Chapter 10

Patrick didn't feel himself but for once it was in a good way. He couldn't explain why he felt life coursing through him. Perhaps it was the vigorous hike. Or the spectacular scenery that reminded him of the beauty in the world if he'd just look outside himself. Maybe it was the refreshing rain washing away the heat and humidity or the electricity crackling through the air. But he had a pretty good idea that it was Michaela. Hiking behind her, he'd been captivated by her more than the scenery. The way she moved. The way she observed the world from the smallest flower to the grandest view. The way she engaged with him, challenged him even. There was no guile. No pretenses. She was real.

And now, drenched in a summer rain, her cheeks pink from exertion to get them to safety, her smile as radiant as the sun, he found himself ensnared by her. Wanting whatever elixir she drank to maintain such vibrancy in life. Actually, if he was honest, the man in him was overcome with desire at the sight of her clothes plastered to her skin, outlining her breasts from their smooth round curves to the hard distended nipple.

He"d spent so much of his life guarded, reserved. Where had it gotten him? Over the last few years, he'd gone through the motions of living, but not feeling alive. Michaela awakened something inside him, and he wanted to pursue whatever it was. He didn't want to overthink the wisdom of touching her. Didn't want to worry about what tomorrow would bring. He wanted to live in this moment with her. It appeared she did too as she wrapped her legs around him and kissed him fully, passionately.

For a moment, or maybe it was a lifetime, he held and kissed her, taking in her sweet summer scent, the taste of her lips, the heat of her body pressed against his and let the world melt away.

But soon, white hot need had him looking for a bed so he could fully discover and appreciate all of Michaela. The building was only slightly larger than a shed. The room they were in had a small sitting area and kitchenette. Near the back he saw a door opening to a bathroom. Next to that was another door he took to be a room.

With Michaela still wrapped around him, Patrick made his way back, fumbling with the door. It swung open and he stumbled in. For a moment, he was irked when he saw bunk beds.

"Something wrong?" Michaela asked sucking on his lower lip. Then she looked at where his gaze was focused. She laughed. "I can be on top."

He laughed, delighted by how she could pull him out of negativity.

"Or…the bottom is queen size." She stepped away from him, taking the hem of her shirt and pulling it over her head. He watched, fascinated by her smooth tan skin. Her breasts cupped in a lacy bra. She wasn't the first woman he'd ever seen like this, and yet, there was something that felt new. He couldn't wait to get his hands on her silky skin, to discover what brought her pleasure.

Except…God…He pulled his wallet from his back pocket, flipping it open and praying he had a condom. He let out a sigh of relief to see the foil packet.

Michaela tilted her head looking into his wallet. "I promise to never make fun of you for taking your wallet on a hike again."

He plucked the condom out and tossed it on the bed. "I should think not." He tugged his shirt off, which wasn't easy with it soaking wet and stuck to his skin.

"You're behind, Dr. Andres."

He looked over and Michaela stood in front of him completely naked. His mouth went dry. She looked like a goddess. The type immortalized in marble statues. Unable to stop himself, he reached for her, his hands roaming her body as he kissed her.

"This will be easier if you undress too," she said on a laugh.

"Indulge me." His lips trailed long her jaw as his hands cupped her breasts, his thumbs brushing over her nipples. They were so hard, so distended, his mouth watered. He wrapped his lips around one and sucked. Michaela's fingers laced through his hair, holding him to her as he sucked and licked her nipple.

"Oh!" She let out a noise that was a cross between a gasp and sigh. She followed it with, "Mmmm."

It pleased him that she enjoyed his touch. Patrick wasn't a selfish lover, but neither had he put much thought into how he had sex. No woman had ever complained. But right now, he wanted more than anything to give Michaela a pleasure she'd never felt. He knew she thought he was reserved to the point of stuffy. That sort of opinion didn't bode well for a sexual encounter. He wanted to prove to her that when it came to pleasures of the flesh, he was adventurous, open.

He bent his knees as his kisses and fingers trailed down her body until arriving at the nest of curls between her thighs. They glittered with her essence, and he could wait to taste her. His finger slid through her folds and then he sucked his finger. She was divine.

He took her hips, guiding her to the lower bed that extended out enough from the upper bunk that he didn't have to worry about her hitting her head.

She lay back. "Will you undress now?"

He took off his shorts but left his briefs on to help him slow his roll so he could focus on her. He lay over her.

"It's not fair." She looked up at him with amusement in her eyes.

"Should I go?"

"You should be naked. I want to touch too."

He bent his head to her, sucking on her lower lip as she'd done to him. "Patience." He worked his way down her body again, loving the sounds she made. Mewing. Gasps. Moans. Finally, he reached her center, settling his shoulders between her legs.

He glanced up at her wanting to make sure she was alright with his plan. Not all women liked oral pleasure.

She arched a brow. "Are you waiting for permission?"

"Just want to make sure you're ready."

"Oh…that sounds like I'm in for a treat."

Patrick worried he'd just oversold his skills. He gently suckled on the soft skin of her inner thigh. "Hold on, Michaela." Patrick lapped his tongue through her folds.

She arched into him, letting out a moan. So far, so good.

He flicked his tongue over her hard, pink center. Her hips rocked.

Her taste coated his tongue making him hungry for more. He dove in, feasting on her. Licking. Sucking. Drinking her in until her body went taut, and she cried out.

He brought her down with light kisses along her inner thigh.

She let out a contented sigh and then tapped him on the top of his head. "I want a turn."

"I'm not done yet." He suckled her skin, noting the small mark. Patrick wasn't a possessive man and yet, he found satisfaction in leaving his mark on her.

"In case you didn't notice it, I am."

He shook his head. "You're far from done." He moved back her body. "I promise you, there's more of that." Again, he wasn't sure where his confidence, his bravado, was coming from. Not that he didn't satisfy women. He always made sure the women he was with had orgasms, more than one if they had it them. But for the first time in a long time, Patrick was nervous. Michaela's opinion mattered. Her pleasure mattered.

She pushed him until he rolled back, and she straddled his body. "I'm looking forward to that, but now it's my turn." She stripped him of his briefs. Clearly Michaela wanted to take charge and since he wanted her to be happy, he didn't protest.

Her eyebrows waggled at him as she wrapped her fingers around his length.

He groaned as pleasure snaked through him. "Careful. You don't want to end things too soon."

"I have faith in your ability to hold off." She stroked him.

His hips arched up on their own. "Michaela." The word was a warning or maybe a plea.

She glanced up at him. "Why don't you call me Micki?"

For a moment he worried it offended her. The excitement of the moment diminished. "Michaela is a lovely name for a lovely woman."

Her smile lit him up from the inside out. It was like he'd given her a gift.

She reached for the condom, tearing the foil open. He took it from her.

She pursed her lips at him. "I know how to roll on a condom."

He hated the idea that she'd practiced such things with other men. "That's not my concern. My concern is ultimately not needing it if I let you do it."

She smirked, running her hands up his abdomen as he rolled the condom on. "Now is it my turn?"

Patrick had been looking forward to joining his body with hers. In his mind, he'd be on top, taking control, watching her beautiful face as he entered her. But seeing her above him, excitement in her eyes, her face flush, her breasts swaying slightly, he had all the view he needed. "Now it's your turn."

She positioned herself over him, reaching between them to guide him to her entrance. Their gazes held as she lowered, sinking down, her body taking him in, tight, warm.

She sat up as much as she could with an upper bunk above. Her hands gripped the slats of the top bunk and she pushed, causing him to slide deeper inside her. And then she rocked. The sensation was erotic of course, but there was something else. Something more. Patrick didn't know what it was, but he let himself go. Let himself get lost in her.

His fingers dug into her hips as her movements sent shocks of electric pleasure sizzling through his blood. He moved with her, rocking, bucking, until he perched on the edge. He'd have liked to have lasted longer, but his body had other ideas.

"Oh God!" Her body clenched, shuddered around him, grabbing and pulling him over into the sweetest pleasure.

She collapsed on him, her body warm and pliant over him. His muscles went lax and even then, he continued to pulse inside her. He closed his eyes, giving into the sated calm. It had been so long since he'd felt so relaxed. So in tune with another person. He couldn't explain how or why Michaela had this effect on him. It wasn't just sexual attraction, although he couldn't understand how it could be more.