Standing near the Zip’N Cascade parking lot, Effie’s body buzzed with adrenaline from the zip lines. As she studied Zander, she also surged with a different kind of thrill.
“Well?” Zander said, his dark eyes boring into hers. His pupils were huge black orbs obscuring his honey-colored irises. “What do you think about more exploring?” Signs of his growing erection poked through his jeans.
“What kind of exploration did you have in mind?” she said, her hooded eyes meeting his. Her pulse quickened.
“Come,” he said, reaching for her hand. He led her away from the adventure park, deeper into the woods.
She finished her ice cream cone and focused on the terrain. They followed a deer trail of sorts that appeared in the open areas and disappeared into the underbrush.
“What’s back here?” she asked.
He held a branch for her to duck under. “Oh, it’s sort of a closely guarded secret place. The staff here knows about it, but they don’t tell the public. They want it to stay pristine. It’s on private property so few can access it.”
“And, you’re one of the few?” Effie stepped across a log.
He smirked. “They’ve granted me special access to this place. I’m friends with the owners. This whole operation purchased gear from EXcape. All the straps, carabiners, harnesses, helmets, and so on are all custom made by our manufacturer in North Carolina, up in the Appalachians. We try to only source American made, quality products. You don’t want to risk your life with inferior quality equipment.”
He pushed aside another branch and waited for her to pass before releasing it.
“That’s so cool, Zander. From what I can tell, your company has a lot of integrity.”
“We try,” he said, smiling slightly. He placed his hands on her shoulders and pulled her to a stop. “Look there.”
He pointed toward a ring of trees.
A soft gurgle of water filled the air.
“What is it?” She squinted to find the water source.
He kissed the top of her head. “It’s a hot spring just past those trees. You ever soak in a mountain hot spring?”
“You’re kidding, right? Geek alert. We don’t do mountain springs of any kind.” She liked the feel of his hands on her shoulder, with the heat of his body warming her backside.
“Well, take off your geek hat, adventure woman. We’re going to take a dip. It’s not deep so don’t worry about swimming. Which, by the way, I intend to get you swimming lessons from a friend of mine. She’s incredibly patient and a great instructor. She and her husband work for the Coast Guard. By the end of the summer, you’ll be an all-around outdoor enthusiast.” He captured her hand in his and led her to the tree ring.
The end of the summer reminder sent a sharp spike of worry into her. That’s when our contract ends. She swallowed hard, trying to force back the lump of sadness in her throat. But the beauty of the fern-carpeted woods around her brought her back to the present. Enjoy it while I can, I guess.
Just beyond the center of the tree circle, a bubbling body of water beckoned. It tumbled from an uphill creek, cascading along boulders and rocks, and trickled into the center of the seven-foot-wide pool. It continued its journey, exiting through rocks into a steaming creek.
Zander placed his arm around her and pointed past the springs. “Freshwater flows from the top of the mountain.” He lowered his finger toward the pool. “It combines with a deep hot spring that bubbles up in the center. The temps here are about 70 to 80 degrees. I’m ready, how about you?” Without waiting for an answer, he released her, and, turning his back to her, stripped naked. He angled his body so his prosthesis couldn’t easily be viewed.
I wish he felt more comfortable about his arm. I won’t judge. Effie got side-tracked before removing her clothing, choosing to ogle his gorgeous body.
Without turning around, Zander strode toward the springs. He waded in the water and sighed, audibly. He lowered himself and spun to settle on the bottom, but not before giving Effie an eyeful of his erection.
She sucked in her breath, her hand floating to her heart. Is he…Does he want to…right here? A flush of heat coiled through her belly.
“You’re not going to let me soak alone, are you?” A smile as warm as the sun crossed his face.
She swallowed, her mouth suddenly very dry, as if all her bodily fluids had fled south.
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “I wouldn’t do that.”
She scanned for a suitable place to remove her clothes. No way would she simply strip in front of this god-like being. Thoughts of her weight, her jelly belly and her geekiness got in her way. It didn’t matter that she’d toned up. In her mind, she was still that freaky, roly-poly girl from Yakima.
She slid behind a tree and stripped, then carefully folded each piece of clothing to stall. When she finished, she hesitated. Then, after taking a deep breath for courage, she crossed her arms over her ribs, hugging her elbows, and stepped from behind her shelter.
Zander sat, arms outstretched on boulders, his eyes eager and bright. His nostrils flared when she came into full view. “You’re so beautiful, Effie.”
Without any clothes on, she felt vulnerable and exposed. She stumbled toward the pond, throwing out her arm to catch herself.
Zander bolted to standing, grabbing her biceps before she fell.
Once she’d steadied herself, she dropped her gaze. Her attention caught on the water dripping down his body, trailing around his engorged cock.
A sheepish expression on his face, he glanced down at it, then back to Effie. “See what you do to me?”
“Yeah,” she breathed. “It’s kind of hard not to see.” Her lips parted.
He released his grip on her and studied her, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down.
Excitement got the best of her as her betraying body became aroused. Her gaze fixed to his dark orbs, she slowly sank in the pool, coming to rest in the soft mud.
He settled across from her.
“Oh, my,” she said. “This feels amazing. It’s like a bathtub. Only, what a bathtub.” Her head fell back, and she gazed up at the branches, crisscrossing their way up to the sky. “The view is so beautiful.”
“It is,” Zander said, in a deep, husky voice.
She lowered her head.
He trained a hooded-eyed gaze in her direction.
Her sex pulsed with need.
He licked his lips.
“Come here,” he said, in that quiet, commanding voice.
She crossed toward him.
“Straddle me,” he said. “Press up against me.”
She placed one leg on either side of him and sank into his lap. She reached down and fit him against her slippery folds.
He hissed, his hips thrusting against her.
She gasped. Every cell in her system craved contact with Zander. He was her drug, her forbidden ecstasy. For one crazy second, she didn’t think she could ever live without him. Her heart squeezed tight at the thought of not ever seeing him again, not ever having contact. But that’s what the contract says.
No one had ever made her feel this way.
“I didn’t think to bring a rubber,” he said. “I didn’t know if you’d want this after last night.” His eyes were nearly black.
“I could…I mean, we could…what I mean is…” She breathed deeply. “I’m on birth control.” She lifted herself up slightly and fit the tip into her opening.
His eyes closed for a second. When he opened them, he said, “You don’t have to do this…I mean, I’m clean and all.”
“Me, too,” she whispered. Whether emboldened by their zip-line adventure or completely smitten with Zander, she said, “I want this. I want you.”
A wicked smile curved his lips. “Well, then. Take what you want.”
Slowly, ever so slowly, she sank onto the length of him.
A groan escaped his mouth. “Oh, God, Effie. You feel so good.”
He grabbed her hips.
She gripped his shoulders, gazing intently at him. “I don’t know what I did to deserve this…whatever this is with you, Zander.”
He shook his head slightly. “Stop,” he said. “I’m the one who’s the lucky one.” Then, he positioned his arm, so his thumb could reach her clit. “Ride me. Use me. Take what you need for your pleasure.”
She rolled her hips, searching for just the right spot against his thumb. When she found it, she closed her eyes and ground against him.
“God damn, you’re beautiful. I could come just watching you take your pleasure,” he said.
His words pushed her over the edge. Opening her eyes, she let out a long, deep moan. “Zander,” she cried.
His expression was one of pure pleasure.
“Oh, God, Zander.” A lightning bolt of pleasure coursed through her. It shot up her spine. Her head fell back, and she let out a long, “Oh…”
He slid his hand free, grabbed her hips again, and pulled her rhythmically against him.
As she began to come down from her climax, he let go.
“Oh, Jesus,” he said, squeezing his eyes shut. “Sweet Effie. Here I come.” He thrust against her, creating splashing waves in the water. With one last thrust, he uttered a final groan.
She fell against him.
The water resumed its quiet, gurgling ripples, flowing in one side of the pool and out the other. Birds called one another in the trees.
Far in the distance, Effie heard people shrieking their way down the zip-line. I wonder if they heard me. She cringed at the thought, but, then, let it go. Let it go, let it go, let it go. She melted into his body, allowing herself to grow limp.
He breathed slowly and deeply for several minutes. Then, he stiffened.
“What is it?” she said, easing away from his embrace.
He lifted his arm and checked his watch. His jaw tensed.
She regarded him, certain a wall had fallen into place.
“We’d better get back,” he said, in a matter of fact voice. He lifted Effie off him. “We’d better get back and face the music.” He stood and sluiced the water from his body with his left hand.
“Music? What music?” Her brow furrowed together. What’s he talking about?
“You know. Reality.” He waved his arm in the air.
“This isn’t part of reality?”
“Oh, you know what I mean,” he said. He extended his hand to help her up.
“Not really, no.”
He pressed his lips together.
She suddenly wished she was dressed. They’d just had a beautiful day followed by incredible pleasure in this breathtaking setting. And, now, he was back to his walled-off self. Sadly, she followed him out of the hot springs.
Is he worried about being around Kent? If so, why can’t he confide in me? Would he ever learn to trust me?
Probably not. It wasn’t part of the contract.