by Anna Hackett
“I have antivenom in the first aid kit back at the cabin.”
Thank God. She knew that antivenom these days was laced with nano-tech and super fast acting.
“You’ll need to go and get it,” he said. “If I move…”
The venom could kill him. Her heart thumped against her chest. “I’ll get lost. I don’t know the way back.”
He leaned back against a tree trunk. She saw that he was starting to perspire and looked a little shaky.
“Blue knows the way.”
She glanced at the dog and steeled herself. She had to help Nate.
Ari leaned down and cupped Nate’s stubbled cheeks. “Hold on. I’ll be back.”
He grabbed her wrist. “You have carbon fiber under that pretty skin of yours. Tough as hell.”
He thought she was pretty. She leaned down and smacked a quick kiss to his lips. “I’ll be back soon.” Then she rose and snapped her fingers. “Blue, home.”
Blue looked at Nate.
“Go with her, Blue. Take care of Ari.”
The dog turned and trotted into the trees. Ari followed, running as fast as she could. Soon she was breathing hard.
She lost track of time, and it wasn’t long before she had no idea where they were. Every direction looked the same, but Blue never faltered. When Ari spotted the cave cabin through the trees, relief flooded her.
She sprinted for the door and shoved it open. She leaped down the steps and yanked open the cupboard in the kitchen. The red first aid kit Nate had stashed there glowed like a beacon. She upended the box on the countertop.
“Come on, come on.” She rummaged through the contents and found the small vial. Antivenom. Thank God. “Back to Nate, Blue.”
The blue heeler obeyed instantly, and they set off again. They ran through the trees, and branches slapped at Ari’s face, but she didn’t slow down.
It seemed like forever, far longer than the first journey. God, were they lost? What if she didn’t make it back in time? Her belly cramped.
Then she saw him.
He was pale and sweating, his eyes closed. His red hair stuck to his forehead.
“Nate.” She dropped to her knees beside him. His eyes opened, but he was completely out of it. He blinked slowly, trying to focus on her.
“They died,” he croaked out.
“Who?” She quickly fished the antivenom out of her pocket.
“My Marines. Died in the desert. Dead. All gone. So much blood.”
She stilled, saw the stark pain on his face. “I’m so sorry.”
“Didn’t see the ambush. I should have seen it.”
She administered the drug. “It wasn’t your fault, Nate. War is horrible and unfair and dangerous.” She grabbed his hand and held on tight.
From beside them, Blue whined.
“He’ll be okay, girl.” He had to be. She stroked his callused palm. He had such strong hands.
Ari bit her lip. Did he have more color in his cheeks? She held up the water bottle to his mouth and gave him a drink. When he leaned back, he was leaning on her and she held him tight.
“You’ll be fine.” She stroked his hair. It was so thick, and that gorgeous auburn color. “I love the color of your hair. I’ve always had a thing for redheads.”
He turned his cheek against her and mumbled something unintelligible.
Her chest locked. “Don’t leave me alone, Nate.”
It wasn’t just about being alone. She didn’t want to lose him. Nate—the big, muscled man who had protected her and cared for her from the first instant he’d seen her.
“You’d have made a good doctor.”
His gravelly voice made her turn her head to look at him. His face had color again, and his eyes were clear.
Thank God. “You’re okay?
“Thanks to you.”
She pressed her fingers against his neck and checked his pulse. It was strong and steady. “How do you feel?”
“Antivenom kicked in.” His lips quirked. “I feel pretty damn good.”
Relief like a flood poured through her. “Good.” Ari moved, straddled his lap, and kissed him.
Christ.
Ari tasted like sunshine.
Nate groaned and deepened the kiss, thrusting his tongue inside her mouth. She ground her tight, little body against him, and he filled his hands with her sweet ass.
Her tongue met his stroke for stroke. Had he ever felt such an urgent desire like this before?
She moved, knocking him back on the ground. They rolled across the grass and one of his thighs moved between her legs. She moaned and the kiss turned desperate, needy.
Then he felt wetness on his cheeks and opened his eyes. A very excited Blue was licking at their cheeks, trying to get in on the action.
They broke apart and Ari laughed.
Nate pushed off her, fighting the feelings storming through him. Desire and confusion made a hell of a combination. Thankfully, he felt fine after the snakebite, with no residual dizziness.
Ari rose, dusting herself off. “This is where you tell me this was a big mistake, right?”
He ran a hand through his hair. “Yes.”
Her gaze dropped to his bulging fly. “At least you aren’t lying to me and telling me you don’t want me.”
“Any man would be crazy not to want you, Ari. You’re smart, beautiful.”
“I want you, Nate.”
The sincerity in her voice made him groan. “I’m too old for you.”
She waved a hand through the air. “Bullshit.”
“I’m older, I’m burned up—”
She narrowed her eyes. “And I’ve lived multiple lifetimes during the last two years.”
He looked at the flat, serious look in her eyes. He saw the shadows, the old pain.
Maybe she was right, but it didn’t change the fact that he didn’t deserve a woman like Ari.
“Let’s get back to the cabin,” he said.
She sighed. They trudged back through the trees in silence. Back at the cabin, Nate cooked up the rabbit, and they ate it without any conversation.
“You’d better head to bed,” he said.
She arched a brow. “Like a good little girl?”
He glared at her. “Thanks for saving me, Ari.”
She sighed. “Good night, Mr. Stubborn.”
Nate blew out a breath. He needed some space. He needed to get away from the scent of her.
He headed outside, and in the moonlight, he picked up his axe and started chopping some logs he’d stacked by the cabin.
But with every slice of the blade, he was well aware that Ari was only meters away, inside the cabin, nestled in a big bed meant for two.
Was she touching herself?
The axe missed the log and hit the dirt. Shit. If he wasn’t careful, he was going to lose a toe.
When he finally wore himself out, he headed inside and stared at the shape of her under the blanket. He moved closer and looked down at her. She was asleep, looking almost angelic on the pillow. A shadow shifted. Blue was on the bed with Ari and lifted her head. Even his dog had abandoned him for her.
Did he just want her because it had been over two years since he’d been with a woman? He’d been in a long-term relationship with his right hand for a long time.
No, he was attracted to Ari. Any man would be. It wasn’t just her looks. She was smart, funny, resilient, a hard worker.
Shit.
Nate stomped away and stripped off his shirt. He washed up in the bathroom, then dropped down on the couch on his back.
What the hell was he going to do about Ari Matthews?
As each day went by, he was more drawn to her. As he stared at the ceiling and the shifting moonlight, he didn’t find any answers.
It was almost dawn before he finally drifted off to sleep.
Chapter Five
Amazingly, even in a one room cabin, Nate managed to avoid her all day.
He was outside chopping more wood.
Ari sig
hed and looked out the window. The view was so beautiful—it was easy to pretend that the alien invasion hadn’t happened, pretend that the world was okay.
But it wasn’t. She pressed her palm to the glass, then let her hand drop. She knew everything had changed, and in her gut, she knew the bomb she’d seen would only make things worse.
She had to tell the remaining survivors and give them all a fighting chance.
That included Nate, whether he wanted it or not. The man had changed her as well in just a few days. She trembled, warmth coiling in her belly.
If she went to find the survivors, and he refused to come, she didn’t have much time left with him.
The cabin door slammed open and she spun.
Nate was covered in sweat. He walked to the kitchen, Blue at his heels, and got a drink of water. The dog trotted over to Ari for a pat.
“Hey,” she said.
That earned her a chin lift.
“Saw some aliens on the ridge west of here.”
Her muscles locked and she pressed a hand to her throat. “Searching for us?”
“Maybe.” He set the glass down on the counter, his face unreadable. “I’m going to clean up.”
He stomped out. Gone again.
The aliens could find them at any minute. Ari felt a little lightheaded. She’d let herself forget that. She put her hand on the window to catch her balance. Or, that when she left to find the survivors, she likely wouldn’t make it.
Resolve filled her and she lifted her chin.
If her time with noble, stubborn Nate Caldwell was limited, she was going to make the most of it.
She swiveled and marched out the door. She heard the sound of running water around the corner of the cabin.
She stumbled to a stop. Holy mother of God.
Nate was naked—gorgeously naked—under the outdoor shower.
He stood in profile to her, and her gaze ran over every hard inch of him. There was no fat on him, and he was powerfully built, his thighs rock solid and his stomach ridged. That broad chest, with its red-brown covering, made her mouth water.
Hard. Everything about him was hard.
Then he groaned and turned a little. She realized he was stroking his cock.
Oh. God. She felt a rush of wet between her legs. The man was one big, gorgeous fantasy come to life.
He groaned. “Fuck. Ari.”
She let out a soundless gasp and watched him pump his cock harder. Like the rest of him, his cock was big and hard.
She couldn’t look away as he stroked it with hard, brutal pumps. Then suddenly, his head turned in her direction.
“Fuck,” he growled.
Ari knew this was one of those “now or never” moments.
“Don’t stop.” She moved closer until the fall of cold water hit her.
Nate had frozen, his gaze locked on hers. “Ari—”
“Please.” She circled her hand around his cock, right beside his hand. “Don’t stop.”
He stayed frozen for a second, then he dragged his hand down his hard length and groaned.
Ari held on. She kept her eyes locked with his as together they worked his cock.
“You’re so hard, Nate.”
He groaned again, his hips thrusting forward.
They found a rhythm, the water falling over them. Ari gripped his hard thigh with her other hand. After a few more strokes, Nate made a harsh sound.
“Coming.”
“Come,” she murmured. “Come for me.”
His back arched and his cock pulsed. He came with a guttural cry, ropes of fluid coating their joined hands.
Afterward, his breathing was harsh. The water reservoir had emptied and the flow stopped.
Ari’s belly filled with fear. “Don’t pull away,” she whispered. “Not this time.”
Nate was still trying to recover from the mind-blowing orgasm. He couldn’t look away from Ari.
Shit, and her hand was still on him, touching him.
He grabbed her wrists—so slim and delicate. “Ari.”
She tossed her wet hair back. “I want you, Nate.”
Her words were a fist to his gut. She pressed her hands to his chest.
He cleared his tight throat. “You’re young—”
She rolled her eyes. “I’ve had sex before.”
He fought for some control.
“Twice, if you want the truth. And it wasn’t that great. It was over quickly, and I didn’t come.”
He groaned. The thought of showing this beautiful woman things she hadn’t experienced before just ratcheted up his desire. Doing all the things he dreamed about to make her come just made him want her more.
Nate swallowed. “I’ve helped you, and you escaped hell. You’re dependent on me—”
She went up on her toes, her mouth close to his. Her lashes were wet and spiky. “Nate, this is not because of gratitude, or Stockholm Syndrome.”
“I think Stockholm Syndrome is if I’d kidnapped you.”
She smiled. “I want you. Because I like you. You, big and tough and protective, and hot.”
His fingers dug into her arms. God, he wanted her so badly.
Her voice lowered. “And the aliens might still come. They might take me, or kill me—”
Nate growled. “I won’t let that happen.”
“We both know there are no guarantees.” Her lips brushed his. “I want to take what pleasure I can. Will you give it to me?”
The fierce growl came from deep in his chest. He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her almost off her feet. He slammed his mouth down on hers.
She made a hungry sound and kissed him back—full of life, enthusiasm. Pure Ari.
Her hands slid into his hair and he picked her up. Her slim legs wrapped around his waist.
“I should be stronger,” he said.
“I’m pretty tenacious when I want something.”
“I can’t keep fighting this.”
“I don’t want you to,” she breathed.
He tugged her hair back, tipping her face up to his. “I want to make you come.”
“Yes, please.” She nipped his jaw.
“With my hands, my mouth, my cock.”
She shivered. “Yes.”
He carried her inside the cabin. He set her on her feet beside that big bed that had been tormenting him and started to strip off her wet clothes.
“You’re so beautiful.” She was all smooth, honey-brown skin and flushed cheeks. He stroked his hands down her belly.
“Except for the scars.” One of her hands touched her stomach.
“Especially because of the scars.” He nudged her back on the bed, so she was stretched out in front of him. “They show that you’ve lived, you’ve survived.”
He pressed a knee to the covers and dropped down. He lowered his head and kissed each scar across her belly. She arched into him.
He ran his tongue along her hip bones, and her breathing turned ragged. The smell of her arousal was like the sweetest drug.
He glanced up. “I don’t deserve you.”
“It’s time to stop punishing yourself, Nate. You deserve good things. What happened to drive you out of the Marines was not your fault.”
“You don’t know—”
“I know the man you are. And how you dealt with it afterward, pushing everyone away, it just makes you human. No one’s perfect, but we all still deserve love.”
He stared at her for a beat, emotion closing his throat. Then he lowered his head. He needed to give her pleasure. Now.
He nudged her slim thighs apart. “Look at you, so pretty.” He lowered his head and licked her.
She cried out.
Yes. Nate licked and sucked, plunging his tongue inside her. The scent of her was amazing, and blood pounded through his body.
She squirmed, and he dragged his tongue to her clit. Her hands tangled in his hair.
“Nate, don’t stop.”
He growled and she moaned. He kept licking, and then he slid
his finger inside her tight warmth.
Damn, she was wet and so tight.
“Yes.” Her hips lifted. “More. Deeper.”
He loved that she asked for what she wanted. He slid another finger inside her and kept sucking on that swollen little nub.
“Nate!” Her body clenched, and then her husky scream filled the cabin.
He watched her face, savoring all the emotions crossing it.
When her body finally went lax, she smiled at him. Nate had never felt so damn good.
Chapter Six
Ari was breathing hard. She felt like she’d run a marathon. One that had ended in the best orgasm of her life.
Nate was above her—hard, big, strong. His body was tense and she let her gaze run down his massive chest, his gorgeous abs, to his even more impressive cock. He was hard again.
He shifted and sat on the edge of the bed.
Oh, no, she wasn’t letting him push her away. She moved, pressing up against his back. She nipped his ear. “I hope we’re not done yet.”
He grunted. “Ari—”
“Shh. Stop thinking so hard. Just feel.”
She scooted around his body, dropping to her knees in front of him.
His jaw went tight. He looked like a warrior back from fighting, but unable to wind down. She reached up and circled his cock.
“I want to make you feel good.”
A muscle ticked in his hard jaw.
She stroked him. “I want you to think of nothing but me.”
“I already do,” he growled. “Every minute of every day.”
Her belly spasmed. She leaned down and licked the swollen head of his cock. He made a sound—wild and primal.
She lapped at his erection, tasting the pre-come beading at the tip.
“Fuck… Ari.” His hips bucked up.
She took him deeper, sucking the head of his cock into her mouth. His body jerked, one hand sliding into her hair. She wasn’t entirely sure what she was doing, but she followed her instincts and found her rhythm, sucking hard.
She looked up at him and his eyes were ablaze.
“Ari, sweetheart. Christ, your hot, little mouth.”
His words had heat roaring through her. She sucked harder, faster.
“So good,” he growled.
Then he moved, yanking her off him and pulling her up his body.
