An Unexpected Encounter

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."

Tears started to fall from her face, and he brushed a large thumb across her cheek to smooth them away. His voice was softer, when he spoke. "Hey. I don't know who made you think you don't deserve to be cared about, but they aren't worth your tears."

His voice became lighter and his smile turned up on one side. "You know," he said, his smile turning to a playful grin, "you'd warm up faster if I climbed under that blanket with you. Even better if I stripped first."

He wiggled his eyebrows in joking suggestion, expecting her to laugh. Instead, her face blushed slightly, and her suddenly shy expression caught him off guard. He could only guess at where her thoughts had just gone, but his night was suddenly looking better. The shy ones were always the most interesting underneath, he thought.

When she averted her gaze and remained silent, he decided to change tactics. "I was kidding, but it is true. I tend to run pretty warm. If you want my body heat I'm happy to share. I'll even keep my pants on if it makes you feel better."

Her eyes snapped back to his, and she saw the heat swirling just slightly behind his expression. She shook her head. She must be imagining it. There was no way Jake was actually flirting with her. Her! Unless... Maybe he was as lonely as she was. Unsure what to think, she decided to change the topic.

"What are you doing out here overnight, anyway? Shouldn't you and your dump truck be home for the night?"

He laughed, and she smiled to hear the sound. His voice was light and friendly, but his laughter was boisterous, and as the lines around his eyes crinkled, she knew he spent a lot of time laughing.

Still chuckling, he answered her question. "I work on the hydro lines. Clearing trees. Sometimes, especially during storms like this, we end up needing to stay close to the site. Going home isn't always practical when the drive back and forth would waste most of the time we have to sleep."

"Well, Jake, I'm glad you were here tonight. I left the woods after watching the sunset, and my tire blew not long after. My phone is dead so I started walking down the road towards town, hoping I would eventually find someone with a phone or someone who could give me a ride. That was at least a couple hours ago."

"No wonder you're so cold. Come on. I'm not taking no for an answer. You need to get warm."

Her eyes latched on to his, and she watched with clear lust as he started stripping out of his sweater before pulling the t-shirt he was wearing over his head. He chuckled at her as she stared with her lips slightly parted, an expression of heat and need burning through her eyes as his strong torso came into her view.

She caught herself staring and pulled her eyes away, embarrassed at what he must think. A shriek escaped her body as he pulled the blanket away before quickly scooping her up to place her across his lap. He bundled the soft blanket back around both of them, closing his arms around her and holding her tightly. More than just helping her physical warmth, he wanted her to feel safe and cared for, at least in this moment. He shook off the dark thoughts of what he'd really like to do, contenting himself for now with the feel of her body against his.

Heat flooded from him against her freezing skin, and she couldn't help the sigh that escaped as she pressed her side closer to his chest. The heat was a soothing release to muscles that had been tense from cold for too long, and having his arms around her felt much better than she wanted to admit.

As she started to relax, she couldn't help but notice the feel of his chest muscles against her arm. She guessed from the depth of the laugh lines around his eyes that he had to be close to forty, at the least, and yet his body was in better shape than the large majority of men that age. A new heat started to spread through her, and she did her best to shake off the naughty thoughts that were flooding her mind. A blush returned to her cheeks as she wished that even half of those fantasies would come true.

Exhausted from the long walk through the rain, she found her eyes starting to drift closed as Jake's warmth slowly brought her body back to a normal temperature. Her head sagged against his chest, and she sighed contentedly.

"Thank you." It came out as a slow, breathy sigh against his chest, and he smiled as he felt her finally relaxing. Time to dial up the heat, he thought, a sly smile crossing his features.

"You know," he started softly, "I could think of much worse ways to spend a night in the truck. I'm happy to take care of you, but having a beautiful woman in my arms isn't exactly a hardship."

He felt her stiffen, and he smiled to himself. She clearly needed this as much as he did. It had been too long since he'd enjoyed more than a quicky. Most of the local girls who weren't married were not his type. This woman seemed to have substance - not to mention those delightful curves she was ashamed of. But still, a woman who enjoyed the solitude of her own thoughts in nature was worth getting to know a little more. And her body definitely deserved a closer inspection.

He realized suddenly that she hadn't replied to his comment. Either she was asleep, or she wasn't sure how to reply. He was fairly certain it was the latter.

"I assume from the way your body tensed that you aren't used to being called beautiful."

"No." Her voice was soft, just a whisper, but it carried almost unfathomable pain.

Unfathomable for most people, perhaps, but he was no stranger to feeling unlovable. Fun and quirky growing up he'd been shot down by almost every girl he got the courage to ask out. He was in his mid twenties before he had a serious girlfriend. But she had eventually broken his heart just like all the others. It wasn't until much later that he'd developed a new confidence, and he'd been looking for the right girl to test it fully. So far so good, he thought.

"Melissa. Look at me." He changed his tone slightly, still soft, but with just enough command in it, he knew she wouldn't be able to ignore. She sat up immediately and he met her fearful eyes. She was scared, and he stamped down the way that truly made him feel. He needed to start slowly.

As her eyes met his, she wondered for a moment at how much darker they seemed. It must just be the lighting, she thought. Something in his tone and his gaze seemed to hold her captive, and she found herself wanting to stay trapped with him like this as long as he wanted her. The thought sent a shudder through her even as his gaze sent a bolt of heat through her core.

"You, my dear, are a beautiful woman." His voice was strong yet soothing, and she felt the smile cross her face even as the words brought a blush to her cheeks. She couldn't help but notice the way liquid flowed to her slit as his voice caressed her thoughts. She dropped her eyes from his face, fishing in her mind for any explanation of his current behavior. Maybe he didn't see my body when he grabbed the blanket, she thought. But surely he could feel her in his arms? And he was looking right into her eyes so he must see something he likes. Maybe, another voice seemed to say, he thinks you're beautiful regardless of your figure. She shook her head. It seemed like a crazy thought. Maybe he's just lonely and wants to get in your pants. Her face heated, before the warmth spread lower, making her lick her lips at the thought. She could live with that.

"I..." she started to reply before losing her train of thought. What was she supposed to say? Almost naked and pressed against his bare chest, it was hard enough to formulate a thought before he called her beautiful, and before she started thinking about what she hoped would happen next. She had to say something.

She took a deep breath, deciding that honesty was probably the best choice. Her words came out a sad mumble. "I didn't think I would be the type of girl you would find attractive."

His hand found her chin, and he brought her face back up, holding her steady until she reluctantly brought her eyes to his. "Good girl." His voice was intoxicating, and she wondered at the way she felt when he spoke. The logical part of her mind was appalled. It sounded like something that would be spoken to a pet. The other part of her - the part that was already fantasizing - felt like it was being swept away in a current of swelling pleasure. She held his gaze stoically, not wanting to lose the warmth she could feel from knowing he was happy with her. She found herself wanting to please him further.

"Listen carefully." He spoke more strongly now, and she latched onto each word even as she continued to lose her will in his darkened eyes. "It's important for you to know I happen to think curves are the greatest part of the female form. And more importantly, the very fact you don't see your own beauty is part of your allure. I've never had much time for vanity."

Her body flooded with heat at the words, and even more at the way that he spoke. His words were poetry - a command of language spoken by a velvety voice that she never would have expected from a guy who worked in the trades. The combination almost took her breath away.

She could see the desire in his eyes, and it left her speechless. No one had ever looked at her this way. No one had ever made her believe she was beautiful. For it to come now from a man who she found incredibly attractive, who spoke in a way that seemed to connect with her soul, this was beyond anything she could have possibly imagined.

As she continued to replay his words in her mind, she realized the improbability of this meeting. She had almost lost hope that she would ever find someone she connected with. To think she would find him here - in the middle of a rain storm, on the side of an otherwise deserted road, and several hours after dark - the chances of it were a billion to one. She'd never put much stock in fate, but she was starting to rethink that now.

Staring into the depths of his honey brown eyes, she realized just how badly she wanted more to happen. She imagined finding the courage to make the first move. Never in her life had she wanted to kiss someone as badly as she wanted to kiss Jake.