CORAM

by Bonnie Burrows

  She talked for hours, telling him everything that had ever happened to her in heartbreaking detail. When she started talking about the night Laskin had found her, he realized that she didn’t understand what had truly happened that night.

  “You do know that the tiger you ran into was Laskin, right?”

  “I guess a part of me always did. I couldn’t figure out how Laskin had fought off the tiger, and I didn’t think there was any way that it would just leave me there after I passed out. But he was so against shifters that I had to believe he was human, I guess.”

  Cambria choked on a soft sob that surprised her. She hadn’t planned on crying about Laskin, and she swiped angrily at the tears that were suddenly streaming down her face.

  Egan stopped her, pulling her into his arms and holding her as she sobbed.

  “It’s okay to cry over him. He saved you from the hell you were living in. Even though he was an awful man, he was very kind to you and took you in when you were in desperate need. It’s okay to mourn that loss.”

  Cambria couldn’t believe her ears. Laskin and Egan were sworn enemies; Egan’s own brother had been the reason that Laskin had revealed himself to the brotherhood and lost his life. Yet, here he was, showing compassion for Laskin that Laskin would never have shown him.

  She breathed deeply, enjoying his embrace a moment longer before pulling away.

  “Thank you. Thank you for letting me love the man I thought he was.”

  “Nothing will ever change what he did for you. If he were here right now, I would thank him myself. Without him, I probably wouldn’t have you.”

  He tilted her chin up, kissing her tears away before dipping down to capture her mouth in his. His mouth was hot and sweet, gently kissing her pain away. Cambria leaned into him, deepening the kiss and letting herself live freely in the moment. For the first time in her life, someone cared more about her feelings than their ulterior motives. Egan hated Laskin, yet he acknowledged that the man had been instrumental in protecting her life.

  Cambria had never known anyone capable of seeing things as clearly as Egan did.

  Egan broke away first, wiping away a single, lingering tear with his thumb.

  “We’re almost there. If you see a place you like once we get over that ridge, let me know and we’ll set up camp.” He kissed the tip of her nose and held his hand out to her.

  She took it, walking up the final incline to their destination. When they topped the ridge, Cambria was stunned by the untouched beauty of the woods around them and the valley in the distance below.

  The sun was setting steadily behind them in the west, but she could see the wild bison in the distance, grazing on the lush, green grass between the mountains. To the north, the mountain reached higher, sloping gently for a bit before climbing steeply to the peak.

  A narrow stream flowed from the north, winding through the trees before dropping over the edge into a short waterfall.

  “Right here,” Cambria said. “If I’m going to stay somewhere for a long time, I want it to be right here.” She sat down on a low, flat boulder, stretching her tired legs and taking in the scenery for a moment.

  It had been a very long day.

  “Excellent choice,” Egan said. And he began setting up camp before the last of the sun’s rays faded from the sky.

  Cambria watched him work from perch on the rock, enjoying how his body moved as he moved from one task to the next. The wind was light, but already there was a bite to the air.

  “How cold does it get up here?” She rubbed her arms, trying to warm up a little. Egan tossed his heavy jacket to her and she gratefully wrapped it around her.

  Pulling a narrow tent off his pack, he went to work setting it up while she watched him. His jacket was warm, and it smelled like him. Checking to make sure he wasn’t watching, Cambria inhaled the scent of him.

  She looked up and caught him looking at her, a satisfied smirk on his lips. Cambria rolled her eyes at him, snuggling deeper into the jacket and trying to ignore Egan.

  “Can you take a break from enjoying my jacket and help me with this tent?”

  He chuckled at his own joke, clearly enjoying himself too much.

  She slid down from the rock and began helping him without direction. She’d pitched a few tents in her short life. This tent was a little sturdier, made for colder weather and long-term use. But she’d known when he purchased it that he was planning on staying in the woods for at least a month, maybe more.

  They worked closely together, setting the tent up in between trees so they could secure it firmly against the wind. There was no more than a few inches between each side of the tent and a tree. More than once, Cambria passed so close to Egan that their bodies touched, sending shock waves of pleasure through her.

  If Egan noticed her response, he didn’t mention it. For that, she was extremely grateful.

  The small, camouflage tarp that Egan had purchased was secured above the tent with heavy twine. Egan put one side higher than the other, making sure that any rain would drain down the hill and not into their tent. The color would prevent anyone spotting them from the air, letting the rangers know that there were campers inside the big game area where they didn’t belong.

  A second tarp was stretched out beneath the tent, sticking out a few feet on the door side so they wouldn’t track dirt in with them. Cambria was surprised by how prepared Egan really was. He’d obviously been planning this for some time.

  They finished just before dark, and Cambria helped Egan place their sleeping bags in the tent before they arranged the packs and jackets inside. Cambria looked into the tent and looked at Egan.

  “I thought this was a two-person tent.”

  “It says ‘one to two-person.”

  She nodded. Cambria wasn’t willing to believe that this was a mistake on his part.

  “It’s going to get cold every night, and we can’t build a fire. You made it pretty clear last night that you don’t mind cuddling.

  She elbowed him and he laughed, the rich sound echoing gently in the silence. If Cambria had been frightened of Egan, the vast emptiness of the mountain would have terrified her. But the more time she spent with him, the more she realized that he was the sweetest man she’d ever met.

  A bright light flashed in the distance, and the following thunderclap was so loud that Cambria was certain that the ground shook beneath her feet. An instant later, the sky opened, bringing forth a deluge like nothing Cambria had seen in Florida. In that instant, they were both soaked to the skin. Cambria was about to climb in the tent when Egan stopped her.

  “If we go in like this, we’ll soak all of our stuff and we’ll be miserable all night.”

  He didn’t even let it sink in before he started pulling off his clothes, throwing them over a low-hanging branch. He took his boots off and turned them upside down, jamming them between a pair of branches before peaking his wet jeans off. Cambria watched him for a beat before she followed suit, though she left her bra and panties on. Soaked or not, she wasn’t getting into the tent naked with Egan.

  Egan laughed at her as he slipped out of his underwear and hung them up with the rest of his clothes. He stepped into the tent, unzipping his sleeping bag and slipping inside. He unzipped hers for her, and began rummaging through his bag for dinner.

  Cambria jumped into the sleeping bag and slid down until she was covered to her chin. She was already quite cold.

  They ate in silence, but Egan watched Cambria closely the entire time. She was shivering now and then, though not as badly as when they’d first come inside. Her long hair was nearly dry, but wearing wet clothes wasn’t doing her any favors.

  When she finished, Egan opened his sleeping bag.

  “Come here.”

  Cambria wanted to protest, but she was too cold to care. She slid out of her sleeping bag and into his. Egan reached around behind her, unclasping her bra and laying it flat on her sleeping bag to dry.

  “Panties too,” he said, not giving he
r a chance to argue. Cambria peeled the wet fabric off, laying them beside her bra and zipping herself into Egan’s bag.

  The storm raged on outside but Cambria didn’t care. Egan was warm, his sleeping bag nice and toasty compared to hers. He pulled her against him, rubbing his hands over her to chase away the cold.

  She moved even closer, slipping her limbs between his until it was impossible to tell when she ended and he began.

  Egan lay on his side, facing her. His arms were wrapped around her, holding her tightly. Her breasts squished against him and she could feel his arousal pressing against her leg. Everything in Cambria screamed that he was the enemy, a shifter and not to be trusted, but she pushed those thoughts aside.

  Her entire life, she’d been told what to do and what to think. For once, she was going to follow her heart and think for herself

  She ran her hand down his side, slowly stroking his hot skin. Her hands were still slightly cold, and the sensation caused him goosebumps wherever she touched him. Cambria heard his breath catch softly, but she ignored him. He’d been leading them for the last few days, she was ready to take the reins.

  Her fingers traced a line to his hip, dipping down between their bodies to tease the flesh around his swelling manhood. Egan held perfectly still, his body almost rigid as she drew circles with her hands, moving closer but careful not to get too close.

  Egan groaned, the need building inside him, even as he fought to control himself. He’d waited so long to have her, and he wasn’t going to spoil the moment.

  She could feel him tense as he struggled to control himself, and she felt so empowered. He didn’t move to hurry her along, and he didn’t demand that she follow his lead. He simply let her move at her own pace, at the mercy of her whims.

  A girl could get used to this, she thought.

  Tiny fingers wrapped around his rigid shaft and he moaned softly in her ear. Her hands were warmer, but still chilly. The effect sent shivers through his body and Cambria delighted in the power she had over him. Slowly she stroked, squeezing and twisting until he started to move against her in spite of himself.

  She let go of him, working her way back up his abdomen and chest. Lightening flashed and the tent lit up like daylight for a moment before plunging them into darkness once more. Egan caught her lips in his, kissing her slowly and deeply while she explored his taut muscles in the dark.

  Egan stroked her back and shoulders, trying to hold on to his self-control while she leisurely explored every inch of his body. She moved against him, using her body to tease him as the storm raged around them.

  She was enjoying herself, but she was done playing with him. Cambria slung her leg over his hip, opening herself to him as she slid down onto him. She couldn’t see his face in the dark, but she watched him anyway, enjoying the way the lightning illuminated his face at just the right time. His hold on his self-control was tenuous at best, and taking him inside of her hadn’t helped matters much for him.

  He moaned softly, burying his face in her neck and inhaling the sweet scent of her hair as they moved together in the confines of the sleeping bag. When he began moving too quickly, Cambria backed off, forcing him to slow down.

  She cupped his cheek in her hand and kissed him gently.

  “We have all the time in the world,” she whispered the words, teasing him mercilessly.

  He didn’t answer, but his trembling breath told her all she needed to know. He was close, and the slightest movement would surely push him of the edge. She moved all the way against him, taking the entire length of him inside of her and stopping. She tightened her muscles around him, running her free hand over his backside and holding him there.

  Egan groaned, the need overwhelming him, but he held fast to his control. He had given her complete control, even though it took everything he had to maintain it. His body trembled and his breath was shallow.

  She used her leg over his hips for leverage and began rocking against him, drawing out his passion in quick, deep thrusts. He cried out, his moans drowned out by the thunder and the rain beating its own rhythm on the tarp above them. Cambria held him tightly as he climaxed, feeling the heat of him empty inside of her a moment before she lost herself.

  The orgasm rocked her body and she writhed against him with wild abandon. The climax ripped through her body with more force than she’d ever felt before, tear scream after scream of pleasure from her throat.

  The vibrations of the storm around them only intensified her pleasure, and she rode wave after wave of passion as the storm raged on.

  When her climax faded and she could think clearly again, she snuggled up against Egan. For the first time in her life, she felt completely free.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Blue eyes stared back from the review mirror as Tom sat in a parking lot a few hours south of the Georgia border. He didn’t move to get out at first, waiting for the last of the lunchtime customers to drive away before he got out of the car. The rest stop was expansive, with a sandwich shop, convenience store and a few showers that could be rented.

  When the final car pulled away, leaving only employee cars, Tom got out and walked towards the store. He gritted his teeth, ignoring the pain and doing his best to hide the slight limp as he moved. Walking briskly, he opened the door and slipped into the building. He went straight for the convenience section, picking out a set of black pants and a loose shirt as well as a towel and a shower kit. He took his finds to the cash register, making small talk with the pretty woman behind the counter. She smiled shyly and he returned her smile, flirting with her as she rang up his purchases.

  “This is neat,” he said, indicating the first-aid kit in a hard leather case.

  “It’s our best-seller,” she crooned. “You could go off the grid with that thing. It has everything you would ever need.” She leaned close, her voice just above a whisper. “This guy came in once and he’d been stabbed. He used the stuff in the kit to sew himself up.”

  “Did he now? Well, my dear, you’ve just sold another kit.”

  He placed the kit on the counter and flashed his warmest smile at her. She flushed prettily, all but batting her eyes at him. As filthy and exhausted as he was, he was still quite handsome and the young woman was not immune to his charms. He paid the rental for a shower and headed back to the back of the building.

  He looked around again, but he already knew the place was empty. He stepped into the first shower stall, setting his purchases on the wooden bench across from a full length mirror. Carefully, he removed his shirt, throwing it in the trash. He peeled the bandage off his side, grimacing as the wound oozed. He stripped out of the rest of his clothes, tossing those as well. His wound needed to be cleaned before he could do anything else to it.

  Tom opened the first aid kit, his smile wide. The cashier wasn’t lying, it had everything he would need and more. He grabbed the bottle of hexachlorophene detergent and his shower bag and turned on the spray, letting the water heat up before stepping in.

  The instant the water hit his wound was excruciating, but Tom kept quiet, steadying his breathing against the pain. Within moments, it had faded to a dull ache, and Tom went to work, pouring the antibiotic into his hand and gritting his teeth as he scrubbed the wound mercilessly. His knees grew weak and he allowed himself to sit on the second wood bench, which was in the shower stall. Slowly, the room stopped spinning and he was able to breathe again.

  Tom left the detergent on the wound, letting it do its job while he soaped up the rest of his body and washed his hair. Dirt and grime from the last few days pooled at his feet before rushing down the drain with the rest of the water. Steam filled the tiny space and little by little, Tom started to feel like himself again.

  When Laskin had revealed himself to be a shifter and all the fighting started, it was clear to Tom that things were about to get bad. He fled deeper the woods to lay low while things went to hell on the compound. But not before he saw the man in the woods, his hand clasped over Cambria’s mouth as he d
ragged her past the battle scene and away from where Tom stood.

  He was filled with rage, recognizing the man instantly as one of the tiger shifters the group had been hunting for years. But they were already too far away and he had to think of himself. He was in danger, so close to the action. When he turned and ran, he could hear the two tigers slamming each other into the trees and he heard the men shouting. More than one shot was fired, but the fight continued. Tom wasn’t about to get caught up in that mess, and he wasn’t going to die in battle for a shifter.

  Laskin had fooled them all for years, and Tom wasn’t about to give up his life for a man who was everything he hated. No. Laskin would die at the hands of another shifter, and good riddance. He didn’t want to be anywhere near when that happened and he sure as hell wasn’t going to go to jail when the police showed up, which was a given, considering that Grace would likely escape in the melee if she hadn’t already.

  So he hid deep in the forest, plotting his next move and already dreaming of the moment he would be reunited with Cambria. Once the helicopters and the police showed up to arrest what was left of the brotherhood, Tom knew he’d made the right decision. He bedded down for the night, ready to wait them out until morning or later if he had to, then he would sneak away and go on with his life.

  It wasn’t until he woke up the following afternoon with a raging fever that he realized he’d been injured in the battle, caught by a stray bullet. Delirious and dehydrated, he made his way back into the compound, taking what he could from an outlying cabin before fleeing the compound. The antibiotics he’d taken, as well as the pain medicine, had brought his fever down and made the pain bearable. But he was still suffering.

  It had taken everything in him to keep pushing forward through the forest, circling wide to avoid the heavy police presence until he came upon an unlucky camper in the woods. The man never knew what hit him, which was good. In his weakened condition, the only way he could have killed a healthy, fit man was to come up behind him and slit his throat as he had done.. The man was dead before he hit the ground.