offer of a ride, Keira. Before we go anywhere, would you mind terribly if I sat in front?"
"Oh, sorry.” I felt my face turning red, something I'd thought myself incapable of doing. You'd have thought I was still in junior high. To cover my embarrassment, I turned back to face the front and started the engine. “Please, come on up."
Adam maneuvered himself into the front, crawling between the two front seats and sliding into the passenger side. It's a pretty tight squeeze for a full-grown person, but he managed it with considerable suppleness.
His clothes were still slightly damp and clung to his skin, the cloth of his shorts outlining strong thighs and other parts I tried not to look at. Thick black hair swept back from a small widow's peak on his forehead, trailing over his collar and nearly halfway down his back, setting off his pale, smooth skin. Definitely not Greg Brady ... more like a dark dream. Adam would probably fit right in at an actual full moon ritual. My thoughts kept going despite my intentions. Adam, skyclad. Oh, goddess. Not going there.
It wasn't easy, but I took a stab at forcing myself to stare straight ahead and not let my mind wander there ... or to the other question in my muddled brain: “boxers or briefs?” I stole another glance. Silk boxers ... if anything at all. He was definitely not the tightie whitie type.
His arm brushed my hand as he folded his body into the front passenger seat, grace in motion, contained energy in action, smooth, fluid, and elegant, but with a hint of controlled power hovering just below the surface. Almost like a shapeshifter. If Carlton was comfortable in his own skin, Adam was poetry in his. Poetry and a little music besides.
"Where can I drop you?” I said, my subconscious taking over and spouting the expected pleasantries. Thank goodness for social conventions or I might find myself babbling like an idiot.
"If it's not too far out of your way, could you take me to the Wild Moon?"
Somehow that figured. A fancy exclusive resort would be just the place for Adam Walker. But I was a little surprised he'd come all this way to vacation. I'd always pictured him in places like Marbella or Monte Carlo, not B.F.E. Texas.
"So what brings you all the way out here?"
"I came to talk to the undertaker, but the building was locked. Since my driver had left, I walked around the back to see if someone was here. Then the rain caught me."
"Why? Did someone die?"
Stupid questions. Embarrassing. I'd be happy to not totally turn into an idiot child before I could get him back to the ranch.
"No, nothing like that. I just needed ... well, it's kind of personal, actually. Kind of a family obligation."
He hesitated a moment. “Were you here for...?” He gestured, indicating the hearse.
"No, not me,” I said quickly. “Just ... you can say it was a family obligation, too. I'm sure he'll be back later. I can give you the number.” I reached around to grab my backpack, meaning to get out one of Marty's business cards.
Adam put his hand on my arm, stopping my movement and sending another flash of heat through me.
"Thanks anyway, but I have his number. Now how about that ride?” His eyes crinkled as he smiled, briefly showing his white teeth.
I exhaled the breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
"Sure. Coming right up. Chauffeur service."
I turned to face front and started the car, promising myself to pay attention to my driving. I had to stop thinking about him, or I'd end up in a wreck. Nothing like a rampaging herd of hormones to ruin your concentration.
* * * *
I kept my attention on the road, not saying much on the trip out to the ranch. Normally, I loved driving in the quiet shadows of the Hill Country, alone with my thoughts, wrapping the velvet darkness around me like a warm cloak, or a lover's voice. Tonight wasn't quite so silent. In addition to the unnerving presence of my passenger, whom I could feel so very solidly next to me despite my strong shields, the
"Oh, sorry.” I felt my face turning red, something I'd thought myself incapable of doing. You'd have thought I was still in junior high. To cover my embarrassment, I turned back to face the front and started the engine. “Please, come on up."
Adam maneuvered himself into the front, crawling between the two front seats and sliding into the passenger side. It's a pretty tight squeeze for a full-grown person, but he managed it with considerable suppleness.
His clothes were still slightly damp and clung to his skin, the cloth of his shorts outlining strong thighs and other parts I tried not to look at. Thick black hair swept back from a small widow's peak on his forehead, trailing over his collar and nearly halfway down his back, setting off his pale, smooth skin. Definitely not Greg Brady ... more like a dark dream. Adam would probably fit right in at an actual full moon ritual. My thoughts kept going despite my intentions. Adam, skyclad. Oh, goddess. Not going there.
It wasn't easy, but I took a stab at forcing myself to stare straight ahead and not let my mind wander there ... or to the other question in my muddled brain: “boxers or briefs?” I stole another glance. Silk boxers ... if anything at all. He was definitely not the tightie whitie type.
His arm brushed my hand as he folded his body into the front passenger seat, grace in motion, contained energy in action, smooth, fluid, and elegant, but with a hint of controlled power hovering just below the surface. Almost like a shapeshifter. If Carlton was comfortable in his own skin, Adam was poetry in his. Poetry and a little music besides.
"Where can I drop you?” I said, my subconscious taking over and spouting the expected pleasantries. Thank goodness for social conventions or I might find myself babbling like an idiot.
"If it's not too far out of your way, could you take me to the Wild Moon?"
Somehow that figured. A fancy exclusive resort would be just the place for Adam Walker. But I was a little surprised he'd come all this way to vacation. I'd always pictured him in places like Marbella or Monte Carlo, not B.F.E. Texas.
"So what brings you all the way out here?"
"I came to talk to the undertaker, but the building was locked. Since my driver had left, I walked around the back to see if someone was here. Then the rain caught me."
"Why? Did someone die?"
Stupid questions. Embarrassing. I'd be happy to not totally turn into an idiot child before I could get him back to the ranch.
"No, nothing like that. I just needed ... well, it's kind of personal, actually. Kind of a family obligation."
He hesitated a moment. “Were you here for...?” He gestured, indicating the hearse.
"No, not me,” I said quickly. “Just ... you can say it was a family obligation, too. I'm sure he'll be back later. I can give you the number.” I reached around to grab my backpack, meaning to get out one of Marty's business cards.
Adam put his hand on my arm, stopping my movement and sending another flash of heat through me.
"Thanks anyway, but I have his number. Now how about that ride?” His eyes crinkled as he smiled, briefly showing his white teeth.
I exhaled the breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
"Sure. Coming right up. Chauffeur service."
I turned to face front and started the car, promising myself to pay attention to my driving. I had to stop thinking about him, or I'd end up in a wreck. Nothing like a rampaging herd of hormones to ruin your concentration.
* * * *
I kept my attention on the road, not saying much on the trip out to the ranch. Normally, I loved driving in the quiet shadows of the Hill Country, alone with my thoughts, wrapping the velvet darkness around me like a warm cloak, or a lover's voice. Tonight wasn't quite so silent. In addition to the unnerving presence of my passenger, whom I could feel so very solidly next to me despite my strong shields, the
Similar Books
