“Passionate?”
He grunted. “A pain in my ass.”
“You’re cute when you’re grumpy, which is just about every second since I’ve seen you.”
“You’re gonna put a smile on my face?” His nose brushed her forehead. “You think you have what I need.”
“The longer we stand here, the longer it’s going to take you to find out.” She brushed his lips with her tongue.
“I like a good fuck.” His mouth covered hers with the swiftness that muted any further quips. The power of his kiss matched the tightly wound strength that enveloped him. His lips devoured her, pressing against hers as their tongues bridged and mated.
She pulled away and touched her lips. Wet, swollen, and tingly.
His chest rose and fell in tune with her own pulse.
“You feel it too?” she asked.
He nodded as he approached her. His gaze pinned her in place, heating her face with longing. His hands took hold of her T-shirt and with only a harsh grunt, he ripped her shirt into two pieces, pushed up her bra, and pulled away the hindrances, tossing the lot the floor.
His hand lay gently on her chest, just below her neck. “Is this a one-timer?”
“I think I paid for a three-night deal.”
“But I’m not part of the vacation package.” His hand came up to cup her chin. He kissed her so hard that she had to grip his shoulders to remain standing.
“Gosh, I hope that’s the case. Wouldn’t want to know that every female craving a little lovin’ was getting her pussy waxed and polished by you.” She cupped his balls, gently squeezing them to make her point.
After he caught his breath, he said, “You are the exception that I don’t understand.”
“I like to be...unique” Once again, she reached for the towel. This time he didn’t stop her. Instead he allowed her to pull the towel free where it was tucked in at his hip. She allowed it to fall from her fingers into a heap near her feet.
“In all my glory.” His cock jutted its arrogance. Pre-cum glistened at the head.
“All hail.” Bethany dropped to her knees ready to pay tribute. She blew a soft breath through pursed lips across the head.
He hissed before hitting the wall with his forearm. His hand slid through her hair and bunched it in his fist.
She flutter-licked his cock, beating him with her tongue.
His grip relaxed and tightened around her hair, like a pulse.
She licked the length of his beautiful cock, her hand wrapped around the base, squeezing and taunting. Now his juice flowed a bit more, and she took her time lapping it up.
“Damn. Fuck. Shit.” He hit the wall again.
Her mouth went into rewind to release his full length. Before he could recover and get his brain unscrambled, she opened her mouth, relaxed her throat, and sucked him with one swoop. This time she didn’t let go. No way. She wanted him on his toes, cussing up a storm, and holding onto her for dear life.
What her mouth didn’t do, her hands tag-teamed, bringing him to the edge and then shifting down the intensity. Rising and falling, the game continued, but his control no longer answered to her commands. Seated at the end of his cock, she looked up to the stormy eyes that skewered her with its accusation. She locked gazes and flicked her tongue on the edge of his slit.
The match was tossed on the flammable pile.
****
Rock cupped the delicate angle of her chin and gently tilted it upward. The flow of his blood roared in his head. The rush seized him in its clutch and swooped him into a frenetic spiral. Speech failed and so did his knees. He sank in front of her. They faced each other, chests rising and falling to the rhythmic beats pulsed to their stormy passions.
He tangled his fingers through her hair, its softness and curls interlaced with his hands. Her scent continued the invasion of his soul. He leaned in and brushed her hair across his cheeks. The silky curtain of hair teased his nerves. Everything about her was soft and smooth. Every instance of touching her made him glutton for more.
He kissed her, and he wanted more.
He laid her on her back to admire the luscious swell of her breasts and seductive outlines of her hips. Tenderly he kissed the star-shaped birthmark on her shoulder. Her moan increased the flow of his excitement.
Again, he wanted more.
His mouth explored further places to ravage, settling on her breast. He sucked her in. His tongue teased her nipple. The more he played with the nub, the harder her thighs squeezed his hips, pinning him to her.
And, damn if he didn’t want more.
Within seconds of sliding on a condom, he answered the silent invitation. His cock buried deep into her sweet pussy. He almost fainted as his grunts echoed her moans.
“Oh, Rock,” she whispered his name as if a plea.
Whatever she wanted, he would deliver. Her hips grinded against his. Every shift of her pussy against his shaft, the slightest pressure or the most physical push, fanned the flame that wanted to consume her.
“Fuck me, Rock…hard.” Her teeth clenched and air hissed. “Harder.”
He pumped, glad that she ached to match his style. There was a time for gentle fucking. This wasn’t it.
“Harder.” She hypnotized him with her gaze glued to his face. Her fingers gripped the planes of his chest. Her nails sank into his flesh. The pain—white, hot, intense—flipped to pleasure.
She gave as good as she received. Her mouth formed small O’s, as her breath escaped in tiny gasps.
Their rhythms matched, rocking and pumping. She conquered him with her pussy, warm and slick with her juices. His dick slid in and out, delivering a passionate response to her sensuality.
Now he wanted to slow their dance, take a moment to linger, rejuvenate before flying off for the final push.
“Why did you come here?” He stared down into those eyes that hid nothing. What her expression didn’t communicate, she had no problem saying.
“Thought I was losing myself.” Her response escaped in another whoosh of her breath, as he plunged with a mix of long and short strokes.
“No, you’re far from lost.” He kissed her mouth, tasting her. “You’re on a mission.”
“Really? What kind of mission do you think I have?” Her hand slid between them and through his legs to cup his balls.
His groan descended into a growl. “Don’t know yet.” He rested his cheek next to hers. With eyes closed, he pressed his hips to match their slow grind. “Do I want to know?”
She shook her head. “Let’s just fuck.”
“Yeah…”
They laughed, breathless and heartily. Their frenzied tempo heated up until passions exploded with a one-two punch and him hitting release. Their sexual vibrations hummed throughout the room.
Rock stayed still. He had to cease motion. Had to.
This woman who pressed soft kisses on his neck instantly had taken him by the hand and yanked him into a reality he could never imagine. Was this how it felt to get a battery kicked back to life?
He rolled over to his side, inhaling and exhaling, feeling as if he’d broken the surface of a deep lake after a long swim.
“Here, take my hand,” she offered, standing over him.
“You’re going to save me?”
“Nah. Just picking you up so the staff doesn’t think you keeled over after sex.”
Rock laughed. “My heroine…who knew.”
“You betcha.”
He took her hand but pushed himself up. He didn’t like to think of himself in need. From the physical to the emotional, this woman had jostled him awake. His dick twitched, a reminder that it didn’t need much downtime for the next round.
Chapter Six
Rock didn’t sleep a wink after Bethany left. Naked and awake, he alternated between lying on his back and staring up at the ceiling, or standing at the window marking the progress of the snowstorm. Both conditions caused worrisome doubts. Both threatened his peace of mind. Both took any control out of his hands.
> Before the sun cracked the darkness, he dressed in his uniform. The staff would fix breakfast for Bethany when she awoke. Since he wasn’t needed on the premises, there was no need for him to stay onsite. Truthfully, a little breathing room might help settle the upheaval of his emotions.
And, if necessary, the staff could text or call him. It was time to check in with the station. There were bound to be accident reports. Any successful rescue effort depended on prompt attention and skillful execution. Regardless of the warnings, people always defied the rules to stay put.
Rock put on his hat with earflaps, slipped on his coat, and exited his room.
“Heading out?”
He stopped steps away from the front door. The familiar voice might as well have been her hand touching his shoulder. His hand hovered over the doorknob.
“Will you be gone all day?”
He turned his head without looking over his shoulder. “Yes.”
“Oh.”
The disappointment surprised as well as pleased him.
“I’ll wait for you…we can have dinner together.”
“Not sure what the day will be like. Not necessary to wait for me.” Rock turned the knob and opened the door. The frigid temperature blasted away the temptation to turn and gather up her willing body for a repeat performance of last night. Keeping his mind on the physical was better than thinking about missing her.
“Still, I’ll be here, ready to drink a cup of hot chocolate with you when you return.”
“That’s nice,” he said, keeping it neutral.
“Take care. Come back in one piece.”
Rock paused just outside the door. The sound of concern touched him. He turned to see her standing midway on the staircase. Quiet and solemn, she stayed in place, gazing upon him.
He nodded and pulled the door closed, a physical barrier against the intoxicating charm that oozed from her. “Are you my tormentor?” he asked, as he walked to the Land Rover.
His phone rang. He clicked on the speaker. “Yeah, Mandy.”
“So….how did it go last night?”
“We all survived.”
“Our guest is happy?”
“Yes, I think so.”
“What do you mean?”
“I think she was happy.”
“You’d better not have done anything to screw it up.” She sighed her frustration. “I wish I could get over there. But I’d have to bring the kids.”
“Don’t you dare bring those kids out into this mess. I told you that I’d step in for you. Bethany is fine.”
“Bethany is it? Hmm…sounds like things got quite familiar.”
“Don’t even go there.”
“I love teasing you.” Mandy giggled. “You make it so easy when your voice goes all soft and happy. I miss that.”
“Sounds like I need to hang up.” Rock didn’t want his sister to remind him to pick up the pieces of his life and move on. Blind dates didn’t help. Lectures turned off any desire to listen. His personal life was off-limits.
“I’ll try to be there tomorrow.”
“Not if it is still nasty.” He wasn’t only talking out of brotherly concern, but as a no-nonsense park ranger.
Rock headed out in the four-wheel drive with attached snowplow to battle the snowdrifts, relying on memory to stay on the road. He’d wanted to leave Maine after Judith died, too distraught to stay in the place that had taken her life. Her car broke down and despite having a survival kit in the trunk, the snow had come in fast and furious. The search for her took almost seven days. Rescuers had tried to restrain him from getting to the car, but they couldn’t hold back the fury, despair, and panic that took over his sanity like a tsunami wave. He’d feared the worse, earlier in the search. Seeing her there, frozen in place and waiting for him made it real.
Every cell in his body held bitterness. His anger took a while to peter out. He didn’t want to ever open his heart and be vulnerable again. Mandy thought it an impossible way to live. But with practice and tenacity, he maintained the state of permafrost where nothing could blossom.
Now Bethany threatened the status quo. Didn’t take a rocket scientist to know that they were both hurting. They sought something from the other to escape from their demons. Purely physical. No need to pretend that there was anything further. All he had to do was ignore any signs from the heart or mind that there was a thaw in the landscape. Only his dick was going to rule in this endeavor.
With that rule in place, he drove to the station with his mind fully on the job.
****
“Rock. Rock!”
Startled, Rock looked up from his desk. His colleague Lazarus Poindexter was balling up paper to toss at him. “Sorry, you were saying?”
“Just in. There’s a car on Route 5. Father and kids are inside.”
“Why are people driving through this?” Rock was already out of the chair. “Let’s go.”
“Right there with you.” His partner followed him to the SUV. “The father said he was trying to get the children to their grandmother.”
“Looks like there’s a break in the storm. Hopefully, this won’t take long.”
They drove to the spot, skidding a few times and using the bulldozer feature to create a path as they climbed the mountain. Rock’s stomach clenched with a sense of déjà vu. Time dulled the edges of his reaction toward each rescue. But panic and nausea could still resume their place at each instance like indomitable dandelion weeds. None of his ill-managed feelings mattered. Saving lives was paramount. He turned up the energy to find this father and children.
“I think I see the car. Up ahead.” Lazarus pointed to the diagonal right.
Rock pulled up and they jumped out.
The car engine was on. Three small faces looked out at them. The father pushed at the door at the same time Rock pulled it open.
“Thank you. I was trying to make sure the exhaust pipe stayed clear. Thank goodness I had a full tank of gas.” The middle-aged man rambled his gratitude. The composure that he must have kept up for the kids’ sake was on the verge of collapse.
“Let’s see if we can get the car back on the road.” Rock wasn’t about saving face, but keeping up with their rescue efforts. He didn’t want to miss using the break in the weather to help this family. They worked together to push and tow the car back onto the road. The father gratefully hugged them, introducing himself and his family. Even Rock’s hands shook in relief.
“Where you heading?” Rock asked, keeping an eye on the kids as they got back into the car seats.
“To my parents. About four miles further up. I told them to stay with us, but they didn’t want to leave. I haven’t been able to get an answer when I call.”
“We’ll follow you there and make sure they are okay.” Rock motioned the father back in the car.
Once in their car, Lazarus turned to him. “What if we get another call?”
“Let’s hope we don’t. But I can’t drive off without making sure those kids reach safety.”
“You’re such a softy.”
“Shut up.” Rock followed at a safe distance until the car pulled into the driveway of the small house.
“Please tell me you are not about to go in and introduce yourself. Next, you’ll be staying for dinner.” Lazarus craned his neck as he looked up to the sky. “We may be running out of time to head back.”
“We’ll be fine.” Rock trudged through the snow, following the family. “Just want to make sure your parents are all right.”
The front door opened and an elderly couple stood in the doorway. The instant the kids saw their grandparents, they squealed and did their best running up the stairs and into their grandparents’ waiting arms.
“Well, looks like I can head out,” Rock said, after the introduction and inquiries about their status.
“No, wait. I’m sure my mother has coffee,” the grateful man offered.
“That sounds like the perfect solution for this weather, but I may have other emergencies
.”
“I understand.”
The clouds had effectively meshed together to block the once-blue sky that gave the earlier impression of a thaw in the blizzard. Signs warning him to wrap it up started with the wind whipping into a chaotic bluster. Soon, snow would create the dreaded whiteout condition.
“Let’s go, Rock,” Lazarus yelled from the SUV.
After the quick good-byes, Rock got back in the vehicle and headed back to the station. Within minutes, as they guessed, snow covered everything. He pressed on, hoping to get as close as possible if conditions forced them to stop. Lazarus served as the second pair of eyes to navigate some of the blind turns in the winding road. Finally they made it back to the station. He and his partner’s nerves were shot with the extreme activity. Lazarus didn’t stop talking about mindless factoids. And he wished that he was back at the inn entertaining a sexy, green-eyed blonde with that perfect lopsided grin.
Once he was settled, Rock checked in the other stations. His phone rang, but he didn’t recognize the area code or number. He answered anyway.
“Hey,” a familiar sexy voice purred.
“Everything all right.”
“Oh yes. Wondered when you’d be coming back.”
“Not tonight. Have to stick around with this latest dump of snow.”
“Bummer. I’ll miss you a lot.”
“Slight exaggeration. It’s been one night.” He had to remind himself to clamp down on the thin thread of hope.
“And you don’t think a lot can change in one night?”
Rock looked around for his partner. There was no sign of him, although he could hear him busy clearing snow off the deck. He didn’t want a witness to his emotional thaw. All systems were on countdown to complete failure.
Bethany coaxed and he willingly bent to her will. When did he turn into such a sap?
“Sometimes you have to go with the flow. Don’t think about it. Don’t second-guess. If it makes your cock feel good, then you release and let it go.”
“Why are you the expert? Your job is to poke at people? Don’t try to act as though you don’t have your demons.”
“I do. But I’m willing to push them aside.” She paused. “I’m willing to let my pussy rule the way.” Her confidence appealed to him. He treasured the trait that he found admirable.
Bound to Her Page 3
