Finn’s head rested on her thigh as her shaking body came down from its high. Never had she ever felt something as powerful as what that man just did to her. Now she was really screwed because she knew she’d never get her work done if this was the alternative. Naked and under him was the only place she wanted to be.

What the hell was she supposed to do now? The lift of her body put him in motion. He gripped her thighs and pinned her down like his private pillow. “Stay. Don’t run.”

Her hands covered her face. “I’m so embarrassed.”

“Don’t.” He climbed up her body and shifted their positions so she lay naked on top of him. The roughened tips of his fingers were a stark contrast to his featherlight touch. “Relax.” His lips brushed the top of her head while his fingers did the same over the small of her back.

“What did I just do?”

“You enjoyed yourself. I enjoyed myself. Mackenzie, there is no crime in love.” He said the word love like what they’d just shared was a fact. She wasn’t certain it wasn’t.

Ever since she showed up in Grayslake things were different for her. Her emotions were stronger. Her hearing was better. Her self-confidence restored. She lay naked on top of a fully clothed man and it felt right.

Her ears burned with embarrassment and certainty that the un-pierced lobes were crimson red. This behavior wasn’t her. “I just want you to know that I don’t sleep around.”

He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her tight to his chest. “It never crossed my mind. Besides, your past is irrelevant, only your future matters to me.”

Mack rubbed her face against his chest and inhaled his scent. “You smell good.” She wanted to yank her own hair. Who finished having the most satisfying sexual experience, and all she could say was, “I’m not a whore, and by the way you smell yummy.”

“I love this.” His hands ran down her back and swept over the globes of her bottom. Everywhere he touched sent a bolt of energy through her body. Once again, her skin tingled from the inside out. It was a sensation that only happened around Finn.

She reached down toward his hardness. He’d given her so much. She’d given him nothing. “Let me—”

“No, it wasn't about that. Relationships are give and take. Today I gave, but don’t think I won’t take, Mackenzie. I plan to take everything.” He kneaded her soar muscles and nearly lulled her to sleep. “I could stay like this all day.”

Mack could too, but in reality, she had work to do. She pushed off his chest and brought herself to a standing position. The space between her thighs burned so good from the scruff of his facial hair. He laid on the couch so sexy and willing. If something didn’t get them moving, there was no doubt they’d both be prone in seconds. The air around them vibrated with sexual tension.

“We have work to do.” She hated to ruin the moment with the reminder that animals needed tagging, but that was what she’d come to Grayslake to do. Finn was a bonus that she could have as a reward for a job well done. Yes, that was how she’d view it, only today the reward came before the actual work.

Finn bolted upright. “We are not tagging bears for termination.” The sex in his voice had been replaced by no nonsense agitation.

Mack slipped back into her clothes. A shower would have been great. Then again washing Finn from her body seemed like an insult. “You’re right, we aren’t. We’re tagging them for observation. Obviously there aren’t a bunch of bears walking around Grayslake causing trouble.”

Finn rose from the couch and stretched. “Trouble usually starts Friday night after said bears have one too many drinks.”

“Ha ha, you’re too funny.” He talked about the bears as if they were humans with homes and families and responsibilities and bad habits. “That would be a site to see. Imagine a bar full of drunk bears.”

Finn stood in front of her and ran his hands through her long hair. “You have to keep an open mind around here. I’ve seen crazier things than a bar full of drunk bears.” His lips brushed across hers. She could smell herself on him and a sense of pride swelled in her chest. It was as if she’d branded him.

Fifteen minutes later, they were in the truck and headed to the ridge.

“Why are we going here again?” Mack wasn’t normally a whiner but her voice sounded like a kid who had dropped their ice cream cone.

“Because it’s government land and you’re here to track animals on government land.” Finn’s voice was open and matter of fact. Gone was the anger, which probably had a lot to do with her decision to not tag for termination.

The tranquilizer gun and tags lay open in a bag on the seat between them. “Why are they still using these?” Finn covered the bag with his big hand. “There’s better technology that doesn’t injure the animal.” He lifted his fingers to his earlobe then dropped them back to the steering wheel.

“It’s all about the budget. These are being phased out next year, so the service wants to use them up.”

Finn’s phone rang. While he took his call, Mack looked out the window. The surrounding forest was alive and beautiful. The sun whispered through the branches shining spotlights on the beauty. A haze lifted from the floor like an ethereal cloud. It was magical and had a way of lifting the heaviness from her life too. She fit in here. Suddenly, she wasn’t the half her mother spoke unkindly about. She was whole, and whole was good.

Finn ended his call as they pulled in front of the building.

“I’ve got to take care of something. Will you be all right here on your own?” His look told her that he didn’t want to leave her.

“Yes, of course.” She gathered the bag and reached for the door handle. “I’ll work my way west of the building.”

“Mackenzie.” The rough timbre of his voice sent a shiver up her spine. “Stay in the national forest. I don’t want to see you get hurt.” He leaned over and kissed her gently. “I mean it.”

“I know,” she rolled her eyes and patted her back pocket. “I’ve got a map.” She held up the bag. “I’ve got a compass.” She tapped the side of her head. “I’ve got a brain.”

Finn laughed. “Sounds like you’ve got everything you need.”

She nodded, but deep inside she knew she needed him.

Mack watched the truck disappear from sight and then opened the door to the shack to get a bottle of water and some snacks. With her tranquilizer gun loaded and the tracking tags ready, she ventured into the forest.

It wasn’t long before she came across a wolf that wasn't spooked by her at all. It was odd the way the animals here lived in harmony with the people, but that was a ticking time bomb waiting to happen. All it would take was one stupid person trying to pet a wild animal for everything to go to hell.

This morning she pet that beautiful bear. She was the stupid person, and it could have gone a hundred different ways than it did.

Quick reflexes allowed Mack to load a dart appropriate for the animal’s size and let it fly to her target. When it pierced its hindquarter, the plaintive wail of the wounded animal broke her heart. The wolf fell to the ground in a heap of useless bones and muscle.

Mack rushed forward to get her work done. She had but minutes to tag the marvelous beast because wolves traveled in packs. Her head looked left and right for other specimens but this particular wolf appeared to be alone, which was odd, but a good opportunity for her to get a tag into his ear.

She worked fast and left quickly. Distance was important when it came to angry animals. She took up a position on a rocky outcropping and watched it come back from its little nap. It pawed at its ear, rose to all fours and staggered down the hill.

Over the next three hours, she tagged two more wolves. These weren’t as large and impressive as the first, which was magnificent in his size.

The sun sat high in the sky when she got back to the cabin. Gone was the morning mist. In its place was a light breeze that rustled through the pines. She entered the cabin and sat on the twin mattress.

Her thoughts went back to the morning when she was naked in front of Finn. He looked at her like she was the most beautiful woman in the world. In his presence she felt like it. He didn’t tell her her hips were too wide, her breasts too large, or her belly not flat enough. He liked her thick hair and her lips and her taste. And if she was honest, she thought he was perfection. The only thing he’d have to get rid of to make him perfect was his growly bear-like demeanor.