Chapter 9
Rowan
I wait until Fritha’s asleep before extracting myself from the bed. Dawn is showing its first light, and I grab my jacket and head outside.
The rain has stopped, but the air is fresh and it hits me like a cold shower, which is what I need.
I just ravished Fritha McKenzie, and God help me, I’d do it all again if I could. She’s fucking perfect, smart and funny and gorgeous.
I wanted nothing more than to sink into her last night and it took all of my restraint not to, especially when her body writhed and her face contorted in ecstasy. I wanted to be there with her, inside her, to make her my woman.
But there are too many reasons why I shouldn’t. She’s sixteen years younger than me. She should be with someone her own age. And I owe her family too much.
Then there’s her education. She’s waffling about law school, and maybe that’s not what she wants to do, but she needs to do something with that smart brain of hers.
So I held back, and it took all of my restraint. I gave Fritha what she needed, but I didn’t take from her. I can’t have a one-night infatuation turning into something that ruins her entire future. Fritha’s on a different path than mine. She’s got brains and talent and the resources to use them.
Whatever this was between us, no matter how much I want her, I can’t hold her back.
The path is muddy from the rain, but the skies are clear today. They’ll be clearing the roads, and Rodney will come for his granddaughter in a few hours. At least I’ll be able to look him in the eyes when I hand her back.
It’s the right thing to do, to hand her back. No matter how much I want to keep her.
Then why does my heart feel so heavy as I trudge back to the hut an hour later?
The smell of fresh coffee hits me as I enter the hut.
Fritha is dressed in the clothes I found her in now that they’ve finally dried out. The t-shirt hugs her breasts, and I long to tug the pants off and taste her again.
“Coffee?” she asks smiling at me.
Damn, that smile. So bright and innocent. I could get used to seeing that smile every morning.
“Thanks.”
She sets a mug down on the table and takes a seat. I keep my distance, leaning against the kitchen counter.
She’s looking up at me expectantly, and I need to explain that what happened last night was a one-night thing. But when I look at her, in her bright t-shirt and wide eyes, I can’t find the words.
I don’t want it to be a one-night thing. I want this woman. I want her in my life, on my mountain, in my cabin, raising my babies and growing old together.
She bites her bottom lip, sensing that something’s wrong, and that small action reminds me how young Fritha is. She’s got all her life ahead of her, and I love her so much that the right thing to do is to let her go.
“You should go back to college.”
She frowns at me and I take a sip of coffee, not liking her scrutiny. It’s too hot and I burn my lip, which is about what I deserve.
“You want me to go back?”
There’s hurt in her voice, and I hate that I’m doing that to her.
“I want you to fulfill your potential.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “What the fuck does that mean, Rowan?”
Now she’s angry which is good. I can handle angry better than hurt.
“It means that you’re smart and you have an opportunity to do something great with your life. Even if it’s not law, you should go back to college and find what it is you want.”
She sets her coffee mug down and rises from her chair.
I track her movements as she sways over to me. Her body’s all soft lines and womanly curves, and there’s no trace of the little girl I used to know. Fritha’s a woman now, and with that thought my cock spring to life.
“What if what I want is right here on the mountain?”
She’s standing in front of me with the confidence of a woman who knows what she wants, and that’s as sexy as hell. But I can’t let her throw her future away because of me.
“If you’re referring to me, then that’s not a good enough reason to stay.”
She’s not giving up her education for my sake, no matter how much I want this woman.
“That’s very big headed of you.” She smiles teasingly, but her words have my interest.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean…” She takes a deep breath and a step backwards and runs her hands through her hair, no longer the seductress.
“I went along with the law thing because it’s what Dad wanted, but the truth is that I’ve always loved the mountain and being here. I used to collect acorns and pinecones and trace the spines of leaves. And I still know the names of all the trees in the forest.
“I may not be good at reading the weather, but I blame Grandpa for that. He’s been treating me like I’m still a child and keeping me confined to the house. I had to get out for a walk when I had the chance. I didn’t know a big ass storm was coming.”
She lets out a long sigh.
“What I’m saying is, I do want to continue my education and have a career, but I want it to be on the mountain. I’m not sure what that looks like yet, maybe a ranger or something in conservation. But I want to stay here. I want to study remotely and live on Wild Heart Mountain.”
She’s gotten more confident as she speaks, and I get the feeling this is the first time she’s uttered her thoughts out loud. She’s leaning against the counter with her arms folded, no longer attempting to seduce me. And I get the truth of what she’s saying.
That whatever happens between us, Fritha’s staying on the mountain.
“You want to live here?”
She nods slowly. “All the people that matter to me live here.”
My heart skips a beat, because I’ve got to know if she means me, if I’m included in that statement.
I move to stand in front of her so that I’m in her space.
“All the people that matter to me are right here, in this hut.”
I graze her cheek with my thumb. “You’re all that matters to me, Fritha. If you want to go, you should go, but if you decide to stay on the mountain, then stay with me. Be my woman.”
Her breath hitches, and those wide eyes turn to mine searching my face. “You mean that?”
I nudge my body up against hers, pinning her against the counter.
“If it’s what you want. But I warn you, I don’t play. If you’re my woman, it’s for keeps, Fritha. It’s marriage and babies and growing old together.”
Her eyes widen, and I watch her closely. There’s not a flicker of uncertainty, and when she speaks I know she’s mine.
“I want that too, Rowan, with you.”
Her soft body molds to my hard one. My fingers trail down her throat, and I grip her around the back of the neck and pull her mouth toward mine.
“I love you, Fritha. I always have, and I always will.”
“I love you too, Rowan.”
My mouth slams into hers, and she tastes of sweetness and coffee and all my tomorrows. I kiss her long and hard, and as I do, I feel my heart opening as I let her in.
The kiss deepens, and I’m overcome with the urge to make her mine. To make her my woman right here and right now.
I grab her hips and lift her onto the kitchen counter. Her legs wrap around my waist, and I’m locked into her.
She arches her hips, looking for the friction of my hardness against her pussy even through the layers of clothing. I love the way her body responds to mine. But this isn’t last night. I’m not letting her get off without claiming her as mine.
I break away from the kiss to pull her t-shirt over her head. Her breasts bounce free, and I capture one with my mouth. She pushes her chest out as I suck on the nipple, making little moaning noises. I’ll spend the rest of my life finding ways to make her moan like that.
Her hands rest on the countertop behind her, pushing her chest out and giving me access to her body.
“I didn’t find any condoms in the supply cupboard.” I curse myself for not keeping some in my backpack, but this isn’t the kind of scenario I’m prepared for.
“I’m on the pill,” she whispers.
“And I’m clean.” I haven’t been with a woman for years. But I have to make sure she knows what she’s agreeing to.
“Are you happy to not use a condom?”
“Rowan.” Her voice is breathless. “I don’t want anything between us, ever.”
It’s all the encouragement I need.
I tug off her pants and she pulls at my t-shirt, undressing each other in a frenzy of need. I let my pants fall to the floor, but I’m in too much of a hurry to move her to the bed.
This is a claiming, and it has to happen right here and right now.
When there’s nothing but skin between us, I nestle into her thighs and she opens them for me, wrapping her legs around my waist. Her tangy scent fills the air, making my cock jerk in anticipation.
I grip her mound, and she gasps in surprise.
“You’ve been saving this pussy for me haven’t you, Fritha?”
“It’s all for you, Rowan.” She leans forward so her hair falls over my face and her words whisper in my ear. “It’s only ever been you I wanted.”
“Good girl.” She moans as I whisper the words into her ear, and I love it that she likes the praise. I file that away to use when I want to make her moan.
My thumb strokes her sensitive parts as my mouth kisses every part of her body I can reach.
I use my fingers to make her good and ready, whispering praise in her ear and loving the way she writhes against my touch.
“Rowan…” she whines.
I love how eager my girl is for my cock. She unlatches her legs from my waist and splays her thighs open while leaning back on the counter, offering herself up to me.
Her pink lips peak out at me through the slickness of her arousal.
“Rowan, please…”
She slides her hand down her stomach, and I bat it out the way.
“Be patient, like a good girl.”
She moans in frustration. “I’m trying to be good.”
Her body heaves up and down, and her eyes roll back in her head. Her pussy pulses, and she’s going to go off as soon as I touch her.
I take my cock in my fist and slide it up her thigh, taking my time and enjoying every new expression that crosses her face.
“I know you’re trying, Fritha. You’re a good girl. And I’m going to give you your reward.”
My cock slides between the folds of her pussy, and she bucks her hips and grabs hold of the counter.
“Rowan!”
Fuck, I’m not even inside her and she’s about to come on my dick. I fucking want that.
“You can come, Fritha. Come for me.”
I slide between her juices as my hardness bumps up against her sensitive nub.
Fritha leans forward, and with one hand I hold her hips as she presses against my cock. Her body shakes, and she screams my name. Her pussy throbs against my dick and pre-cum shoots out, mingling with her juices.
“Fuuckk,” she screams, and I hold her in place as she pulses on my cock, using all my restraint not to come with her.
My girl’s a firecracker, and I love making her go off.
While her pussy is still trembling, I ease her back onto the bench and this time keep my cock between her legs. I ease the tip into her pulsing pussy, and she cries out at the sensation.
Her eyes go wide, and she looks at me in part terror and part pure need.
“I’m going to claim you now, Fritha.”
She nods and I ease in a fraction, giving her more time to get used to the sensation. Her body tenses, but her look is pure lust. She likes the dirty talk, so I give her more to help ease the pain she must be feeling.
“Be a good girl and take all of my cock.”
And fuck me, but she widens her legs and moves her hips forward so that I don’t move at all. Fritha controls her pussy sliding down my cock and enveloping me in intense sensation that makes me cry out.
“Fuck.” I grit my teeth, trying not to lose it.
I bump up against her virgin barrier and I grip her hips, stopping her in her tracks. Her eyes are shut tight, and I know through the pleasure that it must be uncomfortable for her.
“Look at me, Fritha.”
She opens her eyes and she’s panting hard, and there’s sweat on her brow.
“Hey,” I say trying to center her.
“Hey,” she replies.
“I love you.”
She smiles. “I love you too.”
I pull her hips slowly toward me, and she winces at the pain. Her pussy is squeezing me so tight my cock might snap in two. I don’t want to prolong her pain, so I grab her hips and I thrust.
She cries out and grips my arms with her fingernails, digging into the skin as her face scrunches up.
“Eyes on me,” I command.
She immediately opens her eyes, and in that moment I thrust again.
“You’re mine, Fritha. You’re mine now.”
She moans, and I see the moment the pain turns to pleasure.
“I’m yours, Rowan. Aways yours.”
We rock together, taking it slow until I feel her relax around me.
All the reasons why I shouldn’t be doing this fade away as the pure pleasure of being inside Fritha overtakes me. It feels so damn right, and when she cries out, bucking her hips and squeezing me in pleasure, I know I’ve found my home.
I grab her butt, and as she rides her orgasm, I lift her clean off the counter and thrust into her.
Her eyes bug out of her head and she falls against me, her hair whipping against my neck. I nibble her earlobe and whisper dirty words into her ear.
“Take it like a good girl,” I hiss into her ear as I thrust. “Take your man’s cock.”
She lets out a wail and then she’s coming again, and I tell her more filthy things as she falls apart on me.
I love the dirty talk, but there only one way I want to end this.
I carry Fritha over to the bed, and I lay her gently on her back while keeping my cock seated inside her. I want to look into her eyes as I spill my seed into her. I want to come with Fritha and forge this connection.
Easing myself on top of her, I kiss her mouth gently, and when I find her ear this time, it’s sweetness not dirty talk.
“I love you Fritha,” I say over and over again with every thrust.
Our hips move together, and she wraps her legs tightly around me.
Her whimpers turn to cries, and this time when she falls over the edge, I fall with her, losing myself in her body and in her soul and in the feeling of connection and togetherness as we come as one. Finally claiming Fritha McKenzie as my woman.