They passed through another wooded area. Effie gazed up, watching the sky between the boughs.
“That’s really pretty,” she said.
“What’s that?”
“Light through tree branches. Sometimes, when I’m on the student green, studying, I’ll look up at the sky through the branches. I love the way it looks, especially when the sun is overhead.” She smiled. Held tight in his arms, it felt wonderful to be so close to him—wonderful, strange, and a little scary.
“I’ll make an adventurer out of you yet, Ms. D’Archangel.”
“I’m not so sure about that,” she said. “I didn’t read that in the contract.”
“It’s in the fine print,” he said, smirking.
They exited the trees and came to a river bank. Gently, Zander set Effie down. “What do you think of this?”
She gazed at an oasis of still water, surrounded by trees and boulders. Across the river, in the distance, loomed a mountain being kissed by the late day sun.
“It’s beautiful,” she breathed.
“I think the cool water will soothe your blister. Let’s take a look at your ankle. Sit.”
“I said, I’m not a baby.” She glared at him.
“No, you said you’re not a child.” He glared back at her.
“Whatever. I don’t need help.” She waved her hand.
“You’re going to get my help whether you want it or not, Ms. D’Archangel.” His hands landed on his hips. “The great outdoors demands respect. Even a blister can affect an encounter in the wilderness,” he said as if he were a tour guide.
“Fine,” she said.
“Thank you,” he said, his eyebrows pinched together.
She settled on a rock about a yard from the water and proceeded to take off her shoes and socks.
Zander stooped before her and grasped one of her ankles, lifting it before him. He sucked in his breath as he regarded her blistered heel. “That sucks, Ms. D’Archangel. Make a note to let your adventure partner know if this happens again, deal?”
“Deal.” Her thrill at his statement of adventures with him warred with her dislike of anything adventurous.
Carefully, he placed her foot back on the ground. “You up for a swim? I’m sure the cool water will soothe you.”
He shrugged out of his backpack, setting it on the sandy shore. Next, his shirt came off.
She inhaled sharply at his solid abdomen and chest. Then, she glanced at his bionic arm. It extended just over his elbow. Her gaze floated back to his muscled chest then up to his face.
He studied her, his eyes slightly narrowed. His head was back-lit by the waning sun, creating shadows on his features.
“What?” she said. “I may be a sugar baby, but can’t I appreciate your good looks?”
He briefly bit his lip, then, smiled. “Only if I can do the same. Do you have something to swim in?”
Although she’d had the good sense to wear clean underwear, it hardly qualified as swimwear. Still, Haley had told her to do his bidding.
“Sort of.” Shyly, she shrugged out of her coat and removed her shirt, laying it on the rock.
He glanced at it, then snatched it from the stone with crisp, sharp movements. Grimly, he stared at the label.
“Fucking ArcTix One,” he muttered. “Where did you get this?”
“It’s…it’s Haley’s,” she stammered.
“Tell Haley I’ll give her a new shirt.”
“But…” She protested.
“I’ll buy her fifty new ones, I promise.”
“She doesn’t need fifty new shirts.”
“Good, then she won’t need this one.” He bunched it up and threw it in the sand.
Effie stared down at the shirt, uncertain what to say.
He unbuttoned his jeans and unzipped. Then, he peeled off his pants, revealing rock solid legs extending from his tight boxers. The boxers hugged an impressive looking package.
Rajesh, of The Big Bang Theory, someone she’d fantasized about a time or two, faded like a watercolor sunset in her mind.
Zander cocked his head and studied her in that damned way he’d done several times already.
What is he waiting for? Compliments? Effie blinked and swallowed, feeling herself grow wet. Holy shit. The guy is hot. She inhaled deeply and blew out a long, slow breath. “You’re incredibly handsome.” While I’m incredibly geeky, like a newborn colt.
His expression softened. “And, a jerk. Sorry about the tantrum. It’s a long story.” He shook his head. “Let’s leave it with I had a really bad day. All I wanted to do was get away with you, but you, unknowingly, wore a reminder of something that happened earlier. I apologize.”
Her heart melted. “It’s okay. I have bad days, too.”
She turned away from him and removed her t-shirt. Then, she slid her jeans down her legs. Hugging herself with her arms, she pivoted to face him, clad in nothing but a sports bra and boy shorts underwear.
His eyes widened. A brilliant grin split his face. “Ready to get wet?”
“Um,” she said, glancing at the water behind him.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” Without another word, he scooped her into his arms and carried her into the river.
She squealed.
“It’s going to be cold. Get ready.” He waded deeper, splashing her as he progressed.
The icy water pebbled her nipples, causing them to poke through her sports bra. Her boy shorts clung to her skin. She clutched Zander’s neck, terrified to let go.
He forged ahead until his waist was at the waterline and her butt was submerged. “Here we go.” His grin grew as he fell backward, holding her against him.
Being dragged into the water was the last thing she expected. And the first thing to reveal her incompetence in the fucking great outdoors.
Chapter 9
Effie
Effie gasped, held in Zander’s grip as her head submerged in the Skykomish River. Gasping was the wrong thing to do, as she sucked in a lungful of water. Her arms and legs waved wildly.
Zander popped to the surface, dragging her with him. “Are you all right?”
She coughed so hard she couldn’t answer him.
“Oh, shit.” He scooped her into his arms again, like she was some stupid helpless female, and scrambled out of the water onto the smooth-stoned shore.
Effie continued to cough and wheeze.
“Are you trying to kill me?” she finally managed.
“You’re on to me.” His gaze simmered with intensity. “I can see the headlines. A billionaire pays for a sugar baby, then drowns her to get out of his contract.” He swung her onto the ground. “Let me guess. You can’t swim, right?”
“Not really. I can dog-paddle like a Labrador.” Shame bruised her face.
“Shit. You should have told me.” His gaze darkened.
Tears pricked at her eyes. “I’m sorry. I suck at sugar babying.”
“Shh, don’t say that. You’re a fine sugar baby.”
She began to shiver. “No, I really suck. I’m sorry,” she repeated.
Zander probably hates that he picked me.
“Maybe it’s me who sucks, have you thought of that? I never got a sugar daddy rule book because I never in a million years thought I’d ever resort to having one.” He threw his hand over his head, his voice rising. “This ‘pay for dates things…’” His words trailed off, and he pounded his fists against his forehead, gritting his teeth.
“It sucks,” she said.
“You got that right.” He huffed out a huge breath of air. “Look.” He turned to face her. “You’ve got to communicate with me. The outdoors—it’s been my playground for years. But, Mama Nature plays by her own rules. And communicating with your adventure partner is rule number one.” He pushed a strand of hair away from her face. “Rule number two, should you break rule number one, is listen to your body. Your body, not mine. Adventuring is the ultimate act of centering. You’ve got to be able to trust yourself. Got it?”
“
I’m sorry,” she said. Her education dangled in her mind on a thread stretched thin, about to break.
“Stop saying that. Sit. You’re cold. Let me warm you up.” He stepped toward his backpack, unzipped it, and retrieved a quilted thermal jacket. He strode next to her, backpack and jacket in hand, and dropped the pack in the dirt. Then, he held the jacket open for her.
She slid her arms into the holes, her body shaking with cold.
“Thank you,” she stuttered.
The jacket fit perfectly. And, it looked brand new, so it hadn’t been worn before, as far as she could tell.
He stooped to fish in his pack again.
While she waited, perched on the hard rock, she glanced at the small tag in the seam near the bottom of the coat. It read EXcape Adventure Gear.
Of course. I wonder if ArtcTix One is a rival?
When he stood again, he held a pair of thermal leggings and a thermos.
“Put these on,” he said, handing her the pants.
“Thank you,” she stammered again, her teeth still chattering. Once the clothes were in place, she hunched over for warmth.
He unscrewed the thermos and poured hot tea into the lid.
Mmm, peppermint.
After handing her the tea, he settled next to her. He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to drown you. I got excited about being in the river again. It’s been a while.”
She sipped the tea, relaxing into the warmth filling her belly. “I should have told you. I’m not exactly comfortable in the water.”
“Yes,” he said. “That would have been good to know.” He released her, retrieved a flask from his backpack, unscrewed it, and took a swig. Then, holding the flask in his left hand, he placed his right arm around her shoulders once more.
She glanced at him, eying the flask, and then his body. She thought of asking him why he liked to drink so much but it wasn’t her place to judge. She’d just scored a fortune, saving her education and her dreams. But, if she kept up with her clumsiness, that check he wrote could be history. “Aren’t you cold?”
His nipples were hard nibs.
“I’m okay. I’ll put something on after I’ve warmed you.” He took another swig. “I have to ask you this. I need to know more about you if we’re to pursue this ridiculous sugar thing.”
Her breath caught in her throat. This is it. I’m about to be dumped.
“Do you hate the wilderness?” He cocked his head, a serious expression coloring his features.
“I hate sports. I’m not familiar with the wilderness, is all.”
He frowned.
“I’m sorry, but I guess you need to know the truth about me, so you can decide whether I’m a decent sugar baby. I’ve never done anything remotely like this in my life, except maybe when I was ten or something. My family occasionally liked to picnic by the river or at the park. But mostly they struggled to pay the bills. I was overprotected, though, so not encouraged to get dirty or play outdoors. Maybe they feared medical bills, or…” She shrugged. “Anyway, I read a lot or did science experiments in my room.”
“Science experiments?” Zander’s eyebrows raised.
“Yeah. Dad hated being poor. He knew I had a lot of curiosity rolling through my mind. I always wonder what makes things tick. So, he brought home cheap stuff from GBS…I mean, Giant Box Savings, so I could learn about the world. Like, Diet Coke and Menthos makes an awesome volcano.” She chuckled. “Or, corn flour and water make some realistic quicksand. I had fun with Dad when he wasn’t stressed about bills.” She paused, gauging his reaction. Zander seems interested, or he fronts well. “But, back to sports. When I reached high school, I was often ridiculed in gym class. Picked last for every sport. Guys rolled their eyes at me when I’d be chosen for their team. Girls groaned. It was humiliating.” And here’s where he ends things.
Instead, he pulled her closer, surprising her.
“I know what it’s like to be ridiculed.” He fixed a serious gaze on her.
“You do?” Her head jerked back in astonishment. “Come on. You’re handsome and rich.”
“Yeah,” he said, lifting his bionic hand. “This thing doesn’t fly in some circles.”
“That’s so stupid. You didn’t ask for a prosthesis. I doubt you woke up one day and said, ‘Hey, great idea. Let’s go out and damage my forearm, so I have to get a prosthesis.’ People can be shit-heads, you know? I hear it all the time. ‘That Effie is a loser. A geek.’ Nerd. Dork. Freak. Weirdo. I’ve heard them all. Last year two guys—Todd and Roy, those boys who wanted your autograph—challenged each other to ask me out. Of course, they chickened out. All cock-sure, athletic. They can’t handle the fact that I’m smart. I love to learn new things. I love all my studies. I’m a straight-A student. I don’t let their insults get to me.”
Zander tightened his grip on her.
She sneaked a glance at him as she finished her tea.
He had his eyes closed. When he opened them, he said, “People do suck, sometimes. You seem like a compassionate individual, however. You’re unlike most people. And I don’t think you hate sports. You simply haven’t found one you clicked with yet. You’re probably so tired of being judged you’ve never bothered to explore a physical activity. I predict you’ll find one.”
His lack of judgment bewildered her. This wasn’t the reaction she’d expected.
“Maybe you’re right,” she said.
He trained his liquid gaze on her. She let herself be caught in those beautiful eyes. A small voice in the back of her mind said, “Run, Effie, run. He’s going to chew you up like cheap lunchmeat and leave you for his Number One.”
He reached his real hand around and cupped her chin. He stroked her cheek with his thumb.
Fireworks began to detonate inside. Is he going to…kiss me?
He tipped her jaw up and lowered his mouth to hers.
The kiss was tentative at first, a warm exploration.
As Effie yielded to him, he became more insistent, letting his tongue dart in and out of her mouth.
She melted into a pool of bliss. Never in her life had she been kissed like this. Never, ever, ever. Those whispering warnings kept insistently telling her, “You’re kissing the enemy. You’re kissing an HMM.” The intensity of the kiss burned the warnings into ash.
He tasted of liquor and river. Sky and woods. Possibility and tragedy.
His hand slid up her jacket, finding its way to her right breast. He massaged it, fingering her nipple through her sports bra.
She gasped, still connected to his lips. Her hands went around his back. She explored his muscles and skin, smooth and solid in places, and covered with a light sprinkling of hair in others.
When they broke apart, she felt more aroused than she’d been in her life.
“It’s getting dark,” he said, fingering her cheek.
She glanced at the dusky sky, her insides ablaze. “I hadn’t noticed.”
He rose and snagged his clothes off the rock. Then, he turned his back to her, but not before she caught a glimpse of his straining erection. The tip peeked out of his waistband.
My god. It’s ginormous.
He kept his back to her as he dressed.
Is he upset? Sorry he kissed me? She fingered her mouth which still sizzled from the lip-on-lip contact.
When clothed, he turned to the river and stared at it, hands on his hips.
Effie hunched forward, fearing the worst. He’s deciding to stop this ridiculous sugar thing.
Finally, after several long, awkward minutes, he pivoted to face her.
“Effie,” he said.
“What?” she whispered.
“About our contract,” he said.
She braced herself for the fall. “What about it?”
“I…” He closed his mouth and shook his head. “Never mind. Would you like to come home with me?”
Imaginary wings affixed themselves to her back. She thought she might fly into the sky.
Zander still wants me. But, then another dirty thought slithered into her brain. Of course, he wants me. He paid for my services.
“I figure I should feed you and get you warm before taking you home,” he said, in a matter of fact way.
Her wings drooped. Feed me and warm me like a puppy. This is still a contract, after all.
“Sure,” she said, remembering her edict to please. “That would be nice.”
I’m certain this will be our final date before he sends me packing. And then, how will I finance my education?
Chapter 10
Zander
Zander sat in the limo, next to Effie, his mind in a tangled twist. He really liked her…as in starting to crush, hard. She had sass. Strength. He knew it was too soon to have feelings like this, but he couldn’t help himself. Clearly, she was in a different level than Trisha, or anyone else he’d dated for that matter. Smarts, compassion, a gorgeous body and face—she had it all. Well, everything except a love for the outdoors, but I have a plan. I intend to introduce her to my world.
He blinked, realizing he called it “my world.” Not “my past.”
“You want anything to drink? Eat? I’ve got snacks in here.” He flipped his hand toward the mini-bar.
She smiled and shook her head.
“Are you okay? You’ve been stone silent for the last twenty minutes.” He forgot himself and ran his bio-hand through his hair, wincing when a few strands caught on the metallic finger joints.
“I’m fine. I’m looking forward to seeing where you live,” Effie said, politely.
“This isn’t an interview,” he barked.
Her face fell, and he cringed.
“I’m sorry…,” she began.
He cut her off with a groan. “Please don’t apologize for my jerk outbursts. I’m the one who’s sorry.”
A slight smile played at the corners of her pretty mouth.
He toyed with the idea of pulling her close and kissing her until she couldn’t think straight—until he couldn’t think straight—but resisted. His mouth felt dry. He started to reach for his backpack to retrieve his flask of whiskey but thought better of it. I should slow down with the drink.
Sugar Love Page 8
