“Hunter,” one calls, tipping his hat. “You ready?”
“Let’s go,” I grunt.
The morning blurs into rhythm as chainsaws bite into pine. Axes swing, and beautiful logs fall. The scent of sap and sawdust thickens the air.
I work fast, faster than normal. Want to be done with this and headed back up my mountain with my treasure.
I split wood clean and fast, the way I always do. My body remembers the motions even if it’s been weeks, because I work like I fight—steady, brutal, and efficient.
But every few minutes I glance back at the truck. At her.
She’s got the window cracked, elbow perched there, staring out like she’s watching a movie. Sunlight kisses her hair. Her lips are pink, parted, green eyes sparkling. My chest tightens all over again.
Fuck me, but she’s beautiful.
My petal.
I never thought I’d be glad someone got caught in my snare.
But here she is. Mine.
Halfway through, I throw the chainsaw down and stalk back to her, craving the need to feed her, keep her strong. Happy. “You hungry, baby?”
Her eyes are shining, and she nods. “I could eat.”
I stride to the back of the truck, drag out the cooler and the sandwiches, jerky, and fruit I prepared earlier. I fill up her plate, open her door, and brace myself in the doorway so I block the view of the eyes I can feel staring at her.
I watch her nibble an apple slice. She smiles at me like it’s the best thing she’s ever tasted.
I want to kiss the juice off her mouth. But the men are watching, and I don’t trust myself not to kill one of them if they stare too long.
“Enjoying yourself?”
“It all looks so cool. Your efficiency is... hot.”
She licks her lips, and my cock jumps. Fuck it. I lean in and steal a kiss, with a little tongue, watch her face pinken and her breathing grow short. And the fact that she stares at me, mouth gaping and hungry like she wants more?
That sustains the feral beast prowling just beneath the surface as I go back to work.
The last couple of hours drag balls, but the pile of timber grows as sweat drips down my spine, muscles screaming, but it’s nothing compared to the burn in my chest every time I catch her eyes on me.
Then she does the last fucking thing I want her to do.
I hear the subtle creak of the passenger door opening, and my head whips around as Lily jumps down. Slams the truck door behind her.
She stretches her arms overhead, sighing like she’s stepped out of a cage. Unfurling her petals under the sun.
The whole clearing goes dead silent.
Every man freezes.
I can’t blink through the red haze covering my eyes because I... can’t let her out of my sight even for a nanosecond.
“Get back in the truck, Lily.” My voice cracks like a whip.
She startles, blinks at me. “I just needed to stretch?—”
“Now.”
