Chapter 5
Chapter Five
FIERCE
H ot-blooded. Over-the-top. Possessive. Impetuous.
Words swirl around me, half-whispered in French and Basque. But I don’t care. I’m too busy staring into the face of the woman I’ve only known from photos and FaceTime. I can’t believe she came. That she’s taking a chance on me. All I know is she’s more beautiful and sexy and amazing than any dating app could ever communicate. And she’s all mine forever.
Wrapping my arm possessively around her waist, I whisper in her ear. “I’m sorry about the mud on your clothes.” Various family members pull out their phones, snapping pictures of us as Felicity’s cheeks stain pink.
She whispers, looking and sounding overwhelmed, “They’re washable.”
Ama and Aita scold me for treating her this way. They want to take her back to the main house to stay. But there’s no way in hell. I’m pleasantly surprised by the reception they’ve given her, as though she belongs to the family. But I won’t let my guard down because this reception doesn’t make sense.
“What in the hell did you do to make them like you so much?” I ask as we reach her red Jeep.
She shakes her head, confusion flooding her face. “I said hello in Basque and then spoke a little French.”
I smile until I feel like my cheeks will break. She really is trying to fit in, which means she loves me, too.
“Well, I say, let’s stop while we’re ahead. Agreed?”
Puzzlement fills her eyes. “What do you mean?”
“Let’s get away from everyone, so we can talk and get to know each other better. Family is too much drama. The bigger they are, the more drama. Follow me back to my cabin?”
Her eyebrows shoot up. “Oh, this isn’t your house?”
“No, this is my parents’ house. You’re lucky you caught us all out here like this. How did you find the place anyway?”
“I asked around in Hollister at The Human Being.”
“Makes sense,” I say, running a muddy hand through my muddy curls. “They always give the main ranch’s address in town.”
“It wasn’t a physical address. More like instructions to a pirate’s treasure.”
I chuckle, so fucking in love with her, my whole body feels lit up. “Well, I’m glad you found us in that case. Ready to follow me?”
Looking around, dazed by the commotion and conversation going on around her, I can tell she needs a break. Taking a deep breath, she nods. “Yes, please. Let’s go someplace quiet.”
I open her Jeep car door, leaning over her to fasten her seatbelt and savoring the chance to kiss her again. The roar of voices around us continues, but I’m not listening. I’m too busy enjoying my first tastes of the girl I will marry. Delicious sparks shoot back and forth between us, the air arcing with electricity as I pull back a couple of inches, palming her cheek. “I’m sorry I’ve covered you in mud. But you can take a shower at my place.”
She swallows loudly, her eyes rounding. “I don’t know, Fierce. I came here to see you, but all of this feels like it’s moving kinda fast.”
I chuckle, using my thumb to wipe mud from her cheek, only smearing it in a broader arc, thanks to my dirty hands. “I promise to be a gentleman with you. To move at your pace. You have nothing to worry about…unless you stay here with this rowdy crew. Then, I would worry.”
She nods, staring into my eyes with a tenderness and warmth she can’t conceal.
I close her door and jog towards my muddy, silver Ford F-250 as countless family members squawk and pepper me with questions. Finally, I turn around, motioning with my hands to make everyone stop talking. Once silence fills the air, I say, “You’ve wanted me to marry for years. Begging and nagging me about it. Now, you have what you’ve wished for. So quit complaining and give me some time alone to get to know my girl.”
“You will come to dinner?” Ama says more like a statement than a question.
“No, Ama, I’m sorry. My girl and I need some time alone first. We need time to get to know each other.”
“What will her parents think?” Ama asks, again more like berating than a question.
“Her parents will be fine with this. I have nothing but good intentions.”
Aita leans into Ama, grabbing her around the waist and whispering into her ear. Her face glows with mischief, and she says, “Don’t worry about cooking, wine, anything. Your aunties and I will bring you food this evening.”
“Be sure to answer when they knock.” Aita grins, implying I’ll have my hands too full to receive their dinner. God willing.
I nod, my face glowing.
Aita steps forward, hugging me. “I’m proud of you, Son. You’ve finally made the right decision.”
“Thank you,” I say, anxious to get Felicity alone. My heart feels like it’s bursting as I climb into my truck and pull out of the driveway, going slow so she can follow along in her Jeep. She needs a new vehicle, something more modern and comfortable. It’s the first thing on my list, a wedding present to her.
Once we reach my cabin, I motion for her to park next to me, and I wait until her Jeep’s in place before getting out. Rounding the back of her vehicle, I don’t give her a chance to think before my arms encircle her, and my lips dance over her mouth, claiming her with the fervency and need I had to reign in earlier around my family.
Her arms wrap around my body, pulling me so tightly against her that I’m sure she feels my hardening manhood. But it doesn’t seem to put her off or bother her in any way. If we keep this up, we’ll end up rutting in my front yard. Pulling back, I pant, “We should go inside and get cleaned up. But I don’t want to track mud in the house. So, will you hose me off?”
“Hose you off?” she gasps, her eyes descending to my muddy physique. Admiration and lust fight for dominance in her gaze, filling my heart with pride.
“Yeah,” I shrug, grabbing her hand and leading her to the backside of my cabin, where I have a faucet and hose. Because of cold temperatures, I have to unhook and drain the hose daily to avoid a frozen waterline. To say the least, this won’t be a pleasant experience, but I can’t tromp in the house like this. I screw the hose to the faucet and turn on the water, pulling it towards me until I hold the end spouting ice-cold water.
“This is going to be cold,” she warns, taking it from me. Where our hands brush, electricity sizzles and crackles, and I swallow loudly, staring tensely at her. Our motions and glances feel awkward because of the thick desire swirling between us. FaceTime sex hasn’t helped at all.
I chuckle in low tones, yearning creeping into every part of me. “It is. So don’t judge the package by the shrinkage.” I wink, and her cheeks flush.
Her eyes are like saucers, and her cheeks are the color of her Jeep. “How do you want me to do this?” she asks, shock written on her face.
“Fast and furiously. There’s no other way.” Backing away from her, I nod when I’m ready. The delectable curvy girl lets the hose spray fly. As the first frigid waves hit me, I let out a deep growl, my whole body tensing and shivering as she douses me, and curtains of mud run off my body. This is not how I expected our first meeting to go.
“Merde!” I curse, and she stops, her face plastered with the strangest mixture of guilt and desire.
“No, keep going until I tell you to stop.”
With a nod, she directs the frigid spray back on me. I shiver under the shower, taking it stone-faced and silently, turning and using my hands to scrub my hair and spots she’s missed. Then, I strip off my boots, socks, and pants until I stand in front of her wearing nothing but my white boxer briefs, transparent from the water. Despite my warnings, there’s nothing to fear. Finally being in her presence means no shrinkage at all, even with the icy assault.
“Alright, stop. Arrête.”
It takes a moment for Felicity to respond, throwing the hose to the ground and staring at me. Her hungry eyes go straight to my cock tented in my boxers. Instead of alarm written on her face, it smolders with an unnamed need. A need I know exactly how to satisfy.
I stride toward her, pulling her against my wet body and claiming her mouth again. Want and reason rip me in two, waging an internal civil war. If I let my cock steer this show, we’ll be down in the mud fucking like wild animals. But Felicity’s a refined woman from the city. And even though she digs the whole mountain man thing, I don’t want to scare the shit out of her.
Still, my hands slide down her back until they cup her ass cheeks, squeezing her tightly against my girth. “You better get inside and take a shower, or we’re going to get dirtier than any mud can make us.”
Her mouth hangs open, her eyes swimming with lust. Fuck, I’m about to lose this battle.
“Okay…” she manages, her voice breathy.
I loosen my grip on her ass, taking a deep breath to steady myself. “First door on the left down the hallway. I’ll bring your luggage inside.”
“Okay,” she says again like she’s losing her own skirmish with reason.
“Go,” I command gently, a slight edge to my voice.