Mickela & Egan

By Rose & Elise

The small light above her illuminated the glossy pages as she slowly thumbed through the book. Tedious work, but on a subject she was interested in. Mickela had an understanding of art and art history. However her knowledge was limited to the few classes she’d taken in college and the favorite paintings and sculptures she was familiar with. She knew nothing specific about how forgeries were produced. That was an important factor she needed to change. The case depended on it.

Her finger traced down the page, following the paragraph as she read. Provenance…the history of the ownership or location of an object, especially a work of art. That’s just what she needed to figure out…the accurate history of the painting she was tracking. Or rather the alleged forgery. Mickela pulled out the file and laid it on top of the book. She’d read through the file more than once already but sensed there was something she was overlooking. Angela Hudson, fledgling artist and known forger of paintings in Miami, Florida. One of her forgeries found its way to the Augustine Gallery in New York. Mickela would question Miss Hudson directly, unfortunately that wasn’t possible. Angela Hudson was believed to have been killed during a fire that destroyed the small Miami gallery she worked with. She’d just disappeared though. No sign of a body. It didn’t strike Mickela as extraordinary until she noticed a connection with another name.

Abagail Hennessey. An accomplished expert in art restoration who worked in the Augustine Gallery. Only a few months prior, Abagail Hennessey had filed a report of harassment by Edward Bower. His connection to Michael Lott was not something Mickela could ignore. She needed to get answers. Answers maybe only Abagail Hennessey could provide. She’d recently been offered and accepted a position with the Crowe Center for the Arts located within a large privately owned area called The Glen, in New South Whales…Australia. Mickela grinned softly at the coincidence. She’d only just left Australia a month ago.

She glanced up at the movie. "Australia". The airline must have thought it clever to show a film that shared a title with the country they’d soon touch down in. Mickela’s interest was on the case, not the movie. So she could see, not hear the scene that was currently splashed across the screen. Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman stood, embraced in a passionate kiss as rain fell over them. Mickela thought of Egan. Nearly five days and nights spent together. Rained almost the entire time. She’d thought more than once about kissing him in the rain.

After picking up her rental car from the airport, Mickela drove straight to the hotel. Showered and dressed after the long flight. She sat at the small desk by the window and scrolled through the address book on her cell for Egan’s new phone number. She was back in New York for less than a week when she got his first call. She was surprised, but not half as much as he was that he’d decided to have a phone installed in his cabin.

She brushed back her hair and smiled softly when she heard his voice. "Egan? Hi, it’s Mickela. I just got in."

The smile that appeared on his face at her voice kind of shocked him. Egan wasn't a man of strong emotion. Or was he? He'd been alone so long perhaps he had just not had the chance to feel anything. "Welcome back to Oz."

He looked at Mutt and thought, but maybe she's too tired. Grinning at the dog he shrugged you never got anywhere unless you asked. "I've got supper in the oven if you're not too rutted out."

Whenever he called, she always looked forward to his Aussie vernacular. "No, I’m not tired. There was a guy sitting next to me on the plane. Business man. I think I listened to him go on and on for an hour about the Linux operating system. Best nap I’ve had in weeks." She grinned. "I slept through the dinner service, though. So supper sounds good and I seem to remember you being a decent cook."

With a chuckle he nodded and washed a couple of potatoes from the garden and set them in the oven. "I think we can survive on it at least. If it's bad enough we'll just give dinner to Mutt and go to Millie's."

She smiled. "A back up plan is always good. But I don't think we'll need it this time. I'll see you in about a half hour."

His smile reaching his voice Egan gave Mutt a wink telling him Mickela was on her way. "Perfect, love. That's when the bird will be out of the oven. Mutt had better get busy on the rest. I'll see you then."

Mickela pulled up near Egan's house and was thankful for the lack of water and mud that was everywhere the last time she'd been there. She stepped up to the porch balancing the bottle of wine and the desert box in one arm as she reached up and knocked on the door.

Egan grinned as Mutt stood and trotted to the door with him. Opening it he grinned. "G'day." He moved out of the way so she could come in and took the wine and box from her. "This looks good. Come on in we've got the table set for ya."

She watched him look over the bottle of wine and smiled. "You said there was a 'bird' in the oven, so I picked up a bottle of white. And I hope you like raspberry cream pie. It's one of my favorites."

Nodding he grinned. "You can't go wrong with raspberry." Pointing to the table as he pulled out a couple of wine glasses he grinned. "Yeah, the old girl came out right fine... I hope."

Mickela looked over his shoulder and smiled. "Looks good. Smells good too." She sat down at the table with him. She felt the dog sniffing around her legs then settle down next to her feet. She glanced under the table at him then looked up at Egan with a grin. "I think he remembers me."

"Mutt never forgets a friend who shares scraps. Do you boy?" The dog lay down with his head on her foot his tail thumping. Cutting the small turkey Egan sliced some and laid it on her plate. He was a bit jittery before she got here with the idea of company for dinner. Now it was as it was out in the horse cabin he was comfortable with her. Egan had to admit he liked that she was here. "How long are you going to be able to stay?

"I'm here for a week. But it shouldn't take that long to follow up on the painting. I'm going to the gallery tomorrow to speak to the curator and one of the artists. Depending on the information I get, I may be here for a little longer." She didn't mention that she added a couple of days so that she would have more time to spend with him.

A week she said. It didn't seem long enough. Egan found himself thinking he really didn't want her to go back. Giving her a grin he hoped she would have time for him to see her again at least. Watching her eat and the ease he felt around her puzzled him. He wasn't lily white but he'd not felt like this before either. There was something about her that made him want to do things like installing that bloody phone.

Finishing dinner they took coffee and pie to the living room. He sat on the sofa next to her and smiled softly. It had been a month since they had sat this close. The sides of their thighs touched just barely. Egan enjoyed the warmth coming from her body.

The heat from his body coursed through her. Mickela remembered how his arms had felt around her. It was a comforting touch, out of necessity of helping her when she was wounded. She suddenly wondered if it would have been a better idea to eat dinner out. Her thoughts had her wanting to know how it would feel to have him touch her simply for the need of touching her. She turned sideways on the sofa to face him. The coffee cup cradled in her hand. Mickela took a sip of her coffee and grinned. "Have you been getting a lot of phone calls now?"

A shy grin appears and a bit of color in his cheeks as he has to admit the truth. "Not many. I've gotten two or three sales calls. But you're the only one I've told I have a phone or given the number."

She smiled softly. "I'm happy to be the first."

Setting down his pie Egan turned to look at her with a soft shake of his head. "No love, you're the only one. I put the phone in so I would be able to keep touch with you." Taking a soft breath he reached out to take her hand. Caressing the back of it with his thumb as he speaks. "I like hearing your voice. It's even better having you back, Mic." He smiled softly waiting for a shoe to drop. Or like the few other women he'd known hearing her voice saying. ‘Sorry, love; you're just too quiet a bloke for me’.

Mickela squeezed his hand gently. She'd been holding off being with anyone. A few dates, a couple of nice kisses, but nothing progressed into anything even close to a relationship. She knew there was a reason for it. No one had stirred any desire, until she met Egan.

Egan looked into her eyes and smiled softly. He waited for her to say something anything. Then he looked deeper into her eyes and saw that she felt like he did. Swallowing softly he reached out and did what he’d been dying to do since that first night. Fingertips caressed the soft lines of her face. The line of her nose, the soft curve of her lips, along the line of her jaw. Slowly he leaned forward his face a breath from hers as he looked into her eyes. "I'm going to kiss you now, Mic." His hand sliding under her hair to rest on the back of her neck as his lips pressed hers. They were so soft as he kissed her tenderly.

His hands were large and warm, slightly roughened from the work he did. His nature was quiet, but his touch was gentle and commanding. The edge of possessiveness she felt in him made her heart race. Her hand caressed over his bicep as she moaned into the kiss. Her growing desire for him took over. In her need for him, her hands moved to cup his face. She pulled him closer, deepening the kiss. After a few blissful moments, she realized how forward she was being. It probably wasn't something Egan was used to. Mickela eased back, breaking the kiss. She panted and grinned softly as her forehead rested against his. "Sorry...I couldn't help myself. I've been waiting a long while for you to kiss me."

A smile that shone in his eyes appeared. "Why didn't you say anything before?" He chuckled, stupid question. The same reason he hadn't said anything. With a heart full of content he kissed her again this time with more passion as she had given him. "We need to make up for that time lost now, Mic."

Her hands curled through his hair then slid down slowly to smooth over his chest. "Yes...we do."

Egan sighed at the wonderful touch of her hands. His own slid up her arms and over her soft face and fingertips tickled down her throat. His hands covered hers as he kissed along the line of her jaw to her ear. His voice a deep whisper. "Stay here tonight."

Mickela caressed his face and tilted her head to give him more access to her neck. She wanted the feel of his hands, his mouth, his breath...everywhere on her body. She looked into his eyes; her own filled with desire and her growing feelings for him. She kissed him deeply as her hands moved over his shirt and slowly began unbuttoning. There wasn't anywhere else she'd rather be than with him.

The quickening of his heart as she started on his buttons filled his body. Egan did what he had wanted to that first night and buried his face in her silken locks inhaling the soft floral scent. His hands moved over her body to pull her shirt from her jeans. In one swift movement to make their separation as brief as possible he pulled the shirt of over her head. Laying it on the back of the couch he kissed down her throat softly as his hands moved over her skin exploring.

It had been a long while since he had been with a woman like this. Egan worried about disappointing her. He was a simple man. Lived a simple life. Took pleasure in simple things. Mickela Powell was far from simple. She was radiant and her soft panting breath on his skin delighted him.

Trying to control her pace, she pushed his shirt over his shoulders and down his arms. She wanted these moments with him to last. Relish in every one. The need in her body was fighting rationale thought. Mickela was lost between slow passion and ravenous desire. She let his shirt drop to the floor then reached up to massage her hands over his bare chest. Her fingertips traced over every hard muscular curve. She watched with satisfaction as his body responded to her touch. His chest rose and fell with his heavy breathing. Mickela looked up at him as she opened the clasp on the front of her bra. She picked up his hand. Kissed each of his fingertips, his palm then pressed his hand over her bare breast.

Egan looked at her and the only thing that would come to mind was beautiful. Her skin was every bit as silken as it was that night she had found his porch. Cupping her breast he kissed her softly. Then deeper with more heat as he grew bolder in the face of his need. Kneading as he brushed her nipples with his thumbs his tongue danced with hers. His lips flowed from her mouth over her throat to linger on her pulse before moving to taste her sweet flesh. Circling her taught buds with a moan to mingle with her soft noises of pleasure.

Her eyes closed with a sharp intake of breath. Her hand curled through his hair and she held him to her breast as she arched up to him, encouraged him further. Every sensation so perfect. Perfect because it was him. Her hands smoothed over his body, touched him everywhere she could reach. Kissing him deepening passion, Mickela felt her heart growing for him with every moment. She knew she was falling in love with him. She knew that the moment she saw him after a month of being apart. She nuzzled his cheek, pressing soft kisses to his ear. "Egan...I need you."

Breath heavy as he kissed her. "Yes..." Egan slid his hands over her taught stomach to her jeans and unfastened them. He needed her as much as she needed him. Egan knew when she had called and told him she was coming back he had fallen in love with her. That explains why he got the bloody phone. Moving away from her enough to pull her jeans and panties down her legs and drop them to the floor. Looking into her eyes as he stood Egan unbuttoned the fly on his own jeans and eagerly pushed them down his legs with his shorts. Moving back to her he took a breath and admired the beauty laid out before him. "Mic, you are a vision."

Fingers brushing her soft curls then over her core found what he wanted. Pressing fingers inside of her sweet body he moaned and began to mock what he would soon be doing to her.

His fingers reached inside her body. She felt them thrust in and out of her. Slow at first. Gradually building. Heat pooled in her body and her hips bucked with the movement of his fingers inside her. This is him, she thought. Egan is the man she's been waiting for. She'd let him know that. She'd show him all she could give to him. Her legs fell wider apart, felt him push inside further. She gasped and reached up for him. Her hand slipped to the back of his neck. her fingertips curled into his hair as she pulled him close to her. Her breath fell soft and seductive against his neck. "Yes, Egan...more."

Pulling from her he moved over her his hard body pressing to her opening. Egan tried to be gentle, slower, but his hunger and her call for more urged him on. Kissing her deeply as he braced one of her hips he took her driving into her with one stroke. No longer did he have concerns about disappointing her, his body and soul knew what she needed and he that he was the man to give it to her. Swallowing her cry as he kissed her Egan began to move. Pushing deep into her body taking every inch she would give him.

Her legs moved higher on his waist. She squeezed him with her body. Rolled her hips and pulled him in deeper until she could feel him stroking over a sensitive spot inside her. She felt him bump the end of her. The sensation of ache and pleasure took her breath away. Mickela's hands smoothed up and down Egan's back. Her fingers grazing lightly over him. She had to hold back the urge to dig her nails into his flesh. She managed for only another few moments while heat built in her body. He pushed harder and she was no longer able to hold back. Ecstasy spread through her. Claimed all of her senses. Her fingers dug into his flesh. Her body shuddered and tightened hard around him. She buried her head against his neck and panted his name.

Egan moved faster, harder with her release pulling at him. Burying his face into her neck gathering her to his chest as her body shuddered and clamped harder upon his. Finally the heat engulfed him his body tightening and bursting within her as he cried out. He continued to move until his body was empty giving her all he was. Pressing soft kisses to her lips and face he slowed his pace and finally collapsed to her both of them panting. Egan was perfectly content, that brought a smile to his face. He hadn't thought to be so content with someone else. He had always thought having someone in your life like this makes it harder. They would demand of you and push. Ruin his quiet solitude. Not Mic. She gave him contentment in her nearness.

Mickela panted until she could regain her breath. She was in no hurry to come back down from such a perfect rush of emotion and pleasure. She felt his heart beating against her chest. Her legs still trembled as they relaxed around his waist. Her hands gently caressed over his body as she kissed him slowly. "Egan," She smiled. "I missed you."

"I missed you, Mickela." Propping on his elbows he returned her smile as he kissed her. Her lips were warm and wonderful. Looking into her eyes as he took in the sensation of their bodies joined and pressed together. "I want you to stay here instead of the hotel. Here with me…and Mutt." He grins.

She smiled and nodded. "Okay."

Egan kissed her softly and caressed her face. "Welcome back, Mickela."