Chapter 4

Three days later, that smile remained on Laura's face. She hadn't been so relaxed in…. she couldn't even remember how long. Attributable, no doubt, to the fresh, brisk air; the endorphins fueled by hours of exercise each day; great meals…. And her Mr. Steele. They'd gotten on remarkably well, not a single fight save their normal banter and baiting. He'd been beyond attentive… and caring, so much so that the evening before she'd propped herself up on her elbows as he massaged her tired feet and healing ankle.

"You're always trying to take care of me," she remarked, thoughtfully, as though it was something to marvel at: someone wishing to care for her. His eyes flicked from her foot, to her face, then back to her foot again.

"I do what you'll allow me to do," he acknowledged, cautiously, looking up at her through his lashes. She cocked her head, her brown eyes studying what she could see of his face.

"Why?"

"Because I happen to enjoy doing so." She flopped back down on the bed and fingered her throat. It was quite the thought to ponder.

"Huh."

Was all she had said, letting the topic go before either of them became too uncomfortable.

A tap sounded on the open door between her and Remington's room.

"Ready?" he inquired. She looked up at him from where stood next to the bed, zipping closed a stuffed backpack, and smiled at him. "Good Lord, Laura," he commented with horror, "We're going on a cross country trek, not a week's long expedition."

"A twenty-four mile trek that will take most of the day," she countered. "I've only packed the basic necessities recommended by Explorer Scouts everywhere for prolonged periods of physical activity in unknown terrain." She picked up a second backpack from where it sat on the floor and handed it to him. "Lunch. Club sandwiches, a thermos of vegetable soup, fruit, a bottle of wine, and blanket." He took the bag, with an appreciative look, and slung it over his shoulder. "Shall we get on with it, Mr. Steele?"

"After you, Miss Holt."

Remington surreptitiously watched Laura as she spread the blanket out over a rock outcropping, one of the few dry areas available to them on the snow-covered landscape they'd been traversing. The last four days had been… remarkable. He could not quite recall Laura ever being so relaxed. Smiles that displayed her dazzling dimples had been frequent. Her brown eyes had glimmered with unconcealed happiness. All those walls held up with steel girders, had almost been completely absent. She kissed him with less restraint, initiating those kisses with more frequency. She touched him more often: brushing back the lock of hair off his forehead, caressing his cheek, feathering her fingers over the back of his hand.

She'd even willingly gotten horizontal with him last evening, drawing his lean frame over hers, as her hands had wandered over his back, shoulders and arms freely. He hadn't even bothered to hide the proof of his desire from her, as he so often did. He'd simply reveled in the taste of her skin against his tongue, as his mouth had roamed, explored, the long column of her neck. He'd just about worked up the nerve to reach for a breast – a move that had always resulted in her skittering away – when she'd called it a night.

Still, they'd made long strides in his opinion. Long… glorious… strides.

She looked up at him from where she was kneeling on the blanket beside the spread of food she'd laid out.

"Coming?" The corner of his mouth involuntarily quirked upwards at her choice of word.

"Of course," he agreed. Her eyes followed him as he stretched out on his side on the blanket, propping himself on an elbow, as he reached for half of a sandwich. She hasn't missed that quirk of his lips and was bemused by it. It wasn't as though she hadn't fantasized frequently herself these last days about finally experiencing that ultimate pleasure with him. Alright, had fantasized more frequently, for he'd been the subject of her active imagination for years.

And, she suspected, if things continued as they'd been going these last days, they would cross that proverbial line at the bedroom door before they returned to LA. That is, if he'd get on with it already, and make a real move. After all, she'd made the first move and Cannes, and, oh boy, lesson learned on that one. Mr. Steele had made it very clear that he not only wanted, needed… but demanded… an equal voice on when they'd finally consummate this relationship.

"Laura… Lau-ra…" She blinked hard, wondered how long he'd been trying to get her attention.

"Huh?"

"I asked, did you check the weather forecast for today?" He tilted his head back to look upward at the grey masses forming above. "The skies seem… ominous." She looked upwards as well, then unconcernedly reached for the thermos and unscrewed the top.

"I did. Flurries on and off this afternoon. The real snow won't begin to fall until after eight." She poured the soup into to cups from the backpack and handed him one.

"I have to admit, Laura, I never thought we'd manage to get here," he told her, as he accepted the cup from her.

"We're only at the half-way point, Mr. Steele," she reminded him, "The most difficult part of this outing is still ahead of us. A half dozen downhill—"

"That's not what I meant," he interrupted quietly, a pair of intense blue eyes leveling on her. She cocked her head in answer.

"What do you mean?"

"You, I. A long holiday. Together." She studied his face, considered briefly a glib comment, then chose to be honest instead.

"I know what you mean," she concurred. "It's seems something has always managed to get in our way. You. Me," She bobbed her head at the last admission.

"A case," he added pointedly, with a lift of his brows.

"A case," she nodded, then took a bite from her own sandwich, her brown eyes still examining him. She dared a little more honesty. "I'm glad we're here." He reached for her hand, bussed the knuckles, his eyes not leaving hers.

"As am I." A shiver rippled over her skin and her eyes heated. This time it was he who backed away. He cocked a brow at her. "Mildred seems to be enjoying herself."

"I'll say," she laughed.

"She's certainly keeping her options open," he observed, his warm laughter joining hers. Mildred had enjoyed dinner with three different men in the last three days, and they'd agreed to join her and her choice du jour for dinner and drinks that evening.

"Taking a page from your own book?" she teased. Her eyes widened and lips parted in surprise at the flash of injury, then insult that passed through his eyes, although the careless smile remained on his face.

"If so, she's reading a few chapters back," he replied, taking care to sound casual. The smile in his eyes, on his lips, was quite real when she nervously sat up and stared out over the horizon.

"The view's beautiful." And it was, the rock outcropping hanging far above the valley formed by mountains to the west and north. Remington shifted the remnants of lunch aside and sat up next to her.

"It is most certainly that," he hummed, as he cupped her neck and stroked it. His lips covered hers when she turned to look at him. The kiss was hot, powerful, verging on possessive… and completely lacking his normal restraint. She hummed against his lips, dragged her fingers through his hair, her inhibitions forgotten. She went willingly the ground when he eased her to her back, stretching his long, lean frame out alongside her. Her fingers flexed against his scalp as his lips left hers, to taste the tender skin of her neck while his hand rhythmically stroked her side from hips to ribs, then back again. His mouth returned to hers for another decadent kiss. Her hand swept down his back and over his well-clad bottom, sending a jolt of pure desire coursing through him and setting his body instantly on edge. He tore his mouth from hers and stared down at her.

"When are we going to stop this insanity and simply admit we wish to be together?" he gasped. The intensity of the emotions she saw in his eyes both terrified and electrified her. She closed her eyes, drew in her lips. This is it. Go for it, Holt. Opening her eyes, she palmed his cheek and gave him a jaunty look even as her heart pounded against her ribs.

"Just been waiting for you to catch up, Mr. Steele," she drawled. "After all, we want to make sure you have 'some small say in the matter.'" His eyes narrowed and brows furrowed, as her last words niggled at something in the back of his mind. When it came to him, he laughed loudly, and claimed her lips in another torrid kiss, that left her staring up at him, dazedly, when he ended it.

"Laura, you're the only woman I know who would bring up Cannes at a time like this." She lifted a pert brow at him.

"I just want to make sure you feel involved," she retorted with a smile. He leaned in for another kiss, his eyes holding hers.

"Oh, I assure you, I intend to be…" he brushed his lips against hers "…very…" he briefly caressed them with his "…very…." Then longer "…involved." He fastened his mouth to hers, sliding a hand beneath her head to press their lips more firmly together, as his tongue swirled around hers in decadent kiss. Her fingers clutched at his hair, his back, until she tore her mouth from his.

"I admire your dedication, Mr. Steele," she smiled up at him, then ruffed his hair, her eyes leaving his and looking pointedly up at the sky. "It's snowing," she observed. He tore his eyes away from her face and turned his head to look upwards.

"So it is." His disinterest apparent, as he faced her again, then leaned in for another kiss. He made a sour face at the ground, when she rolled away from him.

"We'd better be on our way," she suggested, still a bit breathless, as she began packing up the scattered debris of their lunch. Reluctantly, he pushed himself up into a sitting position to assist, his heart skipping a beat when a pair of molten brown eyes met his. "The sooner we finish this trek, the sooner we can turn our attention to… other things." His tongue flicked, unconsciously, hungrily, at his lips, his eyes darkening with unhidden designer.

"That's what I love about you, Miss Holt: The way you've always your eye on the prize." He surprised her with a final, quick kiss, then they worked jointly to pack up their impromptu picnic area.