Page 10 of Chasing the Wild
"I was terrified," I admitted.
"I know. But you did it anyway. That's what courage is. Not being unafraid, but being terrified and doing it anyway."
I leaned into him, letting my head rest on his shoulder. Outside, the storm raged on. But in here, wrapped in Sam's arms, I felt safe. Protected. Seen.
"What happens after the storm?" I asked. "After this week is over?"
His arm tightened around me. "That's up to you."
"What do you want to happen?"
"I want you to stay," he said simply. "I want you to quit your job and move to Vermont and let me teach you everythingabout these mountains. I want you to be my partner in every adventure. I want to build a life with you that has nothing to do with billable hours or corporate hierarchies and everything to do with being alive."
My heart was pounding. "That's crazy. We barely know each other.”
"Doesn't change what I want. Doesn't change the fact that I knew you were mine the moment I saw you."
"I can't just quit my job," I said weakly. "I have student loans. A career. Responsibilities."
"I'm not asking you to decide right now. I'm just telling you what I want. What I'm going to work toward every day you're here. By the time this week is over, you're going to know exactly what it feels like to be mine."
His offer should have sent me running back to my safe, controlled life. Instead, it felt like a lifeline. Like maybe—just maybe—I could choose something different. Something that felt like coming alive.
"Okay," I whispered.
"Okay?"
"Okay, show me. This week. Show me what it could be like."
His smile was slow and devastating. "Oh, baby. You have no idea what you just agreed to."
And then he was kissing me again, slower this time, deeper, like he had all the time in the world to learn every inch of my mouth. Like he was already claiming me in ways that went far beyond physical.
When he finally pulled back, I didn’t want to let him go.
"Get some rest," he said. "You're going to need it. Tomorrow, I start showing you exactly what it means to be mine."
The promise in his words sent pleasure curling through me. I wondered exactly what I'd gotten myself into. I couldn't wait to find out.
Chapter 4
Jess
I woke to the feeling of being watched. My eyes flew open to find Sam sitting on the edge of my bunk, two steaming mugs in his hands. He was studying me with an intensity that should have felt intrusive but instead felt intimate.
"Morning," he said, offering me one of the mugs. "Figured you could use this."
I pushed myself up to sitting, acutely aware that I was still in the clothes I'd fallen asleep in. My hair was probably a disaster. The old Jess would have been mortified to be seen like this. The new Jess—the one who was apparently emerging on this mountain—couldn't bring herself to care when Sam was looking at her like she was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.
"What time is it?" I asked, accepting the coffee. Our fingers brushed, and that now-familiar electricity sparked between us.
"Just after six. Storm's still going, but it's calmer than yesterday." His eyes never left my face. "How'd you sleep?"
"Better than I should have, considering." I took a sip of coffee and nearly moaned. It was strong and hot, exactly what I needed. "How long have you been up?"
"Couple hours. I checked the perimeter, made sure everyone was okay, monitored the weather." He paused. "and spent the last thirty minutes watching you sleep."
My pulse kicked up. "That's kind of creepy."
