Surrendering to the Mountain Man

by Asha Daniels

  The distance was only about twenty feet but to me, it could have been a mile. I took several deep, yet labored breaths then headed in the direction. Must have taken me at least five minutes to close the distance. After wiping my goggles, I dropped down, touching the form.

  Then I heard what had to be a moan, the sound faint and muttered, as if someone was gasping for breath. Ah, shit. Glancing over my shoulder, I had only a few seconds to make a decision. Sweeping the snow from around the person, I managed to catch a glimpse of hair – blonde hair. A rush of tremors skated down my spine. I struggled to shift her and could just see a face. There was no covering, only a hood covering a portion of the girl. While she was wearing ski pants and a parka, the gloves were far too thin for the extreme conditions.

  “Hey. Can you hear me?” My voice seemed to echo in the forest. Pushing against her shoulder, I waited for a few seconds.

  Her eyelids finally fluttered open then closed almost immediately but in the limited amount of time, I could tell whoever the girl was, she was out of it. Hissing, I shoveled snow with my hands away from her body. She was almost entirely covered in snow. One ski was attached to her boot, the other nowhere to be seen.

  Willing my hands to work, I set out to remove the cumbersome metal. Fuck. Bending my fingers was almost an impossibility but after three failed attempts, I managed to remove the ski, tossing it to the side. I had to take another series of breaths before attempting to pull her out of the snowbank. She was heavy in my arms, but at this point, almost anything of weight would be. Still, the precarious predicament we were in was not to be taken lightly.

  Hindered with another human was not on my agenda for the day, no matter who she turned out to be. “Are you awake? Try and wake up for me.” Jerking off my scarf, I wiped ice from her skin, both cheeks already blotchy and red from the cold. “Fuck this.”

  She moaned, her eyelids popping open again. The look in her eyes was one of horror, a fear that I’d hopefully never experience. There would be no help for this girl if I didn’t try and get her to safety. Yeah, as if I had the strength to carry her.

  “I… Help…”

  The two words were muffled, so sad but she said them. She was begging for help. My help.

  Yeah, I was going to give it to her. Slipping my hands under her arms, I managed to drag her to her feet. She was dead weight in my arms and even though I couldn’t detect any injuries, I couldn’t take the time to give her entire body an examination. We were running out of light. “If you can hear me, I’m taking you with me.” There was no more to say, even if she could hear a damn word I was saying.

  You have to save her.

  The inner voice was nagging, pushing my boundaries. After two tries, I was able to ease her body over my shoulder. When I turned around, I swear to God, I wanted to rail to whatever heavenly presence might exist. The snow was falling even harder, moving sideways in a blinding manner. I could only pray that I knew where I was going.

  Every step was full of raw anguish, the kind that would cause most men to just give up. There was no way I was letting us both freeze to death. None. Period. I kept saying the words in my head as I trudged forward, every small step now a blessing. The light continued to dim, wreaking havoc on my eyesight as well as my fraying nerves. But I took every step, willing myself to take another.

  My muscles screaming, I almost dropped her. She hung like a sack, not moving or making a single noise, her arms slapping against the back of my legs. For some reason, the rhythm kept me awake, moving in a forward direction. Yes, I could do this. I could… The stumble and fall hit me hard. When she landed in the snow, her now blue lips puckered and cracked, I was mortified and more determined to claw my way to safety. I didn’t give a shit if I had to crawl. I was getting us there.

  We were close. I knew we were. I could almost feel my way there. I wasn’t a praying man, had lost my faith a hell of a long time ago, but at this point, I tipped my head. Yeah, I’d have to explain to God why I was such a bad man and I wasn’t even certain if there was a way to save my soul, but yeah, I was at the begging point.

  As the last vestige of light gave way to the shadows, an ominous blanket of death, I crested a hill and could just make out the cabin. There were no words to describe the almost gleeful feeling. “Almost there.” If the words were even audible, there was no way of knowing and she certainly didn’t utter a sound.

  Her quiet was foreboding, as if she’d slipped away in silence, her mind and body lost to the blizzard. The door was just ahead, almost in reach. Almost. I stumbled again, only this time I managed to keep her in my arms. One look was terrifying enough. Cradling her against my chest, I hiked the remaining distance.

  The cabin was cold, the fire having gone out, but the difference in temperature was freeing. Easing her down on the rug in front of the fire, I pulled off her goggles gently and bent over, listening for any breath sounds. I swear to God, there were none. “You can’t… die on me.” My teeth were chattering, my heart racing. I yanked off my gloves and fiddled to unzip her coat. I recognized the sweater, the pink and purple woven crew neck that seemed far too girlish.

  Megan.

  I had to blink several times to gather that the very girl I’d thought of abducting and using was near a comatose state, perhaps even dead. In the next several seconds, I ripped at her hood, removing her coat then her gloves and boots. Checking her pulse, I heard the scattered exhale, the harsh and labored breath sounds. She was alive, perhaps just barely, but she was breathing. I had to get rid of her wet clothes.

  I don’t remember every detail about the next several minutes except that I fought to regain full use of my fingers as I yanked off my coat and attempted to remove her clothes. There was no thought about modesty or care if she’d eventually complain. She would die if I couldn’t raise her body temperature.

  The ski pants were easy to peel away. Her jeans were more difficult. As I looked down at her face, her once beautiful porcelain skin was so white, the red blotches increasing, veins popping out along her neck. She was fragile, so helpless.

  When she remained only in her underwear, I grabbed every blanket I could find, wrapping her hands and feet before covering the rest of her. A fire. I had to make a fire.

  Every move was perfunctory as I tossed the remaining wood I had inside into the space. I couldn’t stop looking at her, fear and worry festering to the point I was working at a frantic pace. This was God’s way of punishing me, a distinct reminder that my thoughts were evil. But I would save her. I would protect her.

  When the flames finally created a burst of heat, I headed outside to gather more wood, tossing as many pieces next to the cabin as I could before my muscles refused to follow directions. I struggled to remove my coat and boots, the wet socks, tossing everything onto the floor. I dropped onto my knees and had to crawl back to her. Her breathing was still shallow but at least she was taking regular breaths. At this point, she seemed to be sleeping; her angelic face almost a beacon of hope.

  I had no idea what to think. I’d been drawn to her. Perhaps I’d been sent to her as well, maybe to save her life. There was no way of telling. My mind was in a dark place as I finagled to remove my own boots and socks. We were both at a point that hypothermia had set in. To what degree, I wouldn’t know for some time.

  Using the back of my hand, I brushed my fingers across her skin. Mine were ultra-sensitive yet I could tell she was far too cold. I heard the growl, the almost savage groan coming from my parched throat. There was no way she was going to warm up quickly enough. I began to rub her skin, using the blanket as a soothing device. I started with her fingers, rubbing each one. They were so still, so lifeless.

  Her arms were rigid and while I managed to bend one, the other was far too cold. I had no way of knowing if she had internal injuries. She must have fallen and tumbled. In truth, she was lucky she didn’t drop off a precipice. No one would have come to her rescue. Rescue. The word seemed so foreign to me, so difficult to even comprehend.

/>   Stop. Let it go. You have to help her. The words flashed in the back of my mind, an ugly reminder that there was a part of me still remaining human, if only a minute fraction. I continued rubbing, being very careful as I moved to her legs, her feet then her toes. Frostbite was a distinct possibility, in truth for both of us. When I was finished, I wrapped her like a cocoon then inched closer to the fire, dropping in three additional pieces of wood. Warmth scattered across my face, allowing me to breathe easier.

  Megan still hadn’t made a sound, not a single whimper or moan since we arrived. And so, I would wait. I stood watching her for several minutes, my imagination soaring with possibilities. I was also anxious, uncertain of how to handle the situation. Only when she seemed peaceful in her sleep, a slight hint of color returning to her cheeks did I dare walk away.

  I changed into dry clothes, feeling guilty as my extremities slowly began to warm, allowing me to feel my fingers.

  The coffee was hot but bitter, yet I finished two cups as I paced, limping as cramps flashed through my calves and the back of my legs, almost crippling me. No amount of rubbing or walking alleviated the pain. I heard the howling of the wind, limbs from the massive trees slapping against the roof, as if begging to get inside. I took another sip and gagged, tossing the rest down the drain.

  Nothing was going to taste good. There was nothing to soothe the nagging, the anger growing inside.

  “Oh!”

  The sound of her agonized moan dragged me away from my pity party. Taking long strides, I knelt by her side, touching the side of her face. Even with the roaring fire, she was still cold to the touch. “Can you hear me?”

  Megan’s eyelids fluttered open, but she seemed unable to focus. She shifted in the blankets, soft whimpers becoming ones laced with terror. I could sense she was claustrophobic and was awake enough to realize she was entrapped.

  There was little for me to do. My mind reeling, I cupped her face, trying to give her some level of comfort before racing into the bathroom and turning on the water in the tub. I had to get her warm, no matter how uncomfortable she would be. When the temperature was hot without being scalding, I inserted the stopper then headed back into the living room.

  This time, her mouth was open, the whimpers were strangled pants as she continued to fight, already managing to free one of her hands.

  “Stop fighting.” I held my breath as I unwrapped her from the blankets, bending over and scooping her into my arms. She was so light, her body shaking to the point her teeth began to chatter again. Her hand flapped at my chest, her mouth twisting as if trying to form coherent words. Easing her into the water, I carefully placed her head on the back of the tub. She was no longer flailing and there was even a slight smile on her face.

  The water gave her skin a translucent appearance and I was able to see her nipples through the thin material of her bra. I forced myself to look away, the need to protect her shoving a level of decency into my being.

  Yet the hunger remained, a brutal level of longing that left my heart thudding, an echo rushing into my ears. I would leave her for only a few minutes, allowing her a quiet moment of healing. After that, the water would become ineffective.

  “Thank you,” she whispered.

  Struggling to climb to my feet, a roar of sensations flooded every cell in my body the second she slid her fingers across my arm. I closed my eyes, controlling the beast clawing at the surface and nodded, without looking in her direction. “Sure. You’re safe here. I’ll come back.” My words were stilted.

  I heard the splash of water, a quiet yet peaceful murmur as I reached the door. My fingers digging into the wood, I did everything in my power to squelch the yearning. This wasn’t the right time. This wasn’t the right way. Oh, yes, I would take her. I would make her mine.

  But only after she surrendered fully and completely.

  Darting one last look, I shuddered at the sight of her naked body, her bra and panties carefully placed on the floor, as if worrying that she’d create a mess. I was drawn to the length of her arm, the delicate fingers leading to a tiny wrist. I envisioned inch thick metal bands clasped tightly around both, steel chains secured to welded links leading to a metal bar dangling from the ceiling. Her lithe body waiting for my arrival, her full lips pouting, her eyes glistening. And the very second she hears my entrance, gazing at the leather flogger resting comfortably in my hand, she issues a single moan. Only one. She knows the rules, understands every requirement I’ve issued, the knowledge of harsh punishment furrowed deeply in her mind.

  My mouth is dry, my cock pressing hard against my jeans to the point I can only concentrate on the increasing agony, as well as the burning desire, sweeping through my aching muscles. She had no idea how desirable she was, especially in this vulnerable state. I could take her, claiming every inch of her perfect body for mine, becoming the Neanderthal monster I’d already succumbed to. I pressed my fingers against my eyes, willing the enticing vision away, trying desperately to gain control of a mind that had no longing to be curtailed. What in the hell was I going to do with her?

  A slight shift of the water drew my attention once again. She’d arched her back, the innocence of her actions drawing me into her tightly woven web. There was no way of knowing if she was a virgin, but her unblemished skin, porcelain to the point of translucency reminded me of the most beautiful piece of sculpture. Her chin was angular, leading to a long neck and strong collarbones. Rosy nipples peeked out of the shimmering water, hardened by the remaining chill. Her full breasts were firm yet soft and I could imagine my hands cupping and squeezing, the supple skin yielding to my fingertips.

  She opened her legs, the slightest of movements and I could almost gather a whiff of her feminine scent. Were her pussy lips just at pink as her nipples? Was she wet, quivering inside at the anticipation of what I could do?

  What I would do.

  My entire mind was lost to the hunger raging within. Blood pumping. Heart racing. I clenched my fingers around the brass doorknob, struggling to keep my humanity. And all the while I wanted nothing but to bury my face between her legs, lap her sweet cream as she cried out my name.

  She settled further into the water, allowing the slight ripples to cascade over her chest, hiding her incredible form, yet her arm continued to dangle over the side, her fingers twitching, her breathing shallow.

  Did she understand that she was in a precarious position? Did she comprehend my control? Would she accept the beast inside? As a cold chill prickled my arms and back, I turned away finally, disgusted with my own thoughts.

  And after turning away, willing my body to obey my commands, I could swear I heard her whimpering.

  Begging.

  There was nothing that would keep me from taking her.

  What had God turned me into?

  Chapter 6

  Megan

  Desire. I could smell the testosterone claiming his body, could sense he didn’t want to leave me alone. While I gathered a swirl of concern, uncertainty as to what was required of him, I also connected with a more primal need that left him prisoner. Everything remained foggy, yet I’d gleaned the looks he’d given me, the vanquished expression.

  My savior was a haunted man.

  His eyes bored into mine, grabbing at my soul, his desire breaking through a barrier. I was captured by the intensity, the shadows on his face, the look of worry furrowing into his brow. The single touch left me breathless, unable to think clearly.

  Perhaps my own longing betrayed me. I had no business taunting him given the way he’d reacted at the resort. His brutality had shown if only briefly, allowing a slight crack in his armor the moment he hovered over me, his massive body overshadowing my much smaller form. And he’d almost kissed me, crushing his mouth over mine. If only we hadn’t been interrupted. Was I teasing him, only trying to establish a line in the sand? I no longer knew or cared what my original intentions might have been. I was here. I was alone with this rugged man who hungered in a manner I’d never experienc
ed.

  The electricity was palpable, a sharing of the kind of emotions that had no definition. I had no idea what to make of my body and mind’s reaction to a simple and hardened glare, but my breasts were aching, wanting nothing more than to be kneaded harshly, my nipples pinched and twisted. To say I understood such lurid thoughts? Perhaps. The dream seemed a reality, only heightened by the uncertainty of fate. Allowing a single moan, I’d heard his exaggerated breath sounds as he lingered in the doorway.

  I’d seen his hardened cock shoved against jeans that clung to his muscles. He wanted to let go but knew there was no turning back. Dear God. What was I thinking? A stranger. A man with a nasty attitude. A brute. Shuddering, I slunk down further into the water, but there was no real warmth and wouldn’t be without his touch, his mouth, his body covering mine.

  His cock sliding deep inside.

  When he walked out the door, I wanted to call out to him, to beg him not to go, but there was no way he could stay, not given my condition. Jesus. What in the hell had happened? Why did I have intimate thoughts about a man holding me captive? But was he really? I realized he’d saved my life, holding me close as he walked through the wretched storm. I remember enough of the horrifying ordeal to counter the fear rocketing through my mind.

  Death. For some reason, I knew I’d been close. There was no denying the fact. I eased my arms out of the bath, studying the reddened blotches, every muscle aching, my skin burning from the water, but I knew the effect was from the intense chill. I’d learned enough about hypothermia to know what I could be facing. I blinked several times, gazing at the way my hair floated in the clear water, allowing my mind to clear.