Page 25 of More Than a Fling

“I, for one, haven’t discovered anything,” he replied. “Not to change the subject but I packed a killer picnic lunch for us, and we’ll be at the river before you know it.”

“I can’t wait, I skipped breakfast this morning. Gabe, thank you so much for this,” she said.

“An opportunity to get out on Gil with a beautiful woman is no hardship, I’m happier than a Kentuckian on Derby day,” he said.

As they wound their way down to the river, they startled some pheasants, which in turn surprised their mounts, who after a few quick side steps, took their cue from their riders, and returned to their previous confidence.

“Here we are, let’s dismount and spread our blanket out,” Gabe said. He looked around, always in awe of this sacred land no matter how many times he visited here. The mammoth and majestic sycamore trees reached far into the sky. The river, swollen from the spring rain, lent its soothing sound of rushing water to their magical day. The birds were mostly quiet this time of day, but the occasional sound of gold finches and white-throated sparrows serenaded them.

Gabe hopped off Gil then helped Annie dismount. They replaced the bridles with halters and let them graze. Gabe spread the thick army blanket on a flat spot he had searched out and unpacked his saddle bag.

“What a feast,” Annie exclaimed as her mouth watered in anticipation.

Gabe had purchased submarine sandwiches from the local deli, along with homemade potato salad, grapes, chips and pickles.

“A picnic isn’t complete without a piece of fresh baked apple pie,” Gabe said, proudly displaying two huge pieces with crumbles on top.

Annie sat on the blanket and removed her socks and boots. Gabe watched her wiggle her bare toes, now released from their confinement. The sun warmed them as the spring breeze simultaneously kept them cool.

Gabe, balancing on one leg at a time, followed Annie’s lead and removed his boots and socks. He then plopped down beside her, and wasted no time pulling her into his arms. He gently pushed her onto her back and swung his leg over hers, effectively pinning her to the blanket, and hovered over her as he gently kissed her.

“Oh Annie, I have waited all week for this moment,” he said softly. He brushed her hair back from her brow and studied her. Looking into her hooded green eyes, he wavered between keeping a tight rein on his desire for her or total abandon. His pent-up longing won the battle, restraint and logic losing by a landslide.

He dipped his head and coaxed her lips apart, while cupping one hand behind her neck and running his other up and down her bare arm, enjoying the feel of her soft skin. The kiss was gentle, exploratory, meant to seduce, and it worked. He could feel her body melt against his own.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, deepening the kiss as she slipped her tongue into his mouth. He groaned as his penis hardened. Pulling back, he knew if he didn’t put the brakes on now, it would take superpowers he wasn’t sure he possessed to stop it from becoming something they might later regret.

Gabe rolled onto his side, propped up on his crooked elbow, the other arm draped across her waist; his large hand splayed her rib cage, almost touching her breast. Seeing his desire mirrored in her eyes, he had to touch her.

Slipping his hand under her tee shirt, he rolled his thumb over her nipple nestled inside the silky bra. She arched her back, pressing her breast further into his hand, inviting him to fondle her. Her cheeks were flushed, and she licked her lips as she moaned, prompting Gabe to cover her mouth again with his own. She tasted like maraschino cherries.

With extreme difficulty, Gabe managed to pull himself away from the ledge, “Oh, Annie girl, you could make a man go crazy,” he rolled onto his back, his biceps flexing as he ran his hands through his hair.

Annie sat up, looking flushed and sexy as hell. With a slightly unsteady hand she reached for a grape and plucked it from its stem. She pressed it against Gabe’s lips staring intently into his eyes. He licked and suckled her fingers as he took the fruit into his mouth. His eyes burned as he watched her grab another one for herself. Intentionally seducing him, she parted her full lips to sink her teeth into the ripe purple berry. Smiling seductively, she knew full well the effect she was having on him and was enjoying it immensely.

“Annie, I’m warning you now, you are playing with fire here,” he said, voice ragged with desire.

“I like to live dangerously."

“Game on,” he said, “But first we eat.”

“If you say so.” She pulled out one of the subs from its wrapper and took a huge bite. “Hmm, so good,” she said talking with her mouth full.

It was such a quick turnaround that Gabe guffawed. She enchanted him, and it took everything in him not to grab the sub from her hands and kiss her again. But he knew he had to back off, or risk coming on way too hard, way too fast, way too soon. It was proving to be quite a challenge.

After finishing their lunch, they were too full to move and laid on the blanket talking. She loved the feel of being held in his arms with her cheek resting against his chest. She nuzzled his body enjoying his masculine scent, soap, Old Spice, and a hint of horse. Lying there, feeling his heartbeat, the steady rhythm of his breath, along with the cadence of his voice as he told her stories, lulled her into a light sleep. She didn’t know how long she dozed before he gently kissed her awake.

“Wake up sleepy-head,” Gabe said.

“I’m sorry, how long was I out?”

“Long enough to scare off the wild critters with all the snoring,” he said grinning.

“I did not snore!” she said punching him lightly. “Did I?”

“I’m just teasing ya. It was about a half-hour cat nap. I mighta’ dozed a little myself. We’d best get going.”

“I wish we could stay here forever.”

---