He groaned when her lips touched his. Her hair fanned around their heads as she banished any thought of protest from his mind. Wilz concentrated on the man beneath her, knowing they only had a short time left before they had to resume their own roles.
“You, woman, are a witch.” His warm breath puffed against her cheeks.
“You’ll wait then?” She wriggled between his thighs, pleased at his body’s response.
“I’ll wait for as long as I have to, even though I don’t like the way he manipulates you. You know that.” He wrapped his hands around her butt, holding her hard against him. “You’re the only one for me, you’ll always be the love of my life.” He lifted her up, flipped her down on the bed and grinned when she gasped. “I can’t wait to have you in my bed, our bed. In the meantime, less talking. We don’t have much time before the sun comes up.”
A feathery soft kiss landed on the back of her shoulder, nudging her out of a deep sleep. “No. Go way.”
“The sun’s coming up. Best you get back to the house before your father notices you missing.”
Wilz groaned, swallowed and tried to open her eyes. Her body ached in the most delicious ways but she was still so tired. That should make her regret staying awake so late last night but how could she wish away any of time together? When Papa was taken care of, she would sleep. Until then, stolen moments together would have to suffice and lack of sleep was the payment.
She reached out and slid her hand across his warm chest, eager to snuggle in and scrape out another five minutes together before heading back to the pomp and circus that was her life. A chill replaced the warmth when he rolled out of bed, dragging the pale green and pink patchwork quilt back. “You mean beast.” Wilz grabbed for the blanket but he stood at the end of the bed laughing holding it just out of reach. She sat up, scrunched up her face and moaned. “Fine then. Be like that.”
With arms raised in a cat like move, she slid from the bed and stood on the cold tiled floor. When she’d finished stretching her body into supple alertness, Wilz opened her eyes. He stood transfixed her, a smile tugging at his lips. “What?”
“Everything about you is a mix of contradictions.” He dropped the blanket and reached for his trousers, pulling them on while she watched. He was as sexy getting dressed as he was undressing.
She purred in her throat and took a step toward him, smiled and held out a hand to touch him. “I thought that was what you liked about me.”
“Oh, I love everything about you, you know that. But the woman in my bed and the lady of the manor, let’s just say that most people wouldn’t believe you were the same person. I find it rather intriguing.”
Wilz rested her head against his chest, draped her arms around his waist. “Most people don’t need to know, at least not yet. Now kiss me goodbye and hand me my clothes. I want to get back to my room before Primrose comes in to wake me up.”
He kissed her almost reverently before pushing her away, reaching over to the chair where her clothes were draped. One by one, he passed her garments over and watched as she dressed.
Wilz did the pearl buttons up on her blouse and held her hand out for her cardigan. Her lover stood there with one in each hand. One pale blue and one a vibrant russet that matched the leaves falling on the forest floor. He handed her a pale blue cardigan, a quizzical frown on his forehead. “That’s not mine, its Gertrude’s. I wouldn’t be seen dead wearing such a washed out colour. I thought you knew me better than that.” She took the other garment and slid her arms through the sleeves pulling it over her shoulders.
“Sorry, my mistake. I was so relieved to see you last night that I didn’t take that much notice of what you were wearing.”
She cupped his face in her hands. “You say the nicest things to me, darling. Don’t ever change.”
Chapter 2
Sydney, Australia 1980
A door closed at the top of the stairs, the sound echoing in the otherwise quiet terrace house. Billie glanced up at her mother. A stately vision in subdued powder blue, the colour standing out in the stark bright-white interior of the grand home. When their gazes connected she smiled, the small movement transforming her whole face. “All ready for your big day, then?” Reaching out a delicate hand, she gripped the banister and made her way down to the main foyer, her footsteps muffled on the thick carpet treads.
“Morning, Gran.”
“Good morning, darling boy.” She touched a hand to her perfectly styled silver curls and paused at the bottom step, which put her at eye level with her one and only grandchild. Her gaze raked over the uniform and slickly brushed hair. “Don’t you look the picture?” The icy blue eyes misted and she held her hand over her chest. “You look so much like my Frederick at that age. He loved going to Grammar School. Said it made him the man he is today.”
Pink tinged Alex’s freckled cheeks whenever his grandmother mentioned the similarities between him and his grandfather. Billie felt for him thinking he took after her mother more with his light blonde hair and blue eyes but refused to be drawn into that argument. “Um, Mom, hadn’t we better get going?”
“I suppose if we don’t want you to miss the bus. What time is it?” Billie picked
