Allow Me to Manage My Own Safety Chapter 13: Allow Me to Manage My Own Sa, a jungle cruise fanfic

Notes:

And, finally, the rating is jumping up here folks… yes, it is time for Frank and Lily to make up for lost time.

But do me a favor… try to recall the previous chapters and the build up to them coming together. Though desire and attraction are a key element to their initial flirtation, there is a mutual respect and adoration that really becomes the foundation of their relationship, and that is what will make their first time together all the more…climactic.

This is a marathon read folks — hold on tight.

Summary:

"Frank," She took a step, closing the distance between them, fed up with this dance they had been doing for far too long. "I've been up and down the Amazon river with you, I think I would know by now if I were in any danger. So please…" She walked past him, barely an inch separating their heated bodies as she moved to the blanket in front of the fire.

She reached her hand out to him, inviting him to her. "…allow me to manage my own safety."

Soundtrack Suggestion: "I Want You to Rest Now" (The feel of this track seems melancholy, but it also has a sweetness and a lot of heart…where I think it really would be poignant for the final scene of this chapter, up until the 1:59 second mark that is…)

Finally, I feel wholeheartedly, that this song encapsulates the last act of the story - "Storm" by Lifehouse.

How long have I been in this storm?

So overwhelmed by the ocean's shapeless form

Water's getting harder to tread

With these waves crashing over my head

If I could just see you

Everything would be alright

If I'd see you

This darkness will turn to light

And I will walk on water

And you will catch me if I fall

And I will get lost into your eyes

I know everything will be alright

I know everything is alright

I know you didn't bring me out here to drown

So why am I ten feet under and upside down?

Barely surviving has become my purpose

'Cause I'm so used to living underneath the surface

If I could just see you

Everything would be alright

If I'd see you

This darkness will turn to light

And I will walk on water

And you will catch me if I fall

And I will get lost into your eyes

I know everything will be alright

And I will walk on water

And you will catch me if I fall

And I will get lost into your eyes

I know everything will be alright

I know everything is alright

Everything's alright

Chapter 13: Allow Me to Manage My Own Safety

Night had fully consumed the jungle just as they arrived back to the cabin. Lily waited outside while Frank retrieved a bag and two lanterns that looked just as old as the rotting dock in the harbor.

"Ready?" He asked as he emerged from the door, lighting the wicks inside the lamps.

Lily shrugged, "I have no idea what you are up to Frank. So yes, I'm ready." she smiled and took the lantern from his outstretched hand.

Frank grinned, "Great, follow me, Pants!"

He lead her out behind the cabin further to the edge of the hillside closest to the river. The air was still muggy and warm and her skin still felt tacky with sweat.

The began to push their way through another overgrown path, and Lily frowned when she realized how little she was able to see with the canopy of the trees blocking the moonlight."You've always said that everything in the jungle was looking to kill us, are you sure we should be venturing out past sunset?" She asked, ducking under a low branch.

The darkness made it feel a bit claustrophobic while trying to weave their way through the dense foliage, the low light flickering from her lantern barely helping.

Frank snickered. "What? Now you're scared? After undead conquistadors, headhunters, and a maniacal German Prince…?" Frank stepped over a large root in the ground, and held his lantern up a little higher as he made his way down the trail.

Lily scowled at his back. "No! I'm just re-emphasizing that sometimes you have poor judgment, and now you have me out here traipsing through the Amazon at night."

"You're right, make sure you stick close to me — I wouldn't want you to get eaten by anything."

Lily laughed anxiously. "Now you're just playing with me." She glanced nervously to her left as she heard a rustling in the bush nearby.

"Maybe." His voice was unreadable.

Lily shook her head, not buying into his comments. But just at that moment, her lantern decided to flicker out, leaving the path in front of her darker than before.

"Bloody thing." She huffed and dropped it on the trail.

She reached her hand out quickly and made contact with the back of Frank's shirt. She grabbed at it, fisting it up in her hand. Frank grinned as he heard her cursing under her breath, and continued to lead the way.

A few steps later, Frank reached back to Lily and pulled her ahead of him and encouraged her to push her way through the last of the overgrown vegetation. What she saw on the other side, was enough to make her jaw drop yet again.

As they emerged through the bushes, they found themselves in a wide open space with a small body of water at the center of it. A short, cascading waterfall sat at the backside of the pool churning the water in such a way that it was as if it were being pumped in from below the rocks. The fresh water from the top of the higher ridge fed down into the pool, which in turn was feeding down into the river below it. It reminded Lily of the tiered waterfalls she had seen in books describing all of South America, and now she was seeing one in person.

I really do like waterfalls, she chuckled to herself.

The private cove was peaceful and serene. The trees and plants surrounded the water, giving it a very closed in, intimate feeling. The trees reached high into the sky, but left a gap at the top, letting the newly risen moonlight bathe the area in an iridescent glow.

Anxiousness all but gone now that the destination has been revealed, Lily walked out towards the water. "Frank…just, wow…This is gorgeous. It's like your own private oasis!" She said dreamily, taking in the view. "And it's literally right in your back garden!" She continued to admire the way the moonlight was glistening off of the water.

"Frank? Are you even listening to me?" She asked when he didn't respond.

She hadn't noticed Frank behind her, steadily removing his boots, followed by his socks. She turned to him just in time to see his pants hit the dirt. Lily's eyes snapped up and away, directly back to the water in front of her, her hands flying to her face.

"Oh my God, Frank, what are you doing?!" She gasped, her eyes wide and her hands moving to block her view of the man rapidly undressing beside her.

Frank looked pleased by her reaction and promptly pulled his shirt up and over his head, tossing it on top of a log next to where she was standing. She peeked between her fingers to see Frank's muscular, tanned back walking directly into the water. Clad only in a thin pair of cotton underpants and his skipper hat, he turned unabashedly back to Lily, who moved her hand from her eyes, to her wide open mouth.

"I was wrong before when I said that the river was the finest bath in all of Brazil." He walked backwards into the lake up to his waist, waves rippling out and away from his body.

"Because this —" He made a wide sweeping motion over the tiny lake, "… is the finest bath in all of Brazil!" He declared as he tossed his skipper cap back at Lily, and with expertise, turned and dove into the shallow water.

Lily was left standing alone on dry land holding his skipper cap. She watched as his head popped up near the far end of the water closer to a rock formation along the hill, and then began to swim back; his long, strong arms pulling him closer to her.

The temperature had dropped since the sun had set, but the humid air still remained, making her feel uncomfortable in her own dirty clothes, especially after the day's activities. She imagined that the water must feel incredibly refreshing. It most certainly looked heavenly.

Shaking her head, she took a small, barely noticeable step towards the water. "I suppose that you think I'm —I'm going to join you in… there?" She stammered and pointed at the water with his hat.

Frank wiped the water up and away from his face. "Only if you want to." The muscles in his arms flexed as he lifted them to his face and neck, and he dunked himself into the water again.

As he came back up, he blew water out of his mouth and it sprayed out and landed like tiny pinpricks all over the surface of the tiny lake. He ran his hand over his chest, massaging the muscle underneath. As he walked towards her in what seemed to be a deliberately slow, casual saunter of his hips, she was again caught up watching the way the water reflected off of his skin from the moonlight. Beads of liquid zigzagging every which way down the length of his broad, muscular chest and down the length of his toned abdomen, and for a moment, Lily forgot her fear of the water and instead focused on the curl of desire that had crept into her belly.

How is there not a single hair on his chest? She wondered out of nowhere.

Frank ran his hand languidly across the surface of the water at his waist, the loose waistband of his underpants barely visible as the water ebbed and flowed over it. Lily swallowed and blinked hard in an attempt to clear her thoughts.

"Well?" He spoke suddenly, making her jump slightly. He squinted, trying to see her face.

"There aren't any piranhas in there, are there?" She asked nervously.

"None — I promise, the only dangerous thing in this water is me." He splashed the water in her direction this time, a flirtatious smile at his lips.

"That's not helping, Frank." Lily said sternly, her voice wavering slightly. She threw his hat onto the pile of his clothing.

"I thought it was pretty funny." Frank grinned and lowered himself into the water up to his neck, letting the dirt and grime of the day continue to wash away. He felt his muscles relax and when he took a deep breath, it if as if there was a weight removed from his shoulders. He felt his senses heighten — as his breath felt deeper immediately, and suddenly he felt every ripple of water across his chest and stomach as it flowed naturally around him.

He felt young, energized, and he let himself fall backwards into the water with a splash.

Frank stood again and waded closer to Lily, letting the water come up to his waist. He saw the battle raging within her, it was written on her face. He needed to reassure her that she was safe, but at the same time, he wanted to push her a little — challenge her to push her own boundaries like she had for him.

"Lily?" Her eyes went from the edge of the water to his face. "Listen, there's no underwater puzzles, no turning water to stone here…It's just you and me. I promise you are safe. I'm not gonna let anything happen to you." No jokes, no innuendos. He implored her with his eyes, being as sincere as he could.

He took another step closer, and as the water came away from his body, he realized that his undergarments were clinging to just about everything there was to cling to below the water's edge. He wouldn't normally care, but he also didn't want to put himself on full display especially when he was trying to convince an already nervous woman to get in the water with him.

He reached his hands out to her. "C'mon Lily…you gotta be hot and definitely bothered by all I put you through today… " She smiled, and he felt he was making progress. "If anything, just come in just to feel the water on your feet."

Lily looked at him again, his outstretched hands inviting her in. "You got this."

What's the worst that could happen? I've already nearly drowned.

Lily took a deep breath, and rolled her eyes in resignation. "Fine, yes. OK." She figured that at this point, what the hell, and throwing propriety to the wind, she began to remove her dirty boots. Frank cheered inwardly, and let the grin on his face widen as she tossed them next his.

Lily pulled at the warm leather buckle of her belt, and when it gave way, she felt the relief of being free from its tight confines. She took in a deep, soothing breath of air, feeling her lungs stretch and fill. She let the air out slowly, and just as she was about hook her thumbs into the waistband of the skirt, she felt Frank's eyes on her.

She realized that this time she wasn't exactly wearing her underpants 'pants'. Instead she had on a separate pair of much shorter underpants that only reached down to mid-thigh. Her sleeveless blouse gave her the same amount of cover as her undergarments she wore previously, so she was fine with that. But without the extra scrutiny from the man in the water, she would be more willing to journey into the water ahead.

"Frank — could you just — You know… turn around…" She twirled her finger in a circle at him.

Frank furrowed his brow. "Seriously? I've already seen your …under-pants." He smirked and drummed his fingers in the water, sending tiny ripples outward.

"I know, but…"

Frank heaved a sigh. "Fine, if that's what will make you feel better."

"Yes. Thank you." She replied quickly, waiting for him to comply.

Frank rolled his eyes, and turned himself around so he was facing the waterfall. "It's not like I can see anything anyhow…it is night time." He jawed at her.

Needing to occupy himself, he cupped his right hand and brought a handful of water up and over his opposite shoulder, enjoying the feel of it cascading down his chest and back. He repeated the motion on the other side, giving him something to focus on.

With Frank's back turned, she made quick work of her skirt and stepped out of it. She undid the knot at the end and shook it out and laid it neatly over a low hanging tree branch. Staring back at the water, she swallowed nervously, smoothing the fabric of her blouse down and then pulled the cotton bloomers lower around her thighs. Although the undergarment covered everything it needed to, and was much easier to remove when she needed to relieve herself, they still made her feel much more bare and exposed than she was used to. Once she was safely to waist deep water, she would let Frank turn back around.

She stepped into the lake tentatively, taking deep breaths to steady herself. The soil and sand beneath the water felt soft and foreign under her feet, and she could feel tiny pebbles shifting under her toes. She continued to work her way forward, and the cool water felt refreshing as it began to reach her calves. She hesitated, not knowing whether to look up in front of her, or keep her eyes focused on Frank's body in the distance.

Meanwhile, Frank listened aptly as the water moved and swished lightly at each of her steps. One, two, three, four…he counted, as the sound drifted to his ears.

When the sound stopped, he frowned, wondering exactly how far she'd gone.

"Lily?" He asked over his shoulder.

"Still here." She shouted back, although not as close as he wished.

"Where's that?"

"Um…about to my knees."

"Alright…" He knew the nerves were getting the better of her. Again, he told himself he would let her do it at her own pace. He cracked his neck, and rolled his shoulders, trying to stay relaxed.

He felt the water move again, and he heard her murmuring to herself. The sound of her moving in the water was encouraging, and he thought for a moment she was right behind him.

The sound and movement ceased again.

"Hello?"

Her head snapped up, "Yes. Yes— right, still working on it… Here I come…"

"Lily, you're gonna have to move a little faster here…. It's not deep… look at me," He held his arms out, water dripping off of them, and running down his sides. "…See? I'm only a few feet ahead of you and it's only to my waist."

She stared at his back, urging herself to get there. "I know I know… I'm going at my pace."

"Which if it were any slower, you would be probably be going backwards…" He quipped.

She frowned. "Don't tempt me."

She took a few more steps and as the water began to reach mid thigh, she paused again.

Frank splashed the water in front of him. "Now I'm five hundred years old."

Lily sighed in irritation. "Seriously Frank! Just —stop! You know I'm still not entirely comfortable with this. I think I'm doing rather well, thank you!" She fussed at him as she took another wobbly step deeper into the water, the rocks shifting under her foot.

"Ok..ok…sorry." He shook his head and then began to pour water over his shoulders again.

As the water rose finally to her backside, then over her hips, she squeezed her eyes shut, and made sure to dig her feet firmly into the soil where she stood. The current of the water had increased and she was vaguely aware of it swirling around her waist. She knew she was beginning to tremble, and she hated herself for it.

Get it together Lily. You've already been underwater and trapped in an ancient stone cage, you can wade into this tiny little pool of water.

She squeezed her hands together tightly, wanting to calm herself and regain her composure before she had Frank turn around. When she finally made it within arms reach of where he stood in the water, she was proud of herself. She stared at the wet skin on his back and took a deep breath.

Frank was humming to himself and gliding his hands through the water, willing his patience to stretch, when all of a sudden, he felt the touch of her hand on his back and he startled, his body stopping in its tracks. Caught off guard by such a gentle touch, he held his breath as he turned around slowly to find Lily standing in front of him, a shaky smile on lips, and her hands hovering over the water as if she were afraid to get them wet.

Letting his breath out in a rush of air, he brought his hands up to grip her elbows, at which she latched onto him immediately, laughing nervously while holding on tightly to his forearms.

"Here I am…" She declared in a nervous breath of air, holding on to him tightly. She was ramrod stiff and hunched forward, her eyes bouncing nervously between their arms, the water, and his face — but she made it. He felt the tremble in her body, and he immediately hated himself for feeling any sort of irritation, realizing how much courage it took for her to wade out here on her own.

He smiled reassuringly back at her. "Here you are." He squeezed her arms, letting her know that he had a firm hold on her and to provide another reminder that she was safe.

"Sorry it took so long." Her chest was rising and falling a little faster than she would like, but the initial apprehension had started to fade and she settled her shifting gaze directly in front of her. Frank's chest came into view first, and one of the first things she noticed was the small, nearly healed scar over his heart. Droplets of water dribbled over it, and she blinked, realizing it's where Aguirre's blade had been. She felt an urge to reach out for it, but realized her hands were still gripping tightly onto the man in front of her.

Frank shifted so that he was able to take a step back and see her fully. "Don't be sorry, you've already conquered the first hurdle, and that's getting in the water. Now I want you to relax, and just, breathe…" He took a deep breath to encourage her to do the same. She followed suit, and closed her eyes as she exhaled.

He felt the warmth of her breath hit his chest and as it mingled with the water, goosebumps prickled down his neck and arms. Her eyes opened, and this time she made eye contact with him. He saw the reflection of the moonlight dance off of the blue in her eyes, and a yearning pulsed through his body suddenly, making his mouth go dry.

She looked infinitely innocent and alluring at the same time. Her strength was amplified in the way she carried herself, but the vulnerability emanating from her eyes made his chest constrict.

Clearing his throat, he pulled gently on her arms, encouraging her to take a few more steps deeper into the water. He felt her begin to tense and he paused.

Her eyes snapped back down to the water, the source of her fear. "Frank — Frank…just go slow." She warned, and then took a step with him.

"Don't worry — I've got you." He dipped his head down, urging her to meet his eyes. When she did look up, she was surprised by the intensity behind his stare.

You're safe. I've got you.

It was then that she finally let herself relax, knowing that she was secure with him.

As they ventured further, Lily felt her body begin to loosen up from the way it flowed around her hot and tired body. She began to feel the dirt and grime and sweat of the day wash away, and against her better judgment, she let Frank lead her another step into the water so it was just under her chest.

"How do you feel?" He asked, seeing her visibly relax.

"Surprisingly…good. Now that I'm not worried about drowning, it actually feels quite nice." She gave him a genuine smile. "Thank you for your…help." She loosened the death grip she had on his arms that were still connected beneath the water.

He let her arms go, missing the contact immediately. "You are most welcome. I'm right here if you need me." He let his hands float up and through the water to show her they were nearby.

She nodded to him and brought her hands up to her bare arms, letting the water run down, cooling off her sun soaked skin.

Lily looked up and around for the first time, admiring the area from different perspective. The moonlight was almost as bright as the sunset, with its light bouncing off of the surface of the water, and lighting the area around them. The rush of the water over the boulders behind them was a soothing sound as it mixed with the chirps and howls of the nocturnal animals and insects of the jungle.

She took another deep breath, and let out a contented sigh. Her body felt secure where it was, and she began to wash her shoulders, enjoying the relief that the water brought. She dropped herself a touch lower so she could reach down to scrub at her shins and legs, then she reached both hands around to scrub the sweat and grime from behind her neck. The feeling of the water across her warm skin was heavenly, and she pressed into the tight muscles behind her neck, closing her eyes at the feel of the tension being released.

"OK, you were right…" She admitted as she continued to rub her arms and neck.

Frank smiled and lifted a hand to his ear, water running down his arm. "I'm sorry…what was that?"

Lilly laughed at him and rolled her eyes. "The water feels heavenly. Even better than the bath at the hotel the other day."

"See? There is something special about the water here — almost as if it has magical powers of its own."

Lily ran her hands over the surface of the water the way Frank had been doing, enjoying the way it lapped across her skin. "Magical indeed." She murmured to herself.

Frank went under the water once again, letting the liquid flow around him and soothe his tired muscles. He surfaced next to Lily, who was still working the water over her limbs. He noticed proudly that she had taken a few extra steps, perhaps accidentally, bringing her body a little deeper into the lake.

As she reached up to rub her neck with both hands, he felt his pulse pick up suddenly as he realized her shirt had become saturated and was now clinging to the curves of her body in a much more intimate way. The blouse she was wearing wasn't transparent, but the water had definitely allowed it accentuate the soft roundness of her breasts.

He felt his body begin to react at the sight, and he crammed his eyes shut, trying to keep his arousal under control. He growled deep in his throat, and sank himself into the water. Lily turned towards him at the sound of his fidgeting, their eyes meeting on the same level.

"You ok?" She asked, wondering why he was squatting in the water. Her eyes flew wide all of a sudden. "You're not —? " She made a gesture with her hand, insinuating he was relieving himself.

Frank scowled at her. "No!" He stood up a little straighter, still making sure the majority of him was under the water. She squinted at him suspiciously, and then pulled the tie from her hair, letting the long golden locks free themselves from the braid.

Frank watched as she tried to comb through her hair with her fingers and he felt the urge to reach out and help, but kept his hands to himself.

When she lowered her arms, he noticed a smear of dirt across her cheek.

"You have a little — dirt…" He wiggled a finger at her right cheek. "…right there."

"What? I do?" Lily's eyebrows raised, and she patted a wet hand to the opposite side of her face.

Frank tilted his head and knitted his brow. "Nope. Other side." When she missed again, he raised his own wet hand to her face. His large hand cupped the side of her face gently, then, using his thumb, he wiped the dirt slowly from her cheek. Lily felt her body still at the innocent gesture, the sound of droplets falling back to the water from his raised arm echoing in her ears.

Her mind shifted, and suddenly she was more aware of her state of undress, Frank's bare chest, and the way his hand felt on her face.

It felt good. The air seemed to crackle around them, and suddenly the sound of the water cascading across the rocks behind them was deafening.

He gave her a lopsided grin, "There. Got it." He dropped his hand from her face, and then sank himself back into the water like a shy child. The moment ended, but the air still felt heavy around them.

She felt a stab of disappointment when he removed his hand, and her body felt warm as she lifted her hand to her face to wipe at the same spot. "Thanks." Frank smiled in return.

Needing a distraction, Frank clapped his hands together causing water to fly in all directions. "I have an idea. I'd like to try something — to get you more comfortable in the water." He moved to stand in front of her. "Do you trust me?"

"Sometimes." She blurted. Then she was laughing at the way his grin disappeared as quickly as it came. "I'm just kidding - Geez, Frank. Yes. I do trust you." She smiled sweetly back at him, and when he returned the smile, she felt a sense of relief that he knew she was joking.

"Good. OK…So, I'm gonna need you to face the other way, please." He lifted both of his hands out of the water and gently placed them on her shoulders, nudging her gently to turn around. She let herself be turned, and when she was facing away from him towards the shore, she felt the rocks under her feet shift, and she faltered for a moment, but Frank's steady hands helped keep her balance.

"Ok, now, the important thing to remember is that I will not let you go, got it?" He squeezed her shoulders firmly to emphasize his point.

Lily's breath began to pick up. "Um…ok. Got it." She nodded curtly, and folded her hands together in front of her, under the water, twisting her fingers together.

"Good, now - when your feet leave the ground, I'm gonna need you to not panic, and just lay back."

Lily nodded again quickly in understanding. "Relax, ok — wait, what do you mean when my feet leave the —" Her words were cut off as Frank hunched down into the water and pressed his right hand to the small of her back while simultaneously bringing his other arm across her shoulders. He pulled her backwards and pressed up at the same time, sending Lily's feet flying out from under her.

"FRANK! OH MY GOD…What are you doing!?" She flailed, and her both of her hands came out of the water to grip the arm that was across her shoulders.

She kicked her legs, splashing water wildly, and Frank had to tighten his hold on her so she didn't wriggle out of his grasp. "LILY! Calm down…Just relax into the water. I want you to float on your back for me." His voice was deep and calm, and since it was directly next to her ear, it was all she could hear — but it wasn't enough. She felt the panic grip her again, and she felt dizzy.

"Here, lean back and your head is going to rest on my shoulder." He maneuvered her so the back of her head was laying on his right shoulder, all the while his hand under the water was pushing her up.

"Frank! I'm not so sure about this!" Her voice was loud in his ear, and he felt her nails digging into his arm. She was still stiff as a board and he needed her to relax so she could focus on the feel of the water holding her up.

"I know…Lily, listen to me —" He implored. "I know it seems like you're going to sink, but you won't. The water will help you float. And so will I." He said softly, and he began to sway slightly, letting the water lap against her body.

Lily swallowed and squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them, trying to focus on the sky above her or anything besides the fear. "Frank — I don't — " She blinked again, her limbs beginning to shake. She could hear her heart pounding in her ears.

But then another sound began to overtake it.

Was that… humming?

He wasn't sure where the tune came from. Perhaps it was something he recalled from his childhood, or perhaps something he heard from a phonograph once. Either way, he pulled it from his memories, and began humming it softly, slowly… trying to distract the frightened woman in his arms.

The sound was soothing and just as rich and deep as his regular voice. Because his face was so close to hers, she could feel the hum reverberate from his throat and into her neck, sending goosebumps down her spine and her arms. He pulled her slowly across the water, letting it run over her shoulders, across her chest, and now that they'd stopped kicking, her legs. A few moments ticked by and she felt her breath begin to slow as she focused her mind on the feel of the water that was gliding over her body, and the soft sound of Frank's hum.

She closed her eyes, concentrating — urging her body to calm down. When her hands began to loosen their grip on the arm across her chest, she knew she was making it happen.

One…more…breath.

He felt her body go slack and relax in his arms. Her head settled fully onto his shoulder, and her hands legs stopped kicking enough to float leisurely in the water. He heard her inhale deeply, and he matched it, exhaling with her.

Once, twice.

He continued humming as he slowly pulled her across the tiny pool of water, taking deliberately cautious steps and ensuring that she was staying on the surface.

A puff of air came from her lips, and he knew that she had reached a point of composure.

"See…not so bad." He whispered in her ear.

Frank's hand came from under the water come up to grasp her right wrist that was latched to his forearm, and pull it gently outward.

"Mhmm…You're lucky I didn't claw your eyes out." She replied in a breathy whisper of her own, letting him maneuver her hand.

She felt a smile tug at his lips against her cheek. "Lucky indeed."

He continued walking backwards in slow languid circles while now reaching for her left wrist to pull it out in the opposite direction.

Lily felt her arms being outstretched with his - as if they were opening their arms wide to hug the sky, but instead they continued to float across the surface of the water, gently bobbing up and down together. She had to admit, the feeling of floating, the almost weightless sensation, was enthralling. She felt as if the water was lifting her, pushing and pulling her towards something infinite and reassuring. Her body felt as if it were drinking in the soothing feeling of the water, breathing new energy into her tired limbs.

When she began to focus on the feel Frank's fingers intertwining with her own, she realized it wasn't the water that was supporting her, it was him. His strength and confidence a living, breathing thing surrounding her, holding her. And just as she was aware of the water moving over her skin, caressing her, lapping at her body, she was now focused on the feeling of his hands on her instead.

His right hand passed delicately across the top of hers, then under it, folding his fingers over hers slowly in the water, letting them drag across her skin. The pressure he used was firm, yet gentle at the same time. He grasped her left wrist loosely, pulling it outwards in the opposite direction, encouraging her to push and pull the water, circulating it around them.

He didn't mean for the touch to be sensual, at least not at first. It was to distract her mind, help her focus on the way the water felt as she moved within it. But as he continued the movements, the caress of his fingers over hers, even he sensed the way his touch went from comforting to wanton in a matter of moments.

Lily licked her lips as the feel of his hands began to send rivers of awareness flowing throughout her body. His left hand started to climb up her forearm, scraping it enticingly with the roughened tips of his fingers, and she couldn't stop the shiver that emanated from that point and ricochet throughout her body and to the tips of her breasts.

Frank pulled her a little faster, allowing her to float more freely atop the surface of the water, her head still safely placed on his shoulder. She drew a sharp breath, and he smiled, pressing his cheek closer to hers.

Their movement caused the water to ripple and undulate around them, sending small waves lapping against her breasts like feather-strokes, bringing her nipples to a tender hardness.

All this time he had been watching their hands mingle together, so when he looked down to where her chest was raised out of the water, his eyes widened as he saw very clearly how her body was reacting to everything around her.

Lily felt the tingling throb of her arousal pulse between her legs like a beacon, and she knew suddenly, in this moment, things were about to change.

Realizing what was happening to her, and what was transpiring between them, she felt an overwhelming need to look him in the eyes. To verify that she wasn't the only one feeling the intense pull towards the other.

Frank felt a change in her breathing and when she began to pull her arms out of his grasp, bringing them back in to the center of her body, he was worried he had done something wrong. He moved them to where she would be able to set her feet on the ground, and helped her find stable footing.

He was ready to apologize for pushing the limits, for surprising her like he did, but when she turned in his arms and looked up at him, their eyes nearly at the same height, he didn't see anger or irritation.

He saw longing and desire.

His words escaped him, and for a moment, he forgot to breathe. When she reached a hand out to him, laying it gently over the scar on his chest, the sensation made him take a step back, and he felt the rocks under his foot give way, sending him reeling backwards. "Oh, sh—!" He yelped, feeling himself falling.

Lily saw him begin to falter, and the hand that was at his chest shot out to grab his arm, pulling him swiftly back towards her. His other arm splashed in the water, the hand clawing at it to find stability, and when she pulled him back to her, he found just that; his arm flying forward and around her waist, anchoring himself to her. The quickness and strength in which he pulled himself to her made the water swoosh out of the way between them as their bodies pressed up against one another completely, firmly.

"I got you…" She breathed in sharply, grinning up at him, water dripping from her chin.

He looked into her eyes, his own breath coming just as quickly. "Yes you do."

Lily felt the pulse of adrenaline pumping in her veins as she became aware of the hard lines of Frank's body pressing directly against her.

His arm was still holding her tight and close, unwilling to let her go…unwilling to let any space come between them. He let his eyes drift over her face, so close to his. Her lips were parted slightly, seemingly like an invitation, and it made his chest ache at how beautiful she was.

Her hair was wet and sticking to her face and neck, while her skin was covered in droplets of water, scattered across her chest. And her eyes…her eyes were focused, imploring him just as they did that day at La Luna Rota, begging him to change his mind.

To live.

…One person is world enough.

…It could be…

He knew it the moment she said it, but was afraid to admit it out loud. But now, he wanted — needed — to show her how much he believed that she was his, and he was her — one person.

He couldn't wait any longer and reached his hand up to her neck, pulling her to him without any hesitation.

The next touch she felt was his lips on hers.

It started slow, a kiss to remind them of the intimacy they'd already shared…in the cave, in the treetops, and on the river —but now, with the feeling of the water surrounding them, the events of the day fresh in their minds, and the realization that for the first time they were completely alone…the kiss turned into something more than either one of them was prepared for.

It was heated and passionate.

Lily's arms snaked up and around his neck, lifting herself closer to his mouth. She felt every fiber of his muscled arms wrapped around her torso, pulling her impossibly closer against the incredibly solid frame of his body. Their lips opened to one another, and Frank slanted his mouth possessively over hers to deepen the kiss. He pressed one strong palm flat against her wet back, and threaded the other into her hair, as if he needed to feel every detail of her body pressed into his. Lily felt if he squeezed her any tighter to him, she would break in half.

The friction of his naked chest against the wet cotton of her blouse sent shards of sensation through her chest and limbs and to the exquisite point of arousal between her legs. The sensitive tips of her nipples were being dragged and pinched from the way Frank was pulling her body against his, causing a moan to escape her lips and into his open mouth. At the sound of her, Frank felt himself swell with pleasure beneath the water.

Her mouth was hot and soft and hard all at the same time, and when her open lips hovered against his, he pressed his tongue to hers, letting them slide over one another. Their movements became frenzied, and the sounds of their bodies splashing the water around them filled the night air.

The ground shifted again, but this time Frank was prepared for it. He released his arms from around Lily's waist and placed both hands just above her hips, lifting her up effortlessly and away from the unstable earth below the water. Lily gasped in surprise at being carried upwards, and as if by instinct, she wrapped her legs high around his waist. After pulling her arms tighter around his neck, she returned her mouth to his and Frank greeting her lips again eagerly as he waded through the water looking for a place to land.

He wrapped one arm securely around Lily, and then reached another hand out to find something to lean on, his mouth never leaving hers. He stumbled blindly until his outstretched hand landed firmly against a large solid boulder partially submerged in the water. Leaning his body weight onto his arm, he then pressed her firmly up against the rock, trapping her smaller, lithe body against it with his own much larger one.

Upon feeling the cool, hard surface of the rock against her back, Lily lifted her head away from his, sucking in much needed air into her lungs. Her hands came to rest on his shoulders, and when Frank opened his eyes, he found her staring back at him, blue eyes darkened by passion, and her chest heaving.

Both of them caught off guard at how quick the intensity of their encounter had become, they leaned their foreheads against one another, their breaths mingling together as they came down from a high neither one was prepared for. As he held her, Lily felt her entire body rise and fall with each of Frank's breaths, her back rubbing against the slick wet surface of the rock, while her breasts still pressed against the hot skin of his chest. The way he held her up so easily, it felt as if she were floating along the surface of the water again.

Frank smiled, feeling the joy and affection roll over him at being able to kiss her and touch her so freely. Lily returned the smile, knowing that this moment was inevitable, but even now it didn't seem real.

She pulled back slightly to see his face, and when she looked in his eyes she saw a gentleness and adoration that made her breath catch.

She pulled a hand from where it was gripping atop his shoulder, and pressed a palm to his cheek. "Frank…" She said his name so softly, it felt like it floated from her lips and was swept into the air.

She descended slowly, the sounds of water droplets plummeting to the water below echoing between them. Keeping her eyes open, his face blurred before her as she kissed him tenderly, languidly, letting her lips tell him how much she had wanted this.

After all the flirting, the innuendos, and the honest and intimate moments, it all lead to this … and they were ready for every aching moment of it.

He felt her legs that were wrapped tightly around his waist begin to relax, and almost simultaneously he let go of the hold he had of her blouse.

When had I grabbed a handful of her shirt?

Eyes still connected, she slid down his body and against the rock behind her until she settled into his lap. A breath of air escaped Frank's lips, and Lily's own breathing stilled as she felt the hardness of his arousal pressing intimately into her bottom.

Impulsively, Frank felt his hips rock forward, and he pressed himself more firmly into her. Lily felt a jolt of pleasure at the movement, and her eyes fell shut out of their own volition. Her mind swam at the thought of only being separated by the thinnest of material between the two of them. Never had she ever felt such desire and longing for a man, and the way it was passing through her body, it filled her with a desperate need to reciprocate what he was doing to her…to him.

He strained to kiss her again, but she held back, still reeling from the sensations inside her body, but partially to tease him. He nearly growled at her, needing to have her mouth on his again. But she held back still, and he stared into her eyes desperately.

Lily's her heart was pounding in her chest. She looked down at the man holding her so close to his body, water running down his neck and shoulders, his eyes heavy and drugged with lust for her. She let her lips graze his again, and with an achingly slow movement, she squeezed her thighs together and pushed herself down into his lap deliberately.

A low, gravely groan lodged in his throat, and he tightened his grip around her waist, seemingly not in control of his own body.

She's doing this on purpose, his mind screamed at him, sparks of pleasure flying into his groin.

When his lips parted a second time, she leaned in, sucking his bottom lip into her mouth, and repeated the same motion against his lap.

This time Frank did growl. The feeling of her grinding down onto his aching erection sent stars into his vision.

"Jesus Lily…" He croaked out.

When she pulled back, a sly smile graced her lips, and she pressed a soft kiss to his cheek…then his chin, and when his head lifted, to the racing pulse on his neck.

Frank was barely holding himself together. The sensations she was eliciting from his body felt as if every nerve ending was on fire, and he wasn't sure if the heightened responses were due to him being mortal again, or if it was a direct result of her.

Either way, he needed to slow this down — otherwise it will be over before it even really begins.

Shifting her slightly so she wasn't sitting so directly on him, he settled her atop the hardness of his thigh and pressed her back against the rock. He reached his head forward to kiss her fully, stealing away her focus.

She was so fixated on the feel of his lips on hers, that she barely noticed as his hands came around to clutch her sides. The hand on her right began to drag upwards slowly, and when she felt his thumb graze across the hardened peak of her nipple, she pulled her lips from his with a gasp of her own, pressing her forehead to his.

He kept the motion slow, controlled. He didn't want to startle her too much, but he wanted to illicit a response, and he was very pleased with the one that he got. He let his thumb press over the curve of her breast and across the peak again, and when she gasped audibly, he felt himself return her sly smile as she squeezed her eyes shut.

He waited for her to reopen her eyes before moving again. When they did, and when they met his, he moved his hand up along her ribs to squeeze her breast fully and gently over the wet material of her shirt. Her head lolled back slightly, giving him full access to her neck. He leaned in quickly to place an open mouthed kiss to the hollow of her throat, simultaneously squeezing her breast again, but this time with more pressure that sent sparks into her body.

Lily whimpered, and Frank had to inhale a deep breath to keep himself from taking things too far.

She stilled in his arms, and Frank moved his hand back to her side, holding her in place, his face inches from hers.

"Are you OK?" He asked her softly, his voice barely a whisper. "Is this…too much, too fast?"

The sound of his voice breaking through the silence around them sounded distant and dreamy - she almost didn't believe her ears that he was speaking.

She blinked at him. "Yes — I mean no." She said quickly, not wanting him to think this was a mistake in any way. "I mean, this is … incredible." She pulled back to look him in the eyes, and smiled at the affection she saw radiating back at her. Still keeping her safe, even now.

The air was thick around them, and when she saw his eyes blink suddenly, she flinched. Then she felt it — tiny droplets of water hitting her lashes, she realized that the humidity had fully embraced the jungle, and rain was beginning to fall.

Frank brought his hand up out of the water and the gentleness at which he placed his hand to her cheek took her breath away. Her eyes slipped shut and she leaned into the warmth of his palm, feeling the tickle of the water as it streamed down her neck and how the droplets from the sky began to pelt her skin from above.

They looked up at the same time, seeing the rain falling towards them. Frank laughed out loud incredulously. "Damn rainforest!" He shouted into the night. He looked back to her and she laughed with him, water dripping across their faces.

The spell they had been under was seemingly broken, and he gently pulled her into a hug, encouraging her to wrap her arms around his neck again. "Hold on." He instructed as he started to walk them both through the deep water and back towards the shore.

Lily held onto his neck and she felt his hands reach down under her thighs to hold her as he took cautious, slow steps up out of the water. The rain was beginning to fall more steadily, and it was only a matter of time before it would be a straight downpour.

As soon as the water reached to mid thigh, Frank paused and let her down slowly, her body gliding down his wet torso and landing on her feet in front of him with a splash.

Lily looked up at him, their hands still intertwined. She was reluctant to let go of him, so instead she released one hand and held the other tightly as she turned to lead him out of the water.

Frank felt a shiver run over him as he watched her walk ahead of him. Her wet hair fell across her shoulders and down her back, and the moonlight glistening off of every droplet of water that still clung to her body. The blouse she wore was fully saturated and nearly unseeable in the moonlight, and the thin material of her underpants were translucent and clinging to the perfect curves of her backside. Without any pants or skirt to hide her legs, they looked impossibly long and lean and he suddenly imagined them wrapped around his waist again. He felt a heated stab of desire shoot through his veins once again, and just as they had taken a step out of the water, he wrenched her arm towards him without warning, and she turned swiftly back to him, a surprised look on her face as her still soaked body landed back against his wet chest with a slap of skin to skin.

He crushed her to him once again, his mouth covering hers before she had a chance to think. He clung to her wet body, feeling suspended, dizzy, and he sank down to the wet earth onto his knees, bringing her with him. He let his hand tangle into her hair, holding her mouth to his, while the other snaked around her back, pulling her body flush against his. She arched into him, kissing him back with the same hunger.

Lily's mind reeled. She was vaguely aware of her palms landing on his chest, trying to stop the momentum of her body as it came crashing into his, only to have them pinned there with the strength of his hold on her. His lips trailed kisses from her mouth, down her jawline, and then to her throat, when a crash of thunder interrupted his decent down her neck. Frank pulled back just as the steady fall of the rain started coming down more insistently.

He leaned back to look at her, his breathing again elevated. "I'm sorry…I guess I just needed to give you one more reason as to why this was the finest bath in all of Brazil." He smiled, letting his grip loosen around her waist.

Lily swallowed and nodded her head. "Well, that was a pretty convincing reason."

He stood up on wobbly legs, and then pulled her to her feet. They let go of each other long enough to gather the clothing that was strewn about. Thankfully the canopy of the trees provided plenty of protective cover from the rain, so their belongings were not too wet. Frank revealed a large towel which he had packed into his bag before they left.

Lily smirked. "It's as if you planned this." He smiled back silently as she let him wrap the worn cotton towel around her shoulders. He picked up their boots, and shoved their clothes into the bag and grabbed the one working lantern in his right hand. He tossed the strap of his bag over his head, and then reached down to grab her hand firmly as he began to lead them back to the cabin.

XXXXX

It seemed as if it took no time at all to return to the safety and comfort of Frank's cabin. They quickly maneuvered over roots and ducked under tree limbs to finally emerge through edge of the jungle, and into the open field behind the house. Lily felt Frank pull her more insistently when they were free from the canopy of the trees and they ran the last few feet as the rain pelted their skin just before making it to the cover of the roof.

Frank jammed his shoulder heavily into the solid door, and it swung open with a loud creak, hitting a chair on the other side. Lily pressed in behind him, and for a moment, they both stood in the doorway of the darkened cabin, the sounds of their breathing the only thing to be heard along with the cadence of the rain falling on the rooftop.

Frank looked down at Lily, who was staring out across the moonlit space. He squeezed her hand, and her eyes came up to his. He smiled down at her and then let it go of her hand as he dropped the bag on the floor and made his way to the fireplace. She watched as he dropped himself down onto one knee and quickly made a small fire, lighting up the interior of the cabin with flickering flames and a soft orange glow.

He stayed there for a moment, staring into the flickering flames. He could feel the beads of moisture still falling across the skin of his back, arms and chest and the warmth of the fire caressed his skin in such a way that it felt like her hands on him still. He squeezed his eyes shut momentarily, willing himself to stay calm.

Lily held the corners of the towel tightly as she leaned back onto the sturdy table, her bottom pressing into its hard edge. She felt water dripping down her legs from her saturated clothing and hitting the wooden floor at her feet. It was the slow slide of the droplets along her inner thighs made her suddenly aware of her near nakedness.

Frank stood and turned back to face Lily and she let her eyes connect with his. Everything felt as if it were moving in slow motion in comparison to what had transpired in the water earlier. With the light behind him, he looked larger and almost intimidating from across the room. The hard muscles of his body were illuminated by light and shadow from the flickering fire, and the glow around him made it look as if he were a statue carved from stone.

Frank took a step towards her and stopped. Lily watched him curiously as he glanced down to the floor then around the room. He moved swiftly and retrieved the heavy quilt on the chair by his unfinished bed and spread it out across the floor in front of the fire. He took a second blanket from the chair and repeated the action and Lily felt the tendrils of heat creep up her neck as she realized he was making a bed. He turned back to her and when she met his eyes, it was apparent that she knew what his intentions were.

Lily felt the heat from his gaze before the fire's warmth had even made it over to her. He started to walk towards her and when her eyes traveled down his body, she couldn't help her gaze from landing at his waist. He made no attempt to cover himself, knowing that he was on full display, and she saw his arousal clearly accentuated through his wet, clinging undergarments. The source of what she felt in the water making it very clear he wanted her.

He stopped just a foot away from her, taking in the way her chest was rising and falling slowly and the way the moisture on her skin was reflecting the light of the fire. She still clung to the towel that lay on her shoulders, and the wet blouse that was slightly visible was still clinging tightly to her body.

Lily swallowed thickly. She pointed to the fireplace and the layer of blankets he just laid out with her chin. "Quite resourceful of you." She said, her voice sounding hoarse in her own ears.

Frank hummed, and the sound made her body prickle with goosebumps. "Well, you gotta use what you got."

She raised one eyebrow at him. "I suppose you think you're going to get lucky?" She tilted her head and feeling her own inhibitions relent, she let the towel around her shoulders sag, revealing more of her wet top.

Frank's eyes widened at her bold question, and then at the sight of her chest coming into view. It was his turn to swallow the lump in his throat. "I, uh…don't assume anything. But I think I've already been pretty lucky tonight." She watched as he cocked his head to once side, regarding her.

He didn't reach for her; instead it was is if the only touch was coming from his eyes. And somehow that look, that stare, was much more physical than any touch she'd ever known.

She watched his broad chest taking in deep breaths, and his hands clenching and unclenching as if he were willing himself to stay put.

Frank stared at a droplet of water hanging perilously on the tip of her of her hair near her eyes. It quivered for a moment, then plummeted downward, landing on the skin of her neck and snaking down between the valley of her breasts.

Frank's throat constricted wantonly. "You know, this is what I meant when I said you should be prepared for anything… you never know what trouble you may find yourself in." His voice was quiet and deep, a roguish smile on his lips.

He sounded confident, but Lily picked up on a sliver of nervousness in his voice as well.

She squinted at him. "Trouble? Are you saying that you're… dangerous?" She challenged, and dropped the towel completely.

"Maybe." He kept his eyes on hers as he breathed in an unsteady breath.

She reached her hand out to him, inviting him to her. "…allow me to manage my own safety."

An almost aching tenderness unfolded within him and when he grasped her hand, he was tugged unwaveringly to her body. She met him half way and with a quick movement, he brought his hand up behind her head and guided her mouth to his once again.

She hadn't been prepared for such intensity, although she should have. Everything about Frank was potent. The rapid rise of her attraction to him felt almost impossible to comprehend. She was a rational woman who had focused her life on science and the pursuit of discoveries that could help others. So, stepping into the Amazon only a few weeks ago, she never would have imagined she would be here in the arms of a man that defied all of her sense of logic and reasoning.

She'd never felt such a powerful feeling like this before, and rather than think about it, she let her body react to each touch, kiss, and pulse of desire.

Frank dragged his lips across hers, his tongue tracing the softness of her bottom lip. One hand held her head steadfast, whilst the other slid down her back to land solidly upon her backside. A muffled whimper came from her mouth as his large hand squeezed the rounded flesh of her bottom and pulled her more directly into the hard lines of his body. She felt him smile against her lips, and she arched herself into him as he kissed her thoroughly.

Lily didn't know what to do with her hands, there was so much of him surrounding her, that she momentarily felt like she was enveloped by his massive frame. She snaked one arm around his neck while the other went under his arm and latched onto his shoulder.

The fire crackled, and Frank felt the heat increase against his back. He turned them so Lily was closer to the fire and pulled his mouth away from hers so he could drop to his knees in front of her. His body was beginning to ache with need, but he ignored it, pushed it to the side to focus on the woman in front of him.

She had filled his thoughts for nearly every waking moment since he'd met her. At the beginning it was about the arrowhead, breaking the curse…but once he witnessed how brave and confident and damn insistent she was, he knew that as long as she was around, his own life would never be the same. She tore down the wall around his four hundred year old heart, and reminded him that life was worth living again. And tonight, he was going to show her what that meant to him.

When his mouth suddenly disappeared, Lily's eyes opened to find him sinking down slowly in front of her. His lips were no longer on hers, but were now dragging haltingly down her neck, between her breasts, and then landing on her stomach where her skin was still covered by the wet material of her blouse.

Frank looked up from where he knelt, his hands at her back. He sought her eyes, asking for permission to continue. Lily felt herself floating on the water all over again, and when she looked down at Frank with darkened, passion filled eyes, she grasped the back of his head and nodded down to him, answering his question without a word.

Frank wasted no time lifting the bottom edge of the sodden clothing up and away from her skin, kissing the moist flesh below it. She felt her body quiver at the touch of his lips against the bare skin of her abdomen, and when he dipped his tongue into her belly button, she felt her knees buckle. His hands held her tightly to him however, both of them pressing firmly to the small of her back, holding her upright. She grabbed at his head, and wished briefly that he had hair so she could tangle her fingers into it.

Frank continued his assault to her stomach, and when he started to inch lower, his fingers sliding teasingly under the waistband of her panties, she felt herself tense. His hands stilled, and Lily looked down to see his upturned face looking back at her once again. He held her eyes as he pulled the wet material down, dragging it across her hips and to the floor where she stepped out of them. She felt a shiver across her skin at the feel of the air and the heat of the fire on her naked skin, and then another as Frank's hands seized the smooth skin of her backside, kneading the firm roundness of her buttocks with his very agile fingers. His strong hands unencumbered by any material across her bare skin felt exceptionally electric, and the fact that she now stood in front of him with zero pants, in any form, made her feel incredibly sexy.

Frank pressed a kiss dangerously low on her belly, humming while he did so, causing the vibration to ricochet into her belly. Lily moaned, and Frank felt himself swell at the thought of causing such divine reactions from her.

She reached her head down to him, and when she touched her lips to his, he pulled her down to her knees and on to the soft blanket with him. He let her lips pull away first, and together, they leaned forward, letting their foreheads rest upon one another as they did in the water.

Lily let her hands settle on his chest, pressing her fingers into the taught and tense muscles beneath. Her eyes found the scar left by Aguirre's blade and the almost unnoticeable line of her stitching from where she patched him up. She let her mind focus on the intense grief she felt when she saw Frank impaled upon the blade, then fall to the water below. But just as profound were her feelings of finding him alive, and then learning of his secret. She felt a wave of emotion as she let her fingers glide gently over the reminder of the curse that was no more.

Frank felt his shoulders relax. Her hands were gentle but strong, and he let himself take deep, welcome breaths as she ran her hands over his chest. He knew she could feel the rapid beating of his heart below her hand, and when she leaned forward to press a kiss to the scar under her palm, he took deep, sharp breath. He was unprepared for his body's reaction to the tender touch, and his eyes fell closed as he focused on the way she let her lips linger on his skin.

She kissed her way across his chest and back up again where she ran her lips across the stubble of his jawline, enjoying the way it felt scraping across her cheek.

She placed a hand to the side of his face, and lifted his head back to hers. His eyes opened slowly to see her return her lips to his once again.

Soon after, her actions grew bolder and he felt her hands slide from his neck to his back, her fingernails digging in slightly, and raking down across the musculature of his spine. A low throaty growl escaped his lips as Lily's hands slid under the waistband of his clothing, and grasped his backside. The solid flesh under her palms flexed, and he gasped into her mouth, as she squeezed his rear firmly.

He was vaguely aware of a slow enigmatic smile spreading across her lips, when one of her hands moved from his backside to the front of his body. Her fingers danced across hardened muscles of his abdomen, and then began to dip lower into the front waistband of his clothing. He grabbed the wrist lightly, and she looked up to him questioningly.

"If you do that, I'm not entirely sure how long this will last." He whispered against her mouth, his breath coming out hot and rapid. She saw a lopsided grin appear in his lips, and she made her decision.

She pulled her hand from his grasp. "I'll take my chances."

She leaned forward suddenly, and sucked his bottom lip into her mouth while simultaneously reaching down to wrap her fingers around him. He hissed out a breath, and his hips thrust into her hand instinctually. Lily felt a sense of power at causing such a visceral reaction from him, and when he moved, her hand slid down the velvety length and back up. It occurred to her suddenly, her eyes growing a bit wider, that she just may need two hands to handle all of him. The thought sent a wave of nervous anticipation into her belly.

Frank's vision blurred, and he wasn't sure if he would last a few more more seconds, let alone minutes if he let her continue her exploration of his body.

Regaining control of his limbs, he smoothly redirected her hand from where it was and back to around his neck with a grin. His hands came back to her hips and then slid up across her ribs and back down before settling at the bottom of her blouse. Lily realized this was the last article of clothing she was wearing, and with an intake of breath, she raised her arms above her head, and let Frank peel away the wet shirt from her body, leaving her naked in front of him.

For a moment, she felt the urge to cover herself, but when he looked into her eyes, she felt warmth and affection emanating from them.

"Lily…you're beautiful."

He reached out to take her face in his hands and placed a loving kiss to her forehead. Her hands went up to his forearms as he held her head to his lips, and her eyes drifted shut at the emotion she felt from the simple gesture.

He kissed her closed eyelids next, then an open mouth kiss to the pulse point on her neck. When his head dipped to the skin over her heart, Lily felt herself begin to ache with desire. That feeling would increase tenfold as he placed one large, warm palm over her left breast. She felt her head fall forward of the feeling of him touching her without the barrier of any clothing. He removed his hand, and the cool air rushed in immediately, bringing the peak to a pebbly hardness; then suddenly his hot mouth was on her, suckling at the flesh, his tongue teasing and lapping over her nipple. Lily sucked in a breath at the sensation of pleasure that shot through her body and landed at her center. She felt the unmistakable wetness or her arousal pool between her legs.

His tongue blazed a trail across her chest to the other nipple, bringing it into his mouth and ensuring it too had the same attention.

Lily grabbed at his head as the heat in her body began to reach a boiling point.

"Frank…" She gasped, as he continued to kiss the sensitive peaks of her breasts, her hands clutching the back of his head.

She felt him shift a hand to her back, splaying it wide to support her as he used the weight of his body to urge her backwards.

Lily felt herself falling, and she held on to his head as he lowered her gently to the soft blanket below. She let her legs stretch out beneath her as he lowered himself down so he was laying beside her, supporting himself on his elbow so he was hovering above her slightly. The firelight bathed her naked skin in a glow that made her look even more breathtaking than before. She smiled up at him with a confidence and a vulnerability that made his heart ache.

Lily's left hand dropped to the blanket just above her head, while the other was relatively trapped beneath Frank's torso. He reached up with his free hand and grasped her chin while he let his lips skim just against hers, unmoving. She strained up to him, and he pulled back, not letting her complete the contact. She made a sound that sounded something like a groan and whimper, and he closed the distance between them before she had a second to react.

It was during this kiss that he let his now free hand roam down the length of her body. His fingers dragging across her neck, to her collarbone, then to one breast — lingering long enough to squeeze it fully and watch as her eyes slipped shut. He fingers grazed down to the smooth skin across her belly, and then to the thatch of soft hair between her legs. Frank forced himself to slow down, be gentle. He wanted to learn how she liked to be touched, and where.

Lily felt her body quiver in anticipation, and when she felt the heat of his hand against the sensitive skin on her inner thigh, her legs clenched together involuntarily.

He gripped his hand to her thigh, and then moved his fingers up firmly until he reached the wet folds of her arousal. He used two fingers to move against her, rubbing one gently across the peak of her desire. He looked into her eyes, watching, memorizing her reactions for use again some other time. When her mouth flew open, but no sound came out — he knew he'd found the right spot.

As soon as a he let slip a finger into her tight core, feeling the grip of her body, he pressed his mouth over hers, trapping the gasp of air that emanated from her mouth. Lily's legs fell open further, allowing him access as he moved a single strong finger in a circular motion across the sensitive tip of her sex. Lily's hand came to grip his bicep and shoulder, desperately trying to hold on to something as she felt as if she were skyrocketing from the earth. His huge body angled atop hers, pressing her down further into the soft quilt, and her breath was beginning to come in short pants. She felt the heat of him everywhere, the hot, hard length of him pressing into her hip as his fingers continued to vigorously rub and stimulate the bundle of nerves nestled between her legs. Her body ached with desire and she felt the throb of release start to build quickly.

Frank moved his mouth to her breast, biting her nipple gently, tugging it between his teeth in tandem with the movement of his hand. He felt her grind her hips into his palm, and when she moaned his name, he felt himself swell with need.

All at once, his hand was gone along with his mouth, and Lily felt the chill of the air wash over her body causing her eyes to fly open. Frank had turned his body away and onto his back and was sliding out of his underpants, removing the last barrier that remained between them.

In an instant he rolled back to her, grabbing her bodily, and pressing himself fully against her, skin to skin, completely.

Lily felt herself melt against him, relishing in the feeling of their naked bodies laying flush against one another. Before she realized it, her hands were grabbing for his face, pulling his mouth against hers roughly, needing to regain the contact she so desperately desired. The ache of desire was still pulsing, and she needed to relieve it somehow.

Frank slid his hands under her thighs, lifting her until they were both upright once again. Frank sat with his legs outstretched, and he placed Lily on her knees next to him. She held on to his shoulders as she flung her leg over his lap, straddling him, her bottom resting on his thighs, and his straining arousal now pressing intimately against her naked flesh. Frank ran his hands up her back, urging her forward, and when she reached between them to grab ahold of him, he let his fingers dig into the flesh of her backside, lifting her up.

She hovered over him, his face in her hands, eyes connected as she felt the tip of him at her entrance. Then, ever so slowly, she eased herself down onto him. The pressure that built inside of her was almost overwhelming — stars appeared in her vision, and the sound of her heart in her ears made her feel dizzy. She wrapped one arm around Frank's neck, and pressed the palm of her other hand onto his shoulder, anchoring herself to him. She felt the heat of his arm wrap around her back, while a strong, steady hand gripped under her thigh, helping her lower her body.

"Lily…" Her name came out as a hoarse breath of air. The feeling of her body pulling him into hers, clenching so tightly with each movement, nearly made him explode.

Lily felt her lip beginning to tremble, and Frank kissed it tenderly, letting her know to take her time. She continued to lower herself down onto him, and when her backside reached his thighs once again, his arousal buried deep within her, she felt the swell of her own release begin again. He let her get accustomed to the feel of him, letting her body relax and mold around his body, then began to move her up and down slowly, rotating his hips ever so slightly. Frank kissed her again, as Lily used her legs to raise and lower herself against him in a rhythm of movement that sent shock waves of pleasure into each of their bodies. She heard herself moan, and when Frank began to thrust up against her downward motion, she had to bite her lip to keep from screaming out loud.

Their motions intensified, turning fast and fevered. Their breathing coming out quick and labored. Lily felt the length of him rubbing her in the same way his strong fingers had done, and when his mouth reached out again to close around her breast, she felt the shock wave of her release explode, the rhythmic throb of her climax ripping through her body.

"Oh God, Frank…!" She panted into his ear, as he continued to lift and pull her up and down his hard body, his arousal sliding intimately within her. He felt her body tense, and then begin to shudder as it throbbed around his hardness over and over. He watched as she arched into him, riding wave after wave of her release and he stilled himself, letting the pleasure cascade over her body.

Afterwards, Lily felt as if she were floating back down to earth, her breathing coming back under control.

"Are you ok?" He asked gently, running his hand up and down her back soothingly.

She nodded, unable to speak.

He kissed the side of her neck, then the top of her shoulder as he lifted her up again. She knew he hadn't finished, and when he shifted them again, she felt the firm pressure of his arousal still inside of her. The thought of him still on the verge of his own release and still seated delicately within her was extremely erotic, and she was surprised to feel her own desire rebound quickly.

He returned her to her back on the floor, and settled himself gently atop her and between her legs, supporting himself above her with his elbows. He kissed her gently, and at length before increasing the pressure as he began to move himself against her. The motion of his body was electric, and the feel of his bare stomach and chest gliding against her own felt incredibly sensual. He reached down, and pulled her leg over his his hip to rest above his backside. She did the same with her other leg, and then locked them around his waist as he began to move slowly, rocking in and out of her body in a delicate and steady rhythm.

Frank realized he wasn't going to last long, but he knew he wanted to bring her to the edge again with him, so he made sure to angle himself in such a way to reach the pleasure point hidden within her body.

Lily started to writhe under him, his body sliding slickly in and out of her at such a quick pace that it was already pushing her towards the point of no return again.

Frank felt the sweat begin to bead across his back and neck, and his breathing picked up rapidly. Lily reached for his face, willing him to look at her. He connected with her eyes as he drove himself deeper still. She wanted him to experience all of the sensations that he had given to her, and moments later when Lily's nails dragged down over his shoulder blades, he felt his body begin to shudder at his impending climax. He grunted and pressed his forehead against hers as he thrust into her deeply, leaving himself buried deep within her, then rotated his hips in a circle to cause just enough friction against the sensitive peak of her arousal. She opened her mouth against his, feeling her own body responding to his movement.

Lily felt the spiral of her own release burst upon her, and this time it seemed more intense than before. Her body tensed and spasmed as she cried out his name again in a hoarse, gasping breath.

Frank pulled back and pressed himself into her one last time as his own need burst from him, the intense pleasure throbbing up and through his body. He knew it would feel good - but he hadn't expected it to feel like this. Every moment with Lily had been different, and exciting and new...something he had not experienced in centuries... and he relished in the fact that this moment was no different. He felt his body tense for a long moment, then her hands were cupping his face, kissing his eyes, his lips. He felt his body relax inch by inch, and he collapsed on top of her, relief and emotion leaving his body.

Lily held on to him, his body heaving up and down from his heavy breaths. When he pulled back to look at her, she saw relief and exhaustion and love and affection reflected in his eyes. She smiled at him, and he grinned back at her — laughing lightly for no other reason than to reflect the pure joy and satisfaction that they both were feeling, laying in each others arms, spent.

xXXX

Author's Notes:

About. Damn. Time.

Wow. I'm exhausted. How about you?

Honestly - I was going to edit this down A LOT. But then I thought - no. Frank and Lily deserve EVERY MOMENT written (and then some).

And when I drop the next chapter - EVERY one of THOSE moments too!

Comments appreciated. Loved.

Staarss (Melissa)