Her hands were flat against the bark. The tree trunk thick and sturdy. Her hair so wet it clung to her head. Moisture dripped down her back, down her thighs. He was just as soaked, could feel droplets of water running down his own body. His hands were on her hips, his fingers denting her flesh. Fucking heaven.

“Can’t get enough,” he moaned.

“Me neither,” Meghan managed to choke out. She arched her back and cried out. Her ass lifted a little higher, his cock slid in a little further. Tide grunted as he felt himself bottom out inside of her.

Desperate.

It was the only way to describe his current state of mind. Mindless desperation. It had become worse and worse as the scent of her heat had intensified. He’d lain awake the entire night, his cock throbbing. His sacs heavy. Easing himself had helped, but only so much. They’d had breakfast and headed to the stream to wash. The fresh, cold, mountain water was so much better than the pool in the cave. A male could only take so much, and his control had ended once they finished washing. Thankfully she was ready to take him back inside her body. There had been no more patience left in him. No preamble. No time to even get dry or back to the cave. The only thing that mattered was coming inside her ‒ multiple times if possible ‒ and bringing her pleasure in the process.

Her ass shook each time he thrust into her. Her pussy made those sucking, wet noises that drove him insane. He needed to take it easy. Needed to be careful. His balls were already in his throat. His grunts filled the clearing. That and the sound of him slapping against her. “Never felt this good,” he moaned.

Meghan was crying out with every hard thrust. Her shouts becoming higher and higher pitched. A sure sign of her pending orgasm. Thank fuck, because he wasn’t going to last. Not now. Not with the sweet scent of her heat in his nostrils. He reached around her and furiously strummed her clit. Thankfully, Tide felt her pussy flutter around him.

Her shouts became hoarse as she came apart. Tide yelled her name as he followed close behind. He grit his teeth to keep himself from marking her. It was becoming more and more difficult to keep from doing so.

Torrent was going to be pissed enough when he found out about this. He’d be in unending shit if he marked her as well. Thing was, he didn’t think she was ready yet for such a big step anyways. “I’m sorry,” he muttered, still moving, still loving the feel of her. “I was supposed to be gentle. Instead I took you like an animal.”

She looked back over her shoulder at him, her lids hooded, her eyes hazy. “You have nothing to be sorry about. You won’t hear a word of complaint from me. Are you feeling a bit better now?” She was breathing hard.

“Yeah, much.” By her scent, she was ovulating right now, so things would hopefully start to calm down soon. He hoped so. “Although I’m not sure how long it will last.” His dick was still firmly inside her. “Also, I would prefer to stay right where I am for the foreseeable future.”

“It’s going to be difficult to shift while still inside me.” She smiled.

“Are you still worried about someone seeing us?”

She nodded. “Yes, is that so weird?”

“We’re in the middle of nowhere. That cave up there is mine. No-one will come all the way out here.”

“Why do you have a sex cave in the middle of nowhere?”

“I had hoped to have a mate of my own one day.” He chuckled.

She turned back towards him, “So you’ve never been with someone during their heat before? Is that the first time that you’ve used the cave?” Then she blushed like maybe she shouldn’t have asked him that. “You don’t have to answer all of my questions. I’m being nosey.”

Tide shook his head. “I’ve never used the cave. We tend to stay far away from females in their heat during the stag run in case we accidentally make them pregnant.”

“I guess I should feel special then.” She smiled, her cheeks still red.

“You are special. I wouldn’t rut you right now unless I was okay with you becoming with child.” It was all true. He didn’t know when she had started getting under his skin, only that it had happened. Tide forced himself to pull out of her and did so with a hard grunt. He pulled her against him, so that her back was to his front, and kissed her neck. Her breathing immediately became elevated. Despite the trying circumstances, he was enjoying being out here with her. There was a part of him that didn’t want to go back to the real world.

It was as if she could read his mind because she tensed. “What will Torrent say about this … about us?”

“I’ll handle my brother. Don’t worry about that right now.”

“Okay.” She shivered in his arms.

“Are you cold?”

“You’re doing a good job of keeping me warm.” He could hear that she was smiling.

Tide pulled away and she turned. He had to bite back a groan. This female was beyond beautiful. Her cheeks were flushed. Her hair still soaking wet. Her lush body. Her scent. Her. He wanted her again. Instead, Tide turned away. “Let’s get you back to the cave before you catch a cold.” He handed her one of the towels they had brought along with them. He watched her dry off and get dressed. It eased something in him now that his scent was back on her. He was beginning to realize that he wouldn’t be able to completely relax until his teeth were in her flesh, until she was truly his. Tide knew that there were still a few hurdles ahead of them. He would gladly face them all.

* * *

The next morning …

Meghan stretched, a soft groan escaped. Everything hurt. Every muscle in every part of her. There was a deep ache between her legs that spoke of hours of sex. While it had mostly been frantic, it had also meant something to her. Had often felt like lovemaking rather than fucking. At least, to her it had.

Tide had been tireless and infinitely careful with her. Then again, there were a couple of bruises on her hips and more on her thighs. She had stubble burn on her neck and breasts and down there … between her legs, she was sure. Meghan smiled, biting down on her lip.

Tide was still sleeping. His chest rising and falling in a deep rhythm. His erection was finally gone, she suspected that she was no longer ovulating. Thankfully. There was a part of her that was sad they would be going back, but it was time to face life. The real world.

Thing was, she needed to get back to work. She’d already missed her next immunotherapy sessions with Sky and Candy. It couldn’t be delayed.

It was also time to face their true feelings. What was going to happen with Tide now that her heat was over? Was he still going to feel something for her or had this all been about lust? What was Torrent going to say? Her stomach was in knots.

Tide stirred. A few minutes elapsed and his eyes opened. “Morning.” His voice was croaky.

“Morning. Did you sleep well?”

“Like the dead.” He yawned, holding his hand in front of his mouth. “I didn’t sleep the first night we were here.” He rubbed his face. “Right.” He sat up and stretched. His back was broad and muscled. “We’d better get going. We need to get back ASAP.” Her sentiments exactly. “Can you be ready in the next half hour? We’ll eat breakfast back at the lair.”

“I take it that I’m back to normal.”

“Yeah. How are you feeling?” He looked almost sheepish. Like he felt bad about something.

“I’m fine.”

“Good.” There was no kissing. No hugging. No lingering looks when she sat up and the sheet pooled fell to her hips. “Do you want to bathe first or should I?” Tide was all business. In fact, he seemed a bit uneasy. There was worry in in his eyes. A tension in his stance.

“Go right ahead.” It almost felt like they were strangers again. She forced a smile.

“Perfect. I won’t be long.” Tide headed to the hearth where he spent a couple of minutes getting a fire going. Then he disappeared to the back of the cave. She heard a splash as he washed. Disappointment welled up in her. She needed to have a talk with him about where they stood with one another. It would be better to know now, before things progressed any further. Before she really began to have serious feelings for him. They hadn’t just had sex over the last two days, they’d talked a lot as well. She really felt like there was something there. They both had responsibilities to get back to, so the immediate need was to return.

She couldn’t help but feel that things had changed now that her heat was over. It was almost like he’d had his fill of her. Sex was one thing. A relationship was another. He’d never made her any promises. Meghan was a strong, independent woman. She didn’t need a man to complete her. The sooner she knew his feelings the better.