If she fell making the first moves, she wouldn’t fall far. And she had lost her grip, a couple times, until she’d figured out how to use the proper leverage to get around the corner and cling with her fingertips to a protrusion that had barely enough space for two fingers. That allowed her to use her stomach muscles, haul up one leg to a hold, cantilever herself to the side and finally make it to the vertical wall to work the next section.
Nathan cut in. “Hurry up, guys. I’ve got all the pictures I need of you on that hunk of rock. How about getting to the new territory?”
Melanie wrinkled her nose at him. “It’s not as easy as it looks, Nathan.”
He shrugged. “Whatever.”
Oh really? His smirk lit a spark inside—one that wanted to challenge his cocky grin. She had aches in all the right spots, her muscles nice and warm. Melanie paused as she realized she hadn’t thought about her scars once in the last couple hours, not even when she’d heated up enough she’d stripped down to her sports bra. The rush of excitement that washed over her made the dare burst out. “I bet you can’t do it.”
He lowered the extra camera he’d been playing with while waiting for them to carry on. “You’ve made all of three moves, monkey. Not like it’s a huge challenge yet or anything.”
“Oh, brother, are you in for it now…” Derrick muttered.
Melanie set her fists on her hips and smiled sweetly. “Put your money where your mouth is. I bet you can’t do this route, not even if we show you an easier way.”
Nathan sneered. “I’ll offer chocolate if I can’t.”
Oh God, he was so going down.
“Right this way.”
Derrick stepped aside and Melanie gestured Nathan forward. He crawled under the overhang willingly and grabbed the handholds.
“Your feet go to the right… Yup, that one. And the other over here.”
“Here?”
She giggled. Nathan was tall enough once he did touch the holds he was going to have a hell of a time getting his ass off the mat. “Perfect. Now, lift your hips.”
He flexed his muscles and managed to get into the first position.
“Impressive. Now go for it.”
Nathan tried, and while he had the strength, he didn’t have the technical experience to make the moves. He slipped off the rocks and smacked into the mat, flat on his back.
“Well done. Not. Where’s my chocolate?”
Nathan blew a raspberry at her. “Patience, monkey. That was only my first attempt.”
She shrugged. “First, tenth. Same result.”
He set up again, and again. The fifth time his ass hit the mat, she snorted. This was getting more and more entertaining.
“Damn it.” Nathan growled.
“He’s got the wrong foot pressure.” Derrick pointed out.
Melanie checked Nathan’s position. “Oh, you’re right. Nate, this time, push off with your right foot completely, but keep the left foot on the wall. It will give you the extra reach you need to make the catch.”
He leaned his head back and flashed that deadly grin, and something else warmed inside, not quite so competitive in nature. Damn, the man was a walking advertisement for testosterone and how to use it well. “You’re going to have to give me a little help, darling. I was watching through a camera lens before. Where am I reaching?”
She touched his outreached fingers with her own. “You’re here. You need to slip your fingers this direction—” She connected with the hold, keeping her elbow in contact with his hand. “See, it’s only a few more inches. Course, you should just let me know where the chocolate is now, so I can enjoy it while I watch you fall on your ass another dozen times.”
“Ha, ha. I can do this.”
“Suit yourself.” She stepped back, slipping next to Derrick where he leaned on the neighbouring rock face. He snuck his hands around her waist and tugged her closer, fingers caressing the bare skin at her side with delicate strokes, and her heart rate accelerated.
Nathan fell twice more, but her attention was drawn away by the increasingly intimate caress Derrick applied, sneaking his hands casually higher to brush the sides of her breasts.
“Stop that. You’re getting me all tingly,” she whispered.
“That’s the idea.” He chuckled and tugged her directly in front of him, aligning her so the length of his erection pressed between them. “You’ve been driving me mad. Your ass looks marvelous in those climbing pants.”
So much for worrying about needing sexy, skin-revealing outfits to turn him on. “Animal.”
“Snaaarl.” Derrick nibbled on her neck and Melanie sighed with happiness.
“Damn it, Mel, how the hell did you get around this corner?”
The pitiful question from Nathan interrupted the direction her thoughts were heading—which was fine, since there wasn’t going to be much opportunity to get naked with Derrick for a while anyway. Not with them all camping for the night in a single four-man tent.
“Hang on, Nathan, Mel will show you how.”
Melanie glanced at Derrick, pulling a mock pout. “I will? Why would I do that?”
“Sportsmanship?”
She narrowed her eyes.
“Come on, give Nathan another chance. He’s not as experienced as you are. Go under and demo again.” Derrick patted her on the ass.
Melanie planted a quick kiss on his cheek before slipping onto the mat and grinning at a frowning Nathan. “You really think you can do this?”
“I’m close, but I’m missing something.”
Five years of practice? “Try again and I’ll watch from here.”
Lying beside him allowed her to see exactly what he was doing wrong as he extended his torso and attempted to catch the next hold. It also let her see every muscle in his body flex—and while he wasn’t as cut as Derrick, it was still a fine view.
He’d been working hard, both earlier in the sun and now, and a fine layer of sweat made his skin shine. She breathed in deeply, the musky scent less dirty and far more arousing than she hoped. Melanie tilted her head back to see Derrick squatting outside the cave area, watching, and she shivered. Why did it feel as if he wasn’t keeping an eye on her to make sure nothing happened, but almost as if he hoped something would?
She cleared her throat. “You still aren’t using the muscles in your left leg right.”
“I pushed off,” Nathan complained.
“You did. But it’s not a push you need, it’s an extension, and you have to employ your full toe and calf muscle.”
Nathan dropped to the mat and groaned. “Show me again.”
Mel nodded. “I will, but first, try once more in slow motion, and I’ll point out the muscles you need to use.”
Nathan set up as she wiggled toward the base of the wall, planting her hand on his thigh before she thought it through.
Oh my God, he was solid. Unyielding muscles flexed under her fingers, and she forced herself to concentrate. “This is where you need to push off, then you can…”
She traced down his calf muscle, caught hold of his ankle and tugged slightly. “Up on your toe. There. That will give you an additional three inches, and that’s all you need to reach your goal.”
“Additional three inches, hey? Never been told I needed it.”
She flushed instantly. What was she supposed to say to in response to that? “Move over and I’ll show you one last time.”
Nathan dropped then slipped to the side to let her access the first holds.
Melanie dragged her gaze off Nathan, wondering if she’d caught some kind of a flu that made her insanely hot and feverish. There was no excuse for this. She’d told Derrick she found Nathan attractive, but that didn’t give her the right to fantasize about the guy right there in front of him.