Author's note: this story contains elements of BDSM. It is fantasy, and isn't intended as anything else. Please feel free to let me know what you think in the comments!
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A sound in the darkness woke Jake from his rest. Rain pounding down on the outside of the truck had almost completely muffled it, but he was sure he heard knocking. Who the fuck would be out in this? He thought, rousing himself enough to shake off the vestiges of sleep.
He stretched his neck, trying to work the worst of the kinks out. Sleeping in the truck was never very comfortable, but it was better than nothing when you were too tired to stay standing, and at least with the engine running, it kept the cool winter air at bay, especially when one was soaked from a day working in the winter rain.
The knocking came again, a frantic pounding really, and he slid across the seat to pop open the passenger door of the truck. Light sprang to life in the cab, falling on a decidedly feminine face looking up at him, even if she was completely soaked.
Her eyes were wide, and looking into them he was interested to note they didn't have a really discernible color. Almost grey, which was unique, but still beautiful, he admitted to himself. Her hair was probably blonde, though it was hard to be sure while it was soaked and plastered to her face. She was shivering, and it was no wonder. Wearing nothing but a hoodie and a pair of jeans, she would be soaked to her skin from the downpour.
"Please. I'm freezing. My car broke down and my phone is dead. Do you have one I can borrow?"
"Hop up. Let's get you warm first." Ever the gentleman, he offered his hand, helping her up into the truck. He noted the pleasant roundness of her body as she climbed up beside him. Far from obese she was nevertheless deliciously curvy, and his mind set to work on a plan to get a better view.
"Thank you," she said, almost shyly, closing the door behind her. The main cab light went out as the door closed, and he reached to flick it back on. She was grateful for the light, making her feel more at ease in this unfamiliar environment.
A slight blush spread on Melissa's cheeks as she considered the man in the truck. A thick sweater and worn blue jeans didn't do much to hide the obvious physique underneath. Like most men in the trades he had a bit of a rough look - though his beard was well maintained and he clearly cared about hygiene, even if he looked a bit dirty from yesterday's work.
It was his eyes that caught her attention though. A warm brown, they were full of kindness, and the lines around them told of someone who spent a lot of time laughing. She felt immediately safe with this stranger, which was good, she supposed, since she had been in a tough spot before finding his truck parked along the forest road. Walking alone through the wilds of Washington in the middle of the night and the middle of a rainstorm wasn't exactly her first choice.
She shivered momentarily, and watched as he reached over to turn up the heat in the cab. His eyes, when they met hers again, seemed to be a bit darker, and she wondered at the change for only a moment. The heat hit her body and she sighed as it fought to warm her face, at least.
"I do have a phone," he said quietly, "and also a blanket, though the latter won't do you much good while you're wearing wet clothes."
She felt the heat rush through her as she saw the half grin he threw her way while making the comment. His tone was light, and she wondered for a moment if he was just teasing, though she knew he was right. She lifted the heavy hoodie over her head, leaving her in just a t-shirt, equally soaked but at least lighter. Maybe it would dry fast enough, she thought, shy to remove anything else in front of this stranger.
As she met his eyes, she was sure for a moment she saw a flicker of heat reflected back, but just as she saw it he broke the gaze, reaching for a blanket. She shook her head. She must just be imagining things.
He looked back at her for a moment before letting out a sigh and flicking off the cab lights. He held the blanket up between them, shielding her from his view.
"Please," he said, his gentle voice only slightly muffled from the other side of the fabric. The soft tone made her feel safe. "You're freezing. At least strip to your underwear and then wrap yourself in the blanket. Then you can call whoever you need to."
She blushed again as she looked towards the blanket. She found herself surprised at his kindness. She had expected... Well she wasn't really sure, as it turned out. At the least that he would likely be a bit more grumpy about being woken up in the middle of the night by a drowned rat banging on his truck door. She'd seriously considered if it was a good idea. Not that she'd had a lot of choice. The temperature was right around freezing, and soaked through in the torrential rain, she knew she needed to find help.
When she'd seen the truck in the darkness she had quickly decided to take the chance. All alone a man like this could easily overpower her if he wanted to. She shivered at the thought. She'd known when she knocked that she was willing to risk that. The thought had come with fear, but also with heat. She hated that the thought of being forced had always teased at the edges of her fantasies, and yet, she couldn't deny that imagining it had always sent tendrils of arousal through her body.
Divorced a few years earlier she hadn't really been with a man since. She had toys that kept her sane, and she hadn't been ready to date after the heartbreak of discovering that her husband of five years had been cheating on her with his secretary. The knowledge had crushed what was left of her confidence, and feeling dejected and unwanted, she had refused to risk that level of rejection ever since Feeling the heat her body was responding with now, as she thought about the man who was suddenly so close, she knew she was ready to look again.
As she started to peel her wet clothes off, she considered the rugged good looks of the man on the other side of the blanket. With his physique and otherwise handsome features she was sure she wasn't the kind of girl he'd want anything to do with. Most guys seemed to prefer the girls who didn't carry the extra weight she had, even though she was still relatively fit under the soft exterior. She started pulling her jeans down, tugging to get the wet fabric loose from between her thick thighs. She'd been slender once, but she never turned heads, even then. She'd always blended into the background, never the textbook beautiful woman who drew men's eyes. Oh well, it was a fun fantasy anyway, and at least she would be able to warm up with his kindness.
Down to her black lace bra and underwear, she wondered whether she should stop there, or strip completely. She always wore sexy underwear sets. They made her feel good, even if she hid the rest of herself under jeans and T-shirts most days. Considering the thin material, she chose to keep them on. Surely they would dry and she could warm up. She moved closer to the blanket, and he heard as she shifted on the seat and then let out a shudder as she reached for the blanket. He helped her wrap herself fully, trying to respect her shyness even as he felt his arousal stirring at the flashes of skin and the black bra strap on her creamy white skin that caught his attention.
Curled in a ball with the blanket tucked all around her, she turned her large eyes up to him, speaking through her chattering teeth. "Thank you. I really appreciate your help."
She dropped her eyes suddenly, and he wondered for a moment at seeing her deflate like she did. He was pretty good at reading people, and this woman was used to taking care of herself, but not by choice, he suspected. She would be much happier if she didn't have to - if someone else was there to lean on. But someone had clearly made her believe she wasn't worthy of that.
Eyes still downcast, he noted she was holding the blanket like a shield, and he wondered if she was more afraid of him than she appeared. Either that, or she was afraid of being judged for her body. Such a shame, he thought. From what he'd seen, she had nothing to feel self-conscious about, but then, he'd always preferred girls who carried a little extra weight and had soft curves as a result.
He put on his most charming smile and held his hand out in front of the blanket. "I'm Jake."
Her eyes latched onto his hand, and she carefully extended one of her own out through the blanket. Her hands were delicate and soft. And freezing.
"Melissa." She said, still shaking.
"We need to get you warmer, Melissa. How did you end up so far from a town all by yourself so late at night?"
Her voice was weak and quiet. "I come to the woods to think. I like the peace, and nature has always been calming for me."
Her story stopped as she let out a more violent shudder and almost bit her lip with the force of her quivering. Not waiting for permission, he pulled her bundled form into his arms, trying to help increase her body heat. She looked up at him then, big eyes starting to pool with tears.
He made quiet shushing sounds, trying to soothe her worries. She looked at him, confusion clear on her pale face. "Why are you being so kind?"
Her words bit into him like a dagger. He found himself angry at whatever man, or men, had made her feel she wasn't worthy of even this much care. He bit back his frustration, keeping his voice even for her. "Do you not think you deserve this much kindness? You're freezing. Probably scared. Alone. Anyone who wouldn't help you right now is not worth your consideration."
