“Hmm, if you keep doing that I won’t let you go outside.” Jared said, with a huge smile on his face.
Later that day, Nicole was hanging the last of her clothes above the fire to dry, glad that who ever had been in the cave last had left them an ample supply of firewood, when Jared came back from trying to get a hold of Sam. He shook the water from his rain gear and hung it up where she pointed, then crossed over to where she was standing and kissed her like they hadn’t seen each other in weeks.
When he tried to take the kiss farther, she pushed him away laughing, glad that she’d finally been able to get dressed. “Stop that and tell me what you found out.” She said, resting her cheek on his chest listening to his heart beat.
“Only if you promise me another kiss.” Jared said, then stepped away when she tried to hit him. “Okay, okay. Sam says the storm is raining itself out and should be gone by tomorrow some time. They can’t do anything until Seth gets there and he can’t leave until the storm stops, so we might just be able to get there in time.”
Nicole breathed a sigh of relief, it wasn’t all that important to her to be there when the mine was blasted closed, but it seemed to be very important to Jared. “Then we’ll just have to be ready to leave as soon as it stops raining. We went at least six miles in the wrong direction to get here, that’s a lot of time to make up.”
“Sam suggested a different route, it’s a little bit harder trail but it should save us some time. If we put in two good days, we’ll get there about the same time Seth does.”
“Good, I know it’s important to you, I’d hate to miss it.” Nicole said, stepping back into Jared’s arms and hugging him.
“I’m not sure why, but I want to see that mine closed, know that no one else will ever die there again.” Jared said, relieved to have someone to talk to about the mine.
“Well, we’ll just have to be ready to leave as soon as it stops raining.” Nicole said, pushing away from him to check the drying clothes.
Jared pulled her back into his arms, “But that’s not going to happen until tomorrow, we’ve got all day and I can think of a few things that we can do to fill the hours.” He said, then brought his mouth down on hers.
The rain had stopped the next morning when they woke up, so they didn’t linger in bed, as much as they both wanted to. They’d been as ready to leave as they could be, so it only took an hour to eat a quick breakfast and get on the road. The trail was wet and muddy which made it even more difficult than it already was, but they took it slowly, neither an expert on the four-wheelers they wanted to arrive in one piece.
The day was beginning to fade when they found the spot that Sam had recommended for their camp that night. They’d been on the trail for more than twelve hours, exhausted, hungry, and dirty. It was a thrill to top a rise and see miles and miles of freshly planted trees. It was a beautiful if haunting sight, but as they got closer Nicole realized that not only were the tress healthy, but there was a fresh blanket of green shoots popping up out of the ground.
They pulled their four-wheelers to a stop and just stared, neither able to voice the emotions that were running through them. Nicole knew that Sam had sent them this way on purpose, he wanted Jared to see what was possible, how something so damaged could come back to life with just a little help.
Jared was the first to break the silence, “It’s strangely beautiful.” He said, looking at Nicole who felt the same way, but could only nod and look back to the trees again.
They sat in silence for a long time, each lost in their thoughts, but it was beginning to get dark and they needed to set up camp. “I guess we should unload, start a fire and get something to eat.” Nicole said, getting off her four-wheeler.
“I have an idea.” Jared said, digging around in their supplies and pulling out a tarp. “Let’s not set up the tents, let’s just sleep out here by the fire.”
Nicole was exhausted and not setting up tents would save them a lot of time and effort, plus then they could sleep together since neither tent was large enough to hold them both. “I think that’s an excellent idea. Do you want dinner or the fire?”
“I’ll take the fire.” Jared said, and headed out of camp to get firewood.
That night after they’d washed some of the dirt off and had a good dinner, they slipped into the sleeping bags and cuddled up together. The moon was full giving the trees an eerie illumination, but they could still see the stars in the night sky. The chill in the air made Nicole shiver, but the fire was warm and Jared’s body heat penetrated her body, leaving her feeling comfortable and cozy. As she drifted off to sleep, she knew that she’d remember this night for the rest of her life, it was one of the moments that could never be forgotten.
She’d only been asleep for a few minutes when Jared’s body stiffened in alarm. Laying with her head on his chest, she couldn’t see anything but the sky, so she tried to sit up, but his arm clamped tightly around her. “Don’t move, there’s a bear down in the new trees.”
Chapter 10
Of course, the first thing she did was roll over, a command like that impossible to follow. Shocked she looked down the hill to see a baby bear nosing around in the new trees, it was by far the most exciting thing she’d ever seen. But she controlled her excitement until the bear wandered off down the hill, knowing that there had to be a mamma bear close by, and there was nothing fiercer than a mother bear.
When she tried to sit up the next time, Jared let her, but he was still watching the hill intently. “Do you think he’ll come back?”
“I doubt it, there can’t be much here for him to eat. But the best thing we can do is build the fire up and make a bunch of noise so that they know we’re here.” Nicole said, throwing more wood on the fire.
“They? Are there more of them?” Jared asked, looking nervously around him.
“If there’s a baby bear, and that was a baby, then there’s a mother close at hand.”
Jared thought about that for a second, got up and began to make as much noise as he could, banging on a pot with a spoon and yelling at the top of his lungs. When Nicole started laughing, he gave her a dirty look and continued. When he’d finally worn himself out, he sat down next to her by the fire, panting from the exertion.
“I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to get eaten by a bear.” He said, putting his arm around her. Then he added, “Especially not now.”
“Well I don’t think those bears are going to come anywhere near us now. You’ve made sure of that.” Nicole said, then realized what Jared had said at the end.
“What do you mean, not now?” She asked, wishing suddenly that she hadn’t.
“Now that I’ve finally stopped being stupid and done what I’ve been wanting to for weeks, I’d hate for it to end with us getting eaten by a bear.” Jared said, looking in her eyes. “I know we don’t have much time before I have to go back and face the real world, but I wouldn’t change anything that’s happened, none of it. You’ve woken me up Nicole, made me see the world differently. But it’s not just that, I think you’re teaching me how to stop plotting and planning everything in my life and live for the moment — something I’ve never done.”
It was at that moment that Nicole knew that she was in love with Jared, at least the Jared who was with her right then. She wasn’t sure about the one who lived in Juneau and wanted to be governor, but this one she loved. He would be hers for only a short time, and she was going to make the most of that time. Her exhaustion suddenly gone, she reached up and stroked Jared face, then pulled his head down and kissed him.
Jared seemed to understand what she wanted, and gently pulled her down onto the sleeping bags, then covered her body with his. “I’ve never made love out in the open, but when I’m with you I seem to do things I’ve never done before.”
When his mouth came down on hers, all the sounds of the night evaporated, Nicole only hearing the beating of their hearts. Hers was thumping in her chest, Jared’s kiss igniting a fire inside her as only h
e could. Jared slowly undressed Nicole, peeling off her shirt and pants first, then unhooking her bra exposing her breasts to the cool night air.
Her nipples immediately hardened, and Jared couldn’t help but suck one into his mouth. Nicole sucked in a deep breath when his hot mouth began to suckle on her breast, his teeth just nipping her, sending delicious waves of pleasure rushing to her core. When he switched to the other one, she arched her back, restless and wanting more. But Jared had no intention of giving her what she wanted so quickly, he wanted her writhing under him as she never had before.
Until now he’d kept their love making simple, but tonight he wanted to take her someplace she’d never been before. Wanted to show her what he couldn’t tell her, because if he told her how he felt about her, he’d never be able to walk away from her in a few weeks. No matter how hard he tried, he just couldn’t see how Nicole fit in his life. But one thing he knew for certain, he was going to try and figure that out.
He quickly stripped out of his clothes, then laid down next to her again, loving the way her naked skin felt against his. While his hands explored her body, gently skimming her skin until she was covered in goose bumps, he kissed her. A deep slow kiss that made Nicole breathless with both passion and love.
When he broke the kiss, it was to nibble on her neck, his breath in her ear making her shiver with delight. “I’ve never felt this way before.” He whispered in her ear.
Nicole’s heart leap with joy and desire at his words, “I want you Jared.” She said, finding his erection and wrapping her hands around it.
“Not yet, sweetheart.” He said, then slid his hand into her panties which was all that separated them.
Nicole immediately opened her legs to him, anticipation washing over her, but Jared did nothing more than run his finger between her folds. Groaning when he felt the moisture concealed there, he shifted between her legs and eyes locked on hers, slowly slid her panties down her legs then slipped them off. He took one of her feet in his hands and brought it to his mouth, then kissed her toes, shocking Nicole with the pleasure it caused.
She let out a quiet, “Oh.” And Jared couldn’t help but smile.
After sucking on each toe, he moved to the other foot, sliding his free hand up the inside of her thigh as he did, making her writhe as he’d imagined. When he’d finished with her foot, he began to place feather soft kisses on the inside of her legs, slowly working his way up to her throbbing core. Nicole could do nothing more than grab fistfuls of the sleeping bag underneath her, Jared’s kisses pure torture, but one that she was willing to endure.
When he gently pushed her legs farther apart and bent her knees, Nicole sucked in a deep breath her instincts telling her what was coming. But nothing could have prepared her for that first touch of Jared’s hot tongue on her swollen clitoris, every nerve ending in her body suddenly became alive with pleasure, a pleasure so intense it couldn’t be sustained. Without warning her orgasm came rushing over her, making her cry out and grab Jared’s head where it rested between her legs.
Before the pleasure could disappear, Jared slid up her body and inside her, driving himself as deep as he could with one powerful thrust of his hips. Then he stilled, letting Nicole’s body adjust to his, her body still trembling with pleasure. When she tried to wrap her legs around him, he pulled them up to his shoulders and drove himself into her even farther. Nicole responded by lifting her hips and opening herself even more for him, loving the way he filled her.
Jared locked his eyes on hers and drove himself into her over and over, each thrust bringing him closer to fulfillment. Nicole dug her fingernails into his shoulders, her whimpers of pleasure driving him closer until he felt himself just on the edge. Sliding her legs back down, he reached between them and began to rub her clit in circles until panting with the power of her orgasm, Nicole pulled him over the edge. Her body clenched around his, squeezing his throbbing penis so powerfully that he let go and emptied himself inside her.
Jared collapsed on top of Nicole but soon rolled over and pulled her to him. As their breathing returned to normal, they watched the night sky, both too moved by what they’d just shared to speak. From farther down the mountain, they heard the mother bear call to her baby and the baby answer, and they both laughed.
“I don’t think they’ll come back now for sure.” Nicole said, burring her head in Jared’s chest a little embarrassed by what they’d just done out in the open.
“Well, if they do, I’m sure I can think of a few other ways to make some noise.” Jared said, running his hand down her back to her butt, then gently squeezing.
Nicole laughed, “I’m sure you can, but that might have been all I can handle for one night.”
“Hmm, I doubt that.” Jared said, rolling her onto her back and reaching between her legs.
Gina hit the send button feeling even more annoyed than she had before she sent the email, wondering why she thought that this one would be any different. It had been three days since she’d sent the first one, two since she’d sent the second, and now she’d just send number ten, the last in a long string she’d sent today. It was frustrating that Jared wasn’t communicating with her, especially now that she’d set their plan in action.
It hadn’t been that hard really, once she’d gone through all the pictures from Jared’s phone it had been simple to come up with a plan. Of course, it hadn’t been cheap to carry out that plan and she’d had to spend all her savings and max out her credit cards to get it done. But the man she’d hired to hack into Seth’s computer and make a few changes to the plans for the mine had done his job, assuring her that what she’d paid him would be nothing compared to what she stood to gain.
But she couldn’t risk Jared getting caught up in what was going to happen, so first she’d sent him a simple message that he should stay far away from the mine. When he hadn’t responded as she’d hoped, she’d sent another message. Now she was beginning to worry that he was ignoring her, wouldn’t get her warnings, and there was nothing that she could do but wait. What she’d done could have catastrophic results, and now that she’d had some time to think about it, when there was a chance that Jared was going to get caught up in it, she wasn’t so sure it had been a good idea.
It wasn’t her fault though, he’d pushed her to this point, sending her away like he did. She’d held it together in front of everyone, but when she’d gotten a few miles down the road, she’d let her anger out which had eventually turned to tears. Once at home, she’d immediately began trying to find a way to accomplish what they’d set out to do, sure that Jared would be pleased. So, it wasn’t her fault if things didn’t go quite right, she had only been looking out for herself, since no one else was going to.
When Jared and Nicole pulled up to the mine, it looked much different than it had the last time he’d been there. The road had been repaired just enough to get the large equipment in that they’d need. It looked strange parked next to the abandoned mine, like something that didn’t belong. Everywhere he looked there was activity, and for a moment the mine didn’t feel as foreboding as it had the last time they were there.
But he only had to look at the gaping hole to remember what it had been like inside it, and was glad it would be sealed permanently in only a few days. Seth didn’t know it, but he’d already explored putting up a memorial to everyone who’d lost their lives because of his family’s greed. It was a small step, but it was the first of many he planned to take, and he had Nicole to thank for that.
They found Seth in the command tent surrounded by stacks of papers, and a bunch of people. “So, the plan is to start setting the charges tomorrow, the first will be the most dangerous, and everyone need to listen to George. He’s in charge as long as we’re blasting, listen to him and we’ll be fine.” He said, then turned to the man who’d been sitting beside him.
While George began going over maps of the mine, he slipped away and came over to Jared and Nicole. “We’ve got tents already set up for you, and there’s
a shower tent behind this one. You two look like you’ve had a long couple of days.”
But the truth was that when he really looked at his brother, Seth thought that he looked happier than he’d ever seen him. There were no lines of worry on his face, something he’d thought he’d never see, and he was smiling. When he’d sent Jared off with Sam and Julie he’d only had the faintest hope that his brother might change, but somehow, some way, the impossible had happened.
“It wasn’t that bad.” Jared said, then smiled at Nicole, who blushed.
Seth couldn’t help it, his mouth fell open in shock, his brother was in love, that was one thing he’d wouldn’t have expected in a million years. “Well, then you two go and get cleaned up and we can catch up at dinner.” He managed to say to cover his shock.
After dinner, Jared decided he’d better check in with the people back in Juneau, he’d been avoiding it for far too long, and it was time to face them. He wasn’t planning on telling them about his change of heart now, but he couldn’t avoid them any longer. Sure enough, there were multiple emails waiting for him, demanding an explanation about what he’d been doing for all this time. There was also an email from Gina with a strange message saying that she’d taken care of everything and to stay away from the mine.
He paid it little attention, he didn’t have time to deal with her just then, instead he concentrated on formulating an email that would sound like it was full of information but really held nothing. It took him several hours, but he finally hit the send button, and the group email went out. Relieved to have that out of the way, he went in search of Nicole, trying to figure out how he was going to get her into his tent for the night, unwilling to spend even one night away from her.
Have My Twins Page 10
