Chapter 7

Olivia's eyes snapped open and scanned her surroundings. The room was dimmed and her gaze went to the crackling fire that lay just below the flat screen. She looked outside and darkness was already settling.

She must have fallen asleep again while they were watching TV. She moved the blanket on top of her and smelled the delicious aroma wafting in the air.

Stew.

Her stomach growled as she stood and walked into the kitchen. Isaiah had his back to her at the stove and was humming to the music the radio was playing.

She watched him inhale sharply before he turned and smiled. "You're up." His head tilted as his gaze swept from her head to her toes. She watched a wicked grin play at the corners of his mouth and then he licked the wooden spoon he was holding.

“Why are you grinning like that?”

Isaiah shrugged his wide shoulders and turned around again. She watched him grab the beer that was on the counter and take a long drink from it.

“What time is it? Was I sleeping long?” She asked walking to the center island and taking a seat on one of the stools.

He grabbed his beer and took a step to the island. “A few hours— it’s just a little past 6 PM.”

“Jesus. More like all day.” She moaned. “What are you cooking? It smells great.”

“Beef stew. You want something to drink? I have a little of everything.” He offered, flashing her a smile.

“Do you have any red wine?”

He started walking to a hutch that displayed various bottles of liquor and held up a bottle of red. “Wine it is.” He poured a glass and handed it to her before he went back to the stove. She watched his head turn and his gaze swung back in her direction.

“You hungry?”

“Yes. Starving.”

Isaiah served her a bowl and placed some fresh rolls on the ceramic tile counter. They both sat there and ate in silence. The feast was amazing, as always. Isaiah wasn’t one to waste, but he also enjoyed having more. He often gave out bowls of food to Zeus, and today with the stew would be no different.

Isaiah shoved his fork into a carrot, bringing it to his mouth and chewing. It was hard, not so hard that it was raw, but he enjoyed the crunch of his food. Olivia grabbed a roll, tearing off a section and scooping some sauce from the bowl and plopping it into her mouth.

When they were done, Olivia watched him take the dishes and put them in the dishwasher and wipe down the counter. A moment later, Zeus came prancing in, his tail wagging behind him.

“Hey, buddy. You wanna go outside?” Isaiah asked, kneeling down, petting the dog.

Olivia furrowed her eyebrows. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. There are wolves in the area. He could get hurt.”

Isaiah cocked his head in her direction. “I’ll take him out. I need some fresh air too.” He stood and grabbed the bottle of wine and placed it on the counter in front of her. “Help yourself. We’ll be outside for a bit.”

Olivia downed the rest of the wine in her glass. She felt the slightly chilled contents cascade down her throat, warming her insides as it made its way further down until settling in her belly. She grabbed the wine bottle, refilling her glass, and started to sip on it again. She couldn’t remember the last time she had a few drinks. She started to feel lightheaded almost instantly but welcomed the feeling. After all, it was the perfect night to have a few, considering everything she’d endured. She relished in the calming effect the wine gave her mind, body and soul.

She had polished off a second glass half and was feeling the buzz take over. She poured herself one more glass and walked over to the dining room window and watched Isaiah play in the snow with Zeus.

Her eyes caught his when he looked up at her from the front yard and a shiver rolled through her like none other before. He was gorgeous.

Olivia had already known who Isiah was. Everyone had dubbed him as the ‘Outdoor Playboy’ in Madison. The photos didn’t do him justice. Up close and personal, he could rip off your panties with a simple grin. His eyes were captivating, trance-inducing when you looked into them. Light green but ones that held warmth and seduction.

She turned and walked to the front door, deciding she would go out and join them. She finished off her third glass and grabbed a coat that was two sizes too big for her. She shoved her tiny feet into a pair of construction boots and stepped out on the front porch.

Isaiah turned to look at her and doubled over in laughter. She looked down at herself and she thought she looked like a small child that was wearing boots and jacket that could have been her father’s. She laughed and held out a hand. “I know. I look ridiculous.”

She bent down and grabbed a handful of snow. Packing it into a ball, she threw it at him. “Stop laughing. It’s not that funny.”

He held his hands up in the air. “Okay. You look adorable, not ridiculous.”

Olivia walked down the steps and leaned up against the pole. Her eyes gazed up at the darkened grey sky and the thick flakes hit her face. Her thoughts and emotions were about to give in again when she took a gulp of fresh air and pushed them aside.

A moment later, she looked at Isaiah and asked, “Show me where you found me?”

He looked at her a little stunned and then nodded. “Come on. Follow me.”

She walked behind him and he finally came to a stop. There was nothing but snow. You couldn’t tell where the road was or the trench. Everything was white and the snow went just under their knees.

He pointed to the trench that was now buried under the white flakes. “I found you there.”

Her eyes searched the area for any signs that she was once there, but there was nothing. No tracks and no blood. She could feel the ache in her chest, for the people that lay dead up in the mountain. Pure anguish consumed her chest as she almost fell backward in the snow but then felt his large hands grab her arms and steady her.

She watched as his hands framed her face, his thumbs resting on her cheeks and his fingertips brushing a strand of hair away from her eyes. He was so big up close, even bigger than he’d looked in the house, towering over her as he gently tilted her face up. "It’s not your fault, Olivia."

Her eyes trailed up to his light green eyes, darker shades around the rims making the light green shine even brighter. He was so goddamn gorgeous. The strong structure of his cheeks and jaw and his inky black hair being tossed in the wind made her want to delve her hands through it.

When the wind picked up, she flared her nostrils taking in his scent again. Strong. Male. Sexual. Her animal instincts were kicking in full force and she needed to get out of his space.

She took a step back and his hands fell to his sides. She closed her eyes, trying to control the lust that passed through her body. When she looked up her gaze landed on his face and all she wanted to do was throw herself into his arms.

Fuck, it had been so long since she had been with a man.

Olivia sucked in a breath as her body's reaction was immediate, visceral. The ache she had been feeling pulled at her, grew stronger and then snapped, sending a sheer need that suddenly passed through her. Her veins felt like they were on fire and her entire body started to tremble.

Jesus Christ. Could he tell? Of course, he could, he was a wolf!

She didn't care if he knew. Olivia had been through hell and back in the last year and a half and this was the last thing she needed to worry about. She knew he might have done something, acting on it, and God knew that she would give in without a fight.

"Olivia." His voice whispered over her, weaving his heady scent of musk and woods. A voice suited for seduction, she thought.

She finally snapped out of her reverie and started walking back to the house as fast as she could. When she reached the porch, she ran up the steps and entered the house. What the fuck is wrong with you?

She knew Isaiah had probably sensed everything she had just felt. Olivia was sure she was giving off enough pheromones to drive him into a frenzy.

Olivia shook her head and took off the boots and coat she was wearing. A moment later the door opened and she watched Zeus barrel through the door with Isaiah in tow.

His hooded eyes hung, imprisoning her own, standing there looking down at her. She couldn’t break her vision; she was entranced here, stuck with a man who showed no signs of backing away. At that moment it looked like he could have eaten her alive, right there.