Page 2 of Into the Tempest

“You befuddled me.”

“Befuddled?” I threw my head back and laughed. “God, I missed you.”

He scowled at me, then gestured absently to his crates and to the guy who’d been pushin’ the cart, who was now looking at anyone but us. “This should be fine, but if you could take one of my suitcases...”

He glanced uncomfortably over at the few straggling travellers, some who were now watching us.

I got the feeling they’d never seen two men kiss before, so I grinned at them too as I collected Jeremiah’s luggage. “Come on,babe, let’s go home,” I said, extra loud for our audience’s benefit.

Jeremiah rolled his eyes and grumbled as we walked out. “Did you need to be so obvious?”

Yes, I did.

So, for good fuckin’ measure, I pushed him up against the side of my Range Rover and kissed him properly. He resisted for half a second... until he didn’t. He groaned as I sucked on his tongue.

I pulled back, leaving him dazed and flushed, then booped him on the nose with my finger. “I missed you.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” he mumbled, trying not to smile. “I’ve been gone one day.”

“Thirty-five hours, to be exact.” Not that I was counting.

The blush on his cheeks deepened, and he chewed on his bottom lip. “Should we go home then?”

Hell yes, we should.

I loaded his gear into my car, cranked up the air conditioning, and we headed out of the carpark.

“I very quickly forgot how hot it is here,” he said, wiping his brow with the back of his hand. “The humidity, jeez.”

“Did you get everything sorted?”

He nodded. “Brian had already boxed up my desk, so that took exactly one minute. There was no love lost there, I can assure you. They’re as glad to see the back of me as I am to see theirs.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m not.”

I reached over and took his hand. “It’s their loss.”

“My parting words were something similar.”

I laughed but then asked something more serious. “And your dad?”

“He was fine,” he said with a shrug. “Wished me luck. I took him out for dinner last night, like a farewell, I suppose. He said it was a waste of money.”

Oh man.

I squeezed his hand. “I’m sorry.”

“He appreciated the fridge and lounge I gave him though. Mine were newer than his by a decade or two.” He tried to smile but it didn’t quite work.

I lifted his hand to my lips and kissed his knuckles. I hated that no one in his Melbourne life was happy for him. “I’m glad you’re here.”

He watched me for a long moment. “I’m glad I’m here too. Did I miss a great storm last night?”

I grinned at him. “It was kinda lame. Or maybe that was just because I didn’t get to watch it with you.”

He rolled his eyes and looked out his window, but I could tell by his cheeks that he was smiling. “Oh,” he said, as if he’d just remembered. “The heart-rate monitor you suggested? The chest strap that sports people wear?”

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