Fencing You In (12 page)

He gave her a smile that made her belly flip-flop. “I hope you saved some strength. Are you up for going to Sedona today? We could hike West Fork Trail in Oak Creek Canyon.”

“I love Sedona and I haven’t been on that particular hike,” she said. Tess let the thought turn over in her mind. “I could ask Katie Sue’s mother if Jenny can stay a little later in case we’re not back on time and I can pick her up over there.”

“Great.” Gage pushed back his chair and stood, then picked up his empty plate and orange juice glass. “Ready?”

She laughed and pointed to her robe. “Not hardly.”

“You look terrific to me,” he said.

She rolled her eyes and got to her feet before helping him with the little cleanup there was to do.

When they finally got to the bathroom, he stripped out of his jeans and she let her robe drop after she warmed the shower. She stepped under the spray and he followed her a few moments later.

She turned to face him and he slid his hands down her ass and brought her close to him as the water pounded on them. His erection pressed against her belly as he lowered his head and kissed her. The feel of his water-slick body against hers as he kissed her sent thrills through her to the place between her thighs.

“I can’t keep my hands off you.” He palmed her breasts then moved his hands over her body, caressing her.

She clasped her hands behind his neck and leaned into him, her nipples against his chest. He kissed her and grasped her ass again, drawing her up his body. She hooked her thighs around his hips and felt his cock against her core. She looked down and saw that he was already wearing a condom. She hadn’t noticed that he’d put one on before he got into the shower.

“Prepared, aren’t we,” she murmured as she met his gaze, loving the way he was looking at her.

“I couldn’t wait to have you again.” His voice sounded hoarse as he placed the head of his cock against her core.

He moved her so that her back was against the cool shower tiles and he was blocking most of the shower spray. He slid inside her. Her breathing hitched as he began moving in and out of her, his strokes long and his movements deliberate and unhurried.

His gaze held hers and she clung to him, as her world seemed to catch fire. He caught her mouth with his as he thrust into her. He raised his head and started driving into her harder and harder.

Her mind whirled as she felt an oncoming orgasm. She could barely breathe, could barely think. Being with Gage was something so incredible that she’d never experienced before. Maybe it was just sex to him, but right now she didn’t care. All that she cared about was having him inside her.

The orgasm took her faster than she expected. She tilted her head back against the tile and a cry escaped her. He continued thrusting and thrusting and she watched his face, waiting to see him climax.

He came with a loud groan that rumbled up in his chest and she felt his powerful body shudder. He pressed himself hard against her as he closed his eyes, tilted his head back, and water beat down on his face.

When his eyes met hers she gave him a smile. He kissed her hard before letting her slide down his body until she was on her own two feet again. She leaned close to him and wrapped her arms around his waist, her heart beating hard enough that she wondered if he could feel it beating against him.

She gave a sigh of pleasure, wanting this moment to last a little longer.

He caught her chin with his fingers as he leaned back to look at her face. “If you still want to go out to Sedona, we’d better get finished in here.”

She nodded and reached for the shampoo. He washed her hair and then he had to lean down in order for her to wash his. He was at least a foot taller than she was.

It felt amazing having him soap her body, touching her in ways that made her want him all over again.

Being with him in the shower felt so intimate and she felt as if she was closer to him than ever.

And as he kissed her here and there, whenever he could, she knew she was in trouble. She was falling for a cowboy she had no business falling for.

Chapter 18

The distinctive red rock of Sedona came into view as Gage drove his truck toward the town. As they neared the town, Tess felt a kind of energy surrounding her. There was something about the area that seemed to carry a current in the air. She could almost feel static crackling in her hair.

She shook her head, knowing she was imagining things, but she still always got the same feeling.

“Want to do the tourist thing first?” Gage asked. “Or head up to Slide Rock and Oak Creek?”

Tess smiled at him. “Touristy stuff first and then we can have our lunch somewhere on Oak Creek.”

When they reached the downtown part of Sedona, Gage parked the truck in front of an ice cream shop. A few doors down were colorful jeeps from the popular Pink Jeep Tours.

Gage helped Tess out of the truck and they bypassed the ice cream shop and started walking. They went to different shops with crystals and stones native to the area and the state, along with the usual tourist souvenir stores.

Tess bought Jenny a tie-dyed Sedona T-shirt and a pretty little copper and turquoise bracelet that would fit her for a while and she could wear for special occasions.

Gage picked out a silver necklace with a turquoise pendant for Katie Sue’s birthday present. “Her parents say I spoil her,” he said with a low laugh. “Can’t help it. She’s a sweet kid.”

They reached a jewelry and gemstone shop and went inside. Tess marveled at the gorgeous Arizona stones that included fire agate, azurite, peridot, citrine, malachite, turquoise, and amethyst.

Her favorite was a gold ring with a swirl of turquoise along with sparkling peridot at the center and diamonds curving along one side. She also loved a freeform fire agate pendant. Unfortunately the price tags were well beyond her reach, but she enjoyed looking at the pieces.

When they’d finished visiting the various shops, they climbed back into his truck and headed toward Oak Creek.

They drove to the foot of the hiking path known as the West Fork Trail and parked just off the highway. The day was sunny, the air cool and fresh.

Gage shouldered the backpack with their lunch as they started along the trail, and he carried a small fly rod. Tess wore a cross-body canteen-style large water bottle, which left her hands free.

They had stopped by his ranch before heading to Sedona, and they each wore sturdy shoes for hiking. They both wore jeans and T-shirts, and Tess had put a band in her hair to keep her curls away from her face.

“It smells wonderful.” She breathed in the clean, crisp forest smells as she followed him.

He gestured up ahead. “And the scenery along here is incredible.”

Not long into the hike, the trail hugged steep canyon walls that towered hundreds of feet. There wasn’t much room between the canyon walls in a few areas, leaving only a narrow path that crossed from one side of the stream to the other. The creek was only a few inches deep although there were some pools that could be as deep as three feet.

They crossed the steam using rocks and fallen logs. She slipped once and her shoe landed in the water so that one sock was wet and one wasn’t. She laughed and stepped in with both feet so that they were equally wet and he grinned.

Oak trees, sycamores, aspens, and tall pines rose up along the trail, along with even a few apple trees near the trailhead. Being that it was still summer, the vegetation was lush and the green contrast against the red sandstone of the canyon walls was beautiful.

Gage told her how beautiful the trail was in all seasons. “If we just stick to the basic trail, it’s a six-mile round trip.” He looked at her. “It’s not a bad hike and you’re in great shape.” He gestured ahead. “When we have more time, the trail extends another eleven miles but we won’t go that far. Maybe six miles up where we could camp some day.”

“I haven’t done any backpack camping. It sounds so fun.” She took a swig of water and offered him the canteen. He drank from it and then she took it from him and adjusted the strap of the carrier again.

As they walked, he asked her about growing up in New Mexico.

“I miss it sometimes,” she said. “But I do like Prescott.”

She especially liked one sexy cowboy, but she didn’t say that. She pushed that thought from her mind. Did she even know what she was doing with Gage? Over the past months since she’d gotten to know him, he had pushed his way past her defenses and here she was—she’d just spent the night with him and now they were out hiking together.

“What was it like growing up with four brothers?” she asked as they continued on.

He gave her a quick grin over his shoulder. “There was never a dull moment. I think we drove our mama crazy.” He came to a stop. “I want you to meet my parents. I think they’d love you.”

Tess blinked at him. She hadn’t thought that far ahead. Instead of responding to his statement, she said, “Megan thinks your mom and dad are great.”

“They are.” Gage smiled and turned back to the trail.

Birds twittered and flew among the trees. Squirrels chittered and every now and then some creature or another would rustle leaves. They passed a few other people who were out enjoying a hike, too.

Tess felt light, as if the world was a million miles away and she was in some other place and time. Someday she’d have to bring Jenny here, maybe when she was a little older, when the hike would be easier for her.

After Tess and Gage reached the three-mile point, the end of the marked trail, they went a little farther and found a place to eat lunch. He unpacked everything and they sat on a couple of big rocks. He sat close to her, close enough that she felt a little shiver at his nearness.

She’d put together sandwiches with leftover homemade rolls from last night, lunchmeat, and slices of cheese. They made nice little sandwiches and Gage ate four of them. She had packed a couple of apples and a few brownies that remained from the batch that she and Jenny had made a couple of days ago.

As she finished eating a brownie, she caught him watching her with an intense look that made her body tingle. “What?” she asked, feeling a little uncomfortable beneath his gaze.

He continued to study her. “I almost can’t believe you’re here with me.”

A shyness overcame her that came out of nowhere. “I’m a little surprised to be here, too.”

He touched the side of her face, running his thumb along her jaw. “Do you trust me, Tess? Trust me not to hurt you?”

She looked down, away from his green eyes. When she returned her gaze to his, she swallowed and told him the truth. “I don’t know.”

“I’m not going to hurt you.” He lowered his head, his mouth closing in on hers. “I promise.”

His mouth met hers and her mind whirled. He kissed her slowly, exploring her mouth, tasting her lips as if for the first time. She found herself clinging to his biceps, feeling like she needed the support.

And then he was laying her on her back on the grass, kissing her as he slid his hand down her shoulder and side until he reached her hip and rested his palm there. She wanted him all over again, as much as she had before if not more.

When he drew away, she just stared up at him, her lips tingling and feeling almost dizzy.

“Why don’t we do a little fly fishing?” His voice sounded rough. “Or I might just take you here and now.”

“That might be a good idea.” She ran her tongue along her lower lip. “The fly fishing, that is.”

With a smile he got to his feet then held out his hand and helped her up. His grip was warm and strong. They packed up their things and then headed along the creek until they came to a place where the water was around six feet deep.

She sat on a log as he cast his line and slowly reeled it in. He caught two small trout and tossed them back in. He wasn’t fishing to bring anything home, just for sport. He showed her how to fly fish and it didn’t take her long to get the hang of it, although she didn’t manage to catch anything.

“It’s so beautiful here. We’re in the perfect spot.” Tess drank in the amazing scenery, the scents of the forest and the creek, the coolness of the air on her skin. “And it’s so quiet.”

“We’re fortunate there aren’t a lot of hikers today,” Gage said. “We came at a good time.”

He’d caught five fish and tossed them all back by the time they were ready to head back along the trail. It was getting late in the afternoon and they still had to drive the hour and a half back to Prescott so that Tess could pick up Jenny. Katie Sue’s mom had said not to worry about what time they returned, but Tess didn’t want to get back too late.

When they reached the truck, Gage stowed the pole, backpack, and water bottles. He helped her into the vehicle and then climbed in himself. In moments they were on their way back to Prescott.

As he drove, he seemed lost in thought and she found her own thoughts were tangled together like thread she couldn’t unravel.

Her fingers ached from clenching her hands in her lap. She’d been guarding her heart for so long and now she’d gone and jumped into a relationship with someone who might just break her heart.

Did Gage consider them in a relationship? Or was this just a couple of dates and a night in bed kind of thing? She’d never gone to bed with a man this fast before.

“Have you ever been really serious with a woman?” Tess looked at Gage as they drove back to Prescott. “Or have you always been a ladies man?”

He stared at the road and didn’t answer for a moment. Her heart began to sink.

“Yes,” he finally said. “There was someone once. A long time ago.”

Tess studied him, waiting for him to go on.

He glanced at her then back to the road. “It didn’t end well.”

When it didn’t seem like he would go on, she said, “Can I ask what happened?”

He was silent for a long moment. “It’s…complicated.”

She felt like she’d pressed too hard. “Maybe I shouldn’t have asked.”

“It’s fine, Tess.” He looked at her before turning his attention ahead again. “Just not a lot of good memories there.”

She wanted to know what else had happened, but she didn’t feel like she should pressure him. Not now.