Page 16 of St. Lucia Escapades
He looked up to see Moira walking toward him. “Hey. How are you this morning?”
Moira leaned up and kissed his cheek, “I’m good. I canna wait to see this trail. Roxi says it’s beautiful. I’ve seen the pictures she took the last time she was here and they’re breathtaking.”
Cord smiled and draped his arm around her shoulders, resting it on her day hike pack. As he led her toward the bus waiting to take other tourists to the trail head, he told her what he remembered of the trail. He loved how her face illuminated as she absorbed the information. They filed onto the bus and within minutes were on their way. The whole ride, he held her hand and she didn’t seem to be in any hurry for him to let go either. This pleased him more than he cared to explore at the moment.
“Um, Cord?”
“Yeah?”
Moira fidgeted a little next to him as the bus rumbled along, “Well, I’m just curious but, have you told your family? About meeting me and all?”
Cord shifted so he could face her better, “No. Why, have you told yours?”
“No, I haven’t. I guess…bloody hell.” She sighed, “Cord, so far this last week has been amazing. I suppose I don’t want the bubble to burst.”
“I know what you mean there. Moira, I’ve had so much fun with you and I’m looking to have more fun,” he smiled, leaning in for a sizzling kiss. The kiss was short but still hot. He pulled away and smiled at the hazy look in her blue eyes. “For now, whatever this is between us it’s no one’s business but yours and mine. Okay?”
“Aye. Only ours.” Moira nodded slowly, smiling lazily.
Cord led Moira through the lush island forest. About two hundred yards behind them a large group of tourists were following their guide. This wasn’t Cord’s first rodeo, so he told Moira they didn’t need a guide. She smiled and followed his lead. “Want to see something fascinating?”
“Aye.” She grinned.
“Come on, you’ll love this.”
Taking her hand, Cord gently pulled her toward their right into the forest. A few moments later as they stepped into a clearing beside him, he heard Moira gasp at what lay before them. Half buried under the vegetation of the forest were several stone ruins. Cord watched as Moira stepped away from him to get closer and examine them. The pure wonder on her beautiful face was a joy to see and he knew he was right to show her this.
“Oh Cord. This is incredible.”
“There are ruins like this scattered along this trail and a few others on the island. Some are from the days when there was an active fort here and others are believed to be from the first islanders that inhabited the island before Europeans came here.”
“There is so much history here on this tiny island.” She smiled, pulling her camera from her pack.
“Yeah there is. Kind of like Ireland.” He replied.
She threw a smile over her shoulder at him before turning back to take pictures. Cord studied her as she walked among the ruins, snapping pictures left and right. Rays of sunlight piercing the canopy above them seemed to envelope her, glittering off her red hair, making it illuminate like fire. He couldn’t wait to see first-hand what all that glorious red looked like spread against his pillow.
Moira
Moira was amazed at the beauty that she saw around her. She and Cord were now at the peak of the mountain where Fort Rodney rest. Off in the distance she could make out the island of Martinique. Below along the cliffs, the ocean washed and crashed along the shore and rocks. When they reached the end of the hike, Cord had surprised her again with a waiting picnic lunch. As she ate one of the sandwiches, she studied the man beside her.
Not only was he handsome, wealthy, and smart, he was also one of the sweetest men she had met in an exceedingly long time. He seemed almost too good to be true. He was the complete opposite of her ex, Phillip. Phillip had been consumed with work and making a name for himself as a political journalist. At the beginning, things had been nice. He had seemed interested in what she did but that hadn’t lasted long. By their second year together, he was only interested in what he wanted to do and his career. By year three, Moira had had enough and left him.
“Hey, you okay?” Cord asked, breaking through her thoughts.
“Huh?” Moira questioned.
“Where were you babe, you looked a million miles away.”
“Sorry, was just woolgathering, as my Da would say. I’m still trying to take all this in.”
Cord pulled her to him and situated her in his lap, his strong arms cocooning her. “You’re beautiful. All of this is just window dressing.”
Before she could say anything, his lips descended on hers. Jesus, Mary and Joseph the man could kiss. Moira pushed all thoughts of Phillip and the past away and surrendered to this man who held her so securely. She shifted so her arms could wrap around him as she returned Cord’s kiss. God above she wanted this man. Wanted to feel him drive her crazy. She whimpered at the feel of one of his hands tease the side of her breast. Her nipples puckering in confines of her bra.
“Cord…”
“Moira, you feel so good in my arms.”
