ICE PRINCESS, page 20
He shut the hatch. The slamming, though slight, tore the blanket of silence around them.
"Let’s go."
A simple proclamation Claudia had no trouble following…now that she was finally awake. Once they got moving, the rest of her body would catch up. She stripped off her sweatshirt, tied it around her waist, and followed.
Zach led the way. The trail wove in and out of boulders, twisting back and forth at steep angles and sharp drops. The ridges of reddish-brown boulders jutted upwards like gigantic backbones pushing their way through the skin of the earth. At times Claudia wasn’t sure if they were climbing or descending. A glance behind her provided the answer. The jeep was toy-like in the distance below.
"How are you doing back there?" he asked over his shoulder.
"Fine," Claudia said through pants of breath. And she thought the workout the day before was a killer. Now a simple climb kicked her butt. She slugged down some water.
Zach wore hiking boots, which gave him a superior grip on the rocky trail. Her trainers were fine for jogging, but didn’t provide much ankle support for such an uneven surface. If they were going to do this in the future, she was going to have to get something more sturdy. The second the thought left her head, she stumbled.
Zach caught her before she could fall. "Are you okay?"
"I’m fine." Claudia pulled upright and sucked in a breath. "Can we stop for a minute?"
"Sure."
She made her way to a smooth rock and slumped into the shade beside it.
"Here." He nudged her bottle of water. "You look a little flushed. Hiking really gets your heart pounding."
"You’re not kidding." Claudia took a few desperate gulps.
"We’re almost to the top of the trail, how are you feeling?"
She grimaced. "I thought I was in good shape, but I think I’m using muscles I’ve never used before."
"You’ll be sore tomorrow. Think of it as nature’s stair-climber." He chuckled and held out his hand to help her up. "Come on. I have a surprise for you."
"If it’s anything like your earlier surprise, forget it. I don’t think I can take it."
Laughing, he tugged her to her feet. "I think you’ll like this one. It’s breakfast."
That diverted her attention. Suddenly, she was ravenous. "All depends. What did you bring?"
"You’ll find out at the end, Princess," he taunted and continued on.
Claudia took a last swig of water and followed.
Zach heard Claudia behind him and wished she were in front. She’d looked incredibly desirable perched by the rock, wisps of hair curled in damp blonde ringlets around her neck and face. Her creamy skin flushed with delicate pink from her exertions. His gaze had wandered over her body, lingering upon the swell of hips clearly displayed by her Lycra shorts. Inappropriate for hiking, perhaps, but damn fine to look at.
He mentally shook his head and tried to get a hold of his raging libido. The hike was supposed to be a way of taking their minds off the investigation. A way to make her forget that damn restraining order and start forging the bond they both wanted. But it was pulling him taut as a wire instead.
The hike took another thirty minutes. Just when Claudia thought she couldn’t lift another foot, they scrambled over one last boulder onto a level ridge overlooking the desert valley on one side and the oasis on the other.
The view was spectacular. Below them spread an undulating ribbon of tan and gold flecked with dark browns, reds, and purples. Here and there the spiked red globe of a barrel cactus dotted the landscape.
The morning sun was just starting to warm the rocks, drawing the small whiptailed lizards out from their holes to bask in the heat. Larger chuckwallas, their cousins, joined them. But nothing could compare to the oasis. Dozens of towering palm trees were clumped together in the damp earth, creating a shady haven. Riotous birdcalls drifted out from the fronds. Further on in the rocks above were more palms.
Zach pointed in that direction. "That’s where the water is. We’ll go up in a bit. So…aren’t you glad I got you up for this?"
She nodded once. "It really is very lovely."
Zach slid off the backpack, unzipped it, and withdrew a tightly folded blanket which he shook open and spread upon the ground. The next items to appear from his magician’s pack were some beautifully shaped croissants and a container of fresh, hulled strawberries. The ripe smell of the fruit made Claudia’s mouth water. Next, he pulled out a thermos and two collapsible camping cups, followed by a tiny plastic container.
Claudia’s eyebrow rose with curiosity.
"Honey," Zach said. "I really love honey on bread." He opened the lid of the container and then cursed as a drop slid over the edge. Catching it carefully with one finger, he licked the golden bead off with one quick flick of his tongue.
Claudia’s body tightened with reaction.
Without a word, he waved her to the blanket and they sat together to eat breakfast.
The croissants were flaky, filled with butter, the strawberries were juicy and tart, and the coffee strong. Everything was just the way she liked it.
Zach ate beside her, his eyes unfocused as he looked out over the panorama that spread before them.
She fiddled with her empty cup. That old awkwardness between them built. Claudia refused to let it take hold.
"Why are we here, Zach?"
"Here in the big scheme of things?"
"You know what I mean." She bit her last strawberry in two for emphasis.
Zach flashed her his most beguiling smile. "Consider it our first official date."
The urge to say "aww" was too great. This simple picnic meant more than all the fancy dinners in the world.
"Plus, I thought it would do us some good to get away from everything. To just be together."
He cupped her chin, leaned forward, and captured her mouth with his own. It was soft. Sweet. Perfect. He leaned into her, moving his lips softly against hers, not demanding, only giving.
With tantalizing precision, Zach nibbled at her lower lip, teasing her mouth open, his warm breath scented with honey and strawberries, a heady mixture. Claudia’s breath shortened. If she lived to be a hundred, she doubted she would ever tire of his kisses. Her answering moan and response drew a deep growl from within his chest. Emboldened, she caught his lower lip between her teeth, at the same time reaching around behind him to run her hand beneath his shirt along the slick muscles of his back.
He worked his hands under her thin T-shirt and slid up the jogging bra beneath. Unfettered, her breasts surged into his hands, filling them to overflowing.
She gasped softly into his mouth.
Gathering her into his arms, Zach rolled onto his back, scattering their remaining dishes and pulling Claudia on top of him so that she straddled one leg.
A high trill of laughter made them freeze.
Startled, Claudia’s head jerked up. She looked around in panic for the source of the sounds.
"There are hikers coming up the trail," she whispered in horror. "They’ll see us! Oh my God, what are we doing?" She rolled off of Zach and hurriedly yanked down her bra and T-shirt.
Zach sat up, adjusting his shorts, and took several measured breaths of air.
Claudia snatched up the few containers that had carried the strawberries and the croissants. She refused to look at Zach, and concentrated on trying to calm her pounding heart.
By the time the hikers, a boisterous group of teenagers, came into view, Claudia and Zach were sitting at opposite ends of the picnic blanket, staring with forced concentration at the vista below. With knowing grins and raucous whistles, the group followed the trail on over the edge of the ridge to the palm trees above.
Claudia chuckled and looked at Zach from the corner of her eye. "I don’t believe I’ve ever felt so naughty in my life."
But Zach wasn’t laughing.
Scooting around to face him, she poked his foot. "Why the long face?"
"I just don’t like being interrupted, that’s all." But that wasn’t all. He had brought her here for time alone, time away from reminders of the investigation. And it had worked—too well.
Zach scanned the area now as a military man, seeing places for a potential ambush wherever he looked. He brought her here to relax and instead it could have well been a death trap. The hikers proved that by how easily they had come upon them.
Claudia crawled closer and planted a kiss on his lips. "There’s always later. How about showing me the rest of this place?"
All Zach wanted to do was get the hell out of there. Laughter filtered down from the trees above. There was safety in numbers.
Forcing a smile, he grabbed her hands and pulled them both to their feet. "Sure thing. And later…" He left the suggestion open.
Claudia smiled as he knew she would. Nothing was going to ruin this hike for her. He’d see to that. And he’d be damned if he was going to take chances with her life again.
Chapter 16
* * *
Zach tossed their suitcase on the hotel luggage rack while Claudia parked their hanging bag in the closet. In a week of quiet surveillance, neither had made any progress. Sinclair was the poster-picture of a perfect Marine officer, Allison the loyal and dutiful wife.
On the investigation front there were also no new leads, and certainly nothing to tie Hanson with any crime. In fact, he seemed to make it his mission to avoid them at all costs, where the week before they had run into him constantly. Even when they picked up Claudia’s car from the body shop, they discovered Hanson’s vehicle long gone. There was nothing Vic could do to keep it there.
Claudia bided her time working on her news report. Frankly, she’d lost the stomach for it. It wasn’t her desire to protect the Marine Corps, but just the thought of exposing Allison’s humiliation to the rest of the world bothered her. If they could manage to wrest Allison from Sinclair, the woman deserved as much privacy as possible to heal, psychologically as well as physically.
Now it was the weekend of the annual Marine Corps Ball celebrating the anniversary of the founding of the Corps. Claudia and Zach had driven down to Palm Springs and booked into the luxury hotel where the gala would be held.
"What exactly is this plan of Cruz’s?" Claudia stretched out Miss Kitty-like on the king-sized bed. "It’s got to involve more than just us being in the room next to the Sinclairs."
Zach sat in the chair and propped his feet on the end of the bed. "If it is, he hasn’t shared it with me. Each time I’ve asked he just says he and Vic are still working out the details. We’re supposed to play nine holes of golf this afternoon so maybe he’ll fill me in a little more then."
"It’s too bad Vic hasn’t been able to find Linda Hanson."
"I can’t see what good that would do anyway. We know there was motive. What we need is a witness." He nudged her foot with his. "What are you going to do until it’s time to get ready?"
"Indulge myself in a little princess treatment with some of the other women." Sitting up, she hugged her knees to her chest. "We’re going to the spa to get pampered and massaged."
Zach grinned. "A little rubdown by some Nordic guy named Sven?"
Claudia laughed. "Actually, her name is Bonnie. But I rather like the idea of a muscular blond god running his hands over my body."
"I swear you’ve turned bawdy on me."
She crawled over to him. "If you think I’m bawdy now, wait until you see me tonight."
He leaned forward, and kissed her. "I can hardly wait. And if I don’t leave now, I won’t wait."
Claudia bounced from the bed. "Don’t let me keep you then." She gave him a wink at the door. "See you later."
It was hard to let him leave, and Claudia had to laugh at herself. For ten years, she had forced desire and longing away. Now she couldn’t get enough of it, of Zach. The constant tension in her body was annoying. And tonight?
She couldn’t wait to see the look on Zach’s face when he saw her in the dress. It made the anticipation all the sweeter, and the preparations for the evening that much more luxurious.
* * *
Zach’s game was off and it had little to do with his stitches. Everyone played poorly. It was no wonder. They were setting Allison up. There was no other way to trap Sinclair. All they needed was to have Sinclair take the bait and act.
Not a problem as far as he was concerned. Once Sinclair saw Helen Moore with Vic and Janie Brighton with Cruz, his paranoia would take over.
Zach was working on a little bit of paranoia of his own. If Claudia found out about this, she’d have a fit. Nothing would keep her away from Allison. She couldn’t be allowed to learn the truth. Everything must appear as natural as possible. He had to be as natural as possible. Not easy when it seemed Claudia’s ability to read his every emotion increased with each day that passed.
He returned to their room, hot and sweaty from an afternoon on the golf course, ready to put one of those hateful walls between them. It wasn’t necessary. One look at Claudia took all other thought away.
Zach’s jaw dropped. He hardly knew where to look first. She was the perfect incarnation of his Ice Princess, shimmering in a dress of blue ice. Her hair was swept back in a French twist, one tiny curl left to dangle enticingly around the curve of her neck.
Platinum and pearls danced from her earlobes and her slender throat. The dress itself covered only what was necessary, yet left enough to the imagination to drive a man crazy. He forced his gaze down the column of iridescent material to her feet. Her toes peeked out from the silver, strapped heels she wore, each one painted with a translucent sparkle to match the dress, as were her fingernails.
Zach drew in a shaky breath. It didn’t help. He was hard as a rock and strongly suspected he was going to stay that way until the evening was over.
"My God, you’re beautiful, Princess," he said in a rush of breath.
Claudia glided forward. "I’m glad you’re pleased."
The gown moved with her like a second skin, begging the question, "What are you wearing under that?"
She took his hand in hers and tucked it against her breast. "Absolutely nothing," she whispered against his ear.
Zach curled his fingers around her. Her nipple nuzzled deep into his palm.
"You’d better get ready to go. We’re running out of time."
He glanced at the clock on the nightstand, weighing his options. It was going to be a long night, but there wasn’t any choice.
Running his hand down her bare back, Zach yanked her close. If she had any doubts before about how aroused he was, she couldn’t now.
"Do you feel that?"
"Yes," she breathlessly replied.
"Good. You’d better be able to get out of that dress fast when we get back to the room tonight. Once I start loving you tonight, I don’t intend to stop."
Zach slipped beneath the material to cup her bare buttocks and molded himself to her pelvis. As she gasped for breath, he caught her neck with his free hand and kissed her hard and long.
She pulled her lips from his and led him to the bed. "I don’t think I can wait that long."
In one firm shove, she had him on the bed. When he reached for her, Claudia batted his hands away.
"Lay back and let me."
She flicked open his fly button and slithered the zipper down until what she sought sprang free. Hiking her dress to her waist, she straddled his hips and took him deep inside.
Zach groaned and pushed hard. Catching her hips in his grip, all he could do was hold on while she took him. All too soon it was over. He watched the pleasure wash over her face and let her finish him.
* * *
Claudia was still alive with passion when they walked into the banquet room an hour later. Protocol demanded they be on time, otherwise they never would have bothered to make it. As it was, the evening was going to pass slowly enough, their longing for each other straining to be appeased. The earlier release was only the teaser for what was to come later.
They made the round of introductions—the Commanding General, the Chief of Staff, Zach’s Staff Judge Advocate, a few friends. Then they found their table with the other attorneys from Zach’s office.
Every military member was dressed the same—in the crisp dress blue uniform. Claudia didn’t see how the men could breathe with the jacket as tight around the collar as it was. In fact, she had spent five minutes listening to Zach curse the thing before she finally helped him fasten it.
Still, despite the discomfort, Zach was devastatingly handsome. He fit the uniform well. The blue trousers with the red blood-stripe down the side emphasized his height. The midnight blue jacket spread across his broad chest, medals winking in the light from the ballroom chandeliers. It was no wonder women’s heads surreptitiously turned their way.
"I feel like the luckiest man here tonight," he said against her ear.
Claudia smiled. "Then I suppose it’s a good thing you’re with me because I feel like the lucky one. See how all the women look at you?"
Zach chuckled. "They’re looking at you. They’re jealous."
She drew back with a disbelieving laugh. "Impossible."
He shrugged a shoulder and leaned away.
Claudia had been to one other Marine Corps Ball—as Phillip’s date when he first entered the Marine Corps. The ceremony and pageantry impressed her then. That hadn’t changed. Who would not be moved by the history, the symbolism, the patriotism? A glimpse across the room spoiled it all.
She waited until a break in the festivities before tugging on Zach’s arm. "Why didn’t you tell me Vic and Cruz were bringing Teddy’s women to the ball?"
He curled his hand over hers. "Shh…Now’s not the time. Besides, I didn’t know."
"If Sinclair sees… My God, Zach, he’s at the same table as Cruz!"
There was a firmer squeeze on her hand, a warning to keep quiet, calm. "It’ll be all right."
"It won’t be. He’ll blame Allison and beat the hell out of her."
"And this will be one time he won’t get away with it."
