The Freefall Trilogy (Complete Collection) (12 page)

'Sorry if the cockerel woke you up,' said Joshua.  'I've been out and fed him - that should keep him quiet for a bit.  Are you OK with toast?' 

Lucy nodded and smiled, sitting up.  She never ate in the morning, but today she was famished.  Thirsty too - she reached out and snatched one of the glasses of ice cold orange juice, knocking it back in a few gulps. 

Lucy's eyes widened in panic.

'What time is it?'

In her mind's eye, she could see a wee, angry Scotsman, jumping up and down.

Joshua laughed, grabbing a piece of toast.

'Relax!  It isn't even seven yet,' he said, biting down with a loud crunch.

Isn't even seven?  ...Why are we up?

Lucy clunked the empty tumbler down on the tray, tentatively picking up a slice of toast in both hands, scared of getting jam on his pristine duvet.

'One sugar, right?' said Josh, reaching out and sliding a mug of coffee across the tray towards her.

'Perfect.  Thank you,' said Lucy, covering her mouth as she chewed.

'I didn't know you kept chickens,' she said, trying to make polite conversation.  His eyes were
vivid in the morning light; his smile brighter than ever.

'I don't,' said Josh.  She watched his Adam's apple rise and fall as he glugged his coffee.  'I'm just looking after them for next door while they're on holiday.'

She closed her eyes momentarily and took another bite.

Oh thank Christ...

Of all the pets he could have had, they wouldn't have been her first choice.

'There was a fox out there last night,'
she warned him, wiping the crumbs from corners of her lips with her fingertips, dashing her hands together.  They were sticky.  She reached for her white mug.

Joshua grinned back at her.

'There are lots of them.  Welcome to the country, baby.'

She smirked up at him over her mug.

'I remember the first time you called me that,' she said mischievously, taking a sip.

He clunked his empty mug down on the tray, running his fingers through the messy caramel curls, smiling shyly.

'Believe me, I won't forget that in a hurry,' he said, giving her a look.

He reached back, snatching the cup from her fingers, clinking it next to his, the tray clattering down on the floorboards.  He clambered across the bed towards Lucy.  Her lips twisted as she reached out; her fingers stroking his smooth cheeks, the short, straight hair at the nape of his neck; running up through the soft curls. 

'You've had a shower.'

His hair was still wet.  It felt cold. 

'Very observant, Miss Simkins,' he smirked.  He smelt of shower gel and toothpaste.  Joshua lifted the edge of the duvet, sliding in beside Lucy.  He rolled onto his back, smiling up at the ceiling, hands folded across his chest, fingers thrumming away.  Lucy lay there watching him nervously, twisting her ringlets around her fingers.  His eyes flicked to her, glittering; mischievous.  In a blink, his head was under the covers. 

Lucy balked, squirming. 

'Ay caramba!' came his muffled call. 

She broke into a fit of nervous giggles.

His face re-emerged, smooth jaw cupped in her hands as she smiled back at him shyly.  He nuzzled her aquiline nose.

'You have no idea, do you?' he said quietly.

Lucy gazed into his bottle green eyes.  Her face dropped.  He looked serious.

'You've got nothing to be shy about, Lucy.'  He blinked, eyes glazing over. 'You're beautiful.  Just... stunning.'

And suddenly, his mouth was on hers, kissing her passionately, his chest weighing down on her, their hearts pounding together.  Her fingers slid beneath the thick robe, feeling the muscles of his warm back with the same urgency.  She gasped him in, the morning light streaming through the billowing curtains. 

Outside, the cockerel was screaming blue murder.  Lucy didn't even hear.

'I told you I saw a fox,' Lucy said quietly as they sat in the car.

'Yeah, all right,' Joshua grumbled, starting the engine after a couple of turns.

'Are your neighbours going to be mad?'

'Well, they're not going to be happy,' he told her pointedly, rubbing his head, wrapping his arm around her seat.  'Just as well I didn't let the hens out too,' he said, staring out of the rear window as the car lurched backwards.

Lucy looked down at the khaki Abercrombie sweatshirt that was four sizes too big.  There were a going to be a few raised eyebrows at the
dropzone when she turned up in that.  Josh was right though, it was chilly.  And it smelt of him.  She snuggled into it, lowering her chin, smirking.  He didn't know she was wearing his briefs.

'Did you have jam on your hands?' Josh frowned, fidgeting in his seat, putting the car into first.  'I feel... sticky.'

Lucy laughed.

'Right.  Landing and approach...'

Oh God! 
Lucy closed her eyes, stifling a groan.  He was in full-blown instructor mode as they wove down the country lanes towards the dropzone.

'When you're on your final approach, what's your main priority?' Josh asked her.

His face was bathed in orange from the low, early sun.  She bit her bottom lip, heart fluttering, smiling to herself. 

Crikey Moses, my boyfriend is hot!

His caramel curls were spun with gold; lips full and soft.  His skin was flawless; jaw strong and tensed; green eyes startling.

'Lucy!'

She sighed, lolling her head against the headrest, rolling her eyes.

'To keep the canopy flying straight towards a clear, open space,' Lucy retorted monotonously.  'Do we have to do this?' 

She squeezed his thigh through his faded jeans, batting her eyelashes at him, but he wouldn't look.  She watched him flip down the sun visor as they turned a corner into the blinding rays.

'It makes me feel better,' he said quietly.

Oh.

She couldn't very well argue with that.

'What are your priorities for landing?' he continued, staring at the road ahead, steering with one hand, chewing the fingers of the other.

She drew her hand from his knee, folding her fingers in her lap.

'Keep the canopy level, fly in a straight line, land in a clear, open space avoiding obstacles, flare to at least the half brake position.'

'...And?'

Lucy frowned at him.

What do you mean 'and'?  That's it.

His eyes rolled to her briefly, brow knitting.

...Oh!

'Be prepared to make a parachute landing fall,' she added quickly.

She watched the frown melt.

'Very good!'

Josh flashed her a grin. 

'That was a textbook PLF you did yesterday, by the way.'

Lucy smiled back shyly, basking in the snippet of approval.

'All right,' said Josh.  'Let's try something else.  Parachute descent calculations.'

She eyed him warily.

'OK...'

'For ten points, Miss
Simkins, can you tell me the wind resistance force equation?'

Lucy scowled at him.

That wasn't in the written...

'Pardon me?' she murmured.

'The wind resistance force equation.  Otherwise known as the drag force equation.' 

She saw his eyes glimmer; lips twitch.  He tapped the steering wheel with his finger. 

'I don't want to hurry you, but the clock is ticking.'

Lucy screwed her eyes shut.  She took a deep, steadying breath, trying to picture the formula on her laptop screen.

F
D
= ½ r C
d
A v
2

'Force drag equals half of...' 

What was it called?  Greek word...

She gritted her teeth, clenching her fists. 

'Rho!' 

C
d
? ...Argh! 

'Drag coefficient!' 

I know this...

Her eyes burst open.  She scanned the
footwell.

'Force drag equals half of rho, drag coefficient, chute area and velocity squared!' she blurted.  'Ha!'

Lucy exhaled sharply as she lurched forward into the safety belt.

The car was stationary, chugging away between the overgrown hedgerows.  Josh was staring at her, mouth slightly ajar.

'How the hell did you know that?' he breathed.

'I told you,' she beamed back at him, trying not to laugh.  'I do my homework.  I've been waiting to do this for a long time.'

His eyes closed momentarily.  Josh slid his hands down his face.  His eyes flicked back open, pinning her to the spot.

'Have you any idea how sexy you make mathematical formulae sound?' he growled. 

Lucy giggled back shyly, playing with her hair again, biting her lip.  He went on staring at her, the look darkening.

'The things I'd like to do to you right now,' he warned her.

'...Josh, it's ten to eight!' Lucy chastised him.

Joshua closed his eyes with a groan.

'I know, I know,' he sighed.  'There'll be an angry little Scotsman hopping up and down in the manifest eleven minutes from now.' 

Lucy giggled.  His eyes opened, blazing green. 

'I love that sound.'

Lucy stopped abruptly.  She watched his Adam's apple rise and dip.

'It's your day off tomorrow, isn't it?' she threw out tauntingly.

Joshua nodded back.

'Any plans?' she blinked.

He swallowed again, slowly shaking his head.

'What about the shop?' he murmured.

Lucy grinned.

'Well you'll have to be quiet.  I don't want you scaring the customers downstairs.  Or Jean,' she said raising her eyebrows.

'I can't,' he sighed, frowning, closing his eyes.  'I'm supposed to be looking after the chickens.'

'Bang up job you've done so far,' Lucy teased him.  Josh cut her a look.

'Thanks for that.'

He ran his hand through his hair.

'Stay at mine again,' he coaxed.

'I can't.  I've run out of clothes.'

A smile slowly spread across Joshua's lips.

'I've got a washing machine,' he shrugged, flashing a cheeky grin.  'You can do some of mine while you're at it.'

He looked on triumphantly as her stare fell to the
footwell, cheeks turning pinker and pinker.

'OK,' Lucy squeaked.

'There's a Sainsbury's down the road.  I think they sell clothes,' Josh threw out.  'You know,
knickers
and stuff...'

Lucy's eyes flickered.  His grin spread even wider.

'I'll get some stuff for dinner too,' she offered.

Joshua's eyes flared, the smile sliding.

'I like pie,' he said hopefully. 

'I can do pie,' Lucy said, nodding quickly.

He pursed his lips, quirking an eyebrow.

'You know, while that's in the oven,' he ventured, 'maybe you could whip round with a duster?'

Lucy peered up at him.

'...Get stuffed.'

Joshua laughed.

'The place could really do with a vacuum,' he teased.

'You're mean,' she pouted.  Joshua shrugged. 

'You do realise those were my lucky boxer shorts you pinched.'

Lucy smirked back at him begrudgingly.

'Lucky?'

'Lucky!' he grinned back at her.

'That bloody smile,' she muttered.  'You must get away with murder.'

She watched it suddenly turn shy.

'Ditto, Miss
Simkins,' he said quietly, craning his neck.  He slid his fingers into her hair, his lips meeting hers, kissing her, all too briefly.