“We can wait if you want,” I tell her, but it feels like I’m about to explode if she keeps doing that.
The sound of a truck pulling up on the gravel outside makes us both look up and away from each other for a moment.
A deep growl of disapproval comes from my chest. I take a large step over to the window, brushing back the curtain and grunt.
It’s the local parks and wildlife ranger, Brad.
I feel my back straighten right away. Brad’s only a few years older than Tessa, and an okay guy. But he’s what I would call, ‘invading my territory’ right now and I make another low sound that I hope he picks up on.
“Stay here.” I growl.
I can’t pretend to be surprised. A beauty like Tessa in the woods is bound to bring out every young buck from a mile around.
But this one’s taken.
She’s mine and that’s all there is to it.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Tessa
I don’t think I did anything wrong, but as soon as Sean sees the ranger’s truck pull up he gets a cold look in his eyes. Like he’s suddenly uber-protective of the whole camp or maybe just me.
He orders me to stay put and I feel a thrill. I love it when he’s firm with me. Like when he orders me to eat, or how he spoke to me when I fainted.
Not in a disrespecting way, but in his strong, commanding way.
The man can cook too, as well as what he just did with his tongue… OMG if he isn’t perfect I don’t know who is…
Curiosity has me wanting to get up and take a look at what's happening, but I remember what Sean just said.
More to the point, I remember how he said it. Like he meant business, so I tell myself to mind my own and wince a little as I slip my shorts back on and take a seat.
I hope I haven’t blown my chances with him, I don’t want him to think I’m some sort of tease or a complete idiot but I really have no experience with sex so I figure the best thing is to be honest.
I could never lie to Sean and I know he wouldn’t lie to me, if he couldn’t sense it in the first place, I figure telling him I’m a virgin might explain some things.
Maybe he doesn’t like fat girls after all… now that he’s had a good look at you he might be thinking it’s beneath him to waste his time on you.
I groan out loud, screwing my face up.
Shut up! Sean likes me, a lot. He just told me being a virgin was what he wanted.
Plus, Sean doesn’t seem to mind curves. I’ve heard some guys actually really get turned on by them, but seriously?
I can’t see it myself but he did just carry me down a mountain side and growled out telling me I’m his forever.
I’m not sure how much clearer he could spell it out for me.
My own self doubt.
Even when things are going great, I always seem to look for the worst in the best situations.
I can hear Sean and the ranger talking. I’m a camp counselor too, so I figure there’s no harm in a little eavesdropping.
I move myself closer to the open doorway so I can hear what they’re saying.
“Take it easy, Sean! I just came by when I couldn’t get you on the radio, then your cell. I just wanted to see how things were… make sure you knew about that weather cell coming in.”
Sean’s saying something, but it’s so low, so gruff I can’t make it out.
He doesn’t sound like he’s being friendly either, which really doesn’t seem like Sean at all.
I feel my fingers wringing in my palms, undecided at what I should do. I know Sean said to stay put, but I don’t want him starting any trouble with the ranger either.
As soon as I step out of the doorway onto the porch, I get a clearer picture. The look Sean shoots me and then to the ranger says it all.
He’s protecting his territory and this guy’s just wandered in on the wrong man’s patch.
Sean instantly puts himself between me and the ranger, who’s trying to introduce himself.
“I’m Tessa, hi!” I say, leaning out so I can see him from behind Sean, who’s really not wanting the guy to even look at me.
“Brad. Uh… I was just trying to explain to Sean here about the weather rolling in. You guys wanna batten down the hatches, there’s a huge weather cell headed straight for us.”
“Brad was just leaving,” Sean growls, keeping his eyes on the ranger the whole time and inching towards him, herding him back towards his truck.
“Is everything alright here, Tessa?” Brad asks, “Just doin’ my job here… making sure folks are safe.”
I give him an awkward smile and two thumbs up, but Sean’s practically pushing him back into his truck with his chest.
“Okay then! If you get stuck you know where to reach me.” Brad calls out from his open window, shaking his head to himself as he winds it up all the way. And just like that, as quickly as he appeared, he’s gone. The breeze from the opposite direction taking on a sudden chill, picking up to a low gust and making a few loose items around the camp start to move around loudly
Sean strides up the parking lot, about half way. His hands on his hips, not turning back to me until he’s satisfied the ranger’s gone.
What the hell was all that about?
But I don’t have to wait long for Sean to make me see.
“I told you to stay inside Tess,” he says firmly before he catches himself sharing the same attitude with me as he gave the ranger.
“What was that?” I ask him, hugging him as he pulls me closer to him by my waist.
“Just bad timing,” he says
