Chapter Twenty-One

Rayne

The sound of twigs breaking and snow falling from branches has me jittery. I try to appear calm as my head darts from side to side. I’m waiting for it. If I’m going to be attacked, it might as well be now, when I have Lorn to protect me. I stare at his massive back as he treks ahead of me, also casting his light in every direction. He glances back to check on me regularly, and I can’t help but feel a little warm inside when he does.

Does Lorn care about me?

We have sexual chemistry. That much is apparent by now, but these past few days he has been the picture of a doting caretaker. He’s seen to my every need, protected me, made me comfortable. We’ve had good conversation, and I’ve found myself surprised by how knowledgeable he is.

Lorn truly is one of a kind.

His cabin comes into view, and my heart blossoms with relief. We say nothing as we beeline for the door, and I can tell Lorn is as excited to get inside as I am. When we step in, he closes and bolts the door behind us. I shake snow from my boots, slip them off, and shed my jacket.

“Well, that was an adventure,” I say.

“I’m sorry.”

Lorn’s voice is forlorn, and I glance up at him in surprise.

“It’s not your fault the power went out,” I say.

He shrugs. “I know, but you should feel safe here. You shouldn’t have to be tethered to me out of fear.”

Is that a trace of insecurity in his voice? When I look at him, there’s no sign of it. He is powerful and fierce and strong. He towers above me, his eyes hard and angry.

Why is he so angry?

I step closer to him and place my fingertips on his forearm. The muscles beneath tense at first, then relax as he stares into my eyes.

“None of this is your fault. You are the reason I’m doing OK, that I feel any kind of security at all. Without you, I don’t know what I would have done, in so many ways.”

His eyes bore into mine as my words sink in, and they dart down to my mouth, as they have a way of doing. My skin tingles with excitement when he lowers his face to mine and kisses me. His arms wrap around my waist as he pulls me in closer and holds me tight against his taut body. His lips explore mine, his tongue reaches in, and mine meets it with gusto. My legs tremble as I revel in his strength, absorb it into myself for safe-keeping.

Lorn is nothing if not strength, personified.

He shifts me in his arms and cups a breast with his hand. My nipple hardens instantly at his touch, and he strokes it through the fabric of my shirt.

He pulls away so that his face is an inch from mine. “You feel like flying in the face of your fear?”

What kind of question is that?

My eyes meet his, and I still don’t find my answer. “What do you mean?”

He grins down at me. “Let’s take this party outside. There’s somewhere I’ve wanted to have you for quite some time.”

The thought of going back out into the cold sends a shiver down my spine, but Lorn is issuing me a challenge. Am I going to lock myself away and cower, or am I going to take a risk and live my damn life?

Challenge accepted.

“Lead the way,” I whisper.

His grin broadens, and he steps back, leaving a terrible emptiness between us. He dashes back into his room and comes out a moment later with a bag that appears to be holding several large towels.

“Come on.” He reaches out for my hand, and I lace my fingers with his, feeling giddy. He leads me to the back door and presses it open against a foot of snow.

I’m not wearing any shoes or my jacket, and Lorn turns and bends down to scoop me up into his arms.

“I’ve got you,” he says.

Yes. He most certainly does.

I cling to him without reservation as he carries me across the snowy path. It’s so dark without our lamps, but Lorn doesn’t seem to have trouble seeing. The stars above us are unreal—shimmering constellations I’ve never seen in my entire life. The scent of snow permeates the air, but I am toasty warm in Lorn’s arms.

“Here.” He reaches into his bag and pulls out one of the towels then sets it on the ground. He stands me on it, and steam heats my back.

“The hot springs,” I breathe, and my whole body tingles at the thought.

I can’t see much of Lorn. He is a large shadow in the night. He steps closer and wraps me in his arms again, but this time, his fingers start working on the buttons of my shirt. I’m hot and cold all over as his fingertips slide lower then pull the shirt from my body.

To save him time, I reach back and undo the snaps of my bra on my own. My nipples tingle when he removes my bra and exposes them to the frigid air. He doesn’t wait, instead unzipping my pants before he pulls them down, and I step free of them, totally nude once again. He slides off his own shirt and pants, and we stand together naked in the dark, our skin burning against the bitter cold.

“This way.” He takes my hand and guides me toward the steaming waters. When I dip in, my whole body goes warm. The water glides along my bare skin, and this is the most erotic sensation I’ve had from warm water.

Lorn tugs me to him, and my naked body slides along his in the water. His lips crash against mine again, and I wrap my arms around his broad shoulders as I wrap my legs around him, buoyant in the water. He steps forward until my back is against smooth rock, his erection ready to plunge in.

I rock my hips against it, welcoming him, but he doesn’t take the bait. Instead, he kisses me deeper as his hand slides over my collar bone and squeezes my breasts, alternating between one and the other. His lips leave mine and follow the path, leaving a hot wet trail down my neck and shoulder as his head sinks low enough for him to be at level with my nipple.

He takes one in his mouth and circles his tongue around it. While he works his magic, his hands grab my legs and shift me back from him a little. His finger carves a little trail up the length of my thigh as he heads right toward my pussy. I tilt my head back and get a perfect view of the sky as his index finger tickles my inner thigh on its way to my warm center.

He slides his finger up and down beneath the water, and I spread my legs for him. He tickles my clit as his mouth switches to my other nipple and he licks the hard nub. His finger works its way down my slit until it reaches my opening and he slides it inside, then beckons to reach my g-spot.

“Ride my finger,” he breathes against my breast.

He grips my ass and moves my hips for me, sliding me up and down his finger as I buck against him. It’s not enough.

“Another finger,” I gasp.

Without hesitation, his middle finger joins his index finger, and he slides them both in, filling me a little more. I’ve had the full girth of him inside me before, and I now know how good that feels. Still, I spread my legs farther to take his fingers deeper as he guides my hips.

“Another,” I whimper, and he grins against my skin.

“Gladly,” he says.

His ring finger joins the group, and he slows his pace as he fills me to the brim with three fingers.

“Oh. My god, that feels so good,” I pant.

He pinches my nipple with his free hand, then he returns it to the base of my ass. He presses me down, filling me until his knuckles reach my opening, then he slides back out, the sensation rocking me to my core.

“Fuck me, Lorn. Please, god.”

His fingers are gone, and the head of his cock touches my pussy’s gaping opening. He presses in and then wraps my legs around him. His palms grip my ass as he lifts and drops me on his shaft, the water sloshing around us as he plunges deep inside my body.

I want to be closer to him, though I don’t know how that’s even possible. I reach down between us to caress his balls beneath me, and he groans as he thrusts deep inside me again.

The mixture of heat and cold stimulate my senses as his cock works its way in and out of my pussy. Lorn holds himself back, and I don’t want him to.

“Harder. Faster,” I pant.

This appears to be the only encouragement he needs, because he picks up his pace and his pressure, and I might explode with pleasure. With each thrust, the tip of his dick tickles my g-spot, and my body prepares for release. Still, he goes harder, his grunts absorbing into the trees around us as I pant and writhe and beg him for more.

His hand leaves my ass and slides between us until it reaches my clit. The moment his thumb touches that sensitive little nub, all bets are off. I scream into the night. My body pulses around his throbbing dick, and still he pumps into me, seeking his own release.

He keeps his hand on my sensitive clit, torturing me as he continues on. My body seizes up and then another orgasm crashes through me as he finishes.

I collapse against him, the water of the hot springs sloshing between us as we fight to catch our breath. Our bodies remain joined as we relax beneath the stars, and I rest my cheek against his expansive chest. I could lie here forever in this natural spring, joined with Lorn.

“Are you scared now?” he breathes against my ear.

“With you? Never.”

He lifts his head and kisses me. His palms cradle my face in a cherishing gesture, and I relish the sensation. With a swift motion, Lorn pulls out of me, and I can’t help the pang of disappointment and the emptiness that remains in its place.

“I’ll always keep you safe, Rayne,” he breathes as he pulls me close again.

Shit. We can’t use words like “always” when I’m planning on leaving in a few weeks, can we? Am I really reading into that right now when I should be basking in this amazing experience?

I allow myself to be protected as I lean back and stare at the sky. “This is outstanding. Great idea.”

“Perhaps we can do it again sometime,” he says, and his tone is impish. I can’t help my own grin.

“Perhaps we can.”

A yawn escapes my lips, and I stifle it. Perceptive as ever, Lorn doesn’t miss a beat.

“Time for bed. We’ve already been up late enough as it is.”

He leaps from the water and pulls a towel from the bag, shoves his clothing inside as he wraps it around himself, then slides into his shoes. He holds up the other towel for me.

“Shall we?” he asks.

I jump out of the water. My body goes cold, and I wrap myself in the towel, still painfully aware of my lack of shoes. Lorn kneels and scoops me back up. He slings his bag over his shoulder and carries me all the way back to the back door of the cabin. When we step inside, we are warm and relaxed and fully sated.

He doesn’t set me down until we reach his bedroom, where he tosses back his comforter and slides me beneath it. Without a word, he lays behind me and cradles me in the circle of his arms. I have absolutely no protest.

Together we fall asleep, the subtle scent of the hot springs soothing as I drift off in Lorn’s powerful embrace.