Vaughn rushed over to her side and dropped to his knees. Cautiously, he removed her helmet and gloves. His hands roamed over her body. As he fired off a barrage of questions Sienna had to wonder if he had any medical training. “Sienna, can you tell me where it hurts? Are you dizzy or nauseous? How many fingers am I holding up?”
“Not sure at the moment, no, no and one,” she answered dutifully.
She saw relief in his eyes, but worry too. His hands were shaking slightly as they traversed her limbs to look for injuries. She tried her best to waylay his fears. “Vaughn,” she said, loudly over the deafening storm. Her hands sought his out and stilled them. “I’m all right.”
An expression crossed his face that she couldn’t decipher. She simply stared at him. Vaughn was motionless for a moment longer before guiding her head to his.
Vaughn crushed his lips to hers. He kissed her with a single-minded purpose. It was meant to dispel any chance that Sienna was thinking he was just happy she was safe. He was, but he wanted his intent to be crystal clear. Right now Vaughn was trying his damndest to kiss the taste out of her mouth.
He eased her onto his lap. When Sienna wrapped her arms around his neck, relief coursed through him like an intravenous drug. His arms locked around her waist to hold her in place. Her legs clamped around his middle. A second later her tongue dueled boldly with his. It was like an aphrodisiac to him. The more Vaughn tasted her, the more he wanted.
The rain beating down on them was irrelevant. The clumpy sand they were sitting in inconsequential. The only thing that mattered to Vaughn was that he didn’t break contact with some part of Sienna’s body. He rolled her over and under him. A second later, Sienna yelped. He released her immediately and reared back. He searched her face. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know I—ow,” she cried out, bolting upright. “It burns.”
“What burns? Where?” Vaughn was back in medical mode.
“On my back.”
He got behind her. He ran his hand lightly over her wet jersey. He yanked it back half way down. It was dark, but his eyes scanned over the ground. He studied the area and then declared, “I know what it is.”
“Great, what is it because it’s driving me crazy.”
“It’s cactus needles. We rolled you into cacti.”
“Well get them out.”
“We need some light. Come on,” he helped her to her feet, and then over to her ATV. He started the engine and turned the headlights on. They kneeled down in front of the bright beam. Vaughn got behind her again. Despite the rain he worked carefully to pull out the needles stuck in her shirt. After a few moments he asked, “Can you raise your shirt up?”
Sienna eased the jersey higher.
“Okay, that’s far enough.”
Sienna bit her lip while Vaughn worked on her.
“Done,” he finally announced. She slid her top down. Vaughn got to his feet, and then helped her up. “We’ve got to get going, Doc.” He walked over to retrieve her helmet. Shaking it a few times, he secured it to her head. He swung his leg over her ATV and revved the engine.
“Is it okay?”
“It should be fine. Hop on and hold on to me as tight as you can.”
Sienna’s arms went around his waist as he directed. Turning around, he gunned the engine and took off toward the steep hill driving back the way he’d come. Sienna closed her eyes and molded herself to his back. They drove up the incline without incident. He pulled in next to his ATV. “Are you going to be able to drive back to the jeep?”
Sienna nodded into his back. Vaughn got off and she slid up to the front.
“The trail’s wide enough here where we can ride side-by-side. We’ll be back in no time,” he said, squeezing her arm reassuringly.
He jogged over to his ATV and jumped on. He started the engine. Sienna drove up to his side and waited. He gave her the thumbs up sign and they started down the path. It wasn’t long before they reached the beginning of the trailhead. By the time they came to a stop it was done raining. Vaughn was glad to see that everyone had made it back without serious incident. The guides loaded the vehicles back on the truck. Sienna waited while Vaughn spoke to the driver. After he was done he came back and escorted Sienna to the car.
The top was up, but all the windows had been down so the seats were wet from the storm. Neither one paid much attention since they were already wet and uncomfortable. They drove in companionable silence for a while. Eventually, Vaughn reached over and clasped Sienna’s hand in his. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, Vaughn. Nothing a good meal, hot shower and dry clothes won’t cure,” she said, tiredly.
His eyes roamed over her. “You sure you don’t want to go to the hospital and get checked out?”
Sienna was shaking her head before he’d finished his sentence. “No. I will be all right. I just want to go home.”
Vaughn nodded. “If you feel any pain—”
“I promise I’ll let you know.”
“Fair enough, but we’re going to stop on the way home to get something for your back.”
When they arrived at the tour shop the woman working there gave them towels to dry off with before getting re-dressed. They were still a bit dirty, but elated to be in dry clothes again. On the drive back to Sedona, Vaughn stopped to get something hot to drink and some first aid supplies. He bought tea for Sienna and coffee for himself. She thanked him profusely while sipping her steaming beverage.
It was almost ten minutes before Sienna broke the silence. “So is one of us going to talk about the gray elephant in the car?”
Vaughn glanced over. “I suppose we need to, don’t we?”
“That’s a big yes.”
“Okay Doc, you want to start or will I?”
“You can.”
Vaughn’s grip on the steering wheel tightened and then relaxed. “First off, I want to apologize for putting you in harm’s way this afternoon.”
“Vaughn, you couldn’t have anticipated a freak storm blowing in.”
“I know. Up until that point we were having a great time. Weren’t we?”
“Of course we were,” Sienna said, stifling a yawn.”
“You’re exhausted.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Why don’t you try to close your eyes and take a nap? We’ll have our heart-to-heart when you get up.”
Sienna looked over at him. “Vaughn, I’m fine.”
Vaughn’s gaze raked over her. She looked like a bedraggled kitten with her hair plastered to her face and dirt streaked over her skin. He smiled a lopsided grin. “That you are, but humor me and close your eyes.”
Sienna sat back and sighed loudly. Her eyes drifted shut. “See? Nothing.”
Vaughn remained silent. When her breathing evened out and her head rolled to the side he couldn’t contain the low chuckle that escaped his lips.
Sienna slept the entire ride back to Sedona. Vaughn was able to find a parking space close to her cottage. Before he got out of the Jeep, he retrieved her key from her jacket pocket. He walked around the car and opened her door. He unbuckled her seatbelt and gently retracted it back from across her body. Vaughn put her purse in his hand before scooping her up into his arms. After he cleared the door he used his back to shut it. Sienna stirred, but didn’t wake up.
At the door he had to stand her up while he opened it. Her eyes fluttered open. “Oh, we’re home,” she said, yawning.
“Sorry I woke you up,” he replied, softly. He opened the door and helped her inside.
“I’ve got to take a shower. I feel like things are crawling on me.”
“Good idea. I should probably go. I’m definitely in need of a shower myself.”
“No,” Sienna said, quickly.
He arched an eyebrow. “No you don’t want me to take a shower?”
“No, I don’t want you to leave.”
Vaughn’s eyes darkened. Slowly, he walked up to her. Putting his hands on either side of her face, he lowered his
head and kissed her with a thoroughness that made Sienna lean toward him. When he ended the kiss, his thumb glided over her moistened lips. “I’ll be back, Doc.”
“Promise?”
He kissed her again. “I promise.”
After Vaughn left, Sienna went straight to the bathroom to strip out of her soiled clothes. Before she climbed into the shower she found a bag to put them in. When the steaming water hit her body she sighed languorously. Many things had transpired over a short period of time. A sudden storm had thrown a myriad of events into motion that she was still reeling from. Her accident, Vaughn’s protectiveness, that incredible, stomach-knotting-toe-curling kiss he’d given her. Correction, kisses, she mused. She ran a wet hand over her face. She wasn’t dreaming. He had finally kissed her, and that kiss left no ambiguity as to what their status was. Did it? Her conviction wavered slightly. No, he wanted more. They both did.
The soap she was holding hit the shower floor. Snapped out of her reverie, Sienna bent down to retrieve it. A pain shot up her rib cage. She cringed and leaned against the tiled wall. Sienna cautiously breathed in and out a few times assessing the severity of her possible injury. Determined to wash her hair, she cautiously tested her range of motion before commencing. A few minutes later, Sienna was finished and drying off. She towel dried her hair for a while before applying hairstyling mousse and blow drying it straight. She twisted it into a bun before brushing her teeth and finishing the rest of her nightly routine.
Sienna chose a comfortable pair of purple and white cotton pajama bottoms and a white sleeveless camisole with a built-in shelf bra. By the time she was looking for her slippers Vaughn knocked on the door. She went to let him in.
Seeing him on the other side of the door did weird things to her system. He was carrying a bag in one hand. “What’s that?” she asked after closing the door.
“I didn’t know if you were hungry or not so I brought us some sandwiches.”
Sienna took the bag and looked in. “Vaughn, this is a lot more than sandwiches,” she laughed. She sat cross-legged on her bed and motioned for him to join her.
“In a minute,” he proclaimed. He walked over to the fireplace and made a fire. After he was satisfied that it was well established, Vaughn returned to the bed. “Now let’s take a look at your back.”
“It’s fine,” Sienna told him.
“I’m looking at it anyway,” he said sitting down behind her.
She lifted her top to give him better access. Vaughn looked over her back.
“See? Nothing but a few scratches,” she replied.
“I’ll feel better if we put some antibiotic on it anyway,” he told her as he got up and went into the bathroom.
When he returned he was carrying Neosporin and a large Band-Aid. Vaughn made quick work of administering to the abrasions on her back. Satisfied, he kicked his shoes off and joined her on the bed.
Sienna laid the food he brought between them. Vaughn had made a roast beef and Swiss cheese sandwich and a turkey club. There were also two bags of Sun Chips, grapes, bottles of green tea and bottled water. There was also two Rice Crispy Treats.
“You made Rice Crispy Treats?” she hid a smile.
“Actually, I can’t take credit for those. Two of my team members had a bake off.”
“Lucky me,” Sienna said, eagerly.
They delved into the makeshift picnic with gusto. They talked about work and recreational activities while they ate. While they were cleaning up the remnants of dinner, Vaughn handed her a plastic wrapped rice crispy treat. After she’d removed the plastic, Sienna reverently sank her teeth into it. Vaughn followed each bite with rapt interest.
“Is it better than the cheesecake at the picnic?”
She smiled in recollection. Her eyes closed while she chewed. “Close, but not quite.”
“You know, there’s something I’ve wanted to do since that day,” he confessed.
“What?”
Reaching over, Vaughn’s hands went up to either side of her head. Sienna’s eyes fluttered open. He undid the knot and arranged her hair around her shoulders.
Sienna bit her lower lip nervously.
“Hey,” he lifted her face up to meet his eyes. “You are a gorgeous woman, Dr. Sienna Lambert—inside and out. I’m sorry to tell you, but that bun doesn’t detract from how pretty you are.”
“So I’ve heard.”
“I’m certain it hasn’t kept any man from wanting to approach you, and it sure isn’t going to keep me at bay.” His hand stroked her hair. “Personally, I think you can lose that awful thing.”
Sienna laughed when his lips curled in distaste. “When I’m with you, or all the time?”
“All,” he clarified.
An uncomfortable look crossed her face. “I don’t think I can do that.”
He regarded her. “Why? What’s so important about it?”
“I…it just makes me feel…I don’t know. I can’t even explain it. I just know that I’m not ready to change it. Please try to understand.”
“Sweetheart, I’m not going to pressure you. If you want to wear that thing by all means…I just don’t get why it’s so important.”
“I’ll explain it to you one day.”
“Whatever you want,” Vaughn kissed her lips. “We have all the time in the world, but for tonight it stays down—deal?”
She nodded. “Fair enough.”
“You know, if it’s supposed to be keeping me at bay, I’m telling you right now it ain’t gonna work,” he grinned. When he would’ve retreated, Sienna wrapped her arms around his neck to keep him there. She returned his kiss with an ardor that left them both breathless.
He leaned his forehead against hers. “Sienna, you could’ve been hurt badly today.”
“But I wasn’t.”
He ran his hand through her hair. “Just seeing you lying under that ATV…it almost drove me insane with worry. I can’t—Sienna, I can’t pretend any more that you don’t mean the world to me.”
She let out a small gasp. After a few seconds she shook her head. “Neither can I.”
He expelled a breath, and then leaned back to study her face. “This is beyond friendship. You know that, right? You’re in my heart Sienna, and I most definitely want you in my bed.”
“Vaughn,” she said his name as if it were the key that unlocked all the pent-up emotions she’d been trying hard to suppress.
He ran a thumb over her lips, and then his hand trailed down her chest to rest just above her heart. Desire was more than evident when his eyes sought hers. He kissed her neck, her cheek and then devoured her lips. Vaughn’s eyes traveled over her body, and returned to her eyes. His expression was serious, but also held a touch of awe. “I want you, Sienna. I can’t begin to put into words how much I want to make love to you. His hand traveled up her chest to rest on her heart. This time his touch was unsteady. “You’re killing me,” he whispered before his lips reverently met hers.
Chapter Sixteen
The Sleepover
This was what she’d been waiting to hear for weeks. She couldn’t contain the staccato beat of her heart at hearing his affirmation. There were two things that Sienna was absolutely certain about. The first was that Vaughn made her feel completely beautiful and utterly desirable. The second was that if he didn’t make love to her before the night was over she’d implode. Sienna arms went around his neck. Slowly, she leaned back toward the pillows taking him with her.
Vaughn’s left hand ran lightly down her side. His fingers closed around her thigh. He gently eased her leg up and positioned it around his waist. Sienna needed no further coaching. She wrapped both legs around his middle. He sat back and brought her up with him. He buried his face in her neck. “You’re so beautiful.”
Her hands moved to his waist. She grabbed his shirt and slid it up his chest. He took the hint and removed it.
She allowed herself a moment to run her fingers across the chiseled muscles. “I’ve got a request of my own,” he
r voice came out in a hoarse whisper.
“Baby, you name it,” he replied between kisses.
She met his intense gaze. “I want you to make love to me.”
Vaughn’s smile was blinding. “That was a given, Doc.”
“You weren’t planning to stop?” her voice held a note of relief.
He placed a hand lightly on one of the straps on her camisole. He moved it out of the way and put his lips in its place. He kissed her lightly on her shoulder. Next he slid his hand under her top to tease the underside of her breast. Lowering his head, Vaughn feathered soft kisses down her stomach. Eventually his gaze returned to her face. “Why? Did you want me to stop?”
Rule number eighteen: If a man you’ve wanted since you regained consciousness wants to take you to bed, try not to ruin it by being too gaga over him. Wait, that’s a stupid rule. She scolded herself. She felt him watching her. He was giving her a chance to say no. To stop them before things progressed too far. It was her choice. Sienna made her decision without hesitation. “Even if this place was being demolished I wouldn’t want you to stop.”
“Good to know.”
Their hands continued to roam over each other’s bodies. Vaughn kissed her neck causing Sienna to shiver from excitement. “I’m curious.”
Sienna’s fingers grazed his jaw. “About what?”
“Whether you’re wearing a pair of Best Kept Secrets under those pajama bottoms?”
She raised her hips several inches off the bed. “Well Mr. Creative Director,” she said, seductively. “I think you’d better find out.”
Vaughn’s eyes darkened in response to her open invitation. He looped his fingers around the waistband and eased the pants down her legs. He gathered the pajamas in his hand and ceremoniously dropped them on the floor. He perused her body. He ached to have her long legs wrapped around him. He almost moaned aloud at the image his mind created. “No men’s underwear? I’m shocked.”
Interview with Love Page 12
