Breathless and as highly aroused as he, it took her a minute to acknowledge what he’d said. “Umm, any time now. We need to stop.”
Todd released her lips and sighed in her hair. He looked down in her face and smiled before dropping a kiss on the tip of her nose. “Let’s hope they get here soon.”
Rachel gave him a slightly embarrassed smile and walked back to her makeshift counter.
Todd took a moment to look around the kitchen and was both amazed and impressed by the ongoing transformation in here as well. Gone were the yellow baseboards and wallpaper. The walls were stripped and awaiting their new coats of paint. The linoleum was gone and he could see where she had started to sand the planked wood floor. “I have a hard time paying attention to details with you around. I didn’t notice any of this yesterday.” Tapping on her makeshift plywood counter top, he teased, “I think I like what you did in the other room better.”
She playfully slapped his arm. “I already know what I want to put in here. As soon as Sam from Custom Cabinets comes by, I’ll give you both an idea and hopefully, get everything ordered.”
“Did I hear someone mention my name?” Sam said from the open doorway. “I found this delightful creature running around outside. Is he yours?”
“Yes, he’s mine. Brutus, sit down and shake hands with Sam,” Rachel said to the dog as she walked to the door.
Brutus sat down and extended his paw in greeting. Sam shook it in return.
“He likes you. Otherwise you wouldn’t have made it out of your vehicle,” Rachel said, giggling as Todd turned to glare at her.
“Just what are you trying to say, Rachel?” he said, feigning hurt feelings.
“Oh nothing,” she said sweetly. Walking towards Sam, she offered her hand. “Hi, I’m Rachel Hardy. Thanks for coming out today.”
“It’s nice to meet you. You have some cabinetry work that needs to be done?”
“Yes, right this way,” she said as she turned and walked out of the room.
Sam stood back to appreciate the view from behind. Todd walked up beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder. “No way, buddy, she’s mine. Besides, I don’t think Tammy and the kids would appreciate you ogling another woman.”
“Hey, I can look at the menu. I just don’t get to order anything anymore.” Sighing and shaking his head, Sam followed Todd in to the kitchen where Rachel was waiting.
“Is everything alright, gentlemen?” she asked.
“Yes, everything’s fine. Just some guy talk about the summer softball league,” Todd lied and Sam nodded in agreement.
Rachel was sure there was more said, but didn’t push the issue. She showed Sam what she wanted done with the cabinets and showed him a picture of the granite countertops she had picked out. “I can start on the cabinets next week if you want me to, but the countertops and glass front doors are going to have to be ordered. Special orders can take some time. It may take a few weeks. Give me a few minutes to work up an estimate. I’ll be right back.”
As Sam walked out to his truck, another pulled in. Tony from Roofing Unlimited and Jeff from JG Grading rode together once they found out they were going to the same place to bid on different jobs.
Sam waved as they parked next to him. “She expecting the two of you clowns too?” he joked as he pulled an estimate sheet from a folder.
“Yeah, she called us because she wants the best. Can’t understand why she called you,” Jeff said and laughed. Tony sat there laughing at both of them.
“Rumor has it she’s really hot,” Tony said.
“She is at that, but also really taken,” Sam said with a deflated smile on his face. The groans came from both guys in the truck. Sam continued, “Todd’s been known to work fast, but this is a lightning round for him. He’s in there with her now.”
“Well a job is a job. I’ll be going home to my beautiful wife when I’m done here so it’s not like I’m in the market anyway,” Tony said as he climbed out of Jeff’s truck.
“Speak for yourself,” Jeff said. “I’ve been trying to get Jessica to go out with me for months now. Maybe I can make her jealous by going after this writer lady.”
Tony and Sam looked at Jeff and at the same time responded, “Nah.” Laughing at the hurt look that crossed Jeff’s face, all three of them walked in the house together.
Brutus was beside himself with excitement. He was getting petted and more attention than he could handle. Rachel sent him outside so they could talk and he could run off some of his energy.
“Thanks for coming out on a Saturday, gentlemen,” Rachel said after introductions were made. She proceeded to show each contractor what she wanted or needed done. She was also happy to hear that Jeff was a qualified mason and could fix her retaining wall as well. Each contractor gave her bids she could easily afford. After reviewing each and every one of them, she looked up and asked, “Well, when can you start?”
Standing on the patio, waving goodbye to her newly hired help, Rachel turned to Todd and asked, “Are they doing this because you are a friend of theirs? Their estimates are extremely reasonable.”
Todd shook his head. “They didn’t know I was going to be here. Jessica referred you and they deal with Jessica all the time. I think they would rather piss me off than her. She sells them all their materials. Besides, I think Jeff has it bad for you,” he said, laughing. “Are you going on that ride with me?”
“Yes, I am. Let me round up Brutus and we can go,” she said. Turning around, she whistled for Brutus and waited for him to come crashing through the trees. Together, they went inside the cabin. “Now I want you to be a good boy while I’m gone. You’ve got plenty of food and water. I shouldn’t be gone more than a couple hours. I’ll see you later.” She leaned down and kissed the side of his face. She walked outside and locked the door behind her.
Standing on the patio, she wound her braid up in a bun. “It is horrible trying to brush it out if it gets too wind blown,” she said as Todd sat watching her from the Jeep.
“I like it down personally,” he said as she climbed in beside him.
“Where are you taking me, Sheriff?” she asked, smiling brightly.
“You see that?” he asked, pointing to a grassy area between the trees. “You can barely make out the trail, the grass has grown back.”
“I see it!” she said excitedly. “Where does it lead?”
Todd started the Jeep and headed through the trees. “I’ll show you.”
Rachel couldn’t believe the beauty surrounding her. Majestic red rocks towered overhead, the forest in its many shades of greens, golds and reds were still bursting with life. Winter was closing in on autumn, but the forest was not ready to yield quite yet. She gave a delighted laugh as they startled a doe and her fawn from the trees.
“Why are we stopping here?” she asked as Todd pulled over and parked near a giant oak tree growing beside the creek.
“Because this is part of what I wanted to show you,” he said, offering a hand to help her out of the Jeep.
Rachel walked over to the creek just to watch it. “Nature fascinates me,” she said as Todd walked up to stand behind her. “Look at those rocks. They’ve been worn round and smooth from the water pounding and rushing over their surface for thousands of years. You can easily forget places like this exist when you get wrapped up in your own, busy, little world.”
Todd turned her around and looked down in to her eyes. “I wanted to share this with you. I come out here when I want to get away from everything and everyone, even if it’s only for a short time. I like to call it my own private little sanctuary. There’s something else I want you to see. Are you up to a short hike?”
Excitedly, she nodded her head. Rachel recalled saying the same exact thing about the Oak Creek Canyon area in general shortly after arriving. Smiling up at him, she reached out to take his hand. Together, they started climbing upwards over rocks and brush. “Is there an old mine shaft or something back here?” she asked after a few minutes of climbing.
“No, it’s even better than that. Can you hear it yet?”
“All I hear is the water rushing in the creek. But how…how is that possible when we are climbing up the side of a mountain?”
“This is how, Rachel. You are standing at the edge of what we locals like to call Heaven’s Gate.”
Peering over the edge of the cliff, she was amazed. “A waterfall in the desert? This is incredible! Oh, will you look at the view from up here? You can see for miles.”
“See those mountains to the north of us?” he asked, pointing in the direction he wanted her to look. “They stay snowcapped all year round. Hennessey’s Peak is the highest point in the entire state. The hot Arizona summer sun isn’t even enough to melt the snow queen.”
Rachel was bedazzled by the beautiful view. The breathtaking terrain seemed to lay at her feet. “This is absolutely beautiful, Todd. I don’t know what to say. I really appreciate you bringing me out here.”
“Let’s head back down. I packed a picnic basket. We can have lunch under the oak tree.” Slowly and cautiously, they made their way back down the mountain.
Todd pulled the basket out of the Jeep and set it down in the grass. “Are you hungry?”
Rachel walked up to him knowing a seductive smile graced her features and showing a different hunger that coursed through her. She stood on her tip toes and kissed him. Her arms snaked up to wind around his neck as he lowered his head to run kisses down her neck. They stood there kissing with the sun shining above them, the birds chirping and the water flowing in the creek.
Todd looked down at her as her shaking fingers unbuttoned his shirt. “I want to feel you against me, Todd,” she whispered as she kissed his chest she continued to expose.
“Stay right here, I’ll be right back,” he said, pulling her hands away from his shirt.
“Wha…Where are you going?” she asked exasperated
Todd returned with a blanket and spread it out on the ground behind her. “I’m not going anywhere for awhile,” he said, pulling her down to the ground with him.
Rachel joined him on the blanket and lost herself in a searing kiss. He caused her to experience so many new sensations. She never knew lovemaking could be like this. He awakened such primal feelings in her and she was shaken by their depth. She pulled her sweater off over her head and removed her bra. Standing up in front of him, she slowly removed her jeans. When she wore no more than a thong, she lay down on the blanket with him. With tantalizingly slow movements, Todd began to run his work-roughened hands across her smooth skin, removing the thong. Working his way back up her body, he then took great time and care with each of her sensitive nipples. Making sure they were both taut and erect, he lowered his head and replaced his hands with his mouth. First he licked and suckled one side and then paid equal attention to the other. She didn’t care that she was completely naked and making love in the woods in broad daylight. It was only the two of them in the whole world. They could have been in Central Park for all she cared, as long as he was with her.
Todd stood up to shed the rest of his clothing. His tanned body glistened magnificently in the afternoon sunlight. He had such a solid chest. His lean sculpted hips led to a well-defined, rock hard specimen of manhood. His muscular legs were covered in the same light dusting of sandy blonde hair that covered his chest. He was exciting her by just standing there.
He is absolutely beautiful.
She couldn’t tear her gaze away from his manhood. Fantasizing about that rigid flesh made her core quiver and moisten. Rachel opened her arms to him. Todd crushed his mouth against hers as he lay down beside her.
The need to have her was driving him insane. Every time he tasted her, the overwhelming desire for more left him aching. Slowly, he softened the kiss. Teasing her lips open, he slid his tongue in the warm recesses of her mouth. Tangling his tongue with hers, he slid his hand down to caress her bare breast. Feeling her nipple respond and harden under his hand again, made his shaft throb all the more with unreleased desire.
Rachel was riding on a whirlwind of sensations. He made her so hot that she ached for him. As Todd’s hands caressed over her body, her hands began roaming over his. She loved the feel of his muscled back under her fingertips. She slid her hand down his ribcage and rested it on his hip. Shifting a little to the side, she wrapped her hand around his hardened desire. His sharp intake of breath once again gave her an intense rush of power.
She undulated and ground her mound against his leg. She was beyond reason and self-control. The only thing she needed was his hard cock buried deep inside her and she needed it now. Todd rolled over on top of her and slowly they joined together under the giant oak tree next to the creek.
So sweet,
she thought as she brought her hips up to meet his thrusts. The passion began to build as they slowly drove each other closer and closer to the brink. Rachel climaxed and called out his name. Breathing heavily, she grabbed Todd’s face with both hands and looked deep into his eyes. “I need you to pump your cock deep inside me, Todd. I have to feel every inch of you.”
Todd made a sound that was something like a combination between a feral growl and moan. He wrapped her legs around his waist and adjusted his angle. Thrusting his cock as deeply as he could, he pumped into Rachel until he emptied his seed deep inside her.
Rachel lay there stroking his back, with his face still buried in her neck. She could feel his breath fanning across her skin. She smiled to herself and kissed his hair. He started to move and she held him firmly in place. “Not yet,” she said softly. “Not yet.”