Epic Love Stories--Complete Box Set

by Kelly Moore

  “I was about to ask you the same thing.”

  “I’m working. I got transferred here a few days ago. Damn, it’s good to see you.”

  “It’s good to see you too. I’ve been out here on a mission, helping a medical team. We leave next week.”

  “I’ve got to get the hikers settled. We set up camp about a mile from here. Do you think you could join us?”

  “Yeah. I’ve got a few chores here this morning, and then I was going to explore the area. I can borrow one of the jeeps.”

  “You have a piece of paper? I can draw you a map.”

  I walk back inside my hut and grab a pen and paper. He’s right behind me when I swivel around. “You look damn good in that outfit.” His gaze is all over me, and I blush.

  “Stop.” I laugh. “Draw me a map.”

  He looks around the room for someplace to set the paper down. “Turn around,” he says.

  I do, and he uses my back as a table. “I can’t believe we are in the same place at the same time. It’s fate,” he says as he draws.

  “I can’t believe it either. Are you transferred here permanently?”

  “No. We had a man fall ill, and I’m covering him for a couple of months. I volunteered because I had never been here before.”

  “Me either.”

  “It’s a hard gig to get because all the adventure tour guides want to come here.”

  “Silas had never been either.”

  He picks up the paper, and I face him. “How have you been, Liv?”

  “Good. Better. More good days than bad now.”

  “I’m glad to hear that.”

  “I finally put his ashes out to sea.”

  “You have made progress. I need to get back, but when you free up, come out to the camp.” He spins the paper in my direction. “It’s almost a straight shot if you follow the river.”

  “I’ll find it.” I take the map from him.

  He turns to walk out but stops and faces me. He places both of his hands on either side of my face and softly kisses my lips. “I’ve wanted to do that again for a long time.”

  I smile at him, and he leaves. I can’t believe he’s really here and how giddy I feel seeing him. It’s something I haven’t experienced since…since I met Silas.

  I rush over to the makeshift clinic and get everything done that I need to and borrow one of the jeeps.

  Clay was right. It was pretty easy to find, and I can’t believe I’ve been this close to an area that is so beautiful, with a pristine lake. As soon as I pull up, he jogs over to me.

  “I’m so glad you came.” He opens the jeep door.

  “This place is gorgeous,” I say, shielding my eyes from the sun and looking around.

  “Like you,” he says, kissing my cheek.

  “I think you’ve been smoking something. Either that or you’ve been gone too long on one of your tours.” I giggle.

  “Oh, I see plenty of beautiful women on my tours, but none that interest me like you do.”

  I love that he’s flirting with me. “How about you show me around?” I shut the jeep door.

  “The hikers are scattered around checking out the area. They’ve been instructed not to go far, so I’d be happy to show you some of the sights and critters that live here.”

  “Critters?” I place my arm in the crook of his elbow and look on the ground.

  “Ha! You didn’t think you were the only thing roaming around out here.” He chuckles at me.

  “No, but nothing I want to get up close and personal with, like snakes. I hate snakes. Like if I saw one, I’d leave the country.” I’m careful where I step.

  “Well, then I’ll put out a memo that no snakes are allowed near the lake.” His deep laugh is adorable.

  “You make sure they read it,” I tease back.

  “You’re a hoot.” He snorts, and we walk over to the lake. You can see clear to the bottom. “There’s some fish.” He points.

  “Oh my god. That thing is huge!”

  “It’s a giant Siamese Carp.”

  “How do you know that if you’ve never been here?”

  He deepens his voice. “As a tour guide, I have to know these things.”

  “I bet you have tons of useless knowledge.”

  “Useless? I think it’s good to know. That thing could rip your leg off.”

  I step away from the edge. “Really?”

  “Nah, I’m just giving you a hard time.” He laughs again.

  “I think you’re not to be trusted.” I glare at him.

  “Are you hungry? I have some gourmet lasagna in a foil packet. All I have to do is throw it in hot water.”

  “Sold! I miss camp food,” I say sarcastically.

  “You know, I don’t remember you having such a smart mouth, but I kinda like it.” He places his hand in mine, and we make our way to his tent.

  “Nice place you have here.” I crawl into the tight quarters of his two-man tent.

  “I wasn’t expecting company, or I would have carried in my yurt.”

  “Now who has a smart mouth?” I punch his arm.

  Before I can move, he grabs me by the shoulders and lays me down underneath him and delves his tongue into my mouth. My body softens, and I give in to the taste of him. “Damn, you’re beautiful and taste like honey,” he says, raising up to look at me.

  “I thought we were having lasagna.” I wink at him.

  “This is a much better idea.” He kisses me again, and I feel him grow hard.

  I can’t move. I’ve never been with anyone but Silas, and yet, part of me really wants this to happen.

  “You okay?”

  “Yeah, sorry…it’s just that I’ve only ever slept with Silas.” I bite the inside of my cheek out of nervousness.

  “Good thing I didn’t have sleeping in mind.” He smiles and kisses down my neck.

  “I’m not sure I can do this,” I whisper next to his ear.

  He lifts up a bit. “If you’re not ready, it’s okay.”

  “What if I’m never ready? I mean, physically, I’m ready. Like really, really ready…I mean, I think there are cobwebs down there.” I’m chattering on.

  “Cobwebs?” Good lord let me see.” He unsnaps my pants. “I could clean them out for you,” he teases, then looks back up at me. “And by ready, does that mean you’re wet?”

  I cover my face. “This is so embarrassing.”

  He tugs my hand down and gazes at me. “I want you, Liv, but only if you want me too.”

  “I do…I mean…I want to, but I need more time.”

  He gets off me and sits up.

  “Please don’t be angry.” I sit up too.

  He brushes the hair out of my face. “I’m not angry. Disappointed maybe, but never angry.”

  “It’s just that I’m working really hard to figure out who I am and what I want. And, I’m not one of those women who can just sleep with a guy like it doesn’t mean anything.”

  “So, I don’t mean anything to you?”

  “That’s not what I meant. Oh god, I’m screwing all of this up.” I place my hand on his cheek. “You have a life of traveling, of freedom. Right now, I can’t handle being with a man that won’t be around. I’ve lost the man of my dreams, and I know what it’s like to cherish every moment with someone. This is your life, coming and going, and I can’t handle that at this moment.”

  “I get it. But can you promise me one thing?”

  “What’s that?”

  “When you can handle more, you’ll find a way to let me know.”

  “I promise.”

  “Does that mean I can’t kiss you anymore?”

  “It does not mean that at all.” I laugh, and then I kiss him.

  We spent the rest of the day enjoying each other’s company. He taught me how to make a basket to catch fish in, and I taught him all about the people in the village.

  He has no phone to exchange numbers with, but he has an email address for the rare times he’s by a computer. All hi
s work is scheduled through a paging system.

  I told him goodbye that night, and a new part of me ached. It wasn’t the same sadness I’d been feeling for months. It was an ache for something new to begin.

  Chapter 13

  Charlie squeals when she sees me. “I’m so glad you’re home.” She crushes me with a hug.

  “Thanks for picking me up at the airport.” When she releases me, I get a good look at her. Her belly is bigger and more rounded than it was two weeks ago. “You actually look pregnant.” I rub her belly.

  “Uh. I feel fat.” She presses the key to pop the trunk open. I drag my luggage to the back, place it inside, and shut the trunk.

  I climb into her SUV, and she starts it, moving out into the lane of cars. “Noah thinks it’s sexy.” She scowls at me.

  “I do remember him liking your pregnant belly.” I grin.

  “No, what he likes is the pregnancy hormones.” She blows the horn at a car that swerved in front of her.

  “What guy wouldn’t?” I giggle.

  “I can’t wait until I’m not so damn horny all the time. Poor Noah even has to come home on his lunch break to service me, and that’s even after morning sex.” She’s ranting.

  “Oh, poor Noah,” I say dramatically, “and eww, service you?”

  “Would you prefer I say fuck my brains out?” She turns her head and glares at me.

  “Wow, you are horny, aren’t you?” I laugh.

  “All the damn time. Enough about me though, tell me about your trip.” She whips the car out onto the highway. “Did you meet some tall, dark, handsome doctor?”

  “Actually, I ran into Clay again.”

  “Clay? As in the same Clay you met in New Zealand?” She keeps taking her eyes off the road to look at me.

  “The same one. He happened to have picked up a job there.”

  “Well, isn’t that a coincidence? Did you do it in the tent this time?”

  I’m silent for a moment.

  “You did, you dirty little bitch! Give me all the details!”

  I snort. “No, but we came close.”

  She looks over at me and down at my crotch. “What!” I ask her.

  “Damn cobwebs are still there, aren’t they?”

  “You keep your nose out of my cobwebs.” I giggle.

  She grows serious for a moment. “Are you ever going to be ready?”

  “Lord, I hope so because I’d love to have an orgasm again.”

  “You can have that without a guy. I do recall the purchase of a pink vibrator that you threw at my husband.”

  “Damn,” she says and reaches for her phone on the center council.

  “What?”

  “I’m soaking wet with all this talk of vibrators.” She dials Noah. “You need to meet me at the house in thirty minutes.” She pauses to listen. “Yes, I know we’ve already done it twice today. If you don’t want to come home, I can do it myself.” She listens. “That’s what I thought. I’ll see you at the house.”

  I bust out laughing.

  “Now, where were we…oh, yeah, your vibrator.”

  “I meant have an orgasm from a man’s touch.”

  “So you’ve used the vibrator?”

  “Charlie!”

  “Well have you?”

  “No.”

  “While I’m home screwing my husband, that’s your task today. Silas bought it for you for a reason.”

  “You’re giving me tasks now too?” My mouth gapes.

  “As your best friend, yes, I insist you go home and play with your lady parts.”

  “Are you insisting on a full report on that too?” I’m sure my face is beet red.

  “God no…but yes, I want to know that the vibrator did its job.”

  I want to ask her if she’s kidding me, but I know she’s not. “You let me worry about my lady bits, and you go home and take care of yours.” We both break out in laughter. “I’ve missed you so much,” I say when I can finally breathe.

  We make it to the house at the same time as Noah. “I’m so glad you’re back. Charlie needs someone else to entertain her,” he says, hugging me.

  “Um…I can’t provide her the type of entertainment she wants.”

  He looks at Charlie and back at me, and his face is red.

  “Yes, she knows all about why you’re here.” She grabs his hand and pulls him to the front door.

  “Have fun you two!” I yell, and Noah gives a little wave. I drag my luggage up the steps and unlock the door. I’m exhausted from the long flight home and want nothing more than a relaxing bath with a glass of wine. I grab a bottle out of the fridge and a glass from the cabinet and head upstairs. I throw my suitcase on the bed and pull my hair down. I head to the bathroom and turn on the water to the garden tub. I put in some bubbles and let it fill up. I strip out of my clothes and pour myself a glass of wine. I step one toe in the warm water and pull it back out.

  I walk over to my bedside table and take out the vibrator that’s still in the box. “Waterproof,” I read on the outside of the box and take it out, carrying it with me to the bathtub.

  I slip in and let the jets of the tub soothe me. I take a sip of wine and toy with the vibrator in my hand. Placing the wineglass on the ledge, I turn the bottom of the vibrator and it comes on. Slowly, I place it under the water and spread my legs. I get a jolt when it touches my core.

  “It must have blown out those cobwebs.” I place it between my legs again and let my eyes close and my head fall back.

  “Mmmm…feels good.” With my other hand, I toy with my nipple as I start a rhytmic movement with the vibrator firmly against me.

  I squeeze my eyes tighter, and I see a face that’s out of focus. “Silas,” I whisper and lick my lips. I reach between my legs and change the speed of the vibrator. “Ah, yes!” I hiss.

  I can feel my body building, needing a release that’s been a long time coming. I shift a little to get the right spot, and my toes start to tingle. “Yes!” I say again and move faster. I start to pulsate, and then I explode into an orgasm. “Clay!” I yell and then realize whose name I called out and whose face came into my vision. I pant as I let my body calm back down. A single tear runs down my cheek, and I let it fall into the bubbles.

  “I’m sorry, Silas.” It’s time; I need to watch the video, but not today. I need massive amounts of food and sleep before I can sit through it.

  I soak until the water gets cold. I get out, wrapping myself in soft towels and then pull on a nightshirt. I crawl in bed, and I’m asleep before my head ever hits the pillow.

  I wake up to the sound of humming and a crunching sound. “Did you finally decide to wake up, sleeping beauty?”

  “What are you doing in my bed?” I sit up and stretch. “And, what are you eating?”

  “Doritos and pickles.” She holds up the jar.

  I want to tell her gross, but I’m so hungry. “Give me those.” I snatch the bag from her. “How about we order some real food?”

  “We’ll have to do it from here. I’ve been kicked out of my house.” She picks up the jar of pickles and drinks the juice.

  “That’s disgusting.”

  “You should try them with the chips.”

  “I’d rather not. Why have you been kicked out of your house?”

  “Too much sex. Noah said he couldn’t handle any more, and to go entertain myself somewhere else.”

  “So, you decided to crawl in my bed and eat Doritos and pickles.” I look at the clock. “I’ve only been sleeping two hours. How many times have you had sex?”

  She shoves a chip in her mouth and holds up four fingers.

  “Since I came home?”

  “Yep.” She crunches.

  “No wonder Noah needs a break. The poor man is probably walking funny. Wait, he can get it up that many times?” I whisper like he’s in the room with us.

  “The man’s a beast, but I think I broke him.”

  I throw the blankets off. “It doesn’t appear that I’m going to
get any more sleep, so I might as well get up and order some food. I’m so hungry.”

  “I see you took my advice.”

  “I’m confused. What are you talking about?”

  “I had to pee really bad when I got here, and I used your bathroom. You really shouldn’t throw your vibrator on the floor.”

  “Out! Now!” I point to the door.

  “What did I do?” She pouts and gets up, grabbing her jar of pickles.

  “You have no boundaries. Maybe it’s the pregnancy brain.”

  “We’re friends. We can talk about anything.” She gives me a cheesy, unapologetic smile, and I can’t help but giggle at her.

  “It’s really hard to be mad at you.” I take her by the elbow, and we go downstairs. “How does Chinese food sound?”

  “Perfect. I’ll take an order of fried rice, Hunan chicken, egg rolls, egg drop soup…”

  “Are you done?”

  “Two sushi rolls. The ones with the crab in the middle.”

  “Are you ordering for Noah too?”

  “Nope, just me. I should call him and see if he wants something to eat.” She gets her phone and calls next door. “Hey, we are ordering Chinese, do you want some?” Her mouth hangs open, and she listens for a long moment.

  I patiently wait for the silence to end.

  She hangs up.

  “What did he say?”

  “He said between the sex and watching me eat, he couldn’t deal with me right now and maybe I should spend the night over here.”

  “Great. I thought Noah liked me?”

  “Ha-ha. You two are comedians.”

  “I would love to have you stay. I could use a shoulder to lean on.”

  “Why, what’s up?”

  “Let me order our food, and I’ll show you.”

  As I place the call, Charlie opens the fridge and closes it several times. I haven’t been here in a couple of weeks, so I know there is no food. She walks over to the pantry and grabs a box of cereal and pours it in her mouth.

  “That baby is going to be huge.”

  “I can’t help it. I’m either starving or horny.”

  “Does this last the entire time you’re pregnant?”

  “No, but I was so big with the boys, there was no room for food, and I didn’t want sex because I couldn’t even see my own hoo-ha.”