Free Hidden Fire by Alexis Fleming Page A

back to Brisbane and get out of my hair.”
    â€œGiven she’s in the back of the truck, I’d say she beat you at your own game, eh?”
    He snorted. “Damn fool woman had her own vehicle and she followed me. Some dinky little toy car. I ended up having to fetch her ass out of the creek before the floodwaters washed her away. Seems like nothing was going to stop her coming up here.”
    â€œNot surprised.” He waggled a finger at Morgan. “Unfinished business, son. Old Grandmother told you she’d come. Just ‘cause we got English names now don’t mean we forget the old ways.”
    The old Aborigine nodded at the truck. “ Gili lubra gonna be important. Best you see to her. Don’t let her leave this place. She’s needed here.”
    â€œNa-uh. Not happening, Charlie. I wouldn’t trust her as far as I could throw her. Better you take her across to Winton and dump her on a plane back to Brisbane. Get her out of my way.” And out of my mind.
    â€œAnd if she don’t wanna go?”
    â€œTough.” Morgan stood and stretched the kinks from his back. It had been a long night. He glanced across at the horizon. With a bit of luck, he’d get an hour’s sleep before he headed out to the mine.
    After he got Gili settled. He couldn’t very well leave her in the truck.
    Charlie climbed to his feet and retreated to the shadow of the veranda. “You want me to ask the missus to get a room fixed for Gili lubra ?”
    â€œNo need. Bed’s already turned down.” Narri, Charlie’s wife, clomped along the timber decking.
    When she was close enough, she reached out to give Morgan a hug. “Good to see you back where you belong. Now you bring the missy in and put her in the far bedroom. Door to the veranda is open.” She turned and shuffled away, Charlie at her side.
    Morgan breathed a sigh of relief that Narri had chosen the bedroom at the other end of the homestead. He wasn’t certain he’d get any rest with Gili right next door.
    Opening the rear compartment, he climbed in and squatted beside Gili. She was still sound asleep, fists curled under her cheek like a small child. Grabbing the handbag he’d rescued from her vehicle and looping it over his arm, he slid his hands beneath her and lifted her up, cradling her against his chest.
    â€œMorgan?”
    He hugged her closer and slid from the vehicle. “Shh, go back to sleep, Gili,” he whispered.
    She snuggled against him, the fingers of one hand brushing against his chin. Sensation poured through him, his body reacting to the feel of her in his arms. Silently cursing his overactive libido, he gritted his teeth and strode across to the house. His footsteps beat time with the thump of his heart as he carried her through the open French doors and into the bedroom Narri had prepared.
    He laid her on the bed and she immediately rolled to her side. The t-shirt he’d loaned her slid up over her hip to expose lacy scarlet panties. The smallest pair of bikini panties he’d ever seen, without being called a thong.
    A groan caught in his throat. He bit it back with an effort. His cock twitched and let him know in no uncertain terms that despite the sleepless night, it was wide awake and ready for action.
    Dropping her bag on the floor beside the bed, he reached out a shaky hand and ran the tip of one finger up her thigh, from the knee to the lace band of her panties. Gili mumbled in her sleep and rolled onto her back, her legs restless as if she sensed his touch. Her hands slid down her body and came to rest low on her stomach.
    He pulled back with a jump. His throat went dry and his pulse pounded as he fought the impulse to remove her hands and replace them with his. He wanted to caress the slight rise of her belly, and toy with the red-gold curls he could see through the lace of her underwear. Without his mind giving the order, he reached out, then stopped himself