Outback Love

Australia Bound

The mood was sombre as they made their way to the airport. Luke sat in the back of one car with Emily, holding her hand. Despite the arduous task ahead all he could think about was their kiss and how guilty he felt that that was all he could think about.

For a moment he allowed himself to think about Blane. They had received a phone call shortly before they had left for the airport to let them know the plane had still not been located. They had been unable to contact the nearby communities for assistance, so someone was on their way out to search the ground as an air search had returned no result. They would also be liaising with the local communities in person. James had donated a substantial sum to support their efforts as manpower was scarce. They were dealing with bushfires across multiple states and severe weather conditions, common for Australian summers.

The other wolves accompanying them were following in the van behind. The men were all so large they preferred to spread out across multiple cars.

Luke was happy for that today, it meant he could be alone with Emily.

“Will we be in Australia for my birthday?” Emily suddenly asked.

“I don’t know at this stage; we don’t know how long it will take to locate the plane.” Luke shrugged.

“To locate Blanes body you mean?” Emily replied.

“Em, can I be honest with you? I don’t know if I buy that he’s dead. I wasn’t going to say anything, but I just thought I’d feel it somehow, or at least you would. I can’t feel he’s there but I cant feel he’s gone either.”

“Luke, I don’t…. I don’t want to think like that and go through the trauma of losing him all over again.” Emily sniffed. Without thinking he put his arm around her. He shouldn’t, the driver was one of James and Marion’s regular drivers and they both knew they would report back to her parents.

“Let’s just focus on one day at a time.” Luke smiled, squeezing her shoulder.

The airport came into view and Luke removed his arm from Emily’s shoulder. The driver pulled into a drop off area and they got out of the car. The driver ran around to the back to retrieve their suitcases. Luke motioned for help with Emilys 2 large cases. He wasn’t able to manage them both plus his own.

He looked at the other men’s smaller cases and almost laughed. How is it large men could pack so light?

One of the men took his suitcase so he could take both of Emilys. They checked in and found their private boarding lounge to wait. The men grabbed a beer and sat down turning the tv on.

“I’m going to go rest, I have a headache.” Luke mumbled, walking into a room at the back with beds.

“I need to freshen up.” Emily smiled as she followed Luke towards the room. At the last second she deviated from the bathroom and followed him into the room.

“Em!” Luke hissed. “I don’t have their loyalty; they will tell your parents.”

“Am I your mate?” Emily asked, pressing her body up against his.

“Em, you have to trust the process.” Luke whispered.

His hand went up involuntarily to the small of her back, not pulling her closer but holding her in place. “I can’t resist you.” He whispered, inhaling her scent.

“Then don’t.” She replied, her hot breath caressing his ear.

“I am doing this for you, I need you to trust me on that. You may not realise, Blane and I both decided when we were kids to wait for our mates. I am a virgin and I want to stay that way until my mate is ready.” Luke stepped back, looking at Emily.

“Blane always taught me the same. I never knew about you though.” She smiled sweetly. “I’ve heard stories, I was worried I would be to inexperienced for you.”

Luke frowned. “Stories from who?”

“More than one woman has bragged to me about your prowess.” Emily said, biting her bottom lip.

“I’ve engaged in some… stuff before but making love to a woman, that’s for my mate.” Luke smiled, brushing his thumb over her bottom lip and releasing it from her teeth.

Emily smiled. “I can help you with that headache if you like. Dad always pushed Blane hard, and he used to get some monster headaches. I learned about pressure points to try to help him. You can even leave your t-shirt on if you like.” Emily smiled.

Luke looked her over and removed his tshirt while Emily went into the bathroom. She grabbed the hand towel and rinsed it under hot water, wringing it out. She returned to the back room where Luke was sitting on a bed.

“Lay down on your stomach.” She said, her breath catching slightly. No matter how many times she saw that sight she would never grow tired of it. Luke and Blane had always been really outdoorsy. Football, hiking, triathlons. They were always outdoors and always adventuring and their bodies were what they had to show for it. Emily was sure they were the reason she had so many friends.

She laid the hot towel across his upper back and neck, letting the heat radiate through his skin. She then started at the base of his back. Pressing his pressure points as she moved her way up his body. When she reached the part covered by the towel she left it there, letting the heat work its magic. She stood up and went to her purse, taking out a small bottle of oil. Luke turned his head to see what she was doing.

“I carry oils for my headaches and other woes.” She smiled. She came back to stand beside the bed but this time she straddled his body so she sat on his bottom.

He groaned into the pillow and she smiled.

She tipped some of the oil into her hand and rubbed her hands together. He could smell lavender and something else he couldn’t quite discern.

“Arnica.” She murmured as she began to rub his shoulders. She moved her hands up to the pressure points below his ears and rubbed in circular motions. His breathing became heavy as he started to relax. Her touch was magical and he could feel his headache lifting.

When she had finished, she used the wet towel to wipe off the excess oil.

“Thankyou.” He murmured; his eyes closed as he turned his head to the side.

“I don’t think we have to much time.” She smiled. “You might want to get dressed.”

“I will, I just need a quick shower.”

“I got all the oil off.” Emily said.

“The oil isn’t the problem.” Luke winked.

“Ohhhhhh.” Emily breathed as she quickly looked away.

Luke got up and headed straight for the bathroom, turning the cold water on in the shower. He stood under the cool jets, the icy water taking care of his unwanted problem. How the hell was he going to control himself around her?

The first boarding call for the flight sounded over the airport speakers. Luke quickly grabbed a towel and dried himself. When he walked out of the bathroom, he found Emily laying on the bed he had just been on, sifting through photos on her phone.

“Are you ok?” He asked quietly as he began to dry himself. He had his back to her, but it really wasn’t hiding much.

“That was our boarding call. Next stop, the country that took my brother from me.”

Luke pulled on his jeans and shoes and began to tie them up. He closed his eyes for a moment and tried to reach out to Blane through their mind link. Again, there was no feeling that he was gone, simply that he wasn’t answering.

Before he could pull his t-shirt over his head Emily was standing before him. She leaned in and smelt his neck, right where her mark would go once she’d had her birthday.

“Baby don’t or I’ll be right back in that shower again.” He groaned.

Emily smiled, lightly nibbling his neck.

“You’re killing me, you know that right?” He mumbled, pulling his t-shirt down. “You are in so much trouble when..”

“When what Luke?” Emily smiled, fluttering her eyelashes.

Luke took a breath and walked out into the lounge.

“Looking better there Beta.” Anton smiled. Anton was the Delta of the pack and was well aware of Luke’s connection with Emily.

“What can I say, Emily knows her stuff.” Luke shrugged.

Anton raised an eyebrow as he went to get his suitcase.

“Pressure points Anton, she gave me a massage.” Luke grumbled.

They headed out to board their flight. Emily sat between Anton and Luke, leaving the other three men to try to squeeze onto a row together. They had been unable to secure business class seats and the only option had been waiting a week or taking this flight.

Luke needed to sleep, the close proximity to Emily was making his wolf crazy. He looked out the window as the plane took off into the storm Blane had been trying to avoid. He had avoided this one only to fly into one over Australia.

He thought about the task in front of him. He would have to identify his best friend and Alphas body, if he was indeed dead. There was no way he could let Emily do it, it had to be him.

Emily gripped his hand as the plane took off. Like Blane, Luke had always loved the take off. It felt exhilarating, this giant vessel lifting off the ground and flying through the sky.

He settled into his seat, trying not to breathe in Emily’s scent. His wolf could not cope with the wait for Emily. He had had many a cold shower and a long run since he realised, she was his mate. He looked down at her smiling. She was beautiful but unlike her vapid friends, she never used her looks. She was confident and passionate, intelligent and loyal. She was a younger female version of her brother.

James and Marion Wright had never been affectionate or present parents, although they were always quick to take the credit for their children’s successes. Blane had been instrumental in raising Emily and sheltering her from their parents’ abuse. It was the reason Luke had brought Emily with him, by the time they returned she would have had her birthday and she would be his and there would be nothing James and Marion could do about it.

As soon as the seatbelt off sign came on Emily unfastened hers and turned in her seat towards Luke. He smiled as he raised his arm and she snuggled into him. To hell with it, by the time they returned she would be his anyway.