Elsa paced in front of the stream. Could she do this? She’d never played the seductress before. She knocked down walls. She built cabinets. She wielded hammers. Even sledgehammers. She didn’t seduce big, hunky men.
The problem was probably moot. If Howard was serious about rejecting her, he wouldn’t come.
On the way to the stream, she’d acquired an entourage of deer, raccoons, foxes, and squirrels. What if Howard did come? She didn’t want to put on a show for the woodland creatures.
She lifted her hands. “Go in peace.”
They slowly ambled away, except for a squirrel who had found a yummy acorn to munch on.
“Hey there,” she called out to the squirrel. “If the were-bear comes this way, could you let me know?”
The squirrel tilted its head, regarding her curiously. She wasn’t sure if her request had registered.
With a sigh, she decided to take matters into her own hands. She twisted her hair up and clipped it on the back of her head with a plastic claw. Then she removed her work boots and set them beside the big boulder that would serve as her dresser. She removed her socks and tucked them into her boots.
The small rocks along the creek bed were smooth and cool against her bare feet. She pulled off her T-shirt and folded it on top of the boulder. In preparation for today’s attempted seduction, she’d worn her best underwear—a lacy red bra and matching red panties.
She unzipped her jeans. A movement nearby caught her attention. It was the squirrel. It bounced across the tops of several rocks, then leaped onto the boulder.
Goose bumps skittered down her arms. She didn’t know which freaked her out more—that she’d understood a squirrel or that Howard had willingly walked into her trap.
The squirrel bounded away, leaping from one rock to another before disappearing into the woods.
Howard was coming.
Was this a mistake? Using the lure of sex to draw him back? All’s fair in love and war, she told herself. She wanted to show him that she loved him and trusted him. How better to show her trust than by making herself totally vulnerable?
She pushed her jeans down. Was he close by and watching? She folded them and set them on the boulder. She unhooked her bra. Was that a quick breath she heard? Her nipples pebbled in response, and she dropped her bra on the stack of clothes. Before she could chicken out, she eased her panties off and placed them on top of the bra.
Some gravel crunched behind her.
Howard was standing in front of the tree line, glaring at her, his eyes an intense blue.
She swallowed hard. He looked more angry than attracted. “Hi. Would you care to join me for a . . . swim?” Her face flushed with heat. That had sounded so lame. Some seductress she made.
He scowled at her, then pivoted and strode into the woods.
Her mouth dropped open. Her plan had backfired?
A flurry of noises emanated from behind some bushes. Was that Howard? Or something else? She winced, sinking down in the water to her chin. It would just be her luck for a group of hunters to be walking by.
The bushes shook, then a large grizzly bear reared up on its hind legs and roared.
She gasped. Howard? Oh God, she hoped that was Howard.
The bear bounded straight toward her.
“Howard!” She retreated deeper into the water, but it kept coming.
It splashed into the stream.
If this was Howard, why was he scaring her like this? She lunged back till her back pressed against the granite wall where the stream made its curve. The water was over her head now, and she kicked her legs about until she found an underwater rock she could stand on.
The bear rose onto its hind legs and started to shimmer, turning gray before finally snapping back into human form.
Howard frowned at her, his eyes glittering a neon blue. “Don’t think you can toy with me, Elsa.”
She splashed water at him. “You big bully! First you reject me, breaking my heart, and now you try to frighten me into a heart attack!”
“Are you frightened?” He stepped toward her, the water just above his waist. “I could shift back in a second and maul you. Isn’t that what you’re afraid of?”
“Screw you!” She splashed water into his face. “I’m not afraid. I’m pissed!”
“So am I!”
“Why? You’re the one who rejected me.” Hot tears stung her eyes. “I finally get up the nerve to trust you and love you, and you dump me!”
“You what?”
“You dumped me!”
He stepped closer. “You trust me? And love me?”
“I hate you.” She crossed her arms over her chest.
“Liar.” He lunged toward her, grabbing her around the waist.
She pushed at his shoulders. “How could you reject me?”
“I was crazy.” He dragged her back to more shallow water. “I should have known I could never let you go.”
“You broke my heart.”
“I’ll fix it.” He pulled her close so her breasts pressed against his bare chest.
She gasped.
“Is that better?” He kissed her cheek, then her temple and brow. “I never stopped loving you. I’ve been aching for you.”
“Oh, Howard.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I love you, too. I don’t want to ever lose you.”
“You won’t.” He planted his mouth on hers, kissing her hungrily.
She couldn’t get close enough. She tightened her grip around his neck and wrapped her legs around his torso. He trailed kisses down her neck as his hands skimmed down to her rump.
“Elsa.” He lifted her, dragging her up his chest.
She gasped as her core skidded across his skin. Her heels dug into his back so she could press harder against him. He lifted her till he could draw one of her nipples into his mouth. With each tug on her breast, she grew hotter and more desperate.
She squirmed against him. “Howard. Please.”
He lowered her and whispered in her ear. “Are you mine, Elsa?”
“Yes.”
His hand slipped between her thighs. With her legs wrapped around him, she was fully exposed to his touch. She groaned as his fingers explored her folds.
“Will you shudder and scream for me?” he whispered, his lips against her ear.
She felt moisture building inside. “Yes.”
He rubbed against her clitoris, then tugged gently on it. She cried out.
“Will you open for me? Will you let me inside you?”
“Oh yes!” She gasped when his finger slid inside her. Then two fingers. She clenched around him.
“So hot and wet.” He kissed her hard as he stroked her.
She broke the kiss, struggling to breathe as tension grew. He stroked harder and faster.
“Howard.” She dug her fingers into his shoulders. He was so good. Merciless. She teetered on the edge for a glorious moment, then shattered. Her cry echoed in the woods around them.
She gasped for air as delicious aftershocks racked her body. “Oh, Howard.” She hugged him tight.
He nuzzled her neck. “You naughty wench. You seduced me.”
With a snort, she swatted his shoulder. “You seduced me, and you know it.”
“Me? I’ve barely gotten started.” He lowered her until her core rested on the tip of his erection.
She gasped at the size. And that was just the tip. “Howard. You’re such an animal.”
He smiled.
