Drawn (Moon Claimed)

by Roux, Lilou

  Easily settling into their old habits and talking with each other as if they weren’t separated by several states but rather side by side on the bed, Tess told her how they had met, how Nathan kind of had come to her rescue in the forest. And about the kiss, that damn, hot kiss. Just the memory of it caused pleasant shivers and goose bumps on her skin.

  “Ah, now the picture gets clearer.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “It’s the first time you’ve stumbled upon an alpha male and it scares you, though you kinda like it, too. All your other guys were…well, fumbling idiots compared to that. Your Nathan, from the sounds of it, is an alpha male. Subtle, I’ll give him that, but still an alpha, who likes to lead and in this case…chase.”

  “So what are you saying?”

  She could almost hear her sister grin. “That Nathan is right. I can feel your sexual frustration trickle through the phone. So, enjoy the ride.”

  “Erin, you know I’m not you. I can’t do casual.”

  “Maybe he doesn’t want casual either. There’s only one way to find out.” When Tess stayed silent, Erin said softly, “I can’t and won’t tell you what to do. However, from what I gather you obviously like him, Tess. Just go with whatever feels right to you. But if you keep away from something that could turn into something beautiful, or more, just because you’re scared…well, then I kick your ass. There’s a fine line between being careful and being chicken, but there is a line.”

  Erin’s advice was still echoing through her mind when Tess went outside to take a walk after she had showered and dressed. She didn’t know whether Joanne would be up and about and already preparing the breakfast for her guests, so she had decided to just explore the land a bit before finding out. Closing her eyes she inhaled deeply and marveled at the reviving coolness of the early morning air. She loved early mornings, loved the quietness and serenity of it. Mornings allowed her to be alone, without ever really feeling lonely as people and life slowly woke up around her and noises - first only the clear songs of birds, then more and more human chatter and clatter of work - started to trickle in.

  Her feet took her past a few other cabins, similar to hers in size and design before she halted close to the stables. Seth was leading a young gray horse in a circle, softly whispering into its ear. His back was currently to her, but she recognized him instantly. He had more of an edge to him, the air around him seemed wilder, and then of course there were the subtle differences in build. He was a little taller than Nathan and leaner, in an athletic, ready-to-pounce kind of way.

  As he turned around he saw her and shot her a quick, friendly smile before walking up to her.

  She greeted him, “Morning. Feeling better today?”

  He chuckled as both of them remembered their first encounter in the kitchen the other day. “Good morning to you, too. And yes, I’m feeling much better today, thanks for asking.”

  “Who’s this handsome boy?” Tess put up her hand for the horse to sniff at before stroking the velvety length of his nose.

  “This is Ghost. Clever and sneaky.” He flashed her another grin, before asking, “Is everything alright? Is the cabin to your satisfaction?”

  “Oh yes, everything’s perfect. I was just wondering whether Joanne’s already up and whether I could give her a hand with breakfast. I kinda need something to do.”

  “Know the feeling. Well, she’s up, that’s for sure. If she’s not in the kitchen, then she’s in the garden behind the main cabin. Probably try the latter first.”

  “Thanks. See you around.” After another tender rub for Ghost she went on her way.

  Seth had been right. Joanne was kneeling in a small stretch of herbs and plants that ran a little apart from the terrace and flower arrangements directly behind the house.

  “Morning,” Tess called out, walking up to her.

  Joanne looked up and a smile broke out over her face. “Hey there, sunshine. You look good and relaxed today.”

  “Thanks. You, too.” Tess looked around, taking in garden, the herbs and plants, the play of colors and different scents. “Wow.”

  Joanne chuckled and grabbed the small basket sitting beside her on the ground before getting to her feet. “I know. You like gardening?”

  “I like flowers and stuff, but unfortunately never had enough space for more than a few pots in my apartment.”

  Joanne motioned for her to bend down to get a closer look and a sniff. “Mustard.” She pointed to other plants and shrubs around them. “There’s valerian, basil and nightshade. And over there I’ve got a small section with pumpkins and tomatoes. And my pride, the big rosemary over there. Absolutely love it.”

  “Me, too.”

  They slowly made their way through the plants, stepping from one carefully placed flagstone to another. When they were close to the rosemary, Tess inhaled deeply and nearly moaned with bliss. “Seth told me you’d probably be here.” She shook her head. “It’s amazing how much they look alike. Are they twins?”

  Joanne led her to a wooden bench. “One might think so, but no. Barely a year apart.” Taking off her shoes she dug her toes into the ground.

  Tess followed suit, and was surprised at the feeling of connection racing through her body like an electric current. The earth was cool beneath her feet, steadying. “They must have been a handful.”

  “Oh yeah, but we loved every minute of it.”

  Tess didn’t want to open old wounds, didn’t want to intrude, but apparently she didn’t manage to hide the questions in her eyes.

  “Jake died three years ago. He was a wonderful father and husband.”

  Her heart clenched in sympathy. Saying nothing, she simply reached over and squeezed Joanne’s hand, the gesture filled with what words failed to express.

  “My family came here to visit when I was seventeen years old. Jake and I, we fell madly in love. Instantly. A year later I graduated, came back, stayed and we made this our home.”

  “A beautiful one.”

  In quiet agreement they gathered some more huckleberries and herbs, barefooted and carrying their shoes loosely in their hands. When it was time to head inside, Joanne put her hands in her hips and looked at Tess. Worrying her lip she sighed before finally asking softly, “What about you, sweetheart? Don’t you have someone? I know it’s none of my business, but you came all alone out here. The world is not always a safe place, especially for a woman traveling on her own.”

  It was right to confide in Joanne, comfortable. Tess didn’t just feel connected with the earth beneath her feet but also to the strong woman by her side. Rooted in a way she had never been, it was easy to open up.

  And so she started, “I have a sister. Her name’s Erin.”

  TEN

  Over the next few days Joanne and Tess developed a pleasant routine, enjoying the early mornings and preparing breakfast together. It was easy for the two women to bond over muffins, cookies and gardening, and Tess felt herself relax and forget the rest of the world. The deep, even painful, yearning that had been a dead weight on her chest lessened with every passing day as she began to feel…at home. The only one missing to make it perfect was, of course, Erin. Their regular phone calls made them feel close, but it wasn’t quite the same and so Erin had decided to come up to Montana as soon as she had the time. In the meantime her sister took great pleasure in teasing her about Nathan.

  Nathan. Tess had tried her best to keep him out of her thoughts as much as possible. Concerning her body it was easy to avoid too many sizzling encounters. But her mind was a different matter entirely and didn’t make it easy for her. In her dreams, he was always there – which really didn’t help at all. The sexual frustration was killing her. And she knew it was her own damn fault. She sighed to herself as she made her way towards the main cabin. It was just that she wasn’t used to that kind of reaction to a man, Tess could admit as much. What he created in her was fire - scorching, blazing and devouring - whereas the other few men she had been with in her life had only mana
ged a tendril of smoke compared to that. And she had no idea what to do about it.

  Tess didn’t look up when she entered the kitchen that morning, automatically grabbing an apron and tying it around her waist, and asked, “Morning. So what’s on today’s schedule?”

  “On her list are waffles, berries almond smoothies, cream scones, zucchini omelets and hash browns.”

  Her head snapped up and she stared at Nathan. Speechless.

  He looked absolutely eatable in faded jeans, torn at one knee, and a white t-shirt. His feet were bare, showing how comfortable he was here, as if he were standing right in his own kitchen, and his hair was still a little damp from a recent shower.

  When she managed to find her voice it was to stupidly ask, “Where’s Joanne?”

  “She can’t be here today, so I’ll take over.”

  “Is she alright?”

  “Yeah. No need to worry.” He cocked an eyebrow. “So…want to help me?”

  Or are you too chicken, rang clearly in the air.

  Tess pursed her lips. She didn’t want to spend the morning here with him, surrounded by delicious scents and the oven’s heat, but then again, neither did she want to boost his ego by thinking she was thrown off guard by him. Even if it was the truth, he didn’t need to know that. And so she straightened her back. She could do this.

  “I’ll help.” She rolled up her sleeves and approached him in a way that she hoped looked professional. “Where do you want me?” She regretted her choice of words as soon as they were out of her mouth.

  His eyes seemed to flash gold as they twinkled with mischief and something very wicked and very hot. “Wherever is just fine.”

  The hungry voice was like an expert caress against her clit. Rolling her eyes at him, in an attempt to detract from the effect he had on her, Tess took her post at the island and shot him what she hoped passed as an unimpressed look. “I’ll take care of the scones, waffles and smoothies. Can you handle the rest?” She was glad that for once her voice didn’t sound as needy and breathless as she felt.

  “Oh, I can handle a lot of things, at the same time.”

  Flashing a rather wolfish grin, he got out the pans and pots they would need and they got to work.

  Tess loved getting lost in the scents and tastes of baking and cooking. Loved toying with recipes and following impulsive ideas. She could get lost in it, her head clear and sharp, her blood singing with energy and…life. There wasn’t much else in the world that made her feel that way. All in all the morning turned out to be not as bad as she had expected, especially when they were actually busy making breakfast for the guests and talked about her life in general, her work as a tourist guide and what brought her here.

  Tess tasted one of the hash browns to which he had added a dash of oregano and green onions. “Mmm, that’s damn good. I’ve never met a man before who could cook, I mean, really cook by using a little imagination.”

  He shrugged. “Mom wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  Tess laughed at that and nodded. “Yeah, guess so.” After taking another bite she suddenly blurted, “I’m thinking of quitting my job.” As surprised by that admission as Nathan she cocked her head to the side, frowning. “Though, until now it hasn’t been more than just that, a thought.”

  “But apparently it’s something that you want to do. Or is something, or someone, keeping you from doing it?”

  Tess was so absorbed in figuring out her own thoughts that she didn’t notice Nathan’s gaze darkening at the last question.

  “Not really. I love it here. It’s just…”

  He frowned. “What?”

  “My sister. I can’t imagine living so far away from her. It’d be a first for us. It’s always been Erin and I against the rest of the world.”

  “Just the two of you?”

  She knew what he was asking. “Yes, we were orphaned. Young. Took us three attempts to land in a reasonably healthy family. They were good parents, don’t get me wrong. They tried their best. But we were already teens when we got to them and after college…Well, nowadays we only see each other twice a year and hear from each other via phone or birthday card.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “It’s okay.” Her eyes sparked with an idea. “Hmm, maybe I’ll just have to convince Erin into moving here when she comes to visit.”

  Nathan laughed. “That’s the spirit.”

  She smiled at him.

  As they continued talking Tess noticed once again how easy it was to connect with him, like it had been from the first moment they had met. And yet the morning was also the torture she had expected. Her frustrated body and mind wanted to picture – and better yet, reenact – all of his well-placed innuendoes, and she was so utterly aware of his every move in the kitchen, that had suddenly become too small and too hot, that when breakfast was done she was feeling as if about to explode.

  They were cleaning up the kitchen; Tess was just finished doing the dishes that didn’t go into the washer while Nathan dried them. Turning towards the bucket full of budding flowers that was standing on the counter to the side, she pulled out several stems and started to arrange them. When she moved to put the small bouquet in the vases that were arranged and waiting to the side, Nathan suddenly reached over to put something away at the same time and his arm brushed against her breast. She froze.

  His heady and sexy scent invaded her brain, turning it useless, and Tess could feel the heat of his body all the way down her left side as if he were pressed against her. His warm breath against her ear, made her tremble.

  She turned her head, looking up into his eyes over her shoulder and delicious shivers ran down her spine as she saw the desire in them. Their gazes met and tangled, molten with sexual awareness, searching each other’s faces. Once again, in the blink on an eye, she was completely turned on by him. Ready for him.

  Then he surprised the hell out of her by stepping away from her, a wickedly mean glint in his eyes. He wanted to make her suffer, did he?

  Inwardly she groaned with frustration. Wanted to scream with it. But, yeah, she got it. It was her step to make.

  Nathan’s eyes took her in, eating her up, and a grin that did bad things to her body curved his lips.

  Eyes narrowing on him, she asked, “What the hell are you smiling at?”

  “Nice flowers.” He gestured towards her hand.

  Her gaze followed and widened as she noticed she was still clutching the bouquet in her hand. But what stunned her the most was the fact that the earlier budding flowers were now in full bloom. Her mouth dropped open as she saw that all the other arrangements were as well, surrounding them in a sea of colors.

  ELEVEN

  Tess didn’t know what to think or to do anymore. So much weird stuff was going on, from the dreams to the flowers, that she wasn’t even upset about it. But she wasn’t searching for reasons or answers either - those she was afraid of. She felt like being summoned to see her boss after another client complaint, with a lead ball in her stomach, cast out of dread and apprehension. Something was going to happen, she just knew it. But whether it would be good or bad was a mystery.

  It was late afternoon and she had decided to hike up to the lake again, in the hope to clear her head. But apparently that wouldn’t be possible. Tess stopped dead in her tracks, stunned out of her thoughts by the sudden sunlight bathing her. Then she shook her head when she finally realized where her feet had taken her. She was standing at the edge of an all too familiar clearing. Nathan’s house was only a dozen yards away.

  She contemplated heading back for only a second, then the noises registered and curiosity won out. The sounds of saws and other tools she couldn’t identify reached her ears, growing louder the closer she got to the house and leading her around the back.

  Oh boy. The sight was like a kick to the gut and made all her female parts somersault and clench.

  Nathan was working bend over a large, sort of a desk and saw, a jeans and a workers belt riding low on h
is hips. His bronzed back was bare and bathed in sunlight, with beads of sweat caressing the bunching muscles as if only waiting to be licked off. The muscles working in his arms and shoulders a treat for the eyes. Tess was so glad that he couldn’t see her gawking openly as she imagined running her hands and tongue over that hard body.

  She noticed a scar on his arm, shrugging off a faint tickling of a lost memory in her mind, and decided it wouldn’t be a good idea to disturb his obvious concentration, especially out of fear she might startle him and he’d end up hurting himself, so she remained where she was. The wind whipped a strand of her hair in her face and she tucked it back behind her ear, not wanting to miss a second of the offered view. Suddenly his head snapped up and he whirled around, his eyes immediately finding her.

  Tess tried to keep her cool, although his piercing gaze seemed once again to see right through her, to her soul – and to her desire. “Hey, I didn’t want to disturb you. I was afraid it might end in you getting hurt or something. That thing looks scary, and is quite loud. You couldn’t hear me. Obviously.” Stop babbling for God’s sake, Tess chastised herself. Heat crept up her neck and she discreetly ran her suddenly sweaty palm against the thighs of her jeans.

  A gentle smile spread across his handsome face, making her heart ache with something she didn’t dare to look at more closely. She didn’t have any idea as to why but she was thankful when he didn’t hide his own need as he looked her up and down, his smoky gaze almost a physical touch.

  “I was working on a sink. And that block there…” He laughed. “Well, actually it doesn’t know what it wants to be yet.” He shut down the saw, locking down the safety cover and put away his goggles, running a hand through his hair and turning it into a dark, sexy mess.

  She approached him her hands safely tucked into the pockets of her jeans as a precaution, lest they developed a life of their own and came out to play with fire. Only she was allowed to do that for now. Not able to resist, she drew closer until standing face to face, their bodies sensing each other but not touching. His eyes were dark with want and focused on her, only her, and it thrilled her with an intensity that was new to her. Playing with fire, yes she was. Tipping her head back a little, she locked her gaze with his and then kissed him. It started softly, a feathery touch exploring his jaw, moving up to his lips. Their breath mingled, their gazes held. Her tongue darted out, tracing the seam of his mouth and begging for entrance.