Sinful Surrender

by Houston Havens

  Something about his foot-in-the-mouth demeanor made her laugh. Arlo was a very sweet man. All day he’d questioned her about her comfort and kept trying to make the ride easier for her. He was very attentive and had entertained her with comments about their surroundings and life as an Airborne.

  He joined her in her laughter. “Damn, those striking eyes can throw some nasty daggers when they want to, huh? Holy moly, I’ve never seen a woman get so fired up about being claimed. Most want to be. Guess those daggers mean you’re a very independent woman, huh?”

  At her nod, he continued. “Well, ain’t nothing wrong with that. Nevertheless, I still got orders to get you bathed. If I don’t, Drakker will have my hide. Since you ain’t making any moves to get in the water, I’m going to help you.” He reached up and pulled the zipper down to her waist. His gaze dropped. Hers followed. Her peeking cleavage held his interest.

  Arlo slid his hands over her shoulders and down her back, pushing the upper portion of her garment down over her hips. The coolness of the gentle breeze against her skin made her gasp. What an energizing feeling! Life here was so different. It was intoxicating. Even the silky feel of her own waist-length hair brushing against the flesh of her back was stimulating. The soft braid made little prickly bumps erupt all over her skin. All these new feelings were unique because Dirt Dwellers never bathed without bath clothes.

  Allowing Arlo to remove her clothes was depraved by her church and government’s standards, but somehow she just didn’t feel the humiliation she should. It felt good to be bad. Everything in her world was too restricted and confining in her opinion. Life here seemed freer, without shame, guilt, judgment, or censorship. To live such a life was too foreign for her thoughts, but in her dreams, she had longed for a life like this.

  Arlo traced his fingers across her skin, giving her goose bumps from the gentleness of his touch. A soft groan escaped him the minute he pinched at the back of her bra hook, snapping it open.

  “Come here,” he whispered before placing tiny, wet kisses along her neck and throat until her breathing grew hard and rapid with a need she’d never felt before.

  “Little lady, this body of yours has been speaking to me all day long. I’ve never wanted anything in my life as much as I want you, my lovely Star Rider. Will you have me?” He swept the bra away from her breasts.

  “I—”

  “Arlo!” Drakker’s voice sliced through the twilight.

  He stiffened then backed away from her. “We’re over here, bro.” His sigh was heavy with what sounded like disappointment. “She’s just getting in the stream now.” With a raised brow, he silently indicated she should get bathing. “We’ll be up in ten.”

  The cool breeze passing over her skin hardened her nipples. She covered herself with her hands, but the moment she looked down, she realized there was no point. She was already standing there half-naked for his perusal. Casting her ingrained modesty aside, she dropped the rest of the clothing from her lower half and rushed into the water. The crispness of the river stopped her ankle deep. She screeched, retreating.

  Arlo rushed forward, stopping her withdrawal with a strong arm around her waist. “It’s mountain water. It’s going to be chilly.” He laughed, nudging her gently back into the water.

  “I can’t bathe in this.” She scampered out of his hold while trying to dodge his grasp. He caught her again and jailed her in his arms. The playful act pressed her breasts against him, flesh to naked flesh, lips just a breath’s distance from one another. For one provocative moment, they silently stared into each other’s eyes, and then their shallow breaths merged into a passionate kiss.

  There was no denying her desire for Arlo. The man not only felt right, but he smelled right. He was temptation at its best.

  “Hold on there, little filly. I’ve got a job to do, and before you give me any more distractions—”

  Scooping her up into his arms, he walked into the icy stream with her clinging to him in protest. Before she could squeak no, he covered her mouth with a kiss that heated her to her soul.

  “I—”

  “No talking. Just show me what you feel.” Arlo sweetly cradled her in his warm arms, holding her against his chest, as if that would help her body temperature adjust to the cold water he’d just immersed them in shoulder deep.

  Fay couldn’t resist the urge to tease him. Looking at him dead on, she quivered her bottom jaw to show she was freezing. Her antics made him laugh.

  “That’s not what I was hoping for, but I get your point.” He shook his head. “You’re a funny woman. You’re beautiful too, and I-I like you…a lot.”

  Afraid to say the words because it was all happening so fast, she just squeezed him tightly in her hug and prayed this marvelous moment would never end.

  “I’m amazed at how you traveled all day without complaint. Most women wouldn’t have. It couldn’t have been easy for you either. Hurt or not, crashing a ship is hard on the body. You’ve got to be sore.”

  “Trust me, I am.”

  “After supper I’ll give you a rubdown.”

  “Is that like a back rub?”

  “Sure is.”

  “I’ll take it. That’s so sweet of you to offer. Thank you.”

  “No biggie. Seriously, I admire your courage and the strength you’ve shown. I’ve never seen these traits in a woman before.” His gaze held an obvious admiration for her. “I could easily fall in love with a woman like you. So, just remember that when we get back to town, and you have your choice of men.” With that he released her to do her bathing and strolled out of the river, leaving her desiring his cute, tight, little bum.

  * * * *

  Twenty minutes later, they strolled back into camp. Fay’s gaze found Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome sitting on the ground near the fire with his back supported against a log, one leg stretched out in front of him. His other leg was crooked, foot flat on the ground, knee raised with his arm draped across it in a lazy hang. He looked comfortable and appeared to be enjoying a rich, aromatic drink. He looked their way and held up his tin cup in greeting.

  “Coffee!” Arlo strolled to a log near the fire and grabbed a cup. Squatting down, he tipped the cup against a taller can sitting in the embers of a smokeless flame. He poured a black liquid into the tin. “I hope you made enough for all of us.”

  Drakker squinted his steel-blue eyes. His right eyebrow arched, and his jaw clamped in a hard flex. The cool, calm exterior she had observed for most of the day looked ready to crumble. So, there is a sensitive side to this quiet man. How interesting.

  In an accusatory tone, Drakker asked Arlo, “Why would you assume I wouldn’t?” At Arlo’s shrug, Drakker got up and tossed the last of his coffee out. He rinsed his cup in a large pot next to the fire and refilled it with the black liquid. Leaning over the fire, he handed the cup to her. “Have a seat and try some.”

  Seeing the exasperation in his eyes, she chose to obey and sat before taking a sip. Oh my God! She wanted to spit. It was bitter and foul tasting. She swallowed hard.

  Turning back to Arlo, Drakker griped, “That’s the one thing about you that irks me. Why do you always assume the worst of me? I could understand it if I were guilty of being incompetent or always forgetting something, but I’m not.”

  Arlo waved Drakker’s temper down. “That’s not what I meant. You know that.”

  “Yeah, well anyone listening doesn’t know that.” He jutted his hand out to indicate Fay was the anyone he was talking about. “It gives the wrong impression, and you’re always saying shit like that. It irritates me.”

  Arlo gave Fay a devilish wink before looking back at Drakker. “You’ll live.”

  “You might not.” Drakker strode across camp and propped his foot on a stump. He rocked it forward as if he were going to roll it closer to the fire but immediately jumped back. A loud rattling filled the air. “Holy shit! It’s a fucking diamondback.”

  Arlo jumped up and rushed over to the leather bags that had been on the h
orses but now lay on the ground near some blankets. Hooked to one of the saddlebags was a long metal tool he grabbed and tossed to Drakker. “Here’s your rifle. I hope you loaded it.”

  Drakker gave Arlo a cold and accusing stare. “There you go again! Have you ever known me not to have my guns loaded?” He jumped back when the long, wormlike thing lunged at his leg and missed.

  The worm recoiled itself quickly and lunged again, making Fay more than nervous. “Is it dangerous?” She got up keeping the skinny, long animal in her view.

  Drakker held his hand out, indicating she should stay back. “It’s a poisonous critter.”

  “Oh my God! It can kill you?”

  Arlo smirked. “Pretty much.”

  “A little thing like that?”

  “Yep.” Arlo pulled her several steps back. “Size doesn’t matter—”

  “That’s not what I’ve been told.” Drakker’s grin was impish. He raised the weapon and pointed it at the snake. The loud, unexpected, exploding pop startled her, causing her to jump into Arlo’s arms. It was the safest place she could think of. She hid her face against his chest when she saw the top six inches of the slithery thing was separated from the rest of its body. He held her tightly against him. When she finally found the courage to look back, Drakker frowned at her, grabbed the remaining body part by the tail, and carried it over to the fire.

  Drawing the knife he wore tucked at his lower back, he sliced the critter down to the part that made the rattling sound. After cutting the rattle off and wrapping it in a small rag, Drakker cleaned the rest of the snake before tossing it on the fire.

  “What are you doing that for?” Fay couldn’t resist the urge to ask and prayed the answer wasn’t what she feared it might be.

  “This reptile’s our supper.”

  Damn, she knew he was going to say that. “Ah, no. I’d rather starve.”

  “Suit yourself. It tastes like chicken, you know.”

  “Well, since I don’t know what that is either, I’ll pass on both.”

  Their unique evening meal disappeared down the throats of two hungry men while Fay settled for the dried jerky Arlo gave her, but only after he reassured her it wasn’t a snake of any kind.

  Dusk painted the horizon an interesting blend of pinks and blues. What a wonderful way for the world to pass from light to dark. This transition never happened in her world. She’d likely never forget this moment. So far, this glorious sky painting had to be her favorite part of the day. It was a magical moment.

  The only things she didn’t like about dusk were the pesky little things the guys called gnats and mosquitoes. Her wild swings to swat them away before they’d bite her seemed to entertain the men to great lengths. Arlo took mercy on her after several welt-raising slaps and smeared some kind of stinky grease all over her, claiming her blood was too sweet. He made it sound romantic, but then he seemed to see everything in idyllic shades of pink. The man was a romantic.

  When Arlo wasn’t pleasing her with beautiful poems, romantic tales, and lusty innuendos, Fay spent her time crushing creepy little crawling things they called insects and dodging something Drakker called a bat. A lonesome howl pierced the silence of the evening making Fay jump. “What was that?”

  “That’s the cry of a coyote.” Arlo looked up and scanned the area. “It sounded close, didn’t it?” He glanced at Drakker, who casually nodded.

  Nothing seemed to stir him but Arlo’s jabs at his integrity. So, Drakker obviously held honor above all else.

  A stir in the bushes caused Fay to twist around toward the sound. A beautiful beast with golden eyes wandered out, stopping just at the edge of camp. “What’s that?”

  “Don’t move.” Drakker warned. “The canine we just heard.”

  “A canine? What’s a canine?”

  “A dog. Coyotes are members of the dog family. Most dogs are tame but coyotes, wolves, and foxes are wild.”

  “So, is this wild dog going to attack us?” She moved to sit closer to Drakker. He was bigger than Arlo, and if attacked, she could use his body as a shield of protection.

  He grinned. “I’ve never heard of a coyote attacking a human. Besides, he’s a little on the thin side. He might be sick.”

  “So, what are you saying? Are we going to be his next meal or his undertaker?”

  Arlo laughed, getting up. “Let’s hope neither.”

  The coyote crouched, lowering his head over his paws as Arlo sauntered over to his saddlebags. The yellow eyes of the dog followed his every move.

  “Coyote’s fear humans, so the only thing that can be bringing him here is hunger. Look at him. He’s all of twenty pounds.” He’d retrieved several strips of jerky and slowly approached the dog. The coyote stood as Arlo moved closer. The dog’s posture stiffened then the beast scurried back when Arlo tossed a strip of dried meat at him. Once Arlo backed off, the coyote moved in and seized the piece of jerky. On the second toss of food the dog ducked, and then with an eye on Arlo, gobbled down another piece.

  “Can I try?” Fay slowly stood as Arlo squatted down. “Oh, don’t leave me.”

  He laughed. The deep tone of his amusement made Fay feel protected. That was an odd sentiment for her to have.

  “I’m not leaving you. I just wanted to appear smaller to the dog. I don’t want him to think we’re surrounding or cornering him.” He handed Fay the meat. She tossed a piece and was thrilled when the beast took it. After a couple more strips, the coyote approached and nipped the meat right from her hand. By the time she’d finished feeding the coyote, he was sitting beside her.

  “Looks like we’ve got a guest for the night.” Drakker eyed the coyote then got up and started laying out the blankets. He set what she’d learned earlier that day was called a saddle on the top of one blanket and laid a thin summer quilt over the one he’d placed on the ground, making the semblance of a bed. “Well, I think we’ll call it a night.” He held up the top blanket in a silent invitation for Fay to get in. “Use the saddle as your pillow.”

  Fay slipped into the warmth of the bedding. Drakker moved to join her, but the coyote barked in objection.

  “Get!” Drakker waved the dog off, but the coyote persisted with another bark, followed by a growl. His tail immediately became bushy and moved to a horizontal position.

  “Careful, bro.” Arlo stilled, warning softly. “That’s a display of aggression.”

  “Like I don’t know that?” Drakker frowned, and Fay almost laughed.

  Arlo continued as if he hadn’t noticed Drakker’s annoyance. “That coyote has accepted her. No other males, two-legged or four are welcome.”

  “Yeah? We’ll see about that.” Drakker stepped in front of the coyote and stood his ground. The dog remained in a standoff for several seconds before his left hind leg moved back. Be it for better balance or withdrawal, Drakker seized the moment. He stepped forward forcing the coyote to back down. Drakker’s victory was short lived when he turned around to find her holding one of the blankets out to him.

  Arlo snickered. “Guess they’re both suggesting you find your own bed for the night.”

  Drakker narrowed his eyes. His sculptured lips pursed with his thoughts. Without a word, he left the blanket and strode across the camp to a spot by the fire. “Fine.” He sat down on the ground and flipped his ankle-length duster over his chest and legs, using it like a blanket. “If you don’t want my protection from all the snakes and other nasty night crawlers…that’s fine by me.”

  Fay frowned, having second thoughts about her choice until the coyote returned to her side. His yellow eyes were set intently on Drakker as Fay settled into her own blankets. The beautiful beast let out a satisfied huff that said these sleeping arrangements were just fine with him.

  Chapter 3

  The morning came fast and Fay woke to Drakker making sure everyone knew it was time to get going. Even before the coffee brewed, he was ordering Arlo to get things packed while he fixed them a quick breakfast of apples, black walnuts, and a side of
jerky.

  Of course, all of Fay’s jerky and half her apple went to the coyote. The darn mooch had decided to be her self-appointed protector.

  Drakker grunted. “You named him didn’t you?”

  “I’m calling him Moochy.” She stroked the coyote’s muzzle before placing a kiss on top of his furry head. He returned the affection by pawing at her arm until she let go of his nose. He manipulated her with his big golden eyes until she caved and gave him her last bite of apple. She got up holding her lower back. “Though I should call him Breaker—”

  “Drakker? Why would you name him after me?” Though he questioned her reason, Drakker had a look on his face that said but of course you’d name him after me.

  Fay shook her head. “I said, Breaker not Drakker. This beast was on top of me the whole night.”

  Drakker smirked then muttered behind his tin cup of coffee, “Can’t say I blame him.”

  Arlo must have noticed her rubbing at her lower back because he started messaging her shoulders. “I forgot your backrub last night.”

  “Ooh,” she cooed in pure pleasure at the soothing of her tender muscles. “Now that feels awesome.” Moochy was faithful. She had to give him that, but her back was killing her where he’d leaned his twenty plus pounds against her the whole night. “Do you know this animal had the nerve to push me out from under my blanket with its cold nose?”

  Drakker snorted, pulling up the collar of his duster. “You mean just like you had the nerve to set me out from my own warm bedroll last night?”

  Arlo broke into a hardy laugh. “She did, didn’t she?”

  “I offered you a blanket.” Fay gave him her most innocent, wide-eyed stare. “Least I didn’t come over and take your coat.” She smirked. “After I managed to get my covers back from this guy…” She thumbed an accusing finger at Moochy. “Why, he had the audacity to paw at my blanket until I allowed him to get under the covers with me.”

  A seductive grin spread across Drakker’s face. “Hmm.”

  His gaze captured hers, holding her attention hostage as his soft-spoken words caused her body to respond with a lusty heat.