CALLEY (RIBUS 7 Book 3) (38 page)

Then she sat up, searching for him. She spotted him at the water’s edge, squatting down and attending to some chore. She wrapped the blanket about her and shuffled to the tent. There she reached inside and drew out a long T-shirt and a pair of jeans. She slithered into them and then walked over to her favorite rock.

She clambered on top and then hugged her knees, letting her long, tangled hair flow about her for added warmth. She watched him with curiosity, his back and arm muscles twitching with some task she could not determine. “What are you doing?” she finally asked softly.

Jason did not look at her. “Tending to some maintenance,” he replied warmly.

Chelan smiled. “Maintenance of what?”

Jason was silent for a moment. “It’s going to get hot soon. Summer’s coming…” And he stood. He turned and smiled at her.

Chelan’s jaw dropped and her legs sprang from her arm’s grip involuntarily. She lurched to keep herself from falling off the rock.

Jason blanched. “What’s the matter?” he gasped.

Chelan righted herself and tried to catch her breath. She looked at the bronze man standing before her. His right hand clutched a large hunting knife, but that was not what distressed her. He had shaved off his dark beard and mustache, and the face she saw shocked her.

“Chelan?” he called, his deep voice jarring her back to the present. “Shit! If I look that bad, I’ll grow it back.”

Chelan shook her head and cleared her throat. “N-no,” she stammered. “It’s okay. It’s just that you remind me so much of someone else.”

Jason straightened. “Well, by the look on your face, I’d say it was Jim.”

Chelan forced a smile. “No, not Jim.”

Jason glanced at the knife and then walked to the fire to return it to its sheath. He looked over his shoulder at the stunned woman. “I didn’t mean to upset you.” He moved back to her. “Who do I resemble?”

Chelan finally closed her mouth and stilled her racing heart. “Ah… just someone I knew a long time ago.”

Jason squinted at her skeptically. “Someone good or bad?”

Chelan stepped down from the rock and circled around him almost warily. Her eyes scanned every inch of him. “Good,” she finally answered.

Jason flinched under her scrutiny and he rubbed at his now naked jaw. “I guess I should have asked first.”

Chelan stopped in front of him. She reached for his face, her fingers tracing over his smooth cheek and chin. “Jesus,” she mumbled. She circled him a final time, and then stared at his chest, his pecs and abdomen now as smooth as his face. It appeared he had shaved it all.

He stared deep into her eyes, his voice soft and low. “Who was he, Chelan?”

Chelan touched him again, her fingers just grazing the flesh of his chest. “Someone I once knew. Someone like you, someone so gentle and kind…”

Jason continued to study her. “What happened to him?”

Chelan retracted her fingers from him as though she had been scorched. “He left me.” She looked away, her mind rooted in the past. “He left me forever.”

Jason reached for her and took her in his arms. “I won’t leave you.”

“I know,” she whispered.

Jason smiled. “I’m sorry about the beard. I really should have asked you.”

Chelan pushed back. “It’s okay. It was just more of a shock than it should have been because of the resemblance.” She smiled and touched his face again. “I like it better without.”

Jason held her fingers to his lips for a moment before speaking. “Look, I’m heading into town today for some supplies. Want to come?”

Chelan shook her head. “No, thanks. I’ll stay here.”

Jason frowned. “Not going to disappear on me, are you?”

Chelan shook her head again. “No, it doesn’t look like it.”

Jason stepped past her and pulled a pair of jeans over his shorts. Next came a cotton shirt and his hiking boots. He squatted down and rearranged his pack. Then he stood and threw it over his shoulder. “I shouldn’t be long.” He stepped up to her and kissed her lips tenderly, then withdrew and looked into her beautiful eyes. He slipped his arm around her small waist and took her lips again. This time the kiss was long and passionate.

Chelan could hardly get her breath. And this time when he withdrew, she was not so willing to release him.

But Jason took a step back. “Don’t leave me,” he stated in a soft, resonant voice. And he headed for the trail.

Chelan watched him walk away. “Don’t be long,” she called after him.

Jason threw her a smile over his shoulder. “Just stay out of the damn water.”

Chelan finally laughed. She sat down and watched him disappear. The minutes passed and she savored the warmth afforded her by his kiss. But then she looked over at the trees. She slipped into her runners, and started for them. Within minutes, she was at the rendezvous site.

Chelan felt a heavy veil of malevolence drape over her. It was so quiet, not even the birds sang. She sat down upon the grass under the giant fir, her senses taking in everything around her. She peered up into the cloudless sky. “Fremma,” she whispered.

A gust of wind hit her, echoing through the branches of the trees with an eeriness that chilled her to the bone. It was as if death itself was descending upon her. She leapt to her feet and ran as hard as she could back to the camp. There she turned around, her eyes wide, staring at the dark shadows harbored within the forest. Then she whirled about and peered at the lake, but it was as still as glass.

The sinister ghostly hush returned to the forest, and Chelan shrank to the ground, her heart pounding. Something was wrong with Fremma. She could feel it in her soul. She looked around frantically for Jason, but she knew he was gone. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, she heard the birds once again, and the spectral pall dissipated.

Chelan remained still until the icy tendrils of fear lifted. Only then did she dare to stagger to her feet. She had to do something to calm her agitated nerves, and she set to work replenishing the camp’s wood. With time, her tension eased.

Morning turned into afternoon, and just when Chelan started to worry about Jason, he appeared. Chelan felt a deep sense of relief as she watched him materialize out of the inky darkness of the forest. “Thank heavens you’re back. I wouldn’t want to have to defend myself against any unwelcome company.”

Jason grinned. “Well, you have your knife, and from what I saw at Jim’s, you can defend yourself quite nicely with it.”

She smiled at him and then watched as he swung his heavy pack off his shoulders. “What did you bring?”

Jason beamed at her. “Oh, all sorts of goodies. But most of all, I brought a supplement to fish,” he declared, and he drew out two large T-bone steaks.

Chelan’s mouth watered. “Oh, Jason, may we have an early dinner?”

“Sure, but first…” He looked around, and then smiled.

“But first what?”

“First I
was
going to get some wood, but I can see that you’ve been busy.”

Chelan grinned. “Well, you were gone a long time. But you’ll notice that I managed to chop some without injury.”

Jason laughed. “Good! And I see you stayed out of the water too.” His voice lowered. “And I must apologize. I hadn’t intended to be so long. How about we build a fire now and get some nice coals going for the meat?”

*****

As evening approached, they cleaned up the campsite and disposed of all the meat scraps. Jason stretched and then watched her put away some of the cooking gear. “Well, it’s going to be an early night for me.”

Chelan smiled. “A little too much excitement over the last couple of days, no thanks to me?”

Jason returned her smile. “Something like that.” He glanced about the site and then grabbed a towel and a bar of soap. “But first a bath,” he said, and he headed for the lake.

Chelan began folding some of her belongings, but then she stopped and turned to watch him. He stood by the water’s edge and began removing his clothes. Chelan held her breath as he slipped out of his shirt and jeans. Then he removed his shorts and underwear. Chelan turned away and blushed. Men, no matter from what planet, could do that so easily, she mused.

She caught her breath and continued with her clothes until she could hear him enter the water. Then she looked back and watched. He stood waist deep in the frigid liquid and cleaned himself meticulously. She shivered just looking at him. Obviously, he could handle the water’s temperature far better than she had.

Chelan finally turned her attention to herself. She had had many small spit baths over the days, but she really did require something more.

She glanced back at Jason and shook her head. She would freeze in there. That she already knew. Then she peered at the dwindling fire. Quickly, she stoked it and grabbed a large pot.

She approached the lake timidly, but he did not turn around. She filled the pot and hustled back to the fire. As the water heated, she heard him come to shore. After a moment of silence, she dared to look back at him. He walked toward her, towel tight about his waist, clothes in his arm. He dropped them in a pile and then nodded to the warming water. “What’s up?”

“My bath.”

Jason grinned. “Coward.”

Chelan picked up a stick and threw it at him, but he deftly avoided it. Then he looked into her pretty eyes. “Can I watch?”

Chelan lunged at him, pushing him backward forcefully.

“All right!” he laughed. “I’ll keep my back turned.”

Chelan shook her head at him. “You’ll be asleep.”

Jason moaned with disappointment. “Are you sure? I could help.”

“No! Now go to bed.”

Jason chuckled and then raised his brows. “Yes. Good idea. I’m bushed.” He leaned forward and kissed her head. “Good night, Chelan.”

Chelan smiled warmly. “Good night, Jason.” She watched as he disappeared. Then she waited until the water began to steam. Lifting it carefully from the coals, she walked to the beach with it. Then she returned for a fresh shirt and panties, and a large bowl. At the lake, she filled the bowl partway with cold lake water and warmed it with some of the water that she had heated. Then she disrobed and began with her long hair. After what seemed like a fortnight, she finished rinsing away the soap. Next, she attended to her body, finally pouring the cooling liquid over her. Instantly, the bite of the evening air assaulted her. She dried herself quickly and dressed in her long shirt and panties. Then she returned to the dying embers.

She sat down and stared into them, pondering all that had occurred. Two days had passed since the deadline and still there had been no sign of Fremma or any of the warriors. She began to rock herself gently as the last of the sun’s rays waned. She no longer cared if he arrived; all she cared about was his life. He simply had to be alive.

Unbidden, the same eerie shiver ran through her as had in the morning, and she cringed. It was as if his spirit was washing over her, calling to her. She squeezed her eyes tight against her morbid thoughts. But they persisted, infusing her with dread. Suddenly, she was on her feet. She ran her trembling hands down her shirtfront as she stepped silently over to Jason’s tent. The last thing she wanted to be was to be alone this night, and she held her breath. She squatted down near the entrance. “Jason,” she whispered.

She waited but heard nothing. Her heart sank and she began to stand.

“Yes?” came the deep voice.

Chelan’s heart leapt into her throat. “May I stay with you tonight?”

“Of course,” he replied.

Chelan ducked down and entered slowly, the darkness of the tent stealing her vision. She stopped. “I can’t see you.”

Instantly she felt his powerful hands hook under her arms and pull her forward. “I’m here,” he whispered softly, his breath warm on her face.

Chelan felt for his chest, his flesh hot to her touch. Jason threw back the top of the sleeping bag and laid her down next to him. Chelan strained to see him, but still her eyes would not adjust. Then she felt him slip down beside her. His hand smoothed over her waist and he paused.

Chelan tried to calm her breathing. “I’m sorry I disturbed your sleep.”

“I wasn’t asleep,” he replied, his voice a low rumble.

Chelan felt his hand brush softly over her abdomen. She closed her eyes. Then he reached for the bottom of her shirt. She held very still as his fingers moved up her skin. Her breathing took off, but then his hand stopped just shy of her breast, and he in turn became still.

Chelan looked toward his featureless face. She knew he was waiting for her permission to go farther, and she would not deny him. She rose slightly and met his warm lips.

Instantly, their passion ignited. Jason’s hands smoothed over her full breasts, his gentle strokes over her nipples sending her headlong into ecstasy. He released her mouth and drew her shirt up. Chelan raised her arms and he slipped it over her head. Then he moved over her, and Chelan grabbed his thick hair as he descended upon her breasts, his tongue teasing her nipples.

Chelan thought she was about to burst as her hands kneaded his broad shoulders. She wanted to touch him, all of him, but his hot mouth on her hard nipples had her pinned so deliciously. What she hungered for even more was his touch, his deepest and most intimate touch. And as if he read her mind, she felt him reach for her panties. His hand raked over her hip and she felt him twist the strong material. It broke as if it were paper. Chelan gasped as he removed the cloth from her flesh in one simple motion. His fingers played over the skin of her inner thighs and, ever so gently, he spread her legs. Then he lay softly upon her, still caressing her swollen breast.

Chelan moaned. “Oh god. Why’d I wait so long for this?”

Jason released her briefly. “My question exactly.” And his tongue began down her tummy. 

Chelan let go of his long hair and shut her eyes. She felt him ease his upper body between her legs, and then he hesitated.

Chelan trembled with anticipation. Then she felt his fingers as he tenderly parted her creamy folds. He split her wide and ran his tongue along her warm length, stopping to gently suck her engorged nodule.

Chelan moaned and arched toward him. “I want you inside,” she pleaded in a strained whisper.