Yesterday evening, Kane insisted I take the bed. Guilt stabbed me again, the same as when I’d crawled into bed. Where had he slept? I had no clue. His couch wasn’t the sleeping sort. It was the same construction as the chair outside, mostly made of narrow branches. I’d been so exhausted, I hadn’t moved until now, hadn’t heard him leave or return or anything. Being clean, fed, and safe, everything had caught up to me. As soon as the sun set, my eyelids had felt like a million pounds and wouldn’t stay open.
Thwack.
But Kane had gestured at the bed in his silent way, then backed off to make sure I understood. I’d been too tired to make a fuss. After everything, having the big guy on my side was a comfort I never expected.
I don’t think my reluctant savior knew his appeal. Yesterday, when he’d been tending my wounds, I’d held my breath. Every touch of his rough fingers against my skin had created shivers over my body and I’d tried not react—and failed. Even his growl was a turn-on. I hoped he hadn’t noticed.
Just thinking about it now made the tingle in my stomach intensify.
Thwack.
I threw off the covers and swung my legs over the side of the bed. I wore Kane’s sweatpants and T-shirt. My ankle throbbed, but I wouldn’t be able to see how much worse it was today unless I took off the tensor bandage. All my scrapes and cuts were feeling better thanks to that ointment Kane used.
A stack of clothes on the top of the dresser caught my eye. He’d taken them off the line and folded them, even attempting to fold my underwear. It lay on top.
My face heated. When I’d realized he was going to wash everything by hand, I’d almost run out there to stop him. The look on his face when he’d picked up my G-string…blank confusion followed by dawning understanding. It was hard to see from the distance and through his beard, but I was pretty sure he’d blushed.
Thwack.
Carefully balancing my weight on my good foot, I stood and hobbled to the window. His back to me, Kane stood on the flat rock with the chopping stump. His flannel shirt stretched across the muscles of his back. The fabric of his jeans hugged his butt and thighs. My breath caught in my throat at his strength, the quiver in my stomach spreading to other areas of my body. He grabbed a thick log with one hand and set it on the larger stump. Then he stepped back, took aim, and lifted the ax above his head.
Thwack.
The log split, the halves flying off in two different directions. My body jerked, the shiver inside me turning warm and spreading to my inner thighs. Kane yanked the ax out of the stump, then grabbed another log. From the amount of wood halves around him, he’d been doing it a while.
I couldn’t tear my eyes away. Watching him made a sudden flush climb through my body, so hot it felt like my nerves were on fire.
Oh shit.
I turned away from the sight and grabbed the bedpost to remain upright.
Thwack.
The sound on its own made a vision of his muscled body flash in my head.
This was bad.
The hot sensation in my body wouldn’t stop, and it settled heavy between my thighs. My breaths became short. Tingles traveled up the backs of my legs and ass. My skin became tight. I wasn’t just getting turned on, no. I was going into heat.
Thwack.
This time, I flinched at the sound and closed my eyes. This was so bad. The reason I’d been so focused on searching for a guy was because it was always better to stave off the heat by getting on top of it as soon as possible. Leaving it too long was always bad news. I would have gone home with the tattooed guy, fucked him for a few days, then left.
It was a familiar pattern. One I’d never had a problem with. It felt natural.
Thwack.
I twitched, then swallowed around the need building inside my throat. Ever since I’d become sexually active, my mother had been spouting safe sex rules. Sabrina and I had both gotten IUDs in our teens because Mom said, “I don’t need a litter of kittens underfoot.”
When it came to going into heat, Sabrina never seemed to have as much of a problem as I did. While I was always on the lookout for the next strong male to satisfy me, Sabrina went about her business like nothing was the matter. Month after month of going into heat, and Sabrina never outwardly showed discomfort. I’d never admitted it before, but her control made me jealous.
I was more like our mother in that regard. Natalie Covin was a party girl through and through.
My hand tightened on the bedpost, my skin moving from the tight stage to itchy. Sometimes I couldn’t find a suitable partner, and I had to make do with a vibrating dildo for the week. It wasn’t as satisfactory, but it was acceptable.
The chances of finding a dildo in this cabin were nonexistent.
And this was only the start. If I didn’t get relief soon, my need would increase so bad I’d end up rolling on the floor in pain with a fever and possible delirium.
