ALASKAN FIRE

by Alaskan Fire (NCP) (lit)

  “I can tell you are by the way you looked at him earlier,” Todd continued. “Then I remembered reading about Sam and his new lady in one of the papers here and it all clicked into place.” Todd leaned across the table and placed his hand over Jess' hand. “You don’t have to worry, Jess. I know when to keep off another man’s patch,” he said with a kind laugh.

  Jess smiled at him. He really is a nice man when you get past all that hoo-hah, she decided. People pay a dreadful price for fame. I wonder if it’s affecting Sam in some way.

  “Todd, I think I should get to the studio. Sam may need my help,” she said softly.

  Todd laughed again as he pushed back his chair and stood up. “You’re right, I have kept you away from your lover for long enough,” he chuckled, as he escorted Jess through the huge house to the main entrance. “Forgive me if I don’t come with you, Jessica. If I thought there was any hope for me I would kidnap you and keep you here, but I can tell you can’t wait to be with him,” he said, kissing her lightly on the cheek.

  Jess once again bit back a reply. She felt Todd would understand if she told him the truth about her so called relationship with Sam, but his remarks disturbed her. Could he so readily read her thoughts? Was her love for Sam so obvious it shone from her eyes for everyone to see? And why did she continue to feel this way when Sam had ridiculed her so unjustly over her interview with Todd. She knew Sam lusted after her. That was all, pure, unadulterated lust. Well, he would have to go on lusting, she thought, because there was no way she was going to fall into his arms after the way he had treated her and he’d more or less said there was no future in the relationship. He would never marry her.

  “Don’t you want to see your story?” she asked Todd as he helped her into his chauffeur driven limousine.

  “No. I know Sam will do a great job of it. He will include enough of our, shall I say, frivolous discussion to make the story provocative. He will hopefully show me as a decent, if somewhat eccentric human being and will compliment the story by popping in various earth shattering scenes from some of my movies. Boring, isn’t it?” Todd shrugged and gave Jess a sad smile as the car drew slowly away.

  Looking back, Jess reflected on the poignant image of the lonely man standing in the center of the huge driveway arm raised in farewell. Her eyes inexplicably filled with tears as she realized even with all of his fame and fortune, Todd Carmichael was a sad and unfulfilled man.

  Todd’s chauffeur dropped her back at Chip Sander’s studios in downtown L.A. and she was shown into the editing suite where she could see Sam and Chip were nearing completion of the story.

  Sam acknowledged her with an absent-minded nod as she entered, but immediately returned to the job at hand skillfully operating the complex panels on the consoles in front of him. He and Chip continued to work for another hour and Jess wisely kept silent. She studied the back of Sam’s head, her fingers longing to caress the dark, thick hair and cradle him to her. The feeling was so powerful she felt her nipples swell and grow rigid with longing. Shocked at the way her body was re-acting, she turned to go outside and wait when Sam swung around in his swivel chair to face her. His eyes were piercing as they if he knew what she’d been thinking.

  “So, you came back to me,” he murmured in his smoky voice as his hands grasped her hips pulling her forward so she stood between his thighs. He leaned his head against her breasts, his arms closing around her waist just as she had imagined seconds ago. Jess' face grew hot. How could Sam do this! How could he play with her feelings when only hours ago he had berated her for so called unethical practice. She felt bewildered and embarrassed. After the encounters with Tom and his stalking and now the accusations with Todd Carmichael, the sense of shame over her sexuality was becoming intolerable.

  She pushed angrily at his shoulders and Sam reluctantly released her. Their eyes met and held--his slumberous and sensual, hers stormy.

  “Do you want to show Jess the full tape before it’s sent off?” Chip asked, unaware of the electrifying atmosphere between the other two as he fiddled with the monitors, making slight adjustments.

  “But of course,” Sam said lazily. “It’s her story.”

  Jess nervously sat on the low couch near the door as Chip set up the tape for viewing. Sam was obviously pleased with the finished product. His attitude had changed, the tension had left him and once again, his attention was focussed on Jess and his desire for her body, she thought with a feeling of hopelessness.

  The three watched the finished story in silence and as it progressed Jess could see how clever Sam had been in his editing. It did carry all the components Todd said it would but it was brilliantly done portraying Todd as the charismatic star that he was. Sam had skillfully edited out any possible assumption of sexual innuendoes but had presented Jess as a clever journalist with a great sense of humor.

  When it was completed, Chip made a loud whooping noise and slapped his thigh with excitement. Sam turned to Jess. “Well, what do you think?” he asked.

  Jess hesitated. It really was a superb piece of work but she couldn’t help thinking how tough Sam had been. He talked of her giving mixed messages when all she had received from him in the past two days was a bewildering array of his various moods until she was not sure which way to turn.

  “It’s good,” she said quietly.

  Sam laughed, but there was an edge to his voice as he said, “do you hear that, Chip? Ms. Ice Maiden here has given her stamp of approval.” He got up, placing his papers into his briefcase as he did so. “I’ll leave you to send the story off, Chip. I had better take Jess to the hotel and get things ready to leave for the north tomorrow. I’ll see you at dinner tonight,” he said, his voice brusque.

  Jess rose and walked ahead of Sam to the car parked at the footpath. She knew he was brewing over her lack of enthusiasm and she should have let her true feelings show but, damn him! He had no idea about her feelings, she decided, glancing at him as he maneuvered the large car through the early evening traffic.

  “You drive well on the wrong side of the road. You seem very comfortable in LA.” Jess made an attempt to ease the tension, but he remained silent and brooding.

  At the hotel they faced each other in the foyer. “Pack only your cold weather clothes and main essentials to take with you. The rest of our gear can stay here until we return,” Sam said, his eyes flickering over her despondent face.

  Jess spoke rapidly in response. “If you don’t mind, I won’t join you and Chip tonight. I would like to run over my notes and get organized so I’ll order a room service meal.” She was pleased her voice sounded so cool. She didn’t want Sam to see how rattled she was by his mood swings, particularly as she seemed responsible for them.

  Sam shrugged. “Please yourself,” he said as they made their way to the lifts. He walked with her to her room and waited, leaning casually against the doorjamb while she fumbled for her key. Jess hesitated, encountering the closed expression on his handsome face.

  “Goodnight, Sam,” she murmured opening the door, but stopping when he touched her arm.

  “Jessica, I know you have done a lot of research on the Inuit story but be prepared it could be very tough going mentally and physically. Do you think you can manage it?”

  “Yes, of course I can,” she said, her tone indignant.

  “Okay. I guess what I am trying to say is I know our temperaments clash like crazy but there will only be the two of us and we need to be there for each other, if there are any problems. I trust I make myself clear?”

  He levered himself away from the door and turned to leave her but Jess broke into a torrent of words nothing could stop.

  “Sam, let me say this before you go. I know you don’t think much of me as a journalist and you believe I have an attitude problem. I can’t help what you think of me. You chose me for this assignment and I am doing the best I can. I have asked if we can be friends. Or at least, be civil to each other. But you also seem to have a problem with that. In fact, the only time
you show me a glimmer of friendship is when you fancy me as a sexual partner for a quick roll in the hay to satisfy your urge of the moment."

  He tried to interject but she continued. “You don’t need to lecture me about whether I am capable of roughing it because I am capable of anything you can throw at me. As for being there for you, yes, I will be, but not as a sexual plaything and not as the brunt of your bad moods. Is that clear enough for you?”

  Sam’s gaze slowly appraised her face and his hand touched one flushed cheek. Then he gave her such a gentle smile Jess blinked with shock.

  “Yes, that’s clear, Jess. You’re right. I am difficult and moody. I know I am. I’m truly sorry for upsetting you today. I don’t know about you but I’m finding it hard to work so closely with you. But, my urge to have a roll with you in the hay, as you rather cutely put it, hasn’t deteriorated in any way. I give you fair warning if you show me the slightest encouragement to make love to you, I will take it.”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Jess pulled her haversack from her aching shoulders and with a sigh of relief, laid it on the narrow bed in the tiny cabin. Even though she had packed the bare essentials, as Sam had requested, she still seemed to have a lot of luggage.

  They had arrived in North West Alaska the previous day. Jess had been relieved they were both relating on a reasonably friendly level, although after Sam’s surprise apology and his openly admitting he still wanted her, he again seemed absent-minded and had withdrawn into himself. But, Jess was now used to picking his moods and worked out he preferred to isolate himself when he was concentrating fully on the work at hand. With Jess he was at least relaxed, much to her relief after their previous fiery encounters.

  They flew Alaskan Airways firstly to Anchorage, and then to the small town of Kotzebue forty kilometers above the Arctic Circle. Kotzebue had one of the largest communities of indigenous people in the Arctic bush area with most of its four thousand residents being Inuit Eskimos.

  That afternoon Jess had spent a couple of hours at the Ootukahkuktuvik City Museum studying the many artifacts on display. They stayed at the only hotel in town, the Nul-luk-vik, and Sam spent the afternoon in his room making phone calls to confirm arrangements for their trip further north as well as talking to the Australian office.

  Jess thought Sam would hire a light plane to fly to the tribal area that lay further along the coast. But, as she discovered over their quiet dinner that night in the hotel, Sam wanted to capture footage of the glorious coastline from the water and managed to make arrangements accordingly.

  “There’s a large icebreaker carrying supplies to Markson leaving after lunch tomorrow,” Sam explained. “The Captain is willing to give us two births on board and it will take around eighteen hours to get there. But, I’ll capture some great footage.”

  “What about the tribal chief and Mr. Harris. Won’t they get tired of waiting for us?” Jess queried, knowing his thoughts were already elsewhere.

  “I’ve contacted the Chief at his village. He is fine and we’ll interview Kevin in Anchorage on our way back,” had been the brief reply.

  So, after helping Sam with a morning of filming in the town, Jess found herself climbing the long gang plank on to the huge vessel. At least this ship feels safe, she thought as she quickly unpacked her belongings and tidied herself ready to go back on deck.

  Although bitterly cold, the sun was shining brightly. Sam had said he wanted to film her introduction and some of the story background from the deck before the light went. Jess was well protected against the cold. Even so, Sam insisted they hire extra protective clothing and heavy duty, lined boots.

  The ship was well under way as Jess struggled along the walkway to where she could see Sam filming the rapidly disappearing port. Jess stopped, her eyes absorbing the sight of the tall figure, outlined against the blue sky and the blinding whiteness of the cliffs of snow in the distance.

  Sam wore a dark green anorak turned up at the wide collar to protect against the cold. His camera rested comfortably on his shoulder and Jess could see his breath expelling in a cloud of white mist. She closed her eyes for a moment, her gloved hand grasping the deck rail. I can’t really believe I’m here, she thought, a rush of adrenaline coursing through her. Fancy! Young Jessica Seymour from little ol’ county Morrissey standing here on the deck of this huge ship in the middle of the Chukchi Sea on the other side of the world and, with Sam, her hero. She smiled to herself.

  Opening her eyes, she saw Sam had his camera trained on her. “What are you doing,” she called, her eyes blinking in the bright sunlight.

  “Walk towards me, Jess. I’m creating the background with some wild vision,” he called back, leaning against the rail and adjusting the camera. Jess shrugged and carefully made her way towards him avoiding some ice on the deck. Suddenly her feet slipped from under her and she lay flat on her back gazing dazedly at the sky, gasping to get breath back in her lungs.

  “Hell, Jess, are you all right?” Sam’s worried face peered down and she stared at him in bewilderment, her startled eyes holding his anxious ones. His hand brushed her hair away from her forehead and his arm lifted her head and shoulders away from the cold deck.

  “I’m fine, just fine,” she gasped, feeling utterly stupid as she saw some of the crew watching from the upper decks. She waved cheerfully thinking how silly she must have looked and then felt irrepressible laughter bubbling up inside her. “I suppose you caught that on your damned camera.” She laughed as Sam helped her to her feet and she bent to brush herself off.

  “I certainly did,” he replied, with an engaging grin. “And I’m going to save it for our bloopers office party at Christmas,” he smiled, his hands still holding her. His expression became serious again. “That’s the first time I’ve seen you relax and laugh like that. You are lovely,” he said, admiration in his voice as his eyes held hers. Sparks crackled between them. Then just as suddenly a shuttered expression crossed his face. “You must be careful, Jess. You could have broken your neck,” he cautioned, reverting to his cool manner as he moved away to retrieve his camera from where he had quickly propped it against the bulkhead in his hurry to reach her.

  Jess' face sobered. Sam was right. She hadn’t laughed spontaneously in a long time because of Tom and the affect he had on her. She realized too the dangers of being hurt here almost at the top of the world. They had to support each other, if only to be picked up from the slippery deck of a ship.

  “Come on, I want you to work to camera,” Sam said, as he rescued the microphone for her and proceeded to do a sound check.

  Over the next two hours they worked, with Sam filming numerous takes of Jess talking to the camera explaining the background of the story. Many times Jess fluffed her wording and several times the brisk sea breeze blew the hood of Jess' anorak over her head until Sam impatiently pinned it to her collar. At one stage in the middle of filming, Jess caught sight of something from the corner of her eye. Letting out a huge shriek, she leaned over the edge of the rail.

  “Sam, Sam. Look. Polar bears. There, on the ice. Mother and baby. Look!” she yelled her face alight with joy as she watched the magnificent creatures as they stood fearlessly on a massive ice flow some distance from the ship.

  Jess turned to find Sam still had his camera trained on her face. “Sam. Quickly. You will miss them,” she shouted in laughing panic. It was only then that Sam reluctantly swung his camera around to film the bears as the ship passed and slowly left them in its wake.

  Jess sighed, her face flushed with the cold and excitement. “How wonderful,” she gasped. “Fancy seeing polar bears so far south. Did you get some good footage? Aren’t they beautiful?” she asked, her bright eyes meeting Sam’s as he lowered his camera.

  “Yes, absolutely beautiful,” he repeated slowly. His eyes held hers once again for long moments. Jess turned away, heat burning her skin despite the cold wind biting into her. Sam was something else, she thought, her eyes searching the sea for a last glimpse of the
bears. He could switch his sensuality on and off at will and then disappear behind an elusive mask where I can’t reach.

  The light faded abruptly as the afternoon drew to a close and the air turned bitterly cold. With relief Jess made her way to her cabin leaving Sam still filming the last rays of the rapidly setting sun.

  Inside, the ship was stiflingly hot and Jess tore off her outer clothes to feel more comfortable in only a light-weight cream jumper and navy slacks. It had been a tough day. Sam hadn’t spared her and her arms ached from carrying camera equipment while he filmed various scenes in the attractive little town. Her voice was raspy from the number of takes on the deck and her head whirled with a jumble of words.

  Sam was as tough as he had threatened, Jess reflected as she sat on the bed and brushed her hair into a shining, dark cap. She had been aware of his impatience and exasperation and had tried hard to meet his need for perfection. But it had been even more difficult to hide her yearning for him especially when his own desires were blatantly obvious. But Sam made no attempt to touch her, which was both worthy and frustrating at the same time.

  Jess shook her head in bewilderment. She realized how contrary she was but Sam had swung backwards and forwards like a pendulum. Firstly, withdrawing from her and the next minute admitting he wanted her. If only she didn’t want him so badly. She was sure he must be aware of it. She thought about the few times Tom had made love to her and how she had tried to think of other things as Tom’s clumsy, heaving body took her roughly and possessively. She had been dating Tom for almost three years before she let him make love to her. Jess was sure they would get married and she had given her body to him joyfully--her gift to him was her sexual innocence.

  Gradually Jess had made excuses to avoid physical contact and that had made Tom angry. In the end, there was nothing left, nothing but the fear that Tom would one day force her to submit to him. She wondered what it would be like to have Sam love her. Really love her. Would he be gentle and caring or would he abuse her body as Tom had done?