Eva’s breath hitched and his lips descended on hers, locking them together for the third time. Her body involuntarily responded to his kiss, grabbing his broad, muscular shoulders and pulling him closer to her. His mouth completely enveloped hers, and all the good sense of staying away from one another evaporated into thin air. His tongue explored her lips lightly till he expertly nudged them apart and glided deep inside her. A soft moan of surrender escaped her mouth as their tongues slid and moved slowly against each other.
He devoured her mouth while her heart thumped loudly in her chest as if ready to jump out. She kissed him back, pressing herself closer to him. Alexander was overwhelmed to feel her response to him for the first time in his entire twenty-eight years of life. A deep groan of satisfaction escaped him and his hand slid to the back of her neck, cupping her head and angling her well to kiss her with a renewed vigor.
Eva returned every feverish kiss of his, thrusting her fingers into his thick silky hair and pulling him closer till her breasts were pressed flush against his hard chest. His mouth left hers and trailed to her neck, her collarbone, and she released a staggering breath.
“Alexander!” she moaned deliriously. He groaned and crashed his mouth to hers, unable to contain himself. Plunging his tongue deep inside her mouth, he tasted every corner until there wasn’t a part he hadn’t tasted. Eva, too, matched his passion with hers, tasting him thoroughly.
They both were so lost in each other that they didn’t hear Alexander’s phone buzzing with nearly five missed calls. It was the loud knock on their door that brought them to their senses. Alexander released her and eased out of the bed reluctantly while Eva got up, immediately alerted. Picking up her clothes, she rushed to the washroom without glancing at Alexander out of embarrassment. What had she done? How could she give in and kiss him so wantonly?
Alexander opened the door in a state of daze to find one of the ranch hands standing there. “Mrs. Morris is calling you for breakfast. After an hour, there won’t be any free breakfast available, sir. There are guests waiting who want a room. She wants to know if you will release the room today or stay for another night.”
“We’ll be releasing the room in an hour. Can you send the breakfast here? My wife isn’t well,” said Alexander. The ranch hand smiled knowingly and agreed. After he left, Alexander touched his swollen lips with a cheerful smile on his face. At last, he got his kiss! He wanted to sing and dance with joy!
The ranch hand delivered their breakfast and Eva emerged from the washroom, freshly showered. “Come and have breakfast. We’ll be leaving this place in an hour.” Eva nodded and shyly came forward to eat breakfast while Alexander got up to freshen up and take a quick shower. Eva sipped her coffee, but her mind kept conjuring up memories of the passionate kiss they just shared. How would she face him now without remembering the kiss? She noted that something had shifted between them after that hungry encounter. Would he kiss her again on this trip? What were they now? Travel buddies with benefits?
She opened the backdoor and carried the food outside on the patio overlooking the horse corrals. It was a breathtaking view of the wild west, something she had just seen in the movies. The stallions trained at a distance and she watched them, amazed at the sheer strength of the majestic creatures.
She could hear Alexander showering while his phone kept buzzing on the side table. Who would call him non-stop? It would be none other than Beatrix. Maybe she really had reached Phoenix and was looking for him at the hotel there!
The door to the washroom opened and Alexander walked out with a towel wrapped around his waist. Eva could feel herself get aroused at seeing his damp body. Of course, she had seen him at the river yesterday, but her feelings were involuntary and she had no control over her reaction to him. She could never tire of watching him all her life! It seemed he knew the effect he was having on her since his eyes never left hers, although the phone buzzed non-stop beside him.
Eva tried hard to tear her gaze off him, but she was helpless. He had succeeded in seducing her without even trying too hard. His fingers went to his towel, and it brought Eva to her senses. Was he stripping completely? She looked away, her cheeks flushed with color and tried hard to concentrate on her breakfast instead. She could sense him shuffling about in the bedroom, getting ready while his mobile phone kept buzzing.
“What the f*ck!” he swore, drawing her attention upon him again. She saw that he had picked up the phone, and after checking, switched it off. Thankfully, he was wearing a pair of jeans unlike a minute ago. Glancing at her, he picked up his shirt and pulled it on. Buttoning it up, he came over to the table to pour some coffee for himself.
“Was that Beatrix calling you?”
“Yes, she has called nearly twenty times. Maybe she really has reached Phoenix, only to find out that we left. She might be mad at us right now! I have no wish to talk to her and spoil my mood!” He helped himself to the traditional, authentic, ranch food, savoring every bite of the Machaca burritos, Huevos Rancheros, and fresh fruit salad that the ranch hand had delivered.
His hot glance fell to her lips as she licked the sauce off. Memories of the kiss drove him wild and the cold shower didn’t seem to have helped him at all. Desire ran through his thick blood and he had to adjust himself in his seat to calm his aroused friend down there. Thankfully, Eva was too preoccupied with the food to notice his condition. How innocent and adorable, but smoking hot! A dangerous combination indeed! Her honey-hued eyes looked up at him, and the upward sweep of her long lashes seemed to invite him to devour her instead of the food on the table. The delicious friction, the pulsating chemistry between them hung in the air, and it was impossible for both of them to ignore it.
“Did you sleep well?” Eva nodded, noting his raspy morning voice laced with desire. Was she imagining it or was Alexander Van Every really lusting for her?
“Yes, and you?” she asked, but a deep blush stained her cheeks, remembering the stunt she had pulled last night. She didn’t know whether he could sleep at all!
“Yes, thanks to you,” he said, watching the myriad of emotions playing across her features with amusement. “So, are you ready for more adventure?”
“I’m always ready. So where are we going today?” she asked with interest.
“Sedona. Just relax and enjoy. We can go slow if you want to. Alyssa messaged me to inform me that Beatrix had left last night since I didn’t have any plans of going to San Jose while she was there. So mom and dad will leave in a few days since grandpa is doing good.” Eva smiled with relief, since she really wanted to go to San Jose.
“I’m fine with whatever you have in mind. Let’s see Sedona and the Grand Canyon and drive over to Las Vegas. I’m excited to see everything,” she said, bringing a smile of relief to his face.
“I’m sure you’ll love it.” They finished their breakfast and went for a walk around the ranch, breathing in the fresh morning air. Afterwards, Alexander paid for their food and stay and they climbed into their car and sped off towards Sedona. The drive was picturesque and Eva watched the mountain views as passed through Black Canyon. Alexander explained about the Black Canyon and its formation, about his trip here the last time he was in Arizona, while Eva listened to him intently. Just north of Black Canyon City, Alexander stopped the car to show her the Agua Fria National Monument with the Agua Fria River running through the area along with hiking trails and hundreds of petroglyphs, ancient stone Pueblo and wildlife. It was an exhilarating experience indeed.
Grabbing lunch at an Italian joint and freshening up, they visited Arcosanti, followed by the Out of Africa Wildlife Park, intended to recreate the experience of an African safari. After a delightful time, watching hundreds of species of African and Asian mammals, birds, and snakes, they drove on towards Cottonwood on their way to Sedona.
“Tired?” asked Alexander, but Eva shook her head. She had never had so much adventure as she did in the last two days in Alexander’s company.
“We will stay overnight at Camp Verde. You’ll love the experience,” said Alexander while Eva waited for what the night would bring along for her. She couldn’t wait to spend another night in Alexander’s arms!