Chapter Four

Lorn

“Excuse me.”

I hightail it out of the kitchen as fast as I can, though with my dick this hard I nearly have to hobble out. What was I thinking? I invite the woman here for shelter and safety and then pounce on her the first chance I get?

Maybe I am turning into a beast of the woods.

The woman is sumptuous. She might be the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen. That doesn’t change the fact she can’t be trusted. I have to get a grip. Clearly not being with a woman for so long is messing with my brain.

I need to service myself more. That’s all it is. Sexual frustration born of self-neglect. I can fix this.

I desperately need to cool down. My dick is beyond uncomfortable shoved into my jeans, begging to be released—right into her soft, pink pussy.

Stop, stop, stop.

I walk toward my office and open the door a little wider. “Office” is a relative term for what this room is. There is a large tank in the corner and a series of plants and trees that I water regularly. In that tank, my pet snake is curled up in a perfect ball.

“How you doing, Milly?” I ask in a hushed voice.

She doesn’t move. I’m always amazed that the four-foot long creature can fit in that tank. I walk over to it, undo the lid, then reach inside and stroke her cool brown and black scales. That touch does serve to wake her, and she lifts her head, wondering if it’s time for dinner.

It does not escape me that I left a beautiful woman in my kitchen so that I could go pet my snake. In reality there is a much different snake that needs petting, but that’s not for her to handle. I can handle myself just fine.

My hand is the only one I’ll trust. Besides, how do I know she’s not here for the money? A man can only be fooled so many times. I’ve worked damn hard to not be that fool.

Milly unfurls from her bed, ready to hunt for some food. I have a few fresh rodents ready for her to eat, but I’ll have to find a way to get them to her without scaring…

“Hey, I plated the food, if you’re hungry.”

I glance up to see Rayne standing in the doorway. The light around her reflects in such a way that it casts a halo around her head. With her blond hair, I almost believe that she’s some kind of angel, but I come to my senses.

She is nothing but a nuisance I need to be rid of, once the snow passes. That’s all. Milly lifts her head farther, and Rayne sees her for the first time.

Uh oh. This woman was on the ground shivering when she thought I was some kind of animal. The snake will likely drive her away.

Is that such a bad thing, really?

“Ooh, who is this?”

I’m shocked as Rayne walks over to the tank, reaches in and strokes Milly’s body as the snake continues her path onward in search of dinner.

“Uh, that’s Milly.”

The only female I trust, I don’t say.

“Hi, Milly,” she coos. The snake retreats into the little cavelike hidey-hole I created for her in the tank, and when Rayne meets my stunned gaze, she laughs.

I haven’t heard laughter in a long time. I forgot how nice it is.

“You don’t have to look that surprised. I’ve always had a fondness for lizards and reptiles. I think they’re fascinating.”

I lift an eyebrow. “Then you won’t mind watching her eat?”

She winces and shakes her head. “I wouldn’t go that far. I’ll bring our bowls back to the living room. If you can feed her anywhere else, that would be appreciated.”

“Duly noted,” I say.

I’ve cooled off enough to stand safely, no boner in sight. Rayne disappears, and I make my own exit, only to return with a mouse a couple minutes later. I pop it into the tank.

I don’t hang back to watch Milly eat. I’d like to have an appetite for my own meal, after all, and now I’m quite famished myself. When I enter the living room, Rayne is perched on my couch, her bowl on the edge as she waits for me to join her. Mine is on a table next to my favorite recliner, and I join her by the fire.

“Thank you for the meal,” I say.

We can go ahead and skip over any conversation about what happened in the kitchen.

Please tell me she’s in agreement about that. Please.

She meets my gaze and grins. The meaning is clear. She gets it. Thank God.

“No problem. You might want to wait to thank me until you try it, though.”

“Have you?”

“Not yet. I wanted to wait for you.”

I ignore the warm feeling that blossoms in my chest at that comment. I nod and pick up my bowl, which is loaded with veggies atop a steaming bowl of noodles. I twirl them onto and fork and take a bite.

It’s a simple meal, but it might be my new favorite.

“This is outstanding. How did you know to mix this combination?”

Rayne shrugs and takes a bite of her own, tasting it to see if she likes what she’s created. She looks like a professional, evaluating or critiquing for flavors.

“I have some knowledge of flavor pairings, at least in this realm. The truth is, I’m not a chef, per se. I’m a baker, but I am passionate about food and cooking.”

“You must be, to own that many restaurants.”

Rayne clears her throat. Clearly, she wants to keep things on the down-low. If there is anyone in the world who can understand that, it’s me.

“How long have you been into reptiles?” I ask.

It seems like a safe enough topic, and her closed expression breaks open with a gentle grin.

“As long as I can remember. My dad had this snake he kept at his office. I named him Charlie, and I would visit him and play with the snake all the time. One time, I left the office door open and my dad’s secretary screamed as the snake slithered across her shoe.”

She smiles at the memory, then her eyes darken.

“Anyway, that was a long time ago, and when it first started. When did you get Milly?”

I shrug. It’s clear neither of us is prepared to give too much away, but we have to be able to talk about something. If she’s able to dance around the sensitive information, then so am I.

“A man can get lonely in the mountains, even in the splendor of nature, surrounded by books. I found that I lacked companionship, but other animals are too high maintenance. I don’t want to have to let a dog out all the time, and a cat means clean-up as well. If I let them roam the woods around here, there’s always the risk they’ll get eaten by something. Milly was for sale a town over when I stopped in at a pet store, so I took her home with me.”

“Does she like living here?’

I shrug. “I think so. I imagine she would much rather live in a jungle somewhere, but since she’s already been in captivity, it would be dangerous to try and reintroduce her. Also, I’m not quite ready to commit to a trip to Africa to bring her back to her native environment.”

“Right. Because that would be pretty high-maintenance.”

I smile, and I’m stunned to realize that it’s a genuine smile. “Yes. Very high-maintenance.”

“You like things simple.”

Oh, if only you knew. “Simple is good, certainly. It’s been my mantra since coming here, to keep things from complicating, and it’s been a nice existence. I think you’ll find you like it.”

“I’m sure I will.” She drops her gaze again, eats more of the food.

“You never did tell me whether this trip was business or pleasure. Are you a writer, here to finally get that manuscript finished?”

Her lip twitches, but there’s something hidden behind her eyes. “I wanted to get away for a little while. My life can get a little hectic at times, so I find that time away rejuvenates me and sets me back to rights before I jump back in.”

Bullshit.

Still, I nod as though I accept that answer. If she was looking for a convenient getaway, why did she have her driver drop her far from the actual cabins? She doesn’t strike me as terribly adventurous. Based on her clothing and the fact that she can afford this place, Rayne is used to a certain style of living.

One that doesn’t involve hiding one’s tracks in the woods.

A flash of light darts past my peripheral vision, and I look out the front windows. There is nothing there now, but I could have sworn I saw something.

“What? What is it?” Rayne’s gaze follows mine to the window.

“I thought I saw a light or something, but it must have been a trick of the eyes.”

When I look back at Rayne, she’s gone pale as ash.

“Are you all right?” I ask.

“Are you sure it was your imagination? Are you sure there couldn’t be anyone out there?”

Her voice raises a pitch, and her eyes dart around as though she’s frantic. I leave my food on the side table and move next to her.

Just having a relaxing retreat, my ass. Something is seriously scaring this woman. But what?

“Hey, relax. The woods can play tricks on the eyes. Also, it’s still snowing. It was probably a snowflake in the reflection of the light in here.”

“Are you sure?”

Her eyes search mine, and they are desperate for answers. I can’t help myself. I wrap my arms around her and hold her close. Her skin is clammy, her body tense. I run my hand along her back until she calms down.

“You’re right, of course. Just consider me another city girl in the dark woods,” she says with a forced laugh.

I pull away but leave my hands on her elbows as I search her eyes. I give her a chance to tell me what it is that’s going on with her, but after a moment, she breaks eye contact and develops a keen interest in the back of her hands.

I glance at my clock and realize it’s late. “We should get some sleep. You can have my bed. I’ll take the couch.”

Relief passes through her expression even as she protests. “I couldn’t possibly impose…”

Her eyes dart to the window, and I know she wants to be as far away from the door as possible.

“I insist, really. There are fresh linens in the closet. Please, make yourself comfortable. I’ll show you one of your many cabins in the morning, and you can get on with that relaxation.”

I don’t know if she can sense the sarcasm in my voice, but she doesn’t register it if she does. Rayne nods and rises off the sofa, breaking our contact. I can’t help but feel a little bereft, and that annoys me.

This woman is clearly hiding something, which means she’s already lied to me.

“Goodnight, Lorn, and thanks.”

I nod, and I stare ahead as she closes the bedroom door behind her.

Who is this woman? And what is her real motive for being here?