Page 21 of Sweet Giant

Chapter17

LIV

I stood at the window,watching for signs of Mastorr. He’d gone fishing again, even though I’d tried to tell him there was enough food in the pantry to make lunch and dinner. The snow had just started falling again, but thankfully, it wasn’t coming down hard.

The tip of my nose tingled with the memory of how sweetly he’d nuzzled me, giving me the Montikaan version of a kiss. I still couldn’t believe I’d allowed him to do that, though I’d enjoyed it. I also couldn’t believe we’d shared a kiss. A wonderful, sexually charged, toe-curling kiss that had left me breathless with desire.

My crush on him was starting to feel like more than a crush. Dangerous. It felt dangerous. What if I let my growing affection for him cloud my better judgment? Logically, I knew I needed to reach the nearby cabin and attempt to contact General Remington. Once he learned that Mountain had tracked me to Newhalem, the general would probably send a hovercraft to rescue me. Especially since he would have me to thank for letting him know there was a traitor in his midst. I mean, how else would Mountain have learned of my whereabouts?

Hm. Maybe I should leave now while Mastorr was out fishing. If I took a curving path through the forest, I would be able to slip around him unseen. Or maybe not. He seemed to have a better sense of smell than me. How would he react if I left the cabin? How would he react if he realized I was planning to escape him?

I shouldn’t have let him hold me. Or nuzzle my nose. Or kiss me. Or talk to me about his raging hard-on. Or admit to him that yes,yesI felt achy and urgent between my thighs because of him.

Holy heck, I made poor choices when I got horny.

The sight of Mastorr walking up the hill from the river didn’t help my predicament. Though his size had initially scared me, I was starting to feel more at ease around him. I was also starting to really admire his body. The fur atop his head, as well as his broad shoulders, were dusted with snow. He took quick, large steps, his muscles flexing with his every movement. He hadn’t yet noticed me staring, but when he finally glanced up and our eyes met, a wave of warmth rushed through me.

He smiled and waved, and I returned his greeting, though I told myself I was only doing so because I didn’t want to appear rude. Deep down, I knew this was a lie. If I were being honest, I was genuinely happy to see him.

Since the snow had drifted under the carport, and there wasn’t a good place to build a fire outside, I offered to cook the fish in the oven once he finished gutting and cleaning them. He agreed and found a place on the large, wraparound porch to get to work on preparing his catch. I appreciated that he didn’t try to gut and clean the fish in the kitchen. He'd caught ten today, though they were smaller than the ones he’d caught yesterday.

As I bustled around the kitchen, I decided to make a huge lunch so we would have leftovers for dinner. While Mastorr worked on the fish outside, I rummaged through the panty and the fridge for all the ingredients needed for fried rice. To my delight, I found everything I needed. The soy sauce had expired over six months ago, but I figured it wouldn’t poison us, so I sat it on the counter with the other supplies.

As we enjoyed a picnic lunch in the living room, I couldn’t stop stealing glances at Mastorr or thinking about that kiss. He’d tasted… minty. Had he eaten something from the forest when I hadn’t been paying attention? Maybe. I knew he foraged for slugs, insects, and nuts. Perhaps he’d eaten a plant that had a mint flavor.

“Thank you for cooking for me again, sweet one. I realize now that cooking for a male in your culture doesn’t mean the same thing as it does in mine, but I am still honored that you prepared a meal for me. Furthermore, it’s delicious.” He grinned at me before taking another bite of fried rice, the serving spoon I’d set out for him looking ridiculously small in his massive hand.

“You’re welcome. I’m glad you like it. I haven’t made fried rice in ages. My grandmother taught me how to make it. It was one of her specialties. That and banana pudding.”

“Ban-ana pud-ding?” His eyebrows drew together. “What is ban-ana pud-ding?

“It’s my favorite dessert of all time. If I ever get a hold of the proper ingredients—maybe after a trip into town—I’ll make it for you.”

Whoa. What was I doing? I shouldn’t make promises I couldn’t keep. There would be no future trips to town for bananas, instant pudding, or ladyfingers. Not when I was planning to call for help. Not when I was planning to leave.

I glanced at the snow swirling past the window and was suddenly thankful for the storm.

Mountain. My stomach flipped at the thought of him, and I started to feel cold. Would a snowstorm keep him away? What if he hadn’t returned to Seattle? What if he’d gone back to Newhalem?

I reminded myself that he’d tossed me out of the driver’s seat of the solar truck before stealing it. He could’ve shoved me into the passenger seat with the groceries and kidnapped me. But he hadn’t. Why not? Had his fear of Mastorr stolen his good sense, or had he hoped I would get devoured by a Sasquatch?

“Liv? Sweet one?” Mastorr’s concerned voice pulled me back to the present.

“Yes?” I pasted on a polite smile. My go-to expression that I used to display for Mountain when I wanted to placate him. Fuck. I allowed my smile to drop. I didn’t need to pacify Mastorr with fake smiles and total agreement. He wasn’t a monster. He wasn’t anything like Mountain.

“Why do you suddenly appear sad? Is something wrong? Please share your thoughts with me. If you tell me what is bothering you, perhaps I can help. I will do anything for you, sweet one. Anything.”

Without warning, I found myself thinking that it would be so easy to fall in love with a man like Mastorr. Too easy. I needed to be strong. I needed to put walls around my heart and work up the courage to brave a snowstorm and make it to the other cabin. I needed to stop making excuses not to leave this place.

“Liv?” he prompted when I remained quiet for too long.

“I-I was just thinking about my ex-husband. I know we didn’t officially divorce, but I still consider him my ex. Anyway, I am worried he might come back.” There. That was somewhat honest. I didn’t like lying to Mastorr, but I couldn’t tell him the whole truth.

He placed a hand on my shoulder, and his touch caused me to grow warm all over. Despite my worries, that infuriating pulsing between my thighs ignited anew. Knowing the perfume wouldn’t hide the scent of my arousal, I pressed my thighs tightly together in hopes that it would help.

Mastorr stared at me for a lingering moment, then said, “If he returns, he will not catch us by surprise. I’ll be able to hear a vehicle approaching long before it reaches the cabin, and the same goes for a metallic air vessel. I won’t allow him or anyone else to harm you, sweet one. I would give my life to protect you.”

Chapter18

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