Page 2 of Her Dryad Dom

"Or maybe I'm just having a really shitty day," I retorted, fighting the urge to lean closer to him.

"Perhaps," he agreed, but the wicked gleam in his eyes told me he knew more than he was letting on. "Either way, I'm here to help."

"Help?" I asked skeptically, struggling to reconcile my growing attraction to this stranger with the fear that gnawed at the edges of my thoughts.

"Of course," he purred, leaning in closer and causing me to involuntarily shudder. "After all, we wouldn't want our dear visitor to be stranded all alone in the dark, would we?"

"Fine," I conceded, my voice barely above a whisper as I stared up at him. "But don't think for a second that this changes anything."

"Wouldn't dream of it, sweetheart," he replied, his lips curling into a predatory smile that made my heart race with equal parts excitement and trepidation. "Now, let's get you back on your feet."

I slid out of his wooden grasp, shocked at how easily the branch limbs changed as he moved. I looked him over, then, taking a deep breath, I decided to ignore the strange man for a moment.

First, I needed to retrieve my belongings, then I could figure this creature out. I walked around my car, heading toward theback seat where my backpack lay, filled with legal documents and my laptop. As I reached out to grab it, my body suddenly jolted back as if I had hit an invisible wall. Pain exploded in my cheek, and I cursed loudly.

"Son of a bitch!" I spat, rubbing my throbbing face as I stared at the empty space before me.

What the hell was going on? I reached out, and sure enough, pain exploded in my fingers as they bounced off some invisible wall.

"Everything about this goddamn trip is cursed," I muttered darkly, glancing back at the mysterious stranger who called himself Dom. He watched me intently, his eyes hooded and unreadable. My frustration grew, fueled by the knowledge that I'd been sent on a wild goose chase by a client who seemed hell-bent on acquiring a piece of land known as Beastly Falls—land that, as far as I could tell, didn't even exist.

"Having trouble, sweetheart?" Dom drawled, leaning against a tree with a smug grin on his face.

"Shut up," I snapped, my cheeks flushing with anger and embarrassment. I tried again to reach my backpack, but the invisible barrier remained, just as solid as before. Panic began to well up inside me as I realized that not only was I stranded in the middle of nowhere, but I couldn't even access my own belongings.

"Relax, Aspen," Dom said, his voice low and soothing. "You can't go through the barrier, so might as well stop hurting yourself."

"Or maybe you could help me? For all I know, you're part of the reason I'm stuck here in the first place!" I accused, though I had no idea if that was true or not. Despite the fear and frustration coursing through me, I couldn't deny the magnetic pull I felt toward this enigmatic creature. A dangerous attractionthat made me half-want to throw caution to the wind and submit to his every whim.

"Maybe so," he replied, stepping closer, his eyes dark and intense. "But you need me, whether you like it or not."

"Fine," I conceded through gritted teeth. "Help me get my stuff, and then we'll talk."

"It doesn't work like that." His head tilted as he watched my facial expressions. "You haven't even asked me what I am. You don't seem put off at all by me."

I rolled my eyes at him. "You must be one of those monster creatures I've heard of on the news. They just passed a new law that gives you the same rights as humans, so why would I be put off by you? Though, I can't quite figure out what flavor of monster you are."

"I'm a dryad." He reached his hand up and branches grew from his fingers until a small treetop blocked my gaze from the sun's rays.

My brain raced to pull information together and reconcile it with his words. "A tree spirit... but I thought nymphs were female."

"Historians love to make history sexier. Half naked tree women frolicking around in the woods is far more alluring than grumpy tree men."

"You're not very grumpy."

Dom snorted. "You caught me unaware. Besides, sweetheart, I'm sure you'll put me right back in my normal grumpy mood soon."

"Yeah, I think I have that covered for the both of us."

"Believe me, sweetheart," Dom whispered, his lips brushing against my ear, sending shivers down my spine once more. "By the time I'm done with you, you'll be begging for more. Now follow me since you can't go home," he murmured, his voice full of sensual promise. As he moved past me, his body brushed against mine, causing a shiver of desire to race down my spine. I tried to ignore the effect he had on me. The throbbing between my thighs told me I'd failed.

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