The bear kept walking, not impressed by my conversational skills.
I kept backing up the incline I had come down, hoping he’d lose interest and walk away.
“I’m just going to go back to the cabin,” I said, pointing behind me. “And I know the way, so no reason for you to follow me.”
I guess that last part must have pissed the bear off because he walked faster, and my heart missed a few more beats. I screamed, the bear picked up speed, and I stumbled backward. It was almost on me, and instead of running, I froze and threw myself on the ground.
I covered my head with my hands and lay flat on my belly, bracing myself for the pain.
But nothing happened.
Instead there was loud yelling.
“What the fuck are you doing? You’re supposed to make lots of noise when you get attacked by a black bear.”
I turned my head and spotted familiar boots. That I had the urge to kiss.
Gunner was here.
“I thought it was a grizzly,” I offered, my voice still embarrassingly shaky.
A hand went around my arm, and Gunner lifted me back onto my feet.
“How can you not tell a grizzly bear and a black bear apart?” he said, his voice sounding gruffer than usual.
My whole body was shaking, and I clasped my hands in front of my body. “I was panicking. Excuse me for not stopping to think what kind of bear it was.”
“One is literally black, like the name suggests, and the other one is brown.”
I took a deep breath in, feeling like my lungs were closing up. My vision was going fuzzy, and I cursed my body for shutting down on me.
“Let’s get you home,” Gunner said, his usual confidence gone. He was breathing like he’d run a marathon, and his voice shook.
When it became apparent that I wouldn’t move anywhere on my own, he took my backpack off me and hoisted it onto a shoulder. He then lifted me up bridal style, his movements sure, his breathing back to normal despite the added weight. He held me close, and I sank against him.
We got back to the cabin ten minutes later. Which was impossible since I’d been walking for at least an hour. I had to make sure to take a compass along for my next escape attempt to avoid walking in circles again.
Gunner put me on the couch in front of the fireplace, and I instantly curled onto my side, knees drawn into my chest.
After piling blankets on top of me, Gunner got the fire going again, and soon the heat of the flames warmed me up.
“Thanks for saving me,” I said when my teeth finally stopped chattering and my body wasn’t drowning in adrenaline.
Gunner turned to face me, and I was met with wild eyes, flared nostrils, and clenched fists. I’d never seen so much emotion on his face before. I’d really made him angry this time.
I sat up, my body strung as tight as a bowstring, ready to bolt. I didn’t really know Gunner. Didn’t know what he was capable of. And he looked mad enough to smash something. I just hoped his target wouldn’t be anywhere near me.
The last thing I expected was for him to charge at me, stopping a hairbreadth in front of my body.
“What you did was irresponsible and childish,” he said, his breath coming in short bursts. “My whole reason for holding you here is to keep you safe. I thought we’d come to an understanding. Instead, you charge into the woods like an idiot and get yourself in trouble.”
I stood up, immediately regretting the move. Now my whole body was touching his, top to toe, boob to chest, knee to shin.
“I’m not an idiot,” I yelled, ignoring the way my body tingled, my hands itching to make contact.Not again, Freya. Keep your limbs to yourself.“You can’t just expect me to bend over when you say so. And I can take care of myself and stay out of the Irish’s way. I don’t need some Rambo commando to tell me what to do.”
His whole body moved when he inhaled, pressing him closer against me. If he didn’t step back, I couldn’t be held responsible for my hands’ actions. The need to touch him became stronger the longer we stood like this.
“You wouldn’t last a day on your own. I think you proved that today.”
