Lilac Temptress

Chapter 14

"Drake, slowdown," Sierra bellowed.

Drake stopped and turned around, surprised to see Sierra chasing him this time. Finally, she was coming out of her 'not so interested' act and giving him much wanted attention.

"Admit it,you like me at least a little." Drake grinned when she reached him.

"I think that I do, but I promise you that you won't get any farther with me than you did last night," she breathed. "I've come to tell you this because you said you'd like to see me again. But tonight, I will not be as forgiving and let you into my bedroom. Though you may walk with me now if you like."

"Sierra, why must you snare my heart and trample it so soon after?" Drake clutched his chest, feigning a wound.

"What else would you have me do with a heart that is incapable of loving a woman?" she quipped in exchange.

"Fair enough," Drake said, growing flustered. He became silent, avoiding eye contact.

"What happened just now? Was what I said wrong? Sierra tilted her head sideways and took full measure of him. He was holding on to something, she thought, something that had hurt him so deeply that the slightest mention of loving a woman put him on edge. She wanted to know what that something was. "Have I offended you?" she asked quietly.

"Of course not," Drake answered with a weak smile. "Forget about it. Take me with you, but first, can you stop standing there, dissecting me, and tell me where we're heading?"

"You can trust me," Sierra muttered, her tone more emotionally-rich than intended. She knew that she wasn't merely talking about where she was taking him. She was telling him that he could trust her with his heart. But why? She wondered. Why did she want him to open up to her? Why did she want to comfort him?

"Will you come with me?" she asked.

"How can I deny you?" Drake replied, allowing her to pass. He followed her silently.

Every so often, Sierra glanced back at him to make sure he was still there, fearing that if she looked away too many times, he'd disappear, but he was there, every time she turned to meet his gaze.

When she heard Drake's feet come to a standstill, she asked, "Why are you stopping?"?

"We're almost outside of town." Drake angled away from her as if to turn back.

"I promise you I'm worth the walk," Sierra spoke, without thinking, but it was too late to take back her words.

"Are you flirting with me?" Drake asked. Sierra smiled at him in return. "I bet you are worth every step," he added to her self-praise.

Sierra watched him removed his hat. He wiped the sweat from his brows with the back of his hand. He loosened the collar of his shirt, unbuttoning a few buttons, exposing more of his collarbone. She looked to the ground before imagining what it would be like to undress him.

She smiled inwardly. Drake must find her very peculiar. At first, she had done all she could to push him away, and now she'd invited him on an afternoon stroll to her favorite place.

"Just ten more minutes into the forest, and once we're in the shade of the trees, you'll feel cooler. I want to show you something," Sierra said.

"You'll take care of me, won't you, since you are leading me through unfamiliar territory?" Drake tilted his body toward her.

"C'mon," Sierra replied, pulling on his arm for a moment, then letting go.

"But you didn't answer my question." Drake came closer to walk beside her. "Where are you taking me?"

"To a place that I go to sometimes. Keep up and stay close," Sierra instructed.

"Oh, but I will have no problems staying close to you," Drake assured her. "I owe you my gratitude."

"Your gratitude?" Sierra looked up at him.

"If it hadn't been for you telling me that William cared nothing for money, I might not have changed my pitch. I might not have convinced him to sell."

"You needn't thank me. You are a very persuasive man. I might have let you talk me into anything."

"Is that so?" Drake let out throaty laughter. "If only I'd known that last night." He shook his fist at the sky.

Sierra chuckled, admiring his dimples, her favorite feature of his. Or was it the cleft in his chin? No. It was those eyes of his. She could get lost, staring at those eyes forever.

"It's not much farther." She raised her hand to Drake to hold as she led him off the main road onto a small path into cypress trees. But when his palm gripped hers for the first time, with such strength, she stumbled. He caught her, pulling her to him before she collided with the ground. His arms wrapped around her waist, steadying her so that she rested against his chest.

Excitement surged through Sierra. She took a deep breath, trying to regain her senses. She'd never experienced attraction to a man like this.

"Are you all right?" Drake clung to her, taking a deep breath to calm his racing heart.

"I'm fine. This seclusion, with only the sounds of nature, is making me feel like we're the only two people in the world," she said.

Drake's arms inched around her waist even tighter. "Is that why you're trembling now," he asked. "Does my touch make you nervous?"

"That's a ridiculous thing to say. I live in a brothel, remember?" She stepped out of his arms. "Follow me,"

She pulled on his sleeve and led him off the path, deeper into the forest, carpeted with soft green grass that overflowed with wildflowers. She kneeled to pick a few irises, before standing again.

"It is up ahead. Do you see it?" She pointed toward a stream.

As they walked closer, Drake saw water rushing over boulders, forming a tiny waterfall that opened into a clear pond, before continuing smoothly down the terrain.

Sierra stepped on a few large glistening stones alongside the stream carefully, making her way to a particular spot. She sat down on the rock and sniffed the flowers that she had picked before placing them beside her.

"Be careful. The rocks are slick." She motioned for Drake to join her.

Drake waited at the foot of the stream, assessing the distance between where he stood and where Sierra sat. He took one giant, crooked leap, which managed to land him on a stone next to hers, but his leg gave way beneath him, causing him to falter.

He caught himself with his hands from a hard landing. He adjusted himself next to Sierra, covering his flushed cheeks with his hands, no harm coming to him except a wounded ego.

"Are you all right?" Sierra giggled, seeing that Drake was unharmed. He gave in, laughing with her wholeheartedly.

"I'm not as young as I look," he told her.

"You're only in your early thirties likely. I'm sure many women have praised your looks regardless of your age," Sierra said.

"Thirty-five, and I only want you to notice me," he replied.

"I have noticed you. Don't let it go to your head," she uttered at his ear.

"I have a feeling you won't let me," Drake said, admiring the scene around him. "This place is remarkably beautiful."

"I used to come here with Kyle when I was a little girl, and we would swim in this pond. Now, I come here alone to enjoy the peace this place offers. I don't know if Kyle still comes here anymore." Sierra gazed across the pond.

Drake asked with curious uncertainty, "Why did you bring me here, Sierra?"

His voice sounded deeper, sweet like thick honey, Sierra thought before answering. "It was time to share my special place with someone again. Have you ever had this feeling before, an intense desire to share an experience with someone?"

"Most recently, I have." Drake covered her hand that sat on her lap with his. When she didn't pull it away, his relief sunk in. "Of all the men you could have brought out here with you, you chose me. Why?" Drake wouldn't let her make light of his question with a light-hearted or casual answer. He knew that she desired him as much as he did her.

"I don't know why," Sierra answered in truth. "Maybe I want to enjoy your company while you're in town."

"Then, I suppose I'm a lucky man." Drake shifted to her rock; his body touched hers. He was glad that she stayed at ease, smiling at him approvingly before peering out over the shimmering water again.

She removed her hand from his to take off her shoes, placing them beside her, then she lowered her feet and legs into the pond.

"It's warm out here. The water is always refreshing. Take off your boots and dip your feet in. The chill of the water will cool you down. I think you might need it."

Drake pulled off his boots and rolled his trousers up to his knees, lowering his feet into the stream.?

Startled, Drake drew back his legs but lowered them again to prevent Sierra from thinking he was acting like a rebellious child that didn't want to bathe. "This water too frigid!"

"I should have warned you about the water. But it will feel good in a few minutes, I promise." Sierra gave his shoulder a playful nudge. "I do a lot of daydreaming here," she said.

"What about?" Drake asked. She had his rapt attention.

"Everything, about my life."?

Drake met her wistful eyes with his steady gaze. He raised his hand and curled a long strand of her strawberry hair around his index finger. "You were right to bring me here with you." He lowered his hand and touched her cheek.

Sierra felt a fluttery feeling in her stomach. She tried to inch away from him; she was sure there was no escaping his kiss, but he caught her waist swiftly and brought her back to him gently.?

"Let me look at you. For once, don't be timid. Show me the girl who can bring a man to his knees, leaving him groveling at her feet while she sings and dances circles around him."?

Sierra averted her eyes, but Drake caressed her chin, lifting it gently, bringing her to face him.

"Why do you want me?" Sierra quivered and closed her eyes. Her breaths were quick.

Drake licked his lips with cautious hope to kiss her. "I think you know why." He brought his head close and brushed his cheek against hers. "I detect from time to time that you're frightened of me," he uttered in her ear.

"I am not," she whispered.

"Then, keep your eyes on me," Drake urged, with such gravity in his voice that Sierra could do nothing but comply.

She could think of nothing to say. She could only stare into Drake's dilated pupils at a loss for words.

Drake stroked his thumb over her lips. She was awestruck, and he enjoyed eliciting such a response.

Sierra's inhibitions were slipping away. Immodest thoughts gripped her mind. She distracted herself from them by making a spur of the moment decision. "Shall we go for a swim?" Without waiting on Drake's answer, she jumped into the pond.