Just Trust Me…

18

“HOW DOES THAT FEEL, princess?”

Ensconced in his small tent, Brett smiled at the long pleasure-filled sigh that constituted Kayla’s response. He continued to smooth his hands down her bare back, alternating long, gliding strokes with a circular kneading motion, working out the soreness and kinks.

He felt surprisingly well, considering the brutal workout of today’s hike. Of course, the warm shower after a hearty dinner had helped considerably toward reviving him. Not that there were any facilities here, other than the same bathroom-tent set-up as last night. But tonight, instead of “showering” with ice-cold river water, Ana had heated large pots of water so that everyone had gotten a bucket of warm water with which to bathe away the day’s dirt and sweat and strain.

A combination of pity and amusement curved his lips as he recalled how piteously grateful Kayla had been for the steaming water, with Eileen and Ashley not far behind in their gratitude. The men had been just as grateful-just less gushy than the ladies.

As he had last night, Alberto had directed them to a private area where they stripped. He’d held up Kayla’s bucket for her, tilting it to produce a thin stream of warm water under which she gratefully soaped up and rinsed. The air was chilled with a brisk breeze and they hadn’t lingered, just washed and dressed in clean clothes, then made their way back to the campsite.

The tents had been set up while they showered, and after dinner they’d bade the other hikers-all of whom were dragging their tired butts to their own tents-good night.

Once he and Kayla were inside his tent, Brett had secured the flap. Space was tight, but he had no objection to sharing a cozy space with her. She’d flopped facedown onto his sleeping bag and expelled a long moan.

“I may never move again,” she’d whispered.

“You don’t have to. Just relax.”

“Relax. Okay, good thing you told me that ’cause otherwise I would have hopped up and jogged a few miles.”

Chuckling softly, he’d stripped her of her clothes, then removed his T-shirt, but kept on his sweat pants. Straddling the backs of her thighs, he’d asked, “Do you have any sort of lotion in your backpack?”

“Front zipper compartment. Unscented stuff, so as not to attract bugs or snakes or whatever other creepy crawlers might be slithering about.”

“Good thinking.”

He’d located a tube bearing the La Fleur symbol and after squeezing some into his hand, rubbed his palms together to warm the lotion, then started slowly massaging his way down her back.

Now, twenty minutes later, she was showing small signs of life.

“That feels sooo goood,” she said as he worked out the tight knots in her shoulders. “If I’m ever able to rise from this spot, I swear I’ll pay you back.”

“Looking forward to that. But I’m fine. Let’s just focus on getting you whipped back into shape.”

“Okay. I’ll give you three days to quit massaging me. Not a minute more. Really. If you haven’t stopped by then, I’ll have to call the cops.”

“I’m not too worried. You don’t know how to call the cops in Spanish.”

“Oh. Right. So I guess you’ll just have to stop on your own after the three days are up.”

“Deal.”

“Have I told you what a nice man you are?”

“Twice. But hey, I like hearing it, so feel free.”

“You’re a very nice man.”

“Thank you.”

“Who has very nice, very talented hands.”

“Uh-huh. Keep going.”

“Trolling for compliments?”

“Let’s just say I’d be willing to listen to any flattery you might want to toss my way.”

“You’re very smart. And strong. And thanks to you and the shower you gave me and this incredible massage, I may actually be able to move in the morning.”

“My pleasure.” His hands slowly rubbed their way down toward the base of her spine. “Anything else?”

One green eye peeked at him over her shoulder. “You mean other than sexy and witty and sexy and gorgeous and sexy?” She resettled her head against her folded arms. “Nah, I think that about covers everything.”

“You’re very nice, too, you know.”

For several seconds she stiffened under his hands. “I…I’m glad you think so.”

“I do. And you know that whole sexy, witty, sexy, gorgeous, sexy thing you said about me? Well, same goes, princess.”

And speaking of gorgeous and sexy…his gaze followed his hands’ path down the smooth, pale skin on her back, pausing over several scatterings of gilt freckles, skimming lower, until he gently kneaded her rounded buttocks. A prolonged mmm escaped her and she lifted her butt into his touch. Given the spectacular view, he was already as hard as steel, but his body reacted immediately, tightening further at her movement. He hadn’t really considered what sweet torture this massage would be for him.

Forcing himself to put aside his growing need and continue his ministrations, he shifted, nudging her thighs apart, then resettled himself on his knees between her spread legs. Squeezing out another generous dollop of lotion, he massaged her hips, then made his way down each shapely leg, manipulating the backs of her thighs and calves. Her long, soft moans of approval told him he was hitting all the right spots.

“Feel good?” he asked, working the arch of her foot with strong sweeping strokes of his thumbs.

“Good doesn’t begin to describe it. I think my toes just had an orgasm.”

The word orgasm shot arrows of pure lust through him, and he inhaled sharply. And caught the subtle scent of female arousal. Apparently she was as turned on as him. Thank God.

Sitting on his heels, he worked his way back up her legs. When he reached her buttocks, he changed the speed and strength of his strokes from healing massage to sensual caress. He spread his knees more, opening her thighs wider. His fingers lightly kneaded her supple flesh, then dipped lower.

Her sex was wet and soft, and he stroked two fingers into the velvety heat, while his other hand continued to gently massage her bottom.

“Brett…” His name was a husky groan filled with want, and his body responded by tightening to the point of pain. With another groan, she lifted herself up onto her elbows and pushed back against his hand.

“More,” she rasped, panting. “More.”

He added a third finger, pumping slowly. Her breathing turned more ragged and finally, with a strangled aaahhhh, her slick walls pulsed around him.

When her ripples subsided, he slipped out his fingers. Instead of going totally limp as he’d expected her to, she instead pushed herself up on her knees, then looked at him over her shoulder. Her eyes glittered with enough heat to incinerate him.

“More.”

The husky command was one he was more than happy-and beyond ready-to obey. He pulled a condom from the front pocket of his backpack and gave thanks that his sweatpants made for easy access. He pushed down the soft material and his boxers to his hips. His erection sprang free and he quickly sheathed himself. With his butt resting on his heels, he grasped her waist and positioned her wet opening over the head of his penis.

She slid down slowly, her sleek inner walls gripping him like a heated fist. When he was fully engulfed, her back pressed against his chest, he leaned forward and scraped his teeth across her shoulder, lightly biting her smooth skin, then fastened his mouth on the sensitive skin of her nape. A shudder ran through her.

“More,” she whispered, putting her hands over his, sliding them up her torso until his closed over her breasts.

His fingers played with her hard nipples, teasing, tugging, as he thrust upward, his movements measured and deliberate in an effort to hold off coming as long as possible. But she wasn’t helping him retain his control. She slowly circled her hips in such a mind-blowing way he saw stars. Urgent, brutal need churned through him. He wasn’t going to last much longer.

Cruising one hand downward, he curved his fingers over her mound and caressed her wet flesh. He thrust harder, faster, gritting his teeth, holding off coming by sheer will. The instant he felt the first ripple of her orgasm, he clamped his arm around her waist, surging up while urging her down, imbedding himself deeper and letting go.

They were both still breathing hard when she leaned back fully against him, and pressed her lips to the side of his neck where his pulse throbbed.

He closed his eyes and bent his head to breathe her in, her own unique scent mixed with the heady musk of her arousal.

“Wow,” she whispered.

“My favorite scientific term. More?”

He felt her smile against his neck. “That’s enough-for now. Check back in five, ten minutes.”

That’s enough.

His insides jittered at the words, instantly rejecting them. No, it wasn’t enough. And he couldn’t imagine it ever being enough. Not just the sex-which was inarguably outstanding-but everything to do with this woman. Her laugh, her humor, her determination to keep herself together on the trail today. The way she made him feel just by standing next to him.

She’d grabbed his attention from the first instant he’d seen her, and that fascination, that instant chemistry he’d experienced, hadn’t waned one bit. It had only grown stronger. Along with his feelings.

The realization ripped through him with the intensity of an atomic explosion.

He was falling in love with her.

Falling? his inner voice interjected. Who the hell do you think you’re kidding? You’re way beyond falling. You’re splattered all over the ground.

He went perfectly still, unable to deny it. He was in love with Kayla.

Probably that realization should have scared the crap out of him, but instead, a sense of calm settled over him that he’d finally found a woman who could make him feel this way. So what if it had happened fast? There weren’t rules about how long it had to take to fall in love. His own parents were a perfect example. This was right. Kayla was, unequivocally, “the one.”

The words I love you involuntarily rushed up from his pounding heart, and he had to press his lips together to keep himself from saying them out loud. They weren’t words he said lightly. And he’d never been tempted to utter them to anyone after such a short acquaintance. But then, no woman had ever made him feel the way this woman did.

It was definitely too soon to tell her. She’d not only think he was crazy, he’d probably scare her off. And there was no rush. They lived in the same city. Although they hadn’t yet discussed continuing their relationship after the hike, as far as he was concerned, it was a no-brainer. There was absolutely no reason for their adventure to end once they returned home, no long-distance issues to deal with.

That realization suffused him with a profound sense of peace, and he could almost feel the out-of-alignment parts of his life shifting back into balance-like car gears slipping into place.

No, this wasn’t enough.

And he intended to see to it that it didn’t have to be.