Mountain Lion (5 page)

V
alerie stomped
out onto the ground and into the waning evening light.

The sun was setting and it was quickly getting dark, and the surrounding area would only get creepier. Which she supposed was the point. She looked back at the exit she’d come through, wondering if Wyatt would be through any second.

But then she realized she wasn’t ready to see him. She was too embarrassed. He’d seen through her plan and didn’t want her to touch him, and he’d been the appropriate one.

So why did it hurt so much?

Still, it was beautiful here, with fall trees all around in shades of brown, orange, yellow, and red, and she was determined to enjoy it.

She saw a place where kids were bobbing for apples and laughing and decided to walk over there and give Wyatt some space to recover.

She honestly hadn’t intended to grab him that much, but she’d been more startled than she expected.

She darted around a nearby haystack, hoping to lose Wyatt when he did come out of the barn. She jogged around another and then over to the apples, staying on the side that was out of sight.

She sat on a nearby bench and looked over at the pumpkin patch. Should she take one home? Carve it? She hadn’t even done that as a kid. Well, except one year. But then it had gotten smashed.

Maybe she would buy a pumpkin. She took out her wallet, checking for what she had, and was interrupted by a deep, masculine voice.

“Well, look at you. All fancy.”

She looked up slowly, dread filling her belly, and saw Nate Hardwick, tall and lanky with dark hair and odd gray eyes. He and his dad had lived at the camp for a while, and he’d harassed her the whole time. But that had been a few years back, and then they’d moved.

“Valerie,” he said meanly, folding his arms and taking a step closer. “I’d heard you disappeared.”

She sat up straighter, looking around for help. Wyatt was nowhere to be seen. And besides, this was none of his business. She could handle Nate.

“Why don’t we go talk?” he asked, throwing an apple in the air and catching it.

She didn’t want to go with him. “No,” she said. “I think I’ll stay here.”

“Good call,” he said. “Maybe I’ll just step over there and make a call to your dad. Let him know you’re okay. And where you are.”

Dread sank into her. The last thing she wanted was her dad coming for her now. She doubted he’d look for her. But if he knew where she was, he could come.

But then again, she was just at a fair, and Nate didn’t know where she was living.

“Fine,” she said. “Tell them what you want. I’m not going back.”

“Suit yourself,” Nate said, an unpleasant look on his face as he walked off around a nearby haystack.

Valerie gave a quick look around and then stood. She should probably find Wyatt and they should get out of here before they could be tracked.

Awkwardness or not, she didn’t want to take risks.

But as she rounded the haystack closest to her, she felt a hand clamp over her mouth as she was dragged off to the side. No one could see her there, and she was pulled into the nearby trees shaded by the large sign above the apple bobbing station.

“Shut up,” he said as she struggled against his hand. “I’m not going to hurt ya.”

She looked up to see Nate and growled and bit his hand. He let her go in shock and then caught her again around the waist before she could escape. He covered her mouth again and dragged her back into the woods.

It was getting darker outside.

She’d gone too far from Wyatt, and she should have known Nate would stick around to be creepy after pretending to walk off.

Now, even if Wyatt looked in her direction, all he’d see were haystacks, an apple bobbing stand, and then shadows and trees in the distance.

Still, she struggled against Nate, trying to get his hand off her mouth so she could scream, as he dragged her deeper into the forest where no one could hear them.

She’d been stupid tonight and not brought her knife. He kept his hand over her mouth and pushed her up against a tree. His hand slid up under her shirt, and she blinked back tears of frustration as her hand fought with his, unable to stop him as he crept over her waist, trying to reach higher.

Why were men so awful? Why did they have to do things like this to make you feel terrible? And powerless and afraid?

She winced, standing on her toes to keep her breasts out of reach, and the next thing she knew, she felt Nate heaved off of her and heard him land with a thump a few feet away.

“Oh, you fucking bastard,” a dark, familiar voice said. She squinted and saw Wyatt standing in front of her, brushing off his hands as he walked toward Nate, who was scrambling to stand up.

She adjusted her shirt and wiped her eyes, feeling stupid for getting so scared when she should have known Wyatt would come get her.

She wasn’t alone anymore.

She forgave him for rejecting her. For not seeing her as a woman and not wanting to touch her.

He gave her something more important than the shallow, lustful things she wanted. He gave her safety.

Wyatt grabbed Nate by the collar and hauled him up so he could punch him hard, through the face, making Nate’s head snap back. Then Wyatt knelt over him, pulling him up by the shirt so he could hit him some more. “You.” Punch. “Fucking.” Punch. “Bastard.” Punch.

Nate gurgled something incoherent, but Wyatt’s teeth just flashed in the darkness, looking like fangs.

“Just give me a reason to kill you,” Wyatt growled. “For touching what’s mine.”

Nate gurgled something else and then let out a groan as Wyatt hit him in the stomach this time. Nate was full shifter and could take a lot of hits. But at this point, even Val wasn’t sure Wyatt should keep going.

“Wait,” she said, walking forward. “Stop.”

“No,” Wyatt said. “These men have to learn…” Punch. “How to stop fucking it up…” Punch. “For everyone else.” Punch. “How are women supposed to ever feel safe with fuckturds like you around?” Wyatt yelled in Nate’s face.

Nate grumbled something about his dad, and Val saw Wyatt go white with rage.

“Tell this to Daddy,” he said, punching Nate out cold with a horrible crunching noise.

Val just stood there, arms at her sides, staring at the man who’d always been nothing but gentle and patient with her. He turned to look at her, still straddling Nate, and his golden eyes glowed in the darkness.

This was his feral side. And he’d unlocked it for her.

Nate was still breathing, and Wyatt checked his pulse. “He’ll be fine. Which is too bad, because I’m not sure he’s fully learned his lesson.”

Val noticed she was shaking, either from fear or from watching the violence, and she watched as Wyatt pulled off his jacket as he came toward her.

He settled the green fleece over her head and pulled it down. It dwarfed her, everywhere but her chest, and he gave her an affectionate grin.

He didn’t have a scratch on him. He’d dealt with one of the worse parts of her past and hadn’t even been touched by it.

“Thank you,” she said, wrapping her arms around her.

He backed her toward a tree, looking her over with concern. “Are you okay? Did he do anything before I got here?”

“No,” she said.

“Just put his hand under your shirt?” he growled, looking angrier than she’d ever seen him. It was just a calm, quiet kind of anger.

“He didn’t get what he was going for, if that’s what you mean,” she said.

He nodded, looking relieved. “Then I was in time. Sorry I wasn’t sooner.”

She nodded back. “Yeah, you were.”

She kept her eyes on his chest. If she looked up into his handsome, caring face or at his wide arms, he’d want to run into them. Want comfort. And he’d already made it clear that was off-limits.

So she pushed away from the tree to walk back to the main clearing. When she stumbled, Wyatt caught her around the waist.

When she turned around, looked up into his eyes, still feeling lost and afraid, she felt him crush her to his chest, wrapping his thick arms around her.

“Shh,” he said, sinking to the ground and cradling her against him. “It’s okay. It’s okay now. I’m here.”

She wrapped her arms around him and let out the tears she’d been holding back for twenty-two years.

W
yatt didn’t know
what else to do, so he simply held Val while she cried. Great big, angry sobs as she sat in his arms. Luckily, they were far enough from the main clearing and there was enough noise there that no one would notice them.

He’d never held her like this. He felt like he was seeing something sacred. Something private and personal. He also felt closer to her than ever before.

Her small hands clutched him; her soft body pressed into him. She sought him as shelter, and he gave it to her. Murmuring comfort, running a hand over her hair, soothing her.

This, he knew how to do.

What he didn’t know how to do was deal with the protectiveness that had surged up inside him. More than just over a friend. But over something that was his. Possessive. Jealous. Enraged. He would have beat up the dude if he’d attacked anyone.

But the feelings Wyatt had when he came upon the jackass trying to assault her were more than simply those of a protective big brother or friend.

Utter, possessive rage that someone would dare try to touch what was his. That anyone would dare make her afraid when he loved her.

When he…

His thoughts trailed off.
Love? Holy shit.

When had that happened? They hadn’t known each other long enough for that. Yet as he held her, he realized compared to how little he’d ever let anyone else into his life, he really did know Valerie.

From their rides, from their dinners. From the moment she’d walked into his life.

But he’d have to put that all away. So what if he’d somehow developed feelings for her he shouldn’t have. That didn’t mean this could work.

The dude assaulting her had just given all the reasons why. Because she couldn’t possibly want to deal with any men after that. She had to think they were all idiots. And as long as he didn’t make a move on her, he didn’t have to be grouped in with them.

“I’m so glad you found me.” She gulped between sobs. “I was afraid.”

“Shh,” he said, stroking her hair. “You don’t have to be afraid anymore. I’ll always find you.” He meant it, too. He’d spend the rest of his life protecting her, making it up to her, even if nothing romantic could ever happen between them.

He owed it to her for everything mankind had inflicted on her over the years.

“Thank you,” she said. “And I’m sorry I came on to you in the haunted house. I’m sorry if I made you mad.” She sniffled, sitting back to wipe her nose on his jacket, which made him smile.

She finally seemed to be feeling a little better. He guessed everyone needed a good cry sometimes.

Then he realized what she’d just said.

“What do you mean came on to me at the haunted house?” he asked, putting his hands on her shoulders to keep her steady.

An owl hooted in the distance, and he became aware of other sounds. Crackling bonfires. Children laughing. People shouting inside the haunted house.

But nothing that could distract him from waiting for her answer.

“I know I bothered you. Getting all clingy.” She swiped at her eyes and nose again, and he caught her sleeve because he was worried she’d scratch herself. “I grossed you out.”

He frowned, totally confused. But now wasn’t the time to talk about it, so he simply swept her into his arms.

He looked back at the guy they were leaving behind. He was a shifter; he’d be fine. More fine than he deserved to be. But he’d probably tell someone about where Valerie was and a description of who he’d seen her with.

And Wyatt wasn’t taking any risks with that.

“When we get back to the ranch, I’m moving you in with me,” he said. “I’ll take the couch. But just until I know they aren’t coming after you.”

“Good idea,” she said. “But won’t it bother you?”

He raised an eyebrow at her as he carried her along the edge of the clearing, hoping to get to the parking lot without drawing much attention. “I don’t know where you’re getting this whole bothering me thing, but you’re mistaken. You didn’t bother me in there.”

When they reached the car, he set her down, opened the door, and helped her in. Then he went around and got in on his side.

“Then why did you push me away?” she asked. “It’s because you’re not attracted to me. Because I’m only a friend. Because you couldn’t possibly—”

He leaned forward and cut her off with a kiss to the lips, sealing off any other words as his mouth covered hers. After a soft second, he pulled back, looking into her eyes.

“Of course I’m attracted to you. I pushed you away because I’m trying to be the good guy. And with your breasts on me like that… I couldn’t think.”

She blinked at him, surprised. Then she threw her arms around him and planted her lips on his with a hard kiss.

She tasted like tears.

Wyatt froze in shock but then relaxed against her lips and let her take him. Her hands were soft on his face and her lips were like velvet. He heard a soft purr from her throat and realized something.

She wanted him. It stunned him. He hadn’t even thought it possible.

And now he was utterly at a loss for what to do.

He let her kiss him for a moment longer and then pulled her back gently and tucked her hair back behind her ear.

“How about we wait until we get home?” he said. “So we can talk about this.”

She nodded solemnly, touching her hand to her mouth. “I’m sorry.”

He started the car, trying to ignore the pounding in his heart. “You have nothing to be sorry for. I just have to figure things out,” he said, giving her a tender look. “But I promise I’m nothing but flattered by the fact that you want me.”

The last thing he would do was reject her feelings. But he still wasn’t sure whether he should actually return them.

Damn, he wished there was a guidebook for life.