Authors: Summer Cooper
T
he fire was crackling merrily
, there was fresh coffee brewing, and she could smell toast. Casey snuggled in under the blankets and smiled. She’d dozed off…where? In the kitchen, she remembered, but that didn’t make any sense, and she certainly wasn’t there now.
She sat bolt upright, spilling blankets off herself.
“Good morning,” Nathaniel said from the kitchen. “It’s a good thing you’re up.”
“Oh?” Casey rubbed at her eyes. “Why?”
“I don’t know how you like your eggs.”
“Scrambled, please. Is the power back on?”
“Not yet. The stove’s gas. I thought we should use up the eggs before they went bad.”
“Right.” Casey stretched, yawning. “Did you go out to get more firewood?”
“Yeah. You really did in that bottom step.” His grin was infectious. “You meant to aim there, right?”
Casey stopped mid-stretch. Last night was flooding back to her now, from the bear, to Nathaniel’s disappearance. Something niggled at her mind and she frowned. They had talked about…bears, wolves. But she was sure she hadn’t told Nathaniel that the bear came into the house.
“How do you know I shot the step?” She asked slowly.
At the stove, Nathaniel froze. Then he said, not looking up, “Well, you have a shotgun there and a step that looks like kindling. Didn’t you say there were bears around?”
“And wolves,” Casey said. She was looking for the same reaction he’d had on the lawn the night before, and she got it; he went still, then had to force himself to keep moving. “Don’t like wolves?”
“Does anyone like wolves?” He asked her. “They’re dangerous, vicious.”
“My dad says not to worry too much,” Casey offered. “I used to get really scared, but he told me wolves don’t seek people out unless they’re starving, or rabid. Our wolves around here are fine, as far as I know.”
“You looked scared last night.”
“Look,” Casey said, stung. She was not a coward. “Last night was terrible. The power went out; I was alone, and that bear came
into
the house. And not through the glass; he opened the door.”
Nathaniel looked up. He had stopped stirring the eggs entirely, and his eyes were fixed on hers.
“Can I…” Casey looked away.
“Can you…?” His voice was soft as he prompted her.
“I wanted to tell you something. Tell anyone. But it’s stupid.”
“I won’t think it’s stupid,” he promised at once, and to her surprise, he seemed to mean it.
“My sister got chased by a bear once,” Casey explained. “She said bears’ eyes were black, and really cold—like people say about sharks? She said there was no pity or anything. It was going to kill her. Not because it was cruel or anything, but just…that’s what it was. It killed to eat. But when the bear came in last night, it wasn’t like that at all.”
“It wasn’t?” Nathaniel turned off the stove and came to sit on the arm of the couch. His brown eyes were intent.
“No. It looked…” Casey searched for the word. “Pleading. It wanted help. It was injured.” She shook her head. “I know that’s stupid. Bears don’t ask for help; it didn’t know what it was doing. Maybe it smelled food and it was just scared because of the pain. But its eyes seemed
warm
. It seemed like it really saw me. Shock, I guess.” Last night, in the heat of the moment, she thought she would tell Jenna all about this. Now she was thinking better of it. In the cold, hard light of day, she could see it was nothing more than craziness to think that she had…what, communed with a bear? The words sounded ridiculous coming out of her mouth.
But Nathaniel didn’t seem to think so.
“That’s why you shot the step,” he said slowly. “You didn’t want to hurt it.”
Casey flushed and looked away. She wanted to sink through the floor at the thought of the confrontation. Sure, advancing had been a smart move. But who tried to reason with a bear?
I don’t want to hurt you.
“It was already hurt pretty badly.” For some reason, she felt almost guilty. It was those human eyes, wasn’t it? If a human came in hurt, she would never have sent them back into the woods; Nathaniel was proof of that. But the bear, she had driven away. Which made sense, she told herself. She didn’t know how to fix a bear’s wounds, and it would have killed her before it let her try. Still, the guilt would not leave. “I wonder if it survived.”
“It did,” he said confidently. “Bears are tough.”
“I hope so.” Casey’s stomach rumbled. “Man, I could eat a horse.”
“The eggs!” He leapt off the end of the couch and stumbled, wincing.
“I’ll get them!” Casey scrambled over and sat him down. “And then we should look at your leg. I forgot.”
“It’ll be okay.”
“Well, we should change the bandages, anyway.” She surveyed the eggs in the pan and held back a grimace. They were ruined, but she could hardly complain about food he’d cooked. She scraped the best of them onto his plate and took the rest, carrying plates and forks back to the couch.
“These are awful,” he said, after one bite.
“No.” Casey chewed. And chewed. And chewed some more. “I think they’re good.”
“I’m making more.” He snatched the plate out of her hands and limped off.
“Did you carry me to the couch?” Casey asked him, and he smiled up at her briefly from where he was scrubbing the pan.
“You fell asleep on the counter.”
Now that she thought about it, she could remember strong arms lifting her and holding her close. She had snuggled closer, and he had laughed a little bit—not a mean laugh, a pleased one. She remembered him tucking her in…
She blushed, and looked away.
“Thanks.” She rubbed her face and looked around. The bloody towels were still piled by the hearth. “So how did you get hurt?”
“It’s not important.”
“Well, is someone looking for you?”
That took more thought than she expected, to get an answer. “No,” he said finally.
“I mean, did anyone know you were out here? Someone’s going to worry—friends, family? Coworkers?”
“Nope.”
“Really, I have gas in the car, I could take you—”
“
No.
” He didn’t yell, but his tone stopped her dead. “They know I can take care of myself in the forest.”
“But if you hadn’t found the cabin…” Casey said.
“I might have died, yes.” He looked up, and his eyes were so calm that she shivered.
“That’s why they’d be worried,” she explained slowly. “They’d be worried you were hurt, or dead.”
“Some things are unavoidable,” he said oddly. He held up a hand to forestall further conversation. “I really don’t want to talk about it. Now; two eggs or three?”
“Two is fine.” Casey frowned and looked away. Her head wasn’t hurting, but everything about Eric was flooding back. Was it too early to start drinking again?
Nathaniel let her think while he cooked. What he was thinking, she could not have said. She stole glances at him sometimes, but he seemed entirely absorbed in the task of whisking the eggs. If it bothered him at all that he could have died, there was no sign of that now.
Casey sighed and tipped her head back on the couch. Where was Eric now?
Bad idea
, her mind told her, but the thought was like pressing on a bruise. It was Saturday morning; he was probably sleeping in beside…what was her name? Anna. He’d thrown it at her a few times, like he was trying to convince himself that he knew she had a name.
Anna and I understand each other.
What the hell did that even mean?
“If I give you these eggs, are you going to yell at me?” Nathaniel asked. “You look really angry.”
“Just my stupid ex.” Casey took the plate of eggs. “Sorry. And
don’t
be all sympathetic,” she warned, pointing her fork at him. “I came up here so I wouldn’t have to listen to all that crap.”
“Which crap?” He asked, mouth full of eggs.
“’Oh, he was never good enough for you,’” Casey mimicked. “’I never liked him, you can do so much better.’ See? Crap. I can’t take that yet. Maybe in a week. Of course, I’ll probably be fired by then.”
“So you’re not going to try to get him back?”
“Hell, no.” Her answer surprised her.
He grinned.
“I don’t mean—I don’t know what I mean. I feel like shit that he ran off with some nineteen-year-old, you know? But I don’t want any part of someone who does that. Not at all.”
“Good,” Nathaniel said decisively. “Don’t waste your time with people like that.”
“Sounds like you’ve been through the same sort of thing.”
“Everyone has, I think.” But he sounded aggrieved. “It’s a terrible thing to do, people know that. And it doesn’t work out. But they do it anyway. There’s no loyalty.”
“We weren’t married,” Casey said miserably.
“Doesn’t matter,” he said at once. “You’re with someone; you should be loyal to them. Respect them. If he didn’t want to be with you, he could have said that and broken things off. Instead he tried to pretend it was true love, right? He couldn’t help himself. It was meant to be.” He shook his head. “Coward.”
“Coward,” Casey said thoughtfully. “I did a lot of
bastard
and
slob
last night. I like coward. Maybe I’ll add that one in.”
“Don’t even think about him,” Nathaniel advised her. “Why spend any more time?”
“I…”
…Have no good answer to that.
“Casey.” He took the plates and set them aside. “You’re funny and smart and kind, and brave as hell.”
“You’re just saying that because I saved your life.”
“Right. You
saved my life.
You didn’t hide in here with your gun. You didn’t shoot that bear because you were scared. You’re going to tell me that I barely know you, but I think I know more about you from these few hours than most of the people you know. You’re all those things I said, and you know what? You’re drop-dead gorgeous. Your ex made the biggest mistake of his life.”
“You’re sweet.” Casey was blushing. This was the sort of pity she hadn’t wanted, but it didn’t sound like pity, coming from him.
“I’m not…sweet,” he admitted. It came out a little like a growl, making her shiver.
“Then what are you?”
Instead of answering, he stood, pulling her up after him and enfolding her in his arms. Before she could even react, his lips came down on hers.
H
e meant
it to be one kiss—she knew, because he drew back after it with a rueful smile. But his arms did not release her, and Casey didn’t even hesitate before taking his shirt in her hands and drawing him back down for more. His lips were soft but demanding, his tongue parting her lips as he held her close.
The kiss deepened, and Casey heard herself moan. Somehow her arms had come around his neck and she was standing on tip-toe to kiss him. Her body was pressed up against his, and his hands had slid up under the loose flannel shirt. His fingertips trailed over her back and back down, drifting under the waistband of her shorts.
“Mmmm.” Casey pressed herself close, inviting his touch. Her skin was on fire, and she wanted nothing more than for him to push her shorts down…
What was she
doing
? Twenty-four hours ago she’d been crying her eyes out, trying to eat a bagel sandwich on the subway, and then heading out of town with a rented car and three bottles of wine. She’d been a wreck. Was this a rebound?
Well, that
would
fit with the theme of the weekend—but to tell the truth, she didn’t feel like it was. She would have wanted Nathaniel any time he strolled in the door. She was sure he would have been the first person she noticed in any room—and as ridiculous as it was, when he said he knew her after only a few hours, she knew exactly what he meant.
From the words he said to the way he said them, from cooking her eggs to offering to clean the kitchen floor, this man was gold. And Casey should know—she’d seen her share of men trying to be the perfect guy for a night to get into her pants. Something about him said this wasn’t a game to him. He offered to clean the floor because he had bled on it. He stoked the fire because it needed doing, he carried her to bed because she was asleep on the counter, and he cooked her breakfast because it would be nice.
And good God, he was hot. How was he not married?
She supposed he might be. The thought hit just at the moment that he pulled away again.
“I shouldn’t have done that.”
“Why?” She asked warily.
“You’re still sad; we only met last night…”
“No girlfriend, then?” When she saw how offended he looked, she backtracked hastily. “Sorry, sorry. I’ve…met my fair share of jerks. But I should have known you wouldn’t.”
“No, you shouldn’t—” He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair; muscles rippled beneath the tank top. “You don’t really
know
me. As far as you know, I’m just some guy who wanders around forests.”
“And as far as you know, I’m some girl who sleeps on counters with shotguns and drinks too much,” Casey pointed out. His laugh was warm, and she smiled. “Is it crazy to say I think we both know the other person is more than that? It can’t just be me, right? You…kissed me.”
Do you feel a connection, too?
She closed her mouth on the question. It would be one of the most clichéd things ever. She looked down, crossing her arms. “Do you regret it?”
“Hey.” His voice was rough, and she was in his arms the next moment, one hand pressing in the small of her back, the other cupping her cheek. “No. I don’t regret it. I thought you might, though.”
“Not for a second.” Casey pulled him close again, her lips meeting his. She made small sounds of contentment, and heard him growl in response.
“Here.” He picked her up and settled back on the couch with her straddling him. He groaned when she ground her hips against his. “Woman, you do not know what you’re asking for.”
“The hell I don’t,” she murmured against his mouth. Right now she wanted her clothes off, and his, and him sliding inside her. She could feel him hard against her, if anything,
more
impressive than she’d thought the night before. She wanted his hands on her skin; she wanted to see him above her while she wrapped her legs around his waist.
“Oh, you think so?” He laughed, low in his throat, and his fingers slipped between her legs to rub over the fabric covering her. When she gasped and arched, he smiled, one arm holding her in place for him to stroke again, and again…
“More.” The word came out of her before she could stop it.
“What’s that?” She could hear the smile.
“More,
please.
”
“Better.” His breath stirred her hair. His fingers brushed against her again, and he held her when her hips writhed. “Still not good enough. Try again.”
“More, please…sir?”
From his low chuckle, she knew that was what he wanted. He pushed her off him, down onto the couch, and settled between her legs. When she gave a little moan of satisfaction, he moved his hips against hers. His lips were at her throat, her collarbone…
“Please…” She didn’t even know what she was asking for.
“I like it when you beg.”
God, she was wet. She squirmed, trying to get her hands down to her shorts to take them off, and she gave a little sound of frustration when he pinned her hands above her head.
“You said…”
“I said to ask nicely.” His kiss was deep, making every semblance of a thought disappear from her mind. “And I’m going to give you everything you ask for…” He laughed. “…very, very slowly.”
She was going to come right here if he didn’t stop moving his hips. She wrapped her legs around his waist and pressed against him, trying to spark the same urgency that was consuming her. She could not stop moving, feeling the pressure of him against her. God, she wanted him inside her. Right now, she wanted him to take her as hard as he could—and she knew when he did get inside her, he was going to move just as slowly.
Was he trying to drive her mad?
“What do you want?” She looked up at him, biting her lip. “Let me give you what you want.”
“I want you wet, and close to the edge, and begging me.” His voice was rough with desire. “And you’re very, very good at giving me what I want.”
That thought should not make her nearly tip over the edge, but God help her, she had
never
wanted someone like she wanted him. Everywhere he touched; her skin came alive with sensation.
“I want you inside me,” she whispered, and she felt him shudder at the words. Good. Two could play at this game. “Please?”
“What do you call me?”
“Sir.”
“Good girl.” He held her close for a kiss, and she melted against him, moaning.
The howl of wolves interrupted them. Close, and answered almost immediately by another howl. Casey shook her head, jolted out of the mood by the voice in her head that screamed
danger
. Wolves weren’t going to hurt them.
But Nathaniel was up now, his eyes scanning the back yard.
“It’s nothing,” Casey assured him, pushing herself up on her elbows.
“It’s not nothing.” He shook his head at once. “Get upstairs. Now.”
“What?”
“I don’t have time to repeat things. You need to get upstairs.”
“But they’re…” Casey caught a glimpse of movement at the edge of the trees. One wolf, then two.
“Get upstairs!” He snatched the shotgun and the rounds off the counter and shoved them into her hands. “Go!”
“What are you going to do?”
“Don’t—” He took a deep breath. “Don’t worry about me.”
“Nathaniel…”
To her surprise, his face softened. He pulled her close, gently, for a kiss. Then he drew away, his face going cold again.
“Go. Don’t let them up those stairs.”
Panic flared in her blood, and she took the stairs two at a time. She curled onto the floor, shaking so badly she could hardly check the rounds. Her mind was full of images; wolves stalking through the house, creeping up the stairs. In her nightmare, their eyes were red and they were growling. They weren’t looking for prey; they were hunting
her
, coming right for her like a serial killer in the house.
I know you’re there
, the growls said. It would be like the bear, intelligence where there should be none. What was going
on
up here?
She had to stop thinking about this. If she didn’t, she would start screaming. Why in hell had she decided to come up to the cabin this weekend?
A sound from the yard nearly made her drop the shotgun. She swore under her breath and crawled, pushing open the master bedroom door and keeping low until she got to the window.
What she saw made her want to throw up. There were twelve wolves—no, twenty. Twenty-three. Twenty-five. They were emerging from the forest in twos and threes, a broad arc surrounding the house. Their growls, together, were enough to make Casey whimper in fear. This couldn’t be real. This wasn’t happening.
The sound of the sliding door opening below nearly made her jump out of her skin. She wanted to scream when she saw Nathaniel limp out onto the porch. He looked around himself at the wolves, and they stopped, the growls growing in strength. One or two crept closer, and backed away with snarls as he looked over at them. Then, as one, they began to close in again. And Nathaniel…
…changed. Casey pressed her hand over her mouth as he grew before her eyes, clothes replaced with fur, face replaced with a snout. Up and up he grew, shaggy and powerful. The bear roared, swiped with its claws at the pack of wolves…and then took off for the forest at a heavy run, bowling several wolves aside with powerful swipes of its paws and disappearing into the trees. With a chilling howl, the wolves took off after him.
Upstairs, Casey slid down the wall, shaking. Her hands were clenched around the gun so tightly that she thought she might never let it go. What the hell was she supposed to do now?