Riley's Journey (14 page)

Demon crouched, whimpering, his tail between his legs, his eyes dripping remorse. Riley reached over, patting him on the head. “Good boy! You were a good boy!” she crooned. “Mommy needed some entertainment!” Demon sat down, his head on her lap, his tail thumping the floor, happy to be forgiven.

“Traitor!” Nathan scolded him. “You’re supposed to be on my side.”

His head unmoving, Demon regarded him from the safety of Riley’s lap. To his mind, as long as he had the favor of the dominant female, he was protected.

Home, such as it was, was here in this little corner of the ancient world. Though she seemed unaware of it, Nathan had been courting Riley in his own way for awhile. He was rusty at the game, but technique was returning. At least she was comfortable around him now and perhaps in the future…

Riley stood up to put food on the table and fill the bowls. Nathan took an exploratory bite. It was delicious! Same old food, but whatever she had done made all the difference. He gobbled his food as fast as the dog and reached out for more. He couldn’t remember the last time someone had prepared a meal for him and a lump formed in his throat. Even Emily hadn’t cooked, her talents lay elsewhere. He appreciated those talents, but Emily’s face was getting harder to remember every day. Instead, Riley’s fresh, open countenance came to mind

His mind drifted, reflecting on the important women in his life. Aunt Bethany came to mind, but he quickly dismissed her from his musing. She had overstepped her boundaries and he was perturbed with her right now.

Emily’s sweet face came to mind and a pang of grief shot through him. Emily had been his first true love and he still missed her every day, a part of him always would.

Lately, though, the pain had lessened and he suspected Riley was the reason. Riley and Emily were as different as the night was to the day. Emily had been the night—restful, mysterious, quiet. Riley was the day—bright, cheerful, loud, and full of new surprises just waiting to be discovered. Good old Aunt Bethany knew exactly what she was doing when she selected Riley. He still hadn’t forgiven Aunt Bethany her audacity, but he was beginning to appreciate her choice.

Riley was the perfect companion, becoming a big part of his life in a very short time. The idea of losing her scared him and just realizing that made him very nervous. It had been hard enough being alone, and after her welcome intrusion, he doubted he could ever live that way again. Simply put, he would do whatever necessary to keep her here and safe.

“I said—do you have any idea what might have been out there?” Riley’s voice broke through his reverie.

“What? Uh, I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you. I was thinking about something.”

“I figured that out,” she grinned. “The food isn’t that good.”

“Yeah, actually, it is. Maybe you would like to take over that chore?” He somewhat hopefully tossed out.

Riley regarded him cautiously before answering, her eyes narrowing in speculation. “What about those times when I don’t feel like cooking? Don’t expect me to take over doing only the ‘womanly’ chores. I am, after all, a botanist and cooking won’t take up that much of my time, anyway.”

“I can still pitch in, but you’re definitely a much better cook.”

Since she liked to cook, taking over that chore wasn’t going to be an imposition. In fact, she looked forward to the opportunity and, although doing the cooking was not a huge contribution, she at least would be contributing something. Up to now, she had the feeling she was mostly useless, just an added burden on Nathan. Not that he had ever insinuated such, but it would be nice to have some purpose in their small group.

“Okay,” she agreed. “It’s settled then. I’ll cook and help with cleaning, that sort of thing, but I also want to help with other things as well.”

Nodding in agreement, Nathan was more than pleased she was amenable to the job. Giving away the cooking detail was no hardship. Sighing in contentment, his stomach full to bursting, Nathan couldn’t remember when he last had such a good meal. Maybe it had been that night at the Le Cirque in New York City before he went on the last Ops mission. Now that food had been excellent, but fancier than he liked. He was a meat and potatoes man and though he could cook, he did not perform with any degree of imagination or finesse. That night was also the last time he saw Emily alive. She had been so worried about his leaving and, to distract her, he had taken her out on the town, food, wine, dancing; the whole schlemiel. It was a good memory, one that he treasured.

“So what do you think was outside, she asks again?” Riley arched her eyebrows in query.

“Probably just some animal looking for an easy dinner. I’ll check for sure in the morning. Should be plenty of tracks around if there was anything.” Unless a concerted effort had been made, covering tracks in the moist ground would not be an easy task and animals just didn’t make that sort of effort.

He watched as Riley began cleaning up, her movements quick and efficient. The soft light of the few candles strewn around the room gently kissed her face, their glow reflecting in her eyes. Deep inside, an ache started to grow. It had been so long! He mentally devoured her, envisioning everything he would like to do, beginning with stripping off the ugly leathers she wore every day.

Riley glanced over, her smile freezing as she focused on his face. Startled by the unmasked lust in his gaze, she dropped her eyes in confusion, wiping the table briskly to cover her uneasiness. Heat suffused her in response to his unveiled longing, her heart thumped so fast she had trouble breathing. Finished wiping the table, she turned away, her hands shaking as hot desire raced through her. She had never felt so alive and wanted before, nor had she ever wanted a man as fully as she did right at this moment.

Nathan stood, pushing the chair back and advanced slowly, taking his time and enjoying the sensation of the predator stalking his prey. Riley stood facing the sideboard, gripping the edge, waiting, as electricity sparked between them. The room was suddenly too warm. He stood behind her, almost touching, but unmoving, relishing her womanly scent and the gentle warmth emanating from her form. The heavily laden silence was broken only by the breath she exhaled in one long sigh. Chestnut hair tied back in one long braid spilled down Riley’s back. Nathan’s hands throbbed with the urge to release the silken threads and run his fingers through the soft tresses.

She turned, braced against the sideboard, her eyes seeking his, warmly questioning. “Do you need something?” She whispered, aroused by his nearness.

“I need a lot of things,” he whispered back, his finger tracing the gentle contours of her face.

“And they are...?” Riley’s face flamed under his ministrations.

Unsmiling, his eyes deepened to almost black. “Things that aren’t important right now.” His hand continued its soft exploration. He leaned down, nuzzling her ear then dipping lower, his lips softly caressing the graceful line of her neck. Her head fell back, her lips parting as she gasped, liquid fire racing through every vein.

Panting, she tried for some measure of control. “What is important?”

His lips continued their soft assault. “This minute—right now.” He claimed her mouth with his own, parting her lips and plunging into the hot depth, wrapping himself around her, needing her to feel as he was feeling.

Riley’s arms lifted of their own accord, unable to deny the desire that coursed through her veins. Nathan’s expertise in the art of seduction was all too evident and she was a willing recipient. The kiss deepened and Riley was lost to everything, but wanting more, her lips moving in response, enticing him with her acceptance of his onslaught.

Nathan drew reluctantly back, planting another quick kiss as he did. “I just wanted to say ‘thanks’ for the wonderful dinner.”

“That’s how you say ‘thank you’?” Her heart was still racing wildly and Riley was finding it hard to speak intelligently.

“Just thought I should show my appreciation. Actions speak better than words, or so I’ve heard—something like that.” He studied her flushed face, concentrating on the small nuances flickering across each expressive feature.

Riley stepped around him, needing space while she fought for control. “I have to say that’s the first time anyone has shown me appreciation in quite that way. I think I’ve been deprived up to now.”

Smiling lazily, his eyes smoky in the pale light, Nathan watched her retreat, overwhelmingly pleased with her response. He hadn’t lost his touch yet! Might be a little rusty, but he was remembering. Like riding a bike, you just have to get back on. He hadn’t trained as a Black Ops operative for nothing. It was all in the meticulous preparation and precise execution for the ultimate success of a mission. Winning Riley’s heart was his eventual goal. All he needed was time and it appeared as though time was not going to be a problem.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

D
emon whined, drawing his attention. The dog moved to the door of the shelter, wanting a last minute run. Nathan led him out, taking time to tie a short leash on to prevent his running too far from the cave opening. Still uneasy about the unknown visitor, he wasn’t taking any chances with any of his charges. By now, darkness had fallen, the temperature dropping quickly. Though spring was upon them, the nights were still long and cold.

Demon marked a nearby bush, sniffing the air for intruders. Nathan trusted Demon’s ability to sense any threats and right now the dog seemed unconcerned, taking his time and inspecting every plant and rock within his limited space.

Nathan’s eyes lifted to the heavens. The night sky was lit by a million stars, no smog or reflected lights dampened their brilliance. The quiet was unlike anything modern man could ever experience or appreciate, and he was awed by its grandeur. Nothing he had ever experienced in his earlier lifetime could even remotely compare to the untouched beauty of his surroundings.

Being alone for so long had insulated him against the uniqueness of his life, but seeing everything again through Riley’s eyes, he was gratified anew by the chance to experience such wonders. Finished with his exploration and marking territory, Demon allowed Nathan to lead him back to the warmth and safety of the cave.

During their brief absence, Riley had retreated to the sleeping area and was readying herself for bed. He could hear the water splashing as she showered and he longed to join her there. Tempting visions of her naked flashed through his mind, his tenuous control slipping as he listened. Forgetting his earlier resolve to proceed with caution, he forged ahead. The water stopped just as he stepped through the door. The graceful line of her damp posterior glistening with water droplets drew his immediate focus. Startled, Riley turned, clutching a small towel for cover. Her face mirrored her surprise at his intrusion. He had been more than circumspect to this point, never overstepping the bounds of propriety.

Nathan stood there, unable to think clearly, drinking in the sight of her, his blood beginning to boil. The taste of her still lingered on his lips. It had been far too long since he had made love to a woman, too long since he had even touched a woman. Without conscious thought, the distance between them disappeared. He was close enough that he could smell her clean woman scent, see each tendril of auburn hair curling from the steam of the shower. She stood there, frozen, her large eyes questioning and mysterious.

He reached out, softly stroking the curve of her neck, down the softness of her arm, his fingertips lightly touching the swell of her breast. She stiffened, but other than that slight move, she remained motionless as he continued his exploration. Sexual tension ignited. He stepped even closer, reaching up to pull her hair loose from the haphazard bun at the top of her head. Glorious auburn hair fell in a thick veil, framing her face. She shuddered as his fingers glided through the soft mass, intensely aware of him as never before, her breath coming in small gasps. The small towel no longer separated them and he pressed fully against her, his lips claiming hers in a powerful embrace. Time stood still. He could feel her thundering heartbeat as her breath quickened in response, melting against him. Primitive lust raged. Stepping back, his eyes traveled down.

Nathan groaned. “Lord, woman” he breathed. “I’m not a monk! You’re so damned tempting—my body has a mind of its own when you’re near.”

He had only guessed at what her loose clothing covered—and his imagination could not have measured up to the real thing. Riley’s form was sculpted for the caress of a lover. Long slender legs molded upward into flaring hips and a waist so small, he was sure he could span it with his hands. His eyes were drawn to her generous breasts, thrusting and proud, the rose colored nipples hardening under his heated perusal.

Cupping her face in his large warm hands, he studied her face carefully, as if memorizing every line. Riley tensed, arching her back and tilting her face upward, wanting his touch. Softly and delectably, his lips settled on hers, eliciting feelings never before experienced. Her lips parted in response, welcoming his invasion. The kiss deepened, tongues entwining in the age old dance of life and pure, unadulterated lust. Nothing defined where Riley left off and Nathan began, and it was as though they were melded together as one.

Riley’s head reeled. Nothing invaded her conscious thought but the nearness of this male. She felt as though she were spinning down a wondrous warm tunnel, apart from the physical world, where only Nathan existed. She was his and he claimed her. Nothing else mattered. Unable to control himself, he forced her back to the bed, his tongue probing deep in imitation of the act of sex.