Chapter Seven

Jean

I wake up to the smell of coffee. With my eyes closed, I sit upright and sniff the air to make sure what I'm smelling is indeed coffee, and yep, the sweet scent hits me immediately confirming that I'm not hallucinating. I push off the blankets excitedly and I'm about to follow the sweet smell when I realize I'm naked and the memory of last night hits me like a ton of bricks.

Shaw and I…

We had pussy. The mountain man took my virginity and no, he did not go all caveman style on me and tear everything off like I would have expected from a hardened man like. him. Instead, he was careful with me – gentle.

This complicates everything. I'm supposed to head down the mountain today. Shaw promised to take me back to my car or at least guide me to the main road where I can hitchhike for a ride to town and now…

"You think this man will let you off his mountain?" scoffs a voice at the back of my mind that I fight to shrug off. Even if Shaw doesn't let me leave today, I can't stay up here forever. He'll have to let me go eventually, but maybe I can stay with the giant for an extra day.

Now you can't run away Angel, or I might have to track you down.

The words right out of a horror movie, but they didn't frighten me last night. They made me squirm in anticipation. Oh God, what is wrong with me?

He made me coffee. In the mountains.

We are miles away from civilization and the man made me coffee. Of course, I can stay for an additional day. I head to the bathroom where I find a new toothbrush set on the counter. My heartstrings tug painfully at the thoughtful giant even as I use the toothbrush before grabbing a quick shower. Once I'm done, I dip into his endless supply of flannel shirts and slip into one, loving how his scent clings to his clothes and in turn, to me.

I find Shaw in the kitchen grinding something in a mortar. Despite the many flannel shirts this man owns, he's currently shirtless, but I'm not complaining. My eyes trace from his hairy chest down to the hard v-line that disappears into his low-hanging sweatpants, leaving nothing but the outline of the hard ridge of his manhood. Heat climbs up my throat and I force myself to look up. His long, dark hair is curtaining his eyes as he works and when he looks up and sees me, his hard eyes soften.

"Good morning," he says in a deep, husky voice that sends my insides preening. "Did you sleep well?"

I'm still feeling the effects of that night on my body, but I don't say that. I nod instead and step up to him, peeking into the mortar to see what he's grinding. "What are you doing?"

"Grinding coffee beans," he says, leaning down to brush his lips over mine and I open up for him immediately, tasting the toothpaste on his lips when they meet mine. What I assume was meant to be a simple morning kiss quickly turns into something heated and soon, I have my arms wrapped around his shoulders and our tongues are engaged in an erotic dance.

The spot between my legs is pulsing needily when we finally break apart. Christ, how am I going to live after I leave this mountain man behind?

No, don't think about that now, Jean. Don't ruin the moment.

"Do you have coffee beans stocked up?" I ask, drawing my hands from his shoulders and peeking into the mortar. He lifts the pestle so I can see inside.

"Yes, I grind them myself," he says roughly, and I don't dare look up, even when I can feel his eyes on me. "It's one of the few things my brother brings to me on his visits. I tried planting them, but they were more challenging than the other crops."

My eyes shoot to his. "What do you do if you have a sudden craving?"

"You would be surprised just how many things you can get in the forest," he says with a smug smile, and I watch him place the mortar and pestle down before reaching for a cup of steaming coffee and handing it to me. "Here, try this."

I lean down and take a sip of the dark beverage, expecting a bitter tangy taste and I am pleasantly surprised to find that it's actually smooth and sweet, with hints of sourness. I take another sip and moan in relief from the hit of caffeine. "What did you use? It's not bitter at all."

"Honey and Lemon."

"You stole honey from a bear?" I tease.

"Well, technically I would be stealing it from the bees, but it's survival of the fittest up here and I happen to be smarter than most bears."

I laugh, grabbing the coffee mug from him and inhaling the sweet scent. My eyes flutter to a close when I take the next sip, groaning deeply at how perfect it is. I mean, it's not a caramel macchiato but something tells me this giant would make it happen if I wished it. Even so, this much is a blessing and I savor every sip of the drink.

"I still can't believe how sweet this is," I tell him, looking up at him from the rim of the coffee cup to find his eyes trailed on me. "Shaw–"

"I want you."

I barely have time to place the half-empty mug on the counter before the giant is on me. Shaw grabs my waist and pulls me flush against him, holding me tight in his arms. I slide my arms around his neck and push up against him, staring into his gray eyes that seem to darken by the second. I can practically feel the heat in them.

It's not a question of whether I want this giant or not. My body is practically vibrating with need for him and when he lowers his mouth down to me a second time, I open up for him, moaning at the slick friction when he strokes our tongues together.

I moan into the kiss when he slides his hands down my waist and to my ass, lifting me onto the counter so hard we send the coffee cup flying off, but neither of us turns to look where it falls and even the crash barely registers as Shaw places me on the counter.

The giant breaks the kiss and I watch under lust-rimmed eyes as he grabs the shirt and tears it down, leaving me nude. The sudden animalistic act makes me instantly slick and my nipples tighten into spikes from the brush of the chilly morning air. His eyes run over me hungrily, and I can feel his erection lengthen and thicken against my thigh. I let out a shuddering breath when he traces a calloused fingers down my neck and to my tits where he pinches the beaded point between his knuckles.

"I could spend an eternity watching you, Angel," he says huskily, his eyes on mine as he drops his mouth to my breasts. I moan and arch at my back the second his wet mouth closes hotly around my aching nipple and he tugs gently. I shudder when he shifts his attention to the other nipple, alternating between the two until I am trembling with need. "So fucking pussyy," he rasps, sliding his hand between my thighs and his nostrils flare up when he finds me wet with arousal. Shaw grips my knees and shoves them apart, leaving me exposed and unlike last night, I don't have the cover of darkness to hide.

"Shaw, wait–"

I try to close my thighs, but his grip is strong and his eyes are dark as he runs them over my pussy. His lips turn upward into a satisfied smirk – a predator who has trapped its prey. I watch with surprise as the man drops to his knees right in front of me and grabs the back of my thighs, pulling me to the edge of the counter before lifting my knee over his shoulder. That is all the warning I get before I feel the wet press of his tongue riding through the valley of my pussy as he devours me whole.

Oh.

Oh God.

Nothing could have prepared me for the feeling of the man's tongue brushing my most intimate part. I fall back on the counter with a sob, catching myself on my elbows as Shaw's wet, stiff tongue rides up the center of my pussy, licking and sucking at my pussy like a starved beast, and I, his offering.

My back arches with a sob when his mouth closes hotly over my clit and he sucks hard at the sensitive bud, sending my body jerking with surprise at the intensity of the feeling. The climax slams into me with little warning and I orgasm with a sob, my belly twisting painfully as pleasure floods my core. I dig my fingers into his hair as he laps at my pussy in long eager strokes, drawing out my orgasm until I am practically trembling.

Shaw drops my leg from his shoulder and gets to his feet, his lips seeking mine immediately. I taste my arousal on his tongue as he kisses me. "You taste like a fucking dream, Angel," he breathes against my lips. "I could spend every day of my life buried between your thighs, lapping up your juices and watching you come apart."

My mouth parts when I feel the hard press of his shaft against my pussy before he grabs my waist and enters me crudely, filling me with his massive cock. It's different from last night. The way he digs his fingers into my hip and starts thrusting is so desperate… so aggressive compared to the gentleness the previous night carried and I revel in every moment.

"So tight!" he pants against my lips and I nod, feeling every last inch of his massive girth inside of me, pulsing hotly against my intimate walls. I run my palm over his beautiful hairy chest as he grinds his stiff pussy into me, fast and hard.

The veins in his temples pop with every pump of his cock. My breaths shorten as our bodies slap hard against each other and I feel myself edging towards my second orgasm.

"Close, Shaw," I whimper and that sends him flying out of control. He grips my hips hard as his thrusts grow rougher and faster – almost beastly. Each thrust pulling me closer to the edge sooner than I thought was possible. "Shaw… please…" I beg as I squirm underneath him, the pleasure building unbearably as his fingers dig into my hips hard enough to leave bruises.

"Mine!" he growls as his hips slap down on mine and his jaw slackens as he brings me to the brink of my climax, the possessiveness in voice pushing me on. His muscles seize over me just as my stomach clenches painfully before releasing the pleasure in a burst of heat.

We orgasm together, his rough, bordering on brutal, thrusts drawing a pleasured scream from my throat. He comes with a roar, his hips bearing down on mine roughly as he grinds his pulsing pussy into me, filling me with his hot seed.

It lasts forever. The trembling. It's unlike anything I ever imagined I could feel yet, the small shudders that rock my body prove me otherwise. His body goes still against mine and his breathing is just as labored.

I drop my head to his shoulder, stroking his massive back lovingly with my palms as we both slowly fall from the high.

I'm in love with the mountain man, I realize with little surprise.

It wasn't hard to fall for him. In fact, I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner. Perhaps when I complained of walking and he carried me, or when he took me to his little garden and fed me apples. Maybe it happened then, and I just didn't pick up on it.

Or maybe it happened back at the river when our eyes first locked on each other. Or last night when he made love to me like he's known me and loved me all his life.

I can't trace the specific moment I fell in love with him, only to the fact that I am just now realizing it. I turn my head and kiss his scarred jaw and cheek before nuzzling his neck. I could spend a lifetime locked in the arms of this giant and I refuse to think of the moment when all this comes to an end.

***

We spend most of the morning and afternoon in his garden, pulling out weeds. Well, he pulls out most of the weeds and I sit under the apple tree munching on his apples and feeding him gossip about celebrities he's never heard of and complaining about how much I hate my job back home.

He indulges me, humming and nodding at my words until I run out of them. When that happens, it's already noon and we're back in his kitchen. I watch him pull out a massive bowl of chopped meat from a shelf and I stare at him in shock.

Shaw chuckles when he reads the shock in my eyes. "I went hunting this morning when you were asleep," he says in a way of explaining. "Well, more like I checked the traps I set yesterday."

"Really? What kind of meat is that?" I ask, sitting up on the kitchen counter and watching him prepare the meat.

"It's a wild rabbit."

Oh! "I've never had game meat before," I tell him, watching in fascination as he expertly cooks the meat on the wooden stove. I offer my help, but he only instructs me to wash the potatoes we dug out from his little garden, and everything feels cozy and intimate.

We take our lunch on the porch, staring into the forest and chatting casually as we eat. It all feels homey, and I almost forget about my life back in the city. Here, in the mountains and surrounded by nature, I feel safe. I feel calm and protected. The smell is clean and pure.

When thunder rumbles in the sky, a smile filters on my lips. I bet the forest smells like heaven when it rains.

"Fuck!"

Shaw's voice draws me from my daydream and I turn to find the man watching the skies with a worried look in his eyes.

"What is it?" I ask.

"It's going to rain soon. I forgot to stock up on firewood. We need it to keep the cabin warm and for cooking. If the wood gets soaked, it won't burn."

"Oh."

"I need to go chop some and stock up in the shed before it starts raining," Shaw says getting up.

I gather our plates and get up as well. "I'll come with you," I say, rushing into the cabin and dropping the plates in the sink. When I come back outside, it's to find Shaw standing there with a massive axe. "Do you need me to grab anything?"

"No," he says. "I want you to stay back in case it starts raining when I am gone. I don't want you to catch a cold, Angel."

"But I want to come with you," I say with a slight pout.

"And you will. When it's not about to rain. Just stay back and wait for me. I'll be back soon, okay?" He walks up the porch and to my side, placing a gentle kiss on my lips. "Grab a sweater in my closet to keep warm."

I nod, wrapping my arms around his shoulders and returning the kiss but I have to force myself to pull back so I don't keep him too long. I watch the giant disappear into the forest before walking back into the cabin to do as he's asked. I rampage through his closet until I find a thick woolen sweater and slip it on. Like everything else in his closet, it smells like him. Like… home.

I'm only inside for more about five minutes when I hear him moving around outside. A smile appears on my lips when I figure he must have forgotten something so I rush outside, excited to see him again, but instead of my rough-looking mountain man, a uniformed man is standing outside Shaw's cabin with a gun tucked to his side. I read the ranger's badge taped to his chest and blink at the man who seems just as startled to see me.

Is he perhaps looking for Shaw? That can't be right. Shaw told me he doesn't really talk to people unless…

Wait, is he the brother Shaw said lives on the other side of the mountain? I don't recall him saying he was a ranger.

"Uhm, hi, can I help you?" I call out, staying close to the door in case this man is dangerous. I don't trust the gun tucked to his side.

"Are you Jean Watson?"

"How do you know my name?"

The man lets out a relieved sigh. "Your friends have been sick with worry about you," the man tells me. "We found your car parked on the side of the road with all your things in it and started to fear for the worst. The grizzly bears in these mountains are not fond of tourists. Your friends are going to be relieved to know you're fine."

Oh, does that mean my message got to my friends? I haven't checked my phone since I arrived here, too distracted by the mountain man to think of anything else but him.

"I'm sorry I worried them, and you," I tell the ranger. "Can you please tell my friends that I am fine?"

The man's brows push to his hairline as he stares at me. "What do you mean to tell them?"

"Well, I'm sure they're worried–"

"Miss Watson, I am here to pick you up," he says. "I cannot in good conscience leave you in these mountains alone."

"But I'm not alone," I quickly say. I have the mountain man here with me and…

God, what am I even saying? That I'm ready to live here for the rest of my life? What about my job as graphic designer back in San Fransisco? I have friends and family that would miss me. I have a life I've built in the city, surrounded by people who love me, am I really willing to push all that aside for… love?

I need to think, but there's barely any time to do so.

Deep down I know that if I don't leave with the ranger, then I am never going to leave these mountains. Shaw would never let me go, not if he was sure I was never coming back. But what if I promise to come back to him?

"Miss Watson?" I look up to find the ranger watching me with something akin to impatience on his expression. "We need to get going, it's going to pour soon."

I chew at my lips, my heart tugging painfully at the thought of leaving Shaw behind, but under the ranger's intense scrutiny, I cave. "Okay, give me a second," I say rushing back inside. I grab my jeans and make quick work of cleaning them before sliding them on and following with my boots.

Once I'm done, I look around the place for a pen and paper so Shaw knows what's happened, but I find nothing.

Think Jean. Think!

Left with little choice, I decide to use my phone. I notice quickly that there is a phone signal in this cabin, something I would have noticed earlier if I hadn't been distracted. Christ, I can't think about that now.

I barely have time to think of what I am doing so I quicky draft a message for him on my note's app letting him know I've left with a ranger and how much my time with him meant to me. I adjust the screen lock timer on my phone so it won't automatically lock before he gets back.

I don't let myself think about it too much as I join the ranger outside. I push back the tears in the back of my throat as we walk away from the charming little cabin. I don't look back, afraid that if I do, I'll run back in and lock myself inside.

With a last goodbye to my charming mountain man, I follow the ranger in the opposite direction Shaw disappeared through.