“What’s wrong?”
We stop at the head of the trail, just as the forest spills out into the meadow.
I don’t know this girl. Not really. And I’m trying my damnedest to ignore the growing possessiveness I feel toward her. Because this goes beyond chivalry and being kind to a darker, more raw place.
Goldilocks and all her secrets, none of which feel threatening to me. Every angle I get on her makes me furious that nobody else has protected her, nobody else has cared for her.
In twenty-four hours, I’ve gone from not giving a damn about her—because the less she wants to tell me, the less I have to worry that she wants something from me—to now the total reverse.
God damn it, I want her to want something from me. Want too much, want it all.
“I—”
A rolling rumble of thunder interrupts me, and fat plops of rain follow immediately, ending our hike and that conversation before they really could begin.
She gives me a delighted look, not perturbed at all, and spins on her heel, taking off back down the trail.
Again, I give chase. Again, her glorious giggles and breathless taunts feed the primal beast inside me. I catch her on the rise of land, just before the cabin comes into view. My arms scoop around her waist, and as soon as her back hits my front, I feel better.Mine. All mine.
Rain is pelting us both now, plastering her hair to her face and my shirt to my body.
I spin her around.
“I want more than just this,” I growl at her. “I don’t need more today, but at some point this week, youwilltell me who you are, because I’m not going to be done with you. Not by a long shot.”
Her chest heaves between us, her eyes wide and her lips parted in surprise.
Then she launches herself at me. “My name’s Abigail,” she whispers, then she presses her lips against mine.
Her mouth is wet, warm, and perfect. Our first kiss starts out sweet, the soft press of her lips and then a curious tongue, but then I haul her up my body. Her legs go around my waist and my cock unerringly finds where it wants to be buried. Through our clothes, I work her little pussy against my erection.
She gasps against my mouth, her tongue frantically trying to fuck my mouth to match how I’m grinding against her.
I pivot, looking for a tree to press her against, and my foot slips on the trail, which is quickly turning to mud. I try to catch myself before we both topple, but it’s no use, and the only thing I can do is twist so I land on the ground and she sprawls on top of me.
“Oh shit,” she gasps, scrambling to her feet. Her legs are covered in mud, and my back is caked in it. “I’m so sorry.”
“You didn’t do that.” I laugh, and it messes me up as I try to catch my breath, but in a good way. A wild, reckless, wonderful way. “That was me, thinking I could dry hump you on a rain-slicked slope in a downpour.”
She giggles, then catches my hand. We run for the house together, laughing. She opens the door first and stands just inside, dripping. I peel out of my mud-soaked clothes on the deck, hanging them on the railing before I follow her inside in just my boxer briefs. I grab two towels and return to her.
Her eyes are wide as saucers as I peel off her shirt and wrap the first towel around her. Then I use the second one to absorb as much water as I can from my hair, but the towel comes away dirty.
“I need a shower,” I admit.
She bites her lip, her desire clear. We’ll work on rewarding her for voicing what she really wants later. Right now, I’ll jump to the point. “You want to join me?”
Nervously, she nods.
Kneeling, I carefully untie her hiking boots and peel off her socks.
Her thighs shake as I check her feet—which look good—and I glide my hands up her calves. “Hey,” I say softly as I glance up at her. “Abigail.”
She shudders as I use her name for the first time.
“It’s okay, we won’t do anything that you—”
She fumbles with the button on her shorts, then they drop to a puddle on the floor.