“No, don’t be. I may have been a little, well, rude pushing away from you like that.” She debated whether to say more, but decided she had to at least try to make him feel better. “The kiss was…the only word for it is delicious.”
“It gets better with time. And what makes you think I would ever shy away from you?”
“You were awfully quiet in the truck yesterday.” She suddenly realized she was stark naked while talking to him. Instead of getting dressed, she slipped between the bed sheets and let Darrius’s voice and the cool, crisp cotton lull her.
“I was quiet because I felt like a cad taking advantage of you.”
“You’re not a cad, Darrius; you’re wonderful. It may be bold to admit this, but you felt natural in my arms, made me feel like a woman all over, and in all the right places.”
“You’re definitely all woman, Justine, and I liked how you felt in my arms.”
Justine felt the rise in body temperature within her sex as he seduced her with words. Her back arched against the sheets and her body trembled when she heard him call her name…
“Justine? Are you still there?”
“Definitely. I seemed to have zoned out.”
“Did you go somewhere nice?”
“Real nice!”
He wanted so badly to comment, to say other seductive words just so he could listen to her climax. He could tell what a woman’s body was doing just by listening intensely. What he wouldn’t have done to see her come. Instead, he stuck to the typical, the normal, not wanting to get into trouble with his thoughts. “Are you hungry? I know I am. I can bring over—”
God, it was hard saying no to this man, but she was tired and figured her rendezvous yesterday was enough. In the past, she had hardly been the woman to fall for a man so soon, and she surely didn’t want to start now. But it was the way Darrius reacted to her, treated her that made her want to release the wild side she had been adamant about keeping hidden. Surely, if she let him in her room again, there would be no saying no to him. “You’re sweet, but it’s late; besides, I ate a buffalo burger at the campgrounds. You haven’t finished work for the evening yet?”
“I still haven’t finished inventory. There’s a lot to do when you own your own business. Besides, I had customers, you know, late ceremonial hours.”
“I forgot about that. Which store are you calling from?”
“The one where I met the most amazing woman.”
She curled up, loving how his voice calmed her. “Yeah? What’s her name?”
“Let’s just say you know her well.”
“Ah, not committing to anything, huh?”
“I won’t say that. However, you were supposed to come over and take pictures of the store. You still can.”
“It really is late, Darrius.”
“Yes, it is, and you should rest. But are you still interested in taking pictures of me and my store?”
“Of course. I didn’t think you wanted to be in them.”
“Can’t a guy change his mind?”
She beamed with pure joy. “He sure can. You set a time?”
“I think tomorrow would be good, say about two?”
“That’s perfect, Darrius. How long will you be working tonight?”
“Probably another hour or so.”
“Don’t wear yourself out. There are others who would gladly do that for you.”
“Would that be you?”
“I’m not committing, either. Thanks for everything yesterday, Darrius, even the little pleasures you don’t know about,” she said mysteriously.
“Oh, I know about those, too.”
“I’m sure. You go home soon, okay?”
“I’ll try. Sweet dreams.”
* * *
Darrius hung up. He had missed seeing her, but knew she had work to do. Thoughts of her made his manhood so stiff and hard, and it hurt brushing against his pants. Only Justine could relieve his pressure—if he let her, if she was willing. All pipe dreams for the moment. He pushed the thought away as best he could and turned to the un-inventoried items. He wiped sweat from his forehead, saying, “I can’t let her get to me like this. I just can’t! I don’t need another woman in my life right now.” Yeah, try convincing yourself of that.
* * *
Justine replaced the receiver and relaxed, a satisfied smile on her lips, wanting to be with Darrius in any way she could—by taking photos or simply standing next to him. Whatever way he would let her be with him was okay with her. From the way he sounded moments ago, that was a distinct possibility.
The camera bag was still in the chair where she dropped it when she came in. She stared at it. “Another hour or so, huh?”
She took a spring-green tie-dyed sundress from the closet. She had never worn it but brought it along, hoping she would have a chance to while in New Mexico. She blow-dried her hair and curled it quickly after sprinkling powder everywhere. She added matching earrings, Darrius’s bracelet and a little makeup and then slipped into the dress and headed westward.
