Raul was strapping the men’s hand to the roll bar of the jeep. “You can’t do this. You’re not law enforcement,” the mouthy one named Paul said.
“And you’re not in the United States . Welcome to Ecuador .” Raul smiled and pulled the strap tight. “I’m sure the magistrate will be most interested in your vacation plans. As will his brother who runs the local cartel. Hope you boys have a lot of vacation accrued because I wouldn’t be surprised if you extended your stay in our country by ten to fifteen years.”
Raul turned to Nick and winked. Miguel’s brother did run the local cartel but the only thing he would do was confiscate the drugs for his brother and put the Americans on the first flight out of Quito . Dead tourists caused a lot of questions—something Miguel wanted to avoid.
Paul kicked the back of the seat and swore while his other two companions looked as if they were going to cry.
Leigh had retrieved her duffle bag and moved to stand next to Nick. Once again the faint smell of strawberries tickled his senses.
“You need to head out if you’re going to make first camp by sunset,” Raul said. “We’ve got this.”
Nick looked down at Leigh and again felt himself falling into the blue pools of her eyes. Before he could stop himself, he wondered what color they became when she was peaking in pleasure. Shit.
“Ms. Ronaldson, take your bag down to the docks, I need to grab something from my quarters.”
“Leigh. That’s my first name.” She smiled. “Please use it.”
Only when I’m fucking you, he thought and pivoted on his toes.
~* * *~
Leigh walked down to the water’s edge. What had she been thinking? She shuddered at her request for Nick to use her first name. Clearly, he wasn’t interested in her. The way he kept calling her Ms. Ronaldson with the same tone someone would use when talking to their grade school teacher, confirming what Rayna and David believed. She was the most boring person in the world.
If she had any common sense, she’d turn and run back to the jeep. But that was the problem; she had too much common sense. No one thought she was capable of doing anything adventurous or rash.
Dropping her bag on the sand, she turned and watched Nick approach. He was handsome in a harsh, rugged way with a body anyone else could only achieve through Photoshop, and he lived in a jungle. She smiled. Nothing practical or routine about him. She’d show Rayna and David. Not only was she going on an adventure, but she was going to screw the adventure.
She had no delusions that she was a walking sex target but she wasn’t someone’s Great-Aunt Mildred either. And if there was one thing she excelled at, it was setting a goal, making a plan, and then following it. Overachievement was her middle name.
Nick scooped up her bag and dropped it, two backpacks, a case of bottled water, and his duffle on to a small raft. She watched him methodically strap the items in and cover them with a tarp. While she could appreciate his attention to the details even after doing the same task countless times, it was the view of his backside she truly admired. She hadn’t had a lot of sex partners—only two before David—but the desire pulsing through her body at the moment exceeded any they had been able to churn up.
“Ready?” he asked.
“You have no idea,” she muttered and climbed into the kayak he held for her.
“On your application, you said you had some experience. Now would be the time to say otherwise. Once we’re in the river we need to maneuver the current. Not the ideal time for a beginner’s lesson.”
“I know the basics, like I said. I will need instructions for the rapids.”
“None on today’s leg so you can get familiar with the kayak and the way it handles in the river. We’ll discuss those techniques in the morning.”
He leaned in to flip the hatch shut to secure her in the kayak. She bent over as if to watch him, making sure her breasts pressed into his shoulder. Nick’s sharp intake of air told her seducing him would be easier than she had planned.
Dangerous Men, Dangerous Places
Chapter Four
Drifting in the kayak, Leigh took in the lush, green vegetation. The late morning air hummed with the perfectly blended melody of insects and birds. An occasional monkey screeched overhead for an emphasized reminder she was an intruder in this piece of heaven. Peace filled her as she drew a deep breath of the humid air.
Glancing over at Nick, she smiled. As she worked out the details for her plan to seduce him, her pulsed raced. It was really an ideal opportunity. She’d never been sexually bold due to the fear of the consequences. Not that she wanted to pick up a different man every night but just wanted to experiment with the one she had. Do a strip tease, or a lap dance during the commercial break, or slipping body paints into his jacket pocket with the note saying let’s make art. To be one of the women in Cosmopolitan magazine. But the voices of insecurity and her grandmother stopped her. Ruth, her grandmother, had loved her fiercely. Her parent’s death when she was six was a horrible thing, but she never felt an absence of love. When her grandmother took custody, she poured everything she had into Leigh. Ruth, however, was practical to an OCD level and some of it took root in Leigh. Practical didn’t shimmy around in a maid outfit without any panties.
She shifted in the kayak as continued ideas for sex play kept racing through her mind, sending blood rushing to the area between her legs.
“To your left is a capybara waterhole,” Nick said. His deep voice blended in with the wildness of the jungle and increased the shivers of lust dancing down her spine as Tarzan fantasies now started to blossom. She studied the riverbank. “They are the world’s largest rodents.”
“I read they can weigh up to one-hundred and fifty pounds,” she added scanning the placid water. “When they're in the water it’s nearly impossible to detect them because only their ears and eyes poke above the surface.”
“You researched the capybara?”
The surprise in his voice made her turn to look at him. “Yes, I did extensive research on all the animals that inhabit this area of the Amazon.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Most guests come hoping to see a jaguar and can spout facts about them. You’re the first to have taken an interest in the capybara.”
She studied him to see if she could pick up any trace of mockery but found none. The tension in his face had lessened to the point that his lips almost formed a smile. His eyelids drooped, giving his ash gray eyes a bedroom appeal. As she held his gaze, she thought she could be as wild as the jungle during the next eight-days. What were the consequences? None. There was no chance of running into him at the supermarket or attending the same professional events. No awkward moments because he started dating a friend.
Time to begin the seduction. “The temperature is climbing,” she commented, hoping she didn’t sound dumb. Being a tease wasn’t something she’d ever done.
“There are several bottles of water packed in ice in the hatch behind you.”
“Thanks.” She pulled her shirt off and turned to open the hatch. Women often wore the style of sports bra she had on without a shirt but she never had. She felt her breasts were too large and honestly, she’d never had courage.
Now she hoped her gut was right and Nick found her sexually appealing or it was going to be a very disappointing seven nights. Stuffing the shirt in the hatch, she turned and opened the bottle of water. While his jaw wasn't in the river, it was hitting the side of the kayak and she couldn't be positive but she thought he moaned.
She bit her lip to keep from smiling. If only Rayna could see her know. She was about to have sex with Tarzan.
~* * *~
Nick’s dick hardened so quickly, he groaned before he could catch himself. What the hell was wrong with him? It was a sports bra. He’d taken tours where the women wore bikini tops with less material than one of his socks and never developed an erection.
There was something entirely different about Leigh Ronaldson. The moment he saw her standing beside the plan
e, he felt an attraction. Fucking wonderful, he was either turning into some creepy stalker or his dad. After seven kids and forty plus years of marriage, Tony and Maria's love remained an unshakeable constant. His dad said the day he saw Maria, he knew the dark haired woman held his heart and completed his soul. Nick thought it was a line of horseshit his dad used to woo Maria. Two of his sisters and one brother however swore they had found the same deal.
“Oh,” Leigh gasped and drew Nick’s attention away from her full breasts. “They’re beautiful,” she whispered pulling her camera free.
While he found her breast beautiful, he doubted that was what she was talking about. Five pink dolphins circled around the kayaks. Nick smiled at the sight of Leigh clicking her camera with the same expression on her face as a kid on Christmas morning. “I usually offer a brief snippet of information on them, but I have a feeling you already know.”
She looked up and he noticed a faint dimple in her left cheek created by the wide smile. “I know I’m a geek.”
“We need to pick-up our pace if we’re going to make the campsite before nightfall.” He replied, wondering if there was anything this woman could do that he wouldn’t find an incredible turn-on.
She nodded and put the camera away. “After seeing the same stretch of the river for years, does it become mundane? Because I’m thinking I would get excited every time I saw dolphins, and the beauty of the riverbank would leave me in awe. ”
“The Amazon is always revealing something new. During my last tour, I saw for the first time a new species of frog.”
“The only new thing that happens with my job is when a manufacture comes up with a different shape or flavor of dog treat. I’m the queen of boring.”
Nick laughed. “So far, I’ve found you to be anything but boring.” What were rules for if not to break? Besides, it was just him and her. Who would know if they fucked?
Dangerous Men, Dangerous Places
Chapter Five
“The campsite is up to the left.” Nick motioned with his paddle. “Start working your way over, I’m going ahead so I can pull you ashore.”
They had been on the river for over six hours, and Leigh still was amazed by the vivid color. It was as if the rest of the world was cloaked by a veil of fog but here it was lifted making everything crisper and bolder. She turned her attention back to Nick. The muscles in his shoulders rippled as he forcefully stroked toward the bank. Sighing, she dug out her camera and clicked a few pictures of her Tarzan. Rayna would never believe her.
“You have seven more days of jungle,” Nick called back. “At the rate you’re going, your memory card will be full by tomorrow afternoon.”
“I brought two more.”
“Let me guess… you were a Girl Scout?”
“No, I was kicked out of the troop when I showed the leader a more practical way to achieve our fun times badge.”
Nick’s laughter echoed around her like warm fingers stroking her face and arms.
“Were you a Boy Scout?”
“All the way to Eagle scout.” He climbed out of his kayak and pulled it up on the beach. Wading into the water, he nabbed the nose of her kayak. She arched an eyebrow and asked, “So I can count on you to be prepared for any type of circumstance that comes along?”
Nick tilted his head and studied her for several seconds. “I’m fairly confident I can handle anything that should arise.” Turning, he pulled her kayak up alongside his.
The muscles in her legs screamed in protest as she climbed out. She groaned and hobbled up the gentle slope.
“You okay?” Nick called from behind her.
“Cramps. I just need to do a few stretches.” She slowly moved through her running warm-up routine. During the last set, she realized Nick hadn’t said anything in the long minutes it took her to complete the repetitions. She glanced over her shoulder and saw him sitting on the kayak staring at her. “Is there a problem?”
He jumped up and cleared his throat. “No, I’m just—”
“Checking out my ass,” she interjected before he could finish.
“Unpacking,” he spat, marching over to the supplies raft. “There is a rain barrel and a basin to wash up in. I’ll set-up the tents and then we’ll eat.”
“Tents?” She moved down to where he stood.
“There isn’t a hotel close by.” His gray eyes were at least two shades darker and the muscle on the left side of his face twitched.
“I wasn’t questioning the type of accommodation just the number.”
He froze and she struggled not to laugh. “What?”
“Well, since it’s only you and me why do we need tents? When a tent would serve the purpose? Remember I’m practical to a fault. I trust in your Boy Scout abilities. You don’t need to impress me by pitching tents.” She walked away before he could form a reply. God, this was fun.
~* * *~
He watched her ass sway as she walked off in the direction of the wash barrel, and any thoughts he had of not screwing a guest floated down the river. Other females had come on to him, flirted, whispered invitations to their tents, but Leigh was different. She was confident but there was also a hesitation in her play that led him to believe she wasn’t like this with other men.
Lifting the food stores and sleeping bags, he headed to the campsite. As he entered the clearing, he froze. Leigh stood by the washbasin. Nude. And everything his dad had said about seeing his mother and knowing ran true. It wasn’t the fact he’d never become so aroused so quickly, but a peace settled over him. Having Leigh in the Amazon with him was right–on all levels.
She’d unbraided her hair so it cascaded down her back in thick, auburn waves. While her legs weren’t long, they were toned and sexy. Finally, he let his gaze rest on her ass, his favorite part of a woman’s body.
“Voyeur by nature?” Leigh asked but didn’t turn around.
“Only when a beautiful woman wants to be an exhibitionist.”
“Oh,” she muttered and reached for the towel.
He silently cursed himself as he realized what he meant as a compliment she took as an insult. “You asked earlier if I had become complacent with the beauty of the Amazon, and I said no because it’s always revealing something new. Like today, I have the sexiest woman I’ve met standing in front of me without a stitch of clothing.” He walked closer until he stood within inches of her. “And I took your suggestion for the single tent, since it makes so much sense. We make the prefect pair, the Girl and the Boy Scout.” He ran his fingers along both of her hips and around so he could palm her ass.
She remained silent but the hitch in her breathing told him that she was willing, just unsure how to complete the game she’d started.
“I need to get our tent set up and the water for supper. Then I have every intention of spending the rest of the night gazing and enjoying the most beautiful sight in the Amazon.” He nuzzled the soft skin of her neck and the scent of strawberries filled his lungs.
“I’ll—” she started, but he would never know what she intended to say because as he slipped a hand between her legs nothing escaped her lips but soft mutters of pleasure. His fingers brushed against her folds and found she was aroused as he was.
“Dress for dinner,” he whispered. “I do look forward to undressing you tonight. Revealing all your hidden treasures.” He slowly moved his fingers back and forth with the slightest pressure against her clit. Not enough to provide any real release but to increase the need. Damn, he’d had an erection all day. Let her suffer for a few minutes.
Dangerous Men, Dangerous Places
Chapter Six
Leigh struggled to keep air in her lungs. Every nerve in her body snapped with tension. She wished she was bold enough to move her hands to her breasts and give her nipples the attention they wanted. Nick’s fingers continued to stroke her but she desperately wanted more. His warm breath on her neck sent flames of lust dancing through her. The fact he was fully clothed and she stood nude in the open–in the jungle�
��with a man she’d known less than a day was beyond decadent.
It was insane. What was she thinking? Reality dumped ice on the fire building in the pit of her stomach. She opened her eyes and was going to pull away when Nick sunk a finger inside her. He curled it and instantly hit the up until this moment “mythical” g-spot.
Gasping, she gripped the washbasin. It wasn’t until he withdrew his finger that she realized she was humping his hand. Never had her body been so tight, and pleasure pulsed from every pore.
“I need to go set up camp,” he growled. His voice rugged and harsh. “You’re not the only one who can tease.” His teeth lightly scraped across her shoulder.
God no, he couldn’t be leaving her here like this. What was she suppose to do? She spun in his arms, his erection pressed against her stomach. Smiling, she stroked him through his cargo shorts. “Isn’t part of the boy scouts motto to help others?”
His gray eyes were now darker then storm clouds on a late fall day. “Do you need assistance crossing a busy street?”
Lifting up on her toes, she ran her tongue along his jaw and savored the taste of him. The saltiness of sweat, the tangiest of soap, and the unique flavor of Nick. She drew his ear lobe between her teeth and gently bit on it as she squeezed his dick. “No traffic here,” she whispered in his ear. “Just a woman in need of an orgasm.”
The roughness of his shirt on her hard nipples had the same effect as hooking her up to electrodes. She rested her head on his chest when she felt his hand snake between them.
“I don’t remember there being a badge for that.” He hoisted her up on the wooden table, knocking the washbasin to the ground. “The first rule is to always set-up camp before relaxing. The second rule is never to have sexual relations with our clients.” He forced her legs apart and moved between them. Lowering his head, he stopped as his lips brushed hers. “The only excuse for breaking them would be to help someone.”
Dangerous Men, Dangerous Places Page 2
