Red Hot (3 page)

His sexual encounters were few and far
between, always with no happy ever after in the offering. At least not since
Eleanor had dumped him for another guy who didn't appear to have Red’s shyness.
A cold shower, a lonely bed and his own hand were all that waited for him at
home. He willed his erection to go down so he could pass over the deer and
leave.

“Your family, Red, are they in San
Francisco too?” she asked again her eyebrows raised as she waited for his
answer.

He looked up into her happy face, confused
about the mixed signals he was picking up. She wasn’t really interested, was
she? The smile on her face made it all the way to her eyes. She might be
genuine but he couldn’t figure out why. No one had ever cared before, not enough
anyway. Not that he had given them a chance to. High school and the hard knocks
along the way had hardened him and made him into a recluse.

“I have no family now. It's just me.” He
looked through narrowed eyes to gauge her reaction.

“Oh, that is so sad. I sometimes wish my
family wasn’t so involved in my life but I would miss them if they weren’t
there for me. There is my Mam and Da of course.” She grinned and Red’s chest
closed as the air was sucked from his lungs. He wouldn’t be able to defend
himself against her magnetism for much longer.

“Young Fergus is a terrible teenager, gives
my folks such a hard time but he's a boy, you understand. It goes with the
territory or so he always tells us. Then there is my younger sister, Coleen.
She's a darling girl. Turning eighteen next week, she is. All the boys are
hanging around her driving my Da crazy.”

Her face came alight and full of life when
she spoke of her family. Red’s own parents had died in a boating accident three
years ago and he missed them every day even though he’d never had the sort of
relationship Rhian seemed to have with her family. His father was a committed
scientist and Red had grown up wanting to be like him, even though he had been
a bit old school. He spent holidays interning for him at the laboratory and
thought that was how life was meant to be. While most teenagers had gone to
camp or parties, he’d been looking at microbes in a petri dish and getting
excited when he predicted the way they would mutate and grow.

“Do they live close to you?” he ventured
pushing away the thoughts of his teenage years.

“Too close some days, I swear.” She laughed
out loud, shaking her head. “I have my surgery in the front of my house and
it's nothing to have at least one of them in every other day. Their house is
just around the corner from mine. My house in town used to be my Gram's home.
She lived there as a young bride and all the rest of her life, bless her.
Lovely woman she was, left it to me in her will.” She ran her tongue over her
full lips and sighed. “She encouraged me to open my own practice before she
passed over. She still watches over me now. You should come over and have a
look. It’s the big house on the corner of Main and Watson, close to the
Botanical Gardens. You can't miss it, stands out a mile. I painted it a bright
lemon with white trim. Such a happy color, don’t you think? I know Gram would
approve.”

Red shifted his gaze to the animal on his
lap. It was stirring slightly and he prodded it, encouraging it to wake up.
This lady was starting to sound a little bit crazy and he thought it was time
to make a move “I have to go now. Thanks for the tea and for… um… helping me.”
Red scooped the deer up in his hands and stood. He held it out toward her and
waited for her to take it from him .

Rhian stood and took the orphan, her
fingers brushing his. Red's pulse reacted to the heat spiking from her skin and
he tried to step back but his feet seemed to be rooted to the spot. It was
almost as if she had used magic on him. He had to get out here, get away from
this woman.

Before he knew what was happening she’d be
talking magic spells and séances.

Fuck’s sake, I've overdone it again and
now he's breaking his neck to get away. Geez Rhian, why can’t you just take it
easy instead of talking your head off and scaring every available guy you meet?
Da was right. I'll never get married at this rate. Why can't I keep my mouth
shut and act demure like Coleen?

She stood and smoothed her skirt before
speaking.

“Well, it was lovely to meet you Red. I
wish it could have been under different circumstances though. At least you
didn’t get hurt too much. We'll have to catch up again sometime. You know where
I live, so drop by.”

Shut up Rhian. Just shut the fuck up and
hope he leaves with a shred of interest instead of terror in his bones thinking
you are going to stalk him.

She reached over and took the fawn from his
hands and ran her fingernail down his arm. He drew a quick breath and pulled
away from her.

Well, at least his body was reacting
favorably even if his brain was telling him she was a nut case. There was hope
yet and where there was a spark of interest, well…say no more.

She walked him out to his motorbike and
stood while he put his glasses in their case and donned his helmet. Red swung
his leg over the seat of the big red bike and turned the key. Rhian tried not
to reach out and grab the enticing butt encased in tight black leather as he
turned the bike to face the road. Nodding his thanks, he lifted a hand in
goodbye and coasted down the driveway.

The roar of the motorbike when it reached
the road told her all she needed to know. She had rattled him and she loved it.
Sure she’d let her mouth get away with her and she’d probably said some things
that were best left unsaid. He didn’t need to know what she was just yet. He
would find out sooner or later so it was no big deal, but she needed to ease
him into it. Being a scientist he would balk at her secret. Rhian knew that but
decided it was a hurdle to be crossed and she would talk him around. Preferably
in bed where she hoped he would be putty in her hands.

Nero approved and that was all she needed
to know. If she played her cards right, Bob her Battery Operated Boyfriend
would be a thing of the past. Oh the joy of a real man in her bed again. Not
that the first one had been anything to write home about but Red was different.
She knew he was. He just had to be convinced he was worthy of her.

Rhian hummed to herself and walked back
into the cottage. She may as well pack and head for home herself. She had two
castrations booked in for Monday and plenty to do. She sighed, feeling sorry
for the poor dogs that would be at her door in the morning and leaving in the
late afternoon with less than when they arrived.

She packed her overnight bag and put the
fawn in a travelling basket she kept in her car for emergencies and locked the
cottage. Nero jumped into the car as soon as she opened the door and she put
the basket on the back seat with the baby deer inside. Taking a last look at
the cottage, she smiled to herself and got into the car. Reversing down the
drive, she turned onto the road, following the route Red had taken just an hour
earlier.

* * * *

 “Jake, it’s Red. Hey mate, sorry to bother
you over the weekend but I had a bit of an accident with the bike today. Any
chance I can drop it off on Monday on my way into work?” Red listened to the
reply and then spoke into the phone again. “Sure, it's not that bad but you
know me. A deep gouge in the tank on one side and one of the foot pegs is
totally fucked. You might need to order a new one.”

He laughed and squeezed the bridge of his
nose as Jake cursed loudly at the other end of the phone.

“What is it with you and speed? How many
times do I have to tell you to slow down and look after that machine? By all
that is holy and mechanical Red, sometimes you would be better off walking.” A
deep sigh came through the other end of the phone. “Hell, bring it in and I’ll
fix it. Again!”

“I had to swerve to miss a baby deer on the
coast road. It wasn’t my fault, okay. But don’t worry, I'm fine really, thanks
for your concern. I'll see you in the morning. Hey, if I can have a loaner
bike, that would be great. Thanks man, I really appreciate it.”

“Whatever, dude.” Jake hung up on him
obviously pissed about the job ahead.

Red slipped the phone into his pocket and
leaned on his balcony overlooking the bay. His thoughts went to the beautiful,
crazy chick leaning over him when he’d opened his eyes. He didn’t think he had
been knocked out cold, just stunned. He’d wrecked his elbow; he’d known before
he finished sliding along the road on his ass. The rips in his jacket and pants
proved that too, along with the red gravel rash he was sporting on his butt. So
why after she had rubbed her hands together and touched his arm did it feel as
if he’d had no injuries?

Definitely the fruity type but so very
sexy. Way out of his league, even though she had treated him kindly. She must
have felt bad he and his bike were damaged because of the orphaned deer she was
caring for. He walked inside and took a cold beer from the fridge. Enid, his
cleaning lady had left a meal ready for him as she usually did but he didn’t
want to eat yet. Returning back to the balcony, he sat on a chair with his feet
up on the railing. Thoughts of sex with Rhian filled his mind, torturing his
body.

He’d gone for the ride to relieve the
sexual ache and all he had done was increase it. He shifted on the chair, his
balls starting to hum with anticipation. He seriously had to get laid. It had
been too long. Red pondered the idea of calling past her surgery tomorrow night
on his way home from work. She might be a little weird but she was cute and
incredibly sexy. He thought back over their conversation.

“Well, it was lovely to meet you Red. I
wish it could have been under different circumstances though but at least you
didn’t get hurt too much. We'll have to catch up again sometime. You know where
I live, so drop by sometime.”

Drop by sometime. Why not? The worst that
could happen would be another rejection, nothing new to him.

Maybe it was worth the agony.

Deciding on that course of action, he drank
the rest of his beer and then went inside to heat up his meal. He went to sleep
with dreams of blonde crazy ladies chasing him through the forest.

* * * *

Red rode into Jake’s shop in the morning
ready for a confrontation. The guy was his best friend but when it came to the
care of his bike, Jake didn’t hold back the punches.

“You frigging idiot.” Red shook his head at
the first words out of Jake’s mouth. “Seriously man, you have to start looking
after this or I’ll find it a new home.” Jake ran his hands over the gouges in
the tank and shook his head. He pointed to the mangled foot pedal. “Totally
fucked I would say. I’ve already ordered a new one. Maybe I should keep one as
a spare, you seem to go through them the way you ride. I don’t know why I let
you buy something this good. You don’t deserve it the way you treat it. Buy an
old shitter if you want to knock it around like this.”

“Stop already. I’m not that bad and you
know it. Listen, I have to get to work. Is that my loaner over there?” He
pointed to a sedate Honda sitting in the corner, cringing at the thought of
riding such an old bike.

Jake nodded his head, a grin spreading over
his face. “Yeah, there is no way I’m letting you have anything decent of mine
if this is what you do to your own baby. Suck it up big dude and take care of
it, I want it back unscathed. I think this will be here for a couple of days. I
have to pull the tank off and see if I can blow the dent out before I try to
repaint it.”

Red grimaced and pulled his helmet back on
before he hopped on the old bike and turned it around. Jake laughed as Red kick
started it, his boot slipping on the worn pedal. Flicking his friend the bird,
Red pulled out of the garage and headed toward the highway and work at a slower
speed than usual.

By the time he rode into the parking lot
his mind was already on the series of tests he was conducting and he waved to
his receptionist without stopping to talk, keen to get to his laboratory and
get a head start on the day. When he walked in, he was assailed with the
cloying smell of Cara's perfume. He coughed and rubbed his nose, taking a deep
breath under his hand. She was already on her computer and waved to Red as he
headed for his office.

It was so different to the fresh floral
smell of Rhian’s hair, and thoughts of her filled his mind. She was getting
under his skin and he didn't know if he was prepared for the rejection that
normally followed. At his age he should be used to people’s reactions. He was
the geeky looking scientist who was socially inept and became confused around
any female who was remotely good looking. It was as if the bad fairy had taken
all of his inbuilt chick skills and given them to someone else, leaving him
with the articulation ability of a three-year old.

Once he was in his white coat he went back
out to the laboratory. He took his slide samples from storage and powered up
his computer. The morning flew by and before he knew it Cara had pushed a mug
of coffee in front of him.

“I'm going out for lunch, can I get you
anything?” she asked.

“Um, no thanks. Thanks anyway.” Red looked
at the clock. One thirty already. His mind went to Rhian and he could see her
sitting in the sunshine on the side of the road, her head tilted to one side
and her hair tumbling over her shoulders as he pulled himself together. He
wondered if he should call or just drive past her surgery on the way home. Red
knew the house she lived in. It wasn't that far from his place. He could
casually call in and enquire after the baby deer and see what happened. If he
could pluck up the courage he might even ask her out.

He shook his head and took a big swallow of
his coffee
.

Like she would want to get involved with
me anyway.

He reset the computer to run the next set
of tests and quickly lost himself in his work again.

* * * *

Rhian looked up when the bell on the
surgery door chimed. Her receptionist May, had just left and there were no more
visits booked. Hoping she didn’t have an emergency, she hurried out. Her heart
beat bumped up a notch when she walked into the reception room and saw Red
standing just inside the door.

The poor boy looks terrified.

He was darting looks around the room and
his fingers were tugging at the sleeves of his jacket, the same leather one he
had on yesterday when she helped pick him up off the road.

She took a deep breath and counted to ten
before she spoke, afraid the quiver in her body would come out in her words. It
had been so long since she’d had sex. It was taking a toll on her to be
sociable and not throw him to the floor, ripping the clothing from his body. No
one this gorgeous had come her way in a long while and it was playing havoc
with her hormones.

“Hey, come on in.” She stepped forward
holding out her hand. “It's nice to see you Red. Bet you're wondering how the
fawn is?”

He stepped closer to her and took the outstretched
hand tentatively. Rhian pulled him close and slipped her arm through his,
guiding him effortlessly through to the back of the clinic to her part of the
house. Nero came running and wound himself in and out of his leather clad legs,
the cat’s delicate paws moving in time with Red’s heavy boots

“I don't believe this cat. I've never had
an animal react to me this way before.” His voice was shaky and she longed to
squeeze him tight and tell him there was no need to be nervous. She would make
everything right for them. She had it all planned out in her head how she was
going to seduce him. Ever since she had watched him drive away she had drooled
over him. The man drought of the last few months had her on edge and she was
counting on this hunk to sooth her frazzled nerves.

Her soft laugh seemed to soothe him and she
saw the tension leave his body as his shoulders relaxed. “I told you he was a
very good judge of character. I always listen to what he has to say. Animals
instincts are so much better than ours, I think.”

The living room was very similar to her
weekend cottage. The only difference was this room was so much bigger. Her
house was stunning and one of San Francisco's finest old mansions. She drew him
over to a corner of the room where a baby pen was set up. Inside lay the fawn,
curled up on a blanket. When it saw them approach, it stood and wagged its
tail.

Rhian leaned over and picked it up, and
turned to place it in Red’s arms. His face broke out in a smile and he ran a
finger over the soft speckled fur.

“You have a seat while I make a cup of tea.
I won't be long.”

She headed to the kitchen with a spring in
her step. It was good he came to her because Rhian wasn’t sure what excuse she
would have used to go and see him. It wasn’t like she could just walk in and
say she was just passing by. Filling the kettle at the sink she looked out the
window at the skyline. She couldn’t wait to get her hands on those long thighs
and tight butt. She had a bum fetish and imagined running her hands over the
leather and slipping them into the snug waistband to travel down to what lay
waiting. Her mouth watered at the thought of the soft pink skin and the joys
her lips could bring to him.