by J. H. Croix
Dane’s hand came across her hips carefully and held her steady. “Easy. Don’t move too fast.” His voice was low and warm, caressing her nerves.
Heat slid through her, moisture building in her core. She wanted this man, who she barely knew, with a ferocity she’d never experienced. The depth of her longing was so intense it sent her pulse racing and a curl of fear through her veins. She forced herself to breath slowly. “I forgot about my ankle,” Chloe said.
“Not a surprise,” Dane replied, his voice husky from sleep. “Glad you slept deep enough to forget. I was worried you might have trouble sleeping between your fall and the bad weather.”
Chloe smiled softly. She loved hearing he’d been worried about her. “I’m amazed I slept as well as I did. I think it’s probably thanks to you.” She carefully shifted to lie on her back, so she could see his face. She hadn’t slept beside a man in over a year, so she felt a little awkward, the feeling magnified by the fact that she’d only met Dane last night under less than usual circumstances. When she turned over, he adjusted slightly, but didn’t move his hand away from her hip.
He was resting on one elbow. His eyes skated over her body, a look of concern in them.
“I’m okay, better than I expected really,” she said. Looking at him in the daylight sent her pulse skittering beyond control. Sun filtered through the opening of the cave, sparking gold in his hair. His blue-gray eyes were soft and intense. His features were sculpted, almost cat-like with his eyes tipped up at the corners. His lips were full and lush. His body had a coiled energy though he rested at her side, appearing completely at ease. She took advantage of the few seconds when he glanced away and allowed her eyes to dip below his face. He wore a faded blue t-shirt that clung to his muscles. Her hands itched to touch him. She wondered if she’d completely lost her mind. She was in a cave in the middle of the woods in Maine thinking about running her hands all over Dane’s body, wet at the mere thought of his hard cock against her hip moments ago, and imagining what it would be like to act on her body’s desire.
Dane turned back, his eyes colliding with hers. Chloe couldn’t look away. He shifted his weight, never breaking eye contact. Desire shimmered in the air around them.
He finally spoke. “I hope this doesn’t sound crazy, but I want to kiss you.” He paused, his eyes searching her face. “Just tell me no, and this conversation never happened,” he said gruffly, his eyes never breaking from hers.
Chloe wanted to kiss him more than she’d ever wanted anything. The fact that he asked, his polite words belying the fierce attraction she felt between them and the look in his eyes, made her want to kiss him even more. The pull was so strong it almost overpowered her. The sensible part of her, the part that had kept charge of her life and her heart for the last year after the bitter end of a relationship, had no say in this moment. Chloe lifted a hand and stroked it down his cheek. “I don’t want to say no,” she said softly.
Dane kept his eyes trained on hers as he leaned toward her. His lips landed against hers soft and sure. Time suspended. Dane kissed her as she’d never been kissed before. He began a slow, searing exploration of her lips with soft kisses and nips. He traced her mouth with his tongue. She opened, desperate for deeper contact with him. His tongue stroked inside—slow, patient and oh-so-thorough. Chloe tumbled into sensation, straining toward him. Wildness built within as their tongues tangled.
Dane’s hand slid slowly up her hips, coasting across her abdomen, caressing its soft curve, before curling around one breast and then the other, his touch soft and tantalizing. She became frantic to be closer, to ease the ache building inside of her. He cupped her cheek, his thumb caressing where her pulse beat, and slowly pulled back.
She could have happily lost herself in his blue-gray gaze. He looked at her for a long moment, his eyes intense. “I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anyone,” he said baldly, his voice low and clear. “And that’s why we have to stop. Any more and I won’t be able to stop.”
Her breath hitched. Her pulse pounded under the soft caress of his thumb. Yearning coursed through her. She wanted to beg him to do anything other than stop. Seriously, you’re out of your mind. You barely know this guy. In fact, you met him in a cave in the dark. He’s being sensible, points for him. You need to be sensible too.
She nodded, biting her lip.
She saw his eyes darken, but he didn’t move. “What would you say if I asked you to stay in Catamount for a few weeks?” he asked.
Chloe didn’t hesitate. “Yes,” she said simply. Reason began to filter in. “Are you hiking the trail too?”
Dane shook his head. “I live nearby in Catamount. I hike around here all the time. You’re not going to be able to hike out with your ankle. You can come to my office, so I can do a better job of stabilizing your ankle. I made do last night, but I can do better with more than my emergency medical kit. You’re welcome to stay with at my place, but if you’re not sure about that, I can make other arrangements for you.”
Chloe knew he was right. There was absolutely no way she would be able to finish the trail now. It was almost November. She was later than she’d wanted to be getting to the end of the trail. By the time her ankle could handle hiking again, winter would be here. “How am I even going to get to the closest trailhead like this?” she asked, gesturing to her ankle.
“I’ll carry you,” Dane said simply. “It’s not that far. I hike around here a lot. I know a shortcut back to the closest trailhead.” He paused, appearing to think. “I was out here looking for my sister yesterday. I need to see if I can find her.”
“Is she lost or something?” Chloe asked, her curiosity deepening when she sensed Dane was holding something back.
Dane shook his head slowly. His hand still cupped her cheek, his thumb idly caressing her neck. His touch sent shivers all through her body. He looked at her intently, searching her eyes. He finally replied. “Shana loves to hike and comes here a lot. I couldn’t find her yesterday, so I came to check on her. I’ve got one last spot to check where she might be camped. Do you mind waiting a little bit? I’ll check and come right back.”
Chloe couldn’t have said no to him. His amazing eyes held a silent entreaty. The connection to him was unlike anything she’d ever experienced. Against all reason, she completely trusted him. “I’ll wait for you. It’s not like I’m going anywhere on my own,” she said wryly.
Dane chuckled softly, his eyes sobering quickly. “Thank you,” he said simply. He leaned forward, his lips coming against hers again. In a flash, sensation overtook her. He made her feel as if she was the center of the universe. He pulled away, swearing softly.
“I can’t think straight when I’m near you,” he said, carefully moving away from her, his hand coasting softly across her hips as he did.
Chloe’s face was hot. She felt so flustered she didn’t know what to say. She certainly couldn’t think straight. Her brain was doing cartwheels over Dane’s comment. He was like a magnet for her, so much so that her usual tendency to be reserved and hold back had dissolved under the force of attraction she felt. To hear he might be even remotely as unsettled as her ratcheted the thrum of desire inside. Dane didn’t appear to expect her to say anything. He stood and stretched, walking to the entrance of the cave to look outside.
“Do you want me to help you get situated outside while I go see if Shana’s camped up ahead?” he asked. “You’ll be warmer in the sun.”
“That’d be nice. How long will you be?”
“Maybe a half hour.” He grabbed his backpack and walked outside.
Chloe tried to get up on her own, wanting to follow him outside and quickly realized her body had quite a bit to say about that. Dane returned just as she gasped in pain. The scraped area on her leg was incredibly sore while her ankle wanted nothing to do with any kind of motion.
He raced to her side. “Take it easy.” He glanced over her quickly. “Can you wait a minute while I set up a spot where you can be comfortable while you
wait?”
Chloe nodded, smiling ruefully. “I’m not the best patient.”
He grinned. “I can see that. Be right back.”
Moments later, he returned again. She’d propped herself up to sit with her back against the rock wall. Dane knelt beside her. Without a word, he slid an arm under her knees and the other under her hips, lifting her effortlessly.
He carefully set her down on his sleeping bag, which he’d situated on the ground by a large boulder she could lean against. He’d set a water bottle nearby. The area faced a beautiful valley with a stream running through the center of a small clearing.
“This is beautiful,” she said with a sigh.
He stood. “I won’t be long.” He caught her eyes before he turned away. In that brief glance, Chloe’s pulse ricocheted and she flushed.
“Okay. I’ll be right here.” Flutters danced in her belly and a smile warmed her inside and out.
Dane started off along a faint trail that followed the upper ridge along the hillside. His stride was long and loose. He disappeared into the trees. Chloe rested against the boulder. Birds chattered nearby.
Sometime later, she heard a squawking in the field below and shaded her eyes to look. There was a cluster of turkeys in the valley. She’d heard wild turkeys had been reintroduced up here. As she watched, she caught her breath. A mountain lion walked casually through the valley. The animal was a large, tawny cat, lean and muscled. The lion ignored the turkeys and paused to drink from the stream. Another mountain lion, smaller and slighter, appeared behind it and waited nearby. Chloe was in awe. She’d heard there were reports of mountain lions still roaming wild in this area, but they’d been declared extinct in the eastern United States for years. As the cats disappeared into the trees on the far side of the valley, she let her breath out. She realized perhaps she should be afraid, but they were so beautiful, she was in awe.
Checking her watch, she wondered when Dane would return. As if she’d conjured him by thought, he strode back into the small clearing where she sat, a woman she presumed to be his sister with him. His sister shared his striking looks. Though not as tall, she was fit and muscular, her build softened with curves. Her hair was the same tawny golden brown shade and hung in loose waves around her shoulders. Her eyes were gray and intent and held a sadness within.
“Hey there,” Chloe said with a smile, uncertain how to explain her presence.
Dane smiled when he met her eyes. Just a glance and electricity arced between them. “Chloe, this is Shana, my sister,” he said, gesturing to Shana. He looked back to Shana. “Like I said, I found Chloe last night when I was looking for you. She sprained her ankle on the trail and holed up in this cave when it started raining yesterday evening.”
Shana nodded politely though she didn’t smile. “Nice to meet you. I’m glad Dane found you. I hear you’re stopping in Catamount for a bit.” Her words were gracious though devoid of any warmth, flat almost.
Chloe didn’t know what was wrong, but she sensed a deep sadness from Shana. Realizing now wasn’t the time or place to try to figure that out, she nodded. “I can’t really finish the Appalachian Trail with a sprained ankle. Dane suggested I stop for a little while. I’ll have to figure out what I’m doing next anyway.”
Shana nodded and looked to Dane. “Want me to carry the packs, so you can carry Chloe?” She asked this as if it was a completely common occurrence for Dane to carry a woman out of the woods.
At Dane’s nod, Shana efficiently set to work getting the packs ready to go. Chloe had no idea how she’d manage, but Shana effortlessly lifted Chloe’s pack, along with Dane’s and lashed them together on her back. Dane lifted Chloe into his arms, and followed Shana down the trail. Shana’s silence was weighted, and Dane was subdued around her. Doubts crept into her thoughts as Dane carried her through the dappled light of the forest.
Chapter 3
Dane pulled up at his office and turned to Chloe in the passenger seat. He’d dropped Shana off at Phoebe’s house a few minutes earlier. Chloe had been quiet on the drive down from the trail. Weariness edged her features. Her mossy green eyes met his, and she smiled hesitantly. “Is this your office?”
“Yup. I’d like to get a better look at your ankle as soon as possible.” He climbed out of the truck and went around to her side. She’d already started to get out. “I can tell you’re not the best patient,” he said with a chuckle.
She grinned in reply, her eyes lighting up. He could look in her eyes all day and never tire of it. They were soothing and electrifying at once.
“I’m terrible at resting, but I’ll try to be good,” she said, brushing a few loose tendrils of hair out of her eyes.
Before she could argue, he lifted her out of the car, adjusted her in his arms and carried her inside.
“Dane! You don’t have to carry me everywhere. I can lean on your arm and hobble in.”
“Not until I get a look at your ankle when I have some decent light. I’m confident it’ll be okay, but we need it to be more stable.” He refrained from telling her he loved having an excuse to touch her and that the feel of her lush curves in his arms was heaven.
A while later, she walked out beside him, only partly resting her weight on his arm. He’d put an air brace on her ankle and thoroughly cleaned the scrapes on her leg. She was going to be fine, but it would be a few weeks at least before she could put her full weight on her ankle. He fervently hoped she’d stay in Catamount long enough for him to persuade her... Persuade her to do what? Have you lost your mind? Your lion thinks he’s found his mate, but don’t be stupid. You’re a shifter, and she has no clue. None. Slow down and be rational about this.
Dane’s internal conversation was a reflection of who and what he was—half human and half mountain lion. His human side was the voice of reason while his lion side was driven by primal instinct. And he wanted Chloe…fiercely. He’d tried to talk her into staying with him, but she seemed too hesitant, so he’d improvised and made arrangements for her to stay at a local inn. She’d agreed to lunch with him after she checked in and tolerated him lugging her backpack into the room for her.
A while later, he walked slowly at her side into The Trailhead Café, a local favorite. The café served a mix of diner basics with creative, healthy fare. It was housed in an old-style diner building with shiny stainless, polished steel on the outside and a bright red roof. Inside the café had a counter with an exposed kitchen and booths lining the walls. The walls were plastered with photos of through-hikers of the Appalachian Trail and faded newspaper photos of mountain lions. Many, but not all, of the locals knew the mountain lions weren’t a myth. The locals who knew the truth protected the shifters by perpetuating the myth for tourists.
Dane contemplated how and when he could reveal himself to Chloe. This was something he’d never needed to do. The women he’d been involved with before were either shifters themselves, or women who knew what shifters were and weren’t intimidated. He couldn’t know if she’d be frightened or disgusted. Or worse, not believe him at all. He could easily show her the truth, but he didn’t want to shift into a wild animal without her at least being partially open to the concept. Mountain lion shifters had mated with humans over centuries. He knew it was entirely possible and yet there were plenty of obstacles. The first being how and when to reveal himself. He didn’t want to contemplate what it would mean if she refused to accept him as he was. For now, he wanted to enjoy lunch with her. Not long after they were seated, Jake came in and walked straight to their table.
“Hey, saw your truck outside,” Jake said by way of greeting. His eyes were puzzled when he glanced at Chloe.
“Hey Jake, this is Chloe. Ran into her last night when I was out looking for Shana. She’s a through-hiker, but as you can see, she sprained her ankle. She’ll be in town for a little bit.” He had more questions than he could count about Chloe, realizing he’d just given Jake almost all of the information he had about her. Against all reason, he was convinced she was the
woman for him and yet he knew next to nothing about her.
Chloe smiled politely at Jake. She’d showered and changed at the hotel while he waited outside. Her honey blonde hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders, her green eyes bright. She stuck her booted foot out from under the table. “Dane bandaged my ankle and put a brace on it today. I won’t be able to finish the trail, but there’s not much I can do about that.”
Jake’s eyes held a glimpse of heat. Dane’s cat bristled inside. Jake must have sensed it because he shuttered his eyes and looked back at Dane. With a barely perceptible wink, he asked, “Any news?”
Dane shook his head. “Nope. Found Shana this morning. She’d gone to one of her favorite spots last night.” He paused as he considered how to explain Shana’s situation to Chloe and elected to hew as close to the truth as he could.
“Shana’s husband died in a car accident the other day. She loves to hike, but I got worried yesterday when she wasn’t back by afternoon. That’s why I went looking for her and ended up finding you,” Dane said, looking to Chloe.
“Oh I’m so sorry!” Chloe replied, her hand coming to her chest. “I thought she looked sad today, but I had no idea. Obviously.”
“Of course not,” Dane said. He glanced back to Jake. “Any news on your end?”
Jake shrugged. “Not much. I’ll let you know if I hear anything. How’s Shana?”
Dane sighed. “I think she hasn’t really absorbed it yet. I’m worried about her, but she’s not talking much right now. She asked me to take her to Phoebe’s, so that’s where she is right now. She doesn’t want to go home. Says it will just make her think of Callen. I’m heading over to her house tomorrow to get some things packed for her. Do you want to meet me there? I could use a little help.” He hoped to do some searching on Callen’s computer and see what he could find. Jake was a computer programmer. With Jake’s help, he’d get further than he would on his own. He’d known Callen was trying to confirm the rumors about mountain lion shifters in the Midwest, but Callen tended to play his cards close. Dane couldn’t shake the feeling that someone had set out to kill Callen. Shana shared his concern, but she didn’t have it in her right now to look into it. She was in shock and grieving.
