Five-Thirty AM - XI

(Author's Note:

It helps to have a knowledgable friend, especially one that is willing to share that knowledge with you. I have been helped immeasurably by one such friend. 

I raise my glass to you, Redwine1 - Salud! y Gracias!)

It promised to be another hot day. There wasn’t a cloud in the blue sky in the early hours of the morning, a few stars still hanging in the darker blue of the West. The city of El Paso still lay sleeping in the shadows of the mountains, as Dev drove the SUV along the two lane highway leading to the open desert on the outskirts of the city. Mitul had the window open and was breathing in the cool, crisp air.

So unlike the chilly climes of cottage country, she thought. Two weeks, and a thousand miles, and it was like a lifetime away.

They turned onto a road indicating the access to Whitesands National Monument, and drove past a long, low adobe building. A board indicated that the red building was the visitor information center. Then she saw it.

On either side of the road, the sands built up. Pure white. Like driven snow. As they drove deeper along the trail, she realized that the dunes got higher and higher. The Trans mountains still towered in the background.

‘What is this place?’ she was looking around wide-eyed at the tall dunes around them.

‘Gypsum. Sand is usually made of silica, but this is gypsum, that’s what gives it the white color,’ he said, obviously having read up on it.

They pulled up behind the long line of vehicles parked at the side of the road. Mitul had worn crocs as Noel had warned her that it was real sand, and wearing shoes might not be a great idea. She was dressed in denim shorts and a tank top, realizing it would be hot in the open. She’d also packed a tube of sun-block for good measure.

Dev helped her climb a tall dune, and as they stood on top, she looked around and gasped. All she could see around her was white! If she didn’t know better, she would’ve sworn it was snow. The crew had set up a little distance away, and they headed towards the hub of activity.

Noel was standing with a short, bespectacled man, who was indicating something on a sheaf of papers, and gesturing behind him. Another man, tall and well-built stood next to them, interjecting into the conversation every now and then. Cameras and reflectors were everywhere, at least to her untrained eye.

As Dev and she came closer, Noel glanced over. His eyes met hers over the heads of the people around him, and he smiled, his face lighting up at the sight of her. Specs and Muscles turned around to see what had caught his eye, and smiled uncertainly at her, just in time to see her face bloom into a shy smile.

They found chairs to sit on, and waited. The sun had started making an appearance in the sky, and the shot was ready. Noel walked away heading below the dunes behind him, the early sun casting his long shadow over the ripples on the dunes.

The director called, ‘Silence!’ ... and then ‘Action!’.

She heard the thundering of hooves before she saw him.

He came galloping over the dunes, crouched low over a tall, grey and white dappled horse, that seemed a part of the desert landscape. He was shirtless, clad only in a pair of tan pants, his feet bare, hanging out of the stirrups. Man and animal seemed as one, as they disappeared into a dip, each foot digging into the sand, raising little puffs in its wake. Her heart drummed in rhythm with the hooves. Then she saw them again as they appeared over the lip of the closest dune. The horse’s head rearing, it’s mane flying in the wind, Noel’s windblown face behind it, scrunched with tension, his fingers tight on the reins.

And then the horse reared, as its front feet raised up in the air, pawing for foothold in nothing, the whites of its eyes showing, lips drawn back from the large teeth.

Noel went flying off it’s back, lost to sight behind the dune.

‘Noel!’ she gasped, standing up, taking a few steps forward, before Dev held her back.

‘Cut!’ yelled the director. For a minute no one moved.

Then, Noel appeared over the top of the dune, leading the horse by the reins, one hand soothing its heaving neck. The crew clapped, knowing the shot had been perfect.

She put her hand on her chest, her eyes closed, to still her racing heart.

‘It’s okay,’ Dev said. ‘They have padding there so he could fall on it. They wouldn’t let him be hurt.’

Anger replaced fear. ‘He shouldn’t do such stunts himself!’ she turned on him, her eyes flashing fire. ‘What if he’d missed the padding?’

‘Relax,’ Dev was trying to soothe her down. ‘He knows what he’s doing. He won’t take unnecessary risks, trust me. I wouldn’t allow him to.’ He assured her.

‘There’s only so much you can do, Dev,’ she said. ‘You’re not the one riding around on a ten foot beast and then falling off its back!’ It was unfair of her to say it, and she realized her mistake almost as soon as the words were out of her mouth. The anger cooled.

‘I’m sorry,’ she was contrite. ‘I shouldn’t have said that.’

‘It’s okay,’ he smiled slightly. ‘You care about him,’ trying to look into her face, the deep waves of her hair hiding the blush from his eyes.

‘Can I tell you something?’ he asked, after she refused to answer that statement. She looked at him curiously. ‘I’ve never seen him like this with another girl,’ he stated baldly, staring unseeingly across the sands. ‘Don’t hurt him, angel. Cause if you do, I will personally come after you with everything I’ve got,’ there was a cold edge of steel running under the words, although he smiled at her.

She stared at him. Should she believe him? The memories of the night before flashed into her mind, as she stared at the scene in front of her.

*****

It was late morning by the time Noel was done with the close-ups of his face and the fall sequences, and pack up was called. The scene would be put together on the editing table, Dev explained to her. Mitul had sat and typed up notes on her tablet. Film-making was new to her, and she was absorbing it all she could as fast as she could, fascinated at how detailed the process was! It was back-breaking, she discovered. Back-breaking and very, very boring for a bystander.

‘What happened to Aarti?’ asked Mitul as they drove back to the hotel.

‘She’s doing her shots over these three days,’ said Dev. ‘She needs to get back to India. Prior engagements. That’s why Noel gets some time out.’

‘Oh! I thought you shot everything together?’

‘No, babe,’ Noel turned around in the passenger seat to look at her. ‘She’ll shoot her scenes, and then I’ll shoot mine, if necessary with body doubles, and then they’ll stitch it all back together in Mumbai.’

‘Oh!’ she looked baffled at the two of them, as they laughed at her. And then it hit her, he’d called her ‘babe’. Again!

*****

Noel wanted to take a nap, so Mitul decided to go for a swim in the pool. She changed into a swim suit, gathered her stuff and headed to the elevators. The doors opened and she stepped in. As the doors closed, she heard the next elevator open on the same floor.

The door opened and Dev stepped out, heading to Noel’s room. He knocked and Noel let him in.

‘Hey, what’s up?’ said Noel.

‘Raghu called. They need to re-shoot one scene with you and Aarti. They need some closeups of the two of you,’ Dev replied. ‘They’ll want to start at five, at the location. So you have to be there by three-thirty at the latest,’ he added.

‘Shit!’ Noel raked his hair back. ‘I promised to meet Mitul at two, so we could continue where we left off.’

Dev raised an inquiring eyebrow, his mind diving into the innuendo in Noel’s words. ‘Where you left off ... meaning?’ with a smirk.

‘The biography,’ Noel snapped. ‘Get your head out of the gutter.’

‘Ah!’ said Dev as if enlightened. ‘So, what time did you get to sleep last night, or didn’t you?’

Noel narrowed his eyes as he glared at him. ‘None of your business, Dev,’ he growled.

Dev just looked innocently at him holding up his hands in surrender.

‘By the way, what are your plans for tomorrow?’ asked Noel.

‘I don’t know. What do you have planned?’

‘No,’ Noel shook his head vehemently, one finger held up in warning. ‘Oh no, you don’t! She and I are spending the day together. Tomorrow and the day after,’ he stated firmly. ‘Without you,’ for good measure.

‘Well then,‘ Dev sighed. ‘I guess its just me and the crew,’ he laughed.

‘Right. Now off you go. I really need some sleep,’ said Noel.

‘Okay. I’ll catch up with you later.’ And so saying, Dev left Noel to drop on the bed and almost immediately fall into a deep sleep.

*****

At two o’clock, Mitul knocked on his door. There was no answer. She knocked again and waited. The door opened and Noel stood there, his hair and clothes rumpled, eyes red rimmed, the shadows on his jaws dark. He looked at her for a moment and then stepped back.

‘Come on in,’ he held the door open for her, his voice like rough sand on her nerves. He closed the door, behind her and said, ‘give me a second,’ and vanished into the bathroom.

She sat down, looking around. He’d still been in the clothes from this morning, and the bed was rumpled. It looked like he’d crashed as soon as he’d got back to his room!

He emerged from the bathroom, hair brushed and looking fresher than he’d had before. Seating himself down next to her on the couch, he reached out a hand and held hers. ‘Hi!’ he said, husky voice in full flow, a smile in his green eyes.

‘Have you eaten?’ she asked him the first thing that popped into her mind.

‘In a bit,’ he said. ‘I need this first,’ there was raw huger in his voice. His fingers curled into the nape of her neck, pulling her closer.

Licks of flame descended through her spine as she leaned into him, unable to resist the heat in his eyes, fixated on her lips. She parted them, her eyes closing even before he brushed them lightly with his. His long arms wrapped around her, pulling her onto his lap, his lips never leaving hers. She hooked her arms on his strong shoulders, rubbing across the thin cotton covering them. He was all around her, over her, under her. She could feel his big hands splayed on her back, the heat of his palms scorching through her top.

She fit right into him, he thought. She was so tiny against his big frame, and yet it felt perfect. Like the pieces of a puzzle coming together. His lips were made to kiss hers. His hands to hold her against him. His tongue lightly traced the outlines of her lips as she opened her mouth and let him in, coming forward readily to greet him.

He sighed in contentment, all his tiredness of mind and body dropping away like a discarded piece of nothing. His tongue slid into her mouth, and he shuddered as he tasted her, really tasted her for the first time. Last night had only been a tempter. This. This is what he wanted, what he craved. This sweetness that was her!

He could feel her hands on the muscles of his neck, the fingers digging into them, moving up into his hair, tugging lightly. He moaned into her mouth, his tongue dancing along hers, inviting her to join him. And she did. Ever step, every twirl, every rise and fall, she was there with him.

His breathing deepened he dove deeper into her, his mouth wide open, wanting, searching. He shifted her so that she straddled him now, her legs on either side of his. His lips moving feverishly all over her face. He could feel the hardness of her nipples brushing against his chest and he groaned at the feel of it. She was breaking down everything inside him. He ran his hands along her back. Digging into the deep indentation of her spine. Running up under the still damp roots of her hair. Clawing into the tight curve of her bottom, bringing her closer to him, allowing her to feel his growing hardness, rocking her against him.

She moaned as she felt him move under her. Her hands reached for the bottom of his tee, tugging it upwards. Their lips parted in time for him to take it off, before clashing together again. Her fingers finally found what they’d been looking for since the first day she saw him. She pushed him back, looking at his chest, swallowing the painful lump in her throat as she finally touched that smooth skin. Her eyes followed her hands as they slowly ran up his arms, the muscled biceps bunching as she touched them. The curiosity in her taking over. She ran a finger over each collarbone, before laying her hands flat on his chest, sliding them down.

He looked at her, sitting still, only his thumbs lightly brushing the sides of her breasts. His eyes darkened as he watched her swallow. She wanted this. She could have whatever she wanted. He closed his eyes as he felt the featherlight touch of her along his collarbones, before her tiny hands slid down his chest. She stopped at his nipples and his eyes flew open. ‘Go ahead,’ he whispered. Her eyes, dark and dilated, flicked up to his, before looking down at his chest. She circled them slowly with her thumbs, feeling the rapid beat of his heart under them, his chest rising and falling deeply. Her fingers flicked over them one by one. He threw his head back as a thousand nerves sprang to life. She ran them up again, and finally came to the phoenix, tracing its outline with her finger, following it inwards, till she felt it.

She stopped, looked at his face, looked back at the phoenix. She could feel the ridges of scar tissue under the tattoo. She rubbed her hand over it again.

She turned to him again, questioning, startled. He was gazing over her shoulder. Ardor cooled, as she noticed the pain in his eyes. ‘I’m not perfect,’ he whispered, his jaw clenched. ‘This body is not perfect. You deserve perfection.’

She put her palms against the stubble on both cheeks. Made him look into her eyes. Let him see the honesty in them. ‘I only want what’s perfect for me,’ she whispered, pressing her lips to the poor scarred skin, before she wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him close.

They sat there like that for some time, drawing warmth and comfort from each other. He rested his forehead on her shoulder, drawing deep shuddering breaths. Her face was buried in his hair, breathing him in.

He finally drew back and looked at her and sighed, and she was surprised at the dampness still sticking to his lashes.

‘How?’ she asked.

He shook his head, trailing his fingers down her hands to lace them through his. ‘Some other time,’ his voice a little hoarse. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. ‘I have to go back to the location again,’ he said. ‘Come with me?’

She nodded.

‘Sorry about that. They need to re-shoot some stuff. And I need a shower,’ he shifted her so that he could stand up. His lifted her chin and rubbed his thumb over lower lip. ‘I’ll be right back. Order me some food, please?’

Mitul settled herself comfortably on the couch, once she’d ordered some food for him, and for lack of anything better to do, turned on the TV, flipping through the channels. A Spanish language broadcast was on with what looked like the news. She watched lazily for a while, before realizing she understood less than a quarter of the rapid fire Spanish that was being spoken. Something about something and a goat? and what was it with those shaky home videos? From the call letters at the corner, she couldn’t even figure out if it was American or Mexican, since they were so close to the border! She hit the buttons till she finally found CNN and settled down to watch Piers Morgan and his Brit accent.

*****

Shooting that evening finished just as the sun sank behind the Trans Mountain. The crew were busy breaking down the equipment. Dev had not come to the location, pleading some work that he wanted to get through before they went to Raghu’s cousin’s house for dinner later that night.

Mitul offered to drive, and Noel gladly relinquished the keys to her, stretching himself out, and watching her drive instead. His hand rested at the back of her neck, his thumb slowly stroking behind her ear. She had a smile on her lips and his own curved up as well as he watched her.

A purple-blue smoky haze hung over the desert. On a mountain top to the West, she could make out a cross silhouetted against the last orange rays of the dying sun. To the East the Franklin Mountains hunkered over the city. To the South they could make out the lights of El Paso twinkling away. The first stars were already beginning to twinkle over the barren land, and the patches of mesquite and yucca that covered it.

The powerful Xenon headlamps of the SUV turned on as it got darker, illuminating the straight black swath of the road ahead, it’s sides meeting in infinity. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a movement to the right. Something was moving across the desert!

‘What’s that?’ she pointed out to Noel.

‘Probably a coyote,’ he said, sitting up to get a better look.

She was driving at a comfortable fifty-five miles an hour, when the shadow moved onto the road about a quarter of a mile in front of them. Caught in the headlights, it stood there looking at them. All they could see were two glowing red eyes and a grey outline. A four-footed animal, canine, but definitely not a coyote. As they came closer, she could see the lips drawn back over the teeth in a snarl and the white fangs that hung over the lower lip.

‘Slow down, Mitul,’ Noel ordered, his hand on her arm, fingers biting into her forearms. ‘Stop!’

She turned on the high-beams and hit the accelerator.

It turned around and melted into the dusk.

‘Mitul!’ he exclaimed.

‘Shut up!’ her voice was a muted yell, gritting her teeth.

Seconds later, they passed by the spot where they had seen the animal. Noel craned his neck, looking into the desert. There was no sign of it. The desert lay dark and still, refusing to give up its mysteries.

‘What the fuck was that?’ exclaimed Noel. ‘Why didn’t you stop when I told you to? You could have hit the thing!’

‘The thing,’ she stressed, looking straight out the windscreen, ‘looked like something straight out of hell. No way was I going to stop and having you getting down to look at it.’ She was shaking from the encounter but she wasn’t going to let him see it.

‘I’m not stupid, Mitul,’ he exclaimed. ‘I wouldn’t!’

‘Oh yeah? and what if it had attacked us?’ she challenged.

He drew a deep breath and said, ‘we could’ve had a serious accident, Mitul. Do you realize that?’ his voice shaking with the effort to hold back his anger and not yell at her.

She didn’t say anything to that, just breathed deeply and quickly to calm her pounding heart.

‘No way are you driving me around again,’ he muttered, glaring out of the windscreen, arms folded across his chest, jaws clenched.

‘Whatever!’ she said.

Far behind them, a grey shape rose up from behind a mesquite brush, and looked at the fading tail lights of the car, before it gave a low growl, sniffed the wind, and loped away, wrapped in the cloak of the desert night.

*****