Chapter 2
Tucker
Isquint against the glare of the midday sun as we finally reach the trailhead. My boots crunch over the loose gravel, kicking up little puffs of dust that drift lazily in the still mountain air. The girl—Rhylee—waddles over, weighed down by an absurd amount of gear and equipment.
There’s enough shit strapped to her back to make a goddamn Sherpa blush. A heavy-looking rucksack overflows with supplies, clanking and jangling with every lurching step. Her shoulders bow under the burden. A tangle of poles and scientific doodads dangle off her at odd angles, like some bizarre metal appendages sprouting from her curvy frame.
Can”t say I”m surprised the city slicker went overboard with the packing. Rookie mistake that”ll bite her in the ass out here, where every extra ounce is a liability. I should just tell her to turn back now before she gets hurt.
But a determined glint in those warm brown eyes gives me pause—a hint of untamed fire behind those bookish spectacles, daring me to try and stop her. My gaze lingers on the sheen of sweat glistening along her flushed cheeks, the wisps of chestnut hair escaping her messy ponytail to cling to the delicate curve of her neck.
Who knows? Maybe there”s more to this brainy little wildflower than meets the eye.
”You need a hand with any of that?” The gruff words leave my mouth before I can stop them.
Rhylee blinks owlishly at me over the rims of her smudged glasses as if she can”t quite believe I”m offering. Hell, I can”t quite believe it either.
”I... um, yes, that would be appreciated,” she stammers. A relieved little smile tugs at those full lips as she shrugs off her pack, and I resist the sudden urge to run my thumb along her plump bottom one.
Shoving aside the unexpected flare of heat, I step forward and grab the bulging pack, easily hoisting the heavy load over one shoulder with a grunt. It”s nothing compared to the elk quarters I routinely haul out of these hills, but her eyes still widen in surprise at my easy strength.
”Ready to head out?”
She nods briskly as she shoulders the remaining gear. ”Of course. I can”t tell you what a privilege this opportunity is for me, to study the wildlife deep in the heart of such an untamed wilderness with an expert like yourself.”
”It”s just the woods,” I mutter, rolling my eyes as I turn and head off down the trailhead.
I can practically hear her scowling at my back as she hurries to catch up.
”That”s a terribly arrogant attitude,” Rhylee huffs once she falls into step beside me. ”This land is a precious, unspoiled habitat that should be cherished. Not taken for granted by those of us lucky enough to experience its wonders up close.”
I glance sidelong at her, my lips twitching in a reluctant half-grin. She”s cute when she gets all riled and defiant like that. Like a feisty little kitten baring her claws at a wolf.
”I’m not taking nothin” for granted, Doc. But I know this place like the back of my hand. Practically got the entire Silverpine etched into my soul.”
We hike on in silence for a while, the only sounds our boots crunching over the rocky trail and her occasional heavy breaths from exertion. The path quickly grows more treacherous as we leave the tamed section behind.
Towering pines close in around us, their thick boughs filtering the sunlight into slanting shafts of dusty gold. The sweet, loamy scent of the forest floor mingles with a crisp, green tang that always makes me inhale deep. Like Mother Nature herself is welcoming me home. I feel the usual sense of peace wash over me the farther I press into the heart of these primordial woods.
Rhylee, however, doesn”t seem quite so at ease. Her brow furrows in concentration as she carefully picks her way over the uneven ground, muttering little gasps and curses whenever her boots catch on a gnarled root or loose stone.
”How much farther?” she pants after a while, pausing to wipe a trickle of sweat from her temple.
”We”re barely two klicks in. Got a long haul ahead to reach the research zone.” I smirk at the dismay that flashes across her features.
”Oh. I see.” She worries that plump bottom lip between her teeth, and I feel an unexpected flare of warmth in my gut. ”Well, I won”t slow us down.”
With that, the stubborn little thing squares her shoulders and resumes the trek, determination etched into her delicate features. My eyes linger a beat too long on the enticing sway of her round hips beneath that thin, sweat-dampened flannel before I force my gaze ahead.
Christ, what”s gotten into me? Sure, it”s been too damn long since I”ve had a warm woman under me, but I”ve never been one to get so riled over a pair of pretty eyes and a sweet ass before. This is just some brainy little academic here to do her nature walk, not some wild frontier fantasy to indulge in.
I snort at the thought. As if any proper civilized female would want anything to do with an untamed brute like me. Shit, half the time, I”m not sure I even want anything to do with other people, let alone all the messiness and heartache that comes from tangling with the fairer sex.
No, it”ll be better for everyone if I keep my head down and get this job done as quickly and painlessly as possible. Get the girl her research, then send her tripping back to her cozy university life, no harm done.
”So you must have extensive knowledge of the local species,” Rhylee pipes up again, jolting me from my wandering thoughts. ”What sort of wildlife are we most likely to encounter out here?”
I glance over at that inquisitive, bespectacled face, so open and earnest. Despite my usual gruff indifference when it comes to entertaining the ignorant ramblings of flatlanders, I find myself wanting to engage with her. To share my world with those curious eyes shining up at me.
”Bears are the main danger, especially this time of year when they”re looking to pack on the pounds. Had a few too many run-ins with ornery Grizzlies myself over the seasons.” I pause to let that warning sink in, but the girl doesn”t so much as flinch. She”s listening intently, utterly rapt. A small grin tugs at the corner of my mouth before I continue.
”Course, there are packs of wolves to contend with, too, plus the usual assortment of critters like elk, moose, and coyotes. And if we”re lucky, we might just catch a glimpse of the mountain lions you”re lookin” to study up close.”
”Truly?” Her face lights up. ”Oh, that would be extraordinary! Have you encountered them before? I’d love to pick your brain about their hunting patterns, behaviors, den locations... any insight would be invaluable to my research.”
”Easy there, Doc,” I interrupt. “Just keep those pretty eyes peeled, and let me worry about finding your ghost cats, alright?”
A faint blush tinges her high cheekbones as she nods meekly. ”Yes, of course. I”m getting ahead of myself. You”re the expert here.”
The words come out a bit more wistfully than she probably intended, and I feel an unexpected pang of sympathy for the girl. For all her book smarts, she”s so painfully out of her element.
I can tell she”s trying to play it cool and confident, but as the day wears on, the slight tremor in her limbs gives away her exhaustion at the grueling pace. Those soft, feminine curves were never meant to be hauling such heavy gear across these jagged, unrelenting hills. I”m honestly shocked she”s held up this well without crumbling.
A strange sense of protectiveness flares up in my chest. An urge to shield her from the savagery of the wilderness. To let her revel in its raw beauty without having to endure the cruel realities of survival out here.
The hell is wrong with me? Since when do I give two shits about coddling some helpless city slicker out in my territory? That”s a good way to get her mauled by the first grizzly she stumbles across.
No, if Rhylee insists on traipsing into my domain, she”d best toughen up and learn quickly. I”ll make sure she stays alive and all... but I’m not about to coddle her soft, lush curves or those big, vulnerable doe eyes.
”Keep an eye out up ahead,” I grunt, gesturing toward a narrow game trail branching off the main path and disappearing into a tangled thicket. ”Might be worth checking for any sign of your lions.”
”Oh, yes! Of course!” Rhylee immediately perks up, her weariness forgotten as she scrambles ahead to investigate. I trail after at a more leisurely pace, my gaze lingering a bit too long on the delicious way that luscious ass sways with each eager stride.
Goddamn, I need some cold water splashed on my face. Get my fool head out of the damn gutter before I do something stupid.
”Tucker, over here!” Rhylee calls out excitedly from up ahead, her voice muffled by the dense tangle of underbrush.
I push through the scratchy thicket to find her crouched on the narrow game trail, peering intently at some indentations in the soft earth, gently brushing pine needles with her delicate fingers.
”These look like pug marks!” She glances up at me. ”Fairly fresh, too, if the depth and definition are any indication. We should follow this.”
A slow grin tugs at my lips before I can stop it. Goddamn if her enthusiasm isn”t as infectious as it is adorable. Still, I quickly sober and give a curt shake of my head.
”Uh-uh, no way we”re heading any further down that overgrown path. Too risky.”
Her face falls in dismay. ”What? No, my research depends on—”
”Your research won”t mean shit if you get yourself mauled or broken out here,” I growl, cutting her off. ”That game trail”s too narrow and choked with debris. One wrong step and you could go tumbling down a ravine or stumble onto a bear den. I’m not risking either of our hides for your curiosity.”
Rhylee”s jaw clenches mutinously, those full lips pressed into a stubborn line. ”This is precisely why I hired an expert guide—to keep us safe while pursuing any and all leads. If you can”t handle that, then I”ll—”
”You”ll what?” I snap, taking another deliberate step forward until the toes of my scuffed boots nearly brush her knees. She flinches but holds her ground, craning that slender neck back to keep her defiant glare locked on me.
Christ, she”s got fire in her, I”ll give her that. But the little fool has no idea the dangers she”s risking out here in my territory. She sees it all as some big academic lark through the woods, blinded by her naivete and those lofty ambitions.
I ought to just toss her cute little ass over my shoulder and march her right back to the safety of that dive bar I found her in. Save us both a world of hurt and trouble before she gets in over her head.
But I”m too late. She”s already pushing to her feet and taking a few tentative steps away from me, down the path, eyes on the ground.
Gritting my teeth, I plunge after the reckless girl, batting aside the tangled underbrush with more force than necessary. ”Rhylee, stop.”
But she doesn”t even break stride, just ducks under a low-hanging branch and disappears around a sharp bend. The rustle of her footsteps fading away stokes the slow burn of anger simmering in my gut.
I round the corner to find the game trail has grown even narrower between the dense foliage, the uneven earth treacherously obscured by a carpet of dead leaves and debris. Rhylee is just visible up ahead, weaving her way deeper into the thicket with single-minded determination.
A twig snaps beneath my boot, and she whirls. ”I told you, I can take care of myself just fine. I”ve been in hazardous field conditions countless times before without incident. This is no different.”
The blatant lie makes me scoff darkly. ”Is that right?”
She falters under my hard stare, worrying her plump bottom lip between her teeth again. Christ, I want to yank it free with my thumb, run the calloused pad over the silky flesh and...
Clenching my fists to dispel the inappropriate urge, I lean in until she has to crane her neck further, until our bodies are nearly brushing. Despite the warmth of the afternoon, I catch her slight shiver.
”Listen up good, Doc,” I rasp, voice dropping to a dangerous rumble. ”Out here, you”re in my world. My rules. And I say we turn our asses around before you wander us into real trouble, you hear?”
Her eyes burn behind her smudged lenses, dancing with a heady mix of anger, defiance... and something darker. Something that makes the hairs prickle on the back of my neck with awareness.
”And if I refuse?” she breathes.
My jaw ticks as I struggle against the unexpected, visceral need to put the obstinate girl in her place.
But the moment is shattered by a loud crunch, like splintering wood. Rhylee’s eyes go wide, her mouth forming a startled ”O” as the ground gives way beneath her feet, and she starts tumbling backward with a shriek.
”Rhylee!” I lunge without thinking, snagging her wrist as she disappears over the edge of the narrow trail and into the underbrush. The force of her fall yanks me off balance, and I slam into the ground hard, skidding through the crackling leaves and branches.
I manage to catch myself just before plunging over the side of the ravine after her. My free hand digs into the dirt as I strain against her weight. Rhylee dangles below me, eyes squeezed shut and chest heaving in panicked gasps.
”T-Tucker...” she whimpers, and something deep in my chest clenches at the raw fear saturating that breathless voice.
”Just hang on,” I grunt through gritted teeth, my biceps bulging with effort as I fight to haul her back up to safety. ”I got you...”
With one last heave, I yank her up and over the edge. Rhylee tumbles against me in a jumble of limbs, her soft curves colliding with my chest as she clings to me in desperation. The scent of her surrounds me—sweet and floral, mixed with the sharp tang of adrenaline and sweat.
We”re both panting hard now, our ragged breaths mingling in the scant space between us. Her eyes bore into mine, filled with a heady cocktail of fear, relief... and a dark hunger that sends a jolt of lust searing through me.
Suddenly, I”m hyper-aware of every tantalizing inch pressed against me. The supple swell of her breasts against my chest. The lush weight of her thighs bracketing my hips. The scorching heat of her core a mere whisper from the growing ridge of arousal.
Rhylee seems to feel it, too, her eyes fluttering closed as a breathy moan slips past those full, parted lips. My cock twitches at the sound, straining against the denim”s rough confines. I could take her right here, right now... stake my claim on her soft flesh…
The thought alone is enough to make my head spin, my blood thundering in my ears like a war drum. This insane hunger, this driving need, it”s more than just pent-up celibacy. More than just an ache to bury myself in her lush curves until we”re both spent and sated.
It”s like she”s awoken something ancient in me. Some feral, possessive instinct I”ve never felt before. A burning drive to make this woman mine in every sense of the word.
But just as quickly as the haze of primal lust descends, it lifts as Rhylee stiffens, shoving against my chest to scramble back and break the heady spell.
”I-I”m sorry,” she stammers, unable to meet my eyes as she brushes herself off, movements jerky and flustered. ”That was... that was my fault. I shouldn”t have wandered off the path like that. You were right.”
My jaw clenches hard as I push to my feet, tamping down the swirling vortex of need, frustration, and anger roiling inside me. Mostly with myself for allowing this strange pull toward the girl to cloud my judgment so perilously.
But I refuse to let this foolish attraction put us both at risk, to turn me into the kind of reckless, rutting beast that would get us killed out in these hills.
No, I”m stronger than these primal urges. I”m in control of myself and this situation, not some wild animal to be tamed and led around by a pretty girl. I”ll finish this damn job, get her precious research done, and then haul her happy ass back to safety and civilization. Then, I”ll scrub her from my mind and body once and for all.
”We”re done exploring for today,” I growl, turning to stalk back down the treacherous game trail toward the main path, my tone leaving no room for argument. ”Get your shit together and keep up. We’ve got ground to cover before nightfall.”
Rhylee hesitates, that full lower lip caught between her teeth again. Then she nods, falling into step behind me without a word of protest as we retreat from the ravine, the moment of madness, and whatever the hell just transpired between us.
But I can still feel the phantom echoes of her warmth and softness seared into my flesh. Can still taste the tang of our mingled breath on my tongue. And as the shadows grow long around us, that same primal part of me swears it caught the briefest whiff of her desire, thick and musky and utterly intoxicating.
I clench my jaw harder, my strides lengthening to put as much distance between us as possible. This is going to be one long-ass nature hike.