34. Chapter 34
Chapter thirty-four
Lucy
“ O k, now we really need to get moving.” Jonathan laughed as Lucy attempted to settle in against his chest again.
“Just a little catnap?” Lucy batted her eyelashes sweetly while holding her index finger and thumb a half-inch apart. The lure of snuggling in Jonathan’s strong arms was impossible to resist.
“Like I said before, we could just say to hell with civilization and stay here ’til winter. It’s your call.” He gently pulled from the tangle of her limbs and rose to his feet then extended a hand out to help her up.
“No, you’re right,” she conceded half-heartedly. “We should get going. Our families are probably panicked by now.” Lucy sat up and accepted his hand. Noodley legs wobbled beneath her as she attempted to stand but was instead thrown off balance into Jonathan’s bracing arms. With the midday sun shining down on his dark golden hair and sweat-slicked muscles, he resembled an angelic rogue. Over the last hour and a half, they’d definitely been to heaven and back. Twice. Her cheeks flushed as she replayed the memory. Desperate for more time with him, Lucy almost didn’t want to go back to town. What if this was the last time they were alone together? Was it realistic to think that there was more to this than survival instinct and lust?
Jonathan pulled Lucy in for a deep, passionate kiss—retrieving her from her wondering and worries— rooting her firmly in the present. He hummed against her lips. “Mmm. Has anyone ever told you that you taste like pineapple?”
Lucy laughed. “That makes no sense; the toothpaste we’ve been using is minty.”
He cocked an eyebrow. Raising his hand, he swept a thumb across her lower lip. “I’m not talking about here.” Those fiery amber eyes of his flicked downward then back up to meet her gaze.
Realization dawned, and, if possible, she blushed even more. Having such a demure reaction when she had just been so bold and uninhibited minutes before was unnecessary. Yet letting go and giving in to the carnality was new for her. Under the bright light of the sun, he could see every dimple and lump and flaw. The realization flitted through her mind, but it didn’t linger. Jonathan made her feel like a beautiful, alluring goddess, and it was utterly intoxicating. Their encounter left her feeling deliciously spent but also full of radiant energy. She planned to continue riding the high of those blissful waves from their morning of passion all the way back to town.
His smooth voice disrupted her thoughts. “Come on, sunshine. I hate saying this, but let’s get dressed.”
Lucy reluctantly followed the trail of clothes to the edge of the lake, collecting and dusting off each strewn article as she went. Peeking over her shoulder, she watched Jonathan retrieve his neatly folded stack. She bit her lip to keep a giggle at bay. Never had there been a more cautious and deliberate person in her life. And while his intentionality was evident in their lovemaking, he’d dropped his inhibitions and went on pure instinct. He listened, observed, and adapted to her body’s responses. It was a definite first for her. Not that she hadn’t ever had an orgasm with a guy—there’d been plenty—but she’d never felt so . . . cared for during sex. She’d had a taste and was now an addict. Plain and simple.
A deep throat clearing snapped Lucy back to her task. Jonathan waved his hand in a circular motion as if to say, let’s get a move on, but his face read nothing but warmth.
“Don’t rush me,” Lucy dismissed but proceeded to dress anyway.
After tying her boots, she walked over to where Jonathan was sitting in the grass, map splayed out in front of him. She settled in beside him and took the jerky and water he offered. “We are here, as you know.” He tapped the blue spot on the map.
“Lucy Lake.”
He paused. “You’ve claimed naming rights, huh?” he asked with an amused snort.
“Damn straight.”
“I’m sure we can alert the U.S. Board on Geographic Names once we get back to town.”
“Don’t roll your eyes at me. I’ve earned it.”
“Fine, fine.” He chuckled, holding up his hands in surrender. “Anyways, we want to connect with Eight Mile Trail, that’s here. This spot is a little steep, but if we avoid it, we should only be adding an hour or so to our journey, meaning we should be able to connect up before sunset. Then it would only be about two to three miles to the trailhead and a quick hitchhike ride back to town. Even better if we’re intercepted by search and rescue.”
“Do you really think we can make it out tonight?” She felt the mix of skepticism, hope, and disappointment mingle in her words.
“It’s possible. We only have half the day left and need to hustle. And if we don’t make it in time, we’ll camp one more night out here. Either way, I’ll be taking you out for a proper meal tomorrow night.”
There was something seductive in Jonathan’s eyes, and it draped over Lucy like a warm blanket fresh out of the dryer. She was desperate to get back to town but also didn’t want these intimate moments between them to end. Over the last few days, she felt like she had really gotten to know this man. Her mom always said that you learn someone’s true nature when you see them in their worst moments, and what Lucy had seen was that Jonathan was beyond compare. He was warm and comforting. While his body was strong and solid, he could be gentle and patient, which was evident in their lovemaking. Generosity was also something he gave freely (also evident in their lovemaking). Against their will, they had become a team, a unit banded together for survival. And now, nearing the end of their ordeal, Lucy was afraid of what that end would mean.
There would be a goodbye. Wouldn’t there?
Her heart sank.
“Lucy?” Jonathan’s voice pulled her back. “You all right?” He gently laid a hand on her cheek, brow furrowed as he tried to read her expression.
She gave him a reassuring smile and nodded. “Yep, just . . . overcome.”
He circled his arms around her, and she melted into the embrace, grateful for the strength and reassurance he provided. “I know. Just hang in there a little while longer and we’ll be home free. All right?”
She nodded once. “Ok.”
Jonathan
Jonathan led the way northeast as they trudged through the lengthy final leg of their journey back to civilization. The morning was long gone, and the day’s heat brought a considerable dose of humidity. More and more clouds drifted in, marring the perfect bluebird morning that had greeted the travelers just hours before. Jonathan knew exactly what was coming.
Rain.
He didn’t know when it would start, but with the breeze and palpable moisture hanging in the air, he would be willing to bet that they’d be swimming in a matter of two hours. Looking up, he saw a mostly blue sky. A few wispy clouds floated by, lulling an unassuming amateur into a false sense of security. But he knew better. The countless mountaineering, weather, survival, and orienteering seminars and classes he had attended over the years had positioned him to know a thing or two out there. And imminent rain was coming that afternoon. He glanced over his shoulder at Lucy, who was half watching her feet and half trying to take in the scenery along the bushwhacked path.
Should he tell her?
On one hand, the next couple hours (maybe three if they were really lucky) would be dry. Did he want her to continue in optimistic ignorance until she was actually faced with the rain? They could carry on in good moods. Enjoying each other’s company and the sensation of being dry and comfortable.
On the other hand, if she knew it was coming, maybe that would kick up her pace to take full advantage of the calm before the storm. Did he want to give her cause to worry about what would happen later?
He took a deep breath.
Better question: Would she be pissed if she found out he knew and didn’t tell her?
Despite their short acquaintance, he knew the answer.
Shit .
“Hey, sunshine?” He couldn’t convince himself to turn and face her.
Coward .
“Yes, my grouchy guide? What can I do for you?”
Jonathan groaned internally; she wasn’t going to be happy about this. “You feel that humidity, right?”
“I sure do. It feels like I am marching through pea soup.”
“Well, I’m not sure how much you know about weather predictions, but . . . a storm’s coming.” He grimaced when he didn’t hear a response. Then froze when he didn’t hear footsteps. He turned around.
Lucy had stopped dead and jammed her hands, no, her fists, on her hips and gave him a venomous glare. “You’re fucking with me, right?”
“I wish I were.” He walked a few paces back to where she stood and laid his hands on her shoulders. He gave her a sympathetic squeeze and said, “We can do this. We’ve still got a couple of hours until it starts. We can speed up a little and try to get further along before then.”
Judging by the look on her face, he’d say she blamed him for the upcoming precipitation, and he couldn’t help but chuckle.
“You’re absolutely sure about the rain?” she asked.
“If I were a betting man, which I’m not, I would wager my house on it.”
Lucy closed her eyes and inhaled. She counted to ten and looked back up at Jonathan. “Ok, nothing we can do about it, right?”
Impressed with the display of levelheadedness, he pulled her in for a soothing hug. “That’s my little trouper.”
“Don’t push your luck.” She hugged him back.
He planted a slow, sensual kiss on her lips before turning back around and continuing on. Lucy followed closely behind.