Page 18 of Feelin' Pine

“You okay?”

She immediately releases her hand from my thigh, rolls to stand, and shouts, “I need a moment alone to… do stuff.” Her cheeks flush red as she realizes how awkward she’s being.

Chuckling, I point in the opposite direction. “Fifty feet that way, there’s a little inset where I’ve dug a little hole.”

Patting her thigh, she looks to the mound of fur. “Kraine, come.”

The dog has other plans and rolls over like he’s too tired to go along.

Straightening her back and rolling her eyes. “I’ll be right back, and we can talk some more?”

It isn’t a demand. It’s an ask. It makes it easier to want to open up with her. It’s like she’s creating a drawbridge, slowly dropping inside me to allow her to cross the chasm keeping me here in the mountains. I’ve been punishing myself— taking chances in the fire to see if I’ll burn. I’ve been burnt before. It can’t hurt as much.

Now though, I fell, literally broke my ankle, and am forced to reflect on this little miracle beside me.

I’m not sure exactly what I want.

Except I know I want her.

CHAPTERTEN

MAITLYN

Kraine getsoff his lazy bones and decides to follow me, and I’m relieved. I need a little space to think, I’ve never kissed somebody I just met before, but my attraction is overpowering.

I whisper to my dog, “It’d be easy to fall for him, right?”

Kraine snorts.

“Oh, puh-lease, you’re practically drooling over him.”

Kraine tips his head and lets his tongue fall out as he pants.

“Yeah, okay, I know. I had to wipe my chin a couple of times. He’s just so… amazing.”

Finding the inlet, I take care of business while Kraine marks a couple of spots and then stands in front of me, my forever guard, the only male who’s ever protected me.

Until Jake.

When finished, I lean against the cave wall outside the inlet and realize it’s not as scary as I thought. I take a moment and think about the kiss and how it was merely a peck, but it overtook my body like no kiss has ever done before. My finger traces my lips, and I wonder about doing more.

Kraine releases a deep growl into the darker end of the cave as a ridge of hair raises on his back like it’s never done before, and I start to step backward toward Jake when two glowing eyes glare at me.

I gasp as panic tells me we can’t leave and are stuck to deal with whatever demon with the eyes is looking at me.

Kraine begins barking loudly as he pushes me back and maintains his stance between me and the eyes.

Heavy footsteps slam down from the cave, and Jake rushes toward me, yelling, “Cover your ears.”

Without hesitation, I clasp my hands over my ears, and Jake blows a bear horn so loud my ears begin ringing even with some protection. The eyes vanish as feet pound in the opposite direction. Kraine growls and runs after it but halts when Jake calls him. Kraine stops and returns to us.

My heart pounds against my chest. The fear of what could’ve been, but more importantly, the protection and safety I feel for the first time in my life. Jake makes me feel them, and I don’t question it. The feeling is just there.

Parts of my body tingle, and I’ve come alive like they never did with Daniel, and I was set to marry him.

When Jake thinks nothing is coming at us, he turns and wraps me in his arms.

“If I’d been out there alone, I wouldn’t be here. You’ve kept me safe.” I whisper against his throat as I bury my face in his neck.

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