This isn't how I anticipated my day ending. I thought I'd hike for a bit, enjoy the silence of the woods like I always have, and then fall asleep alone.
With my eyes wide open, I admire the beautiful creature in my arms, unable to control myself the second she offered herself to me. I'm more than happy to give her whatever she feels she needs.
It's been hard not to touch her, to just admire her from a distance. The way the fire kissed her skin as she sat petting her dog, the way she laughed and giggled as we told stories about our lives, it all made my attraction to her stronger.
I found it hard to look away as my eyes were drawn to her pink flushed skin from the heat of the flames, and the way her eyes sparkled like the stars.
Now I'm here, staring into her eyes as our kiss turns from tender to savage. My tongue licks across the roof of her mouth, tasting as much of her as I can. I want to drink her in. I want to savor every second of this.
Gliding my hand down her throat, I move it over her shoulder, and run my fingers down the side of her arm. She shivers, I can feel it pass from her body to mine through the pads of my fingers.
I like that tremble, it's sexy, letting me know she enjoys the way I'm touching her. Slipping my hand around her waist, I tickle up her spine and over the nape of her neck until my fingers are tangled in her hair.
Gripping her red curls in my hand, I pull her face in closer so I can kiss her deeper, harder, with a passion I can't contain.
She moans into the kiss, rocking her body against mine. Her tits rub against my chest and her hips stroke my bulge, making me even harder than I already am. I want to be inside her so fucking bad, but I'm not going to rush this.
This feels too good, I don't want it to ever end.
Melody bites my bottom lip, plucking it gently with her teeth. Her hand runs down my chest hitting the waist of my jeans. I suck in a quick breath as she unbuttons my pants and slips her soft hand inside.
My prick is solid, throbbing painfully as she wraps her slender fingers around my shaft. It feels so good I groan as I exhale, and tug on her hair harder. Her hand tightens, stroking up and down with devastating slowness.
She breaks our kiss and whispers. “I need this, Bran. And with how hard you are, you need it too.”
Growling, I drive my lips onto hers, stealing her voice. I know what she needs, and it isn't a quick roll in the sack. Melody needs me to taste every inch of her body. I want to savor her, bask in her, and make sure this night is one she remembers.
Her tongue twists around mine as she moves her hand faster. My fingers find the clasp of her bra and break it free. Her tits fall out, plump as perfect raindrops. Grabbing her tit, I squeeze it hard.
Her nipple pebbles and small bumps ripple across the surface of her pink flesh. Pinching the firm bead between my fingers, I roll and twist. Melody groans against my lips. It's such a pretty little noise, a sound that makes my heart skip a beat.
She moves her hand faster, juggling my balls lightly before stroking back up to my crown. “Take me,” she says. “Take me before I lose my damn mind.”
“Don't worry, I will.” Biting her bottom lip, I run my tongue down her throat, causing her to tip her head back. “I'm going to make you feel so fucking good.”
Licking back up, I kiss her. The tips of my fingers slip between her tits, moving down her belly until I hit her panties. Using a single finger, I dip my finger inside them, tracing her lips, pushing between her folds.
She's soaking wet, dripping all over my finger. Her warm juice makes her slit slippery. Spreading her arousal, I rub her swollen bud. Her body shakes as I draw small circles.
Dipping my finger inside her folds, I thumb her clit, causing another wave of shakes. Her hand tightens around my length, squeezing the tip as I fuck her with my finger. Quickly replacing one finger with two, Melody moans loudly, her eyes snapping shut.
“Fuck, Bran, that feels so good.”
“That's what you wanted right? To feel good? To lose yourself? To let go for once in your life?”
She nods as her eyes find mine in the moonlight. “Yes.” Her voice is a whisper, built on nothing but air as I finger her faster.
Her thighs tighten around my hand, clenching as she rocks her hips with my pace. My thumb flicks her bud as I work her body, strumming her like an instrument. She's breathing heavy, so heavy her breath is nothing but scattered moans. I know she's close to coming, and as much as I'd love to feel her come right now, I rip my hand away.
Melody's gaze steadies on mine, and she runs her hand through my hair. She chews on the inside of her cheek as her body keeps rocking and rolling naturally. “Fuck me.”
Pulling her hand free from my shaft, I shift my pants and boxers down my legs, kicking them to the bottom of the sleeping bag. She grabs the collar of my shirt and helps pull it over my head. Throwing it to the side, her hands find my chest.
She slips open palms up over my pecs and around my shoulders. Her fingers explore every dip and curve, tracing the muscles in my back. Her nails scratch lightly, sending a chill down my spine. I reach under the sleeping bag and pull her panties all the way down, and then rub my palm over her mound, loving the feeling of her hot skin on my hand.
“Mm,” I groan. “I'm going to give you something you'll always remember.”
Grabbing her leg, I lift it over my side. My hardness slides up between her slit, feeling her warm arousal slick my shaft. Melody grabs my cock and pushes the tip inside her body.
Holding her ass, I press myself into her heat. My eyes roll back in my head as her walls clench tight. Her smooth pussy rolls forward as I pull back and drive in. Digging my hands into her thigh, I flip onto my back, moving her on top.
The sleeping bag keeps us close together. Her tits graze my chest as she starts to grind her hips, riding my dick. Melody moans as she fucks me slowly. It's the perfect pace. She lifts up, letting me almost pop out, only to slam back down.
With my fingers gripping her ass, I give her a little extra push as her tightness hits my base, driving my shaft deeper. Pressing her palms into the ground, she lifts up slightly, draping her tits in my face.
Sucking her nipple into my mouth, I bite down, rolling it between the sharp edges of my teeth. Goosebumps explode down her skin as she falls forward, burying her face in the crook of my neck. She bites my collarbone and groans as she moves her hips faster.
Sweat breaks down my temples as the air between us turns hot. Her skin is slick and slippery. Running my tongue up her throat, she tastes salty and sweet. There's a hint of perfume on her skin.
Lilacs. . .
The smell flips a switch inside me. A primal need to protect her and claim her all at once. It comes out of nowhere, taking me over completely. A husky groan spills out of my mouth as I roll us in the bag so I'm on top.
Pistoning my hips, Melody wraps her legs around my waist, resting her heels on my calves. Over and over I drive my thick shaft into her folds. The only sound between us is our heavy breathing and the sound of skin on skin.
Her mouth opens, forming a perfect O as she lets out a soft moan. Her entire body quivers and her back arches hard.
“Come for me,” I say. “I want to feel you come on my cock.”
Stilling beneath me, her head tilts back and her eyes close tight. A shiver moves through her body, so strong I can feel it. I'm close, so close to coming, but I can't come inside her.
I was prepared for anything, except for this.
My balls draw up tight, and my stomach clenches. Yanking myself free from her body, I place my dick on her lower belly and come all over her. White hot come bursts from my tip, spilling all over her stomach in long sticky strands.
I can hardly talk, I'm so out of breath. Falling to my side, I dig around the bottom of the sleeping bag and grab my boxers. Cleaning her off with them, I ball them up and throw them into the darkness.
“Wow,” she says, raking both her hands through her hair. “Sorry, I don’t know what else to say.” Me
lody lifts my arm and curls up against me, giggling.
She isn't cold anymore. Her skin is hot and dewy, and small beads of sweat speckle across her forehead. Smiling, I pull her into my side, and hold her close.
I don't know what is happening to me. There's a pull in my gut. It's something I haven't felt in years and never thought I'd feel again. Tightening my arm around her body, she plays with the small tuft of hair in the center of my chest.
The fire crackles in the silence, popping and flickering as Melody falls asleep in my arms. I don't want to go to sleep. I know the second I wake up all of this will end.
I'll get her to safety and she'll thank me, then we'll go our separate ways.
The urge to stay here like this just a little bit longer is overwhelming. The clear sky, the bright stars, the glowing moon, and this woman in my arms is too good to let go of.
What the hell is going on with me?
It's stupid to feel this way about a girl I don't know. It's stupid to let my heart beat a million beats for a woman who will turn into a memory tomorrow.
It's stupid to think that this will ever be more than a one night stand.
5
Melody
My eyes flicker open as the wind blows across my face lightly. It sends a chill through my body, rousing me awake. Birds chirp in the background, and I can hear the breeze ruffle the treetops as the haze lifts from my brain.
Bran's thick arm falls around me, warming me up like a wool blanket. Images of what happened the night before begin to flash through my mind. Butterflies flutter through my belly, and my cheeks flush instantly.
I can't believe I did that. I've never been so brazen before.
It was an experience like no other. He's confident, knows exactly how to touch me and make me feel incredible. A man who knows his way around a woman's body. And I loved every second of it.
I don't regret it at all. Not one second. I wanted him, I needed him, and I'm still smiling because of him.
Rubbing my eyes, I focus on his face. He's still asleep. Running the tips of my fingers around his face, his brows scrunch up and his eyes flutter behind his lids. His fingers grip my back, tugging me closer.
Blinking his eyes open, he grins. “Good morning,” he says as he brushes his fingers up and down my back.
“Good morning,” I answer with a smile of my own.
Our faces are close, the tips of our noses almost touching. His hand keeps moving, stroking me gently. His eyes drift between mine as he licks his lips. I can't stop my body from reacting.
My pussy is pulsing, my heart starts to slam around in my chest, and my nerves are sparking as every inch of my body is taken over. His nose sweeps across mine as he presses his palm against my cheek.
Running his thumb up and down the curve of my jaw, he strokes the pad over my bottom lip. My eyes are set on his, anxiously waiting for him to kiss me. I can see it in his stare, in the way he licks his lips and touches my mouth.
Lifting my chin slightly, he doesn't waste any time, taking my cue and pressing his lips against mine. His kiss is soft and sexy, making me moan almost immediately. My thighs rub together, anticipating his hands on my body.
Parting my lips, he slips his tongue in my mouth, twirling it around mine. This man takes my breath away. Inhaling sharply, I barely get the chance to swallow it down before his hands are in my hair and his tongue is dancing with mine.
Kissing him back just as hard, I swing my leg over his hip, pushing my naked body against his. His hand glides down my thigh, moving all the way to my ankle.
A sharp pain zips up through the muscle causing me to cringe and break our kiss.
“Ah,” I hiss, jerking my leg away.
“It's still that tender, huh?”
“Yeah, it still hurts pretty bad.”
Branson carefully takes my leg, moving his fingers cautiously as he gently squeezes around my ankle.
“It's really swollen. We need to get you back to town so you can get it checked out.” I can see the concern on his face as his fingers keep exploring.
The moment is gone. My ankle is throbbing, and the pain is shooting up my leg like a lightning bolt thrown by Zeus himself. The muscle in my calf tightens up like a rock and my ankle feels like a million razor blades are slicing through to the bone.
Branson grabs his pants and pulls them on. Climbing out of the bag, he shakes out my clothes. “They're good and dry now,” he says, tossing them to me.
Picking up his shirt, he shakes it out too, checking it over inside and out.
“What are you doing?” I ask giggling.
“Making sure nothing climbed inside during the night.” Chuckling, he gives me a wink and a smile. “I checked yours too. I know I don't want to get bit by something.”
“Are you afraid of spiders?” Smirking, I pull my underwear and shorts on. He doesn't answer, simply giving me a shrug of his shoulder. “Don't worry, if you ever get into trouble, I'll save you. I owe you one anyway.” Winking, my smile broadens.
“Good to know.” He bounces his brows playfully and grins.
I love his smile. I'm enamored by it. The way the corners pull up high, and he bites down on the tip of his tongue as a single dimple pops on his left cheek. Some people have great smiles, and others have a smile you can't forget.
Bran's smile is one that comes once in a lifetime. It's unforgettable, picture perfect, defiantly handsome, and sets my body on fire.
Putting on my bra, I put on my shirt, and climb out of the sleeping bag. I can barely put any weight on my foot. My ankle is so swollen it doesn't exist anymore. I let out a sharp breath as the pain shoots through me, and Buttercup jumps up from his sleep and is immediately at my side. I lean down to scratch his head, but the pain is distracting.
“Do you think you can walk at all?” he asks as he rolls the bag and secures it to his pack.
“I can try.” Hobbling around on the tip of my toes, I pace our camp site. “Yeah, I think I can if I go slow.” Buttercup nuzzles up to my leg and licks my hand. “I wish you were bigger, boy. I could ride you all the way home,” I say to my concerned furry friend.
Bran laughs as he kicks dirt onto the fire to make sure it's out all the way. “You need a horse.”
“I have two, but they're back at the farm.”
“Which farm?”
“My family owns Jamison's up on Thirty-Seven.”
“Oh yeah, that's right. I used to pick apples there when I was a kid.”
“Me too, only not for fun.” Laughing sarcastically, I roll my eyes.
He laughs with me and nods. “I can understand that. It's fun when it's not your job.” Throwing the pack over his shoulders, he looks out at the tree line. “You ready for this?”
“Ready as I'll ever be.”
“Wait,” he says, holding up a finger. “I have an idea.”
Bran darts off into the trees quickly, and Buttercup follows him.
“Buttercup, wait!” I call out, but he ignores me, tagging along with Bran anyway.
A few minutes later, they both emerge from the brush, and Buttercup is carrying a large stick.
He runs to me and drops it at my feet. “Not now, Buttercup, we have to get going. We can play fetch later.”
“No, the stick isn't for fetch, it's for you. You can use it like a crutch or a cane to help you walk and keep your balance. The less weight you have to put on it, the better.”
Sexy and creative. I'm falling for him already.
There really is nothing hotter than a man who can use his hands and his head. And when you top that with being the sexiest man I've ever seen, you get the whole package.
“All right, let's hit the road.” His hands grip the straps on his pack, and he steps to the side. “I'll stay beside you just in case.”
“Good. You can catch me if I fall.”
“Always,” he says.
The way he says it makes my chest constrict and my heart stop. His tone is deep, full of truth and basked in honesty.
He picked me up once when I fell, and he'll do it again if he has to.
The woods are alive with birds and small animals. Squirrels are leaping from limb to limb and there's a woodpecker making a lot of noise in the distance. I'm taking careful steps, using the stick to help counter my weight and keep my balance.
We walk in silence. An awkwardness falls between us as we slowly make our way up the trail. Nothing is tense, just awkward.
“So,” I finally say, “you still make those things?”
“Yeah,” he answers with a laugh. “I still make those things.”
“I'm sorry, I don't know what you call them.”
“It's fine, don't apologize. I just call it art.”
“I always thought of art as a painting or drawing.”
“That's one type of art. But you also have sculpting, plays, films, books. All of it is considered art.”
“I didn't know that.”
“What I do I guess is called expressionism art. I like to make things that are subjective. Everyone sees something different.”
“Well, what you do is beautiful. I love the sculpture outside the motel. I've spent hours just staring at it.”
“Thanks. What about you? You still working there?”
“Yeah, for now.”
“For now?” he asks.
Stumbling over a rock, he grabs my elbow and helps me steady myself. His touch is firm and tender in the same breath. The heat off his fingers sizzle against my skin, sending a rush of electricity up my arm.
“Thank you,” I say.
“I meant what I said. I'll always catch you.” He lets his fingers linger a little longer before pulling them away.
My skin goes cold, and I miss his fingers there instantly.
“So, you were telling me about work.”
“Oh, yeah. Well, I like the motel, but I don't want to stay there for the rest of my life.”
“What do you want to do then?”
“I don't know. My brother thinks I should go to college for business and run my own hotel or something, but I'm not sure if that's what I want.”
Big Man’s Claim Page 3