by Zoe Chant
She laughed at that, and Chris couldn’t stop thinking of other ways he knew to keep warm at night. God, he wanted her still. Wanted her enough that he’d make love to her on a bed of fallen leaves, if he had to.
“Let me see,” she murmured. “I’ve driven along this road a few times. The Herberts’ hut is…” She grimaced. “Probably a few hours walk. And there’s more bridges along the way.”
Bridges that might have been destroyed as well, Chris realized.
“I hadn’t thought of that,” he admitted. “You’re right. Let’s not trust our luck with the road. Anytime you think you recognize a place where we might find shelter, let me know.”
They walked for maybe half an hour. It was eerily quiet. There was only the rustling of leaves and branches, and every now and then a bird sang. To both sides of the road, the trees grew tall, stretching towards the sky where he could see clouds drift by. He hoped it wouldn’t start raining again. Maybe they’d be able to find shelter somewhere beneath a tree or in a cave, but if any other bridges had been carried off by the water, it would make it even more difficult for their rescuers to find them.
He stopped when Eve tightened her grip on his arm with a sound of dismay. There, before them, just behind the bend the road had just made, another river came rushing down from the mountains, gaining volume from the relentless rain of the past week until it had washed the road away as well. The bridge that crossed the river here still stood, although a torrent of muddy water was roaring past the stone pillars—but the road that led towards the bridge had been swept away together with the bank of the river. Now they stood facing a small precipice that could not be crossed, from beyond which the bridge seemed to mock them.
“So much for the road,” he sighed. He tried to hide his disappointment, although he didn’t think he was particularly successful, because Eve wrapped her arm around his waist once more and leaned her head against his shoulder.
“It’s… very romantic?” she suggested.
He laughed despite himself at her effort to find something positive even in this situation. And she was right. It wasn’t as if they were in danger. They’d get rescued tomorrow, and then they’d laugh about their romantic day getting lost in the wilderness.
“I suppose so!” he replied. “And I did say that I’d love to take you hiking.”
“From what I remember, you also promised me a massage.” Eve’s eyes gleamed as she spoke.
Chris felt distracted once more by the heat of her body and the way her shirt clung to her curves. She looked like one of the nymphs an old master might paint, the way she stood before the thundering river with the wind tousling her golden hair. He really couldn’t wait to uncover her body and show her with lips and hands just how gorgeous she was.
“Shelter first,” he said firmly. “Then the massage—and anything else you might want.”
“Mmm,” she purred. “I can think of a few things…”
She rested her hand on his chest, fingers spreading, and he felt his heartbeat pick up in response as she gave him a slow smile. He couldn’t resist, he had to kiss her once more. With a gasp, she pressed herself against him again, and he threaded his fingers through her hair just so that he wouldn’t be tempted to slide them up beneath her shirt.
Shelter, he reminded himself once more when they parted, and his bear grumbled in approval and made him turn north.
There, the top of the hill loomed above them. There was no path, just the slippery ground they had been walking on so far: earth soft and spongy from the rainfall, with wet leaves and moss on top. But the trees stood less densely, and on the summit of the hill, he could make out dark shapes.
Large rocks, he thought and smiled a little.
Good shelter for a bear. He’d prefer something better for Eve—but it was a start. And who knew, maybe from the top of the hill, they’d be able to spy the rescue team that would get sent out sooner or later.
***
It had started to rain again by the time they made it to the hilltop. It was just a gentle drizzle, but neither of them had come equipped for a hike in the rain. Or worse, an entire night spent outside in the rain.
Eve gave Chris a sideways look. His shirt was soaked through, showing off those amazing pecs of his, and the corded muscles of his upper arm. No wonder that he had lifted her with such ease from the car. It still seemed strange that a guy like him should be interested in her—but it was exhilarating.
He made her feel that she was just right for him. Jeremy had never missed a chance to make her feel ashamed for all that extra weight, but Chris’ hands had just lingered with appreciation on her hips.
“What is that red spot down there?” Chris asked. “Can you see that?”
She followed Chris’ pointing finger. Before them, a slope descended, more gently than the steep hill they had just climbed. Birches grew in abundance, but there was enough space between their slender, white trunks that walking down this side of the hill would be much easier. And there, a spot of color that seemed out of place among all the muted colors of the wet forest—
“I think that’s a roof!” she exclaimed. There was excitement in her voice, even though she tried to caution herself. It wasn’t tourist season; the house would be empty. There would be no phone.
But we will be out of the rain, she told herself. There might even be wood for a fire and a bed…
She flushed when she realized where her thoughts had led her, but the vision of Chris undressing in front of a flickering fire, his chest glistening with raindrops, proved rather persistent, even as they slowly made their way down the slope.
The ground was treacherous, and more than once they had to clutch at each other to keep from slipping on the wet leaves. They could no longer see that spot of red through the canopy of the trees, but Chris kept her hand in his as he led her forward, apparently blessed with an enviable sense of direction. He laughed as she told him so, and then they had to stop in the rain for another kiss. She didn’t even mind the cold anymore after that.
Instead, it suddenly felt like an adventure: exploring the wilderness with Chris, climbing hills and searching for shelter and laughing as they both nearly tripped over roots hidden beneath all the leaves. Maybe it would all turn out all right. And there was absolutely no reason Chris would have ever heard of her father. No one in Linden Creek had ever suspected anything. That was all in the past and long forgotten.
By the time they slowly climbed out of a small ravine that had suddenly barred their path, the sun was sinking towards the horizon, the shadows lengthening, although at least the rain had stopped again. Before them had now appeared the roof that had alerted them with its distinctive red, and when they wearily stumbled upon a narrow path, it led them right up to what they could now see was a little hut—not one of the larger houses that got rented out to tourists, but a small building little more than a shack.
“Looks like a hunting lodge.” Chris gave the door an experimental pull. “Locked.”
“Wait,” Eve replied as she made her way over to where a pot stood near the corner of the house. A bedraggled looking small rose bush was planted in it, but when she lifted the pot slightly, there was the telltale gleam of metal beneath.
In triumph she waved the key at Chris when she returned. “There’s really not much of a chance for break-ins out here. It’s usually either a flower pot or the mat.”
Chris looked at her with warm approval, and again she felt that by now familiar tug in her belly—desire and want, strong as she had never felt it before, but all mixed up with the simple pleasure of his company.
Cut it out, she told herself sternly. You’ve only known him for a day.
But in that day, he had saved her life and endangered his own for her. Whatever this instant attraction was, it was a lot more than mere desire.
Although the desire was definitely there as well, she thought with appreciation as she watched him pull off his wet shirt once they had made it inside.
He looked ev
en better than she had imagined. Moisture ran down his back in trickles that made her want to reach out and trace them with her fingers, follow them down to where they vanished when they reached his pants. He’d thrown open the shutters of a window to let in some light and fresh air, and what little sunlight remained glistened on his torso.
He looked like the sort of statue she'd expect to find in a museum: all smoothly muscled chest, arms and thighs strong enough to carry her to safety, and the sort of handsome, square jaw that Eve was sure would cause quite a stir among the women of Linden Creek. Then he turned towards her. His eyes were dark with need once more as he looked at her.
When was the last time anyone had looked at her like this?
The bulge in his pants was impressive. She had to swallow as she imagined what it would feel like to run her hands over it, to feel the firm hardness of him in her hand. She didn’t want to wait anymore. She didn't want to always be afraid of the past. She’d waited for so long, after Jeremy, and she was sick of it. She was sick of always feeling like she wasn’t good enough, like she didn’t deserve happiness, like anything she built would come crashing down around her soon enough.
She wanted Chris. She knew that Chris wanted her too, and she ached with the need to feel the heat of his skin against hers.
Touching him was like an electric shock. She rested her hand on his chest; his skin was hot and damp, and beneath, his heart was racing.
“Eve,” he said, his voice very dark.
It truly was a growl, but she didn’t feel afraid. She was light-headed from how much she wanted him. The scent of him was overwhelming: the clean virility of rain, soil and wind, paired with something that said warmth and comfort and safety. And desire.
There was a bed in a corner. It was narrow; they’d have to sleep in each other’s arms, and the thought sent new longing through her as they stumbled towards it. Chris’ mouth was at her throat, his hands beneath her shirt, stroking up her sides with a tenderness that belied the hunger of his lips.
When Eve raised her arms so that he could pull the shirt off, he groaned, staring at her with eyes full of need. Before the usual apprehension could return at being so uncovered, his mouth was on her breasts. His hands cupped her warmly through the fabric of her bra. His lips were hot and soft against her skin. Then his thumb flicked against a hard nipple and she gasped, a new wave of heat surging up from between her legs. She could feel how wet she was already as she squirmed beneath his hands, suddenly impatient.
Her nipples ached for more of his worshipful caresses. No one had ever made her felt so completely undone with just a few touches! She moaned as he unhooked her bra. Then her breasts spilled free and he surged forward to take a nipple into his mouth, sucking and flicking his tongue against it as she arched her back. His tongue was so hot, and it felt so good it was nearly an ache.
Need throbbed between her legs now. She had to bite back a whimper as he dropped a hand to her jeans, opening the button and the zipper while his tongue continued to tease her nipple until she thought she’d come from that alone. Was that even possible? God, he seemed intent on making it possible.
“No, no, come on!” she gasped finally as she pulled free for a moment. “Clothes off, all of them!”
He stared at her with hunger in his eyes while he pulled off her jeans. She wanted to squirm again, she wanted him that badly.
“You’re so beautiful, Eve. Look at you,” he said hoarsely.
She looked up at him, nearly unable to breathe from the vision of him above her.
“It’s like you’re glowing in the light,” he continued with reverence. “You’re all sunlight and gold and vanilla. Has anyone ever told you that? Your hair’s like honey. I just want to eat you up.”
Outside, the sun was setting now, and the last rays of sunlight gleamed on Chris’ tousled brown hair. His chest was heaving as he looked down at her with unabashed hunger, and she ran a hand up his thigh until she could feel the hard length pressing against his pants.
“Inside me. Now,” she said and gave him a little squeeze before she leaned back to recline on the bed.
Her thighs spread a little, and she could see his breathing speed up when he caught a glimpse of her damp panties. For once, she’d worn the white and purple lacy ones instead of the sensible cotton. Now she was glad, because he groaned and then moved forward, his hands gently stroking up her thighs until they spread more, kissing her right there through the fabric until her hips arched up, begging for more.
He pulled off her panties. Then his hands were back, spreading her until she was exposed to his gaze—and then there was another kiss. This time, there was no fabric in the way. She moaned when his tongue flicked against her clit. It felt incredible. Jeremy had never liked to do that for her.
Chris’ tongue teased at her folds, lapping at her with little licks and long strokes until she was writhing beneath him, her entire body throbbing. Everything seemed to come apart in long waves of pleasures that grew and grew until his mouth fastened around her clit and he sucked, and she cried out as pleasure exploded through her in the most intense orgasm of her life.
***
Chris looked down at where Eve was spread out beneath him, out of breath and flushed with pleasure. The dying light of the day lingered on her gorgeous curves and made her glow in all the tones of the old masters, warm gold and soft pink and red, as though he were looking at a painting in a gallery depicting a goddess of love.
My love, he thought, my mate, still barely able to believe that he had found her.
“Mmmm.” The sound she made was very nearly a purr as she stretched.
He was suddenly reminded of the ache of his own erection as it continued to throb against the tight confines of his slacks.
Only one way to change that…
His pants joined the pile of their discarded clothes on the floor. The air was a little chilly on his damp skin, but her skin was hot enough against his own to warm him.
“D’you think whoever owns this place left behind condoms?” he asked a little sheepishly as he opened the drawer of the nightstand.
Candles. A lighter. A battered copy of some murder mystery. Damn.
“IUD,” she said and laughed at his relieved expression. “Because I could never remember if I’d taken a pill in the morning—not because I thought that one day I’d wind up stranded in the wilderness with the hottest guy I’ve ever seen.”
“Hottest guy you’ve ever seen? Really?” he couldn’t help but ask, even as he was smiling at her infectious laughter. “And a woman who’s prepared for survival in the wilderness. I like that.”
She wrapped her arms around him with a grin and tugged him back down for a kiss. “Less talking now.”
“You’re the one who’s talking,” he teased, loving the way her eyes shone when she laughed up at him.
God, her scent was the most delicious thing he’d ever smelled. All the sweetness of her bakery and that tantalizing aroma of honey. Was it really just the cupcakes, or was this what it felt like to breathe in the scent of your mate?
“But I know how to make you stop talking for a while,” he added with a little growl. She was so hot and slick against him as he leaned forward. He positioned himself, and then—
They both moaned simultaneously as he slid inside. She arched against him, her thighs around his waist as her inner walls contracted around him, and still he slid even deeper, filling her slowly and completely. It was incredible. She felt so good, so overwhelming—he slid into her again and again as she wrapped her arms around him to pull him as close as possible. He could feel her breath against his throat, hot air ghosting across his skin, the little moans that escaped her every time he pushed deep inside her again.
When he drew back, he could see that her eyes were half-closed, hazy with pleasure. He knew that he could quickly become addicted to this. No—was already addicted to this. It seemed impossible to live without this vision of her completely abandoned to her pleasure. Strands of hone
y-gold hair were sticking to her cheeks, her lips were swollen and red from their kiss, her thighs soft and warm against his sides as he buried himself inside her again and again.
I'll have to tell her, he thought in desperation. I'll have to tell her about the bear.
She would understand. He didn’t want to have secrets from her. He’d kept it secret for so long, but now he suddenly longed to share this with her. To share everything with her.
My mate. He couldn’t say it yet, but one day soon he would.
“You’re so beautiful,” he gasped again and leaned down to take one of her nipples into his mouth.
A little whimper escaped her at the touch of his tongue. He sucked gently while she tightened around him, again and again, as though she was trying to force his pleasure from him.
When it happened, she came with him, crying out in surprise as her body pulsed hot and tight around him. He groaned her name into her hair, yearning to speak the word mate, because that was who she was. His perfect mate. Beautiful and sweet like honey, her curves tantalizing and sexy even as they came to rest against each other at last in exhausted silence.
“Wow,” she said after a moment had passed, and he nuzzled at her shoulder, breathing in her scent and trying to caution his bear to patience.
Our mate, his bear growled proudly, and Chris agreed again.
It had taken a long time to find her.
But, he thought as he looked at her face, aglow with bliss as she rested in his arms, it has been worth all the years of loneliness.
He’d never really had a family of his own; his father had left soon after his youngest brother was born, unhappy with an arranged marriage to a shifter who wasn’t his mate. His mother had died when Chris had still been young. He was grateful to the aunt and uncle who had brought him up, but it had never been anything but obligation.
Chris hadn’t even talked to his two brothers in years. He wondered all of a sudden what they would think of Eve.
No. That didn’t matter. Having a family had always seemed an unattainable dream, even as he watched others settle down and find the sort of happiness he had only been able to dream of as a child. He had sometimes wondered whether he was incapable of it. He’d feared that the reason he couldn’t find his mate was simply that he didn’t know how to love someone like that. But now he was surrounded by love.