“We can find some other exercise, if you’dprefer.” The hungry growl of his voice made her rethink the optionof keeping her clothes on.
“Ian…”
Whatever she’d been about to say was cut offwhen he placed his hand over her mouth, lifted her up against hischest, and slid noiselessly into the woods before she had a chanceto blink let alone process what was going on. He ducked around theback of a large oak just as three men emerged from the shadows ofthe woods. Paige went completely still against him, she hung limplyin his grasp as she watched them move up the trail. They had bowsin hand and quivers slung over their backs as they walked.
“Shh,” he whispered in her ear beforeremoving his hand from her mouth. He didn’t release her, but kepther close against him.
“Are they human?” she asked.
“Yes.”
She watched the men as they continued up theridge, away from the cabin. “They’re only going hunting.”
“Maybe. They could be scouts.”
Tilting her head back, she frowned up athim. “Scouts for what?”
Her eyes widened when his crimson eyes methers. She’d never expected to see the murderous expression on hisface. “Remember, not all of us can walk about in the daylight. Somevampires use humans to do what they can’t.”
“Do you think they’re a threat?”
“If it means keeping you safe, then I willconsider everyone a threat.”
She finally managed to blink when his lipcurled back to reveal an elongated fang. “Ian…”
“Let’s get back to the cabin.”
Turning her around, he rested his hands onher hips and lifted her off the ground again. “What are you doing?”she hissed in his ear.
“Wrap your legs around my waist.” She shookher head and tried to wiggle out of his grasp. He didn’t relent toher. “We have to move silently. You’re quiet, you’re graceful, butyou’re human.”
“So are they,” she protested. “And theyprobably already know the cabin is there, if they’re from thearea.”
“They don’t know where we are right now andthey’re carrying bows.” A muscle near his eye twitched, his jaw waslocked as he stared at her. “I’m not trying to get in your pantsright now. I’m only trying to get us back to the cabin undetected,and fast.”
His blunt words knocked away her argument.Her legs wrapped around his waist and she slid her arms around hisneck. Feeling like a child, she clung to him as he placed his handin her back. He began to move through the woods with a speed shenever would have been able to attain. The trees rushed by her in ablur; she had no concern they would hit any of them as he dashed inand out with ease.
The scent of lake water, and his natural,heady aroma of earth and something entirely male drifted up to her.With every step he took, she fought the urge to bury her face inhis neck and press against his heated, taut flesh. Her breastsached, without meaning to she pushed them more firmly against hisbare chest in an attempt to ease the pressure within them. Hatingthis hold he had over her, she fought against her growing arousaland impulses. When they broke free of the woods, she realized she’dnever be free of the way he could make her feel. She’d never ridherself of the sensations only he’d ever brought to life.
Ian ground his teeth together as he foughtthe urge to slide his hands beneath her sweater and feel thesilkiness of her supple skin. Her nipples pressing against hischest caused him to lengthen and harden. Images of sliding his cockinto her filled his mind. He immediately shoved the erotic picturesaside. He had to keep his head clear right now. There had beennothing overly menacing about the men, but right now he didn’ttrust anyone near her.
He still felt in control of himself, but heknew if the bond between them developed further, or was denied fortoo long, his sanity would begin to unravel. He’d seen it withIsabelle and Stefan, and he’dreallyseen it happen withEthan and Emma. He still trusted himself to be around her, far morethan he trusted anyone else.
However, he would tear someone’s throat outif they so much as looked at her the wrong way. Violence, and theurge to kill someone, had never been something that had come easyto him. Any violence he’d been provoked into before had beennecessary to keep his loved ones safe, but he wouldn’t hesitate todestroy someone if it meant keeping her alive. He would deal outdeath to anyone who lifted a finger against her or so much asharmed a hair on her head.
He climbed the stairs of the cabin, pulledopen the door and stepped inside. She leaned away to look up athim. For the first time since she’d met him, his face wasshuddered, his eyes distant. A muscle in his jaw twitched; hegrabbed her waist again and lifted her off of him. The look on hisface was aloof, but she felt the evidence of his arousal when sheslid down him.
A shiver ran through her. Her handsconvulsed on the thick muscles of his biceps when he placed her onthe ground. Her head tilted back; her eyes settled on his mouth.She would give anything to feel his mouth on hers again, to feelthose large hands running over her flesh, but as she thought it, hestepped away from her.
Disappointment crashed through her; herhands fell back to her sides. “Probably best if we stay in here fora couple of hours.” Even his voice had become distant.
He returned to the screen door and lookedoutside before moving on to look out the two windows in the livingroom. She watched him walk around the rest of the cabin, but herfeet remained strangely rooted in place. All this time she’d beentrying to push him away, she was petrified she’d finally succeededin doing so.
CHAPTER 15
Ian returned to the cabin after completing his walkof the area. The humans were gone, or at least they weren’t withina ten mile radius, but he still didn’t like the idea they’d beenanywhere nearby in the first place. He found Paige in the shed,pounding on the punching bag he’d discovered inside and hung fromthe center beam. Her punches made a solid thwacking sound as sheconnected with it over and over again. She spun and gave a solidroundhouse kick to the side of the bag. She danced back beforegoing at it with a series of blows that would have knocked anyhuman on their ass.
Small grunts escaped her as she continued topound on it before spinning again and kicking it so vigorously itjerked on its chains and swung away from her. Stepping back, shewiped her forearm across her brow. Straggling hairs had broken freeof the loose knot on her head; they clung to her round cheeks andchin. He couldn’t help but admire the leanness of her lithe frameas she moved with the fluid grace of an athlete.
