Rescuing Her Seal(19)
“That’s pretty amazing,” Lilah offered once he flopped down on the blanket next to her, too tired from multiple trudges back and forth into the jungle to think of a flirty comeback to that.
“It’s amazing that I built a fire?” He chuckled. “Men have been doing that for their women since the dawn of civilization. Can’t beat genetics when it comes to survival.”
The sun had started to set, throwing orange and pink and purple into the blue overhead in a wholly gorgeous panorama of colors that bled through his heart. There was literally no place on earth he’d rather be.
She rolled onto her side, facing him, propping her head up on her hand. “Are you saying you’re going to make me your cavewoman in exchange?”
“Nah. Free of charge. Unless I have to kill a mastodon to keep it from trampling you. That costs.”
Her laugh immediately had him thinking up a few more prehistoric jokes. Mostly his brain seemed stuck on the idea of drifting into Neanderthal territory with Lilah thrown over his shoulder as he dragged her back to his cave.
“I’ll make dinner anyway,” she said. “How about that?”
Somehow they’d slipped into an easy conversation that he didn’t hate. Sure he’d rather roll her right under him and get busy knocking down more of her inhibitions. But they did need to eat. And he liked talking to her. She was funny and surprising and sometimes sweet in the midst of saying things that knocked him for a loop.
“You know how to cook over an open fire? That’s impressive.”
“I um… didn’t exactly realize there was a trick to it.” She worried her lower lip. “Is there? I’m not a savvy outdoor person like I guess you are.”
“Yeah. ’Fraid so. I used to go camping all the time on the barrier islands off the coast of Mississippi,” he offered by way of explanation for how he’d come by his savviness. “So I’ll cook. I’ll only ask for nondepraved sexual favors in return.”
Her mouth tipped up at the corners. Progress.
He pried up the lid on the cooler and nearly wept when he saw the six pack of Beck’s Dark nestled into a bed of ice. God Bless Jaxson Hyland. Beer, beach, and babe—the trifecta of awesome—were all within his reach. He popped the top off the first beer and guzzled half of it in less than a minute. And then remembered his manners.
He uncapped a second beer and handed it to Lilah. “This is practically a requirement when camping on the beach.”
She took the bottle and wrapped her lips around it to sip it like a girl, which was so visually stunning he nearly dropped his own beer. Subject change needed stat.
“Dinner in a couple of minutes,” he squawked and turned to root through the bags for stuff to eat. Hot dogs on a stick was right about his speed by this point.
Except watching her eat a roasted wiener was worse than watching her drink beer from the bottle. He nearly let loose an audible groan as she sucked the rounded end between her lips.
And he was officially toast. Holding back was not going to work; otherwise it would be this time next year before she made a move. More beer. Then more kissing. The best way to get started on a passionate, epic adventure was to get naked.
He cleared his throat as he handed her a fresh bottle. “Talk to me about being a photographer. I want to hear about this rut you’re in.”
She took her time sipping the beer, and he took his time watching her because it was a huge turn-on. Awareness rolled through him, thick and heavy, like the tropical air around them.
“I love my camera,” she finally said. “I see a whole other world through the lens. But I like still things. Bridges. Trees. Things that have a story, history.”
“What’s wrong with that?” Sounded nice.
She made a face. “Anyone can take a picture of a bridge. Sure there’s a lot that goes into the lighting and composition. But this is the digital age. A hundred people can take a picture and post it online. Ten of them might get lucky and capture the perfect shot. My skills aren’t overly marketable, and my subjects are largely boring anyway. I need to up my game.”
Now they were getting somewhere. He nodded. “You’re in a professional rut because what you like taking pictures of isn’t cutting it. What do you need to do to get out of this rut?”
She shrugged and downed more beer, scarcely seeming to realize she’d almost finished it. No problem. He had another one for her and no place to be.
“I need to take pictures of people,” she announced wryly. “Probably you won’t be shocked to find out that people aren’t my forte. For the most part, I’m just really uncomfortable around anyone who can talk back. So yeah. I’m supposed to be on an adventure designed to help me open up and find a way to connect with my muse.”