Page 2 of The Beast of the Mountain
“I think someone’s watching me, Vera,” I whisper into the phone as though it matters. “I think—ohmygod—someoneiswatching me and they’re headed straight for me.” I considerrunning but nix the idea. There’s no way I can outrun that man. At least, I think it’s a man. Bigfoot? I can’t rule out the possibility. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if I took off running, he’d drop down on all fours and bound toward me, closing the gap in no time.
“I’m going to stay on the line. In case things go—click.”
The line goes dead along with any chance of losing this man. Target acquired: Me. The fraction of a percentage chance I had of losing him in the forest is gone. Maybe if I stand still he won’t see me. That’s how it works? Please tell me that’s how it works…
Where the hell did he come from? Did he wander out of the forest? Does he live in the forest? Is thisitfor me?
It’s hard to make out his features with the sun in my eyes but the broad strokes don’t comfort me. He’s the size of a linebacker for the NFL with the height of an NBA player—well over six feet tall and with arms and legs that resemble tree trunks. Long scraggly hair. A beard.
To be honest, I was only kidding when I brainstormed a scary mountain man for my book idea. I had no idea they actually existed. I swear, if an eagle lands on his shoulder or I see a chipmunk scurrying through his beard, I’m going to risk everything and book it into the forest. I’m not about to be a savage mountain man’s next—oh, hello.
Okay.
What is going on with my body right now? As the man approaches, I’ve never felt so… disoriented? Agitated? Flustered? I don’t even know. All I know is that this is the sexiest man I’ve ever laid eyes on. Seriously. Did this man time travel from the age of Vikings? Is he a Norse god who fell from the heavens?
His eyes are deep blue. Icy blue but there’s nothing cold about his gaze. It’s searing as he takes me in, traversing down my neck before meeting my eyes again. Big, blonde, andbeautiful.
It’s insane having this kind of reaction to a man. It’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. I’m burning up and trembling. I’m rapidly breathing but I’m out of breath. What is happening to me? I might be awkward when it comes to men—spending all my time in front of a keyboard does that—but I’m notthisawkward. And no man has ever made my body react so strongly.
“Hello,” the man rasps as my ovaries swoon at his gruff baritone. I’ve never heard anything like it before but my body is craving to hear more. “That your car back there?”
Yessssss….
I nod because my voice is gone. Obliterated like all coherent thought as I let his voice wash over me.
He crosses his arms in front of his broad chest, muscles bulging beneath his flannel shirt. His collar is unbuttoned and his sleeves are ripped at his shoulders—most likely because the sleeves wouldn’t fit his biceps.
“Not an easy mountain to climb. Plenty of city folk get stuck out here. What brings you up my mountain?”
I blink a few times because I must have misheard him.Hismountain?
“Your mountain?”
He nods as he grunts—a deep rumble I feel all over my body.
“Must have paid a lot for it.”
“Birthright,” he says, gruffly. “My family’s lived on this mountain for generations.”
I’m not sure that’s how land ownership works, but I’m not about to make this big guy mad. He’d probably take offense, throw me over his shoulder, and abscond with me into the woods. A secluded cabin. No one around. No one to hear me scream as he…
Phew.Okay. My imagination is clearly working now. Maybe he’ll let me leave his mountain. No harm. No foul.
“What are you doing here?” he asks.
I swallow hard. I’m not sure if I’m scared or horny. Scorny? Is that a thing? No, probably not, but it’s definitely scary how turned on I am.
“I’m renting a cabin. I was on my way to it when my car died.”
He grunts again, and again, I feel it all over my body.
“There are no cabins to rent on this side of the mountain.”
“I paid for a month.”
“You were scammed. Plain and simple.”
No. There’s no way.
