Page 18 of Cabin Fever

I bet that's how Olivia tastes.

That thought shouldn't have occurred to me. My eyes snapped up to find knowing, sparkling brown eyes laughing at me. Her mouth soon followed.

She caught me in my lie. Why did I go on about her nipples? And her breasts. They weren't too big for anything . . . farming, cooking, lovemaking.

Warmth slid up my neck and I was thankful I had the beard to cover my ridiculously red face.

"Sounds delicious. And you were here, why?" Olivia's eyes slid down my body and I felt every inch of heat it left on my skin.

Damn, she was sexy.

I rubbed my forehead as I replaced thoughts of heated gazes and erect nipples with a memory from when I was eighteen. I had slipped one rainy day into a pile of sheep excrement I had been putting into a wheelbarrow.

"I was taking a break from fixing the truck. I think I might have . . ."

The words died in my mouth. A confusing mix of mesmerizing fear and heated want grew as Olivia stepped toward me. Her delicate finger lifted and came to rest on my chest.

"I see. Enjoying the coffee?"

Her need for touch was becoming unbearable. I wanted to grab her finger but didn't dare. Not knowing if I would push it away or pull her closer.

"It was cold outside." I glanced down, finally noticing that my shirt was wet.

The coffee had stained my shirt from the fall, and I was too distracted to notice.

I had wondered for the past ten days what was it that bothered me so much about Olivia. She could be too talkative and her lack of understanding of how to do everyday tasks was dumbfounding. But I'd come across people in my life that held those qualities and worse, yet they didn't get under my skin the way my current houseguest had.

There was something more to Olivia that ate away at me and I think I discovered what it was—she was distracting. Every question from her lips was timed perfectly to disrupt my stride as I worked. Her unusual need to touch me when I was stressed or tired only distracted me from what needed to get done.

People like her were all too familiar with the power of distraction. My father wouldn't have spent all that time teaching me to not trust the rich, the powerful, and especially, the ones from Washington, DC if it wasn't true.

The heat in my body went from desire to anger in seconds.

"It sure is cold. So glad you were snuggled up here all warm while I scooped up shit in the freezing weather." Her lips twisted and the finger that was burrowing toward my heart lifted so she could fold her arms.

The woman had the nerve to judge me in my home.

"Just asyouare taking a break. And I've said not to use language like that in my home."

Her head flew back as she snorted. Again, another tool of distraction. The goofy laugh was probably meant to make her appear endearing, but I wasn't going to play her game. This wasmycabin, and we playedmygames.

"Oh, I forgot. Forgive me, Great Puritanical One!" She bowed and waved her hand in the air.

I stood tall as I unbuttoned my flannel shirt. Refusing for one more second to give her more ammunition to distract me as she stared at the evidence all over my shirt.

Olivia stilled as I removed my flannel. Her eyes widened and I couldn't help the smug satisfaction I felt at turning the tables on her.

"Puritanical. That's what you think of me? You've known me for what . . . ten days, and you think you understand everything about me, Olivia? I'm just some backwoods sheep farmer that's going to fall for your lost in the woods innocence?"

It was my turn to take a step toward her. Her brown eyes were glued to my chest in surprise, but it didn't stop Olivia from shuffling back until she hit the edge of the table.

"There are reasons for everything in this world, Innocent One. And those reasons aren't always what you think they may be." Her hot breath tickled my chest. I leaned down, inhaling her sweet scent, and I wanted nothing more than to bury my nose in her hair and get lost in her aroma. But I didn't. This was my game, and I had to play it precisely.

"When my sheepbaafor you, it's not because they are calling in affection. It's because they believe you will feed them. If Kitty lifts the corners of her mouth and yawns, she's not tired, she's unhappy and uncomfortable. She's doing her best to comfort herself." I lowered my head so I was only an inch from her ear. I could see the tremble of her body as she shifted. Olivia's head tilted, giving me full access to her neck.

I paused, licking my lips and staring at her creamy skin. It had been so long. What harm was there in just one little lick? Olivia probably tasted like salted caramel, and I always was a sucker for candy.

"Okay," Olivia said, a trembling whisper that was like a slap in my face.

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