Her body hummed for him as he continued his caress. The slow trot of the horse added to the tingling. What he was doing was a deliciously erotic second choice, and she rode with it, relaxed against him. Her mouth trembled as she felt herself going to that place—the very place that centers on total satisfaction and nothing more. Anticipation crowded her, making her body and mind so tight that all she wanted was release…
He gave it, and gladly.
Little moans of helplessness invaded his hearing, and he smiled, knowing she was so ready to be taken there—if only there was time.
Justine had always been scared of horses; was never taught how to ride growing up in the streets of San Francisco. Her uneasiness with horses seemed as though it had never existed now because she felt natural, mellowing to the slow trot while her lover gave her a sensual massage. Nothing had ever been hotter than them making love in open daylight. It was raw exhibitionism, thirsty, insane, uninhibited. She turned and faced him as he slowed the stallion almost to a dead stop.
There were no words that could explain what he felt for her at the moment. “What on earth have you done to me? I can’t think straight anymore, and when I do think, it’s about you, your smile, your ambition for life and love—your body thirsting for mine and mine for yours.” He brought her face to his, his eyes narrowed, peering into hers, breathless. “Where the hell did you come from?”
“A long way, Darrius, and I’ve found what I’ve unknowingly been looking for.”
“Me?”
“Only you.” A smile touched her lips. “The wind told me to find you. Wind moved my plane straight into Albuquerque’s airport and on into Gallup. Here I am today, hardly expecting to have a sensual massage while riding a horse.”
“With me around, anything’s possible.”
They kissed again, and then the realization of Red Rock, more photo shoots and opening a store loomed heavy.
* * *
For once, Justine’s mind was not on Darrius. Instead, those mysterious pictures she couldn’t remember taking preoccupied her. She was determined, at least, to see the caves behind the teepees. Also, the winding road leading to forbidden places held her mind captive.
Darrius tapped the hood of her car. “Take good pictures.”
“You’re just going to work in the store today?”
“I have to finish my inventory. Besides, it’s tourist season. I might sell another bracelet or two.”
“You didn’t sell me mine, if you remember. I would like to give you something in return for giving me such a fabulous piece of jewelry.”
“Yeah, like you haven’t already.”
“Darrius…”
“Okay, okay, since you’re so determined to give me something, why not treat me to dinner, and then we can check out one of those little caves in your picture. I already know what they’re all—”
“Wait a minute! You know about the pictures? How?”
“I just do. I also know about the picture of the road leading to the other side of Red Rock.” His eyes were penetrating. “Don’t go there, Justine. I’m very serious. There’s power up there, and you’re not equipped to handle it.”
Simply by his tone of voice, she knew there had to be something to that road. Now it really scared her, yet intrigued her. Yet for his benefit, she conceded. “I promise I won’t go up there. I’m scared to, anyway.”
“Not scared enough. I know this about you.” He released her hand and locked her door. “I’m serious.”
There was worry in his eyes, something that she wouldn’t have guessed could appear on such a handsome face. His somber expression made her nervous, so she tried to break the tension. She poked his belly. “How can I ignore the warnings of such a powerful man?”
“Stop kidding around. I just want you safe. There are more than legends up there.”
“All right already! I said I wouldn’t go!”
“Good, then how about eight tonight for dinner at Red Rock?”
“Cool with me.”
“Meet me at the main arena near the entrance, and we’ll explore the safe places.”
As she reached for her camera bag on the front seat, he took her arm. “I know you can’t explain how you got the pictures, but the one of the road is a warning. You took it for a purpose, and you may never be able to explain how you got it.”
She still couldn’t decipher the look in his eyes, but knew his words were dead on. “I’d better go before I miss the real reason I’m here.”
“You’re staring at the real reason, but remember, eight o’clock at the entrance.”
“Got it.” Words hung in the air, words she had no idea she would ever say to a man. “I really like you, Darrius, despite the fact that you won’t let me roam free.”
“You’re right, I won’t, and if it makes you feel any better—I like you, too. A whole lot!”
“It does.”
She waved goodbye and drove away. She had been in such a rush to get away from Darrius to what was up that hill, despite his warnings and her own promises to him. Then again, in the past, she had never lived up to too many promises. What made her think she could suddenly start now?
10
TEMPTATION SINGS
The mountains of Red Rock seemed even higher even and more majestic to Justine than they had the first time she’d seen them. She figured that maybe the peaks looked more tempting because he had told her to stay away from them. Then again, she had always been one to look danger in the face and laugh at it. But before, there had been no sexually and emotionally stimulating man to warn her. Now there was, and her feelings were mixed. She trusted and respected Darrius too much to ignore his warning, but it was unsettling to not be able to do what she wanted. Ultimately, she knew not violating Darrius’s trust was more important than shots of outstanding scenery. Is it? Sure it is—just keep saying that to yourself.
Never had she experienced a man who knew her thoughts and possible actions before she did. Yet he did. It would take some getting used to, considering the men in her past barely knew she was in the bed with them. All they had wanted was a hot, wet body that came with plenty of moans—fake or real. She had done both and was tired of the bullshit. It was high time to have a man in her life who actually knew her mind instead of what to do to make her come. Thinking of her past lovers made her aware of just how bereft of emotion her romantic life had been. Darrius had already proven that a man could be more than an erection. Finally. And that was the only reason she took the longer route to Red Rock and avoided the cliffs. However, temptation was hard to clear from the recesses of a wandering mind.
