5. Frankie
Chapter Five
FRANKIE
Ryder watches me as I gather supplies for lunch. His gaze is almost tangible, like a physical caress trailing down my spine. The heat of it makes my skin tingle, my body suddenly hyper-aware of every movement I make.
“You're staring,” I say without turning around, trying to keep my voice light despite the molten heat pooling low in my belly.
“Hard not to,” he replies, his voice deeper than usual, rougher around the edges.
I glance over my shoulder, my cheeks flushing. When our eyes meet, the intensity in his gaze steals my breath. “You’re a real smooth talker all of a sudden.”
He laughs, the sound rich and warm. “Trust me, this is new territory for me.”
I turn to face him fully, emboldened by the naked appreciation in his eyes. “So what you're saying is I just needed to get trapped in a cabin with you to hear more than 'Coffee, black'?”
“Apparently so.”
The memory of our kiss pulses in my head. His mouth hot and demanding against mine, his hands tangled in my hair, his body pressing me against the wall. My lips are still swollen, sensitive.
The rain has almost stopped. The clouds are breaking apart, revealing patches of blue sky.
Ryder moves to stand beside me at the window. “We could probably make it down to base once the trails dry out tomorrow.”
“Oh. That's... good news.” Except I’m disappointed. I don’t want to leave.
“Yeah.” The word sounds hollow, as if he doesn't quite believe it either.
I find myself moving closer until our arms brush. Even this small contact sends electricity coursing through me, sparking against my skin. His breath catches audibly, letting me know he feels it too.
“So what happens when we go back?” I ask, voicing the fear that's been growing since our kiss.
“What do you want to happen?” he counters, his eyes searching mine.
I take a breath, gathering my courage. “I don't want to go back to how things were.”
“Neither do I.”
I can't help the smile that spreads across my face.
We stand there in charged silence. Risky breaks the moment, nudging against Ryder's leg with a whine.
“I think he's getting bored,” I reach down to scratch behind his ears. “Poor guy's been cooped up all day.”
“We could take a walk… the rain's let up enough. Might do us all good to get some fresh air.”
Twenty minutes later, we're picking our way along a narrow trail behind the cabin. The ground is muddy, but the air is fresh after the storm. Risky bounds ahead, clearly delighted to be exploring.
When we reach a slippery section, Ryder's hand finds mine, strong and steady. The simple contact sends a jolt of awareness straight through me. Even after we're past the difficult spot, he doesn't let go, and neither do I. His palm is warm against mine, slightly calloused from his work, and our fingers intertwine as if they've always belonged together.
Every brush of his thumb against the sensitive skin of my wrist makes my pulse quicken. I find myself wondering what those calloused fingertips would feel like tracing other parts of my body.
The view from the ridge is breathtaking. The forest stretches out below us, the pine trees dripping with water and mist in the air.
“It's beautiful up here,” I take a deep breath.
“Dad used to bring us camping near here when we were kids.”
“All seven of you? That must have been chaos.”
He smiles, a fond look in his eyes. “Complete chaos. Mom said it was like herding cats.”
I laugh. “It was just me and my brother. I always wanted a big family. I guess that’s why I started working in restaurants… more folks to talk to.”
“That explains why you're so good with people. You pay attention.”
“Part of working in a diner,” I shrug, though his observation pleases me more than I'd like to admit.
“No, it's more than that. The way you remember how everyone in town takes their coffee, and all the little things you do. Like making sure Mr. Paller's newspaper is in his favorite booth or picking up Henry's arthritis meds for him.”
Surprise washes through me. “You noticed all that?”
“I notice a lot about you.”
My cheeks flush, and the heat travels lower, spreading down to my core. “For someone who doesn't talk much, you see quite a bit…”
“I've had two years to watch you,” he admits. “I don’t mean that to sound creepy. But there wasn’t much else to do while pretending to drink the same cup of coffee every morning.”
I bump my shoulder against his. “Hey, now. I make excellent coffee.”
“You do, Frankie. But it was never about the coffee.”
His eyes are locked on mine, the playfulness fading into something darker, more primal. He leans toward me slowly, giving me time to pull away if I wanted to.
I don't. Instead, I rise to meet him, drawn by an irresistible pull.
This kiss is slow, sensual. His hand cups my cheek, thumb brushing across my skin as his lips claim mine. He tastes addictively masculine, and it makes me press closer, hungry for more.
His tongue traces my mouth, exploring every inch. When our tongues meet, a soft moan escapes me. My free hand finds its way to his chest, as his heartbeat thumps in a fast, steady rhythm.
A distant crack of thunder breaks the spell. Ryder pulls back, though he keeps his arm around me. His breathing is ragged, matching my own.
“We should head back,” he murmurs, his voice rough.
I nod, though leaving this moment is the last thing I want. With visible effort, I step back. “Come on, Risky!” I call, and the dog bounds back to us, his paws caked with mud.
We walk back to the cabin hand in hand, the silence between us charged with anticipation. Ryder’s so much more relaxed, more open, more alive here. He’s not the silent customer who could barely meet my eyes anymore.
Inside, Ryder builds the fire back up while I try to clean Risky's muddy paws with an old towel. The dog squirms playfully, rolling over onto his back. It makes the task nearly impossible. I finally give up, laughing as he bounds over to claim his spot by the hearth.
I join Ryder by the fire.
“You smell good,” he says suddenly, his voice dropping to a register that makes wetness pool between my thighs.
I raise an eyebrow, amused by the observation even as it sends a thrill through me. “I haven't showered in two days, only washed in that tiny sink, and I'm wearing your clothes.”
“Still.” He steps closer, his eyes darkening as they travel over my body. “It's driving me crazy.”
I’m breathless as heat spreads across my skin. “Oh? Anything else driving you crazy?”
“Everything about you. The way you smile. The way you move. The little crease between your eyebrows when you're concentrating.”
“I need some time to catch up. For years, I thought you barely noticed me. Or that you didn’t like me.”
He reaches out, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering against my cheek. “I noticed everything. I just... couldn't find the words to tell you in the right way.”
“And now?” I step closer, eliminating the space between us.
“Now I can't seem to stop finding them.”
My hands slide up his chest, the solid muscle warm beneath his shirt. His body radiates heat, and I want nothing more than to press myself against him, to feel that heat seep into my skin. “Keep talking, handsome.”
He shakes his head, a smile tugging at his lips even as his eyes burn. “I think I'd rather show you.”
When his mouth claims mine again, there's nothing hesitant about it. His arms encircle my waist, pulling me flush against him. Every hard plane of his body is pressed against mine, his cock pressing into my lower belly.
He walks me backward until I'm pinned against the wall, his hands braced on either side of my head. I gasp when he deepens the kiss, my fingers digging into his shoulders. His tongue explores my mouth with thorough attention, stoking the fire building inside me. The soft groan he makes when I bite gently at his lower lip sends a bolt of pure need straight to my core.
His hand moves in my hair, tilting my head to give him better access to the sensitive skin of my throat. When his lips find the spot just below my ear, I whimper, my body arching into his involuntarily.
“You like that?” he murmurs against my skin, his breath hot and damp.
“Yes,” I breathe.
He repeats the action, this time adding the slightest scrape of teeth, and my knees nearly buckle. My hands become bolder, slipping under his shirt to touch bare skin. The muscles of his back flex under my fingertips as I explore, learning the contours of his body.
“Ryder,” I gasp when his teeth nip at my collarbone, pleasure shooting through me.
He draws back, his eyes dark as they search mine. His pupils are so dilated that only a thin ring of gray-green remains. “Tell me to stop,” he says, his voice rough. “If this is too fast, if it's not what you want…”
“Don't you dare stop,” I cut him off, fisting my hands in his shirt to pull him back to me.
His mouth covers mine again in a kiss so intense it makes my head spin. His hands become bolder, sliding down my sides to cup my ass, pulling me tighter against him. He’s so hard, pressing insistently against me, and I rock my hips into his, seeking friction.
The growl that escapes him sends another jolt to my core. His hands slip under my shirt, palms hot against my skin as they slide up my ribcage. When his thumbs brush the undersides of my breasts, I moan into his mouth, pleading for more.
He obliges, one hand cupping my breast, thumb circling my nipple through the thin fabric of my bra. It pebbles instantly, aching for more direct contact. As if reading my mind, he pushes the cup aside, his calloused fingertips finally touching bare skin.
“God, you're perfect,” Ryder murmurs against my neck, his other hand working at the hem of my shirt.
I raise my arms, letting him pull the shirt over my head. The cool air hits my heated skin, and I shiver, throwing my head back.
“You’re so beautiful,” he breathes.
His mouth finds my neck again, working its way down to my collarbone, then lower. When his lips close around my nipple, I cry out, my back arching off the wall. The sensation is almost too much; his tongue hot and wet against the sensitive peak, his teeth grazing lightly, sending sparks of pleasure straight between my thighs.
My hands fumble with his shirt, desperate to feel his skin against mine. He helps me, breaking contact just long enough to pull it over his head before pressing back against me, chest to chest.
Ryder’s bare skin against mine is electrifying. His body is all hard muscle and heat, a sharp contrast to my soft curves. I run my hands over his chest and down his muscled abs. When my fingers trace the waistband of his pants, his breath hitches. I look up to find his eyes locked on mine.
I trail kisses lower, following the line of hair that disappears into his waistband. His muscles contract under my lips, and his hand tangles in my hair, not guiding, just touching.I hook my fingers in his belt loops, pulling his hips against mine in a motion that makes us both gasp.
“Take me to bed,” I whisper against his skin.
In one swift motion, he scoops me up, my legs automatically wrapping around his waist. The new position presses his hardness directly against my center, and even through layers of clothing, the contact sends a jolt of pleasure through me.
He carries me to the bed, his mouth never leaving mine, hands firm under my thighs. When he lays me down, I pull him with me, unwilling to let go. His weight settles over me, deliciously heavy but carefully distributed so he doesn't crush me.
His body covers mine and our matched breathing is the only sound besides the soft crackle of the fire.
His thumb traces my cheek and his mouth finds mine again as his hands explore my body, touching and teasing. When he tugs at the waistband of my pants, I lift my hips, helping him slide them down my legs.
“You too,” I reach for his belt.
He stands just long enough to shed the rest of his clothes before joining me on the bed again. The full sight of him steals my breath; his huge cock springing free, his body all taut muscles and tanned skin.
He kisses me again, deeper now, hungrier. His hand slides down my stomach, fingers teasing along the waistband of my underwear. The fabric slides down my legs, leaving me completely bare to his gaze. For a moment, I feel a flash of shyness, but the raw appreciation in his eyes banishes any uncertainty.
“So fucking gorgeous,” he murmurs, his hands skimming over my thighs, pushing them gently apart. “I've dreamed about this.”
“Me too.”
He settles between my legs, his weight supported on his forearms.
His voice is strained. “I need to know this isn't just because we're stuck here. That it's not just adrenaline or…”
“Ryder Blake. I've been waiting two long years for you. I thought you didn’t like me.”
His breath is hot against my thighs. “I’m going to show you exactly how much I like you.”
His hand slides between us, fingers finding the slick heat between my thighs. I moan as he strokes me. When his finger circles my entrance, I dig my nails into his shoulders, urging him on. He slides one finger inside, then another, his thumb circling my clit as I buck up into him. He lowers his head between my spread legs, his breath hot against my sensitive skin.
“Look at me,” he says, his voice rough.
I force my eyes open. There's something incredibly intimate about watching his mouth move on me, licking and sucking my swollen clit as his fingers slide in and out of my dripping wet entrance.
“Ryder,” I gasp, my pussy tightening around his fingers. “Please, I want you inside me…”
“I've got you,” he growls, his hot breath almost sending me over the edge.
He withdraws his hand, positioning his massive cock at my entrance. Our eyes lock as he pushes forward slowly, giving me time to adjust to his size. I’m more full than I’ve been in my life, stretched around his girth.
When he's fully inside me, we both pause, breathing heavily. His cock is huge and hard and hot and perfect , filling me completely. I wrap my legs around his waist, drawing him even deeper, and he groans, his control visibly slipping.
I roll my hips, greedy for more. “Please.”
He begins to move, slowly at first, long, deep strokes that make me moan, then gasp with each thrust. His eyes never leave mine, the intensity of his gaze almost too much to bear.
“You feel amazing,” he murmurs, his voice strained.
I can only moan in response, words beyond me as pleasure builds with each thrust. My hands roam his back, the muscles working as he moves above me, inside me. The coil of tension inside me winds tighter and tighter, pleasure spiraling higher with each moment.
His pace increases, driving deeper and harder. The new rhythm has me teetering on the edge of release. One of his hands slides between us, finding my clit again and the sensation sends me hurtling over the edge.
My orgasm crashes through me in waves, my pussy clenching around him as I cry out his name. His thrusts grow harder and faster, his body stiffening as he finds his own release.
He collapses beside me, careful not to crush me. My head is swimming, and my entire body is relaxed and utterly satisfied in a way I've never experienced before.
He presses a kiss to my temple, his arms tightening around me.
“I can hear you thinking,” I murmur after a while, pressing a kiss to his chest.
“I wish we weren't going back tomorrow.” The admission seems to surprise him as much as it does me.
Something warm unfurls in my chest. “We don't have to go back to how things were, you know.”
“No?”
I shake my head. “Unless you're planning to go back to being the silent, brooding customer at my counter.”
He captures my hand, bringing it to his lips. “I think those days are over.”
“Thank goodness. Because I like this version of you. The one who talks. The one who smiles.”
The one who fucks me like I'm a goddess , I add silently as we drift off to sleep.