Training Days Part 16

Morgan carried the tray that had previously held the hotel room's coffee cups and tumblers over to the bed. She placed it in the middle of the mattress and sat down carefully so as not to upturn the open foil packages. "Dinner is served," she announced formally.

"Do you think that now we can hold our heads up high in Spanish society?" Ally asked as she selected a baby aubergine that-from the smell of it-had been cooked with a bucketload of fresh marjoram. She took a bite and held out the remainder.

Morgan chewed slowly on the morsel that was popped into her mouth. She'd been right; marjoram dominated the flavor. "Apart from the fact I don't think too many of them dine in the nude, I reckon we've outdone most tonight." She reached for her watch on the bedside table and presented the face to Ally. It read two thirty.

Ally grimaced theatrically as she read the time. "No wonder I felt like I was about to faint."

Morgan peered at the foil packages and selected a chicken croquette. "And here I was thinking it was me making you swoon."

"Oh, no." Ally's impish tone was back. "I was just hungry."

Morgan offered her croquette to the little vixen, watching as the crumbed ball disappeared between lips that were still puffy from being kissed so long and so often. And that had kissed Morgan back so long and often.

Everywhere.

And so well.

Morgan shivered at the memory of Ally's tongue rolling and swirling over her. And of the fingers that joined her mouth, slipping so easily inside, thrusting and pushing her to ever-increasing heights. Ally had played her body as if she already knew it intimately. Goodness only knew what would happen when she did have the benefit of experience. Morgan shivered again. She was in for one glorious ride.

If Ally would agree to the terms of a relationship with her, that is.

Morgan took the slice of cured ham that Ally had decided was next in line for consumption and set it back on the foil. "Ally." She took her hands within hers and raised them to her lips, kissing their tips. "I want to see you again . . . and again . . ."

"I'm glad," Ally replied, all traces of levity gone from her tone. "Because I want to see you again and again, too." She kissed Morgan's hands, which still encased hers. "I just wish it could be every day."

"Me, too." For the first time in a very long time, Morgan really wished she didn't have the job everyone else in the world wanted. "But you need to realize I'm gone more than I'm home-"

"I know that." Ally nodded, even though she slumped a little.

"And when I am home we can't exactly be open. Our relationship will have to remain . . . our secret."

"I understand."

"No, I don't think you do." Morgan tipped Ally's chin a little, forcing their eyes to meet. "We can do what we want when we're alone. But apart from that I have to . . . stay in my closet. No kissing in restaurants, no holding hands in public. No doing anything that may raise questions or speculation."

"But"-confusion crossed Ally's features-"on the train-you told me you were with a woman. How's that 'staying in your closet'?"

"She was a . . . moment of weakness." Morgan averted her eyes, not quite sure how Ally would react to the story of Marie. But she told it anyway, in its entirety.

"She really wanted money?" Ally asked at the end of the telling, her expression incredulous.

Morgan nodded.

"I don't want your money."

"I never thought you did."

Ally ran the tip of her index finger over Morgan's lips. "But I always wanted to see what it was like, living in a closet."

"It's a deep closet," Morgan warned. She was still not convinced Ally really understood what she was walking into. "If I was any farther inside it, I'd end up in Narnia."

"I read the book and I saw the movie. Narnia seems like a wondrous place." Ally took the tip of Morgan's finger into her mouth. "I'd go there with you anytime."

"And will you water my houseplants when I can't be there?" Morgan asked, tight-throated, her heart beating madly. She was imagining coming home, not to an empty echo, but to Ally.

Ally sucked Morgan's finger into her mouth. "I will create a garden of paradise for you."

Morgan took the tray of tapas and moved it to the carpeted floor, determined to make the bed theirs again. She kneeled on the mattress, motioning for the woman she loved to join her. She did. "Ally . . ."

"I have to go," Morgan said with a distinct lack of enthusiasm at six thirty a.m. She and Ally lay together under the covers, having finally succ.u.mbed to sleep just a few hours before dawn. The tray of almost untouched tapas was still on the floor.

Ally stretched like a cat and yawned widely. "I'll walk you to your hotel."

"You don't have to do that." Morgan stroked her hair. "Sleep while you can. You have a long journey ahead."

Ally stretched again then sat up. "I do have to. Or you might get lost."

"That is a distinct possibility," Morgan murmured, pulling Ally back down to pillow level. She buried her head into Ally's neck and breathed in deeply, committing her scent to memory. The floral fragrance of her perfume lingered. It mingled with the remnants of their night's pa.s.sions, creating an intoxicating bouquet. Morgan moved her head just a little, enough to kiss her tenderly on the lips. "Good morning."

"Good morning." Ally smiled into her eyes. "Would you like a c.r.a.ppy instant coffee?"

"Yes, please." Morgan arranged her pillows and sat up. At eight a driver would arrive at her hotel to take her and the rest of the crew to some beach on the Costa Brava coast, where she would be filmed exploring the cliffs, caves and coves in a kayak. If the light that filtered through the curtains of Ally's hotel room was anything to go by, the day promised to be perfect for such an activity and, normally, she would be looking forward to it. But right now, as she watched Ally's bare behind wriggle away to make coffee, Morgan would have given almost anything to stay in bed and ignore the day . . . ignore everything except Ally and the feeling of euphoria she had in her presence. But that wasn't to be. Twenty minutes later, their c.r.a.ppy instant coffee had been consumed and they strode out into the bright Barcelona morning.

"Come up to my room?" Morgan asked as they walked into the lobby of her hotel.

"Try and stop me," Ally said seductively, reaching for her hand.

"Not here," Morgan murmured, tilting her head slightly in the direction of the reception desk. A group of men were standing around a cl.u.s.ter of suitcases, either checking in or checking out. In addition to the green and yellow rugby shirt that one wore-advertising he was a Wallabies supporter-their strong accents gave away their nationality. "Aussie alert to our right."

Ally turned to watch the group and then turned back, scowling. "What are they doing here? You haven't even finished filming your Barcelona segment yet."

Morgan chuckled. "Yes, I know. How dare they make a travel decision without my recommendation!" She headed for the elevator. "Let's go somewhere a little less crowded."

After a ride in a divinely empty elevator and a dash down a deserted corridor, Morgan opened the door to her room. The room's phone was ringing, but it stopped before Morgan could get to it. Not that she moved toward it with any great hurry. Her time with Ally was limited. She didn't want to waste a moment of it talking to anyone else.

"I told you my life wasn't all glamor and chic hotel rooms." Morgan watched Ally scan the quite small and utilitarian surrounds. She'd donned some casual-fitting jeans and a sleeveless shirt for their walk. Even in such a simple outfit, Morgan thought her beautiful beyond belief.

Ally pushed at the mattress as if testing it for firmness. She glanced knowingly up to Morgan. "So long as the bed works . . ."

"We won't get to find out." Reluctantly, Morgan pulled Ally away from the bed. She worked at the first b.u.t.ton of her shirt, revealing the beginnings of cleavage. "I don't have time. But maybe you can test-drive the shower with me?"

Ally's response was to turn Morgan around in her hands and slowly undo the zipper on her dress. The room phone began jangling again as she brushed Morgan's hair to one side. "Are you going to get that?" Her voice was low and Morgan sucked in her breath when she felt a gentle bite on her earlobe. "Maybe it's the driver calling to say he'll be late."

"He'd call Kitty." Morgan's pulse quickened at the thought of some extra time, even though she knew the chances of getting any were next to nil. "It's probably her, since my mobile's still turned off. And knowing her, she'll keep calling till she gets an answer." She undid another of Ally's shirt b.u.t.tons. "You keep going with this and I'll get rid of her as fast as I can."

It was Kitty, wanting to know why Morgan hadn't yet appeared for breakfast. Morgan told her she'd had a very late dinner and so wasn't hungry. She hung up on the promise she'd be downstairs at eight, as arranged.

"That was quick." Ally was just at the point of peeling away her shirt when Morgan hung up the phone.

"Hmm." Morgan's breath caught in her throat as she watched Ally undo the b.u.t.ton and zipper on her jeans. She'd stepped out of them by the time Morgan had shrugged out of her dress. By the time they reached the bathroom they'd stepped out of their underwear. Morgan reached over to turn on the spray. She turned to Ally while she waited for the water to get to temperature. "Now, remember, we don't have much time." She wagged her finger at her. "Be good."

"Cross my heart and hope to die." Ally blinked innocently as she made the motions that went with the words. She tested the water with her hand, declared it as warm enough and stepped in. "Mmm." She sniffed at the open bottle of Morgan's almond body wash. "Now I know why you smell so good." She squeezed a good amount into her palm and rubbed her hands together. "Turn around and I'll wash your back."

"I thought you promised to be good," Morgan accused a minute later. Her reprimand was not very convincing. She was too intent on the sensation of Ally's soapy body slithering and sliding up and down hers.

"Is this bad?" Ally whispered throatily into her ear.

"No." Morgan groaned as Ally's hands slid from her waist, to her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. Her lathered palms circled over Morgan's nipples in a slow rhythmic motion. Morgan shuddered and groaned again. "It's very good."

"So what's the problem then?" Ally asked, her mouth still at Morgan's ear. "You asked for good. I'm only giving you what you wanted."

"You're a vixen." Morgan closed her eyes as her breath caught in her throat. One of Ally's hands was traveling down her stomach. The promise in the slippery fingertips caused her desire to grow exponentially. "That's a technicality and you know it."

"Maybe." Ally slipped the tip of her tongue into Morgan's ear and pressed her body closer against Morgan's back, grinding lasciviously. Her hand slid lower. "All I know is I can't keep my hands off you."

"Oh, dear G.o.d!" Morgan threw her head back as Ally entered her. Morgan reached for the stability of the shower wall, laying her palms flat to the tiles.

"It's okay. I've got you." Ally held onto Morgan tightly when her hands kept slipping, unable to gain purchase on the polished surface.

Yes. You've got me. Morgan thrust more urgently against Ally's hand. So quickly the first waves of her o.r.g.a.s.m approached. She closed her eyes tighter as sensation focused and then spilled to all points of her body. The explosion of energy came with a rush of emotion so strong that her cry of pleasure was accompanied by a choked declaration of love. And then, totally unexpectedly, tears rolled down her cheeks. "Ally . . ." She turned around in her arms. "I love you." She took Ally's face into her hands, punctuating each declaration with a kiss. "I love you. I love you. I love you."

Morgan laughed through her tears in pure joy when the words were repeated back to her, and under the warm spray of the shower they kissed and kissed again.

Kitty rang at ten past eight. "Where are you?" she demanded.

Morgan rolled her eyes at Ally, pointing to her phone and mouthing Kitty. "I'm just stepping out of the elevator."

It was true. By some miracle they had managed to finish their shared shower, get dressed and still have enough time for long good-byes in the privacy of Morgan's room. All without running too grossly over schedule. Of course, their lovemaking had been rushed, but still, Morgan was impressed with their efficiency.

Once outside the hotel Morgan pointed to the other side of the street. Mark and Nick were loading their gear into the back of a gleaming silver four-wheel drive. "There they are."

"I'll leave you here?" Ally tugged on the short sleeve of Morgan's T-shirt, bringing her to a halt.

"Don't you want to come and say hi?"

Ally shook her head, looking down to the ground.

"You've time for a quick h.e.l.lo," Morgan encouraged. "You said yourself you had a good hour before you had to leave for the airport. Mark will be disappointed if he finds out you were twenty feet away and didn't stop to talk to him."

"I know. It's not that." Ally shuffled her feet. When she looked up and met Morgan's gaze her expression was uncertain. "It's just . . ." She hesitated and scratched her head. "Won't they all think it a bit strange me being here at this time of the morning?"

A light switch turned on in Morgan's mind. Ally already knew she was out to all the crew. So she knew that they'd all know-or at least a.s.sume-the reason behind her early-morning presence. "Oh, honey. Don't worry. They like you and they certainly won't judge you."

"Even Kitty?"

"Kitty's different." Morgan tugged at the waist of Ally's shirt, encouraging her to cross the street, for the first time maligning her producer to someone other than Nick and Mark. "She disapproves of everyone and everything. None of us pays any attention to what she thinks, so neither should you."

In another five minutes Morgan was feeling the first sharp pangs of abandonment. She stood by the open door of the four-wheel drive, watching Ally walk down the street. Mark, who was puffing madly before getting into the nonsmoking vehicle, sidled up to her.

"How's it going?" he asked casually.

Morgan sighed. "I miss her already."

"It's not for long. Five days and we'll be back home."

"I know." Morgan sighed again. She turned to Mark when Ally rounded the corner and disappeared from view. "She's the one, Mark. She's it."

Mark took a deep, thoughtful drag on his cigarette before replying. "So does that mean from now on you won't be abandoning me every chance you get to go chasing after some tail?" When Morgan nodded in agreement he grinned. "I knew I liked that woman!" He threw his cigarette to the curb and stamped it out. "The drinks are on me tonight, Mogs."

By the end of the day Morgan was exhausted. "Not for me, thanks." She waved away Mark's offer of another drink. She set aside her empty gla.s.s and stood up from the too-soft club chair in the hotel bar. She stretched and yawned. "I'm sorry, but I can hardly keep my eyes open."

"But it's only just gone nine," Mark protested.

"I need an early night," Morgan insisted. "I had a late one yesterday."

"You're a pain in the a.s.s, Morgan Silverstone."

"I know," Morgan agreed, happy to see that Mark accompanied his insult with a crooked grin. He wasn't too p.i.s.sed off at her. "But I can't help it. I'm in love, remember."

Back in her room, Morgan made her preparations for the night. She also packed her suitcase. In the morning they were flying to Porto in Portugal. They'd fly out of Lisbon on Friday night, returning to Spain, this time for a quick visit to Seville, a city renowned for flamenco and bullfighting. Luckily they were there to film the former and not the latter. From there they were homeward bound, scheduled to arrive in Sydney midafternoon on Monday. Morgan smiled a little to herself, wondering what Ally would think when she saw her Monday appointments. She hadn't told her she'd set up an official meeting at her offices, deciding to leave her to find that out for herself.

Morgan slipped between the covers, resting one elbow on her pillow as she navigated for the umpteenth time to the single SMS Ally had sent her today. It had been sent from Milan, before she embarked on the second leg of her journey. "Boarding 4 Singapore. Am guessing ur bobbing around in ur kayak right now. Miss u. I love u. A." Morgan had indeed been bobbing in her kayak when the message arrived. Upside down, actually. She'd lost concentration, lost her paddling rhythm and lost her balance. Totally soaked, and with Mark and Nick laughing at her uproariously, she'd returned to sh.o.r.e to find the message waiting. It was too late to ring-Ally's plane would have left by then-so sent her a return SMS that she'd receive when she arrived in Singapore. "Am wet. Fell in the drink cos was thinking of you. Miss u. I love u. Speak soon. M."

Morgan read Ally's SMS once more before turning her phone off. Long ago she'd learned that no one, herself included, could keep up with what time zone she was in. To avoid friends or colleagues unwittingly calling her at all hours of her night she turned her phone off altogether, opting instead to set the teeny digital alarm clock that she carried with her. Tonight she set it to ring at two thirty a.m. By her calculations, at that time Ally should be one hour into her three-hour Singapore stopover. She wouldn't be expecting Morgan to call, a.s.suming she'd be fast asleep. It would be a nice little surprise.

Morgan fell asleep smiling at the thought of spending the rest of her days giving Ally nice little surprises.

She had been deeply asleep and dreaming when a loud jangling woke her. Groggily she reached for her teeny alarm. "Wha . . . ?" The noise didn't stop when she pressed the "off" b.u.t.ton. It took her a good few seconds to realize it wasn't her alarm at all. It was the room phone. "h.e.l.lo?" she said sleepily, groping in the dark for the light switch. She blinked rapidly at the sudden glare and rubbed her eyes. They felt grainy with fatigue.

"Morgan. It's Kitty."

Morgan groaned. She picked up her teeny alarm and squinted at it. "It's midnight. What do you want?"

"I need to see you in my room, right now."

"It's midnight," Morgan repeated.

"Right now," Kitty insisted, her voice gaining her infamous "don't argue with me" tone.

Morgan argued anyway. "Can't it wait until morning? I'm dead tired."

"No, it can't. Now, Morgan." And she hung up.

Morgan threw herself into her pillow and stared at the ceiling, cursing Kitty and wondering what she was having a conniption over at this time of night. Ally, maybe? She'd thrown Morgan a tight-lipped glare this morning when she and Ally arrived together outside the hotel. But surprisingly, she hadn't said a word about it all day, maybe still clinging onto the belief that Ally was straight and partnered with a respectable male architect. But now . . . maybe she'd put the pieces together and was champing at the bit to remind Morgan how stupid she was to be playing with Australian fire. If that was the case, then she'd just have to tell her that Ally was different, that she was no one-night fling. That she was "the one." She'd tell Kitty that she and Ally had already agreed on a discreet relationship. And that her days of casual dalliances were over. That fact alone should make Kitty happy. G.o.d knew, the thought made her happy enough.

Morgan threw the covers back and pulled on the jeans and T-shirt she'd laid out for the next morning.

"Okay, Kitty." She folded her arms when face-to-face with her producer. "I'm here. What's so important it couldn't wait?"