Tempest on the Mountain, Chapter 6

This serial novel draft is posted bi-weekly on Tuesdays and Fridays. Comments are always welcome. I hope you enjoy it!

Tempest on the Mountain

Chapter 6

Jake eased himself down next to Charlie in front of the fire. He hadn't really expected her to accept his offer to watch the fire. She'd been staring into the flames, her body relaxing back against the log as the weariness of the day burned away. He'd spent many nights the same way, settling things in the glow of a camp fire.

Why had he interrupted her? He wasn't sure, except that he felt drawn to her in a way that both frightened and excited him. He sat beside her now, noting the warm glow on her cheeks and wondering if it was heat from the fire that caused it, or a different kind of heat. The kind of heat that was causing his groin to tighten.

Charlie swallowed, breaking eye contact to look back into the fire again. She opened her mouth to speak, then closed it. Tried again.

"I--It's okay," she said quietly, keeping her eyes averted. Jake watched her profile dance in the flickering light, the delicate high cheekbones and small, pert nose begging him to trace them with his finger. He kept his hands to himself. For now. "I'm sure you're tired. I don't mind finishing up here." Her voice was quiet, but steady.

Jake admired how quickly she'd gotten her nervousness under control. "I was actually going to sleep out here, if you don't mind," he said, picking up a twig and tracing shapes in the dirt between them.

"What about Adrienne?" The hint of jealousy in her voice amused him.

"What about her?" His lips turned up a little. He couldn't resist teasing.

Charlie stared at the designs he was still tracing in the dirt. "Won't she wonder where you are?" She shifted her legs, brought one knee up to rest a hand on. He hadn't noticed the set of four scars across the inside of her forearm before. They were fading, but still purple, so not too old. He started to reach out a finger to the raised skin, then thought better of it.

"What happened to your arm?" Confusion flashed over her face briefly, then she twisted her wrist to examine the area herself.

"Mountain lion at the beginning of the summer," she said, her tone matter-of-fact. "I surprised a youngster when I was scouting off the trail one day - she jumped off a big rock at me, got my arm, and bit my leg..." She pulled down a thick sock, revealing a good sized semi-circle of scars low on her ankle. "I kicked her hard enough to get her attention, and she ran off. Don't think I would have been so lucky if she'd been full-grown." She pulled her sock back up.

Jake listened, his eyes lingering over her ankle. He wanted to see the scar again, lean over and kiss each little tooth mark that marred her smooth skin. For starters. He reached out a hand, gently pulling the fabric down as he traced the marks with a feather-light touch. Her muscle jumped under his finger, and her quick intake of breath was evidence that she was as powerless as he was to fight the magnetic force pulling them together.

Slowly, his finger moved higher over her lower leg. "Adrienne and I have an arrangement," he said, drawing small circles over her skin. "We're working together on a project - that's all." His fingers moved higher, skimming the inside of her knee, and she shivered under his touch. Her response fanned his desire, sent heat rushing through his groin. She'd be passionate with him, and he let his fingers begin to slip down her inner thigh in an intimate caress.

The Liar's Meme

C R Ward from Random Writerly Thoughts tagged me with this meme last week - it looked like fun, so here you go!

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‘Sometimes you can learn more about a person by what they don’t tell you. Sometimes you can learn a lot from the things they just make up. If you are tagged with this Meme, lie to me. Then tag 7 other folks (one for each deadly sin) and hope they can lie.’

Pride: What is your biggest contribution to the world?

Ignoring that little voice that tells me I can achieve anything I want to with enough hard work. Because really, who wants to go to the effort?

Envy: What do your co-workers wish they had which is yours?

The plush skunks that inhabit my desk, and my Pepe le Peux mug. Tres chic!

Gluttony: What did you eat last night?

Sushi! Raw fish - yum!

Lust: What really lights your fire?

Skinny runner/basketball player types. You know, men who look like trees. I'm a nature girl. Even better, tree-men who act like they're 5 years old & think they know everything. Yeah, baby!

Anger: What is the last thing that really pissed you off?

Solicitors never call me anymore. What gives? My money not good enough for you people?

Greed: Name something you keep from others.

My writing. Guard that stuff like it's gold!

Sloth: What’s the laziest thing you’ve ever done?

Stayed in bed all day, just staring at the ceiling. Good times.

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I hereby tag: Elana, Lynnette, Cindy, Michele, Morgan, Jen & Joyce. And anyone else who cares to take a turn (post a comment, so I know to watch for it on your blog!).

What Is It?

Hmm...so only one person took advantage of the "freebie" contest entry last week? Weird. C R is correct, of course...it was an American flag (ironic she was the only entrant, since she's Canadian)!

For this week, something that I suppose could be hard, but really isn't.

What Is It?

Good Luck!

To enter: Simply post a comment with your best guess as to what the subject of the photo is. Each correct answer = 1 drawing entry. Drawings held at the end of each month. Prizes include a book and a tin of tea.

Tempest on the Mountain, Chapter 5

This serial novel draft is posted bi-weekly on Tuesdays and Fridays. Comments are always welcome. I hope you enjoy it!

Tempest on the Mountain

Chapter 5

"I know what you're thinking," Adrienne whispered before Jake got too close. Charlie felt the heat rise in her cheeks. The girl couldn't possibly know what she was really thinking, could she? She almost missed Adrienne's words as Jake reached the fire pit.

"I'm not his girlfriend."

Apparently, Adrienne had read her mind. It took a few moments for the meaning to sink in, and finally Charlie realized she'd been standing there just staring at Jake as he sat on a large log with Adrienne now at his side. The girl was grinning up at her, and Charlie quickly dropped her gaze, grateful for the nearly complete darkness to hide her flaming face. Thankfully more of the hikers joined them then, sitting around the crackling fire and looking expectantly up at her.

Charlie stepped just outside the circle to gather up a box. "Smores, anyone?" She passed out small sticks, marshmellows, graham crackers and chocolate. Soon they were all talking and getting to know each other.

Charlie sat back and watched the interactions. Tanya Roberts and her husband, Nick, were playfully arguing over how long to roast the perfect marshmellow. They were in their late forties, she guessed, and reasonably fit. When she'd helped them with the tent earlier, she'd learned that Nick was a lawyer and Tanya a nurse, so they were using this trip to escape from job stress for a few days. They seemed normal enough, and happy to be reconnecting after dealing with impossible schedules.

Her gaze drifted over to the Wilsons. Mary Wilson was the complainer, and she'd done a good job of it on the trail up to the lake. Her husband Don appearred to ignore most of what she said, including whatever she was talking about just then. They were younger, maybe in their mid-twenties, and as far as Charlie could tell, they both came from money. Don seemed to be happy with the wild mountain surroundings, but it was obvious that he'd dragged Mary with him on this trip. She'd rather be somewhere with a shower and running water, from the snatches of conversation Charlie caught.

They were sitting near Amy Dyer and Brenda Small, two college friends who had taken Charlie's class the year before. They'd both been good students, and when Charlie had presented her data from last summer's trips, the girls had asked if they could come along this time, to experience it first hand. The girls had been quiet most of the hike up, watching and listening, but they seemed to be losening up a little now. Good. They should enjoy the vacation too, not spend every minute observing and recording.

Jake and Adrienne were the last two, and they sat together, Adrienne facing away from Jake. Was that a knife in his hand again? Charlie peered into the darkness, saw the blade flash a few times in the firelight as it moved near the girl's head. She leaned forward, preparing to go ask just what was going on, when it suddenly came to her. He was simply finishing the job he'd started earlier, cutting the rest of her hair so it would all be even. Charlie relaxed back into her seat, considering Adrienne's words earlier. She didn't think Jake could be Adrienne's brother or father, but if they weren't dating, then what were they to each other? Clearly there was some sort of connection between the two.

"Thank you, Professor." Nick Roberts stood in front of her holding Tanya's hand. "I think we'll hit the sack now."

Charlie nodded and smiled. "Good night - sleep well," she said as they walked off into the darkness. The Wilson's also decided to turn in.

"Is it safe to go to the bathroom?" Marry looked worried as she stopped by Charlie. Grinning, Charlie nodded.

"You should be fine - just use the area I told you, and make sure to bury the hole when you're done."

Mary looked up at her husband. "Will you come out there with me?" They moved away before Charlie could here his answer, but the ensuing mumble didn't exactly sound happy. She glanced at her students, giggling as they stood and waved at her before heading to bed.

Charlie stared into the fire. She let the flames crowd everything else out of her mind, the crackling hum blocking everything else out. The flames grew smaller, wood coals burning black and white as she sat mesmerized. This was her favorite part of hiking - watching the fire die down after everyone else had gone to their tents, basking in the glow and communing with nature.

"I can keep an eye on the fire if you want to get some sleep." A deep, rough voice brought Charlie out of her meditation, and sent the blood rushing through her veins. She raised her head, squinting to see in the dark after staring into bright firelight. Jake stood over her, his broad chest looking larger and more imposing from her position on the ground. Their eyes met, reestablishing that intense connection she'd been trying so hard to ignore. Charlie started to speak, but closed her mouth again. Words seemed redundant, and she held his gaze as he slowly lowered into a crouch beside her.