Page 2 of Big Forbidden Blacksmith

“The Blackwell Ranch is in the opposite direction,” he says with a click of his tongue, point behind him. My heart drops to my feet.

“It is?” I gasp in embarrassment. I’m so caught up in my head that I start to trudge off in the right direction. I’m stopped by my injured ankle, which sends a sharp pain shooting up my leg as soon as I put weight on it. My wince makes me feel weak, like I’m just some wimp from the big city that can’t handle roughing it.

And as if this day couldn’t get any worse, the big stranger notices my pain.

“You’re hurt,” he growls, closing the distance between us. I watch in shock as the man drops to his knee in front of me and wraps his fingers around my ankle. I scramble to grab his shoulder so I don’t fall on my ass at his touch.

The stranger runs his massive, calloused hand over my skin, raising goosebumps all over my body. Even though the touch is innocent enough, I’m struck speechless. It’s only when he looks up that I remember to respond.

“Rolled my ankle,” I shrug. “Didn’t exactly dress for a hike.”

His brows draw together as an emotion I can’t name crosses his eyes. He shifts his attention back to my foot. “You’ve also got some skin lacerations. We need to treat it so it doesn’t get infected.”

“It’s really not that bad,” I say to try and brush him off. Something about his touch makes me feel unsettled, and I’m worried that I like the way his fingers feel on my skin too much already. I barely know this man. “What do you mean I was heading in the opposite direction? Are you positive?”

“There’s only one Blackwell Ranch in the entire state,” he says to me gruffly, but not unkindly. “Soon to be inherited by the heiress Ashley Blackwell, I believe.”

My heart twists at the mention of my best friend’s name. Well this day can’t possibly get any worse. Not only did I get lost, and run out of gas in the middle of nowhere, but I managed to get so lost that I wasn’t even close to going the right direction to my destination.

I bite my lip. “Where’s the nearest gas station?”

“A couple of hours away,” the man says, still looking at the sorry, swollen state of my ankle. I almost shudder as his fingertips brush against my sensitive skin. “I doubt you’ll be able with your foot like this. We need to take care of it.”

I start to protest but my lips run dry and my mind turns into mush when I see the determined look in his eyes. Dazed, I whisper, “Okay.”

“I’ll call someone to take care of your car,” he says, rubbing his warm palm against my calf subconsciously. “For now, let’s get you into mine.”

He slowly lowers my foot to the ground and stands. Suddenly, he’s bending down and scooping me up into his arms as if I weigh nothing. I can’t help the little squeal of surprise that escapes my lips. I quickly wrap my arms around his shoulders as he carries me bridal style to the passenger’s side of his truck.

This is dangerous, I think to myself as he helps me settle into the seat. It’s dangerous how easily I trust this stranger. Even more dangerous is my reaction to his touch. I find myself wanting more, craving the feeling of his rough palms on me. It distracts me to the point that it’s like I’m not even here, so it’s not until I notice the mirth shining in the stranger’s eyes that I realize he must’ve said something.

“Did you say something?” I ask, blinking, willing my mind to start working properly.

“I asked if you need me to grab anything from your car,” he says, his ruggedly handsome features bright with humor. “If the car needs more than just gas, it may need to be towed. We need to grab things you’ve left inside if that’s the case.”

“Yeah, I …” I smooth my shaky hands over my lap, straightening my skirt. I hadn’t really considered that. “All of my stuff is in the trunk. A suitcase with my clothes and a box with my … other stuff.”

He raises a brow at that but doesn’t comment on my evasive answer. With a nod, he disappears down the road.

I peek out the back window and watch in fascination as he walks away. His back is just as impressive as his front. As he walks toward the sunset, he casts a perfect shadow. My fingers twitch as they process the burning need to draw him.

This stranger could be an actual axe murderer for all I know, but all I can think about is just how much I want to capture him in paint. I’m not sure what that says about me. This man could have plans to hurt me and all I want to do is make art of him. It’s a little screwed up, but I can’t make myself care. Whoever this man is, he’s kindled a fire within me that I haven’t felt in a long time, if ever.

This may be just what I need to find my passion for making art again.

Chapter 2

Knox

I can feel her eyes on me.

The moment I walked away, I could feel them on me. With the way she’s staring, she’s not exactly helping calm the raging throb of my erection.

Anyone else would attach this sort of reaction to someone who hasn’t touched a woman in years. After living in isolation for as long as I have, they may be right on that front, but that’s only half of issue. It’s true that I haven’t touched a woman in years, but no one’s captured my attention like this before.

Before I moved here and took over my father’s craft, I was in the military. Even then, women had never really been my focus. At some point, I gave up thinking I’d find someone. I figured that I’d the rest of my life alone. I just couldn’t imagine that any woman would look at the rough appearance and hulking, enormous frame and desire me. Never did I think that I would manage to feel the same way either.

The pretty lass seated in the passenger seat of my truck is proof of how untrue that is. My cock is so hard it’s like it’s threatening to rip my pants. The moment our eyes met, I was a goner.

---