Surrendering to the Mountain Man

by Asha Daniels

  And the next shiver wasn’t because of the cold.

  There was no reason I was drawn to him, a stranger who glared at me with penetrating eyes, but I was breathless, my heart skipping, adrenaline pumping. I wanted nothing more than to walk closer, to touch his heated skin, allow myself to succumb. This was insane. What in the hell was I thinking? Taking a giant step backwards, I tripped, falling into the snow.

  Mystery man held a look of amusement, a wry smile on his face.

  And I wanted nothing more than to wipe off his look of satisfaction. Scuttling to my feet, I lowered my head and walked straight toward the resort, embarrassment creating heat sliding up from between my breasts.

  “Goddamn it’s freezing outside!” Becca stood close to the fire, her small hands wrapped in light blue puffy gloves.

  Surrender. The word remained whispering in my ears, reminding me of the woman inside, the longing. Could I submit to a stranger? The answer was no longer surprising.

  I had a feeling he was following me inside but when I turned, he was nowhere in sight.

  And I was disappointed.

  Chapter 5

  Razer

  Obedience. Domination. Punishment.

  The words lingered, swilling inside my mind. They refused to leave me alone, the nagging creating a nasty headache.

  Hunger swelled within me, a strong desire that pushed my needs to a terrifying level. My entire body was shaking, adrenaline rushing into every cell. My muscles remained tense and my heart raced. But anger was a constant, an ugly swirling notion that had gripped me from years before. I hated this side of me, the burning crush of longing that fueled my decisions. The craving had kept me hard the night before, hard enough I masturbated, wrapping my hand around my cock and pumping until the agony was almost as intense as the heightened level of desire. There was a single reason why.

  The girl.

  She had appeared, walking toward me in the snow. The attractive blonde. The very one I’d almost run down, the act careless. Stupid. I’d been cavalier in attempting to get close, to find out more. To squelch the burning desire. There’d been no reason to drive to the slopes except the nagging inside my head had changed, pushing me toward the area. Just to find out if I was losing my mind.

  A growl left my throat and lips and I clenched my fists. I watched as her friend pulled her away, no doubt toward safety and away from the asshole who’d almost killed her. Megan. I heard her name. The softness of it rolled off my tongue, furrowing into the back of my mind. I’d also seen the way she looked at me. Desire. That was clear by her penetrating stare, the way she continued to move closer. Her mouth was full, a delicate pink and even though she was covered in ski attire, I could tell she was voluptuous. The way her breasts pushed against her shirt and the jacket gave me sinful thoughts. Vile thoughts. My mind was in a vacuum, a mouth-watering feast of sights and senses.

  What if I talked to her? Huh? What if I fuckin’ decided to grab her by the arm? What if I took her with me? Snorting, I was determined to walk away but she’d drawn me in, the spider’s web intricate yet a delicate weave. She had no idea the effect she had on me.

  “Megan!”

  The friend called, beckoning her away. There were no words to say, no draw I could offer. I was simply the hired help as had been so appropriately stated.

  “Megan. Jesus Christ. There you are. What are you looking at? Him? Oh. My. God. The hired help. Come on.”

  Megan’s friend had the kind of voice that could drive a man insane. She seemed haughty, no doubt another one of the girls here on Daddy’s money.

  Hesitating, Megan studied me, her eyes roaming over the length of my body then issued a look of disgust. What the fuck? Who did she think she was, some princess who should be allowed to treat people with disrespect? The bitch. Jesus Christ. What in the hell was I thinking? She revolted me, as all women did, yet my extreme hunger refused to die, my cock twitched until I was nearly in anguish.

  My cravings for her had no understanding, but my visions remained, taking her. Keeping her.

  Using her.

  I’m not entirely certain she’d mind. She was drawn to me for reasons I’m certain neither one of us could understand. Even now, she walked closer, unafraid, her curiosity mixing with her own teeming desire.

  It was as if she’d seen right through me the day before, into what was left of my blackened soul. Then again, I’d seen into hers. That split second. A moment in time that couldn’t have happened.

  But it did.

  Megan was meant to belong to me.

  I continued to watch her as I unloaded the wood, the way she tried to locate me once again, her face scrunched from the wind and the ice pelting against her face and body. She was beautiful in a youthful way, her skin shimmering given the frosty conditions. I have no idea why I was drawn to her but from the moment I’d seen her the day before, I wanted to know more.

  I shouldn’t have been paying any attention to her. A single approach, an odd look would certainly bring down the wrath of the hotel. But I couldn’t help myself. She was with a group of friends, three others to be exact. There would be no opportunity to talk to her, as if she’d want to strike up a conversation with a stranger, an oddity.

  A monster.

  Megan lingered, hovering outside in the cold. After a few seconds she seemed resigned, her shoulders slumping as she walked behind the other girls, heading for the quiet comfort of the resort.

  I had to go inside. I had to confront her. What in the fuck was I thinking? There was no accounting for my actions. Impetuous. But I couldn’t allow her to leave without confirming what I already knew. She was ready to submit.

  I grabbed a load of wood in my arms and stormed inside. She was there, hiding in the shadows, but I could see her eyes. They watched me as I hunkered down, stacking the few pieces by the fireplace. I could hear the whispered laughs of the girl with her, the subtle yet feminine sound.

  My mind was dragged into a pit of my own hell, sweat beading down the back of my neck. I wanted to inhale her perfume, taste her sweet mouth. I wanted to feel her breasts as they crushed against my chest and know that her heart was racing, her mind churning with possibilities. I wanted to peel away her clothes, rub my rough fingers against her smooth skin. When I stood, I was determined to find out, to take a single taste, if only drinking her in with my eyes.

  “Razer. That was kind of you to bring in the wood. Thank you.”

  Marty appeared in front of me, his smile genuine as he held out his hand waiting for the obligatory niceties, which I wanted no part of. But I shook his hand anyway, nodding in acknowledgement of his kind words.

  “Well, I better get going. Lots to be done.” Marty rubbed his hands together. “Probably no way to get ahold of you in this blasted storm, but maybe you can think about coming down the first chance you get.”

  “Yeah, I’ll bring a load of wood as soon as I can.”

  Marty patted me on the arm. “Stay warm, son and get back to your place before the shit hits the fan.” His eyes twinkled when he said the words.

  “I know. I’ll be leaving soon.” I heard my words, even the light inflection as if I cared. When he walked away, I turned my head. She was gone. Damn it! Anger boiled within me and I stomped toward the exit, almost pushing over two of the guests.

  The cold air and rush of wind was invigorating. But the anger continued to fuel the simmering fire, raw and fresh, a horrible hunger remaining in the pit of my stomach. The chance was lost.

  “Why?”

  I heard her voice, the single word, the accusatory question directed my way. I only had to tip my head to see her beautiful face, her eyes as they twinkled, as if allowing herself the guts to talk to me was the accomplishment for the day. “Why what?” I left out the word ‘princess’.

  She moved closer, her eyes sweeping down the length of my body. “Why are you watching me?”

  The question was so simple, so easy to answer yet so difficult to say. I crowded her space, studying h
er face, the expression that held a sense of entitlement, but there was more. “Because you hunger.”

  Megan’s lovely face was contorted, unsure of how to retort, but I could tell she wanted nothing more than to find a catchy answer, a moment where she held the dominance. When her lower lip quivered, her eyes flashing, I gave her another once over, making certain she could read my thoughts. I’d never see her again. I could give her an idea of what she was craving without fear she’d find a way to retaliate. I could give her a thrill. And so, I allowed a single low-slung growl to push up from my throat.

  She swallowed and inched closer and I had to give her credit. She had a backbone, unlike any of the other girls I’d noticed or paid any attention to.

  “You don’t know me or what I need. No man ever will.”

  The words struck in a way I hadn’t anticipated. I could see past the haughty and very fake attitude, the look of a girl with expensive tastes and a refined education. I was able to see the hurt, the pain and the fear that had nothing to do with her own desires but more about the life she was living. Haunted. Desperate. Lost. In those few seconds of intense connection, I could see myself.

  And it scared me to death. “Pity.”

  She wrinkled her nose. The answer had been unexpected. A line seemed to be drawn in the sand. Her lips pursed, a slight snippet of a moan escaping.

  I stood several inches taller and when I lowered my head, she didn’t tremble nor did she back away. Instead, she inched even closer, close enough I was able to gather a whiff of her perfume, the intoxicating scent rushing into my nostrils, drowning in every cell. I don’t remember reaching out, allowing my hand to cup her chin, my thumb to brush away a damp strand of hair from her full lips. But I did. The connection was electric, swelling my balls.

  Megan trembled, her eyes darting back and forth. There was no fear. There was no trepidation, only a split second of intimacy as she shifted forward, her chin pressing hard against my calloused hand.

  I could have easily kissed her, tasted her sweet lips, but we were interrupted by the other girl’s deep sigh.

  Swallowing, Megan blinked several times as she shuddered then finally took a step back then another. Finally, her eyes lowered toward my feet.

  Interesting. Respect.

  “We have to go, Megan!” the other girl insisted, rolling her eyes as she glared at me.

  Huffing, I turned my attention to the wood. The beautiful moment was broken, pitched away. I couldn’t get away from her fast enough. Standing in the snow, the cold air breaching my lungs allowed me to breathe normally. I was a fucking idiot.

  I still needed to get back up the mountain before the storm settled in. The forecast was wrong. I knew this in my gut. The area, including the resort would be forced to shut down for days. The thought didn’t bother me. I could be left alone, unfettered by the request for wood.

  Thump! Thump!

  I threw the logs into position and when I was nearly done, I took another look. She was on the lift, preparing for another day of adventure. The desire remained strong, burning into my joints, forcing my cock to throb. I wasn’t surprised by the fact my dick was hard. I was surprised by the reason why. My longing wasn’t just about whipping and sex. There was more, as if I had to own her, every inch, requiring her complete submission. The thought left me winded.

  I could tell she had no business being on skis, but wasn’t that the way of anyone coming here? I snickered at the thought as I shoved the last of the wood into position and waved to Marty, sliding onto the snow mobile and revving the engine. I traveled under the lift on my way up the mountain. To my home. To my protection.

  For her protection.

  I couldn’t get her off my mind. Images of her face, her body, her ivory skin were more than just an awakening. It was also damning.

  The snow began to fall in earnest and I had an uncanny feeling that I’d see the girl, Megan, again. In my gut, I realized that if given the chance, she would belong to me. There would be no interference. No one would be able to take her away. No one would find her. Perhaps they didn’t care.

  Megan would be mine to have. Use. Fuck. And dominate. And there would be nothing anyone else could do about it. Who are you Megan? What do you want? What do you lie awake at night dreaming of? A man to teach you, train you and force you to submit?

  I pressed down on the accelerator and zigzagged through the trees, trying desperately to rid myself of this wretched feeling, all consuming in a manner that left me powerless. I kept my head low as the tree limbs whipped by, scratching against my face, but I was alive and on fire, more alive than I’d been in months, if not years.

  The snow continued to fall, now moving sideways, stinging my face but I could feel nothing but the warmth between my legs, my cock shoving against my jeans. My balls ached, swollen from the single thought of taking her. I was drunk with the idea as I headed around the last bend and toward the cabin. I no longer cared who I was. I no longer felt any conscience, any remorse for the man I’d become. I only felt one thing.

  Need.

  As I rolled into the last bend, I knew in my gut that I wasn’t going to stop. I couldn’t simply go inside, forget about her and allow the moment to pass. The opportunity would never come again. As I turned around, slowing to a stop and idling, I knew what I was going to do. I knew what I had to do.

  Claim her.

  The snow was heavy, much heavier than the forecasts had predicted. The trip had taken me almost three hours given the conditions but here there was no sense of time. Anger had settled in, a tightening in my chest given the single moment of respect, an exchange of power. She had no idea what she’d done.

  I unfastened the trailer and took off, rolling down and through the trees, adrenaline leaving me on edge. There was no particular course of action, no meticulous plan in my mind. The window would be short, if there were any possibilities of taking her. The air was so bitter cold, the wind whipping the snow in swirls. Soon there would be a whiteout. All travel would be considered dangerous.

  I knew the lift schedule as well as the timing of the various ski runs. There was little I didn’t know about the operation of the resort, knowledge I used with extreme caution. A quick glance at the sky and I was forced to admit concern had wormed its way into my mind. What should I care? The ski instructors had been trained, hours of intense classroom education on various weather conditions. The bastard should have refused to take them up. No doubt the sanctimonious asshole was looking for tips.

  Considering the fact she’d gone up hours before, she was either safely inside, hunkered beside a warm fire, or the entire group was in significant trouble. There was one way to find out.

  I would find her.

  The snowmobile bogged after only fifteen minutes, the oversized skis having difficulty in the freshly fallen snow. I sputtered along, inching closer to the area I’d been the day before. The girls had better hope to God the instructor didn’t allow them on the advanced slope or there would be no hope of getting them down.

  Leaning further over the handlebars, I headed straight for the starting point. After rounding an icy curve, I could just make out the small shack, a landing spot for tourists and crew. There was no indication at this point they’d even been there. Zero tracks of any kind permeated the snow. Looking over the ridge, I clawed at the snow and ice encased in my beard as the engine idled. I could go only another mile or so safely then I’d be forced to turn back.

  The decision was mine. As the chill settled in, making breathing difficult, I headed out, moving down the hill, weaving through the trees. I stayed as close to the run as possible but as a bank of fog rolled in, cutting off all concept of visibility, I had no choice but to turn back. Still, there was no sign that anyone had bothered to try the run. There was zero time to lament or give a fuck. Even with the increased horsepower, I’d have difficulty making it back to the cabin before the line of sight all but disappeared.

  The girl would have to take care of herself.

 
; The engine began to chug only minutes later. There had to be ice forming in the lines even though the right chemicals had been added. I was particular about maintaining the equipment, my lifeline. Goddamn the fucking piece of shit. I pressed on, determined to get as far up the hill as possible. Every hundred feet would matter.

  As the engine sputtered again, coughing and hissing, I was forced to stop altogether. A quick check of the systems and I realized the fucking fuel line had been nicked. Or cut on purpose. At this point, I wouldn’t be able to tell, but I would find out. Enraged, I turned in a full circle, trying to make some mental note of where I was forced to leave the equipment. Grabbing my pack, I adjusted the thick wool scarf over my mouth and nose and surveyed the area one last time. God help anyone out here.

  Then I set off.

  Ice pellets pummeled against the goggles as I trudged through the snow. Although the previous storms had left the blanket of white packed down, the inches of freshly fallen made the trek slow going, treacherous given the limited visibility. Every step was exhausting, forcing me to rest every quarter mile. At least I had a good sense of where I was going. There was nothing but the sound of whipping wind, the pings of ice and tree limbs snapping from the weight. There was nothing beautiful about this storm, only a vindictive slap from Mother Nature.

  I had no idea how much time had passed other than the darkening of the sky. With any luck, I’d make it back before dark. If not, the single flashlight would have to lead the way. The terrain became increasingly difficult, the incline significant at this point. I had to rest. I had to stop, even for a few minutes.

  Panting, I took cover in a bank of pine trees and crouched down. Every muscle in my body was on fire, agony reaching in, snacking on muscle tissue. If I closed my eyes even for a few minutes, all could be lost. I wasn’t going to die like a freaking coward. Hoisting myself to my feet, I counted to five before taking off. There were no giant strides, no method to increase speed. Slow and methodical.

  Ten steps. Keep going. Ten more. I could no longer feel my fingers or my feet, but I refused to stop. I was getting out of here alive. I struggled with ten or fifteen more and after bending over, trying desperately to catch my breath, a blip of color caught my attention. What in the hell? A mound of what appeared to be light blue was humped up, only a foot or so seen above the snow. By all rights I should keep going before I lost what was left of my energy, but a nagging in the back of my mind said otherwise.