“People are definitely going to talk if we’re in here all day with the window flaps closed.” Not that he cared what other people said if that meant she was going to keep rolling her hips against him the way she was doing right now.
“Then we go somewhere else. We can go explore. Go for a swim.”
“In the river? It’s way too fast in this area.”
“No, Weak Sauce,” she said, nudging him in the side. “Down below. There’s a huge pool below the waterfall. And we can bring a blanket to fuck on when we’re done.”
“I like that idea,” he said with a waggle in his brow.
“I knew you would. Now, I’m going to head to my tent, get some things, snag some snacks, while you make your way around camp, letting everyone know they’ve got the day off,” she said, hopping off the bed and leaving Ford hanging.
Well, maybe the opposite of hanging. His erection stood at full attention.
“Do you have to leave right this second? Maybe stay a few more minutes?” Between his hard-on and the desperation in his voice, there was no hiding the obviousness of his request. He had to pull at the fabric of his boxers to relieve the pressure.
But judging by her smirk and her lack of hesitation as she put on her clothes, it was clear Corrie had other plans. “We’ll get to that,” she said with a smile that would be sweet if Ford didn’t know the meaning behind it. “But first we need to clear our schedules. I want the whole day with you, Ford. Not only another five minutes before I need to sneak away again. I want you all to myself with no time constraints. No duties. No thinking about Aztecs or archaeology. Just the two of us fucking in the jungle without a care in the world for one day.”
How could it be that Corrie’s little speech about fucking in the jungle was the most romantic thing he’d ever heard?
“Can’t wait.”
Today. He’d tell her the truth today.
•••••••••
“When did you decide you wanted to be an archaeologist?” Ford asked as they treaded water in the crystal-blue pool below the waterfall.
“Uh-uh. No archaeology, remember?” she responded, playfully flicking water in his direction with her foot.
“I’m not asking about archaeology. I’m asking about you. I want to know what brought you to this point in your life. I want to know how Dr. Socorro Mejía came to be.”
“Why in God’s name would you want to know that?” she asked, making a silly face.
“Oh, it’s part of my next term’s curriculum—how to end up swimming naked at the base of a spectacular waterfall in themiddle of the Mexican jungle with Dr. Ford Matthews. It’s a working title.”
She laughed with the full-throated laugh he loved. Excellent. Now she was nice and relaxed. The perfect opportunity to ease into the Conversation. Get her talking about the start of her career. Learn more about her interest in Chimalli and the importance of her being on this dig in an effort to focus on the positives and not his deception.
You know... deceive her into thinking it was no big deal that he’d snatched this job out from under her without her even knowing.
“Seriously, though. Was it Indiana like everyone else? Or because of your ancestry?”
She pursed her lips. “Let’s talk about something else instead. Or, better yet, we can skip the talking and dootherthings with our mouths,” she said before she disappeared beneath the surface of the water. Typical Corrie. Avoiding any topic that focused on her. Even when he tried to lighten things up with a joke, she never took the bait. And despite how perfect everything seemed between them—seemedwas the operative word.
Because... the day itselfwasperfect. The team was grateful for the break. The hike down to the waterfall had been unhurried and stress-free. The crisp blue water was both refreshing and calming, with the sounds of the waterfall resonating through the air. And Corrie... Corrie was carefree and comforting.
She was perfect.
But Ford needed to come clean, and for once he could be assured they wouldn’t have any interruptions. Today was the day, even if his attempts to ease into a tough conversation were going to hell. He couldn’t afford to put it off any longer. Andmaybe... just maybe, Corrie’s carefree attitude meant she might actually take the news okay.
Maybe kick some more water at his face, then play-dunk him under the water before taking him—again—on the picnic blanket.
God... he really was a piece of shit.
No. He had to do this now.
She swam toward him through the clear water like a mermaid. Something else to add to the growing list of Corrie’s talents. Slowly, she emerged from below mere inches in front of him, droplets clinging to the delicate features of her face as she smiled with that sexy-as-hell smile intended to make him forget about the conversation they needed to have.
“Corrie... we need to talk,” he said.
