She nodded slowly. "Yeah. Heat and connection."
He cupped her chin and brought her lips to his, lightly playing with them before they broke apart, breathing heavily. "You're dangerous," he whispered.
Frankie beamed at him. She wasn't quite sure why those two words made her so happy, because the words by themself didn't sound great. But the look in his eyes told her this was serious.
Chapter 8
The orange morning light extended across the bed and came to rest upon John's slumbering form. As the sun continued its rise, the angle shifted casting brilliant rays upon his face, and he blinked at the sudden intrusion. He laid there for a moment, disoriented as the curtain of sleep slowly lifted away. He couldn't remember a time when he'd felt so warm, so comfortable, so peaceful.
His eyes touched on the soft, wavy brown hair splayed out on the pillow next to him and his body finally began to register the soft form in his arms, seemingly molded to his shape. A smile played at his lips. It was difficult to be concerned about this. What man in his right mind would be upset to wake up with a beautiful woman in his arms? With her soft skin beneath his hands and her warmth sinking into his soul.
Her back was flush to his chest as he stroked a hand up her smooth belly to cup a bare breast, kneading it lightly and grinning when she began to squirm. He could tell the exact moment when she awoke, her body tensing ever so slightly.
"Good morning," he murmured, kissing her shoulder softly.
Frankie relaxed against him and released a deep breath. "What time is it?"
"Nearly seven if I had to guess." His arms tightened around her. " I can't remember the last time I slept in this late."
She snickered. "Maybe that's because we were up so late," she offered. “Or it could have been all that physical activity.” Just whatmannerof physical activity was left unsaid.
"You have a good point." His lips landed on her neck and he nibbled his way up to her ear.
"What are we doing today?" she asked, arching to give him better access.
"Hmmmm…" He gripped the fleshy lobe between his teeth, chuckling when he felt goosebumps erupt along her arms, then released it with a sucking pop. "I'm in the middle of installing maple lines and the recent weather tells me I need to hurry the process before the heavy snow comes. Once that happens, it'll be impossible to finish. Would you like to help me?"
Frankie shifted in his arms, rolling to face him, her eyes bright and excited. “Really? I can help?”
The grin that couldn’t seem to stay away with her around stretched across his face again. This was getting downright alarming… he was rapidly turning into mush around this woman. Pretty soon, he'd be drawing hearts on windows and seeing them in the clouds.
"It's tough work," he cautioned. "The ground will still be icy and muddy from the melting snow. More so than yesterday."
"I'm not afraid of a little dirt, and the shoes you bought me worked great." She spun back and snuggled her rear into his groin, making his eyes cross and his cock harden. "After reading my grandmother's journal, I'd always wondered what those maple lines really looked like, laid out in the forest like a humongous boobytrap ready to capture careless hikers in its grasp."
He chucked and adjusted his midsection so his erection wasn’t poking her in the back. "That's pretty close to reality. I tap one hundred acres, with seventy-five taps per acre. I’m over half done, and with an extra pair of hands we just might get done today."
"That sounds lovely." Frankie squirmed against the hand that was currently drawing a heart on her stomach. He smiled and spread his fingers against her ribcage, nestling them just beneath her breasts.
"How much maple syrup do you typically harvest each year?" she asked, her voice taking on a breathless note.
"It differs every year. But if it’s a good year, we can see fifty gallons of syrup. It's sold in the town's general store and the proceeds go to the Wisconsin Forestry Division."
"That's great. I would imagine it tastes amazing."
"It's the best you'll ever try. How about I make you pancakes for breakfast so you can see for yourself.”
“Mmmmm. That would be lovely,” she purred, the sound going straight to his dick. His hands tightened on her.
“I'll take you by the general store tomorrow if you're up for it. All the local artisans sell their crafts there. The local curds are considered a delicacy around here if you like cheese."
"I'd love that." She released a huge exhale, her gaze on the scenery outside. "It is so beautiful here. I mean, everything I read said it would be nice, especially this time of the year. But I never expected this."
"What did you expect?"
She shrugged. "I wasn't quite sure, to be honest. I've been all over the world on projects, but this place just speaks to me somehow."
John’s heart sped up, but he didn’t say a word. He wasn't about to fool himself into believing that Frankie would stay. She was only here for the week and then she'd return to London,which might as well be Mars as far as he was concerned. She had a life there, a career and most certainly family who would be upset if she moved across the world.
