Chapter Fifteen - Into The Savage Garden

The first thing Megan wanted to do but never got around to do was to shove him away. She didn't need any more dallying with him, he was too close, too intimately molding himself against her aching body, drawing her nearer. The second thing she noticed was that her brain was all going too mushy when his tongue claimed her mouth, licking, sucking, tasting her own and involuntarily she groaned.

The third thing she noticed was that her hands came around his neck and she tiptoed to get closer to his mouth that did all the wonderful things to her, like the butterflies dancing in a wild chase around her tummy and the heavy pooling of passion settling deeply into her womanly area between her thighs.

There was no denying it, she wanted him. She wanted him like the first night back in the hotel in Sydney and if she had anything to go by the way some areas of his body began poking into her tummy he wanted her too.

Somewhere in the areas of her brain that could still form thoughts that had a bare resemblance of coherency, a tiny voice told her to stop this madness but passion and need for this man won over. Kissing him back, her body took over, rubbing her hips against his as Orli started to fumble with her shirt. Megan had already managed to move her hands underneath his open shirt and revelled in the heated skin beneath her finger tips.

Orli couldn't believe his luck, he had panicked at first that she would kick his butt when he started kissing her. But she looked so adorable when she was in a huff, she looked even more beautiful and beautiful she was. 'How could I have been so blind?' he asked himself, while he hugged her so close as if he tried to climb into her.

He needed her in a way that far surpassed the physical, she was his saviour, his lady in shining armour and he wanted her to know, wanted her to know that she was the one for him and he would wait and do whatever it took to keep her by his side.

"Oh Megan," he breathed between kisses then he reluctantly drew away and stared at her. "Megan, I ..." he started then tilted his head to hers and kissed her nose. She looked adorable with her mouth slightly parted, panting sweet breaths he had shared only seconds before. Cradling her head to his shoulder, he drew her closer, not trusting himself to just let go and kiss her senseless.

A shudder ran through Megan when he had stopped and squeezing her eyes shut she buried her face in Orli's chest. 'I have almost done it again,' she thought as her heart rate went down and her mind kicked in, albeit slowly. 'He wants to apologize, Megan,' a voice said in her mind and she had to agree if the stammered words was anything to go by.

"It's okay," she breathed, trying to ignore the sinking feeling. "I'm sorry too..."

Orli frowned when her words sank in. Here he was trying to ask her to spend the rest of the day and hopefully the rest of their lives with him, preferably in bed, and she said she was sorry... 'What the fuck??!!!'

"Why ... are you sorry?" he asked and tilted his head down to see into her face.

"We ... I ... got carried away," Megan mumbled trying to ignore the brown depth of his eyes. 'She is doing it again,' Orli told himself silently and shook his head.

"No, Meg, stop it," he said and put a finger against her lips when she opened her mouth to speak. Holding a firm grasp on her hand, he slumped down into the sand and drew her down with him. Megan was about to protest again when he hauled her onto his lap, his arms firmly around her midsection.

"Would you just shut up and listen, love?" Orli asked, keeping her still and drawing in a breath when she started to struggle to her feet. "Meg, keep still please!"

Megan turned around and tried to push herself upward when her brown eyes grew wide as she felt something firmly pushing against her bottom. Growing still, almost stiff in his arms, she watched as Orli had the grace to flush embarrassed.

"Orli ...," Megan bit her lips and squeezed her eyes shut.

"Lord, Megan, do you know what you are doing to me?" he whispered.

"I .. I think I do," Megan replied softly, almost shyly.

"Yup, I think you do," Orli breathed and hugged her closer, showing her how much he was affected by her. "Lord, Megan ... I wanted ... I want ... to kiss you again, I know you are together with someone but I ... " he shrugged helplessly.

Megan's breath caught in her throat. She had forgotten all about Peter. Blushing a deep red, she hung her head in shame.

"I need to go," Meg said and struggled to her feet. "This is ... madness, Orli. And I don't want to be the rebound girl again."

"Fuck, Megan, you will not be the rebound girl, you never were!" Orlando jumped to his feet and grabbed her by her shoulders. Whirling her around, he cupped her face in his hands.

"You never ever were the rebound girl ... this has nothing to do with me and Jo or me and Jemma. This is about us! I'm not denying that I want you. I want you very, very much. But I also want to do this right, I want the whole thing, passionate kisses in the night, the morning you wake up in my arms... the whole damn lot," Orli said, his voice firm and his eyes never leaving her face. He didn't care if she didn't love him back. He had to try and if he crashed and burned he would survive it - hopefully. But he knew deep in his heart that he had to try to make her love him in return. Heartache didn't seem so daunting when faced with the knowledge that he had at least tried.

Megan suppressed a sob in her throat and shook her head. His words were dangerous and so full of promise, but she couldn't, could she? She wanted more than just one night. 'But I'll be damned if I admit this. He is only using me because I'm readily available.'

"Please, Orli, stop it," she whispered and shook her head as if to clear it. "I thought we were friends? And if we cannot stay friends, we should perhaps call this whole thing off. I can't live like this any longer ... and as much as ... I ..." Megan hesitated. 'Love you', she added in her mind, then continued, "... might want you ... I can't ...let it happen." Meg closed her eyes. She had almost given herself away. 'I almost told him I love him.'

Orlando stared at her, his heart breaking. "Meg ..." he started slowly, holding her face firmly in his hands, while his thumbs brushed over her cheeks. "You cannot mean that, don't you understand? I need you ... not as a girl on the side, you know that. If it were just for the sex, I could get into town tonight and have fun, but I want and need you. Can't you understand this?"

'Want, need, I wish it would be that easy,' Megan thought, biting her lower lip. 'I wish I could believe him,'. Deeply in thoughts, she at first did not notice Orli's soft kisses on the side of her neck and around her throat. When he kissed her thoroughly, she was jerked out of her reverie but then it was already to late. Her body and mind went all mushy until she could only sense him.

With a soft sigh, Meg gave in. 'Live for the moment,' she thought before she rubbed herself against him, eliciting moans from Orlando.

"Stop it," Orli growled but the smile was evident on his face and grabbed her hand. Meg stumbled after him, while he stalked back stiffly to where Ewan and Eve were still lying. They looked at them funnily when Orlando squatted down and stuffed Megan's and his stuff into her bag, then with a curt nod to Ewan and Eve he grabbed Megan's hand again and almost running towards the exit.

"Have fun you two," Ewan yelled after them while his wife swatted him playfully on the shoulder.

Orlando wasn't sure how to react to her consent. They were standing just in front of the bed, waiting, yearning. He felt both scared and happy at the same time ever since she had agreed for this one night. He could work from there he knew but he was still afraid that she would bolt.

Looking at Megan, he slowly raised his hand to cup her cheek. Feeling her skin like silk beneath his palm, he slowly drew her closer, afraid she would refuse him but when she brought her face upward, her arms going around his waist he let out a sigh of relief. Bending slightly he hooked one hand underneath her knees while he supported her back with the other and carried her over to the bed.

Looking down on her after he had settled her on the bed, her brown eyes a mirror of his own, he slowly lay down beside her even though he felt insecure and nervous as if this was the first time he would make love. They undressed each other slowly and every time more soft white skin was exposed, Orli's breath caught in his throat while his lips and tongue feasted on the skin beneath him.

Megan squeezed her eyes shut only to open them again when she felt Orlando shift on the bed beside her. They were both naked now but there was no shame, no embarrassment, as they both let their eyes roam over each other's bodies, only to be followed by their hands and later tongues. She shivered when Orlando cupped her breasts, humming slightly as he kissed first one then the other peak, nudging her nipples into tight hard buds as he suckled them.

"Gosh, Megan, it's been so long," he whispered, as he licked his way up to her mouth only to claim her in one searing kiss.

Megan whimpered when she felt his fingers trailing down her breasts and sides leaving a heated path behind. Her arms came up to rest on his shoulders, then down his back. She felt Orli flinch slightly when her fingertips caressed the scar from his operation when he had a broken back. Arching into his touch, she pressed her lips against his heated shoulder and then the nape of his neck.

"Orli," she whispered over and over again, while she did a bit of roaming of her own. Hands reacquainted themselves with the angles and curves of each other's bodies and when Meg's hands dipped lower, slowly caressing his erection, Orlando groaned and stilled for a moment.

Panting, he rested his head against hers and stilled her hands on his manhood. "If you keep this up, love, this is over too soon," he whispered. Megan squeezed him devilishly in reply and nuzzled her nose at his ear.

"Do you mean if I do this?" another prolonged squeeze, this time in a tantalizing rhythm. Orli's groan elicited a giggle from her and Orli growled.

"Megan, I .. told you once ... you shouldn't tease," he breathed and managed to retrieve her hands. Pinning them down on either side of her head, he propped himself up, their bodies brushing intimately against each other, which sent shudders through them both.

Meg's breath caught in her throat when she felt himself pressing up against her secret core. "I shouldn't tease?" she asked, her voice having a distinctive shudder to it. Arching her back, she increased the friction between their bodies. "Perhaps I'm beyond ... teasing."

Orlando grinned devilishly down on her, then let go of her hands only to wrap them around her back. "I think some thorough retaliation is in order," he grinned and while he kissed her deeply, he hoisted her up and he rocked back onto his knees.

They both groaned when their heated bodies connected in the most personal way. Megan wrapped her legs around his waist in order not to fall back and her eyes grew wide when she felt Orli's erection brushing against her secret core. She felt herself hoisted up slightly and both stilled when their bodies connected even more intimately.

"Oh God, Orlando," Megan breathed and buried her face into the curve of his neck while his hands gripped her hips, then trailed tantalizing paths around her mid section until one hand rested lightly against her mound.

"Shhhhh, Meg," Orli whispered, squeezing his eyes shut when he felt himself slip into her hot core even more. He knew he had to stop, he was too close to his release as to endanger her with unprotected sex. Shuddering when Megan began to move, he tried to keep her still.

"Meg, please, stop it," he panted, resting his head against her own and when he opened his eyes his gaze was caught with another set of brown eyes that seemed to have an amber glow to them. "I need to ... to put ..." he gulped when Megan slowly gyrated her hips against him.

Gritting his teeth, he battled for control and while his body just wanted to plunge and plunder, his mind fought a battle of its own. All he wanted to do was to thrust deeply into her, claiming her as his own. He felt like it was the first time. But his mind told him he shouldn't break his own golden rule, his mother had too deeply instilled into him that he should never have unprotected sex if he didn't want to face the consequences.

"Megan," he started again and cupped her face with his hands, trying to keep her still just by gazing at her with heavy lidded brown eyes. "I need to put a condom on, I don't think I can hold off any longer, baby."

Megan's movements grew still suddenly and she pulled herself up, her arms coming up around his neck. Looking down into his chocolate brown eyes, she tried to ignore the throbbing passion that fogged her senses.

"I ..." she breathed and licked her lips when she felt him slipping out of her ever so slowly. "I'm covered," she whispered, never leaving his face or breaking the intent gaze with him.

Orli gulped at the prospect she was offering him. "Are you sure, Meg?" he managed to ask and she nodded slowly.

"Yes," she whispered, fearing if she would speak out loud she would break the spell. "I want to feel you ..."

Orlando licked his dried up lips and he raked his hands over her back, leaving a fiery red trail behind as he lowered her back to his throbbing erection. Slowly he entered her, their eyes locked intently on each other, never missing a beat, as he slowly thrust upward while she lowered herself down.

"Oh Lord, Megan, this is wonderful," Orlando whispered as he directed her hips into a slow tantalizing rhythm. "Come for me, Megan, please."

Megan gasped softly when Orli's first thrust settled him even more deeply inside her and both groaned at the increased tension between them. In unison their mouths sought each other, and when his tongue delved deeply inside the warm hollow of her mouth, all they could do was groan.

His plea made her shiver and slowly but steadily she ground her hips against his, slowly gyrating her hips while he held her safe in his arms. Passion, hot and heavy washed over Megan as she moved her body.

Orlando never blinked or left her face while he held her upright, holding back as she worked herself into a frenzied passion. He could feel her convulsions, sending him almost over the edge too but he tried to hold back. He wanted to see her, watch her, feel her and when she bit her lips while her head fell back, her hair tickling down her back, he started kissing her while one of his hands went between their joined bodies.

"Come for me, my love," he whispered again, nudging her breast with his mouth. His words sent Megan over the edge, the heavy boiling feeling exploded and with a gasp, her head fell forward as her whole body shuddered and sent wave after wave all over her body, numbing her mind into the soft, warm feeling of afterglow.

Slowly, with his precious cargo in his arms, Orlando slipped down onto the bed, cool sheets surrounding them as he moved them sideways, facing each other. Meg sensed that he wanted to make it perfect for her, drawing it out to give her as much pleasure as possible, but she needed no dallying. She knew he had not shared her release, so she wanted to make it up to him. Attacking his lips again, she moved herself beneath him.

Without breaking their intimate contact, they moved in unison, two bodies fused together in the most intimate way possible, two bodies - one mind as their bodies moved and worked their way up towards their climax.

They giggled like children, as they lay side by side. Morning had come but neither had slept much, both too intend on making love all night. Megan rolled half over onto Orli and traced his face with her index finger, while she seemed to study his features. Orli let her, he loved the playful side of her and in the state he was in he wasn't too sure if he could make her stop anyway. He laughed throatily when one of her longer strands fell forward and tickled the base of his throat.

"You know I never told you that I love your hair," he whispered while he pulled her closer with her hair, their faces only inches apart. "They are so you."

"Me?" Megan hiccupped which elicited another fit of laughter.

"Yeah, wild, not easily tamed, you ..." Orli breathed and he drew her closer. Megan's breath caught in her throat, when she felt herself drawn closer. When their lips were only a fraction apart she gazed deeply into his eyes, and an expression she could not easily place was in them.

"What is it?" she asked and propped herself up on her hands while she straddled him.

Orlando opened his mouth but he was too afraid to tell her what was on his mind. 'I love you,' his mind screamed at her, but he mentally berated himself for it. "How about a shower?" he asked instead, his fingers lazily travelling up and down her breasts and Megan laughed.

"Well, we sure could need a shower, or better yet a long relaxing bath," she giggled again when Orli let his hands trace up and down her sides, sending shivers down her spine.

Sitting up, Orli quickly dumped her onto the bed beside him. But before she could ask what he had in mind, he stood up and disappeared into the bathroom. A few seconds later, the sound of running water wavering into the bed room.

Megan shook her head. "You could have waited for me," she grumbled under her breath and tried to brush the errant strands of hair out of her face, when she heard Orlando chuckle.

She almost gaped at him when she saw him standing naked in the doorway to the bath. The light filtering in from behind touched his lean body and shone over his olive skin like a golden glow.

"You look totally ravished and beautiful," Orli said as he slowly came over and stepped onto the bed to crawl over where she still lay. Like a hare caught in the head lights of a car, Meg stared at him and she was sure if she had any strength left in her body, she would have drooled at the sight in front of her.

"I .. could say the same," she whispered, her voice hoarse. "You are beautiful, Orli ..." She leant back on her elbows, when Orlando came nearer, propping himself up on his hands while he crawled over her.

"What are you doing?" she asked when he started to plant soft kisses onto her thighs and higher up onto her tummy.

"What does it look like, love?" Orli asked cheekily, as he looked up and gave her the full dimpled smile. "I'm trying to seduce the most beautiful looking being in this room to join me in the bathtub to continue to make wild, hot sex."

Megan giggled at that. "Oh, is that so?"

"Naw, just trying to make conversation," Orli shot back and put smacking kisses onto her stomach, blowing several raspberries.

"OH GOD," Megan almost screamed as she writhed underneath him. "That tickles ... Oh gosh, Orli, please ... stop it!"

"That comes with a price," Orli replied and tickled her mercilessly.

"Huh? ... what .. what price?"

"You'll have to wash my back," Orli shot back and standing up hauled Megan to her knees and off the bed. Padding after him while he held onto her hand she smiled when she saw that he had almost emptied her whole body wash into the bathtub that was now filled with bubbles, and lots of them.

"Get in," Orli said and turned the water off. He followed her into the bathtub and made himself comfortable between her thighs. Leaning back he grinned when Megan started to wash him softly with a sponge.

"Mmmmmmmmmmm," he purred, closing his eyes. He relaxed completely while being held in Megan's arms and thighs and for minutes he just listened to her breathing and the soft trickle of water dropping into the water again.

'This is heaven,' Orli thought as he felt Megan slowly washing his midsection and putting her cheek against his while she peered over his shoulder. He caressed her legs beneath the water in the same circular motions as she dapped at his sun tattoo and he had to smile. Turning his head slightly he planted a kiss on her cheek lazily.

"I love you, Megan," he whispered softly and had to smile when he felt her slight shudder. Bringing her arms around his chest he hugged her close putting soft kisses onto her wrists and fingers.

Megan closed her eyes and suppressed another shudder. Tears sprang to her eyes. 'He doesn't mean it,' she told herself and tried to ignore the pain that settled in the pit of her stomach. 'Why does he have to tell me this? Why does he have to do this when we both know this is only a fleeting thing. As soon as we are back to our respective lives, he in LA and me in London, we will be back to being friends, and only friends.'

She was pulled out of her thoughts when she felt Orlando stirring against her and opening her eyes she came face to face with him as he squatted in the still warm water in front of her. She felt his hands and lips everywhere as he slowly aroused her again, and for a brief moment, remembering his words, she let herself believe that he really loved her and that this night was never to end.

After their long slow lovemaking in the tub and another quick tryst on the bed Megan had finally fallen asleep. Orlando in his drowsiness molding himself spoon fashion against her bare back, his tall frame fitting perfectly into the soft curves of her smaller body.

In the state between sleep and wakefulness, Orlando was aware of whom he was keeping in his arms and drawing her nearer he nuzzled his face into the crook of her neck while inhaling her heady scent of strawberries and musk deeply.

Now in the afterglow, some parts of his brain were working properly again and the lack of a reaction upon his confession of love came crashing down on him. She had simply held him, squeezing her small frame to his back like she wanted to climb into him, but her silence had bothered him. He knew he had registered tears in her eyes when they had made love in the tub, sending the water over the edges every now and then. He had been determined to ask her what was bothering her, but as passion had grown between them, the thought had fled his mind. Although they had made love with wild abundance and with laughter, he had detected a sadness around her ever since those fateful words of love.

Orlando sighed. He had not intended to say these words out loud, but it had happened and now he had to find out if his feelings were reciprocated. But something he knew, this time she would stay with him, and he was glad that she was.

Slowly kissing the sleeping woman in his arms, he settled back against her and soon he was asleep again, a smile on his lips.

Morning came too quickly for both when the alarm went off and Orlando groaned, fumbling blindly for the blaring device. He slumped back onto the bed and rubbed his eyes tiredly, before turning on his side nuzzling his nose in the crook of Meg's neck.

"Good morning, love," he whispered softly, licking and suckling on her earlobe.

"Morning," Megan whispered, stretching beside him and twisting around to capture his lips with her own.

"Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm, this is good," Orli whispered as they came up for much needed air, and his hands started to roam over her body while he pried her thighs open from behind. Megan giggled when she felt him nudging closer and soon her giggles turned to moans.

"You realize that this kind of practice is considered ... ummm... illegal in this country?" She gasped when he entered her from behind.

"Then we have to be real quiet about it," Orli breathed near her ear and continued thrusting into her soft warm folds. they were settling into a comfortable rhythm when the phone started ringing on the bed side table nearest Megan.

"Let it ring," Orli growled when Megan made a move to pick it up.

"But it could ... be the ... the set," Megan tried to be reasonable but she had a hard time concentrating.

"Oh tell them to bugger off," Orlando said without much conviction but Megan already fumbled with the receiver.

"Hell...o" She frowned when she heard a woman's voice inquiring for Orlando and wordlessly she handed it over to Orlando who was still making a hickey on her shoulderblade while keeping the groans to a minimum.

"I can't believe you did that," he growled at Megan and gave her a short kiss before taking the receiver. "This better be important or ..." he hesitated for a moment, then Megan heard the sharp intake of breath, and she slowly crawled away from Orli as he breathed just one word ...

"Jemma!"