No response. He pressed his mouth to hers again. This time his tongue explored her mouth as his hands combed her hair. His lips were gentle but demanding, and the hardness between her legs … She wanted nothing more than to unbuckle his belt, release him, and ride him. But she couldn’t. Not here. Not now.
“Sam …” She gasped in between kisses. “I … we … can’t.”
Sam smiled. His eyes were dreamy, glassy. “I certainly wasn’t planning to do anything right here, Nora. I just wanted to kiss you. The way you disappear, I figured if I didn’t do it now, I might not ever get a chance.”
She shook her head, rubbing her cold nose against his. A sudden chill had swept over the camp. “You shouldn’t have come looking for me, Sam. I have nothing to offer you.”
“I know … You’ve made that clear by running out on me and then standing me up. But what man doesn’t want to say he took down K.O. Molina?”
She hopped up, leaving him to deal with another type of log. She averted her eyes. Looking at Sam wasn’t something she should be doing. “Is that what you wanted, Sam? A trophy?”
Arwen, who’d been silently sitting off to the side, approached the moment Nora jumped up.
Sam chuckled darkly as he stood. “No, Nora, I don’t want a trophy. I want an explanation. You said there was no one else you wanted to spend time with and that we would talk later. Don’t think I didn’t recognize when you emphasized later. I might not be a city boy, but I know people.” He latched his hands to her shoulders. “We clicked. I know we did. But you’re hiding something. I followed you because I know we could have something … if you would trust me enough to tell me what you’re running from.”
She scoffed. “Trust you? I don’t even know you, Sam.” She jerked away from him, doing her best not to limp. As much as she wasn’t ready to move camp, she had to. She couldn’t stay with Sam. She wouldn’t make the mistake of leaving her bear spray out of reach again, though. Despite the fact it went against her very core, she did trust Sam. But she couldn’t tell him that. She couldn’t give him any indication that he was right, that there was something, or could be something, between them. Because she couldn’t allow there to be anything. Not now. Not when trusting someone other than herself could cost her life — or Sam’s life. “Thank you for helping me, but I think you should leave now.”
His head did a half-shake, half-nod movement. “And allow you to get eaten by a bear?”
She flicked her hand. “It was stupid of me to forget my bear spray, but I didn’t freak out. I didn’t run. I would have given him the fish —”
“After he flattened you!”
Nora blew out a breath. “This isn’t my first hike, Sam. I just wanted to try my hand at fishing. I now see that wasn’t smart.” She raised her empty hands. “See … no rod. I’m sure that bear destroyed my pole. Guess I’ll have to switch to hunting squirrels and rabbits. I’ll head back up the path and continue to the summit.”
“No one should backpack alone, Nora.”
“Well, I do.” She hefted her pack to her back. She wasn’t sure how much farther she could hike with blisters; she’d been planning to take a break. Maybe she needed to hike back to the rental car, head to the eastern side of Alaska now instead of three weeks from now, and then continue her trek south from there.
Ignoring his presence, she descended the small hill where she’d chosen to make camp, stepping sideways so as not to slip on the steep angle. Arwen soared past her, heading headfirst down the hill.
Sam started down the hill without a word.
At the path, she wheeled on him. “I’m serious, Sam. I hike alone.”
Sam stopped and stared at her. “As am I … hiking alone.”
She glared at him. “Then hike alone in the opposite direction.”
“Where are you going, Nora? Bad weather is coming, and the path ends at the lake.”
She rested her hand on the bottle of bear spray. “To get my pole.”
“That’s not a good idea.”
“I didn’t ask you.” She turned and walked toward the lake. She didn’t really care about the pole; she wanted what was on the other side of the lake: no path. If she wanted to stay lost, she needed to get lost. She didn’t intend to stick to the path.
At the tree line that circled the lake, she stopped. Arwen stopped too. The two of them scanned the area, looking for the grizzly.
Sam rested his hand on her shoulder, and she jumped. “We could hike around it, but that would take three times as long. More than likely, our friend knows bad weather is coming too, so I doubt he’s waiting for another free fish.”
“I just want my pole, then I’ll head up the mountain.”
“Sure you will.”
Nora stepped into the open area. Unlike earlier, when her focus had been on her fish, she scanned the water and the shoreline. Nothing. No one. No bear.
Arwen darted along the water’s edge, splashing. She stopped when she reached Nora’s fishing spot. She nosed the fish head, but must have decided it wasn’t to her liking, since she thrashed her head back and forth.
Sam reached the area and picked up the rod, which was no worse for wear. The bear had snapped the fish off the hook, leaving nothing but a small head, which was still hooked. Sam removed the hook and tossed the head into the water.
“Here.” He handed her the rod. “Just be more careful next time. You should never hunt or fish alone. One person should always be watching.” He scanned the area as he washed his hands, and then started hiking again.
“Where are you going, Sam?”
“On a walkabout!”
“But you said …”
Sam turned, his hands kneading the tops of his hiking sticks. “I don’t know where you think you’re going, Nora, but I’m not letting you go alone, so I might as well lead the way.”
She sighed. She couldn’t turn back. Not now. If Sam had been able to decipher her path, then Sergio might have been able to find someone else that could. Her only chance was to get lost far off the path. Sam would eventually tire. She’d follow him until he stopped to make camp. As soon as he fell asleep, she’d take off.
“Fine,” she said. “Hike wherever you want.”
Without a word, he turned and started walking again.
Unlike the path where they’d entered the lake, no path was evident. Sam climbed the rocks, looking back every few minutes to make sure she was behind him, or maybe he was looking for the bear. He didn’t seem as interested in her as he’d been at the camp. Maybe she’d offended him. Good. It was for the best. And yet, she was following him. Only for a while, she reminded herself.
The first chance she got, she’d leave him. Without her gloves, he wouldn’t be able to track her again. Why did that thought cause such a sinking sensation in her stomach?
Chapter 8
~ Sam ~
Sam clicked his SPOT, once again notifying Vince and his mother that he was starting out for the day. And from where he was starting.
Both of them would be confused, wondering why he’d left the path, but Vince would figure it out. Vince knew he was tracking Nora, so he’d know that something — or someone — had led him off the track. Just the fact that the button he’d pressed signified All is okay. I’m starting out or ending for the day wouldn’t sound an alarm.
He’d been right. Nora hadn’t planned to summit Denali; she’d intended to get lost. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be following him into the wilds of Alaska. Only someone who wanted to get lost would head off track.
“So …” Nora sighed. “Will I ever get to see The Great One?” Her question broke the long silence that had fallen between them. They’d hiked for the last several hours wordlessly.
Sam stopped and turned to see that Nora had walked to the edge of a cliff.
“I’ve been in Denali for a week now, and while it’s beautiful, I’ve yet to see the peak.”
Sam strolled to where she gazed upward. “I’ve known people who vacation here every year, and have n
ever seen the peak. If you see it, you’re one of the lucky thirty percenters.”
“Humph! So I’ve heard. Am I missing it?”
Sam moved closer. He pressed his cheek to hers and, his arm outstretched, he lifted her hand with his. “It’s right there.”
She gulped. “But I see the entire mountain range. It’s not there.”
He smiled, his cheek pressing harder against hers. He lifted her hand up and down, his finger beneath hers, tracing the peaks of the range. “And right there …” He raised her hand more, tracking the peak of Denali hidden by the clouds. “It’s like a mountain on top of a mountain.”
“I don’t believe it.”
“You will. First the tip will appear. It looks like an island in the sky. And then little by little, the cloud cover will break up, and …” He heaved a breath. “I’ve lived here my entire life and it still takes my breath away.”
She turned to him, and their lips almost brushed. “I want to see it before I leave.”
“You will.”
He heard her audible gulp again, and then she backed up. “Let’s get going.”
Sam passed her, making his way back to the path. Not an official path, but there was a trail. Over the years, fallen trees and weeds had covered the worn footpath. He’d stumbled on the cabin years ago. No longer inhabited, but the government didn’t bother tearing down dry cabins. Whenever he needed to get away, he’d head to the private escape.
At a rustling sound ahead, Sam stopped so fast that Nora nearly plowed into him. He smiled, imagining just that. He held up his hand, and even Arwen came to a stop, her focus steady on the woods ahead.
Nora tapped his shoulder, and Sam reached back for her, drawing her to his side. Once again, he used her hand to point. He traced the small velvet antlers of two young moose.
“Oh …” she whispered, then covered her mouth when the calves took off for about a hundred feet. The calves hid behind different trees, but they weren’t looking at the hikers; they were staring in the direction from where they’d run. Nora’s whispered word hadn’t scared them, something else had.
The ground came alive with heavy hoof beats.
Sam nudged Nora behind a tree as a full-grown moose thrashed his head back and forth. His ears pricked, then he grunted. Without warning, the bull charged through the woods, heading toward the young ones. He stopped mere feet from where the calves had shielded themselves.
Nora nudged Sam, mouthing, Why?
Sam just lifted his eyebrows. She had to know that, just like men, moose didn’t like competition.
Nora’s mouth formed another Oh, this time wordlessly.
Sam waited for the moose — all of them — to head off before resuming their trek.
Up ahead, he led Nora to another vista. He was starving. He’d long since burned off the protein bar. And even though Arwen had lapped at every puddle they’d passed, she needed a full bowl of water.
“Break time,” Sam said as he removed his pack, hoping Nora wouldn’t bolt off without him.
Thankfully, she didn’t; she sighed and removed her pack as well. “I was wondering if you ever planned to stop. For there not being a path, you sure seem to know where you’re going.”
Sam shrugged. “I’ve hiked these woods since I was eight. First with my father, then on my own.”
Nora responded with a lift of her head, then scanned the surrounding wood. “Is there a … you know … someplace to …”
Sam nodded to a tuft of trees. “Just keep your spray handy. Lone hikers are more likely to get attacked.”
Nora forced a smile. “Got it.”
Since she didn’t take her pack, Sam felt comfortable to give her privacy. Nora’s manager hadn’t given Sam a time limit to bring her back, just insisted that he deliver her safely. So he’d wait her out a few days, see what she really planned. Get to know her, as he’d originally hoped he could do. Maybe he’d talk her out of ever going back. Whatever she was running from, he could help her.
Sam pulled out his burner to make coffee and oatmeal. Protein bars were fine, but he had to eat real fiber from food. Hopefully Nora had heeded that part of his lesson and had brought enough food for herself. As soon as he got his water heating, he called Arwen.
His dog had her gaze set on the direction where Nora had walked off.
“You like Nora, don’t you, girl?”
Arwen turned to him, licking his hand as he removed her water and bowl from her pack.
“Is that a yes?”
Arwen busied herself with lapping up the water as fast as he poured it.
The sound of Nora’s footsteps had Arwen lifting her head, water dripping. Arwen waited until Nora was within twenty feet — the distance Sam had taught her was okay. He couldn’t have his dogs taking off after every sound. They’d had to learn their boundaries. To the inch of twenty feet, Sam assumed, Arwen bolted to greet her new friend.
As before, Nora stooped to pet her. “You’re such a good girl. I had a beautiful girl like you once.” Arwen rolled her head beneath Nora’s hands over and over, sucking up the attention.
“You had a shepherd?” Sam inquired.
Nora nodded as she stood. “My dad did.”
The way she said the words, they sounded final, as if she didn’t care to elaborate, so he offered her an easy question, “Want some coffee?”
“Thanks. I brought my own. We staying long enough for me to set up my burner?”
Sam peeked up at her from his task. “I’m not in a hurry, are you? Since we’re not hiking the peak, and we have a three-week pass …”
Nora stopped rooting in her pack and whipped her gaze in his direction. “You’re staying out here for three weeks?”
Sam shrugged. “I don’t know. Are you?”
She sighed. “Do you ever answer a question without asking another question?”
He couldn’t stop himself. “Do you?”
“Ugh!” She yanked out her burner and set it up away from him, her back toward him.
Sam poured enough of the water into his cup and added a heaping teaspoon of instant coffee, then added oatmeal to the remaining water. Breakfast made, he inched his way to Nora.
He sniffed as she stirred a packet of coffee mix into her cup. “Oooh … yours smells better than mine.”
She looked over her shoulder and grinned. “Maybe I should lead the hiking course next time.”
“I’d like that.”
A soft sigh escaped her throat and she stood, walking off to the edge of the trees. She stared up at the mountain range again.
Sam followed her. “What did I say, Nora?”
“I’m not staying, Sam. Here or anywhere in Alaska … I have to go home.”
Sam exhaled softly. “Of course … you have an important life in L.A. A career, friends that I’m sure you want to get back to …” He trailed off, wondering if she’d admit that she had a fiancé waiting for her return.
She turned to him. “Not really …”
He lifted his hand to her face. “Not really? Then … what would keep you from staying here? You seem to love Alaska. Hell, you don’t even dress for the cold weather. Most visitors are bundled up as if it’s January.”
A soft smile tugged at her mouth. “I’m used to the cold weather.” She sighed. “But … I have to go home.”
“Home?”
“Yes, Sam. I have to go home.”
She turned to leave, and he touched her arm. “I’m sorry. I won’t pry. But you can trust me, Nora.”
She dropped her head, then covered his hand with hers. Sam stepped closer, nudged up her chin. She didn’t trust him, but she would. He knew she would if he was patient.
Neither Strider nor Arwen had trusted him at first. After the way they’d been treated by their breeders, they didn’t trust any humans at first. But with persistence and effort, he’d broken through their defenses, gotten them to trust him with their lives, he was certain, since they would now do anything he requested. Well, except stop when he aske
d, if someone’s life depended on them. His dogs understood that saving a life trumped everything.
Sam took her cup from her and set his and hers on the ground. He drew his hand along Nora’s jaw. She said she didn’t trust him, but her eyes screamed otherwise. She wasn’t backing away from him; she wanted him as much as he wanted her. Nora’s lips parted, and Sam wasted no time with words. He let his lips request her trust. If she trusted him with her body, eventually she might trust him with her heart.
~ Nora ~
Everything inside Nora screamed STOP! Run away. But she couldn’t. Sam felt too good, and right now, his arms were the safest place she could imagine.
Yes, she still planned to slip away when the time was right, but right now … she allowed his lips to guide her. He softly tugged her top lip, then her bottom lip, encouraging her mouth to move with his. His tongue slipped in slowly, circling hers.
Nora moved her hands to his chest, then his head. She loved his thick curls. Cropped short, but still long enough that she could run her fingers through them. Sam reached down and lifted her as if she weighed nothing. Without breaking their connection, he sat down on a fallen tree, cradling her in his arms.
“Oh, God, Nora … You have no idea how much I want you right now.” He pressed his mouth against hers before she could tell him she wanted him too, but then broke free long enough to gasp the words, “I really wish you hadn’t stood me up.” His mouth captured hers again, but only for a second. “We could have stayed in bed for a week.”
She reared her head back. “Sam … you’re not a good boy. What makes you think I would have hopped into bed with you on the second night?”
He shrugged. “I told you, I’m far from being a good boy, but … other things …” He pulled her back to him, his lips inches from hers. “You know it’s there, Nora. We both know it. You can deny a lot of things; you can’t deny the fire between us.”
Sam's Folly (Midnight Sons Book 1) Page 9
