His grip tightened for a heartbeat—a possessive, bruising squeeze—and then he set me upright and stepped back.
I swayed on my feet, my body humming with the kind of sensation that left a permanent mark. Not to mention what had happened to my panties.
“See?” he said, his voice rough and uneven. He wouldn’t look at me now. “Danger zones.”
“I think the danger zone just moved,” I muttered, trying to catch my breath.
“We’re going back,” he announced, turning his back on me and heading for the cabin at a pace that was practically a sprint.
I stood there for a moment, goosebumps on my skin that had nothing to do with the spring chill in the air. My heart was a frantic mess in my chest. He was broody, he was grumpy, and he was currently running away.
But I’d felt that heart rate. I’d seen that look in his eyes. And oh, boy, had I felt the way his body had reacted to having me in his arms. He’d been hard. Big and hard.
“Nice try, Underwood,” I whispered, a slow, triumphant smile spreading across my face as I started the walk back. “But you can’t run from your wife in name only, forever.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Thorne
I needed to get out of the cabin.
The air inside was becoming too heavy with the scent of Maddie’s vanilla shampoo and the echoing sound of her laughter. Ever since I’d caught her on the trail, my palms had felt branded. I could still feel the weight of her hips, the press of her breasts pressed against my chest, and the way her heart had thudded against mine like a trapped bird.
I’d spent the last twenty-four hours being a colossal prick, hoping that if I was grumpy enough, she’d back off. Instead, she just looked at me with those dancing eyes and cracked jokes about my delightful mountain man manner.
“We’re going to town,” I announced, grabbing my keys from the counter.
Maddie poked her head out of her room. She was wearing another form-fitting pair of jeans and a soft, lavender sweater that hugged every single curve. Every. Single one. “Town? Are we going to see Kate? Or do we need more cheese?”
“Supplies,” I grunted. “And yes, Kate wants to see us. Probably to make sure I haven’t left you for the wolves yet.”
“Oh, please. The wolves would love me. I’m excellent at dinner conversation.” She grabbed her purse and followed meout, her hips swaying in those jeans in a way that made my vision blur.
And my damn body react. I’d been walking around with a hard-on since our wedding night.
The drive down the mountain was quiet. I’d accused her of not being able to stay silent, but that wasn’t the truth. We spent most evenings in comfortable conversation and stretches of silence.
I headed for the hardware store. There was always another project or repair to be done at the cabin. And now, I damn sure needed to stay busy.
“Stay close,” I said as we walked inside.
“Thorne, it’s a hardware store, not a war zone.” She rolled her eyes, but she didn’t move away.
Hal, the owner, looked up from the counter, his eyes widening. “Thorne Underwood? Haven’t seen you in weeks, son. And who’s this lovely lady?”
“My wife. Maddie,” I said, the word wife feeling heavy and strangely right as it left my tongue. I put my hand on the small of her back—a possessive, instinctive move that I didn’t even try to stop.
“Wife. Well, I’ll be.” He smiled at us both.
I moved us toward the back, grabbing nails, screws and a few saw blades. It didn’t take long for Maddie to wander from my side. She looked like a kid in a candy store, picking up one thing after another, examining it and putting it back. I felt some of the tension leave me. She was right, this was a store not a war zone.
And I didn’t even want to think about why my protective instincts were on full alert.
She was my wife. In name only.
I focused on the list, trying to remember if I’d left something off. Then I heard it. A voice that didn’t belong to Hal.
Talking to Maddie.
