Free Unstitched by Jacquie Underdown Page B

want you to give me up.’
    I stared into his eyes, now alight with pleasure. He stepped closer, wrapping me in his body heat. His face edged towards mine and my heart fluttered, body silently screaming at me to kiss him. But just as I could taste his scent on my tongue, he shook his head, straightened, and rolled his shoulders back.
    ‘So how is your head this morning?’ he asked.
    What the…? I wanted to grab him by the scruff of that amazing jumper and drag his lips down to mine. And then I remembered why he hesitated — our “take-it-easy” agreement. Damn, stupid agreement.
    ‘A little sore,’ I eventually answered.
    ‘Not the best way to end our first date.’
    ‘No, especially after it was going so well.’
    He grinned. ‘So you enjoyed yourself?’
    ‘Yes. Every part of it. Except for the kitchen incident — the head banging part that is — the kissing part was fantastic.’
    He laughed. ‘So how would you feel about a second date? Today?’
    I opened my mouth, tried to speak, but flapped around like a fish instead. Finally I managed, ‘I’d like that.’

Chapter 11
    Lucas
    Mooloolaba, a beachside town an hour out from Brisbane, burnished by sand, salt and endless sunshine. Today was an especially warm winter day — one ragged white cloud hung in the cornflower blue sky.
    I parked outside a little side-street takeaway and bought a paper bag of fish and chips. I clasped Anthea’s hand and we walked to the esplanade — one side was boutique shops and restaurants, the other was blond sand and the blue-green Pacific Ocean.
    We sat, shoulders touching, at a timber table on the faded beige boardwalk. The view was all the way up the beach. A few tourists dared to swim and surfers flocked around the modest waves. The air caressed our faces and ran salty fingers through our hair.
    Swapping smiles and small-talk, we ate with our fingers.
    I finished my mouthful and grinned. ‘What did you want to be when you grew up?’
    Anthea shrugged. ‘Geez, tough question. I don’t know. I was always one of those kids who never knew what they wanted to be. Even now, I don’t know what I want to do.’
    ‘But you’re in P.R.’
    She shrugged. ‘Yeah, I am. I’m just kinda doing it because that’s what I fell into after uni.’
    ‘You like it though?’
    She nodded. ‘Yeah. I like it. What about you? What did you want to be?’
    I shrugged. ‘Maybe a builder.’
    ‘Ah, the dream of many young boys,’ Anthea said.
    I laughed. ‘Yeah.’
    ‘Why a builder?’
    ‘My father.’ Unexpected sadness pressed upon my heart mentioning him — heavy. ‘He would take me onto building sites when I was young. It amazed me how all these people could create such incredible structures out of what was essentially dirt and rubble.’
    ‘Why didn’t you pursue that path?’
    ‘I fell in love.’
    Anthea frowned and looked away. ‘Right.’
    I laughed. ‘I fell in love with music, Anthy. It’s in my veins. I couldn’t avoid the inevitable.’
    Her cheeks reddened¸ which made me laugh even louder. ‘I love your reactions.’
    ‘I’ve noticed. Glad I can provide you with comic relief.’
    I reached for her hand and thread our fingers. Her skin was warm and soft. ‘Your reactions are honest. You can’t hide them behind words, and that’s what I like. I get to see the real you.’ I leant closer and kissed her. My lips still brushing against her warm, sweet lips, I whispered, ‘I want to know every last part of you.’ And I meant it. Every last inch.
    She breathed in deeply and caught my lips between hers. I had to take it slow with Anthea — some part of her was vulnerable. But she felt so good. Her tongue found mine, eager, and slid warm into my mouth. Oh, hell, she tasted good, too. I wrapped my arms around her, drawing her closer. She sighed softly against my mouth and my cock swelled tight with pleasure. How easy she could do that to me — affect me physically, reach me on the inside. I fisted my hand in