When Mya realized he was coming back, she suddenly felt like a trapped animal. After their last encounter, she wasn’t sure she could face him again. She was still angry at how he’d left her, but mostly she was embarrassed at how easily he’d managed to sweep her off her feet.
He gradually slowed the bike, bringing it to a stop next to Mya’s car. With one powerful leg, he pushed the kickstand into place before dismounting.
Mya felt her body stiffen. She had no idea what to expect, but she had a feeling it wouldn’t be pretty. Though she didn’t know either of them all that well, their dislike of each other was hard to miss. It was in the way they stared each other down. One was waiting for the other to make a move - give them an excuse to go on the attack.
“You out trolling again?” David directed his question to Trent.
Trent was smiling, but his eyes were as hard as granite. “Just having a little chat with a beautiful lady.”
Mya’s pulse quickened when David’s eyes rested on her. For some reason, she didn’t want him to think that she was romantically interested in Trent, but to blurt that out would give away too much.
“Is he bothering you?” David asked.
She shook her head. “I’m okay.”
“Would you go for a ride with me?” he asked, giving her a sensual smile.
Thoughts were firing in her head so fast that it was difficult to grasp onto any one thing. David had told her to leave the reservation and that she shouldn’t come looking for him again, but yet here he was. Twice now he’d approached her.
Her confusion grew every time she saw David Bray. There was an air of danger about him that was difficult to dismiss, but at the same time, she found it intoxicating to be with him.
Mya thought about the last time she’d seen him, and how it had felt to be in his arms. There were moments when she thought that she’d do anything to feel that again, but then common sense would prevail. He’d been the one to walk away that day. There was no denying that there was some major chemistry between them, but for whatever reason, he didn’t seem interested in pursuing it.
“I don’t know,” Mya said, looking away so that he wouldn’t see the reflection of smoldering passion and anger in her eyes.
“I just want to talk,” David told her, spreading his arms wide. “I swear I won’t touch you.”
Great! That’s just what she wanted to hear.
Mya looked over at Trent.
“It’s okay. “ He gave her a curt nod. “We’ll talk later.”
Before she could respond, he turned to David. “You know that you’re playing right into their hands don’t you?”
A scowl crossed David’s face. “What do you care?”
“I don’t.” Trent’s lips spread into a playful - sadistic smile. “But then again … you are not the only one that could get hurt out of this.”
David’s features were shadowed with a dark frown. “I’m smarter than that Metzger. If I were you … I’d be a little more worried about myself.”
Their conversation flew right over Mya’s head, but she was left feeling as if it had something to do with her.
Again, David motioned toward the bike. “So what do you say?”
Taking a deep breath, Mya nodded reluctantly.
David swung his leg over the bike and gripped the handlebar in front of him. Mya followed, positioning herself behind him.
“Hold on,” he instructed before she heard the engine roar to life.
“You’re losing it Bray … just like they’re hoping you will,” Trent yelled after them as the bike shot forward.
Mya was glad that David didn’t react. The last thing she felt like doing was refereeing a fight, especially if she had no idea what it was about.
As they picked up speed, Mya felt herself slide on the seat. She instinctively tightened her arms around his waist and held on. The crisp night air that blew in her face was refreshing - a welcome relief from the blistering heat of the day.
As they flew down the highway, Mya felt such a rush of intense exhilaration that she could only liken it to resurrection. For the first time in as long as she could remember, she really felt alive. It was like she was shedding the old her and was being replaced by someone new and exciting.
Once they’d left Window Rock behind, everything around them seemed to change - becoming almost magical. Mya tilted her head to look at the endless expanse of sky above them. The stars were like twinkling jewels that went on forever. As long as she lived, she was sure she’d never look at the night sky quite the same again. It was literally one of the most beautiful sights she’d ever seen.
A feeling of complete and utter abandonment came over her and she realized that this must be what it felt like to be free - really free. But it was more than the beauty of the night that had her reeling; his nearness was sending her senses into overdrive. The warmth of his body against her chest and arms was electrifying.
Mya was so caught up in the moment that it never even crossed her mind to wonder where he was taking her. As the bike tore through the night on that Arizona highway, Mya realized that she should be afraid, but she wasn’t. The truth was, she couldn’t remember a time that she felt as good as she did then.
She’d lost track of time and had no idea how long they drove, but finally David slowed the bike and turned off onto one of the endless dirt roads that twisted through Navajo country. There was enough moonlight that Mya could see massive cliffs up ahead. They were headed right for them. David didn’t stop until they reached a large rock overhang at the base of the cliffs.
Mya slid off the bike before David so that he would have room to swing his leg over the seat.
Now that the ride was over, Mya felt some common sense returning, and with it came a twinge of fear. “What are we doing here?” she asked.
David reached into one of the bike’s saddlebags and took out a flashlight. “Here … you can use this.”
Without answering her question, he strode to an area beneath the overhang and began to gather some wood that was stacked nearby. While Mya watched, David arranged the logs in a fire pit someone had already built. Before long, flames were shooting up from beneath the logs and it was bright enough she could switch off the flashlight.
David settled in a spot next to the fire and silently stared into the flames.
“You never answered my question,” she reminded him. “Why are we here?”
“We need somewhere private so we can talk. My place is too far … and you didn’t exactly invite me to yours,” he smiled. “Besides, I really like this place. This is where I come when the world gets too crazy.”
“What is there to talk about? I thought you told me you didn’t want to see me … and then you walked off on me the other day.” Mya couldn’t resist jabbing him with that. She still felt a little hurt over the way he had left.
David patted the ground next to him. “Come and sit with me.”
Mya was puzzled by his abrupt change in attitude. Giving in, she stepped around the fire and sat next to him.
“Have you been spending much time with Trent Metzger?” he asked in a dull - uneasy voice.
It dawned on her what this was all about. He’d seen her with Trent and decided that he’d better step in, for whatever reason. It wasn’t that he’d changed his mind about her; this was an intervention.
David continued looking at her, waiting for an answer. Mya didn’t realize how long she sat there - staring at him, until she noticed the puzzled expression on his face.
“I don’t spend time with him. He wanted to talk with me about his brother’s case,” she replied tersely.
His eyes narrowed and his face twisted into a scowl. “That was an excuse to get close to you. He doesn’t need you to tell him anything about his brother’s death.”
Mya was hit with the realization that the Metzger murder could be why David didn’t want her talking to Trent, which he obviously didn’t. Was he afraid that the other man would give away too much? Maybe he was
worried that Trent would point the finger at him, or one of his people?
His laughter shattered her thoughts.
“You’re convinced that I’m a killer … aren’t you?” he asked, still chuckling.
Mya frowned. “No … but you do act suspicious sometimes.”
“Is that so?” he asked, a gentle amusement in his voice. “But don’t you think I kiss good … for a killer anyway?”
Mya’s face turned scarlet. He was teasing her and enjoying every minute of it. “I don’t see what that has to do with this subject.”
The exasperation in her voice only served to amuse him further. “Mya … you really are so innocent.”
Mya glowered at him and turned away.
“Has he accused me of killing his brother?” he asked, his voice suddenly serious.
Mya chose her words carefully. She didn’t want anyone getting hurt because of a misunderstanding. “He hasn’t said who it is that he thinks killed his brother, but I do think he knows. At least that’s the impression I’m getting.”
“Well you would be right. He knows, which is why there’s no reason for him to be talking to you.”
Mya was shocked. “Why not? I work for the police department … I am one of the people that he should be talking to.”
David’s eyes strayed back to the fire and he let out a deep sigh. “Mya … I can’t give you any specifics, but I can tell you that you’ve been pulled into the middle of something that isn’t good.”
“Well it’s my job, and anyway … haven’t you already told me that I’m in danger here … and that I shouldn’t be here?” Mya couldn’t keep the sarcasm out of her voice.
He shook his head. “This has nothing to do with your job. You would be involved in this, even if you worked at a carwash instead of with the police. It’s not about the murders, it’s about you.”
Now Mya was really baffled. All this time she’d been talking about the murders, and he’d been talking about her. “What are you trying to say?”
“You’ve been involved in this a long time … since you were born.”
Now she was hooked. He had to know something about what had happened to her when she was a kid. “Tell me what you know … and don’t deny it. I won’t believe you. You know something about what happened to me when I was a kid.”
Mya was surprised by the disbelief she saw in his eyes.
“Don’t you remember?” he asked.
Mya shook her head. “If I did, I wouldn’t have to ask you … would I?” She was getting angry and wasn’t making any effort to hide it.
His expression grew somber. “The way you looked at me when I saw you on the road that day … I just thought you remembered … that you recognized me.”
Mya felt the blood rush to her face. He’d noticed the way she’d looked at him, but thankfully he didn’t know what her thoughts had been.
She saw the uncertainty in his eyes and sensed his hesitancy.
“What do you know?” she asked softly, trying to keep the anger out of her voice.
He turned away to avoid looking at her as he spoke. “If you don’t remember on your own … there’s a reason for that. Maybe you are not ready to handle it.”
Mya jumped to her feet, ready to throw a tantrum. Though she’d gotten out of the tantrum stage a long time ago, David Bray was really trying her patience. “I have a right to know! What is it with everyone keeping this a big secret?”
“I only know parts of it anyway,” he sighed.
“What parts?” she prodded.
He stared at her - skepticism shining in his silver eyes. Just like Donny, he seemed to be reluctant to share what he knew.
“They had taken you deep into the mountains up north. There would have been no way to get to you except with an ATV or horses,” he started.
“Who are they?” she interrupted.
“Skinwalkers,” he said nonchalantly, as if there was no doubt about the existence of these witches.
When Mya didn’t respond, he continued. “The simple version is that I found you with them, you were screaming and crying. I felt sorry for you, so I got you away from them and stayed with you until we could get you back to town.”
“How did you do that … get me away from them I mean?”
David averted his eyes. “It wasn’t easy.”
“That’s it! That’s all you know?” She was doubtful.
David nodded, but again he looked away. Mya sensed that he wasn’t telling her everything.
Unsatisfied, she pushed for answers. “There has to be more to it than that.”
David picked up a long stick and used it to poke at the glowing embers beneath the fire. “If you’ve blocked it out … maybe it’s best that you don’t remember.”
“Is that why you are trying to help me now? Is it because you saved me back then?” Mya felt deflated. It wasn’t that she was ungrateful for his help. She had just hoped that he was motivated by something more than a misplaced sense of duty.
“That is probably part of the reason,” he admitted.
Mya realized that he really had no desire to get to know her. This was all about his ego, and making sure that the little girl that he saved years ago, remained safe.
“I want you to know that I’m grateful for all your help … then and now.” Mya turned away so that he would not see the pain in her eyes. “But I think I should go home now.”
The gust of wind came out of nowhere. It swept through the rock shelter, sending sparks from the fire swirling into the air. There was a deep rumble, and as it grew louder, she felt the earth shudder. Mya glanced up at the sky to see dark - rolling clouds obscuring the moon.
“You might as well take a seat,” he said, a wicked grin spreading across his face. “The spirits have spoken. We won’t be going anywhere until the storm passes.”
Mya was overcome with doubt. She felt as if she no longer had any control over her own destiny - that she was merely a pawn in some bizarre game she couldn’t understand. Even the weather was working against her.
There are times when one just simply knows things. They can’t explain why they know, but they do. As she stood there looking down at one of the most intriguing and attractive men she had ever met, Mya knew that if she stayed there with him to wait out the storm, there would be no turning back. The life that she’d known up to that point would become a distant memory.
David’s eyes locked with hers and she found herself falling into the depths of those ghostly - silver pools of light. For the first time she saw the glowing light of another being in his eyes, but even then the reality of what she was seeing didn’t get through to her consciousness. Only later would she look back and realize that she should have known when she saw how different his eyes were at that moment.
“I won’t bite,” he whispered.
Mya cleared her throat. “How do I know I can trust you?”
He laughed. “Trust me to what … not eat you up … devour that soft creamy skin of yours?”
Though Mya felt her skin grow hot beneath his gaze, she didn’t respond. There was no need to; he got the grist of what she meant.
“Seems like that’s something you should have thought about before coming out here with me,” he said, arching one brow. “Just for future reference … so that you don’t make a habit of taking off into the wilderness with strange men.”
Mya groaned and sat back down. “You’re impossible … and way too good at not answering questions.”
“Hmm … maybe you’re just not asking the right questions.” He gave her a mischievous grin.
“How exactly did you rescue me from the skinwalkers? You couldn’t have been very old.” It was something that she’d meant to ask before, but had forgotten when the storm blew in.
“I’m older than you are,” he winked.
“So tell me how old you were.”
“I was fifteen at the time,” he confessed.
“Oh,” she muttered, a little surprised. He didn’t look like he
could be that much older than her, though she had to admit, he carried himself with more grace and maturity than many of the guys her own age.
“How did a boy of fifteen manage to rescue a little girl from a group of skinwalkers?” she asked again.
He shook his head. “You don’t want to know.”
“But I do.”
“No … you don’t.”
Giving up for the time being, she stared into the fire.
“So tell me about Mya Reynolds. Do you have any boyfriends back home? Any college jocks waiting for you to finish your good works and return from the dreary Indian reservation?”
She was surprised by the bitter tone in his voice. “You don’t like jocks or something?”
He shrugged. “What I don’t like is the way people turn a blind eye to the suffering all around them. They worry about all those third world countries, but yet they have the same thing in their own back yards.”
What could she say? She had seen much the same thing since coming to Arizona.
“I don’t have a boyfriend back home … jock or otherwise,” she told him.
He looked surprised. “Why not? You’re a beautiful girl. I would think that you’d have to fight to keep them away.”
Mya laughed nervously. “You’re kidding right? I’m about as plain Jane as they come.”
“Is that the way you see yourself?” he frowned.
Mya shrugged. “Yeah … I guess it is.”
Bad Moon Rising - Paranormal Romance Page 9
