He was working hard to keep up with the natives. Her eyes lingered over the tanned skin as he wove in and out of the other men. Her first impression of him had been wrong.
Her godfather had said he was awesome at his job, just too serious. She hadn't seen much of that. He seemed very laid back to her.
Shaking her head at their childish antics, she turned her attention back to what she was doing: designing a windmill so it would do the work of irrigating their crops. At the moment, her problem was trying to figure out what material to use for the blades. Pursing her lips, she began jotting down ideas.
"Look at you sittin’ up there looking all sexy.” Ryder's voice reached her.
Glancing over the side, Eddie smiled. “And look at you, all hot and sweaty. Come on up."
In moments, he was settling beside her on the blanket she had laid out. “What are you doing?"
"Trying to figure out what's the best material to use for the windmill."
"Anything I can do to help?” he asked in a smooth tone.
Eddie ran her gaze over him, lingering on his crotch. Ryder had awakened within her an insatiable hunger. His hand guided her face to meet his. Right now, his eyes were bluish-green tinged by mercurial gray.
"Right now?” he questioned.
Dropping her pad, she nodded. “Yes."
Ryder covered her mouth with his. She was pressed gently back against the thick blanket. Shudders engulfed her as his tongue traced her lips before sweeping into her mouth. Her breasts tightened, and she rubbed against his bare chest.
Ryder pulled back and stared down at her. Eddie reached up and touched the hard angles of his face, still covered with that sexy stubble. He turned his head and kissed her palm.
"I want to make love to you,” he murmured.
His hand moved down, and he unsnapped her shorts. Eddie lifted her hips so they could be removed. Her panties followed suit, the warm breeze blowing against her mostly bare pussy.
"Ryder,” she moaned as his fingers teased the swollen lips.
"One second, baby.” That was about how long it took for him to begin sliding inside her.
"Ah!” she purred with contentment as he stretched her again.
"I second that,” he uttered as he moved within her.
Eddie closed her eyes and undulated beneath him. Their bodies moved in perfect tandem with one another. His mouth had slanted over hers, and he made slow love to it as his hips thrust into her. With one large hand, he pinned both of her wrists over her head, her feet were braced on the metal railing surrounding them.
In and out.
In and out.
In and out.
Ryder created a fiery yearning deep inside her. She opened her eyes and whimpered trying to get him to move faster. Sweat dotted their skin, making it slick.
He sat up on his knees, his strong fingers digging into the flesh of her hips and drove into her wet core even faster. When she moved her hands, he shook his head until she placed them back over her head.
The fire within her began to spread. Inside her boots, her toes curled with ecstasy. “Ryder,” she mewled.
"Are you close? I can feel you tighten around me."
"Please,” she panted.
"Are you burning for me?"
Faster his pelvis moved.
"Oh, God, yes!” she shouted.
Deeper his strokes rubbed her. She watched his face. Beads of sweat ran down his tanned face. His mouth set in a line of fierce concentration, and his eyes burned with a passion she'd never seen before.
She licked her lips and begged, “Please. I need to come."
Ryder almost blew his load at those words. Gritting his teeth, he fought back the urge to come, ignored his body's demand for release.
Half open, he observed Eddie. She was beautiful in the throes of passion. Flushed skin, full lips parted, eyes dilated. The sight of her alone was enough to make him relinquish control.
He watched his pale cock slip between her dark nether lips. Eddie had a small triangle of hair on her pussy with a point guiding the way to her own entrance to heaven. Otherwise, it was bald.
He was shiny with her juices. He groaned at the sight, and his erection felt like it grew harder. Glancing back up her dark mocha body, Ryder held her gaze, loving how full of passion and desire it was.
Lifting her hips to a greater angle, he moved even faster. Her eyes began to flutter, her pussy muscles tightened.
"Come on my cock, baby."
She did. Her entire body tensed before she arched against him. Her mouth screamed his name to the sky.
Ryder lost it. He echoed her cry with one of his own and collapsed on her. In the distance, the roar of a lion filled the air. He stiffened but relaxed when she didn't move.
Rolling off her sweaty body, Ryder brushed a damp tendril of hair from her face. “Thank you,” he murmured against the top of her head.
"Oh no, thank you."
He frowned as she pulled on her panties and shorts before lying back down. “Is that your way of telling me we have to get back to work?” he asked.
"Yes,” she hesitated, “kinda."
Wrapping his arms around her, he grinned. “I like kinda better."
* * * *
He'd been there going on two weeks now. Working alongside Eddie and the men during the day and sharing a bed with Eddie each and every night. It was the best time of his life, helping out these amazing people.
He couldn't believe it. He wouldn't have if not for the fact he had helped with the work. He stood with Jevonte and watched as Eddie ran the pump for the first time.
The windmill was up and functioning, allowing their new irrigation soaker system to work on the crops. The pump had been more temperamental, so she'd been working on it all day. And now it worked.
Ryder stared as smiles filled everyone's faces. His heart skipped a beat when she glanced at him. And yet, he knew she needed to get stateside. Now that the project was over, he would insist, getting her out of here. The instincts he had were screaming at him that there was trouble on the horizon. He didn't want her caught in the crossfire.
Her husky laughter skated across the air and reached him, making his heart swell with a feeling he was experiencing more and more around her. He scoffed and shook his head. Ryder knew exactly what it was he was feeling for her. He was teetering very close to love.
That night in the village there was a huge celebration. Ryder sat along the edge, more watching than participating. His eyes drifted over to where Eddie stood with a group of women.
His breath caught in his throat. She'd changed into a dress. Well, he thought it was a dress. Her breasts were barely covered by dark purple material, stomach was left completely bare and then she had on a tight sarong the same color. Her feet were bare, and he saw beads around her ankles.
She was beautiful.
As one, the women began to dance. His groin lurched as her body began to move to the music.
"Your Eddie certainly is beautiful,” a deep voice spoke from behind him. Tinashe settled beside him, his ebony skin shining in the firelight.
"What makes you think she is mine?” he asked even though the words made him smile.
A deep chuckle emerged from his friend. “The feelings between you two have been growing since the moment you walked into this camp. What you share is something many look for their whole lives."
"You think she feels the same way?"
"Yes. She positively glows when you are near her, or watching her."
Ryder smiled wider.
"She is something special, but she needs to be protected. You have to keep her safe."
Those words made the smile vanish like a puff of smoke. “You feel it, too?"
Tinashe nodded. “Yes. But she is stubborn and won't want to leave."
"If I have to carry her off over my shoulder, I'll get her to go. We'll leave in the morning."
"I will miss you, my friend."
"Thank you for everything, Tinashe. You've
taught me so much."
"It is good to see that cloud that was over you gone. She will be very good for you."
Ryder couldn't respond for Eddie had stopped right in front of him, hips swaying and one hand beckoning him toward her. When he just sat there staring, she reached down and took hold of his hand, pulling him to his feet.
"Dance with me,” she said looking at him with her big brown eyes.
"I'm not a good dancer,” he whispered as her hips moved against him.
"Stop thinking so hard. Feel the music; let the beat move through you.” Her hands put his on her full hips and the result was his body hardening instantly. “Close your eyes,” she ordered.
He did and lost himself over to the privilege of holding her in his arms and the hypnotic beat of the music. It wasn't until two songs later, that he laughingly guided her to the side and said, “I need a breather."
"You're not that bad of a dancer, Ryder Matthews."
His thumb skimmed her cheek. “You make it look that way."
Her face lost some of its joviality. “Is this where you tell me it's time to go?"
Ryder sighed. “We can't avoid it. I have a job to do, and that's get you home safely."
"A job,” she snapped, stepping away from his touch. “So that's what I boil down to ... a job?"
He frowned. “That's not how I meant it to sound."
A mask settled over her face. “Whatever. I don't want you to think that because you've fucked me, I'm just going with you because I am in love with you. I know there is a group of rebels on their way. And while I despise running to safety when these amazing people have to deal with the danger, I don't want to put them in more danger by my being here."
Reaching for her, Ryder scowled when she stepped further back. “You aren't just a job, Eddie."
She held his gaze for a moment then walked off, leaving him alone in a village full of merriment. Go after her, his mind screamed. His feet were planted firmly upon the packed earth. He saw her climb up onto the top of her vehicle.
Five minutes was all he gave her before following her to the outskirts of the village. The sun was setting and the ground had been cast in a golden glow. Without hesitation, he climbed up and sat beside her on the sole remaining seat.
[Six]
Eddie fumed in silence for a while. She didn't know why hearing him say he had a job to do made her so furious. It wasn't like he hadn't said that from the very beginning. For a moment, though, she imagined that there was something more, given the intense sparks that had flown between them and, subsequently, what they'd shared since that first kiss.
She shuddered as the vehicle leaned to the side and Ryder appeared. Eddie closed her eyes against the emotions that swamped her being in his presence. She would have to be an idiot to know there wasn't something more than just physical with the man who sat beside her, stretched out his powerful legs before him, and took up more than his share of her air.
A low roar vibrated through the air, bringing a smile to her face. There was just something majestic about hearing the raw power of a lion. Another roar was followed by another and another, until the impending night was filled with them.
"What are they doing?” Ryder's voice was hushed.
"Talking. Finding out where everyone is. Isn't it beautiful?"
"Haunting."
"That, too."
"I don't want you to be mad at me, Eddie,” he said.
"I'm just frustrated all the way around. It's not really at you, per se. I'm worried for my friends, and it makes me sick I can get out of harm's way but they can't. They are faced with this all the time."
"You can't help them if something happens to you. You can always come back."
He draped his arm around her, tugging her close to his warm body. She sighed and allowed the masculine scent that surrounded him to fill her senses. Contentment filled her as the dark sky began to fill with stars.
"I love it here. I don't want to go back to the States.” Eddie watched as the sky looked liked diamonds spread out on black velvet. She pulled the thick blanket they'd made love on earlier over them and sighed.
"I have to get you home, baby,” his words were hushed.
"But you can't make me stay.” She knew where she belonged. It was here. She had abilities that could give many people freedom from their hard life, and that was what she wanted to do.
"No, I can't."
Turning her face toward him, she looked over his profile. The light from the fire in the village casting a very soft, flickering glow around him. “Make love to me once more,” she whispered. “I want to feel you under this endless African sky."
In moments, she moaned in ecstasy as his rigid erection slipped inside her. Sitting on his lap, she hissed as he filled her full. She didn't argue as he removed her shirt and dropped it beside them.
His hands moved up her sides, reaching her breasts and skimming over them. Eddie whimpered as he began pulling on them with his fingers. They were so sensitive, and each tug sent another wave of desire through her.
She continued to ride his cock, not slamming down on him, just a nice easy motion that kept her hanging on the edge of her orgasm. Eddie wanted this to last.
Ryder moved his hands down to settle around her waist, and his mouth latched onto her breast. He suckled one and then moved to the other, his teeth nipping gently upon her pebbled tips.
She dug her fingers into his shoulders as she began to move faster upon his lap. Her head dropped back as a satisfied groan left her. Up and down her skin, his hands moved, the calluses heightening her pleasure.
Biting back a scream as he grazed her taut nipple with his teeth, she looked down at him. He pulled back and met her gaze. Their mouths met in a blaze of passion.
His hands rested on her hips, and he helped her increase the speed as he rose up to meet each stroke. She mewled into his mouth as she felt the orgasm bearing down upon her. Eddie drew back, her mouth bringing his lip with her for a moment, and then she let go and tipped her head back and really began to ride him in earnest. Desperate to find the star-blinding feeling she knew he would bring her.
Ryder's deep grunts were audible around her groans. Her breasts jiggled with each powerful thrust he delivered into her.
"Tell me when, baby,” he commanded.
"Now,” she begged. “Please, now!"
His fingers tightened into her hips before he surged into her one more time and came with a low roar. His release triggered hers, and she clamped her muscles as she slammed onto him one more time and came around his pulsing cock.
Shuddering and exhausted, she slumped forward. His heart pounded hard against her, and she pressed a kiss to his neck, enjoying the salty taste of his sweat.
"We should get going now, that way we can catch an earlier bus."
He tilted her head up toward his. “Is that what you want to do?"
"No, but hanging around isn't going to make leaving any easier.” She moved out of his embrace and shoved quickly into her clothes. “I'll go say my goodbyes and grab my gear.” Eddie climbed down and hustled back to the village.
She ignored the tears that ran down her face as she drove them into the night, the fires from the village swallowed up by the blackness. Her eyes worked hard to keep them on the faint road and then the tire blew. Carefully coming to a stop, she turned off the engine and climbed out.
"Damn it all, I thought I checked the tires better than that.” She kicked the useless tire with her shoe.
"I'll help,” Ryder said materializing beside her.
"Here,” she opened the tailgate and grabbed a gun and handed it to him, “get up on top of the truck and keep an eye out."
Ryder frowned as his hands closed over a gun. He had no idea she'd even had something like this in her possession. Walking to the front, he held it in front of the very dim headlights. It was a Vektor R4 assault rifle. On top, there was a scope.
Turing away from the light, he put it up to his eyes and smiled. It had a night
vision capability. With a bound, he jumped up on the hood and made his way to the top of the vehicle.
Every now and then, he scanned down around where Eddie worked quickly at changing the tire. The gun was ready to fire just in case as he checked their perimeter. He frowned as his heart leapt to his throat. A lone man was making his way toward them.
"Eddie,” he barked low, “we're about to have company."
He jumped down to the ground, his body filling with the familiar adrenaline of battle.
"What? Man or beast?” she asked him, and he noted there was no fear in her voice.
"One man."
"Army or rebel?"
"I don't know. How the hell do you tell the difference?"
"Let me see. It's most likely a rebel. The army doesn't normally travel solo.” She never stopped working on changing the tire.
"He's getting closer, and he's picked up speed. I want you to hide,” he ordered as his body tensed. The man had drawn a knife. “I don't think he's looking to make friends."
"I'm almost done,” she argued.
"Now, Eddie! Move!” he snapped.
"If I hide, and he gets here, we lose our ride. Our only chance is for me to get this finished, and we haul ass out of here."
Not our only one. “Hurry,” he said, maneuvering so he was hidden but could still cover Eddie.
"I'm not putzing here, damn it.” She lowered the jack and went back to work on tightening the lug nuts.
Ryder tensed the closer the man grew. He yelled something out to Eddie, but Ryder couldn't understand it. His lip lifted as she lifted her head and answered him. Why was she doing that?
I'm here, Eddie. I won't let him hurt you.
The man moved into view better and was gesturing with the knife. Eddie shook her head and answered him.
Two more steps, and I'm shooting him.
The man gestured toward the vehicle and again, Eddie gave a negative shake of her head. She stepped to her left and hefted the tire iron in her hand and said in English, “There is no way I'm giving you sex or my vehicle."
A low growl erupted from Ryder. Hell no! Ain't no man touchin’ my woman. He raised the muzzle and moved out of the dark. “Back the fuck off, man."
Coming Together: At Last, Volume Two Page 4