Chapter Three

Jean

In every slasher film, there is a moment where the dumb blond makes a choice that will determine her chances of survival. She can either follow the naked, suspicious man who seconds ago ejaculated all over her favorite pair of jeans… or she could take a chance with the bears.

If this were happening on the screen, me and a hundred other people in the theatre would be yelling for the girl to kick the beast in the shins and run into the forest. Maybe she won't even encounter a bear and will instead run into a bunch of hikers and get rescued.

But in place of the dumb character, I stand frozen to the ground, more confused by my body's reaction to the man than anything else. There is something sticky between my legs and it's not all from the naked giant.

Stay, I'll keep you safe.

His words echo between us, and I want to do the smart thing which is run away and escape the man staring at me with a heated gaze as if he wants to consume every part of me. I find a dark piece of my myself yearning for more, wondering if going with him will lead to finding out what his erection could feel like without my jeans to dim the pleasure.

Snap out of it, Jean.

Jesus Christ, I haven't even had my first kiss and here I am lusting over a naked beast in the mountains I just met. One who looks like he chops wood with his bare hands. I wonder what else he could do with those hands.

I can't stay. I need to find my way back to my car or back to town. Back to civilization and as far away from this forest as I can. My friends are waiting for me, and soon they would start to worry.

"Will you help me get back to town?" I ask just so we're on the same page.

The man stares at me for a long time before nodding and I almost let out a relieved sigh when his next words stop me. "Tomorrow," he says gruffly. "It's getting late, and the wild animals will show up to the river in no time."

He's lying.

I don't know how I know this, but he's lying to me. The problem is I don't know what he is lying about. The animals showing up to the river or even scarier, about him helping me out of the mountain.

Run away, Jean.

Kick the man in the shins, grab your precious bear spray, and take a chance with the forest, and yet… I don't move a muscle.

There is also something in this man's heated eyes that tells me he would catch up with me if I tried to get away and that should scare me, it should send a shiver wracking down my body and it does… but all for the wrong reasons.

The memory of his rough, calloused hand caressing my tits, rough fingers pinching at my nipples, and that massive hand… Heck, the way he squeezed my ass earlier, so hard and perfect. Just the thought alone sends my pussy clenching with need and it's for that stupid reason that I find myself nodding.

Christ, I need to get a grip.

"Get dressed," I whisper, nodding again but avoiding meeting his gaze in case he can read the truth in my eyes. The truth that even I am afraid to admit to myself. "I'll… I won't run away."

I can feel his eyes studying me, but I don't dare look at him and when he speaks next, his deep voice sends my body wracking with a shiver. I've never heard anyone's voice go that deep or rumbly and it's doing things to me.

"Stay here."

He lets go of my hand and this time I look up to watch him walk to the bank of the river where a pair of blue jeans are lying. My jaw drops at the sight of that massive back with muscles that shift with every step. He's built like a Greek god, strong muscles that preach of hard manual labor. The Adonis body most people spend a lifetime working in the gym trying to achieve and he got it from living in the mountains, but that can't be true, right?

No way this man has lived on the mountain as long as Rainbow Suspender Steve implied.

I'm still lost in my thoughts when Shaw walks back to me, this time dressed, and I realize I've lost the opportunity to run away. I could have left with his back turned to me, but I was too busy gawking at him to make the move.

"This way," he says when he joins me, grabbing my hand before I can respond and I have little choice but to follow him. We head in the opposite direction I came from, venturing deeper into the forest. I barely have time to look around and make sense of where we are or where we're going as I try to keep up with the beast of a man.

We walk for what feels like an eternity before I realize I can't take it anymore. I'm not an active person, and today I've just hit the quota of what my body can take. The only workout I ever get is when the elevator breaks down and I have to take the stairs to my apartment on the fourth floor or when I need to run not to miss my train.

"Stop, wait," I gasp, my knees threatening to give in. My breathing comes out in labored pants as I try to catch my breath. "So… tired."

The words are barely out before Shaw lets go of my hand and I am being lifted into arms. I squeal, reflexively grabbing onto his shoulders as he slides his massive hands under my legs, and soon, my body is pressed against his hairy, muscular chest.

"Better?" he rasps, his lips so close to mine I practically feel his hot breath caress my skin and I stare blankly at the man as he carries me away like I weigh nothing and built the way he is, I probably do. Being this close to his face, I take in all the tiny details, specifically the scars that reach from the side of his jawline to his temple. The skin there is a few shades lighter than his normal tanned skin, and I admire the way it adds an edge to his handsome and rugged face.

There are barely any more words traded between us as he carries me deeper into the forest and I start to think he's lost too when I finally see a charming little stone and wood cabin seated in a clearing. I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't something so modern from a man who has allegedly spent years in the forest with no human contact.

I'm still gawking at the place when Shaw carries me up the small porch and sets me down. I immediately miss the feel of his powerful arms around me. I watch him turn the knob to the front door and let us in.

"You left it open?" I gasp, realizing too late that I have voiced out my thoughts.

"No one of sane mind would think to venture into this part of the mountain," he says, and I try to be offended but other dominant emotions push away the feeling. I am mostly shocked that someone can live this way without the noise from the city and miles away from a Starbucks. How the hell does he survive without a morning dose of a Grande caramel macchiato?

Christ, even the thought alone sends my mouth watering. I could sure use coffee right now, but I guess I'll have to wait until I'm out of this mountain.

That is… If this crazy mountain man ever lets me go.

The thought should leave me feeling unsettled and yet, it doesn't. At least not to the magnitude it deserves.

He ushers me into his cabin. Everything is surprisingly...normal. Cozy even. The walls are just plain wood, regular furniture, and nothing that screams "weird mountain man." The windows in the living room allow for sunlight to filter in, casting a warm glow on the simple yet inviting space. It's a peaceful sanctuary amidst the wilderness, a stark contrast to what I was expecting.

"Are you hungry?" Shaw asks when I follow him into his home, taking in everything.

"Uh?

"Hungry?" he says gruffly. "I have... fruit."

"Fruit," I parrot as if it's a foreign word, blinking up at the man. The only thing I've had all day was coffee and donuts at the airport this morning.

"Yes, fruit. Apples and wild berries."

"Like… from trees?"

Shaw doesn't come outright and laugh in my face, but I see humor dancing in those gray eyes. "Yes, Angel. From trees."

Angel... Hearing him call me that does things to me. Earlier when he called me "mine," that word alone was enough to send a tremble down my body and my heart drumming with excitement.

In my twenty-three years, no one has ever called me that before. No one has ever held me the way this wild beast does, with such possessiveness and roughness that sends my pussy pooling with liquid heat.

"It's Jean," I tell him, fighting the blush that climbs up my throat.

"Okay, Jean. Let's go get you some fruit, shall we?"

I blink up at him. "Get them, from where?" I look around his cabin expecting to see a fruit bowl somewhere but there is no such thing. Surely, he's not talking about picking fruit...from a tree? I just got here and he's already putting me to work. Okay, maybe that's an exaggeration but after the day I've had, I just want to curl into a ball on a soft surface and fall into blissful oblivion.

"Angel." My eyes shoot to his and I swallow deeply when I find him staring curiously at me. "The trees are just behind the cabin, so you don't have to worry about walking too far," he assures me.

"Okay, but I..." My cheeks flush as I nod towards my cum stained jeans. "Do you have something I can change into?"

His nostrils flare when his eyes drop to the stained part of my jeans. Something dark and possessive consumes his expression and for a second, I think he's going to jump me, but he doesn't. He simply nods and asks me to follow him.

Shaw guides me to his bedroom which like everything else, surprises me. The furniture is minimal with a large bed, a closet, and a nightstand with a lamp on top of it.

I watch him as he walks to the closet and opens it, digging around for something until he comes out with a flannel shirt and hands it to me. I wait for him to get me some kind of pants but he just stands there, watching me.

Okay, I guess this is all I'll be getting from the man.

"Do you mind, I'd like some privacy to change," I tell him, hugging the shirt to my chest.

"Why?" Shaw's brow creases as he stares at me. "You don't have to hide from me, Angel. I've touched your body. I know how you feel and look underneath those clothes."

My mouth opens and closes again when I realize I have nothing to counter his words. I could come up with something if I thought about it hard enough, but my brain is fried at this point so I turn away and quickly change out of my clothes and into the shirt which flows down to my knees. I quickly realizing why he didn't give me pants. The flannel shirt is long enough to pass for a dress.

Okay, now I'm ready for apple picking. Even that sounds strange in my head.

"Okay, I'm ready," I say, turning around to face Shaw and I gasp when I realize just how close he is to me. He must've moved while I was turned away and the fact that I didn't hear him has chills rocking my body. He's so close I can practically see the gray rings in his eyes.

"Angel," he breathes, bringing his hand to my face and caressing my cheek with the back of his palm. "You have no idea how goddamned gorgeous you are or the things this perfect little body does to me."

"Shaw," I slap his chest lightly to hold him back when he leans down to kiss me but... I can't. My body is drawn taut with need unlike anything I have ever felt before and the spot between my thighs is damp and pulsing with need, but I can't give this part of myself to a man I barely know.

I haven't kissed a guy before and, stupid as it sounds, I've been waiting for the one. There were times back home when I thought I'd found someone, but it never seemed like the right time. Maybe it was because I was too focused on my career or maybe because deep down, I knew none of them were 'the one.' I've always wanted that fairytale ending I see in Hallmark movies, where love sweeps you off your feet and everything falls into place.

But San Francisco is too much-- the constant feeling that I was falling short of everyone else's version of success. I needed a break, which is why I had accepted the invitation to go camping with some old friends.

And now here I am, standing in front of this mountain man who makes my heart rush and my thighs slick with want. I'm only here for a short time and I need to keep my wits with me and not allow myself to fall into lust with this hunk of a man with a body so hot and pussyy, I'm practicing shaking with the need to touch him.

But I can't... and I won't give into his charm.