Carved in Stone (17 page)

He wanted her now, so desperately he thought his control might snap, but with studied patience he touched her, stroked hips and breasts and belly that were satin beneath his touch. They had all the time in the world, and somehow he had to affirm for each of them his love and his belief they would survive.

He pushed his fingers through the tight, downy curls between her thighs, and he took a moment to circle the hard little bump of her clitoris. Groaning, she arched her back, raising her hips high, pressing hard against his hand. He followed the flow of her body, dipping his fingers between the soft folds of her labia, then deeper, thrusting slowly inside. She was slick with desire, her tissues swollen and damp, her inner muscles clutching at his fingers as he slipped them in and out of her tight sheath.

He’d not really been with that many women, but even so, none had been as responsive as Alex. Not one had given him so much pleasure he was ready again within minutes, recharged on the pure beauty of their joining. Never had a woman made him feel as deeply, want as profoundly, need as strongly.

Only Alex.

She moaned softly. His cock filled with an even greater rush of blood and he pressed himself against her sleek thigh, biting back a groan at the almost perfect pressure, the heat, the sense he was so close, the sure knowledge that it was all going to be so much better.

She clutched his shoulders and the sharp bite of her nails against his back made him harder, more desperate to have her. She pressed her lips in the hollow of his throat and the combination of stinging pain and gentle caress coalesced into an overwhelming need for completion.

Controlling the desire that fought his efforts to take care, to move slowly, Nate plunged his fingers deep inside her one more time before slipping free of her warmth. Then he settled between Alex’s thighs and used one hand to sweep the broad head of his cock between her nether lips. She arched into him and he entered her with slow and gentle strokes, his muscles quivering from his careful restraint. “I love you,” he gasped, knowing his control was wavering, feeling himself spiral down, down into a maelstrom of desire so compelling it threatened to overwhelm him.

And at that moment, that incomparable point in time often called the little death, Nate realized he had never been so intensely alive.

Alex drifted, floating in the languid aftermath of loving. She felt a sense of peace, an acceptance of the fear and challenge they had both faced over the past few days. The image of the grotto entered her mind, and she tried to reach out to the spirit of the daughter of Ixchel.
Are you real?
she asked.
Can you help us?

But we have, my little one. We already have.

But we’re still lost in here!
Alex’s plea was silent—as silent as the darkness. She waited for an answer.

Silence. No voice, no answer. Maybe it was only a dream.

Nate’s arms tightened around her, warm and solid, and so very real. Whispering against his lips, she murmured, “I love you, Nathan Murdock.”

“And I love you, Alexandria Martin, I’ll love you for as long as we both shall live.”

“That wasn’t funny, Nate.”

“It wasn’t meant to be. I intend to make it out of here.”

“Are you taking me with you?” she teased, but the sudden tightening in her gut dragged her back to reality. It was so easy to forget, when they made love.

Suddenly, she felt his body stiffen. “Alex? Are your eyes open?”

“Of course not, silly,” she answered him, “I’m afraid of the dark.”

“Well, I think you can open them, because it’s not nearly as dark as it was.” He was laughing now, and sitting up, dragging Alex along with him.

“What?” She looked in the direction he pointed and relief enveloped her like a cloud of pure joy. One small corner of the cavern, one tiny portion of the rocky wall, glowed faintly with a pale shaft of reflected sunlight. Somewhere nearby was a way out. Laughing and sobbing with relief, Alex fell joyfully into Nate’s strong embrace.

Thank you! Thank you both!
She sent her message into the darkness, then grabbed the handful of clothing Nate handed her.

They dressed in a flurry of activity, dumping sand out of boots, struggling with belts and buttons and shoelaces and clothing still damp from their soaking in the underground stream.

Alex tied her snarled hair into a loose knot at the nape of her neck and Nate quickly wound the climbing rope into a coil.

Unwilling to leave anything behind, Alex grabbed the fanny pack and water bottles. Nate strung the rope over his shoulder, then, hands linked, the two of them rushed in the direction of the light, scrambling across the sandy floor and splashing through the shallow pond.

Around one corner, then another, until the reflection became a steady glow and they could see each other, see the walls and floor of the tunnel that gradually grew wider and brighter as they climbed upward out of a narrow gash in the mountain.

The early morning sunlight was painful against eyes long accustomed to total darkness. It took them a moment to get their bearings.

“We’re definitely on the back side of the plateau,” Nate said between heavy gasps for breath.

“I don’t think we’re too far from the woods where we hid from the smugglers,” Alex replied, holding her sides to control her labored breathing. She looked to the south, where a tall grove of pine and cedar trees hid the rest of the plateau from their view.

“I think you’re right.” Nate tugged her hand to pull her in that direction. “We should be able to find the road back to camp if we cut through the trees. Let’s go.”

“Then what?” she asked, falling into step beside him. “Shouldn’t we just head straight back to the ranger’s station? Let them know what’s happened?”

“Not until we have the thumb drive with all the pictures,” Nate said between clenched teeth. “I’m not going anywhere without enough evidence to nail those bums, and your pictures can do it. C’mon.”

Struggling to keep pace, Alex followed a few steps behind Nate as he jogged through the thick grove of trees. He shoved branches and foliage out of his way and jumped over logs and small shrubs in his path. Alex heard his muffled curse when he accidentally snagged the heavy coil of climbing rope on a broken branch. She was surprised when he tossed the rope angrily to one side rather than take the time to untangle it.

She managed to keep up with his headlong passage, but his sudden change in behavior sent a chill along her spine. He was doing it again, doing exactly what he wanted without even considering Alex, what she might want.

Nate barged ahead of her like a freight train, mumbling under his breath. Alex had the distinct feeling that, if it were at all physically possible, steam would be billowing from his ears.

It was about damned time! Finally. A chance to act, to actually do something that didn’t leave him feeling helpless and weak and impotent.

Well, not necessarily impotent.

Definitely not that!

He pushed his hair out of his eyes, aware of Alex following silently behind him. She was his, and he was out for vengeance. It felt good to be this angry, to push things aside that got in his way, to move in the light like a man, not crawl fearfully in the dark.

They had made it, even though, as much as he hated to admit it, he had almost given up hope. He’d gotten her out of the cave after all, in spite of Duke and Ed and Sid. It was a good feeling, this sense of achievement, of purpose. This anger.

And he had to admit, it felt wonderful, almost cathartic, to force his way through the heavy underbrush, to vent his pent-up emotions on the offending branches blocking his path. Now, finally, he could do something. He was tired of all the passive shit, of merely hoping to survive.

Never again. No, it was time to fight.

Nate burst out of the woods at the edge of the road. The peacefulness of the scene stopped him in his tracks. He paused for a minute while he waited for Alex to catch up, taking the time to appreciate the sounds of daybreak and the light of the sun burning through the early morning mist.

Jays squawked nearby. Warblers twittered away in the heavy undergrowth, and he took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of damp earth and grass and the pungent pine and cedar he’d feared he would never smell again.

Three strangers had almost taken this away from him forever. Had almost taken Alex away. He clenched his fists, controlling the anger that rolled over him in violent waves.

Then he realized Alex was beside him, her breath rasping in her chest, her dark face flushed and angry. Good. She was just as pissed off as he was. Just as furious over what they’d been forced to endure. He was glad she felt the same way he did, because together they could take on the world. He grabbed her in a tight embrace and planted a big kiss on her mouth.

“We made it, sweetheart! Doesn’t it feel great? You feel great! God, how I love you!” He hugged her, laughing, then kissed her again and grabbed her shoulders. “We’ll get ’em,” he vowed. “Those jerks will regret ever messing with us.” He grinned at Alex’s wide-eyed stare, then grabbed her hand and started down the road, pulling her along behind.

The man had turned into a certifiable maniac. Alex struggled to keep up with Nate as he jogged along the dirt road to camp. She didn’t understand the change in him, and she definitely didn’t like it. Where was the tender, compassionate man she’d fallen in love with? This guy was completely nuts!

From the minute he’d stepped out of the cave, he’d acted like a man possessed. She could understand his excitement over escaping the caverns. For crying out loud, she was excited, too.

What she didn’t understand was his sudden drive for vengeance.

The smugglers were long gone, and so were the bowls. The photos might bring the crooks to justice eventually, but the chance of recovering the daughter of Ixchel’s property was nonexistent. In fact, out here in the light of day, it was hard to believe that the daughter of Ixchel and the son of Chac were anything more than a confusing dream.

So why the rush? Alex was tired and sore and hungry. She needed time to sort through the confusing layers of emotions threatening to bury her. Running along the rugged trail, her breath tearing at her lungs, Alex wondered if she really knew anything about Nathan Murdock at all.

Nate heard the sound of the chopper first. He grabbed Alex and shoved her behind a huge cedar, then flattened his body close beside hers. They both sagged against the rugged trunk, breathing in loud, irregular gasps.

The roar of the helicopter grew closer. Dust swirled through the forest as the craft hovered nearby. After a moment, the steady beat of the blades slowed and idled, then stopped completely.

“They can’t be back, can they?” Alex pleaded, her wide blue eyes transmitting fear and anger in equal proportions.

“No. Listen.” Nate inched slowly around the shaggy side of the redwood tree. “It didn’t sound like them. Their helicopter was a lot quieter, smaller, I think. This sounds like—” He paused, listening a moment longer, then turned back to Alex, laughing. “This sounds like Roger Dalton and the U.S. Forest Service!” He grabbed Alex by the hand, running through the last few yards of forest and out into the clearing.

The small meadow was filled with people. They reminded Nate of a herd of deer, the way everyone simultaneously raised their heads in the same direction to stare as he and Alex ran hand in hand through the tall grass.

When a spontaneous cheer went up from the group, Nate realized it had to be their rescue party. The next thing he knew, Roger had him in a bear hug that was crushing ribs still tender and bruised.

“Put me down, you idiot,” he laughed, grimacing at the pain and holding his hand to his injured side.

“Where the hell have you been, Doc?” Roger asked, a wide grin splitting his face. “We’ve been worried sick ever since we found your camp. What happened? You look like hell!”

“It’s a long story, Roger,” Nate answered, looking for Alex. She had disappeared in the arms of an older, white-haired man and a young blond woman. Nate watched them for a brief moment, aware of an odd sense of alienation.

Reluctantly, he returned his attention to Roger and two other rangers who had come to stand by the pilot’s side. He noticed members of the local rescue group and a number of armed men as well, dressed in Trinity County Sheriff’s Department uniforms.

“We got messed up with drug smugglers, Rog.” That was probably the understatement of the year. “They snagged what may be priceless artifacts, too. I’ll never know, now, ’cus I didn’t get a close look at them.”

“Well, you will,” Roger said, grinning even wider than before. “We got ’em all, unbroken, and your three friends as well.”

“But how?” Confused, Nate looked from one smiling face to another.

“Whatever you did to their chopper let them get just about as far as the Weaverville Airport, and down they went. Hit hard enough to knock ’em all a little dingy, but didn’t break a pot. As soon as we realized it wasn’t your standard group of businessmen, we hauled ’em in. Confiscated a big haul of drugs, but we haven’t turned the artifacts over to the proper authorities yet. Thought that might be something you’d like to handle.”

Everything’s gonna be okay.
Nate gazed up at the rugged cliffs towering overhead and sent a silent message to the unseen spirits of the cave,
We’ll bring them back to you as soon as we can. I give you my promise.

A sense of completion settled over Nate. Gratefully he shook Dalton’s hand. “That’s great, Rog, really great. It makes the whole mess worthwhile, ya know?”

He turned to Alex. She was still sobbing in the stranger’s arms. “Alex, Alex, did you hear what Rog said?” She didn’t even acknowledge Nate, but it was obvious she was totally unaware of anyone other than the man who held her. The man who had to be her father, the famed photojournalist, Alexander Martin.

Loath to intrude, Nate turned back to Roger. He would have plenty of time later to spend with Alex. Right now, there were things that needed to be done. “We’ve got pictures, Rog. C’mon. I’ll show you where we hid the thumb drive. It’ll help you nail those crooks.”