by Harloe Rae
“You hanging in there?” Halder’s deep baritone shatters the silence of my spinning trance.
I huff at the literal meaning. “Yep, dangling better than a monkey. My butt is perched between two branches. If I’m doling out creativity points, this is similar to a hammock.”
The thick limb holding him creaks underneath his shifting weight. “It shouldn’t be much longer. I’m sure he smelled our fish and came running.”
“I don’t blame him. You’re one helluva cook.” I track his erratic path while he inspects every inch of our premises.
He grunts. “Couldn’t have been too appetizing of a scent. He’s not howling for reinforcements.”
“One is plenty. Do they usually travel alone?”
“No clue. In these conditions, they might not have a choice.”
A tangle of something resembling sympathy tightens in my chest. I shove that away easily enough when the wolf lets another growl loose. “He seems capable of fighting his own battles.”
We’re locked in a war of wills against this solo fighter. This is the most wicked game of chicken I’ve been forced into. I guarantee we’ll win, because there’s really nowhere else for us to go. That bad boy pacing down below probably has a pack alpha waiting to ream his ass for not delivering lunch.
I stare at his twitching snout. “Do you think he has rabies? Not that it matters. I’m just trying to fill the void with meaningless conversation until he loses enough interest to leave. Fingers crossed he doesn’t decide to take a nap. That’s more of a cat thing.” I adopt a patronizing tone and call out to him. “You don’t want to be mistaken for a feline. That would be so demeaning. Your scary reputation could be in jeopardy.”
Halder chuckles at my rambling. “I don’t mind listening to you. He’s probably not sick. We had a hunting dog who got bit by a racoon. There was no reasoning with her once the crazy set in. This guy looks relatively sane, considering we’re most likely in his domain.”
“Well, he can take it up with the men who left us here. Sharing is caring.”
“Not sure he’ll agree with you.”
He rubs at the scruff dusting his jaw. In less than twenty-four hours, that growth has taken over the lower half of his face. I won’t be complaining, though. That dark stubble is a coarse aphrodisiac I plan on savoring. He looks even more rugged and untamed.
“Blakely?”
I blink at him. “Yeah?”
“Did you hear me?”
The cringe pinching my features hands over the truth faster than any excuse I could conjure. “Sorry. What’s up?”
He points downward. “Our friend is gone.”
I follow his gesture and gasp at the empty space. “Praise patience. Do you think he’ll come back?”
“There’s always a chance, but now we know you’re capable of climbing a tree in a hurry.”
I dust off my chipped nails, adding a faux blow for haughty impact. “I’m gaining quite a few useful skills on this excursion.”
“And you look damn fine doing them. Do you wanna go first?”
“I’ll let you take the honor of leading our way.” I’m not willing to admit that terror still has a decent grip on me. If anything else jumps from the bushes, I’ll probably faint. Or take off screaming into the river. Not sure I’d be able to put on a brave front ever again after going postal over a bunny or chipmunk.
Halder’s smirk and twinkling eyes reveal mind-reading capabilities. “You got it, boss.”
After another minute with the coast remaining clear, Halder descends the thick trunk with the agility of a panther. My exit strategy is more bumble than grace, but I get out of that damn tree all the same. A mellow flourish sweeps over me once my feet land on solid ground. Then I turn my sights on Halder. He’s busy dusting the debris off his pants so my blatant stare goes unnoticed.
Every brawny piece of him exudes masculine strength. Gratitude floods me until my entire being is brimming with unquenched need. An engine revs in the pit of my stomach. I pounce without warning, resembling the feral creature we just ran from.
Our lips slam together in a sloppy embrace packed with sizzle and spark. I press into him until there’s nowhere else to move. My upper torso aligns with his waist, so I stretch to greet more of him. Smoky ash, woodsy musk, and raw power slam into my nostrils with the collision. I breathe him in until my lungs only know his scent. His essence drowns out the dying embers beside us. I loop my arms around his neck and tug until he bends into me. With him stooping to my level, our connection crackles with the first frissons of passion.
Once Halder gets over the shock of my impulsive ploy, his mouth softens over mine. He tosses our bag of food along with his stocking cap. With his hands free, he clutches onto me with a ferocity that trembles through my very core. Our natural finesse begins to flow seconds later, and I sag against him with a sigh. He draws my lip between his teeth, tugging me closer. I go willingly, falling deeper under his spell.
Even standing in the middle of desolate woodland, pleasure envelops us with an eager welcome. He licks along the seam of my parting mouth. The entry he seeks is one I’m more than ready to give. With the initial swipe of his tongue along mine, a choir of dirty birds begin serenading me. He tastes earthy and rich, better than the freshest blend of coffee.
The blast of roaring fire in my lower belly is staggering. I gasp from the fiery onset. He meets me halfway on every turn. I give until he takes, then we swap again. The rhythm is an electric loop binding us in unity. And this is only a kiss. Our first, at that. This type of chemistry cannot be denied.
The hat falls off my head when I tip back too far. But Halder is there with a hand at the base of my spine to catch me. This man holds the key to unlocking my inner lust that I believed was long lost. I guess no one else even bothered to look. His thumb glides across the smooth line of my jaw. I’m wanton, straining for more. He tips my chin and gives me just that.
This kiss feels necessary and unavoidable. Inevitable and meant to be. We couldn’t avoid this crash for a second longer without capsizing. His grip tightens on my hips, as if I might disappear. To prove the impossibility of that insanity, I drag my fingers through the shaggy length of his hair as an anchor. The arousal zapping between us is consuming and hot, warming me from the inside out. An inferno billows in my veins when he becomes more bold with his wandering grasp.
Halder palms my ass through the thermal wear, hauling me into the hard wall of his body. The noises he’s making remind me of the filthy fantasies I keep locked in a vault. The mixture of groaning and grunts has me digging my nails into his shoulders. I return the tantalizing favor when he spears a hand into my messy tresses and pulls until the warning of a sting blooms. I moan louder as he takes charge of our position, tilting my head to the angle of his choosing.
Even through our heavy clothes, I feel all of him. His muscles bunch and flex under my wandering fingers. I’m small next to his overwhelming power, but I don’t feel vulnerable. The way Halder touches me is more proof than I’ll ever need. The way he lavishes me with unyielding focus and tender caresses shows an innate level of care. He’s gentle and tender, but not in a placating way. This man has been cherishing me with each seemingly simple gesture. Now those signs of being admired are magnified.
I whine into his mouth when he nips at my swollen bottom lip. The tether binding us together is startling. I melt a bit more with each hit of his addictive desire. Maybe this sort of immediate magnitude should be alarming. The tingles coursing through me speak otherwise.
With a final rumble rising from his throat, Halder begins to release me from the daze he’s put me under. We break apart from what feels like an outside force. There’s a slow pulley reeling him away without choice. When my mouth leaves his, a shared rasp trips off our stung lips.
The smolder remains in his gaze, fanning the flames firmly rooted inside of my molten center. “That was the best damn blindside known to man.”
A gloating blush prickles my cheeks. Even w
ith wisps of frosty air separating us, our fire doesn’t extinguish. “I couldn’t stop the urge if I tried.”
He squeezes my butt, which I realize is still in his unrelenting hold. “I’ve been wanting to do that since I first saw you.”
I bump my forehead against his. “Yesterday?”
“No, two years ago.”
Oh, sweet baby Jesus. My heart is off for the races at a full gallop. I’m dizzy from the lack of proper breath and draw in some much-needed oxygen. There’s no doubt about my smile being dopey. I allow the loopy grin to spread. “Pretty sure nothing else could make this moment better, but you managed to exceed the swoon. Damn, Halder. That was romance on steroids.”
“You get all the credit.”
Tap dancers do a jig in my stomach. I tuck some errant strands of tryst evidence behind my ear. “So, you really noticed me at the prison?”
“I already told you that.”
“Pretty sure you just lightly glossed over the topic right after we woke up.”
Halder drifts a palm along my lower back. “At every opportunity, I gawked as you were walking by. Without being too obvious, of course. Not that my attempt at being stealthy mattered.”
Confessions struggle for domination while clawing up my windpipe. I allow my gaze to skitter off his, fueling an extra boost of confidence. “I always thought you were super hot, Halder. Even in neon orange. Maybe that makes me sound desperate or that I have some weird fetish. But I never gave another inmate a second glance. Whenever I went to Streebston, there was a secret part inside of me that was desperate to see you. Very specifically.”
His grunt of disbelief puffs steam across my tilted jaw. “You’re just saying that.”
I shake my head, brushing our noses together. “I’m not.”
“Guess we both had a craving for forbidden fruit. And look where it got us.”
“At least we have each other.”
“I deserve to be stranded alone, but I can’t force myself to regret that you’re with me.”
The flush on my face makes a raging reappearance. I can’t scrounge up the negativity to loathe my situation. There’s not even an ounce of remorse for the choices that have been stolen from me. The abundance of yummy vibes I’m floating on is surely to blame. “That is really sweet. Thank you.”
A furrow concaves the space between his brows. “You’re welcome?”
I nibble along my swollen bottom lip. “And thanks for saving my life. Again. I’ll probably rely on you several more times before this nightmare comes to an end.”
He winces near the final words of my spiel. “Shit, Blakely. I’m so sorry you’re stuck out here. If there was a way—”
I press a finger over his protest. “It’s okay. Truly. There’s not much we can do. Just promise me something?”
“Anything.” There’s no hesitation in his response.
“We’ll make it home before the true winter strikes. It’s going to get a lot colder than what October has to offer.” Because even though he hasn’t said it, I know we won’t survive that.
He nods without waiting a beat. “That’s my goal, remember? We won’t be trapped in the wilderness much longer. There are people searching for us right now. This is a minor blip you’re going to laugh about one day. Maybe I’ll be nearby to share the memory with you. So, don’t worry. I’ll return us to civilization, even if it kills me.”
“Well, let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. I kinda like having you around.” I stare at his luscious lips, already missing that pillowy pout against mine. “Especially if you keep kissing me.”
He leans into me, ghosting his mouth over mine. “Then I’m the luckiest bastard in this entire forest.”
“Prove it.”
Survival tip #14: Keep in mind that lurking shadows are the company of more than nightfall.
When Blakely tosses down the gauntlet with her taunting dare, there’s nothing I can do but accept. I inhale her seduction without erasing the millimeter keeping us apart. She flutters her lashes, a beckoning I’m dying to answer. This slight delay will bring our gratification to a higher peak.
I can still taste her sinful sweetness. Hell, my body will never forget the feel of her curves plastered against me. It’s been over five years since I’ve done so much as touch a woman. With Blakely, I want it all. But I won’t push faster than she’s comfortable with. Being pressed against her, kissing that succulent mouth, is already more than I’ve allowed myself to fantasize about.
She squirms against me, fraying my resolve to shreds. The temptation she offers is lethal. Another shot will only heighten my addiction. Based on her earlier plunge, she’s willing to take what she wants without warning. That unabashed lust turns me on hotter than a roaring bonfire. The steel rod in my jeans hasn’t relieved pressure since she leaped at me.
I drift my parting lips over hers without making true contact. “Are you sure about this?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Blakely’s fingers dig into my jacket, attempting to seal the distance.
“Remember what I said about teasing?”
“Uh-huh.” She whimpers when I trail the tip of my nose across her rosy cheek.
“And?”
“I’m ready for this little test to be over.”
With a husky chuckle, I put an end to our misery. Joining with her in such an intimate gesture pours gasoline on the already raging fire in my gut. That resulting burst of heat is more powerful than before, and I nearly stagger. We exchange control in this sensual dance. I allow Blakely to believe that there’s a choice for me—that I’m holding off for her benefit. In all honesty, I’m powerless against her. More so than I ever felt locked in a cell. But that doesn’t mean I have to expose my weakness for her. Not yet, at least.
Her tongue duels with mine, but I have the element of surprise in my pocket. With a single step, I have her backed against an exposed trunk. She gasps into my mouth when I push further. Her body bends into mine, and an explosion of white blasts across my vision.
Blakely clings to me with the same quaking desperation that’s in my grip on her. Those strands are pulling taut, tying us in a fiery embrace to elevate our desire. We’re responsible for saving one another. If I didn’t have her, the uncertainty would drive me mad. It’s too much for me to assume she feels the same, regardless of her earlier assurance and declaration.
I’m strung too tight. My entire form is taut and rigid. A subtle shift from her against me will snap this coil. Blakely snakes her arms around my shoulders and releases a moan that vibrates inside of me. The shockwaves through my veins are too powerful. I surrender to the demands, giving permission in the name of this moment.
The burning inside of me is volcanic. Another nibble along my lip or tease from slender fingers down my abs will steal every morsel of restraint. But the pleasure rippling under my skin isn’t a gift I can resist. My judgment is lost in a murky abyss. With a forward thrust, I slam our hips together. Padding from our winter gear dulls the impact, but that motion elevates my original purpose.
A sliver of clarity streaks into the fog. I rip my mouth away with a muted snarl, forcing the animal inside of me to submit and behave. The last thing I want to do is scare Blakely. My need for her is reaching levels I won’t be able to return from. Not without releasing this aching tension first.
“Fuck,” I pant against her moist pout. “You’re too much. I can’t continue without ripping your clothes off. You win this round.”
There’s an unmistakable glaze shrouding her eyes. She combs through my hair with a trembling hand. “We’re definitely even, Boy Scout.”
A ripple of satisfaction skips down my spine. “Not sure that’ll ever be the case, but I won’t argue.”
“Smart man.” Blakely winks and lets a giggle loose to emphasize her good mood.
I stare into her baby blues while counting the blessings I’m not worthy of. She returns my gaze, imploring me with an overflowing amount of honesty and kindness. Mutual affection hovers betwee
n us as we hang in the balance. I almost glance away to savor the fortune before my luck runs out. But we remain suspended in these electric clutches until the demands of our situation present themselves.
A frigid blast rolls over us at a speed to cause concern. That wind gains momentum, sending a howl swirling across each corner. The sudden drop in temperature has Blakely’s teeth chattering and my instincts kicking into survivor mode. I glance at the smoldering cinders and consider rejuvenating the flames. But our protection in this area is limited to the walls of evergreens. There isn’t a decent space to build a shelter.
A shiver moves through her limbs, stealing a fraction of our shared heat. “Talk about spoiling the romance. Thanks a lot, climate change.”
I laugh at her disgruntled tone. “We can cuddle by the fire later.”
Blakely bounces her brows at me. “You have a deal, mister.”
Another gust has me looking up. The sky was clear and blue when we’d been parked in the tree. Now the view overhead is becoming angry with gray clouds and afternoon shadows sweeping in.
“Looks like a system is heading our way.” I jut my chin at the rapidly approaching danger above us. While stuck out in the elements with no shelter, we’re no better off than an open target waving a flag.
She follows my gaze, hers widening at the sight. “A storm? But we just survived a wolf attack.”
“I’m not sure nature is keeping score, sweetheart.”
“Well, it might be nice to maintain an even distribution of catastrophes. Yesterday was so calm.”
I spread my arms out to the side. “Welcome to the Canadian wilderness. You never know what to expect.”
Blakely claps a palm to her cheek. “Did I jinx us? I totally knocked on wood. This isn’t fair.”
“Hey,” I grip her wrist in a gentle hold. “We’ll be okay. It might just be an aggressive overcast.”
She blinks at me, her expression flat. “No way. Not with the breeze ready to snap branches in half. And it got really cold super fast.”