoris. Licking with the flat of his tongue before tickling with only the tip. When he’d push his fingers deep inside of me – much like I was then – and suck hard and I would come. Fistfuls of hair clenched in my greedy fingers as my body shivered.

I came, a long slow slippery orgasm that unwound lazily in my pussy and curled up into my belly so the muscles trembled. But I wasn’t done. I flipped on my stomach, remembering how Adrian would roll me. He’d fuck me, face to face, prying my thighs wide, then he’d flip me on my belly and take me from behind. His fingers – strong from working outside and fishing and hunting – would dig into my flesh and I swore I could feel my flesh bruising. And then, just when I was about to come, he’d roll onto his back and make me climb aboard.

I thrust my fingers deeper and rolled my hips, back and forth, to grind my tender clit to my palm. Pretending I was astride him. Calling up muscle memory and mental images of his tan hands on my pale breasts as I rode him. And just at that crucial moment, he’d pull me in, kiss me hard and suck my nipples until the resounding pull was felt from breast to cunt and I’d come.

And I came again, against my hand, my face pressed to the pillow.

I rolled to my back, tired and spent, but now considering running over to that barn and trying to find out if he was still as talented between the sheets as he was once upon a time.

Fatigue won. I was asleep before I could sit up and find my pants.

* * *

Allister Lake was a greenish blue mirror. The clouds reflected in its nearly still surface and sunlight twinkled like tiny fairy lights. I sat on Nan’s deck with a cup of her coffee, so fucking strong that even I couldn’t water it down by using less grounds. The first few sips made me grimace but then I started to enjoy the in-your-face bold flavour.

‘So you’re the infamous Tuesday?’

I jumped, coffee splashing my black sweater. Thank God it was black. I hadn’t heard him sneak up on me – and by the size of him that was a fucking miracle.

‘Jesus, who are you?’ I gasped. ‘I mean, I’m sorry–’

Clearly he was a neighbour of Nan’s.

He smiled and it did something strange to me, I felt bristly and flirty and too hot in the face. He was about six foot six, the size of a small tree to be honest, and his dark brown hair was just long enough to technically require a cut. He sported a beard that hugged his lean face and it was shot with grey and silver.

Older man, yum …

I shook the thought off when he said ‘Sorry. I’m Shepherd. I live next door. Well, as next door as that is,’ he said, pointing to a white A-frame similar to mine but with huge mirrored windows that made me think of blind eyes.

Dark brown eyes regarded me and he grinned when I opened my mouth but managed to say nothing. My words had gone right of my head as I studied him. Broad shoulders, flannel shirt, jeans, big work boots that had actually been worked in. And that grin.

‘Um … hi,’ I said.

Brilliant!

He laughed softly and I clenched my hands into fists at the rush of attraction. It was rare for me to feel so drawn to a man. Especially a stranger, but here I was, attracted to Shepherd.

My brain kick started. ‘Shepherd?’

‘Moore.’

‘That’s an unusual name, Shepherd,’ I said, smoothing my hair. I took great pride in my bottle blonde cap of hair with nearly black roots. I figured one day I’d outgrow the pseudo punk rock I-don’t-give-a-shit look. But not yet.

He shrugged, putting one boot up on my floating deck. The term floating deck had always made me laugh but it was nothing more than a low wooden deck usually built off the back of the house. Still, it somehow sounded magical. When I motioned with my hand, he came all the way up and dropped into one of Nan’s–now-my padded deck chairs. ‘They wanted me to be a man of the cloth.’

‘And you are?’ I managed. I was having trouble breathing with him so near. There was maybe a foot between his jean-clad knee and mine and I swore I could feel the heat baking off of him even in the chilly morning air.

‘I was an ultimate cage fighter. Now I’m a handy man.’

I cocked an eyebrow. ‘A handy man?’

‘I’m handy, I know how to do lots of stuff.’ He winked and I had to shift in my chair.

‘I see.’

‘And you are …?’

‘Tuesday Cane.’

He laughed again and I wanted to climb in his lap. I bit my lips to force the dirty image away.

‘I know that, Tuesday Cane. You are a …’

‘Oh, I am currently unemployed. Former waitress. I sling a mean breakfast special.’

‘Ah,’ Shepherd said. ‘Well, I do know that Irving down at the restaurant is looking for a fill-in. Might not be full-time but if you know your way around a diner, he might go for it.’

‘Thanks,’ I said.

‘I’m sorry about your nan.’ He pinned me with that gaze of his. Dark eyes full of kindness. And something else underneath it all.

‘Yeah, hey, thanks,’ I said. I looked away, out at the lake for a moment. Letting it dazzle my eyes so I wouldn’t cry.

‘She loved you a lot, Virginia did,’ he went on. He stood, went into my kitchen, came back out with a cup of coffee.

He was stirring up emotions – things I did not do very well – and I wanted to be angry and pissed and snarky, but instead I just watched him move. Slow, economical, self-assured movements that made me wistful for a time when I might be so comfortable in my own skin. His time using his body for a weapon and knowing how to control it was completely apparent in his demeanour.

Shepherd Moore, big bad handy man with busted up boots, dropped back into the chair and said, ‘She thought you hung the moon. I heard you’re going to become a huge bestselling author.’

I snorted so suddenly I started to choke. And then I was laughing, but I was crying too. ‘Oh, yeah?’ I managed shakily.

‘Yeah,’ he said, and winked at me.

There was that urge again – to curl into his lap and just be held. Very strange feeling for me, to be blunt. I tend to shun any contact not directly related to sex. Or any contact directly related to simple comfort.

‘I guess to Nan a few stories published in semi-pro magazines is the big time.’

‘I guess so.’ He continued to watch me.

‘That’s funny. She did think I had talent,’ I sighed, determined not to cry. ‘But honestly, when she read my shit, it freaked me out. I’m not exactly kid or elderly friendly.’

He shrugged again and I watched those huge shoulders shift. ‘She thought you were awesome. Always bragged about you. Always talked about seeing you and–’

I dropped my cup and rushed inside. The wave of guilt and pain and loss that swept over me left no room for rational thought. My only instinct was retreat – run – get away.

I turned to yell I was sorry or I’d be back or something along those lines, Christ anything, and turned right into a flannel-wrapped mountain of a man. His hands came down on my forearms and squeezed reassuringly. ‘Hey, Tuesday, I’m sorry. We don’t even know each other–’

‘It’s OK–’

‘And I come over here and make you cry–’

‘It’s OK–’

‘And upset you and it’s not even nine in the morning.’

‘It’s OK!’ I said again, almost angrily. But it wasn’t and we both knew it because I was crying so hard I was shaking. But for his hands on my arms, I’d probably shake apart into a hundred girl pieces.

This was a great start to getting to know your neighbour.

He pulled me in and crushed my face to his chest. Under the flannel he wore a faded blue tee that looked like it had been washed about a million times. He smelled of cold air and clean cotton and leaves. I wanted to snuggle against him and the thought made me cringe inside. What a horrible needy thing I’d become.

‘I’m sorry,’ I whispered. ‘This is so … fucking weird.’

He laughed and it rumbled through his chest against my ear. ‘It is weird. But it’s thanks to me. How about you let me make you dinner tonight?’

‘You’re an ultimate fighter, a handy man and you cook?’

‘I told you I know how to do lots of stuff.’

When he said it there was an undercurrent of sensuality. I don’t know how I knew other than all the fine hairs on the back of my neck stood up and I had to suppress a shiver.

I looked up at him and he wiped under my eyes with his thumbs. I realised then I hadn’t let him go. I was hugging this stranger and letting him wipe my raccoon eyes and worst of all, he’d seen me cry. ‘What time?’ I managed though my tongue felt three sizes too big.

‘What time is good for you?’

I shrugged, and yet, Jesus … I was still holding onto him. ‘I have no job, I just moved in and you’re holding me while I cry six minutes after we just met. Just give me a time.’

‘Six?’

‘Six is good.’

‘Do you eat meat?’

I blushed and felt so fucking juvenile. He meant food not … cock.

He smirked at me and it was in that moment that I realised he could read my mind like a newspaper. ‘I do. I eat meat,’ I said and then turned my gaze away when my cheeks caught fire.

‘Steak it is. I’ll see you at six. Just …’He waved a hand. ‘Walk across and come in if I don’t answer. I tend to crank the music when I cook.’

‘Right,’ I said.

He shocked me by pressing a kiss to my forehead before he left. ‘And I am sorry I upset you, but …’ He pawed his hair.

‘But?’

‘But you needed to know. About Virginia. How much she loved you.’

Then he left and I put my face in my hands and cried. I’d never felt more grateful and more upset by a bit of information in my life.

So I started doing dishes and talking to my nan. Maybe it was crazy but it was my house now and who was here to eavesdrop anyway.

Chapter Three

‘And I should have come here way long ago, Nan,’ I sniffled and washed the final dish. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t. I’m sorry I didn’t get to say goodbye.’

I flipped the light on because the sky was getting overcast; the bulb flared and then blew with a soft pop.

‘Fabulous. So now I need … light bulbs.’ I pulled open every drawer and every cabinet, even the pantry. Adrian was right; the entire pantry was stocked for Armageddon or a massive surprise dinner party. But no light bulbs.

I could waste a whole day rummaging the entire house or I could just ask Adrian. I looked at the bulletin board over the phone but saw no number for him listed or any indication that there was a phone in the barn.

‘Because you would have known the number to your own damn barn phone if you even have one, right, Nan?’ I shook my head and pulled on my lace up boots. Time to walk across the yard and find my temporary caretaker.

The wind was whipping hard and the sky had darkened further. It looked like rain and the oncoming storm had frapped the lake into lazy little peaks. I stood to watch the water for a moment, trying to fully absorb and appreciate that this was now my home. That my grandmother had given me this gift of lake life.

‘What ya doing? Day dreaming?’

He leaned in the open barn door, tall and wiry and sexy as sin. He gave me that look that said he’d been thinking bad things. We hadn’t dated long, Adrian and I, and it had surely been nothing more than a fling, but the look in his eyes was pretty much universal.

Aroused man.

I gave him a wave and walked toward him, into the wind. Feeling my hair lift up and sway in the suddenly strong gust.

‘I came to see if you know where the light bulbs might be,’ I said. ‘Seems Nan didn’t keep them in any of the places a lowly former boarding house dweller like me would think to keep them.’

‘Ah, she kept ’em in the cellar,’ he said, taking my hand and pulling me out of the wind into the looming darkness of the barn. ‘But while you’re here I’ll give you a few just in case you get home and it turns out she was out of them or something. Come on.’

I followed him past what once had been operative animal stalls but now served as storage. One held a tractor, one a small plough attachment for a truck though my grandmother didn’t own a truck.

‘It’s Shepherd’s,’ Adrian said. The growl in his voice said maybe he wasn’t a fan of my new neighbour. ‘He hooks it up and ploughs around the lake for most locals. Did your nan’s driveway for free since she lets him store it here. He stores some of his tools here too.’

I nodded, chewing my lips and smoothing my long bangs. Whatever was up with Adrian and Shepherd I wanted no part of it. I’d had enough drama in the last year to last me a lifetime.

The last stall was stacked with supplies. Across from it was a stall that had been enclosed with a door.

Adrian handed me a box with two bulbs in it. ‘Kitchen right?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Those should be the right wattage then.’

His fingers stroked over mine before breaking the contact. Exhaustion, fear and good old fashioned attraction all added to the sudden urge I had to kiss him. Apparently, trying to start a new life meant you wanted to jump every man who was nice to you.

‘So!’ I said brightly, moving away. ‘What’s this here?’

Before he could answer, I turned the knob and pushed the door open. I took three big steps into the now enclosed stall before my eyes truly registered the inside. A double bed, a dresser, a flat screen TV and a laptop. Basically it was a small dorm room complete with an easy chair and a TV tray with breakfast dishes on it. Through a small doorway was a toilet, sink and stand up shower. No kitchen.

‘Oh, shit. Oh, God. I’m sorry! This is your room.’ I said. But when I turned I was face to face with a smiling Adrian. His strong jaw stubbled with new growth, his eyes bright.

My pussy clenched remembering the night before and getting off to dirty, dirty thoughts of him.

‘Your grandmother had it closed in to possibly be a small office or craft room. She was never sure which she wanted most. Just said renovating it gave her a project to set her mind too.’

I nodded. That was Nan. And knowing her it was probably a precaution should she need to hire on-site help. Which made my throat close up a little. I should have come sooner.

Adrian touched my chin gently. ‘Want coffee?’

He pushed me back and I moved with him, my mind already talking me into what I was going to do. I mean, I was a free agent. We had a history. We were sexually compatible. I was a big girl. I was horny. It was cosy in here. I could go on …

‘Sure.’

But he didn’t get me coffee. He pushed the door shut and locked it. I watched his big hand pluck the box of light bulbs from my hand and then he grabbed my upper arms, held me still and kissed me.

I parted my lips for the kiss and when his tongue touched mine the jolt of want was so sudden, I groaned. My hand closed over the front of his chinos before I could even really form the thought to do it. It moved on its own and when I felt the hard curve of his erection I squeezed. This time, it was Adrian who groaned.

‘I know this is forward.’

‘It’s fine.’

‘But I really can’t forget the memory of fucking you now that you’re back,’ he said against my neck. His fingers, big but agile, worked at the hem of my sweater. He pulled it up and growled to see my lacy white bra and the tops of my pale yellow panties peeking out of my jeans. ‘Jesus, Tuesday. You’ve always gotten me hard. And mindless.’

‘Good combination.’ I grabbed his top button and yanked roughly, forcing the entire row of brass discs to surrender to my grip.

I shoved my hand down in his pants, past his cotton briefs and found him hot and hard. Gripping him, I walked back slowly and we fell onto his squishy blanket crowded bed.

‘It gets cold out here at night,’ he explained.

‘Hush.’

‘But you’re warm.’ He worked my jeans down over my hips and found me with his fingers. Adrian slipped them inside of me with insane ease, curling against my G-spot so I sucked in a breath. ‘So fucking warm.’

‘Yes,’ I said. And then, ‘Condom?’

Adrian reached past me, pawing in his nightstand and then he was kissing me again as he ripped the package. There was a moment when we wrestled each other for the condom, but I surrendered and shimmied out of my panties while he sheathed his cock.

Naked, shivering a bit, listening to the wind lick at the barn, I waited while he studied me. I almost spoke, feeling strange and more naked than naked because Adrian was looking at me. I mean really looking at me. But he pushed a finger to my lips and said ‘I just wanted to see you for a minute, Tues. You’ve gotten more beautiful over the years. You used to be hot. Now you’re stunning.’

My cheeks bloomed with heat but he didn’t seem to notice. He moved his well-muscled bulk over me and rubbed the hard head of his cock to my slick opening. Adrian drove into me on one smooth stroke, inch by fluid inch. I was so wet and so ready that the friction stole my breath and fluttered my heart.

‘Oh,’ I sighed.

‘Oh
good
or oh
bad?
’ He kissed me then, sucking my tongue gently so I felt an echoing tug in my cunt.

‘Oh
good
. Oh
very good
,’ I said. I thrust up under him, to open for him, to get him deeper. I gripped my pussy tight and he made a sound that made me smile.

‘Good?’ I asked.

‘Not good. Fucking amazing.’

Adrian pulled free of me and I reached for him, but he moved down my body too quickly for me to snatch him. His mouth – hot and wet and perfect – settled on my engorged clit and he started to suck. His stubble bit at my swollen sex and the bursts of near-pain only accentuated the humid pleasure of his mouth. He turned from sucking to long languid licks, thrusting thick fingers into my cunt where his cock had just been. He curled his fingers once, twice, three times and I came. Grasping his hair, thrusting my hips up.

Then he was turning me and his bedding brushed my cheek smelling of him – warm and musky and masculine.

‘What was that?’ I breathed, curling my fingers against his soft pillow as he hiked me up by the hips. Adrian entered me roughly and I gasped when I went from empty to full so fucking fast.

‘I just wanted to taste you,’ he said. ‘It’s been years.’

‘And?’ I barely managed it. I could feel the pressure building in my pelvis. That runaway-train feeling of impending release.

‘And you still taste like watermelons and green grass,’ he chuckled and swatted my ass hard enough that I tossed my head back and hissed. ‘My god, your ass, Tuesday,’ he said and swatted me again.

I gritted my teeth but he wasn’t stupid. What he was, in fact, was a very in-tune lover. He curled himself over me, still thrusting deeply but with more restraint. ‘Touch yourself, Tuesday. Come for me.’

‘I just did.’ But I wedged my shaking hand under my body to obey his warm silken command.

‘I’m greedy. Do it again.’

I played slick circles over my clit with my fingertip as he reined himself in even more. Thrusting in smooth even strokes so that I felt stuffed full to bursting with goodness. His cock was long and when he rotated his hips just the right way he brushed my G-spot with enough force to make my face warm and my heart shiver. And he knew it.

‘Come on. I can feel it. Give it to me.’ One more sound smack was delivered and another deep thrust and then I pinched my clitoris and gave him what he asked for. My body delivering a fresh rush of juice to lubricate his way.

And he was free of me again, leaving me feeling empty and needy. But not for long. Adrian dropped to his back, laughing softly – at me no doubt – and pulled me onto him. I straddled him and watched his handsome face as he started to move up under me.

‘I forgot sex with you was a full contact sport.’

His dark eyes studied me and he gave me that half grin that made my belly tremble with nerves and want. ‘It’s been a long time since we’ve been together, Tues. Hell, it’s been a long time for me period.’

His warm hands cupped my breasts and he started to pinch my nipples. Hard and sharp and then a soothing barely there pinch. Back and forth, alternating, keeping me off balance so I anticipated the pain with a rush of pleasure.

I worked my hips and he met me halfway by moving up under me. We were rocking our way to a finale orgasm, I could tell by the look on his face.

‘You? Why do I find that hard to believe?’

‘Because I am just that studly?’ He tried to smile but I clenched my internal muscles and his eyelids fluttered closed instead. I held his hands to my breasts with my own and pressed harder on my left side so he could feel my heart.

‘Yes,’ I said.

‘Just haven’t been interested in anyone. And you know me, I don’t just run around …’ He broke up, forcing me to let his hands go and gripping my hips hard. His fingers bit into my flesh delivering little bursts of discomfort that only made the fucking that much sweeter.

‘Banging just anyone,’ I finished his sentence and leaned over him, moving a bit faster.

He craned his neck and kissed me, then captured a nipple in his mouth and bit. I came again. Adrian watched my face, touched my lower lip with his fingertip that smelled like my juices. I met his gaze, sucked his fingers deep into my mouth and then he was the one coming. Arching up under me, gasping for breath.

I had forgotten how beautiful Adrian was when he came. I could get used to having a man like him around.