2. Bear
Bear
Mountain lions. I’ve learned city folk will believe anything about nature or the mountains if it comes from my mouth. A big, bearded, salt-of-the-earth man like me? Must be a serious man with no sense of humor.
“Careful now,” I say, beating back a dense thicket with my hands, “there’s a den nearby and it will be getting dark soon. Prime hunting time for mountain?—”
“It’s not even five o’clock.”
“We’re on mountain time now.”
She makes a face at me, eyebrows pinched together as she cocks her head and her lips part. Alright, I might’ve pushed it with that one.
After a few beats, we settle back into our steady pace as we head through the forest. A part of me wants to get lost with Riley—something to prolong the inevitability of her leaving.
But you could blindfold me, drop me into a random spot in the forest, and I’d know exactly where I was. These mountains are a part of me.
“When was the last time you fought off a mountain lion, Bear?” Riley asks, grabbing my arm and stopping me dead in my tracks.
And for the second time today, my heart slams against my ribcage, threatening to break out—the first was the moment I laid eyes on Riley. I may not interact with people as often as I used to but Riley’s the only person who has ever sent my heart into overdrive.
When I heard a shrill scream from the road, my protective instincts kicked in. There was something about the sound that woke up a dormant part of me.
I didn’t think, I reacted.
I raced toward the scream, bounding through the forest as adrenaline pounded through my veins.
I swear I made it to the road in record time, but all I found was an unattended car.
And an unmistakable scent. Every hair on my body stood on end, reacting to it on a primal level as I followed it until I found Riley.
Sweet. Perfect. Mine.
After taking a few moments to collect myself, I answer her question as my body continues to react strongly to her grip around my arm. Hopefully, she keeps it there the entire way back.
“It’s been a while,” I rasp. After clearing my throat: “I’m a little rusty, but it’s second nature to a mountain man like me.”
Riley laughs softly. “Did your parents start you off early? Wrestling bear cubs before you could walk?”
I snort. I like Riley. A lot. So much that it’s painful. I don’t want to let her go.
“You’re not far off, Riley.”
Her eyes, pale green and arresting, meet mine as she smiles. She’s gorgeous. Stunning. Full lips. Auburn hair. She’s wearing jeans and a T-shirt, and I’m not sure there’s a damn thing she could wear that wouldn’t drive me wild.
“Ready to move on?” I ask, gaze dipping to her lips, wondering how they’d feel against mine. Their taste. How they’d looked wrapped around my cock as her tongue swirled against my length.
“Yes,” she says in a voice so soft and delicate that acts like a salve for my aching heart.
I swallow hard. I’ve only just met her and I’m having crazy thoughts. Thoughts I’ve never had before.
I don’t want to take her to my truck and drive her into town.
I want to throw her over my shoulder and make this sweet girl mine.
It sounds crazy but from the moment I heard her scream, breathed in her scent, and then laid eyes on her, my life changed.
There’s only one thing I want, and she’s holding onto my arm.
I want to keep her on the mountain with me where she belongs. Protect her. Keep her safe. Give her everything. Make her— fffuck!
I’m acting like a possessive beast with someone I just met, but I can’t stop the urges.
“Let’s go,” I say. “We’re almost home.”
That’s what I’d like her to think about my cabin. Home. It’s nothing like the cabin she showed me on that listing. It’s nothing flashy. A simple cabin built by hand generations ago. I’ve made some upgrades and improvements but it’s probably nothing like the home I’m sure Riley’s used to.
I know because I left these mountains once. I’d lived my entire life here and thought I wanted to see what the rest of the world had to offer. Had a fancy degree with a job to go with it. Made more money than any person ever needed but I was hollow through it all.
The mountains called and I answered. I’m never leaving again. And I hope Riley doesn’t leave.
What the fuck?
I was joking about the mountain lions. I haven’t seen a mountain lion on this side of the mountain in decades. But as much as I want to dismiss what I’m seeing, I can’t.
That’s a mountain lion, and it’s slinking through the forest next to us.
Riley tugs on my shirt. “Bear…”
“I see it,” I say, sliding in front of her. This motherfucker has another thing coming if it thinks about coming after my girl. “Stay behind me. It’s likely to move on. They rarely attack unless they feel threatened or think they’ve got a free meal.”
Good luck with the latter, mountain lion. I’ll tear it limb from limb if it makes a move at us. I’ve got brothers the size of bears. Tussled with them all my life. A mountain lion won’t stand a chance when my protective instincts kick into overdrive to keep my girl safe.
After making a few loops to extend our hike to my cabin, I connected with one of the lesser-known trails. Tourists don’t often hike this one because it can be dangerous. But the danger comes from the sheer cliffs, deep ravines, steep inclines, and loose rocks—not from mountain lions.
After pausing for a few moments in the brush, the cat sniffs the air and then moves on. “You’re safe, Riley,” I rasp, eyes still trained on the forest’s edge. I need to get her to my cabin. The animals must be sensing the shift in the air—a storm’s coming soon so they must be preparing.
“Thanks,” she says, letting go of my shirt as she edges around me. “I’ve never seen a wild animal like that up close before.”
If she spent the night with me, she might see another beast. My jaw tenses as I swallow. Again with the thoughts I shouldn’t be having.
“Better get going,” I say, readjusting her suitcase. “I think the impending storm might be making the animals uneasy.”
“Storm?”
I nod. “A big one’s coming later today. Nothing to worry about though. You can ride it out with me if you’d like.”
Riley worries her lip with her teeth. She’s not sure. I get it. She just met me. Must not be feeling the same way.
“But if you’re not comfortable, I can set you up at the Inn when we get back to town.”
“Okay,” she says, tearing my heart to shreds.
We keep hiking, and no more than a few minutes later I see a damn bear bounding down the path.
I grab a couple of sticks off the ground, leaping in front of Riley before screaming at the beast and hammering the sticks together.
My heart stills when it comes to a skidding halt. That’s not a bear—that’s Squeak.
I toss the sticks and drop to my knees, arms outstretched as I call out to Griff’s dog. He comes lumbering over to me, giving me a sloppy greeting.
“That’s a dog?” Riley asks from a few feet behind me.
“He might look fierce, but he’s a big teddy bear,” Griff says, jogging toward us. “Bear, what are you doing so far away from your cabin?”
“You mean we’re not any closer?”
I turn around, pushing Squeak off me as I glance at Riley. I can’t help but laugh. “I might’ve taken a detour. Thought you might want to see the mountain. A little nature walk.”
Her eyes flare as she takes a few steps toward me.
I swallow hard. I think I like my chances better with the mountain lion over a pissed-off Riley.
But seeing her hot and flustered is stirring something inside me.
I… I like it. The intense gaze she’s leveling at me. The stern voice. Jesus, I want more.
“That was not a nature walk,” she says, arms akimbo. “We were almost eaten by a mountain lion.”
Squeak flops onto his back, begging for belly rubs as Griff and I laugh.
She groans, turning around and walking a few feet away before returning. Riley opens her mouth about to lay into me but instead, she throws her arms into the air, huffs, and pushes past us, stalking down the path.
“She’s exaggerating a little,” I say to Griff, my eyes trained on Riley. “But there was a mountain lion. It was prowling just off the trail but left us alone.”
I stand up, nerves swelling as I see Riley disappearing in the distance.
I’ll make it up to her. Hell, I’ll tell her the truth because I’ve got nothing to lose—except for her.
I took the looping path through the forest because I wanted to spend more time with her.
I didn’t want her to go. It’s that simple.
“I guess I’ll keep my eyes out,” Griff says. “Who is she by the way? Never seen her before.”
Possessiveness rips through me like a wildfire but I keep it a bay. Griff is no threat. He’s like me—sticks to himself and has no interest in love. He’s curious and there’s nothing more to it.
“Her car broke down. Says she’s renting a cabin.”
“Here? I know Aiden’s trying to set something like that up, but he’s still building the cabins.”
“She got scammed. Used my address and uploaded some fancy images. Took a wad of cash from her. Trying to get her back to town and get her a tow for her car.”
Griff looks at me, amused. “Taking your time to get back to your cabin.”
I smile. “Nature walk,” I say. “That’s it. Can’t blame a man for sharing his love for the mountains.”
Griff shakes his head, claps me on my shoulder, and then moves past me. “Not at all. Be careful,” he says. “Storm’s coming.”
I snort. “You too.”
Squeak bounds down the path after Griff, and when I see Riley disappear around a bend in the path, it looks like I need to do the same.
I’m going to do whatever it takes to make it up to her.