New Beginnings

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Blake ambled into Alex’s kitchen, leaned on the door jamb, and watched her cooking.

“Something smells good,” he said.

She turned her head and smiled, “I’m trying an old recipe of Grandma’s. Not sure if you remember her tomato sauce she made with meatballs?”

“I do it was always so delicious, a little bit sweet a little smoky.”

“Exactly! Of course, the recipe is pre metrics so I’m having to do a bit of calculating so the result might be a little different.”

He had been staying with Alex on Waiheke for almost a month now and he was enjoying his stay. Following his discharge from hospital he spent two weeks with Diana and John, who relished the opportunity to accompany Blake to select a new yacht. John was like a boy in a toy store, and it made Blake feel good that such a simple request had given John so much enjoyment. Since his discharge, his mobility had reached almost the same level of fitness prior to the attack. Occasionally he had the odd twinge, especially in his lower back where he had been kicked quite savagely. He was managing to go running a couple of times a week, but now they were into April, the water was getting a bit too cool for swimming. Being with Alex, had seen a return to sitting out on the deck after dinner or if it were too cool, they would sit in the conservatory. Their conversations covered everything, but it was her business acumen he was becoming more and more interested in. They spent many hours working out the best mix of native flora to regenerate the island. Obtaining tawa trees was not easy but Alex was confident it was doable, and she was particularly happy to find several young tawa saplings on the island and explained this could only be because of the presence of Kereru, one of only two native birds in New Zealand who ate the Tawa berries. It was hard not to be caught up in her enthusiasm and in that moment, he had reached out and hugged her. He wanted to do more but Jack was roaming around the island somewhere and it wasn’t the time or place. Since then, he had taken so many cold showers he lost count.

“I’m almost done here,” she said, “I can make you a sandwich if you’re hungry.”

“I’ll have one if you’re having one.”

“I will.”

“I also forgot to thank you for giving the police the name of my investigator friend.”

She beamed the most beautiful smile at him, “Well, if Dad hadn’t found your phone we wouldn’t have found out until you were out of ICU, so it did save considerable time.”

“Yeah. Rick Walters is a good investigator. He’s done a lot of work for me and although the other guy didn’t break any laws, at least the police have his name.”

“Still no progress on identifying the attackers?”

He shook his head, “No. It was dark, they were wearing balaclavas and dark clothing but it’s not all bad news because whatever they used to destroy the boat was not an explosive commonly found in New Zealand.” He shrugged, “That might lead to a breakthrough.”

Alex busied herself stacking the dishwasher then set about making the sandwiches,

“And the documents in our backpack? Have you given any further thought to what you’re going to do about them?”

“Yes and no. I was thinking of starting a charity that helps women who were forced to relinquish their babies, to at least find out what happened to them.”

“That’s a noble idea, Blake but I think you need to talk to experts who deal with locating birth mothers and their children. From what I know, it can be a minefield of very raw emotions for all parties because adoptees can’t just parachute into the lives of someone who relinquished them many years ago. Sometimes these women are married and have never told their husbands about the child they surrendered. Guilt is a terrible emotion to carry.”

Blake rubbed a hand over his face, Alex had a point, one he hadn’t even considered. She held up two plates which he took from her and placed on the table and she followed with a pot of freshly made coffee and cake.

“This is really nice,” he remarked, pulling out a chair, “Between you and your mother I’ve been on a bit of a fuss.”

“Well, you’ve been through an awful ordeal. We just want you back to being Blake.”

“I think I am.”

“Oh?”

“Jesus Alex, you have to know you’re driving me nuts with wanting you. Obviously when Jack is here, I can’t act on what I might like to do, but at times like this I just want to kiss you senseless and take you to bed.”

She laughed, a sweet laugh that sent a flood of warmth through his chest.

“And you don’t think I feel the same?” she asked, c*****g her head to one side, a cheeky grin turning up the corners of her mouth.

That shocked him. At no point did he imagine she was having similar thoughts, but she was. What was wrong with him?

He cleared his throat, his eyes pinning her with his gaze,

“I’m hopeless, aren’t I? I never imagined you would feel that way.”

Blake picked up his sandwich, took a bite and chewed slowly and thoughtfully.

“I thought perhaps some things weren’t in good working order.”

He stopped chewing, “Some things? Define that for me.”

“You know damn well what I mean. Does everything function?”

He let out a hearty laugh, “Everything is functioning as it should, despite having that bloody thing stuck up my dick.”

“Were you worried that might have left you with problems?”

“I’ll be honest and say yes. I must have been out to it when they inserted it but taking t out was no picnic.”

Alex was chewing her sandwich and smiling, “So, be honest, what do you see happening with us in terms of what the future might look like?”

Be honest? What if he was too honest? The sensible corner of his brain queried, the one fighting off all the irrational thoughts denying the ability to think sensibly.

“Full disclosure?”

“Nothing less.”

“And you’ll do the same?”

“Absolutely. I don’t expect you to bare your soul when I don’t.”

He placed his sandwich on the plate and took a deep breath,

“Alright. I know there is no going back, that we can only go forward. I’m scared, scared of screwing up, again. Scared of being scared if that makes sense. There is an anger inside me when I let my mind wander off toward the Winchester problem and I’m worried that could be destructive. But, having said that I want to make a new beginning with you, take you on dates, work together on Motutawa. I want to always be here for you and for Jack. The past I shared with you is what has kept me moving forward for sixteen years, always in the back of my mind was the notion that one day I would find a way to get back to you and prove I was worth taking a chance on.”

He reached for his sandwich, the expression on Alex’s face was completely unreadable.  Perhaps he had overstepped the boundaries?

“Alright,” she began, “Marron has always maintained that I could never be with anyone else because I still carried your heart, that I was not over you despite my many assertions to the contrary. She was right, she knows me like a sister. I would like to go on dates with you, I enjoy working with you on Motutawa, I want to reach out to Gabriella because I get the feeling, she could do not only with a brother right now, but also have new friends.”

She poured herself a cup of coffee and Blake did the same, sipping it slowly, breathing in the wonderful aroma of freshly brewed coffee,

“So, hypothetically, do you see us more as friends or is there the potential for something more?” he asked.

“Hypothetically?”

“Yeah. Okay, I’m just going to say it, does our new beginning include a physical connection?”

“s*x?”

“Yeah.”

Alex slowly placed her cup on the table, her eyes serious and he thought he might have perhaps gone too far this time.

“You lit a fire inside me, Blake. Of course, I want a physical connection, s*x or whatever else you might want to name it.”

Heat coursed its way through his body from head to toe and he was forced to move in his chair due to the pressure in his groin.

“I don’t want this being a friend with benefits and then we walk off,” he declared, “This is a new start for us but also a continuation of what could have been if I had showed some courage. I don’t expect you to ask me to move in with you and Jack, I will return to Devonport, but I will also be here on a regular basis. If that works for you.”

‘It does. Thank you. My only stipulation is we don’t flaunt that aspect of the relationship in front of Jack. I’m sure his imagination has already got us in bed, but all the same we need to be mindful he is a teenage boy.”

“That’s a given, Alex. I want treat to Jack with the utmost respect and show him that I have the utmost respect for you also.”

They sat in silence, a Tui singing its beautiful melody the only sound Blake was aware of until Alex pushed back her chair, put her cup and plate in the sink then slowly walked to him and placed her arms around him,

“Don’t suppose you asked the doctor when you could resume a physical relationship?”

A soft laugh escaped him, “As a matter of fact I did, not that I had the idea of pre-empting anything.”

“And?”

“He said I might not have the stamina I had pre attack but that it would return in time.”

She glanced at her watch and smiled,

“In that case we have plenty of time to explore one another before Jack gets back from rugby practice.”

Alex held out her hand and as though he were mesmerised by her, he stood, placed his hand in hers and followed her to her bedroom.

Alex raked her fingers over Blake’s back, being careful not to press too hard fearing his bruising still lingered deep in his soft tissues. His muscles were taught, revealing his powerfully strong back to her touch. He was perfect, she mused, physical perfection and she doubted he had ever considered just how beautiful his body was. His hard male heat pressed against her, leaving her in no doubt his injuries would not impair his ability to make love. While she was mindful of his candid declaration that he might not have the same stamina as before, she was so wound up surely, she would self-combust. Every time his fingers teased their way over the bundle of nerves that were her c******s a soft moan whispered from her. The stubble on his jaw rasped against her cheek, not aggressively and, bringing her hand to his jaw she gently caressed him, as she did so, he fused his mouth to hers. Lifting his head, he gazed into her eyes with the smokiest, heat searing gaze.

“I’m not made of porcelain you know.”

“I know but I don’t want to do anything that might cause you pain.”

He gave a soft laugh, “You won’t. When I kiss you, when I do this,” his mouth captured a n****e, gently sweeping his tongue around the perimeter, then bringing his head up, “I want to be buried deep inside you, I need to be buried deep inside you.”

“What are you waiting for?” she whispered.

“Condom?”

“In there,” she pointed to the nightstand, “Top drawer.”

He placed several foil packets on top of the stand then returned to her, his mouth nipping and teasing its way down her body, making her arch and hum. Finally, his fingers slid into her wet heat and her hum became a growl, the sound of which surprised the hell out of her. Blake murmured in appreciation, pushing another finger into her, his thumb pressing into her c**t. Instinctively she moved on the heel of his hand, desperately trying to take the edge off her need to climax.

“Blake! Please don’t stop!”

“Not a chance, come for me.”

She whimpered, tossed into a vortex of ecstasy Alex reached down to hold his hand in place then splintered in to a million pieces.

“Nice one, Porter,” he growled into her ear, nipping her earlobe.

“Mm, that was nice.”

“Nice? You almost disintegrated with that orgasm and all you can say it was nice?”

She laughed, reached down between them, and took his impressive erection in her hands,

“And this is exceptionally nice,” she gave it a gentle squeeze before letting her hand reach lower to cup his swollen testicles and squeezing. He groaned her name and, her eyes raking over him, caught the rapture on his face, his eyes heavy lidded with desire. Alex sat up and gently pushed him back against the soft covers. It had been agony sleeping alone knowing he was down the hall, but she wasn’t going to think about that because now she was going to love him, wrap him in tenderness and a whole lot of hot s*x. Her breasts brushed his chest as she leaned over and took a condom, tearing the packet open. His eyes were open, watching her every move. Taking her time, she rolled the sheath down his hard length while Blake grabbed at the covers,”

“Jesus, Alex!” he groaned, “That is the sexiest thing I have ever seen!”

“Well, play your cards right mister, and I’m sure I can do it again.”

Lifting one leg over him she took him inside,

“Don’t move!” he ground out, making her giggle.

She settled over him, lifting herself up and then taking him inside. He filled all of her, just as he always had. When her hair fell forward like a curtain, he pushed it off her face. Leaning forward she swished her hair across his chest, bending her head to kiss the hard beads of his n*****s then squealing when his hands grabbed her buttocks.

“You going to sit there all day?” he asked.

“Buckle up,” she retorted, clenching him with the walls of her v****a, squeezing him hard. Play time was over, he needed to come and clenching and squeezing had another orgasm building. Alex rode him hard, grabbing his hand and guiding him to her own heat. His slid his hand between them to rub her c******s then he rolled her underneath him, still buried deep inside her he brought her legs up onto his shoulders and pushed hard into her, his face a picture of concentration with each thrust.

“Baby!” he moaned, “Are with me?

“Yes! Please don’t stop, Blake,”

“Tell me when you want me to come.”

Her orgasm was building fast, and she felt Blake’s balls tighten even more, an action that had her spiraling out of control,

“Now, Blake, please! Oh…””

He pumped into her, sweat slicking his back and arms, his head went back, and he roared her name, tensing the moment his ejaculation exploded out of him. Satisfaction bubbled up inside her and arching her back, legs locked around his waist she followed him over the precipice, crying out his name has she did so. Blake slumped over her, both of their hearts beating out a heavy tattoo, their breathing eventually slowing back to normal. He nuzzled her neck then rolled onto his back, taking her with him.

“I need to get rid of the condom,” he whispered, “Wait right here.”

“I can’t move, so I’m a captive audience right now.”

Alex stretched out; every inch of her body sated from making love. Blake entered the room, and she couldn’t help but notice he was still semi aroused which sent a thrill through her. He climbed onto the bed and pulled her to him, kissing her forehead as he did so.

“Do you want to talk?” he asked.

“About what?”

“Is that what women want to do after making love?”

“Not this woman, did I want to talk when we were younger? I don’t remember.”

“Me neither. We were into fast and furious, I remember that.”

“Me too.”

She traced a finger along his jaw line, over his lips and down over his chin then hooked a leg over his, angling herself until she felt the tip of him nudge her entrance.

“Yeah, okay, you’ve got me hard, what are you going to do about it?” he challenged laughing as he spoke the words.

“What am I going to do about it? I think it’s more a case of what you’re going to do about it.”

“Is that so?”

“It is.”

“In that case, how about repeating that condom routine and I’ll see if I can manage to get another orgasm out of you.”

“Right answer because I have a lot of orgasms to catch up on.”

She leaned over, grabbed another packet, and tore it open but didn’t take it out. Blake was already lying on his back, a smirk on his face which transformed into something intensely serious the moment her mouth closed around him. His hands went to her hair, gathering handfuls of it, watching as she took him deep, her tongue sweeping the underside of his c**k. Blake’s head went back, moaning as he did so, his moan becoming louder when her teeth grazed the tip, her tongue working over it. She tasted him, tasted his life essence, and watched his scrotum tighten.  Taking him in her hands she stroked him, reached for the condom, and once again smoothed it over him while his hands fisted the covers.

“Do condoms come in different sizes?” she asked.

“What? Jesus Alex, I’m about to shoot my load and you want to know if condoms come in different sizes.”

“Just interested,” she replied.

Blake pulled her up and over him, an action that had the pulse between her legs beating at a thousand beats a second, his hands cupped her breasts then pulled her down, so they pressed into his chest, he lifted his hips and with one deep thrust he was buried inside her once more, filling her. She wasn’t going to last, in turning him on she’d managed to do a good number on herself. They rutted frantically, nothing slow and gentle about this time, it was as though they would never do this again and she couldn’t bring herself to think about that.

“Blake! I’m coming!”

“Thought you might be,” he growled, “I’m with you, just say the word!”

“Now! Oh please, now!”

He tensed, his own release upon him,

“Jesus, baby, I think you’re going to kill me!”

This time they tumbled off the ledge together, crying out for one another. When they had finally managed to bring their breathing under control and were lying together, he said,

“In answer to your question, yes. Condoms come in a variety of sizes depending on how big your d**k is.”

“So, that means you need to measure it?”

“Naturally.”

“So, you need to become aroused to do that?”

“You do.”

“Mm. Maybe we can explore whether you’re using the correct size. I mean if you hadn’t presented me with the box of condoms weeks ago, I wouldn’t have known what size to get you.”

Blake roared with laughter and Alex closed her eyes, thankful he had returned to her, thankful he had survived that beating.