Free Outback Sunset by Lynne Wilding Page B

for several seconds, trying to gauge the other’s reactions.
    Bren cleared the huskiness from his throat before he said, ‘I could take a lot of that.’
    Brown eyes sparkled with mischief, and something deeper, more mysterious. ‘And I’m pleased to oblige,’ she said, and promptly kissed him back.
    The barge, not being steered competently, edged towards and bumped against the side of the canal.
    ‘Damn,’ Bren muttered half under his breath. He let Vanessa go so he could correct the barge’s course. ‘Too many distractions on deck.’
    Smiling, Vanessa gave him a mock salute. ‘Yes, Captain, I’ll go below decks, Captain. Keep your eye out for that village. We’ll put in there for lunch and supplies.’
    Over a light lunch then shopping at a market nearby for basic supplies — bread, milk, cereals, juice — Vanessa’s mind wandered. All she could think of since they’d kissed on deck was — that kiss! How it affected her, what her expectations were, what his might be.
    Increasingly, she was finding Bren Selby very attractive; she was too honest with herself to deny that. But, she had to ask herself the question, how far did the sexual attraction go? After David, she had become apprehensive about allowing a romantic situation to get out of hand. She didn’t think she could bear to be hurt again. But then she found herself tallying Bren’s good points, looking for negatives and not finding any. Their budding romance was … perfect. They enjoyed each other’s company and while he’d made no sexual demands,she knew from his hastily masked expressions and the tension in him that such thoughts dominated. It was almost as if he didn’t want to spoil the perfection of their courting, if she could use such an old-fashioned term, by taking their relationship to a deeper level.
    And the depth of her feelings for him had been tested when he’d left London for two days and nights, to inspect a breeding bull at a farm in Lancashire. She had been miserable
and
conscious that something important was missing in her life. She had been unable to think about anything other than his return and the welcome back dinner she’d planned for him.
    Perhaps … the thought crossed her mind as they made their way back through misty rain to the barge with the groceries, and Sandy jumping at their heels, it was up to her to make the first move for both of them.
    After stowing the groceries in the compact, functional gallery, Bren was about to don an oilskin, start the motor and cast off when Vanessa closed the hatch and drew the bolt. She turned towards him. ‘No need to rush. The rain will last for an hour or so, and the next lock is less than an hour away.’
    ‘Okay, I’ll see what’s on the telly.’
    ‘You can,’ she agreed, ‘but …’ She walked up to him and faced him. Her brown eyes stared into his. ‘Telly isn’t the only activity one can indulge in below decks.’
    His eyebrows shot up in surprise at her not very subtle suggestion, and his Adam’s apple wobbled nervously when he swallowed. The smile sheradiated contained a mixture of allure and invitation as her fingers found the top button of his shirt and prised it open. And then … her fingers slid inside to stroke his bare chest.
    Bren wasn’t slow on the uptake. His arms came around her and drew her close, the fingers of one hand tilting her chin up. Unerringly, his lips found hers and she felt a shuddering sigh go through him as his arms tightened around her. As she surrendered mentally and physically to the magic of the moment, she was aware that the attraction between them was spiralling out of control but she was beyond caring.
    His lips were warm and firm, his questing tongue knowledgeable and curious as it delved into her warm, responsive mouth and found a sensual match. Their breathing grew ragged as they pressed together, closer and closer, hands and fingertips exploring each other’s body. Both eager for greater intimacy, they began to undress