by Cora Seton
This time when she linked her legs around his waist, only the soft fabric of his boxer-briefs came between them, and his hardness pushed against her in a delightful way. She couldn’t wait to take him inside, but first she’d allow him to explore all of her.
He did, first with his hands, then he crouched down between her legs to explore her with his mouth. Eve clung to the counter, holding on—barely—while he stoked her desire even higher. Each pass of his tongue along the innermost part of her made her want to give in—to give him everything. When he stood up again, shucked off his boxer-briefs and positioned himself between her legs, she wriggled forward until he nudged against her and tried to take him in.
“Protection,” he breathed against her neck.
“I don’t want protection.”
Anders pulled back. “Are you sure?”
“Only Nora and Savannah are pregnant so far, and time is running out. We need to do our part, don’t you think?”
Desire flooded him, hot and urgent. This was what true joy felt like. His heart had to be swelling in his chest. Making a baby with Eve sounded perfect. When he nodded, Eve smiled.
Anders couldn’t hold back another second. With a strong, slow stroke, he pushed inside her, sure he’d finally found exactly where he belonged.
As he lifted her, cupped her bottom with his hands and established a rhythm, all Eve could do was hold on. She had never started an encounter like this so turned on she was clinging to every shred of self-control. The desire to start a family with Anders was one she’d barely admitted to herself before she’d voiced it out loud. His unequivocal endorsement of the idea had washed any lingering reservations away.
This was the man she’d spend her life with, and together they’d help build Base Camp into a community that was here to stay. Then they’d take on Hansen Oil and turn it into a company they could be proud of. That was real progress—the kind she’d always wanted to be a part of.
“I love you,” Anders said, his voice a rugged rasp in her ear. “I will always love you.” He increased his pace, filling her until she couldn’t hold back.
Eve came with a cry he echoed, and as her release pulsed through her, she felt him go over the edge, too. Bucking against her, pulsing within her, Anders took her all the way until a second orgasm overtook her, leaving her crying out into his shoulder, shuddering with her release again and again until she thought it would last forever.
When it was over, she clung to him, breathing hard. “That was worth waiting for.”
Anders chuckled, a rumbling sound she heard through her own body. “Hell, yeah. How about we take this upstairs and try it again?”
“Lead the way.”
The second time around they took things much slower, even though the floor of the loft was hard, and the sleeping bag Anders had brought did little to ameliorate matters. Anders took the brunt of it, rolling over on his back and bringing Eve up to straddle him when it was time for him to push inside her again.
“I like the view,” he said as she bent over him.
She liked this position, too, especially since it gave Anders free rein to run his hands all over her. She’d thought it would take them longer to be ready again, but they were like teenagers getting naked for the first time, and neither of them could get enough.
This time when he pushed inside her, she was able to control the rhythm. She moved slowly, easing him in and out of her, building up her hunger for him until the ache inside her grew too strong to ignore. The rocking of her hips brought her breasts into reach of his mouth, and as he nuzzled and teased them, she bit her lip, straining to hold on for a little longer.
When he gripped her hips and thrust into her again, she lost that last vestige of control. Throwing her head back, crying out and riding him, she let him bring her over the edge, into an orgasm that pulsed through her until she was spent.
Anders bucked against her several more times before collapsing back against the floor. Eve joined him, disengaging and cuddling into the crook of his arm. He tugged the sleeping bag up around them, and when Eve woke, daylight was coming through the windows. She vaguely registered that she’d have to do a walk of shame in her gown to the bunkhouse to get clothes to change into.
Maybe she could send Anders to get them.
“Morning,” Anders said, and she realized he was awake.
“Morning. Did you sleep?”
“Right through the night. Guess we’d better get going, though. Let’s get you over to the bunkhouse before the whole camp is there. All we need is to bump into Clem before we’re dressed.”
Eve groaned but allowed him to unzip the sleeping bag, and she followed him to the ladder. He helped her down, touching and caressing her body far more than necessary to accomplish the maneuver until both of them were laughing and tangled together by the time they made it to the first floor.
“We could skip breakfast and go right back up there,” he offered.
“I need a toothbrush and a trip to the bathroom first,” she said.
“Fine,” he growled.
He helped her back into her shift and gown, skipping the corset since she’d need to shower and change anyway. She tucked it under her arm and hurried after him. By the time they reached the bunkhouse, a fair number of Base Camp inhabitants were already there. The minute Anders pushed open the door, Eve darted for the bathroom and slammed the door shut, then realized she didn’t have any clothes to change into. She didn’t want to do another walk of shame after her shower. Luckily, Avery knocked on the door a moment later.
“Let me in,” she said and brought Eve everything she needed. While Eve showered, Avery perched on the bathroom counter and kept up a running commentary on the events of the previous evening. “But enough about that. Fill me in on you and Anders.”
“Nothing to tell,” Eve said, stepping out of the shower and wrapping up in a towel. She dried her hair as best she could with another towel and pulled her shift over her head.
“There must be something to tell,” Avery said, helping her into her corset.
“It was good. And that’s all I’m saying.”
“You’re no fun. You should still come to the manor after breakfast, though. There’ll be a surprise for you.”
“A surprise? Sounds intriguing.”
When she reached the manor some time later, she found a fitting in progress for seemingly every woman at Base Camp at once.
“What’s going on?” she asked the room at large.
“It’s our dresses for the New Year’s bash. Alice brought them over,” Avery said happily.
Eve stepped farther into the room and gasped at the beautiful gowns the women were wearing. All together like this, they made up a bouquet of the most stunning colors. “Those are gorgeous,” she told Alice. “Every one is a work of art.”
“Here’s yours.” Alice lifted up a midnight-blue gown.
“For me?” She thought it was even more beautiful than the rest.
“Of course. You’re not Cinderella,” Avery said. “You’re going to the ball, aren’t you?” In a lower voice, she added, “If you’re going to help unveil Hansen Oil’s rebranding in front of the whole town—and the whole world—you have to look good.”
Eve had filled her in on Anders’s decision to help his father, figuring she owed Avery that much. Avery was being instrumental in setting things up for the New Year’s bash.
Alice helped Eve change, and Eve stared at her reflection in the large mirror propped in one corner of the room for the occasion. Behind her, all the other women were talking, laughing, helping each other with their gowns. Once again, emotions overwhelmed her. She’d have to call her parents soon and tell them everything that had happened. She wondered what they’d think about the new adventure she meant to take.
“What about school?” she could hear her mother say. Eve bit back a smile. Maybe she’d still go one day, although who needed film school when she had Renata to teach her all she needed to know.
“Ju
st a few nips and tucks,” Alice said, looking her over. “Otherwise, it’s perfect, if I do say so myself.”
“Anders is going to love you in that,” Avery said.
“You’ll be the belle of the ball,” Savannah said. She patted her large stomach ruefully. “I’m happy to be pregnant, don’t get me wrong, but I wish I looked like you do in that dress.”
“You’re more beautiful than any of us,” Riley told her. “Jericho will look at you all night. Everyone else will be staring at you, Eve. It should be a party to remember.”
That afternoon, while Clem stormed around the bunkhouse ranting about the twenty-four-hour goose chase Renata had led him on, Renata tugged Eve into the kitchen.
“You think Hansen’s actually going to show up tomorrow?”
“I sure hope so. Are you ready to film it?”
“Sure am. Got a plan to get rid of Clem again.”
“He’s already pretty mad.” From what Eve had heard, Renata had spent most of the previous day staking out the entrance to the public library, filming everyone who came in and out. Then, when it closed, she switched to one of the local bars. There’d been an incident with several of the patrons before she bought a round of drinks for everyone there. “Background material for two possible new series,” she’d apparently told Clem when he finally confronted her. “Small Town Scholars and Who’s Getting Drunk Today. What do you think? Do I have a hit on my hands?”
Clem hadn’t been amused.
“He’s furious.” Renata grinned. “Most fun I’ve had in ages.”
“I can’t wait until this over,” Eve confessed to her. “I’m terrified that Johannes won’t show or that he’ll backtrack from his promises and do nothing but embarrass Anders.”
“If he does, he’ll embarrass himself, too. You two will get through this, no matter what happens.”
Eve hoped she was right.
Late that night she got an email from Kevin with a subject line that made her blink: Severance Package.
Eve,
Johannes Hansen has asked me to apologize on both of our behalfs for not including you in the decision-making process for how to handle the tailing pond spill you discovered. As I’m sure you understand by now, the spill had already been brought to Mr. Hansen’s attention, and procedures to contain it were in the works. I was overzealous in protecting a valued client, and my secrecy—our secrecy—forced you into a difficult choice. Let it go and think you’d betrayed a community in danger, or listen to your conscience and face losing your job.
Mr. Hansen informs me you’ll be taking on a new position with his company, along with his son, once his operations are in order, and that you’ll help to supervise Hansen Oil’s transition to a clean energy company. I couldn’t be more proud of you.
I hope in time you’ll be able to forgive me for what I did. I wish I had your moral clarity and courage. Good luck in your marriage and in your future life. Please find enclosed a severance package I hope does a little to bridge the gap to your new career.
Kevin
“Everything okay?” Avery asked, coming to sit near her. Most of the inhabitants of Base Camp had already dispersed to their tiny houses. Those who were left were getting ready for bed. Anders was on patrol tonight; he’d be back early in the morning.
Eve handed her phone to Avery. “Kevin is my boss at AltaVista. I thought he’d be furious.”
“Sounds like he understands,” Avery said when she’d finished reading. “You did the right thing.”
Eve nodded, finding it hard to speak. “I was so scared I was making a big mistake.”
“You don’t feel that way now, do you?”
“No. Not at all. I feel like I’ve found my home.”
Avery hugged her. “Damn right you have!”
Eve was quiet as they drove to the New Year’s bash, and Anders wondered if she was nervous about what was to come. Once they reached the party, however, she brightened up again, and Anders understood why. The hall had been decorated with boughs of greenery and sparkly fairy lights, and a live orchestra played at the head of the room. The place was packed with people.
They gave their coats and wraps to the coat clerk and made their way into the main room, pausing to watch the couples already swirling around the dance floor. People were dressed in a variety of clothes, from full-on evening wear to much more casual outfits. The Base Camp group definitely stuck out, and Eve especially in her low-cut, deep-blue gown. All eyes were on them as they circulated through the hall.
Anders was surprised when she suddenly gave a little bounce and hurried to enfold a woman he didn’t recognize in her arms. She waved him over.
“Anders, this is Melissa, my best friend. She’s the one who dropped me on the road near Base Camp that first night we met. Melissa, this is—”
“Anders Olsen. Navy SEAL, bison wrangler, environmentalist,” Melissa finished for her. “Nice to finally meet you.”
“Nice to meet you, too.” Anders didn’t know what else to say. Eve was full of surprises.
“I’m Harry Enright,” the man standing next to Melissa said. “I’ve got a ranch about ten miles from here. The Lazy L.”
“I’ve heard of it.”
“Harry is my… fiancé,” Melissa said shyly. She lifted her left hand.
Eve pounced on it and shrieked. “You’re getting married? Why didn’t you say?”
“It’s just happened.”
Harry beamed. “Proposed at dinnertime. Melissa said yes. Fastest courtship I’ve ever heard about, but I didn’t want to lose her.”
“I told him I’d have to go home soon,” Melissa said. “Guess I’m not going anywhere now.”
Eve hugged her again.
“Looks like you’re engaged, too.” Harry pointed to Eve’s hand.
It was Melissa’s turn to shriek. As the women fell into a third hug, the tension in Anders’s shoulders eased a bit. Until someone tapped him on the back and he turned to find Clem behind him.
“What’s all this?” he demanded.
“Nothing for you to worry about,” Anders said. “Go bug someone else.”
“More secrets?” Clem sneered at him. “You’re not the only one. Enjoy yourself while you can.”
When he left, Anders found Harry considering him. “That sounded ominous.”
“He’s not up to anything I don’t know about,” Anders assured him. He noticed Melissa and Eve listening now. “I think he’s been poking around my hometown, asking questions.”
“That was me,” Melissa said a little ruefully. “Sorry.”
Anders considered this. “Maybe it was both of you.”
“I’ve told Melissa what to expect tonight,” Eve said.
“And I told Harry,” Melissa said. “If he’s going to be my husband—”
“That’s all right. We’d better keep circulating, though.” Anders took Eve’s arm in his. “Sooner or later my dad’s going to show up, and I want to be ready for him.”
“See you later,” Eve told Melissa. “I’m so happy for you.”
“I’m happy, too.” Melissa grew serious. “You did it, Eve.”
“We did it,” Eve corrected her. “Are you really going to marry Harry and stay here?”
Melissa nodded. “We’ll be neighbors,” she said.
“I can’t wait.”
“Having fun yet?” Curtis asked when Anders met up with him later at the bar.
“I’d be having a lot more fun if this was over.” Where was his father? He hadn’t heard from Johannes since their meeting in the woods. He hoped like hell his father hadn’t chickened out. Eve and all the men of Base Camp had been called back for questioning by Cab Johnson, but when Anders asked Cab about his father, Cab told him he couldn’t divulge anything about their dealings. “We’re in touch,” he said. “Johannes has agreed to testify against his CEO. Sounds like Bollard intends to testify against him in return. Something about tailing ponds?”
Anders had nodded. “Won’t be the first time Han
sen Oil is in hot water,” he’d told Cab. He was thankful he wasn’t the one who had to sort out that mess.
Curtis clapped him on the shoulder. “Relax. I’m sure your dad will come.”
“Easy for you to say.” Anders had filled Curtis in on more of the details of his deal with Johannes than he’d told anyone else except Eve. Curtis had been gratifyingly impressed. “Changing Hansen Oil’s trajectory is huge,” he’d said. “You’re the man for the job.
“Yep,” Curtis said now. “You’re right; it is easy for me to say. Go dance with your fiancée. Have a little fun. Worrying about your dad won’t make the time pass more quickly.”
“Guess you’re right.”
A minute later, he threaded his way through the bevy of women surrounding Eve and tugged her aside. “Want to dance?”
“Definitely. Thought you were getting us some drinks.”
“Changed my mind. I wanted to be with you.” He led her out onto the dance floor and took her in his arms just as the music switched to a slow song. As he pulled her close, a sigh escaped him. This was a good idea.
“I love this,” Eve confessed. “Moving with you. Feeling your arms around me.”
“You don’t feel like I rushed you into anything?”
She tilted her head to look at him. “No, I don’t. In fact, to my way of thinking it took you much too long.”
She wasn’t talking about marriage, Anders thought. She was talking about this—the two of them touching. Swaying together. Sharing a moment that was just theirs.
“Your dad won’t arrive until later.” She glanced at a large clock on the auditorium’s wall. “He’ll want to be sure everyone is here. We’ve got time to enjoy ourselves.”
Eve was right; Johannes would want to make an entrance late in the evening. Meanwhile he would soak up every moment he could with the woman who was going to be his bride.
Eve laced her arms around his neck and snuggled even closer as Anders’s hands slid down to rest on her hips. Lust stirred low inside him. If only this night was over and they were alone—
