Chapter 5

Once inside the cabin, Max left her, saying he needed to head back down to the fire pit to ensure the fire was completely out. As she watched him stride away, Alexa couldn't help but stare. He was one of those guys with brawny shoulders, a back she knew was muscular from seeing him without a shirt, and one of the best butts she'd ever seen in her life. There was a power, control, and elegance to Max that she wondered if he even knew he possessed.

At first, when she would stand in the shower, she would turn it to cold to try and rattle her body into tamping down the arousal she always felt when they walked into the cabin together. She so wanted him to take her by the hand and lead her to his room instead of hers. She'd begun to think that would never happen, but now she believed it might. It felt as if they were inevitable. She only needed to bide her time and wait for him.

Moving under the rainfall shower head, she leaned her head back and let the hot water cascade down around her, hitting her shoulders, breasts, and the rest of her body, warming it in a way that she knew would relax her and allow her to sleep. Her skin tingled and her nipples tightened into beaded points.

Alexa brought her hands up to cup her breasts, closing her eyes and imagining they were his. Max's hands were a thing of beauty—they were big and strong with long sensitive fingers. They were callused from the life he chose to live and yet sensitive, artistic. Every time he took her hand in his, it felt so right. The way he was able to help her up and over something or steady her on the rocky terrain felt as if they'd always been together—maybe not in this lifetime, but in another.

She flicked her nipples before pinching and tugging at them. It was easy to fantasize that he would massage one breast while holding the other so he could take it in his mouth, suckling it gently at first and then with more vigor before switching breasts.

Leaning back against the tile wall of the shower, she pretended Max was pressing her up against it, his tall powerful body looming over hers as he nudged his knee between her thighs, forcing them apart before running his hand down her flank. He would slip his hand between their bodies, circling her clit with his fingers before treating it to the same ministration he'd given her nipples.

Alexa's hips began to undulate as she imagined Max's hand reaching for her pussy, playing with it, getting her so aroused that it would take nothing for him to make her come. His hand would move back to her clit. She sighed and gave herself over to the fantasy, arching into her hand, pretending it was his.

In her fantasy, he began rubbing her clit with his thumb as he reached up into her pussy with his fingers, stroking her faster and harder. His hand could come back to one breast while he leaned down to suck her nipple back into his mouth. She increased the pressure and speed of his imaginary hands. When she felt herself nearing the edge, she pinched her nipple and pressed down hard on her clit. The orgasm surged through her system, making her tremble from its power.

Alexa caught her breath and then quickly washed her body with the handmade soap and large sea sponge. Once she was clean, she stepped out of the shower and dried her body with a large soft towel. She thought about pulling on her sleep shirt, but tonight she wanted to feel the soft microfiber sheets against her skin. Her climax had left her skin overly sensitized, and she wanted to luxuriate in the ultra-soft, warm bedding.

She closed her eyes and was asleep in the space of a heartbeat, already hearing the lone cry of the wolf both in her dreams and from the wilderness. It was different than when they heard the songs of the wolves that lived in a pack. At first the one wolf had sounded bereft as if he would never know any happiness, but that had begun to change. Just as she drifted off, she could hear the sound of another wolf, harmonizing with the first.

The following morning, Alexa woke early, the first light of dawn filtering through the cabin"s windows. She stretched and got dressed, eager to spend another day with Max. Another day getting to know the man, the artist, the enigma and the wilderness that seemed to be so much a part of him. As usual, he was in the kitchen, cooking something that smelled amazing.

"I know you like to keep it low on the carbs, but today we're going to pack a lunch. There's a place I've been wanting to show you."

She sat down at the counter. "So, what are you tempting me with today? Whatever it is, it smells delicious."

"It's a multi-grain waffle to which I've added some nuts and finely chopped bacon. You'll also find little drops of syrup baked into it. I like to drizzle melted butter on mine. When you bite down, the maple bubbles will burst in your mouth and mix with the pecans and bacon."

"Do you always cook for yourself like this?"

"No. It's not as much fun to do for myself. Normally, I make enough crockpot oatmeal with dried fruit for the week. I store it in serving size containers. That way, I can just zap it in the microwave, add a bit of butter and vanilla Greek yogurt, and I'm off and running."

"That sounds good, too."

He handed her a waffle. Following his instructions, she drizzled butter over it and then put a forkful in her mouth. The man was as good as his word. There were little dollops of maple syrup cooked right in and when you bit down, they delivered up the most amazing flavor.

"How do you get them to do that?" she asked.

"I have a little mold. I freeze them overnight. The waffle iron unfreezes them, but not to the point where they become liquid until the heat of your mouth and your teeth break them open."

"You ought to patent that trick. I'm usually not a waffle person, but these are so light and crispy and flavorful. I could easily see myself craving them. I'd have to do a lot more hiking to work them off."

"I don't know. I can think of several other ways to work off some extra calories."

Was he flirting with me?

"You may have to tell me more about that," she returned.

"Careful what you wish for, Alexa. I can be a real possessive, territorial sonofabitch."

He seemed to be waiting for her response.

"As long as you aren't jealous, I think I might like that, especially if it comes with these waffles."

Max stepped back and looked at her for the longest time. "Finish up your breakfast and put on your hiking boots. I'm going to pack the food and prepare the backpack. We can head out when you're ready."

Alexa finished her food and then went back to her room to put on her socks and hiking boots. When she returned, Max had moved out onto the front porch. As she stepped outside, she found Max preparing their gear for a hike.

"Only one pack?" she asked, her breath visible in the crisp morning air.

Max replied with a smile. "The trail is pretty rough and we're going to have to scrabble up part of it. Let me handle the pack. I want you to focus on keeping your feet under you and enjoying the view—it's pretty spectacular. Don't forget your camera."

She ran back into the cabin to grab it, grateful that he'd noticed. When she returned to the front porch, he was bending over, ensuring the pack was secured. She wondered if he knew that in her opinion the best view she'd had when they were hiking was watching his glutes flex under his jeans as they made their way up a steep hill.

Given what he'd shown her thus far, Alexa had to admit her curiosity was piqued. "I'm ready when you are, oh fearless leader. Let's get this show on the road."

She helped him get the daypack settled and secure before he took her hand and they set off into the forest, the early morning light casting long shadows through the trees that lined their path. Max led them along a narrow, winding trail that seemed to disappear into the dense underbrush—never missing a step and pointing out where the best footing was. Alexa followed closely, her senses alert to the sounds and smells of the wilderness around them.

After a couple of hours of hiking, they crested a hill, entering a clearing with a breathtaking view of the entire lake and its rugged coastline. Alexa gasped, taking in the sight of the rocky cliffs, the dense, almost medieval forest, and the waves as they lapped along the shoreline below.

"Max, this is incredible," she said, bringing her camera up, focusing and snapping several shots. "Every time you show me something, I think to myself, this has to be the best, and then you show me something even better. Thank you for bringing me here."

Max nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. "I thought you"d like it. It's one of my favorite spots. I wouldn't normally bring someone up here. I kind of think of it as my special place, but I wanted to share it with you. There"s something else I want to show you, though. Come on, follow me."

Alexa took a few more pictures and then followed as he led her down a narrow path that wound its way along the edge of the cliff. Alexa"s heart pounded with excitement and a touch of fear as they navigated the precarious trail. Several times, without her making a sound, he reached back to steady her. Finally, they began to make their way back down to the lake. There was another clearing, this one surrounded by towering rock formations, with a myriad of images carved into their sides.

Knowing there were some places sacred to those who lived in them, she raised her camera. "Is it okay to take some pictures?"

Max nodded. "Try not to take them in such a way that anyone could find their way here."

"I can do that." Alexa"s eyes widened as she took in the sight. This small, hidden section of shoreline was like a concealed paradise, with crystal-clear water and smooth, white sand. "How did you find this place?" she asked, her voice filled with awe.

"I stumbled upon it a few years ago," Max said, his gaze distant. "It"s one of my favorite spots on the island. I come here when I need to think, to clear my mind."

Alexa understood why. There was something almost magical about the place. A sense of peace and tranquility washed over her. She walked to the edge of the water, feeling the gentle rhythm of the cool waves as they lapped at her feet.

As she stood there, soaking in the beauty of the place, something caught her eye. A glint of metal buried in the sand near the rocks. She crouched down and began to dig, uncovering what appeared to be an old, weathered tin box, wrapped in a piece of oiled and tanned skin to protect it from the elements.

"Max, look at this," she called out, her excitement growing. Max joined her, his expression curious. "Should I open it?"

He nodded. "I own this property, so technically it's mine. Go ahead."

She opened the box. Inside, they found a collection of old photographs, letters, and a small, ornate locket. Alexa carefully picked up one of the photographs, her breath catching as she recognized the facial similarity between Max and the face in the picture.

"Max, these people... they look like they could be your family," she said, showing him the photo.

Max"s eyes widened in shock as he took the photograph from her. "This... this is my grandfather and the woman standing next to him is his sister, my great aunt Evelyn," he said, his voice filled with disbelief. He took the box and flipped through the other photographs. "These are all of my family. I don"t understand how they ended up here."

Alexa"s mind raced with possibilities. "Maybe someone in your family buried it here, or it was stolen, and someone hid it."

"I have no idea, but I'd like to cut our hike short. We need…"

"We?" she asked.

He nodded. "We need to look through the rest of the box to see if we can find any more clues."

They made their way down the shoreline to a place where Max had one of his canoes stashed. They loaded the canoe with their gear and the box, and Max paddled back to the cabin. They made their way up from the lake, heading into the cabin where Alexa began to make lunch.

Max sat down on the sofa, emptying the contents of the tin box onto the chest that served as his coffee table. Alexa brought him a sandwich and together, they sifted through the contents of the tin box, piecing together a story that seemed to connect if not Max"s family, then at least his great aunt, to the island in ways he had never imagined.

The discovery was exciting. The journalist inside her wanted to uncover the key to unlocking the enigma that was Max and his past. What had happened? Alexa was determined to help him find the answers he was seeking, no matter where they might lead.