by Jessica Gray
“I can’t believe you think this is funny. Were you going to let me walk right into the open jaws of those predators?”
He grinned bigger. “Of course not.”
She kept her eyes on the water, the color draining from her face as she continued to rail at him, her expression almost frantic. He turned and counted more than two dozen crocs within twenty yards of their current location.
“God, they’re so big,” she whispered, holding tighter to him and trying to crawl higher up his body. When she nearly fell out of his arms, he squeezed her tight and turned her away from the water.
“Reese, stop overreacting. There’s no reason to be afraid.”
“No reason? Are you out of your mind? Don’t you know how dangerous these creatures are?” She looked over his shoulder at the crocs frantically and then pointed to the biggest one lying lazily on the beach. It had to be at least seven feet long and looked very menacing indeed.
“That one is bigger than you are.”
“Reese, freshwater crocodiles are normally harmless. They don’t like you anymore than you like them. If we leave them alone, they’ll do the same.”
She shook her head at him. “No. You didn’t read that other warning sign at the ocean…”
Nik smiled again, sobering when he noticed her fear transform into anger. “That stretch of beach has saltwater crocodiles, not freshwater ones. There is a very big difference between the species. Saltwater crocodiles will attack and stalk their prey and they don’t really care if it walks on two legs, four, or swims.”
“But those…”
“Aren’t saltwater crocodiles.”
She finally seemed to be listening to him and took a ragged breath. He could feel the tension leaving her body and she visibly relaxed into his arms. He wanted to hold her forever, watching her sweet face, but the exact moment she remembered where she was, a blush covered her face and she struggled to free herself from his arms.
He was tempted to kiss her, but Reese unwrapped her legs from around his waist and pushed against his chest until he set her back on her feet. There she stood in front of him, angry, embarrassed, but unbelievably beautiful.
Her blouse had fallen from one of her shoulders, exposing naked skin. Curls of her wild mahogany hair had escaped the ponytail holder and caressed her neck and shoulders. God, he loved her hair. Whenever he looked at Reese, he had the urge to run his fingers through her rebellious and unkempt curls.
Lost in his admiration for Reese, he wished he were still holding her in his arms, feeling her soft curves pressed against his body when she’d climbed into his arms and wrapped her legs around his waist. Tingles shot through him and warmth spread throughout his entire body until he realized with embarrassment the forming bulge in his pants.
To distract himself from his growing erection, he commented, “I like your hair down.”
Reese looked up at him and started laughing. “You’re the only one. I’ve spent my entire life trying to tame this wild mane.”
“Don’t. Your mane is perfect the way it is. It shows you’re special.”
She blushed again when she tried to shrug off his compliment. “Nah. I’m just an ordinary girl.”
“You’re anything but ordinary. And your hair expresses just how wild and rebellious you are.”
When she turned away, her blush intensifying, he grabbed her hand and said, “Come on, let’s explore this gorge. We’ll keep a safe distance from the crocs.”
After a few yards, she started to relax, but still kept a suspicious eye on the animals lying lazily in the sunshine and not at all interested in those two humans walking by.
“This place is amazing,” she told him, pulling a digital camera from her pocket and snapping a few pictures. When she turned around to take his picture with the crocs and the cliffs in the background, he jumped aside, so startled he almost stumbled across a branch lying on the ground.
Of course, she’d noticed his rash behavior and demanded an explanation.
He thought quickly. “I’m not photogenic and would rather not appear in a picture,” he said quickly. Too quickly. Damn. That was lame.
She tried to make fun of him. “You actually look a lot better than those predators in the background.”
“No, I don’t. I don’t want to be photographed, okay?” He said it in a much harsher voice than intended and added in a softer tone, “Please.”
Reese looked at him with squinted eyes and then shrugged her shoulders. “You’re weird. But don’t worry, I won’t try it again.”
Nothing had happened, but the intimacy from moments earlier had shifted to a tension he couldn’t quite explain.
They continued their hike and as the sun rose higher in the sky, he found a spot without scaly spectators and suggested they stop and have lunch before heading back to the camper.
She agreed and made short work of putting together some sandwiches from the fixings she’d tossed in a backpack earlier that morning. After lunch, the tension started to ease again and Nik sensed the familiarity return. It was a feeling he hadn’t experienced often in his life.
Usually, he was always watching his back, never confiding in anyone – not even his family. The only exceptions were his sister Daphne and his personal assistant Evelyn. But with Reese, he’d started to trust her. Mixed with the undeniable sexual attraction and something deeper, bigger, it confused the hell out of him.
Reese broke the silence. “This place is so quiet and peaceful. It’s totally different from that dry, dusty road. I wish we could stay here.”
Her honest appreciation of the beautiful nature warmed his heart and he wanted to do something nice for her. Just to see her breathtaking smile. “It really is. How about we stick around another night? We’ve been making good time.”
Her eyes lit up. “Are you serious? I’d love to.”
For a moment, he hoped she would give him a hug, but she sat back again and folded her hands in her lap.
“I saw a sign posting drinking water at the campground. Maybe we should refill the tanks before leaving here?”
“That’s a good idea. We’ll hang out tonight and get an early start tomorrow morning.”
Chapter 13
After dinner, they sat together by the fire he’d built and discussed the day. He shared with her some of the historical information from the tourist brochures about the gorge and she listened intently.
“Reese, I’ve been meaning to ask this, but promise me you won’t take offense?”
Suspicion filled her eyes when she observed him. “Why would I take offense?”
Nik continued, “Why are you so badly prepared for being out here? Especially since you were traveling alone? I just don’t get it. You seem like such a smart young woman.”
She blushed as the truth of his words sunk in. If she told him the truth, she would have to admit how stupid she’d been about Alec. That’s none of his business. I don’t want to be judged for being an adulterer. Yes, that was what she was, an adulterer. Plain and simple. It didn’t matter that she hadn’t known her boyfriend was married. She could have known it. She should have.
Her face glowed in the darkness of the night, and the warmth didn’t come from the fire. At least he can’t see how embarrassed I am.
A raucous laugh left her throat. “I’m usually super prepared. For everything. But for this vacation, I left all of the details up to Terrence. I was so busy with work up until the moment my flight left, I trusted him to take care of everything.”
“What happened to him? Did you fight?”
“With Terrence? No, we didn’t fight. We love each other too much to ever fight seriously. An important appointment with his band came up and he couldn’t make it. He’ll meet me in Cairns though.”
It was too dark to see the expression on Nik’s face, but she sensed him slightly moving away from her. It was probably her imagination because his voice was the same as always when he asked his next question, “So what do you do for a living?”
> “I’m a professional organizer.”
“A professional organizer?” he drew out the last word and Reese had to grin.
“Yes. And a very good one.”
“Guess you probably think I’m beyond help?”
She smiled at him. “I’ve seen worse.” When he lifted an eyebrow at her, she amended her statement. “Okay, that was a lie. When we first met, I wanted to run screaming.”
“So why didn’t you?”
She took in a deep breath. “Because I need to arrive in Cairns for the kitesurfing championship. My brother Chase will be there and I want to meet him. We don’t see each other often because he’s always traveling somewhere.” She paused and snuck a glance at him. ”You’ve done a good job of putting things back where they belong the last few days.”
She felt rather than saw him smile. “Thanks. I think.”
“So, what about you? What do you do when you’re not driving cross country?”
Nik hesitated for a moment, but then answered, “I work for a big shipping company.”
“Doing what?” she asked, not content with his non-descript answer.
“In administration. My main offices are in New York.”
“So, that’s where you’re from?” she asked. Her brother Grant had recently moved to New York but, due to her heavy work schedule, she hadn’t been able to visit him there.
He nodded. “It’s where I spend most of my time. So, yeah – I guess you could say I live in New York.”
“What about your family?” she asked. When he looked at her, she added, “You know I have siblings. Do you?”
“I have a younger sister. Daphne.”
“Daphne? That’s a beautiful name.”
“She’s a beautiful young girl who doesn’t deserve what’s happening right now.”
Reese discerned a nostalgic tone in his voice and kept quiet. She wouldn’t ask if he didn’t tell her by himself.
After a long silenced, he continued, “She called me just before we left. Her parents are getting divorced and she is devastated.”
“I’m sorry. How old is she?”
“Eleven.”
“That’s a tough age to go through something like that. Why did you say her parents?”
“Her mom is my dad’s current wife. Daphne is my half-sister.”
“You feel guilty because you’re not there with her.” It was a statement, not a question.
He nodded. “Yeah. I wish I could be there to help her through this, but I can’t.”
Reese’s heart melted seeing his soft side. He was such a rough guy on the outside, arrogant and in command. During the last few days, she’d learned a lot about him, and had come to the conclusion there was more to Nik Miller than he was willing to show.
Hearing him talk about his sister confirmed her opinion. It was obvious he cared for her deeply and was hurting because he couldn’t help her through this difficult time.
In an impulse, she reached over and covered his hand with her own. “It’s not your fault, Nik. You’ll be with her again in a few weeks. I’m sure your sister can wait that long, because she knows you love her and will be with her as soon as you can manage.”
“I guess.” He merely whispered the words and his velvety voice returned her attention to the present. And her hand on his. His skin felt hot and tingles shot through her arm. In an attempt to regain control over her emotions, she pulled her hand away, and rubbed it on her leg, trying to take away the burning sensation touching him had left behind.
But it didn’t help. The sexual tension between them ratcheted up another notch. She felt herself being sucked into a vortex of emotion. Desire. Lust. Compassion. The tension between them was almost palpable and she could sense every heartbeat of his. His heart was beating as fast and restless as hers.
She stood up abruptly. If she didn’t put an end to this right here and now, they’d be jumping each other within seconds. No. No. No. You’re done with men, remember? Especially with charming men who hide behind their facade.
Reese all but panicked when her mind imagined his hands and lips on her naked body. All the deliciously naughty things he could do to her and make her scream out his name in ecstasy.
The blood rushed to her cheeks and she threw him a hasty, “Well, goodnight,” before she backed away from the fire and rushed towards the camper. Into safety. Away from Nik and the attraction she felt for him.
She felt his stare in her back like pinpricks, but she didn’t turn around. With a sigh, she closed the door of the camper, undressed in the dark and crawled into her bunk.
When Nik came inside later, she turned her back on the door and pretended to be asleep.
Chapter 14
“I take back my comments from a few days ago. This place is even more beautiful than Windjana Gorge.”
Nik looked around Bell Gorge and agreed with Reese. They were standing at the top of the falls, looking down at the gorge below, surrounded by walls of sandstone and quartz.
“Want to go down to the bottom?” he asked her.
She looked at the exposed rocks, some of them bearing markers to help tourists navigate the crossing without getting wet. “Sure.”
“Want me to go first?”
“Yes. That way if I need help, you can lend me a hand.”
Nik grinned at her remark, even though he knew she was more than capable of making the crossing on her own. They crossed without incident and then began their descent along the sandstone cliffs. A path wound its way around to the clear pool below. By the time they reached the shores of the clear blue water half an hour later, Nik was soaked with sweat. But the pool at their feet had been worth the effort.
“It’s awesome,” she said. Her huge smile lit up her entire face.
“Yes, it is.”
Since the evening they’d talked about his sister by the fireside, she’d avoided him as best as she could. He’d sensed her desire for him when she put her hand on his and he’d been so close to kissing her. She wants me. And she’ll have to admit it sooner or later. I might just give her a little nudge.
He reached behind his head and pulled his t-shirt off. “Want to go for a swim?”
She watched him with a wide-eyed stare. So far so good, he thought and held her gaze as he dropped his shirt to the rocks and toed off his tennis shoes. He knew that look in the eyes of a woman. She was immensely turned on. Well, he’d give her more of what she wanted.
With a slow movement, he unsnapped his shorts and let them drop to the rocks as well. Reese stood there, mesmerized, not able to lift her gaze from his body. When he reached for the waistband of his boxers, she quickly averted her eyes and turned away from him.
He chuckled and then let his boxers drop. The wonderfully refreshing water soothed the heat in his body and had a very calming effect on his lower body parts. The show he’d put on had not only turned on Reese.
“Come on in, Reese. It feels great.”
She didn’t even glance in his direction when she shouted, “That’s okay. I didn’t put my bathing suit on beneath my clothes.”
“Come on, you don’t need a swimsuit. We’re the only ones down here.” And they were. They hadn’t seen any other vehicles since they’d started the Gibb River Road. And they’d definitely seen no one else on their hike down to the gorge.
“That’s okay. I think I’ll walk up the canyon a bit and take some more pictures.”
Nik watched her go and then ducked beneath the water. He’d have to work his charms on her some more, but it made for a nice change. He hadn’t realized it before, but he’d grown tired of women throwing themselves at him.
Reese was so unlike every other woman he’d met before. She was sassy, self-confident, and never afraid to go against him. Yes, Reese was worth the effort to court her. It was like hiking the gorge. For the best views, you had to exert yourself.
An hour later, they headed back to the camper and got underway once again. He turned the radio on, to hear music and to check the road
conditions and the weather forecast. But today, the signal was so bad all he could get was static.
He gave up and popped in a CD, turned it up to full volume, only to turn it down immediately when he felt her stare on him. After the first day, they’d made the agreement he could listen to his choice of music, but he needed to keep the volume down.
At first, it had been a challenge as he enjoyed the thumping vibrations of the bass. But as the days passed, he’d found himself switching off the music completely from time to time so he could talk with Reese. She was smart and funny, and talking to her was never boring. But at other times, he needed peace and solitude. His music helped to shut off all troubling thoughts and keep his focus on the road, while Reese was reading a book on her Kindle, or just looking out the window as the scenery passed them by.
He stole a glance at her sweet face. She’d given up trying to contain her wild curls, leaving them down to curl around her face. He grinned to himself. Beneath that strict control and polite appearance she gives me, she is as unconventional and rebellious as I am. But she either doesn’t know it, or doesn’t want to admit it.
Each passing day, he found her more irresistible. And as each day ended, he found it more difficult to maintain his self-control around her. He wanted to kiss her so badly, it was all he could do sometimes to keep from grabbing her and tipping her backward while he devoured her mouth.
He was falling for her and had been doing so for days. More than he’d ever thought possible. She might not be his usual model-type companion, but those women paled in comparison to Reese. With every passing minute, her inner beauty shone more and soon he couldn’t understand why he’d ever considered one of those dim-witted blondes beautiful. He wanted her. Forever.
Wait. I don’t do forever. I’m the man for a couple of days or weeks.
He had to steal another glance at her breathtaking smile when she laughed out loud at something she was reading. The innocence and unrestrained enthusiasm of her laughter reminded him of a child. Daphne. His heart grew heavy at the thought of his little sister, but looking back at Reese’s happy face sent a shot of warmth through him. If he only could be as carelessly happy as she was.
