Claiming Tuesday
Author: Riley Edwards
Date: 2000-01-01 05:00:00+00:00
Keywords: Canada; yukon; submission; Wolves; Bdsm; dominance
Description: Tuesday Knowls is done. Once burned, twice shy. Twice burned? Game over. On the outside Tuesday has it all. She comes from money, she's a beautiful runway model, her smile comes easy, and she's quick to laugh. But looks can be deceiving. Inside, she's lost and lonely. So when the smokin' hot firefighter swoops in with his sweet talk and promises, she decides to be the one who uses, for once. Jackson Clark is a man who knows what he wants. And he wants Tuesday. He sees past the beautiful façade she shows the world straight to the pain she hides. When Tuesday offers him a friends with benefits a
Publisher: Riley Edwards Romance, LLC

Claimed in Canada
by

Christine Edwards

Fanny Press

PO Box 70515

Seattle, WA 98127

For more information go to: www.fannypress.com
edwards.fannypress.com

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Please be advised that this is a dark, erotic romance. It is intended for adults only. There are elements of BDSM. including dominance, spanking, bondage, branding, piercing, and anal play. There is also a scene of extreme violence (not involving the hero). If these things offend you, please do not read any further. Thank you.

Cover design by Sabrina Sun

Claimed in Canada

Copyright © 2013 by Christine Edwards

ISBN: 978-1-60381-537-6 (Trade Paper)

ISBN: 978-1-60381-536-9 (eBook)

Produced in the United States of America

* * * *

To R.M.E.

May we once again
explore Canada

* * * *

Prologue

Adrenaline

We have to get back to the lodge! I hear a voice scream in my head as frigid wind and snow whip across my numb cheeks. My survival instincts kick into overdrive as I crank the snowmobile faster. We must get moving or we will be buried by the impending storm front that’s closing in on us like a freight train.

Come on, we need to get these snowmobiles moving faster.

Our research site is only five miles out from Haines Junction and we should be back within thirty minutes if we can just keep the Arctic Cats steady, assuming we aren’t overpowered by the storm first. Without warning my engine begins to stutter step on me. My throttle gives up power. Oh God no, not the gas. I glance at the gauge, which still reads over half full. Through the snowy haze, I’m able to see black smoke drifting from the engine.

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” I call out through the cold air as the Cat comes to a halt on the fresh snow.

Through the torrent of wind and falling flakes I see Gabe turning his Cat around and heading back toward me. He shouts over the rumble of his sled, echoed by the storm, “What’s wrong with your Cat, Violet?”

Trying to muster fortitude, I tell my partner, “Go back to the lodge fast and get help. I’ll follow behind you on foot. There’s no time to waste, now go!”

With a concerned look he yells to me over his motor, “Wait, let’s try to get you onto mine.”

I considered his small one-seater before shaking my head and shouting, “Gabe, there’s little time; this front is already raging around us. The sleds are only intended for one and we’ll wreck if we try to double up. I know you used to race these things. Now go and bring back help as quickly as you can.”

He gives a determined nod before turning his Cat around. He revs the engine and blazes away, disappearing within moments into the harsh front. Born and raised in Minnesota, Gabe has been riding snowmobiles since he was a boy and if anyone can get back in time, it’s him. Close to tears, I slide off my bike and realize that my only option besides waiting for Gabe is to start jogging toward Haines Junction. I grab the supply pack off my sled and settle the added weight onto my shoulder. It’s nearly dusk and I’ll have to hurry down the wooded trail.

How could this have happened? We always check the weather hourly and we had high-tailed it out of there as soon as we heard that this freak front was popping up. The big storm they were all talking about in town was not supposed to hit for another day.

That’s when I hear the first howl. So strong and confident that it makes my blood turn to ice in my veins. No, no! They’ve spotted me as solo prey and I know it’s just a matter of time before they take me down.

Completely jacked on adrenaline I sprint for all I’m worth down the dim path ahead. I fumble in my pocket for my Taser gun. It’s charged up but will only buy me a little time, not enough for survival. There are too many wolves in a pack.

The howls are coming one after another now and I can’t get a read on their direction, but I know they’re closing in on me.

From my six years of research I know what they are, without a doubt.

Running furiously through the fresh snow I try to think clearly and formulate a plan. What will I do if they attack? Will a Taser be enough? My heart is pounding out of my chest and I feel lightheaded.

Keep it together girl!

I hear a low growl off to my right coming from the snowy bank on the edge of the trail. As I whip around to face the noise, I strain to see where the wolf is positioned. I realize that it’s close and can make out its darkened form. I stop to hold my ground and get the charge going on my weapon. My arms are trembling as I will myself to focus. There won’t be a second chance in this scenario.

This is it, do or die time.

I begin to stumble backwards, instinctively distancing myself from the danger. Then I lose my footing in the soft snow. Panicking, I realize too late that I’ve backed myself off the path and down the embankment.

Thank God I’m still clutching the Taser. I aim straight out so I can let loose on anything that comes near me. As the howls start closing in I suddenly hear a close, cracking shot and then another followed by a deep male voice.

“Goddammit Violet! Where are you? Violet? Fuck!”

I strain to make my voice work. “Here! I’m over here! Please help me!”

Oh my God, is that Luke?

“Here! Right here!” I begin scrambling back up the few feet of the snowy bank toward his voice.

I yell to him, “Watch out, there are …” Before I can finish something jumps me from behind, knocking me to the ground. I feel a hard smack on the side of my head and begin to fade out. While struggling to hold on I hear only a mixture of angry growls and a low male voice.

“Don’t move Violet, don’t fucking move…”

Then everything fades into blackness.

Chapter One

Wild Animals

Yukon Territory, Canada

Two Days Earlier

Wolves are mysterious creatures. They’re completely capable of independence but seek out the stability and security of the pack. For some reason, this phenomenon has always fascinated me. I’ve been studying them for the past six years. This is my first team mission into the wilderness of northern Canada to gather data. Our grant was approved by The University of Washington a month ago and I’m hopeful that our research will not disappoint.

So far we’ve hung fifteen cameras with motion sensors in the region where they have been seen by local outdoorsmen. Our hope is to gain new insight into the pack dynamic of wild wolves, while our end goal is to bring further awareness to the public about the dangers that the modern wolf faces with the hope that a serious conservation effort will follow.

Disappearing forestlands are not the only adversary that the wolf population is currently facing. Diseases such as canine distemper cull the wolves’ numbers starting from the time they are mere pups. Ideally our group would like to start a safe vaccination program to give them a better chance at survival. Also, we would eventually like to set up a program to track and assist adults that have been severely injured while fighting, either among themselves or with larger animals such as elk. In addition to disease, hunters have always posed a significant threat to wolves, despite the fact that national parks such as Kluane strictly forbid the killing of protected animals. The protected status of the wolves doesn’t stop the hunters but heavy fines coupled with a possible lifetime firearms ban and even jail time have certainly made some of them think twice.

The dense forest around our research site seems so tranquil in the daylight. That tranquility is deceiving. We wouldn’t stand a chance at night out here. If the cold didn’t do us in then the wild animals surely would. Unlike humans, they don’t rationalize or play nice.

The Yukon Territory is made up of mostly dense forests that seem to go on forever. The owners of the lodge where we are staying for the next three months have warned us repeatedly to use extreme caution while working. However I’m confident that our GPS devices and Taser guns will keep us safe if we run into any unexpected trouble. We came to the group decision that Taser guns would suit our purposes better than loaded firearms, which could so easily lead to deadly accidents. We don’t want to cause permanent damage to either ourselves or the animals we are trying to protect.

It’s already freezing in late October and I’m dressed in ski gear—a gray down parka with a fur trimmed hood and cherry red snowboarding pants. Sorel boots also work wonders in this unforgiving terrain, keeping my toes warm despite the dense snow.

The third major snowstorm of the season is reported to be due in the next day or so, and with the temperature hovering around twenty degrees, it feels like winter has set in for the long haul. There’s already a healthy amount of snow on the ground, but we’re still able to work effectively.

I grumble to myself about having to repeatedly remove my gloves to run the camera wires but I want to assist in getting the last of everything set up before the daylight starts to fade out on us. Once we have everything in place we can monitor most of our work from the laptops back at the Lodge. We will still have to tend to the equipment on a regular basis but it won’t be the grueling schedule that we’ve kept to this past week.

I glance at Gabe, my fantastic partner, working on a camera to test its angle. Four of us have traveled here from Washington and we cover more ground working in two person teams. Two of us man the equipment while the other two monitor our progress from the lodge, letting us know when a particular camera angle needs to be changed or that a certain camera feed isn’t showing up on the computer. We switch off to keep everything balanced and come together if all four of us are needed on a job. All of us are athletic and share a passionate love of animals and nature. We work well as a team.

Gabe and I have worked together in the past on small projects back at the University. I appreciate his attention to detail and uncanny knowledge of electronics. Gabe’s heritage is Swedish, as is obvious from his white blond hair and pale eyes. Although both men and women stop and stare whenever we are out in public, he is so laid back that he seems oblivious to the attention. Or maybe he is just used to being ogled.

A loud shout jerks out of my thoughts.

A commanding French-tinged accent yells, “Hawk! Back that truck up about ten more feet. Right on, that’s it.”

What?

We have been coming out here for a week now and haven’t seen or heard signs of anyone. All we needed right now is a bunch of arrogant hicks coming in and disturbing our work site. Their noise alone would surely drive off a pack of wolves.

Gabe glances around curiously and asks, “What do you think, hunters?”

“Possibly, but I’m not sure, they are quite loud for hunters. Whoever they are, they’re too close. We’ve worked too hard this week to have our site disrupted or tainted by accident. We have some crucial buried cables here and cameras that would be too costly to replace should someone happen to disrupt them I’m going over there right now to ask them to move on.”

“Easy there, tiger. You sure that you want to venture over there solo?”

I nod with certainty. “They can’t be more than two hundred yards away. You keep working on number four. All our cameras should be live tonight.”

“I’m just a shout away should you need me, okay?”

I grin at my research partner, whose smoldering looks would have me weak at the knees if it weren’t for the fact that he was gay, a fact I mourned especially hard now that we were spending so much time alone together in the woods. “Think I can handle a few wily outdoorsmen. No worries, I’ll be back in a few.”

I make a path toward the loud noises coming from a dense area of nearby trees.

I’m surprised when I see a group of large men who are obviously not hunters. I immediately spy the first one straddling a tall tree. He is wearing a yellow hard hat and a sling-like harness on top of his faded jeans. Spikes are attached to his weathered boots.

Another man is behind the controls of a yellow Caterpillar cable skidder that’s low slung and has giant tires to help the vehicle pull logs out of the rough terrain. The only man on the ground has his massive back to me. I decide that a direct approach would work best as I’ve heard that Canadian men can be difficult and at times harsh, to say the least. I’m a bit apprehensive but proceed regardless.

“Excuse me ...” I begin in a pleasant yet no nonsense tone. My thoughts abruptly stall out in my throat as the man whips around and rich, dark eyes immobilize me.

My knees nearly buckle from the intensity of his beautiful gaze. My breath begins to come in fluttering pants.

He gives me a searing head to toe perusal without even bothering to hide it. I’m standing ten feet away and I can feel his masculinity assault my senses.

Oh God! Act calm, I tell myself. The immediate attraction to this man is shocking.

As I give him the same once-over, the first thing I notice is that he is frighteningly massive in size. Not overblown like a bodybuilder, just naturally packed muscle sitting atop a six foot five inch frame. He appears to be in his mid-thirties, if the faint lines across is forehead are any indication. His navy blue down vest and gray flannel shirt are the epitome of ruggedness and I find myself intensely aroused by his dangerous appearance.

He easily has to be the largest male I have ever been near in my life. I stare up in awe as I take in his face. He’s not classically handsome but his large chiseled features and strong shadowed jaw make him incredibly sexual. His hair is a glossy deep brown that is cut in a short no-nonsense style with a hint of sideburns. His nose looks as if it has been busted up a few times but this just adds to the raw masculinity that’s rolling off him.

What’s wrong with me? I should be speaking but I’m so engrossed in this man that all of my thoughts are running together in a blur.

Seconds tick silently by.

He takes his time drinking me in as well when I gather my confidence and tell myself Get it together Violet, you have every right to be here!

I open my mouth to let him have it but before I can get a word out he cocks his head to the side, locks eyes with mine and says in a low, controlled voice. “Continue.”

My senses are on overload as I stand and stare, unnerved and confused as to why I’m eager to follow his request. I begin a bit hesitantly, not pleased that I’m nibbling on my lips out of nervousness.

“My name is Violet London and I have permission to be on this land from the Canadian government in order to study the habitat of wolves here in the Kluane National Park.”

Damn, why is my voice so breathy?

No reaction. I soldier on. “Well, the loud noises that your crew and that skidder are making will certainly hinder the research site that we’ve been setting up throughout the past week. If the wolves scent you and hear all the commotion they’ll avoid coming anywhere near our motion detection cameras.” I finish with a smug chin lift, daring him to argue and quietly hoping that he will.

The guy on the tree gives a hearty laugh and looks down at the man before me. “Well, Luke, that’s a new one because normally it’s the Greenpeace tree-huggers that plead their cause against our evil logging.”

The built guy on the skidder bursts into laughter.

I’m mortified.

With a disturbingly intense gaze, this Luke person begins to question me.

“And what’s a sweet little girl like you doing out in these woods alone? Haven’t you heard that it can be deadly to play with wolves, woman?”

What? How arrogant!

He knows nothing about me and yet he thinks that he can question me like a child? Screw him!

The two men chuckle heartily at my expense and I don’t know which is stronger, my rage or my embarrassment.

I fire back, “Oh, and you’re an expert in the field of wild animal conservation? For your information I know exactly what I’m doing, mister, and don’t need a brute of a man like yourself berating my livelihood or calling me cutesy pet names.”

The one in the tree chimes in, his French accent thick, “Uh-oh Luke! You set the lady off real nice now eh?” Both of them laugh hysterically.

Ignoring the boisterous male comment, Luke levels me with a dark stare before remarking, “I bet you have no idea what you need. You best run along now before you encounter trouble of a very different sort, you understand me girl?”

Whoa.

What a bizarre thing to say. His brusque sexual undertones are unmistakable. I find that I’m fascinated by everything about this man, despite his strangely overbearing demeanor. Mortified by my reaction to him, I quickly resolve that there’s no way I’ll let him push me around. I’m not a little girl, no matter what he says. I stand my ground.

“Well, Luke—” I retort in a supremely pissed off voice, but I’m abruptly cut off by more laughter from the two guys. My frustration at this ridiculous situation is beyond the boiling point.

“Whatever!” I blurt out in anger. “Just stay the hell away from our area, which is about two hundred yards in that direction.” I stab a finger north. Then, spinning on my heel, I stride off into the trees in a huff, trying to forget that the last ten minutes ever happened.

As I head out of sight I hear them talking in French and laughing, then one of the guys heckles me, “You watch out for those big bad wolves little lady!”

Another one adds, “Hey, you’re not far from the ski resort, baby, just head due east!”

Ugh.

I’m relieved to know that they can’t see my cheeks turn the color of my pants with embarrassment. I blink away tears and quickly arrive back at the site, now completely unable to focus for a variety of reasons.

“What happened, did somebody harass you?” Gabe’s concern is obvious as he begins to stalk off in the direction of the loggers, his small gloved hands balled in fists.

I sigh. “It’s all right Gabe. They’re loggers and are just, well, sexist. I have a feeling that they’ll move on because their truck looks nearly full. I hope they don’t come back after today. I made our wishes crystal clear. We have no control over what they do, so it’s best just to ignore them.”

“All right Violet, but if we have any more issues with them then we’ll go together to settle it.” He glared off in the direction that the noises were still coming from but his expression suddenly brightened. “Good news though, we should be up and live on the computers tonight, a day early. Not bad, not bad at all. I wonder how the other team is faring on their end.”

“Ben and Kelsey are quick and methodical, and you know they’re on their A-game today. They’re probably having happy hour back at the lodge already!” Although normally half our team remains at the lodge doing tech work, Ben and Kelsey were out at our second research site fixing a few technical problems we’d been experiencing with the camera feed.

“Ha! You’re right about that. Let’s get this gear cleaned up and call it a day. Sound good?”

“Yes, that works. It’s our first full weekend here. Maybe we can find a place to eat in town tomorrow night?”

“Ah, sorry Violet, I promised the folks and my brother that I’d catch up with them on Skype tomorrow night. Plus, I’m shot from the workload this week. Rain check on that but pizza is on me tonight, you in?”

“Oh sure, maybe Ben and Kelsey will want to find a ride into town tomorrow night with me then. They’re always game for a good time. Let’s get moving.” We hop onto our sleek black and red Arctic Cats, recently pulled from the shed behind our hotel and given a thorough cleaning. Ross, the owner of the hotel we are staying at, told us we could borrow the Cats while we are here and it was clear from the amount of cobwebs we pulled off the handlebars that they wouldn’t be missed. Gabe immediately gave me a lesson on how to ride them and, despite the fact that the speedometer goes to eighty, I’m still too nervous to get mine over twenty-five miles per hour. I have a new respect for the daredevil guys who race these bad boys.

The sky is starting to dim and I’m relieved that we’ve decided to head back to the lodge. We’ll start fresh tomorrow with clear heads and charged up Tasers. I’m far from the defenseless damsel that they think I am. Screw them. Loggers, the nerve!

* * *

Finally back in my cozy room at the Timber Grove Lodge, I quickly shed my heavy clothing onto the cherry wood floors. The room is charming and rustic, the perfect escape after a long day in the mountains. A fluffy queen bed with a down comforter rests along one wall across from a nook area, complete with an oak desk, a brown leather chair, and a breathtaking view of the mountains. I collapse into bed after a hot shower and try to relax after a tiring day at the observation site.

Despite the fatigue in my limbs, I can’t sleep. I’m restless with thoughts of Luke. In my twenty-six years, I’ve never had such a primal reaction to any man, much less one who looks like a cross between a lumberjack and a heavyweight boxer. Who is this mysterious man?

It’s more than his looks, though. His strong, authoritative tone had me nearly in a trance. I could easily imagine him pinning me down hard and taking all that he wants from me without any permission whatsoever. Although I’ve always avoided dominant men like the plague, there’s something so sexy about that attitude …

The idea of his muscled body on top of mine is thrilling, and my breath quickens in the darkness as my fingers skim the delicate lace that covers my chest. How would his huge hands feel cupping my full breasts? I imagine that he would be a bit rough, kneading them thoroughly before he sucked on my peachy pink nipples. I push my straps down and roll and pinch them both simultaneously. I can’t stifle a small moan of need.

I can feel a damp throbbing between my legs, spurring me on as my right hand glides farther down the slick satin of my nightie. I widen my knees as my fingers slowly move across my soft inner thigh. I imagine him straddling my petite frame, grabbing my wrists and pinning them to the bed above me while he lowers his heavily muscled frame down to claim my lips in a seductive kiss.

Running my index finger through my drenched pussy, I can see him releasing an arm to wrench his belt open to free his imposing cock from his jeans. He’s watching me intently, measuring everything I do.

I’m unable to hold off. My finger rubs my tight clit in firm circles now as I splay my legs as far open as they will go. The pressure that is coming from deep within me is so all consuming that I shove two fingers inside my slick channel to relieve the ache. I pump them firmly, imagining that it’s him fingering me, preparing me to take him. I close my eyes and arch my back up, seeing him grasping his thick cock right before he moves over me, taking me without asking, pushing right into me in a controlled glide. He gives me no time to adjust as he begins a punishing rhythm that leaves me reeling beneath him. My dripping finger moves back to my pulsing clit, rubbing desperately. I envision his ripped biceps as he holds himself above me, lifting me higher with each hard thrust. Just as his dark eyes connect with mine I cry out and my orgasm takes over, forcing the breath from my lungs as the hard spasms lead me into pure bliss.

I flop back onto the feather pillow and pant. I have never had such an intense orgasm, and it was all centered around that arrogant jerk! How could he possibly have such a profound effect on me? It would be beyond irresponsible to get involved on any level with such a darkly intense man, so I resolve to stay clear of the loggers from now on, regardless of how much noise they make.

But that doesn’t mean I can’t fantasize about him. My last thought before I drift off to sleep is of his seductive almond shaped eyes holding mine captive …

Chapter Two

One in Every Town

“Afternoon Violet, how’s the research going today?”

I shake off the chill along with the snowflakes in the front foyer of the quaint lodge and smile at the middle-aged couple behind the front desk. “Hey Ross, hi Janelle. It’s coming along well, but with a snowstorm bearing down on us we figured that we’d play it safe and call it a day. How are you?”

“We’re wonderful. The lodge is full this weekend and we’ve just had a surprise visit from our nephew, Damon. You’ll have to meet him. He has a cabin in the area and visits when he finds time off from work. He’s a surgeon, you know. Such a sweet boy, too, and quite a looker.” Janelle winks at me, and I pretend not to notice.

Janelle is in her young forties and exudes warmth and natural beauty, her long honey colored hair free of dye and glowing skin free of makeup. Her outfit is simple but chic; I admire the white cable knit sweater she has paired with slim black pants and black lace up North Face boots. Her husband, Ross, is tall and thin with an oval face and crystal blue eyes.

The lodge is a definite reflection of its owners. The open lobby space and beams frame the rich reds and olive greens of the overstuffed sofas that surround the rock fireplace and its welcoming glow. A giant picture window gives guests a 160 degree view of the snowy mountain range. Ross and Janelle work hard to make everyone feel welcome by showing genuine interest and warmth.

“I’m happy for you that the lodge is packed,” I say, “and I’m certain that your nephew is relieved to have beaten the storm.”

“Janelle and I would like to invite you and Gabe out for dinner at The Buck Bar. Have you heard of it?” Ross asks. I shake my head and he continues. “It’s practically an institution around here. They have fantastic steaks and pretty darn good live music every Saturday night. We’d really love it if you both would join us. Give you a real taste of Haines Junction.”

I hesitate, but what the heck, it’s Saturday and I could use a night out. Plus, it would be nice to be introduced to the quaint downtown streets I passed through when we got here. Maybe I’ll even meet a few locals, make some new friends. It’s likely because Ross and Janelle own the lodge and seem to know just about everyone who comes through the door—including the locals, who also come to hang out at the bar by the hearth during happy hour. I asked Ross the other day how they knew most everyone on a first name basis, and he explained that the majority of their guests come from the U.S. and Canada to stay with them at least twice a year. I can see why. The serene lodge is a picturesque getaway from the stresses of everyday life.

“If you’re driving, then I’m in,” I say. “Gabe said that he was going to shower and catch up with some family on Skype tonight so I think he’ll pass, but I’ll stop by his room to double-check. Ben is taking Kelsey out to a movie in town but I may be able to convince them to swing by after the show ends. Let me grab a quick shower and then I’ll be all set to go. What time should I meet you?”

Janelle grins broadly. “That sounds perfect, Violet. Let’s meet here in the lobby at seven-thirty.”

I give a wave as I head down the log-hewn hallway to my room.

* * *

What do you wear to a Canadian cowboy bar? After my steaming shower, I stand in front of the antique wooden wardrobe. Seeing as how I’m quite limited on going-out-apparel, my decision isn’t too difficult. I select a fitted scarlet red BCBG sweater with a dramatic low dipped back and pair it with dark skinny jeans. Just to be sassy, I add my red Justin-stitched cowgirl boots that I brought along just for situations like this.

I brush my long, dark brown hair until it shines and then put some Soft Curl in it for body. I sweep my powdered brush around my heart shaped face and apply sheer pink gloss on my pouty lips, along with a touch of mascara to highlight my pale green eyes. Grabbing my parka, I head down the hall to Ben and Kelsey’s shared room.

Kelsey and I met as freshman during our first day of biology class. With her wild mane of strawberry blonde curls, she’s hard to miss. I admire her innovative ideas and sharp wit. She and Ben have dated for the past three years and as a team they are both energetic and creative. A former soccer player, Ben is five foot nine inches and packed with muscle. He always has an easy smile on his boyish face and I enjoy working with both of them.

I knock and wait a few minutes for the giggling blonde to open the door. When she does it is evident from her skewed clothing that she and Ben won’t be going anywhere tonight. I ask anyway.

“Hey Kels, if you guys aren’t going to a movie tonight, you’re welcome to join Ross, Janelle, and I at The Buck Bar in town.” I peer behind her into the room and Ben gives me a little wave from where he is reclining on the bed.

“Oh, um,” Kelsey tugs at her shirt to straighten it. “I think we decided to stay in tonight. We’re both so worn out with work and all. Maybe tomorrow night?”

“Sure, no problem. I’ll see you two later then.”

“Throw a few back for me!” Ben calls out as Kelsey giggles and shuts the door. I shake my head and wander down the hall to the lobby, ten minutes early.

After Ross and Janelle join me, we hop into Ross’ huge Wrangler and head down the mountain. Ross and Janelle are so welcoming and we all count ourselves fortunate to have found their lodge for our extended stay here.

* * *

The Buck Bar is absolutely packed by the time we arrive at eight o’clock. It looks like an old gin mill that has been converted into a huge bar/restaurant combo. The weathered timber beams along the ceiling are monstrous, and the giant arching windows give an unparalleled view of the surrounding area. Wicked cool tiger-striped, cone-shaped Venetian glass lights hang by metal cables down the long length of the granite bar.

There’s a massive stone fireplace blazing on one wall and a large black stage featuring a live band on the other. The overall dim lighting gives the place a mysterious flair. I’m instantly excited to be here, never expecting to find such a cool place in the Canadian wilderness.

A young, pretty blonde hostess greets Ross and Janelle by name and has to shout over the band as we head toward our booth. I admire her pale blue, skintight baby doll T that reads directly across her chest “I Got Buck Wild At The Buck Bar” complete with a set of black pointy antlers resting below the text. I definitely need to pick up one of those.

“Saved you guys your favorite spot,” she says, leading us to a booth near the stage, although not so close that our ears will be pummeled by the noise.

“Thanks Cara,” Ross replies with a grin. Although I know he is a decade older than Janelle, he doesn’t look a day over forty. I bet his nephew is stunning as well.

As we settle into our massive, oak booth and order our drinks, Janelle turns to me with her trademark wide smile. “Damon said he would be here a little later. We really look forward to you meeting him.”

Uh-oh.

I was already wondering if this was a set-up, a situation I’m usually not fond of, but seeing as they are wonderful people and I’m booked to stay at their lodge for the next two months I decide to go right along with it.

“That would be nice. I look forward to it,” I reply.

Ross levels Janelle with a stern, yet loving, look. “Come on, Janelle, let’s not push her into anything. They can meet and then we’re out of the situation, all right? Violet here may have a fella back in Seattle.”

Thankfully, the waitress arrives in the nick of time to take our order before any personal questions about my dating history can begin. With my sole focus being on my studies for as long as I can recall, my only real relationship to speak of was with a teaching assistant during my sophomore year. As hard as I tried, the initial spark turned out to be nothing more than one of common intellectual interest. We were only together for four months and by the end we both knew the chemistry just wasn’t there. It was not even in the same stratosphere of the wrecking ball of lust that hit me when I encountered Luke.

* * *

Two vodka tonics later and I’m feeling more than relaxed. We’ve just finished an amazing steak dinner with all the trimmings and decide to move to the main bar to find a seat closer to the action.

“This music is awesome Janelle.” I have to shout so she can hear me.

She leans in close. “They’re local boys, if you can believe it. The word is, they’re about to sign with Sony. They still play here whenever they get the chance, though. Everyone in town enjoys coming out to see them.”

Their music is Indie Rock with a blues touch. I even like their name, Double Black Diamond. No doubt they have to be boarders or skiers. They look it as well, hot twenty-somethings with long, tousled hair just begging to be touched by a groupie.

As I swivel around on my stool to scan the packed bar my eyes lock with the dark, almond-shaped eyes I couldn’t seem to get out of my mind last night. Luke’s intense gaze immediately makes my breath catch in my throat and my pulse quicken. I had been secretly hoping that he would show up tonight, and now he’s clearly visible across the crowd, casually leaning against the back wall with a longneck dangling in his hand.

Oh, hell yes.

He looks even more stunning than I remember, wearing a midnight blue thermal that stretches perfectly across his enormous chest. It’s topped with a black North Face fleece jacket. His dark hair is wet, like he just stepped out of the shower before coming here. Images of him naked and soapy flash into my head. What I wouldn’t give to have that man buck naked and pinning me down to his bed right now!

When I don’t turn away he gives me a nod and a slight grin that abruptly fades and turns to what looks like an angry scowl.

My brows knit together in confusion, but before I can process what would make him act so strangely I feel a large, warm palm on my shoulder as a smooth, rich voice speaks close to my ear, “So this must be Violet.”

I turn to the left and look way up into crystal blue eyes that are set in a classically handsome face strangely similar to Ross’s. His lips are full and a perfect complement to his oval-shaped face. High, refined cheekbones are set on either side of a sleek, almost aristocratic nose.

Damon, it has to be.

His hair is light brown and cut precisely in a conservative business style. Before I can say a word he grins down at me and says, “Hey there, I’m Damon. I’ve heard nice things about you from my aunt and uncle.”

Feeling the heat in my cheeks, I smile. “Nice to meet you, too. Are you on vacation Damon?” He studies my face for a long moment before responding, and I can feel his cool blue eyes running over me. “You could say that. I’m taking a break from the hospital in Quebec.”

Janelle pats his arm proudly. “Damon’s a surgeon. The very best at his hospital.”

He looks like a model right out of a Ralph Lauren advertisement—all tanned, chiseled and sophisticated. I’m immediately attracted to him.

We all sit at the bar and enjoy the music because it’s really too loud to have a proper conversation. Not that I mind. Damon makes great eye candy.

After a while, the vodka tonics take their toll and I glance around the room, trying to locate the bathroom. Spotting it, I lean a bit toward Damon and say, “I’ll be back in a moment.”

He studies me intently, his expression serious. “Don’t be long.”

Interesting, another dominant man. It must be the norm around here, rugged and domineering.

“Sure,” I say with a breezy grin, unsure how else to respond.

Before I’m able to leave the bar, Ross leans back on his barstool and asks, “Violet, Janelle and I have a full day tomorrow with the guests and all. Would you mind if Damon gives you a lift home when you’re ready to leave?”

Oh boy, here we go, total set up. Even though I knew this was their plan the entire night, for some reason I wasn’t expecting them to leave me here.

“That would be fine,” I say, as neutrally as I can. I don’t want to seem ungrateful for their hospitality, but I’m a little apprehensive about being left here with Damon, no matter how gorgeous he is. Something in those cold blue eyes strikes me as dangerous, and while I’m intrigued by his dominating personality, I’m nervous about where being alone with him might lead.

“Thank you both so very much for such a delicious dinner.”

Janelle says, “It was our pleasure, sweetie.” They are both so warm and kind, which makes my nerves ease up a little. They’ve made us all feel so welcome in their magnificent lodge; the least I can do is sit here enjoying the music and drinks with their sexy nephew.

After saying our goodbyes, I head to the bathroom. As I weave my way through the standing-room-only crowd, trying to find the restroom I saw from the bar, I’m once again snared by Luke’s gaze. Damn that man is so fine, how is it that he has this wild effect on me?

He studies me again, his features set in a stern expression. He is still a good fifteen feet away and makes no attempt to come forward from the wall that he and his buddy, who shockingly rivals him in size, are leaning against.

I can’t help but feel disappointed that he doesn’t approach me, but at least I still have the elegant Damon to keep me company.

After touching up my gloss, I head out from the ladies room, purposefully avoiding Luke’s stare. I have every right to be in this bar talking to anyone that I please, and for all I know Luke could be a married man.

Damon pins me with a sultry gaze as I make my way back to him. “There you are, Violet. Sit down with me. What would you like to drink, another vodka tonic?”

I’m pleased he remembers my drink and although I’m already a bit tipsy, I decide what the heck, I’m not driving tonight. “One more cocktail then I’m switching to water. Let’s go with a Belvedere and tonic.”

“You’ve got it, sweetheart.”

In a light tone I ask, “So, Damon, do you come back to the Yukon often?”

He smiles and leans into me, moving in close to speak into my ear over the music. “Once a year, I get six weeks off and spend about half the time here with my aunt and uncle and half the time traveling. It’s not a bad deal. And I hear that you have a very unique job, Violet. I’d like to hear all about it.”

He speaks in a sophisticated way that puts me at ease. I feel him run his warm hand lightly down my bare back, which immediately sends a shiver of delight straight to my pussy.

I could get used to this, I think to myself. Men in this part of the world certainly know how to put the moves on a lady.

Abruptly he removes his hand and turns to look up in annoyance at someone standing directly behind us.

“Luke.” It’s said in a way that shows how he feels about subject—cold and meaningless, as if Luke is mere trash.

As I follow Damon’s gaze, I hear Luke’s loud voice grind out, “She’s not for you Damon.”

What?

What in the world did that mean? I hold my body stock still because Luke is downright menacing when he’s angry. He looks as toned as a tiger and primed to fight.

Damon lets out an arrogant laugh as he stands, shoulders pushed back, posturing to Luke but falling at least two inches short of Luke’s considerable height.

“See, that’s where you’ve got it all wrong, Luke. As you can see, right now Violet is enjoying my company and I will be taking her home tonight. So stop making a scene and back away now.”

My mouth falls open in shock as he finishes with a dismissive hand flip, as if Luke is simply an insect buzzing too close.

Like a lightning strike, Luke grabs the front of Damon’s sweater in a massive fist and drags him within inches of his furious face.

“I’m not going to say it again, fucker. You’ll forget she exists from this moment forward, get it?” His accent is notably amplified when he’s enraged, making his voice sound almost guttural.

I’m immediately scared and want to get the hell out of here. Most girls would be thrilled to have two handsome men fighting over them, but it makes me uneasy, especially since we are in a bar. I cast a furtive glance around and notice that we are attracting attention.

Damon actually looks a bit frightened as the music pounds on. Luckily, the sound is on his side. Only those most near us are aware of what’s going on.

I decide that I’ve had more than enough for one evening and am now determined to find my own way back to the lodge. I really don’t want to see a vicious brawl break out between these two men; it wouldn’t be pretty. Besides, I don’t belong to either one of them so I’m not entirely sure what has caused this scene, unless there is something else going on between them?

Before Damon can respond to Luke, I stand and grab my coat off my stool and say, “Damon, very nice to meet you and Luke, well, what can I say except that it’s always memorable.”

I turn to make my way through the crowd, leaving both men gaping in surprise.

Let them fight it out if they want to. It’s obvious that whatever is between them has zero to do with me, and there’s nothing that I could do to stop them regardless. At least I won’t have to witness it.

I freeze as I hear Luke shout from behind me, “I’m driving you back, Violet.”

No nonsense there.

I slowly turn and put my hands on my hips as I shout, “So nice of you to ask, but no, you’re most certainly not driving me anywhere. Both of you are acting like jerks. I’m finding my own way back to the lodge tonight.”

Whoa! The vodka has made me flawlessly sassy. Appropriate for the crazy scene going down tonight.

I watch in fascination as he takes a long deep breath through his nose, as if willing himself to calm down.

“Listen, Violet, let’s step outside and talk about it, all right?”

“No Luke, like I already told you, I’m going home on my own, thanks. I’m here to work first and foremost and trouble is not something I want any part of, got it?”

Uh-oh.

I can see that the threadbare calm is dissipating fast as he leans in and grinds out through his gleaming white teeth, “Baby, you’re in a bar full of horny working class men and you have no idea the fucking trouble you can get into tonight with those damn looks of yours. Therefore you are getting in my fucking truck now and I am driving your sweet ass back to the Holdens’ lodge, I assume that’s where you’re staying, right?”

For some reason his words send a thrill through my body. Before I can even respond to the question he grabs my upper arm and leads me effortlessly through the crowd, out the back door and into the freezing night air.

“Here, put your coat on.” As he holds it out for me I notice that my parka looks tiny in his huge hands.

“Fine.” I stab my arms into the warmth as he possessively takes my hand and leads me to a giant black truck. It’s massive and dark, just like its owner. He opens the passenger door to help me up, but I turn to stop him. “You need to tell me why I should go anywhere with you, Luke … God, I don’t even know your last name!”

Complex dark eyes lock with mine, grimly serious.

“It’s Benoit and I can assure you that you’re far safer with me than that fucking animal back there. Now get in the truck, baby.”

I would refer to Damon as many things, but an animal? Hardly. But the way he says it brooks no argument.

“You are so … so domineering!” I blurt out in frustration.

He looks down at me without a hint of surprise, as if I have just told him Your truck is black and replies, “Oh you have no idea baby. Now hop up.”

* * *

We’re both quiet on the drive out of town and up the mountain. I’m thankful for the heater and realize that I’m just one drink shy of smashed. Even though it’s the weekend, I feel guilty. I’m here to work, not waste my time drinking with impulsive, enigmatic men. I don’t have time for this. But I’m curious about the scene at the bar and there’s no harm in a little light conversation.

“So what’s the feud with Damon all about?”

His grip tightens on the steering wheel as he grunts out, “Another time. We’re here.”

I’m not satisfied with his answer but he’s already pulling into the dark, snowy circular drive of the lodge. Before I can move, he hops out and comes around to my side of the truck to help me down. His warm hands stay latched onto my hips, for some reason making me feel small and protected. I’m relieved when I turn and can see through the glass of the timber-framed doors that the lobby is empty.

“Come on, let’s get you inside.”

I swiftly scan upward and realize that I only come to his mid-chest. I crane my neck back and quietly say, “Thank you for getting me back safely. Now goodnight.”

His hold on my hips stays strong as he gazes down at me with those mysterious eyes. His long lashes are rapidly collecting the falling snowflakes and he looks nothing short of gorgeous. I imagine his lips on mine and how passionate his kisses would be, if his gruff demeanor was any indication.

He leans down a bit closer and I can smell his rich male scent. It’s clean with a hint of spice. Pinning me with his hungry eyes, dark as onyx, he whispers, “You look like a living angel with the snow falling all around you like this.”

Before I can register my surprise at his unexpected compliment, I’m released from his strong hands as he takes a long step back from me and says, “Expecting snow ahead of that storm on the mountain late tomorrow, so you need to stay off it. You could lose your way too easily. Get inside now.” His head tilts toward the lobby.

Well, that was the last thing I expected to come out of his mouth. I’m still shaken by his praise, which was so powerful in its purity, and then he has to ruin it by ordering me around like I’m a little girl in trouble.

How can one man be so complex?

With an exasperated head shake I turn and make a beeline for the front door, wondering how I ever got myself into this mess.

I hear him call loudly to me through the blustery night air, “Violet, be careful. I’m serious.”

* * *

After washing my face and putting on my strappy aqua nightie—a fitted little number that makes me feel incredibly sexy, if only for my own benefit—I snuggle into the warmth of the down comforter to check my email on my laptop. A light knock on the door makes me jerk in surprise.

It’s eleven at night. It has to be Damon.

After verifying my hunch through the peephole, I swing the wooden door open to find him leaning on the doorframe. His look of mild concern instantly changes to one of distinct male interest as he takes in my attire, which I’ve done nothing to hide. Let him look and see what his rude behavior at the bar has prevented him from having.

With an attractive smirk he looks down and says, “Nice toes.”

I glance down at my OPI “Royal Flush Blush” pink tootsies and smile, while stepping aside. Something about his casual demeanor, no longer so threatening, sets me at ease. “Come on in.”

He looks beyond pleased as he enters my room. “I wanted to be sure that you made it back all right and weren’t kidnapped by a logger or anything. You know my uncle has a hound dog named Gus. We would’ve been hot on the trail after you.”

The idea of him hunting down my kidnapper with a hound is really hot. I imagine him wearing tight jeans and hiking boots, beads of sweat rolling down his toned chest as he tries to avenge me. I shiver and reach for the gray cardigan hanging off of the bed post, shrugging it over my shoulders as I reply, “No, I made it back fine. He was just being, well, you know Luke I guess. How do you two know each other?”

With a tight wince, he sets down a framed photo of my university pals that sits on the bedside table.

“Long story that goes too far back to be relevant. Let’s talk about something more uplifting, like how can I pleasantly distract you, my lovely, while you aren’t studying your mysterious wolves.”

I blush at his flirtatious comment. I’m not accustomed to beautiful men hitting on me like this and I can’t help but feel a little out of my element, especially so late at night in my bedroom of all places.

Avoiding his comment I ask, “Would you like a bottled water? This place is five stars, you know. It even has a mini fridge.”

“Sure, babe.” I watch as he casually flops his tall body back onto my queen-sized bed like he’s been there a thousand times before. I realize he probably has, since his aunt and uncle own the place.

He reaches for my laptop and pats the bed beside him. “Come here, gorgeous, and let’s see what your taste in music is.”

I lean back against the pillows with him as he scrolls through my iPod and chooses Breathe Carolina “Blackout.” The sexy techno beats strum through the room as he wraps his arm around my waist and murmurs, “C’mere baby.”

I shudder in delight as he pulls me against his toned body, engulfing me in a kiss full of brutal passion. There’s no messing around with this guy as his tongue claims dominance over mine. I sink into his arms and indulge myself in his aggressive touch.

His free hand skirts up my back and clamps down almost painfully on my hair. The sensation causes me to arch my full breasts against his chest as I gasp in pleasure. Without a bra there’s no way I can hide the swift hardening of my nipples. I whimper in need as he continues to plunder my lips and tongue with his sensual kisses.

We’re both breathing hard as I reach down to encircle his thick wrist just as it begins to glide up my bare thigh, reaching under my nightie.

Down boy.

If I allow him to go there, things could get too involved far too quickly, and I don’t feel comfortable jumping into bed with a man I just met a few hours earlier. I feel more in control just kissing, but I know he won’t be satisfied with that for long.

He stops but pins me with a lusty look.

“You sure, baby? I can’t keep my hands off of your body. You’re so damn fine, Violet. I know a million ways to make you beg for more, I promise you.”

“Ahhh, I believe you Damon and you’re a ten yourself, handsome, but as much as I’m lusting after your touch I think that this girl has had enough excitement for one evening. Besides, I have to work early tomorrow morning. We are planning on getting the last of the two cameras online before that storm that everybody is talking about rolls in.”

He cocks his head and gives me an unhappy look so I try to appease him by saying, “Hey, you just got here. We’ll hang out again soon. I promise you.” And I mean it. His hot hands on my body have left me aching for him to continue, but now just isn’t a good time.

He pulls himself up off my bed and crosses the room in four long strides as I open the door for him. Before stepping out of my room, he buries his fist once again in my hair as he murmurs in a sexy rumble, “I really like your lips all swollen and red from my kisses. baby. I think I’ll take one more for the road.”

Oh my.

He bends low and nips my bottom lip gently with his teeth as his wet tongue glides back in, twirling slowly with mine. I sway against him and begin to rethink my earlier choice to make him leave.

He pulls away to stare deeply into my eyes and says, “Be good, Violet. See you soon.”

I offer in a whisper, “Night Damon, see you around.”

Releasing my hair, he turns to stalk down the dimly lit hallway as I hear him rumble, “You can count on it.”

* * *

I’ve just finished checking my email and selecting my clothing for tomorrow morning when yet another knock comes at the door. What the heck? I call out, “Who is it?”

“Hey, lady, it’s me, Gabe.”

Swinging the door open, I say, “Get in here. You wouldn’t believe the trouble I’ve gotten myself into tonight.”

“Ha! Bring on the details. I wanted to make sure you made it back from town all right. So what’s up?”

We take a seat at the end of my bed and I tell him in vivid detail all about my night, including the impromptu visit from Damon.

“So did you think that I was him just now, coming back for round two?”

“Gabe!” I give him a mock-annoyed look.

“Man, I need to visit this Buck Bar for some distraction. I just got off the phone with Kreshmir. You remember the exchange student from Croatia I hung out with last year, right?”

“Oh yeah, he was fine.”

“I’m planning a trip over there in June to travel around a bit. We’ll see where it goes. We had a terrific connection.”

Images of the dark, brooding young man flood my mind. He was beautiful, a perfect match for Gabe. “That’s wonderful, Gabe. I’ve heard that Dubrovnik is a stunning city, rich with culture.”

“Yeah, he’s about ten minutes from the city.”

“That’s cool. So how is everything at home? The Skype session go okay?”

“Oh, yeah. They’re all geared up to have us together in Minnesota this year for Christmas.” Gabe smiled broadly. “You should come home with me this year.”

I glance down and trace the stitching on the white down comforter. “That’s a sweet offer, Gabe, but I’m good, really.”

He takes my restless hand in his. “Violet, I know it must be hard, you being on your own and all. I would really love for you to come to Minnesota. My older brother Zane is single. He would freak if he saw what a hot research partner I have!”

I blurt out laughing. “Gabe, you’re awesome, and I really appreciate the offer but I’ll have to think about it, if that’s all right? I usually work straight through the holidays. It helps keep me distracted.”

“Have you ever tried to look your parents up?”

My eyes fly to his. “Gabe, they gave me up when I was only six months old. They didn’t want me then, why would they want to talk to a grown woman about their guilt?”

“Violet, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry. I just don’t like the thought of you being so alone in the world. You know that I’m always here for you, right?”

I throw my arms around him and whisper, “I know, Gabe, thank you. Don’t worry, I have coffee now and again with one of my foster moms and Kelsey and I are close—that is when she’s not all wrapped up with Ben. Ha!”

“Yeah, those two are so all over each other that they should have a do not disturb sign engraved on the door of their room.”

“Yes, exactly.”

“So, are you up for a connection check on camera two along with the other work we need to finish first thing in the morning?”

“You know it. It’s a good idea to have everything locked down and functioning before that big storm rolls in. Meet you in the lobby at seven-thirty?”

I watch him unfold his tall frame and move to the door.

“I’ll see you there. Oh, and have fun dreaming about those sexy mountain men, you lucky woman!”

“Night, Gabe.”

“You too, Violet.”

He’s such a positive force in my life. I’m so thankful that we’re partners.

Snuggling down into the covers I’m so exhausted that I fall asleep immediately.

Chapter Three

Luke

“What do you mean she’s still up on that mountain, Janelle?”

God damn it! What was she thinking, heading up there today, anyhow? I warned her, and with the way these fronts can pop up before a blizzard they would have little time to get out of there. Fucking unacceptable!

With a dismayed look, Janelle replies, “Look Luke, she’s a grown woman who’s working here so we are in no position to stop her, much less any of the other researchers in her group. We’ve warned the team time and again about the dangers up there. I understand your concern, but Ross made certain that they checked the weather and they knew that it was clear for the better part of the day. The snow has just begun and I’m certain that they will be back any moment. Wait, I didn’t realize that you two knew each other?”

“We met up on the mountain near her site. She dropped her cell in my truck when I gave her a lift back last night and I wanted to give it back to her. When did they leave?”

“Wait, I’m a bit lost, Luke. Damon was giving her a ride last night. What changed?”

“Look Janelle, I don’t have time to waste explaining her transportation choices. You know how Damon and I feel about each other. Now let’s just leave it at that. Again, please tell me when she left.”

“Well, it had to be about eight this morning. That’s when they usually head out.” Janelle checked the wide-banded men’s watch on her wrist. “Come to think of it, they’re usually back by now.”

I bet they are. I’m going to redden her sassy ass when I get a hold of her.

“Luke, wait where are you going?” Janelle calls out in a worried tone.

“To save her tail.”

I turn to head out the door when I hear, “Hold on a sec, Luke! Do you think they’re in trouble up there? Do you think Ross should come with you, just in case? It’s going to be dusk soon, so please be careful!”

“I’ll be careful. Don’t trouble Ross about it.” I wave goodbye.

Ever since she stumbled into my logging site I haven’t been able to get that woman out of my head. She is sexy as hell with that strong mouth of hers. Not many women would stand up to a bunch of loggers in the woods like that. Now she’s most likely stranded out there in the midst of the approaching storm. She’s so fucking going to get it when I get her out of trouble! That wide eyed submissive look drives me wild and I can’t wait to bring her headstrong personality to heel for me … in my bed.

I park my truck in the high drive of my A-frame cabin and run inside only long enough to grab my rifle and the keys to my snowmobile. She can’t be far. My cabin rests on the edge of the forest near the trail that winds up the mountain into the park. I’m only about two miles from her site.

Something must be wrong for her and her partner to not be back yet. Let me reach her in time.

Going off instinct, I decide to head up the trail, higher into the mountains rather than down it. This way I can head to the campsite and backtrack down to the lodge, checking the trails on the way. The snow is coming down so hard now that it’s falling at an angle. Dangerous fronts can swoop in, leaving both novices and advanced outdoorsmen with only crucial minutes to find shelter, and God help those who don’t. Gritting my teeth, I push the throttle harder and speed up the mountain.

The rifle strapped across my back is a comforting weight as I scan left and right for those damned red pants of hers. I’ll need the weapon if there’s any trouble. These woods are full of wild creatures and bear attacks aren’t unheard of.

The visibility sucks up here, thank fuck for my goggles. The snow is coming down even harder now, and my sled sinks in the new powder, leaving long tracks behind me.

Shit, she wouldn’t make it out here past dusk. Where the hell could she be?

Suddenly, even over the noise of my motor, I hear a distinct growl. Oh, fuck no! The wolves are close and they’re either onto something or about to be. I leave the Cat running and hop off while flipping my rifle around in front of me.

There is no sign of either of them, but it is likely that the heavy snow covered up any tracks. I clamber around and scan the sides of the trails, hoping to catch some small sign that they’d passed this way, like broken branches or tracks that hadn’t yet filled in.

Fuck, where are you, Violet?

That’s when I see it, a big gray wolf about twenty feet from me. He is looking down the embankment at something. I aim, breathe deeply, and take the shot. Just for extra measure I get a few steps closer and hit the bastard again.

“Goddamnit, where are you, Violet? Fuck!” I yell in frustration.

Over the sputtering sounds of the engine, I hear her voice call out to me but I can’t make out the words. It’s coming from over the embankment and I scramble to peer over the side.

Suddenly I see her but she’s too terrified to notice me as she climbs back toward the path. Her focus is solely on the black Taser that’s shaking violently in her hands.

Like that would ever do anything to a wolf. At least not before it jacked you up beyond all recourse.

I call out to her and hear her frightened reply. Thank fuck she’s alive. We need to get the hell out of here before they have the advantage in the near darkness.

Angling to get closer, I scan the area and see a quick flash of movement coming from the path. One of them has knocked her face first onto the ground and is gripping her by the arm of her jacket.

In a split second I decide that I have no choice but to take the shot from here. I yell at her not to move. If I don’t do it now it could rip into her neck; she’d be as good as dead.

Doing my best to slow my heart rate, I aim and pull the trigger. The shot knocks the wolf clean off her back and onto its side. It kicks its legs in the snow, growling furiously. As I reach her I can tell that she’s out cold, maybe fainted, but I’m relieved that the blood spattered across her doesn’t appear to be hers.

I glance at the wolf and realize I hit it in the chest. Its movements quickly slow and then cease altogether. We need to get the fuck out of here—like yesterday—so I hold the rifle tight with one hand and sling her up and across my back with the other. I only have two rounds left, so we won’t last long against a pack of wolves, not to mention the raging snow. Fuck, how could she be so hard-headed as to come out here today after I had warned her not to?

I slowly move backward toward my Cat with the rifle pointed outward. I hope they took the hint. Fucking wolves. I can’t see or hear them anymore. They are notoriously smart, so they must have run off.

Putting her onto the double seat in front of me, I gently lean her back against my chest. God she’s so small, almost weightless against me, and she’s knocked out cold. I turn the Cat cautiously around and head back toward my cabin.

Once we return home and I have her safely inside, I call Ross and Janelle to let them know I found her. Apparently her partner Gabe had just arrived and was having a near panic attack about Violet’s situation. I’d forgotten all about him, so I’m relieved to hear he made it back on his own. I can hear Ross tell him that she’s safe with me and the poor guy’s thankful sobs are audible.

I tell Ross that she’s staying put at my place for now. There’s no telling if my truck could even make it the six miles back to the lodge in this freak storm. He readily agrees.

She had better have a flawless explanation as to why the hell she went against my orders and stayed up there this late in the day. And she’ll damn well take her punishment for it, whether she’s into it or not.

My bet? She is.

Chapter Four

A Lesson

Warm, mmm, it’s so warm and cozy. This soft comforter feels soooo good … Wait, was that merely a nightmare in the woods? Where the hell am I?

My eyes fly open as I struggle to sit up. My head is pounding as I gently raise my hand to my right temple.

“Steady there, angel.” His deep voice fills the room.

Oh God, oh no!

“W-what happened?” I stammer. “Where am I?”

I frantically take in my surroundings. The walls are composed of huge, smooth log beams, and the high-arched ceiling is lined with more of the same wood. The décor is masculine with an alpine flair and a no-nonsense feel. The design of the structure and the decorative details are minimalist and stunning. Noting the giant, wood-framed bed I’ve been tucked into, I shriek, “Jesus, am I in your bed?”

Luke is taking up the entire doorframe with his big body and holding his hands out, palms down, in an attempt to calm me.

“Everything’s good, all right? Just calm down for a second. First, how’s your head, baby? You hit it when you fell, do you remember that?”

Everything comes back to me in a blurred rush and I nearly whimper, “The wolves, they were all around …” I’m petrified even recalling the horror of it. The sound of their howls surrounding me echoes in my head, making it throb even harder.

“What happened?” I whisper. “You were out there as well, did you get hurt? Oh my God, what about Gabe?”

He gives me a thoughtful look. “No, angel, I’m good. And I called the Holdens at the lodge as soon as we were out of trouble. They know you’re safe. Your partner arrived in quite a state while I was talking to them. He’s relieved that you’re okay. Don’t worry, you’re safe here at my place now. Why don’t we discuss it over something hot to drink? The bathroom is through there if you need it.”

He points to the door in the corner behind the bed. “Come on downstairs when you’re ready, all right?”

I simply nod in agreement, too shook up to argue. As he heads out of the room, I hear him say, “Call out if you feel faint. I’m serious. You might have a concussion.”

I flop back onto the soft pillows with a loud sigh. What is it about me that is a magnet for trouble? I want to get up and thank him for saving me but then I’m outta here.

I have to get back to the lodge tonight because this storm is coming in ahead of schedule and there’s no telling the trouble I can get into with Luke Benoit during a cozy overnight stay.

As I wander into the bathroom I see that it’s oversized for what I assume is a cabin. Everything is dark stone and wood with shiny steel fixtures. Very masculine, but also very refined. I decide to hop into the gray slate shower. The water will relax my fraying nerves. While washing my hair, I feel around my scalp for bumps. There is a small knot on the right side of my temple but I know that it could have been far worse. As much as I hate to admit it, I’m lucky Luke was there.

I really should be afraid to be alone with Luke as he’s virtually a stranger to me, but there’s just a sense of security I have whenever I’m around him, even before the little incident in the woods. No one has ever given me that feeling before. In the past, I’ve always relied on myself.

I towel off and put my leggings, baby pink v-neck tee and wool socks back on. He must have taken my outdoor gear off for me.

Hmm, a caring mountain man.

As I step out of Luke’s large bedroom, I see that I’m on an open catwalk above a massive living room. He calls out from below, “Careful on those steps.” This barely registers as I take in his house, so open and graceful with all of the natural wood construction. I look up and determine that the ceiling has to be at least thirty feet high. An impressive home to own on a logger’s salary.

The light from the giant stone fireplace casts mysterious shadows over the space. It’s too dark to see out the large windows but I would bet money that that the view is glorious as well.

Finally, I notice him standing at the bottom of the stairs. He’s watching me intently.

“Bit safer indoors tonight, don’t you think?” Just his deep voice makes me nervous and I can’t help but remember all the naughty scenarios that I had been fantasizing about. I hold the rail tightly and descend the amber-colored steps. “Yes, and your cabin is just stunning.”

“Happy for you to be here. You were out cold for a solid hour, baby. How do you feel now?”

“I’m better after that shower, and very grateful to you.” I flush as I look down at the glossy hardwood floor.

“Hey, come have a seat and relax with me. Are you up for a hot tea?”

“Thanks for offering, I would stay but I really need to get going. They’ll be worried about me back at the lodge.”

He levels me with a displeased look. “That front is still raging out there right now. Walk over and check it out through the windows. Callin’ for fifteen inches tonight alone and temps in the teens, which means black ice on the roads, so you’re staying put right here with me. I told you that I already spoke with the Holdens. They’re fully aware of the weather situation and know that I’ll have you back safely tomorrow by noon if at all possible.”

I simply stare at him, silently weighing my limited options. Honestly, I want nothing more than to crawl into that big, lush bed with him and spend a cozy evening between the sheets, but a small part of me is still apprehensive.

“Come here to me and sit down, Violet.”

Intrigued by Luke and his sexier than sin accent, I cross the living room toward him. He gently takes my hand and pulls me down onto his huge sofa. I nearly fall into his lap.

“That’s better.” His voice rumbles deeply against my hair. “You relax here by the fire and let me get you that drink.”

What’s the harm in one drink? The man did just save my life, after all. I’m uncomfortable with my level of attraction to him, however, and hope that he can’t see it as clear as day. Being this close to him is sending my senses into overdrive, not to mention the ache that is starting between my legs, so needy for his touch.

“All right,” I say. “Can I help you?”

Standing, he flashes a flawless smile. “Nah, you enjoy the warmth, baby, and I’ll be back in a few.”

As I sink down farther into the smooth chocolate leather of his sofa I stare into the huge fire, and the gravity of the situation on the mountain finally hits me. I’m shocked to the core by the attack today and begin to shake. These particular wolves don’t lack for a source of food. Maybe the attack was territorial or perhaps they just saw me as easy prey? Whatever the case, I’ll be certain not to make that mistake again. Next time, there may not be another Luke to save me.

I’m snapped out of my thoughts as he enters the room. I press my hands between my knees so he can’t see their trembling.

“Ever shoot a gun?”

That’s an unexpected question.

“Um, no, I’ve never been close to one before today.”

Watching me closely, he says in a serious voice, “Need to teach you how to shoot my rifle. You’re gonna carry one from now on every time you trek up into those woods. A Taser won’t do shit against a wolf, let alone multiple wolves.”

I don’t think so.

I stare at him and blurt out, “You can’t tell me what to do, or whether or not to carry a gun of all things! I was attacked today only because I was caught up there near dusk.”

Who the heck does he think he is, anyway? I’m outraged. I’ve spent so many years of my life fighting for the protection of these creatures, and here he is telling me I have to be ready to shoot them.

That dangerous look takes over his features and in one motion he swiftly sets the drinks down and cages me in on the sofa with both of his thick, muscular arms. His hands are in fists pressed against the leather on either side of my head, and I begin to pant in fear of the aggression that is rolling off him.

He leans in mere inches from my face and levels me with his dark eyes.

“You nearly got fucking torn apart on that mountain today, little girl,” he growls. “You wouldn’t have been found either. They would have dragged pieces of you off into the damn woods. Have you seen your jacket yet?”

I stare at him, blink once and slowly shake my head.

“No?” he asks, his voice disgusted.

I watch in shock as he pushes away from me and stalks over to grab my jacket off the door hook. He tosses it to me. The entire back and left arm is shredded. I try but fail to hide a full body shudder.

I flinch as he roars, “Ten more seconds and that wolf would have ripped your throat out!” The power he exudes is both terrifying and supremely hot.

“Those animals are ruthless killers and nothing else. The sooner you get that fact straight, the better.” He points right at me. “If you were my woman you wouldn’t go near that mountain without me close, period. Until then you’re carrying a fucking rifle. Got it, angel?”

Was he unhinged? What did he mean “Until then”? The bravado of this guy is off the charts. But I’m his guest and decide that it’s best to comply for now and change the subject rather than get into another argument with him about what occurred. Right now, I just want to forget it ever happened.

Cheeks hot, I look away and breathe deeply, knowing that everything he said was the honest truth.

“How many were shot today?”

“Two, and don’t tell me that you feel sorry for those bastard wolves. It was either them or you up there today.”

“We’ll see about the gun,” I murmur. “But you should know that if you try to force me into anything I’m uncertain about, we’ll have issues, Luke. I’m quite stubborn and you can’t change that fact. And yes, of course I’m distraught that they were killed. You must realize that I spend my life trying to help their species survive.”

“You’re proving to be a very interesting woman, Violet London.”

I ask the question that has been nagging at me, “So, how did you know I was still up there anyway?”

With his hands planted on his hips, he states bluntly, “You mean how did I know to come and save your sassy little ass?”

“Seriously?” I hiss. “Do you always have to be so chauvinistic?”

With a menacing lip twitch he cocks his head and studies me. “Yeah, angel, I do because I am and the sooner you embrace that fact the better. Luckily, you left your cell in my truck last night. I was droppin’ it back to you at the lodge and saw that you disobeyed me by being up there in that weather.”

Of course I’m beyond grateful for the series of events that led to my rescue, regardless of the embarrassment, and I have to tell him.

“Well Luke, I greatly appreciate all that you’ve done for me today and I vow never to be in that type of horrific situation again.”

He studies me with eyes like a hawk’s and crosses over to slowly lower his big frame next to my small one on the sofa. We sit in silence for a few minutes, enjoying the snapping of the wood in the fire along with the delicious tea. Finally he slowly turns and levels his gleaming eyes mere inches from mine.

“You know what a Dom is, Violet?”

My brain does a free-fall as all of the air flees my lungs.

He sits patiently awaiting my answer with a cool gaze that doesn’t betray his thoughts. I wish I could be so calm.

“I, well, I’ve read a few books. I assume that you’re referring to a d-dominant?” I stammer, unable to meet his eyes. My throat feels as dry as kindling.

“Yes, now tell me about what you’ve read.” Still no expression. Is he trying to torture me? I’m sure my face is fire-engine red by this point.

“Well, they were just, you know, erotic stories with Master and slave scenarios.”

I start to look at my hands clutching my tea cup when he says to me, “Don’t look away again. Tell me, did they get you aroused?”

He’s impossible.

“Luke, this is highly embarrassing. I’m shy to begin with and these questions are really personal. I’m feeling very uncomfortable now. Is this your goal? To humiliate me?” I turn away again.

“You’re gorgeous when you blush like that, baby; however, I asked you not to look away from my eyes. If you do it again I’ll have to teach you a lesson, little beauty. Understood?”

Oh my God! My body betrays me. My pussy just got totally wet at the thought.

I struggle to keep eye contact and nod.

“Were you aroused by the books?”

“Of course I was. I mean, most women want a man who’s completely in control during sex, correct?”

He gives me a thoughtful look, like a teacher. “You’d be surprised, angel. Most think that they want to give up their control, but that control is who they are so they can never really submit to their base needs and desires.”

A deep concept from such a rugged guy.

“The reason I’m asking you about your interest in the stories you’ve read is because I can see as plain as day that you’re a natural submissive, right to your very core, baby, and being a Dom, I find this irresistible.”

I’m at a total loss for words and have never been so shocked in my life. Leveling him with a serious look, I ask, “Are we really having a discussion about BDSM?”

Without hesitation he fires back, “Yeah, we are and I’ll tell you why, angel. You defied me by getting into an ass load of trouble today. Nearly got both of us killed and I’m going to punish you for it, but I’m a fair guy so I’m giving you a choice. Either take your punishment by itself or take your punishment followed by the pleasure that I’ll allow. But that will be given only if you’re a good girl for me.”

What?

My brain stalls out.

Did he just say that he wants to spank me and then get me off afterwards?

No way.

In the deepest recesses of my psyche my libido is begging me for it but the rational voice informs me that I couldn’t possibly give up that kind of control to him and be left so vulnerable.

Weighted seconds tick by. Conflicted about how to respond, I stand and walk closer to the fire, restlessly shifting my weight from foot to foot. On the one hand, I know that I could give in to him for just a night and see where it leads. After the snow lets up I could leave here and never look back if I didn’t enjoy it. On the other hand, what if he goes too far? I barely know this man and have no idea what he is capable of. For some reason, I find that even more thrilling, no matter how hard my rational brain tries to persuade me otherwise.

“Violet, I’m not giving you a chance to put your guard back up. Now give me those sexy green eyes of yours.”

He’s on his feet now and crossing over toward me. My heart is pounding out of my chest as he towers before me and reaches down to push a long length of my hair back over my shoulder. It feels like a very intimate gesture for such a dangerous man.

He tilts his head thoughtfully while mesmerizing me with his stare.

“I’m one hundred percent Dominant, angel, never been any other way. I’m always in complete control. We’re going to play now and when you want to stop altogether, for any reason whatsoever, you’re going to say the safe word ‘Freeze.’ Understood?”

In that moment, I ultimately decide that I want him. My head is reeling with the dangerous possibilities. I decide to go with it because he’s never frightened me in the least, and all this dominance talk has left me aching for his touch. When in my rigid, academic lifetime will this kind of heady opportunity ever present itself again? Shyly, I nod my head in agreement.

Looking quite pleased with my choice, Luke gently runs his hand slowly down the length of my arm until he reaches my small hand, easily encircling my fingers with his large ones.

I’m led to the end of the large sofa and feel his arm wrap around my waist and slowly bend me forward over the armrest.

I can feel the heat radiating off of his strong body behind me, yet he’s not touching me. Suddenly my panties and leggings are yanked down with a swift whoosh.

“Oooh!” I call out.

“No, no, angel, you’ll learn my rules soon enough and you won’t call out—aside from involuntary sounds—unless I give you permission to do so.”

I remain silent.

“When you address me during any form of play you will say ‘Yes, Master.’ Understood?”

Oh my God. This is hardcore.

What am I doing? My pussy is in conflict with my brain yet I’ve never felt as desired as I do now by this man. Perhaps he’s dead on about me being submissive. Maybe I’m just having a hard time accepting it.

I turn my head to the side and in a barely audible whisper breathe out the words, “Yes, Master.”

I can’t believe I’m doing this!

“Mmmm, so sweet, angel,” he rumbles in a male purr behind me.

I smile inwardly at his praise.

“Now to be clear, this spanking is for what exactly?”

Is he seriously going to make me verbalize my stupid mistake? Fine, here it goes.

“It’s because I went up onto the mountain today.” Why do I sound so innocent and girlish?

“And?”

“And because you warned me not to, that it could be dangerous with the storm approaching.”

I hear him grunt his approval.

“Hold as still as possible.”

I feel his warm palm on the center of my back holding me down against the armrest. His large feet are between mine, widening my stance to at least two feet. I have my hands planted firmly in front of me on the leather, uncertain of what to expect next. My breathing is fluttery and rapid as feelings of curiosity and nervousness course through me.

Without a word I hear a cracking smack and my right ass cheek explodes into fire. “Ahhhh!”

The open palm swats keep raining down as a calm, deep voice instructs me, “Remember, no calling out unless it’s your safe word. Now you will start counting for me. We’re on five and will go to thirty. If you call out again we’ll have to start all over.”

What?

Immediately I comply and start counting in a rushed, shaky voice. “Six, seven …”

He remains stoic and methodical as he covers my blazing bottom and upper thighs with his strong palm. I find myself getting increasingly aroused by the spanking and my pussy pulses with each blow. I pray that I don’t start leaking wet arousal down my thighs.

I finally reach thirty through a torrent of tears and a burning ache of desire deep within my wet core. I start to stand as he suddenly pulls me up and turns me to face him.

I breathe sharply when I see that his eyes are glittering with lust.

“Now thank me.” His voice is deeper now, both strained and hoarse.

“What?” I whisper up to him, utterly stunned.

“Thank your Master for your punishment, unless you’re eager for another?” He arches a perfect dark brow. “I can go all night long, baby.”

This feels so naked and personal but I realize that I need this, I need it from him. “Thank you, Master.” I look down in embarrassment and scramble to pull up my leggings, only to notice a very daunting erection straining against the confines of his faded jeans.

I’m stopped in mid-bend by his hands wrapping around my arms as he pulls me back up and lowers his lips to mine in a sensual kiss. I nearly moan into his mouth at the smoothness of his full lips moving with certainty against mine.

I whimper as his large hands reach around to firmly grip my blazing ass. His tongue takes full advantage and sweeps in to possess mine in a mind-blowing invasive kiss that leaves my senses reeling.

With visible effort he suddenly pulls his mouth away from mine and flips me effortlessly up and over his thick shoulder like he’s a fireman and I’m in need of rescuing. Again.

“Now’s the fun part.” I hear him chuckle. I want all of him and hope that I can handle it. I’m gently lowered onto the huge couch as my leggings are pulled the rest of the way off my ankles. He leans over me to pull my shirt up and over my head, followed by my lacy peach bra.

I feel a tad self-conscious as Luke climbs onto the couch and leans back onto his calves, his hands resting on his sculpted, denim-clad thighs.

“You could sear a man’s eyes right out of his head with that beauty of yours, angel.”

I flush but hold his predatory gaze. He pulls his gray t-shirt off with a tug at the back of his neck and I’m suddenly staring at a wall of honey colored perfection. He really does look like a heavyweight boxer.

“Thank you. You’re pretty stunning yourself, I suppose, for a brash mountain guy.”

This gets me a full white grin followed by, “Prepare yourself and remember your safe word baby.”

He gets off the couch and goes to a closet, where he pulls out a large, black leather chest.

“What’s that?” I ask. I can’t hide my curiosity. This gets me a cocked eyebrow with a frown of disapproval.

He’s really serious.

“Sorry, won’t happen again.”

“That’s your only warning, baby, now close your eyes for me.” I should be nervous but I’m only filled with heated anticipation as I feel soft material placed across my eyes and then tied gently behind my head.

“Hey, I was enjoying the view!”

A sharp swat right on my pussy lips makes me gasp and clamp my mouth shut.

“This will heighten your pleasure by focusing your senses,” he murmurs to me.

Warm hands caress my inner thighs as they’re gently pushed as wide open as possible. I’m left feeling totally exposed and try to concentrate only on following his instructions and breathing calmly in a vain attempt to slow my wildly racing heart.

“Place your palms flat on the inside of your knees and hold your legs open just like this for me.”

I do as I’m told and feel the warmth of the fire heating my right side. I’m so eager both to please Luke and have him give me pleasure that I’m salivating.

I wonder if this is truly being submissive or if I’m just ridiculously horny for his touch.

“You’re sweet when you listen to me, baby.” His warm breath softly caresses my cheek.

I smile and keep my legs open wide.

“Very, very lovely,” he muses, his voice growing husky.

“I’m not going to take you tonight, Violet. Today was chaos and neither of us are ready for that emotional plunge … yet. We’re just going to play, understood?”

Curious.

It has been over a year since I’ve had sex. I know that I’ve never wanted to be fucked as badly as I do by Luke, but he has a valid point. Still, I can’t help but feel disappointed.

“All right, I mean, yes, Master, I understand.” I remind myself that I’m certainly not ready for that level of intimacy yet, no matter how much I’m craving it. I shudder in apprehension, pondering if his huge cock would even fit into me. From the glimpse I got of that delicious bulge in his jeans, I have my doubts.

“Are you clean and on birth control, angel?”

“Yes, Master.”

“Good. I was just fully checked within the last three months and haven’t been with anyone since then.” As the couch dips under his bulk I feel the brush of his soft jeans against my inner thigh. One lone finger lightly swirls my sensitive clit and then dips downward and across my damp pussy.

“You are so fucking drenched, baby, mmm.”

As his finger moves away, I almost whimper at the loss.

“Oh, yeah, you taste sweeter than raw sugar. I can’t wait to tongue fuck you, angel.”

He must have licked his finger clean.

Yes, please make me come! I want to scream at him but remember his rules.

He begins to lightly tease me again with his skilled finger. His motion is slow and methodical, driving me higher in my need until my hips involuntarily lift up to deepen the contact.

“Oh!” I call out as his sensual touch is replaced by a long sharp tweak to my sensitive pink nipple.

“You will take exactly what I give you,” he growls.

“Yes, Master.”

“Misbehave again and you will earn the clamps.”

Oh, yeah, that sounds scary and hot!

As he leans back down, my legs are suddenly hooked up and over his broad shoulders. I can feel his hot breath against my aching pussy.

“Hold still now, angel, and let Master lick you clean.”

I would follow just about any command from him at this point, both to come and please him.

I nearly come undone at the first swipe of his thick, scorching tongue right against my clit. I hear him grunt in male approval. That sound cranks me up even more for him.

I strain to try and hold still, realizing now that the blindfold helps me focus on every nuance of his touch.

As he begins intimately lapping my pussy I can feel the orgasm mounting. Just when I think that I’m following his rules to perfection he dips that wicked tongue deep into my swollen core and I respond with a cry and a very noticeable hip tilt.

Abruptly the pleasure stops.

No!

I’m unable to hide a girlish whimper at the loss.

“You are a naughty girl aren’t you? Clamps or plug for not following the rules, angel, which will it be?”

What? I have never seen either one, so how could I choose?

I’m too fearful to try the clamps. The name alone sounds harsh, so I answer nervously, “The plug, Master.”

Holy shit, what have I gotten myself into? I’m too wound up to really care much at this point.

I hear the lock on the chest open and then his warm body is once again nestled against mine. Good, I think to myself, I won’t screw up again and give him another chance to teach me a lesson.

Once again my legs are lifted over his shoulders and while I brace for something foreign and possibly painful, I’m surprised to feel his stiff, wet tongue lightly circling my ass. I nearly cry out at the dark pleasure that rolls through me at the taboo sensation.

Never in a million years would I have imagined that ass play could feel so intense.

“That’s right baby, relax that beautiful ass ring for Master.”

I feel a wet finger gently prod at me as I try to relax, realizing that I really do want it. My pussy is now leaking with need at being left out of the action. As his thick finger pumps into my ass I start to quiver.

“That’s right angel, push out and open up for Master. Damn you’re so tight here, baby. I want to fuck your ass nearly as much as that perfect pussy of yours. You’re pleasing Master and I’m going to reward you if you just hold on a little while longer, all right?”

Almost unable to consolidate a single thought at this point I simply whisper in desperation, “Yes, yes Master.”

His finger is swiftly replaced by something incredibly smooth, slick and thick. I feel a burning sensation with the stretching as he pushes it straight into me. I’m panting rapidly, trying my best to accept the foreign object with grace into my little behind. Luke gives it a gentle tug to make certain that it’s seated nicely.

“Just gorgeous,” he murmurs, his voice low and dangerous. “It’s a new blown glass plug that I just had custom made. It’s stunning on you, angel.”

I grin, knowing that he’s beyond pleased and that I’m excelling at submission 101. I clench around it, enjoying the foreign fullness it brings.

Once again his wet mouth starts kissing and lapping at my pussy. I notice immediately that the plug intensifies the sensations and leaves me panting from the deep throbbing that is coming from my core.

Oh, please, please let me come, I’ll do anything! I want so much to beg him but know it will get me nowhere. Instead, I grip the leather sofa in my hands and concentrate on his tongue teasing my clit.

This is all on his terms. It is about control and submission on a base level and I’m merely in the passenger seat.

Sweat is dripping down my temples when I feel him pull away and ask in a thick, hoarse voice, “You want to come now for me baby?”

“Yes, please, Master! Please let me come,” I nearly wail.

“I can see how much you need to and you’ve been such a good girl, for the most part. When I tell you to, you will come hard for me on my command.”

Anything, Luke.

I nod eagerly in agreement and feel him once again driving me closer to explosion with his skilled mouth. The burning and shaking intensify as I can feel the orgasm bearing down on me.

With his finger rubbing firm circles on my swollen clit, he lifts his head and harshly orders, “Now, angel!”

His rough command sends a message for me to let go of the thin thread of control that I’ve been clasping onto and the orgasm immediately rips through me. I cry out at the shock of the pulses coming from deep within me. My hips are jerking involuntarily and I’m vaguely aware of him pinning them down firmly against the leather while burying his tongue deep within me.

I cry out loudly, “Ugh, oh, yes, God yes! Luke!”

I can hear him growling against my pussy lips in approval and I think I might pass out from the sheer intensity of it all.

As I float back down into my body it hits me that he gave me the most intense orgasm I’ve ever felt in my life. I never could have imagined that submitting to the will of another could be so … fulfilling. Before I can dwell on that heady thought I feel the blindfold being gently removed. The darkness is swiftly replaced with beautiful brown eyes and warm light.

“Well, you certainly are an eager student,” he chuckles in his deep, sexy voice.

“Let’s just say I work well with the reward system.” I glance down at his impressively ripped torso, which is now hovering over me. God, is he sexy! All I can think about is getting to put my hands all over his toned body, but I know that will only happen if he lets me. “I’d like very much to please you as well.”

“So eager, my beautiful angel.”

The toy is removed and I’m pulled up and walked over to the black bear rug in front of the blazing fire. Without a word, he puts his warm rough palms on my bare shoulders and pushes me down in a silent command to go to my knees before him.

With a rough voice, he commands, “Release me from my jeans using only your teeth.”

Oh, yeah.

I keep my palms at my side and fumble awkwardly with the thick leather belt. Once it’s open I pop the first of the five buttons. The denim is harsh against my mouth, but I don’t care. Halfway down I can feel the heat and smell the scent of him. It’s clean and rich. It’s intoxicating and I’m salivating to get him inside my mouth.

Once the buttons are undone I glance up at him and await further instruction. He bends and takes off his jeans and black boxer briefs in one fluid motion.

When he’s standing again I gasp at the sight before my eyes. His cock is simply stunning. It is so thick that it must be the width of a Mag light. It’s long and proudly pulses at least two inches above his navel. My pussy is immediately drenched again at the prospect of being taken by his magnificent cock.

Gently touching the side of my face, he says, “Pleasure me however you like, sweet girl.”

Is this my reward? At this moment, I can’t imagine anything more exciting than taking that perfection into my mouth.

I waste no time, first cupping his heavy balls in my right hand while slowly leaning forward to deeply inhale his clean scent. I lightly run my tongue up the hot shaft, determined to have him as out of his mind as he had me earlier.

When I reach the tip I delicately swirl the pre-cum and revel in his musky flavor. I pop the fat head into my mouth and begin sucking, which earns me a deep grunt of what I imagine is his masculine approval.

But I want to draw this out as long as possible, so after I lick the head a few more times I tilt my face down to his hanging balls and begin lapping at first one and then the other. I can feel his thighs against me begin to shake with need as his hands gently bury themselves into my long hair and hold fast.

I try my best to please him by opening wide and taking first one then the other ball into my mouth, swirling and sucking them. I move back to his cock without breaking the rhythm and really get busy.

In one deep movement I sheathe my teeth with my lips and take him in as deeply as I’m able. Although I’m gagging on his shaft, the choking noises I’m making seem to please him just as much as the rhythmic sucking. When I keep up this motion I’m aware of a low warning growl coming from deep within his chest.

Suddenly the back of my head is clasped sternly in his grip as he takes control of my movements, pulling my mouth up and back down onto his length in rapid, measured movements.

Feeling a bit devious, I reach under, stroking his tightening balls and run my finger firmly on the sensitive spot close to his anus. This pushes Luke over the edge and a primal roar rings out in the room as he comes in deep, pulsing streams far down my throat. I swallow it all, proud of bringing him so much pleasure.

Once released, I fall forward onto my hands and knees to gather myself. A glance confirms that he’s bent forward, too, with his hands planted on his sculpted thighs.

His massive chest is heaving as if he’s just run a marathon … and back again.

“You are trouble, angel,” he rasps, still struggling to breathe normally as he lifts me up and onto my feet.

“Oh yeah? How so?”

“A lesser man would have passed the fuck out from those moves you just pulled. You do realize that you’ve just sealed your fate, angel. I’m gonna hold you hostage and keep you as my very own harem girl,” he says in a playful tone while swatting my reddened behind toward the staircase.

I giggle and retort over my shoulder, “I’ll take a warm bed and possibly a hot breakfast tomorrow morning as a thank you.” Exhausted, we head up the stairs into his bedroom and collapse into bed.

He gathers me against him and wraps us tightly together in his moss-green feather duvet. The feeling of his warm skin against my back is luxurious, and the way he possessively cups one of my breasts makes me feel safe. Cared for, even.

“Sleep well, Violet.”

“Okay,” I mumble, barely conscious. “Good night Luke.”

“De beaux rêves, mon ange.”

My heart does a rapid flutter at hearing his native tongue, so smooth and sexy in the dark.

“Come again?” I whisper.

Right against my hair I hear a breathy, “Sweet dreams, my angel.”

Mmmm, delish. My heart melts as I snuggle into his arms and slip into an exhausted sleep.

Chapter Five

Perception

“Morning, sleepin’ beauty.”

I stretch out lazily and grin at his husky voice, mischievously remembering the off the charts orgasm session we shared last night. I blink up at him and stare.

He’s fully dressed and is looking down at me with an expression that is hard to read on his tanned face.

“Hop up and get dressed now. I promised you a nice breakfast in town and I have a few errands to run after that.”

“Wait, don’t you have to work today?”

“Have you looked out the windows yet, baby? Called the crew off at six a.m. due to the road conditions alone. It’s difficult and dangerous to work with heavy snow on logs and branches, not to mention maneuvering the equipment. I’ll head up there a bit later today to check it out. The roads in town should be salted by now though.”

I gasp as the covers are playfully ripped off me and a sharp swat smacks my bare behind.

“Meet me downstairs in fifteen, all right?”

“Bossy!” I shout but do what I’m told this time. Although I’m learning that it’s quite fun defying him …

* * *

The drive into the Town of Haines Junction is a bit unnerving with all the snow and ice covering the roads. I feel the truck slide more than a few times. Luke glances at my hands, nervously splayed out in front of me on the big dash of the truck. With a grin he reassures me that the truck has studded tires so I shouldn’t be concerned.

“Besides,” he grins, “when you live out here you have to know how to handle the weather.”

Was that a jab about yesterday’s rescue? I choose to ignore it.

We park at a large freestanding store called “Junction Outfitters” and before I can say a word he turns to me. “Just humor me, baby, and go along with this, all right?”

I’m perplexed as I walk into the store beside him wearing just my base layer fleece. My only coat is shredded and lying in his trashcan in the kitchen.

“Hey Luke!” A good looking teenage kid calls out from behind the old wooden counter. “What can I help you find this morning?”

I look around the vast space and see that they have everything from crossbows to ski gear. “Somebody Told Me” by the Killers thumps with stormy intensity in the background. The catchy, new wave rock beat puts me at ease.

The kid has taste.

“Hey Jon, which way are the ladies’ coats?”

No way will I let him take me shopping for a coat.

I begin to step back, tugging desperately on his hand when he turns abruptly and gives me a serious, and familiar, warning look.

“You are utterly annoying,” I grumble.

“I’ll keep a mental count if that’s how you want it, angel.”

“No, thank you. Your extreme alpha-ness is enough punishment for me,” I hiss at him. “Also, I’m paying for it as I would have found my way here today anyhow.”

Oh man.

Fascinated, I watch as his eyes tighten into shards of ice. I can tell that he did not like my retort in the least.

He leans down and whispers a warning against my ear, “You wouldn’t fucking be alive today if I hadn’t saved your tail so humor me and let me buy you a damned coat.”

Mortified, I glance over at the embarrassed kid, who is shuffling his feet and pretending in vain not to notice our altercation.

“Fine,” I grumble. I’m bristling by this point. Just because I let him dominate me last night did not mean I was intending to let him have control of my entire life.

“Lead the way,” Luke tells Jon with a chin lift.

Jon is clearly uncertain whom to address at this point. “Um, anything in particular?”

Before I can get my mouth open Luke tells him, “Yeah, lookin’ for a North Face down parka in red, size small, you got one?”

Jon immediately flips through the rack, clearly familiar with his stock, and pulls out a gorgeous down coat. It makes me feel warm just looking at it.

Since it is North Face, I assume it must cost upwards of four hundred bucks. There’s no way I can let him buy that for me. It is way too generous.

Sensing my hesitation, Luke slides it off the hanger and holds it open for me to slip into. In an effort to spare Jon from any further arguments, I whisper to him, “Luke, I’m a grad student, I can’t pay for this coat and it’s not right for you to buy it for me.”

His dark eyes soften as he tells me, “Baby, please put it on, as a gift from me, all right? Just do as you’re told and make me happy. Besides, you really need it or you’ll freeze out there.”

Reluctant, I turn and slip my arms into the red dream of a parka. Of course it fits perfectly and is far warmer than my old one.

“It’s utterly amazing.” I say, admiring how well the sleeves fit. I’m quite small and have always had trouble with sleeves that hang way past my hands.

“Don’t say a word. One day you’ll learn, angel, that it’s easier not to fight me,” he assures me as I stand hesitantly before him.

Jon’s obviously enjoying the show and grins broadly. “Looks good. Anything else today for you and your lady, my man?”

“Yeah, how about a pair of those leather Toaster gloves. Got those in women’s as well?”

“Sure thing,” Jon replies. “Size small, right?” I nod. “Meet you both up at the counter then if that’s it?”

“Yep.”

“You are insane!” I hiss at him after Jon walks away.

“You love it, angel. Now quit your bitching and let’s grab some breakfast, I’m starving.”

I shake my head and smile in wonder at this baffling man. One minute, he is sweet as sugar, and the next a domineering hard-ass.

He pays for the clothes in cash. Jon gives us a knowing look at the register and I can’t help but wonder if Luke often buys clothes for random women, or if Jon is just used to his brash behavior. I’m betting on the latter.

As we exit the store and head to his truck, I reach into the bag and finger the soft fabric of the parka. I turn to him in the middle of the parking lot and ask, “Luke, why red?”

With a dead serious expression, he tells me, “So I can find you easily up on that mountain if, God forbid, you’re ever in trouble again, angel.”

On our ride to breakfast, I ponder his concern for me, along with my newfound interest in BDSM.

* * *

Jackalope’s is packed with a breakfast crowd, more so than I would have expected for a snowy Monday morning. The only parking spot available is right against a high snow bank.

“Here baby, climb over into my lap.”

“Mmm, hmm, I see your angle, big man.” I smile, mischief in my eyes.

“And there are so many angles on you that I have yet to explore.”

My body immediately responds with pulsing need and I want him then and there.

After helping me down from his side of the huge truck, he releases my waist and possessively takes my hand as we make our way across the snow-covered lot to the front door.

I enter first and notice that the café is utterly charming and cozy, with high, upholstered red booths and an impressive glass, open-view kitchen. A little fire is burning in an old-fashioned freestanding fireplace near the front door.

The older, blonde hostess, smiling at Luke in open friendliness, greets us both.

“You’ve brought lovely company today, Luke, nice to see you.” She smiles warmly at me as she gives me a curious look. Again, I wonder if this is a habit of Luke’s, and I’m surprised to find that I’m a tad jealous at the thought of him with someone else.

“Booth for two?”

“Yeah, Dana, that’ll work.”

“Follow me then, please.”

As we make our way through the crowded café, at least three men greet Luke as he passes by. Once seated, I lean across the table to him, determined to learn more about this man.

“Come here often?” I ask.

He shrugs, not glancing up from the menu. “Yeah. There aren’t many places to go to in Haines Junction, especially for breakfast.”

“You must know just about everyone in town, right?”

He sets the menu aside. “I suppose I know most people. Hawk and I moved here with our dad when I was fifteen and he was ten. Dad owned a logging company in New Brunswick, outside of Quebec, which he relocated here after the accident with my mom.”

His sudden personal disclosure startles me, but before I can ask him any questions the waitress arrives.

“Well Luke, look at you, about to have breakfast with such a pretty lady, and on a Monday. Good for you, son. Now what’ll it be?” Her look of motherly approval makes me feel better for some reason and my earlier jealousy evaporates.

“What do you recommend Luke?” I ask.

He turns to look at the cheerful fifty-something waitress. “Two breakfast plates with bacon and scrambled eggs and a full order of blueberry pancakes.” Looking at me he asks, “Would you like hot tea?” I nod. “A tea and a black coffee with two waters.”

“You got it, handsome.” She winks and disappears into the kitchen.

“Their breakfast is the best around. Hope you’re hungry.”

“Of course, and especially since you wore me out last night.” I lean forward and tilt my head to the side, giving him a naughty, knowing look.

“Mmm, I like that darlin’, but I haven’t even begun with you yet. You’ll experience ‘worn out’ when I take you for the first time.”

“Luke!” I blush furiously and look around the café, hoping no one overheard him. Desperate to change gears, I gently ask, “So, you were telling me about your mom?” I try to approach the subject as delicately as possible. “What happened, if you don’t mind me asking?”

He looks distant for a moment before responding, his voice monotone. “Car crash. There was a particularly bad storm going on and she slid sideways on a mountain road winding up to our house. The guardrail couldn’t hold the truck and it flipped. She died at the site. She was an excellent driver, too.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry Luke.” I wish now that I’d not brought up such a tough subject this early in the morning.

“Hey.” He reaches across the table and takes my hands, covering them in his warm ones. “It was a long time ago. My dad moved us here for a fresh start and it really helped. You’ll meet him soon. He retired from the business two years ago and drives us both crazy with all of his cabin additions and projects. He really is a mad Quebecois.”

“What is a Quebecois?”

“A French Canadian from Quebec. My great-grandparents came from France and up until my mom and dad, nobody on either side of the family spoke any English whatsoever.”

“So that’s where you get your sexy accent.”

He leans in closer, his legs brushing mine under the table. “You like that do you, ma petite chérie?”

“Mmm hmmm, you know I do, you wicked man. Your French words are foreplay to my ears.”

He pins me with those telling eyes, “Well, then, you’ll certainly be hearing a load more of them, that is if you can be a good girl, hmm?”

My jaw falls open. Oh my goodness! His hotness is off the charts and I can feel my arousal mounting by the second.

I’m saved when the drinks arrive with the breakfast feast close behind. I’m savoring every mouthful when Luke asks, “So, why wolves, of all animals?”

I touch my napkin to my lips and answer, “When I was a child there was a nature preserve outside of Olympia where we used to visit on a regular basis. All the kids always gathered around the otters, where the action was. But not me. I would stand for hours, hoping to catch a glimpse of one of the three rehabilitated wolves that lived there. They just have this aura about them. I told myself then and there that I wanted to go into animal habitat conservation. Pretty ironic that I’m having a cozy breakfast with a logger of all people, don’t you think?”

“Actually, in case you’re not aware, logging has benefits for animals such as wolves,” he says.

“Really?” I ask, skeptical of his sudden pronouncement.

“Logging considerably reduces the risk of forest fires by clearing out dead or dying trees along with encouraging new plant growth by offering new space. If there’s a lack of plant growth, herbivores such as deer wouldn’t survive, and your wolves would starve.” He gives me a pointed look.

“I apologize then. You learn as you go. However, it is a proven statistic that deforestation drives animals such as wolves into foreign environments that often prove fatal for them, due to the lack of abundant prey, which can quickly lead to disease and starvation. Also, wolves don’t have maps, so they have no idea that when they flee from an area they are familiar with—sometimes because of loggers with their loud vehicles and helicopters—they might end up on a rancher’s land where they more often than not become a target.” I raise a confident brow.

“Touché, baby. You make a valid point. It’s no secret that logging has a bad reputation. It’s one of the top ten most dangerous jobs in the world, you know.”

“Really?” That surprises me. “I’ve always known logging is a dangerous profession, but I guess I never thought it would rank that high on the list.”

“Hell, yeah. Forget the chainsaws and thirty-foot climbs, the logs themselves pose the most threat if not loaded on the trucks correctly. Think of playing two ton Jenga, with your life depending on the outcome.”

“Crazy. I had no idea. So does your boss know you’re off today?”

He finishes his coffee and stands to get money out of his wallet to cover the bill. With a wolfish grin he states, “Baby, you’re lookin’ at him. I took over my dad’s company when he retired.”

“Ugh! I should have known. Your bossiness exceeds all expectations.” Suddenly his lavish home makes a lot more sense.

For the first time I witness him burst into a full, deep laugh. It’s beautiful.

As we head back out into the cold he whispers in my ear, “As long as you know who your Master is, angel, you’ll be just fine.”

I gape at his audacity as he gives me a firm smack on the rear. In full view of the café!

Chapter Six

In the Deep End

“Dinner at my house tonight? I cook a mean steak, baby.”

As we sit in the circular drive of the lodge I can’t help but ask, “Why are you doing all of this for me, Luke?”

He leans his broad shoulders across the cab to grasp my face in both his hands and silences me with a searing kiss that goes on for several delicious minutes. I slowly open my eyes to meet his when he answers, “Because Violet, aside from the fact that the afternoon we met I was convinced that you were so beautiful you couldn’t possibly be for real—like some dream that wandered out from the trees—I actually see who you are and what makes you tick, the nature of your base desires. And they are exactly what I want as well. Therefore, we work well together. You understand now why I want to explore what we’ve begun, right?”

As usual, he seamlessly explains away any doubts I might be having.

“Yes, I agree that this is both intense and addictive.”

“Good, now you’re working on your computer only until this storm lets up, right?”

“Yes, I don’t think we could locate our site today even if we wanted to, the way the snow is pummeling down.”

“Calling for the same tomorrow, so you keep your ass put here at the lodge and I’ll pick you up tonight at six. Be a good girl for me today, angel.”

God, I get so hot when he talks to me like that.

I look up through lowered lashes and whisper, “I will.” I grin as he smiles, obviously pleased with my submissive compliance.

As I hop down onto the snow I turn and say, “Thank you so much for the beautiful coat and the amazing breakfast, Luke, you really shouldn’t have.”

“I wanted to, baby, and besides, the Dom in me likes to spoil you rotten.”

His smile is mesmerizing.

“See you,” I say as I reluctantly close the heavy door and turn to crunch my way through the snow toward the wide front door of the lodge.

* * *

“Violet!” Janelle shouts from behind the reception desk. “Oh, you poor baby. Come sit by the fire and tell me all about what happened to you on the mountain.”

We cross the gleaming cherry floors as she leads me over to a plush ruby red sofa sitting adjacent to the dark rock fireplace. “Luke came here looking to return your cell and about came unglued after hearing that you and Gabe were up at the site with the sudden front closing in. Are you all right, sweetheart?”

She gently holds my shoulders and pulls me in for a hug. “Ross and I were stunned when Luke called us yesterday with the news. Wolf attack, my word! I knew that mountain could be dangerous but nothing on that level. I suppose Luke has cause for worry, as he’s always in the forest and must be aware of how dangerous it is to work up there. Ross took Damon up first thing to get the snowmobile going. That darn sled is so temperamental, any number of things could be wrong with it. We’ll have it repaired as soon as possible, though, so you can get back to work.”

“I’m fine now, thanks to Luke. And I wanted to thank you both again for such an amazing dinner in town the other night. Your generosity has been overwhelming, and I’m really grateful.”

“Oh, you are most certainly welcome, sweetie, it was our pleasure. Speaking of which, both Damon and Gabe have been asking if we’ve seen you today. Gabe was in the worst state when he came rushing into the lodge for help yesterday. We are so thankful to Luke for saving you. As you may have noticed, Damon and Luke are not on the best of terms. It goes back to their hockey days and nobody seems to know why.” She gives a shrug. “Nice boys, both of them, I don’t understand it.”

“Yes, they are,” I say, and add, “I really do need to check in with Gabe and the rest of the crew. How about you and I have tea together here in the lobby one afternoon soon?”

“That sounds like a fun girls’ date.”

As I make my way down the hallway I ponder what the hell just happened to me in the past twenty-four hours.

* * *

I can see after backing up my tapes that a group of wolves had passed through the site. Two males were involved in a vicious altercation involving first dibs on a fresh deer carcass. I have a newfound respect for the threat that they impose.

After an hour of taking notes I flop back on my plush bed and crank up Florence and the Machine’s “You’ve Got the Love.” The perfect intense buildup that leads into the beautiful flow of her strong, angelic voice fits the reflective mood I’m in.

As I listen to her voice blaring through my headphones, I suddenly hear a loud noise that makes me jump off the bed and toss the headphones from my head. I hear it again, clearly a knock on my door. I open it and see Damon casually leaning on the door frame.

“Um, hey, Damon, how are you?” I push my hair behind my ears and try for an easy smile.

What would he think of me if he knew I was messing around with Luke? I have never in my life been promiscuous and wouldn’t care to be thought of as such.

“Hi, pretty girl, heard you had a rough experience up on the mountain. Take you into town for lunch to talk about it?”

I stare at him, weighing my options. This isn’t good. Having two men interested in me is far too complex for my world right now, especially two extremely hot men. I should just say no, but that macho crap that Luke pulled the other night made me feel embarrassed for Damon. Plus, we did share that smoking hot kiss in my room. Maybe I’ll go and see what happens. If anything, I can let him down easy in a public place where I won’t be tempted to invite him in my room again.

Finally decided, I say, “I really need to get a bit of work completed now but I’ll be free around one o’clock if that works.”

“See you then,” he says, a broad grin of victory on his face. Before I can respond, he turns to walk away.

God, I hope that wherever we’re headed for lunch is not a popular spot.

Chapter Seven

Brothers

“So what’s the special occasion, dude? We never make time to catch up. You feeling all right?”

“Shut the fuck up, Hawk. Can’t we meet up for a cup of coffee without you badgering me?”

“Yeah, yeah, it’s all good. Hey, Billy told me that you ditched him at The Buck Bar the other night for some smoking hot chick. Tell me. It was the dream girl from the woods, right?”

I can’t resist a sly grin.

“God damn! You’re such a lucky bastard. How in the hell did that happen?”

“Because I’m a man and I take exactly what I want.”

He nearly spits his coffee across my kitchen bar in a choked laugh. “You’re so full of it. You know that, right? So tell me about her.”

“That damn woman was about to get herself wrapped up with Damon Holden before I shut that fucking possibility down like an oak with root rot.”

“Damon, what’s that dick doing back in town?”

“Who knows, but she was mine from the moment she threw sass at me in the woods. She’s smart, bro, smart and as fucking headstrong as a bull. Probably all over town by now but she nearly got torn apart by a pack of wolves yesterday afternoon. If I was five minutes later I would’ve been lucky to find a body part.”

Hawk’s eyebrows lift in surprise. “Damn, what happened?”

“Her ride had issues and her partner went for help. I warned her that the weather was likely to turn yesterday. I’m just glad that she’s still in one piece. She stayed over last night and I’m cooking her steak tonight. What should I serve with it? You’re the culinary wizard. Any thoughts?”

Grinning, he says, “Yeah. I’ll write down my recipe for outstanding twice baked potatoes.” He pauses and takes a sip of his coffee before asking casually, “So, not to pry, but does she know about our lifestyle yet?”

“That we’re Dominants? Yeah, just me though. I don’t want to freak her out any more because she’s already skittish as hell. But damn, Hawk, you should see how beautifully she responds to me. She’s a natural submissive and hasn’t a clue.”

He sets the gray mug down on the counter and says, “Damn Luke, I’ve never seen you this interested in anyone. How long is she here for?”

“A long while if I have any say.”

“You gonna introduce her to Dad?”

“I plan to.”

“He thinks you work too much. Comin’ from him that’s saying something. It would make him happy to see you with someone like her.”

“Hell, if Dad was still in charge he’d have the crew up there right now. That man lived and breathed work.”

“That’s true, but you’re exactly like him. You know when I first met Cara last year, how fucking lost I was for her?”

“Yeah.”

“Well that’s the exact same look you have on your face right now, bro. This chick already means something to you. Be careful with her. You know how harsh you can come across at times. I nearly lost Cara when she thought I was coming on too strong with her in the beginning. Independent women have a hard time coming to grips with their submissive desires at times. Just sayin’.”

I look down into my steaming mug and nod. “You’re right on.”

* * *

Of course. Damn, Damn!

It must be written all over my face because Damon turns in his seat of the Jeep to ask, “Violet, what is it? You have to be un-American not to like Jackalope’s. Is something wrong, sweetheart?”

Don’t be a coward! Tell him.

Peeking up through my lashes I answer, “Ah, actually, I just ate breakfast here this morning.”

I watch as his jaw sets to granite and he grits out between his teeth, “With Benoit?”

I nod, embarrassed.

Getting out of the Jeep, he rounds the back and is at my door in an instant. Jerking it open he says tightly, “Fine, now you’re eating here with me.”

Okay then.

As the café door opens and the warmth pours out from the interior I immediately lock eyes with the kind hostess from this morning. She smiles at me momentarily and then looks utterly dumbfounded by my new choice of dining companion.

I try in vain to smooth the awkward situation over with a lighthearted, “Your food was so fantastic that I just had to come back for lunch!”

She gives me a blank look and leads us to our table.

Once alone I lean across to him. “Damon, I’m sorry if that was awkward but I did stay with Luke last night and as I said, we ended up here for breakfast.”

“Did he fuck you?” he asks rudely, not even bothering to lower his voice.

Narrowing my eyes, I hiss, “Come again?”

“You heard me, Violet, did he?”

I lean in closer and reply in a furious whisper, “I hardly think this is appropriate lunch conversation, Damon. Either change the topic right now or I’m taking a cab back to the lodge, got it?”

His nostrils flare and his fists clench into tight balls on the top of the lacquered table. He’s clearly upset and uncomfortable as he breathes deeply and says, “Look, Violet, I’m sorry. I really think you’re unique and I just want a fair chance, that’s all. Any red-blooded man would feel the same. I’ve only known you a few days, but you’re amazing and I can tell there are so many more wonderful things to learn about you. I just look forward to having that opportunity, all right?”

Staring for long moments into his clear blue eyes, I inform him, “Yes, but you need to understand that my personal life is my own and unless I choose to share, it’s off limits. Okay?”

This gets me a tight nod.

I decide to change the topic. “What’s good for lunch?”

“The Greek pita wraps with the fruit salad is truly a wonder.”

“Sounds terrific. Make it two then please. I’m heading to the ladies room.”

I’m relieved that Luke is nowhere in sight. Once inside the ladies’ room I stop to wash my hands and look up as the blonde hostess enters.

I offer a friendly, “Hello.”

She looks uneasy for some reason as she begins to speak quietly to me. “You seem like a nice girl, honey, and this is why I need to say something. Luke Benoit is a tough man but he’s a good man. The Holden family is first rate as well, but you really need to be careful and not hurt Luke. Losing his mom at such an early age had to have been traumatic for him, and you’re the first woman I’ve seen him show any real interest in. Believe me when I say, most want him to be interested in them. Just be careful not to hurt him. That man has a heart of gold.”

I freeze in place as the warm water washes over my hands. “Thank you,” I whisper.

I switch off the water and swiftly head back to the table, a bit shaken by her comment. I was already feeling uncomfortable about my lunch with Damon, but now I’m ready to run out of the restaurant.

“Everything all right?” Damon asks as he glances up from the lunch that arrived while I was away.

“Yes, I’m fine.” I don’t even want to mention the scene in the bathroom. “Let’s eat. I’d like you to tell me all about Quebec. I’ve heard it’s a divine city.”

He lights right up. “It really is. I’d love for you to come visit me there, although I’m sorry to say that you would be hard pressed to find your wolves anyplace other than the zoo.”

“Cute, Damon,” I reply. “I appreciate the offer. I’ve always wanted to explore the French Provinces of Canada. You are very lucky.”

“I’ve been called worse,” he replies with a sly grin. “You know, it’s been a very long time since I’ve met a woman as stunning as you, Violet. In fact, I’m finding it hard to keep my hands off of you, beautiful girl.”

My pulse accelerates. Beyond his breathtaking looks, I’m drawn to his obvious intelligence and meticulous manners. He is exactly the type of guy that I should be with—professional, safe. Normal.

I lean forward and whisper playfully to him, “Your kisses left me dizzy the other night.”

His blue eyes flare. “Then let’s finish up and get out of here.”

We finish our outstanding lunch and head toward the front of the restaurant. As the door opens, Cara, the cute hostess from The Buck Bar, walks in accompanied by a man who looks oddly similar to Luke. His dark eyes immediately zero in on me in severe accusation.

Oh no! Alarms bells go off as I realize he must be Luke’s brother, Hawk.

I recognize him as the driver of the Caterpillar rig from the logging site. Now that he isn’t wearing a hard hat I can see how closely the two resemble each other. He sports the same impressive height as Luke, along with the same facial structure except that his eyes are a lighter brown, like melted milk chocolate. His straight nose hasn’t been broken like Luke’s but there is a very nasty scar that runs in a jagged white line from his temple down through his right eyebrow. His thick dark hair is also cropped short in a style similar to his intimidating brother’s.

I try to play it cool and smile at them as Cara openly gapes at both of us. Her flawless complexion quickly turns pale when she recognizes Damon. She doesn’t look happy as she shifts restlessly from foot to foot.

Hawk places an arm around her shoulder and possessively leads her to sit at the counter, their backs facing us.

But before he takes his seat, he turns and pins me with a very icy glare and stares Damon down with furious intent. Damon is aiming a proud, full grin right at Hawk. It looks oddly out of place and borderline mean.

What’s going on? The tension between these two makes the hair on my arms stand up and I quickly tug Damon out the door.

As we step out into the snow I ask Damon, “Do you know them?”

“Yeah, that’s Benoit’s younger brother Hawk and his girlfriend, Cara. It’s a very long story. Want me to tell you back at the lodge?”

He looks hopeful and I hate to disappoint him, but I can’t.

“Actually I’m booked with computer work for the rest of the day, but maybe another time?”

“How about Sushi Koi with me tonight? Their Salmon Rolls are outstanding.”

I hesitate. “Let’s get in the car.”

He appears mildly annoyed as he opens my door and walks around to get in.

After he settles into his seat and starts the engine, I begin, “Damon, I’m not trying to play games or anything but I’m committed to have dinner with Luke tonight.”

He looks like he is about to pop a vein in his head, he’s that angry. I can actually see it throbbing along his temple with each heartbeat.

“Fine, tomorrow night then, you’re mine. I’ll come for you at seven.”

I simply nod, knowing that is enough of an answer for him. He grabs my hand and holds it on his thigh, his palm possessively covering my small fingers. Maybe it’s my newfound desire to be dominated, but I find the gesture irresistibly sexy.

He seems distracted on the way back, but by the time we reach the lobby we’re both having a hard time keeping our lips off of each other.

With a groan he says, “God Violet, I want you bad. Please think before you do anything with him tonight, all right? I want this to happen between us, sweetheart. Just give me a chance and you won’t be disappointed.”

I stroke his cheek softly and smile. “Damon, please don’t stress out. Thank you for a nice lunch. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”

He reluctantly lets my hand slip from his as I wander down the hallway to my room.

How in the world did this happen?

I need to choose one and end this chaos. Damon is the most refined, sexy and intellectual man I have ever met and I know we would be a good match. However, it’s Luke’s strong-willed spirit that drives me wild and I want him with a tangible passion.

Chapter Eight

Fury

As I start to get ready for my date with Luke, I know that I’m in trouble. Big time. Perhaps there’s still a small chance that he has no clue about my lunch date, but that’s wishful thinking.

I bet he knows …

As the headlights pull up the dark drive I’m hesitant to step out of the warmth and absolute safety of the lodge.

He must know, damn small town!

Briefly having second thoughts, I turn back and see Janelle waving brightly. “Have fun tonight!” I offer a polite wave as I take a steady breath and push the door open, exiting into the snowy night.

Time to face the music. Darn, I can’t see him because his truck sits up so high. I want some indication of his mood before I get in, but no such luck.

The passenger door is swung open from the inside and I step up onto the rail with a cheery, “Hi there,” that abruptly shuts down in my throat after one look at Luke.

He’s gripping the steering wheel hard enough to bend the thing. Kings of Leon’s “Sex on Fire” pounds furiously in the cab of his truck, the singer’s gravelly accusations making me feel even more impossibly guilty. Luke stares straight ahead and the look on his face is pure, undiluted fury.

Yep, Hawk told him.

“Okay … well, I see that this is not a good night for you …”

A menacing voice slowly grates out, “Close the fucking door. You’re not going anywhere, baby.”

Oh no, throw him attitude.

“Excuse me? You’re the one all pissed off at me as I sit here and wonder what could have caused it, so no, Luke I will not spend an evening with you like this.” I know full well what caused it, but I want to hear him say it instead of sitting there sulking.

He takes a deep breath and swivels to level me with a livid stare, his back rigid and neck veins straining. He turns and lays it on me in a thick, controlled voice. “Do you have any idea how upset I am with you right now because of your colossally bad decision? Are you untrustworthy, Violet? Because I have zero time to waste with women who play games.”

I must look nervous because he continues, “Yeah, Hawk texted me from the restaurant. I missed you and that dickhead at the lodge by ten minutes this afternoon. Looking back it’s probably a good thing too.”

“What? You came to check up on me?” I ask, outraged.

He leans closer and lowers his voice to a deep growl. “Yeah, I did, seeing as you attract trouble like a fucking magnet!”

I jerk back in frightened surprise.

“Now you have two choices, get out of my truck and you’ll never be bothered with seeing me again, or put your seat belt on and take your punishment for disobeying me ... AGAIN ... like a bad little girl. You are gonna learn to behave for me. What’s it going to be tonight, angel?”

I clasp my shaking hands in my lap and think for a very long time. I’m still not convinced that I could truly be a submissive, but this man makes me feel emotions that have such depth and complexity … I just can’t give him up.

Heavy seconds tick slowly by.

Then, without turning to him, I slowly say one word. “Drive.”

* * *

“Strip.”

He says it in such a detached voice that it leaves me feeling anxious, yet I obey his command without hesitation.

Too bad I can’t tease him a bit with my red lace bra and panty set. Maybe that would help me gain back a little ground with this guy.

Once I’m naked he moves behind me and without a word cuffs both of my wrists together at the base of my back.

Oh shit! I’m in for it tonight.

“What’s your safe word, Violet?”

“It’s ‘Freeze.’ ”

“Good, and you better not use it tonight unless the pain is unbearable. Got it?”

“Yes, I understand.”

“There are countless ways to punish a naughty sub, from one extreme to the other. Fortunately I had all this afternoon to come up with the punishment I know you’ll dislike the most.”

Oh no, please don’t let him hurt me too badly.

I blurt out, “I’m really sorry Luke.”

“You will not speak unless I ask you a question. And you will be sorry, angel, I promise you that.”

I can’t help it and let out a whimper of fear.

“Step up. All right, now the other leg. This is a butterfly vibrator with a harness attached to keep it right against your pretty clit. Being the nice Dom I am the remote is right here in my jeans pocket. You’re going to stand still and face the kitchen while I cook us dinner. You are not allowed to move or speak, aside from your safe word. And baby, don’t you even think about cumming.”

Heaven help me.

As he strolls away I see him slip his hand into the pocket of his jeans and the evil little device begins its delicious vibrations. It feels like a thousand tongues swiftly lapping at my clit. I nearly sway forward, my knees weak from the impact. It must be on the high setting as every nerve down there is simultaneously begging for release.

I can feel my pussy swell and become immediately wet, and the only thought banging repeatedly through my skull is the desire for Luke’s cock to be buried deep within me. I bite down hard on my lip to suppress a groan when abruptly the vibrator turns off.

Panting desperately, I quickly try to gather myself and figure out what his ultimate goal is with this so-called “punishment,” other than to make me beg him to fuck me senseless. I watch him step onto the deck off the kitchen to tend to the grill.

Well two can play at this game. I’ll show him and hold out all night long, baby.

“Steaks are on.”

Oooooh, as well as the vibrator again.

I grit my teeth as he approaches me. Lord, he is so fucking hot that I just want him to take me from behind like an animal right here on the floor.

Get it together, Violet. Think about physics. Yeah, that will buy me a few minutes.

It shuts off suddenly as he strides toward me.

“Enjoying your little toy, baby?” he whispers huskily against my ear.

“What do you think?”

Uh oh.

Warm dark eyes suddenly turn arctic with their severity.

“That is not an acceptable answer.”

He tugs his thick, weathered brown belt open and slides it off the loops of his waistline in a hefty jerk.

Oh Lordy, girl, you’re in for it now.

“Told you already, angel. You’re gonna learn.” As he steps behind me the vibrator suddenly buzzes to life. “Spread your legs wide and lean forward.”

I do as I’m told and lean onto the back of the large leather chair. Suddenly I feel his doubled belt crack onto my ass in a flare of heat and pain. I can’t help but moan in distress.

The stimulation on my clit is taking over as the blows fall harsh and repeatedly until the pain and heat morph into an overwhelming ache for him to take me and fuck me brutally. That’s my sole desire as I vaguely hear the leather slap hard against the wooden floor.

“Stand up,” he says with a low, strained groan.

I comply immediately and as I scan the length of his gorgeous body I’m aware of his impressive erection straining to be released. Undoubtedly it has enjoyed the show. Sweat is beading on his brow when he says, “Now, I’m a patient man, so I’ll ask again. Are. You. Enjoying. Your. Toy?”

With effort I try to keep my voice steady as I whimper, “Yes, yes, Master I am.”

“Very nice.”

He runs the back of his hand lightly across my cheek and his voice sounds soft as he says, “So unbelievably beautiful, baby.”

Then he turns and heads back into the kitchen while I’m left in painful “need-to-come” limbo. Sweat starts running down my forehead as I strain against the urge.

The vibrator stops again.

“Come, eat now, angel.”

I cross over to the dining area and see that he has a lovely meal set out for us, complete with a fine Argentinian Malbec accompanied by delicious looking filets, large stalks of asparagus and twice baked potatoes. Tapered candles in tall, silver holders cast a low glow over the table.

Hmm, such a romantic …

As he assists me in sitting, I almost giggle at the thought of this being my first time dining naked. Also I realize that it’s the very first time a man has prepared a meal for me. I feel a soft tug at my heart.

“You’ll remain cuffed during the meal. I’ll feed you.”

“All right.”

As soon as the word dies on my lips a dark set of eyes bore into mine. I quickly correct myself. “Thank you, Master, that would be lovely.”

He gently holds the glass to my lips and the wine is heavenly. The only thing better is his steak. I remain silent because I know that I’m still being punished.

Nooooo! My clit floods with heat once more as the sinister little butterfly fires up again. My gaze pleads with him and he grins in amusement as he neatly cuts my steak into small pieces.

“Enjoying your meal, baby?”

Bastard.

I nearly wail as the cushion of the chair pushes the vibrator deeper against both my pussy and my clit. I begin to shift restlessly back and forth to avoid the orgasm that’s threatening to unleash on me.

“Yes, Master, it’s lovely.” I can’t suppress a distressed whimper. All my nerves are on fire now. He shuts it off and I’m left panting.

Evil, naughty man.

Luke gives me another sip of wine and then says in a smooth, controlled voice, “What you did today was unacceptable. I’m not sure what you were trying to prove, but game over, angel. You’re about to be claimed by me and you will act accordingly from now on. You’re mine, and I don’t share. Ever. Understand?”

My eyes flare. So this is definitely moving to the next level. I want nothing more in this moment than to give in to him, but the rational, scientific part of me knows that it would be difficult for us to make this work long-term. While I know in my heart this is true, I’m going to be here for three months and would rather spend that time with Luke instead of without him.

“I understand Master.”

His eyes glow with approval.

“Come with me,” he rumbles as he assists me from the chair. “Let’s get to know each other better in the tub, baby.”

* * *

As I lean back onto his thick chest I realize that I’m completely at ease with this warrior of a man. I think it’s his brutal honesty and black and white personality that assures me I have nothing to fear from him. Well … unless I’m a naughty girl, that is.

Lounging in the bubbles and hot water, I feel all of the earlier tension of the day slide away. His arms are wrapped around me in a warm bear hug and his chin rests on top of my head. Lulled into a calm stupor, I can’t resist saying, “Not to crush the mood, but how do you know Damon?”

He shifts his large frame behind me, clearly uncomfortable with the subject.

“That douche and I played hockey together for many years.”

“Okay ... and aren’t hockey players normally buddies?”

“Yeah, they are, except he was always a loner off the ice. There’s something not right about him. Look, I don’t usually talk about this but I’m going to tell you anyway for your own good, understood?”

“I’d like to hear it,” I say, wrapping my hands atop his much larger ones.

“About thirteen years ago I came out of a night practice at the rink and heard yelling coming from a car in the parking lot. I could tell one of the voices was a woman’s so I jogged over and saw that it was coming from Damon’s car. He was full on shouting and hitting Cassie Richards, Cara’s older sister. I could see that she was bleeding and was trying in vain to defend herself. Right before I got to the car to yank the asshole out, he saw me, locked the doors and sped away.”

I turn around in the mass of bubbles and meet his solemn eyes. “Oh my God Luke, that’s horrible.”

“Yeah,” he says, chewing his bottom lip thoughtfully. “Only I wish that was the worst part. It was the last time Cassie Richards was ever seen.”

“Say again?”

“She disappeared. She was only nineteen and Cara was just seven at the time. I went to the cops and told them what I’d seen. They questioned Damon for weeks but without a body their hands were tied. Also, Cassie had issues with her folks and made it known to anyone that she was saving to head for San Francisco. After months passed, people just assumed she took off.”

“Wait, didn’t you confront Damon?”

“Fuck yeah; I beat him to within an inch of his life. If he was innocent he would have pressed charges against me, yeah? Instead, he ran off to some Ivy League college on the east coast to become a doctor.”

I take a minute to process this. “I understand the contempt you have for him now.”

“Listen, angel, promise me now that you’ll stay away from him. That’s the reason I got in his face at The Buck Bar. He’s twisted as fuck and I don’t want him within ten feet of you, got it?”

“Well, I’m staying at his relatives place, but I’ll do my best to avoid him.”

I feel his warm, slick hand glide down my stomach and lightly sweep across my pussy. In a thick male voice he murmurs gently into my ear, “Is my baby going to be a good girl so I can let her come for me?”

Oh am I ever.

“Mmm, yes.”

“Yes?”

“Yes, Master,” I whisper.

“Up you go.” I’m pulled out of the tub by arms the size of thick tree limbs and carried to his big bed. He undoes the clip holding my hair up and fans it out carefully on the crisp white sheets. Positioned nude above me, he watches my eyes with such unabashed passion, I swear he can read my secrets.

“You’re one of a kind Violet, you know that? You are without a doubt the most breathtaking woman I have ever laid eyes on.”

Pleasure sweeps through me from his compliment. “Thank you. I’m glad that I please you, Master.”

“I see my little angel wants to play.” In his deep Dom voice he commands, “You will behave from now on girl, understand?”

My pulse kicks into overdrive at the tone of his voice. It is enough to command complete surrender from me.

“Yes, of course, Master.”

“Up on your knees, facing me.”

I immediately scramble to comply and once again I’m stunned to see our difference in size this close up. Luke is a wall of tanned muscle and chiseled features. He’s utterly magnificent.

“I like that wide-eyed look, baby,” he says. “Now tell me your safe word.”

“Freeze, Master.”

“Good girl.”

Here we go, lucky me.

As I smile he licks his thumb and firmly begins to swirl it against my swollen clit. I was already aroused from our bath together and now my body once again has a mind of its own.

I sway toward him and he immediately pulls away and stares at me with a deep frown.

“I see that I’m going to have to train you to behave for me, you bad little girl.”

Oh yeah, that’s so hot.

I really don’t mind what he does so long as he keeps up the dirty play.

He climbs off the bed and returns within moments carrying the naughty black chest. My inner sex kitten purrs in pleasure.

“No blindfold for you this time. You’ve earned the flogger tonight for being such a demanding little slave. I see that I’m going to have to teach you some manners, angel, and I want you to watch me as I punish you.”

My eyes pop wide open in disbelief as he pulls out an intimidating black braided leather-handled flogger with possibly a hundred suede foot-length strips hanging off it. I find myself frozen in both terror and bewilderment as I’m left to wonder how that is supposed to bring pleasure.

“Ah, I see you’ve never seen a flogger before, ma chérie.”

He delicately runs the suede and leather fringes through his thick fingers and then softly across my breasts. My nipples betray me by tightening into needy rosy buds.

“I see that my girl likes that. Well, unfortunately you misbehaved so punishment comes first, angel. Now onto your knees again and lean forward, and you had better grab a pillow.”

I scramble to do as I’m told, apprehension and excitement coursing in a heady current through my veins.

“Do not move,” he commands from his kneeling stance behind me.

I feel the bed shift and hear the sound of the flogger slicing crisply through the air until it lands fast and hard, sending a rainbow of pain right across my ass. My very first instinct is to jerk forward, but I hold fast and grit my teeth while squeezing inward on my fluffy pillow.

“We’re going to ten and I’ll count,” he calls out, his voice like dark velvet.

Around blow five I’m surprised to find that the heat radiating from the swats is turning me on exponentially and the ache in my pussy is rising once again with a vengeance. It’s swiftly overshadowing any burning from the flogger’s fringes. I quietly moan with the desperate need to come.

Suddenly I hear the flogger drop to the hardwood floor. “Turn around.”

I clamber to obey and obediently kneel before him, my eyes locked onto his glistening chest.

“Now, let’s try this again.”

Behave Violet! Don’t move a muscle.

That wicked thumb once again glides easily over my now saturated pussy. I clutch my hands into hard fists at my sides to keep any movement to a bare minimum. His deep eyes watch me like a panther’s.

One thick finger pushes right up into my channel and begins to pump firmly, deep inside of me. I nearly lose it but hold on as sweat breaks out across my temples.

“Ah, I’m proud of you. You’re behaving so well. Now tell Master how you’d like to come as your reward.”

Without thought I blurt out in a breathless plea, “Please, Master, please take me tonight.”

I watch his eyes darken in barely restrained desire.

“Are you absolutely certain that’s what you want? Maybe we should wait to let you adjust to the newness of it all.”

My decision is made.

I stare straight into his face. “You’re exactly what I want, what I need. Fuck me Master.”

He stuns me as he gracefully hops off the mattress and rips all the bedding and pillows off it, causing them to sail through the air and land on the floor. The only thing left is the white sheet below me.

“Lie on your back with your arms above your head,” he growls, his voice menacing.

Fascinated, I watch him take my wrist and firmly place it in a leather cuff that he then attaches to a chain on one of the logs of the headboard.

Oh God, this should be so wrong but I’m nearly drenching the sheets with need.

The same is done with my other wrist and I watch him move to stand at the base of the bed with his hands spanning his toned hips. His intimidating erection is straining proudly out in front of him. It’s so thick that it will be a miracle if it ever fits within me.

He takes a deep breath through his nose and begins, “Here’s how it’s going to play out. I’m going to devour that sweet pussy of yours; then I’ll spread you as wide as you can go and fuck you ruthlessly.” Fixing that demanding stare on me, he asks one final time, “Are you certain that this is what you want, angel?”

I wail in frustration, “Oh yes Master, I’m beyond sure!”

He crosses his thick arms over his chest for a long moment as if imagining what is about to happen in his mind. Right when I begin to wonder if he’s ever going to take me he lunges for me, wrenching my calves wide in an utter display of domination and begins lapping at my pussy in slow measured strokes.

“Oh, yes!” I call out to him. It feels beyond beautiful. He stops and firmly pinches my swollen clit between his fingers until tears prick my eyes.

“No, no. Are you going to behave now, girl? Should I go over your rules again?”

“Sorry.” I whimper, “Yes, I’ll behave Master.”

He slowly releases my sensitive clit and begins lavishing attention on my pussy once again.

Heaven, this is amazing.

The pressure is building like a storm between my legs as he once again pulls away. I wonder what I’ve done to displease him when I see that he’s watching me like a warrior about to go in for the kill. His tongue runs slowly across his glistening mouth.

“I’ll never get enough of your taste baby. It’s unbelievably sweet.”

My chest is heaving and my nipples almost hurt because they’re hard as stones. I suck in desperate breaths through my mouth as he moves once again between my legs.

I want to writhe in delight but restrain my actions to earn his luscious rewards.

He’s on his knees now and his muscular thighs force mine wide open to him. I watch in fascination as he hooks one of his forearms under my legs, essentially trapping me for his pleasure. His cock pulses hot and heavy against my drenched pussy, but he makes no further move.

“Do you want Master to take you now, angel? Can you take my hard cock, baby? Hmm? Because that’s exactly what you’re going to have in a moment.”

I’m beyond all reason and moan, “Please, God, yes Luke, I mean Master, as hard as you want!”

He smiles in triumph while he uses his free hand to gain a firm grip on his throbbing shaft.

I begin to huff out breaths as the thick, plum-shaped head begins pushing inward, stretching me to the point of pain.

“Breathe, baby, you’ll learn to love Master’s cock. It’s just what you need. Isn’t that right, my angel?”

I take a deep breath and gasp as he shoves himself right into me, giving me no quarter whatsoever. I’m vaguely aware of mewling sounds of helplessness coming from deep within me. I’m grateful that I’m so wet because I can’t even clench my pussy, I’m so stretched.

His face hovers an inch from mine when he says in a pained groan, “Violet, you are so absolutely tight and perfect. I knew you would be like this. I can’t wait to hear you scream for me.”

With my arms restrained above my head, I’m at a loss for words and can only pant as I’m overcome with sensation. I feel him pull nearly out of me and then throw his hips forward once again. I gasp out loud and quickly catch my mistake.

“Sorry, Master!”

“You’re fucking incredible, baby. Now I’m going to take you hard for my pleasure and you’re going to let go and come for me.”

His fantastic accent only cranks me up to near explosive levels.

Without warning he lifts himself up onto his powerful arms and begins to hammer into me so hard and relentlessly that the breath is knocked out of me with each violent thrust. On the third stroke I tremble and come apart as the orgasm rips through me in intense shudders and I can hear myself screaming in ecstasy, “Agh! Yes, oooh, oh my God, yes! Luuuuke!”

His thrusts become even more brutal and choppy as I feel my body being forced farther up onto the mattress.

Sweat is dripping off him and onto my chest as I try to focus on his eyes through my ongoing spasms. His jaw is clenched and the look of pleasured agony on his face is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. Suddenly he plants himself impossibly deep within me and growls out his orgasm so loudly it’s enough to make my arm hairs stand on end.

Aware of our size difference, he holds himself above me as he pants feverishly. I’m in a complete daze from such intense pleasure.

He lifts his head up and meets my eyes. “Christ, angel, you could kill a man with your body and those sexy sounds you make. I know now what heaven is like. You are never getting away from me.”

“What do you mean?” I whisper to him.

“Exactly what I said.” His glistening face betrays total seriousness.

Without explanation he slides off me and disappears into the bathroom. A moment later he returns with a warm damp cloth and cleans between my legs. It’s an intimate gesture that I find sweet coming from such a hard man.

He unfastens the cuffs and I find that I’m so content after my earth shattering orgasm that I’m only able to lie here and breathe. I feel as if I’ve just had a perfect massage for hours on end.

“I like you all subdued like this. I see you’re feeling better. Now baby, just relax. I’ll be right back with some ice water for us.”

I stare ahead and watch the snow drift down in the darkness through his windows. I’m completely safe here with Luke and the feeling is beyond comforting.

“Here, pull up and drink this down. It’s really dry up here.”

I do as I’m told while he pulls on a pair of sexy gray boxer briefs and nabs the comforter off the floor.

I set the empty glass on the nightstand as he hits the lights and I feel the bed shift with his weight. He turns me around and gently places my head on his warm chest. A large palm grips my butt firmly as we drift off together into a deep sleep.

Chapter Nine

Tenacity

“On your knees for me, angel.”

I hear his sensual command as I wake, his warm chest pressed against my back. I quickly push up onto all fours and stretch out like a cat while positioning for Master.

“Nice, baby. You look so fucking gorgeous in the morning light. We’re going to try something new.”

Uh-oh, I think to myself and hope that it doesn’t involve serious pain. I trust him …

As he leaves the bed I turn and see him with the familiar black play chest. He strides over to me wearing only a giant straining erection.

Leaning over me he whispers, “I so love to hear you plead, baby, so this will be fun.”

Then the blindfold is tied around my eyes and I’m left in darkness, my increasingly damp pussy throbbing for his attention.

I feel the bed dip as his hard, warm body presses against my back. He reaches under me to roll and pull hard on my nipples, which only excites me further. He seems to know it. I swear that I can feel all the blood in my body pulsing within my swollen clit, just begging for his touch. That’s when I feel him part my ass cheeks and run his tongue around the little ring. I nearly jump off the bed as he gives a throaty laugh and lands a hard, stinging swat on my rear.

“Behave, baby, or it’s the flogger again. Only warning.”

I know that he’s good for his word and I try to behave by holding stock still as he returns to dipping his tongue between my rounded cheeks. It feels so taboo and dirty. He keeps up the slick probing and then pulls back and I feel a slippery finger begin to pump into me. He gains more leverage with each push as I try hard to be good for him, to open and accept what he is doing. I begin to panic as he rubs my back in soothing circles and pushes yet another thick digit into me.

“Ungh, no, Master.”

“Accept it, girl. Breathe through it, and if you’re good, Master will let you come hard as a reward.”

I want so badly to please him and push out while taking a slow breath, trying to open myself up to accept him as his lubed fingers glide slowly into me.

I’m so frustrated and desperately need to come.

Suddenly I’m empty and feel his tongue lapping from beneath me, first my pussy then swirling deep once again into my ass. The pleasure is irresistible and I mewl loudly with desperate need.

Oh, oh no, here it comes.

He shifts away and his tongue is replaced with the head of his slicked up cock, throbbing hotly against my tiny ass ring.

“Spread your knees wider and push out against Master. You’re well lubricated and will be just perfect to take Master’s cock now, angel.”

I widen my knees and whimper in both apprehension and need. His first strong push of the wide head fails to breach my tight ring.

“Be a good girl and breathe deeply again for me. Be my sweet, soft angel.”

I try again and push out tentatively as he grips my hips and oh so slowly pushes forward once again. The thick head finally slides inside me.

The burning is immediate and I panic as to how I’ll ever be able to take all of him. I begin feeling slightly frightened when I hear his strained but encouraging voice.

“That’s it girl, perfect.” His voice has gone nearly guttural with desire.

He rubs my back again in comforting circles. I want to come so badly and find myself bumping back onto him for deeper access as he snugly holds onto my hips.

“That’s right baby, take me inside you, back up on my dick. God you are so fucking tight and perfect. I’m going to have my way with you now, my gorgeous angel.”

He gently grips my neck and pushes me down in a silent command to lower my body. I obey immediately and turn my cheek onto the mattress while placing my palms out flat. I cry out in surprise as he pushes the last several inches deep inside of me. I can barely breathe for the stretching and the combination of pain laced with pleasure.

“Good girl, Violet. Master is going to fuck your beautiful ass thoroughly. You may come when I allow it.”

“Yes, Master,” I huff out in desperate, shaky pants.

His hips begin a deep, controlled thrust as the throbbing pleasure within my pussy is about to explode. I desperately want to finger my clit to get off. As if reading my mind, he reaches around and lightly flicks the sensitive pink bud.

His voice is primal and raspy behind me. “Are you ready to scream for Master?”

“Yes, Master!” I wail in frustration.

He rubs my clit in tight circles and commands, “Come now for me baby.”

I scream wildly as everything explodes into white light behind my dark blindfold. The pleasure is incomparable and my orgasm runs over me with tremendous violence. My pussy takes over and spasms wildly. The clenching is stronger without his cock buried within me, and I’m struggling hard not to pass out from the ecstasy of it all.

As my orgasm begins to mellow I feel him savagely grip both of my hips to the point of pain as he pounds ruthlessly into me, thrusting so hard that my body jerks violently with his movements. Without warning he growls out his release, his voice inhuman.

For a long time he pants harshly against my shoulder, still buried deep within me. Before the blindfold is removed, he brushes my left cheek with a feather light caress and a heated whisper, “You’re my dream come true, you know that?”

I smile weakly and fall exhausted onto my stomach, nearly destroyed from the outrageous pleasure. Beautiful sleep claims me in an instant as I nuzzle against his warm duvet.

* * *

An hour later I hear, “Up you go, angel. I have something to introduce you to outside today. Although I should just fuck you senseless right now because you’re beyond tempting. I believe that I’ll be a nurturing Dom and give your hot little body a rest.”

I grin as I hop out of bed and throw him a sassy hip sway along with a hair flip over my shoulder. “Promises, promises, big guy. I’ve heard it all before.”

He immediately gets a predatory gleam in his eye as he stalks the few feet toward me. “Oh yeah, you’re in for it now, angel. You’ll learn not to tease without owning up to the consequences.”

Before I can process what he means I’m thrown up and over his solid shoulder and carried into the large, stone shower.

He roughly shoves the handle to “On” without a glance and shoves me up against the tiled wall, his fully clothed body engulfing my tiny, nude one.

“Luke!” I screech and bat at him playfully.

His rough actions make me so aroused that my lungs are working overtime to keep up with my skyrocketing pulse.

As his jeans and boxers are brusquely shoved down, he lifts me up and locks my legs behind his waist. His tongue pushes into my mouth, allowing no quarter as he impales me onto his daunting cock in one controlled shove.

I’m so sensitive from the sex last night that I cry out against him. “Oh, oh!” It’s only uncomfortable for a few moments, however, as I breathe deeply to relax and accommodate his girth.

He pulls his face inches away from mine and says sternly, “You should know better than to tempt your Dom baby. Now take it with gratitude, little girl.”

My Dom? A shiver of pleasure goes through me every time I hear him refer to himself that way. Yes, he’s right. I am his, completely.

He arches an eyebrow and dares me to challenge his statement. Seconds tick by and I reach a trembling hand up to run my fingers delicately through his silky wet hair.

His mouth once again crushes mine as he pounds upwards into me. He skillfully rolls and tweaks my straining nipples, a sensation that sends me into a writhing frenzy against him.

“Come baby, fuck I can’t hold out much longer!”

Without warning my pussy becomes drenched for him as the orgasm rips right through me, causing shuttering spasms that are so strong I feel momentarily out of my body.

I let out a muffled cry into his mouth while still coming as he grunts furiously against me. The warm water continues to rain down on us as his thrusts become choppy and brutal.

He tears his mouth away for air then bites down lightly onto my shoulder, emitting a loud groan of strained pleasure.

I slide down his half-clad torso and he places me gently back onto my feet. “Now, get your sweet ass ready,” he says.

Not giving me time to reply, he wrenches his wet jeans up and steps dripping wet out of the shower before stalking out of the bathroom.

I’m left alone and panting hard, my palms pressed against the slick wall of the steamy shower. The man really is insatiable.

I adore him.

* * *

“Pull the trigger, baby. You’ve got this.”

My curiosity outweighs my fear as I hesitantly pull my finger back on the trigger of his rifle. The blast is far stronger than expected and my shoulder jerks back so hard that my torso actually twists to the right. A masculine chuckle emanates from behind me.

“Not bad, but I think you may have hit a tree about a hundred yards off that target, darlin’. Try another.”

He shows me how to reload and carefully places the weapon back into my hands. I shoulder the weapon and I give it another go. This time I’m at least aware of how far off target I am as once again I aim and miss … horribly.

“All right, big guy, let’s see what you’ve got.”

With a lopsided boyish grin he takes the rifle gently from my hands and in the blink of an eye he has it mounted on his broad shoulder and fires, hitting the target nearly dead center.

“Where … where in the world did you learn to shoot like that?” I ask, stunned.

“Ah, that’s nothing, baby, you should see Hawk and my father. They’re the real marksmen.”

“Well, I’m thoroughly impressed. You certainly are a man of many talents.” I grin mischievously up at him.

“Mmm, I like that. Now tell me why in the world your father never taught you how to shoot? A single woman living on your own … It’s practically a necessity.”

He catches me way off guard as I look away, embarrassed. “Ahhh, it’s complicated,” he says.

Please let him leave it at that.

“Violet, look at me.”

In a rush, I blurt out, “Look Luke, to make a long story short, he didn’t teach me anything because I grew up a ward of the state, all right? I don’t have any family. I bounced from group home to group home until I went away to college. It’s a difficult topic for me to discuss, as in ever, but I believe in honesty, especially with you Luke. All I know about my parents is that they gave me up when I was a baby. Maybe they were too young, too broke, or just too damn selfish. It is and will always remain a mystery to me.” Tears threaten to spill and I will myself to breathe in a deep, calming breath. I glance quickly over toward the target because I’d rather see anything but his pity.

Instead of saying a word he wraps his arms around me and puts his face against my hair. I start to struggle, realizing that I’m on the verge of tears, when he lets me go and looks straight into my eyes.

“Rather take a fucking bullet to the chest than ever see you hurting, you know that?”

I slowly nod because I know that he means every word.

Softly he says, “I’ll leave it alone for now but you tell me when you’re ready to talk about it, all right darlin’? Let’s shoot a bit more and grab some lunch in town.”

I soon learn that shooting practice is a fantastic release for me. The feeling of that much power and control at my fingertips, coupled with the skill needed to wield such a weapon, requires every ounce of focus in my body and enables me to forget about any other concerns. I really should have gotten into this ages ago.

After target practice, we go inside to get cleaned up before heading into town. I decide not to share my dinner plans with Luke. I’ve decided that I’m going to do what’s necessary with Damon, but I want it to be on my own terms. Not Luke’s. I just can’t believe that a man as elegant and sophisticated as Damon would be capable of murder. There has to be something between the two men that I don’t get. Perhaps a rivalry or a misunderstanding. Nevertheless, I have to make it clear to Damon that we can’t be anything but friends, not while I’m involved with Luke.

Livid would be an understatement of epic proportions if Luke ever found out I met Damon for dinner.

Chapter Ten

What if I Told You

Sushi Koi is half full when we arrive at seven thirty and the owner comes from behind the bar to greet Damon with enthusiasm.

“Wonderful to see you again, Yoshi.” Damon greets the Japanese owner with a charming smile. “How about the table by the window for the beautiful date I have with me tonight?”

Yoshi takes me in and smiles before answering Damon politely, “Yes, of course, please follow me.”

Damon is wearing a starched blue dress shirt and black slacks. He is so tailored and beautiful, yet something about this entire scene just isn’t me. He is obviously attracted to my appearance but we really don’t have much else in common, and while he’s the practical choice I would inevitably feel like I was living in a glass case, an object of some sort.

As we walk to the table Damon places his hand on my back and leans down to whisper, “You look unbelievably sexy in that black dress, Violet. You should wear your hair up more often. It shows off your pretty neck.”

“Thank you Damon.” I avert my eyes and focus on my surroundings. There’s a wide, lovely rock fountain in the middle of the intimate restaurant with fat carp swimming about. Soft light from round, white fabric hanging lanterns gives the place a warm glow. We sit down at a honey colored wooden table with a single white orchid in a delicate vase placed upon it.

I’m not looking forward to what has to be done tonight because Damon has been beyond fantastic. He has been so charming since I met him and that body alone is enough to keep me up at night. But I’ve decided that I really want to give things a shot with Luke and I don’t want to lead Damon on.

“So, Violet, would you mind if I order for us?”

I hesitate before answering. “That would be perfect, thank you.”

As the waitress arrives he places the dinner order, his manner flawlessly smooth and polite. He orders sakes for both of us. I’ve never had a man order for me at a restaurant and I could easily get used to it.

Folding his manicured hands before him on the table, he speaks without hesitation. “So, Violet, I’d like to clear the air right now so we can start off fresh like we did the other evening. Am I correct in assuming that Luke told you a story about Cassie Richards and me?”

All I can do is nod once. This might not be as easy as I thought.

“I see. I knew he would bring it up,” he says thoughtfully. “What he most likely left out was that she was my girlfriend and I cared about her deeply.”

I listen attentively.

“She also had a raging drug habit and liked to get physically violent with me when I called her out on it.”

Interesting.

Was Luke trying to convince me that Damon was responsible for her death just to make me quit seeing him? I lean in closer.

“The night that she disappeared—the night that Luke saw us fighting—she had confessed that she was, and I quote, ‘getting banged regularly by a group of local bikers and that my good boy moves could never compare.’ ”

My mouth drops open in shock and I reach for my sake, downing it in one swift tilt.

“As we argued that night I said some ugly things about her wasting her potential and being a whore. She dumped her coffee on my crotch and it hurt like hell. I am ashamed to admit this, but I’ll be honest, I backhanded her right there in anger. She got a bloody nose and went off on me, screaming like a banshee. That’s when Luke showed up. I took off to avoid the fight that I knew was a long time coming with him. You see, Luke has never liked me and had always been waiting for an excuse to get into it with me.”

“Wow, that’s terrible. Did you tell the police everything when she disappeared?”

With a strained look he continues, “Yes, of course, I told them everything that I could. We fought the entire way home and she forced me to stop near this rough biker bar, where she informed me that we were over. I didn’t want to let her out there but she insisted. My pride was obviously hurt at that point, so I did. Worst mistake of my life.”

His shoulders hunch as he swirls the sake in his glass, upset over reliving that painful night.

“Hey, I don’t hold anything against you. Let’s just have a nice evening. Forget the past for tonight. I can see that it weighs on you tremendously.”

He looks up at me, his cold, intense blue eyes boring into me, “Yes, Violet it does. And you want to know the worst part?”

“Sure,” I say.

“I still dream about her walking toward that bar the night she disappeared. But in my dream I stop her and we make up. Ridiculous, right?”

“Not at all. You want to resolve things between the two of you, so dreaming about it is quite understandable. So, Damon, what do you think actually happened to her?”

“I don’t think, I know. Those filthy bikers had their way with her and she either overdosed on them or they killed her during violent sex.” He looks away in disgust. “God, Violet, it makes me sick just thinking about it.”

“The cops know all of this, right?”

“Yes, they do, but it’s a small town and the cops are friendly with all of the bikers so I have to tread lightly. They questioned various bikers repeatedly and investigated the bar but they came up with nothing. Without a body what could they really do? The case went cold. I headed to the East Coast for Medical school at Columbia soon after that. Best decision I ever made.”

The dinner arrives and he’s right, the salmon rolls are unbelievable. We eat in thoughtful silence after such a heavy topic. Damon’s admission has made me second-guess my decision to stop seeing him, as well as doubt Luke. I drink more sake in an attempt to quell the uncomfortable, conflicted feelings tumbling inside me.

Damon breaks the silence. “Enough about me, Violet. Tell me about yourself.”

Cocking my head to the side, I ask, “What would you like to know?”

His mood brightens as a smile warms his face. “There’s so much I’ve yet to discover. Let’s start with the basics. Are you from Washington?”

“Yes, born and raised.”

“Ever thought of moving to Canada?”

Oh my, where is this heading?

I remind myself of my earlier resolution to end things with Damon, and even though I may have my doubts about a long-term relationship with Luke, I know this is the right decision. But damn, this is hard.

Twisting the napkin nervously in my lap, I begin. “Damon, I don’t know how to say this, but as you know I’ve been spending a considerable amount of time with Luke and, well, it’s more than just casual. We’re becoming serious and it is not fair to hide this fact from you. I came here tonight to tell you that we can only be friends. I’m very sorry, Damon.”

He looks instantly enraged as his jaw clenches and his eyes tighten in accusation. Leaning across the table, he hisses, “Jesus Violet, you’re fucking joking with me, right, sweetheart? What the hell?” He throws his napkin down on the table and I’m shocked by the menace in his demeanor. “You loved it the other night when I took that sweet mouth of yours. You were just as hot and fucking wound up as I was. And now you’re telling me that you’re banging a nasty logger, of all people? You seriously want that piece of shit over me? I’m a fucking surgeon. You must be off your meds, baby.”

Mortified by his cruel taunts I lean in and seethe quietly through gritted teeth, “Enough. I won’t stand for anyone to speak to me like this. I would like to go back to the lodge now. If you refuse to take me I will call for a cab.”

He looks furious but he stands and throws two hundred dollar bills on the table, far in excess of whatever our check could have come to.

“Lead the way.” He throws a hand out roughly toward the front door. At this point we’re starting to draw attention from the other restaurant patrons.

Yoshi approaches us on our way out, “Ah, Damon, was the food not—”

Damon silences him with a look before throwing open the front door. I offer an apologetic head shake before following after him.

Once outside I turn angrily to face him. “I should call a taxi.”

“Or Benoit, maybe?” he says in a low, cruel voice.

This is rapidly going from bad to worse. I know I just ended things with him, but honestly, our “relationship” hadn’t progressed enough to merit this type of outburst.

“Hey, at least I was honest with you and told you what was going on. Would you rather I lie about it?” I’m vaguely aware of someone else coming out of the back door of the restaurant—a teenage busboy on a smoke break—so I lower my voice and hiss, “At least Luke is polite company and doesn’t insult me.”

The look he gives me chills me more than the falling snowflakes. I start to back away from him and begin to slip in the snow as he roughly grabs my arm, jerking me toward the Jeep.

“Hey, let go!” I shout as he nearly drags me across the parking lot. His grip is brutal and I’m certain he’ll leave bruises.

“Damon, you’re hurting me!” I yell, horror lacing my voice.

“Bitches like you are into the rough shit, right? Come on baby, you can tell me, I’ll keep your dirty secret,” he taunts as he pulls me farther along.

I panic and dig both of my heeled boots into the snow while yelling at the top of my lungs, “I said, let me go!”

I sense someone closing in on us. It’s the Asian busboy, a lit cigarette still burning in his hand.

“The lady said to let her go mister,” he tells Damon in a confident tone.

Let’s hope this guy knows karate or something if Damon can’t get himself together. Geez, what’s come over him?

With a look of disgust, Damon releases his tight hold on my arm. I immediately race back inside without a backward glance.

I’m shaking as I furiously punch the numbers on my cell, knowing that the punishment I’ll receive for this little misstep will be much more severe than the light play I’ve gotten so far. I only have to wait two rings before I hear his deep rumble. “Hey, angel.”

“Luke.” I can’t keep my voice from trembling.

Unfortunately, he notices. “What the fuck happened. Are you all right?”

“I am now. I’m at Sushi Koi. Can you please come and get me?”

“I’ll be right there, don’t move.” And then the line goes dead.

Ten minutes later he walks in with a murderous look marring his chiseled features. Hugging me possessively, he pauses to study my face. “You all right, Violet? What the hell happened?”

“Can we go to your place now, Luke? I really want to stay with you tonight. I’ll tell you all about it in the truck.”

He thankfully agrees with no interrogation and opens the door for me to exit before him. “Let’s go.”

* * *

As we start to drive up the mountain, I turn to him. “Please, Luke, let me talk before you get upset. I had dinner with Damon tonight, but only to tell him that you and I are serious and he needs to stop pursuing me. I conveyed that message loud and clear, and let’s just say it didn’t go over very well.”

The rage in his voice is barely contained. “Why not?”

“He was just incensed that you and I are an item and that he’s out of the picture. Ugh! This is so frustrating!”

“I’m glad that you called me, Violet. Now tell me the truth, did he put his hands on you in any way tonight?”

Oh no. I want to be honest, but I know the truth will rile him up even more.

I mutter, “Yes, he grabbed my arm and attempted to drag me to his car, but a busboy stopped him.”

“Motherfucker! I’m going to kick his ass, again,” Luke bellows, his grip tightening on the steering wheel to the point I think it may snap.

Touching his arm in an attempt to calm him I say, “Luke, nothing happened. I’m with you and everything’s fine. Let’s just relax at your place tonight and forget about all of this mess.”

After a silent moment he gives an uneasy nod. It isn’t long before we arrive at his cabin.

He steers me through the living room to the glass doors that lead to the back deck of the house, snatching a throw blanket off of the sofa as we pass by. I can see steam rising from the large hot tub that’s surrounded by fluffy piles of moonlit snow.

“Wait here,” he commands. In a minute he returns from upstairs, holding a set of black leather cuffs with a delicate chain in between.

“Let’s just get you naked with these on in front. You know how I love you being helpless in my grasp, angel.”

A shiver of delight rolls through me as I stand before this warrior of a man. He knows exactly how to tap effortlessly into my emotions, my desires. I realize that with Damon, there was always a cold, emotional distance.

I’m swiftly stripped and cuffed. Luke wraps me tightly in the ivory blanket before swooping me up in his arms and stepping through the glass doors into the frigid night air. He removes the throw and settles me into the hot tub, which feels heavenly. I finally feel myself beginning to relax.

I look up to see him step back inside for something that I can see now is a bottle of White Star.

“Champagne, baby?”

I beam at him and coo, “Oooh yes, my very favorite!”

He smiles, lowers himself into the swirling water, and opens the bottle with a loud pop as the cork goes sailing off into the black night.

My cuffed wrists are placed over his head and rest on his thick neck as he tilts the bottle up to meet my lips. The champagne is crisp and delicious. I can’t hold back—his slick skin is too tempting—and I lean forward to delicately run my tongue up his perfect neck.

Luke traces his fingers softly along the red marks that have blossomed on my upper arm. “Fucking punk, putting his hands on my girl. He’s done for.”

I distract him by lightly breathing in his ear while my hand trails slowly down his neck.

“Jesus Christ, angel. I can’t wait to be buried inside you. Just seeing you in that sexy dress tonight nearly made me come in my jeans. You’re smoking hot. You know that?”

I merely smile and continue my version of seduction on him as I trail wet kisses slowly back to his full lips. I’m immediately pushed back against one of the jets as he covers my body with his and takes control of our kiss.

Within moments our gentle champagne-laced kisses become wild and frenzied. I’m nearly begging him to enter me as the jet pounding between my pussy lips is too much to bear.

“I’m sorry for asking,” I whimper in distress, “but Master, please take me.”

He pulls back from me a few inches. “Only if you first apologize for your fuck-up and promise me that you’ll never go near Damon again, Violet. I won’t have it. He’s dangerous.”

God, he is so intense with that authoritative tone.

“I’m genuinely sorry. I didn’t know that my actions would cause this big of an issue. And yes, of course, I won’t go near him again.” I hold his gaze so he can see the truth of my words.

I sigh heavily as Luke leans down to run his thick tongue in swirls around my right nipple, playfully nipping it between his teeth. A large palm begins to knead the other breast and I whimper, silently begging him to take all of me.

Yes! In a flash, large hands are wrapped underneath my upper thighs and I am positioned on the tip of his slick erection. I hear myself making silly whining sounds, begging for him to take me. He nudges just past the entrance and I begin shaking, trying hard not to bear down on what I want so badly.

“Unngh!” I call out.

He begins to steadily shove his impossible length into me and the stretching leaves me huffing out in short gasps. I’m on the verge of coming when he stills, buried deep inside of me.

“Like always, you’ll only come when I say, angel. Got it? I can tell you’re close baby. Just hold on.”

I’m clinging to him now, mindless with need. He begins to lever me up as he batters into me with steady, piston-like thrusts.

The champagne is making me feel light and tingly all over as his large fingers begin toying with my overtly stimulated clit.

I immediately shout, “Oh, God, Luke!”

“That’s right angel,” he growls in a pained voice against my parted mouth. “Come hard for me. Take it baby, it’s all for you.”

His jarring thrusts send me tumbling over the edge as everything spins into pure bliss. My pussy is tightly contracting on his straining cock as I cry out, “Oh, God! Yes, oh yes, Master!”

His pounding abruptly turns savage and is sending water splashing over the sides of the hot tub. He fucks me with all of the raw passion he has within him, and I wish there was a way to preserve this moment forever.

He shoves deep inside of me for a final time, sheathing himself to the hilt as he shouts, “Fuck, oh fuck, Violet!” He gives two more choppy uncoordinated jerks of his hips and I can feel it as he releases his hot cum deep within me.

As I glance up at the falling white snowflakes, I know without a doubt that I’ve fallen hard for him.

He places a warm hand against my cheek and stares intently into my eyes, a soft expression on his face. “Mine, you’re all mine, Violet,” he murmurs and in that moment I want nothing more than to be possessed by him.

* * *

“See, Violet? That one there is the Alpha. He’s clearly in charge. Watch how the other wolves defer to him. We even caught three of the reclusive young pups on camera yesterday. I hope Professor Ruan will be pleased when we send this initial data to her.”

“I agree, Kelsey,” I say, “and we’ll find out soon enough. She’s been anxious to see how our work is progressing.”

We’re meeting today in a private office off of the lodge’s lobby to cross reference our notes on the wolf conservation project. After the incident with the storm, we’ve all made a conscious effort to check weather reports on a variety of channels every half hour. It’s glaringly apparent that not being on your A-game in the Yukon can prove deadly. We took our regulated precautions and still ended up in trouble.

Gabe has been checking on me regularly since the incident, stopping by my room regularly to chat over hot tea from the lobby. We both are pleased with our ability to work quickly and efficiently together. I’m not big on idle talk and apparently neither is he.

Ben speaks up, “I checked the weather reports and this snow should stop during the night, so we need to plan to head up in the morning to check for frost and ice on the lines and cameras. We already know that camera five is down. We’ve lost two days due to the weather and should begin redoubling our efforts. Violet, this may not make you happy, but just for this week we’ve all agreed that you should work on reporting and electronics from here at the lodge. What happened to you on the trail is very disturbing and we all want to be certain that you feel confident before you trek back up there with us. Until then, Gabe, Kelsey, and I will handle everything up there.”

My first instinct is to argue but as I look around into the faces of my fellow researchers I see only concern. They really do want the best for me. I’m quite fortunate to have such considerate colleagues.

“All right, but know that I’ll be here working to play catch-up on the stats for us. Hopefully that will be of value. Also, Ben, if you and Gabe could give me a brush-up course on troubleshooting those feeds from here I would be grateful.”

“Of course, Violet, we’d planned on it,” Gabe replies.

Tilting her head, petite Kelsey looks at me and says, “Oh, Violet please know it was not an easy decision for us. But we want to be certain that the bump on your head is healed and we really hope that in a short amount of time that awful occurrence with the wolves will be a distant memory, all right?”

Gabe pipes up, “Hey, it’ll be tough up there without your wit, lady, but you can think of yourself as our head commando on the ground constantly watching our backs. Cool?”

Gotta love Gabe. “Yes, you can definitely count on me. But come next Monday morning, be warned, I’ll be raring to go! You promise you’ll all stay together up there?”

All three agree without hesitation.

Chapter Eleven

Canadian Psycho

The past week has flown by and Luke and I have been spending most of our non-work related time together. His sense of humor makes me feel nothing short of amazing. He is uncommonly silly when he’s not in his big, bad Dom role.

As uncomfortable as I was in the beginning, I’ve learned that Dom/sub play is exactly what I desire on a primal level. He has a natural way of tapping into my submissive needs and from his openness I know that I please the Dom side of him very much as well. The intimacy that we have experienced together is so intense and unique and I realize that it’s a once in a lifetime treasure to be so cherished. I can’t even begin to contemplate leaving him in just over two months.

After being cooped up in the lodge staring at camera feeds for a week straight, I’m more than ready to get back to the work site. My first journey back onto the mountain since my attack couldn’t have happened on a more beautiful day. The sun is shining brightly on the deep snow as Gabe and I move from camera to camera checking the wiring and the lenses. Gabe has been working with Ben and Kelsey mainly to secure the cameras from moving because of curious critters and the temperamental weather shifts. We also adjust the cameras on a regular basis depending on the footage we are getting of the wolves. If they appear in one area more than the others, we alter the camera angles to make sure we capture as many of them as possible. Luckily, it seems our work sites are popular areas for them to pass through. We have set up a few additional cameras only a few hundred yards away in what we have noticed is also a favored area.

It feels so good to get back into my work routine. I adore working in the great outdoors. There’s really nothing that can compare. I breathe the cold, fresh air into my lungs and feel energized. Despite a few hiccups since I’ve been here, my time in the Yukon has felt more like vacation than research.

Thankfully Damon has taken the hint and left me alone. I haven’t seen him since the night we argued, yet I can sense that Ross and Janelle still hope we’ll be friends. A few days ago she even offered me Damon’s email address, saying, “It would be so nice for you to keep in touch with each other.”

Luke has begun working on a logging site in a remote area about ten miles away. He texts me photos of elk and caribou throughout the day and I’ve learned that he’s also quite the tease, sexting me often.

Luke: I’m eating lunch right now but I would much rather be eating you.

Me: I’m a bad girl, I forgot to wear a bra today and my tits are jiggling around under my tight shirt. Are you gonna spank me for it?

Luke: Groannnnn, you’re killing my baby, and yes, you’ll get spanked hard tonight ... with a new toy … that hurts!

Yes, I think to myself. I’m about to be a very lucky girl!

A giggle escapes me as Gabe asks, “Hey gal, I have a cable in my bag that the dynamic duo across the way needs. Are you good for five minutes while I jog this over to Kelsey and Ben?”

After everything that has happened, we feel more confident working within a ten minute walk of one another, for those “just in case” scenarios.

I glance toward my snowmobile to check that my loaded rifle is within reach. “Yes, of course.”

“I won’t be more than a few minutes,” I hear him say as he heads through the trees to our colleagues.

I glance down once more at Luke’s text and smile as I slip the cell into my pocket, thinking that I’ll make him wait out a sexy reply. I promised him that I would text him every hour during my first day back here. I’ll send him a snappy reply on my upcoming break. I continue working, thinking about the steamy night ahead of me, when I hear a motorized whine approaching and realize that it must be another snowmobile.

Gabe left on foot and this snowmobile sounds different than ours. Who would be passing through here? Maybe it’s a ranger patrolling the area.

From the winding trail I see Damon emerge through the trees. He flashes me a wide smile as he pulls to a stop near me.

I groan inwardly. Terrific, nothing I can do to avoid him now. I wish that Gabe were here to help diffuse the awkward situation I know is coming. What is he doing out here, anyway? He could easily have cornered me at the lodge if he wanted to talk. Maybe he just wants to say goodbye.

He thankfully leaves his snowmobile running as he hops off and briskly walks toward me with a boyish grin on his face.

“Hey Damon, what are you …” Before I can finish he hauls his right arm back and punches me hard right in the face.

Oh, God!

Through the pain I’m vaguely aware that I’ve fallen to my knees in agony. In seconds he’s on top of me, moving with the fleetness of an athlete. I struggle and push against him, kicking him hard in the groin as I try to scramble to my snowmobile. With a groan, Damon releases me and I crawl toward my sled.

My rifle is only a few feet away. If I could just reach it …

Springing on me like a mountain lion, Damon grabs my feet and drags me backwards. I writhe around in the deep snow as he pins me down with his weight and maneuvers my hands in front of me to bind them together.

I try to blink open my eyes but blood is clouding my vision. My nose must be broken and it’s spewing red everywhere. Suddenly his hands are at my throat and he’s squeezing hard. I frantically try to shake him off me. No luck. Without the use of my hands I have little leverage. He’s just too strong. I let out a muffled scream as everything goes hazy. Then there is only darkness.

* * *

“Wake up Violet. Wake up now. I want you to scream for me, you stupid cunt!”

Something with an awful smell is placed in front of my throbbing nose and I shake my head to get away from it. Smelling salts.

My eyes blink open and my worst fears have been realized.

The first thing I see through the fuzzy haze is Damon’s demonically grinning face. He’s wearing a crisp lab coat with “Dr. Holden, Chief of Surgery” written in navy script on the breast pocket.

What the hell happened to me?

“I’m so happy that you’ve finally decided to listen to me for a change. I’ve been waiting for a while now for you to come to.”

My mind is racing as he pulls up a stainless steel chair to sit directly in front of me. I glance around and determine that we are in some kind of underground cellar because there is a distinct lack of windows. It looks like an operating room because of the stark, snow-white tiles lining the floor and walls.

There is nothing in the room aside from the chair he’s sitting on and a stainless steel and glass fireplace in the corner that’s thankfully throwing off heat. I glance up and see that my arms are pulled above me and suspended by steel chains attached to a pulley screwed into the ceiling. I’m naked and my feet are planted on the tiled floor beneath me.

Holy hell.

Taking a shaky breath, I begin, “Damon, I’m truly sorry that I offended you. Had I met you first, before Luke, perhaps things might have happened differently between us.”

God, he looks completely maniacal.

With a false sigh he smiles and crosses his long legs in front of him.

“You had the perfect scenario before you, Violet. Perfect life, married to a surgeon, a big house with a white picket fence and all the trimmings. Yet you decided on a blue collar fucking logger over me!” he roars as I try to shrink back in fear.

He can’t contain his growing rage and I do what I can to divert him.

Lie to him, feed his ego.

“Damon, I’m so sorry. Really, you are an amazing guy. I should have given you more of a chance. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“Save it sweetheart. Luke and his brother aren’t the only ones who are into jacked up shit with women.”

Cold sweat starts running down my back. What is he talking about?

“I like you so I’ll be perfectly honest with you and lay it all out. See, Cassie and I had a fight that night about me not being able to get it up for her.”

My mouth falls open in shock.

“Ahh, don’t worry sweetheart, you’ll please me perfectly. See, my cock will get hard as a rock as soon as I hear you scream in pain.”

No, God no! Luke, please find me!

“I’m going to hurt you. Badly. And the only thing that you can be certain of is that the pain and violence will steadily increase until you beg me to end it and take your life. At that point I’m going to fuck you senseless and then kill you. Sounds like a brilliant plan, right? You like the pain, don’t you baby?”

Desperate now, I try to buy some time. “Damon, I have a fantasy about being kidnapped by a sexy guy who holds me captive as his slave. Can we do that together? I’ll make your every fantasy come true, okay? You can keep me as long as you want and I’ll do whatever you ask.”

He throws me a look of disgust. “You had your chance, you dumb slut.”

He stands and kicks the metal chair away.

“Please, Damon, don’t hurt me,” I beg. “You can just let me go and we can forget all of this, all right?”

Don’t cry! Don’t cry!

“Now Violet, do you really want to spoil all my fun? You owe me, baby. All of that shit you pulled, the embarrassment you caused me. You really didn’t think you’d have to make it up to me?”

He has that sparkle in his eye again as he reaches into his breast pocket and pulls out two long, thin needles. Adrenaline floods my system as I begin to twist around in panic. He laughs.

“Going somewhere, Violet? Now hold still because I know that you’re into this shit. And trust me, baby, I’m better at it than Benoit. So behave and if you don’t do as I say to the letter, I’ll put the needles somewhere far more painful, like your eyes.”

I cringe in terror and am immediately still. I can’t hide the tremors that are shaking my body as he steps in close to me.

“Mmm, yeah, I like that fear. Keep it up, sweetheart. Now don’t worry, being a physician, I can assure you that these are sterile.”

My eyes widen as I look down at the needles. He cruelly grabs hold of one of my nipples and shoves the long needle right through it.

“Aaiiieee!” I scream in abject pain. I breathe frantically, like a rabbit in a snare as I stare down at my punctured nipple. Blood is leaking down my chest in tiny droplets.

“Excellent! Now for the other one.”

In defense mode, I try to swing away and he takes a step back.

“Are you that stupid that you really want to test me? I’m serious about the eyes.”

I freeze as he smiles and steps forward again. “Thought so.”

I try to look away and think of something else—Luke and his sweet kisses—but the needle causes white pain to shoot through my other breast and I cry out again in utter distress.

“I know, Violet, you must be getting turned on now right? Let’s check.”

I whimper as he reaches between my legs and gives me a questioning look.

“You must like it even more brutal than this because you’re dry, sweetheart. Let’s get you a drink. Trust me, you’ll need it. We have a long night ahead of us.”

You could never get me wet, you sick fucker!

Damon passes out of the room and I look up, frantically attempting to dislodge the pulley, but it’s bolted securely to the ceiling. The only door looks thick and there are no windows. I haven’t a clue where I could be. My only hope is to try to buy time until Luke somehow finds me or Damon lets me down so I can fight him like a wildcat.

The door swings open again.

“My, those look lovely on your tits, so primal. Here, drink this.”

I want to smash the glass into the fucker’s smug face but I take a sip. Orange juice.

“I don’t want you passing out on me just yet. So tell me, Violet, did Luke ever make you scream like I just did?”

I can’t resist and lash out, “Fine, you twisted fuck, you wanna hear the truth? Oh yeah he did, I screamed for him ’til his windows shook and his bed nearly broke from the rough way we fucked each other but it was in total pleasure from his skilled domination of me. It felt so good, Damon, nothing like this whacked out sadistic shit you’re into!”

I nearly spit the last words into his enraged face.

He looks beyond livid and quickly tries to cover it with a cool smile. He sneers at me, “Okay, baby, enough with the fucking foreplay. Let’s have some fun.”

I watch him turn and stalk toward the fireplace. At first I think he’s just standing there, creating a new sick plan, when a chill goes down my spine. He is twisting something around in the fire.

Calmly he tells me, “Some guys like to collar their women, but I however prefer a more permanent method of ownership. I can’t say that Cassie agreed with this. But then again that dumb whore is long gone. I fed pieces of her to the wolves. Fitting for such a bitch.”

I begin hyperventilating as a red-hot circular brand is pulled out of the fire. I can see that it’s about the circumference of a coffee mug and has the letters “DH” set in a medieval looking script blazing brightly on the hot iron.

I immediately start kicking and swinging my legs in a frantic attempt to pull the fixture out of the ceiling with my weight. I’m vaguely aware of my own screams as he stalks toward me.

“Really, Violet, after all we’ve been through together, you really want to deny me this pleasure? I will say that this is definitely going to hurt. But now there will be no doubt who you’ll belong to forever.”

He clutches my body against him in a tight, full torso hold and wraps his free leg around mine, essentially immobilizing me. With my hands pulled taut above me there is nowhere to go. I pant as I feel the heat coming down toward my outer left thigh.

“Aaaaagheeeee!” I let loose a tortured wail of absolute agony as the brand is held against me. The kaleidoscope of pain coupled with the smell of my own burning flesh is unlike anything I could ever imagine. My heart feels like it’s about to explode within my body. I begin to sob uncontrollably as the iron hits the floor. Damon still holds me tightly against him.

Why, why, why?

“Oh, yeah, I knew you could do it, feel how hard I am against you sweetheart. Do you want to have a look? I bet you do. Be patient, my greedy Violet. Let’s have a look at that brand first.”

Luke, please, please find me before it’s too late. Don’t let him get away with this.

“Damon, please stop,” I plead helplessly. “I’ll do whatever you like just please don’t hurt me anymore.”

Smiling like a little kid about to unwrap a present, he unzips his pants and says, “Ah, Violet, you know you love it and want more. Don’t play games with me. Now watch me come and you had better not let your eyes stray from me for one second, bitch.”

I keep my eyes riveted to him in disgust as he strokes himself. He’s much smaller than Luke, I observe. I am about to pass out from the searing burn on my thigh. I can hear his sick groans and desperately want to look away. He is beyond vile.

He finishes quickly on the white tile with a gross, “Yeah, shit, yeah!”

I stare right at him, my eyes full of contempt.

After he zips up and comes toward me again, I cringe.

“I’m letting you down to rest up for round two,” he says. “Don’t want you passing out, now do we? I promise that it’ll be far more entertaining for you.”

Please no!

“Don’t worry, I won’t make you wait long, I have a flight to catch in six hours. By the time anyone even realizes you’ve gone missing I’ll be on a beach in Cozumel. Brilliant plan, right?”

As he lets me down. I fall to the floor onto my right side and begin sobbing hysterically. The door locks with a click behind him. I know that he’s going to kill me, but first, how much more of this can I take?

“Luke, where are you?” I sob into the empty white room.

* * *

The pain in my leg has not let up in the least. Maybe it’s infected, I think to myself as the wooden door is shoved open once again. I try to scramble backwards but he crosses over to me in five long strides and smiles as he swiftly kicks me in the chest.

Whoosh.

I hear the air leave my lungs in a rush along with a sickening crack. I can feel my ribs strain as excruciating pain lances across my side. I grab at his calf and bite down as hard as I can, tasting the tang of blood through his dress pants.

“That’s the spirit, you nasty cunt. Fortunately for you I’m current on my tetanus shot. Now get the fuck up!” he roars.

I wince as I’m pulled up by my long hair and brought to face him. His eyes look totally crazed as he asks me, “You know what I want, sweetheart, that I haven’t had yet?”

My eyes flare as I realize that I’m about to be raped along with everything else.

Noting my reaction, he grits between his perfect white teeth, “That’s right, you’re going to feel what it’s like to be fucked by a real man, baby.”

I spit into his eyes and try my best attempt at head butting him with my forehead. He shouts and lets go of me momentarily as I scramble away from him.

He leaps on me from behind and hisses hotly against my ear, “This may hurt, sweetheart.”

He pulls my hair with tremendous strength in an attempt to get me to submit to him.

“Screw you, Damon, you crazy asshole!” I shout behind me. I reach back, grab blindly and twist his balls in an unyielding grip. He howls in pain and doubles over.

Run, run!

This buys me mere seconds to lurch to my bare feet, clutching my side as I make a break for the door. I just get it open when he grabs my right arm savagely and flings me to the floor. I hit my head with a sick thud and begin to black out.

He’s on top of me again and I imagine I hear voices coming from the other side of the door.

My mind must be playing tricks on me because I’m so desperate to be saved.

Suddenly I hear a loud familiar roar and Damon is flung off of me. Someone’s in the room and crouching near me. My vision is blurring but I see flashes of movement and spraying blood.

Oh God, so much blood.

I must be dying.

Chapter Twelve

Luke’s Desperation

That’s strange, she usually texts back. We agreed that she would text every hour today to let me know she was all right.

After waiting a few minutes longer, I feel the anxiety eating at me and I try her cell. It rings four times before shooting to voicemail.

“Violet, it’s me. Call me as soon as you get this.”

Something isn’t right. The hairs on the back of my neck are at full attention.

“Hawk, I’m cutting out early. Today is Violet’s first day back on the mountain. I can’t get a hold of her and I know that she has reception where she’s working.”

With a serious look Hawk says, “I’ll come with you. Did you give her the gun?”

“Yeah, and I hope that she would have the sense to use it. Let’s go check the lodge first.”

* * *

I burst into the lodge and spot Ross sitting behind the reception desk, his eyes riveted to a crossword puzzle. He looks up at me as I say, “Looking for Violet, Ross. You see her today?”

“Not since this morning son. You can check the shed to see if the Cats are out back.” He nods his head to the door behind the reception desk that leads to the shed out back.

“Thanks. And have you seen Damon?”

Ross sets the crossword down, studying me cautiously. “He’s most likely at his place. He’s catching a flight out tonight to vacation in Mexico. Lucky guy. You want his cell?”

“Another time. Thanks, Ross.”

Hawk and I rush through the door behind the desk. Jogging over to the shed, we quickly see that all the sleds are gone.

“Up to my place. Let’s hop on my snowmobile and get up to her site. Fuck!” I shout, adrenaline fueling my blood.

“What the hell do you think is going on, Luke? Try her cell again,” Hawk says.

We hop into my truck and I call her repeatedly on our way up the mountain with no luck. I’m almost out of my mind with fear. Who knows what we’ll find up there?

It doesn’t take long to get the snowmobiles moving up the mountain. Pulling up at the work site, we immediately see Violet’s Cat with the rifle still strapped to the side. Gabe and her two other partners are staring at the ground near it. Gabe’s shaking and is as white as a sheet.

Glancing up, he tells us in a panic, “This isn’t happening, holy hell! I was only gone like ten minutes. She’s nowhere to be seen and there are fresh snowmobile tracks leading away. I didn’t even hear another snowmobile! We’ve searched the whole area.”

“Why didn’t you call for help?” I roar. “Obviously she isn’t here anymore.”

Hawk clenches his fists, “Jesus Christ, man. Whatever happened, she put up a hell of a struggle. Shit Luke, there’s blood everywhere!”

Gritting my teeth in rage, I see a straight line where someone has been dragged across the snow.

“Fuck!” I roar into the cold air as I throw my hat down onto the snow. “Fucking Damon has her! He has Violet and I’m going to take his fucking head off!”

Hawk gets in my face and grips my shoulders tight. “Listen to me, breathe through your nose. Good, now again. We are gonna work this out together. My buddy Mike was a contractor on the cabin that Damon built a few years back. Let me call him and find out where it is, all right?”

I nod and yell out, “Hurry, he’s gonna rape her or kill her. I can’t lose her Hawk.”

His eyes go wide in surprise as he quickly connects with Mike and gets the info he needs. As soon as he hangs up, Hawk shouts, “Gabe, get the others outta here and go to the lodge to contact the cops. Tell them that Damon Holden’s got Violet.”

* * *

“Seriously, did he have to build this place way the fuck out here?”

I barely hear Hawk as we pull up and see Damon’s snowmobile parked alongside the cabin. I’m out of the truck as soon as it lurches to a stop. Sprinting for the front door I hear Hawk say from behind me, “Shit man, wait up. What’s our plan?”

“The plan is I’m going to kill that sick fucker the moment I get my hands on him and he better not have harmed my girl.”

The giant front door is locked and it takes me three tries to kick it in.

“Violet!” I shout into the silence. “Fuck!” I run from room to room in the empty cabin, yelling her name as I pull open doors.

Hawk grows still and says, “Wait, man. I remember Mike telling me once that he thought it was weird as shit that Damon ordered thousands of white tiles to build some kind of music appreciation room or some bullshit like that. Do you see one?”

I shudder. “A cellar.”

“What?”

“He has her locked in a fucking cellar!”

“How the fuck are we supposed to get to it? There’s no door anywhere here that I can tell.”

Scanning the place, I say, “Move anything big. There must me a hidden door in the floor with stairs that lead to a cellar. You start in the living room. I’ll go to the bedroom.”

Where are you hiding her, you sick fuck?

I heave against the bed but there’s nothing underneath it except for a navy travel bag.

“I’ve got it!” I hear Hawk call out moments later from the living room.

Jacked up on adrenaline I yell, “I’m going in first, get your gun ready.”

Please baby, hang on, I’m almost there.

Descending the narrow stairs, I hear muffled cries and I race to push the half cracked door fully open. I totally lose it at the sight before me. Blood streaks the white tiles of the clinical room. Damon is on top of Violet, who is fucked up so badly that she barely looks like she’s going to make it. Bruises cover her body and a massive welt glares from her left thigh.

I rip him violently off her as a red wall of rage washes over me. I savagely pound into him, vaguely aware of the look of terror on his face. Soon he’s simply a bloody mass of flesh that’s no longer moving. Hawk doesn’t look. He knows better than to stop me. He couldn’t if he tried. Instead, he pulls Violet away and wraps his large tan Carhartt work jacket around her.

Nobody messes with what’s mine.

I step away from Damon, his face now nothing more than a revolting mess, and turn to see Hawk hovering over my angel. I fall to my knees beside her and whisper desperately, “Baby, can you hear me? Violet?”

No answer.

“She’s a mess man, may have internal injuries. See this swelling on her side? But you best brace yourself, he did something seriously whacked to her leg, Luke.” With a worried look, Hawk gently pulls his coat away and turns her so I can see what he’s talking about.

“Fuck, oh fuck no!” I roar.

“Luke, is that a cattle brand? Shit that is fucked up!”

I want to kill him all over again. My heart rate is through the roof. “Oh, God, let’s get these fucking needles out of her nipples. That sick motherfucker!” I can no longer see straight, I am so angry and scared that he has hurt her in more ways than we can see.

“Luke, we have to hurry and get her to a hospital, man. She may not make it.”

I gently tug on the needles while whispering a plea to her, “I’m so sorry baby, you’re safe now. Hold on for me please, angel.”

Glancing up at my brother I say quickly, “Okay, I’ve got her. Go upstairs and grab a blanket then meet me at the truck. We’ve got to keep her warm. And Hawk, drive like the devil is on you, got it?”

“Yeah brother, I got you.”

Chapter Thirteen

Confusion

I shoot upright because someone is screaming … loudly.

That can’t be coming from me?

“Angel, baby, it’s me, Luke. It’s all right. You’re safe now.”

“Oh God, get away, get away from mmmmmeeeeee!” When I open my eyes I can see that I’m still in a white, sterile room. I thrash on the bed and wail, “Go away! Oh, God, don’t hurt me again!”

It takes me a while to register that I’m in a hospital bed, not Damon’s dungeon, and I focus my eyes in time to see Luke’s tortured expression as he slowly backs out of the room. At the same time several nurses and a doctor rush past him. The doctor, an older man with a gentle expression, rushes to my side but takes care to not touch me.

“Miss London, you are in a hospital in Whitehorse. Do you recall arriving here?”

I barely register what he’s saying as I scan the room in terror, still looking for Damon.

Clutching the sheet to me, I cry out in confusion and pain, “Is Damon here? Please, please don’t let him hurt me!”

“Nurse, get her a sedative.” In a soothing voice he tries again, “Miss London, I promise you are safe now. You have been unconscious for twenty-four hours, and as for Damon Holden, well, I can assure you that he will never harm you again.”

The nurse shoots something into my IV drip beside the bed. A strange warmth spreads up my arm and I fight against the sudden urge to sleep.

“Is he dead?”

The doctor looks uncertain, as if he is deciding how much information to give me.

“Tell me, I have to know!” I shout. My head is beginning to feel thick, my thoughts even more muddled.

The doctor takes my hand in his and says, “Yes, he’s dead.”

I fall back onto the white pillows and sob uncontrollably until the sedative knocks me out. I gratefully let it take me under.

* * *

“Miss London, are you awake?”

I slowly open my eyes to see a petite older nurse with a kind face looking down at me. “Sweetie, there’s a detective here to ask you just a few questions. Is that all right?”

In a panic, I clutch at her arm. “Please don’t leave me.”

With a worried look she tells me, “I won’t, I promise.” She waves to the detective to enter my room.

An officer in his late forties walks in with a notepad flipped open. I can tell he is purposely keeping his distance so as not to freak me out. His back is against the far wall near the door and I’m grateful for his consideration.

He speaks in a slow drawl. “Hello Miss London, I am Detective Callaway. May I ask you just a few basic questions? This concerns the events that occurred two days ago. The ones that brought you here to the Whitehorse Memorial Hospital.”

I reply with a shaky, “All right.”

“Thank you, Miss London. First, can you tell me how you came to be at Damon Holden’s cabin?”

The horror of that day bears down on me. Images of Damon wielding a brand, a maniacal grin on his face, flash across my eyes. I start to tremble and breathe in short gasps.

“Maybe she is not ready yet, detective,” the nurse says.

“No, it’s all right.” I try to be strong and begin again. “He came to my research site and punched me in the face and then he strangled me until I passed out. I suppose he drove us to his cabin after that on his snowmobile.”

I watch him scribble a few lines and then look up. “Were you conscious when your injuries occurred?”

“Of course. Half of them are from me fighting back. He is, I mean was, such a sick bastard. Oh God, do his aunt and uncle know?”

Poor Ross and Janelle! I’m sure they have no idea what a twisted nephew they have. I mean, had.

“Yes, Miss London, sadly they do know. In fact they are here and would like very much to see you. They have been here every day since your arrival. Actually, your entire team has been taking turns sleeping in the reception lobby in case you woke up. There’s also a Mr. Luke Benoit who has been present ever since he brought you in two days ago.”

Oh, my beautiful Luke. I’ve got to get my head straight before I see him!

Weakly I ask, “Do you have any other questions for me detective?”

“Only one more for now.” He pauses before asking, “Did you witness Luke Benoit’s attack on Damon Holden, which resulted in his death?”

Oh shit! Shit, shit!

I don’t stall and figure that it’s best to be truthful. “No, I had fallen before Luke got there and was in and out of consciousness at the time. Unfortunately I missed it.”

Fucking psycho deserved that and more.

“Are you going to press charges against Luke?” I ask, gripping the white sheets between my fingers.

“Possibly for breaking and entering, although under the circumstances I’m confident that those will be thrown out. He saved your life Miss London.”

Did he ever …

“I’m going to let you rest now, but I’ve left my card at the nurse’s station. Kindly contact me if you can think of any additional information that might be pertinent to the case.”

He gives me a sad smile and starts to leave.

“Wait!” I shout. He turns back to look at me in surprise.

“Wait, please,” I whisper, my voice trembling. “I do remember something. The girl, the missing girl, Cassie Richards.” I see his eyes flare with interest. “He told me that he killed her and, oh God, he killed her and fed pieces of her to the wolves.” I end in a whisper and break down in jagged sobs.

“Thank you Miss London,” I hear him say. As he walks away I am completely consumed by angst.

My hysterical crying must be out of control because the nurse calls for a doctor. “She needs another sedative,” she says.

Through my hysteria I hear a voice just outside my open door demanding, “Let me talk to her. I have to see her. Let me in the fucking room, damn it!”

Luke, oh God, I just can’t right now!

The nurse gives me a questioning look as I slowly shake my head no. The only thing keeping me alive is the small thread of strength that I have left within me. With him I’m far too exposed and vulnerable.

I roll to my side and clutch my arms around myself in abject heartbreak. “I love you Luke,” I whisper. “I’m so sorry. I just can’t do this. It’s too much for me right now.”

I give way to a torrent of tears.

Chapter Fourteen

Realization in Seattle

Seven weeks later

I am sitting in Professor Ruan’s office. She is our faculty advisor, and a renowned authority on wolves. She is athletic and in her forties. Natural good looks, no make-up, short, spiky, sandy-brown hair with a touch of gray—her natural color, I’d bet.

From her desk chair, she leans toward me, a kind smile on her face. “Violet,” she says, “I know you might not be quite up to it yet, but I’ve conferred with several of my colleagues and we all agree that it would be in your best interest to accompany the team on the return trip to Canada. The feedback from the cameras has given us better than expected data. What we need now is a full team effort to study the wolves firsthand. We’re so very close to obtaining government assistance on a major level for our conservation project. Please, you have worked so diligently these past years. It would be such a shame to see it go to waste.”

Quietly contemplating Professor Ruan’s offer, I glance out the window to the park below and try to quell my anxiety about returning to Haines Junction. So much transpired in the time that I was there that I’m uncertain if I have the fortitude to move beyond the heartbreak with Luke and the horror of Damon.

I’ve spent the past seven weeks shuffling between rehab therapy for my two bruised ribs, the psychiatrist’s office where I’m working on putting my mind back together, and the dermatologist for a recent skin graft on my once mess of a leg. Thank God the University’s health insurance plan covered me entirely or I would be completely screwed and in debt for heaven only knows how long.

I know that it’s always harder to do the right thing in life and my highest priority is my research, but I’m skeptical of my ability to bring anything to the team after everything that has happened. On top of it all, I haven’t even spoken to Luke since I left, despite the fact that he’s called me almost daily.

I steel my shoulders and turn to Professor Ruan, resolved. I have to find the strength left within me to finish what I started in the wilderness of the Yukon. The project is just too important to give up on, and maybe I’ll find some closure if I return to Haines Junction.

I give her my answer. “You’re right, Professor Ruan, deep down I want to complete my work more than anything and I genuinely believe that it will help me heal and put any demons to rest.” With an overdue smile I add, “I’ll go back to Canada.”

Beyond pleased she replies, “Excellent Violet, the team is set to leave in just four days, right after Christmas. However, your ticket is open, just in case you want to go back a few days early.” She gives me a polite, knowing look. After the attack, my relationship with Luke became public knowledge. No doubt she is aware of the other implications for me of returning to Haines Junction.

“I wanted to wait until the last minute to ask for your participation in hopes of giving you as much time to heal as possible. Your guidance for the others will be invaluable. Thank you Violet and best of luck.”

No time to think about fear now, girl.

Nothing could possibly be worse than what already happened to me. As I leave Professor Ruan’s office, I find that I’m actually looking forward to getting on that flight as soon as possible. I’m grateful for the chance to make things right. I owe Ross and sweet Janelle a visit. And Luke …

Epilogue

Christmas Eve

“Well thank fuck you didn’t make us work any longer up there today bro,” Hawk says. “You’ve been a total slave driver for the past two months and I’m worn out as shit. Oh great, and now I’m already late to meet Cara at Dad’s house. You sure you don’t want to join us tonight?”

Staring straight ahead, I give Hawk a tight, “Nope, pull the truck over here.”

He glances down again at his watch and says, “You’d better hurry. They close in five minutes.”

I stride into Junction Liquors knowing exactly what I’m after. Its Christmas Eve so I’m buying the good stuff: Woodford Reserve Bourbon. The largest fuckin’ bottle they have. I need it too, although it most likely won’t put a dent in what’s left of my macerated heart.

No amount of liquor has been able to keep me from thinking about Violet and the broken way she looked the last time I saw her. Her screams for me to go away still echo in my ears. I’ve called her countless times and she won’t answer, but I have a hard time being mad at her. She didn’t ask for that sick fuck to mess her up, and I’m sure it did something to her head, possibly leading her to question what we had between us. All I want is a chance to reassure her, but she won’t pick up the damn phone.

Stepping over the piles of snow to get back into Hawk’s lifted truck, I’m exhausted from the emotional war that I’ve been waging with myself. I can’t keep this up much longer. It’s killing me. The more I try to push her out of my head the more she’s right. Fucking. There.

With a glance over his shoulder, Hawk backs out of the spot and asks me, “You all right, bro? When’s the last time you ate a decent meal?”

I mumble, “Whatever, save it. Not in the mood.”

Hawk stays silent the rest of the ride to my cabin. As he rolls into the driveway I try to open the passenger door and hop out. Damn. He punches the lock before I can escape with my bourbon.

He twists toward me and says, “Hey.” He looks sincere, which is unusual for Hawk.

I really don’t want to hear any of this shit.

“I really hope to see you at Dad’s tomorrow. We all do, Luke. It wouldn’t be the same without you there, man. Oh, and answer your door in an hour and don’t fuck around about it either. I’ve sent you a prepared dinner ’cause I know you won’t make anything for yourself, you lazy bastard!”

I shake my head back and forth and try for a weak grin as he slaps me playfully on the shoulder. “Now get your sorry ass outta my truck. You’re in my girl’s seat and she’s a hell of a lot better looking than you!”

Arrogant little brother.

I lift a hand to wave as he backs down my steep, snowy drive.

Hating the silence of the cabin with a passion, I move through the living room in pursuit of my two priorities: shower and Woodford.

Feeling better after getting the sap and pine smell off of me, I’ve just finished building a massive fire when the knock at the door arrives.

Dinner. Bless Hawk, that sentimental goof.

Still fresh from the shower, I’m only sporting black Adidas track pants and bare feet as I swing the door open wide and stare out into the night air in utter shock. It takes me a minute, but I manage to say, “What the hell?”

Smiling her wistful smile, she’s far more ethereal than I ever remembered. Oh my fucking God.

I feel like a corkscrew is twisting in my heart with such intensity that I almost fall to my knees in pain.

“Hi Luke. Um, may I come in?” she asks in a shy voice.

Unable to respond, I simply step back and let her walk slowly past me. She is wearing the red coat I bought her and carrying two full brown paper bags of what appear to be groceries.

Setting them down right in the middle of the living room, she turns to me with tears in her pretty doe eyes.

“Luke, please don’t ask me to leave before I say what I need to say. First, I never thanked you for what you did. You saved my life, Luke. I wouldn’t be standing here today if it weren’t for your intuition and brave actions. From the bottom of my heart I thank you for that. Also, I hope that you can accept my sincere apology for not seeing you or returning any of your many calls after what happened. I was, I mean I am still so messed up over what happened that I could barely hang onto my own reality, much less involve you in my horror. I just couldn’t subject you to that, especially after the nightmares you must have had to deal with on your own. I just didn’t want to add to it. Thankfully every day that goes by is a bit better. One day I hope that it will all be a distant memory.”

She pauses and takes a step toward me. “The one constant for me is the depth of emotion that I feel for you, Luke. It grows stronger each day and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that as long as I live I will never meet a man who is as unique and perfect for me as you are. I love you Luke, oh God, I love you so much.”

I’m so stunned that I’m immobile.

She completely breaks down and wraps her arms around herself as sobs wrack her tiny frame.

Through streaming tears she continues, “Hawk called me. I was at the airport in Vancouver and he told me I needed to see you. I was planning on it anyway. He told me that you would be here on Christmas Eve so I came straight here in hopes of making things right between us.”

She cocks her head in question, not understanding why I’m still frozen in place. “Luke?”

My voice isn’t cooperating and I can only manage a hoarse whisper, “Come here baby, I wanna hold you.”

She responds immediately and seconds later is wrapped in my arms. I breathe deeply into her beautiful hair. “I love you too, angel, so damn much that it nearly killed me. We’re meant to be. You know that, right? Just like two puzzle pieces.”

“Oh Luke, my magnificent man, I love you so much that my heart has trouble keeping up.”

She sobs against my bare chest as we hold each other tight. After long moments she lifts her stunning eyes to mine. “Luke, I want a fresh start for us. I want what we had together before ... before everything happened. We were given a rare gift when we found each other and it would be a tragedy to end it. What do you think?”

I stare straight into her gorgeous green eyes and respond in a clear voice, “That’s a good thing angel, ’cause I’m never letting you get away from me again. We’re going to work through this mess together. We’re stronger as a team. Je t’aime, mon ange.” Her wide eyes glitter as I repeat in English, “I love you, my angel. No one will ever love you more.”

I feel her heart beat rapidly against my chest and watch her eyes dilate with desire.

I slowly lean down to take her perfect pink lips in a darkly possessive kiss.

* * * *

Christine Edwards grew up in the Deep South on Hilton Head Island, SC. At an early age she developed a passion for the arts that led her to earn a bachelor’s degree in Art History from the College of Charleston in South Carolina.

Christine has a special place in her heart for reading and writing erotic tales. To date she has published two novellas along with two full-length novels including Claimed in Canada and Naughty in Norway (coming soon from Fanny Press). Her main focus is on loving, multi-faceted relationships involving intense alpha males and feisty heroines.

She adores snow skiing, traveling the world, and spending time with her amazing family.

Christine currently resides in the sleepy coastal town of Beaufort, SC.

You can find her on the Web at edwards.fannypress.com.

Table of Contents

- Prologue
- Chapter One
- Chapter Two
- Chapter Three
- Chapter Four
- Chapter Five
- Chapter Six
- Chapter Seven
- Chapter Eight
- Chapter Nine
- Chapter Ten
- Chapter Eleven
- Chapter Twelve
- Chapter Thirteen
- Chapter Fourteen
- Epilogue