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She collapsed on top of him.
She couldn’t move for a moment.
Evidently neither could Caleb. His heart was pounding hard against her. “I think we’ve blown your five minutes.” Then he was on his feet, picking her up and carrying her back into the creek. “I hope you believe it was unique enough to be worthwhile.” He let her slide down his naked body; she experienced the coolness of the water and his every hard sinew and muscle. She began to feel another stirring. He added softly, “It was for me.”
“Cook or not, I’m not letting Rodland orchestrate this particular action.”
“Hallelujah. Then let’s see how it feels underwater.”
“I don’t know if that would be—” Then he was inside her again and the chill and heat blending together was wildly erotic in both sensation and texture. The rhythm of the movement was like nothing she had ever felt.
And she forgot what she had been about to say…
***
It was over an hour later that they were both dressed and heading back toward the camp.
“I was wondering if Rodland might decide to drop in,” Jane said. “Sometimes his sense of humor has rather mischievous overtones.”
“I would have drowned him,” Caleb said flatly.
“I wouldn’t have been pleased, either.” She gave him a sideways glance. “Though I was surprised to see you at the creek this morning.”
“But you were ready for me.”
She nodded slowly. “I was ready. I’d been thinking about you. But it was still a surprise.” She turned to face him. “You don’t often do anything impulsively. Was this an impulse?”
“No, it didn’t start out that way. But once started it was pure sexual impulse and a kind of spectacular lust.” He stopped and thought about it. “Yes, ‘spectacular’ is the right word. I couldn’t have stopped if I’d wanted to. I needed you too much.” He smiled crookedly. “And you needed me. I was hoping that you would.”
“Impulse,” she prompted.
“I didn’t sleep much last night. Most of the time I just lay there and watched you. I realized that everything was changing for us, and it was scaring me. I wasn’t stupid enough to believe that I’d be able to just coast along when something this world shaking was happening to you.”
“And happening to you,” she said quietly. “If you meant what you said about accepting the fact that this child will always be part of our family.”
“I meant it.” He looked away from her. “And that’s a gigantic change for me. But it’s one I’m looking forward to making because I know it will be a joy to watch you with him.” He suddenly frowned. “Him. But it might not be a boy. Did Campbell tell you about the sex?”
She shook her head. “Too early. Usually between eighteen and twenty weeks. Does it matter to you?”
“I just don’t want to keep calling the baby ‘it.’ That seems…rude.”
She started to laugh. “I don’t think the baby would care. But if you don’t want to offend, you could take turns with male or female pronouns.”
“That’s not efficient…or satisfactory.”
She was still chuckling. “I could consult a crystal ball or maybe a Ouija board.”
He grinned. “Or you could call your brother Michael and see if he has any special insights.”
“We don’t try to treat Michael as special.” She glanced at him. “You should understand that, Caleb.”
“Oh, yes.” His tone was wry. “I was joking. Michael and I understand each other. I’ll go for alternating the pronouns.”
She was no longer smiling. “And I’d ask Campbell to rush the test, but that might be difficult unless we can get him away from Bohdan.”
“Which we will.” He took her hand. “Another problem to take care of. That was why I called Palik this morning. I asked him to send out a team to Kilgoray to track down any signs of Campbell ASAP. Bohdan mentioned two trips to Kilgoray. He must have made contact with some of the villagers who might have info.” He paused. “And I told him we also need to get our hands on one of Bohdan’s men who can give us information about his location. That sniper you tracked down wasn’t able to help much.”
“Except about Felicity,” Jane said bitterly. “And no one considered her of any importance.”
