Out of Control

An Ellora’s Cave Romantica Publication

www.ellorascave.com

Out of Control ISBN 9781419916762 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Out of Control Copyright © 2008 Eve Savage Edited by Helen Woodall. Cover art by Syneca. Electronic book Publication June 2008 With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502. Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/) This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

OUT OF CONTROL

Eve Savage

Dedication To my wonderful family who always gives me time to work and cheers me on. I love you more than mint mocha. To my mom and dad who never said I couldn’t do it. To the Mt. Helicon Muses who supported, pushed, cheered and nagged. I love you all.

Trademarks Acknowledgement The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction: Die Hard: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation Formica: Formica Corporation G.I. Joe: Hassenfield Bros., Inc. Olympics: International Olympic Committee Committee

Out of Control

Chapter One A naked, aroused man. A long, lean body lying draped across a rustic couch greeted Deryn Adams as she opened the wooden door and walked into the room. “Wow.” Not only was the isolated cabin beautiful, it came with a hard penis. She laughed softly. “Penny wasn’t kidding when she said this place was well-equipped.” And well-equipped he was. Hard and thick, his cock rose from neatly trimmed brown curls to his flat stomach. It moved with his steady breathing. He had a viciouslooking scar on his left side. Whatever had happened to him must’ve been terribly painful. The jagged healed wound only added to his mystique and she wanted to run her fingers down his flesh. Deryn tiptoed toward the sofa, stepping over a trail of clothes and boots. Just like a man to leave his junk all over the place. The cabin had looked roomy when she’d driven up, eager to get started on the layout work for the next photo shoot. The place was beautiful—green trees, fresh air and quiet. The drive up to Payette National Forest tired her out but a hundred thoughts and visualizations for the shoot overrode exhaustion. What dreams was the man indulging in for that impressive cock to be so hard and—was that pre-cum glistening on the tip? She smiled and licked her lips. Yum. She knelt down quietly next to the sofa. Why ruin her voyeuristic fun by waking him? His deep steady breathing moved his golden chest up and down. The slight dusting of light brown hair curling around flat nipples made her mouth water. Just a taste. Was that too much to ask?

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“Get a hold of yourself. You’re forty-two, you can’t just grab some young guy and take a bite,” said the little angel on her shoulder. “Why the hell not? It’s not like you’re dead,” said the opposing devil. Deryn didn’t consider herself easy and she definitely wasn’t dead. She was a living, breathing woman and could enjoy the view as well as anyone. The scenery of bared flesh was spectacular. He had the body of a god—hard, muscular and tall. He more than covered the length of the couch. The late afternoon sun streamed through the plaid curtained windows and fell across the handsome face sporting at least a week’s worth of beard. Her fingers itched to touch him. To see if his skin was as soft as it looked. Deryn blamed the artist within who loved different textures. Especially between a man and woman. He had a defined chest, ripped abs, a hard cock and strong thighs. Her gaze went back to his thick penis. With her photos of nudes in natural settings, she’d seen quite a few in her day. Whether the penises in question were hard, flaccid, circumcised or not, she loved them all. There was something about the male form that fascinated her. And the body splayed in front of her was certainly something to appreciate. Temptation had too tight a hold on her, she had to feel him. There was a ring on his middle finger but it wasn’t gold and didn’t look like a wedding band and the tattoo on his left biceps didn’t have a woman’s name etched into it. Deryn held her breath and extended her hand. Her fingers brushed along his hard length. Soft skin and hard steel. Lightning fast, his hand shot out and grabbed her wrist. She gasped. His grip tightened. “Look but don’t touch, sweetheart. Unless you plan on doing a lot more.”

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His deep voice sent shivers up her spine. His eyes were the most beautiful shade of blue. Although he’d just woken, they were bright and crystal clear with awareness. “Whatever, pal.” She tried to pull her hand away. He didn’t let go. “Whatever I want? Fine. I accept your offer. Kiss me.” The mocking amusement in his voice annoyed her. He didn’t think she’d do it. Oh yeah? She’d never passed up a dare in her life. Knowing it wasn’t the smartest thing in the world, Deryn leaned forward, placed her free hand on his chest and kissed him. The rough hair of his beard tickled her. His lips were firm and warm. A zing of lust bolted through her. Moisture seeped from her pussy to her panties. He speared his tongue into her mouth, demanding entrance. Their tongues entwined. He tasted of heat and mint. Mysteryman wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled. She toppled onto his muscular chest. “Oh!” A calloused hand slid to the back of her neck and held her tighter. His other arm glided down her side and pulled her shirt from her jeans. Tingles trailed his touch. She speared her fingers through his short dark hair. No one had ever kissed her this way. She’d had the rare lover but none were this demanding, this hot. This was fire. This was passion. This was crazy. Deryn wanted crazy. Just once in her life. Grabbing hold of his biceps, Deryn leaned further into him. The muscles flexed under her touch. He was strong and warm. His naked body felt incredible beneath her. She wanted to feel him skin to skin. Breast to chest, thighs to thighs and everything in between. His erection, impressive in sleep, was becoming impossibly harder and longer, pressing against her damp crotch. Deryn sat up abruptly. “Wait.” 7

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Looking dazed he asked, “What? Why?” Taking a deep breath, Deryn flung her t-shirt off and hurried out of her bra, tossing it to the floor. “That’s why.” “Oh. Okay.” He pulled her down to his chest and kissed her again. Deryn dragged her nails down his muscled side. He moaned. A deep rumbling sound she felt against her now-naked breasts. Breasts he was stroking with strong fingers. “You’re incredible. You appeared right out of my dreams,” he whispered against her ear, his hot breath tickling her. She plunged her tongue into his mouth again, taking charge. Tall, dark and hung was about to find out how incredible she was. Deryn kissed him one last time and slid her way down his body. Her hard nipples grazed his firm pecs and every one of his ripped abs. Lightning bolts of sensation fired straight to her vagina. He caressed her arms. “Where you goin’, sweetheart?” “Not far.” She kissed her way down his chest. The crispness of the hair a stark contrast to her soft lips. Moving back to the floor, she kneeled at eye level with his penis. The vein underneath its length throbbed. She licked her lips and ran her tongue from his balls to the weeping tip. He groaned harshly and twisted his hand in her French braid. The salty tang of him teased her tongue with the promise of richer flavors to come. She wrapped one hand around the base of his cock, enjoying the silken feel of the hot skin over hard flesh and started stroking what didn’t fit in her mouth—which was a considerable amount. She scraped her teeth along the sensitive underside of the flared head and licked him like a lollipop. Taking as much of him into her throat as she could, Deryn hummed around the thick shaft.

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His fingers tightened in her hair. “Oh yeah. Suck it harder. Damn you’re good at this.” She smiled around his thick flesh. Her nipples pebbled and her pussy drenched her panties. She’d always loved to suck a man off. Having him in her mouth felt so good. She wanted him inside her, piercing her tight core and driving her over the edge. She hummed deep in her throat and the sound vibrated up his hard penis. She withdrew and started stroking the shaft again. Teasing his balls, she asked, “Do you like that?” “Hell, yeah.” He looked at her with eyes gone dark with lust. Bending down to suck him again, she speared her tongue into the tiny slit at his crest and tightened her grip, stroking up and down, harder and faster. “Oh fuck!” He held her hair tighter, holding her to his groin. “I’m gonna come.” His voice was strangled. Deryn released his cock from her mouth. “Not without me, you aren’t.” She stroked long licks around his balls and nuzzled the soft sac with her nose. She breathed in deeply. His scent was musky and salty. All male. All hers. For the time being, at least. She took one last lick of his cock and stood. Instantly she was on her back on the woven rug. A hard, panting man covering her. “My turn, sweetheart,” he purred. “Those pretty breasts of yours need some attention.” Deryn couldn’t agree more and drew in a sharp breath as he caught a hard nipple in his mouth. “Oh yes,” she sighed and arched into him. 9

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Arcs of lightning shot from her nipples to her pussy in a never-ending stream of sensation. He moved his clever hands down her stomach. She wished she was more toned but mysteryman didn’t seem to mind. Not at all if his groan of appreciation was anything to go by. He tickled her belly button and played with the silver ring there. “Hmmm… got any other piercings I should know about?” She laughed. “Nope. Just the one. Got it when I turned forty. A right of passage with my best fr—” she inhaled sharply as he licked her navel, unbuttoned her jeans and slid the zipper down. His hands slipped into her panties. He stopped his descent and looked up. “Shaved? Nice.” His eyes twinkled with appreciation. Bending down to kiss her again, his fingers smoothed over her cream-covered labia and found her clit. She arched into his touch. “Ohmigod.” His teeth found her nipple again and bit lightly. His soft lips sucked her breast into the warm cavern of his mouth. “Your breasts are beautiful. I could kiss them forever,” he rumbled around the tight bud. “No one’s stopping you.” Deryn pushed her generous breasts together for him. He took advantage and licked each tight pebble in turn. His fingers could have played masterpieces on the piano the way they moved over her clit. He tugged on it gently, pushed back the hood and rubbed the engorged nub. “Oh! Oh yes. Don’t stop.” Colors flickered in front of her eyes as waves of fire beat against her body. “Hell yes!” The combined feeling of his lips on her nipples and his clever fingers on her clit had Deryn panting, her orgasm just beyond reach. “Put your fingers inside me. I’m so close. Please.” She was begging and didn’t care. Anything to keep the feelings going. 10

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The lightning to stay in her body. To go over the cliff in rapture. “Sorry, sweetheart. If you’re coming, it’s going to be with my cock inside this hot pussy.” He wrenched her jeans down and off. Her sneakers went with them. The panties came off with a twist of his tanned wrist. “Fuck me. I want to feel your cock inside me as I come.” “Anything you say, darlin’. Just let me get something first.” He leaned away and dug into the black duffle resting by a side table. After quickly sheathing himself in a condom, he threw the wrapper on the floor, sat back on his heels and pulled her to straddle him. His cock was so hard he didn’t need to guide it inside her weeping entrance. The broad head pushed against her sensitive opening. “Oh shit. You’re tight. So hot.” He held onto her hips with his large beautiful hands and pushed further in. “Damn. You’re burning me up.” “You? If you don’t get inside me already, I’m going to explode,” she panted. Holding onto his broad shoulders, she pushed down. He thrust his penis all the way inside her. His balls flush against her ass. They were tight up against his body and felt incredible. Her inner muscles adjusted to his thick width and she felt his cock head bump against her womb. His hands went around her waist and held her close to him. He laved one tight nipple as she started to move up and down on his hard penis. She rose very slowly then thrust down fast. “Oh yeah, darlin’. Just like that. It feels so good on my cock.” His tongue curled around her other nipple and he bit. She gasped and clenched her muscles in response. The pleasure-pain felt so good. The orgasm was building again. Fire shot from her nipples to her pussy and back. Her

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skin was on fire. The heat spiraled from her womb to her fingers and toes. She moved faster on his cock. Up and down. She wanted him in the deepest part of herself. Never wanted to let his cock go. “Oh God. I’m coming,” she moaned. “More. I want more.” Before she knew it, he’d flipped her to her back on the rug and was above her thrusting. Hard. Fast. Furious. His hands were on either side of her head, his face tight with concentration as he fucked her. His tan skin gleamed with sweat as he pushed his cock deeper into her pussy. The tingles started in her clit, the heat spreading out in a wave of pleasure. Every muscle in her body tightened. Her vagina clamped down on his penis as the climax hit. She clutched his straining biceps. Her nails bit into his flesh as he pumped into her, keeping the climax going until, incredibly, a second wave washed over her, taking her under. Nothing had ever felt this good. She shattered, lying underneath his still-thrusting body. Once. Twice. Three times and he erupted inside her. The harsh jets of his semen filled the condom separating them. His shouts of satisfaction sent still more shivers coursing through her. His chest heaved as he collapsed on top of her. The strong solid weight felt good against her breasts. Tremors rang through her body. He nuzzled her ear and kissed her lightly on the neck. “Damn. That was fucking incredible.” “More like incredible fucking,” she joked. He rolled off to her side and pulled her close into the crook of his shoulder. He lazily stroked his hand over her shoulder and down her arm. Deryn looked at the still open door. The sun had almost set and threw shadows across the room. She shivered from the chill invading the quiet cabin.

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Mysteryman followed her gaze and rose. After shutting the door and discreetly disposed of the condom in a small trash can, he grabbed an afghan from the sofa, lay down, and draped it over them. “By the way, I’m Brant. Pleased to meet you.” His eyes shone. “Deryn. And believe me, the pleasure was mine.”

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Chapter Two Brant dug in his duffel for some clean clothes. He pulled on jeans, tucked himself in and zipped them. Searching for a shirt, he chuckled softly. Deryn had introduced herself, jumped up and gone into the bathroom. Running water told him she was washing up. So much for some post-sex cuddling. She came back in wrapped in a towel, had gotten dressed and basically told him to leave. That wasn’t going to happen. She intrigued the hell out of him and he was curious to know what brought her to Payette. Jason hadn’t mentioned any guests coming to the cabin, so Brant believed he could crash there after his shift. Makes that shifts, plural. He’d worked two weeks back to back in the lookout tower. The last day and a half by himself, since his partner’s wife had gone into labor. It meant staying awake for thirty-six hours straight. But Brant was no stranger to standing long watches. He walked into the living room, leaned against the back of the sofa and stared at Deryn as she puttered around the kitchen. She’d undone her braid and pulled her chestnut hair into a ponytail. He loved brunettes. “So, do you often sleep naked on people’s sofas?” “Uh, no,” he laughed. “But in my defense, Jason never said anything about having a guest for the weekend.” Brant leaned sideways and flicked on the table lamp to chase away the gathering shadows. The cabin was rustic but clean. The large main room broke up into a kitchen, dining and living areas. The wooden furniture had comfortable cushions that matched the curtains. Throw rugs scattered across the hardwood floors held some of the chill at bay,

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along with a stone fireplace close to the front door. A door off the living area led to the bedroom. Brant liked the peace of the Miller cabin. He’d spent a lot of time here after his discharge from the Army while he figured out what to do next in his life. Everything was in such chaos back then. It had been a daily struggle to keep everything going. Long hikes had helped control some of the anger but the guilt wouldn’t ever go away. Banishing the unwanted memories, he walked into the kitchen and grabbed a beer from the fridge. “Before we go any further, please tell me I didn’t just fuck my buddy’s girlfriend.” He twisted off the cap with his bare hand and took a long pull of the cold liquid. Deryn’s eyebrows shot up. “It’s been awhile since someone’s called me a girl and, no, you didn’t have sex with anyone’s girlfriend.” He leaned a hip against the counter. “You say that as though you’re ancient.” She laughed. “Feels that way sometimes. Back to the sofa. Jason? He must be Penny’s brother. She’s mentioned him a few times but only ever calls him J.J.” She leaned in and reached for the top cabinet. Her breasts rose invitingly. “Penny’s my assistant. She probably forgot to tell him I was coming up. I love her but if she doesn’t write something down, it doesn’t stay in her head. How do you know J.J.?” Deryn placed a mug of water in the microwave. “You might know he’s a Senior Wildland Firefighter for Payette. I work with him. Came out of the tower after a two-week shift, was too tired to drive home, so I crashed here. I’ve got a key and an open invitation.” He winked. She jerked up from retrieving a canister from a lower cupboard. Her eyes were wide, her face pale. “You’re a fireman?” He nodded and walked toward her. “Firefighter. Wildland Firefighter to be exact.” Brant took the ceramic canister of teabags from her trembling fingers and placed it on the counter. “Hey, what’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

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Deryn shut off the anxiety coursing through her. “Nothing’s wrong. I’m just cold, that’s all.” He didn’t look convinced but let the subject drop all the same. Ding! Deryn turned to the microwave and pulled out the hot mug, setting it quickly on the Formica counter before burning her hand. Of course he was a firefighter. The honed, muscular body she’d recently become intimately acquainted with came from lots of regular activity and not in a gym. A man of action. Just like her dad. Just like her husband. Her late husband. Rob had been a cop. A good cop. “To serve and protect” was a way of life for him, not just a job. It had cost him that life when he walked into a convenience store holdup ten years earlier. The gunshot wounds killed him that night and the pain still stung her heart. Still fresh in the newlywed stage, he’d taken a rare weekend off so they could celebrate their first anniversary, but duty had called him back to the precinct. His death had ended any hope she’d had of love and family. Deryn fell apart after the funeral. Long months of depression along with gained weight she was still, so many years later, trying to lose completely had only added to her isolation. One morning she’d woken up and realized if she didn’t do something, the murderer would be guilty of taking two lives. Rob loved her and wouldn’t have wanted her to hide from the world. Deryn got out of the house, found a job with the magazine, joined a gym and started to live again. But the fear of getting close to another “action man” was never far from her heart. It was why she dated accountants, bookstore clerks and all-around boring men. If she dated at all. Men of action were the quickest way to a broken heart. They lived life on the edge of the blade.

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Deryn lusted for Brant. He was gorgeous and incredibly talented in bed, not that they’d made it to one yet. From their brief conversation, she’d gleaned he was funny and intelligent. But he was also a man of action and she wouldn’t let herself feel more for him than passing lust. Not to mention the fact he had to be at least ten years younger than her. A young man of action. Just what she didn’t need in her life. “Hello in there.” Two large warm hands rested on her shoulders, bringing her out of her reverie. “What?” She shook herself and stepped away from his touch. “How old are you?” “Well, that came out of nowhere. I’m thirty-one.” He smiled and his crooked grin caused a pull in her stomach. “Is that a problem?” Eleven years younger. At least she wasn’t old enough to be his mother. “Um, I-I-I guess not,” she stuttered. “Just curious.” But his age and job were two strikes against him according to the scorecard in her brain. Besides, she barely knew him and one raging case of lust was something she didn’t need either. Deryn turned back to the mug of tea. “I think you’d better head on out. It’s getting darker and I’ve got a lot of work to do before tomorrow. Maybe I’ll see you around.” Pasting on a fake smile, she turned, extended a hand, hoping he’d get the hint. He didn’t. Perhaps he wasn’t as intelligent as he seemed. Or he didn’t want to get the hint. Brant smirked and raised a dark eyebrow. “I know a ‘get out’ when I hear one. Why the change of heart? I was hoping we’d actually make it to a bed later. After some dinner, of course. I’m starving.” Pressing closer to her, the heat from him cocooned her body. Her nipples beaded against her bra. The fabric abraded the sensitive flesh. Her panties dampened. Just from him being near. She had to get him out of here. He was dangerous to her mental health. What had she just been thinking about?

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Oh, yes. He had to leave. “Brant, I had a lot of fun. It was wild but you really should go.” She couldn’t even look him in the eye as she stepped back from him. The heat vanished as quickly as a snuffed flame. “Okay. Hey, whatever you say, Deryn. You ask my age and then blow me off? I’m not gonna stay where I’m not wanted.” His eyes grew cold as he turned from her. He breathed deeply, sending his glorious chest in and out like a bellows. He put on his socks and boots and picked up his duffel. “But I think we could have had a lot of fun.” He stalked to her, grabbed the back of her head and kissed her. His tongue demanded entrance to her mouth. She gave it. His eyes had gone cold but his kiss was fiery. Flames zinged from her breasts to her core. All thoughts flew from her head. She pressed closer to his hot body but all she met was cold air. He walked out. The wooden door slammed behind him.

***** The glowing numbers on his watch read ten forty-five. Hell. He’d scare her to death showing up this late at night. After Brant left the cabin, he’d driven down the mountain only to run smack into a thunderstorm in the valley. The storm had caused a rockslide and led to a massive backup of eighteen-wheelers. He’d fought the storm and traffic for almost two hours and it didn’t look likely to clear up anytime soon. He had a choice—sleep in his truck or head back to the cabin. It was a no-brainer. He sat in the cab of his parked pickup contemplating the woman inside the darkened cabin. She was probably asleep.

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Good. Maybe he’d give her a taste of her own medicine. He’d enjoyed being woken by her earlier. What man wouldn’t? A hot, lush woman stroking your cock? It was a fantasy come to life. Brant had been alone for a long time and it… Well, it sucked. But he’d made the choice. Relationships were sticky and hard to control. Too many variables were involved and inevitably someone got hurt. If he was honest with himself, he wasn’t sure why he’d driven back. Didn’t every guy want to have worldshaking sex with a hot chick, then leave with no strings, no fuss? He’d done it more than a few times and the no-commitment rule was fine by him. Why this woman got under his skin, Brant didn’t want to think about. “Fuck.” His voice echoed in the quiet of the truck cab. He’d actually been a little hurt, as well as angry, when she’d asked him to leave. But just a little. He was a man after all. It wasn’t like him not to have control and her cavalierly tossing him out on his ass was a new experience. More curious than anything, he wanted to know about her. The thought scared the hell out of him. He’d never cared before. Couldn’t afford to care. But he wanted to know just the same. So what if there were a few years between them? Deryn couldn’t have been more than very early forties. Hell, she was probably younger than his older sister. But more than his age, she seemed to have a problem with his job. The look in her eyes when he said firefighter was fear. Nothing more, nothing less. Careful not to make any noise, he stepped down from his truck and closed the door. A cool mist had formed on the ground. The clouds swirled around his boots. He stepped over a fallen branch and walked to the door. He opened it quietly and heard water running in the other room. He smiled. She was in the shower. Perfect. Brant undressed quickly and followed the sound of her voice. Did she always talk to herself? He stopped just inside the bathroom door.

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Through the clear shower door, he saw she was soapy from head to toe. Her rich curves begged for his hands. He wanted to touch her everywhere. He took a deep breath and inhaled Deryn’s own unique spicy scent and… grapefruit? Must be the soap. Her eyes were closed as she rinsed off her body. His mouth went dry as her hands skimmed over her full breasts and soft stomach. Her lips were moving and light glinted off the silver ring in her navel. What was she saying? He didn’t clue in until he heard his name. “Brant. Sex god. Handsome. Funny. Great cock.” He smiled at that one. Thank you. “And a man of action. A younger man,” she sighed. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.” She screamed and opened her eyes. Her glistening breasts bounced as she breathed. “You scared the shit out of me.” “Sorry. I just wanted to catch you by surprise.” He slid the shower door open. “Well, you certainly did that!” She stepped out of the shower, grabbed a towel off the rack and hastily covered herself. “What are you doing back here?” He tugged the towel but she wouldn’t give it up. “Storm and rockslide. It was either sleep on the highway or come back here.” “There wasn’t a storm around here.” Her greenish-gold eyes were full of suspicion. He smiled. “Scout’s honor. The storm hit the valley. It happens a lot around here. It’ll rain on one side of the mountain but not the other. Do you mind if I join you? It’s getting cold out here.” He stepped forward. “Doesn’t look cold from where I’m standing.” She sent a pointed glare at his hard cock, while still holding the towel up to her breasts. “Well, it is.” He yanked the terry cloth away from her, pushed her back into the shower, stepped in and shut the glass door. 20

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Deryn backed up against the tile. “I’m not as easy as you think I am. I don’t just jump into bed with men. Despite what happened earlier.” “Sweetheart, I don’t think you’re easy at all.” He stood closer to her and held her hands away from her breasts. They were large and round and gleaming in the water. He bent his head and laved one dusky pink nipple until it puckered under his tongue. She tasted sweet and clean. “I don’t think this is a very good idea,” Deryn moaned as he continued paying attention to her nipples. “I do. Earlier was fun but I’m not nearly done with you or your body, Deryn.” He bit her nipple. She sighed. “Oh, yes. Just like that.” Brant twined his fingers with hers and stretched her arms up over her head. With pressure he told her to keep them there. Slowly he dragged his fingertips down her arms, around the side of her breasts and down her sides. Deryn squealed and laughed. “Ticklish, are you?” She sobered. “No.” But her laugh betrayed her. “What are you doing?” “I’m hungry. I want a snack.” He knelt down in front of her, kissing from her neck with its throbbing pulse, down her breasts, over her rounded stomach, to the smooth pussy below. He swiped his tongue along her hot slit. Hot water poured over his head as he feasted on her sweet cream. Flicking his tongue over her engorged clit, he stroked her silky thighs. She tasted so good. His taste buds reveled in her flavor. So rich and right. Her clit reached out to his tongue as he continued to lick and nip at her pussy lips. The smooth skin felt good against his stubbled jaw. Long, slow licks up her drenched slit forced a fresh wave of juices to spill from her pussy.

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Her hands tangled in his wet hair, holding him to her center. “Don’t stop. Oh yeah. Right there.” She moved her leg and propped it on the ledge. He dived in and slipped his tongue into her channel, lapping at her. He loved going down on women. Their taste, their scent, everything about them. Her muscles clenched around him. The tightness brought him to the edge of his control. His cock was so hard he was afraid he’d come all over the tile instead of in her hot pussy like he wanted. Her body tensed and shuddered. Her cry of orgasm was music to his ears. He drank in her juices, reveling in his power to bring her to climax. Brant stood slowly and kissed her, letting her taste herself on his tongue. The flames burned inside him so hot he was combusting. His hard cock begged to be inside that tight little sheath. He rubbed his penis against her soft mound, groaning as more of her juices coated him. He kissed down her neck and lightly bit her shoulder. He was a man. And right now he was primal, conquering. Brant turned off the water, pulled her legs around his waist and stepped into the bedroom. Without ceremony, he fell back onto the bed and grunted at the feel of her wet body lying across his hard one. “Did I hurt you?” Deryn scrambled off him and moved up to the pillows, shielding her body. “What? A little thing like you couldn’t hurt me at all.” He leered. “Come here.” Deryn shook her head. Her dark hair clung to her shoulders. “No? Guess I’ll have to come to you.” He got to his hands and knees and stalked to her. A jaguar trapping his prey.

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Chapter Three Deryn exhaled an unsteady breath. She really had thought she’d knocked the wind out of him. Granted, he was tall and broad, but still. She wasn’t as toned and built as when she was younger but her body wasn’t bad and he seemed to like it. She smiled as he came closer. He was so handsome. She couldn’t possibly imagine what he saw in her imperfect form. But she’d take it all in that moment. The steel of his long cock was proof enough of his desire for her. She gazed at the thick penis and wet her lips, wanting another taste. He was closer now. Deryn reached out and stroked her nails down his chest and took hold of his cock. “You’re so big. I can’t believe you fit inside me.” “And I aim to be inside you again. All night long.” A wicked gleam lit his blue eyes, gone dark with lust. Brant unwrapped her fingers from his cock and pounced on her. He kissed her swollen lips, tugging on the lower one. The sensations rocked through her clenching her pussy. His large, tanned hands massaged her breasts and tugged her nipples, playing havoc with her senses. Gentle teeth nipped her shoulder while a strong finger caressed her clit. When Deryn was positive she’d gone blind from the pleasure he slipped two fingers into her drenched pussy. He tangled his tongue with hers, pumped his fingers inside her and rubbed his cock against her thigh. Her brain barely functioned. The building heat scorched her. “More. I want you inside me.” She clawed his back and scratched her way to his ass. Grabbing a handful, she squeezed his tight muscled posterior.

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He snatched a condom from the supply in the nightstand and rolled it on. Growling deep in his chest, he kissed Deryn again as he moved on top of her. His weight felt delicious. He moved his hips and positioned the velvet tip against her vagina. One firm thrust and he was deeply embedded inside her body. They groaned in unison. She was so wet he slid easily into her. Sensations overwhelmed her. Flames grew inside her, spiraling out from her core to her nipples, fingers and toes. Brant kept up a steady rhythm, grinding his cock into her pussy and slapping his balls against her ass with every thrust. He withdrew. She cried out in disappointment. “No.” “Turn over,” he whispered in her ear. She did and lowered her head to the sheets as she raised her ass high. The cool air of the cabin brushed across her exposed pussy. It didn’t cool her down. If anything, the contrast only made her hotter. She was burning up. Brant moved behind her and placed his pulsing cock at her opening and plunged in deeply. Her pussy stretched once more to accommodate his size as he filled her. Pounding into her from behind, he leaned over and grabbed her breasts, molding them with his rough calloused hands. He pinched her nipples and tugged on them. The fire was bone deep. Consuming her from the inside out. The passion couldn’t get much higher. She was going to explode, every thrust bringing her closer to the edge. The scents and sounds of sex filled the air with an animalistic and carnal atmosphere. This was sex. This was passion. And Deryn loved it. The emotions rolling through her body and mind were incomprehensible.

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Brant let go of her breasts and grabbed her hips. His rough hands were going to leave bruises and it didn’t matter in the slightest. “Harder, Brant. Harder,” she begged. Her breath was a rough whisper against the cotton sheets. She wasn’t even sure he’d heard her. Until he grabbed her arms and pulled her back so she practically sat on him. Brant wrapped his arms around her and cupped her breasts. The position changed the angle of penetration and the smooth, bulbous head of his cock rubbed a different spot inside her pussy. A spot loaded with nerves. And they all caught fire in an instant and sent her over the edge. “Ohmigod,” she wailed as convulsions overtook her. He pinched her nipples and sucked her neck, prolonging the orgasm. Brant slid his hand down her abdomen and squeezed her labia together, trapping her clit and caressing it. Amazingly, another wave of pleasure washed through her body. She squeezed her vaginal muscles to hold him inside her, never wanting to let his cock go. “Fuck. Damn, darlin’. So tight. Like a fucking fist on my cock,” he panted into her ear. His penis continued to plunge through the firm muscles. He wrapped her closely in his arms again and thrust. The hot splashes of cum surged into the condom as he shook behind her. “I think I went blind there for a second.” His laugh shook her body as he collapsed onto her back pinning her to the mattress. “You too?” she managed. He finally released his arms, threw the used condom in the trash and gathered the pillows that had ended up on the floor. Deryn lay down on the mountain of softness with Brant curled up behind her. Replete with pleasure and sated with incredible sex, she snuggled into him and fell asleep.

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***** Brant woke up the next morning to a cold bed and a colder shower. It really didn’t help the lust coursing through his veins, but it calmed the immense hard-on he’d woken up with. At least he was able to shave off the beard he’d grown while in the tower. He hurried and dressed in the pile of clothes he found neatly folded on the chair in the bedroom. He was surprised Deryn hadn’t woken him up when she’d gotten out of bed. He was generally a light sleeper but after the sexual Olympics of last night, he’d quietly slipped into a coma. Artillery shells could have gone off outside and he’d probably have kept sleeping. Brant laughed. “At least I don’t snore.” “Actually, you do.” He turned toward the teasing voice in the doorway. “Are you hungry?” Deryn led the way to the dining table where breakfast waited. Eggs, bacon, toasted bagels and orange juice. He realized he hadn’t eaten since lunch the day before as his stomach rumbled. “The only place to get groceries is Peregrine Valley and they charge a fortune for their stuff. Part of having a captive audience.” He sat down at the table with Deryn, who had already piled his plate high with food. There was considerably less on her plate, he noticed. “You’re not hungry?” She shook her head. “I nibbled while I cooked. And you’re right about that market in the valley—they do charge a bloody fortune.” He stifled a yawn. “Sorry. Stayed up late,” he said with a wink. Deryn’s hazel eyes twinkled with humor. “Gee. What kept you up, do you suppose?”

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“A sexy woman sucking my cock?” He grinned as he smeared cream cheese on a bagel and took a healthy bite. Her cheeks flushed light pink. “Whatever.” “Do you have any coffee? I can’t function in the morning without it.” Deryn leaned forward over the table and sent a quick glance at his crotch. “I’m sure you’ll function just fine.” She sat back. “And, no, I didn’t make any coffee. Hate the stuff.” She pulled a face and stuck out her tongue. Brant smiled at her and kept chewing as she nibbled on her breakfast. No coffee? What a crime. He downed the orange juice and, with a hearty appetite, ate just about everything on the table. The sway of her ass in tight jeans caught his attention as she cleared the plates and washed the dishes. He jumped up to help dry them but she had finished. Perfect timing. He smiled to himself. Housework was never his forte. The Army taught him to keep his quarters neat but that didn’t mean he liked cleaning. He wondered what her place looked like. Where was it? Was it full of frills? Girly stuff? Mentally slapping himself, he refocused his thoughts on her ass. What did he care how her place looked? He didn’t. Did he? “Brant, did you hear me?” He blinked and came face to face with Deryn’s large breasts. She was standing next to him, her red t-shirt outlining the large globes. His mouth watered. Just a taste, he thought, leaning forward to kiss the nipple through the material. “Oh, no, you don’t. I’ve got a lot of work to do today. I can’t afford to be distracted.” Her dilated pupils and heightened breathing belied her statement but he sat back just the same. Time enough for fun and games later. “What work do you have to do in Payette? Most people come here to camp or fish.” “I’m a photographer for Natural Universe Magazine. I’m here to do the set up for my next shoot.” She turned away and walked toward a large black bag on an oak end table.

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“Wait. You’re Deryn Adams? Jason mentioned his sister worked for a photojournalist but I didn’t put it together.” “You know my work?” She sounded surprised to hear it. Granted, her work was mostly appreciated by an artier set. But he was man enough to admit he liked pretty things. And her photographs were beautiful. There’d been precious few pretty things in his life over the past couple of years. Unable to resist getting a rise out of the spitfire, Brant rose and sauntered to her. “It’s full of naked people. Of course I know your work.” Her lush lips thinned as she narrowed a gaze on him. “Wonderful,” she said, sarcasm ripe in her throaty voice. He actually enjoyed her work and the magazine very much and even had a subscription. But he didn’t tell her. It might hurt his macho firefighter image. “There’s more to it than naked people, you brute.” She sat on the sofa and cleaned one of the lenses of a very expensive-looking digital camera. “I’d say I only read it for the articles but that’s a bit clichéd, don’t you think?” He leaned against the stone mantle. “You’re one very interesting man, Brant. What’s your last name?” “Crichton. And thank you. So, what’s involved in the set up work?” “I’m here to scout the area for locations. I want to focus on the hidden beauty of Payette. Places no one else knows about.” She replaced the lens in the bag and grabbed another. “And you were going to do that by yourself? That’s pretty stupid.” She sat up straighter and leveled him with a stony look. “I’ll thank you to not call me stupid. I know how to use a compass and wouldn’t have gotten lost. I would probably have just hiked for a while until I found a location I like.” “I didn’t say you were stupid. I said your idea was. There’s a difference.” Deryn didn’t look convinced. 28

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An idea occurred. “How ’bout I show you some of the sights of the forest? Your work would go a lot faster with a guide.” And maybe he could convince her to engage in a little afternoon fucking. “You want to be my guide? Don’t you have to work or something?” “I just came out of the tower so I’m off for the next four days. Trying to get rid of me again? I won’t be so easy to dismiss this time.” “You weren’t easy to dismiss last time, you came back, remember?” “Damned if I know why.” He meant that too. He couldn’t get a handle on her and Brant didn’t deal with uncontrollable situations well. His job, both as a Wildland Firefighter and Army Ranger, demanded control of every situation. It was what he liked. What he thrived on. A woman who took his cock into her body without knowing his name and then tossed him out only to welcome him back was not what he was used to. Damned if it didn’t intrigue the hell out of him. Her gaze narrowed as she wrestled with the decision to let him go along. “If you don’t let me go, I’ll only follow you.” “You would too.” She breathed out a long sigh. “All right.” “Ask me nicely.” “Who are you? Jack Nicholson?” “What?” That caught him up short. “You know, Jack Nicholson from A Few Good Men.” She turned, wrapped the lens in a soft red cloth and placed it in the bag. “No, he was a Marine. I was Army. A Ranger.” She snorted. “Of course you were.”

***** Deryn huffed as she followed Brant over fallen tree limbs. She thought of herself as in semi-good shape. There were still a few pounds she’d like to be rid of but she swam

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and did stretching exercises in the mornings. The forests of Payette were giving her a run for her money. There was no discernible path she could find. “Are you sure you know where we are?” “I know this forest like the back of my hand. Do you want me to carry that for you?” He inclined his head toward her bag. “No, thanks. I’ve got it. That bag you’ve got looks heavy enough as it is, what with the radio and all. And I’m sure you know this place but if I wanted to go to Oregon, I’d have driven there. Trust me.” She took a drink of water from the bottle in her pack. “You want to go back?” There was concern in his voice. It steeled her spine. “No. If this place is as special as you say, I want to see it. I want hidden beauty for the layout.” “Oh, this place is hidden all right.” His smile gleamed in the mid-morning light. “It’s not very far now.” They’d been walking for an hour. Deryn’s feet hurt. Her blisters had blisters. Where were they going? Why am I following him? You know why, her inner voice pricked her. Oh, shut up. But she did know why. More time. More time with Brant. Their eight-hundred-mile hike was getting on her nerves so she asked him questions. “What’s your favorite movie?” “What?” He helped her over a fallen log. “If you insist on walking us to another state for this location, then we get to play twenty questions. Now, favorite movie.” He didn’t even think about it. “Die Hard. You?” 30

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Her mouth gaped. “Die Hard. I love that movie! Yippee kiyay, mother—” Brant laughed, cutting her off. “See we’ve got something in common. My turn. Favorite sexual position.” He turned and continued to play hiking guide, leading her deeper into the forest. Birds sang in the sunshine and the green of the leaves deepened the further they went. “Just like a man. Always go for the sex. But since you’re so interested, it’s reverse cowgirl. You?” “Definitely woman on top, or any way I can get you.” “Un-huh.” But she blushed regardless. “Okay, song that was on when you got your first kiss.” “Love Bites by Def Leppard. School dance.” “Magnet and Steel. Walter Egan. Back seat of his car. Quite a bit of difference between those two.” “Yeah but they’re both really good. I like that song too. You seem quite set on pointing out the differences between us.” He eyed her shrewdly. “I’m just trying to get to know you.” “Sure you are.” They walked deeper into the forest. He answered the questions easily enough, firing them right back at her. The easy-going banter had relaxed her and made the hike go faster. Until she’d asked about his Army service. Brant had clammed up, faced forward and practically marched her to…wherever they were going. The silence had given her time to think. Her policy of “no dating men of action” was now coupling with “what’s wrong with dating younger men?” Both were wavering fast with every minute in Brant’s company. No! She had to stay firm. Her heart had been broken once. Never again. And what would a stud like him want with a woman like her beyond a couple of days of fucking?

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“We’re here.” Deryn brought her thoughts back to the duty at hand and looked around. The spot was beautiful. Lush green grass grew in a small clearing among a growth of Western White Pines. The state tree of Idaho was nowhere near as abundant as it had once been due to insects, disease and harvesting. Since the population problems began, they mostly grew as single trees. To uncover a copse of them was indeed a find. Large rocks were scattered throughout the clearing. The harsh lines of the granite were a sharp contrast to the symmetrical trees. A babbling creek wound its way through the rocks. Deryn couldn’t believe her eyes. It was absolutely perfect. The contrasting colors, the different textures, the filtered sunlight through the pines—perfect. “Brant, this is beautiful. How did you find this place?” “After I was discharged, I stayed in Jason’s cabin for a while and went on a lot of hikes. Rangers are trained in orienteering so I’d just take a compass, a canteen and walk. It helped me clear my head.” The stoic man didn’t offer an explanation as to what his head needed clearing from. But his closed expression didn’t invite deep questions. “When was this?” He breathed heavily. “About three years ago. Why?” “Just curious.” She wondered if he’d stayed at the cabin the whole time and if his discharge had something to do with the scar on his side. Whatever Brant was sorting, he must’ve needed to do alone. Deryn walked around the clearing, framing different shots in her mind’s eye. It really was beautiful. “Like what you see?” He sat on a large rock, brought his knees up by propping his booted feet on the rock and rested his elbows on them. The position gave her an excellent view of the bulge in his jeans.

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She looked him straight in the eye. “It’ll do.”

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Chapter Four Deryn placed her bag on one of the rocks and pulled out her digital camera. It had cost her a fortune but was worth every nickel. Despite the fact, she continually lugged around half a dozen different lenses as well as the camera, she he loved it. He stared at her as she walked around the clearing. Deryn felt his eyes on her back. She started to snap basic location shots, already seeing where the models would stand. An auburn-haired woman lying next to the creek, trailing her fingers in the water as the sun caressed her naked body. Her breasts thrust up to the sky in offering. A tall blond man, his cock long and virile, reclining on a rock, his arms stretched above him. One leg propped up. A portrait of masculine beauty. As she circled the clearing, she thought more about Brant and the explosive chemistry between them. Unbelievable. She’d never been with any man who made her feel the way he did. So full of passion. Even, she reluctantly admitted, Rob. Time with him was fiery. Heated passion. Even when they argued, as they had numerous times on the hike, the passion never waned. She hardly knew him but her body craved his. His hard cock inside her. His tongue on her clit. She was dangerously close to caring for him. Even if she got over the fear of his job, his age kept creeping into her thoughts. Silly, maybe. But true nonetheless. Taking a deep, fortifying breath, Deryn snapped a couple more scenic shots and turned to Brant. He’d taken off his shirt and was laying back on the rock, one knee propped up, a piece of long grass in his mouth, his hands together over his flat belly, sunglasses shielding his eyes. The way the sun fell over his body and caressed the hard muscles inspired her. She snapped a photo. Then another. And another. “You should have been a model.”

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He barked a laugh. “I don’t think so,” he said derisively. “The world doesn’t need my ugly mug plastered all over it. Besides, I like to eat and don’t relish the thought of drugs and throwing up every five minutes.” She looked at his chiseled jaw, the beautiful, surprisingly soft lips, the small dimple that appeared in his left cheek when he smiled. Yeah, he was ugly all right. “Oh come on. You’re a great-looking guy and not all models are bulimic, chainsmoking drug addicts. At least not the ones I use.” She snapped another photo as he took off his glasses and turned her way. “Why do you stay behind the camera? You’re gorgeous.” His eyes were warm and sincere. “The heat has obviously fried your brain. I’m too old and not skinny enough to be a model. I’ll keep myself behind the camera where I belong, thank you very much.” “Whoever convinced you of that should be shot.” “Nobody convinced me of anything. I just know what I see in the mirror every day. I’m not hideous but I’m not a model.” He pulled himself up from the rock gracefully. His abdominal muscles rippled with the effort. Her throat went dry at the blatant display of strength. She wanted to lick those muscles. Inspiration struck. “Will you model for me here?” Brown eyebrows rose. “What?” “I need to get some model blocking shots. Usually I just imagine in my head but since you insisted on coming you might as well make yourself useful.” “You’re serious?” She nodded. “You’re not gonna make me strike goofy poses are you?” He looked wary.

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“No. You’ve seen my work. I try to capture the essence of the person and nature.” She waved him back down on the rock when he started to rise. “Stay there.” “So, this is this where you want me?” The question was loaded in more ways than one. So was he, if the continued bulge in his jeans gave indication. “That’s fine to start.” She snapped a few shots. “Okay, move to the tree over there.” Deryn pointed to a white pine right next to the water. “And take off your boots.” Those eyebrows went up again. “If I’m going to get the right blocking shots I need you to be as close to my models as possible. That means no clothing, or as little as you’re willing to wear.” Understanding lit his eyes. “This isn’t a ploy to get me out of my pants, is it?” “Maybe.” She drew out the first part of the word and batted her eyelashes at him. “You read my mind.” Brant shucked his boots, socks and jeans and stretched in the sunlight. His semi-hard cock was too much temptation for her. Deryn walked forward and took his shaft in her hand, stroking from base to tip. He moaned as a pearly drop eased from the tip. Swiping over the smooth cock head, she smeared the drop onto her finger and brought it to her mouth. Delicious. She wanted to capture him on film just like this. Raw. Naked. Vulnerable. Her panties grew wetter with each shot she snapped of his masculine form. It took him a while to get comfortable. Eventually, Brant got into the posing. Relaxing more and grumbling less. He leaned up against a tree, stood tall and proud in the creek, relaxed in the grass. His smile lit up the air around him, his dimple made her melt inside and with each click of the shutter his cock got harder and stood higher. Her breasts got tighter and fuller. Her breathing shallower. The last shot she took was of him leaning against a white pine, one knee propped up, his head turned away from her, his right arm reaching out for something—a woman, perhaps? 36

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“Thanks. Those were some great shots. You’re a natural,” she whispered, starting to pack up her camera. Suddenly he was behind her, stilling her hands. “Oh no, you don’t. It’s payback time.” “What do you mean?” She looked over her shoulder into his deep cerulean eyes. His lids were heavy with lust. His cock was hard against her. “I want you to pose for me now.” Her eyes went wide as she shook her head. Oh no. No one was going to take photos of her. “No. That’s all right. I got enough shots. Thanks.” “Nope. You only got male shots. Definitely need some female ones in there.” Brant grabbed her camera. “Hey! Give that back.” She made a grab for it but he held it out of reach. She was only five foot eight to his well-over-six-foot height. No chance. “I’ll make you a deal. I know you’re wet for me. For every picture you let me take, I’ll lick your pussy.” Words choked off in her throat and her breathing grew rapid. No! She would resist him. He wasn’t that good at going down on her. Was she kidding? Of course he was that good. Add to that she burned with lust for him. She agreed in a heartbeat. Brant sat her down on the plush grass next to the creek. He unlaced her sneakers and pulled off her socks. He rubbed the arches of her feet, his strong hands easing the aches in them. “You’re hired.” Her eyes rolled back in her head as her toes tingled with warmth. His chest rumbled. Hot strong hands worked their way up her legs, massaging. When he reached the juncture of her thighs, he pressed his knuckles into her, connecting the seam of her panties with her clit and sending zings of pleasure through her stomach to her breasts.

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His hands moved up to the button on her jeans. Pop. Zip. Her pants were off in a second, her panties with them. He swiped a long, slow lick up her weeping slit. She trembled. Brant ate at her clit, biting and nibbling, as his hands traveled up under her top and took hold of her breasts. Her nipples tightened under his touch. His rough fingers pulled the lace bra cups down under the warm mounds of flesh. He continued his assault on her pussy while attacking her breasts with his fingers. Deryn arched into his mouth. The pleasure was intense and building. “Oh yes. Stab your tongue into me.” He obeyed. “Mmmmm.” He hummed against her clit and sparks flew through her. She grabbed a handful of his hair and held him to her, wanting more pressure, more contact between her pussy and his mouth. She was so close. The fire within was maddening. Thoughts flew from her head. This man made her world shift with every stroke of his tongue against her, every pull on her nipples and every tug on her clit. So close. Cool air rushed against her pussy as he came up above her. “Not yet,” he said. “That was just a taste.” She growled in frustration and leaned up to kiss him. He tasted of heat and her. Their tongues tangled as he clutched her to him, pressing her swollen breasts against his hard chest. The hairs rasped her nipples. Where did her top and bra go? A flash of red caught her eye as it flew over Brant’s head. He really did leave her breathless and out of her mind with passion and lust. He backed away from her and picked up her camera. “Stop. I want to show you as you are right now.” The shutter clicked. Deryn knew her hair was a mess. It had long ago come out of its braid. She was sweating and the grass was making her ass itch. He shot picture after picture and, just as he had, she started having fun—laughing and smiling the whole time. When he 38

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touched her to move her into a pose, flames erupted on her skin. He kissed her earlobe biting gently and warmth flared on her chest. The fire he ignited inside her was criminal. It left her unable to think, just to feel. Feel him. “Lie on your back. Put one hand in the water and lay the other over your pussy. Spread your legs wider. I want to see how wet you are for my cock.” His explicit words thrilled her. She did as he asked. But didn’t lay still. Her fingers went further than just resting on her pussy. She caressed her clit and spread the juices around the opening. Brant’s breathing grew harsh in the quiet forest. The ache in his chest intensified as he watched her dip her long fingers into her pussy and pull the sweet cream out. Her rounded hips arched under her ministrations and her legs fell open. He swallowed hard and took another photo. Her pale hand moved faster over her clit while the other came out of the water to cup a large breast. Her chest rose with a gasp. The water was ice cold even in summer, as it flowed from a higher elevation in the mountains. He’d almost frozen to death when standing in it for Deryn’s shots. But he would have stood there forever to see the joy on her face as she took the photos. Her body had told him the erotic photo session heated her up with her puckered nipples, flushed skin and uneven breathing. It had hitched with every click of her finger on the shutter button. It had done no less to him. His cock had filled to bursting and dripped with precum. He took it in hand for a couple of the photos but the relief of contact wasn’t nearly enough to satisfy. He needed release. He needed her. Deryn moaned and her thighs trembled as he watched the orgasm overtake her. The second her chest flushed, her back arched and her mouth fell open, his finger hit the button on the camera. He caught her in her moment of ecstasy. She was beautiful. Confusing and exasperating but beautiful. “Did you like what you saw?” Her voice was throaty from her screams of passion.

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Brant nodded, put the camera in the bag, and grabbed a condom from the pocket of his discarded jeans. He crawled over the grass to her and pulled her to her knees, gazing his fill of her body. She looked away. He took her chin in his hand and turned her toward him. Her spine straightened and she looked into his gaze. “You’re beautiful, darlin’. You act like you’re some ancient hag.” She gasped indignantly. “I do not.” “Okay, you don’t. But you obviously see it as an obstacle in whatever we’ve got going here. You’re as sexy as hell, sweetheart.” The trepidation in her hazel eyes took his breath away. How could she not know? How could she be so confident in some ways and as shy as a rabbit in others? He wanted to know. Had to know. He kissed her tender lips and nipped until she opened for him. His tongue swept into her mouth as he brought her breasts against his chest. The pointed nipples stabbed him. The contrast of the pebbled tips and her exquisitely soft skin made him moan and want her all the more. He would never get enough of the feel of her. Rubbing his hands down her back, he grabbed her ass—soft and round and perfect. He delved lower with one hand and circled her asshole with a finger. Deryn tensed and then melted at the pleasure he knew she was feeling. Gathering some cream from her drenched pussy, he coated his finger and brought it back to the tight rosette of her ass. He pressed into the small opening and let her adjust to the invasion all the while kissing her ears and neck. He sucked and bit while his other hand went to a tight nipple and pulled. “Full, soft breasts,” he murmured. Fingers trailed from the top curve over the nipples to the sensitive underside. “Supple stomach with a sexy belly ring.” His hand continued the path down her stomach. He thrust his finger deeper into her ass and started a slow pushing rhythm.

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“Beautiful pussy. So smooth.” His other fingers found the cream trickling out of her. He coated one and brought it to his mouth. He licked it and smiled. “Sweet.” She leaned forward and kissed him, dancing her tongue along his lips. With three fingers in her pussy and one in her ass, he brought her to another climax. Seeing her shake and come for him opened up a part of his heart he’d thought long closed. She trusted him. He removed his fingers and, while she still shuddered with her climax, entered her in one swift move. Her vagina clamped down on him, the rippling muscles caressed him like a fist. It took all of his control not to go off right then. He needed to show her how beautiful she was. Show her so she’d never forget. Brant wanted to mark her, to make her his. “Darlin’, put your legs around my waist.” Deryn did, never losing contact with his pulsing cock while maneuvering. The little movements sent bolts of lightning through his balls as they tightened, ready to come. Brant grabbed her ass and lifted her up and onto his cock. Her breasts rubbed against his chest and warmth spread through him, starting in his balls and moving outwards to his fingers and toes. He saw colors and sparks behind his eyes as she threw her arms around his neck and hung on. Something in the back of his mind told him to pay attention but the raging passion was almost too much to bear. He didn’t want to come yet but wasn’t sure if he had the kind of control to stop the explosion on the horizon. With his head thrown back, Brant registered dark clouds covering the clearing. A storm rolled in as one rolled through his body. “Oh, Brant. Touch my clit. Touch my ass. Please,” Deryn begged him. He obliged. Finding the throbbing nub engorged and straining out of its hood, he flicked it with a fingertip. She shouted and clamped down tighter on his cock.

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Brant gathered their combined juices spilling from her pussy and rubbed his finger at the entrance to her ass. He pressed in slowly and rotated his finger against the sensitive nerves at the opening. He didn’t think it was possible but she tightened her pussy even more on his cock and let out a scream of orgasm. The feel of her on his cock and his finger in her tight ass sent him over the edge. A harsh groan and shaking body heralded his own orgasm as he spurted hot semen into the latex barrier. Their cries were drowned out by a loud crack of thunder then lightning split the sky.

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Chapter Five “What the hell was that?” Deryn pushed against Brant’s chest. He’d landed on her when what sounded like an explosion had gone off near their hiding place. Brant pushed off her and gathered their scattered clothing and his pack. “Thunder. Come on. Looks like a storm’s about to hit. We’ve gotta take shelter.” “Well, hell. We’re surrounded by trees. That can’t be good.” She grabbed her precious camera bag and followed Brant. Naked, they ran through the trees to an outcropping of rocks. Her feet hurt from the twigs and pine needles on the forest floor but it was nothing compared to the feeling she’d get if struck by thirty thousand amps of electricity. Talk about jump-starting her heart. The outcropping turned out to be the entrance to a small cave. “Damn it. I called into the station this morning but there was no storm threat.” Brant’s voice was angry. “Hey, don’t beat yourself up. Weather happens. We’ll wait out the storm here where it’s safe and go back to the cabin later. In the meantime, we’d better get dressed. I don’t feel like meeting whatever creature lives in this cave buck-ass naked.” She smiled, trying to ease his anger. He smiled ruefully. “This isn’t part of a cave system. Just a cutout in the rock strata. I doubt any creatures live here.” Deryn shimmied into her underwear and pulled on her jeans and top. Brant remained gloriously naked. “Don’t know why you bothered to dress, I’m only going to take those clothes off you again. But not until we eat.” She cast him a surprised look, her eyebrows rose. “I didn’t pack any food, nothing substantial at least.”

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He grabbed his pack and dug in. Brant tossed out brown plastic packages followed by what looked to be freeze-dried beef. She picked up a package. “What’s this?” “An MRE. A ‘Meal Ready to Eat’. I figured I might as well bring a couple. You never know what’s going to happen.” “I think my dad used to take these camping. We had to boil water to heat them up though.” “Not to worry, they cook by chemical reaction now. All the heat, none of the fuss. We, on the other hand, might get a bit chilly. There’s a burn ban right now in the forest. No fires.” “What? No roasted marshmallows? What’ll they do?” Mock horror flowed through her voice. He laughed. His smile was so brilliant his face lit up in the shadowy cave. “Nope. No marshmallows or campfire songs this week, at least. Not until we get some rain. The storm from last night didn’t bring any relief up here.” Still naked, he knelt down next to her and handed over an MRE. Her heart fluttered at the sight of the strong male next to her. His cock hung down between his thighs, swaying gently. She swallowed hard at the thought of that magnificent organ inside her again. Oh for God’s sake! Settle down. They tore open the packages and sorted through the contents. Crackers with peanut butter, hermetically sealed vegetable manicotti—not too shabby—pound cake, fruit, tea, hazelnut cocoa and—toilet paper? He was prepared. Wind whistled around the cave entrance, rustling the trees and stirring up dead pine needles. Another crack of thunder made Deryn jump. Brant looked up from spreading peanut butter. “It’s okay. The lightning is usually fierce up here because of the elevation but we’re safe. Groups of trees are better than stand alones and we’re inside. We’ll just ride it out.” He held up a cracker to her mouth.

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She bit into it and licked peanut butter off his finger. The sweet nuttiness was enhanced by his masculine flavor. Deryn looked outside but all she saw were flashes of light. “There’s no rain.” He followed her gaze. “That happens a lot around here. Lots of rumbling and light but no rain. It’s probably farther down in the valley.” Brant pulled a blanket from his bag and laid it out next to her. Laying his long form down, he stretched out. Unable to take her eyes off him, Deryn joined him on the blanket and enjoyed the view. “So. What are we going to do while holed up here?” she asked. “Play charades? Tic Tac Toe? Fuck?” A cracker caught in her throat and Deryn coughed. “How about we talk?” “I knew you’d pick that.” Quick as anything, his hand shot up and grabbed her breast. She leaned away. “Nope. I’m curious to know about you.” “We played twenty questions on the hike up here. What more do you need to know? How about this? For every answer I give, you take off a piece of clothing.” His eyes sparkled in the darkness. Deryn shivered but wasn’t cold. The thought of being in a small cave with him, naked, playing strip twenty questions, was almost too much to handle. Almost. “You really like calling the shots, don’t you?” She ran a finger down his chest. “Are you calling me bossy?” The muscles of his arm flexed as he took a hold of her wrist and stopped her exploration before she got to his cock. “Hmm, bossy is a term I would use for a woman. You’re more like…” she thought hard and laughed, “very assertive.” He grinned. “I can handle that.” They settled onto the blanket and continued eating. “You mentioned your mother raised your sisters and you by herself, what happened to your dad?” 45

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His chest moved with a deep breath. “He was killed when I was a kid. In the line of duty. A hiker thought it was cute to play with matches during a dry summer and started a brush fire. My dad got trapped in a fire ring. His team couldn’t get to him. He suffocated to death. The lesser of two evils, if you ask me. I was only five but I could see mom was really sad for a long time. But, rather than shut down, she kept his pictures out, talked to us about him all the time. She raised the three of us to be strong people, ready to take on any challenge. Didn’t change the fact that we missed him terribly though.” The sadness in his eyes punched her heart but it was quickly replaced by a leer when she took off her t-shirt and dropped it across him, covering his hard penis. “Did your mom remarry after your dad?” “Yeah, she did. It took a long time but eventually I guess she figured out you live with the good memories and can’t go around mourning the dead. My dad wouldn’t have wanted her to be unhappy forever. He loved her.” He gazed at her. “About fifteen years ago, she married another firefighter. My current boss, as a matter of fact. They’re pretty happy.” Deryn knew it was possible to recover from losing someone you loved. But it changed you irrevocably. Nothing was the same. His mother had done it. Had even remarried. Her mother, on the other hand, had closed everyone out. Wasted away. She’d been on the same track. A sharp nudge brought her out of her thoughts. “Pay up.” The jeans were next. She stood in the small area and turned so her ass faced him. Shimmying out of the denim, she bent over to give him a rear view of her lace-covered pussy as she took them off. A low whistle filled the cave. She lay down next to him. His cock grew tall under the tent of her top. “Why did you leave the Army?” “You get right to the heart of the matter. It’ll cost you your bra and panties.” “No. The deal was one answer for one piece.” 46

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“You want to delve into my deep, dark secrets, you pay the price.” Any price was worth paying to find out what made Brant tick. What demons haunted him at night? The need was undeniable. “Deal. You first.” A long deep sigh escaped his chest. “We were on a mission in a very hot, sandy place. The Rangers had already taken lots of casualties and it didn’t look to get any better. My squad was rotated through for another patrol.” He faltered. She touched his arm. “You really don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.” The air shifted as he inhaled. “No. It’s okay. I’d been caught in a, shall we say, tense situation and was wounded when a bomb went off. Took a lot of shrapnel and had to have surgery.” He ran his hand up the scar on his side. His eyes clouded with anger. “I hated being confined to the hospital. Tied to tubes and not being out there doing what I was trained to do. They were my men. My squad. They were sent out on another patrol and walked into what ended up being an ambush. Every single one of them died.” Another crack of lightning echoed through the cave. His voice wavered and fell off. The pain was evident in his voice and a far away look settled over him as though he was looking straight into the past. “I went nuts when they told me. Ripped the IV tubing right out of my arm, tore the bed apart and called the Captain every kind of bastard and mother fucker I could think of. I should’ve been dishonorably discharged for my actions but due to the wound and the fact my time was almost up, they gave me a medical discharge and sent me home. It was a long time before I could wrap my head around what had happened and even longer to figure out what I wanted to do.” “So you followed in your father’s footsteps and became a firefighter. Always the protector.” Deryn’s admiration for the solid man beside her skyrocketed. His bravery was more than she ever thought possible. Despite his youth, he’d obviously taken on a heavy load when his father died and after his men were killed. The guilt must have been terrible when he learned he was the only one left of his team. His friends. She couldn’t imagine

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what that must’ve been like. Her heart opened more and feelings she though long buried began to surface. Standing up again, she unhooked her bra and dangled it off her finger. He snatched it from her and held it up to his nose, inhaling deeply, then tossed it to the cavern floor. Her panties were next. He grabbed those as well but tucked them into his pack. Lying down on the blanket, Brant stretched and tucked his arms behind his head. The crimson head of his cock almost touched his navel as his penis rose to its full length. Straddling his hips, she took him in her hands and started a slow, firm caress from balls to tip. She’d barely touched him and he was already weeping fluid. His hot, rigid penis in her cold hands felt wonderful. “Your turn. What are your deep dark secrets?” he said. Deryn froze. “No secrets I can think of,” she told him honestly. She didn’t have secrets but she did have fears. Fears she didn’t want to discuss right now. They would only drive him from her and that was the last thing she wanted. She leaned down and kissed him firmly on the mouth to distract him. Brant knew she was distracting him. The ploy worked too, sort of. He’d get his answers, there was no doubt about that. He’d already figured out she had a problem with men with action-packed jobs. When he’d mentioned he was a firefighter, she’d almost dropped the tea canister. That he was a former Army Ranger? She’d trembled— and not in a good way. He couldn’t believe he’d opened up about the desert and his squad. Deryn made him do things he didn’t have any control over and it scared him to death. His whole life was about taking charge. Making sure things went the right way. She tossed his control right out the window. “So why do you have a problem with action jobs?” Her hands kept up the stroking rhythm as she bit her lower lip. “I don’t have a problem with them. I just don’t date anyone who has one.”

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Brant’s eyes widened. “So you only date accountants and librarians?” She laughed. “If I date at all. My job takes me all over the world. I usually don’t have time to see anyone. But yeah, if I do, they tend to have sedate jobs.” Her nails scored a wicked path up his penis and she wiped at the steady stream of slick pre-cum weeping from the tip. When she put her finger to her lips and licked, a groan escaped his chest. “So, not only do I have an action job but I’m also younger. Looks like I’ve already got two strikes against me. What’ll it take to erase the scoreboard?” “Considering the fact that I can’t seem to keep my hands off you, I’d say I’m probably over the age thing. No reason why we can’t have a torrid love affair during my time in Payette. But your job isn’t something I’m likely to get over any time soon.” Deryn stopped stroking him and placed her hands on his thighs. He grasped her wrists. “Why? I just want to understand. I don’t know what the hell’s going on here. I’m more attracted to you than any other woman I’ve been with. But I’m not going to stop being a firefighter and you’re not giving me any good reason to change my mind.” “I just don’t want to talk about it. It’s my business and that’s that.” She leaned over to place a soft kiss on his lips. “Let’s just forget about the world for a while.” Thoughts filtered out of his head as she kissed him again. His arms went around her silky back and down to the ass currently moving up and down while her vagina was on his penis, stroking him. She felt so good. Heat built in his body as she scooted down and took him into her mouth. The sensations of her warm, moist tongue flicking over his cockhead and down the shaft were too much. Control was a thing of the past. But he wouldn’t let her get away with blowing his mind as well as his cock. The emotions she stirred in him were as scary as hell. Not wanting to delve too deeply into his thoughts, he focused on Deryn and the incredible pleasure she brought him.

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Giving his cock one last suck, she leaned back and grasped her nipples, pinching them. She threw her head back as a gasp escaped her throat and she ground her pussy against his cock. Brant stared up at Deryn, gazing at her perfect breasts. Round and full, they more than filled his hands. Her large areolas were pink and mouth watering. The dusky nipples stood up begging for attention. Not one to leave a woman to do all the work, he slid his hands under hers, took both nipples between his thumbs and fingers and pinched and twisted. The answering gasp and smile she gave him only made him do it harder. “Oh yes. Just like that.” She ran her hands over his shoulders and the bite of her nails digging into his chest sent shivers down his spine. He reached down for his cock. She stopped his hand. “No. Let me. Let me make love to you. Please.” Brant wasn’t sure he was capable of letting Deryn be in charge. But for her, he’d make the effort. He brought his hand back up his chest and looked at her. “What do you want me to do?” he asked, handing her a condom. “No touching me unless I tell you.” She smiled at his moan and reached for his cock. Putting the rolled condom in her mouth, she bent over him and, with one long, firm stroke of her mouth, sheathed him in latex. Straightening, she grasped his cock and lowered herself until he just barely went inside her, he groaned as the strong muscles kissed the tip of his cock. Nothing had ever felt this good. Deryn rose up on her knees and he watched her smooth creamy pussy slide down his cock. In tight, grinding circles, she rode him while sweat broke on her smooth skin, trickling down between the heavy breasts he wanted to hold in his hands. They were perfect and soft, the distended nipples begging for his attention. He leaned up quickly, almost unsettling her, and gave the engorged beads a quick lick and bite. “Hey!”

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“You said I couldn’t touch. Never said anything about using my mouth.” That would show her. She leaned closer and rubbed against him, forcing him back to the blanket. Her breasts cushioned against his chest felt incredible and he wrapped his arms around her perfect body to hold her closer. She tsked at him and grabbed his hands, lacing her fingers with his. He responded by planting his feet in the blanket and thrusting his hips harder. Deryn reared back and cried out. His cock was so high in her body he actually felt the soft area right behind her pubic bone with the ridge of his cock. Her g-spot. He brought their joined hands down to her hips as she came down on him, crushing her hips against his. Gasping, she lay on him and moved forward and back, drawing him almost all the way out and pounding back down. Her rhythm was relentless. Moaning, Brant resisted grabbing her ass by squeezing her hands tighter and gave her a harsh thrust that ground his cock deeper and massaged her sheath with the ridge of his cock. She kissed him again and sucked his lip into her mouth. Letting go with a pop, she sat up and bent her knees. Leaning back, she gripped his shins and pumped her pussy on his shaft. She did it again and again, until the cream inside her leaked out and soaked his balls. Liquid fire coated him and he couldn’t help himself as he grasped her hips to hold her still. Angling his hips, he thrust up into her fiery pussy hard and fast. The grip of her sheath blinded him and he threw his head back, clenching his jaw to hold on a bit longer. His strokes quickened and he ground his pelvis into her at the end of each thrust.

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Flat on his back, he had very little control. Sure he was stronger and could easily flip her and take over but he didn’t want to. He wanted to hold on for her. He wasn’t able to give her complete control but he was willing to try. When her pussy rippled and she began to tremble and sob, he pulled her close and held her still while he slammed his painfully hard cock into her, grasping her hips as he stroked upward. Faster, harsher strokes. Until finally, he thrust his shaft into her so fast, her cries became an endless, rasping scream. Unable to hold off any longer, he thrust one last time, grinding his cock into her, and let go. His whole body convulsed with his release and jets of hot semen shot from his cock. The orgasm went on forever until his balls were empty and his cock, still hard, finally stopped pulsing inside her. When he was able to think again, he dragged in gulps of air and held her close. Deryn rested her head on his chest and stared up at him. He shuddered as she squeezed her internal muscles and sent another shiver through him. “The storm’s over,” he said in a hoarse voice. “I think it’s just beginning,” she sighed.

***** The storm ended later that afternoon. Clear skies returned and birds chirped. Brant put his clothes back on and helped Deryn with hers. The meal was finished and the shadows had disappeared as the sun shone its afternoon light inside their hiding place. “You may have distracted me for a moment but it is your turn to answer questions,” he joked, figuring if he lightened the mood, his stubborn woman would be more amenable to answering. Wrong. “No. That’s okay. I’m tired and just want to head back to the cabin.” 52

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Hell! He wasn’t going to beg her. And he knew she felt something for him. The way they made love with everything they had that last time more than convinced him. He’d seen the tears in her eyes and felt the muscles of her body caress him as she came. His chest held the marks of her nails and her thighs had been a vise as she’d clenched her legs around his hips. The pounding of his heart had deafened him. He’d wanted to crawl into her body and never leave. A lifetime wouldn’t be enough for him and Deryn. Brant wanted to know more. He wanted to know everything about her. What was the roadblock? “Deryn. Come on. Tit for tat, huh?” “Look. I don’t have to tell you anything. Back off.” The vehemence in her voice surprised him. He walked to her and pulled her to his chest. She struggled. “Just leave me alone.” “I’m not leaving you alone until you tell me what’s going on in that head of yours.” She pushed away from him. “Fine! You want to know so fucking bad? Here it is. I was married. To a cop. A good man. A strong man. A man of action. It was so thrilling. Rob was a hero, he saved lives. He was shot and killed in a hold-up on our first anniversary. I died that day.” A muffled sob escaped her throat. “It took me a while but I finally accepted that life goes on. That I didn’t die with Rob. But, I won’t go through that again. For anyone.” She ran out of the cave. Deryn sat on the large stone as her heart wrenched with memories. The face of the Lieutenant as he told her of Rob’s death. The funeral procession with the Boise PD marching. Rob’s partner telling her if she needed anything to call. Brant’s footsteps crunched behind her on the dry pine needles.

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“I can’t even begin to imagine how hard that must’ve been for you. Probably as hard as it was for my mom. But she had us kids to take care of, so she went forward, she came through. It must have been so lonely for you.” He knelt down behind her, placed a warm hand on her shoulder. “You don’t have to be lonely anymore.” “Brant, you don’t understand. You’ve never been married. You’ve never loved someone so much and had to pick yourself up after a tragedy like that. When your squad was ambushed you had no control over that. Yet you stand the sentinel position in the tower watching for fires out of guilt. He was my husband, the one I was going to grow old with. You just don’t understand. You’re too young…” Her voice died as she put her hand to her mouth. “I didn’t mean that.” “Yes, you did.” He stood. “You’re so afraid of getting hurt again you won’t take a chance on something that could be great. I’m good for a couple of fucks but then it’s pat-me-on-the-head time and you blow me off. Go back to hiding behind your camera and dating boring-as-shit guys! You’re a great woman, someone I want to get to know, to introduce to my family, but holding my age and my job against me is beneath you.” Deryn stood as wiped her hands on her jeans. “I don’t hold your age against you. I didn’t mean it.” “Whatever.” He stalked back to the cave entrance. “You don’t know anything about me,” she called. Brant turned. “I know you’re beautiful, smart, funny, sarcastic and sexy. But I would know a lot more if you’d just stop being so fucking stubborn. This is crazy, Deryn. You confuse me, exasperate me and make me so hot my cock is as hard as stone and dripping for your pussy right now.” He took a deep breath and softened his tone. “I don’t know where this is going. I’ll be damned if I let you skip out and leave me hanging because you’re afraid.” “You’re going to have to. Fucking is one thing but I won’t let my heart be broken when someone knocks on my door saying you’d been caught in a fire and didn’t 54

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survive. I won’t take that chance. I won’t go through that again.” She tipped her head up and let the sun caress her face. Wishing the heat coursing through her was from the celestial body alone. “Life is a chance, Deryn. Life is taking the good with the bad. Life is taking what you want. I realize that now.” He grabbed her arms and pulled her close for a harsh kiss. She wrenched free. “No, Brant. I finally got my heart back together. It’s too valuable to be broken again.” “Fine. If that’s the way you want it. I won’t stop you.” He went into the cave and came back stuffing the blanket they’d made love on into his pack. Then he swung the pack onto his shoulder. Brant looked at her. “The cabin is due east from here. Stay on course and you’ll make it back in one piece. Don’t worry, I won’t be there when you get back.”

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Chapter Six Deryn survived the next two days by rote. She got up, she ate, she hiked in the woods, she had dinner and she fantasized about Brant all night long. The hikes were beautiful and left her plenty of time with her thoughts. That was the problem. The storms in the area had moved on but the storm in her heart just wouldn’t leave. In the end, she was the coward he’d accused her of being. A quick phone call to Penny confirmed the crew and models would arrive the following day to start the shoot. One more day of intense work and she could go back to Boise and leave Brant behind for good. A knock on the door interrupted her washing dishes. Wiping her hands on a towel, she walked to the door and opened it to find a petite woman with graying brown hair and eyes the unmistakable blue of Brant’s. “C-can I help you?” she stammered. A knowing smile curved the woman’s mouth. “I just wanted to meet the woman my son can’t stop talking about. He’d have a fit if he knew I was here but what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him.” Deryn ushered the older woman in, sort of. The woman was inside before she blinked. “Please come in, Mrs. Crichton.” “Oh, it’s Mrs. Parker now. But call me Elaine, dear. It’s nice to see a young woman with such manners.” Young? Granted, Brant’s mother was probably in her late sixties, but still.

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Elaine made herself at home in the cabin, sitting on the blue plaid couch as Deryn made some tea. “The Miller cabin has always been such a nice place to visit. When Brant was here recuperating I know it brought him a lot of peace.” “You mean the shrapnel wound.” “Yes. He came back from the desert without any really terrible physical wounds, thank God. The recovery from surgery was long but he was strong. I didn’t think he’d ever get over Mike’s death, though.” Confusion clouded her thoughts. “Who’s Mike?” she asked, bringing two steaming mugs to the living room. Elaine’s brows rose in surprise. “Brant didn’t tell you about Mike? I just assumed he had. Mike was his best friend. They were more like brothers. Inseparable as children. Even went off to war together.” She accepted the mug and took a small sip. Deryn sat in the leather chair next to the sofa. “Go on.” “They were in the same platoon. In fact, Mike led the mission where they were ambushed. He was killed over there.” Cold settled into Deryn’s stomach. Oh God. Not only had Brant’s men died but his best friend? And all she’d done was yelled at him and told him he didn’t understand how it felt to lose someone you loved. She was a cold-hearted bitch. Elaine set the mug on the coffee table. “My dear, are you all right? You’ve gone quite pale. I didn’t mean to upset you. I honestly would’ve thought Brant had told you.” “No,” Deryn said after a long moment. “All he said was his squad was ambushed and no one survived. I can see it went much deeper than that.” She took a fortifying gulp of tea, regretting it instantly when her tongue was burned. “It was very hard for him.” A faraway look came over the kind woman. She seemed to shake herself out of it. “But enough about the past. It’s the present and the future that

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count. Brant said you lost your husband. That he was shot and killed. I’m so very sorry. I lost my husband too. It’s so hard to lose someone you love. I swore I’d never be happy again but at least I had the children. I can’t imagine how hard it was for you.” The woman’s hand was soft and cool as she patted Deryn’s cold one. Deryn took a breath. “I completely shut down. Didn’t go outside, didn’t do much of anything. Finally, one day I looked in the mirror and saw my mother. The shell she’d become after my dad died. Talk about a slap in the face. I still can’t handle dangerous jobs but I didn’t want to live like a ghost.” Elaine’s blue eyes were warm with understanding. “Of course not. We rarely want to turn into our mothers at the best of times,” she said, smiling. “No kidding,” said Deryn, not questioning why it was so easy to open up to this stranger. Must be the same easygoing personality as Brant. “Can I ask you a question?” “Of course.” “Even if I were to convince myself to deal with his job, which I don’t think I can, what about our ages? I told him it didn’t matter but when we fought…” she stopped, embarrassed at her own prejudice. His age wasn’t of consequence when they were having sex but in the light of day, it did matter, if she was honest with herself. “You told him he was too young. That he didn’t understand. Yes, he told me that too. But I think, when you care for someone, it doesn’t matter their age. Besides, you’re what, early forties?” Deryn nodded. “Forty-two.” “Younger than my oldest child. It’s not like you’re old enough to be his mother. That’s my job,” she said with a laugh. Deryn rose and walked to the window. “He called me a coward. He was right. I can’t handle his job, the waiting to know if he’s alive or dead in a fire ring.” She heard Elaine’s slow intake of breath and turned. “Oh, God, I’m sorry. I know that’s how you lost his father. I didn’t think.”

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The woman put down her mug and looked straight at Deryn. “I wouldn’t have given up a second of the time I had with my Marty. Even though it was relatively short, I would rather have had those years with him than not known him at all. Not had his children. Not seen his crooked smile in the morning. Not known that he loved me right up until the day he died. I still love him. Always will. But living in fear of what might be is no way to live, Deryn.” Elaine stood and walked toward her. “If you had known Brant was a firefighter before you slept with him—and don’t think I don’t know what young people get up to nowadays, we invented it—you would’ve shown him the door and never gotten the chance to know him at all. To live.” Deryn felt the steady hand on hers as she looked to the forest. “I’m not here to plead my son’s case. He’s a man and can do that for himself. All I’m saying is think.” Elaine smiled brightly. “And now that I’ve completely ruined your day by giving you thought-provoking things to churn over, why don’t we go get Fred, have some dinner and you can tell me about this magazine shoot you’re doing. Any room for an over-the-hill Idaho native?” Deryn laughed. She couldn’t help herself. “Only if you want to be naked. I photograph nudes.” A spark lit Elaine’s blue eyes. “I’m up for doing something courageous if you are.”

Deryn didn’t get a wink of sleep. She kept replaying the conversation with Elaine in her head. Finally, as dawn was breaking pink and orange over the mountains, she gave up on sleep and got in the shower. All the while wishing Brant was there to replay their fantastic time. The models arrived later in the morning, along with the lighting equipment, props, Penny and the Chief of Wildland Firefighters. Fred Parker was a bear of a man with a full graying dark beard and laughing grey eyes. “I’ve assigned a man to be on the set with you. Those lights and generator are a 59

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hazard and we don’t take those kinds of chances here in Payette. He’s coming in offduty and will meet you at the clearing at one. Best I can do when we’re short-handed.” “That’s okay, Chief. With the changes I won’t be starting until later anyway. I appreciate you sparing someone, though. I know it’s a big job keeping this forest safe.” Deryn had liked Elaine’s husband immediately when they’d met last night over dinner at a local restaurant. His laugh was deep and frequent. There was a mischievous twinkle in his eyes that endeared her and his sense of humor was downright naughty. She couldn’t count the times she’d laughed and almost choked to death on the barbecue ribs they’d ordered. His love for Elaine showed in the way he held her hand, rested his arm on the back of her chair, even in the way he wiped sauce off her cheek. The evening took an unpleasant turn when Fred’s pager went off during the blueberry crumble dessert. Deryn sat in amazement at the way Elaine kissed her husband, told him to be careful and sent him off to be Incident Commander at a small fire at the campgrounds. She and Elaine had spent the rest of the evening at the Miller cabin talking and laughing their way through a very nice bottle of wine. It was one of the most comfortable evenings Deryn had spent with anyone in a long time. If she and Brant decided to go somewhere with their relationship, she looked forward to many more evenings like that one. Of course, that would mean she’d actually have to talk to him again. More to the point, he’d have to talk to her and since she’d seen nothing of him in two days, that was looking extremely unlikely. Her nerves over his job aside, she knew there was an apology owed for her crack about his age.

The trek to the clearing was time consuming with the equipment and models. It left Deryn plenty of time with her thoughts as she chewed over everything she and Elaine had talked about. Brant’s age really had nothing to do with her apprehension. It was her controlling cowardice.

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Wasn’t that a wonderful thing to realize? At forty-two, she was nothing but a coward. They reached the clearing around noon and put things in order. Tents were set up for the models to change clothes in. Light reflectors were put together and the generator gassed up. There was plenty of natural light but Deryn had wanted it there just in case she had to augment with artificial. Deryn truly believed this would be her best layout ever. Elaine’s idea about doing something adventurous had changed the entire focus of the shoot. Deryn had called Penny and requested different models yesterday afternoon after talking to Elaine. “Are you sure?” her assistant asked. “Positive. I want natural beauty and this format is it.” “Are you gonna be in it?” “Don’t be ridiculous. I want natural beauty, not natural disaster,” she laughed, toying with a pillow on the sofa. “Whatever. But you’re the boss. I’ll make the calls now.” Penny hung up. The models changed into their robes in the tents, while Deryn made final adjustments to her cameras. Penny hobbled over. “My God, I thought that hike was never going to end,” she complained. Deryn laughed. “You’re from around here. I thought you’d be used to those kinds of hikes.” She took a deep breath of the fresh air. “You’ll notice I live in Boise now. Not much hiking going on in the big city.” The younger woman took the digital camera and checked the batteries. “Guess not. I don’t know…I kind of liked the time with my thoughts.” “What thoughts? Dirty, sexual thoughts?” Penny questioned, practically falling down on the grass.

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“What are we? Teenagers? No, they were not dirty sexual thoughts. I was just thinking about life.” Deryn sat next her friend. “Oh, those kind of thoughts. I try to avoid them at all costs. Come to any lifealtering conclusions?” “A couple. None that I want to get into here though. Come on.” She got up and reached a hand out for Penny. “We’ve got work to do.” A bird screeched as it flew through the clearing to perch on a white pine branch. “Slave driver,” came the mumbled reply. “Hey, Mr. Endicott wasn’t too thrilled about the change. It’s costing him money.” Deryn had thought about that but knew her instincts. If this worked, the magazine was going to grab headlines. “I know. Trust me.” “Oh, I do.” Penny ran to check on the models. Deryn lifted her face to the sun and closed her eyes. The heat felt nice on her skin but her work shirt was starting to stick to her. She tugged on it to fan some air onto her breasts. “Hello, Deryn.” She froze. His deep voice sent chills over her sun-warmed skin. Brant. He would be the one Fred sent. Matchmaking, perhaps? Deryn opened her eyes and turned. “Hi.” He looked wonderful. Tight blue jeans cupped him and the thought of his cock made her wet. The blue Payette Fire Department t-shirt he wore molded to his chest, and the bottom of his biceps tattoo peeking out was dotted with perspiration. She wanted to kiss him. To taste him again. God. If this was his effect on her after a couple of days without him, she was in deep shit. Say something. Don’t just stare at him, dummy.

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Although he was definitely worth staring at. How could she have thought him too young? He was all man. Unfortunately, her brain was all mush. “You look good enough to eat,” she blurted out. Fuck. His eyebrows rose. “Okay, wasn’t expecting that but it’s nice to know.” Her blush ran from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. Oh, man. Trying to stop the idiocy from exiting her mouth, she bit her fingernail. “Umm…I’m sorry you got called in on your last day off.” She tried to sound casual but his piercing blue eyes seemed to shoot right through her veneer. “Yeah, I’m responsible like that,” he snapped. Okay, she may be a dork but he was a dumbass. “I never said you were irresponsible.” She fiddled with the light monitor hanging around her neck. “Brant, I’m sorry what I said. About being too young. I truly didn’t mean it.” He hooked his thumbs in his pockets. “It’s fine. You’re entitled to your opinion. It’s wrong but you’re entitled to it.” He obviously hadn’t gotten over the sting of her comment. Not wanting to fight, she changed tack. “I met your mother.” He shook his head and a smile crept to his lips. “So I heard. She can’t stop talking about you. Too bad she had something to do today. Mom would have gotten a kick out of seeing all this.” The tent flap opened on the side of the clearing. “Wait. You don’t—” “Mom?” Brant paled. A group of women ranging in age from twenty to what had to be seventy trooped out of one of the tents. Leading them was a beaming Elaine, dressed only in a silk robe. Deryn couldn’t help the smile that appeared. Apparently, mother and son didn’t talk about everything as she had thought. 63

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Brant’s thoughts whirled as he stalked toward his mother. “What are you doing here? Does Fred know about this? You’re not posing naked are you? Oh God, I’m gonna need therapy after this.” Elaine only smiled and patted him on the cheek. “Don’t be silly, dear. I’m posing nearly nude and I won’t be alone. I have my new friends and Deryn has some lovely men to pose with us.” She pointed to the half-dozen half-naked men coming out of the other tent. The men seemed to have the same age variation as the women, some had stomachs you could do laundry on and all were as casual with their near nakedness as his mother seemed to be. Oh God. A pretty young woman with copper-colored hair trotted over. “Hate to interrupt but we’re ready to start, Mrs. Parker.” His mother clapped her hands together like a child on Christmas morning and smiled. “Gotta go, dear. This is so exciting.” “You can’t do this, mom. What would people say? I mean, come on.” “Brant Phillip Crichton, knock it off.” His mother’s stern words made him feel all of six years old again when he’d pitched a fit over his sisters stealing his G.I. Joe action figures. “Of course Fred knows all about this and thinks it’s wonderful. I’m excited to be part of Deryn’s work and know it’s going to be in the best of taste. Beauty and passion exist no matter the age of the person. I’m a grown-up and can do whatever I want. You don’t have to watch and, honestly, I don’t expect you to, but I have to get to work.” With that, Elaine turned and walked toward the men. “You’re not seriously going to let her do this, are you?” He turned on Deryn. She scoffed. “Let had nothing to do with it.” “Mom can be pretty bold at times but this is just plain stupid.”

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A second was all he had to register the anger in her hazel eyes. Uh-oh. “That’s the second time you’ve called an idea of mine stupid. I happen to be a renowned photographer for one of the most respected magazines in the country. I make good money, travel the world, get to see gorgeous naked guys all day long and with this layout am going to get worldwide attention. I’m hardly stupid.” With every fact, she took a step forward and poked him in the chest and continued her tirade. “I think your mom is the bravest woman I know. In fact, I wish I had half her courage. Now, if you’ll excuse me, Mister Brant Phillip Crichton, I have work to do.” Deryn’s braid slapped his shoulder as she spun on her heel and stalked away. What the hell was going on? Brant had never been more confused in his life. His mother was posing nude with men. His stepfather was fine with it and had acted as a matchmaker by sending Brant here. Deryn thought he thought she was stupid. Had the world gone nuts? He hadn’t meant to insult her. But this whole situation was enough to make any guy trip over his tongue. He knew he was acting like a petulant child but a man could only take so much. When he’d arrived on the set and seen Deryn, the hard-on he’d gotten had successfully drained all the thoughts from his brain. He wanted her, had thought of and talked of nothing but her for the past two days. He knew she’d not meant the crack about his age. He’d also come to the conclusion she was right about him. Guilt over Mike and the other soldiers had kept him in Payette. Hidden away from the world. He was exactly the coward he’d accused her of being. Yet they both seemed to have too much pride for their own good. It was pathetic. Self-realization had finally come to him and he didn’t have a clue what the hell to do with it. Brant wanted Deryn. Now all he had to do was convince her to take a chance on him.

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And stop acting like a fucking idiot.

***** All in all, the shoot was actually pretty boring, despite the naked bodies everywhere. Lots of hurry up and wait, pose this way, lay back, arm here, hold. The few brief times he’d torn his gaze away from the ground, he was thankful his mother was on a break. But from what he saw, the layout was going to be fantastic. Men and women of all ages together in provocative poses surrounded by a beautiful landscape. It looked like a renaissance painting. The day wore on and as the sun began its descent and fired up the sky, Deryn called a wrap. The models dressed, tents came down, cameras were packed. “Make sure you get everything. I want to leave this place cleaner than we found it,” Deryn called out. “You sound like a girl scout.” The assistant, Penny, laughed as she walked around gathering up trash. Battery-operated lanterns were switched on to augment the waning light. The sun was barely below the treetops but Brant knew they’d have to leave soon to make it back to the cabin safely. Wondering if everyone was camping there for the night, he packed his gear and swung it onto his back. A serious conversation with a very stubborn woman was in his future and he didn’t need an audience. With everything ready, the whole menagerie began their trek out of the woods. It was pretty quiet considering the number of people. At least everyone pitched in and carried something as he assumed they had on the way in. Brant led the way while Deryn picked up the rear. Her rear, now there was something to contemplate. She had the nicest ass. Beautiful and tight and round. His hands flexed at the thought and his cock hardened at the possibility of being allowed into the forbidden entrance. Images of pushing into that tight hole consumed him. 66

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“Mr. Crichton. Brant!” Penny’s voice pulled him up short. He ran to the back of the line and stopped abruptly. Deryn was on the ground holding her ankle. His mother was carefully unlacing Deryn’s sneaker. “What happened?” he asked, kneeling down. “I don’t know. We were talking and now I’m flat on my ass in the woods. I guess I tripped.” Her breathing was rapid and Deryn winced as Elaine prodded the growing bump. “It’s not broken but it’s a doozy of a sprain. There’s no way you’ll be able to walk all the way back on it tonight.” Elaine patted Deryn’s knee. The group gathered around and murmurs of concern blended with the crickets as the sun continued to set. Shadows lengthened as twilight began to fall. “Mom, there’s still enough light left to get everyone back to the cabin before dark. I’ll stay here with Deryn. We’ll rest up and head back in a little while.” “Absolutely not. It’s too dangerous to hike in the dark. You know that as well as I do. If I know you, you’ve got plenty of food and water in your pack for an overnight stop. Keep one of the tents and camp out here until tomorrow.” A sly twinkle lit his mother’s eyes. “We’ll leave the blankets from the shoot with you and you’ll be fine.” “I’m okay, really.” Deryn tried to stand and her beautiful eyes clouded with tears and pain. “All right, not so okay, but I don’t need to be left out here all night.” The murmurs of concern for her turned to mumbles of worry for themselves. “No more time to argue. Brant’s an experienced camper. The swelling will go down, you’ll be rested up by morning and can take all the time you need to get back. Come on, everyone, we’re headed out.” “Deryn, are you sure? I don’t want to leave you alone.” Penny’s voice was soft.

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“Penny, I won’t be alone. I’ve got this big strapping man to take care of me. We’ll be fine. Head back and I’ll see you tomorrow.” She laughed at the mournful expression on Penny’s face. It wasn’t like she was dying or anything. “Go on, get outta here.” Elaine made sure the proper gear was left and led the group out in the cabin’s direction. They were alone before Deryn could blink it seemed. “What, is she double timing it back?” “No, they really do need to get back before full dark. But with how that just went down, if I didn’t know any better, I’d swear she tripped you on purpose.” A suspicious look crossed his handsome face. “Did she?” A chuckle escaped Deryn’s throat as a light breeze ruffled the hair that had escaped from her braid when she fell. “I honestly don’t know.” “Regardless, we’ll be perfectly safe out here. We should try to make it back to the clearing though. There’s more light and fresh water from the stream. Do you think you can make it?” “Yeah. I’m sure I can walk.” Deryn’s ankle hurt but her pride hurt worse. Like the klutz she was, she’d tripped over her own two feet, at least that’s what she thought happened, and now she was here with a sex god who was pissed at her and all she really wanted to do was tell him to get over it and fuck his socks off. She really needed serious help. Deryn gently retied her sneaker and pushed herself up with Brant’s help. His fingers grazed the side of her breasts as he lifted her. Zings of electricity coursed through her blood. She turned to him and looked up into his eyes. The beautiful blue grew dark with lust. His full lips parted as his hands moved to cup her breasts and squeeze and fondle them. Hot breath caressed her face as he stared at her. “Deryn.” His voice was a whisper in the twilight.

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Her nipples throbbed under his firm hand, an answering ache pulsed in her pussy as moisture seeped from her sheath wetting her panties. Deryn rubbed her thighs together to alleviate the ache but the contact just made her more aware of the heat between them. Her clit tingled as he leaned forward and devoured her with a kiss. There was nothing gentle about it. His lips pressed against hers and he moaned into her mouth when their tongues met and danced together. Touching. Tasting. Teasing. Pressing into him, she felt the strong column of his cock rise against her stomach as she twined her arms around his neck and held on. Brant gave her breasts one last squeeze and let go. She hated the loss of contact, only to gasp as he gripped her ass and tugged her even closer to his rigid penis. It felt so good to be in his arms again. Nothing else mattered but being with him. Feeling his kiss. Riding his cock. A growl erupted from his chest as she took his bottom lip between her teeth and bit softly. Desperation rang between them. Pulse beats pounded in her ears as everything was blocked out but him. Wanting to feel him, Deryn slid her hand down his chest relishing the feel of his muscular stomach and reached for his heavy erection. The fates had other ideas as gravity worked against her, she lost her balance, put her weight on her sprained ankle and fell straight down. A breathless moment passed as they stared at each other. An owl hooted and broke the spell. Brant’s look was so hot it seared her. It sizzled from her lips to her pussy. “We should head back. But make no mistake, when we get there, I’m gonna do a hell of a lot more than kiss you.” His words thrilled her. She’d wanted his cock inside her again since the last time they’d made love.

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Made love? It was definitely more than fucking. More than sex. She was woman enough to admit she felt something for Brant. Wanted to be with him. But, was she… “Ready?” She swallowed hard. “Yeah, I think I am.”

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Chapter Seven One painful walk, a radio call from the cabin letting them know everyone was back in one piece, a foot soak in the icy stream and an MRE later, they lay on a soft flannel blanket gazing at the stars. “There must be a million of them,” she sighed. “Where’s Orion?” “You can’t see it in the summertime. It’s below the horizon right now.” “Oh.” Deryn’s shirt clung to her moist skin. The anticipation of being with Brant again had her heart beating double-time, her skin flushed and her pussy damp. The scent of her arousal mingled with the night breeze and made her hotter. Her hand stroked his erection through his jeans. The hard shaft straining against its confines fit perfectly against her palm. She almost didn’t mind the sprained ankle if it gave her an excuse for another night with Brant. Deryn moaned as Brant’s strong hand stroked her stomach beneath her shirt. He was on his side resting his head on his not-busy-driving-her-wild hand. “By the way, I know you didn’t mean it and I’m sorry I acted like a first class asshole earlier.” His hand stopped rubbing just shy of her jeans. “Don’t stop and, wow, an apology from a man? Will wonders never cease?” she teased. He laughed. “Yeah, well I only apologize once every five years, so enjoy it while you can.” “Hey!” She squealed as he tickled her stomach and rose up to straddle her. Laughter faded as a hot look passed over his chiseled features. So slowly it seemed as though time had stopped, Brant leaned over her and kissed her. Warm, soft lips pressed

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into hers as the weight of his body pressed her into the blanket. When his calloused hands slipped between them, she whispered her encouragement. His kiss grew more desperate as he pulled her shirt up and slid underneath her cotton bra to mold her heavy breasts in his palms. He squeezed her plump nipples then tugged them with his fingers, softly twisting. Deryn moaned into his mouth, twined her tongue with his and nibbled his lips. She sighed when he slid the zipper down on her jeans and cool night air caressed her. Her head snapped up, tearing away from his mouth when his hand thrust down the front of her pants and strong, thick fingers slid between her folds. “More.” He jerked away, tugged off her sneakers and jeans, taking her panties with them. The pain in her ankle was nothing compared to the ache in her pussy with the need to be filled by his thick cock. She sighed when his mouth latched onto her aching nipple. His lips closed around it, drawing hard. “Beautiful,” he muttered, then gripped it between his teeth, giving it a soft bite. Her eyelids popped open and the passion of being in the wild with this man hit her in the heart. Deryn’s thighs fell open while he licked his away across her chest to the other nipple and sucked it into a hard kernel. She moaned and ran her fingers through his short hair when the pressure of his tongue stroking her areola sent lightning sparking through her feverish body. Brant trailed kisses downward, stopping to pull on her bellybutton ring, licking it over and over, allowing her a taste of the feast he was going to make of her pussy. Already wet and pulsing, she moaned as he slid his hand down her quivering stomach and thrust two fingers inside. He pumped his fingers in and out while his tongue found the sensitive nub of her clit and lashed it with whip-like strokes. She opened her thighs even wider, if that were possible, and lay there as he licked and stroked her clit with his flattened tongue. She threw her head back and dug her 72

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heels into the ground, her ankle forgotten, to move her hips in time with his movements, begging him not to stop. “Oh God,” she cried on a stuttering breath. Soft laughter vibrated against her, making her clit harder. “Brant,” she whimpered. “Deeper.” Deryn bit her lower lip, resolved not to let him know just good he was at going down on her and how close to exploding she really was. Burning pressure invaded her body as he added another finger inside her scorching pussy and sweat bloomed on her skin as he set up a rhythm between his fingers in her pussy and the clit lashing he gave her. Her whole body shook, her pussy muscles squeezed harder on his fingers, her thighs quivered. “Not yet, you don’t.” He gave her clit a nibble and withdrew his fingers, licking her slit one last time before he sat back on his heels. His eyes never left her face as he slowly brought his hand to his perfect mouth and licked the fingers that had teased her pussy to incredible life. With the full moon shedding soft silver light across the clearing, Brant dragged his t-shirt up his chest. The sight of those sculpted muscles had her whole body shaking. His jagged scar shone in the moonlight. It only added to his appeal. He’d given her incredible pleasure with no thought for himself. No one had ever made her feel like this. This wanted. This cherished. Yes, even this loved. Her eyes clouded with tears. She squeezed them shut, willing not a single tear to fall. When she had herself under control she opened her eyes to see Brant standing next to her.

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He opened his jeans with deliberate slowness. His cock, large and heavily veined, sprang from the confines. The drop of pre-cum on the tip sparkled like a jewel in the soft silver light. She wanted to lick that jewel off and sat up. “No. Tonight is for you. Let me take care of you.” He shed his boots, socks and jeans, quickly put a condom on and lay down again. When he pressed his chest against hers, a thin cry broke from her lungs. It was too much. The contact was too much. Her nipples scraped across his chest, shooting darts of electricity straight to her pussy. His hard penis slid up and down her wet slit. Their combined juices easing the friction and adding to her pleasure. The ridge of his cock slid between her folds and caressed her clit. She was so close. “You’re so beautiful. So fucking beautiful,” he breathed. His hands grasped her hips and held her still. The thick, blunt tip of his cock nudged against her dripping entrance and Deryn reached up to grip his shoulders as he slowly slid his cock inside her. They both moaned as she stretched to accommodate his thickness and more cream poured from inside her to ease his way. Balls-deep, he ground his pelvis into her clit and sent heat pulsing over her. The night air did nothing to cool her skin and with each thrust her breathing grew heavier. Their actions were having the same effect on him. His chest heaved like a bellows and sweat dotted his perfect features. She trailed her nails across his shoulders, digging in when he thrust particularly hard. He growled as her fingers traveled down his arms and tightened on his biceps. The straining muscles stood out as he held his weight off her. “Ready for more? I want to fuck you from behind. On your hands and knees.” The feral look he gave her sent shivers down her spine.

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She did as he asked. Her body ached at the loss of contact and felt so empty without his cock but that was quickly remedied when he pulled her closer, thrust back inside and held her against his groin. “My woman. Mine.” He withdrew again and slid back in, harsher, stronger. “I don’t want to hurt you but I don’t have much control left, darlin’.” Brant pulled out a little and slowly, agonizingly, stroked back inside her. “Just fuck me,” she begged, her muscles pulsing and contracting again. He pulled back slowly, the crowning ridge of his cock dragging at her sheath. “You’re driving me crazy,” he said, slamming into her with hard forceful thrusts. “Can’t stop,” he said, the urgency in his voice crippling her. Deryn couldn’t believe how good his cock felt. Thick, heavy and pounding. Her sheath rippled along its length. She trailed her fingers down her stomach to her clit. She pinched it hard as he stroked back inside. A harsh cry escaped her and mingled with his groans as he fucked her. His strokes sharpened, speared into her. Feral grunts raged from his chest as he pounded faster, his tight balls slapping against her fingers as they played with her clit. Deryn welcomed his fierce pounding and the heat building inside her. Cream poured from her body. It coated her fingers and she rubbed it over his balls, barely keeping her balance on one arm as he continued to pound into her pussy. Groaning harshly from his movements, he thrust harder and reached around to grab her hand and use her own fingers to pinch her clit. Her breath stopped, her stomach clenched, then suddenly she was exploding and a scream tore through her. “Fuck!” Brant shouted with one last fierce stroke as he came in a rush of fire. More heat than she could imagine coursed through her body. He’d invaded every crevice of her being. There was nothing of her he did not possess. Deryn’s breathing slowed and she touched her clit gently, drawing out the last pulses of her orgasm.

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Brant withdrew and she felt a moment’s disappointment until he collapsed in a heap next to her. She lowered herself to the blanket, the itchy fibers of the flannel scraping across her oversensitive skin. “I love you,” she whispered and drifted off to sleep. “I know.”

***** Sometime in the night, he must’ve carried her into the tent. Deryn woke the next morning there wrapped in a blanket and alone. Her body hurt but the memory of the pleasure was enough to ease any ache she had. A wicked smile crept to her lips as thoughts of last night invaded her mind. It was incredible, passionate, loving. Loving. She’d told him she loved him. It was the truth. No denying it now. The difference in ages had long since stopped mattering but his job stood between them. What was she going to do now? Well, I can’t just hide in a tent all damn day avoiding him. Better get the morning after over with. She reached for her clothes and saw the note on her t-shirt. It read— Got called in early, small brush fire on another ridge, wait here where it’s safe. Radio Fred on channel 2 if you need anything. Miss you, B Warmth turned her heart over. He missed her. She smiled at the thought as she shrugged into her shirt and pulled her jeans up. It had been so long since she’d opened her heart up for anything more than friendship. But, just like with Rob, he’d been called in and was now in a dangerous situation. Oh God. What if it happened again? What if he didn’t come for her? What if the fire was too much and he was trapped? Stop it! You’ll go crazy playing the “what if” game. This is not like Rob. You can’t live your life like this. Stop being a fucking coward! 76

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Her stomach rumbling pulled her out of her thoughts and reminded her of their small dinner and she picked up the MRE Brant had left. He must have stock in that company, she thought and smiled. At least the peanut butter crackers weren’t freeze-dried and tasted fairly good. After finishing her breakfast, Deryn grabbed her socks and shoes, crawled out of the tent and took a look at her ankle. The swelling was almost gone and, standing up, she realized she could put more weight on it than before, albeit gingerly. What had looked like a sprain was nothing more than a bad twist. She was able to walk on it and tried to figure out the logistics for getting back to the cabin. Brant’s note had said to stay there where she was safe and she could only imagine his anger if he got back and she was gone. It was too much gear to carry by herself anyway and her ankle still wasn’t one hundred percent. Better to wait it out here in the clearing than try to get back and risk more injury. Birds chirped and sang in the beautiful morning as she hobbled her way to the creek. She cupped her hands and lifted a drink to her mouth. The ice-cold water felt good on her scratchy throat. All the screaming in pleasure last night had taken their toll. Deryn sat on the bank of the creek, trailing her fingers in the cold water. The sun heated her up unbearably. Sweat soaked her bra and made her itch. Her hair was hot to the touch. She took her top off and splashed water on her shoulders and chest. The freezing cold made her teeth chatter but it was better than roasting to death. Despite the elevation in the mountains, it was still very hot in the summer. A deep breath brought her the faintest trace of smoke. She knew the wind could carry the scent of a fire for miles and Brant had told her she was safe in the clearing. Granted, his note said it was a small brush fire but he knew she feared his job and she figured if it had been a huge wildfire he would’ve downplayed it. He wanted to protect her. It was in his nature to protect everyone from harm. It was part of the reason she loved him. What made him such a wonderful man. He was everything she wanted. Solid, honorable, funny, honest and as sexy as hell. 77

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Deryn dried her hands on her top, limped back to the tent, crawled inside and reached for the digital camera she still had with her. It was foolish but she didn’t like going anywhere without it. She never knew when the opportunity for a fantastic shot would arise. Scrolling through the erotic photos she’d taken of him a few days ago brought a hitch to her breath. The passion in his eyes seeped through the lens and hit her square in the chest. When she got to the photos of her, she stopped breathing altogether. They were beautiful. The last one of her coming with one of her hands on her breast and the other on her pussy made her cry. This was how he saw her. The photo showed a woman of passion, emboldened in her sexuality. Beautiful. In love. It seemed as though weeks had passed instead of just days since they’d met. Her life had turned upside down and it felt strangely right. For the first time since Rob died she wasn’t afraid of life. If she loved Brant, she had to accept everything about him. Could she do it? Could she be that brave? Deryn didn’t get the chance to contemplate the thought as the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. Looking out the tent flap, she saw the sky was hazing over with smoke. Unease settled into the pit of her stomach and the scent of smoke grew stronger. The fire was on another ridge and Brant would have sent someone to get her if he was unable to. What if he was hurt? She snatched up the radio. Turning it on, she switched to channel 2. “Hello? Chief Parker? Brant? Is anyone there?” Nothing. Oh God. Electricity filled the air again and Deryn’s heart stopped as lightning stuck a tree near the clearing. She’d heard about bolts from the blue and was amazed to see one hit one of the white pines in the grove. It caught fire and sparks showered down, igniting the dry pine needles.

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In an instant, the clearing was almost surrounded by a low brush fire. Smoke choked off her air and heat singed her. Her lungs seized and her eyes watered from the sting of smoke. She put her arm over her face and shook as fear took over. What do I do? Head away from the fire. Find water. The creek. Fire doesn’t burn water. Deryn held her shirt over her mouth, grabbed her camera bag, jumped as best she could through the fire line and followed the creek upwind, growing flames licking at her feet.

***** The brush fire had been contained and Brant was cold trailing the top of the ridge to make sure everything was out. Thunder rumbled and a welcome storm looked to be on its way. As he bent to feel for any heat on the ground he stopped dead in his tracks. He looked in the direction of the clearing right as lightning struck. Deryn. He grabbed his radio and called the Incident Commander. “Fred. Lightning just struck near the clearing.” “I know. I just got the report. I’ve got a team heading in. Rain’s comin’ and I sure as hell hope it arrives soon to help with the fire,” came the static-filled reply. “Fred, Deryn’s up there. I had to leave her to help with the incident this morning. She was supposed to be safe there, dammit!” His heart twisted at the thought of anything happening to Deryn. She was in trouble and he wasn’t there to help her. Another person he cared about, hell, loved, was going to be hurt and he wasn’t there to stop it. Fuck. “Dad. Help her.” “Copy. I’m en route, son.” His stepfather’s concern carried over the radio.

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Brant clipped the radio to his belt and ran. His heart pounded and his lungs felt about to burst. Deryn was in danger. If he double-timed it, he could be there in twenty minutes. Sure, if he sprouted wings and flew. It didn’t matter. All that mattered was getting to her. Thoughts tumbled through his brain. Another lightning storm. Just their luck. With the dry weather, the pine needles were perfect kindling for a brush fire. Damn. Thunder rumbled and cool rain started to fall. Thank God. It would help in putting out the fire. He was soaked, when thirty minutes later he stumbled into the clearing where a full team had the fire under control. She wasn’t there. With her sprained ankle she couldn’t have gotten far. A flash of red caught his eye. His lungs screamed as he breathed in the smoke-filled air and ran to the tent. Her lens cloth lay on the ground next to the radio. Why hadn’t she used it? Why hadn’t she called for help? “Deryn! Deryn, answer me!” Fear clogged his throat and clawed at his mind. “Brant. Son. Take it easy. You’re gonna hyperventilate.” Fred pressed an oxygen mask to Brant’s face and forced him to take some deep breaths. “The rain’s helping with the fire and the boys have it mostly out. We were lucky with this one. No flare ups or fire whirls. Deryn wasn’t here when I arrived. Where would she go?” “I don’t know.” Panic for his woman took all rational thought away. He took some deep breaths and the oxygen helped clear his head. Rational thoughts were needed, not hot-headed speculation. “The creek. She’d follow the water away from the fire. But that direction leads to the pool and cliff. She’d be trapped if there’s a flare up.” The rain helped wash the soot from his face but sweat was stinging his eyes. He had to find her. “She wouldn’t have known she’d be trapped, but was smart to go upwind from the fire. You stay here and rest. I’ll take some men and search for her. You coordinate from here.” 80

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“To hell with that. I’m going. I have to see her.” Brant started along the trail following the creek north. Deryn. He hoped she’d gone this way. If she was in the water, she was safe. Numb from the cold water but safe. The men who’d followed him and Fred fanned out to search as the creek opened up into a large icy mountain pool. It was surrounded on two sides by sheer rock cliffs and the small waterfall that fed it. Breathless moments passed as they searched and called out Deryn’s name. Nothing. His heart ached. They’d come the wrong way. She was trapped in the woods and he couldn’t help her. It was the desert all over again. Anger boiled through his system. Once more things were out of his control. Dammit! He cursed himself for not telling her he loved her. A man would’ve told her. Would’ve accepted there were things he couldn’t control, thrown caution to the wind and just done it. If he found her, no matter what happened, he’d tell her. God, just let me find her. “Deryn! Deryn, answer me!” he shouted, his voice raw. “I’ve found her. Bring a kit. Crichton, I’ve found her!” The disembodied voice came through the smoke and the rain. One of the junior firefighters was on his knees waving his hands and kneeling next to Deryn’s body. Oh God. Her body. His heart stopped. A breeze came up and helped clear the smoke. Rain continued to fall splattering on the pool surface and pelting his face. Half-naked, she was lying on the other side of the pool with her shirt tied around her face and her camera bag clutched in her fist. Her beautiful hair was spread over the grass and dirt smudged her cheeks.

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Eve Savage

Brant ran faster than he thought possible. Slowly, fear coursing through him, he knelt next to her, untied her shirt and felt for a pulse. Yes. She was alive. Relief washed over him. Her breathing was shallow but he thanked God she had dunked her shirt in the water and used it to help filter the smoke so she could breathe. He gently rolled her over and checked for injuries. Deryn’s ankle was twisted at an odd angle. She’d probably come down on it wrongly while searching for a place to hide from the fire. It was definitely broken this time. She had some first-degree burns but nothing life threatening. Placing an oxygen mask on her face, he stroked her hair back and begged. “Come on, honey open your eyes. Deryn, wake up. Come on, darlin’. I love you.” He held her close to his body and willed her awake. Deryn struggled to pull herself out of the blackness surrounding her. The pain in her ankle muddled her brain and smoke still clogged her lungs. She moaned and took a deep breath of metallic-tasting air. Her lungs spasmed and the coughing fit that ensued choked her. She struggled to control her breathing as she registered soft words being crooned in her ear. Brant. She clawed the mask away from her face where he held it. “I’m sorry,” she cried. “You were right. I’m a coward. I’m sorry I was afraid. I’m not anymore. I want to be with you. I love you.” Tears fell onto her cheeks and sobs rose in her chest. He put the mask back over her nose and mouth. “Hush, darlin’. Calm down. Take deep breaths. Don’t try to talk.” Brant hugged her close. “Are you hurt? Other than the ankle?” He continued to stroke her hair. She shook her head and closed her eyes as colors sprang to life, nausea surfaced and her vision blurred. Slowly, she raised a hand to her head. There was a large bump forming from when she fell. She moaned and clutched her stomach with her other hand. 82

Out of Control

“Your head?” Brant tenderly felt under her hair around her scalp and his beautiful blue eyes narrowed with concern when he got to the goose egg. “Quite a bump you’ve got there. The oxygen will help with the nausea. Your ankle is broken and you might have a concussion but I think you’re going to be okay.” His chest hitched with a sob and tears tracked down his soot covered face. “I was so scared when you weren’t at the clearing, I thought my heart would explode if I didn’t see you again. You were right to come this way. I’m so proud of you, darlin’. I want to tell you something else, you were right. I do hide up here but no longer. If you’re willing to face your fears, I am too.” Tears pricked her eyes and mixed with the still-falling rain. He was here, holding her. They were safe. “Everything okay here?” Fred stood over them. “The fires are all out and I’ve got teams cold trailing to make sure. A chopper’s on its way to airlift you out. It’ll be here soon. Glad to see you safe, young lady.” Deryn held up her hand and grasped the older man’s. “Thank you,” she rasped. “You’re welcome. But, don’t thank me. Brant’s the one who figured out where you’d gone. I just followed his instincts. Do me a favor, make an honest man out of him.” With that, he winked at her and headed off to where the team was gathered. Brant had saved her. He loved her. Nothing else mattered. It was time to live again. She’d always be afraid for him but she loved him and being a man of action was who he was. And that was just fine.

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About the Author Multi-published author Eve Savage began her education in a small village school in England and hones it during her travels throughout the world. Originally a poet, Eve began writing fiction during high school in San Antonio. During college in Galveston (Gig ‘em, Ags!), Eve’s participation in numerous RPGs (role-playing games) allowed her imagination to take flight and added whole other dimensions to the stories and poems she wrote. Extensive study in Mythology, Wicca and most things paranormal, as well as extremely eclectic tastes, enables Eve to speak intelligently on subjects as varied as vampire lore of New Orleans (ask her about the Haunted History tour in NOLA last year), tattoos (of which she has four), kings and queens of England (fascinating, aren’t they?), music/tv/movie trivia (no one beats her at Scene It!) and most aspects of history. Her friends call her a walking enclopedia (read as: know-it-all). Eve has quite a dramatic flair, having spent many years performing in theatrical productions. With such diverse interests, it’s no wonder her well-received books vary from contemporary erotica to near-future paranormal erotic thrillers.

The author welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.

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