Chapter 4

• “The opening circle is always so nice. Seeing who all is here,” Rachel said quietly as they walked down a small hill. She glanced around. “I’m pretty sure this was just a hay field at some point, then someone decided to make it a camp.”
• Steven held her hand lightly in his. He was sure that each time they touched he felt buzzing jolts of heat zap him, or it was wishful thinking? Clear thinking near her had never worked out well for him. “It’s great though, not as many treed areas to look through. There’s a pond down here somewhere, too.”
• She smiled up at him. “No skinny dipping, we’re on watch here.”
• He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it lightly. “You love to crush my dreams, Rach.” Stopping, he pulled her hand until she was in front of him. He stared down at her for a few silent moments. “Rachel, when are you going to put me out of my misery?”
• Her eyes widened then she smirked. “Which misery is that, Doc?”
• Steven grinned even though he didn’t really feel like it. “You know I’ve been lusting after you since you became legal, even when it made me feel like a pervert. You’ll go out with everyone except me.”
• She looked all around them. “We’re out together right now.”
• He pulled her closer. “Nasty witch, you know that’s not what I meant.”
• Rachel sighed. “Oh, Steven. You’re such a good friend I don’t want to chance screwing it up.” She placed a warm hand on his chest and looked up at him. “We get to go to things together. I love sharing thoughts and ideas with you about the kid’s programs. I just wouldn’t want to do anything that would get in the way of that. We have fun together.” And if I sleep with you, you’ll leave me like every other male has, she left unspoken.
• He ran his hand down her side to hold her waist. “Do I appeal to you at all. other than that?” He hoped he didn’t regret asking this, but he had to know.
• Rachel let out a slow breath. “Yes. Look at you. You’re six feet of solid muscle, that gorgeous wavy hair, which some days seems to be brown and some days red. Those gray eyes of yours make me think of many bad things when you have a certain look.” She grinned at him. “If you weren’t a very important person to me, I’d jump you in a heartbeat.”
• Steven rested his hand on her shoulder and fingered the silky black hair that ended just above his fingers. “As good as that sounded, it doesn’t make me feel a great deal better.” He moved his other hand to rest at her waist and grinned. “I can’t even walk whenever you’re too close. I look at you and almost drown in my own drool. If I told you I never wanted to speak to you again would you sleep with me, angel?” He was half serious.
• Rachel laughed. “You’re such an idiot sometimes, Doc.” She started to move but stopped as his thumbs began to feather over her cheeks lightly. “Steven…” His mouth on hers cut off what she wanted to say. He kissed her with such passion she couldn’t stop her own mouth from opening and responding. The man could kiss. Her legs were suddenly weak. His tongue stroked over hers playing with the stud in it. She reached up and fed her fingers into his thick hair, holding on. She knew she should stop, but she didn’t.
• When his mouth pulled away to wander down her throat she almost whimpered, wanting to have him return to kissing her again. His large hands bent her head back, cradling it to expose her throat to his mouth.
• He moved his mouth over her neck with urgency, holding her head in one hand and dropping the other to reach down and grab her ass, pulling her tight against him. It felt so good to finally hold her. She moaned as his lips feathered lightly over her ear, before returning to her mouth. Every time he tasted her lips he grew harder. Any harder, and he was going to drag her to her to the ground and remove any clothing in his way in pieces. With words, she said no, but her response told him yes. Maybe he had a shot with her.
• Lifting his head Steven looked down to see her passion-glazed dark brown eyes. Her breath was coming in short pants as her hands continued to play with his hair. He feathered soft kisses on her face, whispering against her soft skin. “Just thought I’d show you what your missing, angel. I’d love to show you more but we’re supposed to be doing a job out here.”
• Rachel slowly dropped her hands to his shoulders. “It figures you’d not just have a great looking body, you’d have to know how to use it.” Her breathless voice made his body scream with wanting. She pouted. “I may rethink my earlier statement. As soon as I can think again, that is.” She kissed his mouth lightly and then stepped back placing one hand in his.
• “You let me know what decision you come to, but I’ll warn you, if you take too long I’m going to use every opportunity I can to remind you.” Steven kissed her hand and glanced at his watch. “Let’s head back towards the main gathering area.” She nodded and walked beside him in silence.
• He stopped when he saw a man walking towards them from the shadows. Pulling Rachel’s arm, he placed her behind him.
• “It’s just me.” Patrick called out.
• Steven let out a breath. “Patrick! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”
• Patrick stepped up to them. “Sorry, but keeping watch usually means not walking about whistling loudly.”
• Rachel laughed and peaked around Steven. “How are you?”
• Patrick sighed. “Tired. Trying to get away without Rhonda stowing away in my car wasn’t easy.”
• Steven’s eyebrows went up. “She’s well enough to come?”
• Patrick shook his head. “No, she can’t even bend yet, but she was determined to be here. Crazy woman will drive me to drink.”
• Steven rubbed his jaw to keep from grinning. “Well, at least she’s getting stronger. There haven’t been any complications?”
• “Nope. Other than getting all her strength back and little things. she’s right as rain.”
• Rachel leaned against Steven. “Well, that’s good.”
• Patrick looked at them and smirked. “So, all is quiet?”
• Rachel nodded. “Gwen set up the crafts and preparations for tomorrow’s ritual inside this evening, so there hasn’t been a soul out here but us three tonight.”
• Patrick nodded. “Good. We could always hope he’s given up but I don’t think that’s the case. I’ll let you two move on. I’m going to wander about and get a lay of the land.”
• “We’ll see you tomorrow.” Steven said, pulling Rachel against him and strolling back towards the main area.
• Rachel giggled. “I hope Chris and Kasey are keeping an eye on the time, I wouldn’t want to interrupt them.”
• Steven moaned. “Between those two and Leena and Owen, I feel so lonely. Dade and I sit there and wish, mostly.”
• She smiled up at him. “Someday he’ll stop arguing with Cora and they’ll see they should be together too.”
• He pulled her tight against him. “That would leave just you and me, angel.”
• She ran her finger over his bottom lip. “Uh huh, which is even more reason to make sure we don’t ruin this great thing we’ve got going.”
• “I don’t see how sleeping together would ruin that. We’ve known each other forever and a day. Have you never slept with a friend before?”
• Shaking her head, her gaze dropped to the ground as she pushed away from him. “Nope, I keep sex and friends separate.”
• Steven rubbed a hand over his eyes. The only way to get her attention was through sex, he wanted a hell of a lot more than that, but if he couldn’t find a way around her soon he was going to lose it. “Angel, I don’t understand.”
• Rachel stopped and reached up to touch his face. “Your friendship is too important, Steven. Who cuddles me when I’m sick? Who holds me when I fall apart? Who laughs with me? Who fights with me when I’m crabby?” She smiled. “You. I care about you too much to ruin what we have now.” She kissed his lips lightly and then backed away. “Let’s finish this watch and go get some rest.”
• She was a few steps ahead of him until they reached the cottage. He wanted to yell and tell her all those reasons were exactly why they belonged together, but didn’t.