The wolf kept its back to her, facing whatever was coming their way, its attention fixed. She flexed her fingers around the stick, wishing it were bigger and sturdier. Hell, she’d love a hunting rifle right about now, maybe even something more powerful.
The wolf snarled again, and whatever was in front of them seemed to pause for a moment before slowly backing away. Neither she nor the wolf moved for long, agonizing minutes. Finally, the insects began to hum and the frogs began to croak, and she knew the evil had passed them by.
Whatever had been there was gone.
She heaved a sigh of relief, ignoring the racing of her heart and the sweat covering her skin. She was safe.
Then the wolf whirled back around to face her once again. Oh shit, she’d almost forgotten the beast was wild and not some tame pet or her protector. Black eyes bored into her very soul, as if weighing her worth as a person. It was disconcerting to say the least.
The large black and gray head tipped back and a mournful howl ripped through the air. The wolf suddenly turned and slid between two large trees and was swallowed up by the swamp.
Sabrina’s knees gave out and she dropped her stick, sank down onto the path and lowered her head. She couldn’t help but feel as though she’d dodged a bullet, escaped a rather ominous fate. She took several deep breaths before her head stopped spinning and her heart slowed down to a fast gallop.
The sound of half-rotting leaves scuffing in the dirt brought her head up quickly. She grabbed the stick, which was thankfully within reach, and pushed herself to her feet, ready to face whatever new threat awaited.
She had to get out of here, get to her granny’s house where it was safe. Why she thought she’d be any safer there, she didn’t know. It was instinct and she’d always trusted her intuition. It had never led her wrong.
The Spanish moss parted a few feet off to her left and a man stepped out onto the path. And what a man he was. He stood around six feet with broad shoulders and a wide chest. He was shirtless, which allowed her to see his muscled pecs and washboard abs. The guy was wearing only a pair of supple leather pants that clung to his strong thighs. He was barefoot too, not seeming to notice or care about the branches, rocks and insects beneath his feet.
But it was his face that held her spellbound. Even though dusk had closed in around them, she could see the hard line of his powerful jaw, his thin lips, his straight nose and broad forehead. His cheekbones were prominent, giving his face a sense of uncompromising strength. His eyebrows were dark slashes above deep-set eyes as black as midnight. Thick lashes added to the overall impression of darkness.
“Why are you here?” The deep rumble of his voice vibrated through her, plucking at her insides, leaving her feeling unsettled.
“Why are you here?” she countered, taking the offensive. She was a tall woman at five-ten, but this guy was massively built with an air of masculine confidence and power surrounding him.
He frowned and she had a feeling it was his normal expression. “You will answer me, woman.”
Her hackles went up and she cocked one eyebrow at him. “Will I?” Maybe it was dangerous to bait him, but she couldn’t seem to help herself. Something about him disturbed her in a way no other man ever had. She’d known plenty of good-looking, confident, sexy alpha-type males in her life—after all, this was the South. Heck, she’d even dated a few. But none of them had left her feeling so aware of herself as a female as this man did.
She couldn’t blame her pebbled nipples on the cool night air, as it was actually quite warm, the air close and heavy with moisture. And she was doing her best to ignore the throbbing ache between her thighs.
His frown deepened, if that was even possible, and he studied her, his gaze flowing over her body from the top of her head all the way to her bare feet. He moved toward her, his gait flowing and smooth, like an animal on the prowl. He circled her slowly and she moved with him, always keeping him in front of her.
“What’s wrong?” His low, deep voice melted into her bones, making her weak. “You don’t trust me?” She stiffened her knees and tightened her grip on her makeshift weapon.
“I don’t know you.” He was closer now. So close that she caught a whiff of warm masculine flesh and a pleasant woodsy scent. She wanted to bury her nose against his neck and inhale.
There was something familiar about him that made her feel as though she’d met him before, but she couldn’t place where. Had she seen him on the street somewhere or at a coffee shop or some restaurant? Had she sold him a painting? No, she immediately discarded that idea. If she’d sold him a painting she’d have remembered him. Heck, he would have had a starring role in her dreams.
Everything inside her stopped for a moment, suspended by sheer disbelief. That was it. He was just like the man from her dreams, except she’d never seen her fantasy man’s face before. But the build, the way he carried himself and the line of his jaw were identical.
“Who are you?” It was suddenly imperative that she find out his name and where he came from. She didn’t want him to disappear and have no way of finding him again, which was crazy, all things considered. “And why are you out in the middle of the bayou?”
“I could ask you the same questions.” He crossed his arms over his chest, making his biceps swell and ripple. The guy was built like a brick wall, hard and thick all over.
A blast of heat settled low in her belly as she imagined another part of his anatomy being hard and thick. Her pussy clenched and she barely bit back a low moan.
The stranger sniffed the air and his frowned eased, the corners of his mouth turning slightly upward. It wasn’t quite a smile, but she knew he was pleased by something. He didn’t keep her in suspense long.
“You want me.” It wasn’t a question.
Sabrina took a step back. “What?” Her voice was more of a loud squeaking sound then the authoritative tone she was going for. Whatever she’d expected him to say, it wasn’t that.
He took a step closer and sniffed again. “I can smell your desire, your heat.”
He couldn’t. Could he? No, it was impossible. He was just messing with her. “Tell yourself whatever you want. I’m out of here.” She needed to get to Granny’s house. The urge to go there was getting stronger and more compelling. She couldn’t shake the idea she needed to be there to be safe.
But safe from what? The stranger or whatever else was out here lurking in the woods. She wished the wolf was still here to protect her, but she was on her own.
The man was behind her before she sensed him moving. Damn, he was fast. He swept his arms around her, locking her arms by her sides and her back against his broad chest. He buried his face against her hair and inhaled.
Embarrassment warred with fear as she struggled to get free. Sweat had her clothing plastered to her body and she knew she didn’t smell the freshest. Which should be a good thing, as it would discourage him from holding her for long.
“Let me go.” She wasn’t fighting him, not yet, which didn’t make any sense at all. For some stupid reason she didn’t feel physically threatened by him.
“No.” He said nothing else, but he began to move his hands against her stomach, drifting upward to cup her breasts. A low moan of pleasure escaped her as he brushed his thumbs over her nipples through the fabric of her top and bra. “You are lying to yourself and to me. You want me.”
“Yeah, so what. I don’t have sex with every guy I’m attracted to.” Although she’d never been quite as drawn to any man like she was to this stranger.
He tightened his hands around the soft mounds and his entire body stiffened. Oh, he hadn’t liked her last statement at all.
“I am not just any man.” His breath tickled her ear as he whispered the words in them.
“Who are you?” she asked again, desperately needing to know.
“Arand.” He traced his tongue over the delicate whorl of her ear. Her skin tingled and her pussy clenched with growing need.
“I’m Sabrina,” she offered.
“Sabrina,” he repeated. Her name sounded different when he said it, more exotic. His hand left her breast to trail down her ribcage, over her stomach to the notch between her thighs. She sucked in a breath, knowing she shouldn’t let him do this, knowing it was a mistake, but doing it anyway.
