Fly with Me (10 page)

“What?”

“What was all
that about?” Ash asked.

Shit, had she
talked aloud? Elissa blinked. “What was what about?”

“The sigh, the
face-palming, the biting the lip.” Ash’s gaze slid to the window
behind her and back again, this time a little more thoughtfully.
“Simon?”

Holy heck,
she’d forgotten how intuitive Ash could be. “I’m not
following.”

“You’re
looking out the window and acting weird.”

“I always act
weird. Ask Moz.”

“What’s going
on?”

“Nothing.”
Elissa stepped past her. “Just remembered an appointment I forgot
to cancel before I left home.”

“Must have
been some appointment.”

“It was. I was
going to bleach my muff.”

“That’s just
nasty.”

Turning,
Elissa smiled widely “Hey, you kept prying.”

“I expected a
much better answer than that.” Ash’s eyebrow rose higher. “Come on,
give it another go. If nothing else your excuses are always
entertaining.”

“I was going
to bleach my rim?”

“Your
what?”

“My rim. You
know, my ars-”

“Why the hell
would you want to bleach that?” a new voice asked.

Horrified,
Elissa swung around to find three women standing just inside the
door between the kitchen and the hallway.

“It’d make it
look like a target,” the brown-haired woman with a very pregnant
belly continued. “Imagine if you bent over with a bleached
rim?”

“I don’t know
that I’d want any missile aiming for that target,” a slim, buxom,
blonde woman said.

Another blonde
woman very similar to the other blonde, except she was generously
curved, pulled out a kitchen chair and dropped onto it. “Maybe
bleaching the rim of your vag, that way if you had a
target-challenged lover he could find it, but still, I’d be a
little worried if I had to bleach and draw arrows to direct
him.”

“You’ll never
have to worry about that.” The brown-haired woman sat carefully,
subsiding with a grateful sigh. “Ryder’s always dead-on
target.”

“And I think
Kirk proved his aim is right on target with you.” Grinning, the
slim blonde waved cheerfully. “I’m Del.”

“Dee.” The
generously-proportioned blonde nodded. “The one with the belly is
Molly.”

Ash’s friends.
Okay. Elissa relaxed a little. “Hi. Sorry about the um…”

“Geez, don’t
apologise,” Molly replied. “I think it’s a subject worth
pursuing.”

Dee looked at
her. “What the hell…? You’re into back door jobs?”

“I never said
that.” Molly smoothed her hand over her very-pregnant belly. “I
just said it was interesting.”

“Sure,” Del
said dryly.

“You know, the
whole bleaching, piercing, trimming and patterns.”

“Patterns?”
Dee frowned.

“Take a seat.”
Ash gave Elissa a little push. “This’ll be just as entertaining as
your excuses, take my word for it.”

Oh yeah,
Elissa had heard about these three friends, and if for nothing else
she liked them for the fact that they’d befriended Ash as soon as
they’d met her. Ash had sorely needed friends, and they’d stepped
up to the plate.

Plus from what
Ash had told her, these three weren’t easily shocked and good for a
laugh. She could do with some laughs.

“I’m Elissa.”
She smiled as she sat at the table.

“Hi,” they all
chorused.

“Ash’s city
friend,” Del said. “Who knows all about bleached rims and
muffs.”

“I wouldn’t
put it quite like that.” Elissa linked her hands on the wooden
surface of the table. “I’m not really experienced in that
field.”

“Ah.” Dee
nodded sagely. “You go au naturel, huh?”

“Short and
curlies hanging out.” Molly smoothed her hand over her belly.
“Letting it all swing free.”

“Oh, come on.”
Del turned to Elissa. “Tell me you’ve seen a pierced clit or
something?”

“I’m not
really in the habit of checking out other women’s clits.” And she
couldn’t believe she was having this conversation.

Crossing to
the table, Ash set down glasses. “Diet Coke? Lemonade? Iced coffee?
Orange juice?”

“What if I’d
wanted hot tea or something?” Dee queried.

“Tough.”

“Huh. In that
case, I’ll go a Diet Coke.”

“Wise
choice.”

“Well, I’m
sorely disappointed.” Molly’s lips pursed. “I thought we were going
to have an in-depth discussion about muff decorating.”

“Maybe you
should have it with Kirk.” Del pointed at Molly’s belly. “Or isn’t
he into doing anything muff-wise these days?”

The smile that
curved Molly’s lips was beaten only by the sparkle in her eyes.
“You think there’s only pre-pregnancy sex?”

“I’d have
thought him jumping on top of you would make him feel like he’s on
a see saw.”

“There is such
a thing as doggy, or haven’t you done that?”

Okay, so there
wasn’t any topic that was taboo between these girls. Even Ash was
grinning.

“Jesus,” said
Dee. “Are you going to give us a pregnancy sex tour? I don’t know
if I’m up for that.”

“Ryder would
be.”

“Dumb arse is
up for sex any time of the day or night.”

“So you think
if you get up the duff it’s going to stop him?”

Dee squinted
thoughtfully as she lifted the glass of cold Diet Coke. “You’ve got
a point. I’d have to lock him out the bedroom.”

“Man’d just go
through the window to find you.”

“I’ll lock
that, too.”

“Manhole.”

“He’s not that
way inclined.”

“No, drongo. I
meant he’d go on the roof and come through the manhole.”

“I’ll bolt
it.”

“He’ll just
get you in the kitchen.”

“Or lounge.”
Del swallowed a mouthful of drink. “Shower. Veranda.”

“Main
street.”

Elissa looked
at Dee, wondering what she’d say to this.

“Don’t laugh,”
Dee said. “Ryder nailed me against the back of the shop the other
night.”

“Big deal.”
Molly shrugged. “No one could see you.”

“No, you
ninny. I mean
outside
the back of the shop.”

Even Del’s
mouth fell open.

“Yeah.” Dee
nodded. “I was just finished watering those big flower pots and he
was getting off his bike.”

“Motorbike,”
Molly clarified for Elissa’s benefit. “Big motorbike. He looks hot
in leather.” She paused. “So does Kirk.”

“And Scott.”
Ash sighed dreamily.

Dee tucked a
lock of blonde hair behind her ear. “One second Ryder’s kissing me,
the next he’s got me up against the freakin’ wall with my undies
around my ankles, grabs my leg behind the knee, which is pretty
impressive, and next thing he’s - well, there you go.”

“You’re going
to stop there?” Del demanded.

“You’re my
cousin. Ew. Yes, I’m going to stop there.”

“He did this
in broad daylight? What if I’d come out of my shop which, might I
remind you, is right next door to yours? I’d have fried my brains
out seeing your white arse scraping up against the brick work.” Del
paused. “I wouldn’t have burned my eyes watching Ryder,
though.”

Oops, that
wasn’t a good thing to say about her cousin’s fiancée. Elissa shot
Dee a look, expecting her to fire right back at Del, only to see
Dee smirking.

“I’ve seen his
naked arse many times. It’s all mine.”

“But in
daylight?” Del repeated.

“I see his
arse all times of the day and night.”

“No. I mean he
actually shagged you in broad daylight?”

“You are so
easy.” Dee laughed.

Del threw her
hands up in disgust. “So he didn’t nail you behind the shop!”

“Oh, he did.
It’s just that it was almost dark so no one was around.” Dee’s
smile grew wider. “He’s nailed me in the daytime in plenty of
places. Want to discuss the little table in the back of the
newsagency where we have our lunch break?”

“Shit,
no.”

“How about the
table at the picnic place?”

“What? You
dirty cow. I’ve eaten there as well.”

“Over the
bonnet of my car.”

“No wonder it
has a dent in the middle of it.”

“In the aisle
of the newsagency.”

“Jesus.
Haven’t you ever heard of a bed?”

“Sure. He
nails me there, too. Ryder nails me whenever and wherever he
can.”

“What a lovely
word, ‘nail’. Doesn’t he make love?”

“Sure. While
he’s nailing me. The man is very focussed on the nailing.” Dee
grinned. “So am I.”

“Stop. Please.
I’m going to need therapy.” Del turned to Molly. “What about
you?”

“What about
me?” Molly pointed to her belly. “We’re doing it. This is
proof.”

“Doggy only?
No other position?”

“Wow, we’re
really doing this?” Elissa couldn’t believe they were discussing it
so openly while she, a stranger, was actually listening.

“Better bloody
believe it.” Del didn’t bat an eyelid. “Strike while the iron’s
hot.”

“Like Ryder
does,” Dee put in.

“You’ve had
your shagging turn. I want to know about this pregnancy sex.”

Molly’s eyes
twinkled, delight dancing in the green depths. “I can still lie on
my side in the bed, you know.”

Cripes, this
was almost too much information. Elissa didn’t know where to
look.

Ash grinned.
“And you can still lean against the table.”

Shocked,
Elissa stared at her. Where had the dispirited girl she’d known
gone? Not to mention the fact that even before Ash had been
assaulted, she’d never indulged in such frank discussions and
laughed about it. “Who
are
you?”

“I fell from
grace,” Ash answered without an ounce of apology. “Once I met these
two I was a goner. Then Molly came along and my gutter days were
complete.”

“Don’t tell me
you’re shocked.” Dee studied Elissa, one eyebrow arched. “Big city
girl like you? You’d have seen your share of sex stuff.”

“Well…yeah.
But I’m not used to sitting around discussing it so frankly.”

Dee, Del and
Molly looked at each other. Ash just took a sip of her Diet Coke
and watched. Elissa glanced from her glass to the women then to
Ash, wondering if she’d just stuffed up a friendly discussion no
matter how bizarre it seemed.

“We need to
educate her,” Dee announced.

“Can’t have
her hanging out with us and not knowing anything.” Del pointed at
Elissa. “You might not have a man yet - do you have a man?”

“No.”

“Me neither.
Doesn’t mean we have to be ignorant.”

“Hey.” She
straightened. “I’m not ignorant. I know about sex.”

“Yeah, but
mate, if you can’t talk about sex with friends it’s weird.”

“Ash and I
never discussed it that much and we’re best friends.”

“That’s really
sad but don’t worry, we’ve educated her.” Del picked up her glass.
“You’re our next project.”

Elissa looked
at Ash.

“Just go with
it,” Ash advised her, amused. “It’s so much easier.”

“And fun,”
Molly added. “Don’t forget the fun.”

“By the time
we’ve finished with you, you’ll be a full bottle on sex and men.”
Dee paused. “A bit twisted, maybe, but what the hell? Life’s short.
So, no boyfriend?”

At the sudden
switch of topic, Elissa blinked. “No.”

“No husband?
No fiancée?”

“No and
no.”

“You’re
lucky.”

What the
hell?
Elissa gaped. “But you and Ryder-”

“The man is a
sex machine and easy on the eyes, but he’s such a dumb arse at
times.”

“Ah.” Molly
started laughing.

“What?” Del
looked at her. “What do you know?”

“Kirk saw the
kittens running rampant through the shop.” Molly laughed harder.
“Oh my God, he so wanted to hang around and see Dee rip Ryder a new
one!”

“That idiot.”
Dee scowled. “I’ve told Ryder millions of freakin’ times not to
forget to shut the door when the kittens are in the flat. I swear
to God, it goes in one ear and out the other with him.”

“How much did
you ream him?” Ash asked, a touch of sympathy in her voice for the
hapless Ryder.

“Not near as
much as I wanted.”

“Felt sorry
for him?”

“No. He got
all hot and bothered about it all and nailed me against said
door.”

“Jesus.” Del
rubbed her eyes. “You two need to take more cold showers.” She
jerked her head up, glared. “And don’t start on showers.”

Dee
smirked.

“Speaking of
showers-” Ash began.

“Don’t you
start!”

“No, not that.
Cripes.” Ash rolled her eyes. “Veering away from the gutter for
several minutes, let’s get to weather.”

“Weather? Holy
crap, is that what we’ve descended into?”

Personally,
Elissa thought it was a far safer subject, definitely more of the
kind with which she felt comfortable.

“Showers.
Rain. There’s a storm coming, did you know?”

Del stared at
her. “So?”

“Did you get
your roof fixed?”

“Oh shit.”

It was Dee’s
turn to roll her eyes. “Honestly, Del. You haven’t done it
yet?”

“Well, no.”
She frowned. “How big a storm?”

“More than
just a shower, apparently.”

“Enough that
you might drown when your roof leaks,” Molly said.

“Shit.
Bugger.” Del shoved a hand through her hair, the thick blonde
strands flowing through her fingers. “When?”

“Tonight.”

“Right.” She
shoved to her feet.

“Where are you
going?”

“To fix my
roof, what else?” Del drained the rest of the drink and hurried to
the sink.

“Aren’t you
going to phone the roofer?” Ash queried.

“It’s Sunday,
genius.” Del rinsed the glass out and placed it on the draining
board. “Ed’s day off.”

“Maybe he
wouldn’t mind-”

“I don’t need
a man to do things for me.”

“Oh boy.”
Molly shook her head. “I can ring Kirk-”