Too Grand for Words (BookStrand Publishing Romance) (7 page)

His finger gently grazed her cheek. Her body fit the contours of his perfectly. He didn’t waste time thinking about it. His lips found hers, and he immediately sensed her control waver. The gentle control she kept around her all the time.

He kissed her deeply, his tongue roving around her mouth, savoring all of her. His lips nipped at her neck, tasting her salty, soft skin, and his chest swelled. He wanted to lay her down in the hot sand and sample her sweetest places. The need and desire to crack that willful, calm composure of hers—not to hurt her but to pleasure her—overwhelmed him.

He pulled her hips tight to his. The hardness in his jeans sent a clear, primal message to her thighs, he hoped. Something carnal banged at the bars of his will, trying to free itself inside him, but he held it back. “You have to be the sweetest woman on earth,” he whispered. “Do you know that?” She thrust herself away from him. Reluctantly he released her.

“No, I don’t.” She took a step back, and a question settled in her expression. “It doesn’t make sense.”

Widening the distance between them, she took another pace backward; it actually hurt him to see her do it. Fear, but mostly uncertainty gathered in her eyes.

“Moira—” Women offered themselves to him without asking, and he took most of them without question. Not many—not any—stopped from leaping between his sheets. He gazed at the woman who finally would, the one who was going to say no. The one he didn’t want to say no. Irony—in its finest moment, had just bitten him hard. “Too fast.”

Slowly she said, “Too unbelievable.” She shook her head as if confused. “When you do that to me, my willpower feels like its breaking like glass. I feel a total loss of control. I don’t like that.”

“You’re beautiful and warm. There’s nothing that’s unbelievable about you.”

His respect and admiration for her dug itself deep into his mind with every minute they spent together. She lived alone in the world, but he never heard a single word of resentment. Without a doubt she’d given her life to serve others.

While he’d been walking beside Mandy earlier, she’d told him Moira had been divorced for a year and only married for two. His thoughts had flown back to last night, and the man who cheated on his wife. He wouldn’t be surprised to hear Moira’s husband had left her for someone else. The guy was a fucking idiot if he had. Then again, if he hadn’t, destiny wouldn’t have pushed her into his path.

Listening to her, and watching her interact with her crew he recognized her caring nature. Until she felt she had something relevant or substantial to say, she remained quiet and reserved. She had a bold but peaceful strength, not to mention a gorgeous set of legs.

“Uh-huh. We’re standing in the mecca of beautiful women, irresistible women practically dripping onto the sidewalks, and you think I’m beautiful.” She twisted her hands together but quickly put them behind her back to hide her nervousness. Her eyes hardened as she stared at him. “You look confused.”

“Maybe I am.”

“What’s this really all about?”

“What’s it about?” He stared thoughtfully into the sharp blue of the sky. “Well—it’s about a man looking across a blackjack table and seeing the sweetest woman he’s ever seen, the sweetest smile he’s ever seen, sit down across from him.” He took a slow step toward her as if approaching a wild mare, not wanting to spook her. “It’s about a man who usually gets what he wants until he meets a woman who he really wants, and she puts him in his place.” He took another step. They were only a breath away from each other. “Something like that. When I looked in your eyes last night I had to know who you were.”

“Is that fair? When you won’t tell me who you are?”

The question fell off her lips and landed in the sand with a thunk. He reached out and placed his hand on her cheek. “Does it really matter?”

“Of course it matters. Someone hired you, is that it? This is a big joke that my staff is having on me, isn’t it?”

“Okay, so you think I’m an escort for hire, is that it?” He broke out laughing.

“Don’t laugh at me,” she roared, thrusting his hand from her cheek. She walked over to a boulder and sat down. “If you’re important enough for people to know who you are in this town then one, you’re a gangster, two, you’re some kind of over-the-top important person, and three—if you’re either of those things you certainly shouldn’t be looking at me.”

He grinned at her, and knelt at her feet. He gently covered her hand with his own. That suspicious little look she wore was more than adorable. “Well, what would you prefer, over-the-top exec or mobster? Or maybe,” he said, rising to his full height then leaned over her, hot, bothered, and needing to feel the fire burning behind those siren eyes. “I’ll go for the escort. You wouldn’t want your crew to have spent all that money, and not take advantage of it.”

She leaned away the closer he came.

“God, you truly are the most sincere woman I’ve ever met. You’re not the only one who’s feeling a loss of control.” He knew he would be making a lot of time and good reasons to travel to Vancouver in the near future. “Is that the scariest look you have in your arsenal, Moira Viterra? Because it’s only making me want you more.”

His lips fell on her like a tidal wave striking the shore as he lifted her into his arms. His strength swarmed around her, incapacitating her will as he carried her with ease, and laid her down in the sand. A blazing need scorched a trail in his mind, pinning his desire for her into overdrive. Her small hands shot to his shoulders, and then she stalled, obviously unsure whether she wanted to push him away. It was all he needed because her touch launched a wild craving through him.

The wrap covering her legs fell aside, and he gently nudged the heat between her thighs with his knee. The buttons on her shirt slipped open with little coaxing from his fingers, and he teased her nipples with his warm breath. They grew hard against the lace of her bra, making him hungrier. He pulled the thin cover away, exposing her flesh. When his lips slowly sucked the peak of her breast, she gasped with pleasure. His tongue wandered, gently biting them, making his erection even harder. He felt her arch beneath him.

“God, I have to taste you.” His kisses quickly made their way down to her hips, and he toyed with the lip of her panties, wanting to please her so badly.

“I can’t,” she choked.

He barely heard her, his desire for her pounding in his pulse. She drove him crazy, her smell, her skin, her curves—his need for her leaped out of control. “I think you can.”

“No, I’ve never…”

That stopped him. He slowly raised himself to look down into her face and saw the fear in her eyes. “You’ve never what?” he said with a mischievous grin, but the look in her eyes changed his smile to concern.

“I—”

They both turned their heads when they heard their names called from around the next bend. “Oh shit,” she said, scrambling from beneath him.

He quickly pulled her up. She secured her last button as Marcus jogged around the corner.

“Hey guys, there you are. They’re here,” Marcus yelled. “So, you old folks ready to keep going?”

“Sure,” Steven answered for them.

Close one, he thought, but he didn’t miss the humor in the situation. His heartbeat still banged hard in his rib cage, and he needed to hide the wicked bulge in his pants. Hard to do in the middle of a sand pile. Moira glared at him but stepped in front of him, as if reading his thoughts. Everyone came en masse around the corner.

“Callie, stop whining,” Patti berated her.

Moira found her voice. “What’s the matter, Callie?”

“Don’t ask her that,” Mandy said, rolling her eyes. “She keeps moaning that the sun will burn her fragile skin.”

Moira shook her head like a beleaguered mother.

“You’re such a fuckin’ princess,” Marcus said.

“Shut up, Marcus. At least I’m not all scared of being on a little beehive.” Callie threw her hands on her hips and gave him a sneer.

“Well, which way?” Mandy asked, looking at Steven and then at Moira. Mandy blinked a few times, looking at her. “You okay, ma’am? You look flushed.”

“I’m fine, Mandy.”

“It’s damn hot out here,” Steven offered as an excuse. Her crew looked at him as if waiting for instructions. “If you’re up to it, there’s a narrow path that leads to a set of caverns up ahead. There’s an underground pool that surfaces inside. Not a lot of people know about it.”

“A cave pool, that sounds awesome,” Patti said, her expression perking right up.

Moira absently pulled at the hem of her shirt. “I don’t think I’ve seen that much enthusiasm on your face in a long time, Patti. Let’s do it.”

“The trail is pretty narrow and high. It’s basically a broken ledge.” He looked at Marcus, waiting for opposition to the idea.

“No problem.” Marcus’s Adam’s apple jumped in his throat.

“If it’s a cave and water, that has to translate into cool, so let’s go before I die of heatstroke,” Sasha growled, traipsing down the path. “Who the hell convinced me to do this stupid trek anyway? I could be lazing by a pool, looking at men in bathing suits right now.”

“After you,” Steven said, extending his arm to the group. Moira took a step, and he stopped her. He folded her hand in his, letting the others take the lead.

Moira held up her other hand. “You know where you’re going, so you take the lead. I’ll bring up the rear.”

She was trying to ignore what just happened between them. For now, he’d let her, but he wasn’t forgetting anything. Not the way she smelled, not the way her skin felt against his, nor the way her sweet mouth accepted his. “All right, how about syndicate boss?” he asked.

“Well, that would be just about my luck. Get going.”

He leaned over and kissed her deeply but swiftly. “Yes, ma’am, but we’re going to carry our previous conversation on later.”

“Like hell we are, Mr. Porter.” She wiped the sweat from her forehead.

He brought her hand to his lips. “Don’t be so sure of that, Ms. Viterra. You don’t know who you’re dealing with.”

Moira brought up the rear with an eagle eye on each of her crew. Callie hung on to him as they carefully made their way up the side of the hill. The cheesy grin on the little girl’s face described her satisfaction more than words could. What a brat, he thought. She obviously didn’t notice or care about the age difference. Callie couldn’t have been more than twenty-one. Then again, age had never given him a reason to stop from screwing a younger woman. Callie might be young and beautiful, but as they paused to catch their breath, his eyes strayed to Moira. Everything seemed to blur around her, and all he could see was her.

“Whoa, you weren’t kidding about narrow path,” Sasha said as they followed each other in single file along a tiny ledge that wrapped itself around a sheer cliff face. “I hope everyone’s noticed there’s no net down there.”

“Just take your time, Sasha,” Moira cautioned.

Nothing protected them from the long drop on their left as they hugged the face. Steven was sure this really wasn’t what they were expecting, but Moira’s crew seemed to be doing fine, except for maybe Marcus.

“How ya doing, Marcus?” he called out.

Marcus made sure to keep at least one hand, but mostly two on the rock face at all times. “Great, it’s no fucking wonder I chose the sea for a career, mountain goat I am not.”

“You’re doing fine, Marcus. Just keep moving,” Moira prompted.

“This is awesome, Steven,” Callie trilled from behind him.

Twenty minutes later, they rounded a corner that opened onto a small landing, only big enough for them to gather tightly together. A natural bridge arched across a narrow canyon in front of them. Made of a brilliant terracotta-colored stone, and only wide enough for single file, it stretched fifteen feet across the gaping ravine below.

“God, I didn’t know we were gonna have to do an Outward Bound course,” Marcus complained. “Man, I hate heights.”

“We’ll go first,” Callie said, grabbing Steven’s hand and giving him a doe-eyed stare.

He gently pulled her hand from his. “Good idea. Marcus, take Callie across first.”

He caught Moira’s smirk, and winked at her. Giving Marcus a charge would boost his bravado.

“Come on, Cal, let’s go,” Marcus grumbled.

Callie pouted a little, not being able to hang on to Steven, but she took Marcus’s hand, and they crossed to the other side, Callie sashaying like she was simply strutting down the street, Marcus kind of shuffling.

“Go ahead, Sasha,” Steven prodded.

“Right.” She turned and grabbed Patti’s hand. “I’m not doing this by myself, come on.”

“What?” Patti said.

“Shut up and get moving.”

“Pushy when you’re chickenshit, aren’t ya?” Patti laughed at her friend.

“Go ahead, Steven,” Moira prompted. “I’ll go across with Mandy.”

Mandy glanced at the rocks that surrounded them. “Did you feel that?”

He turned his attention to the surrounding cliffs. “Feel what?” he asked.

An eagle screeched and soared above them, its giant wingspan slicing effortlessly through the sky, but all else was quiet.

Mandy shrugged. “Nothin’ I guess.”

He reached the other side and called to them. “Come on, ladies.” Moira motioned for Mandy to go ahead.

Moira and Mandy made it halfway across the bridge when the earthquake began in earnest. It rumbled through the ground, shaking it hard. They could barely keep their balance, and shot their arms out to steady themselves.

“Mandy, get moving,” Moira yelled.

“I’m trying.”

They both lost their footing at the same time, and went down on their hands and knees to stop from falling.

“Mandy, run,” Moira ordered.

Mandy didn’t waste time. She shot forward and leaped toward the group. He caught her in his arms, and pulled her to safety on the small outcropping. Moira pushed herself up, shooting one foot out to her right as the ground shuddered. Stones began falling from somewhere up above, striking the bridge like small missiles.

“Moira, get moving,” Marcus yelled.

Steven heard a loud crack of rock. “Shit. Moira, jump now,” he yelled, about to launch himself onto the bridge.

Moira ran a couple steps and catapulted herself as the bridge caved in on itself. With nothing but air underneath her feet, she reached out for the ledge. He threw himself onto his stomach to reach her. The cries of her crew erupted around him. Casting his hand out, he grabbed one wrist just as her body slammed into the cliff.

“Moira, grab my arm with your other hand,” he called down to her.

Moira clutched and grappled, trying to get a grip on the rocks with her right hand, but they crumbled in her fingers.

“Slipping,” she cried.

Her hand slid through his. “Moira, grab my wrist,” he roared, his heart raging in his chest. He couldn’t reach her, and he barely had a hold on her one hand. His eyes slammed shut. Hot and sweaty, he couldn’t stop her hand from sliding through his fingers. “Give me your other hand.”

“Moira, oh God,” Mandy cried out, falling to her knees beside him. “Reach, Moira, come on, girl. Reach.”

Moira’s small hand clutched his wrist. Clamping down on her like a vise he said, “I’ve got you. Use your feet to keep yourself away from the rock face.”

She cantilevered away from the sharp rocks as he pulled her over the side. With one fluid movement, he yarded her right into his arms, and away from the edge.

“Holy shit,” he whispered, cradling her tightly to him.

“Moira—” Mandy knelt beside her as did the others. “Are you okay?”

Moira breathed out slowly. She touched her forehead lightly and winced. Blood covered her fingertips. “I think I’ve just had my first heart attack.” Moira cupped his jaw in her hand. “Thank you.”

He pulled a curl of hair from her cheek as adrenaline burned through him. He thought he’d known fear before, but he didn’t know squat until a minute ago. “Mandy, do you have—”

“Here.” She thrust a cloth into his hand before he could finish.

He held the towel to Moira’s forehead, curling her closer to him. “Talk about timing,” he said, pulling the cloth away. “It’s not bad, Moira, it’s just a small cut.”

“I think I’ve just got an idea for my book.”

“You’re thinking about your book!” He folded his arms around her to try to stop his heart from racing. It beat so hard he could feel it pulse in his throat. He’d never witnessed someone coming so close to death before.

Her hand fell to his chest.

“What?” he asked.

“You’re heart’s beating a million miles an hour.”

“Ya think?” He placed a palm against hers. “Yours isn’t.” How could that be? She had been only slippery fingers away from falling to her death. He realized it wasn’t the thought of death, it was the thought of
her
death that hit him hard.

“So, are we going swimming or what?” Callie crowed to the group now that the mayday was over.

Mandy ignored Callie’s brashness. “How are we going to get back, Steven?”

“There’s a secondary route past the cave.” He peered into Moira’s eyes. “Are you okay to walk?”

She nodded at her crew. “Shall we?”

Welts had already begun to form on Moira’s shins and knees. A few deep scratches marred both legs. God, he felt bloody awful.

“No one could have guessed that was coming,” Moira said, as he inspected her battered legs. “Let’s get to the pool. I’ll wash off there.”

He helped her to her feet, holding her close until she steadied herself. He still felt responsible and concerned, but she seemed to brush it off as nothing.

Moira walked ahead to check on each of her crew. When she reached Marcus, he folded his arm around her shoulder and gave her a squeeze.

“Maybe that’s why they call her the Black Magnet,” Callie said, falling in step beside him.

“Walk up there,” Mandy ordered harshly.

Callie bent her head and trotted to catch up to Sasha and Patti.

“What does she mean by that?” he asked.

“Nothing. Callie opens her mouth and nothing but shit falls out of it,” Mandy said. “Ignore her.”

Black magnet? Interesting, he thought, but he couldn’t even begin to guess what that meant.

 
“Moira’s the one that almost dies, and she’s got to check on everyone,” Mandy said. “I hope she learned something back there.”

“What do you mean?” he asked. Mandy kept pace with him, and he didn’t think it was by accident.

“She couldn’t save herself. She had to trust you. She doesn’t trust anyone,” Mandy offered. She adjusted the small pack on her back.

“Should I ask why?”

“Probably not, but you will.”

He liked Mandy. She seemed like a no-nonsense, down-to-earth woman. Obviously, she and Moira were closer than just workmates. “Okay then, why?”

“You saw what she did back there. She tried to save herself, grabbing at the rocks, instead of letting you help her. She’s done that all her life. I’ve known her for years, and she’d rather fall on her face than ask for someone’s help.”

He walked along, considering her words, trying to read between the lines. “Moira’s independent, is what you’re saying.”

“She’s more than that. Moira’s stubborn, and she might look like she’s got it all together, but the fact is she was burned badly once before. Sometimes she acts all tough as nails, but that’s just to scare people off.”

He gave Mandy a quick squeeze on the shoulder. “You’re a good friend, Mandy.”

“Aw shucks, thanks.” Mandy patted his arm. “But seriously—she needs more than me. If you drive a car that’s worth half a million dollars, and you look like something off the cover of a magazine I’m guessing you can have the pick of the litter.”

“I hear you, Mandy.” She was giving him the “don’t hurt my friend” talk.

“I hope you do. Moira said you won’t tell her who you really are. I don’t know what that means exactly, but you won’t be able to keep a secret from her for very long. She’s a pro at digging for the truth. It’s what she holds in highest regard.”

“I’ll tell her eventually.” His eyes strayed to Moira who still walked beside Marcus. “It’s just not the right time.”

“Why’s that?” Mandy stopped, and placed her hand on his arm for him to do the same.

He shielded his eyes. “It’s complicated.”

Mandy sighed and swiped her hand across the back of her neck. “Look Steven, I know you two just met. You seem like a really nice guy, but I have to tell you, I don’t think she’s going to go for a Las Vegas fling. That’s just not her. But even if she doesn’t, I hope you see the real Moira.”

“Oh, I see her all right.” He twisted the cap off his water and took a long drink. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to hurt your friend.” He offered the water to her, and she waved it off.

“No, I don’t want you to hurt her, but I want you to show her a really good time. She deserves it. And to be brutally honest, if you can get into her pants—do it, because she needs her ballast water changed, if you get my meaning.”