Primitive Flame

by Lakes, Lynde

  Twenty minutes later, like two laughing children, they ran through the park looking for the tree with the most shade. They decided upon a huge shower tree with peach-colored blossoms and spread a blanket under it. When Cort held out his arms, Lani cuddled into them, comforted by their warmth.

  Now and then, blossoms drifted from above, showering them with softness. Lani dusted a petal from Cort’s golden hair. Before drifting off, she thought how wrong she’d been about his intentions. He was just a romantic at heart. It was natural to be in his arms, and it would be easy to spend the rest of her days and nights with this astonishing man. Life would never be dull.

  Her blissful gaze drifted seaward. In the distance, the dormant volcano, Koko Head, rose like a castle out of the sea. She’d heard Pele had lived there before Kilauea, that she’d stoked its fires until lava flooded the lands, killing many. Now she’d charred Butch. Dear God, who would she fry and turn to ashes next? What if just being with Cort increased the risk for him? No, Lani refused to even think that. She had to believe the visions were gone for good. And the danger. She snuggled closer to Cort, praying all would be well, fighting a tiny persistent fear that she hadn’t seen the last of Pele’s wrath.

  Chapter Twenty

  The soft meow woke Lani. A scraggly gray kitten brushed back and forth across her hand. In the distance, laughter and happy voices came from other park-goers. She tried to unwrap herself from Cort’s strong arms, but he held her trapped against his body. Good, he seemed to be stirring. No, a dream held him. His body twitched. His breathing was rapid. Lani’s cheeks burned as she imagined the substance of his dream. He gave a little moan, his body quit twitching and his breathing returned to normal.

  When his hold loosened, Lani seized the opportunity to escape. As she eased out of Cort’s arms, he opened his eyes. His long lashes, clumped together in tiny dark, gold-tipped fans, shaded sea-green eyes with a faraway look in them. Her heart pounded. Even disoriented, he looked far too sexy.

  Rather than give in to the impulse to touch his rugged, unshaven jaw line, she grabbed up the kitten and placed it in her lap.

  Cort stretched and his clothing shifted, hinting at the long muscles that flexed underneath. “Good morning, gorgeous.”

  “Wrong, sleepyhead,” she said, smiling. “It’s noon.”

  He propped himself up on an elbow and raked windblown hair from his forehead. “Really? I slept great.” He winked. “Even dreamed about you.”

  Lani swallowed, unable to get Cort’s erotic moans out of her mind. She busied herself trying to smooth the matted coat of the purring kitten.

  “Who do we have here?” Cort took the kitten gently from Lani’s lap and stroked its rumpled fur. It looked so tiny in his massive hands. Cort held the kitten at eye level. “You’re a cute little guy.”

  “Poor thing must’ve been dumped here during the night,” Lani said. “Left to fend for himself.” Her bond to the kitten deepened. At least she’d had her foster folks. The kitty had no one.

  “He’s too unkempt to be a fresh dump,” Cort said, examining the kitten.

  “Not if he was neglected by his former owner.”

  A flash of anger rose in Cort’s eyes. “I’d like ten minutes with the guy. I could clue him in…fast…on the proper treatment of pets.” After a moment, his gaze softened and he grinned. “Enough of that. What about you? Did you sleep well?”

  “Better than I have in a long time.” Here with Cort, she wasn’t plagued with visions or nightmares. She shuddered, thinking about tonight when she’d be alone in the isolated house. “I feel ridiculous sitting here in a cocktail dress. Could we go now?”

  “You’re a good sport. I like that about you. Truth is, I’m uncomfortable too. Let’s grab our swimsuits and go to the beach. How about throwing a picnic together?”

  A laugh rippled from her throat. “Are you serious?”

  Cort’s grin lit up his whole face. “Sure, we’ll have a marathon date. I’ve never done that before, have you?” His eyes glinted with playfulness.

  “Never.” She shook her head, amazed by his endurance. “Don’t you ever get tired?”

  He laughed. “I just slept. Now I’m raring to go. And you just admitted to the best night’s sleep you’d had in a long time.”

  “Walked right into that one, didn’t I? Okay, why not?” The more she thought about a picnic at the beach, the better it sounded.

  “Good,” Cort said. “It’s settled, then.” The kitten nuzzled Cort as he brought it up to his chest. “I think we’ve made a friend. Let’s take him with us. We can flip for who gets custody.”

  During the drive to Grandfather’s house, Lani couldn’t stop smiling. The idea of a marathon date, the antics of the kitten, and the zany names Cort suggested for the sweet little ball of fur brought joy to her heart.

  “Maybe a better name would be Hobo, or Harpo,” Cort said. “He’s too little to be named Hippo.”

  Lani sent Cort a sideways glance. “None of those will do, silly. He deserves a special name, something like Prince or King, but better than that.”

  Even after they stood facing each other in Grandfather’s kitchen, they still hadn’t decided upon a name. “I guess the poor kitten will remain nameless, since we can’t agree.” Cort and the kitten had helped her to set aside her worries. “Make yourself at home,” she said. “I’ll get changed.”

  By the time Lani returned to the kitchen, Cort had fed and cleaned up the kitten. Bless him. He was not only fun, but also helpful. And he shared her love for animals. She liked that—liked it a lot.

  Cort looked up and whistled. “Wild bikini.”

  She blushed. She’d never dared to wear this suit in front of anyone before, but her more modest suit had been ripped from her and ruined.

  “Thanks.” She belted her white beach robe, but it fell open again as she pulled a basket from a lower cupboard shelf. “We can pack our food in this.” She opened the refrigerator. “Come help me decide what to take with us.”

  Cort leaned against the frame of the doorway and crossed his arms. “I’d better stay over here.”

  Lani turned and met his gaze. “Why?”

  “The two of us alone. You in that white bikini. Like a lit match and dynamite.”

  He stared at her, his eyes admiring, caressing. Her nipples hardened and strained against her bra top. She pulled her terry robe closed and belted it tight. “Better?”

  “Depends how you define better.” He came close. His thumbs stroked her collarbone, while his breath feathered over her temple, her ear. The nearness of this marvelous archetype of raging testosterone sent her senses reeling. It was up to her to back away. Her body didn’t want to, but she had to stay in control. She couldn’t allow her heart to reign until she found out why, even before they’d met, Cort had invaded her dreams.

  He kissed her neck, sending warm sensations rippling over her skin. With supreme effort, she stepped out of reach. “Remember, we’re on our way to the beach.”

  Cort’s eyes clouded with disappointment, but he laughed. “I’m a patient man.”

  He kept a respectful distance while he helped her prepare the food and load it into the basket. It didn’t help. Her awareness of him and her own desire thundered between them.

  On the way to the beach, they stopped at Cort’s apartment so he could change and pick up a small Styrofoam ice chest. Big mistake. They couldn’t stay away from each other. For a few moments, while his breath stirred her hair and he dipped his head to kiss the arch of her neck, Lani weakened and let him slip his hands up under her robe. Her skin burned from his touch. Oh, God. The fire in his fingers awakened her senses to the danger point. Using all her willpower, she untangled herself from his arms and arched an insistent eyebrow. “We’re going to the beach, Cort, now!”

  He laughed. “Okay, okay.”

  Before they left, she made a quick trip to the bathroom and pulled a pair of walking shorts from her beach bag and slipped them on over her swimsuit. She should ha
ve done that before she left her house. With the fiery heat between them, prancing around half naked could lead to only one thing.

  They passed the Porsche in the driveway and approached the open garage. “We’re not taking the car,” he said as he uncovered the largest motorcycle she’d ever seen.

  A Harley! Excitement bubbled in her chest. Cort strapped the picnic basket and the small Styrofoam ice chest to a steel rack attached to the rear fender.

  Lani couldn’t help it. She grinned like a child at her first Christmas. She wanted to dance in riotous abandon, yet she stood there, stunned. This responsible, grounded man had a daring side she loved. A Harley-riding pilot who played with bubbles greatly appealed to her. The more she learned about Cort, the more he proved himself to be the kind of man she’d always dreamed of.

  They put on helmets. Beneath hers, her long hair dangled down her back. Following Cort’s instructions, she wrapped her arms around his waist and sandwiched herself between him and their picnic cargo. She pressed her face against the back of his shirt and inhaled the scent of cotton and sun-kissed, virile male.

  He kicked the chrome and steel to life, and they lurched forward and sped down the road, her robe batting in the breeze. Her decision to slip on the shorts had been a good one.

  Cort owns a Harley! She rested her head against his back and hugged his waist. He owns a Harley!

  “Scared?” he shouted over his shoulder.

  “No. Love it.”

  The vibration of the powerful machine between her thighs and the feel of the tips of her hair batting wildly in the salty breeze excited Lani to a fevered pitch. Her body, the solid feel of Cort’s lean waist in her grip, and the Harley melded into one dynamic force that took her breath away.

  Lani pressed tighter against Cort, hungrily absorbing his heat, his strength. As they took the corners, his back muscles flexed against her breasts, alerting her nipples. His thigh tensed, sending pulses to the inside of her leg. Her heart pounded. The reckless, dangerous feeling of flying down the road behind Cort with the wind thrashing against her skin was an aphrodisiac. She didn’t want the ride to end. But it did—at a crowded beach.

  They dismounted laughing. Cort secured his Harley, then they edged their way through the throngs of people to the least populated section.

  Cort moved with masculine agility as they laid out their blanket and secured it on one end with the picnic basket and the other with the ice chest.

  He searched her face. “How’d you like the ride?”

  Should she tell him she’d always fantasized about motorcycles? Better not. After all, her fantasies were really about the kind of man who rode one, not the Harley itself.

  “Fine,” she quipped.

  An easy grin curved his lips. “Just fine, not great?”

  She laughed. “Okay, great.” She lowered her eyes and began to dig through the picnic basket. “Want a sandwich?”

  “How about a swim first?”

  He pulled his tee shirt over his head, sending those gorgeous muscles into rippling play. A man with such a tanned well-formed physique deserved some sort of body beautiful award.

  “Your verdict?” he asked.

  “What?” She couldn’t seem to tear her gaze from his deep, wide chest and broad shoulders. Had he caught her appreciative appraisal?

  His amused grin revealed he had. “Swim?” he repeated.

  “Oh.” She swallowed to moisten her dry mouth. “Sounds good.” Just what she needed—to submerge herself in lots of cold, cold water. “I’ll race you!” She stripped off her robe and walking shorts and ran toward the water.

  “Hey, your necklace!” he shouted.

  “Never take it off,” she called over her shoulder.

  The air stirred as Cort passed her. “Never?” he asked.

  “Never!” Lani wondered why her answer made her feel a little wild and deliciously seductive. She followed as he dived into a breaking wave. She came to the surface blurry-eyed, but her eyesight quickly cleared. Cort headed outward from shore in long powerful strokes. He stopped and treaded water, beckoning her to follow.

  He’d gone out farther than Lani had first realized. That was okay. If he could do it, so could she. She swam until she approached him. He reached for her. They treaded water together until her panting and gasping eased. Soon, her heartbeat and breathing returned to normal.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  When she nodded, he put his lips tenderly against hers and pulled her under water with him.

  After a few moments, they both surfaced, gasping and laughing. In spite of the cool water surrounding her, the kiss inflamed her body. She was in water over her head in more ways than one. She shook herself loose and swam out of his reach. Cort treaded water, watching her with a self-assured grin. They both knew he could overtake her whenever he wanted.

  He swam in the other direction, floated a while, and swam again. She was convinced he was only pretending to have lost interest in the game and steeled herself for his next maneuver. He dove under the water. Seconds went by. He didn’t resurface. Her stomach knotted. She swam toward where she’d last seen him. She treaded water there, scanning the surface of cresting water and rolling waves. No sign of him.

  The old woman’s raspy warning played in Lani’s head: He’ll die if you don’t save him. Had the dreams misled her? What if the danger wasn’t fire, but water?

  She had to get help. Before Lani could turn and kick toward shore, large strong hands grabbed her around the waist and pulled her under, where Cort’s waiting lips found hers. They rose to the surface, his lips still clinging to hers. Lani gasped for air. She caught her breath, then struggled, trying to get out of his hold. “Don’t ever do that again!”

  “Kiss you?”

  “Don’t play dumb. You scared me half to death.” Her fear of harm coming to him had been too real. “I was afraid you’d drowned.”

  Cort stared at her with a troubled expression. “Just part of the game, didn’t mean to upset you.” He brought her close and kissed her again. “Still mad at me?”

  Lani shook her head. Although unnerved, she had to let it go. She’d already made too much of it. She headed toward the shore. “Let’s eat.”

  A quick, infectious grin lit his face. “Food will do. For now.”

  They swam side by side. When they touched bottom, Lani flicked water toward him. He grabbed her around the waist and lifted her above his shoulders. Then ever so slowly, he lowered her against his body. When her mouth was even with his, he kissed her. Her body was on fire. She had to slow this down. They were on a public beach for heaven’s sake. She broke away and ran, Cort only a step behind.

  She heard his footsteps slap the wet sand and felt herself being swept off her feet again into his arms. She squealed and nuzzled her head into his neck as her arms encircled it. Their laughter carried on the breeze, swirling around her like a cocoon of happiness, their earlier tense moment forgotten.

  After lowering her to the blanket, Cort sat down next to her. The healthy exertion had left her breathing heavily and feeling energized, but it was Cort’s nearness that set her heart pounding. When he reached past her, his arm brushed hers and their gaze met as he handed her one of the towels. Pretending to ignore the sparks his touch elicited, she busied herself toweling her hair and body. “That was wonderful. I feel so alive.”

  Cort continued to stare at her, looking into her soul again. There was no way to hide how much she already cared. She might as well carry a sign saying, I love you. Please don’t trample on my heart.

  He crouched to pull Pepsis out of the ice chest, and Lani began laying out the food.

  “I have to spend the night at the construction site tonight,” he said, offering her a Pepsi. “I’m expecting early morning deliveries of materials. Wanna keep me company?”

  Her heart skipped a beat. She took the Pepsi automatically, barely aware of the icy can in her hand. “What about the stop order?”

  “I sent for these materials ove
r a month ago. Too late to cancel.” Cort took a long swig of Pepsi. “Besides, our legal beagles expect to have this matter cleared up in a few days so we can resume work.”

  She touched her lava stone necklace, which felt hot and pulsated beneath her fingers. Her throat tightened, but somehow she managed to speak. “What about the artifacts and sacred bones?”

  “Let’s not get into that and spoil our afternoon.”

  “We should be able to discuss anything.” Lani knew they could never discuss this dispassionately.

  His lips thinned to a stubborn line. “For the hundredth time, there’s no proof of anything on the site.”

  “You won’t be able to say that when Kohea finishes his digging.”

  Cort downed his Pepsi, closed his hand over the can, and crushed it in the middle. “You’re blind on this subject.”

  Her laugh sounded hollow, but she didn’t care. “Yet I’m the only one who can see what’s really there. The final report will open your eyes.”

  A pulse throbbed at Cort’s temple. “I suppose this means you don’t want to go with me?”

  She wanted to say “Yes, of course I’ll go with you,” but instead she said, “How can I make you understand how important this is to me? To the Hawaiian people?”

  “Understanding goes two ways. Until there’s proof, I have a job to do. Now, do you want to go or not?”

  “I can’t.”

  Cort shrugged, and looked toward the breaking waves. “Forget it then.” He closed his arms across his knees.

  She wished the site wasn’t an obstacle between them. To stay busy, Lani made up two plates of food and handed one to Cort. He stared at her for a long moment, his pupils pinpoints of tightly contained anger. Finally, he took the plate. “Thanks,” he muttered.

  They didn’t discuss the site anymore, as if they’d made a silent pact to avoid the subject. They stayed at the beach until after sunset. By the time they returned to Lani’s house, darkness had closed over the valley. Cort waited in the doorway until she turned on the lights.

  He jingled his keys and shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “I have to go.” His voice sounded curt, impatient. “We both could use a good night’s sleep.”