by Anya Nowlan
Jackson caught her smile and raised his thick brows at her, stirring the beans with one hand.
“And what amuses the scientist so? What’s on your mind?” he asked, a note of teasing in his tone. He had turned out to be quite the sarcastic joker, and Tess was still mulling over whether it was one of her favorite traits about him or not. Next to his hunky body and breathtaking eyes, anyway.
“Oh, you know, just thinking about how the day has gone so far. I’m glad you took me here, Jackson,” she said, looking up at him and allowing the sharpness to fall from her smile. He was a good man and deserved proper gratitude. Jackson smiled back at her, breaking the pile of steaming beans into two cups.
“You’re welcome. Just so you know, you still have to climb down from here tomorrow, and just as quickly as you got up.” She accepted a mug of beans and dug in with the ravenous hunger of a woman who had done a honest day’s labor, even if it was just walking with a heavy load on her back. Tess murmured with satisfaction as the hot mouthful went down her throat, filling her with physical warmth where Jackson’s company hadn’t managed to do so already. She had learned to live with the fact that she was just about constantly aroused around him, though she was more than certain that she had missed a bunch of details in her work due to the giant, bulging, sexy… ahem, the man’s presence.
“So, you asked about my love life, but I never got to return the favor. Is someone waiting for you back at home, Tess?” he asked, rinsing out the pot and setting it back on the flame with some water for tea before digging into his dinner. Tess’s gray eyes went wide with surprise, almost choking on a mouthful of the beans, before managing to press it down. She shook her head quickly, trying to hide her astonishment at the question. Jackson had been more than politically correct so far with asking about her social life and her life back home. Apparently the starry skies and fresh air allowed even the secretive and reserved ranger to let loose his curiosity.
“No, no! I mean, not really. My dog’s with my mom and I think Buck is the only one who misses me. I’m sure he’s spoilt rotten now, though,” she said, thankful for the scant light for hiding the blush that crept on her cheeks. “Do you mind being stuck in the woods with an untaken woman?” she asked, teasing him to hide her mortification. When he shook his head, Tess almost sighed with relief. It was like a rock fell from her chest and her heart could beat with wild expectation again. She could hardly keep from fidgeting with excitement, her body bubbling with hot arousal.
Jackson let a pause linger between them, Tess positively buzzing next to him. He set down his tin of dinner and Tess watched him stare into the fire for a while, his face wracked with contemplation. She finished her food and straightened up a bit, curling her legs under her body next to him. The young scientist hadn’t even noticed that she had been staring at his solemn face until he turned to look at her, catching her by surprise. Tess felt her core tighten and twist and a tremble go through her as he considered her with his brown eyes, locking them with hers. Her breath caught in her chest and she thought she would pass out if he didn’t say something soon. The tension had been turned up from the usual four that lingered between them to a sizzling nine, and it was messing with Tess’s mind.
What’s he thinking? Oh my god, could it be… No. You’re imagining things, Tess.
“Tess. I’ve really enjoyed the time we’ve spent together. It’s been a long time since I felt this at ease around someone. Maybe never, actually.” Jackson fell quiet for a second, Tess’s heart screaming for him to continue, but she sat in stunned silence. The curvy redhead had been dreaming of just such a moment for quite a while now, the thoughts of it consuming her days and nights, and she almost had to pinch herself to believe that it was actually happening and that she wasn’t dreaming. “I hope you won’t think me too forward for doing this, but if I don’t do it now, I might never find the courage again,” he said, his voice trailing off. When he leant towards her, Tess’s world ground to a halt. Everything seemed to be happening in slow-motion and when their lips locked together for the first time, the tiny sparks she had felt when their hands had brushed together were multiplied a hundred times and she fell headfirst into the moment.
His hands wrapped around her body and pulled her tight against him, Tess feeling the beating of his heart through her thick coat. She drank hungrily from his lips, reveling in his taste and the warmth of his mouth. Her eyes fluttered closed and her chattering mind quieted, in awe of the sensation of his lips on hers. When his tongue dipped into her mouth, she moaned breathily and that drew a growl from him, one that rattled through her core and made her dive deeper into the kiss. Their tongues mashed together, twisting and discovering each other with the strength of emotions that have been kept at bay way past their breaking point. Tess found herself almost in his lap, her hands pawing at the front of his jacket and his fingers trailing up her spine, leaving a blazing trail wherever they went.
The kiss was long and full of heat, the two souls coiling together under the starry sky. When Jackson pulled away from the kiss, they were both breathless, heaving for air. Tess’s face was inches from his and she bit into her lower lip, shocked and stunned by how the growly man had come around.
I can’t believe this is happening, she thought wanting nothing more than to continue the sensual exchange and to ignore everything else that could possibly be going on in the world. The animal attraction that she had been feeling for him was finally coming to pass, and she couldn’t possibly say no to it a second longer. Jackson stopped her gently with a finger on her lips, inches from his face. He smiled and the softness in his eyes made her whimper with longing.
“Are you sure you want to do this, Tess? I… well, I think we need to talk about something…” he said, a kind of shakiness creeping into his voice that Tess had never heard before in his speech. She nodded her head without hesitation, throwing one leg across his thighs and straddling him with the newfound courage of a woman who knows what she wants and is determined to get it. There was plenty of time to discuss things later. She wasn’t about to let him or herself ruin what could become a hot, steamy experience.
“Couldn’t be more sure, Jackson. We can talk later,” she murmured, and that was all that was needed.
CHAPTER SIX
Jackson’s arms picked her up as if she weighed nothing, and Tess was hoisted up like a feather. She giggled nervously as he carried her the short distance to the tent and let her down in front of it. It seemed like they were both rushing for their lives by the way they were ripping each other’s and their own clothes off. Tess’s boots flew across the patch of greenery and teetered dangerously close to the fire, but Tess was willing to go barefoot if it meant that she could see this opportunity through. She fell back on the sleeping bags, dragging the big man down along with her by the front of his shirt.
The night air was cold but it scarcely seemed to matter. Their lips met again and Tess shuddered with a mixture of relief and lust as his jacket came off and she could slide her fingers across his hard, chiseled body. His skin was rough under her touch and his muscles bulged and creased as she touched and discovered him, her nails raking across his chest as he broke the kiss and trailed small pecks across her neck and chest. Tess pulled his shirt over his head and he was an impressive sight to behold even in the near darkness. Not a single ounce of unnecessary fat – he was all muscles and bone, carved to perfection. Tess’s fingers traced his abs and he groaned as she unbuckled his belt and undid the front of his jeans. She’d never been with that many men and none of her former boyfriends had definitely looked even remotely like the Grecian god of a man she was so fortuitously sharing a sleeping bag with now.
When he pulled her sweater off of her, revealing her gentle curves and the slope and rise of her heavy breasts, Tess was overcome with a moment of shyness.
What if he doesn’t like what he sees… she worried for a second, irrational fears mingling with the pure need that she felt growing and roaring in the pit of her stomach. He
r fears were swiftly extinguished by a ravenous kiss he laid on her lips and the way his hands dug at her flesh and touched her breasts, all wanting and desire. His fingers slipped under her and undid the clasp on her bra before she could even notice, and the garment was torn from her chest, revealing her breasts to him. Jackson circled his tongue around one of her nipples, making it tighten into a small peak. Tess moaned, arching her back as he teased her with his sizzling tongue and lips. Her fingers grabbed at his short, dark hair and her hips bucked against him, her body yearning for what she had been dreaming of since she first laid eyes on him.
Mercifully, Jackson pulled back and peeled her pants off of her, leaving her naked in front of him. He parted her legs and Tess gasped as she felt the taunting tongue spread her folds and taste her wetness.
“Oh my god, you’re evil!” she moaned, grinding her hips against him as he cupped her ass with his big palms and lapped his tongue up and down the length of her crease. The way he dipped his tongue in and out of her heat made her head spin with lust and she tugged at his hair, willing him to put her out of her misery. When he licked at her clit, sparks flew and her body tensed. Tess moaned deeply when he pushed two fingers into her and she clenched around them, the thick digits splitting her tightness. The cold night air seemed to disappear as the tent was filled with lustful cries and the writhing of two bodies. She wriggled in Jackson’s arms as he taunted and teased her until she thought she could take no more.
As if he had sensed her peak coming, Jackson trailed up her body and Tess whimpered in protest as he left her teetering on the edge, not quite ready to fall into her release just yet. The taste of her juices on his lips and in his mouth made for a passionate kiss, the woman’s mouth demanding that he give her what she so desperately needed. When he guided the head of his cock to her entrance and pushed forth, she was sure she would pass out. Tess writhed In Jackson’s arms as he thrust into her, the sheer size of his cock stretching her thin. Her chest rose and fell heavily as she grew used to him, the man giving her just enough time to fit around him.
Tess’s nails raked at his back and sides, loving the feeling of his taut muscles under her fingertips as she clung to him. He kept sinking into her a little bit at a time, each burst forward bringing with it a sliver of a cry from her; but she wouldn’t let him stop. His breath was hot on her neck as he kissed it up and down, covering her skin with endless affection. When he finally went down to the hilt into her, Tess moaned with a sense of relief. He was so big, but what followed was worth the struggle. Jackson started moving in and out of Tess with rhythmic thrusts, each of them taking him further out of her before plowing back in. The steady, yearning, powerful pounding consumed her entire being, the world disappearing around her and the beast of a man she had so unwittingly conquered.
Tess buried her head into his shoulder as she reveled in the heat of the fire he was stoking, driving her towards her release once more. This time, he wouldn’t rob it from her. The feeling of being so thoroughly filled made her tingle all over, hot and cold flashes coiling together until she could see nothing but light, and her body was swept away by a burst of pure ecstasy. The sounds that rose from her mouth were animalistic, the wild sex brushing away any inch of modesty in her. Tess twisted and pulsed under him, Jackson’s lips whispering soothing words into her ears as he licked across her lobes. Each little touch of his tongue made her jolt with newfound energy, the man drawing out her orgasm as far as he could. She could feel how tense he had become, her tight pussy milking his thick cock mercilessly – but the man wouldn’t give in, not yet.
When Tess was coming down from her high, dazed and bewildered, Jackson pulled out of her and flipped her around. Tess landed on her knees, her back pulled against Jackson’s chest as he cradled her in his arms for a moment, teeth grazing over her neck. She felt something shift in him for just a moment, something wild and dangerous lurking close to the surface as his teeth touched her soft flesh, but it retreated quickly. Instead, he pulled her mouth into a deep kiss, wiping the surprise and shock away from her immediate thoughts. His cock pressed against her ass, cradled between the two cheeks and waiting to take her again. Tess reached forward, getting down on her palms and lifting her ass a bit, tossing him a grin over her shoulder. She wanted him, all of him, and every second he wasn’t in her was a moment wasted.
Tess could see Jackson battle with himself for a moment, the primal soul conflicted. He took a deep breath and then grabbed her by the hips, thrusting into her with one smooth motion and filling her once more with his divine cock. He leant forward, rutting into her with slow, deliberate drives.
“Don’t worry. Nothing’s going to happen,” he said and she could sense how strained he was when he uttered those words. Every inch of him must have wanted to give in to his need, his release, but he controlled himself with an iron grip to show her more pleasure. Tess backed into him, falling into beat with him. They met with force, the man digging into the woman and the woman wanting him to go as far as he could. The pain was delicious. It was everything she had always thought that a man and a woman should share, but something that she had never had the luxury of experiencing. Their chemistry was unmistakable. Each movement, thought and action was mirrored by the other as the two twisted and curled together, impossible to separate in the heat of their shared passion.
One of his hands slid over her smooth skin and kneaded her heavy breasts. Tess yelped when he pinched her nipples and flicked at the sensitive peaks, her pussy clenching around him each time. Slowly, he let his hand move down her body and slip between her legs, starting to rub the swollen nub with leisurely circles. Tess was completely wet, driven to madness by his talented hands, and she was sure that he wasn’t going to stop until she was just a puddle of exhaustion in his hands. She could feel him getting closer and closer to his limit, his thrusts becoming faster and the growly moans he made becoming louder and more frequent. The sound of his voice made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. There was something so hidden and primal about them, as if he was suppressing something deep inside, something that was hard to ignore. Yet, she was not worried or scared. Something told her that he would never hurt her and she believed in it completely.
The flicks and rubs of her clit grew in step with his need. Tess loved the feeling of his strong, flawless body against her supple curves, and having his arms around her made her feel like everything was coming together just as it was supposed to. Her cheeks were flushed and her lips parted as she whimpered and fell back against him, the man having taunted her long enough to make her give in. The wave of release wafted over her and it was made all the more better when she felt Jackson finishing, filling her with his load. She could feel even the smallest of throbs as his cock pulsed in her, filling her pussy with his thick seed. He pushed his forehead against the back of her shoulder as he shuddered through his finish, before both of them fell onto the covers, panting.
Tess was swiftly pulled against his wide body, the woman’s head resting on his broad chest, and his arms enveloping her protectively. She was tucked under one of the sleeping bags, the man taking no time to make sure his woman was safe and secure. Tess looked up at him, and he gave her a quick peck on the lips, smiling. The softness that she had seen in his eyes on the very first time they met – a flash and then hidden from sight – was now there to stay. The woman curled against his powerful body and sleep was right behind the corner, threatening to take her from her perfect moment.
“I’m so glad I found you,” he whispered, the last words Tess heard before she drifted into the most peaceful slumber of her life.
***
When she woke up the next morning, a horrifying thought rippled through her mind before she could even open her eyes.
What if it was all a dream? Oh please, don’t let it be a dream… Tess thought, her eyes fluttering open. She was tucked under the sleeping bags, still stark naked, and Jackson was nowhere in sight. Tess dressed quickly, the heaviness of a night of rest lingering on her.
When she peeked out of the tent, eyes foggy from her abrupt awakening, she was greeted by the most magical sight in the world – a big, strong man in the Montana wilderness, holding out a cup of steaming coffee. Her heart threatened to leap right out of her chest, but not before she could grab the coffee and kiss the big lug of a man on the cheek.
“Did you sleep well?” he asked, grinning like a schoolboy who got kissed by his first crush.
God, can he be any cuter? Tess licked her lips, enjoying the taste of the dark roast and the sight of the man she had so thoroughly managed to fall for. It really paid off to get out of the mustiness of her office, it seemed. All sorts of buff and gentle yet strong wonders awaited in the wilderness.
“Yes, I slept like a baby. You?” Tess almost snorted when he gave her a small nod, the motion she had come to find incredibly irritating, but currently only in the best of ways. She couldn’t possibly get annoyed at the man after the night he had given her. Her toes still curled when she thought back to the glimpses of the evening and the passion they had shared, free of all inhibitions.
She sat down next to him, instinctively cuddling up to him. Jackson was frying some bacon and beans on the small fire. The early morning sun had broken over the snowy Cabinet Mountains and filled the air with a crisp clearness that seemed to take all the worries and woes of the world with it. A moment of pristine purity was all around them, and Tess couldn’t help but grin happily. She felt entirely at home. Nowhere else had she felt quite as connected to everything around her as at Jackson’s side, surrounded by the Montana wilderness. Snowshoe towered in the distance and the sight sent shivers down her spine. A stray thought inched its way back to her, her mind wandering to the evening she had shared with the rugged cowboy.
