* * *
The store lights were still on. Justine smiled, knowing Darrius hadn’t taken her advice and gone home. But where was his truck? She parked her car and walked around the building. His white truck was right there, parked next to the back door. Camera bag in hand, she returned to the front and rang the doorbell.
In minutes, Darrius appeared. Smiling, he unlocked the door and held it open for her. “I knew you would arrive soon. Come in, take a load off.”
Justine stepped inside and quickly faced him. “You knew I’d arrive soon? Let me guess, the stars told you this, too.”
“Exactly right. That’s the reason I’ve stayed another hour. I could have gone home, but something told me to stay.” He pointed up at the starlit sky. “Look at the millions of stars out tonight. They couldn’t help giving me a little advice.” He saw the camera bag. “Tonight would be good for this, even better than tomorrow. There’s no customers and the lighting is still good; we can talk, or do more.”
“Talking is good. We’ll see what comes later.”
“Far be it from me to keep someone from doing her work.”
“You let me worry about that.” She placed her bag on the floor and turned to him. “You really are amazing, Darrius. You stayed here instead of going home and taking your own load off.”
“A guy does what he has to, to spend time with the woman he likes. Come, let’s get you set up.”
He took her hand and led her to the showroom. “Will this do?”
Instead of answering, she asked, “What is that?”
“You like it?”
“It smells wonderful. Peyote?”
“Come on! It’s just something I mixed up: a little juniper, sweet grass and badlands sage.”
“I love it, and I was just kidding about the peyote.”
“It’s okay. Besides, who needs peyote when the likes of you are here?” He swung her in a half circle. “Look at you in this dress! If I hadn’t promised to keep my hands to myself, you’d be in some real trouble here.”
“I didn’t hear you promise anything.”
His eyes danced mischievously, but he chose to let his thoughts go unspoken and bask in the possibility of kissing her just one more time. “The showroom is completely stocked and dusted, the floors are mopped and the rugs in their places. Why don’t we start? Where would you like me?”
“What?” Don’t tease me like this, Darrius. Where I truly want you is too obscene to mention. “Oh.” She looked around, saw the large showcase filled with jewelry, and lit by the traditional “End of the Trail” lamp. “Why don’t we start where I first met you?”
“On your knees? When we first met, you were on your knees staring at the bracelets. You looked great in that position, if I may add. Hmm, maybe I should take the pictures. You on your knees before me would make for fantastic bedroom art.”
“You’re really something, Darrius.” Being on her knees before him was an enticing thought, but she had to quickly suppress it or nothing would get done that night. “Pose by the lamp.” She smoothed the fringes of his Western-style bandana print shirt, straightened his buffalo head belt buckle with nervous hands and then stepped back. It was sheer torture even touching his belt buckle because she could feel his heat, imagine the stiffness in his crotch, hear his shallow breathing. Everything about him was amazing, so amazing she could barely steady her hand to take the picture. “Smile…ah, yes, that’s a good one.” She took a few more of him posing by the cowboy boot display, but tried mainly focusing on the jewelry and other store items instead of the store’s outrageously sexy owner.
“Why don’t you pose by the cigar store Indian? Maybe put an arm around his waist.” She then photographed him near the designer Native American T-shirts, at the basket displays and finally by the rack displaying the family’s teas. The tea business was a story within itself, having started out as a small family business that grew by leaps and bounds over the years.
The atmosphere throughout the store was peaceful, serene. Even the CD playing in the background, entitled Inside Desert Scenes with its faint birdcalls and waterfalls in the background, added to the scene. Candles throughout the showroom and the dim lighting made the atmosphere that much more…soothing. Caught up in the fragrant and relaxing mood of the store itself, she lowered the camera, unable to take her eyes off the man who had made the evening possible.
She stood before him wordless, aimless, the camera on its leather strap dangling at her midsection.
He saw that she was unable to continue, and knew why. The feelings were mutual. He broke into the silence that had fallen over the room. “I’ve got a good picture for you.”
Justine felt the perspiration on her forehead as she struggled to respond in an even voice. “Yeah? Of what?”
“Follow me.”
Please don’t take me to some forbidden little room in this place, because you’ll find out exactly how weak I am when it comes to you. Her spirit made her follow him, but to where, her mind and body were not aware. All she knew was that wherever he walked, she would follow.
Darrius walked her into the kachina room. Expensive paintings of the Koshari covered turquoise walls. He remembered how much she loved seeing them when she first came in the other day. There in the background were the very portraits of Derrick dancing the clown dance as a Koshari. Darrius passed his hands before it. “Take one of me standing before the Koshari. I know he’s your favorite kachina. I would still like to give you more details on him before you leave for San Francisco.”
“Why not tonight?”
He struck a pose before the large Koshari painting. “If that’s good for you.” Strands of his hair fell against his shirt and he raised his hand to push them back.
“Don’t! I like your hair like that, especially across the red hues of your shirt. I like the contrast. That’s so good, Darrius; just stand right there. You won’t believe how sensational you look against the gloss of the paint. Everything shines. This is the best picture yet.” She lowered the camera, but her eyes were still fixed on him. Everything about the store was enchanting, the serene night atmosphere and the aroma coming from somewhere…and Darrius in his rugged jeans and fringed shirt. And yes, his hair! It was a black river of seduction, mouthwatering to her soul, feather-like to her touch. The memory of how it felt still made her fingers tingle. She wanted more, but wasn’t sure how to ask. Instead, she asked about a new aroma in the air. “I smell something different now. What is it?”
“Ah, the tea is ready.”
“Tea?”
“I started brewing some after talking to you. It’s the Teepee Tales brew, good for relaxing. Served before bedtime. It’s got passion flower in it. You will have some with me, won’t you?”
“Passion flower? Who would say no to that?”
They were close enough to see the desire in each other’s eyes. He agreed. “Yes, who would say no to that?”
“Good for bedtime, but it’s no longer daytime, Darrius.” Where in the heck did that come from?
“I know what you mean. Come with me. We’ll have a cup or two and sit on the padded rug near your favorite place—the jewelry counter. There’s plenty of room back there. Would you like that?”
Justine said nothing, taking his hand and letting him lead the way.
