Page 45 of Intoxicating Pursuit

“Oh, and please don’t tell anyone I’m here or hanging out with Gabe. It’s actually pretty important.”

“Of course. Whatever you need.” She sniffed and looked around eagerly. “Can I at least tell Fred?”

I laughed. “You can tell Fred everything.”

“Okay, deal. Please, be safe, though, and call me if I can help.”

“Will do. And tell those boys Aunt Sammy said to quit wrestling and start giving you birthday hugs.”

“Like that’ll work.” She was in a good enough mood to roll her eyes.

“Love you, Tina.”

“Love you, too, Sammy. Bye, Gabe!”

Gabe nodded at her, a warm smile on his face. “Bye, Tina. Happy Birthday.”

An enormous weight of tension tumbled from my shoulders as I disconnected the call. I took a deep breath and looked over at Gabe with an embarrassing amount of gratitude. “Thank you. I can’t tell you what a relief it is to see her smile like that today.”

“It was the right thing to do.” Concern and regret crept over his features, though. “But, Sammy, who’s Fred? Should I be freaking out?”

I laughed and got up to kiss the worry away from his gorgeous, whiskered face. “Fred’s her golden retriever. We’re all good.”

I went back inside the RV and left Gabe’s fate to the whims of a slobbering, yellow dog.

***

T he shower in the RV was blessedly hot. I washed the dust out of my hair and off my body, remembering how nice it had been to spend the day and much of the night outside. As I dried off, I thought about what we should try to fit in today—how to squeeze all of the good out of this wonderful place.

On that notion, I slipped on something special before getting dressed. A very tiny something special. Gabe stepping outside his comfort zone to call Tina was a gift, and this might be a fun way to surprise him back.

***

T he sun had risen above the fields to the East, and the kids were mobilizing for a boating trip down the river, bustling about in windbreakers and hiking shorts, the palpable energy from the prior day still lingering in their midst. Meghan wasn’t keeping up with them, though. In fact, she looked a little green.

“Not feeling awesome?” I asked her after they left.

She looked at me askance. “Not the best.”

“Have a little to drink last night?”

“Maybe.”

“Well, drink as much water as you can and get some food in your system. Do you need some Tylenol?”

“Please.”

I went back to the RV and returned with the medicine and a cold bottle of water.

“Thanks, Mom.” She looked me over carefully. “And thank you for not getting mad.”

“Well, you’ll need to figure this out eventually, kiddo. I’d advise no more than one drink an hour, and maybe even have a glass of water now and again if you want to feel good the next day.”

She downed the medicine and closed her eyes.

“It won’t hurt to wait a few more years, though. Stay out of trouble with the law and the universities?”

“There’s no law or universities here, Mom.”

“True story,” I said.

I sat down next to her on a camping chair, opened my book, and just kept her company. Hangovers weren’t fun, but it would be a good learning experience for her, and it was well past time I let her have some of those.

***

W e arrived at the amphitheater in the evening, and I decided to join the kids on their bikes.

We pedaled out of the restricted area, following Trevor and Pria into the campgrounds, where thousands of pitched tents and parked campers served as impromptu shelters.

Music played and friendly groups tailgated over coolers and hibachis, hunkered down for a week-long party in the sun.

The breeze cooled us as we pedaled, and the landscape remained a stunning backdrop to behold.

By the time we rejoined Gabe backstage, the sun dipped low toward the horizon, drenching the canyon and everyone near it in a fiery bouquet of light.

“Gabe, come take a swing.” His bassist, TJ, called out.

He was huddled with a few of his bandmates, along with their spouses and kids, hitting golf balls off a miniature driving range facing the endless canyon, and we joined them.

My swing was a bit out of shape, but it was still a blast to see the golf balls soar above the glowing cliffs.

Gabe sidled up to me while we waited our turn and draped his arm over my shoulder, “Hmm. . .” He idly stroked the ends of my hair.

“Sammy, I know your independence and intelligence are more important, but I have to say, when this light hits your hair, it looks like someone set silk on fire. It’s pretty damn bewitching. ”

I couldn’t stop a smile. “Oh, yeah?” I turned to face him and wrapped my arms around his shoulders. “You’re pretty damn bewitching all the time.”

“I’m sure glad you think so.” He bent down to kiss me, sending a current of electricity clear to my toes. Then he shook his head. “You know, I can’t believe I’m the one asking again, but will you take a selfie with me? It’s too pretty not to.”

We found a spot along the fence guarding the rim, and I snuggled into his shoulder as he snapped a picture looking back over the blazing spectacle of the gorge, all lit up by golden hour. After taking a few more for good measure, including one of us kissing, he zapped the lot to my phone.

The crowd was starting to fill the amphitheater, stirring the atmosphere with excitement and anticipation. I was right where I wanted to be, but I almost envied their vantage point. I couldn’t imagine a better way to enjoy a concert than with this awe-inspiring view. “What an incredible venue.”

“Yeah. Should be a good night. Did you get behind the stage yesterday?”

“No. Can we even do that?”

“I think so, but ask Lucy. It’s fun to look out over the crowd.” He put his hands around my waist and pulled me close. “I really do like having you here, Sammy. I think I’m a lucky guy, today.”

Misty beams of radiant, rosy light cast a blush on his skin and sidelit the warm amber of his eyes.

I soaked up the splendor of him. Marveled at the spellbinding haze of sunlight that enveloped the fathomless canyon.

Hummed with desire from the simple touch of his heated palms and the pressure of his hips against mine.

The sharp contrast to what this week could have been suddenly struck me with force, and my heart swelled.

He hadn’t been obligated to fly us to this cocoon of safety. He could have handed the threatening emails to the police, let me know, then returned his attention to the million moving parts of his life. Instead, he paused everything until he knew we were cared for: me, Meghan, and Mom.

Every one of us was so deeply flawed, but knowing that he tried, that he would go out of his way to do right. . . it meant so much. If things went well, it would be one of a thousand building blocks of trust, but that particular piece felt foundational.

I held his gaze, full of the sun’s brilliant reflection. “You’re a warm, wonderful, human being, Gabe Walker. Thank you for bringing us here.”

“Of course. I got you into this.” An easy smile spread over his lips. “I’d better help get you out of it.”

“Well, we got into it together I’m pretty sure.” I ran a finger over the stubble along his neck. “I know I would have found a way to keep us safe in Philly, but it would have been stressful and scary—especially for Meghan. It certainly wouldn’t have been magical.”

His eyes drank in mine, and he seemed taken with the moment, too. He peeled a strand of wind-whipped hair from my cheek. “See?” He tucked it gently behind my ear. “Otherworldly, right?”

“Otherworldly.”

We kissed, and the universe slipped away for a moment. My cells bloomed, vibrating with the sturdy substance of his embrace and the comfort of his inherent goodness. I let myself get lost in the feel of his luscious mouth, of his strong shoulders.

When we paused for oxygen, he lowered his forehead to mine and blew a long breath. He shifted his hands above my hips, idly fingering the lacy strands of the complicated garment I’d snuck beneath my clothes that morning.

Confusion crossed his face, and he stepped back a pace. He lifted the edge of my blouse with his thumbs, revealing the network of green lace and tight straps that crisscrossed my belly and hips. “ Holy shit! What is this ?”

Ha! Got him. I grinned. “Something for you to look forward to.”

He glanced at the crowd gathering in the amphitheater, then returned his attention to me. His eyes narrowed and focused. “You know, we’re not legally required to start playing right away. I bet we can sneak into one of the RVs and get a better look at this—just for a few minutes.”

Thousands of eager fans loomed on the hillside. “I’m not gonna be responsible for a riot, Gabe.”

“A riot? Them?” He eyed the masses again. “Look how peaceful they are.” He leaned closer. “I bet we could see the sunset from inside the RVs.” He waggled his eyebrows. “We could make it memorable.”

“ Un-uh !” Ellen’s voice carried to us. She hurried over from the driving range, where his bandmates were departing from their loved ones as they headed for the stage. She barged into our space, wagging a finger, pressing a button on her headset. “ No way . Don’t even think about it.”

“Think about what?” Gabe’s hands were still under my shirt.

“Gabe, I have the hearing of a bat. You should know this by now.” She leveled a stern gaze at him.

“Eight? Eight-thirty? Is it really so different?”

She pointed the V of her index and middle fingers at her own eyes, then at Gabe’s. “I see you. Do not test me.” She glanced my way. “You’re sending him to the stage, right? Can I trust you here?”

“Yes, ma’am.” She looked my age. Why on earth was I ma’am-ing her?

“Good.” She scuttled off, chasing down some poor soul chatting near the catering carts.

I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Do you work for her , or does she work for you ?”

“Hard to tell sometimes. We’d be a mess without her though.” He dug his fingers beneath the lacy straps of the lingerie. “Promise you’ll still be wearing this later?”

“I promise.”

“I’ll hold you to it.” He planted one more searing kiss on my lips, his hands roving more places than they should have with people around. “See you soon, Sammy.”

***

T he bus ride back to his home lasted until the wee hours, and half the kids were asleep when we arrived.

I could barely keep my eyes open and was toddling back to my room when Gabe caught up to me. “Oh, no way, lady. You’re coming with me.” He grabbed me by the hips and all but dragged me into his room.

Where he found the energy to do that much was a mystery, and I laughed. “Gabe, you were sleeping on the way home. Your drool is on my shirt.”

“There’s gonna be drool everywhere. Come on. I have to see that thing.”

He locked the door, stripped off his clothes, and climbed into bed, turning on a dim bedside lamp. Though his eyes were barely open, his schoolboy grin spread wide.

Shrugging off the fog of sleep, I tried to play along. I stepped out of my shoes, one by one, then unbuttoned my shorts and let them drop to the floor. Slowly, I inched my blouse over my head and tossed it to the ground.

The lingerie wasn’t the most comfortable thing I owned, but wearing it always turned me on. Sheer triangles of forest green lace covered my breasts and bikini line, and a tight, cordlike network of straps gripped my curves, making me feel sexy and a little powerful.

I spun around lightly. “Do you approve?”

“Five stars, Sammy. Ten out of ten.” He pulled back the covers and yawned wide.

“Well don’t do that .” The infectious gesture had me yawning, too, and we chuckled as I joined him under the comforter.

Despite the late hour, he didn’t skip any steps. He tugged my thigh over his hip and took the time to cup my flesh and caress me over the lacey garment.

Our tongues tangled in a kiss, and when his fingers slipped between my legs, the sensation was a shot of espresso, blazing my nerves awake.

When he had me sufficiently panting, he rolled his warmth and weight onto me.

I stroked the long, contoured slope of his back, relishing my body’s heated response as his cock hardened against my thigh.

He lavished kisses down my throat and teased my nipples, before moving his mouth lower, pulling aside the network of straps as he traced kisses down my belly and over the thin fabric covering my most sensitive nerves.

The teddy clung tightly, and he struggled against the straps, before finally resting his head on my belly. He looked up at me. “Help?”

I pulled a key strap over my head, releasing the top of the garment. “Just give it a tug.”

He dragged it off me, did the condom thing, and was inside me.

We rocked together, aroused from our haze of exhaustion, and I sucked kisses from his mouth as his nipples grazed against mine with each thrust. His cheek brushed my temple as he moved, the heady sound of his pleasured mumblings in my ears. His broad shoulders sheltered me, overtook me.

In every respect, his body seemed custom-built for mine—perfectly snug, aligned just so—and I kept thinking he might ruin me for anyone else’s touch.

Did I car e? I could forgo any other man for this so easily. So willingly.

I abandoned myself to it.

I spread my arms and legs wide—wrapped them around his chest, the small of his back, his thick thighs—and decided he could simply keep ruining me for as long as he was willing.