Be My Warmth

by Shanade White

  “I really don’t get why you like me. Ain’t complaining. Just don’t get.” Whitney patted the horse on his velvety muzzle, and he whickered, also scratching the side of his cheek against the rough wood. “You're like a big puppy dog.”

  She fished out two sugar cubes and fed them to him one at a time. Emboldened, she stepped onto the first rung of the fence, to stroke his ears, seeking itching spots. The delicate ears flicked, tickling the skin on her hand.

  Catching a yellow glare, she turned around to see Jack Brook walking towards her with a more traditional flashlight.

  “You’re here!” He exclaimed. The surprise in his voice was evident, at odds with what she expected. Surely he wouldn’t be surprised to have someone respond to an invitation. “And I see you two have found each other again.”

  “Yup.” Whitney fed him another sugar cube. “Not sure ‘bout your plan to just walk around until we find him. Could get lost in these parts. And what about that ax murderer you mentioned?”

  “Nah. We would have been fine. Graham here would scare them off.” Jack made it to the fence, laying a hand on the horse. “A little element of uncertainty makes things better, wouldn’t you say? I look around, not seeing you at first, half wondering if you really did decide to come out on a cold night to see a horse, and half excited because of thinking: what if you did? And here you are.”

  “That… doesn’t really make sense.” Whitney twitched an eyebrow as Jack grabbed a sugar cube from her pouch, to give to the happy horse. “Should meet up in a normal situation. Outside the cabin, so we walk arm-in-arm to here without either of us getting lost.”

  “Hmm. I suppose that would have been more sensible. Well, it worked out, didn’t it?”

  Whitney wasn’t about to admit she didn’t think it through entirely, either. She rushed through her cabin like a storm and made it here without much hesitation. At all.

  He’s so damn handsome. Oh boy. Jack Brook had a smile like a sunbeam as he examined Whitney. She smiled back, and placed a palm on Graham Cracker’s muzzle before he budged her hair. “Thank you for the books. Gonna start on one tomorrow. That Danny one. They’re so worn though, scared I’ll damage them.”

  “Don’t worry about that. Words can be replaced if needed.” He halted, and examined Whitney with a strange expression.

  “It really is amazing,” Jack said. His eyes, dark in the night, appeared tender. Their breaths mingled in the air between them, and there was silence for a moment. “The wildest horse on our ranch is completely gaga over you. I know he seems friendly now, but you wait until you see him at training tomorrow. Anyone else nearing him, he shies away from, or acts aggressive. But you? He doesn’t. It makes me wonder. He can tell you’re a beautiful woman. He can see your smile and know it’s genuine, and not hiding anything.”

  Whitney flushed at the words. She never received compliments in that manner. It just didn’t happen. She shivered, partly from the night, and partly from being arrested by Jack’s eyes, and his soft-spoken, almost reverent voice.

  “Maybe he just likes the way I smell,” Whitney said. “I don’t understand myself.”

  “Or, he sees something special in you. Like I do.”

  At this, Whitney blinked, paralyzed. The words slammed into her like a freight train, rendering her speechless.

  “I don’t think you could have seen it in yourself, but the way you behaved in the activities today was amazing to watch. You didn’t have the experience, but you tried anyway, and kept trying. You didn’t want to let down your team – and you supported a shy girl into making more proactive choices. You didn’t boast, but got so damn cheerful when your teammates did well. I tried so hard to divide my attention evenly between all the group, but I just couldn’t stop going back to you.”

  Something fluttered inside. Whitney remembered to breathe. Her fantasies, her dreams – they felt as if they were rearing into life, in the darkness. Jack Brook was speaking to her. Not only speaking to her, but seeing her. Talking in earnest. Showing honest attraction.

  It’s true! This is heating up fast! The thought wormed into her conscience, bringing her back into a state of function, though her heart hammered at an insane pace. “Have to say, Jack, I found it hard to take my eyes off you as well. First ‘cause I was annoyed with the dumb-ass disguise you pulled off, and second because you treated everyone like actual human beings. People love you here. It makes you alive. It’s… something to watch.” Whitney smiled. As soon as she said the words, she felt them. She believed them.

  “Thank you. It means a lot… to hear you say that.”

  They hesitated only a moment.

  Not breaking eye contact, with Whitney feeling like she had nothing to lose, not wanting to tarnish the perfect feel of their words, she reached across the small distance between their faces. Placing fingers on his shoulders, she touched lips to his. Pleasure thrilled through her. Jack inhaled and kissed back, his thin, soft lips closing around her lower one. His palms moved to cup her cheeks. Their mouths formed a rhythm, adapting to one another’s movement. The bite of the night melted away, completely forgotten, as Whitney explored the taste of Jack’s mouth, drew in the scent of his mint aftershave, and the earthly, manly scent that made him, well, him.

  “I’ve been thinking of doing this to you for most of the day,” Jack confessed, lips brushing hers. His eyes were closed as if in prayer.

  Whitney responded by intensifying the kiss, parting her mouth so that their tongues touched. Shivering at the raw, electric surge of the contact, she clutched at his shoulders tighter. When they finally broke off, Jack opened his blue eyes, looking more than a little dazed.

  “Been thinking along the same lines. Though also tried suppressing it, telling myself it would never happen.”

  Jack smiled like an indolent cat. “Oh, I was telling myself similar things. I had one other impossible thought, though.”

  “Oh?” Whitney ran a finger across his cheek, ruffling the thin beard that covered it.

  “I imagined us meeting here, and then stealing you away, taking you to my cabin where…” His voice lowered to a hoarse whisper, “I would make love to you all night.”

  Oh. OH. Yup, I’m gone. Whitney almost turned into putty in his arms. “At this point, Jack… I would love to see your cabin.”

  Chapter 6

  They burst through the door, faces raw, and heated from the run back. Turning the light on and quickly washing their hands, they proceeded to grab each other and kiss, with Whitney being pushed up, gradually and inevitably towards the bed. She snatched in details, like the simple furnishing of the cabin, not so different from her own. Extra pieces, such as a bookcase stuffed with novels bulging prominently in the living room. A cow-skin rug, speckled black and white covered the wooden floor. Sheepskin rugs lay on either side of the bed. All this information flashed through her brain, grouped with: we ain’t even dated three times yet! Followed by don’t care, enjoy the moment. Enjoy him.

  Twitches of excitement attacked her limbs. This was amazing, crazy, and unprecedented from anything she’d experienced in her life. Dating usually went slow, a few meals, getting to know each other, to talk and to introduce to the family. She considered herself too sensible and bashful to take the plunge and give into passion, lust and longing. That wasn’t her.

  Yet, somehow, this was. It felt right and good. It convinced her down in every cell of blood.

  Jack peeled off her jacket, kissing over her cheek, lips and chin. His eyes sparkled in desire, regarding Whitney as she helped him shrug off his coat. They kicked off their boots awkwardly, stamping on them to tug their feet out.

  “I kinda don’t want to spoil the moment, but right now I’ve never wanted someone as much as I want you,” Jack said, his words rushed. “But I also know though that this is probably whirlwind fast and at this point I should be a gentlemen and make sure you don’t feel like you’re being forced or coerced in any way –”

  “Jack,” Whitney said, placing a finger t
o his lips. “Shut up and take me already.”

  “Yes ma’am. With pleasure.” Jack steered them some more, until her legs bumped into the bed. She threaded fingers into his hair, ruffling it up, their lips kissing in wild abandon, all residual chill from outside gone. In fact, things were heating up fast, making their clothes a little bit too uncomfortable and hot. Jack kissed her on the cheek as he tugged off her blouse, making Whitney gasp in anticipation. She wanted to see Jack’s body laid bare before her. She wanted to kiss every inch of him. The thoughts and feelings swirled inside like an intoxicating storm, drugging her sense of reason, and she didn’t care.

  Everything was fast and yet it was too slow. She needed his clothes off and she needed him now. Before she could say anything, or start unbuttoning his top, Jack ran one rough hand under her blouse, caressing the hidden skin, to pause against the contours of her breasts. Whitney pressed herself into him, detecting a noticeable bulge of arousal, adding pressure between her thighs. They toppled onto the bed and scooted backwards, hurtling further and further to the point of no return.

  Insanity, she thought. Every muscle in her quivered, every individual fiber of her being reacted under the immediate presence of Jack. His beard rubbing over her cheek, rough, tickling and relieving at the same time, made her hum in happiness. He gently nibbled at her ear, breathing deliciously warm air behind it and onto her neck, triggering her body to explode in a series of shivers, making her heart pound faster.

  Any protest forming in her mind vanished. Within seconds, both had seized each other’s tunics and yanked them off. Buttons flew from Jack’s top, unable to stand the force. She stared hungrily at Jack’s sculpted, smooth chest, and he did the same to her, openly admiring the lacy bra, her curvaceous body and the breasts, which he could cup in both hands comfortably. Whitney hooked fingers into the muscles of his shoulders, dragging him closer to share their warmth. Jack met her mouth with his, lips parting wider and wider with each kiss until their tongues began to probe, plumping their lips, bolts of arousal shooting through.

  Jack’s bulge became more apparent, chafing against its confines. Whitney found herself rubbing against him, arousal sending her mind to dizzying heights, body moving of its own accord. Jack groaned into her lips, fast and shuddering, and she moaned in response, clinging more powerfully to him, hips teasing further.

  “You are driving me… crazy,” he whispered, hoarse, hands trailing over the sides of her breasts, constantly gliding over her smooth skin, over her shoulder blades, the bra straps to her hips, and journeying over again. “I love how you feel, how you look, how you smell… it’s like peaches and cinnamon. You look so damn hot.”

  “This… oh hell, Jack! I’m so turned on.” Whitney arched slightly, to fight with the clasp of her bra. He helped take if off and tossed it to the side, giving a tender kiss to the corner of her lips. “I feel myself getting wet. I wouldn’t… didn’t expect… to be this attracted… so fast…”

  “Me, either,” he breathed. His scent struck her, that beautiful earthy, natural aroma, turning her on more. “I… I’m struggling to keep my composure. I don’t think I have any at this point.”

  “I need you.”

  Jack reacted instantly as if punched by the statement, a hiss escaping his throat. He pushed forward, so Whitney’s back pressed into the soft mattress and covers. Her legs angled upwards, allowing him to fall between.

  “You’re mine.”

  If her words had an effect on him, they were nothing compared to the spasm that went through Whitney at his – almost like a miniature orgasm. She whimpered out loud. He kissed her neck, breathing spine-tingling heat into it, his mouth traveling downward. It tickled across her collarbone, around her breasts, which his hands circled, yet never brushed over the nipples, which at this moment stood hard with excitement. Eventually, Jack ran one calloused hand over her left breast, and latched his lips onto the other, gently pulling at her nipple.

  Whitney moaned, squeezing her eyes shut, bringing a palm to press into his head, encouraging him to pinch harder. After a minute of sheer, devoted worship to her breasts, he then tugged off the rest of her clothing. Jeans and panties came off, and Jack stepped backwards to shove off his, the bed shaking from the furious and vigorous movement. Completely exposed now, Whitney trembled in excitement. Jack with his smooth, unblemished pale body hovered before her, arousal thick and throbbing. He leaned into her body, penis pressing onto her stomach, teasing her as he focused again on the kisses, tongues eagerly dancing, their breaths and saliva mixing.

  Wetness seeped out of Whitney’s core. She wanted him to take her now, and dug her nails into his back, hard enough to leave bruises. Jack groaned at the tension, inhaling and exhaling rapidly. His mouth trailed down to her breast and clamped on her nipple harder, almost but not quite hurting. His heart stuttered fast, faster than hers, as he flexed his hips backwards, allowing his penis to trail and brush over her clitoris, causing her to jerk from the pleasure it sent. He rested against her entrance, but couldn’t hold it still. She was so wet, he needed to readjust himself so his penis rested partly into her folds. They locked eyes, her brown with his blue. He stared at her, irises completely dilated in arousal. Whitney braced herself, gasping in excitement, as he, without breaking eye contact, buried himself inside her.

  Feeling him there, in the most intimate part of her, sent all sorts of interesting emotions through her body. He deeply embedded himself, mouth trembling as he resisted the urge to groan. He stopped moving, letting Whitney grow used to the feel of his shaft pushing the walls of her core.

  “You feel…” He then hesitated, suddenly shy. “Of course you feel good. Everything about you is amazing.”

  Whitney smiled, embarrassed and flattered. She flexed her lower muscles, so they contracted around his penis. She felt it twitch inside, and giggled when a moan escaped his throat. He recovered in a second.

  “That was mean,” he grinned, a fiendish glint in his eyes, and rocked his hips, starting with tiny motions. She adjusted herself to let her body raise up into his. He gradually increased the motions, until adopting a regular, thrusting rhythm, both of them devolving to primal desire and passion. Time became meaningless. There were just too many things to focus on. The way their skins rubbed into each other, stirring the individual hairs, the crumpling bedsheets underneath her, their moans of excitement, she wanted to absorb everything at once, but could barely concentrate on one single sensation before another overrode it, making her mind flit to that one instead. Her toes curled as the pleasure intensified, and he angled himself subtly, changing the way he thrust into her, increasing the wonderful spread of feelings within.

  Their burning bodies craved each other. Nothing mattered but the moment and the rhythm of their love-making. She felt Jack deep, deeper than what could be explained on a physical level. She felt as though somewhere, he had found the hidden part where her soul lived.

  Something formed in her stomach, coiling tight. That pressured, taut sensation grew stronger, more urgent as Jack continued moving, turning up his speed, now reaching down a hand to touch her clit, slipping over it often due to how turned on she was. He stopped moving in her for a moment, focusing on finding the perfect, right stimulation with his fingers.

  He caught it. The pleasure roared in, thundering out of nowhere, springing the coil loose. The release launched the orgasm through her body, flooding it in delicious warmth. Jack, seeing and feeling the tension wash over her, moaned at the sight, moving again as her core contracted around him.

  He came with a shuddering groan, slowing to a dead still, before gently pulling out of her.

  “Oh… my… God,” Whitney whispered, feeling utterly boneless, unwilling and possibly unable to move an inch.

  “He’s not here at the moment. But maybe I can take a call?” Jack quipped, rolling beside her, grin threatening to split his face.

  “No. You don’t start making stupid jokes. Let me just… let this sink in. Forever.”

&nb
sp; “Forever is a long time to wait,” Jack replied, kissing her shoulder, slipping one arm over her stomach, after forcibly tugging the bed covers over them, to protect from the night chill.

  Whitney, more than a little frazzled, just kept her eyes closed, indulging in the glow of her orgasm. Sweat trickled on her brow, she felt the same on Jack’s. “My limbs. Like jelly.”

  “I see. Let me assist with that.” Jack helped move them around until they lay draped comfortably into each other.

  Whitney groaned. “Don’t wanna… move.”

  “Don’t have to,” Jack smiled.

  “Should go back. To… cabin. We wake up… early for breakfast.”

  Jack brushed her nose with his. “Stay with me. Spend the night. You can return in the morning. Besides. It’s way too cold out there. And I want you here. Preferably to never leave my sight ever again.”

  “Mmm…” Suddenly, Whitney felt very, very sleepy. She opened her eyes to see a beaming, radiant Jack Brook. He reached out to stroke her cheek, unable to stop touching her.

  “I need to pee,” Whitney said.

  “Erm…” The smile turned into amusement. “That’s romantic.”

  “Seriously. Sex makes me want to pee.”

  He laughed, but helped her scramble out of bed and wobble to the toilet. When she had finished, she re-joined Jack in bed.

  “You feeling alright, Whitney?”

  “Perfect.”

  “Did you… I mean. It looked like you were enjoying that.”

  “Loved it. Felt amazing.”

  “Yeah,” Jack agreed, placing his cheek against her hand.

  “Can you… hold me?”

  Jack looked extremely happy to comply. “Do you want it as a spoon or a normal hug, or to rest on your back?”

  “Doesn’t… matter. Just hold me.” Her voice turned drowsy. Her eyelids fluttered.

  Jack snuggled into her, his warmth vibrant, like the source of life itself. She sighed contentment, and closed her eyes, weariness settling into her bones.