Falke’s Peak pn-1

by Anna Leigh Keaton

  A big paw moved from the bed to her shoulder, and when she raised her head to look at him, he licked her cheek.

  “Yeah, well…” She sighed, then smiled. “I’m gonna miss you when I’m home.”

  “Is it warming up up there, yet?” Axel called.

  Dakota pushed the covers down to her waist and sat up. “Yep. It sure is.”

  Falke made a sound as if he were strangling and jumped down off the bed, dragging the blankets with him.

  She lunged for the covers. “Pervy cat,” she teased when he turned to stare at her.

  Falke leaped off the loft edge, and her heart stopped for a second. He landed softly and went to the door.

  Axel opened it for him and Falke took off into the bright sunlight.

  “It’s warm today. Above freezing,” Axel said, turning to grin up at her. “Feel like a little outing?”

  “Sounds great!” She hopped out of the bed and went for the dresser against the wall where she’d stashed her clothes. “Just let me wash up.”

  “There’s some water by the fire I can put in the bathroom for you, but not enough to shower, and it’s a little cool.”

  She went down the ladder naked, her clothes clutched against her chest with one hand. “That’s fine.

  It’ll get me going.”

  Axel grabbed her when she turned for the bathroom, swung her around and pulled her into his arms before planting a deep, tongue-tangling kiss on her.

  “Mmm…” she murmured when he lifted his head.

  “I think I could get used to that.”

  He kissed her again, then swung her away and gave her bare bottom a little slap. “Go, or we’ll never get out the door.”

  She laughed and dashed for the bathroom.

  “Oatmeal and coffee good for you?” he called through the door.

  “Sounds good,” she called back. She determined to make the best of the few days she had left with him.

  Dakota needed to take everything he had to give so she could relive the memories when she was back home, buried in work, and…alone. Funny, but she’d never thought of herself as lonely before. Her work kept her so busy she barely thought about it. But now that she had some quiet time to reflect, she thought maybe she’d been missing something in her life.

  * * *

  “Oh, wow!” Dakota hopped down off the porch and into knee-deep snow, then promptly burst into laughter. “It’s so beautiful today.”

  It sure is, Gunnar told Axel as the two stood on the porch watching her flail about in the snow.

  The temperature had risen to at least forty overnight and the sun was high, the sky as blue as he’d ever seen it. Axel couldn’t take his eyes off the woman who’d thrown herself onto her back, arms outstretched as she stared up into the brightness.

  I heard her whispering to you. What’d she have to say? Just more ‘what a pretty kitty’ nonsense?

  Gunnar chuckled. Actually we had quite a discussion over your prowess— our prowess. She said you’re like two completely different men.

  Axel grinned and moved his snowshoes from against the cabin wall to the porch floor. Really. Two different men, huh?

  Yep. One exciting, one thorough, I believe was her word.

  “Come on up here, honey, and get your snowshoes on.”

  He watched as Dakota struggled through the snow to get onto her feet, then clomped up the steps. She grinned like a loon, and he couldn’t keep from leaning over and kissing her lips.

  “Give me a minute. I think I want to lose a couple of layers of clothing or I’ll suffocate. It’s so warm out.”

  “Okay, but don’t bare too much. Weather can change in the blink of an eye.”

  She gave him a saucy wink. “I thought you liked me bare.” She giggled and pushed past him when he made a halfhearted try at grabbing her.

  Gunnar sighed, making Axel look down at him.

  “What?” Axel whispered.

  Any more doubts?

  Axel shook his head. It’s too soon to reveal ourselves. Let’s just go with the flow the next couple of days and then decide. She mentioned spending her last day in Leavenworth with her friend. We’ve got some time.

  You’re right. Just sucks being the one who doesn’t get to have his hands on her again anytime soon.

  Well, Axel said reluctantly, not wanting to forfeit any time with her. We could switch again-Gunnar shook his head. No. Enough deception. We do it again and she’ll think it’s still you. Next time I get my hands on her, I want her to know who’s touching her. I need to know she’s willing and wants me too. It will be hard enough to explain what we’ve already done. More will only make it worse. He groaned. I want to. I just can’t.

  You’re right, Gun. We can’t deceive her like that again. It’s not right, especially if she is the one .

  The door behind him opened. Axel turned to see Dakota dressed in her ski pants and a sweater that looked as if it was pulled on over a T-shirt, her jacket open. She stuffed her knit stocking cap into her pocket and pulled her gloves from where she’d tucked them beneath her arm. “I’m ready.” She grinned. “Where we goin’?”

  Axel laid her snowshoes on the floor. “Put these on, or we won’t make it out of the yard.”

  She laughed and laid her hand on his back as he strapped her into them.

  “I thought we’d head up to the lake. It’s not a far hike, and it should be pretty today.” He stood up and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. “You start getting chilled, tell me. Start sweating, take off the sweater.

  Got it?”

  She stuck out her tongue at him. “Yes, boss.”

  “Watch it, little girl, or I’ll have to turn you over my knee.”

  Her eyes blazed with heat, her pupils dilating as she sucked in a quick breath. “Promise?” she said with a breathy note to her voice.

  “Oh, you are a bad girl.” He popped her on the butt before picking up his pack and strapping it on.

  She laughed. “I’ll be really, really bad if you’ll—” Meowwww.

  Gunnar’s noise—meant to stop the conversation, Axel was sure—sent Dakota into a fit of giggles. She clomped over to Gunnar and scratched his ear. “Okay, kitty. No more naughty talk around the cat.” Then she pulled on her glove. “You know, I’d swear he got embarrassed this morning when he pulled the blanket off me.”

  That wasn’t embarrassment, Gunnar said. She’s got the best pair of tits I’ve ever seen, and she almost had a big ass kitty pounce her.

  Axel laughed. “Maybe he’s shy.”

  Bastard.

  Pussy.

  Reowww.

  Dakota yelped and swung around to glare at Gunnar. “What’s wrong with you?” She put her hands on her hips. “Jeez, don’t make that sound unless there’s another wolf around. I don’t like it.”

  Gunnar hung his head as if she’d just chewed him a new asshole, and gave a little whimper. Just as Axel knew she’d do, Dakota went to Gunnar and gave him a hug.

  “Oh, you big baby. I’m not mad.” She kissed his head. “Just don’t scare me unless I’m supposed to be scared.”

  Gunnar licked her cheek, and she laughed.

  “Suck up,” Axel muttered, shaking his head in disgust at his brother.

  Dakota stood up straight, keeping her hand on Gunnar’s head.

  Gunnar chuckled. Whatever works.

  Axel hopped off the porch then turned and lifted Dakota down into the snow. It took a few seconds for her to find her balance, but when she did, she grinned up at him. He would swear he’d never seen a more beautiful woman in his life.

  * * *

  Dakota followed Axel through the snow, the shoes hardly sinking at all because the snow was wet, but the little bit that stuck to the shoe was heavy, making it even more difficult than normal to walk in the webbed footwear. She followed Axel’s tracks as he headed around the side of the cabin, and when she looked up at the new view, she gasped in awe.

  Axel stopped and turned back. “What’s wrong?”


  All she could do was point at the towering mountain covered in white. The snow sparkled in the sunshine as if diamonds were scattered over the surface.

  “Falke’s Peak, or at least that’s what we call it.”

  “It wasn’t there when we got here the other night,” she said, moving closer to him. “It’s amazing. Look at those jagged edges, and the snow is so pretty.”

  Axel laughed. “It was there, but the clouds were too low to see it. Got your camera?”

  “Oh! Yeah.” She pulled her right glove off and reached into the inside pocket of her down jacket. She snapped a few pictures. “I grew up in Boulder, but…”

  “It all has to do with elevation,” Axel said. “In Boulder, you’re already a mile high. Here, you’re less than half that. The peaks look higher.”

  She turned her gaze to him and made a face at him.

  “Duh.”

  He laughed and chucked her on the chin with his gloved hand. “Come on. You’ll like the lake. It’s just over that little ridge over there.” He turned away and started off.

  Dakota glanced up at the mountain again as she tucked her camera away and pulled her glove back on.

  She followed his tracks, finding it easier if she stepped inside them, since his snowshoes were slightly bigger than hers. Falke leaped through the snow, bounding ahead and returning to walk by her side a while, then taking off again, constantly making her grin at his antics.

  Dakota felt so…happy. She tried to remember the last time in her life she’d been able to cut loose and laugh like this. To breathe in the fresh air and stare at the butt of a man so gorgeous it made her ache to jump him and have her way with him right here in the snow.

  Well, never. But she vowed to try to find things that could make her feel like this. Happy and filled to brimming with laughter and…pleasure. She just felt really good.

  She took off her gloves and stuffed them in her jacket pockets. It was really warm, the sun managing to fight winter and give off heat.

  “Almost there,” Axel called over his shoulder. “Just this hill to go.”

  She glanced at the hill in front of him, then stopped and turned back to look for the cabin. They’d gone maybe two hundred and fifty yards from the back of the little house, and the hill that looked kind of difficult to climb up in snowshoes was more or less the base of the mountain Axel had called Falke’s Peak.

  Axel was up the fifty-foot hill without a problem.

  She stopped at the base and looked up at him. He wasn’t even breathing hard.

  “Come on, honey. It’s not as bad as it looks. Keep the snowshoes perpendicular to the hill and kind of crab-walk up sideways.”

  She turned and started moving. Fell over on her side, but at least her body went up the hill when she fell and not down. Her bare hand met icy snow, and she jerked it out of the white stuff and dug out her gloves. After wiping her hands off on her jacket, she put the gloves on.

  Falke stood at the bottom of the hill, looking up at her as if he expected her to roll down on top of him.

  She stuck her tongue out at him and pushed herself back up onto her feet.

  “That’s it, hon. You can do it.”

  “If I wanted to hear a cheerleader, I’d join the Dallas Cowboys.” She took a few more awkward steps.

  Axel laughed. “We like the Seahawks in this part of the country. I thought you’d be a Broncos fan.”

  “They’re all the same to me,” she muttered. “Bunch of big men plowing into each other over a toy ball.”

  “Damn, you’ve got spunk.”

  “My dad—” She caught herself from another tumble and steadied herself. “He told me that I have a snarky side.”

  “I’ve yet to hear snark from you,” he said. “Just a little farther.”

  She fought her way up the last few feet, and then she was being lifted the rest of the way. Dakota wrapped her arms around Axel’s neck when she was high enough and planted a hard kiss on his lips.

  “Thanks.”

  He grinned, his breath warm against her cheeks.

  “You’re very welcome.” When he let her slowly slide down his body, there was no mistaking the hard bulge in his pants, even through the layer of denim and skiwear.

  “Mmm.” She leaned into him and breathed in his scent. Fresh and clean like the outdoors with a sweet male musk beneath.

  “Be good,” he whispered and pulled back. “Turn around and take a look.”

  Reluctantly, she pulled away and let him lift and rotate her so she faced away from him.

  “Oh…wow…” A smooth expanse of white stretched out before them, outlined by the dark pine trees. If she thought the snow on the mountain sparkled like diamonds, it was nothing compared to this.

  Axel wrapped his arms around her and pressed into her back. “Pretty, huh?”

  “Amazing. Absolutely gorgeous.”

  “You’ll like this too. Come on.” He moved around her, took her hand and led her down the gentle incline to the lake, and then out onto it.

  “You sure it’s safe?” she asked, wondering how deep the water was below them.

  “Yep. Frozen solid.” He stopped and leaned down, unbuckled his snowshoes and then hers. “Step out.”

  It looked deep, and she frowned at him when he stood up.

  “Go on,” he said with a grin. “Trust me.”

  She did trust him, and she stepped out of the snowshoe onto the snow, sank down about three inches then stopped.

  “Careful, it’s slick.”

  She squatted down and brushed the snow away, and saw the ice. Saw through it to some weeds and gravel.

  “Oh, cool!” She went down on her knees and brushed away more snow. “Look. You can see the bottom. It’s so clear!”

  Axel dropped down beside her and helped her push the wet snow away to clear a circle of the pretty ice.

  “Wow. Oh, man, just…wow!” She stuck her face down next to the ice, almost touching it with her nose, and looked through it at the colorful stones and weeds that had literally frozen into place. “It’s like a giant snow globe. Why is the snow so shallow here?”

  “This is a really windy spot when the snow’s falling, so it doesn’t get deep.”

  Dakota sat up on her heels and grinned. “Thank you.”

  Falke came running up, then skidded on the ice and slid into her, knocking her onto Axel’s lap. They both burst out laughing as Falke used his claws and scrambled to his feet with a noise that sounded an awful lot like a laugh. Then he pounced, pushing her into the snow and coming down over her.

  She laughed so hard her sides hurt as she tussled with the big cat, picking up handfuls of snow and shoving them in his face. He purred and batted at her with his big paws, splashing snow into her face.

  “Help me, Axel!” she cried around her laughter.

  Then Axel was there too, with a big handful of snow coming down right at her.

  “No,” she cried and rolled away, grabbed a scoop of the wet, white stuff and flung it at him as she tried to gain some footing only to slip and slide on the ice beneath the thin layer of snow.

  Axel grabbed her behind the knee and pulled her back down, rolling beneath her and taking her weight so she didn’t smack the hard ice. Then he pinned her down with his body, tugged her shirt up, and rubbed a handful of snow on her bare stomach.

  She gasped and laughed and struggled to get away.

  “Jerk!” she screamed as she reached above her, grabbed some snow, then in a guise of putting her arms around him, dumped it down the back of his neck into his jacket.

  Axel shouted in surprise, and rolled with her until she straddled his hips as she used her hands against his chest to lever herself up. Falke pounced on her again and knocked her back to the ground. With his big paws, he shoved snow toward her head, but she got him first, smack in the nose, with a lightly packed snowball. He jerked back and sneezed, then made that laughing sound again and grabbed her wrist between his teeth.

  “Hey!” she said, losing
her humor, realizing a full-grown male mountain lion had her in his teeth.

  “Falke,” Axel said softly, but she heard the warning behind it.

  The cat released her and lay down next to her, hanging his head, glancing up at her like a little kid who just got scolded.

  Dakota looked between the cat and Axel.

  “He wouldn’t have hurt you. He was playing.”

  Falke hadn’t hurt her. She hadn’t even felt his teeth through her thick jacket and sweater. But still… She sat up and reached out to pet the cat’s head.

  “It’s okay, big guy,” she said softly. “Just scared me is all.”

  Falke licked her gloved hand, then stood up and rubbed his cheek against hers. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him. “For such a big kitty, you’re just an old softy aren’t you?”

  He purred and nuzzled her neck.

  “Cold nose!” She shoved his face away from hers with a laugh.

  Axel was beside her, and she smiled at him. He returned the grin, and she saw something in his eyes.

  Don’t go there. Just don’t. The more time she spent with him, the more she never wanted it to end. But she knew it was all an illusion. She’d hired him. She was sure he would bring anyone out to this spot to show off the scenery. It wasn’t just for her.

  But, damn, she could really imagine it was.

  “Falke will never harm you, Dakota. I swear it on my life—the life of every one of my family members.”

  “That’s a pretty big statement. He is a wild animal.”

  She scooted around until she could get onto her knees on the slippery ice, made even more slippery by her ski pants. “I want a picture of you two.” She pulled off her gloves and reached into her jacket for the camera.

  Axel didn’t say anything more, but he made a little face that let her know he wanted to argue the fact his cat was tame.

  “Falke, go stand by Axel,” she said, making a shooing motion to the cat.

  Falke got up, this time without sliding one bit on the ice, and she realized he’d probably…teased her?

  No, a cat couldn’t tease. But he could walk on the ice just fine, his claws clicking softly, so what explained him sliding into her before?