Surrounded by Woods Read online

  “Yeah, we’ve all seen them. It’s okay, though, they won’t hurt you.”

  “H-how many have you actually seen. At once, I mean?” she asked, stepping closer to Josh as if seeking protection. He really liked that.

  “Um, I don’t know. Four. Five. I guess.” Josh couldn’t help reaching out and stroking her arm to comfort her. He liked that her instinct was to draw nearer to him, but he didn’t like the fact that she was scared.

  “I thought cougars, mountain lions, whatever… I thought they were solitary animals. Only seeking out other cats when mating. Why would there be a group of them running around?”

  She was way too observant and asking way too many questions. Josh didn’t want to encourage her, so he tried his best to bring the subject to a close. “Don’t know. Guess you’ll have to ask them why.” He smiled and started for one of the ATVs. His brothers followed.

  Once Mikaela left, Josh and his brothers got to work, but his mind just wasn’t on his tasks. He kept picturing Mikaela in her tight jeans and formfitting sweater. When she’d bent over, he watched how her jeans hugged around her firm, round ass. When she’d reached for a limb while studying a tree, he watched how her sweater crawled up, exposing her soft, light skin. Throughout the day and up until dinner, he kept his thoughts on her. As soon as he showered, he practically ran to the dining room just so he could see her that much sooner. He knew getting there faster wouldn’t make her get there any quicker, but he just couldn’t think logically.

  After getting his scotch, Josh continued to think about the beautiful redhead staying here. After days and days of avoiding her and then fighting with her last night, today had been wonderful. She was so relaxed and eager to learn about his business that he felt a sense of pride. That wasn’t uncommon, for he loved his work, but since Mikaela arrived, Josh’s emotions had been all over the place. No matter how much he fought his feelings for her, and no matter how much he’d continue to do so, he couldn’t deny the fact that he felt connected to her, and with each passing moment, that bond grew stronger.

  When she walked into the room, his eyes lit up, betraying him. He didn’t want to continue acting distant, but he didn’t want to show how much he really liked her. He wouldn’t even allow himself to explore the depths of his feelings for her for fear of what he’d discover.

  Once she was seated, though, she’d been quiet for too long. He had to hear her voice.

  “Would you like some wine, Mikaela?”

  “Sure, thanks, Josh.” That smile. He couldn’t help but smile back.

  After getting her wine and sitting down, Josh had the hardest time wiping the grin off his face. Being around her just felt too nice.

  “So, Mikaela, when do you plan on getting married?” Thomas asked.

  What? Why the hell would his dad ask that? Josh’s smile evaporated on the breath he inhaled, bracing himself for her response. When he glanced at her, she was staring at Thomas with wide eyes. The question had obviously caught her by surprise, and Josh didn’t understand why.

  “I haven’t decided.”

  That answer seemed calculated. He wondered if all her answers about her betrothed would be just as careful. One way to find out. “And what does your fiancé do?” Josh blurted out.

  Chapter Seven

  Oh, shit. Mikaela’s eyes shot to Josh. First Thomas and now Josh. It was easier crafting half-truths for Thomas. “Joel is a CPA.” That wasn’t a lie, though. Joel was a CPA. He just wasn’t her fiancé anymore. Mikaela hid her smile from her very lawyer-type response.

  Josh grunted and took another bite.

  “He’s a very lucky man,” Thomas offered.

  “Yes, he is.” Lucky she didn’t castrate him, though his luck could still run out. And thinking of luck, why did hers have to run out now? Today had been really wonderful. All the guys had been helpful, funny, talkative. Even with all of them around, she still couldn’t keep her eyes off Josh, so when he easily jumped into the conversations or started new ones, her insides melted. Such a great day. She hoped it wouldn’t have to end on a topic she wanted to avoid.

  “Why don’t you wear an engagement ring?” Rob asked.

  What was with the inquisition? Did they think she wanted to talk about her miserable ex? She flushed and looked down at her hand, then cleared her throat. “I—”

  “Don’t answer that, Mikaela,” Thomas said. “It’s none of our business.”

  “I just think it’s odd she doesn’t have a ring on her finger,” Rob pressed.

  Hopefully, her response would be the end of this line of questioning. “It’s all right, Thomas.” She looked at Rob. “The ring that was given to me was a family heirloom and had to be sized.” Thank God that was the truth. Now she wouldn’t have to go through the process of returning it. Had Joel bought her a brand new one, she’d be keeping it from the bastard, but since it’d been in his family for generations, she had no right to keep it.

  Rob nodded and smirked at his dad, as if to emphasize that the question had been logical.

  Enough about her. “So, does anyone have a girlfriend?” Why did she look at Josh first? You know why.

  She was met with a bunch of shaking heads and grunts before Thomas spoke up.

  “They don’t get out much. The land keeps us fairly busy.”

  Surely they could find the time for relationships, but she was pleased to know that Josh was not involved with anyone. When she set her empty wineglass on the table, Toby picked up the bottle and poured her another. She smiled at him and then looked back at Thomas. “What about you?”

  “Me?” He chuckled. “Their mother died several years ago. I have no desire for another mate.”

  Mate? That was a bit primitive, but she laughed with him.

  The rest of the evening went as smoothly as before the uncomfortable topic of Joel reared its ugly head, and not wanting to press her luck further, she excused herself as soon as the opportunity came.

  She wanted a night of relaxation and sleep after having such a hectic night last night. That bar had been seedy, but it was the only place open at that time of night, and she’d had to get away. Tonight, though, she wanted peace.

  After she changed into her nightgown and opened her book, she heard the back door open and close like she’d heard the other nights. For some reason, all the guys went outside every night after dinner and had to have come back in late because she was always asleep before she heard them return. She had no idea what they did out there. She figured it wasn’t work related since they all showered and changed before dinner and none of them mentioned a nightly duty on her tour today.

  Okay, so she was tired, but she was also curious.

  Curiosity won.

  Enjoying her lingering liquid courage, she got out of bed, threw on a pair of jeans, and headed downstairs. She found a flashlight in the kitchen and walked out back to investigate. There were five sets of clothes piled along the deck. Did they all change into something else? If so, why did they leave their other clothes out here? Maybe they were in a hot tub. She felt a chill race down her spine at the thought of Josh sitting naked in a hot tub.

  She looked around and didn’t hear or see anything of the sort, so she headed into the woods.

  * * * *

  Josh left the others and ran by himself because he just couldn’t keep hearing the same lecture from his father or the same echoes of desires from his brothers. They were not going through the same thing he was. His feelings, needs, went way beyond the need to just bed her. He felt like he was doing a good job maintaining his control, but he felt his control slipping. He wanted her…badly. But all he could do right now was run like the devil himself was chasing him. Running helped clear his mind, and he’d take any relief he could get. He was in the middle of his downhill sprint when he caught a scent that stopped him cold.

  Mikaela.

  What was she doing outside? Her scent was strong, so it was easy to track. Once he found her, he stilled. She was near one of the cabins, but he cou
ldn’t shift and walk up to her. He needed to go get his clothes first if he was going to do that, but he didn’t want to leave her now that he knew she was out here alone. He was going to anyway; he’d just have to hurry. He raced to the deck, clamped his teeth around his clothes, and raced to the trees beside the cabin. He changed quickly and walked toward her. She was peeking inside a window when he came up to her.

  “Isn’t that against the law?” Josh murmured right behind her.

  She jumped around, her hand flying to her chest to cover her heart. “You scared the shit out of me!” she yelled with a giggle.

  He laughed. “What are you doing out here, besides snooping around?”

  “Nothing. Just snooping. But I’m glad you’re here. I thought I saw a really big cat out there a few minutes ago.”

  He was sure she had. “Oh, I think our little tour scared you.” He chuckled. When she smiled at him, he lost track of that thought. God, she had such a beautiful smile. He wanted to touch her, so he forced himself not to.

  “Would you like to have a look inside?” He stepped toward the door.

  “I already tried it. It’s locked.”

  He smiled at her as he reached above the door and pulled a key off the jamb. Then he unlocked the door and stepped aside so she could walk in. When she passed by him, her body heat crashed over him like a tidal wave. It ignited his deepest longings for her, and he had no idea how he was going to rein it in. He was realizing too quickly that he just didn’t want to anymore.

  “I take it this is a guest cabin?” She looked around, noticing the sitting area to one side and a big bed to the other. Josh watched as her cheeks flushed when she took in the sight of the bed, and the last thread of his control snapped.

  “Yes,” he mumbled as he kicked the door shut behind him in one move and was on her in the next.

  “Josh,” she breathed.

  “I-I tried. I just can’t anymore.” He slid his hands in that fiery red hair, and his lips nudged against hers, repeatedly, frantically. His hands fisted in her tresses as he panted into her mouth, their breaths becoming the only air for the other. God, he wanted to kiss her. He couldn’t wait another second. He’d coaxed her lips apart, sliding his tongue home. The sensation was indescribable. He pulled one hand out of her hair to pull her body against him, and he crushed his lips to hers, hard, groaning in her mouth. She tasted of wine and woman. His woman.

  Josh could kiss her forever, but he wanted more. He pulled away, scrambling with the buttons on her shirt, her whimpers fueling him further. He had to have her. There was no other choice for either of them anymore. She was his, and he was hers.

  He kissed her neck as he unhooked her bra. When it fell to the floor, he stared at her breasts, and his frantic movements paused. He gently raked his fingers over her nipples, almost reverently, and groaned when they hardened for him. He swooped down and drew one rigid nipple into his mouth, flicking it with his tongue and then sucking it hard. He gave the other one the same attention while his hands worked to unfasten her jeans.

  She tangled her hands in his hair and pulled his face back to hers, her eagerness almost his undoing. He shoved his tongue in her mouth while she unbuttoned his shirt. Before she was finished, he slid his hand into her jeans, slipping inside her cotton panties. When his finger grazed her clit, she pulled away gasping.

  “Oh, God. You feel so good,” she breathed.

  Josh groaned, pulled his hand free, and picked her up. He carried her to the bed and removed the rest of their clothes. Once she was completely naked, he paused again, staring in awe.

  “You’re so beautiful, kitten.” He bent over and kissed and licked his way down her belly to the apex of her thighs. He nudged her knees apart and settled between her legs as he continued to kiss and lick her hips and legs. When she began to squirm, he grabbed her thighs and dipped his head to lick her clit.

  She cried out at the sudden spike in her pleasure, and he groaned at how wonderful she tasted. Much more potent than the lingering essence on his fingers that first night. He licked and sucked her labia, then plunged his tongue inside her, lapping up her cream as she fed it to him. She rocked her hips, trying to get him to focus on her clit, so his hands bracketed her hips and held her in place while he continued to fuck her with his tongue.

  “Josh, oh, God. I-I can’t take it anymore.” She struggled to move her hips while he strained not to move his. His cock was rock hard and aching to be inside her. If he moved too much, he’d come right now.

  “Mikaela, you taste so good, kitten. I want you to come on my fingers like you wanted to before.” He moved one hand down, plunging two fingers inside her pussy while he moved his tongue closer to her clit. He felt her stiffen in anticipation, but he just circled it a few times, teasing her as long as she could stand it, testing his own endurance.

  Her hands knotted in his hair and she tried to inch closer to him. “Please,” she choked out.

  He moaned, grinding his own hips in response to her plea. He couldn’t take it anymore. His tongue rubbed her clit fiercely before sucking it into his mouth. Her back arched, and she went off like a bomb, screaming his name. God, she felt so good. He removed his fingers from her still pulsing pussy to swallow her cream, but he couldn’t do this anymore. He had to have her completely.

  Right now.

  While Mikaela was enjoying the lingering sensations of her orgasm, Josh rummaged in the nightstand for a condom. His hands were trembling so much with anticipation that he could barely open the packet. When he grabbed his cock, he was so sensitive he had to fight the urge to stroke it. He strained to sheath his cock and glanced at Mikaela. She was breathtaking, but she also had her eyes opened wide with probably shock. Josh knew he had a big dick. He figured she was trying to gauge whether or not she’d be able to take him. He wasn’t worried though.

  Sliding over her, he covered her body with his and kissed her, passing the taste of her essence from his mouth to hers. She moaned softly as she licked and sucked at his lips, so he knew she liked tasting herself on him. He reached down and grabbed his cock, rubbing the head against her opening. He nudged just that bulbous head inside, then lifted her hips, coaxing her to wrap her legs around his waist. Once she did, he braced his hands beside her to support his weight, dug his head in the crook of her neck, and rolled his hips. Damn, but she was tight! Maybe he should’ve been worried. He entered her in increments, but he still strained to remain in control. He knew he couldn’t plunge into her, but God, how he wanted to! When she stiffened underneath him and made a desperate whimpering sound, Josh knew she felt impossibly stretched and full, but he still had a few inches to go. Having a big dick wasn’t what it was cracked up to be, but with some patience and coaxing, he’d get it in.

  “Sorry,” Josh breathed into her ear. “I know I’m kinda big.” He stopped moving and kissed Mikaela’s ear and neck, sliding one hand down between her legs. He braced his fingers on the top of her thigh and rubbed her clit with the pad of his thumb. She moaned and wrapped her fingers around his biceps, but didn’t move her hips. He leaned his forehead against the side of her head and groaned, struggling not to thrust into that sweet haven. After a few moments of fingering her clit, she began to move her hips slightly, but he couldn’t meet her thrusts; he knew she wasn’t ready, but that didn’t make it any easier on him to resist. In fact, he felt his control slipping rapidly. “Oh, God, Mikaela.” He moved his thumb faster over her clit while his head rocked back and forth in her hair to distract himself from the sweet, tight fit of her pussy.

  “Ahhh, you’re going to make me come again.”

  “Yes, kitten. Come for me.” Please, for the love of God, come now!

  She screamed when her climax hit, and he groaned when her pussy convulsed around his cock. “You feel so fucking good, kitten.” He thrust inside her, hoping she was enjoying her orgasm too much to notice any pain he was causing her. He buried himself to the hilt and paused while she clung to him. She was still panting as she adjusted to h
is size. After a few moments, he traced her lips with his tongue, panting into her mouth, and started shallow thrusts to gauge her body’s willingness. When she moaned and arched into his movements, he knew she was ready.

  He fucked her with long, slow, full strokes, but she grabbed his ass and forced him in deeper. He couldn’t resist her. He had to give her what she wanted. He picked up his pace, plunging harder and faster into her. He couldn’t believe how quickly she adjusted to him once he was inside her. She felt too good. Perfect. So perfect that he barely maintained any constraint.

  She clawed at his back as he plowed into her, and another orgasm detonated. He rode her through it, enjoying the feel of her pussy squeezing him, but trying not to get lost in that sensation. As soon as that happened, he knew he’d blow. She came again, digging her fingernails into his back. He only held on by a thread, which in and of itself was nothing short of miraculous at this point. He wanted to take her, mark her, make her his, but he knew he couldn’t. He could only enjoy her like he’d enjoyed other women. He grabbed her hips and pounded in and out like a piston, crushing that depressing thought with brutal thrusts. She was not just some woman! He fucked her hard, losing his hold on the animal within.

  When she came again, he couldn’t hold out. He surged deep inside her and froze, throwing his head back with a roar that he knew didn’t sound quite human, but was too absorbed to even care. He bent his head back into the crook of her neck, gulping in air as his chest heaved and, with a few short jabs of his cock, finished spilling his seed into the condom. With the last of his diminishing thrusts, his fangs slid out, the animal demanding he claim its mate. He turned his teeth away with great effort from the temptation her throat presented.

  As he rested atop her, Josh’s mind was spinning. Never, not once, had he ever lost control like that during sex. He’d always maintained control over his feral side, but he’d fucked her like a madman, and his fangs popped out, demanding he claim her. He felt he was in control now, but thinking of his brother, Eric, he figured he shouldn’t chance it. He forced his fangs to retract, so he could turn his face back toward her neck. He kissed her shoulder and worked his way up to her lips.