Chapter Seven      I woke the next morning feeling disoriented. There was a heavy weight lying across my waist and heat was seeping into my back. Slowly I opened my eyes and took in my surroundings. As I did, everything that had happened the day before came rushing back and I realized that the weight on my waist and the heat against my back was Kevin.   I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. You weren’t supposed to fall asleep, I chided myself. I moved slowly, trying to not to wake Kevin as I did, but his arm tightened around my waist and held me to him. I shuddered involuntarily as feelings swept through my body, making me aware that Kevin was all man.   I laid there quietly for a few moments and tried once again to get up. This time, instead of increasing the pressure of his arm, he spoke. “Don’t go.”    I stilled my movements and noticed my breathing had become labored. I took a moment to calm myself and then I turned over to face him. His eyes were open and a smile played about his lips. “Good morning,” he said softly, as if we were in the habit of waking up together every day. I ducked my head to hide my blushing cheeks and returned his greeting. He chuckled slightly and moved his hand under my chin and lifted my head. “Thank you,” he said and suddenly I went still. I didn’t want his thanks. It was my fault that he had nearly died the day before. “Don’t,” I stated defensively and pulled back. I stood up quickly and moved away. “Don’t what?” he asked, his confusion showing through his voice and in his eyes. “Don’t thank me. I almost got you killed yesterday,” I nearly screamed, the sound echoing off the stonewalls of the cave. He sat up and began to stand. My eyes went wide as the blanket dipped and he grabbed for the blanket. He wrapped the blanket around his hips and moved towards me. His footsteps were sure and determined and I began to squirm.    “Let’s get one thing straight. You did not almost get me killed. I knew the risks as well as you did and I wanted to continue,” he said, his nose nearly touching my own.   I started to shake my head in denial, only to have my motions stilled as he raised his hand and cupped the side of my face. I didn’t know whether I should back away or move closer. His nearness both scared me and exhilarated me.   “You’re knowledge and strength saved me out there yesterday and if it wasn’t for you I would have been swept downstream,” he whispered softly, his eyes never leaving mine. “But,” ”No buts. You got me to shelter, kept me warm and you fed me. You did everything right Cassie. Don’t beat yourself up, honey. You did nothing wrong,” he reiterated as his head moved closer to mine.   While I was tying to find a rebuttal, he lowered his head and pressed his lips to mine in a gentle kiss. I tensed and then his arms curled around me and my body went pliant under the sure strokes of his hands on my back. My lips fell open and a sharp gasp escaped as his tongue swept inside and deftly conquered the new territory. I sighed and my tongue moved to meet his, swirling and moving against his. He withdrew and unconsciously I followed. A low growl erupted from the back of his throat as I stroked my tongue against his lips before entering the warm cavern of his mouth.    He tasted of heaven and a tiny starburst exploded behind my eyelids. It was like coming home or taking a long drink of ice-cold water on a sweltering day. A shiver of pleasure ripped up my spine as his tongue stroked against mine, encouraging me. He pulled me closer and through the blanket I could feel his hardness pressed against my tummy. A wave of pure pleasure rolled over me and I moaned as I tightened my grip on his shoulders.    Kevin broke the kiss and our ragged breathing echoed off the cave’s walls. We stood there in each other’s arms, not moving, trying to gain our equilibrium. ”It wasn’t your fault,” he whispered again as he placed his lips against my forehead. My shoulders slumped and I began to feel guilty all over again. Like he could read my mind, he continued to gently place kisses all over my upturned face as he repeated over and over that it wasn’t my fault. I let myself listen to his words and I began to believe in what he was saying.   As my body relaxed, I leaned into him and his arms curled around me. I buried my head in the crook of his shoulder and let my guilt float away on the wind. Yes I had known of the possible danger, but I had offered him the chance to turn back, and he had decided to go on. I had done my best and I got us to safety. I hadn’t failed when it really counted and we were standing here as living proof. I pulled back slightly and looked up into his clear green eyes. “Thank you,” I whispered, suddenly feeling freer than I had in hours. He smiled down at me and gave me a squeeze. “You’re welcome,” he returned and then his stomach growled. I laughed and moved away. “Why don’t you see if your clothes are dry and I’ll see about fixing us some breakfast,” I offered. He quickly agreed and we moved off in different directions, him to get dressed and me to cook breakfast.   A few minutes later, I had the coffee boiling and the bacon frying. “That smells good,” Kevin commented as he sat down next to the fire. “Yes it does,” I replied as I poured a cup of coffee and handed it to him. “Thanks,” he said as he lifted the cup and took a sip. “You really know how to brew a cup of coffee,” he complimented after taking a second sip. I laughed and before I knew what I was saying I blurted out, “Coffee, chocolate and cowboys… some things are just better rich!”   His laughter bubbled up and joined my own nervous laughter, ringing off the walls and spilling out of the cave.   “Where did that come from?” he asked as he wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. I shrugged as I answered, “It’s just a saying my sister’s and I have.” He shook his head and another laugh spilled out. “I can understand the rich coffee and the rich chocolate, but rich cowboys?” Nervousness made my breath catch and I let it out on a shaky laugh. How to explain, I wondered. “Um, well it doesn’t mean rich as in money. It means, well it means you know fine,” I paused shortly and decided to just let him have it, after all he had asked. “Tasty, like a piece of rich chocolate.” I could feel my cheeks burning and I took a peek at him and nearly died. His jaw was hanging open, his eyes were wide and his shoulders were shaking.    Slowly, a deep rumble moved up his chest and came out of his mouth, the sound full and throaty. I couldn’t believe it. He was actually laughing. I thought for sure he would have been offended. “Oh God that’s rich,” he cried as another round of laughter shook his shoulders. I caught the pun and soon found myself laughing along with him. I stopped laughing suddenly as a whiff of burning bacon caught my attention. “Oh no,” I cried as I moved towards the fire. I grabbed the end of my blanket and pulled the pan off the fire. I stared down at the blackened mess and shook my head. “Give me a minute to clean this up and I’ll fix the rest of it,” I said as I moved towards the pool at the back of the cave.    An hour later, we had finished breakfast, packed up and we were on our way back to the ranch. We pulled up next to the dry wash and stared. There was no way we could cross it. The water was still up and rushing just as fast as the day before.   “Is there someplace else we can cross,” he asked. “Yeah, but it’s going to add a couple of hours to our trip,” I said, looking downstream in the direction we had to go. “You lead, I’ll follow,” he said and I nodded my head as I turned Mayhem’s head and began our journey. CCC Index                         Chapter Eight                      Main Page