A Match Made In Montana (The Brands of Montana #4)
Page 15
Josephine had a jacket and a long-sleeved thermal shirt rolled up behind her saddle. By noon, even with the sun heating up the day, she would need to start adding layers as they made the climb. She mounted her horse and waited for Logan to swing into his saddle. He was a skilled horseman, and she could appreciate how he handled his horse and sat the saddle. She had confidence in him and his ability to safely lead them up the steep incline to their next campsite.
“Are you ready?” Logan used the reins to turn his horse to the left so he could look at her.
“Ready.”
She wasn’t a nervous rider, but she had been raised to respect the steep, tricky footing of the trail as they climbed closer and closer to the peak of the divide. At the halfway point, they stopped to take a break from the saddle and used the water from their canteens to water the horses and the pack mule. She was relieved that Easy Does It had willingly carried their equipment up the mountain without any protest. She had to give the little mule credit—he was getting the job done and he was doing it well.
Josephine pulled on her thermal shirt and the jacket because the temperature had already dropped nearly twenty degrees, according to the thermometer she had hanging off her saddle. After she zipped her jacket, she yawned loudly. She wasn’t tired, so the need to yawn was a direct result of the air being thinner. When she breathed in the cooler air, she started to cough.
“Are you okay?” Logan was also slipping on a jacket.
“It’s the asthma. I have my inhaler.”
“Best use it now,” he said.
Josephine took a couple of quick puffs from her rescue inhaler and then they were back in the saddle. They both were anxious to get to the next campsite. Even though the scenery was majestic, from spotting wildlife along the way to the unusual foliage, they both respected the dangers of the journey. They climbed higher and higher, and it grew colder and colder, until they reached an altitude that was as high as the clouds.
She had last made this climb with her brother Daniel when she was in middle school, and she was relieved when they finally reached the peak of the mountain they were scaling and found flatter terrain. The air was very thin now, and it was very cold, and Josephine started to realize that the mild case of asthma she had developed in her early adult years was making it difficult to breathe now that they were at the peak.
“Do you think we’re close?” she called to Logan, who was a little bit ahead of her.
Logan stopped his horse and Easy Does It, and waited for her to catch up with him.
“I think the spot I picked out is just up ahead. What’s wrong?”
“It’s a little tough for me...to breathe.”
“Can you make it, or do you need a break?”
“I think I can make it. If it’s just around the corner like you said.” The idea of a break didn’t appeal to her. She wanted to get to camp, get the fire going, and get some hot coffee into her body.
“It’s close,” he assured her. “What do you want to do?”
By her choice, they kept moving. And Logan had been right—they were close. When they reached their destination, Logan grabbed a blanket from one of the saddlebags and wrapped it around her shoulders. He insisted that she sit down and conserve her breath while he made the fire. Once the fire was made, he settled her near it to keep her warm and put on the coffee. While she stayed warm by the fire, Logan quickly unloaded the horses and the mule and started the task of pitching the tents.
“We only need one,” she told him. Her voice was weaker than normal, and he didn’t hear her. She cleared her throat and said the words again, louder this time.
“Logan, we only need one tent tonight.”
Logan straightened upright, her tent in his hands, and looked at her.
“Are you sure?”
She nodded her head in response.
Logan’s eyes narrowed slightly as he contemplated her for a couple of seconds. Then he nodded one quick nod, put her tent down, and turned his attention to pitching his tent. Their tent. After he set up camp, he joined her near the fire. He poured them both a cup of hot coffee and joined her beneath the blanket. They sat together, quietly, at what seemed to be the top of the world.
“You can read about this. You can look at pictures.” Logan looked off into the distance at the massive peaks that surrounded them for as far as the eye could see. “But actually being here...that’s something else entirely.”
Unexpectedly, without warning, tears began well up behind her eyes. Thoughts of her brother Daniel were so strong up here. Thoughts of the relationship—a friendship, really—that she had lost with Brice seemed more acute. Two men, two losses. She had no idea why it was hitting her so strongly right then, at that moment...but she was grateful that Logan was by her side and she was glad that he was so focused on the magnificent views that he hadn’t noticed that she was fighting to hold back tears.
The weather, which had been in their favor for the first half of the trip, took a turn for the worse and forced them to go inside of the tent much earlier in the evening than they would have wanted. Logan had unzipped both of the sleeping bags completely and then laid them out like a makeshift mattress. They took off their jackets but left the rest of the clothing on. They lay down face-to-face and covered themselves with one of the sleeping bags and the blanket. Once they got situated, they looked at each other and started to laugh.
“It’s damn cold up here.” Logan reached out to pull her closer to him.
“The rain is making it colder...”
“How are you feeling? Better?”
Josephine nodded with a small smile. “I think I just needed a minute to adjust to the altitude.”
“It’s thin up here, that’s for sure. It’s tough for me, too.”
“Logan?”
“Yes?”
“How do you feel about spooning?” she asked.
“Are you still cold?”
“Freezing.”
“Then, come here, baby...I’ll warm you up.” He scooted backward as far as he could so she could turn into his arms. He wrapped her up tightly in his warm arms and she immediately felt better.
“How’s that?” he asked. “Better?”
She nodded again, but had another question. “Logan?”
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“Why haven’t you tried to make love to me?”
Logan’s body grew still; she could feel his strong heart beating against her back. “I was giving you space.”
Josephine spun around again, snuggled into his body and hooked her calf around his lower legs.
She looked directly into his eyes and asked, “What if I don’t want the space anymore, Logan? What then?”
Chapter Fourteen
Her words were the green light Logan had been waiting for. He got rid of his clothes while she disrobed beside him. He was already aroused, and had been since they first lay down together. Now he just needed her body. But he knew that he wanted more than just her body—that was why he had waited for her. And the fact that there was a persistent voice in the back of his mind that was wondering if she wanted more from him than only a summer fling.
He rolled her gently onto her back and leaned on his arm to look down into her pretty, oval face. He didn’t see doubt or hesitation in her light blue eyes—he saw desire. Pure desire, for him. He kept them both covered, he wanted to continue to keep her warm, but he needed to touch her. He had wanted to touch her for so long. He started at her lips, running his finger lightly over them, before he let his fingertips trail down the side of her face, to her soft neck, and down to her small, round breasts. He covered one breast with his hand, massaging it, teasing the hardened, sensitive nipple. Josephine closed her eyes, and Logan heard her sigh at the touch of his hand on her flesh. She was ready for the next step. She was ready for him.<
br />
Logan wanted to take his time exploring her body with his hands and she let him do it. Her skin was so silky and smooth, her legs and body so slim and finely muscled. He ran his hand along the side of her hip, down her leg, and then moved it back up. Without him having to say a word, Josephine opened her thighs, just a little, just enough, for him to slip his hand between them. She was wet, so wet, that he had to close his eyes, drop his head, and stop his own need to drive him to rush them to a quick release. He had waited too long for this to end quickly. He lowered himself down beside her, kissed the side of her neck, as he slowly slipped his fingers inside of her.
“Oh...” Josephine’s head tilted back when he pushed his fingers deep inside of her. She reached down between them, encircled his thick shaft with her cool fingers.
He kept his fingers deep inside of her tight, wet center and worried her swollen clit with his thumb. She started to writhe against his hand, and bore down on his fingers, tighter and tighter, until she gasped loudly and her orgasm rained down on his fingers. His body wanted the same release he had just given her. But he made himself wait. There was only going to be one first time with his beloved Josephine and he had to make it count. He had to be the best she had ever had. He wanted her to believe, because it was true, that he was the best she ever would have.
Logan moved on top of her, but instead of entering her, as she might have anticipated, he moved downward, positioning his shoulders between her thighs with his hands beneath her tight rear end. Again, she didn’t resist him. She welcomed him, relaxing her thighs and lifting her body upward to meet his mouth. Josephine dragged her fingers through his hair and it pleased him to hear how loudly she gasped when his tongue slipped inside of her. When he tasted the sweet aftermath of her orgasm, Logan growled low in his throat and lost himself in the feast. When Josephine’s thighs tightened against his shoulders, her fingers pressed the back of his head into her core, and her fresh cries of release filled the small tent, Logan couldn’t wait any longer. He quickly rolled on a condom and repositioned himself between her thighs.
Josephine looked up at him, a mixture of surprise and such uncertainty, that he almost stopped. But then she raised her hips upward, seeking, wanting, and that was the only encouragement he needed. With his hands positioned on either side of her shoulders, Logan locked his eyes with hers as he connected their bodies together.
Logan seated himself completely within her slick center. He closed his eyes so he could focus on the incredibly feeling of being joined with Josephine. She was a perfect fit for him. She was tight, and hot, but deep enough to take all of him inside of her. He pulled out of her slowly, torturing himself, then sank back into her again and again and again. Josephine’s hands were on his chest, and the faster his rhythm became, the more she dug her fingernails into his skin. God help him, he felt her tighten around him and it drove him wild. His pace was frantic, crazy, driving into her harder and faster until she screamed his name. The sound of his name on her lips—that was the trigger that made him explode. One last hard thrust, he climaxed and, as if wrenched from his heart, he shouted her name.
“Josephine!”
* * *
After they made love, they had fallen asleep in each other’s arms. It was cold inside of the tent, but beneath the sleeping bag and thick blanket, and with Logan’s body generating heat, she awakened hot and sweaty. Still naked, Josephine carefully slipped out from underneath Logan’s heavy arm and stood up. Bent over, she tiptoed in the dark, trying not to step on Logan’s legs, and unzipped the tent flap. She stepped outside into the frigid air. Barefoot and without clothing, Josephine walked a few steps away from the tent. Tonight was the full moon. The ground felt hard and crunchy and stabbed at the tender skin of her feet, but it didn’t stop her from walking toward the bright moon in front of her that seemed so close to the mountaintop that she could reach out and touch it with her hand. She found a soft, grassy spot. She stopped, lifted up her arms as if she were flying, and spun around in the moonlight.
Logan awakened and it registered, immediately, that Josephine was gone. He riffled in the dark until he found the lamp and switched it on. He yanked on his shirt, his pants, and stuffed his feet into his boots without socks. The tent was unzipped, and he noticed that her jeans were still folded neatly by the open flap. He stepped out of the tent; his breath curled out of his mouth like he had just exhaled smoke from a cigarette. He almost turned around to grab his coat from inside of the tent, but then he saw Josephine, naked, twirling in the moonlight, and he temporarily lost his ability to move. He could only watch, frozen in his spot, the woman he had fallen in love with. Her lithe, tall, athletic body, partially hidden in the mist, appeared gold from the reflection of the umber moon; her hair was long and loose, fanning out around her body. It was the most incredible thing he had ever seen. She was the most magnificent creature. For as long as he lived, he would never forget seeing Josephine Brand, dancing nude in the moonlight at the top of the world.
Josephine stopped twirling, appeared to be a little dizzy, and she laughed. The spell was broken. Logan grabbed the blanket out of the tent.
“What are you doing?” he asked her.
Josephine spun around, appeared to be surprised that she wasn’t alone anymore. She didn’t cover her nakedness, even though she was clearly shivering.
“I’m getting kissed by the moon.”
Logan wrapped the blanket over her shoulders. “It’s too cold out here for this, Jo. You’re going to make yourself sick.”
Josephine pulled the blanket tightly around her body. “I woke up so hot. I just wanted to cool off. We can go back now.”
She was grateful to be back in his arms. At the time, she hadn’t realized how cold her body had become. She hadn’t felt it. All she had felt was joy. She felt happy and free and...beautiful. She had danced naked on the Continental Divide. It was a landmark moment. She was changed.
“Come here.” Logan opened the sleeping bag for her to crawl inside. “Let me warm you up.”
Josephine slipped into the sleeping bag and slipped into Logan’s arms. They were facing each other; her breasts, small and pert, brushed against his defined pectoral muscles. She ran her hand over his arm feeling the muscles. She reached for his hand and threaded her fingers together with his. She was used to his hand now. It felt right to hold his hand now.
“My beautiful Josephine.” He whispered in the dark. “You are more special than I ever hoped for...”
She pressed her lips to his. She untangled her fingers from his so she could touch his body. The tips of her fingers traced the ridges of his abdomen. Then, her hand moved to his groin. He wasn’t aroused—not completely. She wrapped her fingers around his shaft.
“Your hands are freezing...” Logan said.
“Sorry about that.” She laughed. “I need you to warm me up again.”
“I can do this...” Logan kissed her before he grabbed another condom.
Josephine rolled onto her back and brought him with her. Logan slid inside of her, so slow, so deliberate. He kissed her slowly, sweetly, and he joined their bodies together.
“Josephine...I love you so much.”
Those were the last words between them. Logan left her body to guide her onto her stomach. He covered her body with his, one arm under her chest, hand over her breast, and entered her from behind.
“Ah...that feels so good, Logan. Please don’t stop...”
Logan had no intention of stopping. He reached beneath her body and rubbed her swollen clit at the same time he loved her with his hard shaft. They rocked together and found a rhythm that felt like ecstasy to both of them.
“I feel you coming, Jo,” Logan said in a strained voice. “Come for me...”
And when she did, when she began to shudder in his arms, he couldn’t hold his orgasm a moment longer and they reached their climax together.
“I think this may be one of the best nights of my life,” Josephine told him. Her feelings were still all over the map, so she couldn’t say for sure that she loved him, but she knew that she loved making love with him.
Logan looked over at her; he could make out her profile in the dark. He remembered that he had told her that he loved her in the throes of making love. He had meant it, and he didn’t want to think about the fact that she hadn’t told him that she loved him too. He wanted to tell her that he was having the best time of his life with her, but he held back. Instead, he turned toward her, draped his arm over her stomach, and kissed her good-night. Right now he needed to sleep; the future would just have to take care of the rest.
* * *
Josephine wished that they could stay up on the divide for more than a day. The views were incredible and, at this altitude, she felt like she was closer to God. But her family knew their plan and they needed to pack up and start to head back down the mountain. Riding in the saddle, after a night of lovemaking, was difficult. Her body was tender and sore and it made sitting the saddle really uncomfortable. When they reached the first campsite on their return trip, she got out of the saddle as quick as she could. And she didn’t even consider trying to make love with Logan that night. But by the time they reached the last campsite, her body had started to recover and all she could think about was making love. Once they returned to the ranch, they were going to be like bugs in a jar again; privacy and opportunity would be a problem.