“What were you doing over by the cases?” he asked, his voice growing husky.
“Nothing,” she said after a moment.
“What’s in your hand behind your back?”
Her head jerked up; eyes wide. She was so close to him.
As he looked down into her face, he just wanted to kiss her parted lips. He leaned over her and he could feel the electricity crackle between them. Reaching around, he slid his hand down her arm to her hand as he stared at her mouth.
She seemed as mesmerized as he almost was. His fingers curled around hers and felt the smooth edge of something in her hand.
His lips brushed hers. Barely a breath. He wanted more, yet held back.
It was enough to pull the objects from her hand. They were the batteries from his devices.
Stepping away from her he said, “What are you doing with these?”
She blinked at him, reality returning, and she saw the batteries she’d had clenched in her fist now in his hand. Straightening her shoulders, her chin inched up. The soft lips he’d kissed a moment before compressed into a hard line. She lunged for him, her breasts colliding with solid muscle of his chest when he twisted, throwing his hand up where she couldn’t reach it.
He repeated his question.
She pulled her knife and stepped back, placing her feet for better balance. “Don’t make me hurt you,” she said.
Jori had traveled long and far enough to know that anyone who carried a weapon, likely knew how to use it. “Just tell me what you want with the batteries from my equipment.”
Her fierce scowl deepened, “I will protect my people any way I have to. I don’t want to have to kill you, but I will.”
“You’d kill me over camera batteries?”
Her nod was sharp, and she shifted the knife in her hand, drawing his attention.
Was his life worth the batteries? The batteries meant his ability to record. If he couldn’t record anything the entire excursion was a waste of time and resources.
He stared at her. And it was then he knew, absolutely, there was something here. No one would react the way she was if there weren’t.
His mother’s words drifted back to him—there’s always another way to achieve a goal.
Lowering his hand, he held it out to her, open palm up.
Her eyes flicked between his hand and his face then snatched and threw them as hard as she could into the ocean.
He cringed, knowing what that would do to the immediate environment.
Kymri’s posture relaxed, then she sheathed her knife.
Jori walked over the to the equipment boxes, looking in each one. At least she hadn’t damaged the units themselves. Later he’d move the memory cards into sealed cases and slip them under the foam casing. He wouldn’t tell her she hadn’t taken all of the batteries, there were spares still in the plane.
Threat removed, her demeanor changed. “Tell me more of yourself and where you come from,” she said, as though there hadn’t been a sharp blade between them moments before.
“Well, uh... What do you want to know?”
She thought a moment for a specific question, “Where is your home?”
“I have a condo in Philly, for now, and a cottage up at Lac L’Achigan in Canada, but I don’t spend much time at either.”
“You don’t have a regular home?”
He shrugged, “Haven’t really found the right place that felt like a home. I’m used to being on the move.”
“I couldn’t imagine that.”
So, she clearly was deeply rooted. No wonder she was willing to cut him to defend it from what she thought was some kind of a threat.
“Tell me something of your home.”
Her gaze shot to his face, studying him. “It is a good place to live. We work hard to keep it going.” She considered him again, “What is your role?”
“My role? What I do for work?”
She nodded.
“As I said before, I’m a documenter. I travel the world visiting new and unusual places, recording each excursion. With the material I gather I make documentaries for people to watch and publish companion books with the photos and essays.”
“That doesn’t sound very difficult or practical.”
“That’s what my father says.” He was a little stung to hear her opinion on the matter.
“It’s important to you?”
He nodded, lacing his hands together.
“Well then, I suppose that’s what matters, then?” Her hand slid over his.
He looked up into her apologetic expression. She squeezed his hand and let go.
“What of you?”
“I’m a guardian.”
“I should have figured that out.” He grinned.
She smiled and her whole face changed. It was such a genuine smile.
His heart flipped over and his breath went elsewhere.
She looked softer and almost impish when she wasn’t stern and scowling.
His fingers twitched, wanting to touch her skin and her wild hair.
Something shifted between them. Her hand slid over his again and her eyes were on his mouth.
He leaned in. He wanted to kiss her for real this time.
Kymri’s hand slid over Jori’s, enjoying the feel of the strong muscle beneath the tanned and tattooed skin. Her eyes fixed on his full lips and she wondered if his beard would be soft.
He leaned toward her and her breath stalled.
Earlier she’d been so distracted when his lips had brushed across hers, and it had caught her by surprise.
Now, she was attentive. Waiting.
She watched his face inch closer, his eyes on her mouth. Her tongue darted out in anticipation and he closed the distance.
Eyes closed, she reveled in the sensation of his soft lips moving over hers and his facial hair on her skin. Soft and scratchy all at once.
After a moment, his tongue tested her lips. Desire shot down through to her belly. Her lips opened to him; her hands slid up his forearms. He closed the gap between them, pulling her against him, leaving no doubt about his reciprocated desire for her. She groaned as he deepened the kiss and her hands had somehow worked their way up into his hair. One of his large hands cupped her face so she couldn’t escape, the other spanned the small of her back, keeping her pressed against him.
He eventually broke the kiss, resting his forehead on hers as they caught their breath, his rough thumb stroked the delicate flesh between her lower lip and her chin.
“You’re so beautiful,” he breathed so that she barely heard him.
The sounds of the ocean crashing on the beach around them matched the rushing of her pulse.
“Stay with me.”
Kymri leaned back enough to search his face. It was full of desire and familiar longing. She drew in a deep breath, scenting his musk, letting it infuse her so that it would never leave her memory.
She nodded, “For a little while.”
Jori lowered his head to touch her lips again and her chest filled with the sweetness of it. Her fingers slid along his jaw and he caught her hand, kissing her fingertips once he released her lips, keeping their hands entwined as he pulled her toward the beach, “Let’s walk a bit. Talk.”
She smiled as shyness suddenly swept through her. She felt as ridiculously giddy as a developing youngling.
They walked the beach until the light dimmed. There was less talking than intended, as they needed to stop every now and then to kiss again.