by Hoff, Stacy
She breathed deep. “I want that, too.”
“I won’t let anything bad happen to you. Trust me.”
“I’ve already trusted you with my life. Now I’ve got to trust you with my heart. I’m not good at that. I have trouble believing people will stick around.” She gave him a small, shy smile. “Okay,” she said after a moment, voice soft. “I’ll try to change my negative attitude.”
“I’m not judging your attitude. I understand you got burnt. We’ll just call you ‘cautious,’” he responded, winning a look of pure gratitude from her. “Let’s go.”
She nodded, confused. What did he mean? Go where? She was still trying to figure it out when he grabbed her hand and took off at a fast pace. In a few minutes they were in a particularly dense spot of mangroves. Between the roots were broad slivers of sand.
“Steph,” he said voice dripping with seduction. “Having you here beside me all day, I don’t think I can hold back much longer from touching you. You can say ‘no’ if you want. But I’m really hoping you don’t.” He leaned over and kissed her mouth, first hard, and then soft. She parted her lips and his tongue drifted across her lower lip with a sweet slowness that made her tremble. “I want to be inside you, Steph. Feel your soft warmth surround me. Your fire burning through me. Say you want me, too.”
“Yes. I want that. All of that.” Her words sounded scratchy to her, her throat bone dry. He placed his hand over her heart, glided it lightly over her breasts and then down over her shorts until he cupped her sex. “I’ve never reacted this way to a woman. With you, it’s different somehow. Like there is an electric current between us. Do you feel it, or am I going crazy?”
She nodded, unable to speak. Instead of answering him in words she bent down to take off her boots. Then wiggled out of her clothes and underwear. Giving him a seductive smile, she kneeled down on the sand and licked her lower lip in bold invitation. For the first time she felt confident. Sexy. She knew he wanted her. It was empowering.
“Get over here,” she mock-ordered.
“Yes, ma’am.” Smiling, he reached down to unbutton his shorts. He put a hand over hers as she unzipped his fly. Together they pushed his shorts and briefs down, and his erection sprang forth.
Bending down on her knees, she placed her mouth tantalizingly close, teasing him. She could feel his body tighten in anticipation. He stood rigidly still—he was letting her go to him. Good. For once in her life, it was time for her to take charge. She lightly ran a sliver of her tongue over the entirety of his hard length then took him into her mouth, until he pushed her gently away.
“Stop, Steph,” he growled. “I don’t want to be done with you yet.”
He bent down until he was on his knees, too. “Turn around,” he whispered.
If someone saw them now, she would appear exactly as Adrienne had with Freddie. But rather than have the thought pollute her mind, as it always did, it actually spurned her on. Her inner sex goddess awoke. As Colin entered her, she reached between her legs, gliding her fingertips over her soft folds, enjoying the sensation. She made sure to stroke him, too.
He groaned out her name. One of his hands moved from her waist to wrap tightly around a taut nipple. Then she felt him burst forth inside her, a mere second before she did.
“I swear you’re addictive,” he said with a smile. He kissed the back of her neck and gently left her to rise up.
“I could say the same about you.”
“You’re sticky. I’m sticky, too. Let’s fix that,” he suggested.
“You keep a shower in your backpack?”
“We’re surrounded by water, remember?” he said, gesturing behind the mangroves to the blue water around them. Light from the waning sun gleamed and danced brightly across it. “Let’s go for a fast swim. This area is pretty safe,” he said, his clothes already pulled off and tossed aside on the sand. Moments later he plunged into the water. “See?” he called out, “No gators here. Come on in.”
She tentatively placed one foot in the water, then the other. It was warm, but cooler than her hot skin, still flush from the lovemaking. Wading up to her waist, she stretched her arms out before her, bent forward, and dove in. She submerged with a splash and uttered a small squeal as she surfaced. Standing on the sandy bottom she shook her hair free. Light bounced off her wet auburn waves.
“Your hair color matches the sunset,” he said. “Only yours is more beautiful.”
“I bet you say that to all the women,” she joked. But she took his compliment to heart. She was starting to think maybe he did find her beautiful.
“I say it to every redhead I seduce in a mangrove forest.”
“Oh, well, that let’s me out. My hair is auburn.” She laughed. As she swam out to him, small waves gently lapped around her. He greeted her arrival with a playful splash. The “favor” was returned by her with a frenzy, and he retaliated full-on. Diving in again to avoid the barrage, she surfaced a few yards away only to find him next to her.
“C’mon, swim with me, Steph,” he said. She nodded and headed off into the sunset as far as they could, knowing they had to head back. Soon. She was going to enjoy every second they had. Swimming naked felt blissful. Freeing. Like she was truly a part of this wilderness now.
She wanted to get back before the crew. Disappearing with Colin for a second time would not be good. As the sun’s rays sank, they headed back to shore.
Moments later, their feet sank into the soft sandbank, and they headed for their two separate heaps of clothes. Colin handed her one of the small towels the crew had brought for them, and they dried off as best they could. In record time they were dressed.
“Colin, do you think they’ll ask why our hair is wet?” she asked, suddenly nervous. The fewer questions the crew asked about their “activities” while alone, the better.
“I don’t have much hair for them to notice one way or another. As for you, braid it and twirl it around or something.” He made a circular gesture around the crown of his head.
“You mean like a halo or like a bun?” She laughed hard.
“Do a Princess Leia number, only on top of your head.”
“Yes, Master Jabba.” The snort she let out was the loudest thing in the mangrove forest.
“If I’m Jabba the Hut, you’d better wear the metallic bikini top I got you, Princess. Don’t make me mad, You’d hate what I do to you.”
“Never,” she said solemnly.
They burst out laughing as they shoved on their shoes.
He’d almost kept her there but finally agreed to leave their spot. At least they walked back to meet the location team hand in hand. Watching her bathe in the water, droplets dancing off her radiant skin, he considered begging her to stay with him. Indefinitely.
But their time wasn’t indefinite. Minutes from now he’d let go of her hand so they could continue pretending they didn’t know each other well. But he did know her. Her kind heart. Her sexy body. She was comfortable around him. She had a tough, yet fragile, constitution. The duality of her nature was sometimes confusing, but always intriguing.
He’d dreamed of a woman who could act silly but not be silly. Who rose up to challenges. Stephanie had it all—everything he’d been hoping to find in someone. The pretty, red-wrapped package was one heck of a bonus prize.
She really did seem to feel the same way. She liked his humor. Enjoyed his company. Listened to his stories. Even the lame-ass, personal, embarrassing ones. She was interested in the whole him, not just the James Bond mystique women seemed to like—if their drooling reactions were any indication.
Being with Stephanie was as peaceful and easy as being by himself, and yet gave him a “zing” quality he hadn’t experienced before. Not just a sexual “zing” either. Though he couldn’t dismiss that, of course. But a “zing” because her personality gave hi
m a charge.
On top of all the attractive qualities she had, it was her newest one that was calling loudest to him. He was amazed to find the woman trying so hard to lose her inhibitions. She was knocking down her carefully put up walls. Cracking her protective coating to reveal the wild child inside. Desperate to break free. The real her was wilder than this place. Wilder than marauding terrorists.
She was more dangerous, too. Stephanie attacked his heart. It was a battle he was slowly losing. Why fight it when it was time to wave the white flag? Deep down, he knew he had already surrendered. Taken down his own fortress walls. He no longer wanted to protect his heart. He wanted to protect her. As much as everything else that was vital for him to protect. His family. His happiness. His own life.
Yes, she had captured him. He’d never dreamed he’d be such a willing prisoner.
In the distance, the location crew was waving wildly at them and yelling with excitement. Something about the perfect spot and a large sea turtle. She smiled to herself. She wanted to wave and shout, too. Tell all about her exciting adventure. The wonderful, strange thing she’d found in the Everglades—unabashed lovemaking.
The crew was sandy and disheveled from their journey. Crawling around in the mangroves hadn’t helped their look, either. They’d never notice the state she was in. Princess Leia “onesy” firmly in place on the top of her head, and sand shaken off her clothes, she looked as professional as possible in this crazy, rugged place. The only thing out of place was her hand, which had, moments ago, been holding his. Now her hand felt empty. She shoved it into her pocket to get rid of the feeling. So close to Colin, and yet so far. So near to his hand, his touch . . .
Stephanie sighed and tried desperately to shove all her sensual thoughts safely away in a “don’t go there” file. It was time to focus on the job. After greeting the crew, she dropped down on a rock and grabbed her book out of her bag, ready to make some location notes. All the spots Colin had chosen would work out well for the show. But they would ultimately pick only one. Wherever was chosen would be the place Teleworld left him, letting him survive on his own for twelve days.
The mangroves weren’t the most dangerous choice, but definitely the most beautiful. The audience was going to love this show. The audience was going to love Colin. And if he really was the guy she thought he was, she was going to truly love him, too.
Chapter 18
Ana stood waiting, a mere inch outside Stephanie’s open office door. She was tapping her foot rapidly on the beige carpeting, as if possessed by a tap-dancing demon. Her skirt, shorter than normal, fell mid-calf. The abbreviated hem length made her foot action easy to see. And interpret. The message was clear—it was only a matter of time before she interrupted, blurting out whatever she needed to say.
Stephanie held up her hand, fingers wide, to let Ana know she’d be off the phone in five minutes. With a huff, Ana went back to her desk and sat down.
“Mom, before we hang up, I need to tell you something about tonight,” Stephanie whispered because Ana had left the door wide open.
“Is everything okay? Your party’s still on, right?” her mother’s words rushed out.
“Actually, things are okay. Better than okay.” She kept her voice low and swiveled around her chair, her back turned away from the door. “I’m bringing a date.”
“You are? Thank God! I’m so glad you finally got over that no good—”
“Mom, stop. I don’t want to talk about Freddie. I’m trying to tell you about Colin.”
“So talk.”
“Remember the guy I was telling you about? The one who is going to be on The Evergladiator?”
“The survivalist show you’re doing?”
“Yeah, him.”
“Of course I remember. You told me about him before you went to Florida. You said he was a handsome fellow.”
“Turns out he’s not just handsome. He’s also the nicest guy you’d ever want to meet. We got to know each other in Florida. We’re dating now.” Telling her mother made her feel like a giddy teenager talking about her first crush. If she grinned any wider, she’d break her face.
“That’s wonderful, Steffie! I’m so happy for you. I can’t wait to meet him.”
“It is wonderful. For the first time in a long while I’m happy for me, too.”
Overly loud footsteps meant Ana was back at her doorway. Swiveling around, she almost burst out laughing at the sight of Ana waving her hands wildly.
“Before I go, is Dad doing okay?”
“He’s hanging in there, like always.”
“Good. I better go, Mom. I’m being paged. See you tonight.” Hanging up the phone, she took a breath and tried plastering on a patient expression. “Okay, Ana, I see you’re waiting for me. What’s up?”
“You haven’t even gone upstairs to meet with Mark yet! That gives you only twenty minutes with him before you need to leave. Otherwise, you won’t have time to get ready for your party.”
Stephanie picked up her iPhone and checked the time. “Plenty of time. Don’t worry about it.”
Ana puckered her mouth and tapped her foot again. Faster. “You would worry about it if you spent all the time I did doing the planning. I need you to go home and get sexy. You’re going to be on time if I personally have to go up to Mark’s office and yank you out of his meeting.”
Stephanie believed every word of Ana’s threat. Ana’s best—and worst—trait she always followed through.
“Why did Mark even bother making an appointment with you? So formal. Couldn’t he just walk himself down here?” Ana’s face was bright red, like a blown-up balloon. Over-inflated latex, waiting to explode.
It was high time to defuse this helium bomb.
Stephanie shrugged, hoping her “don’t worry about it” attitude would rub off. “Who knows why Mark does what he does? The day I figure him out, I’ll write it down in a handbook and distribute it to all Teleworld employees.”
“I’d like a copy.” Ana grumbled.
“You’ll be first on the list.”
“Excellent. I’ll put on rubber gloves while reading it to avoid the toxicity.” Ana’s tough talk disintegrated into bubbling enthusiasm for the upcoming party. “Speaking of lists, you never gave me your guest list. Are you inviting anyone special?” she asked with an exaggerated wink.
“No, Ana, I’m not,” Stephanie lied, trying once again to sound blasé. With luck, the blast of heat she felt engulfing her face wouldn’t betray her. She prayed she wasn’t radish red.
Fortunately, Ana seemed to interpret Stephanie’s blush as embarrassment for not having a date.
“Why not?” Ana demanded. “I don’t understand. You’re young. Pretty. Successful. What the hell is wrong with New York City men?”
Stephanie let out a big smile and shrugged again. “Thank you for that. That’s why I love you. But don’t worry about me so much. I’m going to have a great time tonight.”
Stephanie was proud of her firm delivery. It brought about the desired effect of having Ana close the door and head back to her desk. The desired effect wasn’t completely desirable, though. Ana was easy to talk to and always on her side. It was frustrating to not be able to tell her the truth.
Colin was almost giddy over his idea. Surprising her at the office was romantic. Fun. Would let her know he really did care. Besides, after four days away from her, it would be a good thing for him, too. He’d spent all that time down in Florida with the location crew, finishing up the decisions on the shots. Without any offense to the crew, they were a very poor substitute indeed. If he wanted to spend all his time with men, he would have never left the military.
Being without her was harder than he could have thought. And their good-bye was even worse. He was having a breakfast meeting with James when she came down to the hotel’s restau
rant to announce her limo had arrived. Having an audience gave them no leeway to do anything other than smile and wave. The pit he felt in his stomach as he watched her walk away was not caused by the hotel’s food.
She had texted him from her private iPhone when she was at the airport. It was going to be their way of communicating since texting and e-mailing each other via her work computers would subject them to Teleworld scrutiny. They’d Facetime each other when they could, too. The “ding” sound he heard whenever he got one of her messages tormented him until he was alone to read it.
‘Can’t wait to be with you again. Miss you so much! See you back in NYC,’ one of her texts had read.
His heart had beaten a little quicker at that. The fancy-pants New York TV exec really did want this down-home Texas guy. Good, because he sure as hell wanted her. He’d been half afraid that when she went back to the City, she’d remember the type of guy she should be with and dump him. He had started texting back: ‘No other place I’d rather be. Wait 4 me,’ but James walked by so Colin had to hide both his iPhone and his smile.
The elevator let out its own ding as it reached the twenty-first floor. He got off and walked down the long hall to the reception area. This whole relationship thing was new, but he was liking it. A whole lot, it turned out. It also turned out he was now an utter wuss. So much for his fighting days. He’d given up carrying a rifle to carry a plain brown paper bag hiding Godiva chocolates. Glad to know his covert operative skills still came in handy, he smiled to himself. He’d wanted to come with roses, but that would’ve broadcast their situation.
