Leading Hand (The Dusty Rider Series Book 2) Read online

  He leans close, letting his hot breath tease against my neck. “I’m not telling you what it is. You’ll have to be patient and wait until after dinner.”

  I roll my eyes.

  Still close to my skin, he seduces me with each breath. “How will I ever get you to take your time and just let things happen when they’re meant to?”

  CHAPTER THREE

  I’M HARDLY ABLE to control my curiosity about what the surprise may be. Knowing Aiden, it could be anything, and my body tingles in anticipation.

  When I finish my shower, I go downstairs to find wine waiting on the table.

  Aiden strolls in from the kitchen, wiping his hands on a tea towel. He picks up both glasses and hands me one.

  I breathe in its fruity aroma and take a sip, letting the honeysuckle flavours linger on my palate.

  He goes into the kitchen to get our plates.

  I try to be patient, but it’s near impossible to sit still.

  Maybe more of the wine will help keep my curiosity at bay?

  Aiden brings back two plates with pork chops in some sort of creamy sauce. The scent of pepper hits my nose, intensifying my appetite.

  Aiden refills my glass.

  Taking a bite, the exquisite flavour crosses my tongue, tantalising my taste buds as I detect a hint of brandy. “Aiden, this is delish. I can’t believe you can cook like this.”

  “I enjoy cooking, and I like to experiment with whatever I make now. I’m sure you can imagine how tasteless everything was the last few years.”

  Trying to picture the food Aiden would have eaten in jail, reminds me how much he has been through, and yet he remains so strong and put together. It’s hard to imagine what it would be like to be deprived for so long of so many simple pleasures.

  It makes sense why he wants to taste and savour everything he can, including me. Could the surprise be a delicious dessert? Or maybe his body is my dessert? Hmmm, if I hurry, I’ll get to the surprise sooner.

  Aiden tries to slow me down. “You know, inhaling your food will have consequences.” He winks at me from across the table, taking a bite and deliberately chewing slowly. “I’ll make you wait longer.”

  I raise my eyebrows and push my bottom lip outward.

  He shakes his head and laughs. “No need to pout. Those lips of yours, though irresistible, won’t change my mind.”

  I shrug. “It was worth a try.”

  “How do I get you to stop being in such a hurry?” He stops to cut a piece of meat on his plate. Grinning, he looks back at me and speaks with a husky tone. “I thought you were finally getting it, but maybe you aren’t? Am I going to have to start punishing you to help you learn?”

  My insides tighten and the heat inside me starts to simmer. “I think that depends on what kind of punishment you had in mind?”

  Raising one eyebrow, he smirks. “I have a few ideas that might work, but I’m not telling you what they are. I’d rather let you experience them.”

  I drink a mouthful, eyeing Aiden over the top of my glass. Relaxing back in my seat, I contemplate his words, swirling the remaining liquid.

  How I wish you could read my mind. I’m sure any punishment you could dish out, I would enjoy.

  “Enjoying that Verdelho?”

  “You mean the wine?”

  He nods.

  “It’s good. A bit sweet, but still good. Aren’t you having any?”

  “I don’t like drinking every night.”

  Smirking, I tease. “Trying to keep your figure?”

  “Ha! Very funny.” He shakes his head and cuts another bite. “You love to play, don’t you?”

  “With you, of course.” Taking another sip, the warmth of the liquid courses through my body, tingling all the way down to my toes.

  “What I was going to say before you tried to distract me, is that the Verdelho is from a winery in Queensland, near the Bunya mountains. I thought I could take you there sometime.” He eyes my almost empty glass. “And on the way, we could go for a tasting at that winery.”

  “That sounds fun. I’ve not seen much of Queensland. Only Brisbane, Noosa and the Whitsundays.” My mind flashes back to when I was in Noosa with Tom and how he made me feel like such a fool that weekend.

  Why did so many men humiliate me or make me feel as though I only exist for their pleasure or entertainment? Lucky for me, Aiden is different.

  “I’m sure you’ll see lots of the state hanging around me.” He pours the last of the wine into my glass.

  Finishing the last of my food, I lean back and relax in my chair.

  Aiden continues to eat his food at a sluggish pace.

  I wish I could get him to eat faster. But I know any effort to do so would be futile.

  Glancing downward, he cuts a piece of meat. “What things did you like doing when you were growing up?”

  I pause, unsure how to answer. I’ve hardly ever been asked about myself or my opinion by anyone in years. “I don’t know.”

  “Yes, you do. There had to be something you enjoyed doing.”

  I remember what it was like for me as a little girl. Always being told to act a certain way or be a certain way. I can almost hear my parents’ saying their demands. “Act like a lady. Dress like a lady. Girls don’t play in the mud. Only speak when spoken to.”

  Stifling rules and boundaries never allowed me to do what I wanted to do. The only thing I can recall getting excited to do was playing golf. But then that was ruined, too.

  I bite at my fingernail. “I spent a few summers playing golf, going from tournament to tournament.”

  “Do you still play?”

  “No.”

  “Why did you stop?”

  I shrug, gripping the stem of my glass. “I didn’t bring my clubs when I moved to Australia, so I just stopped.”

  “Why didn’t you get a set here?”

  “I don’t know. Tom didn’t play so there was no point.” Looking at my fingernails, I try to avoid thinking back to that time. I’m not sure I’m ready to go into my history with Aiden. It’s too soon to talk about the part of my life that changed everything. So, instead, I give him the excuse I have given countless others for years. “I had to play so much in high school that it was nice to take a break from it.”

  Aiden nods. “Makes sense. Ever miss it?”

  “Every once in a while.”

  “If I happen to come across a set of clubs, do you think you’d like to try it again? You can hit in one of the paddocks, and we could go play a round when we’re near a course.”

  Do I want to play again? It would be nice to have something to do out here and it has been a while since I’ve swung a club. But has it been long enough to keep that hurt buried deep inside?

  I bite my lip. “Have you ever played golf?”

  “A couple of times, but I didn’t know what I was doing. Maybe you could teach me some things.”

  “Maybe.”

  “But you didn’t answer my question.”

  I furrow my brow. “What question?”

  “Do you want to play if I find some clubs?”

  “I guess I could.”

  Nodding, he studies my expression. “You always evade my questions when I ask what you like or what you want.”

  I look down at the table and scratch at a mark that catches my eye, but he does not let me off the hook so easily.

  “Tell me why you do that, Holly.”

  I glance at him, rubbing my fingers against my neck. “I don’t know. I guess I’m not used to talking about myself.”

  “Don’t be afraid to talk to me. I’m not going to judge you.”

  I narrow my gaze back down at the mark on the table. Everyone judges, Aiden.

  His tone softens as he leans close to the table, resting on his elbow. “How can I judge anyone after what I’ve done?” He drops his chin, attempting to meet my gaze.

  I peek upward into those sparkling blues.

  “I love you and I’m not going to stop. I’m yours until you tel
l me you don’t want me in your life anymore.”

  It’s hard to keep looking into his eyes when he says things like that, but I don’t dare break my gaze.

  He stares straight at me, all the way into my soul. “You shouldn’t expect that everyone is going to hurt you.”

  I shift in my seat. If you only knew, Aiden. Everyone hurts me sooner or later.

  “I’m sorry if I’ve made you uncomfortable.”

  I shake my head. “It’s okay. I know you mean well.”

  “I want to see you happy and free of whatever it is that’s holding you back from being your true self.”

  I squeeze my lips shut.

  How does this man know me better than I know myself? It’s unnerving.

  Using his napkin, he wipes a bit of sauce from the corner of his mouth. “So, since you don’t play golf anymore, what would you do in your free if you could do anything you wanted?

  I snort at the idea. “Free time? I’m not sure I’ve had much of that.”

  “You did. You probably just didn’t realise you had any.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “When I lived in the city, everyone was always saying they didn’t have any time. And to be honest, I probably said the same thing while I was living there. But I bet if I had put my phone down or gotten off my computer, I would have had tons of free time.”

  I clear my throat to buy some time, letting his statement sink in. “That’s an interesting way to look at it. I probably did waste too much time staring at a screen.” My voice cracks as I continue. “A certain other person I knew spent way too much time on their phone.”

  “Ah, you mean Tom?”

  I close my eyes and shake the memory of him away. “Yes, but I don’t want to talk about that right now.”

  “That’s fine, but I hope you know you can tell me anything.”

  “I know.”

  “About your free time, though, I want to make sure you have whatever it is you need to be happy.”

  I steeple my hands over my empty plate. “I probably would do more reading, painting or maybe sculpting.”

  He raises his finger to his lips. “All right, so I definitely have books for you here. But, if you like to paint or sculpt, then I want to get you whatever you need to do it here. I want you to learn to enjoy a slower paced life.”

  His words blur as I try to stay focused. A warm fuzzy feeling spreads through my entire body as I grow more and more tipsy.

  Getting drunk on romance perhaps?

  Aiden tilts his head to the side. “You, okay?”

  My words run together as I speak. “I think I’ve had too much to drink.”

  Drumming his fingers on the table, he smiles seductively. “That’s okay. It’ll work well with what I have planned. You ready?”

  I almost forgot about the surprise with all this chitchat!

  My insides scream with delight. “I’m always ready for you, Aiden.”

  “Okay, wait here for a moment.” Standing up, Aiden takes our plates to the kitchen.

  A few minutes later, he returns to the table, pulls out my chair and helps me stand up.

  Guiding me through the house and up the stairs, we stop outside one of the spare bedrooms.

  He opens the door.

  Before me, I find the bed covered in flower petals.

  Walking me across the room, he stops and lights some candles that are waiting on the bedside tables.

  Oh, no! Please tell me he’s not going to drip hot wax on me. I don’t think I could handle that sort of thing again. It was awful enough when Tom tried to ‘surprise’ me in that manner.

  I bite my lip trying to contain my nervousness.

  His face tenses. “Something wrong?”

  Stumbling through my thoughts, the words come out sounding like gibberish. “I, uhh, actually, umm, what is this you have planned?”

  “I wanted to give you a massage. Nothing else.”

  Fireworks explode throughout my body.

  Oh, thank God. No hot wax situation to worry about.

  He grabs my hand and pulls me close. He takes my shirt by the bottom hem. “Lift up your arms.” He slips my shirt off before kissing my neck.

  As I get lost in his delicious taste, he reaches around and removes my bra. With one hand and in one go.

  Those long fingers never have trouble getting my clothes off.

  While his mouth explores my neck, I reach up and run my fingers through his dark hair. The silky softness invites me to keep stroking, entangling myself further into him.

  His hands find their way to my shorts and panties. Latching his fingers around both, he tugs them off.

  Hooking his arms around my hips, he pulls me closer, but stops short, not allowing me to make contact with his body.

  Breaking out kiss, he gazes into my eyes. “Holly, this is about you tonight. Not me.”

  My eyes light up. “What about taking care of you later?”

  “Don’t worry about later. This is about you, not me. Come lay down on the bed face down.”

  Is he serious? I don’t think I’ve ever been with a man where it’s focused only on me. Surely, he’ll want his piece of me later, and with the magic of his touch against my skin, I’ll be more than happy to give in to him.

  I lie naked on the bed, burying my face in the downy pillow.

  Taking a deep breath, I notice the soothing scent of lavender.

  I can’t believe those strong hands are going to caress and rub all over me. Tom never had time to do this for me even if I begged. There were too many times I had to go to the spa to get a massage when I just wanted my husband to give me one.

  Aiden positions himself below my legs. A gentle sloshing sound echoes in the room as he rubs his hands with oil.

  Taking a breath, I try to stay calm when his strong hands make contact with my bare feet.

  One at a time, he kneads each foot.

  Thumbs rub firmly across the balls of my feet, and the sensation takes me into the clouds, closer to heaven.

  Alternating between soft and hard pressure, his fingers and palms float across my skin. His hot, slippery touch sends a quiver through my body, each muscle relenting, going slack within his hands.

  It is as though my body is slowly filling with a warm, cosy liquid, forcing me to unwind.

  And to think he is only on my feet.

  Taking his time, he moves up my calves, his solid hands gliding around my skin effortlessly. Cupping his hand around the muscle, he runs his slick fingertips around the sides of my legs.

  I melt beneath his touch like a stick of butter while the tranquil scent has hypnotised me into an almost coma-like state. As he rubs further up my hamstrings, I’m keenly aware of the throbbing sensation building between my legs.

  Caressing higher up my legs, my feet curl in anticipation as those fingers near my aching sweet spot.

  He must feel my muscles tense. “Relax, Holly. This is not about sex. This is about helping you unwind and me wanting to touch all of you.”

  I lift my head and try to turn around. One of his oiled hands stops me, pressing me back down against the bed.

  He sighs. “Would you normally interrupt someone massaging you? You know I’ll keep going and going until you finally relax.”

  Does he think that’s a threat?

  Increasing the pressure on my thighs, he moves his hands higher, circling around my hamstrings, purposely sliding right past the spot where I’m longing to be touched.

  Disappointed, I whimper into the pillow.

  So close, yet so far.

  Aiden ignores my plea and begins to rub my glutes using the full width of his palms.

  Fingers glide across my skin as he moves and straddles across my legs. His full hands mould and shape my flesh in sync.

  OMG!

  I give in to it and relax.

  As he massages, he speaks with a low, raspy voice. “I’ve wanted to sit and touch every inch of your body since the moment I first laid eyes on you.” He p
auses. “When you’re in prison, you miss not being able to hold a woman’s soft skin in your hands.”

  I lift my head, but he gently pushes me back down onto the pillow.

  “No need for conversation. Just relax and enjoy the sensation of my fingers against your skin.”

  Sliding across muscles, he manipulates my flesh like a sculptor working with malleable clay. His hands are magic sending me into an alternate reality.

  As he rubs my shoulders, he leans closer, kissing the back of my neck, dragging his stubbled chin deliciously against my skin.

  The sensation stirs up my insides. My body wakes as enthusiasm grows between my legs.

  His full lips linger against my skin.

  I lean backward, hoping to get more of his body to touch me.

  He whispers a soft command. “Turn over.”

  He moves off me, while I gladly roll over, waiting for those magic hands to work the front of my body.

  Moving onto his knees, he straddles my thighs. Grabbing more oil, he generously rubs across my stomach, moving towards my chest.

  Inhaling the fresh herbal scent, I try to remain calm as the fervour inside me grows hotter and hotter.

  Sliding his hands across each breast, he continues rubbing, kneading, sculpting the fire deep within me.

  I whimper, attempting to control the urge I have to scream ‘take me now’. I open my eyes and find Aiden intently focused on where his hands are.

  Without meeting my gaze, his lips curl in a provocative smile. “Close your eyes.”

  Is this just a massage or is he planning more? Please give me more, Aiden.

  He repositions himself, so his back is facing me.

  Those oiled palms find their way back onto my legs. Rubbing slowly upwards, fingers glide up over my knees.

  Unable to contain myself any longer, I reach out and press my hand against him, trying with all my might to force him downwards. But he’s too strong and I can’t make him do what I want him to do.

  Not saying a word, he continues to massage, sculpting my desire.

  I arch my back, forcing my stomach up against his legs. But my efforts fail. I can’t get him to move those hands where I am aching to be touched.

  Aiden continues to slide oiled palms and fingers around my flesh, ignoring my subtle pleas.

  I make one last attempt. Spreading my legs wider, I open myself to him, but his legs abruptly clamp mine closed.