Page 20 of Laid Bear

Chapter Seven

Heath lost count of how many cold showers he’d had in the past couple days. It had been torturous enough having Zora in close proximity when she’d been healing, but it was even worse to have her walking around the cabin with T-shirts that showed off breasts he wanted to bury his face between, and jeans that hugged her round perfect ass. He’d spent many hours daydreaming about that ass, riding it and easing his cock between those tight cheeks. He loved staring at her voluptuous curves, the way she moved, her scent and everything else about her.

He’d been elated when she’d come back with Gavin to inform them all she’d stay the duration of their vacation to see where things went. But he’d also promised his cousin he’d give her some time to get use to them before he touched her again, a hard promise to keep considering he still remembered how she’d tasted and felt in his arms. His cock was in a constant state of arousal and her scent was driving him insane.

Heath knew he wasn’t the only one suffering. Their meals were an ordeal to get through. While on the surface, conversation was light and they shared bits of information about themselves with her and she with them, there was a deep undercurrent of tension that seemed to make them all jumpy. Logan stayed out of the cabin most of the day to go for long runs and to hunt, while he spent time at the lake fishing or sometimes opting to run with Logan. Even Gavin seemed to find ways to occupy himself, like working on one of his concoctions or another.

Heath got a tug on his line, signaling he had a bite. He made short work of reeling in his catch, a large trout that would join the rest of what he’d caught for dinner tonight.

“This looks relaxing.”

At first he thought he’d imagined Zora’s voice, after all, she hadn’t been far from his thoughts since he’d laid eyes on her. But as the wind carried her scent toward him, he knew she was there. He unhooked his fish and tossed it in the bucket. Laying his rod down, Heath stood up to face her.

His breath caught in his throat. No matter how many times he saw her, he couldn’t get over the beauty of all that dark flawless skin. She wore a pair of shorts that fell mid-thigh, showing off legs for days, and a red tank top that accentuated full, firm breasts. Her golden locks were pulled back into a high ponytail. Her face was bare of makeup except for a light coat of gloss, but she didn’t need any enhancements. Zora was absolutely gorgeous. She looked good enough to eat. And lick and suck and fuck. He felt his dick grow heavy as his thoughts drifted to what he wanted to do with her.

“What are you doing out here?” He asked more gruffly than he meant as he tried to calm down his raging libido.

She lifted a delicately winged brow in apparent surprise. “I didn’t realize I was restricted to the house. If you don’t want me out here, that’s fine. I’ll go back inside and read, although I find it surprising how you guys begged me to stay and now you’re all acting like you don’t want me around.” Her words were firm and her chin lifted in defiance, but he could hear the underlying hurt in her voice.

When she turned to leave, he called out to her, “Zora, wait.”

She halted, her back ramrod straight.

Heath wiped his hands down the front of his pants and he moved toward her. Once he was behind her, he placed his hands on her shoulders and gently turned her around. “Honey, I don’t want you to ever think we don’t want you around. You said you needed time, so we’re giving it to you.”

“But does that mean the three of you have to leave the room when I walk in? The only time any of you spend time with me is during meals, and even then you guys wolf your food down and hurry off like I have cooties or something.”

Heath restrained himself from kissing the frown off her full lips. “It’s the exact opposite of what you think. It isn’t that we don’t want to be around you. We not only want to be around you, but on top of you, beneath you, inside of you. I can’t even be in the same room with you without getting a hard-on. Lady, this is what you do to me.” He gently took her hand and placed it over his crotch. “Does this seem like I don’t want you around?”

Her mouth fell open and her eyes widened. Red undertones colored her cheeks. “I don’t know what to say to that.”

Heath lifted her hand from his pants and kissed her knuckles. “You don’t have to say anything. Just know that we all want you very much, but we won’t make a move until you indicate it’s okay. I’m sorry if I seemed rude when you came out here. I was surprised. It’s a pleasant one of course.”

A slow smile curved her lips until she revealed teeth and a tiny dimple at the corner of her mouth. “Well, in that case how about showing me your fishing technique?”

“You’re really interested in learning?”

“I’d love to check out your technique. There was a beautiful lake that the locals fished at in Covington but I was always busy at my Nana’s shop so I never got around to fishing in that pond.”

“Most women would find fishing icky.”

She laughed. “First of all, grown women don’t use the word ‘icky’ unless they’re the type to carry little dogs around in their purses. Second, I’m not most women.”

“Point taken. Don’t be disappointed if you don’t catch a fish the first time around.”

She playfully tapped him on the arm. “Oh, you already doubt my ability? I bet I’ll not only catch a fish, but I’ll catch at least three.”

“And what do you get if you win?”

She grinned at him with a mischievous gleam in her dark brown eyes. “Oh, I’ll think of something.” She sashayed past him, brushing her shoulders against his as she walked by. Zora’s hips swayed, reawakening Heath’s cock. Did she just flirt with him? How the hell was he going to get through the afternoon without touching her?

Once they were situated on the rock he sat on for fishing, he showed her how to put the bait on the hook. He was surprised she didn’t flinch when he pulled out the worm. She even offered to do it herself with his guidance.

Finally, she stood and he moved behind her. Gently he guided her arms as she cast the line. Not quite a few minutes later, there was a tug on her line. Though he attempted to help her, Zora seemed quite adept at reeling in the catch by herself: a nice-sized trout.

“Well, what do you know?” She winked at him. As she expertly freed the fish from the hook and dropped it in the bucket along with what he’d already caught, it occurred to him this wasn’t her first time fishing.

His suspicions were confirmed when she retrieved another worm and affixed it to the hook as if she’d done it hundreds of times before. She threw the line back toward the lake.

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