Absolute Love: A Hot, Romantic Suspense Series, Book 3 (The Carlisle Sisters) (5 page)

"Yeah. Yeah. I know. No need to be explicit," he joked.

"Oh, a prude, huh?"
 
Jen laughed.
 
"I'll have to remember that."

"Don't typecast me as a prude, please!"
 
he pleaded.
 
"It'll ruin all of the hard work I've put in already!"

"Very funny!"
 
she replied, turning back to her bungalow.
 
"Let me just grab my things.
 
Would you like coffee before we leave?
 
Or I can even order some breakfast if you like."

He shook his head and grinned deviously.

"No need.
 
I brought our rations so we can eat on the trail," he said.
 
"You didn't eat, did you?"

"No, I didn't.
 
But,
rations
," she frowned.
 
"That doesn't sound very fun."

"Don't worry!
 
They're nutritious and protein packed.
 
Just what we need for our journey," he replied.

"Gee!
 
I can't wait to eat," she returned dryly.

He burst out laughing at her dour expression.

"Come on.
 
Let's get going," he smiled.

He escorted her to a red Jeep that was parked in front of her bungalow.
 
He helped her inside then trotted around and jumped into the driver's seat.
 
He started the motor and peeled out, leaving a cloud of dust behind them.

"I'm sorry but I just can't resist doing that when I'm in a Jeep!"
 
he explained, a huge smile on his face.
 
"It's just so damn fun!"

She turned to look at the plume.

"I can't say that I disagree!"
 
she replied.

His smile widened at her adventurous attitude.

"Unfortunately, we aren't going to get to do too much off-roading today," he explained.
 
"Well, in the Jeep, that is.
 
Once we arrive at the jungle we're going to have to walk.
 
The vegetation is so dense in there that it doesn't allow for a vehicle."

"That's fine," she said.
 

Jennifer was not big on exercise.
 
She could do without jogging, walking
or
hiking.
 
But she wasn't about to tell London that.
 
She would just have to push through whatever pain her unconditioned muscles would give her.
 
And hope that the resulting soreness didn't land her in bed for days after.

She looked covertly at London.
 
He was dressed much the same as herself.
 
He wore khaki shorts, a black V-neck T-shirt and black hiking boots.
 
And she had to admit that he was one hot stud!
 

She could see his bulging thighs peeking out from under his shorts as he worked the pedals and his arm muscles were repeatedly threatening to tear the fabric of his sleeves every time he shifted gears.
 
And he was tall, certainly over six feet.
 
But, despite all of that, she had learned while they danced the night before that he could move very well for a big man.

"Did you sleep well last night?"
 
he asked.

"Like a baby," she answered.

"Any dreams of me?"
 
he questioned, glancing at her slyly.

"Maybe," was all she would say.

"So you're not going to tell me?"

"Nope!
 
They're my private stories--not for the general population," she asserted.

"I'm not the general population.
 
Not if the dreams are about me," he countered.

"They are still for my entertainment only," she said provocatively.

"Entertainment. I would guess that they were sensually charged, then," he mused.

"Entertainment can mean a lot of things.
 
Sex doesn't have to be the presumed subject matter," she quipped.

"Were you in the dream with me?"

"Maybe," she answered.

"I'll take that as a 'yes'," he said.
 
"And if I was there with you then I pray there was
a lot
of sex!"

She punched his shoulder and he laughed.

"I refuse to say anything more about my fantasies," she said stoutly.

"Mmm, fantasies!
 
I like the idea of being in one of your erotic visions," he teased.

"Stop!
 
I did not say anything about eroticisms," she exclaimed.

"No, but I did," he said simply.

Jennifer refused to rise to the bait.
 
She sat stubbornly, thought playfully, silent.
 
London chuckled.

"Tell me more about Tahiti," she said, switching the subject.

He went along with the change of topic and described the rainforests, the climate and the history of the Polynesian people.
 
Jennifer realized that he was quite learned about Tahiti.
 
She could also appreciate the affection he had for the country and was impressed by how determined he was to find a way to improve the lives of the Tahitian people.
 
His passion was infectious.

He eventually pulled the Jeep into a clearing on the side of the road.
 

"This is as far as we can go in this baby," he said, referring to the vehicle.
 
"The remaining journey will be by foot."

"Okay," Jen said.

He looked at her closely.
 
There was something in her voice.

"Are you really okay with this?"
 
he asked seriously.
 
"You don't have to come with me if it seems like too much."

"No.
 
I want to go. I'm excited!"
 
she insisted, angry for nearly giving herself away.

She jumped out of the vehicle without his assistance to show him that she was ready and able to make the trek.
 
He continued to look at her for a second then climbed out of the Jeep.

"OK.
 
This way!"
 
he said, extending his hand to her.

She rounded the truck to take his hand and they set off.
 
London kept ahold of her hand as he guided her through jungle terrain; climbing over boulders and crossing shallow streams.
 
The hike was far from a walk in the park and Jennifer was thankful for his support.
 

As she marveled at their beautiful surroundings, Jennifer faintly heard what sounded like white noise.

"What is that I hear?"
 
she asked.

"You're about to find out," he said.

They travel another half mile then climbed to the top of a steep hill, the sound getting louder all the while.
 
London kept a tight hold on her hand as they worked their way up the hazardous incline.
 
Then they stepped onto a small, flat clearing and he stepped aside as not to block her view.
 

"Look," he instructed.

Jennifer caught her breath.
 
She had never seen anything so beautiful.
 
The white noise she had heard was the rushing water of an immense waterfall.
 
It thundered over a crevice that was at least a quarter of a mile wide.
 

"Oh, my!
 
It's amazing!" Jen exclaimed.
 
"It's absolutely magnificent."

"This is the heartbeat of the island, Jennifer," he explained.
 
"Tahitians believe that if you listen closely enough you will hear a heart beating."

"Is that really true?"
 
she asked.
 

"Find out for yourself," he suggested.

"Have you heard the heartbeat?"
 
she asked.

"Maybe," he said.
 
"Just close your eyes and listen.
 
Tune everything out, even the falling water.
 
And just...listen."

Jen nodded and stepped forward.
 
She closed her eyes and tried to clear her mind.
 
London moved behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
 
Jennifer relaxed against him and breathed deeply.
 
Several minutes past and she heard nothing.

"I don't hear--"

"Shh," he whispered.
 
"Don't talk. And don't rush it.
 
It will come."

Jennifer trusted him and remained silent.
 
She focused on her breathing.
 
On the sound of the air moving in and out.
 
On the feel of it in her chest.
 
She allowed everything to melt away around the two of them, just like the night before while they danced.
 

And then she heard it.
 
A quiet thump that grew louder and louder with every beat.
 
It was strong and steady and, admittedly, a little spooky.
 
But it was there and it was astounding.

She glanced up at London and smiled.
 
He knew she had heard it and he returned her smile, tightening his embrace.
 
She didn't know how long they'd stood there, rooted to this precious moment in time. But it seemed like both forever and not long enough at the same time.
 

They were captured by the life thread of the waterfall and for the first time in her life, Jennifer felt truly at peace.
 
It felt like an exhilarating and celestial awakening that she'd been waiting for her entire life.
 
She finally felt that she was in a place where she belonged.
 
And it was awe-inspiring.
 

The heartbeat began to fade and in its place was London's mouth skimming her neck.
 
It was no longer the thumping of the waterfall that she heard but her own stampeding heart that was about to burst from her chest.
 
She sighed heavily and titled her face up to his.

"London," she murmured.

He captured her tempting lips, taking her breath away.
 
She returned his kiss and it electrified him.
 
He had imagined what it would be like to feel her mouth on his but it had been nothing compared to the real thing.
 

His hand began to roam and caress her soft, supple body.
 
He massaged her large breasts and could feel her erect nipples against his palm.
 
His manhood responded and he pulled her tight to him, pressing against her rear end.

Feeling his hardness, she turned in his arms and he cupped her rounded buttocks.
 
They fit perfectly in his large hands and he squeezed them erotically.
 
He wanted nothing more than to experience everything Jennifer had to give.

He forced himself to stop exploring her body, however, knowing that if he didn't put on the brakes they would never complete their mission.
 
They had to scout the land for the ranch and farms.
 
He lifted his head and gazed into her lovely blue eyes.

"You make me forget all of my promises to myself," she whispered.

He smiled wryly.

"Promises not to have sex with me?"
 
he asked.

"Something like that," she said shyly.
 
"I rushed things a bit...well, actually,
a lot
in my last relationship and I don't want to do that this time."

"I take it things did not turn out well last time," he surmised.

"That's quite the understatement.
 
And I won't go through that again, London.
 
I
can't
.
 
It was too much and I don't think I can handle it," she said sadly and looked away from him.

He gently steered her face to see him.

"I know you haven't known me very long but I'm going to ask you to trust me," he said softly.
 
"I am not the idiot that hurt you.
 
Whatever he did, I can guarantee you that it's not in my DNA to do so."

"But you want to have sex with me," she said.

"Hell yes, I want to.
 
But that doesn't equate to you being hurt by me.
 
I promise that I will never do that.
 
And if I have to prove that to you first, I will," he said.

Jennifer was so attracted to him that it scared her.
 
She'd thought that she had found Mister Right with Jarod and look how that turned out.
 
Now there was London, who seemed straightforward and honest to her, but she didn't know if she could trust her own judgment.
 
She didn't know what to do.

"I want to trust you," she said cautiously.
 
"I want to trust you
so badly
!"