hands in his pockets and looked down at the floor.
Officer Morcillo put on his sunglasses. “Just be careful, ma’am,” he said and walked out, followed by Tim.
I watched them from the window as they continued their conversation outside between their cars, Tim motioning to the cabin as he spoke. Finally, Morcillo nodded and said something that appeased Tim.
I stared down at the card in my hand as the cold fingers of dread crept up my spine, telling me that something was very wrong and that it somehow involved me.
5
I stayed in the cabin the rest of the day in a state of disarray. But no matter what I did—hand washing the dishes, reorganizing the contents of my luggage, moving furniture around—I couldn’t untangle the jumbled thoughts in my head of wildflowers, wild animals, and even wilder men.
By the time the sun went down in a blaze of oranges and pinks, I finally gave up hope that anything would make sense. This trip to the mountains was proving more stressful than relaxing, but it had been successful in making me forget about Ethan. There was that at least.
At around six thirty I got up from the couch and peered into the fridge, wondering what to make with the groceries I’d bought yesterday. After deciding on a sandwich, I grabbed the bread and package of honey ham and kicked shut the fridge door.
I froze when a hand clamped over my mouth, effectively smothering my scream. Food tumbled down to my feet.
“Beauty,” said a raspy voice by my ear.
The air escaped my lungs, my body sagging in relief. I tried to open my mouth but his hand prevented me from saying his name. His other hand snaked around my waist, slipping under my sweater, seeking out bare skin. He bent his head to my neck and nuzzled my sensitive skin with his nose, taking in deep breaths as his calloused hand massaged my breast.
“Your smell,” he whispered, then traced a wet line along my shoulder with his tongue. “Your taste.”
I backed into him, molding my back to his front. A hiss escaped from between his lips when I ground my backside into his rock hard erection. He jerked his hips forward, moving around until his length was nestled in the crevice of my ass.
His hand moved away from my mouth and slid down to my neck, caressing my shoulders with his rough palms. “I want you so bad,” he said on a groan as he rocked his hips. “Why?”
His question took me by surprise. I craned my head around and found a mystified expression on his face. “Why what?”
His dark eyebrows drew together. “Why do I want you? You are just one woman.”
I stiffened. The fog of desire dissipated in my head and I was finally able to see clearly. “And you are just a typical man,” I said, stepping away from him and turning around. “You’re just horny and deprived. Nothing more. The only reason you want me is because I have a vagina.”
His eyes widened at my brazen use of the word, but it lasted only a second and then the dark, hungry expression returned. He shook his head, locks of wavy hair falling over his eyes. “There’s more.”
I gulped when he took a step forward, forcing me back into the door of the fridge.
He took hold of my hand and lifted it up to his bare chest, his eyes burning into mine. “There’s something in here that… that hurts when I’m away from you.”
The breath stuck in my throat. How was it that a man with such a simple vocabulary could say the most exquisite things?
I tangled my fingers through the short hair on his chest, feeling the strong, steady heartbeat against my palm.
“Is that normal?” he asked, eyes flying across my face.
I shook my head, still unable to say a word. It was impossible to form coherent sentences when this man was opening himself up to me, admitting something most people would take months, sometimes years, to confess.
He set his hands on my waist, thumbs rubbing circles on my stomach. “I came before but you weren’t here. I thought you left.” Deep lines formed