Paradise (13 page)

“Nikki was mugged a few blocks from the restaurant. Some crack-head murdered her for a couple of lousy bucks. Worst part is, I didn’t find out until months later when one of her artsy friends tracked me down. If I hadn’t been so pig-headed and gone after her, she’d be alive today.”

Strange how her panic of a few seconds ago disappeared into the sadness in his eyes. Somehow she knew this was not a story Eddie told many people, but she was glad he’d told her. It sure explained his aversion to cities and career women.

“You don’t know that. You don’t know what would have happened. Things could have turned out differently. They could have been worse. You just don’t know.”

She could see the wheels in his mind gearing up for a rebuttal, but then, a resigned smile spread across his face. A smile that said he’d heard this argument before, didn’t believe it but wasn’t about to fight it now.

“You’re right. No telling what would have happened. Look, I didn’t mean to throw a wet blanket over your trip. After all, this is all about you and having a great time.” He stood and stretched.

“I’m tired. I’m going to bed for the night. Are you staying up or can I turn off the lantern?”

Taking her cue, she unzipped her sleeping bag and crawled in. “Sleep sounds good to me,” she said brightly.

He didn’t look at her again but turned out the lantern and moved softly about the tent. How he could get around without tripping over anything in the total darkness was beyond her. The image of the sleek jungle cat popped into her mind again. Only this time it wasn’t seeking prey but guarding his domain. Maybe those gorgeous amber eyes were like a cat’s, too, peering about in the darkened tent.

A whoosh of fabric, barely audible over the croaking frogs, caught her attention. Had he taken his shirt off? Why couldn’t he have done that
before
he turned out the light? Cripes, her fixation with his chest was getting downright scary.

The unmistakable sound of a zipper greeted her ears. Was he stripping off his Crocodile Hunter shorts? A delightful tingle found its way between her thighs. The zipper continued. No, not shorts…sleeping bag. Drat. Oh, well. She rolled onto her side, not the least bit sleepy.

The conversation tonight had been bizarre. From Rick the Rat to his dead ex-fiancée. Poor guy. He actually blamed himself for her death. Poor Nikki. Robbie could understand why she had tried to persuade Eddie to stay up to the last minute. It must have been tough to walk away from him. Dress him up, put him behind a desk, and he would exude power and confidence, not to mention sex appeal. He was definitely all male.

From Nikki to Betty Boop. Now, there was a leap. Mega chic to mega cheap. Eddie had no idea that Betty Boop had the hots for him. But Lou Ann was reaching way out of her league if she thought she could get and hold a man like Eddie. Eddie needed more than a silicone enhanced body to keep him interested. He needed a woman with a sharp intellect and independence, a woman who could get and hold his attention -- a woman like Nikki must have been. A woman like herself.

But she didn’t want to hold his attention, right? She wanted a Rebound Man.

His breathing came in a measured drone from somewhere in the pitch black tent. He wasn’t kidding about falling asleep the minute his head hit the pillow. It must be from all that exercise, paddling and everything.

Eddie was a player, all right. Too good looking by half and a professional flirt. Not someone she’d want a permanent relationship with. He either led a girl on not knowing she existed like with Betty Boop or made it clear it was his way or the highway like with poor Nikki.

Still, she wasn’t looking for anything lasting. A Rebound Man for a few days was all she needed. Too bad he saw her only as a business deal; a means to publicity and more clients. Well, she could still enjoy the landscape -- not the landscape of the swamp. She was only interested in the landscape of the tour guide.

Bump…bump. Instantly alert, her heart raced.
Here we go again. Pitch dark and I’m a prospective entrée for a giant lizard. All I need is flying monkeys to make this nightmare trip complete.
Her fingers trembled when she brought them to her cheeks.
Calm down. George of the Jungle’s only a few rolls away. He’ll protect me.

From his steady breathing, she tried to determine how far away he was. She didn’t want to wake him, just be near in case of a barracuda attack or something. Slowly, she began her journey.

* * * * *

He struggled to keep his breathing regular when he wanted to burst out laughing.
Here she comes. Miss Super Sneaky, quiet as a marching band.
Did she really think he could sleep through that racket? The rubbing fabric was enough to alert every night crawler within a ten mile radius.

And to think she’d bought that nonsense about his sleeping like a log. While out in the swamp, he was constantly alert for sounds, especially when they were out of place, like tumbling sleeping bags. He listened, judging her to be about a roll and a half away.

Quietly, he placed his arm behind his head so she would roll into his side. It was about time she showed up. The top half of his bag lay open, and he was three degrees away from freezing his ass off but didn’t want his sleeping bag to get in the way of her caresses. He smiled to himself. He’d be warm enough -- hot enough -- the second she was in his arms.

Bracing himself to continue feigning sleep when she hit, he allowed the warm feeling of contentment that had been waiting at the fringes of his consciousness to surround him. The anticipation that she would soon be here was having the expected results on his lower body.

He felt and heard her bump into him at the same time.
Hmm, the Eagle has landed
. As with the night before, he fought for control when her fingers brushed his naked chest.

But unlike the night before, she didn’t flinch back. Her hand stayed where it was. It didn’t move. She just kept it on his abs…right there…above his navel. She was awake. What the hell was she doing? Just because she thought he was asleep was no reason to be feeling him up. What kind of a guy did she think he was?

He caught himself before he spoke his thoughts out loud. Wasn’t this exactly what he had been daydreaming about? So what if she thought he was sleeping. She was in his arms, all soft and plaint. He stifled a moan along with the urge to pull her tighter against him.

It would be better if he kept his thoughts away from the soft form next to him. Otherwise, it would be only a matter of minutes before his control gave out, and he began to memorize every inch of her with his lips. He’d start with her forehead, work his way across her cheek, below her ear. He’d spend some time learning that long, graceful neck of hers. Where she liked to be kissed, where she liked to be nibbled…

Her hair tickled his chin and the need to nuzzle against it became unbearable. He shifted his hips uncomfortably trying to relieve the pressure of his hard-on against his cargo shorts, but it only caused her to snuggle closer. Her hand shifted lower to his navel, her little finger moving seductively on his flesh just a hairsbreadth above the button.

His face contorted as he bit back a groan.
My God, if that hand moves any lower, she’ll know for sure I’m not asleep. Hell, if that hand moves any lower, neither of us is going to sleep the rest of the night.

Unbidden, the image of his brother, a thunderous expression on his face leaped into his mind. “Don’t screw this up. We need her. Don’t screw this up.”

Ah, shit. Boy, did Nick have lousy timing. Knowing full well it wasn’t his brother but his own guilty conscience that warned him, he shoved his X-rated thoughts back into their cage. The woman was scared and totally dependent on him and as much as he wanted to, he had no right to take advantage of the situation. Especially after that bombshell she’d dropped tonight. It couldn’t have been pleasant walking in on a cheating boyfriend with two women yet. That guy must be a total idiot, throwing away a woman like Robbie. Inconceivable.

Her hand shifted, settling over his nipple. Last night was bad enough, but now he knew what to expect. How soft her hair was brushing against his chin. How sweet her breasts felt nestled on his chest. How alluring her lavender hand lotion smelled when her fingers curled around his neck.

He had no intention of missing a minute of this sensuous game. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d gone a few days without sleep. But this was the first time he’d done it for the pure pleasure of holding and comforting a woman who didn’t even know he was there.

Her rhythmic breathing brought him back to the present. Lowering his arm, he gathered her close. This was getting bad. Falling for another city girl was not in his plan. And if he did, he wasn’t sure he could walk away.

* * * * *

The damp air sent a chill through her bones, and Robbie snuggled deeper into the warmth, clinging to sleep. A loud noise roared in the distance.
Can’t be the alarm. S’too early
. She burrowed into the soft fur, like a gopher into its hidey hole. So nice. So toasty.

Her hand edged up to circle…what? Didn’t matter. So soft…smooth…. She ran her fingers through it again…and again. Umm.

She inched higher toward the heat. Something scratched her cheek, something coarse, like sandpaper. But even so, it felt nice, comforting almost. Touching the rough surface with her lips, she opened her mouth to explore the taste. Hmm, a little salty, a little… sweaty?

A long sigh released the tightness in her chest as strong arms encircled her. She arched into the embrace, pressing her breasts into firm, hard angles, moving her lips across a coarse plane to find another pair, waiting for hers. They were so soft, less than a whisper, certainly no more than a faint brush.

Why couldn’t all her dreams be so evocative? Strong arms, solid abs and…. She scooted closer to the heat. Oh yeah, hard, just plain hard. She arched herself against…something. Yes, so nice.

Hal
fway between the worlds of slumber and consciousness, she lingered, not wanting to be in either. Not while a wet tongue stroked her lips, played with her inside cheek, and probed that tender point on the roof of her mouth.

Another sigh, or was it a moan, filled her dream, just before the pressure on her mouth became more demanding. She opened herself fully, taking in the darting tongue, the lips that first nibbled then sucked on hers.

The nylon sleeping bag fell below her shoulders as she was rolled onto her back. It didn’t matter. She no longer needed its warmth. All the heat she could handle now came from within.

That tongue, as light as butterfly wings, trailed across her cheek to a most delicious spot below her ear. She couldn’t say the exact moment when she knew it wasn’t a dream. It didn’t really matter. It was his scent, musky, tinged with sweat and the slight trace of his soap. The same smell that had teased her since he first leaned into her at that diner brought her to full awareness.

She opened her eyes, but the total night of the swamp surrounded her. Open or closed, the view was the same. But oh, his touch was something else. She was drowning in a wave of desire and disbelief.

Could this really be Eddie? What happened to “this is only business?” Sharp splinters of lust shot through her, pushing questions away.

His lips moved lower, traveling the length of her neck to the sensitive skin at its base. She almost cried out when his open mouth tenderly sucked and nibbled. First, he’d been cool to her touch, but in seconds, heat radiated from him, warming her fingers and sending missiles of desire straight to her center.

His hair was smooth as liquid silk. She threaded her fingers through it again and again urging him to press closer. Her arms lowered to wind around his broad shoulders, smoothing his fevered flesh.

For an instant her world stopped. Oh my God. He was naked. At least, his torso was. That wonderful chest was hers to play with.

He arched and her hands drifted to his abs and chest, the soft, springy texture of his hair entwined about her fingers. Her hand remembered every plane and contour it had previously explored, and now it sought to re-discover them.

A scorching hunger raged through her, heating her so intently the warmth of the sleeping bag on her legs became suffocating. Blood pounded in her ears until she thought she’d never hear again. Cradled in his arms, she’d never felt safer or more aroused in her life. His body half covered hers as he feather kissed his way back to take her mouth in a smothering, possessive kiss. Trembling fingers stroked her breast. Sharp pleasure penetrated her very core.