Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 38855 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 194(@200wpm)___ 155(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38855 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 194(@200wpm)___ 155(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
Instead, I draw my own deep breath, letting his masculine scent and hint of sweat tantalize me as his grip locks down around the backs of my thighs, his own growl vibrating into my belly.
“You have an understanding? With a bear?” I manage.
The course of events in the last couple hours has my head spinning.
Or, it’s the blood rushing to my brain from being carried like a sack of potatoes.
He grunts on a nod, tension in his shoulders as he shifts my body a little higher.
“I’ll keep you safe.” He grumbles, then under his breath he finishes, “Or, maybe, I’ll just keep you.”
4
Mathias
THE YEARS OF ABSTINENCE never much bothered me.
Being a virgin at thirty-five never embarrassed me.
Honestly, it didn’t feel strange to me. Maybe my wiring is just fucked up.
But, right now, standing here staring at this girl that has already wrapped herself around my heart and grabbed me by the balls in the matter of a few hours, all I can think about is throwing her down, prying her legs apart and rutting into her until this wild lust is quelled.
At the same time, deep down I know it will never be quelled. Momentarily satisfied at best. The thought that I would have done the deed with anyone before her? Fuck, turns my stomach. My dick will only know one sweet cunt.
I may be vulgar, but I know what I know, and I know more than ever I was meant to wait.
For her.
I could see the fear in her eyes when she looked at me in the bar, then again when I came through the woods.
It was fate. After I signed the contract with Emmett, I headed back to my place, but I couldn’t get her off my mind. Something drew me east, I told myself I was going to start my burl wood search on that part of Cradle Mountain which borders my land, but in my gut, I knew better so I set off from my cabin on foot.
I wasn’t searching for wood. Not even my prized burls.
I was searching for her.
As soon as I smelled the scent of a fire, there was a knot in my gut, and I followed the trail until I came through the trees to find her facing off with ole Arthur.
It was right then I knew destiny had taken a hand.
I slung her over my shoulder, trudged through the woods with my cock thick and dripping down the inside of my pant leg throbbing for her.
She didn’t fight, which soothed me because I don’t want her to fear me. But I want her to know I won’t be without her.
I want to know everything. What makes her eyes look sad. Why she’s in the woods alone. Her secrets. Her darkest desires. I feel something hurting inside of her and I know it’s my job to heal whatever that is.
So, while I carried her over my shoulder through the woods, I grunted questions. She evaded some, mostly about her family. Having met her stepfather, I already want to put his head through a wall, because I’m sure he has something to do with her being up here and something to do with the hurt I see in her eyes.
I asked about other things. Her hobbies...she’s an artist. She loves old school Sci-fi movies too. Original Star Trek, Star Wars, and she said her favorite is a tie between the original Logan’s Run and the old Planet of the Apes series.
I asked about her art and I want to see every painting. Know every brush stroke.
She told me her mother passed away from pancreatic cancer, and from the crack in her voice she’s still raw, so I didn’t push that subject. But I had a feeling it was connected to her asshole stepfather, so at some point I’m going to deal with him and find out his damage, and make sure he never gives her a second of trouble again.
I asked her how she picked her place to camp, seeing that it’s on Emmett’s property, and she told me about her grandparents and how they used to come up to the Manistee State land, but the road is closed right now. Which is true. So, she took the next road she found, headed up what she thought would be the same mountain and public land.
That’s fair enough, and an honest mistake, but knowing Emmett, if he’d found her there first...well, he may not have been so understanding.
Her favorite foods are Oreos, and thanks to her Irish grandparents, corned beef sandwiches. I devoured every morsel of information, storing it away for later.
As much as I felt I could carry her around on my shoulder like that for the rest of our lives, when we got to my place, I finally set her down, as much as it pained me to release her.