5. Riley
Riley
I couldn’t sleep at all last night. I offered to share the bed with Bear but he declined. Maybe I was wrong, and he’s not interested in me. It’s hard for me to believe that after the way he looked at me last night.
All day, really.
I’d never understood the meaning of a smoldering look until I felt Bear’s eyes on me. My skin burned. My insides melted. Every inch of me heated up. The air in the cabin was heavier than the clouds that brought the storm yesterday. I could hardly breathe in Bear’s commanding presence.
He’s so big that I’m sure one of his legs weighs as much as I do. And the way he bent his fork as he watched me eat. Heard me moan. Wow. I saw it. Noticed it and the power his hands possess. It makes my body tingle remembering it.
It should be scary being holed up with a rugged man I hardly know, miles away from civilization, but it’s not. I’ve never felt safer. Bear might resemble his namesake but he’s kind and caring, a gentle giant who has taken care of me from the moment we met.
I roll over, stretching out my arms and letting out a sigh before I grab the pillow covered in Bear’s scent. I shove my face into it, breathing deeply because I can’t help myself. There’s something about it that sends my body into overdrive. I need more.
I need more of Bear. Every time he touches me, my body crackles with electricity. It feels like I’m on a rollercoaster, twisting and turning. Climbing and falling. When he grazes my cheek with his fingertips, and I can’t figure out which way is up.
No one has ever had that effect on me. Nothing has. I’m torn because I’ve met a man I like— really, really like. But we’re from completely different worlds. He has his life in the mountains, and I have my life in the city.
I ran away from the city to spark my imagination—I never thought it would spark my heart. My love life. The part of me that I’ve neglected for so long to further my career.
The longer I stay, the more difficult the decision will be. But if I go now, I know I’d regret leaving and crushing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. And that’s what this is. I’ve waited for something like this—am I really going to dump it?
I take another deep inhale of Bear’s pillow, tingles radiating all over my body as my nipples tighten and my core throbs.
His scent is dredging something primal inside me.
Buttons I never knew I had are being pressed.
Knobs twisted. Levers pulled. Everything is working overtime to show me the answer I already know but have been resisting— Bear is it. He’s the one!
Am I making this more complicated than it needs to be? Maybe. I tend to do that sometimes. I guess that’s why I like writing thrillers so much. Twists and turns. Throwing everything at my characters to see how they react and where the story takes them.
Maybe I need to simplify things and stop looking for complications everywhere I go.
I swing my legs over the edge of the bed, pausing as my chest begins to flutter. My imagination runs rampant as I wonder how Bear looks in the morning. A little grumpy? Thick hair ruffled with drooping eyes? Does he sleep in denim and flannel?
I swallow. Does he sleep naked?
I’m out of my element with mountain men. I’d have thought they were a myth until Bear lumbered into my life. Surprisingly though, he wasn’t holding onto an axe or carrying a tree trunk over his shoulder. Maybe he’s not as wild.
Or maybe my imagination needs to chill. I need to save this for my manuscript—the first draft of which is due at the end of the month. I wonder if Bear would let me stay here a little longer. It’s not the cabin I rented, but I can’t deny that my creativity has been jump-started.
I’m not sure if it’s the mountains or Bear. Maybe it’s both.
I slide on my slippers and pad to the door.
I don’t hear any movement, so maybe he’s still asleep.
I doubt it though—don’t mountain men wake up before the sun to catch trout with their bare hands for breakfast?
Alright. Alright. Calm down, Riley. Bear’s a man, not some mythical beast with super-human abilities and strength.
The door creaks as I push it open. Light spills from the windows into the main living area.
The interior is spartan but cozy. It’s lived-in, functional, and has more character than any apartment I’ve seen.
I run my hand along the wood logs that make up one wall, imagining the rich history of this cabin.
Generations have lived between these walls.
I can understand why Bear’s drawn to this place and the land around it.
Not many people can trace their heritage down one long unending line.
I can’t imagine living in the same cabin my great-great-great-great-great-grandfather built.
I might be missing a few of Bear’s greats, but the point is made—Bear has an ancestral history that boggles my mind.
I’m a little jealous, to be honest. I hardly know anything about my great-grandparents let alone as far back as Bear’s history. It’s a different way of living, that’s for sure.
The couch Bear slept on last night is empty. The blanket is folded neatly with a pillow stacked on top of it. My slippers scrape against the wood planks as I make my way to the kitchen and find a note from Bear.
Morning Riley,
Hope you slept well and the storm didn’t keep you up. Got an early start. Seeing if I can get your car running again. There’s coffee in a thermos on the counter. Made you a breakfast sandwich. It’s wrapped up and in the oven. Make yourself at home. I’ll see you soon.
Bear
Butterflies are fluttering in my stomach, chest, and head.
They’re everywhere . I can’t think of a time someone’s been this nice to me.
No one apart from my parents has ever made me breakfast. Then again, I’ve never been in a relationship before.
Never dated seriously—only a few casual dates before one of us moved on.
Bear’s different from every man I’ve ever met. I like that. A lot.
I grab one of the speckled metal mugs hanging on a hook beneath one of the cabinets and pour some coffee before grabbing my breakfast from the oven. Still warm. I wonder how long he’s been gone. Maybe once I finish I could hike back to the car and see if he needs my help.
I could supervise.
It’s really hot out, Bear. I think it would be better if you took your shirt off. Pants too. In fact, just go naked. Proper airflow and all that.
Yeah, I’d be a great help to him. If I’d even make it to him. I don’t even know how to get to my car from here. And knowing my luck, I’d cross paths with the mountain lion we saw yesterday.
Nope. I need to stay here.
I’m halfway through my delicious sandwich when I hear a loud crack. A thump. I take a sip of my coffee and then set down my sandwich before heading to the window.
Oh.
Okay.
Somehow, the universe whispered one of my suggestions into Bear’s ear.
He’s not wearing a shirt, and he’s lifting a huge axe over his head.
Wow. Those… muscles. The hair . I’m sure scientists could study his body and find previously undiscovered muscles.
I’ve seen nothing like it before and when he brings the axe down, slamming it into the wood, a loud thud rents the air and I feel it between my legs.
He readjusts the wood as I pull up a chair, watching as he continues to split wood and I continue to feel each thud. The longer he’s at it, the more turned on I become until I’m squirming in my chair, watching a massive mountain of a man use his thick muscles, sweat beading all over his body.
I would’ve come to the mountains earlier if I knew this was waiting for me. I let out a soft moan as my body throbs. Aching. Needy. Could he stop? Split me instead?
I’ve never had these thoughts before. I’ve never wanted anyone so badly before. I’ve never— crap! Bear just locked eyes with me.
He tosses his axe to the side and wipes his brow with a thick forearm as he lumbers toward me. I swear the ground’s shaking with each step he takes. I scramble to return the chair back to the kitchen before he makes it but I trip over a rug and land on top of it, knocking the wind out of me.
I’m rolling on the ground, gasping for air and making noises no woman— no one— should ever make.
When Bear sees me on the ground, his smile fades and concern rises in his eyes as he rushes toward me.
“Are you okay, Riley? Are you hurt?” Bear kneels on the ground next to me, his hands moving all over my legs and arms checking me for injuries as I fail to make any coherent words leave my mouth.
I. Can’t. Breathe.
“ Aighugh slip ma cha rughh ? —”
I start coughing as Bear continues to run his hand along my body.
He’s certainly doing his due diligence, hands skating across my arms and down my legs.
Back again. Searching. Feeling. It feels so good but my lungs are aching as I gasp for air.
The tenderness in my ribcage where it slammed into the chair throbs.
“Riley,” Bear rasps, his tone strained. “Where are you hurting?”
There’s a pulse between my legs I’d like to point him to, but instead, I point to my ribs. His hands glide across my ribcage as something twists in my belly.
“I tripped,” I finally manage as Bear strokes the tender spot.
It actually feels better.
“Do you mind if I see?” Bear asks.
Heat blooms across my chest when his eyes meet mine.
“Sure,” I say, hardly above a whisper.
I grab the hem of my shirt, drawing it upward as I watch Bear. His throat bobs as he swallows. Jaw tense. Gaze fiery. I swear I hear him growl but I forget all about it when his hand brushes my belly before wrapping around the side of my ribcage.
His thumb strokes the tender spot as the rest of me feels weightless and heady with Bear so close to me. Touching me. I thought I was turned on watching him. It’s nothing compared to what I feel right now.
I want to kiss him. I should kiss him. But before I inch closer to him, he backs away.
“Might have a bruise,” he says, scrubbing his jaw as he stands. “But you’ll survive.”
Bear stands, a smile creeping on his face as my cheeks flush. Everything flushes with heat. I’m annoyed, agitated, and I have only myself to blame.
“Thanks,” I say. “For everything.”
Bear offers me his hand and I take it, pulling me to my feet moments later.
“The sandwich was delicious.”
“And what about the show?” Bear rasps, his fingers grazing my cheek.
I swallow hard, blinking at him before dropping my gaze to his naked torso. Wow. I’d been so in my head that I’d completely forgotten how… naked Bear is from the waist up.
“Delicious too,” I say without thinking.
It’s the truth though. I enjoyed every second of Bear’s show. I’d watch reruns any time.
Bear grunts, still stroking my cheek.
“Got your car working again,” he says.
My eyes flare. “Seriously? What was wrong with it?”
He snorts. “Needed gas.”
“You’re joking.”
“Looks like your gas gauge is busted. Had half a tank for a while didn’t you?”
I cringe because yes, now that I’m thinking about it the needle hadn’t moved a centimeter the entire trip here. I guess the great mileage I was getting wasn’t so great after all.
“This is embarrassing,” I say after a few beats.
“Lucky is what I was thinking.”
“How so?”
“Wouldn’t have found you any other way,” Bear says as my knees begin to tremble.
Butterflies. Pulse pounding. Shaky breaths. The works.
“Guess you’re right.”
“Well, I hope you stick around for a while. I know you were hoping for an empty cabin to write in, but you could stay here if you’d like. I won’t bother you. I promise.”
“I’d like that,” I say. “On one condition. Two conditions,” I add.
“What’s that?”
“Show me why you love the mountains. It feels like I’m missing something in the city, and I’m wondering if I can find it here.”
Bear cups my face as something animalistic rises in his eyes, tugging on something deep inside me. He grabs my waist with the other hand, pulling me closer to him.
“Done,” he says. “And the last condition?”
“You stop sleeping on the couch.”
He groans, slow and deep, and then brushes my lips with his thumb, my nipples pebbling immediately.
“Okay,” he says. “But I have one condition as well.”
I’m trying my best to breathe but it’s getting harder as Bear holds me—his fingers searing my skin and making everything inside me go haywire.
“Tell me,” I say.
“I want to taste your lips, Riley. I’ve been aching for them from the moment I laid eyes on you. Give me a taste of heaven and you can have the world.”
My heart’s in my throat—pounding, pounding, pounding as Bear looks at me in a way no man has ever had. In a way I’ve always ached for a man to look at me. He’s looking at me like I’m the only thing he wants. The only thing he needs. And if I don’t grant his request he’ll unravel before me.
“Okay,” I say. “Kiss me. I’m?—”
I don’t have the chance to finish my sentence before Bear captures my lips with his.