Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 29978 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 150(@200wpm)___ 120(@250wpm)___ 100(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29978 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 150(@200wpm)___ 120(@250wpm)___ 100(@300wpm)
His brow furrows, and he crosses his arms over his chest, the movement making his biceps flex. “On my land?”
I blink, my mind scrambling to catch up. “Your land?”
He steps closer, his boots crunching over the underbrush, and I have to tilt my head back to keep my eyes on his. “That’s right,” he growls, his voice like gravel. “You’ve crossed onto private property. These trees you’re so fascinated by? They’re slated for logging.”
I glance around, piecing it together. The markings. The boundary I must’ve unknowingly crossed. But all I can think is how wrong it seems.
“You can’t just—” I start, but he cuts me off with a harsh laugh, shaking his head like he’s heard it all before.
“I can, and I will,” he snaps, stepping even closer. There’s barely a few feet between us now, and I feel the tension like a live wire crackling in the air. “This land belongs to me, and so do those trees. I suggest you pack up your little notebook and get the hell off.”
I know I should back down, apologize, walk away. But something about him—about the way he looks at me, like he’s challenging me—ignites a fire in my chest. I plant my feet, meeting his gaze head-on. “I’m not leaving,” I say, my voice stronger than I expected. “This forest is special, and cutting it down would be a crime.”
His jaw tightens, his eyes narrowing. For a second, neither of us moves. The forest around us seems to hold its breath. And then, without warning, the anger between us shifts into something else. Something hotter. His gaze drops to my lips, and I swear I see something flicker in his eyes—desire. My breath catches, and before I can stop myself, I take a step toward him.
The next thing I know, his mouth is on mine. Fierce, demanding, like we’re both trying to prove something. His hands grip my waist, pulling me hard against his body, and I lose myself in the heat of it, the tension we’ve been building up crashing down around us.
And just as quickly as it started, it’s over. We break apart, both of us breathing hard, eyes wide. I don’t know what just happened, but I know one thing for sure—I’m not leaving this mountain anytime soon.
Chapter Four
Barron
I take a step closer, and now I can see her better. Slim but strong, all fire and fury wrapped up in tight jeans. Her chest rises and falls quickly, the tension between us is thick enough to cut.
“You’ve got a lot of nerve, walking onto my land and telling me how to manage it,” I say, my voice low. I should send her packing. Hell, I know that’s the right thing to do, but something about her defiance stirs something primal in me. I should hate the way she’s squaring off against me, but instead, it’s like a challenge I didn’t know I wanted.
Her fists clench at her sides, eyes burning into me. “Maybe if you knew anything about the environment, you wouldn’t be so quick to destroy it.”
I step even closer, close enough now that I can see the fire in her eyes isn’t just anger. There’s something else there, something that pulls at me, makes my blood run hotter. “And maybe if you knew anything about boundaries, you wouldn’t be trespassing.” My voice is rough, almost a growl. Her defiance is like fuel to a flame I can’t seem to control.
Her lips part, and I catch a flash of teeth as she glares up at me. She’s standing her ground, even though I’m towering over her, all muscle and fury. “I’m not trespassing. I’m protecting something bigger than you.”
There’s something electric in the air now, crackling between us. My hands are clenched tight at my sides, but not because I’m angry. Not anymore. The heat between us is almost suffocating. I glance down, taking in the curve of her hips, the fire in her stance. The stubborn line of her jaw is as sharp as the words coming out of her mouth.
“You should leave,” I say, my voice dropping to a near whisper. “Now.”
She doesn’t move. Doesn’t even flinch. Instead, she takes a step closer, her eyes narrowing. “Make me.”
It’s not a dare. It’s a command, and it lights me up like a match to dry wood. I close the last inch of space between us, my breath mingling with hers. She’s breathing hard, her chest rising and falling in time with mine. Everything is moving too fast, but it’s too late to stop it now.
Without thinking, without hesitation, I grab her arm—not rough, but firm enough to let her know I’m not playing anymore. Her breath catches, eyes widening for a split second before narrowing again, daring me to do more.
And then, I do.
My lips crash against hers again, rough, demanding, full of everything I’ve been holding back. She gasps against my mouth, but she doesn’t pull away. No, she leans into me, her body melting into mine even as her hands come up to my chest, pushing, pulling, unsure if she wants to resist or dive in headfirst.