Left For Wild: A Stranded in the Wilderness Romance

by Harloe Rae

  “They’re your past, though. And hold a fairly large role, I’m sure.”

  “Yeah, along with a slew of bad memories.” Similar to prison, but not nearly as dark or destructive.

  “I’ll drop it.” The blanket shifts when she begins scooting away.

  I reach out to lock her in place. “No, it’s fine. I might feel better unloading some of it.”

  A slim brow lifts in my direction. “Are you doing this to appease my curiosity?”

  “And to uphold my end of the bargain.”

  She squints at me. “What do I give in return?”

  “The same as me. I want all of the skeletons in your closet,” I murmur while diving in for a kiss.

  Blakely slants her mouth over mine to accept my offer. Before I can execute a distraction tactic, she’s pulling back. “Unfortunately for you, there are none. I’m squeaky clean.”

  “I love you, Lee. In my eyes, you can do no wrong. But trying to convince me that your childhood was perfect is a bunch of bullshit.”

  She rolls her baby blues. “Yeah, yeah. You’re right. Huge shocker. We’ll get to me in a minute. First, do you have unsettled grievances with your parents? Or is it a done deal and you’ve moved on? It’s important for me to know how hard I should tread.”

  I flop onto the mattress with a groan. “There will always be a need for closure when it comes to family drama. They don’t see our rift that way. I’m more of a jagged edge, or loose thread. If they try to sand me down or pull too hard, more destruction might follow. I prefer to think of myself as a rogue soul they can’t tame.”

  “What caused it?”

  With another strangled noise, I cover my eyes with a forearm. “They wanted me to stay in South Dakota and settle down with a nice girl from trusted stock. Whenever they brought it up, I felt like the rope around my neck was getting tighter. I wasn’t meant to be corralled in that sort of pen. It’s not the future I had planned.”

  A furrow appears across her forehead. “And they weren’t able to get past that?”

  “Nah, it always seemed like they took personal offense. As if they steered me wrong at some point.”

  “You’re allowed to have aspirations and goals beyond their limits.” Her pert nose gives an adorable crinkle.

  “Trust me, they didn’t see it that way. Their old-fashioned values don’t compute with expanding horizons. All they need can be found within a fifty-mile radius of Trixton Falls.”

  “What did they expect you to do? Aside from marrying a Midwestern lass responsible for producing your brood of offspring? Staying barefoot and pregnant indefinitely holds so much value for a modern woman. But I’m sure plenty were prepared to leap on the bandwagon for you. The irony isn’t lost on me, by the way.” She winks and wags her brows. This girl can make me laugh even with the clouds rolling in.

  “Damn, I love you.” I swoop in to steal another kiss.

  Blakely returns my affection with a little tongue action. Much to my disappointment, she breaks the kiss within seconds. Again. “Quit distracting.”

  I grunt while staring at her mouth, all glossy and moist. On top of resisting me, the sight makes her even more appetizing. “Quit being so sexy.”

  She fluffs her already disheveled hair. “Can’t help it. Finish your tale and earn a reward. The night is still young, boss.”

  A deep inhale fills me with enough hot air to get the rest out. “The options my parents provided in Trixton Falls held zero appeal. My uncle’s company is very profitable, but I’m not a cattle farmer. Working at my dad’s garage would’ve been even worse. Not that there’s anything wrong with those careers. The jobs are reliable and honest ways to earn a wage. They just aren’t for me. So, I broke out of the constraints. All was well until Stefano got his claws into me. When I was arrested, my parents took it as a sign that my choices delivered me there. If I’d stayed in town and led a simple life, none of the bad shit would’ve caught me.”

  “And what do you think?”

  “The decisions are mine, and I stand behind them. But for the record, getting locked up wasn’t part of the plan.”

  Blakely turns onto her side, peering at me with a gentle smile. “Other than getting involved with those guys, are there any regrets?”

  “I hate being estranged from them. It’s a constant nagging in the recesses of my mind.”

  “It definitely sounds like there’s a heap of unfinished business. I’m sure they miss you.” Her observation is whispered into the crook of my elbow.

  One of my shoulders seems to lift on its own. “Maybe, in their own way. They’re my family. I miss them, and that won’t change. Neither will the fact that my dreams were bigger than Trixton Falls.”

  “No one can blame you for being adventurous.”

  “They’d argue that to be a fault.”

  “Being ambitious and determined aren’t downfalls,” she murmurs.

  I rest my cheek against hers, tilting to include a kiss. “You’re too accepting.”

  She gives me one in return. “And you’re too stubborn.”

  “Some would say that’s a positive trait.”

  “Maybe in small doses.”

  “Don’t fret, sweetheart. My soft spot for you grows wider by the minute. Not sure I’ve ever possessed the strength to deny you, even in the beginning.”

  A sparkle lights up her baby blues. “In that case, we should visit them.”

  I grunt, already dismissing the idea. “Hard pass.”

  Then she stabs a finger into my side. “I’m serious. They’d love to see you.”

  “Might have to disagree, but I’ll take it into consideration.”

  She clears her throat, seeming to catch the strain in my voice. “How about your brother?”

  A sharp bark rips off my throat. “Beckett is an entirely different situation. He’s been a rebel from birth. The expectations were low from the start. My parents never clung to the hope that he’d want to carry on their traditions. They never expected him to stick around and grow roots.”

  “Dang, that’s harsh.”

  Another dry laugh escapes me. “I think he got the easy way out. Beckett will claim the opposite is true.”

  “And why is that?”

  I twirl a lock of her glossy strands around my finger, giving a light tug. “He didn’t have many rules growing up. That amount of freedom didn’t bode well for his personality type. His moral compass has always been fast and loose. He’s twenty-five and has no sense of responsibility. His drive for any means of success is nonexistent unless you count scoring front row seats for the latest punk band. Forget any sort of commitment. Can’t hold down a job. He likes danger, parties, and sex. Not necessarily in that order.”

  Blakely whistles. “He’s living by the golden standards.”

  “Something like that. Surprisingly enough, Beckett has managed to avoid jail. That’s more than I can say for myself.”

  A sharp jab prods at my ribs. “He learned a thing or two from his older brother. Be proud. Do you talk to him often?”

  I grab her wrist and bite at the offending fingertip. “When he feels like answering. He came to visit me after I got released. I thought it was him when Stefano’s lacky knocked on my door. Beck was the one to discover I was gone since he planned to stay the night at my place that night.”

  Blakely cringes. “I bet that really freaked him out.”

  “Pretty sure he was more upset about how the accusations. The cops immediately assumed I ran off. That didn’t go over so well with my brother. I’ve smoothed things over with him, though.”

  She smooths a palm over my chest. “Good. When will I get to meet him?”

  A grunt leaves me as I consider our conversation earlier this week. Beckett was driving to some music festival with a couple buddies he just met. “Good question. He’s a bit tough to nail down.”

  “Well, I’m glad you have him. Does he visit your parents?”

  “More than me.” But that’s not a stellar scale of measur
e.

  “That’s so odd. I can’t picture them welcoming him home with open arms whenever he’s in the mood to drop by.”

  “You’ve pegged him well.”

  “Thirty seconds and I’ve got him all figured out. He sounds like a riot.”

  “I’m sure he’d be pleased to hear that.” I can almost picture his shit-eating grin as the words leave my mouth.

  Blakely is quiet for a moment, drawing more invisible patterns with her nails against the sheet. “How hard will it be to make amends with your parents?”

  “It’s definitely overdue. I’m sure it will happen one day. Maybe you can help.”

  A strangled choke manages to escape her throat. “Whoa, let’s not be hasty. They’ll probably blame me for trying to trap you.”

  “Eh, it’s too late for that anyway. I’m happily caught.” She begins to protest, and I draw her plump bottom lip between my teeth. “Don’t think poorly of them. There aren’t gallons of bad blood spilled. I had a decent upbringing, albeit boring and rigid. My parents are genuine folks. They’re just narrow-minded in ways that we’d never agree on.”

  “Maybe we should visit for Thanksgiving or Christmas. They can’t refuse to see us on a holiday.”

  A brewing gurgle is already sizzling in my gut. I gulp at the acidic burn. “What about your family?”

  “They can adjust. This is how blending schedules as a couple works, or so I’ve heard. It’s all about being accommodating.”

  I lift a brow. “If you say so. And I believe it’s your turn to spill. Tell me more about them.”

  She huffs out a heavy breath, sending some tendrils flying off her forehead. “Well, you met them at the hospital. Talk about a trial by fire. Springing you on them might’ve been the best introduction.”

  “They seem nice.” I attempt to keep my tone even. In truth, her mother seemed ready to dismember me and sell off my pieces to the black market.

  Blakely tips her head back with a raspy giggle. “You’re being very diplomatic, as always. My mom can be a bit…high strung. She’s been borderline reclusive for years. Things haven’t been the same since my dad died. It’s been just the four of us for most of my life.”

  A rusty spike drives straight into my windpipe. I try not to wince. My parents and I barely speak, but losing one of them would be devastating. “Shit. I’m sorry, Lee.”

  She waves my condolences away. “It’s fine. Don’t apologize or be afraid to talk about him. He passed when I was young. Fatal car wreck. We’ve all had time to grieve. My mother is a different story, though. Her coping methods aren’t healthy. She became more paranoid after his death. That’s the main thing I worry about. When I leased this apartment and got a job at the prison, she nearly lost her marbles. But things have been better as of late. Probably because I’ve been stuck at home.”

  “Waiting on me,” I grumble.

  “Totally worth it. I wouldn’t take this journey with anyone else.”

  “Your mom might need some convincing.”

  “Don’t take it personally. No one is good enough for her girls.”

  Sour sludge fills my mouth. “Then I’m definitely not making the cut.”

  “Listen to me.” She rises into a kneel, clasping my cheeks between her palms. “Stop thinking that way. You’re smart. You’re courageous. Generous. Considerate. Sincere. The greatest man I’ve ever known. You’re enough, Halder.”

  I swallow at the knot tangling my vocal chords. “Is this one of those points where I’m supposed to believe you, regardless of personal opinion?”

  “Blindly so, yes. And you’re gonna be a really great dad.” She settles my palm on her stomach.

  “I can only hope to make you proud.”

  Blakely sprawls halfway on top of me, bending in for a kiss. “You already do.”

  I trail my fingers down the slope of her spine. “Marry me.”

  The idea sprouts spontaneously, growing faster than my impulsive mind can conjure. But I wouldn’t retract that phrase for a winning lottery ticket. The lax muscles along her back snap taut in an instant as she bolts upright, propping on both elbows.

  Her jaw is slack as she gawks at me. “Did you just propose?”

  I tap the third finger on her left hand. “Well, I wasn’t really asking.”

  “That’s what I thought.” She flops down to resume her previous position, muttering a string of nonsense. “For future reference, that’s not a subject to joke about with a woman.”

  “No, I mean it wasn’t a question. I’m assuming you’ll agree.”

  “You’re serious?”

  “Wouldn’t have said it otherwise.”

  She narrows her gaze on mine. “Is this because I’m pregnant?”

  “Nah, sweetheart. It’s been on my mind since we woke up stranded together in that desolate forest. Fate and destiny and all those other romantic notions landed us there. Are you gonna reject me?”

  The tears brimming in her eyes suggest the opposite. “Of course not.”

  The thrumming in my chest triples with a rabid beat that’s seeking only her. “So, that’s a yes?”

  “If you’re in need of an answer to that non-question, then yes. I’d love to marry you.”

  I smash our lips together, rolling her underneath me to deepen the embrace. A belated thought pokes through the smoldering lust in my brain. I rip my mouth away with a muffled groan.

  “Give me one second.” I slide off the bed and dig out her present from the pocket of my jeans. The tangle of vines and flexible twigs form a mostly perfect circle. “A bit primitive, but not entirely meaningless. Further proof this isn’t a rash decision.”

  “You made me a ring?” Her voice wavers with raw emotion as I slide the band on.

  I wanted to make her something to remember our beginning, regardless of how we end. “In the forest, yeah. I was too chickenshit then. The significance has changed a bit, so maybe it’s better I waited.”

  Her stare is locked on the piece of our woods. “I would love a rare gem you created, regardless of the meaning.”

  “I’ll buy you a real one tomorrow,” I vow.

  Blakely shakes her head. “This handcrafted beauty is more valuable than a flawless diamond. I’d rather have a symbol of our love that holds its weight in personal substance. The thought always counts for everything.”

  “I’ll pretend you mean that.”

  “Because I do.”

  “I hope to hear those words from you again very soon.”

  “Practice makes perfect.” She holds up her hand displaying my meager offering. “Speaking of, what happens next?”

  I wrap an arm around her waist and pull until she’s straddling me. “We celebrate, fiancée.”

  She grinds her hips against mine, spurring a liquid inferno to ignite in my gut. “Full speed ahead, boss.”

  Survival tip #32: Getting caught in the whimsy helps with balance.

  Determined knocking sends a spiral of flutters loose in my belly. Halder only left my place two hours ago, with the promise of picking me up for our date by noon. A glance at the clock shows he’s a minute early. I’ve always been a fan of punctuality.

  There’s a skip in my step as I stride to the foyer and peek through the peephole. Safety is an important lesson to learn. That and Halder would give me a spanking if I opened up without double-checking who’s there. On second thought, breaking his rules might be in my favor.

  “Sweetheart, I can practically hear your naughty wheels turning from out here. Let me in or I’ll puff and huff and blow your skirt up.” The slight growl in his voice awakens a trail of goosebumps across my arms.

  I lay a palm flat onto the barrier between us. “That’s not how the story goes, boss man. Also, is that supposed to be a threat? Because I gotta tell you, it’s only turning me on.”

  “Blakely, you’re killing me.” A thump sounds from the other side, as if he’s resting his head on the wood in an attempt to cool down. “Let me in.”

  “Is this the pa
rt where I say not by the hairs on my chinny-chin-chin?”

  “That comes earlier.”

  “I most certainly did,” I murmur.

  The door almost rattles with his laughter. “You’re gonna be in trouble, sweetheart.”

  Drawing out his playfulness is one of my favorite things.

  “Thing is, your version of consequences are more like rewards.”

  “How long are you gonna make me wait? Is this payback from earlier?”

  I cluck my tongue. “Maybe.”

  But tormenting me with multiple orgasms isn’t a hardship. If anything, I’m trying to provoke a repeat.

  “I’m in misery without you,” he croons.

  Someone is tugging at my weak spots. “Not sure that’s possible when we’re technically together.”

  “If I can’t touch you, we’re separated by too much. Let me prove it.”

  I take a closer look at him, squinting to see his warped form through the distorted lens. “What’s behind your back? Are you hiding something?”

  His shoulders shake before I hear the gritty chuckle. “A surprise. You’re enjoying this, huh?”

  “Perhaps I need to see what you’re offering first.” I shimmy my hips even though he can’t see.

  “How about you quit teasing me, Lee?”

  “But it’s so fun.” Yet my hand is already twisting the knob.

  Halder pushes inside within the next beat. A low rumble rises off his chest. The sound only succeeds in ramping my excitement to tingling proportions. Irish Spring soap and woodsy musk invade my senses. Freshly showered Halder is scrumptious. There’s no shame in admitting I drool a bit.

  His open palm lands on my ass. “If we didn’t have reservations, I’d strip you bare and spend the afternoon further delaying our gratification.”

  I walk my fingers up the buttons of his flannel. “Wouldn’t that be punishment for you, too?”

  “Just the opposite.” He cinches an arm around my waist, hauling me into him. That pine scent swirls deeper into my lungs.

  “Can’t say I’ve ever found the pleasure in that. I’m more of an eat-when-hungry type of girl.”