Chapter Eight

Shaw

I make it back to the shed right as the first drop of rain falls. It's almost as if it was waiting for me to make it back for it to start raining. I drop the chopped wood in the shed and brush off the dust from my clothes before walking out.

My thoughts are on Jean as I close the shed behind me and run to the cabin before I get soaked. A part of me expected Jean to run out the moment I arrived, but she remains indoors. Maybe she's listened to me and is afraid of catching a cold.

I push open the cabin door and I'm suddenly taken aback but how quiet it is. The girl is not in the living room and a quick run to the bedroom confirms that she is not there either. She's in none of the other rooms and it soon becomes clear that the Jean is not in the cabin at all.

Panic climbs my throat; unlike anything I have ever felt before as I consider the possibility that she might've followed me when I left earlier and got lost in the forest. The thought of my angel lying wounded somewhere sends me rushing forward to go out and seek her in the rain. I am about to leave when I notice the phone seated in the middle of the living room table. It wasn't there when I left. In fact, Jean has barely glanced at the thing since I brought her here.

I grab the device with its screen still bright and notice some kind of note left behind. I read the message letting me know some ranger came to pick her up and how she'd like to keep in touch. My nostrils flare and my eyes harden as I read the message halfway through before the screen blurs. I let out an anguished roar and toss the annoying device aside.

No, I don't need to know how the hell we're going to keep in touch because Jean is not leaving!

She is not setting one foot out of these mountains.

She is mine and I am going to kill anyone that dares get in the way of that.

I kick the door open on my way out, blood boiling with anger as I walk out into the rain. I follow the fading trail left behind by the man who was here earlier. Soon, the rain will wash away the two sets of footprints and when that happens, I will have already caught up with them.

All I can think, as I walk deeper into the forest, is that some other man came into my home and stole something precious from me.

Fuck, I haven't felt this much rage since Tommy pushed me to the edge and I almost choked the man to death. Any emotion I have felt to this moment pales in comparison.

Mine!

The rain is a blessing as I figure it must have slowed them down. I'm right. I see two figures walking by the riverbed, moving quite slowly for people who are trying to get away from me. The rain dies down a bit by the time I catch up with them.

I stalk towards them and the ranger must hear me coming because he quickly draws the gun from his holster and whips around quickly, ready to fire. Jean is started by the sudden movements and she turns around terrified, but her expression clears when she notices that it's me.

The ranger, however, doesn't immediately put his gun down which seems to confuse, Jean.

"I know him," she says to the man. "He's the one who helped me, put your gun down are you crazy?" Worry flashes in her eyes as she tries to stand between us.

Despite her words, the gun remains trained on me and I see in Tommy's eyes the need to shoot me. He's calculating whether he can get away with it or not. I would recognize that floppy hair anywhere. It's been more than a decade since I have seen the man, but he is the same as he was back then. I have run into most of the forest rangers out here with the silent agreement to ignore each other, but I've never crossed paths with him.

It seems he has a score to settle.

"If you are going to shoot me, make sure it's fatal," I say in a deep, menacing voice. "If you miss or I don't die, I will leave this mountain with the sole purpose of ending your life."

It's probably not the smartest thing to threaten the man holding a weapon and standing so close to the fucking love of my life, but I am not scared of Tommy. I wasn't back when I weighed a hundred pounds soaking wet and I'm not now that I'm built like a fucking grizzly bear.

"W-what's happening," Jean whispers in confusion, walking forward but Tommy grabs her arm before she can continue and I see red. How dare he touch her. No one is allowed to touch Jean but me.

She's mine, Goddamnit!

"Stay back, he's dangerous," Tommy hisses, the anxiety in his voice clear as day.

Jean shrugs off his grip and steps forward. "No, he's not. Shaw is not dangerous at all. He saved my life."

"Miss Watson, you have no fucking idea the kind of animal that monster is. He's caused more tourist injuries in the forest than any wild animal in the past ten years. He is the worst kind of beast there is."

"Tommy," I growl, my eyes looking straight into his. "You know damn well I don't hurt anybody that happens up this way." Well, it's not my fault that people who run into me are always in a hurry to get away and get injured in some way or another. Heck, even bears don't get that reaction most of the time.

"Wait," Jean startles, her face scrunching in confusion, " you're Tommy? The one you told me about Shaw?" She looks at me with exasperation, her hands still up trying to convince him to put down the gun. I give a slight nod of confirmation and watch as her emotions turn from confusion to anger.

"You're wrong," Jean whispers, walking forward and this time evading his touch. She steps in front of me, her tiny frame doing little to shield my massive body but it's the thought that counts. "If anyone's a monster it's you. You were asking for a fight that day, picking on someone because of the way they look. Put down your gun now, Ranger. Shaw has done nothing but help me and keep me safe."

"Miss Watson, your friends–"

"Please tell my friends that I am fine, I want to stay here with Shaw," Her voice is steady as she looks at Tommy and whatever he sees in her face causes him to relent and lower his gun. A burst of pride fills my chest to see my angel care for me this deeply, and all I can think about is getting her back to my cabin and showing her just how much she is mine.

Tommy looks from her to me, a look of resignation on his face. I wait for another attempt for him to get Jean to go with him, or nasty words to be slung my way, but he says nothing and holsters his gun.

"Alright," he finally remarks, hands in the air in surrender. "Make sure she calls her friends, they're pretty worried about her, and…I'm sorry for…the escalation."

Shock waves through me at Tommy's apology. Growing up I had never heard those words from his mouth before, and although it seemed forced -- it was a start. I pull Jean into my side, relaxing as I feel her warmth burrow into me and give Tommy a nod.

He turns to make his way back to his vehicle.

Another ranger will be up to check up on you in a few days and make sure you're in no danger."

Oh, fuck no!

No one is allowed on my property without my permission, and I step forward to show Tommy just how disagreeable I am with that idea when Jean places a hand on my chest to hold me back. It's gentle and soft and it stops me right in my tracks.

"I appreciate that, Ranger. I'll take care of everything else from here on."

The man's eyes drop to the small hand holding me back and he shakes his head in disbelief before walking away. It's not until he's disappeared into the thick trees that Jean turns to me. "Shaw, didn't you get my message?"

"I did."

"And…"

"I disagree with it."

Her brows rise up and she bites back a smile. "What exactly do you disagree with, Shaw?" she whispers, bringing the other hand to my chest and that alone is enough to send my half-hard cock thickening behind my fly.

"Everything," I say, sliding my hand to her nape. "You are mine, Angel. Mine!"

I expect her to argue with the possessiveness of my words, but she simply shakes her head. "I know," she whispers. "I belong only to you, Shaw. I know that." She runs her hands lovingly over my chest. "A part of me also knew you wouldn't let me leave if I waited for you to come back and that's why I snuck out."

Hurt fills my chest and she must read the effect of her words on my face because she hurries to add. "I wasn't going to be gone forever, Shaw. I just wanted to sort things out back home. I can't just disappear into the mountain; my family and friends will worry. I need to show everyone that I am okay living here with you. I need to cancel my lease, grab my things too. As much as I like it, I can't wear your clothes forever."

Well, when she puts it like that… It makes sense. I have lived alone for so long that it never occurred to me that someone would worry if she suddenly disappeared into the mountain like I did back then.

Fuck, in a moment of selfishness, I forgot that this girl has a perfectly crafted life somewhere else. Everything she knows is back there. Hell, even I had a few years of preparation before I could move up here.

I close my eyes and take several breaths before looking back down at her. "I'm sorry," I whisper. I'm not sorry about wanting to keep her to myself, but perhaps I could have considered her position in the matter. "I'm sorry, Angel. I didn't mean to come off like a possessive creep." Even if I feel like one.

Her features soften as she brushes the back of her fingers on my scars, and I don't think she realizes that she's even doing it. "I get it and… I like it," she whispers. "I feel the same way about you. I don't show it quite as strongly, but I do."

Fuck!

"You like it?" I ask, searching her face eagerly.

She bites into her lip and nods, heat flashing into her eyes. "Yes, I like it when you act all possessive and go all feral like that first day when you came all over my jeans." I groan at her words, my cock jumping behind my fly, and she must read the need in my eyes because she trails her trembling fingers down my chest and stomach, to the hard ridge on my jeans. Her cheeks flare up red as she grabs the zipper and pulls it down. My cock pushes hard against my briefs and I almost spill on the spot when her much smaller hands close around my shaft "I also like it when you lose control like you did this morning and take me hard and fast… I like it when you call me yours."

There is a dazed expression on her face as she strokes my cock, slowly sending me over the edge with her soft touch. "Fuck, Angel," I say ruggedly, clenching my jaw to stop myself from coming all over her palm. "You don't want me to lose control here–"

"But I do," she cuts in. Fuck, the grass is still wet from the rain and I want nothing but the best for my precious girl, but I don't think that even I am capable of waiting until we're back at the cabin to take her. "I have an idea," she says, her lips curling into a mischievous smile. "Let's play a game."

My interest piqued, I ask, "A game?"

Her smirk deepens as she nods. "I'm going to try and outrun you," she explains, her eyes glinting with challenge.

A possessive growl escapes my throat at the thought of chasing after her. "And if I catch you?" She takes off down the trail before I can even register her words. I give her a head start, watching as she stumbles slightly in her haste. Despite her clumsiness, she would be easy to track down.

I wait until my arousal is almost painful before taking off after her. The forest blurs around me as I sprint down the trail, my senses heightened and focused solely on her. I can hear her labored breathing, the crunch of leaves under her feet. She isn't that fast, but I allow her to make some leeway, teasing her with the possibility of winning. My heart starts to race, not from the exertion, but from the thrill of the chase. This is primal, instinct leading me right to my prey.

She tries to dart left, veering slightly off the path. I follow, and the gap between us narrows, and she squeals in delight as I wrap my arms around her, bringing her down with me onto the grass in a rough, but not painful movement.

"Fuck!" I growl, guiding her down to the grass, thankful for the thick sweater she had the foresight to wear before she left the cabin. She's practically trembling when I straddle her hips and brace my hands on either side of her head. She leans up eagerly when I drop my lips to hers. Her mouth parts for me and she makes pussyy little noises at the back of her throat as our tongues twine hotly together. I break the kiss to lick a trail down her throat and that sends her pushing up against me. "The things you do to me, Angel." I tug down the sweater and shirt, tearing off a few buttons in the process before leaning down to kiss the path between her perfect tits even as I unbutton her jeans and yank them down her thighs.

Her breath catches when I slide my fingers between her thighs to find her pussy slick with arousal. She whimpers when I drag my finger over her slit and gather moisture on my thick digit before pressing it over her tight entrance. I drink up her expression as I slide my finger into her tightness, working it in and out her cunt until she's whining and writhing beautifully under me.

"Shaw!" she gasps when I add another finger to her pussy. I watch as her lips part in a sob and her hips rise up to grind against my thick digits. I lean down and take a pebbled nipple between my lips as I work my fingers faster into her until her hips start shaking and she orgasms with a sob, her pussy pulsing hotly around my fingers and coating them with more of her juices.

With a crawling need to claim my girl and remind her to whom she belongs, I pull out my fingers and replace them with my raging cock, shoving my cock hard into her pussy. I take her lips with mine, swallowing her scream as I drive wild pumps into her wet cunt.

"You belong to me," I growl against her lips, slapping so hard into her it sends her back springing off the ground. "Only I am allowed to touch you and fuck this pussy. Only I get to cream this tight little cunt and mark you!"

"Yes, yours," she sobs, her tits bouncing wildly with every feral drive into her slick pussy, almost as if something wild has taken possession of my body but no, this is me. Wild and possessive.

"I will kill anyone that dares touch you," I growl. "I will always find you, even if they take you away, and always remind them you belong to me!"

Her pussy cinches hotly around me and her lips part in a scream as she orgasms with little warning. Her back arches off the ground and her thighs shake from the intensity of her climax. I drop my finger between us and rub at her clit as I thrust roughly into her and that sends her into yet another climax, one that sends me coming as well. She sobs as her body trembles, her hot cunt pulsing wildly around my cock and milking me of every last drop of my hot seed. I ram hard into her, drawing out the orgasm until I run out of steam and fall on top of her, breaking my fall with my elbow so I don't crush her.

" Oh, God ," she heaves. "That was… Oh my God."

"I was a little rough. Did I hurt you?" I whisper, pushing back to look into her eyes but they seem dazed and there is a little smile on her face. Affection clogs my throat when my eyes lock with her perfect baby blues.

"No, it was perfect," she chuckles, wrapping her arms around my neck and pulling me down on her. "But my knees are a little weak. You might have to carry me back to the cabin though."

"Of course, anything for you, Angel."

She goes silent for a while before she finally speaks. "You might need to do a lot of that, though. You've made me fall in love with you, Shaw. You need to take responsibility for that."

My breath catches in my throat at her words. I expected to be the first to speak them, but hearing her voice them is something I never thought I would hear. "I love you," I manage, choked up. "You're mine, always."

Years ago, when I left town to live in the mountains, I always pictured I would be alone. I never thought someone would ever look at my scarred face and giant body and develop any kind of feelings for me and yet, it's happened.

Whatever comes after this is nothing. As long as we're in love, we'll figure the rest out.

I will do everything it takes to protect this precious feeling. To deserve it.