Notes:

Takes place immediately following chapter 12.

Summary: Lily deals with a glimmer of insecurity, only to have Frank wipe it away.

They continue to enjoy the afterglow of the beginning of their physical journey with one another.

Soundtrack Suggestion: 0-60 seconds of I built a boat… / last 30 seconds of La Luna Rota (omg, such a tender sequence with the french horns here…)

I tried something a little different here - and I switched tenses to present tense. I am also going to give a huge shout out to teresa_agasgi (Author of "River Wild in Me") She inspired me to try to add more detail into the inner thoughts and monologue of the characters.

I am not a professional writer by any means, so this chapter may seem a bit rough around the edges. I appreciate her conversations, as well as the group chats from the others who I have so kindly got to know recently.

Thank you everyone for reading. Only 2 more chapters after this one until I call it a wrap!

Enjoy.

Chapter 14: The Afterglow

The rain continues to fall steadily outside of the warm and silent cabin. A crash of thunder could be heard in the distance, and for the two people who lay across the floor, it feels as if time is standing still. Frank blinks, the darkened wood of the ceiling coming into blurry view. He had fallen onto his back so as not to crush Lily, and the exhaustion and emotion of the night sent the room spinning around him.

Is this real? Am I even alive right now or did the curse take me again?

A warm hand falls down against his own on the blanket.

No curse, but something just as powerful.

His fingers curl around hers, pleased that she feels the need just as he to keep the contact. As his mind begins to clear and he feels his consciousness return to his body, it occurs to him that he should probably find something to cover them up before sleep takes them both. It isn't cold, in fact the air is just warm enough, but for the sake of comfort and a bit of decorum, having something across their naked bodies is a good idea. His mind inventories what he may have stored in his dresser or around the room, and when he hears Lily sigh next to him, he forgets everything that had come to mind.

He squeezes her hand and he feels her squeeze his back in return, sending a full and deep breath into his lungs. The impending lull of sleep begins to creep over him, but he holds it at bay, wanting to see how the woman next to him is faring before his brain shuts down. He turns his head to see her staring at the same darkened ceiling.

His heart ricochets against his ribcage at the sight of her basking in the afterglow of their lovemaking, her chest still rising and falling as the low light of the fire dances across her breasts. If he had any sense of mind, he would pull her back to him once again and repeat every kiss and every touch over again, but right now, his energy is drained except the ability to breath and exist next to her.

Lily feels as if her body is tingling. It's a curious sensation, and the more she tries to focus on how to make it ebb, the more it persists. She decides she's fine with it and focuses her mind on something else instead. She runs the hand not currently connected to Frank's lazily across her chest, pausing on a raised pucker of flesh that was quickly becoming a bruise. A smile pulls at her lips as a tendril of heat returns to her cheeks. The evidence of Frank's mouth across her breast feels scandalous and entirely improper, but also feels incredibly provocative and she can't help the way it sends a thrill through her already tired body. If she were being honest with herself, she hadn't truly experienced such an impassioned sexual encounter before last night and now that there was a reminder of it, it made her feel incredibly desirable. Another unexpected effect of the man laying next to her, to evoke such personal, intimate reactions within her.

She glances to her right, finding Frank looking back at her. He has a look on his face that's something in between astonishment and bewilderment and she realizes that she's seen that face once before — when Aguirre and his men appeared that night in the treetops of the tribe's home. A startling surprise it was indeed to see his former comrades appear in such vile and tormented condition. No undead conquistadores here now, so she assumes this face is a result of the everything that had just manifested between them.

She raises her eyebrows and wiggles his hand currently in her grasp, attempting to break him out of his reverie, and the face disappears and is replaced by a sweet smile.

Lily rotates her body towards him so she can lay her arm completely across Frank's chest. A familiar action that was becoming more and more frequent and comforting for both of them. As she does, she presses herself flush against him, his body is warm and slightly damp from the sweat on his skin. When his hand comes across to lay atop hers, she feels herself relax at the renewed contact. He pulls her closer with the other arm around her back, and she feels him sigh contentedly.

"I'm fairly certain I may never leave this spot." She murmurs into the side of his neck, pressing a kiss to the moist skin, and hugging him tighter.

Frank's body bounces as he chuckles softly, his fingers scraping across the bare skin of her back. "I would agree, but I'm pretty sure we have a train to catch tomorrow." His voice is hoarse and deep, and Lily finds the sound extremely satisfying. His reminder of their impending departure on the other hand makes her feel a pang of sadness. Odd considering she was very much looking forward to getting Frank out of the Amazon, and on to new and exciting things. It just so happened to turn out that they'd discovered something new and exciting right here.

Lily's pouts. "Oh yah…that."

Frank turns his head so he can look at her, assess her real feelings based on the way she sounds from her comment, but she was so close, all that came into view was the top of her head. While he could probably fall asleep right at this moment, he decides to stuff his tiredness and take care of a few things before his will to do so disappears completely. Gently, he pulls his arm free and lifts them both upright into a sitting position.

Now that he can see in front of him, his vision is filled with her. The hair on her shoulders is now dry and lays across her body in soft waves, while a sort of shy smile sits on her lips with the recognition that they are both still very naked. He realizes how incredibly thirsty he is as he attempts to swallow a lump in his throat. As if needing that last bit of motivation, he moves to stand to seek out the canteens that were dropped at some point upon their arrival.

Lily wonders at random if he feels as unsure of what to do right now as she does. Probably not, considering he's lived more lifetimes than she, and has more than likely had a series of lovers throughout those years. A thought that had found itself front and center in her mind after their late night conversation on La Quila the day she'd learned of his 400 year old history. She'd fallen asleep at the bow of the boat with a renewed interest in the man who was Frank Wolff. It was also the point at which she'd decidedly come to the conclusion that her attraction to him had grown, against her better judgment.

It was this thought that right now swirls around her brain and makes her suddenly insecure as he began to stand up.

"Leaving so soon?" Lily jokes, and pulls her legs to her chest to provide a little bit of cover and modesty. She tries to sound light and casual, but even she could tell the way it sounds forced.

She hopes that he doesn't notice, but when he pauses, hearing the way the tone of her voice has changed slightly from the way it sounded only moments earlier, she knew he did.

He's compelled to return to her before he stands up completely, and reaches to her cheek, pulling her close for a soft kiss.

"You couldn't get rid of me if you tried." The implication of his words ring in her ears, and she feels foolish for even entertaining the thought of insecurity to begin with.

The result of his words and the kiss is a smile on her lips, and it gives him confirmation that he has put whatever was bothering her at ease. He stands up swiftly, and makes his way to the corner of the room.

Insecurities vanished, Lily smiles to herself and tilts her head to the side as she watches his toned, muscular backside walk away.

Wow. She thinks the word came from her lips, but isn't too sure.

The grin he shoots over his shoulders confirms that she did indeed speak out loud, and she pulls her knees closer to hide her face.

Frank pulls open a drawer to his dresser and is grateful to find a clean pair of underpants and pulls them up and over his lower half quickly. He retrieves something from the another drawer and the sheet from the chair nearby, then returns to where Lily is sitting by the fire. He hands her one of his folded up shirts and the sheet with a sly grin.

"I know this is going to sound strange, but hear me out…" He starts and she is immediately intrigued by his lead in to whatever it is he's about to say. "…but I've wanted to see you in one of my shirts since the day I pulled you out of the river at La Luna Rota." He says it so simply, the words sounding nonchalant as Lily takes the garment from him slowly, processing his words. He wasn't even sure why he told her that. It made no sense even to his ears, but for some reason he felt compelled to share the random thought with her. He nearly tried to take it back, feeling almost embarrassed by the admission, but by the look on her face, and the way the color crept up her neck, his comment was well received.

"Oh?" She lifts her eyebrows at him. She feels charmed by the idea of him thinking of her in such an intimate way even before they'd shown any sort of affection towards one another. Still, it does seem an odd thing to mention, and she is curious if he has more to explain than he is letting on.

"I'm not sure how to take that, Frank." She senses him ruffle at her response, but decides to pull the garment on anyway not worried if he wants to share more or not.

Frank shrugs and turns towards the front door to retrieve their clothing and the two canteens of water. He kicks himself mentally, wounding again why he said what he said, and it occurs to him that he is very much out of practice when it comes to how to talk to women.

Do women in England do that now? He'd barked his question at her in Nilo's office so many days ago.

Eloquent Frank. Really well said. It occurred to him too late that his comment sounded simple-minded, but luckily she launched into her reason for barging into the office soon after.

Now, as he recounts his latest pitfall of a conversation, he wishes that he had just kept his mouth shut. Perhaps he can walk back the statement.

"I just thought how it would be perfect to pull over you to get dry and warm — "

As he turns back to her, his words disappear into the air as his eyes are met with her sitting up on her knees with the large, oversized shirt pooling on the floor. The opening at the top is large enough that it hung off of one shoulder enticingly, and Frank feels his mouth hang open and unable to look away.

Oblivious to his wanton reaction, Lily lifts her arms in the air, the sleeves flapping loosely at her movement. She feels that she must look ridiculous, but decides that it is quite comfortable and as she begins to fold up the sleeves in tiny precise folds, she realizes it carries that same masculine, salt of the earth smell that is distinctly, Frank. The recognition of such a thing is such a potent realization that she suddenly feels like he is surrounding her in his arms again.

She takes a deep breath to steady herself and to inhale the smell of him once again. "What do you think?" She asks as she settles her hands on her hips, albeit a bit unsteadily.

Better than I even thought you would…He doesn't say that. He doesn't trust any words that would threaten to leave his lips at this moment. Even though the shirt is engulfing her entirely, she looks stunning in his eyes.

"Perfect." He says thickly after giving himself a second to think. "Although now I can't decide if I like that on you more than I like your pants on you." He lifts his eyes in a thought. "Or you — out of your pants." He winks at her, and Lily grins at him. His sense of humor is most definitely growing on her.

Lily sits back down and pulls her legs back to her chest. "Well, I must say, both are very comfortable…thank you." She offers him a sincere smile.

"You are most welcome." He replies and hands her a canteen of water which she takes greedily, gulping down the liquid.

Frank takes the time to throw another log on the withering fire and lay out their clothing nearby to dry. It feels surreal to watch him attend to their needs so easily, and she feels grateful for the way he is so attuned to what needs to be done before he can truly relax. She's seen glimpses of this throughout their journey, and it brought great satisfaction to her knowing that tonight was no different.

Satisfied with the fire and that their belongings are taken care of, he turns next to their current sleeping arrangements. While this may work if they were still adrift on a boat, he feels there should be a bit more comfort to ensure a good nights' rest. Not so much for him, but for Lily. He was used to being on the move in all sorts of places and could pretty much sleep across the branch of a tree if he needed to; but he feels the need to create a more comfortable sleep space for her. After all, she is his guest. He pulls the cushions off of the two leather chairs and sets them at the edge of the blanket. Next he takes the sheet and unfolds it so he can open it widely into the air to land across the entirety of the blanket. He folds back a corner so Lily can sit next to him as he lays down on his side, letting his weight rest on one of the cushions under his elbow.

She twists the fabric of the sleeve in her hand anxiously. It seems odd to her that she feels like she has so much to say, but no words to really say it. It perplexes her, and she feels out of sorts. It's apparent that even before this evening that they'd grown closer, having shared intimate details of their pasts with one another, but even now she can tell they both don't really know what to say to one another.

He's watching her, which doesn't help any. It's unfair that his eyes can make her feel like she's sitting there naked again, and not clad in one of his shirts.

She decides to say the first thing that comes to her mind. "I don't know about you, but I'm starving." He raises a surprised eyebrow at her words and she cringes internally at her first thought being about food. She offers an upturn of her lips, and hugs her knees closer to her chest.

He snaps his fingers suddenly, and then he reaches his arm back into the bag by the fire. He pulls a large red apple out it and Lily's eyes open up like saucers.

"I think this may do the trick." He smiles at her.

She is reaching for it before he even has a chance to take a bite for himself.

She is giddy with hunger as she brings the offering to her lips. The crunch of her first bite echoes into the cabin loud enough to make Frank laugh as her own eyebrows shoot up in surprise. Her body reacts immediately to the food, and she feels her blood sugar begin to rise after one bite.

It dawns on her how endearing the gesture is, and that this is not the only time he's offered to do things for her. It started with a cup of coffee which she ungraciously refused, which she apologized for a few days ago when he so kindly started making her tea instead. He's cooked her meals and has often put himself between her and harms way. Now, as she wears his shirt while holding yet another item of food he's offered her, she feels a sense of closeness to him that stretches beyond physical intimacy, and she wonders if he feels it too.

If given the chance, she would have eaten the entire thing, but she decides it would be polite to share. She takes one more bite and hands it back to Frank.

"Oh, I do get some? Thank you." He teases and raises it to his lips. He enjoys a large mouthful of the crisp apple, savoring the sweet sugary fruit.

Lily wipes her mouth with the sleeve of the shirt. "I imagine MacGregor is probably beside himself with worry wondering where we are."

Frank shakes his head. "He'd probably be fine with us being gone knowing what we've been up to." Frank grins wolfishly back at her as he bites into the apple again.

Lily raises her eyebrows at him in response. "I'm sure that is not what he's thinking." She says the words, wants to believe them, but she knows that is probably exactly what her brother is thinking they are up to.

She waves a stray hair away from her face with a brush of her hand. "Besides, I don't usually discuss the intimate details of my life with my brother." She settles more firmly into the ground, signaling that she no longer wants to discuss her sex life and her brother in the same conversation.

Frank knows full well that MacGregor was betting on the two of them falling into bed together eventually. He may seem a bit pompous and uptight, but he's also shown himself to be quite crass and have an affinity towards a more …colorful lifestyle. All things Frank appreciated about Lily's little brother.

"He's a big boy, I'm sure he'll figure it out." He reaches his hand out, offering her the last of the apple and a figurative end to the conversation. She takes it appreciatively.

She finishes chewing, staring at the core of the now demolished fruit. "That was delicious. You are always prepared, Frank. Good job."

He sighs. "Ah well - most of the time." She thinks he's being modest, and she's not falling for it.

"Ok…" She huffs at him. "Mr. Be Prepared for Anything…you never know when this or that is going to kill you…" She scoffs and kicks him in the shin with her foot. He teeters slightly, but resettles and rests his head back onto his bent arm that is still resting on the cushions. He crosses his legs, and Lily gives him the once-over, amused by his casual posture.

He's grinning back at her, trying to deflect her astute reminders of his often repeated words. "Well, I mean…that's the jungle, you have to be prepared for that. Pack for every occasion, you know…" His head tilts back and forth as he makes his point. He pauses, then continues in a bit more subdued fashion. "But…sometimes…sometimes, there's just some things you have no control over. Some things you can't prepare for." He looks down and away, suddenly very interested in the blanket in front of him. Lily is unprepared for his solemn tone, and decides to not give up on the jovial energy they had obtained just moments before.

She makes an exasperated face that tells him she doesn't believe him. "Like what? You by far have seen and experienced nearly everything there could be to experience in this jungle — more than once I can imagine. I can't think of any one thing that would catch you off guard." She waves her open palm in his direction.

"Well…" He starts, still not meeting her eyes.

"Oh Frank, I think we've established that modesty is not exactly one of your strongest qualities." She presses him further, seeing his resolve beginning to crack. "C'mon, Skippy…"

"If I were being completely honest…"

"Yes, honest." She smiles, appreciating the fact that he no longer feels the need to hide things from her.

"I wasn't prepared for you." He doesn't mean for it to come out so directly, but somehow she's figured out a way to get right under his skin to spill details he normally wouldn't divulge to any one person, let alone someone he's only know for a few weeks. His voice is firm, which surprises her enough to snap her eyes up to his, wondering if she's heard him properly.

It's a similar statement to the one he uttered a few days ago aboard La Piraña, admitting that her arrival to the Amazon has been one of the most exciting things to happen to him in a very long time. So now, as she lets his words sink in, it makes sense that he really was not prepared for her. He wasn't prepared for her to challenge him like she does. He wasn't prepared for her to actually lead him to the Tears of the Moon. Nor was he prepared at all for her to change his made up mind about what would happen after the curse was lifted.

He sighs, his eyes softening. "I mean…how could I be? You are quite a force to be reckoned with, Dr. Houghton." He grins at her, wondering if he's said too much. Nothing could have prepared him for the way he feels drawn to her — like something out of another myth of legend, it almost doesn't seem real, the way he feels, and perhaps one day he will be able to put words to the emotion.

Lily's own posture softens, and she feels heat of his stare beginning to warm her from the inside out. "Well, now," She clears her throat, trying to find her words. "If I were to say to you, the feeling was… mutual, what would you say to that?" She looks up at him though her lowered lashes.

He thinks for a moment, then a slow grin lifts his lips. "I'd say it's nice to know we are in the same boat…so to speak." He reaches a hand out to her, and she takes it without hesitation. It was enough of an admission for both of them that their feelings for each other have grown beyond just physical attraction and to something much deeper. Something that, understandably, is even more than they are both willing to admit right now, but still satisfied with what has been said.

The sound of the rain still falling onto the rooftop fills the silence that has engulfed them, and the weight of their conversation lays on them both heavily. Frank feels the tension in the air, and takes the chance to return their conversation back to her.

"Have I mentioned yet that my shirt looks really, really good on you." His eyes are playful, and she responds in kind.

"Yet again I capture your attention with my attire." She says, a glint in her eye as punctuates her point by pulling at the low collar of the shirt.

Frank nods slowly. "It's really what's under the shirt that I'm interested in." He grins, and before the heat has a chance to rise up her neck, he's grabbed the collar and is hauling her in for a kiss.

She chuckles against his lips. "I'm sure you are!"

As much as they want to take advantage of this flirtatious moment, they both know that a few hours of sleep is probably the best thing for their tired minds and bodies.

He distracts her by reaching out to playfully poke her in the ribs, causing her to squeak and pull back in surprise at the sudden sensation. She feels the need to retaliate and starts to bring her hand up to respond.

He's almost too slow to react, and he has to grab her wrist before her palm makes contact with his cheek. He handles her arm gently and pulls the offended limb to his chest as he lays back onto the cushions, bringing her with him.

"I will get you back for that." Lily sighs and lays her head on his shoulder.

Frank grins against the top of her head. "I would be disappointed if you didn't."

Lily settles against him, her fingers ambling over his chest. She was starting to become familiar with the broad muscles of his pectorals. She recalls a human anatomy textbook with sketches of the same muscle, but much like plants and botany, nothing beats seeing, and feeling the source in real life.

She feels him pull her closer with the arm tucked securely behind her, and she nestles into the warmth of his body. She had no idea how comforting the feeling of his arms would feel around her until only a few nights ago as they lay next each other in similar fashion on La Piraña. She knew then as they shared a kiss that she wanted more, needed more — and now as she lay with him in the afterglow of their first time together, she felt satiated and awakened at the same time.

Her muscles ache sweetly from the activities of the day, and of their night together, and as he starts to stroke her hair down her back, the sensation begins to lull her to sleep.

"Frank…I may need you to wake me in the morning." She whispers softly as he feels the hold on his body begin to relax, sleep beginning to take her.

"Don't worry, I will." He replies, his own voice sounding as exhausted as her own.

Frank lets his body ease down further into the soft quilt as he listens to the rhythmic sounds of Lily's breathing begin to even out. Right before sleep consumes him, his mind drifts to their conversation on La Quila the night they discussed what would happen after the curse was broken.

He thought he had a convincing argument…Everything that you see that's new in this word, I've seen hundreds of thousands of times.

Only to be humbled and caught off guard by her reply…Yes, but none of it has been meaningful…

He'd felt distressed by her words; unsure if he should even consider them. He'd never had a conversation like this with anyone, never shared his story, and already she'd begun to show him things that could be new to him. She'd thrown him for a loop. She made the possibility of her world feel tangible, and for the first time in a long time he could finally experience something new. This woman in pants had appeared out of nowhere and turned his entire world upside down — making him question everything he thought he had figured out in the last three hundred years.

Unprepared indeed.

Now, as he lay here with her in his arms, having been convinced by her to live, and saved by her own ability to put others before herself, he knew what meaningful meant, and he planned on showing her…over and over again.

xxxx

Frank awakens with a start, the sound of movement in the cabin sending adrenaline through his body. He sits up quickly, blinking into the darkness, the light from the fire now only a soft glow. The nights in this cabin had always made him feel edgy. Often times he would just sleep in the hull of La Quila rather than on dry land as the motion of the water was a comforting feeling that more often helped him find sleep. A low purr emanates from the corner of the room, and Frank is relieved that he can make out Proxima's silhouette as she looks at him then turns down the small hall of the cabin and back outside again.

Frank feels his body relax, knowing that the source of the sound was just his jungle cat coming check on them.

He sighs and presses his fingers into his eyes, wiping away the sleep that still remains. The rain has stopped, making the sounds of the jungle outside more prevalent, and with the cabin still bathed in near darkness, he guesses that it is still a few hours until sunrise. He moves to set one more log onto the fire, and when he turns back around to check on Lily, he sees that she is still fast asleep.

She's moved away from him in the night, settling comfortably on her side with her head and right hand settling on the cushion, her left hand clutched closely to her chest. He let himself watch her sleep, having done so on La Quila the night before they'd found the Tears of the Moon. She looks infinitely young and beautiful, her pale blonde hair laying across her neck and splayed out on the cushion where her head lay.

His eyes drift over the peaks of her cheekbones, and to the delicate swell of her lips. The lips he had ached to taste for days since the moment he broke free from the curse, and the same ones he now had very intimate knowledge of, much to his delight. His gaze drifts down the pale skin of her neck, and then back up again. His heart twists in his chest, emotion coursing through him suddenly, driving a need to touch her again. He reaches a hand out slowly, letting his fingers hover just above a lock of hair that rests upon her cheek. He gingerly lets two fingers push it back and away from her face, and over her ear, careful not to disturb her.

The fire crackles, and then hisses, and Frank freezes his hand just above her head, hoping the sound did not wake her. A puff of air escapes her lips, and she pulls both hands to her chest and shifts onto her back, her head facing towards the ceiling, still asleep. The movement causes the sheet that was tangled around the lower half of her body to loosen and fall away, revealing one long, lean leg. The bottom of her shirt has fallen between her legs, concealing the most intimate place of her body. Frank feels his body swell at the sight, and he sets his jaw as he grapples with the decision to let her sleep…or wake her with his touch. It takes him barely a second to decide, as the urge to reach out to her is too great, and he wonders momentarily if this physical need for her will ever be satiated.

He shakes his head, not willing to let any more moments pass them by, and he makes his move.

He turns so he is leaning on the elbow closest to her and stretches his body out the length of hers. With great care, he reaches out his right hand and, starting at her knee, lets two fingers begin to drag lightly up her leg, barely touching the surface of the smooth skin underneath. He watches her face for any reaction and when none comes, he pulls his hand back to his side.

He resets himself and begins again but with his entire hand, letting the rough pads of his warm palm glide up and over the smooth expanse of the outside of her leg and thigh, reaching almost to the curve of her bottom.

He recalls seeing her cover herself as she walked away from him on La Quila, irritated that he'd left her in the puzzle box. While he tried to explain it wasn't his intention, emotions ran high, and she stomped away from him, attempting to cover her wet backside with her palm. It's humorous now, but if he'd told her that he did indeed see through the thin cotton of her underpants, despite her effort to cover herself, she would probably be mortified.

He returns his attention back to the still sleeping woman at his side. He draws his hand back up her thigh once again, letting his fingers press lightly into the softness near her bottom.

Her shoulders start to move this time, and his breath stills as her head turns back towards him, revealing the pale skin of her neck where her hair has fallen away. A most inviting invitation, he thinks to himself.

A hunger comes over him, and he licks his lips as he angles his body over her so he can lean in to place a moist kiss to the point where her neck and shoulder meet. She tastes like sunshine and lavender and something else much more intimate and heady. He feels unbridled, being able to kiss her so freely anywhere he wants and a thrill starts to burn deep in his belly, that begins to turn to heat, knowing that when she wakes, he will be the first thing she sees. As his mouth lingers on her neck, he moves his hand back down her leg, gripping it tighter as it arrives under her knee, then traveling back up, but this time between her legs, towards the edge of where his shirt has fallen. The wet tip of his tongue has begun to lick a lazy path up her throat, where he pauses to place another open mouthed kiss upon her pulse point. He feels it begin to pick up under his lips, and he feels his own pulse doing the same.

Lily is vaguely aware of a sensual sensation spreading quickly through her entire body; the source of which is emanating from the sensitive skin of her inner thigh, and her neck. When she tries to move her hands she finds them pinned to her body by a large and solid presence above her. She opens her eyes slowly, and is immediately aware of Frank's scent surrounding her, followed quickly by the heat coming from the bare skin of his chest leaning across hers.

He feels the change in her breathing first. Her calm and relaxed breaths become quicker and deeper and he know it is a sign that he is doing all of the right things. Somehow that had now become his mission, his only goal. To bring Lily pleasure in any way he could. She hums, and it sounds like a moan, and he immediately wishes to hear it again.

He presses his mouth more firmly against her neck, then moves to behind her ear, caressing the sensitive skin there with his lips.

Her hands started to move beneath his chest, and he feels her eyes flutter against his cheek along with a puff of air. When he pulls back slightly, he is greeted with blue eyes staring back at him through pale blonde lashes. He smiles down at her softly, stilling his roaming hand for just a moment.

"Is it morning?" She asks in a dreamy voice. He instantly feels his arousal grow stronger at the sound of her sleep-laden voice.

He leans back down to kiss her cheek, letting his lips drag enticingly across the skin. "No." He whispers low and deep, lowering his head to her neck.

A deep, pleasure-filled sigh escapes from her lips as she feels his hand begin to climb up the inside of her thigh and only to drag itself back down again.

"Am I dreaming?" She breathes as her heart rate starts to climb and the sleep that remains starts to rapidly dissipate, only to be replaced by an awaking arousal low in her abdomen.

"Mmm…Yes." Frank smiles into the hair on her neck as he nuzzles the skin with his nose, taking a deep soulful breath. He can't get enough of her smell, and he wants to find out if she smells this good all over her body.

"Is it a good dream?" She asks slowly, turning her head to press her cheek more directly against the cheek next to her. Her hand finally makes its way to the back of his head, cradling it to her.

Frank is now pressing and kneading the flesh of her inner thigh with strong, nimble fingers and Lily shifts her legs as she feels the tips skim dangerously close to her center.

Just before he makes contact, he leans in closer to her body. "You tell me…" His breath is hot against her ear, and before she can respond, he moves to cover her mouth with his, and cups the heat between her legs entirely with the strength of his hand. Lily's eyes fall shut again and she can't help the whimper of pleasure that rises in her throat to her lips from his touch.

He takes two fingers and rubs them along the soft folds between her legs, searching for that one point of arousal he'd found only a few hours ago. Finding it, he slides one long hard finger against her, and her hips buck forward into his palm, a moan escaping her lips and into his open mouth. As each sound travels to his ears, he realizes that each one is slightly deeper than the one before it. He makes a mental note of how he was able to illicit them from her and decides then and there to make it his mission to ensure each one is repeated, hundreds of thousands of times over.

Lily needs air. She pulls her mouth from his, gasping for breath and then burying her head into the crook of his shoulder. Her hands reach out across his chest, his back, his arms, attempting to grab for something to hold on it, and as Frank continues to suckle at her neck, she wraps one arm under his armpit, and around, grabbing at his shoulder. He continues moving his hand against her, willing her arousal to grow with his help. "Frank…Oh, God." Her voice is hoarse, and she uses her other hand to push at his chest. She doesn't want him to stop, she just needs to collect herself. His method of waking her has most assuredly taken her by surprise.

He pulls back reluctantly, and rather than give her a second to catch her breath, he removes his hand from where it was between her legs and brings it around to her backside, squeezing it firmly. His mouth angles over hers again, and she feels his tongue swipe across hers in a heated connection.

Lily needs to gain some semblance of control here. It's easy to let him dominate the situation, but she is unwilling to be the only one on the receiving end of such attention. She tries to ignore the hand that is gripping the flesh of rear end, and pushes both hands against the solid wall of his chest.

Frank willingly lets himself fall backwards, but is not about to release his hold on her. He continues the motion of their bodies, pulling her with him as he lifts her, letting her settle atop him, his back now on the floor.

Lily finds herself straddling him, her body prone over his, their lips but a hairsbreadth apart as their breaths coming out raggedly against one another. She plants both of her hands on the quilt beside his head and presses herself back, needing to see his face. Her confidence wavers momentarily, having never been in such a commanding position such as this. Her hair hangs down like a curtain on either side of them, shielding out the outside world. He is looking up at her, lips parted, with his eyes telling her she is in control. His willingness gives her confidence, and she finds her body taking over instinctually.

She decides on a slow, sensual kiss and as she initiates it, she feels his hands land at her thighs, digging his fingers in ever so tightly. He moans into her mouth, and the deep sound makes the tips of her breasts come to attention. She squeezes her eyes shut tighter, trying to refocus her efforts on how she would like to respond Frank's idea of a wake up call. She leaves his mouth and uses her hands to push herself down the muscled landscape of his body, trailing open mouth kisses to each peak and valley she comes across. She finds the ridges of his abdomen particularly enjoyable, and uses her tongue to light up a trail down to his belly button.

Sensations are hammering his body, and Frank feels momentarily that perhaps he's made a mistake allowing her the freedom to do as she pleases. Deep in his cabin of La Quila at one point of their journey, he'd awakened from a fever dream, one of many, where she was atop him, riding him, showing him all the ways she needed him, and now as she was snaking herself down the length of his body, his arousal was so potent, it was almost painful. He wants to reach for her, pull her back up to him and flip their positions, but instead his hands grip the cool material of the sheet that lay abandoned beneath them, waiting, willing to let this woman continue this sweet torture.

Another groan emanates from his lips and Lily smiles into the concave of his belly. She recalls the poke in the ribs he'd given her right before they settled down, and she uses her nails to rake down his sides, across his ribs, and then back to the his chest. He hisses in a breath and she feels his muscles quiver and shake under her, and when she presses herself up to see his face, she smiles at him seductively.

"I told you I would get you back for that…" She sees him grin and then press his head back against the quilt almost immediately, the muscles of his neck straining as he is suddenly hit with another wave of pleasure. Without realizing, she's slid the firm roundness of her bottom across the top of his lap, pressing directly down onto his groin. The sensation is a shock for Lily as well, and when she feels the hard line of his body pressing intimately and firmly into the vee of her legs, she is suddenly reminded that the only thing separating the two of them is the thin cotton of his underpants.

Frank's hands finally come away from the floor to grip the tops of her legs as he raises his hips up to grind against her. She gasps audibly at the sensation and she has to press her hands onto the flexed muscles of his abdomen for balance, while riding the wave of pleasure that is sent directly into her body.

"You…have got to move." He pants, his voice straining, not realizing that his instructions, or demand, is not very clear. Does he mean move more on top of him, or move off of him. Lily mulls her choices over herself and looks down at him, and is caught off guard by the heat in his eyes. Another thought that excites her as she lets it sink in. But again, her ever determined spirit of discovery eggs her on, and she decides that his words mean to move more on top of him.

"Or…what?" She challenges, and presses herself down and across him purposefully, enjoying the way the firmness of his arousal feels against the heated folds of her naked flesh.

He squirms again, breathing in a ragged breath. "Or else…" His words are choked, and Lily relents slightly, sliding herself back and onto his thighs. She reminds herself that there is no sense in showing off right now, as he is very capable of turning the tables on her. He lets out a deep, relieved breath. Perhaps she should slow down, for both of their sakes.

There is a moment for each of them to catch their breath, but it doesn't last very long as Lily's eyes travel over the way his body is straining against the material of his underpants, and she decides that she would very much like to remove that barrier immediately. She surprises herself at her enthusiasm to push this moment further, and as she presses her hand against him, gripping him tightly through the thin material of his underwear, she feels as if she is floating up and over her body, watching as she continues to plunge forward with her assault on his body. She moves her hand across his arousal once again, causing Frank to lift his hips on impulse. As he does, her other hand slips under the waistband of the clothing and pulls them down and away from his body.

Lily's eyes go wide at the sight of him springing forward from the confines of his clothing, and she feels herself lean back into the muscled thighs beneath her, the growing heat from her own arousal seemingly amplified at the sight of him.

Last night had been passionate and incredible. The pleasure and sensations he elicited from her was like nothing she'd ever felt or experienced before. The strength and power of his body was intimidating and thrilling and addicting all at the same time; and even though she'd held him in her hand and felt every inch of him moving within her, she hadn't actually seen… everything.

Now, as she stares at his aroused body in its entirety, she feels herself grown hot and consumed by the thought that she is the reason he is in this state. The feeling of power is so overwhelming that she starts to struggle with what she wants to do versus what he would want her to do. She feels her brain getting in the way of her instincts, and she has to move herself off of him and on to her knees between his legs to compose herself.

Seemingly frozen in place, Lily doesn't notice that Frank has lifted himself onto his elbows and is watching her, captivated by the way she seems unsure of what to do next. He felt her move off of him, and for a moment he held his breath, but when he sensed her hesitation, he needed to see her with his own eyes. It is this hesitancy that makes him realize that even though she is no virgin, her experience with men was limited, and it it's that look of innocence that suddenly drives him mad with need for her.

He moves to sit up, and she blinks at him as he is suddenly face to face with her. She reaches her hands to his shoulders, and he kisses her urgently, trying to dispel and sense of fear or worry or uneasiness from her mind. She pulls him to her as if she is trying to wipe away any space between them.

"I need you." She pleads with him, needing to feel his hands on her to equalize her, to quiet her brain, and let her body be the one to make the decisions.

He is more than willing to grant her request as he grabs the edge of the shirt at her knees and pulls it up off of her in one quick motion. Before her arms can return to her sides, his arms are around her, pulling her naked body to him, his lips cover hers, and one strong hand snakes between their bodies to squeeze her breast ardently. He rolls the tender nipple between two fingers, and when her mouth opens to gasp, he kisses his way down across her jaw and to her throat, and then lets his mouth settle over the hardened peak, letting his tongue and teeth repeat the motion of his hand. He performs the same action on the other perfect breast, and when he pulls her tighter with the arm around her back, he feels the press of her body against his hardness.

He pulls away from her, and licks his lips. "Lily, look at me…" He waits for her eyes to refocus on him, and she is vaguely aware of his hand grabbing ahold of hers between them.

He guides her hand to his arousal, and as he feels her hand wrap around him gently, his breath catches and he swallows thickly. "I need you too." His words are full of more meaning than just a physical plea. He is admitting to her that he is in need of all that she is and has to offer. Her plea for him moments ago, echoed in his words and actions. She is still kneeling between his legs, and when she allows her hand to move up and down the length of him, he has to lean back on one strong arm while the other lands at her shoulder, his hand threaded into the hair at her neck, holding onto her as if he'd drown if he let go.

Lily keeps her eyes on him while her right hand continues to move along the velvety hardness of his body. The trust and desire in his eyes breathing life back into her confidence. Her eyes glance down quickly to between them, and she is enticed by the way his skin moves so easily across the rigid flesh beneath. Her eyes travel across the dense hair that surrounds him, and she smiles amusingly as she realizes that its the most amount of hair she's seen on his body.

She keeps the motion of her hand consistent, careful not to stroke him too fast, but not wanting to make her movements achingly slow either. She watches as his face contorts with pleasure and desire, and at one point she thinks he is in pain, but when his lips upturn slightly, and the hand on her neck flexes in encouragement, she knows she is doing all the right things. She feels empowered by him, and as she squeezes her hand, increasing the pressure slightly, she feels his body quiver. She reaches for his head with the other hand, and pulls him to her, forehead to forehead. She turns her hand just slightly, gripping him firmly from the underside, and then rotating around the shaft, until she reaches the tip. It's at this point Frank knows that he is on the edge of his climax, and he needed to ensure she was taken care of before the night was done.

He moves to kiss her, and gently removes her hand from his body. When their lips touch, he reaches both hands out to grab her hips and pull her bodily forward and up onto him so she is straddling him once again. He leans back against the quilt, and encourages Lily to lift herself up as he guides himself under her. She takes a deep breath, and with her hands on his chest as leverage, she slowly lowers herself down onto him. Sheathed in her tight, hot body, Frank has to lay still for his own instincts to not take over and move against her too soon.

Lily feels her legs tense, and she wills her body to relax as she adjusts to the sensation of him inside of her. From this position, she feels as if he is somehow reaching deeper within her than he was hours earlier, and she can't help but feel a rush of heat across her body.

Frank reaches his hands to her hips, and with a slight push upwards, he encourages her to move. She isn't sure if the sparks flying across her vision are actually real or imaginary, but when she lifts herself up for the first time, feeling the way his body slides across the bundle of nerves at her core just perfectly, she's inclined to say they were real. She begins to move more, allowing him to drive up against her downward motion, and she is grateful even now for his guidance, teaching her how to move atop him, for her own pleasure but also for his.

She feels the ache of her release beginning to curl low in her belly, and when his hands reach behind her to squeeze the flesh of her buttocks, she rocks herself forward, unwittingly bumping another point of pleasure inside of her. She yells out with abandon, and even Frank is caught off guard by the reaction. Her hands paw at his chest which has become slick with sweat, and she feels herself begin to rotate her hips against him, seeking out the same sweet trigger he was able to hit moments ago. It can't always feel this way, she wonders to herself, as their rhythm begins to quicken, the pace at which he is moving within her makes her think she may break in half. But when she feels her body tense, and her mouth opens to shout his name, he is holding on to her, carrying her across the finish line, pressing himself up into her so he can feel her body clench around him in release.

He reaches out and pulls her down atop him, and continues to hold her as she lay atop him, quivering with the aftershocks of her orgasm. She can't seem to gulp in enough air, and before she can regain some idea of how to take a breath, she feels his body begin to move against her once again. His arms are wrapped around her back, holding her to him as he lift his hips up off of the ground, moving inside of her, gently, but determined to still to find his way deeper, filling her, fulfilling her, needing to show her in some innate physical way that he burned for her more this time than the last.

She holds on to him, mouth open against his throat as he begins to shake from his own climax, his voice is strained as he murmurs her name over and over, and then presses himself into her one last time before exploding in a ball of fire, crashing through the wall once again, his body ricocheting everywhere only to land in the safety of her arms. Relief explodes through his body, and as he clutches at her, he has some sense of mind to find her lips and to hold them to his as the final wave of his release washes over him.

His breath is hot against her face, and as they pull back to look into each other's eyes, they share another affectionate smile, with the knowledge they've pulled each other across new imaginary boundaries created by their own minds.

As their breathing comes back to normal, Lily moves off of him and to his side, pulling the sheet up and over them. She lands back on him, her head on his shoulder.

"You've got to know…you are without a doubt, the best Jungle Cruise skipper I have ever had." She jokes, and when he feels his chest rumble with laughter, she joins in happily. He pulls her closer, and presses a kiss to her forehead.

"Wow. Now that is something I have never heard before." He says, and quite honestly, it is a true statement. Years of giving jungle cruises to tourists were often met with mediocre reviews, so hearing her praise is enough to fulfill him for quite a long time.

"I'm glad I can still surprise you."

"Somehow I doubt this will be the last time."

"Oh you can count on that, Skippy."

xxxx

Author's notes:

Well, again…I feel like these two are just making up for lost time. It can be easy to mistake lust and attraction for affection, especially when you've only barely know the person. But I need to know that they are building a connection on a deeper level - and if that means their physical connection is a representation of that, then so be it. They still have a long way to go… and I am happy to be a fly on the wall for the ride.

Thanks for coming with me.

Comments loved, appreciated.

Staarss(Melissa)