And just like my breakfast, I want to eat her all up.
I stand up abruptly and start gathering the dishes. You’d think it was the most complicated job in the world with how much forced focus I’m putting into it.
“Oh, let me do that,” Abbie protests from behind me.
“No, stay put and eat. I’ve got it. I’m gonna get this stuff tidied up and then I’ll help you get cleaned up. Normally, I just sponge bathe with a cloth and a pot of water, but when I get as dirty as you are I’ve got a place I go clean up. I’ll take you so you can wash your hair,” I keep my back turned to her. Until I get my appetite under control, it’s the safest option.
“Really? Thank you!” Her voice is as musical as the bells I attached to the top of her walking stick.
“No worries,” I turn and let myself watch her. My hardened features soften as I soak her in. It hits me, that sense of wonder that I thought I lost, the one that has been buried under years of boredom and cynicism has returned. I can feel it stir from its deep slumber when I look at her.
Chapter 14 | Cole
“I think that’s just about everything.” I pat my bag with soap, empty water bottles and a clean towel inside. “Ready to get moving?”
Abbie looks down at her dirt stained clothes, “I don’t have anything clean to change into,” she pouts.
“No problem, I’ve got some drawstring pants you can cinch onto ya and I’ll lend you a clean shirt until we can get your stuff sorted out,” I watch as her mouth tugs down further at the corners. “What? Is there something else?”
“No, well, it’s just,” she looks down at her hands, “I don’t have any clean underwear to change into,” her voice is so soft it sounds like she’s straining just to whisper.
I can’t control the laughter that escapes my lips. I can’t help as it bubbles up and overflows from inside me. I don’t mean to laugh at her, it’s just so cute that she’s all twisted about, well, not having any panties to get in a twist.
“Just do what I do then,” I chuckle, “go commando.” Her eyes grow wide, and for half a second, she lets them drift down my torso to my package. I can’t help but smirk as her cheeks burn bright pink and she quickly diverts her eyes.
I don’t want to let my body register the look. I don’t want to let my mind explore the possibilities. Instead, I walk over to my bed and pull a plastic bag out from the side of my bed where I keep my clean, dry clothes. Stuffing them inside my pack, I quickly zip it up.
“Good to go?” I offer my hand to her to help her up off the chair.
“I think so,” she grimaces as she stands, but finds her balance with the walking stick.
“Here, let me help you,” I tug her arm around my waist and slide mine around hers, helping to ease some of her burden.
“Thanks,” she murmurs. I can feel the heat radiating from her body. I can smell her hair, caked with mud on one side, but the smell of fresh peaches still lingers. I set my jaw and forge ahead. Opening the door for her, I help her through. I try to give her as much support as I can as I guide her around the cabin. I need to shut down my senses when it comes to her. I can’t trust them. Everything about her makes me want more. To feel more of her body against me. To smell the natural perfume between her thighs. To taste her.
Abbie limps beside me, biting her lip hard.
“Hey, you okay?”
“Mmhmm,” she nods, but I know she’s putting on a brave face.
“No, you’re not. Stop.” I order her and she doesn’t move a muscle. “I’ll carry you,” I sweep her from her feet and her walking stick jingles as I hold her in my arms.
“You don’t have to do this, I can walk,” she looks up at me from under those long, dark lashes, her lips inches from mine.
Stop staring and walk.
I don’t second guess the order from my brain. Lord knows I can’t trust my other instincts right now. I march through the woods with purpose, only letting my destination consume my thoughts. Not the beautiful woman looking up at me with that fuck-me stare. Not her sexy body. Just get to the water. Just focus on each step if you have to.
I know I can’t touch her. Not when I plan on making her leave as soon as she’s physically able. I don’t know much about this girl, but I can tell she’d be crushed if I fucked her and then gave her ass a slap and sent her on her merry way. After what she’s already been through, I’m not going to add any more stress or sadness to her life. If that means a case of blue balls for me, well, I’ve got a hand, I can take care of myself.
Luckily, I can hear the roar of the water not far off and Abbie stops looking up at me and turns to listen to the noise.
“What is that?” Again, that wonder fills her voice. To see the world through her eyes must be amazing.
“You’ll see,” I can’t help but smile, knowing how much she’s going to love this. I carefully make my way down a hill toward the stream below.
As we get closer the rush of water fills the air. It explodes on the rocks at the end of the stream into a million sparkling dew drops. I watch Abbie’s face as she looks up, letting her green eyes follow the flow up to the top of the small waterfall above.
“Wow,” she breathes.
“We’re here,” I help her down to her feet. “To your own personal shower.” I help her hobble over to the edge of the cold, clear water and she leans back against my chest as she takes it all in. I don’t mean to wrap my arms around her, but they just feel so natural holding her close. If she minds, she doesn’t show it, simply enjoying the moment. This little waterfall in the woods, with no one around for miles. It feels perfect.
“It’s so beautiful,” she murmurs.
“You’re beautiful,” I breathe. Clamping my mouth shut, I realize the words came out too late. Abbie turns and looks up at me, tilting her head to the side, locking me with her gaze.
“Thank you,” she looks away shyly, as though I’ve said something she won’t let herself believe.
“Don’t thank me for telling you the truth,” I answer. Clearing my throat, I try to let some of the spray from this waterfall dampen the flames of desire I have burning for her inside. “Let’s get you set up here.” I push past my scorching need and try to keep doing the right thing.
Chapter 15 | Abbie
Cole guides me up the edge of the stream to the rushing waterfall. “Here’s a good place,” he stops and points to how the riverbank juts in, close to the spray. “Do you think you can manage by yourself?”
I gulp at the idea of him helping me, naked, under the water. The idea is nerve-racking and… exciting. I can’t deny the flush of heat that’s racing through my veins right now.
I bite my lip and nod, “I’ll be fine,” I hope it’s true. The last thing I need is to fall down, naked and splayed out in some awkward way. Nothing says sexy like that.
I push the thought away. Who said anything about being sexy? I wouldn’t know how to be sexy if I tried.
Sweet - sure.
Funny - I have my moments.
Cute - all day long.
But sexy? It’s not me. When the other girls at college went out on Halloween dressed as ‘sexy’ versions of everything, I dressed up as Pikachu. I mean, in hindsight it was a terrible idea, but Pokémon Go was all the craze and… yeah, not sexy.
Cole leads me as close as he can without getting us soaked. I can feel the mist of the waterfall on my face and a chill runs over me.
“It’s cold,” I shiver.
A slow smile spreads over his thick lips and my body warms back up, “It really is. But, it’ll get you clean, and that’s the main thing, right?”
As another spritz of dew hits me, I’m not so certain. Are globs of mud in my hair really that bad? Maybe I can learn to live with them.
I sigh with resignation and begin to peel off my jacket. Cole turns around and busies himself with his hiking bag. He keeps his back to me as I strip from my filthy clothes and try to build up the courage it will take to get me under that glacial water. I
peer back at Cole but he still hasn’t moved. Not a muscle. He really is a gentleman.
I start to move forward and he holds up his hand, but keeps his head facing away from me, “Here’s some soap. I’ll leave the backpack here and fill up some water bottles downstream. It’s got the clean clothes and a towel for you inside. Holler when you need my help, okay?”
“Thanks, I got this,” I try to convince myself it’s true, but as my body breaks out into gooseflesh, I know it’s going to be harder than I imagined to convince myself to stand under that freezing stream of water.
I creep to the edge of the waterfall and look up at the misty rainbow the droplets are making over the side. It would be amazing, if it wasn’t so damned cold. Inching forward further, I lean over and let the waterfall pour over my head.
“Ahhh! Oh my God! That’s painful!”
“Are you okay?” I hear Cole call out.
“Yeah, just might get frostbite, that’s all,” I yell back.
I can hear him laughing over the water rushing around me. “It’s not funny!” I cry out, but I know if the shoe was on the other foot I’d be laughing too.
Leaning forward again, I force myself to keep my head under the stream until I don’t see any more debris or dirt fall from my hair. I quickly lather my hands and run them through my locks and over my shaking body. It’s the moment of truth. I’ve gotta rinse off. I take a deep breath, “Okay Abbie, on three,” I mumble to myself, “one, two, three!”
I don’t budge. Not an inch. Nope.
Instead, I watch the water endlessly fall from the sky and tremble. All right, standing here is just prolonging the inevitable, let’s do this! With a gulp of air, I step under the icy blast and scream. The water is so cold it feels like little razor blades nicking my skin. I quickly step back, and lose my balance. Stumbling backward I put too much weight on my sprained ankle and my legs crumple under me. I fall back toward the ground. Oh no! It’s happening! I really am going to end up naked and splayed out on the ground!
Strong hands catch me and pull me back up to my feet. I’m too grateful to feel self-conscious about my nudity.
“Thank you!” I instinctively press my forearms against my breasts to cover them up and Cole lets me go, only to pick up the towel and cover me up. He hovers over me, and I lean into him, telling myself it’s to keep me warm, not because his body feels so amazing against mine.
Cole looks down at me, he drags his thumb down the side of my face and slides a thick strand of my wet hair from my cheek, behind my ear.
His eyes travel my face and settle down onto my lips, I don’t move, I don’t breathe, I just feel my pulse radiating through me as I wait. Is he going to kiss me?
Crunch! Snap!
“Oh no!” I yelp as we both jump and twist around toward the noise behind Cole. Is that Cecil? Did he track us down? My heart is pounding faster in my chest and has nothing to do with Cole’s mouth almost covering mine.
A doe and her baby step out from the forest and watch us carefully as they reach the river’s edge. The mama never takes an eye off us as she and her baby quickly lap up some water from the crystal clear stream. I’ve never been so close to deer before. Growing up in an apartment in the city didn’t bring a lot of wildlife into my life. They’re so magical. Suddenly the mother deer lifts up her big ears and the two of them bolt off, springing through the woods and out of sight.
“Wow,” I breathe the word. I look up at Cole, but he hasn’t been watching the deer, he’s been watching me. I can’t help but squirm under his half-cocked smile. “What?” I feel like he’s looking into me. I feel so vulnerable, so exposed, and wearing nothing but a towel and wet hiking boots isn’t the reason.
“Nothing,” he finally answers, looking like I’ve ripped him from a deep sleep. He runs his thick hand through his sandy hair and looks down at where he’s scuffing his boot into the dirt. “How about we get back. I think we’ve got everything done here, right?” He won’t look at me. It makes me feel like I’ve done something wrong, but I have no idea what.
“Um, okay, sure,” I agree. “Just let me get dressed.”
This time Cole doesn’t just turn his back and wait for me, he turns his back and walks away. “Okay, give me a shout when you’re dressed and I’ll carry you back,” he doesn’t turn his head back to yell at me.
Did I do something? Is he upset with me? For the life of me I can’t think of why. Confusion eats at me as I try to quickly slip into his clothes. I can’t believe how much the idea is bothering me.
Chapter 16 | Abbie
Cole carries me back to his cabin in silence. Not a single word is spoken between us and it’s like every step he takes builds the worry in my gut that I’ve done something wrong. I’m surprised as he approaches his place, marches in through the door and softly lays me down on the bed. I don’t mean to let my eyes trace where his long-sleeved waffle shirt is clinging to his muscular frame. I get drawn into the deep valleys between his abs before realizing that I’m blatantly staring and close my eyes. When I open them, and focus on Cole’s intense gaze, I can see that the fire I thought was anger building inside him is something entirely different.
It's desire.
I’d be lying I if said I didn’t feel it too. This rush of heat burning over my sensitive skin, I’ve never felt anything like it. Certainly not from looking at a man. Not that I’ve ever given myself any time to explore any of that.
With my scholarship giving me a chance to get educated, I didn’t care about the boys in my classes. However, right now I’m not looking at a boy. Cole is most definitely a man.
I swallow hard and realize my breathing has grown quick and shallow. Cole sinks to his knees and leans over me, never moving his eyes from mine. I shiver with anticipation as he finally crushes his lips into mine and I moan into his mouth with longing I’ve never experienced before.
Cole hears my cry of desire and slides his hands under my shirt, easing it up over my belly and my breasts, “I want you so bad Abbie. I need you.” His voice is hoarse and thick. It sends a deep tremor down the length of my body straight to my clit. My entire body feels alive, every nerve quaking with a strange mixture of excitement and uncertainty.
“I want to taste every inch of you. I want to kiss these,” he leans over and licks my taut nipple and I throw my head back with the unexpected pleasure that courses through me. Cole pulls the drawstring of the pants I borrowed and unties the bow I put in them to hold them on my hips. “I want to taste you here,” his broad hand grazes against the outside of the pants and my hips involuntarily convulse toward him.
“Is that what you want?” He looks down at me and I bite my lip and cast my eyes down to my toes. I do. I want him more than anything, but I don’t have the first clue how to be for him. I don’t know what he wants. I don’t know what I want for that matter.
Cole stops and pulls back, he lifts my quivering hands into his and kisses them, “What’s wrong?” I can see genuine concern in his eyes.
I try to find the words to tell him. I’m too embarrassed to let him know.
He searches my face, “I don’t want to do anything you’re not comfortable with. I’m sorry, I thought you wanted this too,” he frowns and begins to pull away but I grab him.
“No, it’s not like that. It’s just, I’m not used to this,” I admit sheepishly.
“What part?” He tilts his head trying to understand the words I don’t want to say.
“All of it,” shame washes over me as I feel him study my face.
“Wait are you… you’re a virgin?”
“Yes. But, that doesn’t change how I feel about you. I want you too, I just feel stupid saying this, but I’m not sure what to do. I mean, of course I know how this works, I’m not an idiot,” I ramble, the words spilling from my mouth before I can even think about them. “But I don’t know how to make you feel good.” my cheeks burn and my eyes prickle with tears as I wait for him to say something. His silence is deafening.
“
Listen,” he hooks his thumb under my chin, “look at me,” he pulls up on my jaw until we’re eye-to-eye. “You have nothing to be embarrassed about, Abbie. I’m glad you told me, I wouldn’t want to hurt you.” He runs his other hand over my hair and gives me another quick kiss. It’s all it takes to light my body back up, aching to give myself to him.
“I feel silly,” I admit.
“Don’t. You shouldn’t. Listen, I’m not going to fuck you right now, you’re not ready for it,” his words crush my spirit and make me hate myself for ever confessing my secret.
“No, we can still do this,” I plead.
“No.” His voice is firm. His one word is a complete sentence. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t make you cum,” his eyes twinkle and my heartbeat quickens. “I’m going to eat that sweet little pussy of yours Abbie and make you cum in my mouth. How does that sound?” His voice is raspy and all I can do is nod my head.
Chapter 17 | Cole
Climbing up onto the bed, I straddle a leg on each side of her and soak her up. It’s been a long fucking time since I’ve had the chance to savor a woman, and even then, I can’t think of a single one who made me this hard just by looking at her.
I lean over her and slide my hand under her head, pulling her to meet my hungry mouth in a tantalizing kiss. I glide my tongue against hers then suck her bottom lip into my mouth, giving it a little bite before kissing away the pain.
Pushing her long, damp hair aside, I kiss her tender neck as she exhales like she’s been holding her breath. Her little whimpers grow louder as I suck her soft earlobe between my lips and flicker my tongue over it the same way I plan to with her clit… in due time.
I’m in no rush, I want to taste all of her smooth skin. I want to feel every part of her quake against me as I bring her to ecstasy. I want to kiss and bite and suck every inch of her, marking her as mine.
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