Pole Position (15 page)

Danny’s Angels
? I bet he loved getting me to photograph him with his arm draped round Anita, although she didn’t appear to be complaining. As far as I was concerned, he’d declared war and the opening salvos had been fired.

Anita was back at work again on Tuesday, but only for the morning. We’d spend the afternoon together, as I’d be flying out to Belgium early Wednesday morning. We planned to go riding in the countryside, and I was looking forward to it. I hadn’t been on horseback since I was in the U.S., but it should just be a matter of reacquainting myself.

To my relief, there was no sign of Danny when I arrived at the yard. Clare fussed round us, getting me settled on Albert, a huge, dark bay gelding.

“He’s gentle and slow,” she assured me. “He’s also very placid on the roads. He adores Sam, so will follow him happily.”

Anita led the way. Most of it comprised of plodding across the countryside, and we ended up in a rambling park. It was hot when we got there, and we stopped to take a rest in the shade. Anita tied the reins to a fence, and slackened the horses’ tack to make them more comfortable, and then we settled nearby.

It was blissful to chill out together. The next few days were going to be hectic. This race meeting was vitally important for me, and it was good to relax in the sunshine with nothing more demanding to do than cuddle my girlfriend. We lay there, no need for talking, just enjoying each other’s company. I sprawled against a tree trunk, half-dozing in the warmth, listening to the birdsong and the bees buzzing in the nearby flowers. The horses whickered to each other and my eyelids grew heavy. Anita lay on her stomach next to me, concentrating on making a daisy chain for Sam’s bridle.

Time passed. I felt a chill across my body and reluctantly opened my eyes to see that the sun had gone in, black clouds were rolling across the sky and it looked as though it would rain any minute.

“Neeta.” My voice was croaky with sleep.

“Uh huh.” She was still fiddling with the daisy chain.

“You know that sunshine that was forecast?”

“Mmm.”

“Looks like it’s time to go. It’s going to be raining soon.”

She looked up and saw the clouds. Worry flickered in her eyes. “Damn. I wasn’t paying attention. I’ll get the horses.” She abandoned the flowers and hurried to the horses to ready them for our departure.

I yawned and stretched, unwilling to move from my comfortable position, but scrambling up anyway. I found some grass in my hair. “How did that get there?”

She grinned over her shoulder at me. “You’re lucky you sleep with your mouth shut.”

“
Cheeky
.” The first heavy, icy drops of rain spattered in my face and I hurried to help her. Sam was ready, but she was fixing Albert’s girth when we heard a rumble of thunder.

“Bugger.” She looked helplessly at the sky, and then back at me.

We didn’t have any kind of waterproof clothing with us, but I didn’t know if I was more worried about the horses being spooked, or getting caught under the trees in a thunderstorm. “We really need to move away from here. Is there somewhere we can shelter?”

Already, in those few seconds, the rain came down heavier. Anita stared around, her eyes wide, and then pointed to a stone building farther up the track. “Head for the summerhouse. We can shelter in there.”

I grabbed our water bottles and the blanket we’d been lying on. Anita took charge of both bridles, and we ran full pelt up the track. Even so, by the time we got there, we were soaked.

It was a large stone structure, open on one side—thankfully not the direction the rain was coming from—and with plenty of room for the horses to stand. It also had a wide wooden bench running along the back wall. Dry and dusty inside, it had an earth floor. Just what we needed for shelter. There was nobody else in sight; presumably, all the other park visitors headed for cover earlier than us.

While Anita settled the horses, I took off my T-shirt. Twisting it between my hands, I wrung out a sizeable amount of water onto the floor. She turned to me and froze, her eyes wide when she saw my bare chest.

I draped the wet shirt over the bench to dry it out a bit. “Want me to do yours as well?” She hesitated. “I have seen you in your bra before.”

“Okay.” She pulled off her top and handed it to me, then stood shivering while I squeezed out the water.

“Come here.” I held out my arms and cuddled her to me. Her skin was cold and damp, and I rubbed her back to warm her. Soon we were enjoying a prolonged kiss while the horses stared outside.

After a while, we sat wrapped together on the bench, watching lightning flash over the park. To my relief, the horses were calm. We’d be there for a while. I nuzzled her throat, and wished we were back at home.

“Are you glad we came out today? Even with the storm?” Her voice was soft.

“Of course. It’s been good.” I nipped playfully at her ear. “I like spending time with you, especially semi-naked.”

“Will you miss me?”

“Might do.” My voice was nonchalant.

She started and glared at me, saw my teasing grin and relaxed. “Are you looking forward to the weekend? Have you raced there before?”

“Yes, and no.” I told her I’d be flying out on Wednesday, and Thursday and Friday would be taken up with training and qualifying sessions. The racing would be Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon. There’d be press conferences, radio and TV interviews, and a whole busload of important people to be nice to. Then when the whole thing was finally over, I’d fly home on Tuesday.

I snuggled into her, relishing the feel of her skin. “Are you free on Tuesday night? Let’s go out for dinner.”

“I think I can squeeze you into my diary,” she teased.

I tickled her gently.

“So go on then, what are you doing for the next week?”

Anita yawned, and looked at me through sleepy eyes. “Strangely similar to you. Traveling down to Charrington on Friday afternoon. Saturday will be the preliminary rounds for my class, and if I get through, the championship is on Sunday. Apart from that, I’m in a fun class with Clare on Sunday, and I’ll be supporting Clare and Danny.”

She cuddled a bit closer. “Danny’s giving me some extra coaching tomorrow and on Thursday night as well. He says Sam and I stand a good chance.”

My hand stilled on her hair. “What kind of coaching?” I kept my voice light.

“Oh you know—no stirrups, no reins, bareback on a lunge rein. That sort of thing.”

I didn’t know. I’d no idea what kind of training she did, apart from jumping over fences.

“Is he coaching Clare as well?”

“Oh no.” She sounded surprised by the idea. “Clare refuses to take any kind of instruction from him. They fight like cats and dogs.”

While I was away, she’d be spending even more time with Danny.

I seethed in silence. Anita glanced up, saw the look on my face, and struggled to sit upright. “What’s wrong?” She asked.

I didn’t answer. I looked away as I tried to get my anger under control.

“It’s something to do with Danny, isn’t it?”

I wasn’t sure what to say. How about,
I’d like to throttle your friend
? No, perhaps not.

Anita tugged on my arm, and I turned back to face her. She had two spots of color in her cheeks. I’d not seen her annoyed before.

“You still have a problem with him don’t you? What is it with you?”

She galvanized me into being honest. “I don’t trust him, and I don’t like you spending so much time with him.” As soon as I’d said it, I could have kicked myself. It sounded sulky, and childish. And it infuriated her.

“He’s my best friend. Of course I spend time with him. And how can you not trust him?” Her voice rose in pitch. “What has he done to you?”

I was astonished she could have forgotten. “Well let me see. He hung up on me several times when I phoned for you. He’s warned me to keep away from you. He’s told me to
fuck off
in no uncertain terms. Then he picked a fight with me. You might recall it?”

“But he apologized. Shook your hand. He told me it was all a misunderstanding.”

“Yeah, right.” I couldn’t hide my contempt.

She jerked away and stood up, shivering, before wrapping her arms over her chest. “You’re jealous.”

There. The accusation was out in the open. It lay between us, challenging me to respond.

“I trust my instincts, Anita, and they tell me to keep the hell away from him.”

She stood there completely silent, staring at me with huge eyes. I sat sullenly. I could see she was close to tears, and I suddenly regretted my words. I held out a hand to her and tried a smile, but she ignored it.

“I’ve known Danny all my life.” She spoke slowly, as though she was working out what to say. “I’ve known you for less than a month. Are you asking me to choose between you?”

I just looked at her.

“You are.
Jesus Christ
.” She swung away, and walked to the doorway, her arms still wrapped across her body. The rain continued to hammer down; the thunder more distant now. She stood in the doorway, silhouetted against the lighter outside. It was ages before she turned back to me.

“Danny’s always had my back.
Always
. He rescued me when I quit at Uni. Danny encouraged me to train as an instructor. He spent months looking at horses for me, before finding Sam. He gave me a home. Rebuilt my life.”

Her voice was low. I struggled to hear her.

“Don’t make me choose, Jon.”

I hung my head and took a deep breath to control my frustration. Right now, if I forced the issue I might lose her. I couldn’t take that chance. The chasm opened up between us.

He’d won
. If I pushed her to make a choice and I lost, he’d win. If she chose me, she’d hate me for that, and he’d still win.
Bastard
. I seethed some more and felt adrenaline flooding my body at the memory of our fight. I wished I’d hit back harder. I stood up, shook my arms and legs and tried to calm down. Anita stared at me, her face pale and drawn, her eyes gleaming with unshed tears. I’d pushed her to this. I sighed and rubbed my hands over my face. I was deathly tired. There was only one way forward.

“I’m sorry.” I forced my voice to sound normal, and not give away my frustration. “You’re right, I am jealous of him. It makes me envious to see you together.”

Her mouth opened and closed again. “I’m sorry too.” It was barely a whisper.

I smiled, relieved. She wanted to put an end to our quarrel, but she didn’t move. She just gazed at me as though she didn’t really know me. Maybe she didn’t.

And then I realized what she was apologizing for. She’d made her choice.

I stood, frozen, and watched the emotions fly across Jon’s face. Shock as my words sank in, then horror, anger, and disbelief. Finally, his face shuttered, his eyes narrowed, and he spoke. His voice was low, he sounded as if he were in pain.

“Come on, Anita, I don’t want it to end like this.”

I couldn’t stop trembling, and my teeth chattered, whether from shock or the cold, I didn’t know. My mind swirled. He was jealous of Danny, and Colette had said Danny felt the same way about Jon. It was ridiculous, but I’d seen the way they snarled at each other. I wouldn’t turn my back on Danny, we’d been in each other’s lives too long for that. But did I have the strength to walk away from Jon? I’d known this would happen eventually—that we’d break up—but so soon? And like this? I’d expected to be dumped when he moved on, then for me to be jealous of his latest woman. I wanted to cry like a baby. Two of the men I loved most in the world, and I had to pick between them?

Jon’s face was pale and a muscle twitched in his cheek. He was as shocked as I was.

Not like this. I wasn’t going to leave it like this.

I took a deep breath and held out a tentative hand to him. He moved to me in one swift stride and grasped it tight, staring deep into my eyes. I stood unbending. It wasn’t over yet. Our fingers curled together, his warming my cold digits.

“Don’t make me choose, Jon.” I waited.

“What I want is to forget this whole stupid quarrel.” His voice was low. He still held my hand and my heart. “I was out of order, and I am sorry.” He narrowed his eyes and they looked flinty in the low light. “I’m not sure what else I can say.”

I managed a watery smile, and the next thing I knew, we were wrapped tightly around each other, lips locked. I was weak with relief, and my knees sagged. Jon scooped me up, carrying me back into the shelter. He sat on the narrow wooden bench with me in his arms and rained kisses all over my face. His lips burned a trail down between my breasts, and I groaned and reached for him. I dug my fingers through his hair, wanting him closer, needing him inside me.

We’d come so close to the edge, and almost torn each other apart. This was our first quarrel, and
this
would be our first make-up sex. I unfastened his jeans, my fingers fumbling on the buttons. I craved him with an urgency I’d never felt before.

“Sweetheart, I want you so much, but I’ve no condoms here. It’s not safe.”

I smiled, that’s where he was wrong. “I didn’t tell you. I’ve started on the pill.”

He paused, moved back up my body. “What? Why?”

“So we can make love properly. So you don’t have to use a condom.”

He grinned, a glorious thousand-watt grin. “For me?”

“For you.”

He swallowed and took an unsteady breath, and then he cupped his hands around my face. “I’m clean. I have regular blood tests, and I’ve always used a condom.” His thumbs brushed across my cheeks. “Are you sure?” His voice was hoarse.

My nod was enough.

He let me unbutton his fly and groaned softly as I slid a hand inside his boxers. I wrapped my fingers around him and he hardened further. My jodhpurs were damp and sticking to my legs, and I had to peel them down. Jon helped me balance as I tugged them off and dropped them onto the bench, followed by my knickers. I didn’t care if anyone found us. I wanted this moment with Jon, before we were separated for the week.

He sat there, legs wide, one fist around his dick, and with a hunger in his eyes I’d never seen before. I paused and held the moment in my head. His hair mussed, chest bare and golden, the chunky watch gleaming on his tanned wrist. Perfect, sultry lips that curved in a sexy smile as he held out his free hand to me.

“Neeta,” he breathed—a wealth of emotion in one short word.

He guided me to straddle him on the bench, then steadied me around the waist, kissed me deeply, and asked again if I was sure.

I didn’t need to answer. I wriggled over him, brushing myself against his erection and drew another groan from him.

“Sweetheart, you are so wet. I can’t wait to be inside you.” He nudged against my opening, held me securely, and thrust into me. All the way.

My breath hitched. The feel was different, warmer, more velvet. He closed his eyes and moaned. “That is so good.”

He paused, a look of intense concentration on his face. I kissed him. Drinking him into me. Our lovemaking was usually slow and tender, and Jon took the time to arouse me. This time I wanted something different.

I strained to move upward, and then pushed down hard. He filled me completely.

“Jesus,” he groaned, and then nuzzled at my breasts, tugging down the bra cups.

I wrapped my arms around him and dropped my head back, riding him for all I was worth. He flicked at my nipples with his tongue, and I wailed, everything clenched tight inside me. I raked my fingers though his hair and I clawed at him as I shattered in his arms.

“I can’t hold back much longer.” His voice was just a whisper.

I hauled in a shaky breath, pushed down again, and he responded. Tenderness went out of the window. He thrust hard and deep inside me, three, four times more, and with a shuddering cry, he came, filling me all over again.

I sighed, exhausted and utterly satisfied. He opened heavy-lidded eyes. “See what you do to me?”

I leaned against him and rested my forehead on his as we got our breathing under control. We’d pulled back from the precipice. But there was still an unspoken, yawning chasm between us.