Psyche Moon (3 page)

I, however, had crawled right out of bed and hadn’t even brushed my teeth, let alone my hair. I knew I looked a mess and probably smelled worse. Wishing I’d showered the night before, I cocked my hand on my hip in protest. “Not fair.” I complained as soon as I could work my mouth.

“What’s not fair?” She knew exactly what I was talking about but enjoyed teasing me. She’d come early just so she could catch me in bed.

Trying to sound offended, I pursed my lips. “You don’t get to see me look like crap in the morning until I’ve shown you it’s worth getting there.” I moved to the side and waved her in, perplexed at how forward I sounded.

“Oh, I know it’ll be worth it. Don’t worry about that.” Her eyes raked over me approvingly. “And I kind of like you in your pajamas.” Realizing I’d only thrown on a halter top and boy shorts, she had a full view and it pleased her greatly. I tried to cover my embarrassment without covering my body. If she liked the view, that was a good thing. “I didn’t know what you liked for breakfast, so I took a chance: croissants and a caramel latte.”

“Oh, that’ll be good for my waistline.” Sarcasm was a personality flaw that surfaced most before the first cup of coffee. I cringed as I heard how I sounded, and softened it with a smile. “It looks great, and I definitely need caffeine. But I’ve got to clean up first and reclaim my dignity. Make yourself comfortable, it won’t take me long.”

Without waiting for a response, I turned my back on her and she followed me further into my home, her eyes watching my ass until I disappeared from sight. I could sense her appraising her surroundings but caught no expectations, only curiosity. My place was far from luxurious, but she didn’t seem to care either way.

As promised, it didn’t take me long to get ready. A quick shower later, I pulled my brown hair into two side braids and brushed the grime from my teeth. I chose a lavender scented lotion before donning jeans and a button-down light shirt. Over my best matching bra and underwear, of course. My heart raced faster every time I thought about the sexy redhead waiting in the other room. After a short but desperate search for my hiking boots, I found them in the back of the closet, still in good shape. A brief glance in the mirror, a few mumbled words of encouragement, and I emerged ready.

Billie waited patiently at my kitchen table, sitting backwards on a chair like a cowboy. It showed another side to her than the dancing vixen I met last night. “Sixteen minutes. I like a woman who can walk out her front door in under twenty. Eat up. I’m ready to get out of town.”

“It would have been fourteen, but I couldn’t find my boots.” I sat across from her at my second-hand table and reached for the offered meal. “Thank you. This was really sweet.” Despite the audience and the lump in my throat from meeting her gaze, I devoured two croissants. The latte was a little on the sweet side, but it perked me right up. I didn’t often splurge on fancy coffee – it seemed like an unnecessary luxury on my wage – and the smooth rich drink was a nice treat over my usual generic brand brew.

Billie obviously wasn’t one of those women who need to fill the silence. She let me eat in peace, though her eyes didn’t remain on my face the whole time. A tingle passed through me as she checked me out, and the warmth between my legs left no question about how I felt about her roaming eyes. She obviously found me attractive – ok, she thought I was sexy as hell – but I didn’t feel like a piece of meat under her gaze. She liked the whole package and was barely able to contain herself.

I, on the other hand, kept my eyes away from the more enticing parts of her body. I didn’t trust myself. Something about her held more allure than anyone I’d ever met. The impulse to shove her against the wall and rub her clit until she moaned nearly overwhelmed me. I wanted to touch her so badly my breath deepened. Unsolicited images crossed my mind, images of tying her to my bed and finding out just how much she liked her nipples pinched and where that perfect spot inside of her was. I wanted to bury my face between her legs and feel the squeeze of her thighs as she came.

Sensing her internal satisfaction, I realized she somehow knew what I was thinking, or at least the general idea if not the details. Turnabout is not fair. Pushing the erotic thoughts away from the forefront of my mind, I popped the last piece of croissant into my mouth.

Breakfast over and down to the business of hiking necessities, I grabbed my jacket and a few granola bars out of the cupboard. “I don’t have any bottled water, and I lost my canteen last year. Could we stop somewhere and I’ll get a few things?”

She swiveled out of her chair and placed it neatly under the table, her dancer’s grace emerging. “All taken care of.”

“What about lunch?”

She repeated with an adorable twitch of her nose. “All taken care of. But there’s something I want.” The tone of her voice deepened and she moved toward me, her muscular hips giving her a predatory look. My heart raced. She didn’t give me a chance to respond verbally, but my body said it all.

She reached a hand around to the small of my back, pulling me towards her. The other hand fingered my neck below my ear, and an electrical sensation crossed my skin wherever she touched. Last night had been a teaser, I decided. This kiss blew me away. Automatically, I tilted my hips into her while my hands brushed over her sides. My left thumb grazed her right breast and I could feel her arousal in mind and body. I couldn’t wait to get her shirt off.

“Are you sure you want to go out?” I was sure I wanted to spend the day with her in my bed. Or on my couch, or anywhere for that matter. I didn’t care, so long as I could feel her skin against mine.

She released me slowly, though not reluctantly. “Absolutely. Let’s go.” She had something in mind. I decided to be a good girl and not peek.

In front of my modest home, her pristine black jeep stood out, and I got the sudden impression that she had money. Not that I should have thought otherwise – last night’s outfit had to have cost a fair amount. But this morning she was simple and casual. I hopped into the passenger seat and snuggled into the comfort. The first thing I noticed inside was the lack of radio or CD player. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a car without a radio unless it had been stolen.”

She glanced at me and I felt the amusement behind the sparkling green eyes even before I saw the grin. “I don’t like music much. It’s great to dance to, but I never listen to it outside the bars. I like to hear the world, not drown it out. I gave the radio to my sister.”

I wasn’t sure how to respond to that, but it didn’t seem to need a response, so I just buckled up and we took off. I realized then that I’d naturally connected with her when she appeared on my doorstep. It was more than just sensing her thoughts. This was new, instinctive, and automatic. One of several new experiences since I met her.

“The weather should be perfect today. Slight wind, warm, but not too hot. Perfect hiking weather.”

I hadn’t had the chance to check the weather, and that was good news. “Great. God, I haven’t been out of Boise for months. I’m glad we’re doing this.”

“If I don’t get out at least once a week, I start going mad.” Her tone was completely serious, and I wasn’t sure what to make of her comment.

“What’s your favorite spot?”

She grinned slightly, hearing a double entendre in the innocent question. “I don’t have one. I pick a new route every time. There’s too much to see before seeing one place twice.” I conceded the sense in that on both levels. “I thought we’d go a little beyond Idaho City and find a turnoff.”

“Sounds good to me. I usually head toward Mountain Home and up from there, but I’ve hiked near Lowman a few times, too. Nice hot springs in that area.” I enjoyed the thought that came to mind: Billie and I naked in a natural pool.

“I scouted above Mountain Home after I first got here. I didn’t like it – too many ranchers, and too many guns. I haven’t found any of the more private hot springs yet. Do you know any?”

Pleased that she had the same thought as me, I replied. “Yes. I know a great one. You have to hike five or six miles to reach it. The trail isn’t much more than a deer trail, and if you don’t know where you’re going, you might not find it. Not many people try. You’re likely to be alone there. About twelve years ago a bunch of kids got drunk and went skinny dipping in the middle of the winter. Almost froze to death. It was quite a scandal. Made the papers and everything.”

“Have you been there?”

“Once. I was one of the kids, the only one who didn’t lose a finger or toe.” I grinned at her wickedly, and she laughed.

The view on Highway 21 was spectacular. We headed into the rising sun, generally speaking, and crisp summer air bathed us through the open windows. She pointed out landmarks and gave them names I didn’t know and stories I’d never heard. She clearly loved these mountains, sounding like a cross between a historian and a proud mother. Her intimate fascination with the land we passed was contagious, and I found myself asking many questions and sharing my own stories.

She pointed over a far ridge to the north. “Up that way a few weeks ago I saw a moose – my first. They don’t seem to be common around here. Elk and deer, sure, but not moose. By the way he looked at me, I think I was his first person.” A mile later: “Last winter I had to hole up beyond that ridge overnight after a freak storm blew in. I probably could have made it out, but why take the chance? I found a nice cave and fell asleep listening to the wind.”

We passed Idaho City and drove fifteen minutes beyond the old town. Slowing down for a turnoff, she expertly maneuvered her jeep along an ill-kept road. She drove much faster than I thought safe, but kept complete control. My body stiffened a bit as we bounced over the rough terrain. She could sense my discomfort but didn’t slow for my sake, enjoying showing off her skill and setting me on edge.

It excited me. Everything about her made me want to take risks I wouldn’t normally take. Even my fantasies about her were more aggressive than my norm. Or maybe she was drawing out a part of me that I didn’t know was there.

“This road’s not even used by the Forest Service anymore, and it’s not on any of the maps. Since it’s not hunting season, we shouldn’t run into anyone. We’ll be alone.” Her voice lowered to her erotic husky rumble at the last sentence. Almost a growl, it expressed how desperately she wanted to be alone with me.

“That’s all I’ve wanted since I saw you dancing.” I returned her look and felt my body warm, my intentions quite clear. A few miles later she stopped and put the jeep in park. Leaning across the seat, she gripped my hip as her mouth touched mine. The gentle kiss conflicted with the passion growing between us, and my hand clutched her hair possessively. Our need was rising, and the kiss didn’t last long enough. “Time to go.” She jumped out of the jeep without opening the door, grabbing a full-sized pack from the back.

“You can’t possibly carry all of that.” I gaped at the sight of it. “That has to weigh forty pounds.”

“Closer to fifty.” She expertly hoisted it on her back and snapped the waistband, shifting it into a comfortable position as if it weighed less than half that.

“Give me some of it, at least.” I demanded. I was no weakling, and it didn’t seem fair for her to be the mule.

She laughed. “How are you going to carry it? I didn’t bring another pack. Besides, I’ve carried more for longer distances than we’re going today.”

Fifty pounds! “Why would you bring so much for just a day hike? We can leave some of it behind.” I went to open it to remove some of the contents, but she twisted and slapped my hand playfully.

“Nope. You don’t get to see inside yet. It’s a surprise.” I crossed my arms over my chest, but she didn’t relent. “I think we’ll go northeast from here.”

“Fine. You could at least have brought me a pack.” She smirked, her eyes twinkling with her secret, and took off northeast. I trotted to catch up, wishing her pack didn’t hide her ass so well.

The scenery of course was spectacular. I could barely breathe trying to keep up with Billie, who wasn’t even winded while carrying almost half her weight. We spoke infrequently, and then mostly to point out interesting plants and the occasional small animal. We caught a fox off-guard; it saw us, froze, and disappeared in less than five seconds. Finally we reached a small clearing. She turned, a sexy smile on her face.

“We’re here.” Wherever here was, I thought, trying to catch my breath. I’d never find my way out alone. She gently placed the pack on the ground and wrapped her arms around me, causing my breath to quicken for entirely different reasons. “You’re amazing, Sadie. It’s the rare human who can keep up with me.” Interesting choice of words, I thought.

But then her lips silenced all thoughts and there was only us. Finally I had her in my arms and could feel her skin buzzing when it touched mine. The radiance of her mind and body intoxicated me. I’d never felt so taken by a woman before in my life, and I knew then I would do almost anything to keep her.

“God, you’re beautiful.” She murmured into my ear as she nibbled on it before inching her way to my neck, holding back the ferocious impulse to simply take me. “And so exciting.” I actually felt so under her gaze, though those were not endearments I usually heard. ‘Pretty’ or ‘mysterious’ were more commonly spoken, but I felt the way my very being excited this woman into frenzy. One hand gripping her neck, my other hand explored her back, reaching for the hemline of her shirt. It was all I could do to keep myself from just tearing it off. But I wanted to savor the moment – only for a moment, and then I would rip her shirt off.

I could feel her body with only thin fabric between us, moist from the warm day and hike. Every time her breasts moved against mine, my arousal spiked higher. Her hands roamed over my body, gripping and squeezing while she kissed and nipped at my neck and throat. I thought I’d orgasm with just the expectation of what would come.

“Wait.” She broke away abruptly.

That one word and her physical separation almost knocked me senseless. I swayed. “Wait? I’ve
been
waiting. God damn it, Billie, I’ve been waiting since last night.”