Mrs R (Mrs R & Mr V #1) (53 page)

“Hmm; go on.”

“Well, over the past few months I’ve learnt that just because
my husband died, it doesn’t mean I will ever feel less about him. I will always
carry Nate with me in my heart and my love for him will never diminish -
nothing can change that, but the life we shared is part of my past now and I
have had to learn to move on. It was either that or pretty much give up on
everything. I hope you never have to suffer the loss of someone so close
– but it takes everything from you Joe. You’ve heard of the expression
‘losing the will to live’ and I tell you that I understand that fully now.”

Rachel sighed and drunk her tea cupping the mug as if her life
depended on it. Her eyes were shiny but she refused to cry even though the pain
in her chest
 
grew tighter with each
revelation. “It took me a long time and a lot of convincing that being with
someone else wasn’t a betrayal. I have good friends to thank for that…and Luc.”

Joe stiffened on hearing Luc’s name. His shoulders became rigid
and a muscle ticked in his tightly clenched jaw.

“Are you sure you want to hear this Joe? I can tell you’re
already freaking out.”

Joe concentrated really hard on not reacting and focused his
gaze on the ceiling, leaning his head back into the soft cushions of the sofa.
Rachel slid one hand over his clenched fist and squeezed. He nodded and
quietly, she continued.

“The boy saved me Joe. Seriously, I think I would still be in a
funk if he hadn’t have come along at the time he did. I couldn’t see a way
forward; nothing was worth the effort or the pain. I spent months in the house
in the depths of depression. Some days I didn’t even leave my bed. I thought my
life was over. I only made an effort when the twins rang so they wouldn’t worry
so much, but then I drove everyone else away and even refused to see my
friends. I thought I had lost them all forever, but they were just giving me
the space I needed and keeping tabs on me through the twins. They are an amazing
bunch.”

Rachel stared blankly into space quelling the rising swell of
emotion as she recalled that very dark time in her recent past. Joe felt her
pain and his heart constricted at the thought of her in so much turmoil. “I
couldn’t find my way out from under my blanket of grief and loss until one day
Jess and Lucy turned up for the Easter Holidays and they brought their best
friend with them. And he turned out to be the one who brought me back to life.”

Rachel couldn’t help it then and silent tears ran tracks down
her face. She remembered Luc walking up her pathway and into her life like a
beacon in the raging storm that was her existence. Rachel wondered if she had
been heartlessly selfish but Luc had assured her it had been as amazing for him
as it was for her. A new and exciting experience for both of them that felt
right at the time. She was still incensed that Joe need her to justify their
affair and she tried to see things from his perspective, but she remained
thrilled and flattered and grateful for the gift that was Luc Vincent. In this
she would not concede. It would have to be enough for Joe that she had moved on
but she would never deny the impact that Luc had made in her life.

“No one knows except you and Karen. The girls don’t know and we
never want them to find out. It’s not that we feel guilty or have any regrets,
but it would change all our relationships and we didn’t want that; or more
specifically, I didn’t want that. They already lost one parent and I couldn’t
expect them to understand. Luc and I may be selfish in this matter but we are
both adamant that whatever happens in the future, it will be our secret
forever.”

Joe was as still as a mountain. His body was taut with tension
but he didn’t remove his hand from under Rachel’s and she thought perhaps this
was a positive sign.

“Luc was here for weeks and he was funny, patient, kind and
extremely beautiful to look at.” Joe huffed and ran his other hand through his
hair holding his fringe off his face so she could see his dark grey eyes. He
was such a handsome man he took her breath away but the troubled look on his
face distressed her. So much pain and it was her fault. She vowed to make this
right.

“We never intended for anything to happen but when it did it
was wonderful, Joe. So different to Nate, and so liberating. We had a huge
amount of fun; he made me laugh all the time but he was gentle too and very
gracious and humble. Nothing seemed to faze him and it astounded me that a boy
is age was so accepting. I was a bit out of control and pushing all my limits
and he was constantly there for me. I don’t want to disappoint you but Luc saw
me puke too!” She laughed at the memory of him covered in it outside the pub.
Then she blushed a deep crimson as an image of Luc looming tall and magnificent
above her while she knelt at his feet in the bushes just moments beforehand
flooded her mind.
 
Joe noticed and
sat forward gripping her hand.

“You always turn red when you talk about him.” It sounded like
an accusation.

“You’re jealous.” Rachel responded in surprise.

“Of Luc Vincent? I don’t think so sweetheart; he’s young enough
to be my son.”

“And mine…” She smiled at Joe full of understanding.

“Shit.”

“And there lies the problem…is it his age that bothers you
Joe?”

“No. Yes…I don’t know.” His hands were in his hair again.

“Listen Joe; I’m only going to have this conversation once. Luc
was there for me when I needed him; I took what I wanted and he gave it to me
willingly. He healed me and I love him for it. But that’s it. “

“He’s in love with you Rachel.” Joe blurted.

“I know and it kills me to think I’m hurting him. But he knew
it was never going to have any future; I never lied to him.”

Joe smirked at her. “He’s what 22, 23? He found his Mrs
Robinson for sure.”

“Don’t you fucking start with that crap.”

“Touched a nerve?” Joe gripped her chin so she had to look at
him.

“Don’t be nasty Joe. How old was your last date?”

“Fair point.” Joe leaned back into the couch and sighed in
defeat. Rachel was keen to move on now that she’d made her confession; Joe was
in her house; they were home alone and he loved her. It was high time they
focussed their energies on that and not her volatile past.

“Look – you asked me and I told you. I repeat, I have no
regrets except that I wish Luc hadn’t got so emotionally attached. How was I to
know he took a fucking picture of me? His pyscho ex-girlfriend used it to
blackmail him, but he sorted it. Luc thought I should know. He did the mature
thing by manning up and confessing while you just saw the photo and threw a
complete tantrum without allowing me to explain. I know I should have told you
earlier but you can be a bit unpredictable mate, so I was biding my time. “

“Clearly.”

Rachel was becoming decidedly pissed off with Joe’s unrelenting
bad attitude. Surely he couldn’t expect a woman in her forties not to have a
history.

“Being flippant doesn’t suit you and it’s rude. I’m not going
to apologise for sleeping with him, and I’ve tried to tell you how sorry I am
that I didn’t tell you sooner. This was definitely not the way I wanted you to
find out.” Feeling empowered now that all her secrets were out in the open and
she had nothing left to lose, Rachel moved to kneel between Joe’s legs. She
placed her hands on his thighs and shoved her face in his studying him as his
eyes darkened and his jaw ticked; his thoughts were clearly churning and for
the first time her resolve slipped as she watched his long strong fingers
fiddle with his beard.

“Shit!” She thought aware of the significance; Joe was making
his decision. Looking down at her under hooded eyes his voice was barely a
whisper. “Let me be absolutely clear on this Rachel Renton - that boy may have
fucked you all around this house baby, but it’s time to make some new
memories.”

He stood and pulled her up roughly, crushing her lips with his,
Joe kissed her hard forcing his tongue into her mouth. Rachel reacted the only
way she could and kissed him back with equal fervour clawing at him; running
her hands through his hair and looping her arms around his neck to try and get
closer. “Oh god Joe you taste so good.”

Joe groaned and pulled at her bottom lip with his teeth. “Need
you now Rachel. Fuck it’s been forever…” he bent down and swooped her up easily
into his arms strode off towards the stairs. He kissed her again and had to
stop several times as he bumped into walls and doorways; sent coffee tables and
ornaments flying and generally trashed the place in an effort to get to the
stairs. Rachel chuckled at his eagerness and the loss of his normally cool
demeanour.

“In your own time bossman!” Rachel quipped, and Joe rolled his
eyes at being teased. Finally they reached the top of the stairs where Joe came
to an abrupt halt.

“Your bed; not his.” Joe left no doubt by his gruff tone that
fucking in Luc’s room was not an option.

Rachel pointed in the general direction without turning her
head away from his throat, which she was licking and sucking; relishing in the
taste of him; in the smell of his skin.

Joe faltered as she hit a particularly sensitive spot. “Fuck;
you have to stop doing that or I’m not going to last, Rachel.”

He couldn’t believe it had only been two days since they’d last
been together; it felt like weeks and he was desperate to be inside of her;
claiming her as his own. It was a bit cave man even for him but he indulged
himself with a little retribution after hearing about Luc. The little brat was
never going to be his number one chum despite Luc’s bold declaration, but there
was no doubt Vincent wasn’t the bastard he’d accused him of being. It pained
him to admit, but, Rachel would never have had the confidence or courage to do
half of what she’d achieved in the few short weeks she’d been at Gyles Bishop
if it wasn’t for the encouragement Luc had given her. Something Joe would be eternally
indebted to the boy for, although he would never admit it. Ever.

“I’ve missed how you taste bossman. And I missed the smell of
you.” She breathed in deep against his skin committing Joe’s unique scent to
memory; mixed with his expensive cologne it was exotic and masculine. “Hmm” she
hummed and Joe felt the vibration shudder right through his chest.
 

As Joe released his hold on Rachel and dropped her on the bed
he grasped the belt of her robe so that it fell open as she landed. He took a
moment to drink in the sight of her lying there waiting for him. The instinct
to fuck her hard was tempting but he realised some finesse may be required in
order for Rachel to trust that he really was in this for the long haul.

Rachel, however, had other ideas thanks in part to the
remaining alcohol flowing through her blood stream. “Fuck me Joe – what
are you waiting for?” The raspy tone of the crude request and the non too
subtle prod of her toes into his stomach made his dick swell uncomfortably hard
in his suit trousers.

“It’s all about you baby – have some patience. And no
more speaking.”

Joe’s drawl was deep and sexy and slow caressing her with his
words. It was suggestive of all the things he had in store for her. He wanted
her totally focused on him right now so that no matter how many times Luc had
been in this very same bed – it was all about to be eclipsed. The thought
of that hard young body entwined around Rachel’s lush curves flooded his mind
and knocked the breath out of him, not least because his already rock hard cock
weeped and throbbed at the image. Joe tugged at his belt and unzipped his pants
pushing them down with his boxers. His glorious erection sprang free from the
constraints of his clothes and he breathed a deep sigh of relief. He pulled his
socks off and at long last stood before her glorious in his naked skin. Joe
took his jutting cock in his hand and stroked himself leisurely edging towards
Rachel tempting her and showing off.

But Rachel was impatient and horny as hell – she
appreciated Joe’s desire to take time and indulge in copious amounts of
delicious foreplay but actually she just needed to be fucked. There would be
plenty of time to play afterwards. She wriggled out of her robe arching her
back and thrusting her tits towards his face. Bending over her with his fist
still firmly gripping his cock, he lapped at one breast and then the other
making them both moan but then Rachel pushed against Joe’s massive shoulders
impatient for him to lie down on his back. As soon as he hit the mattress she
nimbly straddled his waist pinning him in place and tugged on his hair forcing
him to look at her.

“Can you feel how wet I am?” she whispered in his ear conscious
that her juices were slick against his abdomen. “It’s all for you Joe. Only
you.”

“So much for the no speaking rule…” Joe smirked.

Resting her lush tits against his chest and lowering her voice
to a sexy whisper, Rachel started her taunt. “Hmm - I think you
want
me to tell you more about Luc. The
boy has you intrigued; doesn’t he?” Joe closed his eyes against her scrutiny
but the bob of his cock against her bum was the first tell tale sign that she
had hit upon a nerve. Rachel lifted herself up and moved back so that now she
was straddling Joe’s thighs; she took his cock in her fist and squeezed.