Chapter Five
Terese chewed her lip. Reluctantly, she followed Drew up the slope. Their date had possibilities. But not if they were scaling rock walls. So far, the climb hadn’t been bad. A straight shot to the falls led to mild incline on a new trail. Somehow, she managed to avoid the crazy rock-climbing faze that enthralled most people her age. Why sweat and grunt to get up a ten-foot wall? That’s why stairs were invented.
But she did love the area—the crisp autumn air, the brilliant colors, the woodsy feel. And hell, the company wasn’t bad either. She trudged along behind him, admiring the view. His well-worn jeans hugged his round ass perfectly. She’d take a bite of that apple later. Her lips twitched. Yeah, alone in the woods with Drew suited her fine.
Halfway up the trail, he veered off to a smaller, less-defined route. The path wound closer to the rock face. The steep stretch ahead reminiscent of the Misty Mountains. Goosebumps peppered her skin. On one side of the two-foot wide trail stood a sheer wall of rock, extending high above them—the surface flat and smooth as glass. The other side boasted a sheer drop. Roaring made speaking difficult due to the waterfall bubbling behind the rocks, beyond the path. The narrow track taunted her. Yep, stomach-clenching terror. Sweat beaded on her brow.
“Uh, Drew,” she said, pausing as the trail slimmed to a foot wide. “You know where you’re going?” Her words squeaked from her tight throat.
He stopped and glanced over his shoulder. “I’m sorry.” He twisted around in a tight circle—an acrobat’s move. His feet navigated easily on the trail, but his upper body swayed over the edge. Her breath caught as her stomach tied into a knot. If he fell, the drop into the trees and rocks would be seriously painful.
“You okay? Not too narrow?” he asked. She swallowed hard as he smiled. “Little acrophobia?” She nodded. “You should’ve said something.”
“Well,” she stammered, heat flooding her cheeks. “I…” She threw her hands up, forgetting she clung to the rock face with a tight hold. Her knees wobbled. She desperately tried to regain her grip on the cliff. Scrabbling, her nails dug for purchase. There was nothing. Zilch, nada to hold on to. Her nails scraped and gouged until finally, she found a tiny handhold.
After a second, hanging like a tree frog, she nudged her chin at the drop. Then tucked into her chest and let the anxiety to spill over her. Her body shook, but she didn’t cry. No sir.
“I thought you said you hiked. You certainly have the shoes for it.” His words were tender, not the typical guy rant she’d expected. Bar life had her witness too many self-righteous, macho idiots. Drew seemed different. He’d never berated her, not once.
He scooted back and held out his hand. Some of the tension eased from her body. Her grip slowly lessened from white-knuckled to desperately tight. She wanted to reach for Drew but her hand refused to obey.
“Honestly, I bought the boots because they were cute,” she said, and he laughed, genuinely laughed. Clearing her throat, feeling slightly less stupid, she continued, “But I can’t hold your hand and let go of the cliff.” Her voice pinched on the word “cliff,” and a bucket of shame splashed over her.
“I’ve got you. I promise you won’t fall.” No sarcasm or annoyance in his voice. Terese studied him. Those luscious lips, the wild hair, the confidence dripping from him like sap. An enigma for sure. With painful slowness, she uncurled each finger from the wall. She plunged her hand into his without pausing for a breath. They stood there for a few seconds, hand and hand, gratitude spreading through her chest.
Drew stared at her for a second as if assessing the situation. Then his thumb caressed a circle over her hand. A bolt of electricity surged through her, and like magic, the height lost its power over her. With a wink and a crook of his mouth, he led her down the remainder of the path.
“Almost there,” he said, guiding her around a tight corner.
“We better be,” she snarked but pulled in a sharp breath as they rounded the bend. Beyond the tiny trail stood a small cave. A bridal veil of bright red and gold vines camouflaged most of the entrance, allowing pinpoints of bright sunlight to dapple through the leaves. The scent of damp earth and brittle leaves hung in the air. Terese feared she might fall in love with this beauty inside the horror. Behind the vines, a large opening revealed the roaring waterfall. But it was the shelf of rock dropping into nothingness that demanded her focus.
Drew stepped through the opening, turned, and swept his free arm out with a flourish. “Ta-da.”
“Nope.”
She dropped his hand. Stepping back, she clutched at the wall. Not good. Her breath surged in gasping pants. She needed to leave.
Now.
His grin fell. “No. Wait…Terese.” He lunged forward and grabbed her arm. Her stomach clenched. Panic gripped her tight. What the hell was she doing, venturing into a cave in the middle of a cliff? “Come forward and turn around in the cave. It’ll be easier for you. Okay?” His kind voice soothing. She gazed into those deep, dark eyes, and her stomach calmed.
He led her forward. Behind the row of vines, the cave opened. The walls fell away. About ten feet ahead, water splashed over the top of the cliff. Flame-colored ivy decorated the opening on that side too, like lacey curtains outlining a picture window. Sunlight sparkled off the sheets of water, throwing tiny rainbows in the misty air.
It was breathtaking.
Terese gulped, feeling foolish. A nervous giggle escaped her lips.
“Sorry, I…”
“Thought I was dragging you into a cave in the woods for illicit purposes?” He winked. “Only if you consent…” He leaned forward and placed the tiniest, sweetest kiss on her lips. God, she wanted to gobble him up. “Hungry?”
Another nervous laugh escaped her lips as her stomach grumbled, the butterflies gone. “Yes, actually.”
Drew removed his pack and laid out an amazing spread of food. Terese stood impressed—good food and even a cute little blanket to sit on. He even remembered a corkscrew for the wine. The hug-smushed chips were the sole sour note.
****
Drew leaned back and watched the water spill over the cliff. Perfect, even better than he hoped. Except for Terese’s panic attack about heights. She seemed okay now, lying back on her elbows, enjoying the view. Tipping back her Dixie Cup of wine, she reached for the bottle.
Drew wagged a finger. “Two’s plenty, considering the climb down. I believe both of us would prefer you steady on your feet.”
She stuck her tongue out. Laughter bubbled up from his gut. He never knew what she was going to do.
“Maybe,” she said, eyeing her empty cup. “Maybe we should hang out until we sober up.” Her eyes met his, sparks flying.
“Hmmm, and how long will that take? If I’d known you were such a lightweight, I’d have taken advantage of you from the start.”
She raised one eyebrow. “Oh, but didn’t you?” A smile tugged at the edges of her lips.
He shrugged. “I didn’t do anything you didn’t want me to.”
“Oh, is that so?” The mock anger in her voice sharp. Man, she better be teasing. He should do the right thing, come clean about who he really was. Not some college kid, or some player but boring accountant ready for a change. But gazing into those beautiful blue eyes, he wasn’t ready to give up the game yet.
Sitting up, he held his hand out to her. “C’mere.” He purposely slurred his words. “I’ll give ya a cookie for being a good girl.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I don’t wanna cookie. I want something else.” She grabbed his outstretched hand and dragged him over. As she kissed him deeply, her hands roamed down his arms, then his chest, halting at his crotch. She cupped his growing erection. “I want dessert,” she whispered.
Still kissing him, she unzipped his pants painfully slow and then buried her hand inside. A moan escaped his lips as she ran her hand up and down his shaft. She rolled him onto his back, kissing him passionately, all tongue and teeth. He panted, unable to catch his breath. Unpredictable and amazing.
She broke the kiss roughly and gazed down at him, her eyes sparkling and wild. “I’m still hungry.” A sly smile crawled over her lips, and she squeezed his cock.
“Oh, Terese,” he whispered, guessing her plan. He tried to contain his excitement, but she gripped him tight. No hiding exactly how much he wanted it, wanted her.
Her hand still stroking, she slid down his body, the smile never leaving her lips. “You ready?” she asked, her voice husky and low. He could only nod.
As her sweet mouth first kissed, then engulfed his shaft, Drew was struck dumb and completely immobile. The whole world existed in her mouth, in her hand—a dream come true. To be here, in the cave, with her lips wrapped around his cock, he could die happy.
Terese worked him slow and methodical, flicking her tongue over the tip on the down stroke. He tried to stay propped on his elbows, watching his cock disappearing into her molten mouth. Her cheeks stretched. Her lips burned red as she bobbed up and down on his shaft. It took every ounce of strength in him not to pump into her throat.
As he watched her movements, visions of the visit to her office danced in his head. Being in the cave with Terese was something he’d only dreamed about. But her mouth on his cock…that was beyond fantasy. His eyes crossed with the effort of holding back as he stared at her lips, her eyes, her hair. Pulling on his reserves, he reached down to touch her dark mane, running his fingers over the twists of the braid. As he did so, her gaze met his, her blue eyes blazing. That was it. His need rushed over him, with hardly a second to warn her. He levered himself and tugged her braid before the torrent of his orgasm overwhelmed him. She took it all. And when he heard the gulp, a shiver ran through his body.
Her blue eyes glinted in the afterglow as if she’d completed some taboo act. She kinda had. More importantly, they’d connected again and not merely in a carnal way. His fingers skimmed over her cheek, but in his mind she teased, calling him “college boy.” His happy bubble popped.
Guilt poured into his chest. She assumed she was having an affair with some twenty-year-old. Why didn’t he tell her he was Andrew Drake, Vice-President of Finance, private counselor and only son to the head of Drake Industries? No rational reason held him back anymore. They’d slept together. They were on a real date.
He gazed into her eyes, ready to confess when a sharp pain hit his chest. He might lose her. He’d carried her off to a cliff-side cave and lied to her. Enforcer Terese wouldn’t stand for it. Not for a second. She’d bounce him down the mountain.
Licking his lips, he smiled at her.
“Good?” she asked, with more than one question implied in her word.
He ran his fingers over her hair, savoring the feeling. “So good,” he lied and let the shame punch him in the gut.
