Was she reaching for him? He found himself hoping she was. With reluctance, he rose from the bed and took a hot shower. He was used to strenuous activity as he made sure to get some form of exercise in daily, so he wasn’t dealing with the soreness that Sierra was, but the steaming water still felt good washing the last of his sleep away.
He spent a couple hours getting work done, and confirming reservations before he ordered room service then went in to wake her.
Their second day had to start a little earlier to get everything in. Sierra didn’t fight him at all when he woke her. She jumped from bed and rushed to the bathroom to begin getting ready. He couldn’t resist joining her in the shower, causing them to be a little bit late.
“We have to leave now or we’ll miss our train,” Damien said with a laugh as Sierra kissed him again, both of them standing in the bedroom with nothing but towels on.
“Oh, a train!” she exclaimed as her arms fell from his shoulders and she rushed to the closet to grab her clothes.
He didn’t know whether to be happy she was listening or upset that she was choosing a train over him. He decided to go with being happy.
“We’re going to tour the Kuranda Rainforest, and stop in the village.”
“I don’t remember seeing that pamphlet. It sounds fun,” Sierra said, her voice muffled by the shirt she was pulling over her head.
Damien took a moment to appreciate the slightly tanned skin of her stomach as she struggled to pull her shirt down. Amazingly, he felt himself growing hard as his eyes traveled up and took in the ripe mounds of her br**sts before she got the shirt to cooperate and his view was blocked.
“Don’t look at me like that or we’ll never get out of here,” Sierra begged him. His eyes lifted and he was surprised to see the desire shining in her eyes. It seemed neither of them could get enough of the other.
“I’m trying not to hurt you, Sierra. You may like sex, but I’m going to do some damage if we don’t take breaks. Your body has to have time to heal,” he warned, his voice deep with desire.
“Then we’d better leave,” she purred.
Damien took a menacing step toward her and she giggled before grabbing her pants and running from the room. He took a step after her before stopping himself. If he pursued her, it would end with them on the bed, or a table, for all he cared. He had to remind himself of her inexperience.
He quickly dressed, happy when he found her in the living room holding her purse and waiting. He had to get her out of the room.
As they stepped into the hall and made their way to the elevator, he reached down and took her hand. He’d never before felt the need to hold a woman’s hand, but suddenly he had to touch her, had to feel her warm skin against his own. He swore he heard a sigh from her as his fingers tightened around her palm, but she didn’t say anything. He tried acting like it was no big deal, though his emotions toward her were growing – making it a very big deal.
They boarded the train and went deep into the heart of the tropical rainforest of Kuranda.
“I just can’t believe something so beautiful exists. It almost looks untouched,” Sierra said as they looked out the large windows. Various animals were playing in the trees, and the scenery was stunning.
The train stopped in the village and they had a nice meal with the other tourists, Sierra instantly making new friends. Damien just sat back and watched as she conversed with various people.
He did find himself constantly reaching for her – his hand either gripping hers, or resting against the small of her back, sometimes brushing the hair from her shoulders, or resting on her thigh. She’d turn often and smile at him, making his stomach tighten with desire and…more.
He was having a good time with her, not thinking about the work being left undone, revenge, or his mother. He was simply enjoying a few moments of uninterrupted time with a beautiful woman. He was discovering he liked her – really liked her. She was the first woman he’d enjoyed being around since college when he’d fallen in love, or what he’d thought was love.
It had turned out to be simply infatuation and the relationship had never had a chance. He’d already been through so much in his life that the experience had turned him off of the happily-ever-after kind of love. He wasn’t falling in love with Sierra, just infatuated, he assured himself.
Marriage was about what two people could give each other, not about love and devotion, anyway. He tuned out the negative thoughts and just let himself feel good without guilt. He pushed his mother’s voice from his head.
After lunch they took a ride on the skyrail, soaring over the tops of the trees, getting a magnificent view of the Barron Falls and Red Peak. Each new sight had Sierra grabbing for him while she animatedly pointed. He looked out the windows, seeing the beauty all around him.
He honestly couldn’t remember the last time he’d slowed down enough to simply enjoy himself. He decided it was going to become a priority. He’d have to get Trinity and Drew to join him in Australia. Damien had a feeling it was going to become a favorite place for him.
The sun was starting to set when they arrived back at the train terminal. Sierra looked disappointed the day was over, but he had to keep them on schedule or he’d never get to show her everything he planned.
They got in the rental car and drove to the airport.
“Where are we going?” Sierra asked, almost in a panic.
“Don’t worry, we’re just heading to our next stop,” he reassured her as he helped her from the vehicle.
“What about our luggage?”
“I had it packed and delivered while we were gone.”
“Don’t you worry they may take some items?” she asked.
“Not at all. I’ve stayed at that hotel many times. The owner is a personal friend of mine,” Damien said with a smile.
“That’s good enough for me.”
They boarded the jet and made the short ride to Alice Springs, which was at the very heart of the Australian Outback.
Sierra stepped into their new hotel room, excited to see where they’d be staying this night. It was opulent, of course, but as she walked in, her eyes instantly filled with tears. On the living room table sat a huge bouquet of roses with a card attached. She slowly walked over and lifted the envelope with her name on it.
Damien watched, fascinated by the eager anticipation as she slowly opened the envelope. He moved so he could see her expression as she read the card.