He deepened the kiss. As always, desire flared to life. But they were in an open-sided Jeep, parked on the side of the road.
Breaking away, he grinned at her, all the while marveling at the strength of his own arousal. He’d never felt anything like he felt with her, hot and consuming, searing yet safe.
Tentatively, she smiled back. “What’s so funny?”
“I’m just happy. This is the first time you’ve kissed me without it being after one of your episodes.”
“Hmmm.” She looked thoughtful. “I think you’re right.”
“I know I am.” He wanted to press her, ask her what she thought this new development might mean, but knew better. Instead, he put the Jeep into gear and pulled back onto the road.
They went miles before they saw another car passing acres and acres of rolling farmland, dotted with the occasional mesquite tree and odd herd of cattle.
“Wherearewe?” she asked, a slight frown crinkling her brow. “Are we still in Texas? Never mind another state, this looks like another planet.”
He laughed. “I like West Texas. All wide open sky and room to run.”
“It’s different. It makes me feel smaller, somehow.”
“When I was small, my dad used to bring me out here. I’d pretend I was a wild animal or bird, deer or hawk or mountain lion, and wonder what it’d be like to have unfettered freedom.”
“It’s wonderful.”
At his startled look, she bit her lip.
“I would imagine,” she amended.
“Here we are.” Slowing, he turned off the road. “We’ll be glad to have the Jeep now. You’d better hold on.” The dirt path to his deer lease wound up one hill and down another. Rocks and dirt warred with potholes and ruts. The Jeep bounced valiantly. He was glad the seat belts worked, holding them in place.
“Some people do this for fun,” he told her.
She raised a brow. “What, they like to make their teeth rattle?”
“Yes. It’s even better when you do this in the mud. Mudding, we call it.”
Instead of answering, she shook her head.
A huge hawk screeched in the sky above them, diving into the tall grass for prey. Watching intently, Jewel licked her lips, her eyes blazing green.
“How I envy that bird.”
“That’s what I was talking about. You do understand, don’t you?”
“Oh yes. You have no idea how much.”
They continued on, over gully and ravine, up one embankment and down another.
“Whereisthis place?” she asked, hanging on to the panic bar on her side.
He tossed her a grin. “I told you, it’s remote.”
“That’s the understatement of the year.”
“The more remote, the better the hunting.”
“Do you hunt here a lot?”
“In season, yes. The area’s plentiful with game. Deer, wild pigs, turkey, you name it.”
