by Wood, Vivian
It’s not as exciting as what I have planned for today, though. I thought that I would plan a little surprise for her this week, especially since we are close enough to civilization to have access to a variety of foods.
Being able to do this for her, to make her smile, means a lot to me.
I shift a little, trying to move my bad shoulder, and she stirs. She doesn’t open her eyes, but she still talks to me.
“You’re still here.” She smiles a little and burrows against my bare chest.
“I am.” I twirl the ends of her glorious mane of honey colored hair around two fingers.
“That’s good.” She yawns. “It seems early, though.”
“It is,” I confirm. “So take your time waking up. But when you do…”
She opens one eye and looks up at me. “When I do?”
“After you wake up I have a little day hike planned.”
She closes her eyes again. “Uh huh.”
“I promise that you want to see what I have planned…”
These brown eyes open again, focusing on me. “You promise?”
“I do.”
Rachel pushes up off my chest with a sigh. “Okay.”
“You don't have to get up yet!” I protest.
Her face pinches. She looks sad for a second. “I want to make sure I enjoy every minute I’m still here in Washington. I can sleep when I’m dead.”
I cock my head to the side, scanning her face. I’m trying to figure out where that note of sadness is coming from. Is she already trying to prepare herself for her inevitable return to Manhattan? But soon she bounces out of bed, her naked ass looking like a million dollars as she heads over to her backpack.
I get up with a sigh. What I have planned for today really is worthwhile, but that doesn’t make getting dressed any easier. Watching Rachel put clothes on and hide her incredible body is almost a crime.
I lead her south, a little outside of the protected land that is designated by the National Park Service. We start off down the trail, the forest growing lusher with every step. Everywhere we look, there is water. Trickling down in streams, pouring over waterfalls. Our pace is slow; we aren’t going very far. I know most of the way by memory. I’ve been to the place where we’re going more times than I can count.
The trees grow taller, the forest fuller. Everything is so green and bright. It’s one of the reasons I love this place so much.
We pass a sign that says we are now leaving the national park. Rachel crooks her eyebrow at me.
“It says we are leaving the park. You’re not taking me into the middle of nowhere to take my organs against my will, are you?”
I laugh. “No, your kidneys are safe for today. We are probably only a mile or so away from the destination.”
“You are so damn mysterious,” she declares. “You could just tell me where we are going.”
“Then it wouldn’t be a surprise.”
She rolls her eyes but doesn’t protest. “Fine.”
We walk another mile. She’s talking about how the earth we are walking was shaped over the millennia and why this part of Washington state is so interesting for geologists. I’ll be honest, I feel a little dumb when she is talking. I went into the Navy instead of college. Rachel, on the other hand, has had so much education it’s crazy.
She pauses in the middle of the conversation, cocking her ear. “I hear water.”
“That would be the waterfall right around the corner.” The trees suddenly thin out, the ground beneath our feet growing rocky.
She arches a brow. “I feel unprepared for this. I didn’t even bring my bathing suit.”
I grin. “I doubt you would want to get in the water here. The water comes directly from Mount Cristal and it is freezing.”
I lead her around several tremendous boulders. Her eyes catch on them, making note I’m sure.
Her eyes narrow. “More than the last waterfall you took me to?”
“See for yourself.”
I wave my hand, letting her go first. She goes ahead, walking around one final rock. There the path splits off, diverting us up a steep, pebble-strewn ramp. Beyond that is the actual falls themselves, several tall boulders spitting an unending supply of water down their rocky face. Before us stretches a pool of the dumped water, riotous at first and then growing so smooth it’s almost glasslike. I watch Rachel’s face as she takes the whole thing in.
When she turns and hugs me around my waist hard, I’m surprised. “How did you know that I would want to see this?”
I hesitate, looking down at her. “Well… I did want to bring you here. But that isn’t really the surprise. That’s only a little way further down the path.”
Her eyebrow shoot up. “Really?”
I laugh. “Yeah, really.”
“Well…” She glances at the waterfall. “Okay…”
“Come on,” I say, taking her small hand in my big one. “You think I’m a mystery? You want to know me more? Ask and you shall receive.”
I see the question marks written all over her face as I lead her back to the trail. We go around a few boulders and then come to a smaller trail. Leading Rachel down it, I can’t help but notice that my heart is in my throat.
We step into a large clearing. Across the way, a cement foundation has been laid. I see Rachel furrow her brows.
“What am I looking at, exactly?” she asks.
“My house. Well, it will be a house when I’m done. Right now it’s just the cement subfloor.”
She shifts, looking at me with a great deal of puzzlement. “This is going to be your house?”
“Yeah.” I rub the back of my neck. “Eventually. I just bought the land this year. I’m building it very slowly.”
“I didn’t even realize you were thinking about living indoors. I mean…” She chews on her lower lip.
“I’m working on the whole sleeping outdoors obsession. Besides, I figure I’ve got time. It’s not like the building process is exactly quick.” I hesitate. “You said yesterday that I’m a mystery to you. It’s not intentional. To prove it, here is one piece of the puzzle.”
Her eyes shine with unshed tears. I panic, because this was only supposed to make her feel good, to let her know that I’m not purposely keeping her on the outside.
“It’s great,” she says, her face crumpling. “It’s just…”
She stops, putting her hand in front of her mouth.
“Oh Rach…” I’m at a genuine loss for what to do. I cross to her, pulling her into my arms. “I’m sorry. I just thought--”
“No, I’m sorry,” Rachel cries. “It’s so… thoughtful.”
She clings to me, sobbing as she presses her face against my chest. Wrapping my arms around her, I hold her tight.
“Are you sad because the summer is almost halfway over?” I ask.
That only makes her cry harder. I’m guessing that I’m right, then.
I draw her face toward me, cupping her cheek and wiping away a tear with my callused thumb. Her eyes open, looking at me with an expression of pure want.
She wants me. For some reason, I am not prepared for that.
Shaken to my very core, I drag my thumb across her lower lip, then follow the caress with the press of my lips against hers. She responds immediately, ravenous for my touch.
Fuck.
Echoing her sentiment with an appetite all my own, I bend her backward, trailing kisses down her neck. I grab her by the waist and bring her down to the ground, spreading her thighs and bringing us together. My mouth descends upon hers, hungry and demanding.
She opens her mouth and her thighs for me, drawing me in without a second of hesitation. Her hands slip around my neck, fingernails lightly scoring the flesh of my shoulders. I palm one of her breasts, then pinch her nipple, drawing a cry from her lips.
I trail kisses down her jaw, skipping over her neck, and bend down to nuzzle the space between her breasts. I feel her legs wrap around me, her heels digging into the backs of my legs, p
ulling me as close as possible.
I reach down and hike her shirt up and then her shorts down, finding her bare underneath. I groan as I rip off her entire shirt, kissing her newly exposed breasts. I know I’m not being delicate with her, but I’m too entranced to care.
She doesn’t seem to mind, her head thrown back. She’s making these little ‘oh’ sounds that are killing me, every second I’m not inside her.
Fuck. I need to have her, right this second.
She kisses me, and I bite her lower lip. She grabs my head and bites me on the neck, which I swear makes my cock pulse.
“Talk dirty to me again,” she whispers. Her words are another turn on.
“Fuck!” I grit out. “You are such a bad girl, Rach.”
I squeeze one of her breasts hard, and she gasps.
“Bad enough to get punished?” she whispers.
“Ohhh fuck,” I say, pushing her down against the ground. I look at her for a second, searching her face. “You don’t really want that.”
She struggles under me, trying to push me off. “Maybe I do.”
I bring my hand up to her neck, fitting my fingers around the slim white column of her neck. I apply just a little bit of pressure, making her gasp and writhe beneath me. When I release her, she tries to pull me closer for a kiss. I allow it for a moment, but then I pull back. There is much more I want to do to her.
I move back, kneeling on the ground, and ruck her shorts down her legs. I cast them aside, then I strip off my own shorts and shirt.
Her eyes are immediately drawn to my cock, which jumps at the attention she pays it. She looks up at me, biting her lip.
“Can I taste you?” she asks quietly, seeming unsure.
God, could Rachel be any sexier? I reach down and stroke my cock with one hand, nodding.
“You sure you’re ready to give me head?” I ask. “It’s been a while since you’ve been with me—”
Her eyes twinkle a bit, and she pushes herself up. “I think I’ll remember as soon as I taste your pre-cum...”
She reaches out, brushing her hand along my length. I grit my teeth as pre-cum leaks from the tip of my cock.
“If you insist,” I say, amused. She presses her free hand against my chest, turning me onto my back. I go willingly, trying not to flutter my eyes closed as she moves down, kissing as she goes.
When Rachel circles her wet tongue around the head, I can’t breathe for a second.
“Like this?” she asks, looking up at me. She shifts so that she’s on her knees.
“That’s… perfect. Jesus, you’re hot when you’re on your knees like that.”
Swallowing, I look down at her heart-shaped face. Her pouty lips part as I guide my cock to her mouth. The second I touch my cock to her lips, the sensitive head probing the wet heat of her mouth, I have to close my eyes for a moment.
My dick twitches, and it takes everything in me not to just bury myself in her hot mouth. I imagine how I would do it. How good it would feel just to put my hand in her hair, to let go and fuck her mouth and throat.
But no. I open my eyes again, breathing hard. She’s looking up at me, her lips on the very tip of my dick, her eyes telling me that she trusts me. I have to remember that.
“Open your mouth a little, and stick out your tongue,” I encourage her, pressing the blunt head against her lips.
She does, rolling out the velvety tip of her tongue. It caresses the head of my cock, and sends tiny lightning bolts of electricity down to my feet. My toes curl.
“Fuuuuuuck,” I whisper. She nudges my hand out of the way, closing her little fist around my cock. I put my hand into her hair as she sinks her mouth down on my dick.
She starts to work her head forward and back, fucking me oh so slowly. I groan as she picks up the pace a little, closing my eyes and leaning my head back.
Usually when I’m fucking a girl’s pussy or ass, I’m in a position of complete control. I can stop or slow down as often as I want, which helps me to keep from blowing my load before I’m ready. Even with throat-fucking, I am in control more than I am now.
And control is something I desperately need to have, especially now. Especially with Rachel.
I can’t scare her off of going down by grabbing her and fucking her throat. And as much as I’d like to cum in her mouth, I know that I can’t. It’s too much.
“Fuckkkk,” I hiss. Her mouth feels incredible, it’s going to be hard to restrain myself. “Okay, okay. You have to stop, otherwise I’m going to finish in your mouth.”
I gently grab her face and push her back. She sits back on her heels, wiping at her mouth with the back of her hand.
“You taste good,” she says, her eyes scanning my face. She licks her lips. For a second, my eyes are on her mouth, watching her tongue.
Yeah, I would’ve finished there without a problem.
“Your mouth is incredible.” I pin her onto her back. “I just didn’t want to cum in there, when there are so many other places that call my name.”
She giggles for a second. I grab her knees and force them apart, leaning down to kiss her breasts. Then I go straight for her pussy, spreading it with two fingers, and licking her clit.
Rachel cries out and buries her hands in my hair, her back bowing. I trace figure 0f eights around her clit and dip my tongue into her pussy, loving the scent and taste of her. Just as she gets worked up, her juices flowing, I press her knees up and lick my way around the tiny pucker of her ass.
“Oooh!” she cries, startled.
I kiss and lick it for a second, penetrating her ass with the tip of my tongue. Then I break away, kissing her inner thighs, kissing and biting her breasts.
“I want you to touch yourself again,” I whisper in her ear. “While I’m taking you from behind, I want you to make yourself come.”
She nods eagerly, and I flip her over. She braces herself on her knees and elbows, showing her pretty pussy and ass to me. I grasp my cock, pressing the head to her entrance.
“Touch yourself,” I order. She reaches under her body, and starts to play with her clit.
I plunge inside her, and hear her gasp. It feels so hot and so tight that I have to go slow, otherwise I’ll come right away.
“Oh my god,” she gasps. “Grayson, your cock feels so good.”
I grab her hips and use them as leverage while I fuck her, working my cock in and out of her pussy. She begins to tighten her pussy even more as she plays with her clit. I focus, closing my eyes, and try to hit her g-spot every time I thrust.
Finally she bursts, coming with a shout. I speed up as soon as I feel her begin to spasm, letting myself pound into her like a jackhammer. She cries out my name, which has never sounded better.
I feel my cock start to twitch and pulse as I drive home again and again. I feel like I’m coming like a fucking fountain, her pussy milking my cock for everything it’s worth.
“Fuck!” I shout. “God damn, Rachel.”
I catch myself before I slump face first into her back, diverting my weight to fall beside her instead. She doesn’t move, she lies on her stomach, facing away from me, her breathing ragged.
I struggle for breath too, but I also feel an overwhelming need to kiss her. I turn her over to face me with one hand, and cup her cheek.
We lie like that for almost half an hour, enjoying the closeness of each other’s bodies. Neither of us says a word, and we don't need to. The silence is comfortable.
We are comfortable.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Rachel
The next day flies by, mostly taken up by Grayson helping Jonah with miscellaneous tasks that need two rangers. I spend the morning cataloging my samples, even though I don't think that anyone will ever look at them. It’s good busy work, which is what I need.
If only my mind could stay busy as well. Instead, it’s full of misgivings about my decision not to tell Grayson about what I learned during my father’s phone call.
Mostly that I’ve been offici
ally called back to New York. But also the fact that Civicore plans to frack in the Olympic Peninsula. I honestly can’t say which piece of news is worse.
When Grayson comes back inside from helping Jonah, all sweaty and dirty, I swear I’ve never been so attracted to him in my whole entire life. That leads to an extended sex session which leaves both of us exhausted. I sleep fitfully, having nightmares in which Clay chases me through my penthouse apartment with a knife.
I wake the next morning, feeling distinctly alone. The bed beside me is empty. There was no agreement between Grayson and I that we would be sharing a bed every night, but still. I lie in bed and mull over my hurt feelings.
When Grayson nudges the door open with his foot and comes in, carrying two steaming mugs full of fragrant coffee, I blush. I hadn’t even considered that he might be coming back, much less armed with coffee.
He hands me my cup, looking at me expectantly. I furrow my brow. “Thanks.”
I take a sip of coffee. When I look up, he still looks like he’s waiting for something. “What?”
Grayson tilts his head. “Do you know what day it is?”
I think for a second. “Is it the fourth of July?”
He scrunches up his face. “Nope. That already happened. We were deep in the woods, I think.”
That gives me pause. I try to count the days, but it’s no use. “God, it’s not my birthday, is it?”
“It is. I thought you would be more excited.” He squints at me, taking a seat beside me on the bed.
“Crap.” I shake my head, taking another sip of coffee. “I… I can’t believe you remembered, honestly. I stopped celebrating after my 21st birthday. It seems like a waste of energy to celebrate something so pointless.”
The fact that he did remember makes my heart flutter.
He smiles gently. “What if I told you that I signed you up to volunteer today?”
“Out here?” I ask, a little surprised. I have no idea what he’s talking about. What kind of volunteer work is out here?
