Page 17 of Scarred Mountain Man

It seems he has a score to settle.

“If you are going to shoot me, make sure it’s fatal,” I say in a deep, menacing voice. “If you miss or I don’t die, I will leave this mountain with the sole purpose of ending your life.”

It’s probably not the smartest thing to threaten the man holding a weapon and standing so close to the fucking love of my life, but I am not scared of Tommy. I wasn’t back when I weighed a hundred pounds soaking wet and I’m not now that I’m built like a fucking grizzly bear.

“W-what’s happening,” Jean whispers in confusion, walking forward but Tommy grabs her arm before she can continue and I see red. How dare he touch her. No one is allowed to touch Jean but me.

She’s mine, Goddamnit!

“Stay back, he’s dangerous,” Tommy hisses, the anxiety in his voice clear as day.

Jean shrugs off his grip and steps forward. “No, he’s not. Shaw is not dangerous at all. He saved my life.”

“Miss Watson, you have no fucking idea the kind of animal that monster is. He’s caused more tourist injuries in the forest than any wild animal in the past ten years. He is the worst kind of beast there is.”

“Tommy,” I growl, my eyes looking straight into his. “You know damn well I don’t hurt anybody that happens up this way.”Well, it’s not my fault that people who run into me are always in a hurry to get away and get injured in some way or another. Heck, even bears don’t get that reaction most of the time.

“Wait,” Jean startles, her face scrunching in confusion, “you’reTommy? The one you told me about Shaw?” She looks at me with exasperation, her hands still up trying to convince him to put down the gun. I give a slight nod of confirmation and watch as her emotions turn from confusion to anger.

“You’re wrong,” Jean whispers, walking forward and this time evading his touch. She steps in front of me, her tiny frame doing little to shield my massive body but it’s the thought that counts. “If anyone’s a monster it’s you. You were asking for a fight that day, picking on someone because of the way they look. Put down your gun now, Ranger. Shaw has done nothing but help me and keep me safe.”

“Miss Watson, your friends–”

“Please tell my friends that I am fine, I want to stay here with Shaw,” Her voice is steady as she looks at Tommy and whatever he sees in her face causes him to relent and lower his gun. A burst of pride fills my chest to see my angel care for me this deeply, and all I can think about is getting her back to my cabin and showing her just how much she is mine.

Tommy looks from her to me, a look of resignation on his face. I wait for another attempt for him to get Jean to go with him, or nasty words to be slung my way, but he says nothing and holsters his gun.

“Alright,” he finally remarks, hands in the air in surrender. “Make sure she calls her friends, they’re pretty worried about her, and…I’m sorry for…the escalation.”

Shock waves through me at Tommy’s apology. Growing up I had never heard those words from his mouth before, and although it seemed forced -- it was a start. I pull Jean into my side, relaxing as I feel her warmth burrow into me and give Tommy a nod.

He turns to make his way back to his vehicle.

Another ranger will be up to check up on you in a few days and make sure you’re in no danger.”

Oh, fuck no!

No one is allowed on my property without my permission, and I step forward to show Tommy just how disagreeable I am with that idea when Jean places a hand on my chest to hold me back. It’s gentle and soft and it stops me right in my tracks.

“I appreciate that, Ranger. I’ll take care of everything else from here on.”

The man’s eyes drop to the small hand holding me back and he shakes his head in disbelief before walking away. It’s not until he’s disappeared into the thick trees that Jean turns to me. “Shaw, didn’t you get my message?”

“I did.”

“And…”

“I disagree with it.”

Her brows rise up and she bites back a smile. “What exactly do you disagree with, Shaw?” she whispers, bringing the other hand to my chest and that alone is enough to send my half-hard cock thickening behind my fly.

“Everything,” I say, sliding my hand to her nape. “You are mine, Angel. Mine!”

I expect her to argue with the possessiveness of my words, but she simply shakes her head. “I know,” she whispers. “I belong only to you, Shaw. I know that.” She runs her hands lovingly over my chest. “A part of me also knew you wouldn’t let me leave if I waited for you to come back and that’s why I snuck out.”

Hurt fills my chest and she must read the effect of her words on my face because she hurries to add. “I wasn’t going to be gone forever, Shaw. I just wanted to sort things out back home. I can’t just disappear into the mountain; my family and friends will worry. I need to show everyone that I am okay living here with you. I need to cancel my lease, grab my things too. As much as I like it, I can’t wear your clothes forever.”

Well, when she puts it like that… It makes sense. I have lived alone for so long that it never occurred to me that someone would worry if she suddenly disappeared into the mountain like I did back then.

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