Monroe, Melody S. - Deception Fantasy [Fantasy Resort 4] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (8 page)

Jake stepped back. “Trace, you go first.”

“No problem. I’m not afraid.”

His comment implied Jack might be. Now there was an interesting twist. Sexually, Jack didn’t seem afraid of anything. Trace held his gaze for a long moment, shrugged, and leaned his palms against the rock.

“Now, remember to plant your toes and push up. If you slip, I’ll break. You won’t fall much.”

Trace said nothing as he spent time deciding which foothold was best. Usually, she’d give guidance, but with Trace, she thought it better to let him figure it out, especially given his bad mood. While he didn’t race up the mountain, he did a fine job reaching the ledge near the top without any incident. “Good job.” She couldn’t remember an executive doing any better.

“It’s beautiful up here,” he shouted.

She was happy his voice held a bit of awe. He’d probably seen the land below many times in the winter, but this time of year was a special time in the desert.

“Turn around and rest a bit. We’re in no hurry.”

He flipped over, laid spread-eagle on the rock, then crossed his arms and looked up toward the sky. She bet he thought the world had stood still. She understood how exhilarating it could be when you’re one with nature.

After a few minutes, Trace turned around and mimicked her technique as he climbed down. In no time, he was on the ground.

“That was something else.”

“I’m glad you appreciated it. You really did well. You have a natural sense of where to place your feet, and your balance is excellent.”

He looked at her and held her gaze, almost as if he wanted to see if she were lying. “Thanks.” He untied the rope from his harness and handed the end to Jack. “You’re up, buddy.”

Trace’s mood had improved considerably. Perhaps he’d forgotten their kiss already, or else he realized why she’d had to push him away. Or it could be as simple as the fact he enjoyed the success of the climb. Some psychologist she was.

Jack was more tentative than Trace, but Trace shouted out possible places for his friend to plant his toes. These two men had an easy rapport, as if one’s success affected the other. At the top, Jack spent less time admiring the view and came down quickly, looking relieved he’d lived.

She clapped her hands. “Who wants to go next?”

Jack grunted, but Trace got right back up on the rock. This time he cut his time in half. When he returned, she patted him on the back.

“Very impressive, cowboy.”

He moved closer. “I deserve another reward.”

Watching his muscles flex as he climbed up the wall had made her pussy wet. “What do you have in mind?”

He pulled her to his chest again and kissed her, this time at a more relaxed pace. Her hands pressed against his chest, but she didn’t push him away. Instead, she melted into him. His hands reached behind her and grabbed her butt, squeezing slowly as if he couldn’t wait to lick her pussy and make slow, delicious love to her.

Stop daydreaming.

“Hey, hey. What’s a guy got to do to get another climb?”

She and Trace broke apart and laughed at Jack’s complaint.

They spent another few hours finding new paths up the slab.

She checked her watch. “It’s getting a little late and I’m starving. Let’s climb to the top with our packs and set up camp. I’ll leave the rope here for when we come down.”

Jack went up first, slipping a few times with the added weight, while Trace was a natural, scampering up with no help from the rope. She followed.

“Teresa told me of a campsite not far from here where it’s rather secluded.”

Jack stepped closer. “Do you think we’ll be the only ones up there?”

“Most likely.”

He dragged a finger down her cheek. “It gets real dark here at night. There’s nothing much to do but snuggle, darlin’.” He winked and her pussy contracted.

“We’re still on resort time, you know.” She was implying no sex, though who would know? She wouldn’t tell. These men had grown on her way too fast. They were no longer the shallow boys she knew in high school. The rock climbing demonstration had proved that and more.

“You take all of the fun out of camping.” Jack winked.

She laughed and led them down the trail. Within fifteen minutes, they found a good spot to set up their tent. The sun was setting, and they needed to put up the tent before they lost the light.

Jack took off his backpack. “How about I make dinner?”

She stopped. “You know how to cook?”

“Do I know how to cook? Are you kidding? I spent two years in the Peace Corps and taught the
Yangatum
natives a thing or two about food and hygiene.”

“You actually spent two years trying to save the world?” He’d been serious about helping others. Who would have believed Mr. Jock would follow through?

“You don’t have to look so surprised. I have goals. I care about the environment, about the people.”

She’d almost blown it by reminding him of his yearbook quote. “That’s great.”

* * * *

Trace wanted to stay around and watch the sexiest woman alive put up the tent, but he had to take a leak and clear his head. It would be easy to zip open her sleeping bag tonight and get a taste, but where would that get him? He doubted she’d complain if they had sex. Hell, from the way she let him explore her mouth at the base of the cliff, she wanted it as much as he did. In fact, he bet she’d be good with a threesome, given how well she accepted the two sex toys. He’d never seen anyone take to them so fast.

“I’ll be back in a sec.”

“Sure.” She smiled and his cock hardened.

Pines, firs, and scrub dotted the landscape, so finding a place to be by himself wasn’t difficult. His life seemed to be at a crossroads. He’d steeled his heart against finding someone to love his whole life. His father’s abuse of his mother made him fear he’d be the same way. While he’d been considerate and relatively gentle with his women, none had turned his insides out like Diana had. There was something about her that reminded him of his past, of how grand things used to be before Dad started to drink and turned violent.

Trace took a leak and was heading back, when he thought he heard someone or something cry out. His body went on full alert. The sound didn’t come from the direction of the campsite. It was probably a bird. As a kid, he often heard peacocks cry, sounding like they were calling for help. He’d never seen any up here, but he’d never come at this time of year either.

A path led further west. He followed it for a bit until he came to the edge of a ravine. He looked out at the setting sun. Peace descended on his soul. He loved the mountains and the clean air. He didn’t miss the big city, where the hustle and bustle tightened every nerve.

There. It was that sound again.

He stepped further down the ledge and stilled. Someone was down there in the basin. It was a small figure curled up on the ground. His breath hitched at the memory of that terrible time that had gone so terribly wrong.

Chapter Six

It was happening all over again. When he was in Iraq, there’d been a girl in need. His fingers tingled as his gut clenched. “Hello?”

The person didn’t move. Shit. The path down was steep. Without shoes and ropes, the sheer decline might result in him falling, but he was willing to try if it meant saving her.

“Can you hear me?” he shouted, hoping the prone person was merely sleeping and wasn’t in need of rescue. He called a few more times while he mentally figured the safest way down.

Feet sounded behind him on the path. Diana and Jack raced up.

She nearly collided into his back. “What happened? I heard you yell.”

Trace pointed at the prone figure, and her body tensed. “Oh, my God. I need to get down there and help her.”

He grabbed her arm. If anything happened to Diana, he’d never forgive himself. “I’ll go.”

“No. I’m trained. I can’t afford to have you get injured, too.”

She made sense, but his need to atone was great. “Jack. Call 911. I’ll go back to the Jeep and lead them up here. They’ll never find their way without help.”

“On it.”

“Stay with Diana and see that nothing happens to her.” He faced her. “Jack kept up his medical certification. I never got around to it. He’ll be more of use to you.”

“Great.” She could use the help. “I need to collect a sleeping bag to keep the person warm until help arrives, along with some water and medical supplies.”

They all rushed back down the path to the campsite. From her bag she pulled out a roll of orange tape. “Trace. Label a tree each time you come to a fork. It’ll be pitch-black by the time the rescuers arrive and bring a flashlight.”

“I’m good. I spent two years in the service. I’ll be careful.”

“Wait.” She dug a hand in her pocket. “Take the keys. You might need to drive the car.”

“Good thinking.” He leaned over and kissed her. “Take care.”

* * * *

The softness in Trace’s voice nearly undid her. He cared not only for her but for the injured person below. A bit of her heart would always be devoted to this man.

The moment Trace was out of sight, she refocused. Jack and she rounded up gear in a controlled rush. She didn’t have to issue a single command. He seemed to know exactly how to handle the emergency, moving quickly and with purpose.

When they got back to the tall cliff, she made sure her pack was secure and began the slow descent down.

After a half a minute, rocks pinged off her helmet.
What the?
She looked up. Jack was partway down the cliff.

“Jack, you can’t come down here. You aren’t experienced enough.” Though he had seemed to master the art of climbing in just one afternoon, this slope was tricky even for her. Too bad she hadn’t brought more rope, which would have made the descent safer.

“I can help you.”

She could use a calm head, but it wouldn’t do any good if she got stuck down in the ravine with one more person injured. He appeared anxious to help, and given he was more than halfway down, climbing back up wouldn’t be any safer.

“Okay, but go slow.” She didn’t need to add further warnings as he took care to look before he stepped.

Once at the bottom, they ran to the prone figure and knelt by the girl’s side.

Diana lightly touched her shoulder. “Are you okay?” The light shake brought a moan. Good. She was conscious, though barely. “Can you tell me your name?”

No answer. Crap. Jack held the girl’s head steady while Diana set her light on the ground and did a full body scan for blood. He’d probably been scared shitless climbing down the steep decline, but he never gave up. Hell, she’d been scared, and she did this kind of thing for a living.

“Find anything?” he asked a moment later.

“Other than some scrapes and bruises, all her external cuts have dried.”

“Doesn’t mean there isn’t internal damage. Can you tell if the mechanism of injury was due to the fall?”

She looked around. “I don’t see a helmet, and I didn’t find any cuts on her scalp, so maybe she didn’t come down the way we did.”

“I don’t see any other entrance.”