Free Water and Fire by Demelza Carlton Page B

Bel," he murmured
before he kissed me.
    After some minutes, when all
too soon we broke for breath, Aidan took the shirt from my hand.
"You should put this on, or I won't be able to keep my hands off
you." He helped me pull it over my head to cover my bra, before
curling his hands around me again.
    "Does it help?" I asked with a
smile.
    Aidan's expression wavered for
a moment before he replied, "No. I know what's under your shirt and
I can't stop thinking about them. I'll just have to try to restrain
myself."
    My laughter bubbled up and out,
at the sheer determination in the man's expression. "It's all
right," I said suddenly, realising as I stared at his shirt. "I'll
be restraining myself from stroking your chest, too."
    Both of us laughing now, Aidan
folded me into a more-than-welcome hug.
    "Ah, Bel," he whispered,
touching his lips to my hair. "You should get some pants on so we
can go, or we'll be here like this all day."
    We exchanged a lengthy glance
as we undoubtedly shared the thought that an all-day embrace was
hardly undesirable.
    "You'll really like the
whiskeys and the food's good, too," Aidan said half-heartedly.
    My stomach made its presence
known with an obscene gurgle.
    "Ah, don't let me be so
selfish, keeping you from eating lunch when you're hungry. Here."
He reached over and snagged my jeans from the bed. "Put these on
and some shoes and we'll go."
    Reluctantly, I pulled the jeans
on and fastened them, slipping my feet into my shoes so I'd be
ready.
    I took a quick glance at my
reflection and realised what I'd forgotten. "Wait. I just need to
brush my hair."

34
     
    Time turned tangled seaweed to
smooth satin that Aidan wanted to stroke. Instead of restraining my
hair as I normally would in a knotted bun or braid, I left it loose
down my back.
    As if I needed more
encouragement, Aidan kept murmuring, "Beautiful. Just beautiful,
Bel," each time he reached out to touch my curtain of hair.
    "Do I look okay?" I asked,
concerned.
    Aidan looked me up and down as
I scrutinised his clothing. He wore the same as me – jeans and a
shirt, covered by a thick jacket. I cinched the belt of my coat
tighter around my waist, avoiding the intensity of his gaze. His
scrutiny still made me feel nervous.
    "Like I keep saying, you're
beautiful, Bel. No one will notice I'm there, if I walk in with
you." Aidan held out his hand and I took it. "Let me drive. That
way, you can drink as much as you like and I'll make sure you get
home. Well, to my home, at least."
    We headed out to his car. The
seats still smelled of salt from my soaking yesterday.
    We encountered no kangaroos on
the drive, though the birds seemed out in force, fluttering through
the watery sunlight filtering through the trees that lined the
road.
    He slid the Mini into the last
spot in the parking lot. I hesitated, looking around, wondering how
many of the townspeople would be inside the Distillery
building.
    Aidan's arm snaked around my
waist, clamping me to his side. "It's all right, Bel. There'll
still be plenty of food and whiskey left."
    Still uneasy, I walked stiffly
inside with him.
    The room was packed. Bar
stools, tables, chairs and sofas were all occupied by people. A
fire rippled like a wave in the heater, flickering orange and blue
through the sooty glass, and the room burbled with conversation and
laughter. There was no place for us, except at the tables on the
veranda, in the cold air outside.
    I slipped from Aidan's embrace.
"I'll go find us a table," I said, gesturing toward the
veranda.
    He nodded, pressing his lips
together as if he was trying to squash unsaid words or laughter
between them. "I'll get you a drink. Anything particular you'd like
to eat?" He waved his hand at the menu.
    I shrugged. "I don't mind.
Whatever looks good." I meant it, too. With so many people around,
I wasn't sure I'd taste a bite. I'd be watching them too warily,
wondering and worrying and wishing I wasn't part of such a
crowd.
    I crossed to the veranda door
and found a