Mountain Fire (15 page)

She closed her eyes, basking in how he filled her.

“Look at me,” he commanded. “I want to see your eyes as I take you.”

She clung to him, letting him ride, meeting him stroke for stroke. His hot brown eyes bore into her. She struggled to stay present, but was swamped in a rush of feeling that had her going blind and stiffening against him. He thrust deep, holding himself still at the peak of his release, then collapsed on top of her.

Revelling in the weight of his body pressing down on her, June let her arms fall lethargically from his back and stretched sexily. She felt replete, satiated—and as if she might burst with love. But she bit her lip, holding back the words she was sure would send him running out of her life.

Alex rolled to his side and curled around her back, tucking his knees behind hers, extending the intense connection they had shared. He nuzzled her ear, making her giggle.

“That didn’t go exactly as I had planned.”

Anxiety speared through her. “What do you mean? I thought it went darn well.”

He tap-danced his fingertips over her ribs, making her squirm. “We were supposed to eat first. I’m starving.”

She relaxed again and smacked his wandering hand. “Now you mention it, me, too. Do you like cold Chinese food?”

“Love it.”

“Can we eat it in bed?”

“As long as you promise to stay naked.”

He surprised another laugh out of her, and she twisted in his arms so they were nose to nose. “I will if you will.”

“You’re on.”

****

“Come on, Bee, let’s go for a ride.” June lifted the toddler into her arms and spun around, her hair flying free, her short, breezy skirt flirting with legs beginning to tan. The boy, a round-cheeked rascal with flyaway dark hair and the devil in his eyes, who obviously had his aunt well wrapped around his sticky little fingers, shouted for more. Alex watched the woman and boy spin and tumble. He had never seen anything so heart-stopping in all his life. He also mused on how to convince June to wear skirts more often. And when he would next have those long, shapely legs bound around him.

June snuggled the little boy in her arms and rubbed her cheek against his, making the child bubble with glee. Alex was shocked by a powerful stab of longing. Was this a true glimpse of the life they might have together? She wanted marriage, children—she’d been clear on that from the start. He was swept up, swamped by all the tomorrows he didn’t believe in, hadn’t believed possible. A hard ball stuck in his throat. Nerves skittered through his gut.

They had arrived to find the house and yard buzzing with activity. The crowd eventually sorted itself out into June’s oldest brother, Sean, his wife, Hillary, and their three-year-old son, Brian; June’s younger brother, Zachary, and a couple of his friends; an aunt and uncle and another middle aged couple who might have been neighbours. Introductions had been fast and loud and he was hoping there wouldn’t be a quiz.

If meeting so many people at once hadn’t befuddled him, the house certainly had. His previous visit had been so fraught with worry for June that he hadn’t even noticed its dotted exterior and unusual design. He finally decided only jaded, stiff-neck snobs wouldn’t enjoy its fun and originality.

Shortly after his arrival, he’d been embarrassed yet amused when June’s parents each pulled him aside privately to thank him for bringing June to them the night of the shooting. Monica pecked his cheek with a light kiss and did her best to hide her worry. Karl shook his hand and regarded Alex with a look both grateful and guarded.

Laughing, June set her nephew down and let him scramble off to plague a long-suffering but ever patient Bauer. She snagged a beer from the cooler outside the back door and flopped into a lawn chair next to Alex, twisting off the cap and taking a long drink. She chuckled as Zach was tackled in the friendly but ferocious football game going on in the large grassy area beside the house.

“Whew, it’s hot!” She took another gulp. “It’s hard to believe it’s not even the end of May.”

“It’s been a dry spring.” Alex sipped his own beer, enjoying the acrid coolness. “The Ministry is worried about a bad forest fire season.”

Karl presided over the barbeque, ignoring the instructions of his oldest son about whether or not to use barbeque sauce on the steaks. Sean was a bit taller than his sister, but dark-haired and eyed, like their father. His wife was a cheerful redhead taking motherhood in stride, responding calmly and easily to the demands of her son. She and Monica made numerous trips from the kitchen to the picnic table set up under the shade of a large cottonwood tree. They brought out more food than a platoon would need, Alex decided. All this happy domesticity made him a bit twitchy.

June nudged his knee with her sandaled foot. “You’re kind of quiet,” she said softly. “Anything wrong?”

He shrugged, took another sip from the long necked bottle. “I’m fine.” She gave him a bright blue “oh really” glare. “Okay, I’m a bit antsy. I’m not used to big families.” His own parents had never given him the opportunity to experience the bonds he sensed in June’s family.

She drawled, “You ain’t seen nothing’ yet. We’re breaking you in easy. But it’s more than that,” she added. “You’ve been quiet since you picked me up. Has there been news about Iain?”

He was uneasy at being read so clearly. “The autopsy report and firearms test results came in,” he said. “The bullets that killed the bear and Iain match. And as the poachers would have had to wait around for hours, since the tip was obviously called in after they shot the bear, it certainly looks like Iain was lured out there to be killed.”

Goose bumps rippled on her arms, despite the sultry sun. She opened her mouth to speak, but right then Monica shouted out, inviting everyone to dish up. Hungry people hurried for the table. With a lopsided grin, June offered Alex her hand and they joined the rush.

They filled their plates, then settled on the springy green grass, leaving places at the table for the older generation.

Sean dropped next to June. In a practised move, he tucked Brian onto his lap, and began helping his son eat.

“So, Alex, how’d you hook up with my sister?” he asked, deftly catching the sippy cup Brian was attempting to throw across the lawn and distracting him with a spoonful of baked potato.

“Hook up.” June snorted. “Classy, Sean.”

“Hey, I’m asking for general info.” Her big brother smirked. “I don’t need the dirty details.”

“That’s lucky,” Alex said. He was surprised at how effortless it was to take part in the bantering. “Because you’re not getting any.”

They chatted as they ate. Brian scooted off when he was finished, and the three adults were left lounging on the lawn.

“Are you still involved in that RiverForce group?” Sean asked June.

She nodded. “I’m working for them this summer, doing grunt work in the office.”

“What’s the name of the guy that runs it? Richard something or other?”

“Fleetham.”

“Curly hair, beard, not too tall?”

“Sounds like him.”

“Huh.” He lapsed into silence, sipping his beer.

She gave his shoulder a friendly punch. “Why are you asking?”

“I was out McGregor way a few weeks ago, four-wheeling with the guys, and I think I saw him. He and this big fellow were getting out of a trucked parked on an old logging road. I knew he seemed familiar—I’ve seen him on the news a few times—but I couldn’t put my finger on it until now. Your ugly face reminded me.”

June stuck out her tongue.

Something about Sean’s story sent unease twinging along Alex’s nerves. “When was this?” he asked.

“Beginning of May. I remember because it was the day after Hillary’s birthday. I took her out to a swank restaurant Friday, then the next day went out with the guys.”

Alex’s eyes met June’s. “The weekend before we met at Longworth.”

Puzzlement creased her forehead. “Sounds like it.” She turned to Sean. “You sure it was Richard?”

“Of course not. But I remembered it, because they acted kind of weird. See, us guys were taking a break down by the river, and I’d lost the toss to get more beer, so I climbed up the bank back to the road. There’s a bend there, and these two dudes had parked before it, so they wouldn’t have seen our truck further around the corner. I didn’t get a good look, but when I saw the first guy I thought he was carrying a gun, some big mother of a rifle. When they saw me pop out of the bush they got back in the truck right away and drove off.” He belched into his fist. “Excuse me. Seemed kind of odd, you know what I mean?”

June shook her head. “It couldn’t have been Richard. I’m sure he was in Vancouver at a conference then. The records are in the River Force office.”

Sean shrugged. “Like I said, I thought he was familiar, but it might not have been him.” Just then, Brian let out a shriek as he tumbled off the low step at the back door. Sean jumped up to console the sobbing boy.

June and Alex helped clean up the remains of the meal, then made their excuses.

Monica walked with them to the Jeep. “I hope you enjoyed yourself, Alex. I’m sorry we didn’t get more of a chance to chat.”

“That’s all right, Mrs. Brandt.”

June’s mother waved off the formality. “Call me Monica. I also wanted to give my condolences. It’s an awful thing about your colleague. Karl and I have been following the story in the news.”

“It’s been a tough week for us all.” Alex opened the door for June and she slid in, then he walked around to the driver’s side. “Thank you for dinner. I had a good time.”

“You’re welcome.” Monica smiled. “Come back soon.”

****

Alex pulled up in front of June’s house. The late spring day was beginning to fade, and the slanting rays of the dying sun painted the trees overarching the street with caramel. He caressed her knuckles with his thumb and brought her hand to his lips. A wonderful lethargy stirred through her.

“Come in with me?” she asked.

He gave her a steady stare from under his brows, dark hair falling into his eyes, sharp cheekbones highlighted by the evening light slipping through the windshield. He lipped her finger, drawing the tip into his mouth and circling it with his tongue. She wanted that mouth. Wanted it everywhere. On her lips, on her breasts, on her body.

“Please,” she whispered, “come in with me.”

She was in his arms the instant the door closed, straining against him, glorying in a long, deep kiss and the feel of his hands in her hair. She feverishly unbuttoned his shirt and pushed the material off his shoulders, stringing hot, open mouthed kisses across his chest, clasping her arms around his narrow waist.

With a muffled oath he grasped her hips and lifted her. She wrapped her legs around him. He stumbled to the couch while she clung to him, her butt fitting perfectly between his thighs, her heels pressing against his back. His lips inflamed the skin of her neck. He muttered incoherently as he undid the clasp of her bra, drew it free and feasted on her breasts.

Edgy thrills ripped through her. The knowing of what was happening, the anticipation of all the touches and tastes to come, heightened the sensation, arousing her to new pitches of excitement.

His hands slid up her thighs, under the light material of her skirt and to the thin barrier of her panties. Her breath hitched as his fingers found their way between their bodies and into her hot, moist centre.

They tumbled to the floor, a jumble of arms and legs, avid mouths and eager hands. Shivers raced over her as he lapped his way across her stomach, tongued her navel. And when his mouth touched her aching wetness, she exploded with a ragged scream, arching toward him, trapping him, her legs around his shoulders.

She lay, chest heaving, as she clawed her way back. He discarded his jeans, then lowered himself to her. She reached up with both hands to cup his face. In a moment too sweet for words, she kissed him tenderly. They rocked together, and the waves built, reaching a crescendo surpassing any she had known before.

****

Alex lay, slack-muscled, his face tucked into the curve of June’s neck. He considered lifting his weight off her, but her arms held him tightly. Her hair tickled his nose, the citrus scent of her shampoo teasing, tempting.

She stretched under him, scraping her nails down his back, and arousal flared again. He tamped it down.

“I’ll move as soon as I can,” he said. “I must be crushing you.”

“No hurry. I am, oh, so fine.” Her voice was husky and a tad smug. It would have made him laugh if he’d had any energy left.

They crawled back up on the couch and wrapped themselves in a blanket, June’s back against Alex’s chest. She held his hand tucked under her chin, his leg lay over her thigh. Her breast was silky against his arm as she breathed.

For a long while they were silent, then he shifted to rest his elbow on the arm of the couch. He looked down at her. “We need to talk.”

Chapter Thirteen

How could four short words cause such panic? She knew loving Alex might cause her heartbreak. Yet she had allowed herself to hope. And what did it mean, saying those doom-filled words so soon after making love? She replied cautiously. “About what?”

“Did you notice something odd today, at your parents?”

She was bewildered, until she realized he was talking about the investigation, not their relationship. Then his words took on whole new meaning. Her sated, relaxed feeling seeped away. “What Sean said, about seeing Richard?”

“What would an environmental activist be doing with a guy with a rifle, on an old logging road?”

She sat up, the blanket pooling at her waist. The hairs of his chest bristled against her back, oddly comforting. “You know what else is strange? I know Sean didn’t say much about the guy with Richard—if it was Richard—but it reminded me of that night at the restaurant. He was with a big guy then.”