I'Ve Got You (14 page)

‘Sure, where are we going?'

‘Marilyn's guest room. I want that talk you promised and I'm not going to wait until you're ready, because you never will be.' Lexie, head to one side, gave her a syrupy-sweet smile.

‘I'll show you the way.' Kabe slipped an arm around Belle's waist, bent his head and whispered in her ear, ‘I'll be waiting for you. I figure this is going to be rough. I want to hold you all night … that's all, just hold you.' He slid his hand down to gather hers and they followed Lexie. Along the way, Kabe grabbed two glasses and a bottle of wine for them from a buffet.

The closer they drew to the units the more apprehensive Belle became. She would have to tell her sister everything, which meant enduring more pain. Leaning into Kabe, she took comfort in his rock-solid body.

He turned to her, and said, ‘It's your sister, you should be able to tell her anything. And I'll be there for you afterwards.'

Okay, so he knew what she was in for, which was nice; unfortunately it didn't make going over what had happened any easier.

Lexie waited for them to catch up and they trooped after Kabe though a pergola covered with scarlet bougainvillea. Threaded through the vine were millions of fairy lights.

‘Oh … oh!' Lexie exclaimed. ‘Whose idea was this? It's gorgeous!'

‘Mum's, you can thank her tomorrow. She says the place is heavy with testosterone, so added, as she put it, her feminine touch, her bling.' Kabe stuck an arm out, a signal to turn left, and they were right at Marilyn's door. It had to be Marilyn's: a canopy of fairy lights were draped over the entry. He held his hand out to Lexie for the keys and opened his mother's door for them. ‘Help yourself to anything you need.'

‘Thanks,' Lexie said, smiling and teetering on her heels. ‘Marilyn was very kind to let me stay here. Much preferable to the motel, I can tell you.' She gave Kabe a peck on the cheek, then turned to walk unsteadily inside.

‘Jetlag?' Head inclined, Kabe eyed Lexie.

‘Yeah, a combination of that and wine,' Belle mumbled with a smile.

Kabe handed over the wine and glasses. ‘Unless Lexie can hold her liquor better than I think, you're not going to be long.'

His arm went around her waist, and this his talented mouth was on hers, making her toes curl.

He pulled away, smiled, and let her go. ‘Later,' he said, then turned and Belle watched him disappear passing under the pergola and fairy lights.

‘I found my room and luggage,' Lexie sang out.

Belle walked through the open-plan space that served as kitchen, dining and living room, to find Lexie in the lavish guestroom.

‘I do
not
like this,' Lexie muttered, not meaning a word of it while staring at her suitcases, which someone had brought in from the motel. ‘A sweet-smiling, wicked, fair, curly-headed prince called Kabe has taken over my life.' She gave Belle a long hard look. ‘Are you okay with your teenage crush taking over yours? Or are you finding it just a tad claustrophobic … Hmm?'

‘Don't forget the dimples,' Belle said, smiling.

‘
Oh … pffft
,' Lexie waved a dismissive hand. ‘Don't worry, I haven't. Even without them he'd make a nun horny.'

Belle laughed. ‘Yeah, probably.'

‘Well, claustrophobic?' Lexie prompted.

Belle looked around the large and airy bedroom with double glass doors that led out to a private patio. Looking past the garden to the Coral Sea beyond, Belle paused, taking her time to collect her thoughts and give her sister an honest answer.

‘No hiding the important stuff, I want it all,' Lexie ordered, snaking her index finger towards her.

Belle held the bottle away from her sister. ‘Have you been drinking without me?'

‘I had a couple of glasses out by the pool, that's all. It's jetlag and sun … probably,' she giggled.

‘Let's go and sit outside,' Belle suggested, nodding towards the sliding doors, and waited.

‘Oh … you want me to open that?' Lexie giggled again.

‘No one would believe me if I told them you run a profitable event and catering business in LA.'

Lexie lunged for the bottle, and said, ‘Yeah well I'm on a mini break, and you're my sister, so that's okay.' She opened the bottle and poured them both a glass. ‘Here's to you telling me the whole truth and nothing but.'

Belle fortified herself with a good few gulps of wine. Lexie, elbows on the table, watched her like a hawk. Collecting her courage, Belle told her sister about what Greg, the sleaze, had done.

Tears pricked behind Belle's eyes. She emptied her glass, put it down and refilled hers and Lexie's, then told her sister all about Annaliese and how her world had collapsed around her, the devastating heartache and grief she would never truly recover from.

Lexie moved closer and hugged Belle tightly, sobbing into her shoulder while Belle did the same. After a while, when the tears slowed, Lexie moved back and said, ‘Why didn't you tell me? Why, Belle?'

‘I didn't want to worry you, and besides, what could you do over the phone from LA? Don't you see, being so far away would've been horrible for you. It's not like you can drop everything to come and hold my hand.' Belle sniffed and had more wine.

‘Had I known you were going through such a horrific time—I
would have
dropped everything!'

Belle nodded. ‘I'm sorry, Lexie.'

‘No, I'm sorry, Jeez, in hindsight I should have known better, I mean, it's
you
losing a baby. And it's you bottling it all up … again!'

‘Lexie, please,' Belle pleaded.

‘Sorry … okay, just know, I would've been there for you. And I'm so sorry I wasn't.' Belle nodded and clutched Lexie's hand. ‘What I really don't get is why Mum and Dad didn't see
right
through your I'm-all-right face.'

‘They were out of town getting a tour of the latest ecologically friendly village. And get this, Greg was showing them around.' Belle shook her head in disgust. ‘He was insinuating himself into their lives, and through them trying to get to me, any way he could. Anything to get hold of Butterfly Island.'

‘Oh—my—God!' Lexie squealed. ‘That's … that's … what a misogynistic, squirming, psychotic toad!'

‘I can't argue with that. Here, have another sip of wine.' Belle pushed Lexie's glass forward.

‘What's happening with you and Mr Hottie out there?' Lexie grumbled, with a nod toward the doors.

Belle confided in Lexie that she hadn't had sex in well over a year, and had been afraid to even think about it, until Kabe who, without even trying, had her constantly thinking about it. ‘We're connected. I've had my teenage fantasy on the beach, nearly had it on his yacht and a lot of touchy-feely in between.'

Tears filled Lexie's eyes and ran down her face. ‘Spare me the details … Wait, what am I saying?' She gave herself an eye-roll. ‘We've known Kabe for years; we know he's a solid, gorgeous guy. Come on, Sis, give. I bet you rocked his world … I bet he rocked yours.'

A thrill rippled through Belle's body and she shivered.

Lexie didn't miss her reaction, and thumped her on the shoulder. Reading each other, like they'd always done, they burst out laughing.

Lexie quietened first; she heaved in a deep breath and sighed. ‘One day, I'll find what you have … and I can hardly wait.'

‘You'll have to stash your drum and join forces with whoever the lucky guy is.'

Lexie paused, became thoughtful. ‘Hmm, he'd have to be very strong, mentally and physically.'

‘Oh, I know.' Belle giggled.

Chapter 9

Thank goodness for a well-supplied guestroom and en-suite. Too much wine only made matters worse but, at times, better. Belle worried about Lexie's reaction to her dreadful ordeal, but especially how distressed she was to hear about Annaliese. Now they both carried the dreadful memory. Lexie insisted she was fine, but after tucking her slightly drunk and exhausted sister into bed, Belle lay on top of the covers and cuddled her until she heard the soft breath of sleep. She eased herself off the bed and tiptoed out, quietly closing the door.

Belle showered in the guest bathroom to wash away the tension before going in search of Kabe. Feeling pleasantly tipsy-warm-and-fuzzy, she wrapped a towel around herself and, carrying her clothes, crept into his unit. Moonlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling doors and windows of the open-plan living areas. Down the hallway a dim glow was coming through an open door; assuming it was Kabe's bedroom she headed towards it.

The moment she entered, his gentle eyes met hers.

Bare-chested, tanned and beautiful, Kabe lay stretched out on his bed, a cool, white sheet barely covering his manly attributes. God, he looked amazing.

‘Hey, Babe,' he murmured, switching off the TV then tossing the remote.

‘Hey,' she replied.

There was a long pause where he said nothing and his compassionate look didn't change. Then a tender smile eased into his face. He rolled off the bed and, buck naked, headed straight for her.

Eyes riveted on his stunning physique, Belle buckled at the knees and braced herself with a hand on the wall.

Oh my God!

He slowly brought his hands up her arms to her neck, and paused to feel her skin with his fingers before he slid them up into her wet hair, bunching it. Taking his time, he dipped his head. She slid her hands around his waist, up his back to his shoulders, luxuriating in every dip and curve of his muscles.

His eyes searched hers. ‘You've been crying,' he whispered and, as if he could wipe away the bitter memories, he tenderly kissed each eyelid. ‘You feel broken, crazed, bits of you everywhere.'

Stomach in knots, Belle stared at him, wondering how he could read her so well.

‘Not grounded, not centred.' The wicked but sweet smile that Kabe was so good at appeared. ‘I can put all your broken bits back together … if you'll let me.'

An arousing tingle washed through her body. ‘Kiss me,' she whispered, ‘it's been a long wait.'

‘Technically …' he began as he dipped his head closer.

‘Shut up and kiss me.' Belle tugged her towel loose and flung it aside.

Lazily, Kabe feasted his eyes on her, then he moved in, hips and erection pressing into her belly, her hard nipples against his chest. One hand slowly snaked around her waist, the other slid up her back and into her hair. He grasped it, tilted her head back, and, voice rumbling against her mouth, said, ‘I can do that … and more.' With care and, it seemed, the need to savour this moment, his mouth slowly eased onto hers. His tender kiss drove all negative thoughts from her head.

The last vision Belle had before she closed her eyes was the subdued light bathing his tanned, broad chest.

‘Belle …' Kabe's eyes searched hers, ‘you okay with this?' His deep velvet voice slid straight to her luscious place, filling her with delicious need, making her wet.

‘Yes,' she replied, her voice rough. To prove she was ready, she slid her mouth along his jaw to his ear, sucking on the lobe, then curled her finger around his wrist, placed his hand on her belly and slid it down, down between her thighs. He moaned into her mouth and slipped his fingers into the wet folds. She gasped, rocked her hips and pressed harder against his fingers. His thumb rolled over her slick clit.

‘Babe,' Kabe breathed, his voice husky with need, ‘you are so ready for me.' He slipped two fingers inside her.

She arched her back, thrust her hips forward and cried out with the pleasure he gave her.

His free hand slowly caressed her breast then moved to the small of her back, putting pressure the, pulling her into him.

Sliding her hand down his abdomen she wrapped her fingers around his shaft, and holding tight, she pumped; he groaned then nipped her lip before capturing her mouth again.

‘Kabe …' she whispered, sounding urgent.

Without taking his mouth off hers, he slid his hand away from between her thighs and pulling his hips back he forced her to let him go.

Belle protested, a whimper escaping her throat. ‘Don't stop … no, no, don't stop.'

‘I want to taste you,' Kabe replied, voice husky with need.

One hand slid up and around her back while the other went behind her knees. He lifted her up, strode to his bed and gently placed her there.

He hurried into the bathroom, and she heard the rustle of foil. Belle's body hummed with expectation as she watched Kabe gracefully move to the end of the bed. Astonished, she raised herself onto her elbows: his big but gentle hands were caressing her feet. He kissed her arches, her ankles, and then ran his hands up her legs to her inner thighs, easing them apart. His mouth and tongue followed, softly sucking, licking, slowly closing on his target. Belle gasped, arched her back and gripped the sheets in her fists. His skilful mouth on her clit knew how to kiss her there, his tongue dipping inside then coming back to slide up her swollen lips.

‘Kabe …' Belle, sounding desperate but unable to stop from rolling her hips, gripped his hair and tried to pull him up. ‘I want you inside me.'

She could feel him smile then groan with satisfaction; the vibration of his voice against her clit sent her to the edge; then he slid a finger inside her and there it was—she arched her back and cried out with the longest, most beautifully intense orgasm she'd ever experienced.

‘Oh God … Kabe!' Belle grabbed his hair and pulled him up to her mouth. She ran her hands down his shoulders and felt his body tremble. She rolled him over; now she was on top.

‘Belle …' he sounded surprised, and on the edge of laughter.

She took a moment to savour his body. Hands on his six-pack, she pushed back, sliding her bottom along his thighs, took hold of his beautiful erection and, positioning herself over him, eased down until Kabe filled her. Belle's lingering orgasm clutched at his cock and made their connection exquisite.