by Kaylea Cross
He laughed. “I know. I just love messing with you. Come on.” He stood and held out his hand to help her back up, but then realized she’d yet to put her boot back on. “We’d better get moving again.”
She dusted off her sock and slid on her boot, hating the feeling of the wetness from her sweaty sock, but knowing it wasn’t as bad as it could have been.
An hour later she could have kicked herself for jinxing it. The rain wasn’t just coming down, it was pouring down on them like someone was hovering overhead with an unlimited number of full buckets.
She tried to look up past her rain hat to see why the canopy of leaves above them wasn’t sheltering a little of the water, but every time she tried, she got a face full of water. It was worse than standing under a broken shower-head.
Ethan continued to march along at the same pace like he was unfazed by all the water. Their rain ponchos sheltered them from most of the damp, however her boots and the legs of her pants were muddy and soaked. She didn’t know how much longer she could tolerate hiking at this pace. Every time she stepped down, she slid a little in the mud and had to make sure she didn’t end up on her butt.
“Ethan?” She had to shout over the sound of the rain hitting the leaves. He continued to march without looking back. “Ethan!” She pulled on his sleeve. “Can we stop?”
He looked down at her and she hoped he saw the desperation in her eyes. She was tired, more tired than she’d been in years. The lack of a good night’s sleep and the stress of everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours had been slowly catching up with her. But what had finally caused the weariness to sink in was the downpour of the steady, cold rain.
“Can you walk five more minutes? There’s a safe place up here we can stop. The rocks will shelter us from the rain and we may even have a dry place to sleep for the night.”
It sounded wonderful, so she nodded her head and they continued on. Thoughts of a soft bed ran through her head, but she knew she’d be sleeping on the hard ground instead. She was glad she’d packed an extra blanket in her bag. Even though it was in the upper eighties, she felt chilled and knew the second they stopped her blood would cool and she’d be cold.
They took a rocky path that shot off the main pathway. It climbed high above a tall ridge-line. The steepness was a little hard to maneuver with the slick mud underfoot and it took them twice as long as he’d hinted at to finally reach the top.
They had to hold onto tree branches and rocks to help them climb the last few steep feet. Once they made it, she almost felt like crying with relief.
But when they reached the top she understood why he’d pushed so hard to get here. The large moss-covered rocks crossed in a pattern and underneath was a perfect teepee-shaped cave with a small waterfall to the right. The water rushed into a small pool that she assumed was normally very calm. Today, however, all the rain had caused the little lake to look like the ocean during a storm. There were even little waves that lapped at the pebbled shoreline.
They walked around the water’s edge and made it into the stone archway, and she breathed a sigh of relief. It was hard to explain, but the steady pelting of the rain on her skin was almost annoying. She actually felt like it had sandblasted the top layer off.
Her feet hurt, her head hurt, and she knew she had a few new blisters. Setting her pack down, she moved to sit when Ethan grabbed her arm.
“Better wait until I check it out. Other animals like to take shelter from the rain.” She jumped up. How could she have forgotten they were in the jungle? She picked her pack up and hugged it to her chest as pictures of spiders, snakes, and bats danced in her mind again. Ethan took out his flashlight and checked every corner of the small space.
“We’re clear.” He smiled when he saw the nervous look on her face.
“I don’t like creepy-crawling things. Are you sure?”
He smiled and then ran his light around again. “Yes, we’re clear.”
She relaxed a little and set her bag down, then sat in the dry dirt, happy to be off her feet.
Chapter Five
Ethan watched Ann across the small space as she slept. He’d sat across from her last night at Javan’s and watched her, much like he was doing now. She slept like he’d dreamed of doing for years, like the whole world had dropped off and she had no cares.
He knew the hike had been hard on her. Hell, it had been hard on him, but he was used to being uncomfortable and tired. He’d done it all his adult life and had no plans of letting up any time soon. He liked his job and the travel. He liked helping people out and working with his buddies from his time in the corps. He was very glad that he and Javan had patched up their relationship. He’d been his best friend for so many years. Ethan had hated knowing the man was not around to call when he got in a tight spot.
But above everything else about the job, Ethan liked the danger and the thrills he got when he outmaneuvered his opponents. It was like a game to him. He’d always been good at it. When he was a kid, he’d played paintball wars with all his friends. He’d always won. His high school buddies hadn’t realized the game wasn’t about shooting but about strategy, something he was really good at.
Ethan tried to close his eyes while keeping on alert. He felt his muscles relax one at a time until finally he could focus on the sounds around him, listening for anything out of the ordinary. But he could hear only the gentle rain hitting the stones, the rushing sounds of the waterfall, and Ann’s light breathing.
Listening to Ann breathe made his mind switch from protection mode to thinking of Ann. As he slept, he dreamed about how soft her skin would feel, how her lips had felt against his. He remembered the softness of her hair in his hands and thought about holding her close as he rained kisses up and down her neck.
In his mind, she wrapped her legs around his hips and her breasts pushed against his chest. His hands came to her hips and held her tight against his desire until suddenly they were skin to skin. Her legs were still wrapped around his hips, and he was buried deep inside her and she was moaning with delight and just when he was on the verge of coming, her moans turned to screams.
He woke with a jolt and was on his knees quickly with his knife in his hands. The cave was still dark but he could just make out her form on the ground next to him. She was thrashing around and moaning with the nightmare.
Sheathing his knife, he sat back down and pulled her up halfway onto his lap. Then he gently rocked her as she woke from the nightmare.
“Shhh, you’re safe.” He put his hands into her hair and pulled her face to his, kissing her temple.
He felt the second she was fully awake. She tensed, and then when she realized where she was and who she was with, she relaxed and wrapped her arms around his waist.
The rain had stopped and he could already hear life in the jungle coming awake. He knew sunrise was coming soon and they probably should get up and start the day early. But he sat there holding her, kissing her hair and forehead.
“I dreamed you left me here to run off with two dancers, then men came after me and…”
“Shhh, it won’t happen,” he said against her skin. “I’m not going anywhere. Although, what did the dancers look like?”
She chuckled into his chest, a sound he was happy to hear. Then she pulled back and looked at him through the dark. He could just make out her face. He leaned down and put his lips to hers in a gentle kiss meant to soothe her. Instead it lit fires deep within him and made him aware of how uncomfortable it was to have her leaning across his crotch. He realized how much he wanted to pull her down on top of him so he could take her slowly as the sun rose.
“Mmm, Ethan?” She pulled back a little, looking at him.
“Ann, we’d better get ready.”
He felt her huff out a breath and smiled. “Trust me, there is nothing more that I want to be doing than making love to you now. But now is not the time or place. Besides, I’m starved and we could both use a shower.”
She pulled back a
nd he saw mortification cross her face as she realized they both stank of day old sweat. He wanted to laugh. She actually smelled wonderful; he had been more concerned about himself.
She moved from his lap and he instantly missed the feel of her body next to his. Standing, he tried to work out the kinks from sleeping in the same position on the hard ground.
The cave was getting lighter, which told him the sun was rising. In the dim light, he watched her shake her blanket out and start to roll it up. He walked to the mouth of the cave and decided a quick shower would be worth the chill he’d feel.
Taking the small path of rocks, he climbed down to the base of the waterfall and removed his clothes. He shook them free of dust and hung them on a low branch. He walked into the shallow end until he was in waist deep, then dove into the crystal clear water, enjoying the freezing water as it woke his body very quickly.
A few minutes later he stood under the waterfall, allowing the water to rinse away the dirt and sweat. He was shocked to look up and see a very naked Ann jumping into the pool in front of him.
He would have laughed, but his mouth had gone dry. She was exquisite. Her long legs and arms pushed her through the water quickly as she moved to climb the stones towards the fall. He watched her as she came to stand right in front of him.
“You didn’t think you were going to be the only one to enjoy such a wonderful waterfall did you?” she yelled over the rushing water and smiled at him. “You can shut your mouth now, Ethan.” She laughed and then closed her eyes and let the water fall over her head.
He stood there and watched her, and even though the water was cold enough to have any man shivering, he felt himself getting hot. She ran her hands over her hair and down her neck towards her breast, and he licked his lips seeing her nipples pucker in the icy water.
She moved her hands over her chest and down her tight stomach, and he closed his eyes when she stopped just above the dark patch of curly hair covering her sex. How could she do this to him? Did she not get that they were totally exposed here?
He opened his eyes and saw that she was watching him with hunger in her eyes. He watched as she ran her eyes over him slowly, feeling her stare burn into him everywhere she looked: his arms, down his chest towards his light happy trial of hair that traveled to his very large, very erect sex. When she saw him, she licked her lips and he lost control.
He pushed her against the rock face just to the side of the rushing water, and then his mouth was on hers as her legs wrapped around his hips. He pushed her legs farther around his hips, lifting her higher so their sexes touched, and before she could say anything, he was imbedded deep into her heat.
Her head rolled back, and he watched her eyes go from fiery to cloudy as she moaned his name. He dipped his head and licked her exposed neck, tasting the fresh water and the sweet taste of her heated skin. He drove her deeper and harder, pushing her faster, building them both up.
Her back was pressed against the rock and he used one hand to brace them against the nature-built wall, holding them steady as he pleased her. Her hips moved, her hands gripped his wet shoulders, and when he dipped his head to take her nipple into his mouth, she screamed his name.
He pushed her faster and harder and felt himself ready to explode as he gripped her soft butt in his hands. He leaned his forehead against the cool stone and cried out her name as she arched and tensed with her release.
* * *
Ann felt the cold stone on her back and Ethan’s breath on her neck. She wouldn’t regret this move. She’d always taken what she’d wanted and she’d wanted him. Especially after walking out of the cave and seeing him standing naked under the water. She would have had to be a saint not to want to jump him. His muscles were impressive in clothes, but bare, she just wanted to lick him up and down.
As she felt his breathing slow, she knew he was going to be pissed at her for maneuvering him so easily. She’d never seduced someone like that before and she felt liberated in doing so. Actually, she wanted to do it again, but doubted they had the time or could spare the energy.
Her hands felt a few small scars on his back that she’d seen the other night when she’d been following him. Reaching down, she ran her hand over the larger one along the lower part of his spine.
“How did you get this?” she asked as he held himself still.
“Hmm. I should have been looking behind me instead of in front.”
She didn’t like that he was vague, but supposed it was a tender subject taking in account what all his past jobs must have included.
She closed her eyes for another second and enjoyed the feeling of being alive. She supposed all this had to do with what had happened yesterday. Seeing death so close, she had wanted to verify her own life, and sex had been just the tool.
“Damn!” He pulled back and frowned down at her as she unwrapped her legs from his hips.
She chuckled. “I’ve never really gotten that kind of reaction after hot sex before.”
“Uh?” He looked at her. “No, it’s not… It’s just that I went so fast, we didn’t use protection.”
She laughed harder. “It’s okay, big boy. I’m clean and on the patch.” She rubbed the patch on her stomach and noticed the relief flood his face.
“I’m clean, too. I was more concerned about the protection against pregnancy part.”
“Don’t you want kids?” she asked as she walked back under the freezing water and began rinsing herself again.
“What?” He looked up from her hands as they ran over her breast and she smiled. He was so easy. “Oh, yeah, of course. But not until later. I’m not even thirty yet.”
“Oh?”
He smiled slowly as he quickly walked towards her and pulled her with him as he jumped back into the deep, cold water of the pool.
When they surfaced again, he was still smiling. He dipped his head for a fast kiss. “We need to be moving. The sun’s already up. We need to travel twice as far as we did yesterday.”
She tried not to, but she groaned when she heard this.
“I know, I know. But think of it this way; from here on out, it’s all downhill.”
Less than an hour later, she wanted to kill him again. Her thighs were screaming at her and her hands had cuts and scrapes from all the branches she’d grabbed hold of as they made their way down the very steep incline. He hadn’t been joking; it had been all downhill since they’d left the cave and the waterfall.
Oh, how she missed the cool water. The sun was barely up and she was, once again, drenched in sweat. She’d tied her long hair up in a braid and was thankful she’d found a small rubber band in the bottom of her bag to tie it back with.
Ethan looked like he could use another shower. She could see sweat rolling down his back. His shirt was soaking wet between his shoulder blades.
She’d lost her footing several times, and he’d been there to grab her and hold her steady.
She knew she was taking a big chance in being with him. After all, what did she really know about Ethan Knight? She thought she’d known Nathan Cruz, but apparently the arrogance had all been a show.
She knew what she’d heard from her father and her brother. Blake had called him GI Joe and he had told her in great detail how he’d rushed in and rescued him from the bad men.
Her father had mentioned his long-standing record with the military and said he was the best man for the job to save Blake. Her father had hired Ethan’s crew to watch Blake for a few months after the incident. Her father told her that he’d actually only met Ethan once, on the day he had delivered Blake to him in Austin. Since then it had been other members of his team that had done private security when he’d needed them.
Her father had been even more impressed that Ethan had come along on the short journey from Dallas back to Austin with the eight-year-old, rather than trust law officials to deliver him safe and sound.
Her mind turned and she wondered if he’d actually slept with any of the girls that had hung on his arms in R
io. After witnessing the power of what had happened back at the waterfall, she got the impression that it had been a while for him. For herself it had been well over six months since she’d broken things off with Scott, whom she’d dated for three months. Knowing how much she’d wanted him and how sexually pent up she’d been, she estimated by his reaction that it had been about that long since he’d enjoyed himself as well.
At least this all made perfectly good sense to her as she trudged through the jungle at a high rate of speed.
“So,” she said when the ground leveled and she felt like she could breathe again, “tell me a little about yourself. Where are you from?”
He looked over at her, and she could have sworn she saw humor in his eyes. “So now you get to the personal questions. Don’t you have it a little backwards, Princess?”
She smiled. “I guess I do. Usually I like to meet a man’s parents before I take them to a waterfall and let them…”
“Okay, okay, I get it,” he interrupted her and chuckled. “I’m from a small town in Washington state. Both my parents are alive and well and I’m sure would be tickled to meet you. I have a half sister who—.” He broke off as he chopped a large vine that had been blocking their path with his machete. “…who was stolen as a baby. She found us almost four years ago. She’s married and living in Portland with a two-year-old daughter, Rose, who is the greatest love of my life.” He motioned for her to follow him down another steep incline and he stopped talking while he helped her. When she had jumped the short distance to the ground, he continued. “I went into the Special Forces right out of high school. Actually, they came searching for me. I guess I’d placed high in the college exams.” He tapped his head. “I have a wonderful memory, and they were looking for people like me. When they got a look at me, they put me through all sorts of special training, and I guess I just fell into my job. I worked in special ops for a while until I felt it was time to retire, then I went into business for myself. Nothing more to tell. Kind of boring if you ask me.” He smiled back at her.
