Chapter 21 – Wren #2
“Hey, shutterbug,” he called from behind.
I turned around, eyes still on the camera. “Val, you need to check out these photos.” I chuckled.
“Don’t move,” he said, his voice calm but also hinting at an immediate danger.
“What?” I raised my head, alarmed.
“Don’t move,” he repeated, drawing closer, his eyes fixed on whatever was at my back.
“Oh, my God, is there something behind me?” I panicked, my heart racing in my chest.
“Relax,” he said. “Don’t move and you’ll be fine.” He halted in front of me. “You might wanna close your eyes,” his voice dropped to a whisper.
I didn’t think twice before slamming my eyes shut. And then, something slithered against the air beside my ear, and every hair on my body rose at the slick, guttural hiss.
Reflexively, my eyes yanked open again, and by now, Val was already inches away, his hand snapping out behind my ear. In a flash, he gripped the thick neck of a snake without breaking a sweat.
A strangled scream tore from my throat, and I leaped away immediately, my pulse racing almost as fast as my heart. The snake thrashed violently in his hand, its jaws wide open, fangs shining in the sunlight. I yelped, pushing myself behind him, trembling like a leaf.
Val didn’t flinch, and with a primal growl, he slammed the snake’s gaped jaw into the trunk of the nearest tree.
The impact was so hard that the snake lost a fang.
Val let the reptile drop to the ground, and before it could even move, Val’s boot crunched the head of the serpent with a sickening thud.
That single stomp was powerful enough to destroy the reptile. Its head flattened into the dirt, its body rattling violently as its fangs snapped into the earth. Soon, the shuddering stopped, and the snake went limp.
I stood behind him, frozen in place, eyes wide open, with trembling hands. Even when he turned around and took the camera from my hand, I didn’t react. I couldn’t. Not yet, anyway.
He looked at me, a mocking smirk lining the corners of his lips as he lifted the camera to his face and took a photo of me. “Here. I took a picture, it’ll last longer.”
“It’s not funny.” I wore a plastic frown and snatched the camera from his hand.
“It kinda is.” He chuckled, pointing at my face. “That fear was priceless.” His hand gestured at the camera in my hold. “See for yourself.”
I locked my jaw, hating how he stole my move. “I’ll just delete it.” I rolled my eyes and hurried back into the house.
“You’re welcome!” he called after me, laughing softly.
My lips curled into a smile as I pushed the door open and walked inside. He saved my life. Again. If Val weren’t keeping an eye on me while I wandered around, taking random photos of Mother Nature, that snake would’ve struck me, and I’d have been a goner in less than a few minutes.
Luckily for me, my husband had lightning-fast reflexes and was trained to fight just about anything. Or anyone. Depending on who or what his enemy was.
***
Later that night, I found him seated on the porch bench, gazing absently into the distance. Overhead, twinkling stars stretched endlessly across the celestial canvas.
The full moon hung somewhere, bright and watchful, its soft glow draping over the forest, silvering the tops of the towering trees.
Fireflies drifted lazily across the darkness, their glowing tails blinking like tiny lanterns suspended in the air. A gentle breeze rustled leaves and brushes as if the forest itself was alive and breathing.
“Hey,” I called softly, stepping out the door.
“Hey,” he answered, lifting his head to face me.
I walked over to the bench and sat beside him, gazing out into the distance.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” he asked without turning to look at me. “Nature.”
I nodded, waited for a moment, then added, “And deadly too.” A faint grin tugged at my lips as I referred to the snake incident from earlier today.
He let out a quiet chuckle, and silence settled between us: not awkward, not heavy. Just good old silence. “Thank you, by the way,” I said, facing him.
He looked in my direction and met my gaze. “That won’t be necessary. Keeping you safe is my number one priority.” His eyes bore into mine, his words laced with sincerity. “Besides, you’d do the same for me,” he teased, a small grin playing on his lips.
I raised my brows. “What, catch a snake with my bare hands?” I shook my head, a soft laugh spilling out. “Hell no, mister, I’d let you die in the blink of an eye.”
Again, he laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners. The sound faded in no time, but his gaze still lingered, holding mine long enough to stir up a flutter in my chest. The teasing edge melted into something heavier, quieter, and more demanding.
Neither of us broke eye contact, and the longer we stared at each other, the faster my heart raced. The silence between us was charged with something I was too scared to name.
A cold shiver sprinted down my spine, and my breath hitched in my throat. My fingertips tingled as did my cunt, a feeling I was all too familiar with around him. But this time, something was different.
My craving for him was far beyond the physical touch, and my emotions weren’t a mix of lust and reckless desire anymore. Something else simmered beneath the surface. Anxiety twisted in my chest, and for the first time, all the voices in my head chorused two words: Kiss him.
Val’s gaze dropped to my lips, and he leaned in, his head dipping slightly. Without thinking twice, I tilted mine toward him, my eyes fluttering shut. His lips met with mine, soft and gentle, different from all the other times we’d kissed.
A jolt of electricity surged through my body, and when his hand rested on my cheek, I felt myself unravel beneath his touch.
I kissed his back, sliding my tongue in through his lips.
He accepted me, his head tilting slowly to the rhythm of mine.
I drew closer, craving a deeper connection, and he did the same, shrinking the gap between us.
His hand cradled the back of my neck, his lips claiming mine with a slow, heart-melting move.
Under the cold and distant stars, we shared a kiss that we’d remember for a really long time. No rush. No adrenaline spikes. No anxiety or burning flame threatening to consume us. Just two lovers basking in the euphoria of their passion, learning each other slowly and calmly.
His fingers dug into the back of my neck in a massaging motion that eased my stress. He broke the kiss and placed his forehead on mine, his thumb grazing my cheek. His fresh breath was warm against my skin, fingers still massaging the back of my neck.
Quietly, I rose to my feet, and without a word, I walked back into the house. At the door, I paused, glancing at him with a question that had him on his feet in no time. “You coming?”
In our bedroom, he lingered at the entrance for a moment, his eyes sweeping over my body as I undressed myself in front of the bed. My movement was slow and deliberate, eyes fixed on him.
I began by taking off my top, revealing my lacy bra. And then my hands flew to my back, fingers unhooking my bra. In one fluid motion, it slid off my chest and exposed my breasts, perky and a bit saggy.
Val drew closer, his bare feet soundless against the wooden floor as he slowly unbuttoned his checkered shirt. I still didn’t take my eyes off him, even as my fingers undid the single button of my jeans and unzipped them.
Shirtless, his eyes dipped, as if anticipating the big reveal. My manicured fingers grabbed the waistband of my pants, and I tugged them down, slow and easy. His eyes narrowed ever so slightly as my white underpants came into view.
Seconds later, the jean pants fell off my thighs and pooled at my feet. Next were my underpants; white and lacy, they slid down my legs and fell on top of the jeans, leaving me bare and exposed.
Completely naked, I stepped over the fabric at my feet and sashayed my way over to him like a model on a runway. My fingers gripped his waistband while I looked at his face. Dipping my hand in his pants, I withdrew his cock, stroking and circling my palm over his cap.
The back of his hand brushed over my skin, igniting the fire within me as he ran a finger along my arm. He leaned in and claimed my lips again, his cock swelling in my hands. Gently, he reached up to my chest, cupping both of my breasts in his palms.
I tugged down his pants, helping him out of them until he was completely naked. As our kiss deepened, he fondled my curves even more deliciously. Val wouldn’t stop groaning in my mouth as I circled my palm over his cap while simultaneously stroking his length.
His hands roamed my body, pulling me closer and closer as if seeking more connection. He caressed my skin, tracing my curves and contours like he was trying to memorize my body. He grabbed my ass, squeezed my butt cheeks, and then slid his hand down into my exit. Soft. Slow. Gentle.
I broke the kiss, and a breathy gasp came forth. One hand left his groin to traverse his torso, feeling the ridges of his chiseled abs. I melted into him, moaning quietly as his finger went up my back door.
The feeling was a mixture of pain and sweetness, especially when his other hand slid down my front side and his index finger slipped into my cunt. I let out a breathy moan as I gripped his arm tightly. Losing focus, I left his cock and caressed his chest with my hands.
With an effortless move, he lifted me into the air like I weighed nothing. I locked my feet around his waist and dipped my head, my golden blonde hair spilling over my face. I reached down to kiss him while he walked over to the bed.
There, he lay me down on my back, climbed on top of me, and continued kissing my lips as his hand fondled my breasts. His touch was reverent, slow, and easy, as though he was worshiping my body.