Laura's Light (5 page)

Sunshine poured off Laura as she rejoined him, her new brightly-coloured dress showing off the toned skin of her arms and legs perfectly. The memory of those shapely limbs draped over his shoulders as he pounded into her pussy gave Trevor half an erection, making the simple act of walking a discomfort, but hell—a discomfort he was willing to withstand any day of the week. Laura made his heart full. Trevor had no idea if it was possible to fall in love so soon. He had shied away from the whole idea of being in any kind of relationship for so long that the depth of what he was feeling blindsided him.

The smile Laura graced him with brightened the world around her as she walked towards him, a fresh, bright skip in her step. Trevor could not help but return her smile in response.

“You are breathtaking, honey. The world seems full of light around you.” Trevor could not keep from kissing her right there in the middle of the shopping centre—to hell with the consequences. In fact, he was feeling rather proud and possessive to be in Laura’s company.

“Skim latte, just as you requested, my lady
.”
Trevor handed Laura a cup from the cardboard tray that housed the coffee and the large bag of food.

“Well, thank you, sir,” Laura replied with a little curtsey, adding to the frivolous feeling of the moment. “How many people are we feeding this morning? That bag must hold a ton of food.”

“I didn’t know what to get Rookie. I’m hoping to win him over with bribes of food, so I got one of everything. We should get going before it all gets cold.”

Trevor moved the bag of food from one hand to the other so that he could take hold of Laura’s free hand. The simple act of returning to the car was a heart-warming experience. Trevor noticed the attention Laura gained from other male shoppers and even though he disliked their interest, he did take pleasure in the fact it was he who held her hand in his.

* * * *

They made quick time back to Laura’s house—it was still reasonably early, so there was not much Sydney traffic around to deal with. As Trevor pulled up in the driveway, he could feel the tension radiating from Laura. Before they left the car he turned to face her.

“Would it be easier if I didn’t come in? I’ll do whatever you think is best. You can take the food in either way.” He really hoped that Laura would let him join her in facing Rookie. Trevor felt his readiness to face any animosity from her son would make a better impression than if he looked as if he was running away or had something to hide.

Trevor waited anxiously for Laura’s answer—he needed to do this right and he just hoped she wouldn’t shut him out. Either way, he was prepared to do as she wished, but if he had to leave now it would not be forever. He and Laura would be seeing each other again if Trevor had anything to say about it.

“Why? Don’t you want to come inside?” Laura asked, but Trevor could hear a little tremor of something in her voice. He hoped it was disappointment that he might leave, because that would confirm she wanted him around.

“Of course I want to come in, honey. I bought this breakfast to share with you. I’m also not ready to bring our date to an end before you promise to see me again. Trust me, Laura, there is nothing I want more than to spend more time with you. I just didn’t want to intrude or cause you any grief with your son.” Trevor leaned over the middle console of his car and proved his intentions with a lingering kiss. Laura’s lips softened under his and the little moan she gave made his heart race, but he quickly pulled back, aware that Laura was concerned enough about her neighbours’ reactions. Seducing her in the car would only have her worrying later.

“Let’s go face the music, shall we?” Trevor was delighted when Laura put her hand in his and together they walked up the path to her door.

Just as Laura had guessed, Rookie was not about, which meant he was still upstairs sleeping. Trevor headed towards the kitchen to lay out the food while Laura went to rouse her son. He had no trouble finding crockery and cutlery, only taking a few attempts to pick the correct cupboard. He was so lost in his own endeavours that he didn’t hear mother and son enter the kitchen. As he made one last trip from bench to table, the tray he had hunted up full of his food choices, he was startled to see Rookie seated at the table. The Jets star recruit was still rumpled from sleep, hair-mussed and pyjama-clad.

“Mornin’, Rookie. Hope you’re hungry, ’cause there’s plenty of food. You’re not on any diet restrictions, are you?” Trevor tried to sound lighthearted and friendly as he put the platter of food down in front of the one person who could impact on his plans regarding Laura.

“Nope, Trev—starving and no diet restrictions. Not sure about taking bribes from the press, though—have to check on that with the coach—but might as well not waste any of this good food. After all, there are all those starving people in the world. Isn’t that right, Mum?”

When Rookie smiled at his mother, before piling food on the empty plate in front of him, Trevor could see Laura’s shoulders drop in relief.
They have the same smile
, Trevor thought as he reached for his own food, not quite believing that he was sitting having breakfast with a woman and her grown son. He’d never envisaged he would partake in such a domestic picture, but an enormous feeling of contentment settled over him.

Breakfast was going really well. Trevor enjoyed the light banter between Rookie and Laura. It was clear that they were incredibly close—there was an abundance of love between the pair. He enjoyed being a part of something so good and easy, so honest, right up until the moment Rookie touched on the subject of Laura’s arrival home. Trevor spluttered, nearly choked on a hard piece of bacon that he swallowed whole in a nervous response to the enquiry.

“How was Mia’s last night, Mum? Were Brodie and JT around? I waited up for you for a while but ended up going to bed and falling asleep watching a movie on my laptop. I must have been dead to the world ’cause I didn’t even hear you come in. What time did you get home?”

Trevor’s eyes flew to Laura to judge her reaction to the question, wondering whether she would flat-out lie or if she would admit that she had fallen asleep at his place—which would, of course, lead to Rookie coming to the correct conclusion as to what had occurred between them. There was a pause, silence filling the room as both Rookie and Trevor stared at Laura, waiting for her response.

Chapter Seven

“Well, you wouldn’t have heard me come in last night, Mitchell, because I didn’t come home until this morning.”

Laura held her breath, waiting for her son to explode. Waited for his disapproval of her behaviour, which really should not have been a concern—she was the mother, but that knowledge did not quell the uneasiness, the sick feeling down deep in the pit of her stomach. This was the first time that Mitchell would understand that she was also a woman. A woman with needs, healthy needs. A woman who had sex.

How her son reacted to this newfound knowledge might not be pretty, but Laura was not going to compound the situation by lying to him. He was old enough to understand, if he thought about it rationally.

“Hmmm, is that right?” Mitchell’s reply was flat. Laura could not judge his emotions by those few words so she remained still waiting for him to continue. She was not going to start making any excuses for her actions, well not yet anyway.

“So what you’re telling me is…that not only did you stay out all night without ringing home—you know, so I wouldn’t worry—but you stayed out all night with Trevor, here? Considering you both seem quite refreshed and not drunk, I can assume you slept at some stage during the night. Now being that I am a grown-up and all, I assume that sleep was not all that would have occurred last night. So, Mother…I hope you used protection.”

Laura did not believe she could feel any more mortified than she did right at that moment. Here was her son—the son she had lectured on more than one occasion about responsibilities and safe sex, not to mention dragging him over hot coals when he had forgotten to let her know his movements, causing her to worry over his safety—and he was throwing her own words back at her. And she deserved every one of them. She was about to apologise to him for acting like a hypocrite when, to her absolute surprise, he burst out laughing, as he shook his head and rocked on his chair, clearly finding the confronting moment full of amusement.

“Oh, Mum, you should see the look on your face…on Trevor’s face. You both look like kids that have been caught with their hands in the cookie jar…so to speak. Don’t sweat it, Mum.”

It was Mitchell’s next words that left Laura feeling more relaxed, finally calm and back in control of her emotions. And proud of her son.

“Look, Trev, about last night… I was way out of line. I’m sorry, man. After you guys left I sat around feeling a whole heap of things—angry, confused and maybe a bit jealous. I actually had the thought that you were stealing my mum away from me. It was that ridiculous accusation that brought me to my senses. I’m twenty-one, but I was acting like a spoilt child. You’re a good bloke, I suppose, Trev—if Brodie James is any judge, and he certainly has a high opinion of you. And what can I say, you must have great taste in women, ’cause Mum’s one in a million.”

With an endearing and cheeky grin, her son continued, “Hope there’s no hard feelings between us, Trev. But I couldn’t help making Mum squirm a little bit. I knew she wouldn’t try and cover it up—Mum’s no liar, that’s for sure. Hah, you guys are so cute. Love it. Thanks for the breakfast, guys, but I gotta go. Doing a weights session with the boys in a few. Love you, Mum.”

Laura sat at a loss for words as her son jumped from the table, shook hands with an equally stunned Trevor, kissed her on the cheek and continued to laugh as he left the room. She didn’t even admonish him about leaving his dirty plate on the table.

“Well, that went better than I had anticipated. Remind me to buy Brodie a drink next time I see him.”

Trevor’s voice broke Laura from her frozen, bewildered state. She shook her head and stood, then started to collect and clean up the remnants of their breakfast, trying to clear her head and take stock of what had just occurred and the ramifications that had on her life. Her son had, in his own way, just given her the go-ahead to have a sexual relationship, to get on with her own life. Laura dissected that as she rinsed dishes, aware that she had yet to utter a word to Trevor about the situation.

Her life was about to change. Gone were the days when Mitchell had been the highest priority in any decision she made. He had just moved from boy to man in one conversation. He had shown her that he could make rational judgements and decisions about not only his life, but hers as well.

The whole reason for her being was now moving away from her, leaving her behind to find a life of her own. She knew her thoughts were way exaggerated—it wasn’t like Mitchell was leaving her forever or even moving out—but he had made it clear to her that he no longer needed her protection, that all-consuming protection a mother felt for her child. He was a man. He would always be her child, but it was now fact that he could make his own way. Make his own choices. Choices thought over with a clear and mature outlook. And Laura was sad and happy at the same time. It had only felt like yesterday that she’d first held a squealing and squirming newborn Mitchell in her arms, so small, so precious. Those years had flitted by so quickly. It was incomprehensible that so much time had passed.

“Hello? Anyone home, honey? I thought you would be relieved that Rookie wasn’t tearing me apart, but you look so sad. What is it, what’s wrong?”

“Umm…did you say something?”

“Honey, you’re miles away. What’s up?”

“I’m sorry, Trevor, nothing is wrong. I am relieved that Mitchell took it all so well, that is the reason I’m sad. My little boy is all grown up and it has just hit me—he no longer needs me like he used to. What am I going to do with myself if I don’t have Mitchell to worry about?” She couldn’t help the little sob that formed as she voiced her concerns.

“Rookie will always need you, Laura. You two are so intertwined, no one will ever sever that connection. It’s just time you both moved it on to the next level. You have raised a wonderful young man, Laura. Be proud of that achievement. Rookie loves you. I only wish I could have half of what you two have. I’m a continual disappointment to my parents.”

As Trevor spoke he pulled her into his arms. Laura was glad for the comfort and his praise for her son, but Trevor’s comments about his own family concerned her greatly. How could his parents not be proud of him? Trevor was a success in everything he touched. Not only had he represented Australia playing rugby league, which surely should make any parent burst with pride, but after his debilitating injury he had carved out a successful media career, his face on television more than once a week. Trevor’s high intelligence was plain to see in his in-depth commentary and the ease with which he communicated to the masses week after week. She would question him more about his parents later. At this moment in time, she needed his comfort.

“Have I told you how yummy you smell? Woodsy, like the scent of a forest. It reminds me of my favourite room deodoriser, which may sound unromantic, but if you knew how much I loved that scent… I buy it by the truckload for my cleaning. You also remind me of strength and it does funny things to my tummy…and some other places, too!” Laura’s words were light, fun-filled. She wanted to move away from the tension that had wavered there between them since her breakdown that morning. She wanted to make love to Trevor again before he left, and she was hoping she could convince him as soon as Mitchell left the house.

Trevor groaned in her ear, a throaty sound that connected directly to her nipples and made her labia throb and her clit pulse with longing. She felt his shaft pushed up against her lower back as he moved closer to her. His arms were still wrapped around her from before when he had tried to comfort her as she stood at the sink. Now, as he pressed up against her harder, she could feel herself coming to life, sparking from the feel of those arms that hugged her almost painfully tight.