by Maya Banks
With several potential trails to follow, he and Hunter split up and scoured the area. Eventually they came back together, following a single trail higher up the mountain.
The eastern sky was starting to lighten, bathing the darkness in soft lavender. Soon it would be light enough to see without the flashlights, and since the snow had stopped an hour before, her trail would be easily followed.
The prints disappeared in front of a rock outcropping, and Hunter shone a light over the surface. A small hole was carved into the face, large enough for a person to gain access if they crawled.
“More like a cougar den,” Hunter said with a grunt.
“Or bear,” Jericho offered.
“You’re making me feel so much better.”
Jericho dropped to his knees outside the small cave and pointed his flashlight inside. Seeing nothing, he started in. Behind him, Hunter sighed and followed.
He cursed when he bumped his knee on a sharp protrusion, and before he could offer warning, he heard Hunter bite out a curse as well.
“This has got to be the dumbest idea you’ve ever come up with,” Hunter growled. “And you’ve come up with some doozies.”
But Jericho wasn’t paying attention to Hunter’s bitching. He was staring at a small woman huddled against the wall of the cave, her knees drawn to her chest and her arms clutched tight around her legs. His shirt swallowed her whole and was the only barrier she had to the biting cold.
“She’s here,” Jericho said.
Hunter directed his light toward the woman as well. “I’ll be damned. Fool woman. What the hell is she thinking? She’s probably dead.”
“She’s not dead,” Jericho said fiercely.
“Well, okay, if you say so.” Hunter moved forward, holding the light on her as he made his way closer to her huddled body.
Jericho closed the distance as well, almost afraid to touch her, afraid to feel the stillness of death. When his hand found her, he flinched at the coldness of her skin, but it was still supple and pliable.
He fumbled at her neck to feel for a pulse and sighed in relief when he felt the faint pitter-patter against his fingers.
“Well, what now?” Hunter asked as he rocked back on his heels.
“We get her back to cabin where she can warm up,” Jericho said. “We aren’t leaving her here to die.”
“I wasn’t suggesting we do,” Hunter said. He surveyed her thoughtfully then glanced up at Jericho. “This will be a lot easier if we lay out a survival blanket and drag her out of here on it. Then we can wrap her in it and carry her back.”
“Let’s do it, then. She’s going to freeze to death while we sit here with our thumbs up our asses.”
Hunter took a blanket out of his pack and arranged it on the ground at his feet. Jericho reached for the woman, picked her slight form up and set her down on top of the material.
“You go out first and pull,” Hunter said. “I’ll bring up the rear.”
Jericho backed out of the cave, taking the ends of the blanket with him. He tried to be as gentle as possible so as not to jostle the woman, but she never even stirred, which worried him.
The sun had risen enough that they could easily see when they crawled out of the cave. Jericho glanced down at the unconscious woman as he pulled her from the opening in the rock.
She was as slight as he’d thought her to be, but what took his breath away was how beautiful she was. Long, honey-caramel hair, the color of their cougar pet. Sun-kissed skin, not too pale but not dark enough that she’d seen too many harsh sun-filled days without protection.
Unable to resist, he traced a line down her cheek with his fingertip. He brushed across her lip before tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
Hunter knelt down and wrapped the blanket around her in a no-nonsense fashion. When Jericho reached to pick her up, Hunter gripped his arm to stop him.
“I’ll carry her back. You have no business lifting with your bum shoulder.”
Jericho scowled at the reminder. Hell, if he couldn’t lift this little slip of a girl, then he might as well paint a “P” on his forehead and call it good.
But Hunter was already tossing his backpack at Jericho, and then he bent and effortlessly scooped the girl into his arms. Jericho shook his head and collected the packs from the ground and started after Hunter.
Nearly two hours later, they trudged up to the cabin. Jericho went in ahead of Hunter and added wood to the fire while Hunter laid the girl on the couch.
“I don’t know how cold she got. We’ll just have to do our best,” Hunter said. “If we can’t bring her around…”
Hunter didn’t need to finish his thought. Jericho knew it was bad. There was no way for them to drive down the mountain with the recent snow dump and no way for them to get a helicopter to the cabin. It was at least a day’s hike to get to a place where rescue might gain access.
He and Hunter were well-equipped to survive the harsh elements and the demands of the mountain. This little slip of a girl didn’t have a chance. What the hell was she doing here, and where had she come from?
“Get some more blankets,” Hunter ordered. “She’s got to come out of this shirt. It’s soaked through.”
Reluctant to leave her, even in Hunter’s capable hands, Jericho hesitated as Hunter peeled the blanket from around her.
“Go,” Hunter barked. “Unless you want her to die.”
Jericho shook himself and headed to the bedroom. When he returned, he stopped abruptly in the doorway to the living room. All his breath left him in one big whoosh. Hunter was gently rubbing the girl’s naked body with a towel. He quickly and efficiently dried her hair and then swept down her body, covering every inch of her skin.
He’d called her skinny, and she was thin, but skinny? Skinny inferred an unattractive quality. She was fucking beautiful. Generous, full breasts, tiny waist and hips just perfect to span with his hands. He easily imagined holding those slim hips as he thrust into her.
He called back a groan of frustration and mentally slapped himself on the back of the head. He was being an asshole of the first order.
Hunter looked up and impatiently gestured for Jericho. Jericho closed the distance between them and dropped the blankets in a heap beside Hunter.
Turning away from the sight of the woman in Hunter’s arms, Jericho forced his attention to the fireplace, adding more logs and stoking the glowing embers until the flames licked high and heat radiated from the core.
When he was done, he turned back to see that Hunter had wrapped her in several of the blankets and was reaching for another.
“Help me get this around her and move her closer to the fire,” Hunter said as he held out her bundled body.
Jericho took her while Hunter scooted forward on the floor. When Jericho had swathed her completely, Hunter, who was now directly in front of the fire, reached for her.
Jericho hesitated and looked down into the face of the woman. “I’ve got her,” he said softly.
“What you need to do is give her to me and find as many more blankets and pillows as you can,” Hunter said. “We’ll put her between us so she warms up as fast as possible.”
Jericho sucked in his breath. Did Hunter have any idea what he was saying? Or the memories he dredged up? Hunter had sworn never to put another woman between them, literally or figuratively.
Beside him, Hunter cursed. “That wasn’t what I meant, Jericho, and you damn well ought to know it. Look, bringing her back here was your idea, not mine. I’d just as soon she not die here.”
“Keep your panties on,” Jericho murmured as he relinquished his bundle into Hunter’s arms.
He got up and went into the bedroom to drag the covers from his bed. Next, he hit Hunter’s room and made two trips with blankets and pillows.
When he came back the last time, he saw Hunter sitting on the floor in front of the fire, the woman curled into his arms, nearly swallowed by Hunter’s embrace. There was a look of determination and, oddly enough,
tenderness on Hunter’s face as he stroked one hand through her hair. In that one unguarded moment, Jericho saw more emotion on his friend’s face than he’d seen in years.
Silently he went about making a pallet on the floor by the fire. Hunter scooted over to give Jericho room as he arranged more blankets and pillows.
When Jericho was finished, he stood and stripped his shirt off. He sat on the couch so he could pull his boots off, and he tossed them toward the front door. They landed with a thump, and he stood once again to unfasten his jeans. If he was going to be lying on the floor, he was going to be as comfortable as possible.
Stripped down to his underwear, he stepped onto the mound of blankets and gestured for Hunter to relinquish the woman. Hunter carefully leaned over and eased her into Jericho’s arms. While Hunter stood to undress, Jericho positioned her to his side, lifting the blankets so that she fit flush against his body so his warmth would bleed into her.
She stirred lightly. A soft, whispery moan escaped her parted lips and blew gently over his neck. As if seeking more of his heat, she snuggled deeper into his chest, her legs twining with his.
God it felt good to have a woman in his arms again. It had been so long. Too damn long. All soft curves and swells. There was nothing like holding a woman this close.
Hunter got down on her other side and turned away from her and Jericho. Without a word, he moved until his back was molded tightly to hers. Jericho could feel the tension radiating from Hunter. It was tangible. If Jericho were smart, he’d turn his back as well. She needed their warmth and nothing else.
It was too easy to remember the last—and only—time he and Hunter had slept with a woman between them. Back when they were young and foolish and thought they had all the answers.
He glanced down at the still-sleeping woman nestled so sweetly in his arms.
“Who are you?” he murmured. “And where did you come from?”
Chapter Four
Kaya stirred but quickly stilled and held her breath. Warm. So warm. She let her breath out in a soft sigh of contentment and then opened her eyes. All she saw was human flesh. Her nose was pressed solidly against a chest. She carefully inhaled, recognizing the scent immediately.
She came fully awake as panic engulfed her.
She tried to roll but rammed into another human. Hunter. Hands came out to steady her, but she bolted upright, shaking them off and scrambling frantically away.
“Hey, easy now,” Jericho murmured even as he reached for her arm.
Her gaze swept the room looking for possible escape routes. Locking onto the front door, she made her bid for freedom.
Strong arms caught her and locked her against a muscular chest. She cried out, unable to stanch the quick flash of fear.
“Shhhh,” Hunter soothed.
He gripped her tightly, holding her prisoner. Her heart beat wildly, her breasts nearly flattened by his forearms. No clothes. A moan nearly escaped her. She was naked, in a strange man’s arms.
The cougar howled within, worried and anxious. It took every ounce of her strength not to give over to the beast.
“No one’s going to hurt you. Breathe. Your heart’s beating way too fast.”
Breathing was impossible around the panic swelling her throat. She stared at Jericho just a few feet away, pleading silently with him to make Hunter release her.
“Hunter, let her go.”
“I can’t do that,” Hunter said, his breath blowing across her ear. “She’ll bolt for the door.”
“She won’t make it, and you’re scaring her to death.”
He was right. She couldn’t make it to the door now that they were focused on her. She’d never get past them the way she’d done before.
Slowly, Hunter loosened his hold. She took advantage and lunged away, her knees scraping the floor in her haste. She fell forward, her palms smacking the wood as she caught herself. Jericho was there, touching her shoulder, and she rolled, instinctively putting up her hands to protect herself.
He didn’t touch her again. He crouched over her, clad in only his underwear. His expression was hard, but something in his eyes comforted her. What?
“We aren’t going to hurt you,” he said in a low voice. “We found you in a cave, nearly dead from exposure. We brought you back here so we could warm you up and take care of you.”
She scrunched her eyebrows together. “Why?”
He blinked in surprise. To the side, Hunter moved, and her gaze darted cautiously to him. But he ignored her and collected his clothing from the floor.
“Would you have preferred we left you to die?” Jericho asked.
“Why would you care?”
He cocked his head to the side. “Such strange questions. Now I’d like to ask a few, but first I think you should get dressed.”
She glanced down, more aware than ever of the fact she was completely nude, sprawled on the floor. Never before had she been uncomfortable with her nakedness, but now a hot flush stole over her skin, and she was mortified.
Her arms folded over her middle, covering as much flesh as she could. Then she hunched forward so that her legs gave her additional protection.
Without a word, Hunter walked by and dropped a shirt on the floor beside her. Then he headed toward the kitchen. “I’m going to put dinner on. Let me know if she’ll be staying to eat,” he said in Jericho’s direction.
She reached gratefully for the shirt and pulled it on, clutching at the lapels to hold them closed. The warm, masculine scent floated upward and surrounded her. Such a wonderful smell. She hugged the shirt tighter as if she could absorb the very essence of the rugged male who’d worn it.
“Now, would you like something to eat? We can offer you something better than the cold stew and cornbread you were scarfing last night.”
Embarrassment heated her cheeks at his dry reminder. And even though she’d sell her soul for a hot, cooked meal, she shook her head.
“I need to go,” she said in barely above a whisper.
Jericho stood and gathered his own clothing, but she saw that he kept a careful eye on her.
“Go? Where the hell are you going? Back to your cave? What in the world are you doing out on a mountain in the dead of winter running around bare-assed naked?”
Then as if the thought had just occurred to him, he stilled and his expression softened, his eyes gentling.
“Did you leave a hospital or something? Are there people looking for you, and should you be on medication?”
She stared at him in confusion. “I don’t go to hospitals, and I don’t take medication.”
Doubt shadowed his face. “Maybe you don’t think you should, but there are people who could help you.”
Realization was slow in coming, but when it hit her, her mouth gaped open. Maybe she hadn’t had much to do with the human race over the years, but she wasn’t an idiot.
“Are you calling me crazy?”
His lips twisted sardonically. “Crazy? Naahh. It’s perfectly sane to run around in the snow naked and to break into people’s cabins and steal their clothes and eat their food.”
“I’d say that’s desperate, not crazy,” she said quietly.
Now fully dressed, he returned to her and bent down on one knee. He didn’t make any move to touch her, and for that she was grateful. She didn’t trust herself. It had been too long since she’d had contact with another human, and she craved something as simple as touch. Skin to skin. Fingers through her hair.
A long-distant memory bubbled painfully to surface. A smiling woman brushing Kaya’s hair while another girl with golden hair played close by.
Cheetah.
The word came unbidden from the dark cloisters of her mind. She felt a kinship with this girl. The cheetah running with the wind and the cougar trying to keep pace only to be left behind.
Left behind.
The deadness spread from her chest into her stomach. She’d been left by the humans. Her humans.
“What are you thinking?”
Jericho’s softly echoed question filtered through the hazy memories. Her nose drew up and stung with unshed emotion. No, she wouldn’t break. She must be strong and resilient, a worthy companion to the guardian animal spirit who shared her soul.
She drew in a steadying breath, stuck out her chin and eyed him with determination. “I’d like something to eat, and I would appreciate some pants if you have any to spare. But then I must go.”
It took all her courage to face this man and lay out her demands as if she had a right to do so. She prayed to the Maker that he couldn’t see how hard she was trembling.
Surprisingly, he held out a hand to her. She eyed it suspiciously, but he was patient, holding it there as he waited. Finally she took it, allowing her palm to slide over his.
He stood and then pulled her up in front of him, but he didn’t let go of her hand. “First let’s get you some pants. I have some thermal underwear but those would look goofy.”
She shrugged. “As long as they’re dry and warm.”
One eyebrow lifted as he regarded her with open curiosity. “I think I have some sweats that you can tighten enough to keep around your waist. If not, I don’t know if we have anything that’ll work. We don’t exactly keep women’s clothing around here.”
Again she made a motion of indifference.
He pulled on her hand, and she stumbled forward in surprise.
“I don’t trust that you won’t be out of here like a shot if I leave you to get the sweats.”
“I won’t leave until I’ve eaten and gotten the warm clothes,” she said solemnly.
He laughed, and the shock of the deep, husked timbre of such a delightful sound rolled down her spine, making every nerve ending stand up and pay attention.
“You’re an honest little thing,” he said with a shake of his head.
“I’m cold and hungry. It would do me no good to lie.”
They came to a stop inside a small bedroom, and she gazed around, inhaling his unmistakable scent. It was imprinted on every object. She stared longingly at the bed, at the softness of the mattress. The covers were gone, on the floor of the living room if she wasn’t mistaken.
He let go of her hand long enough to rummage in the drawer of a nearby chest, and then he yanked out a pair of black sweats.
He eyed her critically as he held the pants up next to her bare legs.
“I guess you can roll up the waist some.”
She took them from him. “I’ll manage.”
“Okay. I’ll wait right outside. You can use the bathroom through there if you need it.” He pointed to the doorway leading off the bedroom.
She gave a short nod and stood gripping the pants while she waited for him to disappear. After one last look in her direction, he backed out and closed the door behind him.
Needing to feel like she had added privacy, she ducked into the small bathroom and shut the door. Before she pulled her pants on, she turned on the faucet and watched in wonder as the water slid seamlessly into the sink.
Her fingers flicked out to play with the stream, and she winced at the chill. She ducked her head, cupped her hand and pulled the water into her mouth.
Running water was a luxury she hadn’t enjoyed in well over a year. She frowned as she remembered her last trip into civilization. No money, no plan. Just a desire to embrace her humanity again.
She glanced at the shower and wondered if they had a hot water heater for the water piped in from one of the nearby streams. The cabin was surprisingly modern despite its remote location.
Now that the idea was planted in her mind, she couldn’t resist the lure of having hot water rain down over her body. She reached into the cubicle and turned on the water. After a few moments, she sent her fingers seeking into the stream.
A sound of absolute delight escaped her lips before she could call it back. Eager not to waste a drop, she stripped out of the shirt and stepped under the spray.
