Heat Wave (18 page)

‘It's only a few minutes past ten,' soothed Greg. ‘I'll go see if we can call him on the walkie-talkie.'

Anxious, I scraped my nails along the denim fabric of my dark, skin-tight shorts. I wore a sky-blue shirt on top, one that had reminded me of the Texan sky, and the ankle boots I wore on my feet gave me a strength I didn't feel. I'd opted for no hat; Ricky had pushed me, wanting to complete the cowgirl chic look he'd designed, but I felt like the hat shielded me, and made me look guarded, when what I wanted was to appear as open and honest as possible.

I knew what the issue was—as much as I'd always tried to avoid shows like the one I was trapped on, I'd actually seen a few in my time, and the issue always remained the same. Communication. Every time something went to hell, it was because people didn't talk to each other. They connived, back-stabbed, assumed and jumped to wild conclusions, but actually talk things out? No …

So, I had one decent shot at a real conversation with Tanner, before reality TV law kicked in, driving the wedge further between us. Sure, I hadn't figured out how to say,
Sorry I ruined your day by setting your date on fire,
in a way that didn't sound completely insane, but I was just hoping the words would come—along with Tanner himself.

‘Greg,' I yelled out to where he stood further down the beach with the rest of the production team, ‘he's not coming. I should just go back to the ship.'

The bearded man pointed frantically behind me. ‘Don't give up hope yet, Hobo!'

I turned to see a golf buggy pull up, bearing my cowboy. Suddenly shaky, I raised a weak hand in greeting.

Greg dashed up beside me, as excitable as an overstimulated monkey. ‘He's here. Showtime!'

Chapter 15

As always, it took almost an hour to make a moment appear spontaneous on film. I was placed on the wet sand close to the waterline, holding the reins of the two horses I'd organised for our date, while the crew fussed around with lighting and shot angles.

The entire time, I tried to make eye contact with Tanner to let him know how sorry I was, but he stared down at his boots, his hat low over his eyes.
I'm in so much trouble.

Greg wandered over. ‘So, I've told the director that we can't mic you guys until lunch because the saltwater spray the horses will kick up are going to ruin the packs. You'll have a few minutes without anyone listening on your ride; use 'em well. I've told Beau too.'

‘How is he?'

Greg tried to be diplomatic. ‘Quiet.'

‘I noticed. Thanks, Gregory.'

Finally, they gave me the go-ahead to speak. ‘Tanner,' I started, my words sounding stilted and false. ‘I want to talk to you about yesterday-'

‘Uh—hey, Maddie?' The director poked his head around from behind Greg. ‘Can you save the explanation for lunch? We want the date to start off light and fun—there's plenty of time for drama later.'

I felt my eyeballs swell in frustration, perhaps caused by a mini-stroke. Still, I was on my best behaviour, hoping that my easy-going attitude might buy me some grace with the star of the show. ‘Sure thing.'

I tried again. ‘Hey, Tanner. I'm really excited for our date today. Feel like a ride?'

‘Great!' The director was happy—almost. ‘Just once more, please …'

After what felt like another hour of establishing shots with Tanner and me sitting on the horses and staring out to sea, we were ready to go. The crew jumped in a dune buggy, ready to pace along beside us.

‘So, just take it easy, a slow ride up to the end of this section of beach where those rocks are.' The director indicated the line of broken stones lying on the sand, separating our curve of brilliant white beach from the next.

‘And, action!' Tanner and I kicked and clicked, and the horses trotted off, the waves splashing prettily around our legs.

We rode in silence for a few minutes, then I put my big-girl panties on and attempted to start the conversation. ‘Tanner … I'm sorry.'

His beautiful features were set in a hard line, his gaze fixed firmly on the horizon.

His silence was the worst punishment; I blundered on. ‘I'm so, so sorry. I hope you know that I didn't actually mean to set anything on fire—I just got tangled up in the cords, and they slipped. But I'm still sorry.'

No response. His fists tightened on the reins, his mocha eyes almost black under the shadow of his hat.

Fine.
If he wasn't going to talk, I would just keep going. ‘Tanner, I have to be honest—I never thought of myself as a jealous person, but apparently, I am. I feel like I've coped okay with the fact there are nine other women trying to seduce you, but there's just something about Callie that's really wrong, babe, and I don't think you see it.'

The buggy drew closer, and the director called out, ‘Hey, guys? Can you save any discussions for when we're wired for sound, please?'

‘Okay, sure.' I tilted the angle of my head away so they couldn't see my lips moving as I said softly, ‘I did a bunch of stuff yesterday I'm not proud of, and I am sorry, I am. I just don't want you to slip away from me.'

He shook his head, the first sign he was even listening.

‘Tanner, please. We have to talk!'

‘Yeah … yeah, we do.' He spoke, his voice low and dangerous, then he yelled, ‘
Yah!
'

He spurred his horse sharply, and the chestnut mare leapt forward as if she had volts in her hooves. He streaked away down the beach, galloping in that gorgeous form I'd loved when we were young.

I knew riding was a release for Tanner; it was the whole reason I'd organised the horses for our date together. But I'd forgotten how much I'd missed being in the saddle too, where the pounding of horse feet drummed all my worries away. Kicking the sides of the ebony steed under me, I raced after him.

My horse was faster, and I caught up to Tanner quickly. Behind us, the buggy whined, trying to keep pace, but it was no match for our horse power. I laughed, the wind carrying my troubles out to sea, allowing myself to enjoy a simple moment compared to all the complex ones I'd been faced with lately.

The low rock wall loomed ahead of us, signalling the end of the ride—or so I thought. Tanner cried, ‘Come on, let's
go!'
He pushed the horse onwards, then they leapt over the stones, landing easily on the other side and continuing to speed on.

Not stopping to overthink, I followed, my stomach lifting as we soared through the air. The landing was soft, buffered by the sand, and I had to glance back at the camera crew who were trapped on the other side, waving frantically after us. Grinning, I sprinted after Tanner.

The new stretch of beach was longer that the last, arcing away like a golden crescent, the lush jungle palms on one side, the water on the other. We galloped, heedless of time or how much distance we'd put between us and civilisation, until the horses were sweating and my backside was sore.

When Tanner pulled up sharply close to the tree line, I almost crashed straight into him. He slid easily from his saddle, walking towards me with serious intent written across his face.

I jumped down too. ‘Tanner, what—'

That was all I had time for before his lips came crashing down to mine, and he engulfed me in a fiery kiss. My limbs turned to liquid as I breathed him in, every other problem falling away with the sense of perfection that was his mouth against me.

He pulled back, cupping both hands around my face and staring into me. ‘I love you, Maddie. I meant it when I said it. Didn't you believe me?'

‘Yes, of course.' My voice was breathy, my hands clutching at his shirtfront.

‘Have I given you a reason not to trust me? Have I been inappropriate with any of the other women?' His face was anguished. ‘I know this is a crummy situation. I can't imagine how hard this must be for you, but we're trapped here, and all I'm tryin' to do is get us through to the other side.'

‘I know, I'm sorry.' I was crying, and I wasn't sure why. ‘I do trust you, I promise. But, Callie—'

‘I get that you don't like her, and that's okay; nobody likes everybody. But, baby-girl, you have to believe that I'm
your
man. I don't think I can make it through this if I don't know that you'll be there when this is all over.'

I raised my hand and wiped away the single tear tracking down his bronzed cheek. ‘I'm here. I'll still be here. I love you, Tanner.'

‘Maddie-girl. It's you. It's always been you and it always will be. You're my sunrise.'

And with that, everything was okay between us again. Sure, there was still crap floating on the surface of our love, but that wasn't us; we were perfect. Tanner was mine and I was his, and as long as we both held onto that, we were going to be fine.

Tanner kissed me again, this time with more intensity, and I felt his need building, matching my own. I wanted to mark him, claim him as mine, remind myself when I was feeling jealous or lost that this man loved me, wanted me and only me.

On the deserted beach, we kissed against the trunk of a gently curving palm tree. Our hands were everywhere, desperate with desire, and suddenly, I was a seventeen-year-old girl again, getting hot and heavy with my first love under the shade of the big oak tree in an isolated field.

His fingers slid under the loose hem of my shirt, skimming around the flat plane of my belly, sending cold goosebumps bunching all over my skin. I pressed back into him, sucking his tongue gently into my mouth, drawing a groan from deep inside his throat.

I raised my arms high and laced them over the back of his neck, as he moved his hands higher, teasing my nipples through the silky material of my bra. The little buds immediately responded, hardening and pushing towards him, greedy for more.

Tanner always understood my nipples; he began to tug and twist at the erect nubs, making them swell even tighter. ‘Oh, God!' I cried out, wrapping a thigh over one of his, my core burning up from the fractured pleasure streaking downwards from my breasts.

I needed to hold him in my hands, was desperate to feel his length pressing into my fingers, rock-hard and weeping for me. With Tanner's proclivity for going commando, I knew there was only a single layer of denim between us, but it was still too much.

My fingers flew to his fly, shaky with the molten heat pooling between my thighs. Ripping his jeans open, I pulled his glorious shaft free, and it sprang into my hands as if it had been waiting for them.

With my thumb, I spread the tiny droplet on the tip over his silky skin, and Tanner's knees buckled. Internally, I grinned, loving that power and ownership over his reactions. I broke our kiss away, and with a sultry smile, I dropped to my knees.

‘Wha … Maddie, you don't have to—o
hhhh!
' Tanner's protest dissipated as I sucked just the tip of him into my hot mouth.

‘Shh, cowboy. I've got you.' I tugged at his jeans, lowering them to his knees. With one hand, I cupped his cool balls, as if testing their weight. I let my other hand trail a feather-light stroke from the tip of his shaft to the base, then I closed my fist over him and gave his length a single pump.

He fell back against the tree, helpless to do anything but submit. His hands fell lightly to my hair, caressing the silky fall of my ponytail as I darted my tongue out from between my lips and tasted him. He was salty and sweet, delicious and familiar.

Remembering how much he used to love it, I tilted my head sideways, and allowed him to slide between my lips until he pressed into my cheek. The ragged moan from above me let me know some things never changed.

He felt so right inside my mouth, a scorching length of flesh; it ignited dark places inside me. I wanted to draw out his pleasure, give him something while he gave me something in return—the confirmation that there was still so much passion between us.

With my knees firmly anchored in the warm sand, I began to work him deeper into the back of my throat, drawing him farther inside me with every slow movement, swallowing to adjust as he filled me gloriously. My lips finally lay flush against his skin, his entire shaft embedded within me. Using my tongue to flick gently on the underside of his length, I began to bob my head faster, milking him with my mouth.

‘Oh, Lord, Maddie, oh, sweet Jesus …' Tanner's moans above me made me almost as wet as the feel of his shaft, ready to explode. I tugged once on his balls, just hard enough, and hummed, the vibration buzzing through him.

Tanner cried out as he bucked against my face, pouring his sweet milk inside me. I swallowed and sucked, continuing to stroke and pump, wanting every last drop of his pleasure.

When there was nothing left, I lovingly licked his tip clean, mostly just to see him shudder, overstimulated. As helpless as a newborn calf, he slumped against the tree as I tucked his still-firm length back inside his jeans and refastened them.

‘Maddie-girl …' He reached for me as I stood, and drew me to his side. ‘You're amazin'. How did I get so lucky?'

I laughed. ‘I'm glad you feel lucky, because I swear to God, I've had the world's shittiest luck lately.' I kissed his neck, briefly contemplating leaving a love-bite there for the world to see. ‘My only luck was finding you on those steps that night.'

‘That was all the luck you needed, pretty lady.' Tanner tipped my head back and looked into me with genuine love. He spun me around until my back faced the tree and said, ‘We can make our own luck from here. Right now, I can think of a way for you to get lucky, if you know what I mean …'

His fingers dropped to the top button of my shorts and he fell to his knees, lifting one of my legs and hooking it over his shoulder. With blazing lust in his eyes, he nipped a line up the inside of my thigh, and let his teeth graze the soaked fabric over my core. ‘Oh, God, yes,' I said, laying back against the trunk and allowing my eyes to roll upwards.