Until I’m sure McKayla’s safe . . . I think I might sleep here every night. Just to be sure.
Coming Soon!
Untamed
Irresistible Bachelors Book 9!
Prologue - Unedited and subject to change.
Annabelle
I shouldn’t be here, lying in bed in a barely there silk shift, my goosebump-covered thighs half exposed, waiting for him. Not after what happened. Not after what he did. If I was smart, I’d leave now.
But I can’t help myself. And sometimes the body’s needs overwhelm the mind… and sometimes there are needs greater than either.
I turn my head at the sound of creaking wood and bite my lower lip as our eyes meet. He’s standing in the doorway, tall, muscular and imposing. His mostly-shadowed form nearly fills the space, and only the ethereal light coming through the small window above me lights his face, making his eyes almost glow ferally as he watches.
A beast-like hunger radiates from him, so palpable the hair on the back of my neck rises, and a damp, primal heat starts to warm the cool space between my thighs.
My pulse quickens and my breathing is heavy as I press my thighs together, my limbs trembling with an almost insatiable need. Never in my entire life have I seen someone look at me with this much want. This much need.
And I need him.
I need him right fucking now.
The corner of his lips quirk upwards as his burning eyes take in my trembling body. He knows exactly what his greedy staring does to me, and he has me exactly where he wants me.
“Please,” I half moan, half whisper, not caring how desperate I sound. It’s an alien feeling. I’ve always been the one in charge, never begging a man for anything.
But in this moment, I don’t care.
I want this. I want him.
“I need you now,” I whimper, sliding one shoulder strap off. It’s a silent offer, with no conditions. Just take me, ravage me, give me the animal pleasure that’s hiding behind your eyes… show me what desire brings. “Claim me… after so long, take what’s yours.”
Grinning like a wolf, he pulls off his red flannel shirt and tosses it to the side, exposing his rippling muscle, hardened by years of hard work. His faded blue jeans are hung low, showing off the rock hard ‘V’ at his hips, his happy trail descending down to the huge cock imprint that even the sturdy fabric can’t fully cloak.
My mouth waters at the sight, my lips parting in a soft moan of want and desire.
God, he’s so fucking sexy, a true mountain of a man. I never thought it was possible to want another human being this much.
His eyes burn into me and another need-filled groan escapes my lips as my nipples harden and my clit begins to throb like a war drum. I’m ready to explode… and he hasn’t even laid a finger on me yet.
He growls, sniffing the air. “You’re already so wet for me.”
It’s not a question, but a statement of fact. There’s no denying it, and this room is so small I bet my aroma permeates every corner. I am beyond wet for him. He can see it, too, his eyes flashing lust as they come to rest on my soaked panties.
“Yes,” I sigh, my hands unconsciously drifting down my stomach towards my dripping mound, my knees parting to show him the near translucent wispy garment.
“No,” he grunts possessively. I freeze instantly, my hand a fraction above my throbbing clit. “Mine.”
I watch him, my chest heaving, as he strides across the room, each massive footstep filling the cabin with the sound of creaking wood. Each step he takes is an eternity as every cell within my body awakens and screams with anticipation, electricity carried within my bloodstream itself as he nears.
When he gets to the side of the bed, he drops down, making the steel frame squeak loudly in protest, his almost massive weight settling upon my lower body. He spreads my legs wide before him, his deep voice dropping into a hungry growl that sounds more animal than human as he slips my soaked panties down my thighs.
I can’t take it. The sight of him a breath’s width away from my soaking wet pussy is too much to take. I can feel my inner walls clenching even though there’s nothing there yet. “Fuck you’re fucking delicious and sweet… like wild honey,” he growls, licking his lips. “And finally I get the taste I’ve dreamed of for so long.”
The guttural sound has me bucking my hips towards his face, wanting what he’s about to give me so bad I fear I’ll break into two. “Yes… get your fill. Take what’s yours.”
“All mine,” he says, as he inhales my scent, looking as if he’s preparing to devour an all-you-can-eat buffet. I realize the truth of his words as my clit throbs in tandem with my raging heartbeat. I’m too scared to say it, but it’s all his. It might kill me if he breaks my heart again… but it’s all his. Always has been.
My body is all his.
Every fucking part of it.
Chapter 1
Aubrey
Work and pain. It’s my entire existence. I wake up, wash under a flood of cold water, do chores around my cabin, go outside, chop fire wood if I’m running low, and then return when the sun goes down to eat and to sleep in a bed that’s more steel tubing and springs than mattress. Rinse, repeat.
It’s a monotonous cycle. Some might even think of it as hell.
But for me though, it’s peace. It’s a hard sort of heaven.
The work and strain keeps my mind occupied, freeing it from the demons that torment me and the ghosts of my past.
“Fresh crisp air, sweeping views of Great Falls, gorgeous, magical nights spent looking up at the twinkling stars. Enjoy it all while staying at our amazing two story cabin that features all the amenities you could ever want. So what are you waiting for? Book your trip to Bear Mountain now, you won’t regret it!…. How’s that sound?”
“What?” I grunt absently, sitting back in my great oak chair. It’s handmade, like most of the furniture in my cabin, but there’s not too many chairs that can take a man who stands six five and is built like I am.
Seated at a large wooden table near the window in a chair that makes her look not much bigger than a child, Carlotta Lawson, my fiery-haired second cousin and sales and marketing consultant, looks up from her laptop and scowls murder at me. “Have you been listening to me at all?”
A lock of red hair falls in front of her green eyes and she brushes it back in annoyance to continue her glare. She’s been working for the past hour to create a presentable brochure and my lack of attention to detail has her on edge. I know I should be helping out more, she’s just about the only member of my family… hell, nearly the only person, who I have contact with anymore.
But to be honest, I haven’t been listening for the past ten minutes, though I should be. I need this sales pitch to be a hit with potential customers. Rising taxes on my fifty acres of land has been brutal, and if I want to hang onto my mountaintop paradise, I need to raise some cash.
Luckily for me, I have an extra little cabin on the property that I’ve decided to turn into a seasonal Airbnb rental to help pay the bills. I won’t even need to do any face to face contact with customers. I can hire a cleaning person when I need it, or just clean it when they’re not around. But I don’t use computers much, so I need Carlotta to come up with the perfect vision…. with as little input from me as possible.
I’m not the creative type, but give me an axe and I’ll impress anyone with how fast I can send a tree crashing down before I lug it through the woods to turn it into firewood.
Carlotta continues to glare daggers at me as the silence drags out. “Well?” she finally says. “We’re waiting!”
I scratch at my beard, reminding myself I need to trim it. “Sure I have,” I finally say. “I’ve been paying attention.”
Carlotta huffs, unconvinced. “Then what did I say?”
I think for a moment and say an approximation of what I think I heard. “Something about twinkling stars and gorgeous bears. And maybe crisp apples, but I don’t know where you got that shit from
.”
Carlotta snorts in disgust. “See, that’s my point exactly!” she says, ignoring her laptop to stare at me. Before I know it, she’s slipped off into one of her epic rants about how I’m a inconsiderate, ‘grunty’ bastard who might as well be a caveman. She gets out of her chair, stomping back and forth and waving her arms around as she explains all my shortcomings, behavioral, physical and maybe genetic, in excruciating detail. “…always being so rude… I’m here to do you a favor and you don’t even have the decency to pay attention!”
I let her irritation run its course before replying, knowing if I don’t, I run the risk of it starting all over again. “I was thinking, and really, there’s not much I can offer. If you think it’s good, it’s good.”
It’s about as much as an apology she’ll get out of me, especially after her little tirade. Carlotta shakes her head, crossing her arms and giving me the stink-eye. “If I could fight a man…”
I’m barely able to contain my grin. “Listen, what you have sounds about right. Bring me a couple samples and we’ll make it official.”
Carlotta throws her hands up in defeat, snapping her laptop shut and climbing to her feet. “I know you’re just saying that to get rid of me, but fine. I’ll get the brochure and the online finalized in photoshop and shoot you the sample. If it meets your rustic majesty’s fancy, I’ll get copies sent out to all the local businesses as soon as possible… though you don’t deserve it.”
I rise out of my chair, towering over Carlotta. She doesn’t mean it, she knows why I live the way I do, even if she doesn’t quite approve. “You do that. I’m sure it will get us some traffic.”
It’s not quite a compliment, but close enough. I hand those out about as often as the Bills win the Super Bowl. But truth is, I’m amazed she puts up with my ass at all. Most of the world, and most of my family, stopped trying years back.
Carlotta glares up at me for a moment before her expression softens and she lets out a soft sigh. “Look, I’m sorry Aubrey. You know I didn’t mean to go off on you like that. It’s just that I’m worried about you… every one is. You’ve moved up here, practically become a recluse, haven’t talked to your parents in years. You know your mother misses you terribly, right?”
I cross my arms over my chest, jutting my jaw. Carlotta never misses the opportunity to bring that little fact up whenever she’s here. Seeing as how she’s the only person I’ve let into my life lately, I don’t necessarily blame her for trying to get messages through to me on the behalf of others.
It’s never worked though. Maybe it will change in the future, but for now, the door is closed. Carlotta doesn’t understand the whole picture, even though she’s probably seen a side of it.
“Anything else?” I grunt stonily.
Carlotta stares at me for a moment before looking all around, stopping at the logs I keep stored this side of the cabin. “Yeah, how about getting a woman in here to help you keep this place tidy? Or better yet, get a girlfriend? It has be lonely up here all by yourself.”
The latter question is one she also brings up, and one I have no intention of answering.
“For your second question, none of your business. As for your first,” I reply, hooking a thumb at the broom on against the wall, “you’re welcome to help yourself to sweep and mop.”
I fully expect Carlotta to storm out, but she just shakes her head, looking up at me worriedly. “I’m just going to pretend you didn’t say that.” She leans in closer, her piercing green eyes filled with concern. “In all seriousness, I think it is my business. You can’t stay alone forever, Aubrey. You really need to find someone. At least a damn friend. I can’t even imagine what it must be like for you.”
“I’m fine. It’s just the way I like it,” I say stubbornly, refusing to budge. Carlotta sure is pushing the envelope more than usual today. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear she wants to give me a hug, and I hug about as often as I compliment. “You needn’t worry about me.”
Carlotta bites her lower lip and then her voice drops low. “I know you’re still hurting over….” She stops short of bringing up a name that we both avoid saying, “but it’s been ten years now. You’ve got to start moving on. You don’t have to keep torturing yourself like this. He wouldn’t want you to.”
I keep my stone-faced expression, silent and imposing, not letting Carlotta on to the emotions roiling beneath the surface. Instead, I nonchalantly nod at the door. “I’d invite you to stay for dinner, but it seemed you wanted to leave?”
Anger flashes in her eyes, and she steps back, turning on a heel. “Fine, be that way. I’ll have the proofs to you by tonight.”
Snatching her laptop and bag from the table, she laves. For a few moments, I hear muffled cursing and then the roar of an ATV engine and the sound of tires rolling over snow and gravel as she drives off.
After she’s gone, my stony demeanor crumbles a little and my shoulders slump. I didn’t mean to piss her off, but I wasn’t about to let her into that side of my brain either. Usually she knows not to push me, but today she was bolder than usual.
She’ll get over it.
Truth is, I ran Carlotta off for hitting my sore spot. Her only fault lie in reminding me of what I don’t have… and might possibly want. I’m stubborn as a mule, but even I can see that maybe it’s time to test the waters a little bit.
Living up here in the mountains, though, I wouldn’t know the first place to start. Hell, maybe this Airbnb idea might be that first step… I could actually say hello to someone every now and then. Work on my terrible fucking social skills.
“Carlotta’s right,” I mutter as I realize grunting ‘good morning’ isn’t exactly rejoining the world. I was just too prideful and stubborn to admit it in her presence. “This place could use a woman’s touch.”
Looking around the cabin, it’s cozy enough, with caramel hardwood floors and a stone fireplace in the center of the living room. I laid that fireplace with my bare hands, picking the rocks out of the land surrounding my cabin and hauling them in a pack all the way here. It’s some piece of work.
But keeping it clean is a struggle for me. I track in mud and wood chips all day from my daily excursions. If I mop in the morning, it’s back dirty in an hour, and leaving my boots outside means freezing my toes in the winter.
Having a woman around probably would make life easier.
But I haven’t been with anyone in a long time… and I’m practically a caveman these days. I don’t need Carlotta to tell me that.
It’s been a while since I’ve had a woman. And I’d be lying to myself if I said I wasn’t as horny as a bull that’s been caged up in a pen. There’s only so much ‘self love’ that you can do before you’re frustrated for something more.
But what would happen if I actually started dating and let the caged beast within me free? I’m almost afraid to find out.
Tap. Tap. Tap. The sound comes from outside, and the pitter patter of furry feet breaks me out of my reverie. The wooden dog door I put in last winter swings in, and I look into the piercing grey-blue eyes of my only companion, Rex, a Siberian husky that’s been with me since moving to Bear Mountain.
If dog’s are a man’s best friend, then Rex is the closest thing to a soulmate that I’ve had with a non-human. I’ve raised him from a puppy, taking him from Doc Jones when Rex was abandoned by his owners. He’s always by my side whenever I need him and has proven himself to be of great use helping me do chores around the property. If anything, he scares the shit out of local bears.
Rex stands in the short entrance hallway, gazing at me, obediently waiting for permission to come all the way in, though I don’t mind where he goes. He’s my buddy. I snap my fingers and he trots up to me, sitting right at my feet as I squat down, rubbing him behind the ears.
“You hear that conversation between me and Carla, boy?” I ask him, finding his secret spot behind his left ear that makes his tail wag no matter what. “She thinks I need a woman around here to keep things s
traight. What do you think about that?”
Rex tilts his head to the side, looking curious.
I chuckle at his expression, shaking my head as I walk over to the calendar I use to keep up with my logging schedule. “Yeah, I think she’s crazy too.”
I quickly scan the jobs I have planned for the rest of today. It’s not too much, just an old pine that could fall across the trail off my property in the next snow, but it involves some tedious chopping. Fuck chainsaws, I do this right. But if I want to be done by sunset, I need to start now.
I walk over and grab my special axe, an exquisite work of maple handle with a hardened steel blade. I’m actually relishing the prospect of a hard afternoon of work. It’ll allow me to forget my problems.
At least… I hope.
“Come on, boy,” I tell Rex, who obediently pads to my side as I shoulder my axe and begin gathering my work things. Water, gloves, and my phone… just in case. “We’ve got a lot of work to do.”
***
I walk back into the cabin covered in sweat, an iron ache running down my back between my shoulder blades from an afternoon’s labor, my booted feet clunking across the hardwood floor. Rex obediently pads in behind me, panting, and drops down on his worn and tattered dog bed.
Grinning at him, I fill his water bowl at the kitchen sink and place it in front of him. I watch him lap up the liquid like it’s the last drink he’ll ever have.
“That’s a good boy,” I tell him. “You act like you’ve been running a marathon in the desert.”
Grabbing a cold beer out of the fridge, I sit back in my big chair and prop my feet up onto the table, letting out a weary sigh.
“We made good progress today Rex,” I say, looking out the front window. The sun is just now setting, and the surrounding trees and land are bathed in tones of yellow and orange. It’s a picturesque setting, and the reason I chose here, the peace and quiet.
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