To Betray A Brother (10 page)

“Ahem,” came from behind Penny. She broke the kiss, still holding onto Bryce as she turned to see Mick and his wife Maeve.

They both smiled as Mick walked toward them, leaning heavily on his walking stick. “It appears you don’t need me after all.”

Penny raced toward him and gave him a big hug. “How are you? It’s been a while since we have seen you.” Almost apologetically, she added, “We have been really busy.”

“My dear, to see you on the podium this afternoon is all the explanation I need.” Tears wet his eyes as he spoke. He turned to Bryce. “My boy, to say I had reservations about you is well….let’s just say I had you wrong.” He stuck his hand out, which Bryce took. Mick continued. “One day I will have to get you to tell me how you squeezed the extra power out of her.” He nodded toward the bike which sat tied securely in the truck.

Bryce smiled. “I’ll let you in on a small secret. It wasn’t about how much power we had. We changed the way we got the torque to the ground. I spent two months machining a new gear set. I added three extra gears so when she changed up or down we always went straight into the engine’s sweet spot.”

“I’m sorry I misjudged you,” said Mick, releasing Bryce’s hand. He embraced Penny. “We have to go. I struggle a bit nowadays.”

Penny returned the hug, unable to speak as her tears welled in her eyes. She broke away and hugged Maeve. “The season is almost over. I’ll be able to see you more often then.”

Her hand sought Bryce’s. They watched Mick and Maeve walk away with their heads inclined toward each other in soft conversation. Warmth flowed from Bryce’s hand into hers, comforting and adding strength. In the distance, a bolt of lightning split the sky as dark storm clouds returned, preparing to wage another assault on them.

Thunder rocked the car as Bryce turned into his driveway, struggling to see through the teeming rain. A bolt of bright blue lightening cracked overhead. The intensity of the flash was a stark contrast against the dark green clouds which had enveloped the sky during the journey home. Bryce flicked Penny a set of keys. "You open the roller door while I unhook the trailer."

She grabbed the keys and stepped out into the torrent as soon as the car stopped. Within two steps the rain had soaked her through. "Arrgh!" she cried out in frustration as she fumbled with the keys trying to get the door open in a hurry. Finally she found the right key, and the door slid open. She raced inside, taking a deep breath and listened as the rain hammered down on the tin roof. Water puddled on the concrete floor as she walked across and pulled the chain hand over hand to lift the door. The roller door crept inexorably upward in time for her see a drenched Bryce slip behind the wheel of the car. Another bolt of lightning flashed as he edged the car beneath the door and into the safety of the shed.

The car door closed behind her as she hauled on the chain. The damn door took more effort to lower than to raise it. The chain got lighter in her hands lightened and a large drop of water splashed into her eyes. Water ran down Bryce's arms as he added his weight to the task. The length of his torso, lean and hard, pushed against her back as they pulled on the chain. His musk filled her senses, igniting her with familiar longing. She leaned back into him as the door hit the ground, shutting out the storm which raged outside.

Penny turned to face him, her nipples scraping against her drenched T-shirt, sending a shiver through her as she sought Bryce's lips. His hands grasped her head as he returned her kiss. His tongue explored her mouth, sending a raging fire through her shaking limbs, violent and uncontrollable. She broke the kiss, blood pounded through her ears as her hands sought Bryce's chest. She ripped his wet T-shirt up over his head, exposing his flesh and pushed hard with both hands. He stepped backward, grasped her arm and pulled her into him. His lips sought hers, hot, forceful, strong, as his hands slid down over her butt grasping, pulling her toward him. Only vaguely aware of moving, something hard hit her back, while his hands scraped across her skin, electrifying in their touch. His calloused palms slid along her ribs as her top slid upward over her head, exposing her to his lips.

Her shirt hit the ground as Bryce pushed her against the car, his hands cupping her breasts, her nipples straining against his palms. Liquid fire exploded within her as his teeth rasped across her flesh. Her breath came in short, sharp gasps as he moved to caress her throat with his lips, his rough hands raw against her skin, sending shocks through her body.

Penny’s hands closed around his leather belt. She fumbled before finally ripping the buckle open. Her fingers grasped his jeans. She yanked the button open and slid the zipper downward. Sliding her hands inside his briefs, she pushed them away at the same time she pulled him toward her.

His hands slip over her hips, as his tongue flicked across her stomach. He slide her jeans off, and a shot of cold air hit her, causing her to shiver She stepped out of her sopping jeans while his hands travelled up the back of her legs, and his tongue left a trail of fire across her stomach.

Her fingers wrapped through his hair as her hands sought to push him downward, and her hips involuntarily thrust forward. Penny heard herself gasp. He pushed her back against the car. He lowered his head and his mouth closed over the tender spot inside her knee, his teeth dragging across her soft skin. Electricity coursed through her, exploding into her womanhood. His tongue travelled slowly, agonising, exploring her inner thigh. Her entire body threatened to explode.

He lifted her as if she was a feather and laid her across the warm bonnet. Pushing her legs apart, his mouth closed over her. She gasped and pulled him closer, her hips driving upward. His lips pulled her together as she thrust to him, and her head rocked back as his tongue probed her. A cry escaped her throat unbidden.

Bryce stood cradling her, heat flushed against her skin as he lowered her onto the hood. His hands cupped hers breasts, caressing her nipples, adding to the inferno raging within her. He moved between her thighs, pushed her knees apart, leaving her exposed. A red hot ember seared though her as, in one long slow thrust Bryce pushed into her. Her breath came in short gasps as her wrapped her legs around his waist rising to meet every thrust, and he plundered her. Head thrown back, her body exploded in crescendo, and Bryce arched into her. She pulled herself to him as they both gasped in molten ecstasy.

Penny snuggled into Bryce's neck as he lifted her gently, her heart slowing as their breathing subsided in unison. Neither said anything. He carried her upstairs as if she weighed no more than a feather, still snuggled into him, her head against his chest, the steady rhythm of his breath blended with the cadence of his heartbeat. The embers, remnants of fire, within her burned warm and soft.

She had no idea what the time was. The moon shone brightly through the window, its light revealing Bryce beside her, his arm draped over her chest. She smiled, nestling closer and closed her eyes. His scent filled her as the blackness of sleep blanketed her.

* * * *

Sunlight streamed in the window as Penny woke. She lay for a moment; her eyes closed wondering what would greet her this morning. She reached out, the space beside her, where Bryce should be, sat empty and cold. Her heart skipped a beat. She lay for a moment longer before sitting up, the smell of coffee brewing wafted through the door urging her to move. Beside her, her clothes, washed, dried, and folded, waited on the foot of the bed. Instead she reached for Bryce’s T-shirt, slipped out of bed and into the open living area of the mezzanine. Her heart sank as silence greeted her. Coffee won out over looking further for him. She could no longer resist the lure of a freshly brewed cup. Bryce was here, somewhere. She found a mug on the bench beside the coffee machine. Grabbing milk from the fridge, she stirred a sugar in slowly, wondering as to his whereabouts.

A sound,
Shhht. Shhht
reached her ears. She followed the hiss downstairs, glancing at the clock on the wall, ten-eighteen.
Wow, a late morning!
She followed the sound coming from an enclosed room at the far end of the barn and looked through the windows in the two large doors to see Bryce wearing a breathing mask, spraying what looked like clear coat onto a car. She watched fascinated as the gun followed lines only he could see. Marvelling at his skill, her eyes slid over the matt black paint of an old Ford pick-up. She was drawn to the lime green and purple flames licking across the bonnet. Her
Leather and Lace
logo stood out against the black paint, black calligraphic script highlighted against a cream oval background. Tears welled in her eyes as her hands shook.

Bryce opened the door, his mask lifted to sit on top of his head. Spray gun still in his hand he pulled her toward him. His lips found hers, the kiss softer than the frenzied passion of their lovemaking. Light danced in his eyes. "Well I did intend for this to be a surprise." He held his arm out, inviting her into the booth. “Don’t touch anything. Everything’s still wet."

She stepped through the door, his hand on her elbow, burning her skin where he touched her.

"Go on," Bryce urged.

She walked around the pickup, drinking in the detail. Oh to have the skill to create works of art like this! She circled the pickup, taking her time to drink in the moment. Headlights, bumpers, and other bits were still to be fitted. She tried to peer inside. The windows were masked up to prevent paint spraying over the glass. Lime green flames tumbled over the bonnet before fading into a deep rich violet, reminding her of summer flowers in bloom. She stopped herself from touching and looked up at Bryce, almost to see if she had been caught. A smile crossed his face while his eyes danced as the harsh work lights reflected off them. Before she realised, she had circled the car and now stood back with Bryce.

"I don't know what to say." She looked into his eyes. Only warmth shone there.

"Then say nothing."

His arms enveloped her, cocooned her, safe she reached out as he took her lips with his. She caressed his manhood. Standing on tiptoes, she whispered in his ear as he hardened against her hand. “You had better follow me so I can thank you properly.” As she turned away, her hand slipped down and lifted her shirt to expose one cheek of her naked butt.

Forty-three dollars, twenty." Penny folded the two shirts into a paper bag and took money from the young girl across the counter. "There you go. Six dollars, eighty change." The girl’s striking dark eyes drank in everything around her. "These are amazing. They look great on you."

The doorbell tinkled, and Bryce strode in, his dark hair looking like he just got out of bed and a broad smile beamed across the room. A faded dark blue T-shirt hung loose, covering his lean body. Penny imagined running her hands over his washboard stomach. She handed the bag to the girl in a rush to get her out the door. "Thank you. Please come again." The door closed, and Penny wrapped her arms around Bryce’s neck. Her lips sought his, and fire burned through her as his lips responded, firm hot, salty.

Bryce took her wrist. "Come with me." He opened the door and guided her outside. "Here you go." He tossed something in the air.

She caught a set of keys. “What?"

Bryce grabbed her by the shoulders and spun her around. A black pickup crouched low against the curb on black spoke wheels.

"Oh my God!" Penny gasped as she recognised it immediately. It was the one she had seen in the spray booth. The sexy finished article looked ready to prowl the street. The purple flames took on a violet hue, coming alive as they danced in the in the sunlight against the satin black backdrop of the rest of the body.
"
Can I…?" The question left hanging, incomplete.

"Ha. You know you want to."

"Let me lock the shop first." Penny raced away and returned a few moments later. Bryce held the driver’s door open for her. She stood on tiptoes, pecked him on the cheek, and slid onto a pale blue leather bench seat which seemed to stretch for miles across the car. The colour of the seats and door panels matched. Her hands closed around the blue leather steering wheel, revelling in its softness. Original gauges nestled beside high tech ones across the dash. The electronics and sound system looked fantastic.

"Well?" She was so focussed on looking at the craftsmanship she hadn't noticed Bryce sneak into the seat beside her. Penny took his face with one hand and kissed him, deeply savouring the warmth which flowed from him. “Thank you. This is nothing short of amazing." She looked around, held up the keyless ring. "How…?"

"Do you start it?" Bryce finished the question for her.

She nodded.

His smile lit up the cabin as he pointed toward a button on the dash.

"No!" Penny was both shocked and amused at not having recognised the device. Her hand trembled as she pushed the starter.

The V8 roared into life, and she jumped in her seat at the sound. The pickup vibrated as the engine idled over. She looked across at Bryce, marvelling at his skill. He just nodded as he watched, his eyes sparkling. A big smile covered his face. She slipped the transmission into drive and pulled out from the curb. The engine growled angrily as she accelerated into the traffic.

"Where to?" Penny asked.

"We have a full tank of fuel, the shop is closed, and an open highway heading up into the mountains. Let's burn it."

Penny responded by planting her foot on the accelerator. The engine roared, the rear wheels broke loose, and everything danced sideways. "Whoo-hoo," she cried out as the car shot forward.

They pulled up as the traffic lights turned red. Penny slid her hand across the seat onto Bryce's lap. The hard muscles of his leg underneath the soft faded denim of his jeans pushed back against the palm of her hand. His hand closed over hers, adding fuel to the fire deep inside her.

"Music? I’ve loaded a pile of your favourites."

She shook her head. "You know while I am lost for words right now, I think I'd like to enjoy the drive with just you and no other distractions. As if this…” She patted the dash. “…is not distraction enough."

"Right then. You, me, and whatever you name this thing are off for test drive."

Exasperated, she slapped him on the leg. "You!”

He laughed, deep and rich as she grabbed and held her hand between both of his.

* * * *

"There is a track up here on the left, take it." Bryce pointed into the distance.

Penny slowed and guided them onto the grassed track. "Where does this go?"

Mischief danced across Bryce's face. "You'll see. I think you will be surprised.”

They drove for several miles along the bumpy road. As they came around a bend the track opened out into large grassed area which sloped into a large lake.

"What! How? I didn't know this even existed, and I have lived here all of my life."

"What is life if we know the answers to all of the secrets at once? Pull up over there, under the shade of those trees."

Penny manoeuvred to park under the trees, "How do you turn this off?"

“Push the starter again. It’s a start/stop button."

She did so. Nothing happened, the engine kept running. She looked across at Bryce.

"Turbo timer. If the engine is too hot, it will idle for a couple of minutes to allow everything to cool down before shutting down. Stops anything being damaged."

Penny shook her head in wonder. "I'm familiar with the concept, but I’ve have never seen one in action before. You never cease to amaze me." She smiled as she spoke.

Undoing her seat belt, she stepped into the open and stretched. "This place is amazing. How did you find it?"

"I came across the lake from the other side years ago when home on leave. I was out trail bike riding and found it. I'm not sure why it’s not marked on any map I've seen." He popped open the white canvas cover stretched across the pickup bed "This place is a closely guarded secret by the few locals who know it exists."

He flipped a bag out on to ground. "There are some giant trout and salmon in here. I occasionally come up and fly fish when I need to clear my head."

"Mmm, I can see why. It is so quiet. The only sounds I can hear are insects and birds."

Bryce spread a large camping blanket out on the ground and pulled out an ice box next, depositing it next to the blanket.

"You seem to have thought of everything."

He lifted his shoulders, shaping a nonchalant shrug. "I figured your first drive really should be a memorable one. I've been wondering how to share this spot with you, and well, this seemed entirely appropriate." His smile lit up the shade as he spoke.

She took two steps to him, wrapped her arms around his back. She looked him directly in the eyes as she spoke. "How do I thank you for all you have done for me?"

His eyes shone. "Just be true to yourself. Nothing more. Nothing less." His lips took hers, gently as he held her. After a moment, he broke away and looked into her eyes, his hands resting on her hips. She wanted nothing more than to dive into those deep liquid pools. What did she have to lose, this time? They had been here before—almost, but they were both much younger then. Her heart wanted to give everything over to him, but her head wanted her to wait just a little longer.

"Come on, let's eat." Bryce pulled her down on the blanket next to him. He uncovered a plate of fresh salad rolls he’d taken from the icebox. Beside them he placed two wine glasses and a bottle of Shiraz. "Not that I advocate drinking and driving, but it is nice on occasion to have the odd glass or two, and I think right now is entirely appropriate.” He passed Penny a glass and held his toward her. He nodded as they touched glasses, no words needed.

Penny bit into a roll. "Mmm. Heaven." Fresh lettuce, tomato, carrot, and cheese layered upon a French loaf blended create the perfect flavours. "I cannot recall when last I had a salad sandwich as good as this."

"Why, thank you. I know it's not great for you, but I can't go past tiger bread. It makes the best sandwiches ever." To prove the point, he took a bite of his own roll.

"You know what? I could easily eat one of these every day for the rest of my life."

Bryce finished his sandwich and lay back. She watched as he stretched cat like and sat back up again. His hand found her thigh and rested there. Penny swallowed the last mouthful of her wine, relishing his closeness, looking at the water. The warmth of late spring made itself felt even under the shade of the trees. "Have you ever swam here?"

"There is a nice deep pool just around the edge there, next to the rock wall. Occasionally I come here and dive the wall for fresh water crays." In seconds, he’d unfolded himself from where he sat and his shoes were piled with his crumpled T-shirt on the ground. He slid his jeans to the blanket and stepped out of them. Buck naked, he took a couple of steps and turned to her with dare sparked in his eyes. "Coming?" Without looking to see if she followed he walked toward the water.

"You are incorrigible." She shook her head in disbelief. In no time her clothes were piled with his, and she followed.

He stopped and waited at the water's edge, hand out to her. She took his hand, her heart beating a staccato in her chest as they waded into the cool clear water. She shivered from the water kissing her already stippled skin.

"Ready?" He grinned and dove into the water. His naked body cut though the cool clear liquid; he surfaced and called at her. "Come on."

She followed, the cool water caressed her naked body. Exhilarated she surfaced and swam toward him. He was over toward the rock wall. When she caught up, she stopped to look down into the water below. The rock wall plunged down about twenty feet before disappearing in the bottom of the lake.

Bryce signalled for her to come closer. "If you look here.” He pointed to a dark patch about halfway down the rock wall. “That spot is the opening of a short tunnel.”

Penny nodded.

"If we swim down into there and in for about ten feet it opens up to a cave. We will be able to surface and breathe."

She looked at him, uncertain as he reached out and took her hand. "Are you sure?"

Bryce took both of her hands. "I found the cave one day diving here."

She swallowed. "If you say so." Her heart pounded in her chest as she tried hard to convince herself.

"Right on three. One. Two. Three."

Penny took a deep breath, and with Bryce holding her hand, they dived. The entrance to the cave stood out, easy to see in the clear water. As she entered the tunnel, an eerie light shone through from the other end. The water was colder here, and she shivered. Bryce gave her the thumbs up signal as they swam deeper into the cave. Just when she thought she could go no further and her heart threatened to jump from her chest, Bryce swam upward, pulling her with him.

They broke the surface, and she gasped in air. He smiled. "This way." He swam toward a small beach.

Once her feet touched the coarse sandy bottom, she followed Bryce out of the water, watching as his muscles rippled beneath his skin in the pale light. Penny looked around in amazement. "Oh, Bryce. I have never seen anything so beautiful."

The surface of the water behind them was once again smooth. All signs of their passage disappeared as they stood hand in hand, drinking in the scene before them.

Stalagmites reached for the roof of the cave like crazy fingers clawing toward the light. The coral like surface of the stalactites bounced shafts of pink and blue light across the surface of the water they had just left.

"I never in a million years would have thought…" She left the sentence unfinished. She let out an explosive breath, unaware of the anxiety the swim through the tunnel into the unknown, mixed with the hidden beauty of the cave, had paused her breathing. She stared awestruck at the hidden and magical world known only to the two of them.

"Come look at this." Bryce guided her closer to the giant rock formations. The ancient rock formations seemed not to notice their passing as they went about a universal business larger than she could comprehend.

Bryce's arm wrapped around her from behind, his body warm against her cool skin. She pushed back against him, slowly grinding her naked body. His hands cupped her breasts, and small kisses burnt her skin as his lips travelled down her neck and across her shoulders. Penny tipped her head back, his lips found hers. Scalding hot they tasted of the fresh water they had just swam through.

"Oh," Penny moaned as Bryce's hands slid down over her stomach and slipped across her. She ached for him as she bent over, grasping the ancient rock formation before her. Her back arched involuntarily as he entered her. His hands took her hips as he slid in, steel hard, filling her very essence, and pulling her toward him.

"Oh, God, yes." Penny whispered, pushing back against his every thrust as he plundered her.

"Penny," Bryce called out.

She slipped away from him, spun around, and took him in her hand. Dropping to her knees, she stroked his length as her lips covered his manhood. He grasped her head and held her firm as he thrust into her mouth, and her hand pumped the length of his shaft. He cried out, liquid fire burnt the back of her throat. She swallowed the molten fluid splashing into her mouth. Withdrawing, she ran her tongue over the length of him. He gasped when she took his entire length into her mouth one last time before standing.

Bryce's arms enveloped her, his lips pressed against hers, and his tongue invaded her mouth. He pulled her tighter into his embrace. Warmth flowed from him, enveloping her as they stood amongst the ancient rock formations.