“Why are you chirping?” I ask when I hear what sounds like the squawking of baby birds coming from her. She’s cradling her stomach as she quickly looks down.
“I… I…” She reaches into her jumpsuit and pulls out a nest with three baby birds in it. “I couldn’t leave them.”
My brain clicks back on and I remember why we’re out here in the first place. I have to get moving.
“We can talk later,” I say as I grab my axe off the ground and head toward a tree that needs to be felled. “I have to save the forest down there.”
I start hacking away at the tree, slamming the axe into the trunk over and over with heavy grunts.
When I’m almost halfway through it, she comes over with my small axe and a bright vitality shining in those addictive green eyes. “How can I help?”
“Over there,” I tell her. “Cut down that one.”
My eyes linger on her as she rushes over with the axe. That bulky jumpsuit is covering all her best parts and I can’t wait to take it off to discover all the gorgeous curves she has hiding underneath.
I get back to work, chopping the tree as the baby birds chirp relentlessly beside my gear. She left the nest on my backpack.
After a few minutes of chopping, cool drops of rain start hitting my face and shoulders.
“Yes,” I grunt as I look up at the dark clouds coming in. “Let loose.”
Just on cue as if the clouds are listening, they open up. Rain pours down in buckets and my shoulders drop in relief.
“Woo!” my girl shouts excitedly as she looks up with her arms out, mouth open to catch the drops.
I grin as I watch her spinning around as the rain comes down harder. She unzips her jumpsuit and slides her arms out, pulling it down to her waist.
I’m watching, transfixed, as her white tank top gets soaked and that thin white material sticks to her round breasts. She’s wearing a black bra underneath and the sight of it stirs something within me that hasn’t been stirred in a long time.
Women have never been a priority for a man like me. I never wanted a wife. Or, a girlfriend for that matter.
A female never fit into my lifestyle.
I wanted quiet and wilderness and peace.
So, I came out here and built the life I always wanted. I built a nice home and the wilderness provided me with everything I needed.
I was content. I was happy. I had all I required.
Not anymore.
She’s changed all that.
I want her. I need her.
She stops and laughs with pure happiness on her face as she looks at me, breathing heavily with those slim shoulders moving up and down with every energetic breath.
“We did it,” she says as she looks up and watches as the rain extinguishes the flames. “We saved the mountain.”
I smile as I watch her. Her enthusiasm is contagious.
“I guess we did.”
Her smile slowly fades, turning into sadness as she looks up at the trees.
“What is it?” I ask her.
She wipes her eyes and then comes over. My pulse races as she approaches, but she walks past me and scoops up the nest with the three baby birds in it.
“I know you saved me,” she says in such a sweet voice that it makes my heart ache. “But I have one more thing to ask of you. Can you take care of them?”
I just stare at her. Does she really think I’m going to let her go back to that place? Does she really think I’m just going to let the girl of my dreams walk away?
I saved her, which means she’s mine.
I’ll burn down that whole prison before I let them take her and lock her away where I can’t lay my eyes on her stunning body and beautiful youthful face any longer.
I’ll burn down the whole world before I let that happen.
“You keep them,” I tell her.
Even with the cool rain soaking us, I can still see her cheeks blushing pink.
“I can’t,” she whispers as she looks down. “I have to go… back.”
“You’re not going back,” I tell her.
Her eyes snap up to mine.
“You’re staying here with me. Forever.”
CHAPTER THREE
Kennedy
* * *
Is this man serious?
I’m trying to figure that out as I stare at him with my body tingling all over.
He’s the manliest man I’ve ever seen. He’s a total badass standing here in the pouring rain, light grey tank top plastered to his huge muscular chest and ripped abs. His shoulders are enormous.
His arms are thick and jacked with muscle. They’re turning me all gooey inside as I try not to stare at them.
And his face… god, his face… I know I’ll be dreaming of him over the next three decades while I’m lying in my cot in my cell, wishing I was next to him instead. Wishing I was gazing into those dark brown eyes and sinking my hands into that soft brown hair.