Chapter Eighteen #2
“You have a funny way of showing it,” she muttered.
“So do you.”
“I at least texted you. Which, by the way, I’ll never do again. One-word answers? Did I deserve that because I wouldn’t let you into my house?”
The hard edges of Rags’s face softened. “No. I was being a prick. I was pissed at you… but more at myself.”
“Why?”
“You know. Because you feel the same way.”
Casey nodded. She did know. She was just as angry for wanting him. This is totally fucked.
“Do you come here a lot to unwind?” he asked, his voice quieter now.
“Sometimes. I found it a few months ago when I got lost on a hike. I know it’s private property, but, I’ve never seen anyone else here until… now.” She squinted against the sun’s glare. “Do you really know the owner?”
“Yeah. Pete and our prez go way back.”
“How does he keep people off his land?” A sliver of guilt threaded through her.
“He and his help check it now and then to make sure no one’s squatting or pullin’ shit. I guess you’ve just been lucky.”
“I’ve only been here a few times. I love the quiet and being immersed in nature.”
“I’ll introduce you to Pete and let him know you’re cool.” The side of his mouth hitched. “He likes pretty women. His ol’ lady, Jackie, is cool, too.”
“Is he an Insurgent?”
“No. Just a friend of the prez.”
His gaze flicked to the bare skin of her shoulders above the waterline, lingering and devouring.
“Do you come here often?” she asked, her stomach flipping again.
“No. I wasn’t planning to today, but I needed to get away from everything, you know?”
She nodded.
He took her hand and lifted it to his mouth, sweeping his lips over her knuckles. The simple touch struck like lightning, igniting every nerve.
“You’re in my head, Case,” he murmured. “It’s drivin’ me fuckin’ crazy.”
The nickname hit hard, melting her insides.
“You’re in my head, too,” she admitted softly. “More than I want you to be.”
He moved closer. His hand curved around the back of her neck, tugging her forward as his mouth pressed against hers, demanding entry. She leaned into him, lips parting as his tongue slid against hers, gliding, twining, and thrusting as his hips rocked into her.
She buried her hands in his wet hair, pulling him closer.
“Fuck, baby,” he groaned, low and rough.
His other arm wrapped around her waist beneath the surface, slamming her flush against him, skin to skin. All at once, time and space lost meaning. There was only him.
Snaking her arms around his neck, she kissed him long and slow.
“Damn, woman,” he rasped.
He brushed his fingers over her nipple, then squeezed. She gasped as the bud hardened, a sharp spike of desire shooting through her.
“You like that?” His voice was gravelly in her ear.
Casey moaned, squirming at his touch.
“I bet you like this,” he whispered, as his hand slid downward, his fingers gliding over the thin strip of hair between her thighs before stopping to cup and caress her.
Wildfire raced up her legs at his touch. She strained against him, then pulled away, cold replacing the warmth of his body.
“We’re not doing this in the water, baby,” he said, voice thick and ragged. “I want you laid out where I can really see and touch you.”
Before she could answer, Rags scooped her like she weighed nothing, her legs wrapping instinctively around his waist. Water streamed off them as he carried her toward the bank, his mouth trailing heat down her throat.
He set her down on her beach towel, then strode to his bike, sunlight glinting off the wet planes of his back.
Casey pulled her knees to her chest, circling her arms around them, watching the long lines of his body move.
A pulse of excitement throbbed beneath her skin, then a cold sliver of doubt pierced her mind.
She smothered it before it could take root and focused instead on the weight of his gaze as he came back toward her, blanket in hand.
“Are you always prepared?” she asked, eyes darting between his hands and his smoldering stare.
He threw her a wicked grin as he shook out the blanket and spread it over the dried grass. “Sure. Never know when I’m gonna stumble across a sexy, sassy woman buck naked in a hot spring.”
“Smart ass.” A smile teased at the corners of her mouth.
He dropped into a crouch in front of her, a primal hunger flickering in his eyes. “Beautiful,” he murmured, his thumb brushing her lower lip.
“Charming,” she whispered.
“Irresistible,” he rasped.
A delicious shiver traced her spine as he looked at her like she was the only person in the world that mattered.
He straightened and grasped her hand, tugging her to her feet. She followed his lead, tilting her head back to lock her gaze with his.
“Fuck, darlin’,” he muttered, drawing her close.
His hands skimmed down her back, slid over her ass, then tightened, gripping her cheeks. His mouth crushed against hers with savage intensity, stealing her breath.
She kissed him back, her tongue slipping inside his mouth to the hot sweetness there. He thrust in with a low growl rumbling deep in his throat. Heat flared as she slid her hands up his chest and around his neck.
Rags wrapped an arm around her waist yanking her hard against him. The fusion of their bodies ignited a hunger she’d been starving for. She clawed at his shoulders, nibbling his bottom lip.
“Damn, woman,” he gritted, biting kisses down her neck as his fingers squeezed her ass, pulling her closer, deeper into him.
Casey tangled her fingers in his hair, urging his mouth back to hers. He took her again in a hot, deep kiss. She moaned, loving the twisted dance of their tongues, the scrape of his teeth on her lower lip.
Rags lifted his head, breath uneven as he dragged in air. “You’re drivin’ me fuckin’ wild, Case.” His lips skimmed hers, traced her jaw with light, tingling kisses and then claimed her mouth again, deeper, harder, rougher.
“I want you, Rags,” she murmured against his mouth, her fingers sliding down his chest and curling around his hard dick.
“You sure?” he said, jaw tight.
“I’m sure,” she whispered against his lips, her hand stroking up and down his erection.
“Fuck,” he exhaled.
“Rags,” she breathed.
His fingers inched past her ribcage, stuttered at her belly button, then lingered for a second at the strip of hair before palming her. The sweet ache vibrated through her.
“Oh, damn,” she groaned, rocking into his hand.
“You like that?” Shifting his hand, he ran a finger through her slit. “You’re so wet. I love it.” He withdrew his hand, brought his finger to his mouth, and slipped it between his lips. “You taste real good, darlin’,” he murmured against her ear.
She leaned into him, giving in to the searing need pulsing between her thighs. He pulled back slightly, capturing her gaze as he reached out and cupped her breasts, pinching her nipples. Sweet pain shot straight to her clit, and she squeezed her legs together.
Lowering his head, he tugged one stiff peak into his mouth while his fingertips tightened around the other, rolling the flesh between them. A starburst of pleasure spread through her. Moaning, she grabbed a fistful of his hair and yanked as she arched her back.
“Case,” he rasped, pushing her down onto the blanket.
He hovered over her, claiming her mouth, hard and rough, while he spread her legs and slipped two fingers inside her.
“Fuck, you’re dripping,” he murmured, his heated gaze flicking over her face as his digits moved in and out.
Something twisted deep inside her as tension coiled into a tangled knot of want and need. “Rags,” she whimpered.
“Yeah?” he growled, his thumb pressing firmly against her clit.
Her heated walls clenched around his fingers. When he pushed harder, she squirmed and cried out. He pulled his fingers free, then thrust them back in harder and deeper, never easing the pressure on her aching nub.
Casey teetered on the edge, ready to fall, but she didn’t. Rags seemed to know exactly how to keep her there, lifting her higher without pushing her over. He was driving her crazy with frustrated pleasure… and she loved it. Her body throbbed against his as the slow, frenzied dance continued.
“You like that?”
She couldn’t answer. She could only feel.
“Your pussy’s real tight,” he groaned, soft and slow.
The sound rode along her spine, hot and heavy, and she curled her hand around his dick.
“Rags, I need you,” she breathed.
Suddenly, he claimed her mouth and everything blurred. He nipped her bottom lip, then thrust his tongue deep, his fingers still fucking her. She sucked on his tongue as he fisted her hair and tugged hard. She bucked against his hand, then pulled back, a low laugh rumbling from his chest.
“Darlin’, you’re so ready,” he said against her lips, then trailed feather-light kisses and sharp nips down her body until her reached her throbbing sex.
Casey pushed his head closer and cried out when the tip of his tongue touched her clit.
“Fuck, Rags,” she moaned, shifting beneath his mouth.
“You taste so good,” he murmured, sucking gently on her stiff nub while his thumb stroked its side.
“Oh… damn.” She arched, pushing into him. “I want to feel you inside me.”
Rags lifted his head and locked eyes with her. “You’re beautiful, Case.”
A sliver of clarity sliced through her haze.
“Condom?” she croaked.
“I’m clean. I haven’t been with anyone since I met you. You on the pill?”
“Yeah,” she breathed.
He braced his hands on either side of her knees, spreading her wide as she lifted her hips to meet him. She watched him guide himself inside until he filled her completely.
“Feels so fuckin’ good,” he growled.
Against the pounding rhythm of her heart, everything clicked into place.
There was only this… only them, and nothing else mattered.
Rags bent down and kissed her with fierce passion, and Casey wondered why she’d fought the inevitable for so long.
An intimacy flowed between them that surprised and steadied her. He felt perfect inside her.
Gasping, she dug her fingers into his back and wrapped her legs around him, urging him deeper. Sprinkling kisses over his chest, she felt his heartbeat beneath her lips, strong and purposeful, matching his powerful thrusts.
“You feel incredible,” he said.
“So do you,” she murmured, swiping her tongue along his throat.
“You like it easy and slow, or hard and fast?” he grunted.
“Give me all you’ve got.”
“Fuck,” he whispered, pulling out before slamming back into her.
Breathing hard, Casey clung to him as he drove into her. Fast, hard, deep, over and over. Hell yes. She needed all of it: the intensity, the pace, the way his gaze never left hers.
Sweat beaded along his hairline as he pounded into her. When he reached between them and stroked her swollen sweet spot, pinching lightly, she shattered as wave after wave crashed through her, each cresting higher than the last.
“That’s it, Case. Let it all out.”
His voice echoed as he kept thrusting, the nickname hitting her straight to the core.
Stiffening, he growled out, “Fuck,” as he shuddered through his release.
He collapsed over her, completely still, his dick still throbbing inside her. When their breathing slowed, Rags lifted his head, kissed her, then rolled onto his back and tucked her against him. Casey inhaled deeply, loving the scent of them.
“Fuck, I wasn’t expecting this. Damn, woman.” He kissed the top of her head and held her closer.
“Me neither.”
She pillowed her head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat align with hers.
They stayed like that for a long while, legs tangled, arms entwined, and bodies fused, as a cool breeze replaced the afternoon warmth. Casey shivered and nestled closer. Rags pulled the blanket around them and drew her in.
“You good?” he asked.
“Oh yeah. It was incredible.” She tilted her head back.
He smiled slightly, brushed a kiss over her lips. “I mean with us. Any regrets?”
“No. You?”
“Fuck no.”
“That’s good, right?”
“Damn straight.”
They lay together, quiet and content, savoring the intimacy without words.
The blue sky softened into gold, then fiery orange and warm pink, washing over the peaks and forest.
“We should get dressed before it gets dark,” Casey said, hating to leave the warmth of Rags’s body.
He tangled his fingers in her hair and kissed her softly.
“You wanna grab some food?”
Her stomach growled and she laughed. “I’m starving.”
He laughed and squeezed her. “You’re amazing, woman.”
She sat up and caught his gaze lingering on her breasts. Suddenly embarrassed, she covered herself with her arms.
“No reason to be shy,” he said, pulling her arms away. “You’re beautiful… and I’ve seen all of you.” He winked, tweaking her nipple before standing.
Rolling her eyes, she wrapped the blanket around herself and stood, watching as he dressed by the water’s edge.
“Where’re your clothes, darlin’?”
“In my car,” she said, pointing toward the trees.
“I’ll walk you over.”
“I’ll have to go home and change,” she said, tugging on her top.
“That’s cool. I’ll pick you up in an hour. Does that work?”
“Perfect.”
“I’ll follow you back into town.” He pulled her back into his arms and kissed her.
On the drive back, Casey smiled every time she caught sight of him in the rearview mirror.
Tomorrow, she knew she’d probably overanalyze every second of what had happened, but for now, she let herself bask in the afterglow of one of the best days she’d had since moving to Pinewood Springs.
The thought of sharing her bed with Rags later that night made her insides quiver.
She had no doubt he’d be spending the night.
Zoe’s going to lose her mind when I tell her we finally did it.
Grinning, Casey cranked up the radio and sang along to Bon Jovi’s “Runaway,” the music carrying her the rest of the way home.