My body went on high alert, and I waved my arm, shouting until the bear decided we weren’t worth the trouble.
“What the fuck are you doing?” I yelled once it had lumbered off. “You’re supposed to make lots of noise when you get attacked by a black bear.”
Freya looked up from where she was lying on the ground, her eyes wide. I didn’t like the fear I saw in them. “I thought it was a grizzly.”
The fear I’d felt seeing her that close to a bear was threatening to bring me to my knees. And the only thing that would help was replacing it with anger. “How can you not tell a grizzly bear and a black bear apart?”
She was shaking so hard her teeth knocked together, making her words come out clipped. “I was panicking. Excuse me for not stopping to think what kind of bear it was.”
I held her up, rubbing her back. She was in shock, and I felt helpless. “One is literally black, like the name suggests, and the other one is brown.”
She swayed on her feet, and I tightened my hold on her. “Let’s get you home.”
Since there was no way she’d make it back on her own, I lifted her into my arms. She sagged against me, her whole body still shaking. I knew just how out of it she was when she didn’t even complain and instead laid her head on my chest.
Thankfully, her sense of direction was terrible and she hadn’t made it far. We got back to the cabin without further incident.
I found every single blanket we had in the cabin and put them on top of her. Drowning her in blankets seemed like as good a task as any to take my mind off what could have happened. The fire had fizzled down to embers, and I put fresh logs on it. When there was nothing else to do but wait, I paced in front of the couch.
“Thanks for saving me.”
Her soft words made me stop my angry stomping through the small space. I turned and charged at her instead, my emotions taking over.
“What you did was irresponsible and childish. 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.”
Freya stilled at my words, her face playing out every emotion she was feeling. She went from confusion to hurt to anger in a flash. The last caused her to jump up, the blankets tumbling to the floor, bringing her flush against me. “I’m not an idiot.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.”
I took a deep breath in, trying to get my unfamiliar emotions under control. “You wouldn’t last a day on your own. I think you proved that today.”
She didn’t continue yelling. Instead, she put her hands on my chest. That was all it took to snap the small hold I still had on my control.
I wound my arms around her, and she tilted her head back, mouth slightly open in surprise. It was the perfect opportunity, and I didn’t hesitate to touch my lips to hers. After a moment, she responded with a fire that quickly consumed us both, drawing us in and lighting us up.
I was entranced, hyperaware of every little moan and move she made.
Every thought fled my head. I lifted her, her legs winding around me. And when I laid her down on the bed, I suddenly knew with absolute clarity that I had everything I’d ever need right here with me.
The world could crumble around us and I wouldn’t care in the least.
Chapter15
Freya
For once in my life,my brain didn’t overthink what was happening and instead got with the program. Meaning my arms wound around Gunner’s body, my lips responded, and I sank into him.
His hands were warm and strong as he held me, his muscles hard beneath my touch.
And when his tongue touched mine, I lost all inhibitions. I was ready to hump his leg if he didn’t take this further soon. My body was a wanton mess from his kisses alone, and I wanted more.
I wondered if I’d lost consciousness and this was all in my head.
Not missing a beat, he lifted me off the ground, and my legs wound around him. We never once broke our kiss, not when he walked me to the bed and not when he laid me down.
He was lying on his side, his body half on me, his hands exploring. When we broke apart so he could remove my sweater, then my other sweater, and finally my T-shirt, I was breathing heavily, my lips swollen.
His gaze roved and hungrily appraised me. He looked like a predator about to pounce. My bra was gone soon after, his lips trailing a hot path down my chest. My body ached for his every touch, and I arched up.
It was enough for him to lavish attention on my breast, teasing my nipple with his tongue and lips.
