At seven in the morning, Zeus arrived to pick me up. He’d stayed until after midnight planning our hike for today, but we’d decided to leave early for the Valley of Fire State Park to get some hiking in before the worst of the fall heat hit. He was wearing a white t-shirt and jean shorts, complete with hiking boots. I had gone for a tank top and Daisy Duke Style shorts—I didn’t want to risk roasting to death in the desert.
“Did you remember to pack a pair of long pants too?” he asked, picking up my backpack from beside the door.
“Yes. But I don’t want to die of heat stroke, so I didn’t put them on,” I laughed.
“We’re probably going rock climbing, that’s why I wanted you to bring them. It’d be a shame if you cut your legs up. Also, it gets cold in the desert at night.”
“I know,” I smiled. “I have lived in the desert my whole life!” He gave me a dazzling smile in return.
“I got everything for lunch and dinner in the car, are you ready to go?”
“Yes,” I grinned again. I had a feeling today was going to be one I’d remember for the rest of my life.
“Let’s go then!” He reached and grabbed my hand, tossing my bag over his shoulder.
I was surprised when he threw everything into the back of a Jeep. I should have known he had more than one car. I shook my head and rolled my eyes.
“What?” He opened the passenger door and helped me in.
“Nothing,” I laughed as he ran around the front and got in the driver’s side.
“I like cars, so what,” he joked. “There is a car for every occasion, and I think I should have one for each of them.”
“If you say so.”
“I do! Don’t you like it? This Jeep will be awesome in the park, you wait.”
“A car is just that, Zeus—a car. I don’t understand men’s obsessions with them.”
“You will after today, baby,” he crooned, peering at me over the top of the sunglasses he’d just put on.
“Baby?” I questioned, one eyebrow raised.
“Yeah. I like it, don’t you?”
“We’ll see,” I laughed.
The park proved to be as amazing as Zeus promised. Everything was a brilliant red, thus the fire reference. I kept having giggle fits because some of the sandstone was wavy and resembled bacon sizzling on the cliff face. There were ancient dwellings throughout the park, as well as cool rock formations.
We went rock climbing in one area of the park, analyzed some interesting petroglyphs after a small walk to another site, barbequed at the campground, and walked through the visitor’s center during the hottest part of the day. Once it hit about six, we started our hike. We’d be finished by sunset and then head back to the city, stopping in the mountains to star gaze. I was especially excited about the last part. I’d been able to see the stars every night in my hometown, but here the city lights washed them away.
The trail we walked had legends that went with the whole valley and all sorts of cool rock formations. One even looked like a piano! It seemed impossible for some of them to exist—they should have crumbled millions of years ago—but somehow they had stayed strong. Zeus impressed me once again by displaying his knowledge of the area; everything from dinosaurs to ancient basket-weavers. It sounded a lot like history class, but felt a lot like art class. I had more fun than I thought possible.
The air was still dry and hot as we drove back towards the city, although the sun was beginning to set. The mountains rose up in front of us, the only barrier between us and home, but even with the wind blowing through the open vehicle, I still had to pull my sticky, damp shirt off my stomach.
“It would be so fantastic, if there was a little rain, don’t you think?” I looked out the top of the Jeep, glad I’d worn my hair back and it wasn’t blowing in my face.
“Rain, huh?” Zeus smiled and reached one hand out to hold mine. “Maybe it will rain, you never know.” He glanced up at the sky quickly and then returned his gaze to the road, concentration etched on his face.
“What are you doing?” I laughed.
“Nothing,” he grumbled, giving the empty sky a death glare.
“You are so peculiar!” I laughed and tightened my grip on his hand.
We were soon situated a little ways off the road, huddled next to a cliff face. Several rocks created a semicircle, effectively making it feel like we were closed in. It was apparent people had stopped here before since there was a fire pit and lots of tire marks on the side where we had parked. Zeus had a fire going with a couple of chairs set beside it. He had even brought a couple of blankets. It was simple really, more of a natural pullout from the road, but it was perfect. I’d never enjoyed plain dirt and rocks so much.
“Surprise!” Zeus pulled a bag of marshmallows out of one of his packs, followed by chocolate and graham crackers. “I brought hot coco mix too, if we want some.” A small saucepan and a bottle of water were pulled out of the bag as well.
“How thoughtful of you!” I smiled and looked up at the sky. The sun had just finished setting, and several stars shone through the dim light. “It’s beautiful up here. How did you find this spot?”
“Remember how I told you I planned where we were going?” He pulled out a radio and got up to set it on top of the car behind us.
“Mmhhmm.”
“I lied.” He laughed as he plugged his phone into the player. “I just kept driving until I found a place I thought was good enough.”
“Well, remember this place then,” I laughed back. “Because it’s more than good enough, it’s perfect. I love it.”
“Then I guess I have accomplished my goal tonight.” He turned and smiled at me, while pressing a button on his phone.
Music started playing and I giggled. “May I have this dance?” He asked in a silly voice, moving from the car and back in front of me, bowing like he was before the Queen.
“Of course you may!” I replied in my best imitation of his voice.
A goofy grin spread over his face, and he rushed over to me, grabbing my hand and pulling me up. We proceeded to invent a dance, which in no way matched the music. Our laughter echoed off the rocks around us, and the fire threw our shadows every which way, making it appear as if there was more than one couple dancing. Suddenly, a chill overtook me. I hadn’t realized how far the temperature had dropped, and I was starting to wish I’d put my long pants back on after our hike.
“Here, let me help,” Zeus said, releasing me for a moment and grabbing a blanket. “I worried it would get really chilly tonight. It’s not so bad in the summer, but once fall hits, it can get pretty cold when the sun goes down.”
“I know, I didn’t realize how frozen I was until now,” I chattered.
He wrapped the blanket around his shoulders , pulling me close and covering me as well.
“It’s a little frosty; I thought I’d help warm it up for you.” He smiled sincerely, even though the cover alone was fine.
“Right,” I said, unable to concentrate. He was very close. There was something about his proximity that made it hard for me to focus. “Thank you,” I managed to get out.
We were silent for a moment, looking at the stars. I really enjoyed his company and felt sad we would be parting soon.
“Hey, Karly?” he whispered, turning toward me.
“Yeah?” I kept my eyes on the sky, devouring the twinkling lights which would soon be lost in the city’s glow.
“Can I kiss you?”
I snapped my attention back to him. I felt the blush rise in my face as I answered. “You don’t have to ask.”
“Good,” he smiled softly, leaning in as he looked at my lips. “I didn’t want you to call me a pig again.”
His lips touched mine before I could reply. My breath stopped as my body became hyper aware of his rock hard abs against me.
He pulled the blanket around us tighter, locking in the heat and trapping me against his chest. While one hand held the corners together behind my
shoulders, the other rested on my hip, gripping me softly. Fire shot through my veins as his hot breath warmed my face.
His lips moved over mine gently, like feathers barely brushing my skin, but my insides twisted as if the kiss were filled with deep passion. The heat churned in my stomach as my body cried out for more. I blushed as he pulled his mouth away and rubbed his cheek against mine. Even with the heat from his body and the blanket, goose bumps erupted over my skin. Suddenly, I couldn’t get enough of him.
I recaptured his mouth with mine, using all the strength I could muster. I felt my hands on his chest, crushed beneath my body as I returned his soft caresses much more roughly than he’d delivered them. My heart pounded as he softly nipped my lower lip with his teeth, tightening his hold on me. He quickly licked the inside of my top lip and then gave me one last, lingering kiss. My knees felt as if they would buckle, and I sucked in a breath, suddenly remembering how to breathe. Lightning raced through my veins, filling me with longing for another kiss.
Zeus rested his forehead against mine and smiled. “How was that?”
I giggled in embarrassment, snuggling deeper into his embrace. “I don’t kiss and tell,” I teased.
He laughed as he scanned the sky. “Well, what do you know, baby. It looks like rain.” He turned back to me, triumph in his eyes.
“Wow, how did those clouds get here so fast?” I looked up at the dark clouds in wonder.
“Maybe someone heard your plea for water,” he teased me.
“Ha ha, very funny,” I said smugly. “There’s no rain yet, so I obviously don’t have that much pull!”
I was answered with a crushing kiss, much stronger than any before. I threw my arms around his waist and squeezed back, reveling in the feeling. My heart raced in my chest. Every inch of me wanted to be touched by him. My lungs begged for breath, but I couldn’t tear my mouth from his. He tasted like honey, his lips burning into mine.
I didn’t want him to stop, but rain slowly started to fall, plopping onto my hair and face. It was only a sprinkle, but it was enough to draw our attention back to the sky.
“What do you know; maybe I do have some pull after all.” I smiled, wiping a single drop off my cheek. After a moment, I watched Zeus as he surveyed the storm. He seemed proud, like he’d brought on the storm himself, but there was a shadow of sadness there also.
“Hey,” I said, touching his face with one hand. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” he said, smiling at me. “Did you have a good day today?”
“It was the best date I’ve ever been on,” I replied honestly. I couldn’t think of any other time I’d connected this well with someone, especially a guy. I couldn’t believe I’d thrown out and labeled him no good and he’d turned out to be such a nice person.
Thunder sounded in the distance and his eyes flashed, a full blown grin overtaking his face.
Chapter Eleven