Burning Mountains (Wind River Mountain Men #1)

Chapter 6

6

AXEL

" A

xel ," Zoe gasped looking up at all the stars in the night sky, " I've never seen anything like this!"

I grinned, " Wait till you see this," I said, grabbing her hand and guiding her into the clearing.

As we stumbled into the open space, the ground beneath our feet came alive. Tiny bioluminescent insects swarmed around us.

" How is this even real?" she exclaimed.

I chuckled, trying to pull her close. " Welcome to my secret garden."

She looked up at me. " You're full of surprises, aren't you?"

Just then, a meteor streaked across the sky, followed by another, and another. Soon , it looked like the heavens were having a cosmic fireworks display.

" Oh my God ," Zoe breathed, her grip on my hand tightening.

We stood there, transfixed by the celestial rave above us. I found myself stealing glances at Zoe , marveling at how she managed to look so sexy an adorable even while awestruck.

" You know," I said, "my grandpa used to tell me stories about the stars. Each constellation has its own tale, usually involving some poor sap getting turned into an animal because the gods were bored."

Zoe turned to me, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of interest and mockery. " Really ?"

I grinned, pointing up at a random cluster of stars. " See that group there? That's the Great Dumpster Fire . Legend has it, there was once a brave warrior who fell in love with a woman. Their love was forbidden, but they couldn't stay apart. One night, as they met in secret, they were discovered. The warrior, desperate to protect his love, prayed to the spirits for help. They answered by transforming him into a giant dumpster, strong enough to hide them both. But the price was high - he could never return to his human form. The woman asked the spirits to transform her too. The spirits, being the pranksters they were, turned her into a raccoon. Now she spends eternity trying to break into her dumpster-lover, while he tries to keep her out. Those stars are the two lovers, forever playing out their trashy romance across the night sky."

Zoe was quiet for a moment, her face a masterpiece of conflicting emotions. " That's ... the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard," she finally managed, before bursting into uncontrollable laughter.

I shrugged. " Hey , it's not my fault the spirits had a twisted sense of humor."

She turned to me, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes. " Do you... do you believe in that kind of love, Axel ? The kind that survives?"

My heart hammered in my chest. This was it - the moment I'd been both longing for and dreading. I took a deep breath. " I didn't... used to. But now..."

Zoe's eyes widened as I took her hands in mine. " Zoe , I know we haven't known each other long, but these past few days... they've changed everything. I've never felt this way about anyone before. It's like you've awakened something in me that I thought was long dead."

I could see tears glistening in her eyes, and for a moment, I feared I'd said too much. But then she smiled. " Oh , Axel ," she whispered. " I feel it too. It's crazy and terrifying and wonderful all at once."

Relief and joy surged through me. Before I could stop myself, I pulled her close for a kiss. It wasn't perfect, but then again, neither were we. And somehow, that made it all the more magical.

The world around us seemed to fade away, the meteor shower forgotten as we lost ourselves in each other. My hands roamed her body, memorizing every curve and contour. Her skin was soft under my calloused palms.

I've never been one for flowery words or poetic descriptions, but the sight of Zoe's naked body took my breath away. She was a vision of perfection, her skin glowing in the soft light of the luminescent flowers. I drank in every detail - the curve of her hips, the swell of her breasts, the way her dark hair cascaded down her back. My heart raced, and a surge of heat coursed through my body, settling low in my belly.

" God , you're beautiful," I murmured, my voice rough with desire. My fingers twitched at my sides, aching to touch her.

Zoe smiled shyly, a becoming blush coloring her cheeks. " You're not so bad yourself," she replied, reaching out to trail a finger down my chest. The light touch sent shivers down my spine, and I fought to suppress a groan.

I caught her hand, bringing it to my lips. The scent of her skin filled my nostrils. " Let me show you how beautiful you are," I said softly, my breath ghosting over her knuckles.

Starting at her shoulders, I began to kiss and lick my way down her body. She tasted like honey and sin, and I couldn't get enough. My stubble rasped against her soft skin, eliciting tiny gasps that went straight to my groin. As I reached her breasts, I took one nipple into my mouth, swirling my tongue around it until it pebbled under my touch. Zoe gasped and arched into me, her fingers digging into my shoulders.

" Oh God ," she breathed. " Axel ..."

The sound of my name on her lips sent a jolt through me. I moved to give equal attention to its twin before trailing lower still. Her stomach quivered as I kissed and nipped at it teasingly before dipping lower still. The musky scent of her arousal made my mouth water.

" Axel ?" Zoe's voice was questioning now, a hint of nervousness in her tone.

I looked up at her through my lashes as I settled between her thighs. Her eyes were wide, pupils dilated with desire. " Trust me," I said huskily before pressing a kiss to the apex of them.

Zoe's head fell back with a moan as I began to explore with lips and tongue. She was already wet for me, and that knowledge sent a surge of desire through me like nothing else could. Parting her folds with gentle fingers, I delved deeper into her heat. The taste of her exploded on my tongue, and I groaned against her.

" Fuck ," Zoe panted above me as I found that little bundle of nerves that made all women crazy with pleasure.

I circled it slowly at first before increasing pressure and speed until she was writhing beneath me. Her hands fisted in my hair as she ground against my face shamelessly seeking more friction. The slight pain only spurred me on.

" Yes ... oh God yes..." Her words trailed off into incoherent moans that echoed in the quiet night.

My own arousal throbbed almost painfully but this moment was about Zoe's pleasure not mine. Every gasp, every moan, every tremor of her body against mine drove me wild with need.

Reaching up blindly she tugged on my hair urging me closer which only made me work harder for both our sakes. The muscles in my jaw ached, but I wouldn't stop for anything.

A few more passes had Zoe tensing then crying out sharply shuddering through an intense orgasm. I held her hips steady as she rode out the waves of pleasure, my name falling from her lips like a prayer.

As aftershocks rocked through Zoe's body leaving trembling muscles weak legs splayed wide in abandon, my cock strained against confining denim eager for release too after watching such an erotic display.

She pulled back slightly, her eyes dark with desire. " Take me, Axel ," she whispered. " Make me yours."

Those words ignited a fire in me that threatened to consume us both. With a growl, I lowered myself over her, and the world around us seemed to come alive. The bioluminescent insects swirled around us in a dizzying dance, their soft light casting an ethereal glow on Zoe's skin. The luminescent flowers pulsed in time with our racing hearts, as if nature itself was celebrating our union.

Our lovemaking was passionate and tender, urgent yet unhurried. Every touch, every kiss felt charged with electricity. My calloused hands trembled as they traced the soft curves of Zoe's body, her skin like silk beneath my fingertips. The scent of pine and wildflowers mingled with the musky aroma of our desire, creating an intoxicating perfume that made my head spin.

Zoe's breath hitched as I nuzzled the sensitive spot behind her ear, her fingers digging into my shoulders. The taste of salt on her skin ignited a primal hunger within me, and I growled low in my throat. The stars above us blurred into streaks of light, mirroring the meteors that still blazed across the sky. It was as if the entire universe had aligned just for this moment, just for us.

My heart thundered in my chest, matching the rhythm of Zoe's rapid pulse beneath my lips as I trailed kisses down her neck. The cool night air raised goosebumps on our heated skin, heightening every sensation. Zoe arched against me, her body fitting perfectly against mine as if we were two halves of a whole finally reunited.

When we finally came together, it was with an intensity that left us both breathless. Zoe's back arched like a taut bowstring as I buried myself deep inside her welcoming heat. A jolt of pure pleasure shot through me, setting every nerve ending alight with exquisite jolts of electricity. Wave after wave of ecstasy washed over us, our mingled cries of passion echoing through the moonlit clearing. The earth seemed to tremble beneath us, or perhaps it was just the quaking of our intertwined bodies moving in perfect rhythm.

My calloused hands roamed the soft curves of Zoe's body, committing every satiny inch to memory through fevered touches. The floral scent of her arousal mingled with the earthy tang of the pines surrounding us, overwhelming my senses. I drank in the sight of her flushed cheeks, parted lips, and hooded eyes dark with desire. Each breathless moan that spilled from those plump lips was sweeter than any melody, driving me onward with increasing fervor. Every nerve ending sang with the incredible friction of our joined bodies as we chased that elusive pinnacle together.

In that moment, I felt more connected to Zoe , to the earth, to everything, than I ever had before. My vision blurred, overwhelmed by the intensity of our connection. Every muscle in my body tensed and relaxed in rapid succession, leaving me feeling both utterly spent and completely alive. As our breathing slowly returned to normal, I cradled Zoe against my chest, marveling at how perfectly she fit in my arms. The warmth of her body against mine felt like coming home, and I knew with absolute certainty that I never wanted to let her go.

The meteor shower had subsided, leaving behind a sky full of twinkling stars. The bioluminescent insects settled around us, their soft glow creating a cocoon of light.

Zoe nuzzled into my chest. Her fingers traced lazy patterns on my skin. " That was..." she trailed off.

" Yeah ," I agreed, attempting to press a kiss to the top of her head but somehow managing to lick her ear instead. " It was..."

We lay in what could generously be called "comfortable silence." As the minutes ticked by, a nagging fear began to creep into my mind. What if this was just a fleeting moment for Zoe ? What if, when morning came, she'd realize this wasn't the life she wanted and run screaming back to civilization faster than you can say "pumpkin spice latte"?

I pulled her down for another kiss, pouring all my emotions into it. When we broke apart, both breathless, she smiled, snuggling back into my chest. " Just wait till I show you the rest of what these mountains have to offer," I said. " We've got bears doing stand-up comedy, squirrels performing ' Hamilton ,' and let's not forget the annual ' Running of the Karens ' event at the local Walmart ."

Zoe laughed, the sound like music to my ears. " Oh really?" she said, propping herself up on an elbow to look at me. " And here I thought the breathtaking views and mind-blowing sex were the main attractions. Clearly , I've been missing out on the real mountain experience."

I chuckled, pulling her close again. " Just you wait, city girl. I'll make a mountain woman out of you yet."

As we lay there, wrapped in each other's arms under the vast expanse of stars, I felt a sense of peace settle over me. I didn't know what the future held, but I knew one thing for certain - I would do everything in my power to make Zoe fall in love with this life, with me, just as I had fallen for her.

The night air grew cooler, and I felt Zoe shiver slightly against me. " We should head back," I said reluctantly, not wanting this magical night to end.

She nodded, sitting up and stretching. The sight of her, silhouetted against the starry sky, took my breath away. How had I gotten so lucky?

As we gathered our clothes and got dressed, stealing kisses and touches along the way, I felt like everything had changed. The world seemed brighter somehow, full of possibilities I'd never dared to dream of before.

We made our way back to the cabin hand in hand, the path lit by the soft glow of our headlamps. The forest around us was alive with night sounds - the hoot of an owl, the rustle of small animals in the underbrush, and what sounded suspiciously like a distant Bigfoot rave.

Back at the cabin, we fell into bed, exhausted but happy. As Zoe drifted off to sleep in my arms, I found myself wide awake, my mind racing with thoughts of the future. I knew there were still obstacles to overcome, decisions to be made. But for now, I was content to hold the woman I loved, listening to her steady breathing and feeling her heart beat against mine.

And so, as the night wore on and the stars continued their cosmic dance, I drifted off to sleep, dreaming of a future filled with love, laughter, and hopefully fewer encounters with bioluminescent insects. Because let's face it, in the grand comedy of life, we were all just bit players trying not to trip over our own feet - and I wouldn't have it any other way.