“Yeah.”
“You left your door open one night, and I snuck a peek.”
“I wasn’t snoring was I?”
“No, you were curled up on your side, with your arm around Puller, who was, by the way, lying against your chest.”
Roni narrowed her eyes and said teasingly, “You spied on me?”
“All I could think was how lucky that little dog was and how I’d love to swap places with him.”
“Was that before or after I grabbed your boob in the bathroom?” Roni felt herself blush at the thought.
“Does it matter?” Selena winked at her and started to undress.
Roni watched spellbound as she pulled her shirt up over her head.
“Roni!” She snapped to attention. “Aren’t you going to get undressed?” A flirtatious gleam entered Selena’s eyes as she unbuckled her jeans and let them fall to the ground. She gathered her clothes, heaped them on one of the rocks lining the springs, and tentatively stepped into the hot pool.
“I’m coming.” Roni pulled her shirt out of her pants and unbuttoned it.
She heard a muttered, “Not yet, you’re not,” and hurriedly pulled her clothes off.
Selena waded into the deeper part of the pool and submerged herself up to her neck. She crooked a finger and invited her in. “This feels absolutely divine.”
Roni gathered her clothes and tossed them next to Selena’s, then leaned the rifle against the nearest rock. She sat on one of the medium-sized boulders and put her feet in. “I can’t believe you just walked in like that. I have to take my time.” She leaned back onto her elbows and closed her eyes.
“You do, huh?”
“Yep. If I ease myself in, I don’t get hot so quick.”
“You’ll last longer. Is that what you’re saying?” Something in Selena’s voice made her open her eyes. Selena pulled herself through the water toward her, and their eyes met and locked.
“Uh.”
Selena ran her hands along Roni’s calves up to the insides of her thighs. Gooseflesh rose on her skin and it wasn’t from the cool breeze coming off the mountains.
Selena looped her arms under Roni’s knees and eased her forward. “Let’s just test that theory, shall we?”
She shivered in anticipation as Selena kissed and licked her way up her thighs. Her nipples hardened and became sensitive to even the slightest movement of air. Her skin tingled, warring with the heat of lust, the caress of the sun, and the coolness of the morning mist. She felt completely exposed, an utterly unfamiliar feeling that only added to her arousal. She’d never made love out in the open. There were no sheets to pull over her nakedness, no pillows to bury her face in, no walls for seclusion. Only wide open space, and only Selena.
Selena continued her torturous tease with her tongue and lips, upward and closer to Roni’s center. She blew on the swollen flesh before taking her entirely in her mouth.
Roni thought she could die a happy woman right then and there. Selena lay half submerged, feasting on her, sucking, licking, and probing with her tongue. Roni’s skin misted with a fine sheen of perspiration and steam from the springs. Ringlets of sweat and vapor trickled down her body. She closed her eyes, threw her head back, and focused on that one part of her body: the nucleus where all her blood seemingly resided.
Selena’s long moan felt like a vibrator against her clit. It about sent Roni over the edge, and she began the slow delightful rise toward orgasm. She felt Selena’s chin slide through the wetness that seemed to flow endlessly. She considered the possibility of dying of dehydration while having sex. But the thought quickly disappeared as Selena slid two fingers into her. She raised her hips to greet the new pressure and delightful fullness within. Selena rewarded her by increasing the tempo of her tongue. That was it. She couldn’t hold back.
“Oh. My. God.” Her orgasm began a slow burn and quickly spread to overtake her body. Every muscle in her tensed, tendons strained as she tried and grasped at nothing but smooth unobtainable rock. Her breath came in pants as she gave in to the fire raging through her body. “Selena.” She reached forward and pulled Selena hard against her until the last of her strength gave way.
Every molecule, every atom in her body quaked and quivered with prolonged pleasure. Selena slid her fingers out and in again, while her thumb circled Roni’s overly sensitive clit. She was about to protest she could take no more then Selena stood up, covered Roni’s body with her own, and took a nipple into her mouth. At last she had something to hold onto. She wrapped her arms around Selena and held on for a ride. Another orgasm rocked her.
Selena moved up and silenced any protests she might have made about not being able to take any more. Their tongues twirled around each other. The sensation of Selena’s body against her slick skin, her tongue in her mouth, her hand—God, her hand, her fingers, continuous motion. At last, a third orgasm, and then she went limp. She lay like a wilted leaf, her eyes closed against the spinning her hyperventilating had caused. Selena lay motionless on top and oh so gently removed her fingers.
Roni dared open her eyes against the bright sun and focused on the eyes that looked lovingly into her own. She couldn’t speak; her mouth was so dry. She was sure she’d not be able to say anything anyway. Her blood hadn’t made its way back to her brain yet. She wasn’t even positive she’d be able to pull her legs together because of the perceived enormous swelling between them. She licked her lips and tasted herself, remnants of Selena’s kiss.
“You’re right, it did make you last longer,” Selena purred.
“I’m pretty sure I came almost instantly.” Roni licked her lips again and waited for some saliva to show up.
“True, you did, but you lasted long enough to have, what, two?” Selena slid backward into the water with a self-satisfied grin on her face.
“Three.”
“Hmm, even better.”
“Can you help me sit up before I permanently become part of this rock?” She still couldn’t reliably get her limbs to move independently.
Selena waded closer and helped her to a sitting position. “Ready to come in?”
“Only if you promise to save me if I go under. My legs feel like rubber.”
“Hold on to me, Roni. Don’t let go.”
They stood in the water skin to skin and held each other.
“This is what I envision heaven is like,” Roni said.
“My feet are pruney. I can’t have pruney feet in heaven.”
“Maybe you need to get out for awhile.” Roni moved Selena backward and guided her down onto the same rock she’d just peeled herself from. “You know, take a break. Relax. Breathe some fresh air.” She leaned forward and kissed Selena’s stomach. She rubbed her lips against Selena’s skin, eliciting a small gasp from her. Roni smiled and worked her way lower. “You didn’t wash off any of those wonderful juices, did you?”
Selena moaned quietly. “Trust me, there are more where those came from.”
Rising steam brought the musky smell of Selena’s passion to Roni and made her dizzy with desire. She nuzzled Selena’s black curls before dipping her face lower. Wet pink flesh greeted her tongue, and she explored further the depth of Selena’s desire. She took Selena completely into her mouth.
“God, Roni! Go inside me. Please.”
Roni watched enthralled as Selena’s breasts rose and fell as she panted. She teased her with her fingertips before gently inserting a finger. She withdrew slightly and continued suckling.
Selena squeezed her thighs together and raised her hips. “Roni. Now. Babe, I need you.” She ran her fingers into Roni’s thick hair and pulled her closer still.
Needing no further encouragement, she entered Selena. Selena took a deep breath and held it as she climaxed. Roni continued stroking, sucking, and licking until Selena could take no more. A few quiet moments passed before she pushed herself up and rested her head on Selena’s stomach.
“I’m so easy.” Selena sighed with resignation. “It takes nothing at all
for you to drive me to the edge.” She absently massaged Roni’s scalp.
“I have a few appendages that might disagree with that statement.” Roni reached up and lazily thumbed a nipple.
Selena covered her breasts with her hands. “Oh, you have to stop! I’m going to have a hard enough time sitting in the saddle as it is.”
Roni groaned with the reminder that they’d soon have to leave their little piece of paradise. “All right, I’ll give you a break.” She pulled Selena close and kissed her. “For now.”
Chapter Twenty
“WHAT’RE YOU THINKING?” Selena rolled onto her stomach and tickled the side of Roni’s breast with a blade of grass.
She brushed it off and smiled. “About how good I feel.” She lay in the short grass beside the hot springs with her hands clasped behind her head. While the sun dried her skin, she’d been half dozing and half listening to Selena talk to Puller.
Selena chuckled. “Hmm, four orgasms will do that.”
“Three.” She turned her head and smiled at Selena. “Anyway, I was thinking about how I don’t feel like I’m tied up in knots all the time, anymore.” She righted her head and closed her eyes.
In a little while they’d have to gather the horses and break camp. She knew Jeff would be in a hurry to get home and spend time with Beth and Ashley. She was excited to meet her new niece, and of course, to see Beth, but the heavy clouds of envy, desertion, and anxiousness had now dissipated. The loneliness that’d loomed over her since her brother’s marriage was gone, replaced with contentment and a feeling of protectiveness over her family.
Selena brushed the strand of grass over Roni’s thigh. “I would hope not. Especially since you’ve had five orgasms.”
Roni busted out laughing and rolled over onto her side. “Where in the hell are you coming up with these numbers?”
Selena dropped the grass and touched Roni’s right nipple with her index finger. “One in the woods”—she tapped her left breast—“one at camp”—then patted Roni’s crotch three times—“and three right here.”
“Oh, so we’re keeping track, are we?”
“I figure we’ll lose count by the end of the week.”
“Promises, promises. And you can count on me to hold you to that.” Roni leaned forward, and their lips met in a heated kiss. “I hate to do this, but we really need to get moving.”
“I know. Promise me we’ll come back here again soon.”
“Cross my heart.”
They got up, dressed, gathered the horses, and headed back to their campsite. Working together, they broke camp and had the horses packed within twenty minutes. Roni tucked Puller into her vest and watched as Selena gingerly settled in her saddle. With a devilish grin she mounted Sparky and they set off.
“We have a little extra time. Want to save the horses and take the rec site trail to the main mountain base?”
“Sounds good to me.”
“I figure it’ll be a little easier on your . . . you know.” Roni laughed as Selena tried to slap her and missed.
The morning mist had dispersed with the warmth from the rising sun. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, and the temperature was cool enough to keep the bugs at bay. It couldn’t have been a more perfect day.
Once they reached the wider trail, Selena rode up alongside her. “I love this trail. It almost seems like somebody’s keeping it groomed.”
“It used to be a logging road. Nothing will grow on it now except low grasses. The elk and mule deer love it, especially during the winter.”
By midmorning, they were within a mile of the turnoff that would take them up the mountain and ultimately to the cabin. Roni dismounted to put Puller down and hold Selena’s horse while she peed behind a tree. The forest was oddly silent, which made her hearing more acute. She thought she heard somebody call out from deep in the woods and turned her head in the direction she thought it came from. When she didn’t hear anything for several minutes, she decided she must have imagined it. Then she heard it again. She dropped the reins of the horses and moved away from them in hopes of eliminating the subtle noises of the horses and their tack.
She decided it sounded like somebody yelling something. Maybe a name, but at this point it was indiscernible. From where she stood, it didn’t sound like a distress call though. She wondered if it was a bird or maybe a bobcat.
Selena joined her a moment later. “Did you hear something?” She laid a hand on Roni’s back.
“I’m not sure. I thought I could be imagining it. Did you hear it too?” She looked at Selena expectantly.
“Shhh. Let’s wait a minute and see if we hear it again.”
Several minutes passed.
“There! Did you hear it?” Roni now knew she wasn’t hearing things.
“Yeah, it sounded like a guy calling for somebody. We should probably see if they need help.”
Roni scooped up Puller, and they hurried to mount the horses. There was a prominent southwest wind, so she didn’t think it would be too difficult to locate where the caller was if they stayed on the same trail.
They urged the horses into a slow jog, hoping to still locate the voice over the noise of the creaking tack and plodding hooves. A few minutes later, the roar of the river added its own flavor to the woods.
“Hold up a second. Let’s listen for a minute.” Roni closed her eyes and concentrated on her surroundings.
“Cody!” The yell came from along the river.
She looked at Selena. “Come on. That person is looking for somebody. Maybe we can help.”
They turned toward the river and entered a tall stand of cottonwoods. Ferns and tall phlox covered the ground, and they had to watch for hidden obstacles the horses might trip over. Finally the vegetation gave way to a wide bank of river wash and the going was a bit easier.
“Cody!”
“Hello!” Roni called out. She’d yet to see any sign of the man as she looked up and down the river. “We’re search and rescue. Do you need assistance?”
A few minutes passed. Suddenly a middle-aged man on horseback, leading a pony behind him, emerged from the trees across the water from them. “You have to help me find my son!” He cantered through the water toward them. “Please, help me find him. His name is Cody.”
“Sir,” Selena said, “my name is Selena and this is Roni. We’re search and rescue. Please start from the beginning and tell us what happened.”
“The name’s David Gottburg.” He ran his hand frantically through his sandy hair. “My son and I are camped down at the rec sites. He went for a ride early this morning before breakfast because he wanted to go bird-watching along the river or some such nonsense. I wasn’t too worried until his pony came trotting back to camp about three hours ago. God, I never should have let him go.”
“David,” Roni said. “His name is Cody?”
He nodded.
“How old is he?”
“He’s ten. But he’s really mature for his age and sticks to his pony like glue. They’re usually joined at the hip. I can’t imagine what happened to separate them.” Worry lined David’s face. His unshaven stubble added to the tormented look in his eyes. “Please help me find him.”
Roni turned to Selena. “If he’s along this river, it’s going to be really difficult to track him. If I leave now and ride hard, I can get up to monitor the cabin radio and send Jeff down. He can find flea tracks on granite if he has to and could be here before dark.”
“Are you sure that’s a good plan?” Selena rubbed her knuckles over her lips.
“It’s the best I have. I can make really good time with Sparky, especially if I leave Chenoa here with you.” She gave Selena the handheld radio. “Call Jeff and tell him the situation. Have him radio Elk City for help. I’ll leave Puller with you too. Who knows, maybe he’ll be able to pick up Cody’s scent.” She didn’t want to think about the host of hazards in the area that could easily prove deadly to an inexperienced person, let alone a kid.
“Okay. Please
be careful.” Selena dismounted and took Puller from her. Roni removed her vest and handed it to her. She started to pull the rifle from the scabbard. “Take this just in case.”
Selena shook her head. “No, you’re riding alone. Keep it.” She briefly laid her hand on Roni’s knee. “Ride safe.”
She tipped her hat and winked at her. “See you.” She looked at David. “Don’t worry, we’ll find your son.”
She dug her heels into Sparky’s side and reined him hard to the right. She followed the same path out they’d taken in. Once she reached the main trail, she urged the horse into a fast gallop. She needed to make up time before she lost it going up the steep grade of mountain.
Sparky’s speed surprised her. Spending time in the rough Bitterroots had obviously given him a sure-footedness he’d not experienced on the track. He was enjoying himself, and for the first time, Roni felt a real kinship with the horse. She slowed him down to take the sharp turn up the mountain trail. He swished his tail and hunched his back. Roni feared he was going to put her off. Sparky lowered his head slightly, struck out with his right front hoof, and grunted. He was playing! She reached down and ran her hand up and down his sweaty neck.
“You’re like a stick of dynamite aren’t you, buddy?” She laughed as he repeated his antics. He arched his neck and pranced in place, eager to run again.
She dropped the reins and let him pick his pace. Sparky shook his head and snorted his confidence as he cantered along the narrow winding trail. Trees and ground passed in a blur. Roni breathed in sync with him. Never would she have guessed she’d find such communion with the big red horse. A smile grew on her face, as did the determination to do everything possible to find Cody.
She slowed him to a walk when they reached the river. It was the same one she’d left Selena and David on a few miles back. She wondered if she should have ridden the river down to this point, then decided it would’ve taken too much time. The river was old and extremely serpentine, which afforded it additional length from headwaters to mouth. Neither was she sure what kinds of hurdles they would’ve had to deal with to get to this point. Time was not on their side.
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