Page 12 of Savage Giant

She paled and shook her head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I’m begging you to let me go. Please. I-I need to make it to town. Before nightfall.”

I lifted her higher in my arms, which was a bit awkward because she was wearing a pack, then I took my time sniffing her. I sucked in deep inhales as I ran my nose over her hair and along her neck. She trembled but didn’t resist.

“Stop smelling me and put me down.Now.”

I pulled back and met her eyes. “You are ovulating, pretty human, and the scent of your fertility makes me want to ravish you here on the mountainside.”

She muttered something under her breath that I didn’t quite catch and shook her head. Her emotions became muddled, butI still detected the longing in her heart. Whether she was ready to admit it or not, she felt called to me, just as I felt called to her.

“You’ve been leaving things on my doorstep, haven’t you?” She glanced toward the cabin. “Fish? Slugs? Acorns? Strange roots and other items?”

“Yes, I have. You didn’t seem to be eating very much and I wanted to make sure you had enough food. Leaving you presents was also part of the courting.”

“The…courting?”

“Yes, pretty human. I wish to mate with you. In fact, I believe we are fated to belong to one another. That is another reason I’ve been leaving you presents. I have also spent the last two moon cycles guarding your cabin and keeping you safe.” Just five days ago, I’d watched a wildcat sniff at a marker I’d erected near her cabin, only for the beast to run away once it detected my scent. Witnessing one of my markers at work had brought me great satisfaction.

“This isn’t happening,” she said in a distant tone. “Thiscan’tbe happening.” She closed her eyes and gave her head a harsh shake, as though trying to banish a frightful memory. Then she opened her eyes, looked at me, and released a deep sigh. “I can’t believe my truck broke down, today of all days.”

“Were you trying to run back to town,” I asked cautiously, “because you saw me and my brothers and feared we might hurt you?”

Her eyebrows shot up. “Yes, that’s exactly what I was trying to do. How did you guess?”

I turned and entered the forest, holding her tightly to my chest in case she resumed her struggles. Even though the road was not traveled very frequently, I didn’t want to remain out in the open in case another human passed by.

Once we were far enough away from the road, I set her on her feet, though I immediately turned her to face me, keeping my hands clasped on her upper arms.

“Please don’t run again,” I said, striving for a gentle tone. “If you try to escape, I will catch you. You are mine, and I will not let you go.”

She lifted her chin and glared at me. Annoyance became her predominate emotion, though I thought it was better than terror. Above all else, I wanted her to feelsafewith me. If she feared me, it might take longer to earn her trust.

I searched my mind for the right words to alleviate her annoyance and make her soften toward me, but unfortunately, I failed to think of anything profound.

“My name is Gorran,” I eventually said, then gave her an expectant look, hoping she would reveal her own name.

“Gorran,” she repeated, and the sound of my name on her lips stirred my desires.

My blood heated. I wanted to hear her say my name again and again, perhaps while I surged into her mating hole, claiming her as mine for all time.

She made a half-hearted attempt to pull away from me, but when I didn’t release her upper arms, she huffed and said, “It’s lovely to meet you, Gorran. My name is Cari.” Sarcasm laced her tone, and the defiant sparkle in her eyes made my heart quicken.

I had the sudden urge to nuzzle my nose to hers, though I refrained, for I worried the deeply intimate gesture might startle her this soon in our acquaintance.

“Cari,” I said slowly, each syllable like warm honey on my tongue. “Cari. Your name makes a beautiful sound.” I released one of her arms and touched a strand of her golden hair, rubbing it between my fingers. Soft. So soft.

She peered down and gasped. I followed her gaze to my rock-hard shaft. I half-expected she would make another attemptto flee, but she remained in place, and I sensed her shock deepening.

A flush suffused her cheeks, and an instant later, the most intoxicating scent hit my nostrils.

Her arousal. There was no mistaking it.

The sweetly pungent aroma invaded my senses and tore a growl from my throat.

I picked her up and made haste for the cabin, wanting to get her inside the warmth where she might be more comfortable—where she might be inclined to turn over on her hands and knees and assume the mating position.

Chapter 7

CARI

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