Master of the Mountain

scrawny dog.” His words sounded harsh, but the hand stroking Thor's head was as gentle as…as Logan's.

She could just see Logan in some alley, sitting on a crate, long legs outstretched. Taming Thor's fear the same way he'd tamed hers. And when he snapped his fingers, Thor would have followed without a second thought. She bit her lip, feeling sadness curl up inside her. Logan wouldn't be snapping his fingers and taking her home.

As Jake walked away, Rebecca bent over and gave Thor another hug. “You're a lucky guy,” she whispered in the furry ear.

“Rebecca, does anything else go out?” Paul yelled from inside the dining room.

“I'm bringing the gravy. That's all that's left.” She planted a kiss on top of Thor's head, then poured the gravy into a bowl and followed the servers out.

She took an empty seat near the center of the table. To her amazement, Thor sauntered into the room and thumped down at her feet instead of choosing one of the brothers. She felt like a schoolgirl who'd received a star on her paper. Making a new friend: A+.

While stroking the big head leaning on her leg, she glanced at the club members. Sunburned faces, cheerful expressions. Sex made for hungry people. She knew that for a fact. Rebecca smothered a grin and helped herself to some potatoes.

A minute later, Greg rose to look over the food. His face fell. “No rolls or biscuits?”

“Get real,” said Brandy, who had helped cook. “The only way I make rolls is if they come in a tube.”

The grumbling from club members warmed Rebecca's insides. So maybe her thighs looked like grated Jell-O; she still cooked like a Texas version of Julia Child. Thank you, frat mom.

Making the rounds with a wine bottle, Logan set his hand on her shoulder to fill her glass, his touch causing shivers to run through her body. He whispered in her ear, “How can I bribe you to make biscuits for breakfast?”

Her first thought was so depraved that she could feel herself flush. Oh God.

He chuckled and rubbed his knuckles over her cheek. “You will explain that thought to me later. In detail.” To her relief and disappointment, he moved on down the table.

If people hadn't surrounded her, Rebecca would have covered her face and groaned. The room had not only heated up, but even worse, her panties were wet, just from his brief touch. With a shaky hand, she picked up her wine and took a hefty drink. Not strong enough. Scotch would have been better. Jeez.

As she set her glass down, her gaze met Jake's. He raised an eyebrow, and his lips quirked in amusement before he resumed pouring wine.

She flushed again.

She cooled off slowly. Having Logan sitting at the far end of the table helped. If she concentrated on the conversations around her, she could avoid looking at him. The swingers had apparently had a fun day up in the meadow, thankfully on a different mountain than the one she and Logan had been on. The dynamics of the group had shifted again, she noticed. Ashley now sat between Brandon and Christopher, ignoring Matt. Brandy flirted with Paul and Amy. Rebecca choked at their discussion of the afternoon's sexual antics. Two men and three women in the water? An even bigger group in the meadow? Man, what…energetic…people.

Christopher waggled his wineglass. “What I want to know is who did all that screaming. Damn, it sounded intense.”

“Oh, I know.” Amy fanned herself. “If I'd have figured out where, I'd have gone to join in.”

A chorus of agreement came from the others at the table.

Christopher frowned. “I thought it was you guys. She wasn't with us.”

Frowns appeared around the table. Paul asked, “None of our women had a screaming orgasm this afternoon?”

“Not like that, more's the pity,” Ashley said with a short laugh.

Oh, this wasn't good. Reaching for her wineglass, Rebecca contrived to glance down the table at Logan. He had an elbow on the table, chin in his hand, and his fingers covering his lips. He met her gaze, and amusement glinted in his eyes. And satisfaction. Satisfaction? Had he done that to her on purpose?

She would have to kill him. That's all. He must die.

She leaned back casually and took a sip of wine. And choked as a barrage of eyes turned toward her. From the heat of her face, she'd turned the color of a ripe tomato.

Matt stared, his mouth open so far, she could see his molars. “You? You were screaming like that?”

“Jesus, Matt. I thought you said she was a cold fish.” Christopher eyed her speculatively, and she didn't like the gleam in his eyes. Or the way every man at the table started to look at her, like she'd suddenly turned interesting.

“Well, now, this is a surprise,” Mel murmured.

“What I want to know is who she was with,” Ashley said in a sharp voice. A moment later, she turned her cornflower blue eyes straight toward Logan.

Jealousy stabbed through Rebecca, a knife sharp enough to penetrate the sternum, and then heaviness settled in her stomach. Every woman in the place would scramble after Logan now, all of them better looking, all skinnier. She'd need to find a place to sleep again. She set her hands in her lap and squeezed until the burning in her eyes disappeared, and she could look at people with her chin held high. Don't be an idiot. They didn't have any relationship, after all. Her vacation ended Wednesday, and he hadn't wanted her for more than just a weekend slap and tickle, as it were.

He'd taught her a few things about herself, and she could only be grateful. She'd show him a cheerful face and say something polite. Thanks, Logan. You made a crummy weekend very pleasant, and I enjoyed being with you. She sipped her wine, ignoring the conversation that had, thank God, moved on to tomorrow's outing. After a second, she glanced at him-damn her that she couldn't keep her eyes away.

His brows had drawn together, and his eyes were focused on her face.

Chapter Eleven

“Hey, Rebecca, want to go for a walk?” Matt asked, obviously having lain in wait until after the kitchen cleanup. “I'd like to talk for a minute or two.”

Rebecca glanced around the big lodge hall. Logan had disappeared, and Brandon and Paul sat by the fire, their eyes on her, looking all too interested. Darned if she wanted to stay here. “Sure.” She grabbed her jacket on the way out the door.

They walked for a while in silence, and then Matt cleared his throat. “I've been thinking… Maybe I was too rough on you, about the swinging stuff and all. You… I guess I shouldn't have expected you to jump right in.”

Well, this sounded more like the guy she'd moved in with, the one who was a pretty nice man. Maybe no man had manners when in hot pursuit of a woman, especially one like Ashley. Rebecca realized the sense of betrayal had faded, especially since she'd indulged in sizzling sex herself. Considering they lived together, she might do well to let him make amends. “Sorry, Matt, but I'm never going to jump in. Group sex and exchanging partners just isn't my thing. It leaves me cold.”

He gave a short laugh. “And from what we all heard today, you're not exactly cold.” He reached out and took her hand as they turned back toward the lodge. “I've been an idiot. You think you can forgive me?”

Since his stupid behavior let her meet Logan, she probably should thank him.

Besides, in another day, they'd drive back to San Francisco, and all this would be in the past. Logan would be in the past.

The knowledge twisted deep inside her, sending up a painful ache. But she had to face the facts. Reality was that Logan showed no interest in anything except a weekend of fun. Reality was that she lived with Matt. Reality could really bite sometimes.

She glanced up at the man beside her. Nice, yes, but lacking the bone-deep sense of responsibility Logan had. If she'd come here with Logan, he'd ensure her safety and comfort even if she didn't go along with his wishes. How odd. In spite of believing in equal rights and that she could fight her own battles, she still wanted to know that her guy would do anything in his power to protect her.

Matthew fell short.