Page 6 of Defender

She parks the truck in front of the little cabin rental I picked up last year. It’s not a huge place, and it’s definitely not magnificent, but I feel lucky to be paying the rent on my own after my first photography book went viral last year. I hadn’t expected the success, but people seemed to like pictures of coffee tables in different forests all over the country. My focus this year is old barns and sheds. I’m hoping it does well enough that I can keep my rent paid.

“Be safe on your walk and think about what I said. You’re the main character, and this is the scene where you make a bold move.” She pushes her blonde hair back away from her face as she shifts the truck back into drive and smiles. “Love you!”

I’ll always appreciate Nora’s ridiculousness, but I think my ‘bold move’moment is over. From here on out, I need to forget Gunner exists and move forward with the reality that breakfast is with Mom, Friday nights are for crocheting, and the only spankings I have coming are from my best friend.

Chapter Four

Gunner

It’s nearly dusk when I finally get to the lake and put my pole in the water. Usually this time of day is good fishing, but nothing is biting tonight. Maybe it’s the wind. There’s a rainstorm that’s been sitting on the ridge all day. So far, we’ve only seen wind, but that’s enough. It’s been blowing my line all over the place, and the lake is choppy, scattering the fish. There’s an alcove to the left I could tuck into, but I don’t have the focus right now. I haven’t since this morning.

How the hell did I let Zoe walk away?

I drag in a deep breath and let it out slowly, studying the sun as it sinks behind the mountains. Truth be told, fishing has never been about catching fish for me. Sure, I like a day when the haul is plentiful and I can stock the freezer full, but more than that, I’m here for the casting of the line, the slow reel in, the serenity and quiet of the mountains.

“Hey… oh my God! Stop!” The shrill of a woman echoes across the lake, forcing me onto my feet.

Fifty feet away, a brunette is jumping back and forth, scrambling around as though she’s losing her shit. I squint my eyes and walk further up shore, crunching over the stones that line the lake’s edge as I get closer to the flailing woman. I assume she’s in distress, but you never know. She could be high on drugs or God knows what else. Strange things happen in themountains after dark. In Wyoming, we have wind whisperers. Folks swear that they can hear people singing and chanting after dark. Subsequently, it draws out the kinds of people that like ritualistic dances and ghost hunting. Maybe that’s what’s happening here. Maybe this woman is performing some sort of exorcism. Sure as hell looks like it.

“Ma’am… are you okay?” The faint hum of a buzz takes over the closer I get but it’s so dark I can barely see.

“Bees!” the woman screams. “They’re everywhere!”

Fuck!

I run toward her, crunching over smooth edged stones, and grip her close without thinking, then drag her into the cool mountain lake. Together, we plunge beneath the surface and away from the chaos. I hold on to her, feeling the tight grip of her hand around my arm as I kick upward. When we break the surface, gasping for air, I stare toward her. Her hair is plastered to her face and her light brown eyes are searching mine.

My heart stops.It's Zoe.What’s she doing up here so late?

“You okay?” I ask, my voice steady.

She nods, lips trembling, and for a moment, the only sound surrounding us is the gentle lapping of the cold water as the full moon hangs above.

Her hair clings to her face in damp strands as she searches me for something—a story maybe. A reason as to why we’re here, together, again.

I push the strand back, absorbing her aura. The citrusy scent on her skin. The way her eyes somehow shine in the light. Her shallow and quick breaths. I’m not used to softness and I’m not sure I should even be acting this way. We decided earlier that we shouldn’t do this. We made the decision based on facts and rationality. We made the decision because it’s best for us long term. Our age gap is too large. It would be too much for both of us.

That said, here she is, looking back at me like I’m someone worth holding onto, and whatever reserve I had left is dissolved. I land my hand on the back of her neck and brush her cheek softly with my thumb. I lean in, my jaw tight, my heart hammering.

What the hell am I doing?I should stop. I know I should stop. We decided less than five hours ago that we would stop… yet my lips meet hers with a hard, unrelenting, permissionless growl.

She’s so fucking soft. I don’t deserve this. I know I don’t deserve this, but right now, I’m letting myself have it.

She groans softly into my mouth, and I deepen the kiss as the cool water seeps into my skin and tension crackles between us.

We’re so close. Her chest against mine. Her hard nipples spearing through the thin fabric of her t-shirt. Her warm breath on my neck. The tiniest of aches escaping her lips.

I’m not gonna make it. I should stop right now before I do something stupid, but I can’t. My hands are wild and busy, memorizing every rise and fall of her frame.

“Fuck,” I growl into her mouth. “You taste so good.”

“Touch me, Gunner,” she moans, nipping my lower lip and sucking it into her mouth. “I need you.”

I draw in a ragged breath and drag my hand beneath the water until I’m cupping her big, round, perfect ass. Then, into her leggings, onto her thighs and over the bare silk of her pussy.

“Right there,” she sighs softly against the lobe of my ear, spreading warmth across the coldest parts of me.

I’m not sure I’ve ever been this cold and hard at the same time.

---