A Trick of the Moon

by Melinda Barron

  “I didn't hear the bell,” Maura said, glancing around. What would be the best way to stand up without exposing herself to her father's friend and worker?

  “I took care of it,” Bear replied. “Who are these two?”

  His take-charge attitude wormed its way under her skin. His use of the word “orgy” was now settling into her brain. No matter what he was seeing,

  “these two” were none of his business. Well, maybe not. Bear was one of her father's best friends, and she knew as soon as he thought it was a decent time to call, he would be phoning Charlie Atwell and informing him he'd just found Maura in bed with two men. And they were all naked, so it was very obvious what had happened.

  Oh crap, how had this happened?

  “These two are friends of mine,” she said quickly, before either of them could reply. Dario was now sitting up on her other side, his body rigid as if ready to spring into action.

  “So it seems.” Bear's sarcasm didn't sit well with her.

  “What I do with my personal life is none of your business.”

  “In your father's house?” This time he sneered at her. “How could you?

  And with a Mexican and a half-breed?”

  “No!” Maura screamed the word as Dario launched himself at Bear, who moved backward just in time to keep from being tackled. Dario landed on his feet, his hand balled into a fist, one she was happy to see he didn't throw.

  “You've got three seconds.” Dario's words were full of venom. “Get out.”

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  “Gladly.” Bear glared at her and then calmly walked out the door, slamming it behind him.

  Maura fell back onto the bed, slapping the palm of her hand against her forehead. “Shit! We left everything open? How did we do that?”

  “Because we didn't expect what happened,” Declan said. He sprawled out next to her and pulled her close to him. He put his arm around her head and stroked her stomach. “I'm so sorry.”

  “No, I'm sorry. I didn't know Bear was such a racist. And he's Indian. How could he say those things?”

  Dario sat down facing her, unashamed in his naked state. He stroked her thigh and shook his head. “I thought you were a lawyer. Surely you've met enough people to know racism isn't limited to one race of people.”

  Maura chuckled to try and relieve the tension in her body. “Yes, but I've known him all my life. I never thought he would be so…hateful.”

  “He was in shock,” Declan said. “If he saw you growing up, then he was stunned to find you in an adult situation, which confirmed your adulthood, but pissed him off. His protective nature kicked in. He did look like he wanted to kick our asses.”

  There was a long silence. Both men continued to stroke her sheet-clad body. Declan finally broke the silence. “It's all right, you know. I've heard that particular term before, and I'm sure Dario has too.”

  Maura barely managed a nod. “What Bear said wasn't right, and I don't regret what happened, no matter what's taken place this morning. I hope you both believe that.”

  The smiles they gave her made her stomach clench in desire. If Bear hadn't come along, they could be having wake-up sex, stroking and kissing and caressing until the three of them shuddered in ecstasy. But that wouldn't happen now, unfortunately.

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  She needed to make things right, go and talk with the wrangler, take charge of the situation.

  “I need to go chat with him, keep him from calling my dad. He's stronger than he was after the stroke, true, but I don't want to think about what hearing about his daughter's ménage could do to his recovery.”

  Declan placed a gentle kiss on her lips, then stood. “Can we run two showers at once and have enough hot water?”

  Maura nodded. “After I've talked to Bear, I'll shower; then we'll make a plan for the day.”

  She waited until they were gone, then located jeans, a bra, and a T-shirt.

  She threw the clothes on, then went through the house, moving toward the office. The sound of running water followed in her wake. She hadn't told them to, but hopefully when they were done, Declan and Dario would make themselves at home in the kitchen.

  Bear was in the office, shuffling papers. He had one hand on the registration book, as if he was checking it against the printouts from the computer. She cleared her throat, but he didn't look up at her.

  “Don't worry. I'm not going to call your father. I have more respect for him than that. Of course, you obviously don't, so I'm only going to say this once.

  Get them out. They better not still be here tonight.”

  Her mouth dropped open and stayed that way. How dare he think he had the authority to tell her what to do! This was her father's business, and in the papers that were drawn up, she was in charge if he was incapacitated, which he definitely was at the moment. “Who is here and not here is none of your business as far as I'm concerned. I've hired Declan and Dario to—”

  “Hired?” He slammed his hand on the counter, and she jumped just a little. Now he was looking at her, or more to the point, glaring at her. “Is this some sort of new fringe-benefit program for employees? Work for one day, then screw the boss?”

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  Rage boiled through her as she stepped closer to the counter. “Don't you dare talk to me like that. You may not like what I do, but it's none of your business. I don't have to explain myself to you or to anyone. Right now this is my home, and while you may not like it, I have the right to do as I please.”

  “You wouldn't have done it if your daddy was here.” His eyes were narrow slits now. “You'd have to explain yourself to him.”

  “No, I wouldn't. I'm an adult, not a child. But I would have taken one of the cabins, out of respect for my father, if he had been here. I will talk to my father about things as I see fit. Stay out of it.”

  Bear snorted, then slammed the registration book closed. “Fine. I won't tell Charlie his little girl's a slut.”

  “Get out, Bear.” Now her hand was balled up into a fist, just like Dario's had been earlier. She had never seen Bear like this, and it was definitely a side of him she didn't like.

  “Are you firing me?” He laughed in disbelief. “That's rich. You don't have the authority to fire me.”

  “No, I'm not firing you. But right now, I don't want to see your face.” She turned toward the door, then wheeled back around. “But if you ever say anything so hateful to my friends again, I will fire you, because while my dad's out, I'm in charge.”

  For a moment she thought Bear would cuss her out. Then he turned without saying another word and slammed through the outer door, the sound of his boots hitting the deck echoing back into the office.

  She walked behind the counter and sank into the chair behind the desk.

  Her hands were shaking, and she wasn't quite sure what to do next. There was no doubt that Bear would say something to her father. He might not do it right now, but somewhere along the line he'd mention to Charlie that he'd found his daughter in bed, naked, surrounded by two men.

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  The thought of her father learning about her sex life wasn't a pleasant one. He knew she wasn't sweet and innocent. She'd had two steady boyfriends in her life, and she'd brought both of them home to meet her father. He'd told her they could share a room, but she could tell when he'd said it that he didn't like the idea.

  She'd refrained at that time, out of respect for him. Plus, she'd been younger. She was in her early thirties now, and things were different. Having a lover stay in her room probably wouldn't bother her father as much now as it would have then. But having two? That might be a different story.

  How would he react after Bear made his announcement, no matter when it was? Better that she tell him herself than let him find out from someone else.

  Hey Dad, while you're learning to tie your shoes again, I'm having a grand time in my bedroom with
two guys. Yeah, the ones I hired to check out the kiva, so technically I'm screwing around with the employees. The thought of it sounded dirty and wrong. Damn Bear for putting that thought in her head.

  She should run after him and kick him in the ass, remind him he was an employee, not her father and not her moral compass.

  “Maura?” She looked up to find Declan in the doorway. His wet hair hung over his shoulders, and his T-shirt and jeans clung to his body, making her want a repeat of last night, no matter the consequences. “Are you okay?”

  “Fine.” She ran her hands down her thighs, then glanced around. “I have a little paperwork I probably need to do. I should also check the answering machine and Web site for reservations. Have you eaten?”

  His chuckle warmed her insides. “Dario's making huevos rancheros. He's a pretty good cook, actually. It'll keep us filled for a while. Plus he and I were going to pack food for the trip to the kiva, if that's okay with you, boss.”

  His teasing tone lightened her mood even more. “Yes, that's fine. Let me check things here real quick; then I'll come and eat. I'll shower while you two pack the food.”

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  “That's a pity,” he said, his tone turning sensual. “I was going to offer to wash your back, even if it meant me taking another shower.”

  “Watch it, buster, or I'll dock your pay.” She tried to sound stern, but it was hard when his words made her feel all tingly inside. “You can go and get the truck too. It's the green one parked by the barn. It's hard to miss, since it has a winch on it. Don't let Bear give you any crap about using it.”

  “Don't worry, I can handle myself.” Declan held out his hand, and she took it. He pulled her close to him and kissed her, his touch soft and sensual.

  She felt as if she would melt right on the spot as he pulled her into a hug.

  “Now, let's go eat. I don't know about you, but I'm starved, and I'm sure the eggs are ready by now.”

  They walked to the kitchen arm in arm to find Dario placing a tray of biscuits in the center of the table. “It's about time you got here,” he said, putting on a falsetto voice. “I slave all morning long and you two are off playing.”

  He put his forearm over his forehead and sighed in exaggeration. “Nobody appreciates what I do. It makes me want to cry.” He sniffled, then peeked out at Maura, who burst into laughter.

  “You missed your calling. You should have been an actor.” She crossed the room and kissed him. “I hope this food's good.”

  “It's fantastic, skipper. My cooking skills are pretty good. All those years spent alone working undercover meant I had to cook or eat fast food twenty-four/seven. Trust me, you're going to love this.” He kissed her back, nibbling on her lower lip.

  Maura had no doubt he was right, but she wasn't sure which she would love more, his cooking or the kisses. Somehow she figured it was the latter, and that was just fine with her.

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  Chapter Seven

  Declan took a deep breath, working to control the excitement that threatened to overtake him. This wasn't the first time he'd been inside a kiva used by the ancient ones, but it was the first time that he was the primary archeologist on-site. Even if this was not being done for the university or for publication, this was an ancient ruin, and he was the first to explore it. The idea made his body sing almost as much as making love with Maura last night.

  Almost but not quite as much. Holding her in his arms, feeling her wet folds tighten around him as she came, was the culmination of a long-lived fantasy. The reality of it was better than the dream, though. Ten times better.

  His cock hardened at the memory, and then Dario's voice drifted down from above. “Hey, what do you see?”

  Declan's feet were on the last rung of the rope ladder, hanging above the ground. He took the flashlight he'd stuffed in the pack around his waist and pulled it out, then turned it on. Three pillars ran from floor to ceiling, the wood smooth and free of markings.

  “It's round, and it looks like we don't have to worry about footprints.”

  “Round footprints? What the hell does that mean?” Dario laughed, the sound without humor.

  Declan stepped down from the ladder, shining his light around the room.

  There were no pieces of furniture, but in one area there were several pieces of pottery. They looked fairly new, and he examined the floor again, making sure he'd seen what he thought he had.

  “Declan!”

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  “What?” He glanced up to see Dario's head sticking into the kiva opening.

  “Tell us what you see. We're dying of curiosity up here.”

  “The room is round, and the last person here used a rake to destroy any footprints that might have been left in their wake. That means it's being used.

  If you guys want to come down, go ahead. Just don't touch the walls when you get here. And send down my bag first.”

  The bag came down, attached to a rope; inside was a small stepladder, two more flashlights, various brushes and small tools, and a digital camera. He opened it up, then took out the camera before heading toward the pottery, stepping lightly. A soft grunt alerted him he would soon have company. He turned to watch Maura descend the ladder, taking the rungs slowly and carefully. He walked back over to help her, then put his free arm around her hips and held her closely.

  Once she was on the ground he didn't let go; instead he caressed her side, then pinched her rear. She pushed at him gently. “Behave.”

  “It's hard with you around. And I do mean that literally.” Warmth suffused him when she put her hand on his chest.

  From the ladder, Dario's voice drifted down to them. “I'm coming.”

  Dario landed next to them, and Declan took a step away from Maura. “We, me included, need to remember this place was used for religious ceremonies.

  We need to show respect down here.”

  “Gotcha,” Dario whispered. “There's not much down here, is there?”

  Declan pointed his flashlight toward the pottery. “It's new.” He walked toward it and crouched down when he was beside it.

  “How do you know?” Maura came up behind him, and Dario stood just to the right, adding a beam from his flashlight to illuminate the pottery.

  “Full of corn,” Dario said. “Is that an offering to the gods?”

  “Yes,” Declan replied, pointing at the small, intricately carved doll that rested near the pottery. It was thin and bent over as if dancing, a horn A Trick of the Moon

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  extending from its mouth and tendrils of hair sticking straight up from its head. A large, erect phallus extended from between its legs. “This is a kachina, and this is your lesson for the day, boys and girls, or boy and girl, to be more accurate. Do you know what this carving is and what it represents?”

  Dario held up his hand, and Declan nodded at him. “Um, teacher, I know what a kachina is, and I'm sure Maura does too. This is an offering, and that kachina represents a god.”

  “You're right, Dario. Sorry to treat you two as if you didn't grow up here.

  I'm using my memorized lecture notes.” Declan stood and slapped dust away from his jeans. “Kachinas represent different gods and spirits. This one is Kokopelli, a—”

  “Fertility god.” Maura took a step backward. “I think I might go back up top if someone is seeking to make babies down here.”

  The men both laughed as she continued to back up. “This one's a pretty early representation. The later ones omit the penis. Is there someone who works for the Full Moon who's newly married and wanting a baby?” Declan stood and shone his flashlight around the kiva again.

  “Not that I know of.” She pointed at the carving. “Since this has a penis, does that mean it's not one you could buy at a tourist trap?”

  “Yes, that's what it means,” Declan said. “Someone carved this, and they did a fantastic job of it. The work is exquisite.
”

  He itched to pick it up, examine it. But its presence here changed the scene. This was an archeological site, true, but it was also being used for religious purposes. He wouldn't touch the items and destroy what someone had obviously set up with painstaking accuracy if this was being used for religious purposes.

  Since he couldn't touch, he did the next best thing. He leaned over and snapped a few photos, checking the memory card when he was done to make sure he'd captured the photos like he wanted.

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  “Any of your workers follow the ancient ways?” Dario stepped up next to Maura, holding the flashlight to illuminate the both of them.

  “Again, not that I know of.” She shrugged. “But if they do, that's their business. Declan, do you think this kiva is new?”

  “No. I truly believe it's been here for centuries. But it's been taken care of, which means it has great significance for someone around here. We need to figure out who's doing it, ask them about the structure, and how they found out about it.”

  Declan looked around again, fighting the urge to take soil samples and run his light over the walls, see if there were traces of drawings left anywhere.

  The walls looked to be empty, which was a little strange. Once he got started he wouldn't want to stop, and he needed to take things slowly.

  Despite the fact they were underground and in a tight, enclosed space, Declan's spirit soared as he examined the kiva. This was one of the most magnificent things he'd ever seen, and he wanted to go interview everyone within a hundred-mile radius, see if they would tell him anything, see if he could find someone who was still practicing the old ways.