Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
RONIN
We make our way back to our campsite, ready for an early lunch after a morning of hiking. Mellie and I hold hands on the walk back, and it feels as natural as breathing.
After lunch, we branch off into pairs. Evan and Catalina want to hike up the mountain on a different trail, so the two set off together, promising to be back in a few hours.
Bree and Brooklyn retreat into their tent, so Mel and I make the wise choice to give them some privacy.
We wander off to explore, backpacks laden with extra water, snacks, and a blanket just in case we find a good spot to picnic.
I lose count of the number of times I catch myself glancing over at Mel as we walk, hand in hand. I still can’t believe I finally fucking kissed her.
Twelve years.
Almost twelve years that I’ve been in love with my best friend, and it feels surreal she may finally feel the same way for me. In truth, I’ve had feelings for Mellie for much longer than that, but the night we slept together was when I knew I was head over heels for this woman.
As soon as she walked into the bar last December, I knew that things were different between us, and I’d been doing my best to take Evan’s advice and not “fuck it up” this time. But it’s hard trying to play it cool when you’ve been in love with your best friend for your entire adult life.
I’m determined to get it right this time.
I find Mellie for the hundredth time, and this time she catches me staring. She smiles, her dimple winking at me in the hazy sunlight that filters through the cloudy sky and bare branches overhead.
God, I am the luckiest son of a bitch on the planet.
We hike around the short, easy trails surrounding our campsite for the next hour or so. Eventually, we find an open area that looks perfect to sit and catch our breath. The view is, well… It's breathtaking. I spread the blanket down on the crunchy grass and sit, patting the spot next to me.
Mellie lowers herself down, dropping her pack at her feet.
“Wow,” she says, gazing out at the vista before us.
We’ve got a view of the mountain below, the sprawling trees laid out like a blanket, and the distant peaks of larger mountains off in the distance.
“This is a stunning spot.” She leans back on her hands, stretching her legs out in front of her. “I don’t ever want to leave.”
The clearing is off the main trail, hidden from view, and a quick glance tells me there’s nobody around.
“It’s just us and the mountains. Let’s stay all day,” I reply, shooting her a wink. “I can think of plenty of things to occupy our time.”
“Already so needy,” Mellie teases. “One kiss and he’s begging for more.” She laughs as I tackle her, pushing my face into her neck as I flop down beside her.
“Always,” I say, and the next thing I know, I’m kissing her again.
Her mouth parts for me right away, our tongues meeting, lazy and slow in their embrace.
My hand finds her hat and I pull it off, my fingers itching to tangle into her hair.
Mellie echoes the movement, her own hands gripping my head and pulling.
I break away, breathing hard. “I will never have enough of this.” Mellie’s amber eyes sparkle in the sunlight, and I continue slowly, “I will always beg you for more.”
Her gaze heats at my words. I run a hand across her cheek, continue down her throat with my fingers, and reach down to grab her waist. I pull her toward me, letting her feel how much I want this. Her. “You see what you do to me already, Mel?”
She gasps as I thrust my hips, and she pulls my face down to hers. Her head tilts and our mouths are molded together in synchrony, this kiss full of a desperate passion that has been held at bay for days, months, years.
I kiss her back with all I have, trying to show her just how much I want her, how much I will hunger for this every second of every day now that I’ve tasted her again.
Footsteps crunch on the dry grass nearby and low voices filter over to where we lay. With one last kiss, I pull away and roll onto my back, groaning at the interruption.
Mellie starts to giggle, and when she meets my eyes, she laughs again, covering her mouth. I can’t help but chuckle even though I have no idea what’s funny.
“What?” I ask, smiling.
“I’m just picturing what could have happened,” Mel explains, giggling again. “What a way to get arrested for the first time. Public indecency on a first date.”
I chuckle at her referencing our game of “Never Have I Ever” from last night, sitting up. “This…” I say, pulling her up to a seated position next to me, “...is not our first date. Let me make that clear.” Looking into her eyes, I smooth her messy hair then pull her beanie back onto her head.
“I seem to remember you thinking I couldn’t romance someone properly,” I continue. “So when I ask you out on a date, you’ll know.”
I place a playful kiss at the corner of her mouth. Mel gasps lightly, her breath unsteady as I lean back. Her cheeks are flushed a delicious shade of pink, and I smirk.
She bites her lip, averting her gaze with a small smile. “I’m just…really happy, Ro.”
Her words pull my heartstrings taught, and there’s suddenly a boulder-sized lump in my throat. “Me too, Mel.”
She moves to sit in front of me between my legs, leaning against my chest. I wrap my arms around her, hands resting on her thighs. We sit like this for a while, content to be in each other’s arms and soaking in the scenery around us.
Back at camp, everyone gathers around the fire.
We pass the late afternoon snacking and talking.
Mellie and I are snuggled together on the ground, sitting against a log with a big blanket wrapped over us.
Evan keeps grinning in our direction over the flames.
I’m glad he’s still happy with me dating his sister, or else this trip would have gotten very awkward.
Eventually, it’s time to retire for the night.
Mellie and I make our way into our tent, zipping the flap closed and fixing the bedding once more.
I lay down beside her and lower the lighting on the lantern near my head.
The tent falls into darkness, and I can just make out the silhouette of Mel’s profile as my eyes adjust.
She rolls onto her side like last night, and I waste no time moving behind her, my left arm going under her head and my right wrapping around her body, pulling her snug against me.
She’s so warm and soft and all I want to do is lose myself in her, but I know I can’t.
Not yet. I don’t want to rush this, as much as I want to bury myself inside her right this second.
Mellie pushes her body into mine, seeking warmth. Her ass hits right over my crotch, and I groan into her hair. I can’t resist thrusting my hips, just a tiny bit, and Mel’s body reacts immediately. She lets out a small sigh, pushing back against me again.
I run my hand over the material covering her stomach, relishing the shiver that rocks her at my touch. With slow intent, leaving her time to stop me if this isn’t what she wants, my fingers continue their soft exploration, moving to the edge of her sweatshirt.
She doesn’t stop me.
I dip under, finally finding her bare skin. She lets out a soft sigh as my hand runs across her stomach to cup her hip. I dig my fingers into her skin gently as I push myself against her ass, letting her feel how hard I am.
“Mellie,” I groan quietly, my forehead falling against her hair. She rolls her hips in response, her ass pushing against me. I wonder how wet she is, how her body is reacting to mine. I yearn to touch her, to please her. I have never been so turned on by anyone in my life.
Running my fingers back down her stomach, I skim the edges of her sweatpants. “Tell me if this is too fast. Tell me if you want to stop, and we’ll stop.” I kiss her neck. “We don’t need to rush this.”
Mellie reaches down to rest her hand over mine, and gives it a gentle squeeze.
“Believe me, I want this.” Her voice is a whisper, a gentle rustle in our quiet tent.
I push against her again, my hand leaving hers to run up her torso. She’s not wearing a bra under her sweatshirt, and she lets out a soft gasp as my warm palm finds the cool skin of her chest. I roll her hard nipple between my fingers, tugging gently before skimming my hand down to cup her breast.
“You feel so good,” I whisper, my mouth finding the skin of her neck again. Mellie arches in response, and I place a kiss against the side of her throat. My teeth nip at her skin and I run my nose up the length of her neck, my hand kneading her breast. “You smell so fucking good.”
Mel reaches up for the hand under her sweater and pulls it down. “Ronin, touch me,” she pants, grinding her ass against me. She lifts her right leg, opening her thighs ever so slightly, and begs, her voice full of need, “Please.”
“Since you asked so nicely,” I manage, immediately dipping beneath her pants and finding the wet apex of her thighs. I groan. “You’re so wet for me, Mel. You are so fucking perfect.”
She moans when I run a finger through her center and I cover her mouth to stifle the noise. I push a finger inside of her and her legs fall wider apart.
“Shit,” she murmurs. “Fuck.”
I slide in and out, adding a second finger while kissing and sucking on her neck. She moans quietly, moving her hips in time with every entry. My cock hits her ass again as I push up behind her.
Slipping my fingers out, I run through her wetness to rub her clit.
She responds with a small whimper, thrusting herself against my hand.
I push my fingers back inside her, leaving my thumb to roll against her most sensitive spot and begin pumping in and out.
When I bend at the knuckles, curling inside her, she cries out, so I do it again.
“Better keep it down, sweetheart,” I rasp. “Unless you want the whole campsite knowing how hard I’m going to make you come.”
“Ronin,” she gasps, riding my fingers with abandon. I groan into her hair, plunging harder and grinding against her, my own release threatening.
As I curl my fingers once more, I push my thumb against her clit, and she shatters completely.
She covers her mouth with a hand in an attempt to quiet her cry as she rides the wave of pleasure.
My fingers never leave as I coax every ounce of her climax out of her, no longer able to restrain myself.
I thrust my throbbing cock against her ass, groaning and shuddering against her back as I come as well.
We lay there for a moment, breathing hard.
I can’t believe I just got off in my pants without Mellie even touching me. I should feel embarrassed, but I’m not. That was fucking hot.
“Holy shit, that was amazing,” Mel whispers, out of breath. “I’ve been daydreaming about those long fingers for fucking months.”
My heavy breathing hits her neck as I try to recover my own composure, but I can’t help the smirk that stretches across my face at her words.
“Are you okay back there?” she asks quietly while my heart pounds against my chest.
I pull my hand out of her sweatpants. Mellie rolls onto her back, her head tilting to mine.
She’s staring up at me with an expression I’ve never seen on her before.
It’s filled with desire, heavy with a lust I feel deep in my bones.
There is also a sense of adoration in her eyes, like she’s grappling with the reality of what just transpired as much as I am.
I huff out a laugh at her question. “Fuck yes, I’m great,” I say. I run my other hand through my unkempt hair. “Are you okay? That was—”
“Hot as hell?” she interrupts. She smirks at me, pulling her pants and sweatshirt back into place. “An amazing orgasm? And judging by the state of your sweatpants, I’d say not just for me.” Her gaze dances as she reaches up to run her fingers through my loose hair.
I rest my hand on her face, my fingers trailing down her cheek. My thumb grazes gently over her bottom lip and her intense eyes meet mine. We stare at each other for a few breaths.
Finally, I break the silence. “Well, I guess I should change my pants.”
Mellie bursts out laughing and I join her, resting my forehead against hers.