Page 86 of Outback Secrets

Concern filled Liam’s face. ‘You okay? Is it your ankle?’

She nodded.

‘Do you want to stop?’

She glared at him. ‘Don’t ask stupid questions, just take off your own bloody shorts.’

Not needing to be asked twice, he yanked them off and his boxers as well and … Wow! Of course, she’d seen him shirtless before, but being this close, and knowing that right now his beautiful body was hers to do with as she pleased made her even hotter than she already was.

She wanted to taste him like he’d tasted her, but didn’t trust her ankle not to ruin things, so instead she wrapped her fingers back around his erection and started to play.

Liam leaned against the pillows and closed his eyes and, as she moved her hand, she watched the expression on his face go from anticipation to ecstasy. It had to be one of the most beautiful things she’d ever seen.

‘Henrietta!’ he gasped as she felt him start to twitch. He grabbed her wrist. ‘Enough. I want to finish this inside you.’

He turned and retrieved a condom from his bedside table, then positioned himself above her and sank right on down, giving them both exactly what they wanted.

And yes, it was a little awkward with her ankle, but he was careful and tender, making her feel like the most precious thing on earth.

‘How’s your ankle?’ he asked when they finally caught their breath.

‘Never been better. How’s your lip?’

‘Absolute agony, but it was absolutely worth it.’

Hours later, Henri woke to the sound of her phone beeping with a text message. She glanced around Liam’s bedroom. There was no sign of him, Sheila, or the sun that had been blazing in through the windows when they’d returned from the farm. The window was open, and the warm, salty breeze wasn’t the only thing drifting into the room. She could also hear Liam’s signature rock music and the noise of his patrons chatting and laughing downstairs, not to mention smell something delicious wafting up from the kitchen.

Her stomach rumbled as she stretched across to grab her phone from the bedside table. Just like the first morning she’d woken up in his bed, it was right next to her, along with a bottle of water and a packet of painkillers, although this time the painkillers were for a different reason. Leaning against the wall right next to the bedside table were her crutches and overnight bag. He was so bloody thoughtful.

Smiling, she glanced at the screen and shrieked at the message that flashed up at her.

How’s things upstairs, sleeping beauty?

Henri snorted and texted a reply.

How’d you get my number?

Face recognition worked while you were sleeping, and I sent a message to myself.

Before she could decide whether she should be annoyed by that, another message was incoming.

Anyway, answer the question. Do you like cheese?

Who doesn’t like cheese?

Good answer. What about bacon?

Same as cheese.

And beetroot?

I’m ambivalent about beetroot but you’re making me hungry.

Henri waited for a reply, but when almost two minutes passed and none came, she struggled out of bed and hobbled into the bathroom. As much as she loathed the crutches, she wasn’t about to do anything silly that might set back her recovery, so for the next week, she and these two wooden aids would have to make a truce.

She decided she might as well take a quick shower. Balancing on one leg, she carefully removed the bandage, turned on the taps—not too hot, following doctor’s orders—and then frowned. She couldn’t exactly hop into the shower. With the wet tiles that would be asking for trouble. But could she use her crutches in water?

Ah, to hell with it.Wood dried, didn’t it?