Paradise (18 page)

Another arrow of desire shot to her pulsing center.
He goes commando. How nice. How convenient
.

She had imagined he did. She’d even looked for a telltale brief or boxer waistband but hadn’t seen one. Now, the thought of him wearing nothing but jeans and shorts all week sent shivers through her.

“Are you done yet?”

“Huh?” Her heart caught in her throat. Done? No, she wasn’t done, but she was close, so close.

“Are you done getting changed? Can I turn around?”

“Changed?” Fuzz blanketed her mind.

“Well, duh. Changed. Are you planning on staying in those wet clothes all night?”

“Oh.” The few sane cells left in her brain struggled to the forefront. “Right, changed.”

It was on the tip of her tongue to invite him to help, but it was already “awkward and uncomfortable” enough. “One more minute.”

Shaking off the heavy cloak of desire, she whipped off her wet t-shirt and bra and ran her towel quickly over her shoulders and breasts. Her nipples grew harder, and she rubbed the rough towel across them again, savoring the sensation. Her gaze never left Eddie’s back. What would it feel like to rub her distended tips against his warm flesh?

She stood and slid off the wet shorts and thong. Two nights ago, she’d given him her back, but now she faced him, praying he’d turn around. She wanted to feel his eyes on her naked body, to see that dark, smoldering look he’d given her in the canoe.

What was the rush? Why was she hurrying? The longer she took, the better chance he’d grow impatient and turn his gaze on her. She inched the towel down her stomach, and softly massaged her damp curls, wishing it were his fingers caressing her.

In the dim light, he rocked to and fro on his bare heels and toes, his hands shoved backward in his rear pockets. The muscles of his broad shoulders bunched, and she longed to press her mouth to them, to trail her fingers from his waistband millimeter by slow millimeter up his spine to his corded neck, then into his shaggy hair.

Moving the towel between her thighs, one hand holding the edge in front, the other in back, she spread her legs to dry them. On its own, the towel inched up until the edge met her sensitive cleft. Drawing it back and forth against her swollen flesh, she shuddered with each movement.

She closed her eyes to fully experience the pulsing sensations, all the while wishing Eddie’s lips instead of a towel played with her soft flesh.

“You know, Maisie can cook, serve and clean up a meal quicker than you can change your clothes. You need some light? I can’t see my hand in front of my face.”

Her eyes popped open, or were they still shut? Night had settled on the swamp, bringing its pitch black covering. Rats, just a few more minutes, and she would have been there. Oh well…

Ascending from the erotic trance, she quickly wrapped her soaking hair before pulling the lamb’s wool sweatshirt over her head. Its soft texture countered the rough towel, and her nipples continued to pucker at the warm, cozy feel of it. Searching the floor with her foot, she located and pulled on the sweatpants.

“I’m…I’m done.” She took several shallow, measured breaths to bring her heart rate below a thousand beats per second.

A bright glare filled the tent before Eddie turned down the lantern to a soft glow.

“You look like you’ve run a mile. I didn’t think passing up the gear would work up a flush like that.”

“Go figure.” She shrugged. Picking up her wet clothes, she moved to unzip the tent flap to wring them out. Rats, he’d put on a Crocodile Hunter shirt when she closed her eyes. And here she thought she’d have a lovely night fantasizing about his sexy chest.

“Here. I’ll do that.” His big hands covered hers and lifted the dripping garments. “You’re all warm and dry in that baby chicken outfit. You’ll get soaked if you lean outside.”

He unzipped a corner of the tent flap, stuck out his arm grasping her shirt and squeezed, then handed it to her. Each item received the same attention although there wasn’t much to wring out of her thong and bra. He hesitated a moment, rubbing the nylon thong between his thumb and forefinger before passing it to her.

She’d been concentrating on his movements, so sleek, so efficient, she almost missed his comment. “Baby chicken outfit? What are you talking about?” He stood so close she had to bend her head back to see his face.

“Sorry. It slipped out.” He gave her a sheepish grin, but she fixed him with a look, waiting for a reply.

“If you must know, you look like one of those downy, baby chicks in that outfit.” He reached and patted her shoulder. “You know, all soft and fluffy and such.”

Baby chicken or not, his touch sent a shock straight to her lower belly. She leaned into him, but he quickly stepped back.

“You hungry?”

Cripes, did he have to ask that question every night? Of course, she was hungry. She was starved, only not for food.

“I guess. What’s on the menu? More freeze dried crap?” She caught herself.
Bitch mode not allowed.
“I mean, yeah! Freeze dried, my favorite!”

“Good save.” He chuckled. “But no freeze dried tonight. Can’t light the stove in this weather, but I’ve got an old stand-by. How about a PBJ?”

She gave him her biggest, brightest, non-bitch smile. “Gee, peanut butter and jelly. I love a man who can cook!”

Chapter Nine

Eddie expelled a long breath. Robbie looked up, an unspoken question in her eyes. Her dark wine hair shimmered in the lantern light. So soft, so vulnerable sitting across from him in that fluffy yellow outfit. He should wrap her in a sleeping bag to protect her from himself. What the hell, he’d rather zip himself in with her.

He lounged back, wondering how she had gotten under his skin at warp speed. So what if she wanted a fling and no commitments. Maybe he could change her mind. Maybe he could make her want to stay. God, he was worse than an adolescent figuring how to ask a girl to the eighth grade dance.

She reached for her small bottle of lavender lotion and worked some into her hands and forearms. The scent about threw him over the edge.

“So tell me, what are you going to do for Excelsior?” he asked to cover his almost groan. At this rate, he’d never make it to Friday.

“Why do you want to know? I thought you disliked anything to do with desks and computers.”

He sat up to emphasize an interest he didn’t possess. “No, not really, sorry if I came off like a jerk the other day. I’m curious. What will you do?”

Her wide smile made up for the boring topic he already regretted unleashing.

“With the internet so…”

A deafening bellow erupted somewhere near the front of the platform. “Oh my God! Help!” she screamed and dove at him. She was in his arms, clinging to him -- actually, it was more like crawling up him -- trembling.

“We’re going to die!”

“Hey, settle down. There’s nothing to be afraid of.” He hugged her and softly stroked her hair. Now this was paradise. Well, almost.

“Um,” he gasped, “can you let go of my neck now?” Reaching behind his head, he loosened her death grip and placed her hands on his shoulders. Feeling shivers race up her spine, he sat her on his lap and held her solidly against his chest.

“I hate to make so many requests, darlin’, but could you take your claws out of my shoulders?” It was a wonder they didn’t rip clear through his shirt. The roar sounded again, and she locked her arms around him, burying her face in the crook of his neck.

“I don’t want to die.”

Alarms went off in his head, but he ignored them. Hadn’t he been wishing for this very thing only minutes ago? He took a deep breath and expelled it as if it was his last.

“Shhh. It’s only Romeo out looking for a Juliet. He’s a couple weeks early in the season, but it happens.”

“What are you talking about?” She shuddered against his neck.

“It’s a bull gator looking for a date. They make that ungodly roar when they’re hunting up a lady. You know how it is,” he teased, trying to still her shaking form. “A lot of women like the loud, aggressive type. The macho guy.”

A deathly silence fell over the swamp. Even the frogs’ croaking ceased. Her heartbeat thudded against his chest as the minutes ticked by. She shifted her butt, settling in.

Damn. If he wasn’t hard before, he was a steel pipe now. His insides ignited at the feel of her hip against his erection. He tightened his arms around her and felt a corresponding squeeze in her grip. The fresh scent of her lavender lotion folded him into an intimate embrace. Every fiber in him begged to nuzzle that long, graceful neck, to bury his face in her hair and inhale till there was nothing left of her.

She wiggled again, pressing her bottom against his crotch. Oh, God, yes. Don’t stop, he silently begged.

“Is…is it gone?” Her moist lips moved against his neck, a scant inch below his ear.

“Shh. Wait a bit. Romeo’s just getting started.”

The huge bellow erupted again, closer it seemed. Robbie squeezed her eyes tighter as if to shut out the sound.

“My God, I’m going to get eaten tonight for sure,” she panted.

If only…if only.

“No one’s going to die. He’ll do that a few more times. If he doesn’t find any action, he’ll cruise to another part of the swamp. Who knows, maybe it’s ‘girls night out’ over by the canal.”

He cautiously rubbed her back, attempting to comfort without taking too much pleasure. “There now, you’ve lived through a gator mating call. Not many first time campers are lucky enough to hear one.”

“Lucky…yeah…I’ll remember that.” The touch of her lips against his throat was so light, he almost missed it until she repeated it higher just below his ear. When she sucked in his earlobe, she had his full attention.

“You shouldn’t be doing that.” But her fingers stroking the nape of his neck sapped what little willpower he had left. Raw desire raced through his blood. He wanted her, but he wanted her on his terms.

He made one last stab. She flattened her hand and ran it upward to tangle her fingers in his hair. “I haven’t changed my mind,” he rasped. “I don’t want another affair.”

Her lips released his ear and began a slow trail across his jaw toward his mouth. “I know,” she whispered.

Did he hear right? His heart filled with such hope and promise. Maybe dreams did come true.

“You want more than an affair? You want to be with me? To see if we have something worth keeping?” He bent his head back to search those haunting green eyes. Tiny gold flecks around her irises sparkled in the lantern light, but the answer he needed was not in their gleaming depths. Unguarded, naked passion stared back at him.

“All I know is I want you.” Pulling his face to hers, she claimed his mouth in a searing, searching kiss.

He let go, then. Let go of his denial, his resolve, his plans. He gave them up for this time in her arms. If all she could give was a few nights, he’d take them. Who knew? Having her in his bed might be the first step in having her in his life.

But even that didn’t matter. The flame she ignited in him burned away every promise, every resolution, every commitment he’d made to himself.

* * * * *

He was luscious and best of all, he wasn’t pushing her away. Robbie wound her arms around his shoulders and pressed her breasts tighter to his chest. His tongue teased her lips while his hand eased down to slip under her sweatshirt. Lips firm, yet soft as a spring night, brushed against hers until she quivered with anticipation.