Page 22 of Protecting Vidalia
His palm was soothing the same spot he’d smacked and the sting dissolved into a throbbing warmth that wasn’t unpleasant. She was surprised. “I-I...that wasn’t so bad,” she whispered finally, enjoying his palm sliding down the backs of her thighs and kneading the tired muscles from their hike. “Ohhh...that feels really good.”
He chuckled, his fingers dipping between her thighs and running up the seam of her jeans. “We’ve barely begun.”
Vidalia couldn’t help the moan that pried her lips loose when he touched her between her legs. Even through her jeans and panties, she could feel his exploration. When another swat landed under the edge of her buttocks where his fingers had just been, her hips lifted involuntarily in supplication of another caress. And it came, just like magic, causing dancing sensations through her body like the sunlight on the water. Bright, tingling, and blossoming into real desire.
It didn’t take a degree to figure out Jake had been right, or where this was headed. She should stop him; she knew she should. Just the same, her hips wouldn’t listen to her and when his left hand slid beneath her and opened the snap on her jeans so he could slide them down over her buttocks, she was past caring.
“You’re so beautiful, Vidalia,” he whispered, leaning down to place a kiss on her lower back. Then he pulled her panties between her butt cheeks and continued the sweet torture of stinging spanks coupled with mind blowing caresses that ending with fingers sliding over her soaking channel and across the bud that swelled and ached for his touch.
“Oh, lord, Jake,” she moaned unable to help herself. She wanted this more than anything, she was helpless to stop him. They barely knew each other and she was granting him liberties she’d never let anyone take before. “We shouldn’t be doing this.”
“Do you want me to stop?” he teased.
“No...no don’t stop,” she panted. This was uncharted territory for her and she fully intended to complete the ride she knew had to be coming.
His fingers stilled on her bottom. “I don’t know, you said you didn’t like pain, maybe I should stop.”
“Don’t stop,” she wailed, feeling her reward just out of reach. She reached back and punched his thigh desperately.
“Uh oh...hitting me is against the rules,” he tutted. He lifted his hand and swatted a flurry of firm spanks all over her buttocks and then plunged his fingers into her soaking channel before pinching her swollen nubbin.
“Owww...that hurt,” she squealed and then fell off the precipice as her body shook with pleasure that had her bucking like a crazy woman. She rode the sweet torture of his hand and fingers until she didn’t have a spasm left in her. Then she collapsed.
Chuckling, Jake rubbed her all over her buttocks and thighs, then put her panties and jeans back in place before picking her up and cuddling her on his lap. “You’re like wet spaghetti.” His voice was complete masculine satisfaction though, she could hear it.
“Do you like spaghetti,” she asked with a sudden tired yawn, and to cover her sudden embarrassment.
“I love spaghetti,” he teased. “Covered in sauce and easy to eat, what’s not to like?”
She blushed furiously as the double meaning became apparent. “I-I...” she stuttered.
He laughed out loud then. “I’m embarrassing you, I’m sorry.” He didn’t look sorry though.
“No, you’re not,” she replied, “but that’s okay. I have to admit, you were right. It’s not easy for me to admit when I’m wrong though, so don’t get used to it,” she added with a mischievous grin. “Speaking of food, I’m starving. Can we head back to Smokie’s now?”
Jake took both her hands in his. “Thank you,” he said softly. “You were correct in my reasons for why I come up here. Now this place will have even more special meaning to me.”
She blushed and grabbed her camera. “I want to take your picture sitting on your bench,” she said, not knowing what else to say. He crossed his legs and put both muscled arms on the tree behind him and allowed her to take several shots.
Finally, he stood up. “Would you like me to take some of you on the bench?”
“Sure.” She handed him her camera. They even took a few silly selfies. After he was finished, they made their way around the rest of the small lake, stopping for pictures whenever Vidalia found a spot she liked, then they headed back down the main trail. By the time they got to Smokie’s it would be lunchtime.
Vidalia was sensitive to Jake’s every movement, her skin tingling wherever he touched her. Never having been so aware of another human being before, she wondered if she was falling in love with the crazy man. He’d made her laugh, he’d made her cry, and he’d sent her skyrocketing into pleasure. She found herself hoping the bears would come back just so he’d stay another night. It’s not like she could ask him to, that would just be too weird. How could her feelings change so much in just a few days?
As they trudged down the mountain, she realized that she was thinking less and less of Dani during her waking hours, and more and more about Jake. Was he doing it on purpose? Was he giving her something else to concentrate on in an effort to help her? Most disturbing of all was wondering if he’d want to see her after this was all over. She owed herself this time though, to decide if she wanted to go back to dispatching. That was why she hadn’t wanted to be distracted by a relationship with him. Fear of failing another human being like she had Dani was a terrifying reality.
***
THE AROMA INSIDE SMOKIE’Swas heavenly. Jake’s stomach rumbled when the smell of roasting meat permeated the air. “Hey, Poke,” he said with a grin as they walked up to the counter. “You got some lunch back there for hungry hikers?”
“I sure do,” she replied eagerly, her gaze swinging to Vidalia beside him.
Poke was easy to talk to and he could tell the girl was genuinely sorry for any distress she’d caused Vidalia, who accepted her apology with grace.
“Can you post this on your bulletin board?” He asked, handing her the notice he and Vidalia had prepared and explaining the situation.
“Oh wow, I can’t believe these great shots you got of the bears,” Poke exclaimed. “You rarely have a sighting unless someone goes higher looking for them. I’m surprised they are even down this low.”
