This is Devils Drop, Ron shouted. Get ready to paddle!
Faith froze with terror as they approached. Shed never seen water like this before. Falling out of the boat here would be like getting thrown from a car on the freeway. She imagined herself sailing through the air, her bones snapping on sharp rocks.
Im going to die, she blurted.
The rest of the group chuckled and Caleb let out a war whoop. She was on a trip with a bunch of crazy people!
Youll be fine, Ron said, his brow furrowed in concentration.
For once, Jay focused on paddling instead of her. But he spared her a quick nod to remind her of his promise. Theyd been instructed not to enter the water to rescue another swimmer. It was dangerous, and not usually an effective lifesaving technique in these conditions. Despite the warning, hed vowed to come in after her if she tumbled overboard.
She felt comforted by the thought. Taking a deep breath, she clutched her paddle and hung on for dear life. The rapids hit in a dizzying rush, tossing the front of the boat up in the air and slamming it down again. Icy water surged over the edge, soaking her to the skin. She gritted her teeth against the cold shock.
Although she paddled when called upon, her main concern was staying inside the boat. She noticed that most of the other passengers looked happy, rather than terrified. Only Jay appeared grim and determined.
Like her, he was enduring this, not enjoying it.
Then they were free from the rapids grip, and his tension disappeared so quickly she wondered if shed imagined it. Everyone in the group was smiling and exuberant, Faith included. She couldnt believe they hadnt capsized.
What a wild ride.
After the slippery section passed, the sun sank lower in the horizon and a chill settled over the air. By the time they reached the takeout, where they would camp for the night, Faith was shivering.
Everyone lends a hand in pitching the tents, Ron said as they exited the boat.
I pitch an excellent tent, Caleb said with a grin, elbowing Faith. You can sleep with me and Ted.
Dream on, she said, laughing.
Ron tied off the raft and started tossing out supplies. Girls tent goes over there, he said, pointing toward the trees. Guys over here. He removed one more tent bag, which looked smaller than the others.
Whose is that? Jay asked.
Mine, Captain Ron said, walking away. Its a single.
Caleb smirked at Jay. Disappointed?
Not bothering to respond, he picked up the tent and headed the opposite direction. Bunking with him wasnt an option, so she joined the other women. Faith stood clear while Paula and Meg put up the tent. Inside, she changed into warmer clothes. The fleece jacket and water-resistant pants were her sisters usual style, function over fashion, but she didnt mind. It was almost dark. No one cared how she looked.
Ron spoke to Hope on the radio while they were making camp. Faith couldnt hear the entire conversation, but she gathered that Ranger Banning wouldnt be joining them. Typical Hope. Always on duty.
Faith needed to have a serious talk with her sister. Hope worked more and dated less every year. She wasnt equipped for one-night stands, like Faith. The last jerk shed slept with had reduced her to tears. Hope rarely let her guard down with men, so she was slow to recover from disappointments.
Faith knew why Hope shied away from relationships. Ten years ago, her sister had made a mistake she couldnt forgive herself for. Other than that one slipup, she was the perfect daughter, the responsible student, the valiant rescuer. Great White Hope, Faith called her when she was feeling peevish. Hope was saving the world with her park ranger job. Their flower-power parents were so proud.
Faith was the black sheep of the Banning family. She liked big cities, throngs of people, expensive things. Where Hope had substance, Faith was all flash. She had no interest in saving anything, least of all money. She was an unrepentant pleasure seeker, coasting through life on a useless art history degree.
Shed never be as good as Hope. The best she could do was look good.
Despite their differences, Faith didnt resent her sister. She adored her. It broke Faiths heart to hear the loneliness in Hopes voice. She wanted to help her sister come out of her shell. Hope needed to stop hiding in the woods and start living.
After the radio call, Ron started a fire. Faith sat down on a log and stretched out her hands, trying to thaw by the flames. Jay took the space next to her. Hed donned his beanie, along with a long-sleeved T-shirt and vintage Levis jeans.
Cold? he asked.
She nodded.
He put his arm around her. Not asking permission, but moving slowly enough that she could say no if she wanted to.
She didnt.
His body felt warm and hard where it pressed against hers. He was like a side of beef, with no give. His hand cupped the curve of her waist as if it had been molded for that purpose. She was comforted and thrilled in equal measures.
He kept his gaze on the fire, probably because looking into her eyes at this distance would be weird. But he was still attuned to her. When she exhaled a ragged breath, he smiled and squeezed her waist. She snuggled closer, enjoying the contact.
Faith hadnt been held by a man in over six months. Since her breakup with Tom, casual hookups had lost their appeal. She wasnt as adventurous or carefree as she used to be, and that worried her. If she stayed abstinent much longer, shed become a born-again virgin like Hope. Maybe it was time to knock the dust off her vagina.
Jay was a perfect candidate for a fling. He didnt match her mental picture of an avid outdoorsman, however. His jaw was shadowed by stubble, and his clothes were on the thrifty side, but he didnt appear dirty or unkempt. He had good skin, straight teeth and nice hands. This was no hippie backpacker or scruffy wildlife hunter.
His hair had felt thick and luxuriant, and it was expertly cut. He looked more like a lawyer than a lumberjack.
What do you do? she asked, fluttering her lashes.
Im in shipping.
Shipping?
He nodded. I work for a company in Las Vegas.
Las Vegas. Close enough for a friendly visit, but too far for anything serious. That suited Faith just fine.
The others gathered around the fire a moment later. Jay eased his arm away as smoothly as hed introduced it, giving her an apologetic glance. Maybe he didnt want to invite comments about how cozy they were getting.
Ron boiled water for freeze-dried meals and served them in the bag with plastic forks. The beef stew tasted awful to Faith, but Jay ate it like a starving man. She offered him her portion and shared a handful of trail mix with Paula, who was a vegetarian. Hot cocoa was the highlight of the evening.
There were no roasted marshmallows or campfire sing-alongs. Faith felt certain that someone would request a round of Kumbayah, but no. Ron and the other women went to bed early. Caleb brandished a flask and a smile. He unscrewed the cap and held it out to Faith, who accepted with enthusiasm. After tossing back a shot, she coughed and grimaced. The men laughed at her girlish reaction.
Jay also took a drink, swallowing easily. They passed around the flask until it was empty. By the time Ted rolled a joint, Faith was already buzzed.
This is good shit, Caleb said, holding in the smoke.
Tastes local, Ted agreed.
Faith declined a toke. The liquor was strong enough, and she hardly knew these guys. Getting wasted out of her mind wasnt a smart idea. Jay didnt hit the joint, either, which seemed to surprise them.
You dont want any?
He shook his head.
Caleb and Ted continued to share the pot. Soon they were in la-la land by themselves, debating on the other side of the campfire about how ancient civilizations had been influenced by space aliens.
Faith giggled at Calebs wild gestures and turned her attention back to Jay. He was studying her again. Although her face felt naked without makeup, she reminded herself that firelight was flattering.
Warmer now? he asked.
Yes, she said, with some regret. The combination of alcohol and masculine attention made her cheeks hot. If she wanted another excuse to cuddle with him, shed have to move away from the fire.
First things first.
She met his eyes. Do you have a girlfriend?
No, he said, seeming amused. What about you?
No girlfriend, she said coyly, twirling the end of her braid. I tried that once in college but it didnt work out.
His mouth went slack at the implication.
No boyfriend, either.
He shook his head, as if to clear it. Why not?
I havent felt like dating anyone since my last breakup.
What happened?
I guess we didnt have anything in common. He was a total jock, and...
You dont like sports?
She hesitated, not wanting to admit it. She knew that men appreciated women who rooted for the home team, drank beer and ate hot dogs. But Faith hated hot dogs. Besides, her sister was the sporty type, and being so hadnt improved her love life.
Maybe Faith should have made a better effort with Tom. Shed rarely attended his events or watched games with him. He hadnt taken an interest in her social activities, either. Theyd never been able to compromise.
I like some sports, she said.
Which ones?
She thought hard. Dirty dancing.
He laughed at her answer.
Are you a sports fan? she asked, hopeful.
Yes.
Her spirits sank. Whats your favorite?
Boxing.
Tom hadnt been into boxing. Hed followed most of the popular sports, so hed been glued to the television every night. Thats it?
Pretty much.
No football or baseball?
I like soccer, but I dont understand football, and baseball is boring to watch. Not physical enough.
She wasnt sure what he meant, but she shivered in response to the word physical. He had a unique way of speaking, a brevity that appealed to her. Everything about him was spare and lean, from his taut body to his clipped sentences.
Leaning toward him, she whispered in his ear, I have to pee.
He rose to his feet, eager to assist. She took his proffered hand and stood up, swaying a little. Caleb and Ted were too busy arguing about the space-time continuum to notice their departure.
Although Faith was afraid of bears, she could have squatted behind a bush without help. Jay stood guard at a nearby tree while she tinkled in the moonlight. She prayed that the leaves near her backside werent poison oak.
When she was finished, she fastened her pants and returned to his side. She tripped on the last step by design, stumbling into his arms.
Oh my.
His biceps were very firm beneath her palms, and his chest felt like a warm, hard cocoon. She clung to him, not caring if her pratfall was convincing.
Are you all right?
Mmm-hmm.
He placed a hand at the small of her back, holding her steady. The action also brought her lower body flush against his. They were much closer than polite distance allowed, and he was making no move to extract himself.
She twined her arms around his neck, encouraged.
Not only did he take the hint; he took control, turning her toward the tree and slanting his mouth over hers. She parted her lips on a gasp as her shoulders met the rough bark. Groaning, he dipped his tongue inside.
He tasted smooth and hot, like campfire whiskey. She hadnt kissed a man since Tom and it was nice to cleanse her palate.
Jay did a thorough job, exploring her mouth with silky strokes. He wasnt pushy or overeager. This was a man who could wait for the main event. His lips were deliciously firm. In her experience, sloppy kissers were sloppy lovers, and anyone who rushed first base didnt deserve to get waved on to second.
She moaned and sucked on his tongue, appreciative.
He must have enjoyed that, because he made a sound in the back of his throat and slid his hands lower, cupping her bottom. Faith approved of the maneuver, and of the desire she felt swelling between them. She pressed her breasts against his chest. Her skin tingled with awareness and heat blossomed between her legs.
As if reading her mind, he lifted her higher, fitting his erection into the notch of her thighs.
Unh.
That was good.
Still kissing her, he rubbed his hard denim button fly against her cleft, stimulating a riot of sensations.
She dug her fingernails into his shoulders and swooned, dizzy from arousal. He was going to make her come with her clothes on! She shouldnt have gone so long without sex. This was embarrassing.
It wasnt his fault that she was teetering on the edge of orgasm, and if they had a private place to retreat to, her extreme horniness wouldnt be a problem. But there was no way shed let him screw her against a tree twenty feet from the campsite. Faith was adventurous, but she wasnt that adventurous.
She tore her mouth from his, panting.
He didnt remove his hands from her ass, but he stopped grinding against her, which helped her think. She braced her palms on his chest and gave him a light push. He released her at once, stepping back.
Her brain wasnt functioning on all cylinders yet. He was damned near irresistible, standing there in the moonlight, an erection straining the front of his jeans, his dark eyes locked on her mouth.
That was hot, she said.
Yes.
I have to go to bed now.
Okay.
He walked her to the girls tent, not seeming displeased or frustrated in the least. She liked that. Some guys thought every make-out led to sex, and wouldnt take no for an answer. After a traumatic experience with an aggressive date, Faith had vowed never to let a man overpower her again.
When they arrived at the entrance, she stood up on tiptoe and brushed her lips over his. She wanted to smooth her palm down his body to test his size, but she restrained herself. Teasing him would be cruel.
See you tomorrow, she said, sinking to her knees to unzip the tent.
He murmured something under his breath that sounded oddly like a foreign language. Then he said good-night and disappeared into the dark.
* * *
HOPE AND SAM hiked until sunset.
Her legs were shaky from overexertion, and she felt light-headed, but she soldiered on, determined to keep moving. Although she was accustomed to strenuous exercise, twelve hours of it tested her physical limits.
When she stumbled and almost fell down a ravine, Sam suggested a break. She sat down on a flat rock, her thigh muscles quivering. While he disappeared into the trees to relieve himself, she radioed Dispatch, getting a detailed update. Then she checked in with Ron Laramie. To her relief, the rafting group was fine.