Chapter Thirteen
Was he seeing the intruder who had attacked Nick? Was that who was out there?
“What is it? What do you see?” Her voice came out thin, her pulse thudding in her ears as she quietly closed the truck door to keep Daisy from jumping back out. Then she scanned the area in the direction he was looking but saw nothing.
“Over there,” Axel whispered, pointing to the edge of the tree line about thirty yards away.
Movement caught Jenna’s attention and icy cold shivers scrambled down her spine as a big black bear and two small cubs stood at the edge of the tree line. How had she not seen them?
There was nothing fiercer out here in the wilderness than a mamma bear wanting to keep her babies safe and Jenna knew that if the black bear thought her cubs were in danger, she would charge at them without hesitation.
“I don’t think she’s seen us yet,” Axel said. His steady tone grounded her, even as adrenaline surged through her veins.
“I’ve heard their eyesight isn’t that good. But they have good noses. I’m sure they must be smelling us,” Jenna replied, quite grateful they were near the truck for an easy escape.
“I’d say the mamma would be about a hundred and fifty pounds,” he commented.
Her heart picked up speed as they silently watched the three magnificent creatures start to slowly walk toward them. Their black fur were dark blots against the green foliage and every minute or so the mother would snort.
Mother bear was in the lead, her big bulky body rippling with her every step. Her two cubs followed her closely in single file. Every crunch of grass under the bears’ paws felt too loud, too close.
Even through her fear, her mind catalogued details.
Their size, gait, and the bright blaze of white fur on each of their black chests.
The cubs looked so adorable and small. Their little ears were flicking back and forth probably chasing away flies or mosquitoes.
Jenna figured they were probably around sixty pounds each.
The trio crossed the meadow near where Sam’s horses had grazed no more than half an hour ago and then they swerved to the right.
“I bet they’re heading for the blueberry bushes,” Jenna whispered.
“Blueberries? Like in the blueberry jam Sam gave you?” Axel asked.
“He’s been known to chase the bears away so he can have the blueberries all to himself,” Jenna said.
Axel chuckled and shook his head.
“Well, I don’t know about you, but I think I’d rather buy blueberry jam from the store than to wrestle with bears for it. Although Sam’s blueberry jam is the best I’ve ever tasted.”
Jenna smiled. Trust Axel to find humour with a predator so close to them. She’d make sure she told Sam that Axel had said his blueberry jam was the best when he returned. The elderly man would get such a joy out of his compliment.
They watched as the bears stopped nearby and their heads disappeared into the foliage as they began nosing around a large arrangement of bushes.
“I take it they’ve found the blueberries?” Axel asked.
“Yes. I won’t tell Sam if you don’t tell him that we didn’t chase them away,” Jenna quipped.
“It’s our little secret then. Besides, that’s their grocery store. They gotta eat too. Let’s leave them in peace,” Axel suggested as he quietly opened the driver side door and hopped into the truck.
The shared secret felt strangely intimate, a tiny thread pulling them closer, Jenna thought as she entered the truck from her side.
Relief loosened her shoulders as she quietly closed the door, grateful for the safety of metal.
From behind them in the back seat came a low growl.
Daisy had spotted the bears too; her white fangs and teeth were now bared, and her black nose was twitching as she sniffed the air. She appeared quite angry.
“We'd better get out of here before her Cujo side comes out,” Axel said with a laugh.
He started the truck and thankfully the bears ignored them as they drove past. In a minute, the bears were out of sight.
The quiet pressed against her like a second skin, thick with everything they weren’t saying and Jenna focused intently on the road ahead, half-expecting the assailant who’d attacked Nick to suddenly appear and block their way from getting home.
Her fingers held tight around the seatbelt, and her eyes flicked to every shadow along the road.
After awhile, when nothing happened, a tremor rippled through her muscles.
It had to be delayed fear catching up to her now that the danger had passed and with the steady hum of the truck’s engine she finally began to relax.
Only then did Jenna realize just how much the encounter with the bears had unsettled her. The tension they’d caused had seeped into her muscles without her even noticing.
“I'd like to apologize,” she mumbled after awhile, determined to break the oppressive silence hanging between them. The words scraped out of her, small and fragile, like she was afraid of how he might receive them.
Axel kept his eyes on the road, but Jenna noticed a slight hint of a smile at the corners of his lips. The tiny curve of his mouth sent a warm ache through her chest. It was a reminder of how easily he could still undo her.
“For the kiss? Nothing to apologize for. It was great...unless it wasn't great for you. I mean I have been on the inside for awhile. Doesn't take too much to turn me on. And I am kind of out of practice with a woman.”
Jenna chose to ignore his teasing, but his comment about being out of practice with a woman made her wonder about his relationship with Nick. Did he and Nick…have sex with each other?
She quickly dismissed the thought, unwilling to let her imagination wander down that path.
“About slapping you,” Jenna admitted quietly.
“Hey, I love a little pain with my pleasure and if I remember right, so did you. Do you still?”
Her pulse jumped, a hot flush creeping up her neck. This conversation was a minefield she was not prepared to walk through. This subject needed to be changed right away.
“Listen, if we're going to make this arrangement work, we need to stay professional. Understood?” she replied in the most stern, professional voice she could muster. She straightened her spine, clinging to the cool tone like a lifeline, even as her body betrayed her with every breath.
But he, of course could read right through the coolness. She could tell because he was still doing that smile.
A most wonderful smile with the most wonderful, luscious lips.
Oh man! Lips she wanted to feel all over her body, just like old times!
“Not a problem, boss. The last thing I want is to get sent back to prison.”
His words sobered her. Made her wonder what arrangements had been made for the both of them.
Was this a temporary assignment or permanent?
Who was their parole officer? How often did they have to check in with the officer?
Of course she could ask them, but she wasn't sure she could handle the answer if it was just a short term thing.
Damn, that Cyn! How could she do this to her?
“Thank you for understanding,” she replied after a moment.
“Hey, I didn't say I understood. I just want to make sure you don't send us back. So, we will be on our best behavior, that is until you don't want us to be good boys.”
Us.
The single word sent a shiver down her spine. It sounded so dangerous, thrilling, impossible. Us, meaning him and Nick? With her?
Jenna trembled involuntarily at the idea of having two men making love to her. Once it had been a secret fantasy of hers. A long time ago. Before Axel had gone to prison.
But now he was out and she didn't know what to say, so she kept her gaze glued to the road. But his presence captured her every sense.
From the corner of her eye she caught sight of his hands curled around the steering wheel. Strong hands, which used to hold her by the hips while he thrust his cock deep into her quivering pussy. Strong, long, muscular legs that used to straddle her when she was beneath him.
Heat pooled low in her belly, her breath catching as memories she’d tried to bury surged to the surface. Her pussy went hot and she could feel her arousal seeping along her vagina.
Could he smell her?
She sure could smell him. His scent, so overpowering. So enticing. So Axel.
She wished she could press her legs together and make herself orgasm.
A thin sheen of perspiration zipped across her forehead.
Why, oh why, had she let Nick talk her into getting into the truck with Axel. Now, all she wanted to do was ask him to stop the truck and make love to her.
Jenna forced herself to steady her breathing and willed herself to look away from him. To focus on the road.
Focus!
Oh boy. Home couldn’t get here soon enough.
When Axel pulled the truck into her parking lot a little while later, the porch light was shining like a welcome beacon.
Nick stood on the porch, waiting for them. She liked his silhouette. Strong. Confident. Man.
Something warm fluttered through her as she realized that Nick’s presence seemed to smooth the edges of her chaos.
Silently they climbed out of the truck, and she opened the back door for Daisy who hopped out.
When she spied Nick, her puffy pom pom tail began to wag like crazy. The dog’s joy tugged a smile from her, easing the tension coiled tight in her chest.
“Good call on bringing the dog back,” Nick called out.
The dog ran up to Nick like he was her long lost friend and Jenna loved how he interacted with her, speaking to her in low soothing tones as he petted her.
“We’ll sleep in the barn again,” Axel said as the two of them walked toward Nick who was coming down the steps.
“Jenna, hope you don’t mind. I took a shower and the dishes are all done. The horses are tucked in, fed and watered. I've put a little bit of food away for you. It’s in the fridge; in case you want something.”
Her heart squeezed with gratefulness. She wasn’t used to anyone taking care of things for her.