Chapter Nine
Clint burst out laughing, shaking his head at her naiveté. He knew Sarah was serious, but her comment only reminded him they were from different worlds. He’d be smart to keep thinking that way. A moment ago, the overwhelming urge to take her into his arms and soothe away her fears had scared him, making him that much more determined to remain on guard. He couldn’t afford to let her burrow under his skin.
He got the impression Sarah didn’t like being told to do anything. Her independent nature had certainly been made clear from the start. Plus she was a fighter. Not the short-cropped hair, macho type females he’d known through the years. Sarah was feminine on the outside, yet tough as nails on the inside. He wondered what made her so scrappy. For some reason the thought that she co-owned, of all things, a florist shop with Susan put a smile on his face.
He couldn’t picture her standing behind a counter taking flower orders. That seemed too tame for her. A better job for her grit would be tending bar somewhere. Yeah, he could see her popping a beer bottle over the head of some unruly patron. The thought made him grin. Her silence reminded him she was waiting for a response.
“Sorry, angel, I left my bicycle pump at home.” He stepped into the water, placing the raft in front of him. “Get in.” He sensed her unwillingness.
“You have boots on. I don’t want to get my sneakers wet again.”
She didn’t want to get her feet wet? She was stalling and he knew it. Shaking his head with mild irritation, he picked her up before she could protest, depositing her unceremoniously in the bottom of the boat. “Women!” he swore under his breath. “You’re covered with fucking dirt and mud and probably have bugs crawling all over you.” A wicked thought prompted him in asking, “You don’t feel anything crawling around down there, do you?”
“What?” Sarah squirmed wildly around the bottom of the raft until his low chuckle caused her to halt. “You have a warped sense of humor,” she muttered, not amused.
“What makes you think I’m joking?” He pushed the raft further into the lake until it was floating. By the time it was buoyant enough for him to get in, he was soaked up to his thighs.
“Because I know you would never have asked me such a question, if you hadn’t already checked the raft out first.”
He looked at her, and frowned. Things were going to be tight for a while, but there was no way he was going to stay in the water any longer than he had to. “I’m coming aboard.”
“Thanks for the warning, but how do you propose I make room for you? Your bag is at my backside.”
For a few seconds, Clint thought about positioning his bag between them. The last thing he wanted was spending any time nestled against her never-ending curves. But he knew she’d have to hold his bag because they needed every square inch. “Move forward as much as you can. Bend your legs and tuck your knees under your chin.”
She did as she was instructed, scooting to one end of the raft and trying to make herself as small as she could. Clint handed her his bag, which she put on her feet. When he hefted himself into the raft, she squealed and grabbed for the sides. “You’re okay, angel,” he said against her ear, causing her to shiver against him.
He settled behind her, positioning his legs on either side of her before pulling her back to rest against him. He knew immediately it wasn’t the smartest move he’d ever made. He had to ignore how good she felt nestled against the lower half of his body or he was going to go insane fast. Using his hands like paddles, he started steering the boat in the direction of the other side.
“Would you like me to help?” The alluring quality of her voice alerted his senses to a thousand possibilities. He steeled himself not to react, but it was damn hard to do with the boat rocking gently beneath them, causing her bottom to move against his fly. Clenching his teeth, he tried to think of anything that would keep his thoughts off her and what she was making him feel.
Nothing came to mind but the tantalizing thought of sinking his cock inside her tight hole and screwing her until she couldn’t walk. Tomorrow wouldn’t come quick enough. It would be a miracle if they made it off the island before he tasted more than just that impudent mouth. It took every ounce of strength he had not to reach around and take hold of the mounds stretching his T-shirt out of shape, massaging them until he got her out of his system.
“Clint?”
Shit! He quickly slammed on the brakes, but there was nothing he could do to cool the heat rising between his legs. Or the friction against his zipper. “Just relax,” he advised. “We’re almost there.” He had half a mind to get out of the boat and swim the rest of the way, damn whatever might be lurking in the depths. He’d stand a better chance of keeping his common sense that way, and it sure as hell would cool him off.
For a change, Sarah did as she was told, but he was the one suffering the consequences. She relaxed fully against him until there was no way she couldn’t know he was as hard as steel against her ass. He waited for her indignant huff, but she surprised him by sinking against him even more if that were possible.
If Clint had any doubts Sarah knew what she was doing, they were erased the second he heard her low purr of satisfaction as her head fell back against his chest. He stiffened before taking advantage of her surrender and doing what he’d been dying to do. If he misread the signals, he’d know soon enough. He pulled his hands out of the water, bringing them around until they cupped her breasts. She arched her back with a low cry of pleasure, quickly ending the tenderness he struggled for.
His hands closed firmly over those quivering mounds as if he was kneading dough, caressing them roughly until her nipples hardened against his palms and Sarah was moaning. By the time his thumbs flicked across her stiff nipples, she was squirming against his arousal with enough force to drive him into losing control. He raked his teeth against the graceful arch of her neck until she trembled.
“Sweet Jesus!” He hissed the words against her ear. “You’re going to make me waste a fucking load right here against your ass!”
Her audible whimper enticed him into taking further liberties. Her arms snaked up behind her to wind around his neck, giving his hands better access to her killer body. Needing no further invitation, he let his hands leisurely travel over the tips of her breast and down her taut belly, lower still to the apex of her legs, until his fingertips could tease the hidden heat of her. He couldn’t believe the sweet response of her body as she opened up to him like a blossoming flower under the sunlight.
Shifting the lower half of his body allowed Sarah to recline even more against him, while allowing him the opportunity to touch and tease her more intimately, until she was writhing and gasping in sweet agony. Her sensuous movements and mewling sounds caused a firestorm of need in Clint’s blood, a rush of sensation that promised a pleasure he’d gone without the last few months. It wouldn’t take much more to send him over the edge.
He had no intention of quitting until they were both satisfied, but an unexpected movement jarred him back to reality with a force he couldn’t ignore. With it came the bittersweet knowledge of what they were doing. He removed his hands and with minimal movement slipped quietly over the side. They’d drifted to the other side of the lake and the boat was scraping against the bottom.
The cool water felt damn good against his over-heated skin. He’d been ready to go off like the Fourth of July fireworks. Sarah had him so crazy with hunger that for a moment he’d been afraid he wouldn’t let her go. Clint suspected she was out of her element. She was probably used to the kind of men who wooed her with flowers and candy before they made love to her. He’d never been that kind of man. When he wanted something, he reached out and took it. Most of the women he associated with expected no less. They didn’t look for emotions or ties. All they wanted was a good time, and a little money. Women like Sarah wanted it all.
He pulled the raft onto shore and up the embankment while she was still inside, deciding to pretend nothing happened between them unless she mentioned it. “Come on, we’re almost home.”
****
Almost home?
Sarah was wondering how he could switch gears so fast. She closed her eyes to the raspy sound of Clint’s voice, confused at what had happened. Settling back against his hard-on had sent a blast of scorching heat throughout her body, so powerful she’d been helpless to resist. It had no longer mattered who he was, a man who could kill another man in one minute and desire a woman the next. When his strong hands had taken hold of her aching breasts, a rush of liquid fire had swept through her body, demanding he continue.
She’d willingly allowed Clint liberties she didn’t allow most men until after knowing them for a very long time. All that mattered was he’d made her feel alive like never before, pushing her toward the highest pinnacle of pleasure. With shocked disbelief, her eyes had bolted open when he’d left the boat. She’d nearly bitten off her tongue to keep from verbally protesting, mortified at how easy she’d made it for him. Without half-trying, he’d reduced her into a mindless mass of wanton need.
“Give me your hand.”
She realized he mistook her hesitation, giving a prayer of thanks he wasn’t going to make any comment about what had taken place in the raft. Accepting his hand, she let him pull her to her feet and over the side. Before they left the bank, he pulled out his knife and sliced the raft in several places, deflating it. Once it was flat, he rolled it up and tossed it under a bush, covering it with dirt and leaves.
“I guess we won’t need that again.” Damn…is that my shaky voice?
Clint reached for his duffel bag and walked back to her, taking her arm. “If we do, we’re in trouble.” He stared at her for a long moment; making her wonder if he wanted to kiss her. But if he did, he ignored it. “Come on.”
She fell in step behind him when he let go of her. How could he just pretend nothing happened between them? His lack of interest irritated her, causing her words to come out harshly. “Are we going to stop tonight or is it your intention to starve me and push me until I pass out with exhaustion?”
He didn’t bother turning around. “We have another ten minutes before we reach our destination.”
He didn’t mention anything about food. Sarah clamped her mouth shut, determined to keep going if it killed her. Thank God by this time tomorrow she’d be off the island and heading back to civilization. She couldn’t wait to see Susan and make sure she and the boys were all right. Then she was going to the Pantry and gorge herself on their buffet.
It soon became apparent the mountain they were heading for was actually a huge boulder formation, looming like a monster in the darkness against the darkened skyline. As they neared it, Sarah could hear what sounded like running water. A waterfall? Her hopes rose that she might actually have a chance for a shower of sorts. When they came to the base, Clint paused for a moment, looking up as if to gauge its accessibility.
“Home sweet home,” he remarked, beginning to climb the slight incline. The ground was dry and hard, made up of loose rocks and dirt, which made it difficult to find sure footing.
Sarah stopped, glancing up in awe. She’d been sure her ears were deceiving her before, but now she was certain she heard a waterfall. It was a big one by the sound of it. She could feel a light mist falling on her from where she was. She started up the incline behind Clint, excited now and trying to catch up.
“A waterfall!” she gasped with pleasure, struggling to find her footing.
“Give me your hand, it gets steeper as we go.”
Sarah was grateful for the help. “How far do we have to climb?” She stepped on a stone and it rolled out from under her foot causing her to slide, Clint saved her from tumbling down the way they’d come.
“Safety is up. Our hotel room is behind the falls,” he explained, pausing to glance up once in a while to see how far they still had to go.
Behind the falls? Sarah didn’t care if it meant climbing all the way to the top if it meant a chance to get clean again!