He reached over and placed his hand on her shoulder, giving a gentle squeeze. “There’s no one around today which makes us very safe here. Plus, the Keepers are keeping an eye on everything and will let us know if there’s a change.”
Her brow furrowed and she asked, “Keepers?”
Chuckling, he said, “That’s what we call ourselves. Named after lighthouse keepers…rescuers of old.”
Her smile curved her lips and his fingers stretched to the back of her neck, loving the feel of her soft skin underneath his fingertips. “I’ll keep you safe, Julie. I promise.”
Her smile returned, and his heart gave a little jolt. Dropping his hand, he winked and said, “Since I know nothing about Mayan civilization, you get to be my tour guide.”
“I’m so glad I’ve got some bars on my phone,” Julie said, peering down at her smartphone. The closest structure to where he parked was the ball court, which was much smaller than the one at Chichén Itzá but still a good size. “According to what Hernando told us there are hundreds of ball courts identified. The one thing they have in common is that they are a long narrow alley, flanked with two walls. He told us that the spectators would’ve stood on top and looked down.”
Walker moved slowly along the walls before stopping and planting his hands on his hips, looking around. She caught up to him and said, “It seems they played some kind of a hip ball where they would bounce a rubber ball against the sides. He also told us that sometimes the games would be played with their captured enemies, and sometimes the losers would be decapitated.”
She laughed at the expression on Walker’s face when his eyes widened in disbelief. She threw her hands up in defense and said, “I know. I know. We said the same thing.”
Shaking his head, he admitted, “I’m not really surprised. Even today, people can be pretty vicious.”
Continuing to read, she said, “The layout of Cobá is different from the other ancient towns in that it is spread out over seventy kilometers. Some of the buildings are almost a mile apart. It also has quite a few tall temples and was built near these lakes.”
Veering off the main path onto one of the smaller ones, they pushed through the thick tangle of trees, coming out on the edge of a large, blue lake. “I’d love nothing more than to jump in and cool off, but I’m not sure we should.” She looked up at him and shrugged, adding, “We were warned about parasites in the water before we came on the trip.” Looking around, she said, “There are supposed to be some cenotes near here…underwater freshwater pools that are safe to swim in.”
“Maybe we can look for those,” he said, his eyes boring into hers with an emotion deep inside that she could not identify.
Worrying her bottom lip with her teeth, she sucked in a deep breath and offered a slight nod. “You want to do some more exploring?”
With a grand sweeping of his arm, he said, “Absolutely. Lead the way.”
Walking back toward the pyramid, she felt the need to fill the silence. “These white roads we’re walking on are quite unique. They’re called sacbes and originate at the main pyramid and stretch out in all four directions.”
Coming to the base of the main pyramid, they stopped and looked upward. With his hands planted on his hips, he said, “This is much taller than the one I saw this morning.”
She agreed, and while she secretly hoped to see the view from the top, she had no idea if she would have the strength to make it that far. He turned toward her and stepped closer. Tilting her head back to keep her gaze on his, the air felt thinner the closer he came.
“Are you game?” he asked.
Not certain what he was referring to, her mouth opened slightly, but all she managed to utter was, “Uh…”
Grinning, he jerked his head toward the pyramid and said, “Let’s see what it looks like from the top.”
Her breath left her lungs in a rush as she nodded, sure that her face was flaming hot with blush. Maybe he’ll just think I’m getting sunburned.
They began climbing the pyramid, Walker turning and offering his hand on the uneven stones. Hesitating for only a few seconds, she placed her hand in his, now recognizing the electricity that seemed to pass between them every time they touched. He was staring intently at her, and she offered a slight smile in return before hiding behind her running commentary again.
“This is the tallest temple in the Northern Yucatán. They say there’s an incredible view of the lakes and the surrounding jungle at the top.”
“Then that’s where we’re heading,” he said, giving her hand a slight squeeze. Looking down at her injured wrist, he asked, “Does it hurt?”
She shook her head, her eyes never leaving his. “No…I don’t feel any pain.”
Nodding, his breath left his lungs in a rush and they continued climbing.
The steps were not steep, but at one-hundred-thirty-eight feet in height, she began to wonder if they would ever get to the top. Halfway up she halted, her hand tugging slightly on his. Breathing heavily, she could barely smile when his eyes met hers. Seeming to understand she needed a break, he sat down, and she settled next to him.
He opened up a bottle of water and passed it to her, allowing her to drink first. After she took several long sips, she handed it back and watched as he tilted it up, swallowing deeply. The muscles in his throat worked as he swallowed, and she could not help but notice the heavy, dark stubble on his cheeks and neck. Fatigue pulled at her again, and she had to fight the desire to lean her head on his shoulder. Standing suddenly, she needed to put a little distance between them and said, “We can keep going now.”
If he was surprised at her suddenness, he did not comment but neither did he let go of her hand. They continued to climb until they reached the top, and she was sure her legs would not go another step. Fighting the urge to plop down and rest, she stared out at the 360° vista, stunned at what lay before her eyes.
Above the line of the trees, it seemed as though they could see forever. The green forests and jungles of the Yucatán spread out as far as the eye could see. In the distance were the lakes, and the late afternoon sun glistened off the surface.
“Oh, my God,” she breathed, turning to see Walker staring out over the horizon. “It’s amazing, isn’t it? More beautiful than I could ever have imagined.”
He turned slowly, facing her, his fingers now linked with hers and said, “Yeah. More beautiful than I could have ever imagined.” His blue eyes pierced hers, and she was no longer certain what they were talking about.
The barest hint of a breeze blew over the couple as they stood, her head leaned back as she held his gaze, and without her realizing he had even moved, suddenly they were standing chest to chest.
“I shouldn’t do this,” he said, his voice a growling whisper. “I shouldn’t want this. Hell, I shouldn’t even be thinking of this.”
Staring up at him, her eyes traced the hard planes of his face before moving to his lips. Focusing on the perfect symmetry of them, strong and soft, she did not even realize her tongue darted out to moisten her bottom lip.
His gaze fixated on her mouth, and his arms banded around her back as he ground out, “Oh, fuck it,” just before he slammed his lips onto hers.
She gasped in pleasure as the strength she imagined would be in his body and lips was proven as she slipped her arms around his waist and held on tightly. He angled his head, maximizing their contact, his tongue tracing her lips before slipping inside, tangling with her tongue.
He tasted of beer, spices, and something uniquely him. Pure male. Pure Walker.
20
Tired of fighting the desire coursing through him, Walker plundered Julie’s mouth as he tightened his arms and pulled her body impossibly close to his. He felt her hesitancy at first, and, determined to do the right thing, flexed his fingers just before letting her go to step back. But at the last second, her arms encircled his waist, digging into his thick muscles as she opened her mouth, allowing his tongue to sweep inside. She curled her tongue around h
is, and the simple, erotic movement shot a bolt of lightning straight to his cock.
For an instant, a flash of past women flew through his mind as he tried to find a comparison but came up short. Teenage fumblings. A few early girlfriends. Frog hogs in the bars near the SEAL bases. Recently, the occasional pickup for nothing more than a night of mutual pleasure. Kissing as a precursor to sex. Sex that was good for both partners, but never a longing for anything more.
But this…this woman in his arms had him rethinking everything he thought about kissing for the sake of kissing. He slid one hand to cup the back of her head, his fingers sliding through the silky strands of her hair, while his other hand slid down to her lower back, continuing to hold their bodies together.
His erection, straining against the zipper of his cargo pants, dug into the soft flesh of her stomach. Her lips were soft as petals, her breath minty sweet, and her eyes closed as they kissed with abandon, no longer able to say where he ended and she began.
An ache began to fill him, starting with his cock but moving to his chest. Pushing that emotion down, he refused to think that their connection was anything more than two consenting adults finding themselves in extraordinary circumstances. He felt her pull away slightly and peered down into her lust-filled eyes, her moist, kiss-swollen lips slightly open, and the realization that she was so much more slammed into him.
She drew in a ragged breath, her breasts pressing closer, and whispered, “Wow.”
That simple word caused his male pride to swell, and he grinned. “I gotta tell you, I’ve been wanting to do that since I first met you.”
Her smile widened, and she said, “That means this morning. I know it seems like we’ve known each other so much longer, but we really only met this morning.”
He shook his head, and said, “Nope. I’ve known you since yesterday.” Seeing her scrunched brow, he explained, “I saw your passport picture when we were planning this mission.”
Her lips formed an ‘o’, and her eyes sparkled. “Well, that’s different. Twenty-four hours is plenty of time to decide that you want to kiss somebody.”
He tightened his arms, lifted an eyebrow, and quipped, "What about you? Haven’t you had enough time?”
A giggle slipped out, and she said, “The moment I set eyes on you when you stepped out of the helicopter this morning, I thought, ‘Now there’s a man I want to kiss’.”
Throwing his head back in laughter, he felt light. In the middle of the Mexican jungle, danger dogging their every move, rescue not imminent, and on top of a fuckin’ ancient pyramid…happiness struck him right in the chest.
He dropped his chin so that he could stare at the woman in his arms. The top of her head came to his shoulders, her body fit and athletic while still having curves that could fill his hands and imagination. Determined to take care of her, he said, “Are you hungry? I’ve got food in the backpack.”
Grinning up at him, she replied, “It’s a tossup. Part of me would love to have a sandwich, and the other part just wants to keep you in my arms and stare at you a little longer.”
“Love a woman who doesn’t play any games,” he said, giving her waist another squeeze. “Come on. Let me feed you.”
He reluctantly let go and instantly felt cool where there had been the heat of her body. Moving over to a low wall at the top of the pyramid, they settled with their backs resting against the warm stone and the lowering sun casting a shadow across their bodies. It only took a moment for them to pull out the sandwiches, bags of chips, and water bottles that he had bought when they stopped for gas.
He watched as she ate eagerly, glad that she was not picking at her food. Finishing their simple meal, her eyes blinked slowly as though keeping them open was an impossible chore. Putting the refuse back into his backpack, he reclined using the pack as a pillow. Opening his arms, he silently invited her to join him, which she readily acquiesced.
Snuggling into his embrace, he wrapped his arms around her as she lay her head on his chest.
“I’ll just rest a little bit,” she mumbled, before falling silent.
He kissed the top of her head and wondered about the simple act of affection. He could not remember ever laying with a woman in his arms for simply rest, nor could he remember ever kissing their hair.
With those thoughts moving through his mind, he joined her in a siesta.
Julie woke with a start, trying to remember where she was. Her hip was stiff from the hard surface underneath, and she realized she had fallen asleep on the ancient stones of the Cobá pyramid, half-lying on Walker.
Her arm was thrown across his middle, her hand resting on his rock-hard abs. She traced his face with her eyes, planes and angles, rough scruff and soft lips.
She inhaled deeply, unable to keep from sniffing him. She always hated walking past the boy’s locker room at school, the odor nearly knocking her down. She equally hated going to the gym after work, the smell of heavily-sweating men overpowering. But Walker smelled completely different...warm musk, masculine, powerful.
He turned his head, catching her staring at him, and grinned. “Did you rest?” he asked, his voice like gravel.
She nodded, not embarrassed at having been caught gawking. Shifting her body so that she was higher on his, she kissed him. If he was surprised, he did not hesitate to slide his arms under her pits and pull her body on top of his, taking the kiss deeper.
Lifting her head, she asked the same question he had. “Did you get some rest?”
A slow grin curved his lips, and he replied, “Oh, yeah. I could go all night.”
Unwilling to decipher the meaning of his words, she latched onto his lips again, tasting and tempting, a sensual burning flowing through her veins. A delicious ache began in her core, and she pressed her hips against his erection, feeling the full effect of his arousal.
His hands were heavy and warm against her back before sliding down to cup her ass, his fingers digging into the soft flesh. She sighed into his mouth, the kiss stealing her breath. He was as hard as she was soft. He surrounded her with his body, and she felt safe in his embrace.
She wanted to keep kissing this man she barely knew. She wanted to throw caution to the wind with him, not worrying if it fit into her carefully thought out plan.
She placed her hands on his shoulders and pushed up while spreading her legs and drawing her knees forward so that she ended up straddling his hips. The move shifted her core over his impressive cock, and she rocked gently, desperate for the feel of him against her sensitive flesh, hating the layers of clothes between them.
His hands, still on her ass, kneaded the flesh but did not move away. She kept her eyes locked on his, the blue piercing but full of questions. Julie had never played games with any man and had no intentions of starting now. Going with what she was feeling, she dragged her hands from his shoulders to the bottom of her shirt, watching his expression carefully. When he gave no indication that he wanted her to stop, she slowly lifted the T-shirt over her head, dropping it just to their side.
His blue eyes widened as they dropped from her gaze down her torso, and she felt the heady power of seduction. The setting sun cast a glow onto their bodies, and for an instant, she imagined she was a Mayan princess welcoming her warrior. As fanciful as that thought was, she could not help but grin as she unsnapped her bra, and with a shrug of her shoulders let it slide down to their bed of stone.
His hands moved slowly, gliding from her ass to her waist and upward until he cupped the full weight of her breasts, his thumbs circling her nipples. She gasped at the sensation and dropped her head back as she worshiped the sun beaming down on her body. Without realizing it, she had been shifting her hips, desperate for the friction her core so desired.
Her hands moved to her pants, quickly unzipping them. A swift movement from him caught her off guard as he rolled her to her back. The change in position allowed him to slide his hands into the waistband of her pants and pull them over her hips, snagging her panties as he went. His
gaze focused on her abraded knees and shins, and he halted. “Shit, babe. I can’t believe you were hurting and you didn’t tell me.”
She looked down and shrugged. “That didn’t just happen. I got those when the earthquake struck, and I fell down some concrete steps. But they don’t hurt,” she rushed, not wanting him to stop. Lying on the warm stone, the slight breeze blew across her naked body, but she felt no shame. Her want was so great, and she could only hope he shared that desire.
With him now straddling her, he mimicked her motions by pulling off his T-shirt before standing over her, sliding his pants off as well. He grabbed a condom from his wallet and dropped it to the stone next to her.
She stared at the Adonis, his body bathed in the glow of the sunset, large and muscular. Her gaze dropped to his cock, jutting out from his body, a drop of pre-cum on the tip. She was so focused on staring at his body she almost missed his words.
Grinning, he repeated, “I want you to be sure.”
Lifting her hands up toward him, she nodded. “I want you. Of that, I’m very sure.” Her gaze devoured him as he fisted his cock with one hand, kneeling down to place his face between her legs. As he began to lap her slit before sucking her clit into his mouth, it took no time for her to cry out her pleasure.
He kissed his way over her mound, circling her belly button, before moving to suckle each breast. Placing the tip of his cock at her entrance, he hesitated until she nodded and wrapped her arms around his back. Then, with one swift movement, he thrust, settling his cock deep inside her body.
21
If the ancient gods had placed a perfect woman on top of this pyramid for him, they could not have created anything more beautiful than the woman whose body was accepting his right now. Walker stared at Julie’s face, illuminated by the sunset, and powered into her body. Her knees were bent, giving him easy access, but a slight grimace flew through her eyes, and he realized the hard stone underneath her back would never be comfortable.
Walker: Lighthouse Security Investigations Page 11
