Page 56 of Tricks & Treats at The Cosy Cornish Bakery

‘What happened?’

‘Only Hannah having a bitch about her hard-working big sister,’ Ginger explained. ‘Nothing unusual. She’s always had a beef about Chloe.’

‘And you defended her?’ Josh asked, his voice taking on a warm, admiring quality.

‘You bet,’ Ginger huffed. ‘Chloe’s my best friend.’

Josh put his arm around her. ‘Have I ever told you how amazing I think you are?’

Ginger turned to him, looked him straight in the eyes and made her decision. ‘No, but if you take me home, you can show me.’

Josh gulped, his Adams’s apple lifting up and down. ‘Are you sure?’ he asked huskily.

‘Oh yes. I am absolutely, one hundred per cent sure.’

Josh took her hand and led her to his bedroom. They were both breathing hard but not from the rush up the track to The Sanctuary, or from taking the stairs two at a time.

Gently, he turned her to face him. Cupping the side of her face he feathered light kisses over her skin until she begged him to find her mouth and dive deep. Inching away, she silenced his protest with a hand over his mouth, keeping eye contact as she unbuttoned his coat and slid it off. His shirt went next. She ran her hands over his shoulders and then his chest, revelling in the hard muscle and soft hair, following the line down to his groin and caressing his hardness until he staggered.

Reaching up, she locked her arms around his neck, pulling his mouth back to hers, wanting more kisses. Always wanting his kisses. Her shawl slithered away. Lifting a hand to a ridiculous donkey ear she ripped the headdress away and thrust a hand through his thick hair. In reaching up, her breasts eased from the corset. Shaped to create a fine cleavage it provided perilous little security. She wriggled a little until completely free, revelling in the cold air that hit her overheated skin. Pressing herself against him, she whimpered as, finally, their skin made contact.

Josh looked down and gasped. One hand surrounded a breast, his thumb rolling and kneading the nipple. He took his lips to the other, sucking and licking until it stood proud, his tongue hot and wet, slippery and expert. Her breasts became full and heavy, her nipples begging for more of his touch.

Ginger’s head fell back. ‘More,’ she murmured. ‘I want more.’

‘You want more?’ Josh’s voice was hoarse, his breath ragged. ‘I can show you more.’

Ginger put her hands on either side of his head. She stared into his vivid blue eyes, made hot with lust. ‘I want you, Josh.’ She no longer cared if it was the wise or sensible thing to do. She wanted this man. The universe had sent him and she was welcoming him. Under the voluminous skirt her legs opened, the need for him base and primeval. She wanted him inside her, his limbs between her, his hard body grinding over hers. Hearing him groan again made her press her sex against his groin, the hardness exciting her unbearably.

The rest of their clothes were ripped off without ceremony. They fell onto the bed. Skin met skin. Flesh slid over flesh. Ginger closed her eyes and pulled him onto her, wanting his heaviness. He trailed kisses over her neck, to her nipples again, her stomach. She caught her breath as he slid hands under her thighs, lifting and parting them, finding her sex. She felt the spirals of pleasure build as he kissed her there, lapping and sucking until she could take no more and bucked underneath him, her climax exploding around his tongue. He held her close, until the last ripples of pleasure faded, soothing, kissing. But still she wanted more. Ginger flipped him over onto his back and straddled him, relishing his look of shocked arousal. Desperate to have him inside her she eased over and around him. His astonished moan made her dizzy with power. Moving her hips languidly at first, circling around him slowly, she built the speed, urging him on, craving him deeper. He jerked under her, ground out her name in amazement as he came. Pressing her hand to her sex, Ginger followed where he led, diving into a shimmering, shattering ecstasy.

CHAPTER 28

Pinky greeted them at the door of the Victorian terrace. ‘Oh, Dulcie lovie, ’tis good to have you back in your own home.’

Chloe helped her mother to the chair in front of the television in the front room. Ziggy bounced ecstatically around them, barking. He scrabbled up onto Dulcie’s lap, turned round several times and settled happily.

‘’Tis good to be home, Pinky,’ Dulcie said, leaning back and scratching the dog’s ears. ‘Stick the telly on, Chlo. Countdown’ll be starting any time.’

Chloe found the remote, aimed it at the TV and murmured, ‘I’ll make a pot of tea, shall I?’

Her mother didn’t answer but Pinky followed her along the long narrow hall and into the kitchen. ‘How’s she doing, then?’

Chloe filled the kettle. ‘I think she’ll be okay. Will need to follow a diet, cut out a few things, take the drugs, do some gentle exercise, but she should be fine.’

Pinky leaned against the cupboard, his shoulders sagging in relief. ‘She gave us quite a scare, she did.’ His voice trembled. ‘Can’t imagine Wheal Kitty without Dulcie.’

Chloe’s heart melted at his concern. ‘Oh, Pinky!’ She went to him and gave him a hug. ‘She’ll be all right as long as she follows doctor’s orders. It wasn’t a heart attack, more of a warning. And she’s relatively young.’

‘She’s but a whippersnapper,’ Pinky protested. ‘Only seventy.’

‘Absolutely,’ she replied, bracingly. ‘And, apart from an addiction to cake and chips, she’s in pretty good shape. The consultant said as much. She’ll even be able to return to the Sea Kitties at some point. As long as she’s careful and doesn’t go swimming on her own.’ She watched as the man wiped his eyes with a luridly patterned pink and purple sleeve.

‘We go back a long way, we do. I knowed Dulcie since she were a girl, long before she married your dad. I’m mighty fond of the maid.’

Chloe gave him another squeeze. ‘I know you are. Cup of tea? Makes everything seem better and I need one to get the taste of hospitals out of my throat.’

Pinky harrumphed. ‘Can’t bear the places. Ain’t been near one since my Zena died, God bless her.’