Chapter Two
Logan
I t's not a deer .
It's a girl .
We're both so surprised that for a moment, we just stare .
Because not only is it a girl way out here, miles from any semblance of civilization, but she's gorgeous.
Even though she looks like hell and she's wearing a winter coat, her curves are mesmerizing — not to mention she might be the most beautiful girl I've ever laid eyes on .
"Who are you?" she calls, her voice delicate and breathless .
It snaps me out of my reverie and I practically run toward her, followed by Knox. She's obviously cold, lost, and in serious danger right now, and we need to do something fast .
I get to her first, though .
"We're with the forest service," I say, taking her shoulders in my hands. "Where did you come from ?"
The girl just shakes her head vaguely .
"How much further is the main road?" she asks, her voice still faraway .
Next to me, Knox frowns, his dark brows knitting together .
"This trail doesn't connect," he says, his voice rumbling. "It's a dead end ."
She just blinks .
"What?"
"You're in danger right now," I say, trying to get her to focus. "Do you have a vehicle that we can take you to ?"
She shakes her head, finally looking me in the eyes .
"It broke," she says, her voice nearly a whisper. "I thought this was a shortcut ."
Knox and I exchange glances. She's out here alone, no vehicle in sight, snow coming down hard, her eyes blurry and unfocused .
"We've gotta get her to the cabin," I say .
Knox just nods once, gruffly. From him, that's enthusiastic agreement .
"What's your name?" I ask the girl, as gently as I can .
"Rose?" she whispers, like it's a question .
"Rose, we're going to take you to our cabin," I say .
She nods, swaying slightly back and forth, and I realize there's no way she can get herself back to our four-wheel-drive truck, let alone to our cabin .
"Rose, I'm going to — "
"Watch out!" Knox growls as Rose suddenly starts falling .
I catch her reflexively. She's soft and light in my arms, and makes the softest noise, her full lips parting just slightly .
Instantly, despite the circumstances, I think about those lips wrapped around my cock, her huge blue eyes looking up at me. I shake my head to get the image out of it, but it doesn't work. I'm already half-erect, just watching this girl fall over .
"We need to get her to the truck," Knox mutters .
I shift Rose in my arms. She doesn't fight me at all, though I can feel her shaking .
"Let's go," I say .
Knox looks at Rose, then at me, something I can't decipher on his face .
We set out, back through the woods .
* * *
Rose hardly moves the entire trip, barely more than a light weight in my arms. Knox and I are moving as fast as we can, nearly running to where the Forest Service four-wheel-drive truck is parked in a clearing .
I feel like there's a fish hook lodged deep in my chest, and it tugs at me every time I look down at Rose. I don't know why. This isn't the first time that I've rescued someone in the woods, but I've never felt this deep well of concern before .
But then again, no one else has been mind-blowingly gorgeous, either. Every time Rose's eyelids flutter and she looks at me, something in me wakes up and roars , like she's silently begging me to keep her, protect her — and take her .
Like he can read my mind, Knox looks back at me, glowering .
When we finally get to our truck, Rose is barely responsive. Knox opens the back door and I put Rose in gently, then climb in behind her .
As I close the door, Knox and I exchange another look.
Like he wanted to be the one sitting in the back instead of the one driving, but I got here first. He gets into the driver's seat, turns it on, and cranks the heat.
Cold air blasts from the vents as he turns the vehicle around, going as fast as he dares over the rough, bumpy, snow-covered track back to the cabin .
Rose tries, weakly, to clear her throat. I'm already pulling my thick down coat off along with two layers of sweater and a fleece, and the instant I'm down to just my undershirt, I start unbuttoning her coat .
"I need this," she murmurs, trying to fend my hands off .
"No, you need warmth," I say, pushing her hands aside. I'm a little too rough, but there's no time for fucking around .
"Coats are warm," she protests softly .
I yank the buttons of her coat off and pull her forward, tugging it over her arms. It's old and ratty, just a thin, cheap coat, probably from Wal-Mart or something .
Holding it, I'm amazed she's not dead .
"Coats are only warm if you've got body heat," I remind her .
And then I grab her around the waist and pull her around, so her back is flush against my chest, pull my thick coat around both of us, and wrap my arms around her .
She's freezing , still shaking, so cold she's like an ice cube against me. None of us speak for the ride back to our forest service cabin, but after a few minutes, Rose gradually seems to come back to life, at least a little. She stops shaking, and her skin isn't icy any longer, just cool .
Behind her, I'm hard as a fucking rock. I have both my arms wrapped around her narrow waist, her small-but-full breasts pushing against me with every single breath .
She's got strawberry blonde hair, and even though it smells a little bit like coffee, it also smells like citrus and flowers .
As we get close, Rose takes a deep breath, her chest rising against my arm, and she wriggles just a little, her ass pressing against my nearly-painful erection. I grit my teeth, trying to will myself soft, but there's no way it's going to work .
Then she turns her head, pressing her cheek against my chest. I barely know her name, but a completely insane protective urge falls over me in that instant, like I'd do anything to keep this girl safe .