by Sierra Brave
“Oh, look over there!” She grinned and pointed. “We’ve already made it to the stream. We should let the horses rest and drink.”
“Yep.”
They steered the steeds closer to the water before dismounting. “Should we eat now?”
“We can. I packed some delicious hardtack,” he answered with a laugh.
“Mmm.” She rubbed her tummy but scrunched up her nose to show how sarcastic she was being. “I think I can do a little better.”
“Did you pack some goodies?”
Maddie didn’t answer him as she crouched on her hands and knees in front of the stream. She leaned forward with her face close to the water. Abram’s line of sight settled on her delectable bottom, raised high in the air. His cock throbbed as he imagined peeling her jeans over her hips and yanking them down her thighs. He averted his eyes. Be professional, man. This is work. He stole another peek. Geez, why is she doing that? I gotta think about something else.
He turned his attention toward Clyde and Thunder, leading them to a nearby tree before hobbling them. Taking his time, he petted Clyde’s neck and then Thunder’s muzzle, stalling as long as he could before returning. When he approached, she was still in the same vulnerable position, but her head moved right to left as if she were tracking something.
He gasped as one of her hands smacked the water and then the other followed suit in a flurry of movement. As she lifted a fish from the stream with her bare hands, he froze. “Holy shit!”
When she turned to look his way, a large grin spread across her face, exposing her teeth. “Catch.” She tossed the fish at him, and he stumbled and huffed as he struggled to catch it. “Too bad you don’t eat meat because I’m sure I could catch another.”
His jaw dropped. What the fuck? Is she seriously able to do that again? “I eat fish.”
She glanced at him. “Really?”
He shrugged. “I didn’t grow up with Gram and the rest of the carrot eaters.” He managed to subdue the fish flopping in his hands and used his knife to put it out of its misery before he brought his attention back to his amazing companion. Sure enough, within a couple of minutes, she had trained her gaze on another fish. The water splashed and made a splat sound as her hands hit, and once again she was victorious, lifting a fighting bass in the air.
“Got him.”
“How the hell did you learn to do that?”
She grinned. “My mama taught me.”
Abram rested his fingertips on his chest. “Unbelievable.”
After unpacking some equipment, he started a fire and set up a collapsible, over-the-flame grill while Maddie made quick work of cleaning the fish. As the strangle-inducing smell of smoke hit his nostrils and stung his eyes, he fanned the smolder away with one hand.
She placed the fillets over the grate. Their sizzle resonated in the air as if it belonged there with the bird’s caws and the buzzing of insects.
Abram stole a peep at her but quickly looked away. "Huh?" she asked.
"I've never seen anyone do anything like that. You're full of surprises."
She grinned. "Oh, you have no idea."
They sat in the sun, ate their fresh-caught meal and re-hydrated with water from their canteens. As they waited for the grill to cool, she picked a dandelion and closed her eyes, making a wish before blowing the fuzzy, round seed head.
“What’d you wish for?” Abram asked.
“Nothing special,” she lied. I wished you’d lose that button down shirt so I could take a gander all the tantalizing muscles and flesh your hiding, but I’ll be keeping that info to myself. With his strong chin, Roman nose, and chiseled jawline, Abram was arguably more attractive than Davis. In fact, the more she studied him, the less she saw of his happy-go-lucky cousin. Despite being gorgeous, Abram had an aura of melancholy, almost as if he was lost.
"So, does most of your family make it up here for the annual camping trip?"
She nodded. "Yeah. It's a big group, including some kids so I like to survey the terrain beforehand and look for major changes, just to head off danger. We don't want to venture up here and find out last winter's storms put something precarious in our path.
"Smart."
She grinned. "Thanks."
He held his hand half an inch over the grill’s grates. "We should be able to pack up and go now."
"Sounds good."
Once they had everything put away, Abram and Maddie saddled up again. She hopped right up, but Abram took his time, caressing the side of Clyde's head and petting his shoulders before putting his large foot in the stirrup. "Sorry boy, I know I'm heavy."
She laughed. "Aw, how sweet. Do you two need some special alone time?
He glanced at her sideways, but when his gaze fell on her mocking expression, he smiled before breaking out into a snicker. "Don't talk trash, Miss Mittens."
She clicked her heels against Thunder's sides and the animal took off at a leisurely pace. Abram and Clyde followed behind her. As soon as they got to an area with more open space, she signaled her horse to speed up. Thunder galloped along and Maddie lost herself in the exhilaration of riding. She enjoyed the wind on her face as she squeezed her thighs to stay in the saddle.
Glancing to her right, she noticed some nearby caves. At one time or another, she'd explored most of what the Banks family lands had to offer, but she especially loved the caverns. She pulled on her horse's reigns. "Whoa."
Thunder slowed and she steered the animals toward the opening. Abram and Clyde trailed right behind her. She jumped down before hauling ass straight for the fissure in the craggy rock.
"Hold on now." Abram dismounted with haste. "Where do you think you're going?"
She pointed at the cave's mouth. "In there."
The excitement in Maddie’s eyes animated her entire face. Abram's pulse sped up as his heart did a somersault. She had to be the most adventurous women he’d ever met, wild and unbroken. Even if he could tame her, he wouldn’t—her jaunty enthusiasm turned him on, but at this rate, she was going to get him into big trouble. "No way. This is exactly the kind of danger I'm supposed to safeguard you against."
She groaned. "Don't be such a wuss."
He knitted his brow and shook his head. "I'm being responsible. I’d like nothing better than to go spelunking with you, but we don’t have the equipment or the numbers to do it safely." As she backed away from the entrance and walked toward Thunder, he breathed easier, but she didn't get back in the saddle. Instead, she reached into her pack and retrieved a flashlight before dashing to the den's entrance.
"Damn it, Maddie!" He sped after her. "Mountain lions have been seen in this area. You can't haul off and go running into caves." While gritting his teeth, he chased the illumination from her flashlight and the sound of her laughter. Now I understand why Davis said she needs a spanking.
Suddenly, the light disappeared, leaving Abram in the dark. He froze in place. "Maddie?" As an image of her injured flashed in his mind, a gnawing sensation plagued his belly. His heart raced as adrenaline flooded his body. He reached out in front of him, feeling around in the dark. "Are you okay?" He took slow, cautious steps as he continued to call for her.
Something grabbed him and he gasped while whipping around, lunging in the dark. Whatever had a hold of him moved quickly and dodged his attack. He pivoted and reached out to capture the rolling shadows.
A flash of light blinded him, and he blinked until his eyes adjusted and focused on Maddie's smirking face. As she snickered, his jaw dropped.
"That shit wasn't funny." His nostrils flared.
She glanced at him and then looked down, drawing his attention to where his hands were. He was clutching one of her forearms while pinning her to the wall with his palm compressing one of her breasts.
"Oh, crap." He snatched his large mitt back and released her. "That was an accident."
While holding the flashlight in her fist, she stretched her opposite arm up and clutched the back of his neck, pushing up on her tip toes as s
he pressed her lips to his. His heart galloped and he grabbed her around the waist, lifting her as he pushed into the kiss.
Her body warmed him as her breasts flattened against his chest. Her softness comforted him, beckoned him. She tilted her head and parted her lips, and he plunged his tongue into the hot, waiting cavern, exploring as he tasted her.
As she broke the kiss, they both panted while clinging to each other. “Mmm, not bad.” She stroked his jaw, and his cock stiffened. He leaned in for another kiss when a snarl followed by a low roar echoed through the cave.
He jerked back and his eyes widened. “Shit! We need to get out of here.” He took her hand and tugged as he ran toward the exit. The late afternoon sun greeted them as they left the cave, and Davis’s boots kicked up dust as he made haste. He picked up Maddie with easy, helping her mount Thunder.
“Calm down, Abram.” It was only a little bobcat. They are notoriously shy animals. It won’t follow us out of its den. They aren’t even that big.”
He threw his leg across Clyde’s saddle, holding the horn to steady his body. “I wouldn’t know because I’ve never gotten close enough to one to find out and I don’t intend to today.”
Maddie laughed and shook her head. “Good gracious.” She flicked her reigns and tapped her heels against her horse’s sides, and the animal began to trot.
“What if it wasn’t a bobcat? It coulda been a mountain lion?”
Maddie pursed her lips as their horses moved in sync. Her expression morphed into a mischievous smirk. “Aren’t pumas extinct in this area?”
“So the experts say, but according to Davis they’re still some around.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “What exactly did he say?”
“Watch out for mountain lions.”
She chuckled. “Well, I guess he knows this land best.”
“He was right about you needing a spanking too.”
“Oh, Abram, don’t tease me.” The grin she flashed his way set his heart pounding faster than the fear of a big cat chasing them down for dinner.
“Don’t tempt me, Maddie Mittens. What if one of us got snake bit in that cave? Did you think about that?”
“I scanned the area. There weren’t any snakes or immediate dangers.”
He lifted his chin and pushed out his chest as he focused on her with unblinking eyes. “Hush your lying mouth. It was pitch dark in there. Ain’t no way you could do a thorough investigation. You’re in the wrong here.”
Nope, I can totally see in the dark. She folded her arms over her chest. “I’m telling the truth.”
He glared at her while wagging his finger in a scolding manner. “Just stop. I’m giving some serious thought to taking you over my knee.” The firmness in his voice rang true.
A jolt of arousal pounced on her pussy, leaving her squirming in her saddle. She bit down on her bottom lip and looked up at him through her eyelashes as her cheeks flushed with heat. He continued to tell her off, but she tuned out his words, focusing only on the steely determination in his expression and the dominance his posture conveyed. Her body warmed as she felt her cat awaken inside her. Something was different. She pictured a puma caged at the zoo, pacing along the boundary of the enclosure, growling and clawing to be let out. Yep, that’s exactly what I’m feeling.
“Maddie?” His raised voice drew her attention.
Her hands trembled. She’d never known her cat to react in such a manner. “Uh…um.” She stammered as a shiver ran up her spine.
“I asked if you understood.”
She wasn’t sure what she was supposed to fathom, but she answered with the response his tone demanded. “Yes, sir.”
He nodded. “Good.”
Oh, God, what’s happening to me?
Chapter Four
After a short ride, Maddie and Abram arrived at the designated camping area. In regards to the terrain, it wasn’t much different than the rest of the land, but a small cabin, where a long-ago relative of the Banks’s had attempted to make a go of a homestead, still stood there. The place wasn’t much to look at, but many years ago, Abram’s grandfather had repaired the roof and installed an antenna. A two-way radio inside was kept in good working order in case of an emergency. The water pump was operational as well, but Maddie wouldn’t trust it for drinking without boiling first.
After she jumped down and tied off Thunder, she rid herself of her pink helmet. While running her fingers through her locks, she scrunched them in her hands. She glanced at Abram and noticed a subtle smile played on his lips as he studied the old building. “Fond memories?”
“Actually, yeah. I don’t remember a lot of the time I spent on the mountain before my dad passed away, but I could never forget the trips up here. My grandfather took me and some of the other grandkids up here for what he called picnic play days.” He dismounted his horse and then held the reigns. “It seems a lot smaller than I recall.”
Maddie laughed. “I imagine so.”
“We use to pretend the cabin was a castle or a jailhouse. You know—whatever the game of the day was.”
“Who was the sheriff and who was the criminal?”
“Are you kidding? Melly was always the one with the badge. She was the baby girl, and as far as granddad was concerned, whatever she said went.”
Maddie rolled her eyes. “Why does that not surprise me?”
He hobbled Clyde. “Why don’t you like my baby cousin?”
“Ha! She’s a grown woman, and you sound as bad as your grandfather.” She tapped his chest with her index finger.
“I reckon I got a soft spot for her, but she’s not as spoiled as you think. She actually gets a lot of crap from Gram that Davis and I would never have to tolerate.”
She stroked a length of her hair. “How do you figure?”
“Gram’s always on her about her appearance or her manners, but I could show up for Sunday dinner rolled in horse munch, and Gram wouldn’t blink. Hell, she’d probably tell me I looked handsome.” He paused as Maddie chuckled and then asked, “So what’s the story?”
She inhaled deeply and gazed at the sky before she blew the air out. “Oh, I guess our similar taste in men started us on the wrong foot. She always flirted with whoever I was dating even though they were too old for her. Then there’s her smart mouth.”
“So basically the two of you are too much alike?”
A slight pang of hurt shot through Maddie’s chest and her jaw dropped. She glanced at him, and as he stared her way, not backing down, she sighed. “Probably.”
In the sunlight, the golden undertones of his eyes shone beautifully as he chortled. Everything about his face sent her heart fluttering. She loved his proud nose and the curve of his kissable lips. The memory of their short interlude flashed in her mind, and her cheeks blazed. Her cat had calmed slightly but lingered beneath the surface as if she were watching everything. It’s like I’m breathing down my own neck.
“What?” As he stepped closer to her and took her hand, her body temperature immediately rose a few degrees.
“I’m sorry.” She averted her gaze, looking at his huge, brown work boots as she hung her head.
“About what?”
She bit down on her lip as she looked up at him. “The cave...”
The happy expression on his face seemed to melt away, and he dropped her hand. “Yeah, me too. My behavior was unprofessional—it had to be the darkness messing with my mind.”
A tidal wave of disappointment flooded over Maddie, leaving her feeling as if the wind had been knocked out of her. Her cat’s angry snarl threatened to resound, but she held the wild animal inside her at bay. “Um, yeah, me too. It had to be the darkness.” She turned away to hide her teary eyes. “And I also apologize for impulsively running into a cave possibly filled with dangers—very childish on my part.” She clammed up as her voice started to crack.
“I should get the tents up. You brought one, right? Or were you bunking in the cabin?” He talked so fast, he was practically babbling.
“I can put up my own tent.” She started unpacking. They worked separately, not speaking as they did. She got hers up faster, but he caught up and staked his tent down before she got her second rod pounded into the ground.
She picked up the pace, hoping to skulk inside her makeshift abode and die. The sound of heavy steps alerted her to Abram’s approach before he spoke. “Need some help?”
She bristled, not even turning to look at him. “I can handle it.” As she tried to figure out what had gone awry, her pride smarted. I initiated the kiss but he responded with plenty of enthusiasm. As soon as we hit daylight, all of a sudden he didn’t mean it? What the hell is that?
“Dusk’s approaching fast so I’ll build us a fire.” He paused as if he expected a reaction but after a few seconds of silence, he walked off. She secured her tent before crawling inside and unrolled her sleeping bag. I’ll hit the hay early. He can sit by that fire alone.
A few minutes later, she heard scraping against the mesh material of her temporary shelter. “Knock, knock.” Abram’s voice was low.
Every tiny hair on her body stood on end with goosebumps, and a wave of arousal made her squirm. She pressed on her chest with her fingertips as if holding herself back. Don’t be an idiot. Don’t seem too anxious. Be cool. Keep it chill. With trembling hands, she partially unzipped the door but only enough to peep out. “Didn’t you see the sign? No soliciting. Peddle your magazines somewhere else.”
He smiled. “I’m sorry.”
“About what?” She was glad he couldn’t see her quivering.
“Being chicken shit. It’s time to man up—I like you.” His pupils dilated as he blushed. “I know you’re paying Davis for a professionally guided tour, and I’m trying but I keep getting distracted.”
Her stomach simmered with nervous energy. “Distracted by what?” She continued to peek at him through the tiny opening.
He removed his hat and rubbed the side of his head. “You gonna make me say it with this tent door separating us?”