Big Man’s Claim by Wylder, Penny (new ebook reader TXT) 📕

Tilting my head harder, I try to follow it. It's not usual to see anyone around here, not this far up the mountain. The only people I ever see are the occasional lost hunter, and even that's few and far between.

The barking gets louder, so I know I'm going the right way. It's possible a dog got loose and lost its way, and now it's being stalked by something. These woods are dangerous. With my gun ready to go, I keep moving.

Watching where I step, I try to stay down wind, so nothing can sense I'm coming. Pushing through the thick brush, I can hear the rushing water and see the trees thinning. There's a dog jumping around wildly, spinning and leaping in the air.

Creeping up, I have my gun up, just to be safe. I'm not sure what's on the other side of the trees. The dog could be rabid and losing its fucking mind, or it could be trying to ward off danger.

Either scenario isn't good for me.

Peering through the trees, I'm shocked at what I see. There's a girl laying on the ground, covered in mud, and soaking wet. Her dog is yapping, half at me and half at the river.

This river isn't normally roiling like this, and if she fell in, it tossed her around like a ragdoll in a washing machine. Standing still, I just watch her for second.

She pushes herself up, which is a good sign, but I want to make sure she's all right. Taking a step forward, I try to be quiet so I don't startle her, but I'm not paying attention and step on a branch.

The cracking noise causes her to whip her head over her shoulder, her eyes wide as saucers.

I know her. Molly. . . Melanie. . . What the hell is her name?

She works at the motel in town. I've seen her around a few times, too. It’s no surprise that I would recognize her, it's a small town.

“Hey,” I say, walking out of the trees. Her dog runs up and starts to sniff my shoes and pants. Holding out my hand, I let him smell me. “Is he friendly?” I ask.

“Yeah, his name is Buttercup.” Her voice comes out soft, but I can hear the pain.

“You all right?” I ask as I pet her dog on the head. He's calm now, and goes off with his nose to the ground. “Are you hurt?”

“I don't really know.” She rubs the back of her head. “I lost my footing and fell in.”

Crouching down next to her, I smile. “Yeah, I can see that. Where does it hurt?”

“My head and my ankle.”

Looking her in the eyes, I can tell she isn't really focusing on my face. She's trying to, but her eyes keep shaking in their sockets. My gaze shifts between hers, then up and down her body.

She's soaking wet to the bone. Her shirt is white, sticking to her skin like plastic wrap. I can't ignore the fact I can see her bra through the sheer fabric. It's black, standing out against her pale skin.

I can feel my shaft thicken as her nipples go stiff and goosebumps pop up across her skin. She's beautiful. With bright green eyes that are starting to refocus and a head of rich red hair. Her jaw is soft and round, and the apples of her cheeks are tinted a light shade of pink.

“Do I know you?” she asks. “You look familiar.”

Good, she's lucid and recalling information.

Swallowing hard, I ignore my body and direct my attention back to her. “Everyone around here looks familiar. You've probably seen me around town.”

Melody, that's her name.

Hovering my hand over her leg, I'm so fucking tempted to touch her. To feel how soft she is. To feel how smooth she is. I just want to touch her. But now is not the time.

“Can you move your foot?” I ask, gliding directly down to the leather edge of her boot. She rocks her foot side to side slowly. “Good, that's good. I don't think it's broken. Can I see your head?”

Leaning forward, she points at the back of her skull. “It's right here.”

Splitting her hair apart, there's a giant bloody knot on her scalp. “Oh yeah, you hit it good.”

“Am I bleeding?”

“A little, but it's not bad. You're just going to have one hell of a headache tomorrow.” Pushing myself up, I hold out my hands. “Think you can stand?”

“I'll try.” Melody places her hands in mine, and I pull her to feet. “Ah,” she hisses, lifting her injured foot off the ground. “Yeah, that hurts like a son of a bitch.”

“It's already pretty swollen.” Running my hand through my hair, I ask, “What are you doing all the way out here anyway? Did you get lost?”

Shaking her head no, her hair whips across her face, wetting her cheeks. “No, I was heading to my favorite spot to camp for the weekend.”

“And where is that?”

“It's the meadow that's tucked away on the other side of the mountain.”

“I know the place.”

I'm having trouble keeping my eyes on hers. She's so fucking gorgeous, and her see-through clothing is leaving very little to the imagination. Her shorts are tight and short, her shirt still nothing but a thin sheet of glass.

Her tits, her ass, her sexy mouth and luscious hair, it's doing things to me I can't control. My palms are sweaty, my heart is hammering in my chest, and my dick keeps twitching. I need to get control of myself because this isn't right. Not here. Not now.

“Where's your stuff?”

She sighs heavily. “At the bottom of the river.” Her eyes dart to the water. “Everything I needed is gone.”

“Is your car close?”

“No. It's parked down at Hunter Gorge.”

Thumbing my bottom lip, I look out at the water. The meadow isn't that far from here. I wasn't planning on spending the night in the woods, but I'm always prepared for anything. Pulling my pack around, I dig through it.

“How about this?