Chapter Twenty Seven

The scorching afternoon sun bled a heat into the air by the pool that would have been stifling if it hadn’t have been for the light breeze floating off the glistening river that gently ruffled the pages of the book Rachel was absentmindedly attempting to read. Stretching luxuriously on one of the new loungers she had purchased on her shopping spree, she sighed with pleasure and let the book slide to the ground. Her body barely concealed by a black string bikini, appreciatively lapped up the warm sunshine, the heat seeping under her skin and into her sated veins. It was a couple of hours since Jon had rocked her to an unbelievable new level of orgasm, not once but three delicious and satisfying times. Smiling to herself, she let her eyes drift shut as she revelled in the still glorious aftermath of their morning union on his sofa. The things that man could do amazed her, she felt like he’d unlocked the door to a whole new sensual world that she’d been missing out on and she couldn’t get enough of it. 

They had lain together, slickened by a damp sweat from the heat and friction of their bodies in a blissful daze until Jon’s cell had interrupted and reminded them there was actually a real world outside of the little sex bubble they had been existing in. She had left him to take care of the important sounding call signalling that she was heading for the pool, actually sniggering to herself that he had to drag himself back into business mode while she took advantage of the benefits of a weekend off and immersed herself in the taxing business of sun worshipping.

A bead of sweat trickled down the valley between her breasts, it really was insanely hot out for the time of year. Reluctantly she sat up, smirking at the gentle reminder of the frenzied morning activities from between her legs. She’d missed feeling like this – simply satisfied. Reaching up to tighten the band that scraped the hair off her face, she took one step towards the pool’s edge and dived neatly into the cool depths of the water. Swimming a couple of lengths along the bottom of the freshly tiled floor, she eventually surfaced at the far end and hoisted herself up to sit on the edge, her legs still dangling in the rippling water. She wiped the streams of water from her eyes just in time to see a familiar figure walk around the side of the house dressed in a t-shirt and board shorts, the sun glinting off his dark sunglasses with every bouncy step. Grinning she watched in delight as he came closer, stripping off his tee to expose the glorious tanned expanse of muscle that defined his chest. That body was something she’d swear she’d be able to pick out blindfolded.

“Hey there neighbour!”

Flashing his trademark smile that flipped her stomach every time as he kicked off his trainers, Jon tossed his shirt and sunglasses to the lounger Rachel had just vacated and dove straight in, splashes of water marking his less than elegant torpedo under the surface. Giggling she stifled a scream when he came up between her legs and threatened to pull her in on top of him.

“Don’t you dare – I just got out!”

“Aw baby, come on – let me get you all wet!” Smirking with an evil grin, he pulled himself up just enough to deliver a quick kiss to her lips before he let himself slide back into the water.

“You already did that this morning you bad, bad man!” 

Laughing Rachel leaned down and ran her fingers through the tousled mess of soaked hair on his head that was bobbing between her legs.

“Did you get everything taken care of?”

Her bikini bottom at his eye level, Jon focused on running a finger just above the band of material that curved neatly around her hips. “Mmm hmm………but you didn’t need to leave.”

“I know but the sun was too tempting and I needed to try out my new pool furniture!”

“Nice suit you got there…………could you buy that in every colour?” 

Winking cheekily up at her, he ducked back under the water to sweep his hair back and popped back up with a mouthful of water that he dropped with a kiss onto the front of her low sitting bikini. The chill of the water made her gasp, his lips pausing just long enough to nip at the soaked fabric. The intense heat of the sun on her back did little to suppress the goose bumps that were travelling up and down her skin.

Watching her sneakily under his eyes, Jon resumed running his finger along the hem until he reached the side and daringly tugged on the string tie just enough to loosen the garment for a more thorough inspection. Shivering Rachel sucked in a breath, the taut skin across her belly tightening just an inch more when he slowly dipped his finger lower.

“C-section?”

Glancing down to where Jon was lightly tracing the line of her faint scar she nodded.

“Mmm hmm”

“With both of your kids?” 

Curious, Jon pushed back in the water just far enough to be able to curl his arms around the back of her knees. Smiling Rachel leaned back on her hands to gaze contentedly at him.

“Yeah. I wasn’t exactly built for having babies!” 

“I was there when all four of mine were born……if seeing your kids come into the world doesn't define ‘awe’ then I don’t know what does. I barely made it there for Jakey……we had to get clearance from the White House to fly over their air space.” Jon chuckled at the memory, water sloshing gently around his neck. “I made it, but by the skin of my teeth!”

Rachel snorted, her head shaking in disbelief. “You just let that roll right off your tongue didn’t you?...’I got clearance from the White House’….” Rolling her eyes she grinned down at his unperturbed shrug.

“Well I did!”

 “I was in labour for two days with Lauren and this was back when women thought they had to do ‘natural childbirth’ or they were wimps. By the end of those first twelve hours I was ready to do a runner!”

Jon nodded, his eyes dancing with merriment. “Hell yeah I remember Dorothea was totally into the breathing and all that crap…….it didn’t take long for us to discover breathing wasn’t equal to morphine! Didn’t help that I got off track on the whole breathing thing which threw her off – I thought she was gonna kill me!”

Running her toes up the sides of his chest under the water, Rachel laughed back at him. She was enjoying this easy conversation; it was nice to be able to just talk.

“I hope you were more help to her than Nick was to me! He was the coolest person I’ve ever known except when it came to childbirth! Then he was completely useless! He was chewing on those Peppermint Lifesavers and breathing them into my face – nine months of pregnancy and I never once had an ounce of morning sickness but the nausea during labour from those peppermint things – ugh!”

Grimacing she shook her head. “I still can’t stand the smell!”

Pleased that she was willingly opening up to him and giving him a look through the window of her past life, Jon gazed up at her softly from his semi submerged state.

“I bet you were an incredible mother….”

Rachel thought for a moment before she answered with a slight shrug. “Well if the desire to be a mother makes you a great one, then yeah I was. But you know how it is, you do your best and some days you fall a little short. I’m sure there are a million things you’d do differently with your kids right?”

“Well sure………but they’re really great kids….. and they’re mercifully forgiving!” He shot her a rueful smile. “They’re incredibly tolerant of me being gone so much. Their mother has had the burden of parenting, that’s for sure.”

Teasing, Rachel poked him gently with her toe. “That’s probably why they’re such good kids – you haven’t been around to corrupt them!”

Chuckling with mock hurt Jon grabbed her foot and tugged, nearly but not quite toppling her into the water. “Hey! Keep that up and I might have to cut you off!”

Giggling she rolled her eyes and pushed herself back onto the ledge. “I’m quaking in my boots!”

Jon pulled himself back in between her legs once more and narrowing his eyes began to nip shamelessly at the soft flesh of her inner thigh. 

“You know you like it……”

Retying the strings of her bikini bottom Rachel looked down at him incredulously.

“Good LORD! You’re gonna be the death of me – you can’t possibly be able to get it up again!”

“Of course I can – anytime, anywhere you want it baby!” Reluctantly tearing his attention away from her warm legs he grinned up at her. “But lucky for you – we have to go get cleaned up.”

Puzzled Rachel stopped fumbling with the strings. “Cleaned up for what?”

“We’re going into the City for a little shopping and dinner. Just jeans or shorts – whatever you want to wear……I have a casual evening planned for you.”

“Oh you do? Hmm….. shopping for what exactly?” Suspicious Rachel got to her feet and headed for the lounger to retrieve her towel as Jon hoisted himself up out of the water.

“You’ll see! Now go get dressed my sweet and meet me at my place – can you be ready in an hour?”

Rachel snorted derisively at his order as she rubbed the towel over her hair.

“Yes Boss! I can be ready before then but….”

“Ah ah!” Water dripping from his chest and shorts, Jon shook his head showering her with droplets of water that flew from his hair. “No questions from you little girl! Just go put some clothes on…..”

Smirking he grabbed a corner of her towel to dry off his face and waggled his brows cheekily at her.

“….preferably something I can see through and tear off of you with one hand.”

Rolling her eyes Rachel grinned at him and retrieved her fallen book from the ground, the thoughts of an evening out with him excited her beyond belief and the added uncertainty of a mystery date only served to heighten the intensity.