"Oh, Mitch," she whispered. "This is glorious."
"Think it was worth trusting me enough to come here?"
She nodded.
~ * ~
Through the thin veil of moisture, she looked into his eyes, really looked. It was gone. The belligerent hostility of last night had disappeared... along with the uneasy furtive bearing he’d maintained at the bar. Left behind and evident now when she looked past the scruffy facial hair and muscles were two crystalline blue mirrors reflecting male curiosity and admiration. Strange sensations flamed inside her body where they had no right to be. Not with her problems.
In spite of his grizzly bear presentation and all that he’d done to disrupt her life, she sensed a powerful sexual attraction. Worse still, in his charismatic personality laid increased danger for other aspects of her life. She knew she would have to be on guard lest this walking advertisement for nature’s raw carnal power overwhelm her sense of decency. Her virtual friend was much safer than this guy, even within the computer realm of flagrant eroticism. Maybe she should have taken Nightspook up on his offerings to make love to her mind. The frustrations leading her to these unwanted reactions might have been eliminated. Damn. When she realized Mitch was staring at her with a puzzled expression, she dropped her mental aberrations and studied the rocks beneath her feet.
"It’s private here, let’s go for a swim." His eyes held a glint of expectation.
Her heart thudded against her ribcage. "You go ahead, I’m not that brave." She walked closer to the water, buying time, hoping for some razor-witted reply that she could offer, to avoid sounding like a prude. For some reason she couldn’t fathom, it was beginning to matter what he thought of her. And it had nothing to do with soliciting his help.
"Suit yourself."
Without a sign of inhibition, he peeled off his clothes and climbed onto an outcropping of rocks. She hadn’t turned away from his masculine ruggedness before and she didn’t this time. How often did she get the chance to see a naked male in the flesh? That was mistake number one. His physique turned her on. Nude photos of males in magazines had never garnered her interest, but in real life, her curiosity didn’t waver from the sight before her. Mistake number two. She watched as he dived through the rainbow and surfaced like an apparition rising to grant her a wish. Her wish was to be naked beside him without hesitation or embarrassment.
"Stop being such a chicken. Come on in."
Mistake number three. The next thing she knew she had stripped off the life jacket, shorts and blouse and plunged through the water. When she broke the cool sparkling veneer, the shock spurred a need for oxygen. She immediately surfaced and swiped at her eyes as she searched for him through the curtain of droplets. He was nowhere to be seen.
"Mitch?"
Splash. "I’m right behind you. Missed me, did you?"
Standing on the stony bottom, neck deep, she spun around quickly. Mistake number four. Big bear arms smothered her to him. Having expected to find the enchantment of the rainbow whirling around her head, she felt another kind of wonder instead. His mouth clung to hers in a gentle sweep of pure magic that she couldn’t and didn’t want to rebuff. Her arms went limp, so did her mind. She thrilled with pleasure as excitement quivered along her nerve endings. Mistake number five, oh, the hell with mistakes. She reciprocated full measure.
This wasn’t her. It couldn’t be the prim social worker who generally maintained her composure. Her mistakes pounded at her head, but this was no time to correct them and miss out on the promise they held. Promise of a trip to the heavens.
The kiss was long and effortless and wanted. She forced her eyes open and saw the image of pure desire in the depths of his eyes. Her fingers moved quickly around his neck bringing his body closer still, until, with the increased press of his arms, she could feel the rest of him crushed against her beneath the water’s swirl. Hard muscle cushioned against soft curves. Mindset melded to mindset.
"Why don’t you take off the rest of your clothes?" he whispered.
Her brain’s immediate response was to speculate how many females had he suggested this to before her? And how many had followed through? She’d hazard a guess that in his shadowy life many women had felt the pull and gloried in his embrace. Faced with the reality of his sordid life, the magic disappeared. There would be no more mistakes.
"Don’t push your luck. That’s enough, Mitch. Look, I don’t go around accosting men. I don’t know what got into me. You must have cast a spell."
"You need to let go more often, Jen. In case you didn’t notice, I did the accosting. You’re the one casting spells."
"Have it your way, but this is as far as it goes." She backed away, thankful he let her. It was big talk for a female far from help, and she realized how stupid she must sound. He did her the kindness of keeping a straight face. Would she ever learn not to let herself get sucked into awkward situations? She should have gone with her instinct and stayed at the cabin. Oh well, maybe she could use his generous mood to learn something about him.
She wiped the droplets from her face. "Do you ever work, Mitch?"
Mitch caught the confusion flashing in her eyes again and determined this time he’d play it cool and avoid her hostility. He soon may have to do things to protect her and his mission, things she wouldn’t like, and if he could get her cooperation it would be a helluva lot easier for all concerned.
"Maybe I’m independently wealthy and don’t have to work."
The quick chomp on her lip showed her irritation with his flippancy. Okay, so she had no sense of humor. He’d learn to deal with that.
"I do investigative work, but I’m on vacation." He’d be as honest as he could, and therefore less apt to slip up.
To lessen the tension of the moment, Mitch splashed rapid-fire waves with the flat of his palm, encouraging her to back toward deeper water. A quick dive brought him up under her. He lifted Jen into the air and tossed her over his shoulder. He waited anxiously for her to surface. Jen’s reaction to his playful manhandling would set the tone for the near future.
She surfaced with a shocked look on her face, but it changed to a predatory grin that soon found satisfaction. She plunked her hand on the top of his head and shoved him under the water. He grabbed her legs and raised her into the air once again, this time holding on. He heard the catch in her breath, felt the tremors as she tried to steady herself by bracing her hands on his shoulders. He let her body slide slowly down his front until he could stare straight into her emerald depths--into pools holding such a mixture of emotions that he wanted to dissect them one by one and throw away the ones causing her inhibitions. He wanted to make love, here, now, before either of them let the outside world and its mundane ways threaten them. Rationality forced him to ease her to a stand on the bottom. "I’ll race you to the other side and back."
"You’re on." She pushed him backward and struck out for the far shore.
Mitch let her get there first, but on the return trip he easily passed her and reached the rocks in time to turn around and boost her up. No words were spoken, but they weren’t necessary. The pledge of a closer connection hung in the air. For now, they would settle for exploration of each other’s personalities.
"Come on. Let’s take a break." Mitch climbed up behind her and made his way to a small grassy clearing. He slipped into his navy briefs out of respect for her puritanical sake and thumped down on his back. Out of the corner of his eye he watched Jen clear the water from her face. When she whipped the water from her long hair and glanced down, she flushed upon noticing how much her soaked underwear revealed. Upon eyeing his position, sprawled on the soft grass with his eyes closed, she hesitated, then shyly neared his relaxed form and stretched out beside him.
He pretended he wasn’t interested, but Mitch didn’t miss a thing. The wet lingerie exposed her luscious curves. He hoped his body wouldn’t betray him. With the water rivulets glistening as they trailed down her graceful body, he was reminded of a siren’s call in an o
ld mariner’s tale. From head to toe she was pure female. Her lithesome arms and legs, flat stomach and heaving breasts, all beckoned his touch.
He blocked out the fact she was in danger. Here in this isolation, no one could get to her, maybe not even him, judging by the way she’d not budged as much as he’d liked from her prudish way. Strange as it seemed, he respected her for that.
He wondered why the government usually picked such goody-goodies to deal with those imprisoned in a world of violence and upheaval. It had never made sense to him. What did she know of life when her own was probably well regulated and restricted by her own prissy values? Now he was stuck with protecting her. But protecting her might not be so bad a job after all.
"Mitch, what did you mean about me casting a spell?"
He gulped. She deserved some of the truth. "You aren’t the kind I usually spend my time with." Wondering if she’d take offense, Mitch groaned, glad that his lowered lashes provided shelter from her gaze.
The sun’s heat blasted fire down his torso to his flinching nether parts. He turned onto his stomach. Grabbing a long blade of grass, he teased it gently along her shoulders, expecting an immediate snub. A pink tongue moistening her lips was the only reaction. No yelling, no pushing him away.
"What kind do you choose to be around--ones like those two in the ladies room?" She propped her head on her hand; her eyes flashed curiosity.
"Guess you could say I go for women who have no problem with their sexuality. They’re fast and easy and don’t require a lot of time in getting to what both of us need." He held back saying they were the kind that freed him from any chance of further involvement and permanency. That’s how it had to be for him until he decided he’d had enough of his adventuresome life.
Jen laid back, her leg muscles flexed and pulled tight as she bent her knees, effectively hiding the dark shadow lying beneath the bikini panties. Damn. Why didn’t she straighten out again? He wanted to reach over and run his fingers down her stomach to see if her skin was as smooth as it looked. He wanted to ease them beneath that scant piece of fabric that served no other function than to impede his view.
"Have you got a boyfriend?" He’d never thought to ask.
"No."
"Why?"
"Guess no one’s interested."
"I find that hard to believe. Still though, I bet you’re the type that runs like a rabbit when any guy shows interest."
She glanced at him with a raised brow, then closed her eyes to absorb the sun’s rays. "Think what you like."
What he didn’t like was her answer. It was too pat.
"What about you, Mitch? Have you got a harem of slutty females?" She wasn’t smiling. The question posed her distaste for his lifestyle.
"Hmm. There’s no one steady, but I guess, yes, I have a harem to call upon if I want feminine companionship."
A wide smile split across his face. It was true. He had no problem getting dates, but he seldom felt the need. Let her think what she wanted to for now. The last thing he wanted was an emotional attachment with her. "So, tell me. What line of work are you in?"
"I’m a social worker."
"You like dealing with the shady side of life?"
"What makes you say that? I could be working with disabled children or seniors."
"Ah... hmm... just a gut feeling I had that you might also be the kind that tries to cure the world of its ills."
"You think I’m a prude, don’t you?"
"To be honest, Jen, I’ve not seen much sign that you aren’t. Your hostility has been a bit overdone. You looked on Bull like he was scum."
"He is."
"I hope he didn’t pick up on it. Your reluctance to offer any warmth is a prime example. Frankly, I can’t imagine you having enough passion inside you to be much help to folks who need a hell of a lot of understanding. The holier-than-thou approach doesn’t cut it. You can’t work the soil without getting your hands dirty."
She jolted upright, forgetting her earlier embarrassment. "Of course you can," she retorted, "you use gloves."
Mitch scowled. "Okay. I used a poor example."
"Mitch, you’re being unfair."
Okay, so maybe you’re right, he thought. I put you in unfamiliar waters and demanded you swim smoothly. His glare softened.
"You’re telling me, I shouldn’t be trying to help people because I haven’t been through what they have? That’s a pathetic view of human nature. Besides, you know nothing about me, so it’s unfair as well."
"Then you tell me how it’s unfair." He knew he’d raised her hackles. Her sober expression showed anger now, not embarrassment, and definitely not shyness. But he had to admit she was right; he knew only what Don had told him. He wanted to know the real woman and her anger might draw her out. What ticked behind that mask of superiority?
"I work with dysfunctional families." She hesitated. "I come from one."
She sealed the lid on his flippancy. In police work, he’d been sickened by the damage families did to their members. The knowledge that she, as delicate as she was, had suffered in that sort of situation, churned his guts. No wonder she’d been turned on to bouts of fantasy in the chat room. And he’d ruined that for her. He suddenly felt very small.
"I owe you an apology, Jen. I’m sorry."
"Forget it. I came on rather strong when I went to your door carrying on like a crank. It’s a wonder you didn’t throw me off your property. Do you own the cottage?"
"No. I’m only spending my vacation there."
"I’d like to see the inside, if I could."
"Sure, no problem. Come into my web... ah... my retreat whenever you like." He winked and her quick smile lit up a smile inside of him.
"How about when we go back today?"
"Hmm." His mind flashed to his computer exposed to full view. "Today isn’t a good time. Let me clean up the mess first." He caught the skeptical look in her eye. "Why don’t you come over around six o’clock and I’ll barbecue a couple of steaks?"
"Is it okay if I bring Spooks?"
"Sure. Hey, where is the little critter anyway?"
Jen raised up on her elbow. "He’s over there guarding my clothes."
Mitch squinted and focused across the pond. Spooky’s body splayed on the shore, his face flat between his paws, watching their every move.
"I think his nose is a bit out of joint. He doesn’t like deep water." She laughed.
Her lyrical laughter illuminated his soul. "Maybe he needs to be taught how to swim."
"It doesn’t matter. There’s no need for him to go into the water except for a bath." She stretched back down. "The sun feels nice. I could settle in for a good snooze right now. I haven’t had much sleep lately, due to a noisy neighbor." Her nose crinkled, accentuating the sparkle in her eyes.
"What do you do when you can’t sleep, Jen?"
"I get on the computer."
"And do what?"
"Look up things."
"Like?"
"I look up anything I want to know."
"Do you chat in any of the rooms I’ve heard about?" He knew he was prying.
"Well, yes, I sometimes do." She twisted wayward strands of hair behind her ears.
"I see. Do you have special friends online?"
"A few, yes." Her eyes narrowed. "You’re a nosy one."
"I’ve heard there’s a lot of cyber sex chat that goes on in those rooms."
"I don’t get involved in that stuff, Mitch. Those I chat with are levelheaded. At least they are when I say I’m not into that kind of chat."
"Don’t you ever get the urge?"
"Only once, and it was recent. You’re asking an awful lot of questions."
"Sorry, that’s what I do... ask questions." He clamped his mouth shut, afraid he’d said too much. "You’re right, I’m being too nosy." By the stare bulldozing his way, he could tell that if he kept up his inquisitive track, she’d become suspicious; it was time to back off. "Why don’t we have a snooze?"
With
his suggestion Jen smiled, appearing to relinquish her worries in favor of what he hoped was the comforting warmth of his body lying next to hers.
~ * ~
"It’s time to head back." Mitch’s words cut into Jen’s dream of soaring on a pink puffy cloud. Squinting against the bright light, Jen sized up their positions. Her head on his shoulder, one hand’s fingers sprawled against the massive spread of curls on his chest. She quickly withdrew, flushing her mortification.
"Don’t pull away from me. I’m not the enemy." He tried to pull her back, but she resisted.
Mitch’s gentle tone almost did her in. "Don’t be nice to me, Mitch. I’m not used to that when I make mistakes." She jumped to her feet.
"What mistake? Being here with me isn’t a mistake. Nor is it a mistake to want to share warmth."
Jen made a face. "I’ve made too many errors in judgment and you have no idea how I’ve been paying for them. I hope we weren’t here long enough to get a bad burn. We’d better go." She longed to tell him more. "I like that idea of steaks at your place. I’ll round up a salad and dessert."
"Then it’s a bone fide date. You don’t mind if I borrow your car to take my tire for repair?"
"Be my guest. I really didn’t puncture it, Mitch."
"Okay. I was hot under the collar. My mistake and I’m sorry."
His outright apology took her by surprise. His manners didn’t suit his gruff exterior and gave her pause to wonder about the inconsistency. On the paddle back, she started to wonder about other things that didn’t seem compatible with the rough-hewn biker. He’d gone out of his way to give her pleasure today and encouraged her to feel at ease. He no longer executed the overpowering dominance she’d experienced last night. At no time did he force himself on her, though the opportunity had been there. His language didn’t hold a hint of the gross words he’d used with Bull. She shook her head. She’d never thought of a biker as being magnetic. Yep, she had rocks in her head.
The synchronized dip of the paddles lent its own magic to the flow of something special in the air. It was a change to feel relaxed in the company of this man. His bold natural rhythm was far different from her subdued one.
undercovertrouble_341-1e1.htm Page 8
