Dar followed the tall, athletic-looking man who’d openly stared when she was stretching. Usually guys who focused on her ass when she was bent over in a stretch came across with a pervy vibe, but Lawz showed nothing but pure, honest, male appreciation. It was hard to find fault with that, especially when he had the look of a guy she’d really like appreciating her.

She followed him along a well-maintained trail leading away from the main lodge. It was only a short distance, but she felt as if she were walking into another world. Ferns grew thick along the trail; tall pines and evergreens hid the other cabins. They rounded a bushy fir tree, and there it was, a little log cabin with a front deck just made for sitting.

“Oh! Wow.” She stood there with a stupid grin on her face, breathing in the aromatic scent of cedar. The cabin had to be new to smell this fresh, but the natural landscaping helped it fit into the spot as if it had always been there.

Lawz paused at the bottom step and smiled at her. “The architect is the guy who originally came up with the idea for Feral Passions,” he said. “Brad’s really talented, but this is definitely a homespun operation.”

“I love it.” She felt almost giddy now that she’d moved away from the car and had taken that short walk through the woods, especially after the long day of driving. There wasn’t any Internet, she didn’t have any bars on her phone, and the setting had her blood pressure falling and her stress levels dropping into the minus category.

Though she had to admit, the man had her hot and bothered.

“C’mon in and see the rest.”

He held the door for her, and Darian walked into what was the cutest little cabin she’d ever seen. Lawz followed and set her suitcase on a stand near a large oak armoire, her smaller bag on the bed. The furniture was all very simple—she thought it was a Shaker design, but did it really matter?

Not really. Not when she was so damned aware of the man waiting beside the door, standing there silently radiating pheromones. That had to be it, the reason she was so attuned to him, to the sound of his movements, the cadence of his breathing. His scent. She never really noticed a guy’s scent, at least not unless he absolutely reeked of sweat, and there were more than enough of those hanging around the gym.

No, Lawz had a scent like nothing she’d ever experienced, an intoxicating mix of pine and lemon, of herbs she almost recognized but couldn’t, but whatever it was, it was taking everything she had not to turn around and go back to him and just rub herself over his body like a cat in heat.

“I won’t keep you, Dar. I’m on the dinner crew tonight, so I need to get back to the lodge, but come down when you’re ready and let me fix a drink for you. We do a mean margarita here, if you like them.”

She turned, fully aware that she really didn’t want him to leave, and wasn’t that just the strangest thing? She never got like this around a man, but there was something about Lawz. He appealed to her. She meant to merely thank him for carrying her luggage, and she wasn’t sure how it happened, but she moved and he moved, and they were suddenly in a clinch that had her body on fire and her breasts begging for attention.

“Holy shit,” he said. At least that’s what she thought he said just before he dipped his head and absolutely captured her mouth. He took her forcefully; she immediately responded.

His mouth was on hers, his lips molding to hers, and she was with him every breath, every lick and touch and taste. He feasted on her mouth, dipped his head to nip at her throat, and she bared herself to him, inviting him to taste her.

Dar was tall, but he was so much taller, and he lifted her up against him, cupping her bottom in his big hands when she wrapped her legs around his waist. He ravaged her mouth, her throat, and then dipped his head and captured her nipple through the soft cotton of her cami top.

She hadn’t worn a bra for the long trip, and the suction when he wrapped his lips around her nipple had it standing hard and erect within the wet circle of fabric. He worried first her right and then her left, nipping with his teeth, tugging the sensitive nub, taking her higher, farther, faster than any man had done before, touching nothing more than her breasts.

He bit down on her nipple and tugged, and the sweet pain shot like a bolt of lightning straight to her clit. She cried out and pressed herself against his abdomen, her inner muscles spasming and clenching, climaxing from nothing more than his mouth on her breasts.

Gasping for breath, she leaned her head against his chest. Her body still rippled with her release, and her hands trembled until, from absolutely nowhere and with no intelligent reason, she started giggling. Burying her face against the broad expanse of his chest, she laughed while tears flowed and Lawz just held her. Finally, when she was fully beyond embarrassment and well into utter humiliation, he tilted her chin up and forced her to meet his eyes.

She hiccupped. He kissed her. “That was fun,” he said. “Want to try it again?”

“Yes.” She sucked in a breath. Her lips were actually trembling. She wasn’t a giggler or a trembler, thank you. “In a bed,” she said. “Preferably naked, with you as an equal participant and both of us with plenty of time. Not when you have to go cook dinner.”

“Agreed.” He let her feet slide slowly down his legs to the floor and held her while she got her balance.

She looped her arms over his shoulders and stared at him for a long moment. He stared right back at her without flinching. His eyes were dark, dark brown, but she saw flecks of gold in their depths. His nose was long and straight, his lower lip fuller than the upper, and she wanted him so badly it was all she could do not to drag him to the bed now.

“I’ll be down in about fifteen minutes, okay?”

“That works.” He leaned close and kissed her. “I don’t think I’ve ever wanted a woman the way I want you. Please don’t change your mind. And I realize begging isn’t manly, but I think I’m already desperate.”

She laughed. “S’okay. Desperation works. I don’t intend to—change my mind, that is. I’m curious, though. Is this the way you greet all your guests?”

Slowly, he shook his head. “Never. I’m really picky about women. Don’t know what it is about you, but I’m going with it.”

“Good. I hope you’ve got protection, because I didn’t bring any. I had no idea what the extracurricular activities were like here.”

He kissed her quickly and stepped away. “Neither did I. I have to admit, this is a new one for me.” Then he turned away and went out the door without looking back. She was glad of that. If he’d turned to her again, she had a feeling she’d be dragging him to the bed, protection or not.

She wanted him that badly.

Elle followed this mountain of a man through the woods. He’d said his name was Kentucky and told her to call him Tuck, but he didn’t say much more beyond the introduction. A few words about the resort, that there was less than a month before they closed for the season. She wasn’t really sure what else he’d said, because she’d stopped listening to his specific words within a few sentences, too mesmerized by the deep growl of his voice to actually pay attention to the content.

She really hoped it wasn’t anything important.

Walking a few steps behind him was its own kind of torture. His shoulders were so broad that she didn’t think she’d ever seen a man this large, this impressively built. They tapered down to one of the finest butts she’d ever followed in her life, and it was all she could do not to reach out and touch. Realizing her fingers were actually twitching had her biting back a bad case of inappropriate laughter, but she couldn’t wait to see what the other girls thought of him.

Elle thought he was the hottest thing she’d ever seen.

He led her into a small clearing, and she stopped dead in her tracks and laughed. “It looks like the Three Bears’ cabin.” When he turned and smiled at her, she just shook her head. “Does that make me Goldilocks?”

He surprised her then, turning and taking a step closer to her, looping a long, loose curl of her hair around his forefinger. It was naturally dark brown, but she’d added some auburn highlights last time she colored that turned it deep burgundy in the sunlight. Tuck held it up and stared at it as if this were a major decision.

“Not gold,” he said, rubbing the curl between his fingers. “But it’s really unique. I think you’re our first guest with burgundy-colored hair. I like it. It fits you.”

She stood there, speechless, shaken by both his words and her response. When he’d touched her hair, she’d wanted to lean into him. Wanted him.

Then he turned as if he’d felt nothing at all and went up the steps. Sighing, Elle followed.

The cabin was adorable, all rich-looking cedar logs with a nice little front porch, a table and a couple of chairs, and forest-green mini blinds at the windows. Practical and comfortable. Elle followed him as he opened the door and stepped aside so she could enter first. She walked through the doorway and stopped in her tracks to get the feel of the absolutely wonderful space that would be her home for the next week. This was even better than the photos on the website. She turned, and Tuck was right there, so close that her breasts brushed his chest.

They both stepped apart. “I’m sorry,” he said. He dipped his head and actually flushed a deep red. “I didn’t mean to crowd you.”

She looked directly into his eyes—they were a dark, cloudy gray with a burst of gold, so mesmerizing she could easily lose herself in his calm gaze. “You didn’t crowd me. I’m actually enjoying this unusual sense of feeling almost petite.” She laughed when he smiled at her. “So often when I’m around a man, I feel like an absolute moose. You make me feel normal.”

He carefully set her bags on the floor and cupped her shoulders in his big hands. “You’re never going to be anything as average as normal, Elle. You’re much too special. You are an impressive, beautiful woman, one I’d like to get to know a lot better.”

His words startled her, but she did her best not to let it show. He was a spectacular man—big all over, with those broad shoulders and long, strong legs. His hair was dark, lying in soft curls much longer than it appeared at first glance. He was bearded, though it was neatly trimmed and framed his strong jaw in a most attractive manner. The sleeveless T-shirt he wore exposed muscular arms and a vivid tattoo that stretched around his right shoulder and upper arm. Dark hair covered his forearms, and he was, without a doubt, the most attractive man Elle had ever seen.

And he wanted to get to know her better. “I think I’d like that,” she said. “Very much.”

He smiled almost shyly, picked up her bags, and set the large one on a luggage rack near a simply designed armoire, like all the furniture, obviously built by craftsmen. The smaller bag went on the end of the bed. “I’m helping Lawz with dinner tonight, so I need to get back to the dining room. Take a few minutes to relax, but come back to the lodge as soon as you can. I’ll fix you a drink and make sure you’ve got something to snack on while we get everything going. Does that work?”

“It does. Thank you.” She wanted to kiss him, wanted to see what that beard would feel like against her cheeks, what his lips would taste like, but that was silly. They didn’t know each other, but she smiled and realized she was biting her lips, noticed he was focused on her mouth, and she wanted him to kiss her so badly she almost ached.

He must have gotten the message. He actually groaned when he reached for her, and she moved into his embrace as if they’d been lovers for years. She’d never been held by a man as large as Tuck, never found a man who fit so well with her, who held her as if she were spun glass, a precious thing to be cared for. He kissed her carefully, his mouth coming down on hers as if he feared damaging her, and she realized that, as big as he was, he’d probably only been with normal-sized women, and it was awkward for him when a woman was so small next to his huge size.

There was no awkwardness with the two of them. She wasn’t that much shorter than Tuck, yet he was so much larger than she was, a big man with a strong body, sure of himself, and yet in an endearing way, so obviously unsure of her. She loved it, loved that small sense of vulnerability in the way he held her, the way he kissed her.

And it was so unexpected, to be in this remote lodge with her very best friends, meeting a man who was her ideal—at least in size and appearance—more than any man she’d ever met.

He ended the kiss, slowly, almost regretfully, and leaned his forehead against hers. “Don’t take too long,” he said. “I’m going to be waiting very impatiently for you.”

She watched as he left the cabin, and she didn’t close the door until he disappeared along the shadowed trail beneath the trees. Then she rushed into the bathroom to get a quick shower so she could chase him down at the lodge.

Jules really wished she could get past the nerves because the man leading her through the woods was someone she really wanted to get to know better. But it wasn’t going to happen, not the way she was shaking. No doubt in her mind at all, he was the sexiest guy she’d ever seen, but she figured the source of her nerves was a little like PTSD, which made sense.

She had an excellent reason to fear a man she didn’t know. She’d known Andrew, and he’d still done a number on her. She’d never had the courage to tell her friends the truth about her old boyfriend. He’d looked great when she’d listed his qualities—he was sharp looking, personable, successful. They’d all liked him the one time they’d met.

They had no idea that she’d discovered the hard way that there was another side to the man. One not nearly as much fun or as likable. Now, following Armando through the woods, she wasn’t certain if the chills along her spine were fear or arousal.

You’d think at this point she’d be able to tell the two apart.

They stepped out of the shadowed trail into a tiny glen, where a beam of sunlight illuminated the log cabin sitting in the middle of the woods as if it sat under a spotlight. It was so utterly peaceful, her nervousness fled and a sense of calm settled over her shoulders like a warm shawl. “This is where I’m staying?”

Armando merely turned and raised an eyebrow. “Of course. What do you think of it?”

“I love it. It’s so much better than I imagined. It’s peaceful. Welcoming, even.” She stepped around him and walked up the front steps to the small deck.

“I actually helped build this one.” He sounded justifiably proud as he carried her bags up the steps.

Jules opened the door for him and followed him inside. The cabin was small, but very comfortable with a large bed and very simple oak furniture. Everything fit the rustic setting with impeccable style. “I think I’m really going to love it here. I swear I feel more relaxed just walking through the door.”

He set her large case on a suitcase rack and placed her smaller bag on the foot of the bed. “You’re supposed to feel relaxed. That’s the purpose of your visit, isn’t it?”

“You’re right. It is.” She smiled at him and realized her nerves had settled to a low hum. Yeah, this was definitely more arousal than fear. The sense of relief had her smiling. “Well, that and spending a last week with our friend Meg as a single woman. She’s not getting married until October 2, but this was the only week we could all swing time off.”

“Are any of the others of your group married?”

Jules shook her head. “Nope. Not yet.”

She might have been, she thought. Thank goodness she’d figured out what a jerk Andrew was before they got any more serious than they had. After discovering what a slimeball she was dating, she figured she’d been lucky getting away with nothing more than a split lip. As much as he’d been screwing around—quite literally—she’d been thrilled she hadn’t ended up with an STD.

Armando—Manny, the guys had called him—laughed. “Women today aren’t rushing to get married like they used to. They have the freedom to hold out for what they really want.”

She sighed, running her fingers along the silky surface of the armoire. “We’re not really holdouts, I don’t think. Mostly just particular. I figure I’ll know when the right guy comes along.”

Manny nodded sagely. “I agree. A lifelong commitment to one person is a huge decision. Not one to be made in haste.”

She loved the way he spoke, like a man from another time. His words were measured and calm, his voice as smooth as silk. Plus, he had long hair. Not overly long, but it was a deep, rich, silky brown that waved over his shoulders in front and curled against his shoulder blades in back. With his neatly trimmed beard and mustache and the slight widow’s peak, he could have been one of the Three Musketeers. He only needed the white shirt with blousy sleeves and a laced neckline to complete the image.

She glanced at his long, long legs. Knee-high boots wouldn’t hurt, though the faded jeans and moccasins worked just as well. “Yeah,” she said, responding to his comment. “I thought I’d met the one a while back. Then he knocked me out when I told him I knew he was cheating.”

Shocked that she’d said exactly what she was thinking, Jules slammed her hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what made me say that. I never talk about what happened. Even my closest friends don’t know the whole story.”

She was still apologizing when Manny moved so quickly she had no idea how she ended up in his arms.

“No,” he said. “Please don’t apologize. It explains so much.” He kissed her forehead and then held her close, comforting her in a strong but gentle embrace that brought her firmly against his chest. “I thought you were afraid of me, but if a man has treated you so badly, you have every right to be uncomfortable following a strange man into the woods. I wish I’d known. I would have made a point to make you feel safe. I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.” She was so embarrassed. She wanted to push him away, but his arms felt so good around her, and somehow hers had crept around his broad back. He was big but so gentle, and his deep, mellow voice calmed her.

“No,” he said, and she thought his voice sounded terribly sad. “Not mine, personally, but sometimes I feel compelled to apologize for all the bastards who share my gender. We’re not all like that, truly. I can honestly say that every man here reveres women. You are all beautiful to us for so many reasons—we respect and admire your strength and your intelligence. We love your grace, your willingness to step out of your comfort zone and come here to what must feel like the back of beyond.”

She giggled against his chest, and she was not at all the kind of woman who giggled. “It’s not entirely all the way to the back of beyond. You have running water, and the road was mostly paved.” She raised her head and smiled at him, pleased to see he was smiling back. Sometimes her sense of humor was lost on people. Face it, it was lost on most guys.

Armando got it. “True,” he said. “But you know the best thing? We have men who cook and then clean up after themselves. And this man needs to get to the kitchen.”

Then he tilted his head and kissed her. She was so surprised, she gasped. He took her unintended invitation and softly licked the seam of her lips. She tightened her arms around his waist and kissed him back, opened to a man she’d barely met and yet trusted more than any man she’d ever known.

And damn, but this guy could kiss. They were both breathing hard by the time they slowly pulled apart. Jules would have been embarrassed except Armando was obviously as deeply affected as she was, his erection a solid brand against her belly, rising hard beneath his faded jeans. He was close to a foot taller than her five and a half feet and so broad shouldered and powerful he made her feel petite in comparison. He wasn’t bulky at all, but strongly built with a taut, muscular body like a long-distance runner, all lean muscle and long arms and legs. She tried to imagine him naked and realized she was trembling from head to foot.

It took her a moment to recognize it as need. Pure, unadulterated need, and all from one amazing kiss. In her defense, she figured it had been a long time since she’d had any real satisfaction, especially since Andrew had left her wanting more often than not, but she took a deep breath and stepped back.

Armando’s arms released her, but his hands rested on her hips. “You need to go cook,” she said, fully aware how breathy her voice sounded, that there wasn’t a damned thing she could do about it, even if she wanted to. “I really have to get a quick shower and a change of clothes.” She smiled, relieved that the trembling had eased. “What are you fixing?”

His smile could take a woman to her knees. And the moment that thought flitted through her brain, she wanted to go to her knees, unbutton those worn jeans, and show him just what a woman on her knees could do.

“Chocolate decadence,” he said, rolling the words in a way that left her shivering.

“Mmmm. Sounds wicked.”

“It is, but I don’t think it’s even close to how sweetly wicked you are, my Jules.” Then he laughed, kissed her quickly, and headed for the door. “I want you to think about that. I’m going to want a taste. Later.”

And with that, he was out the door and gone. Jules stood there, body primed, heart racing, staring at the closed door and imagining all the wicked things Armando might do on the way to getting his taste.

Meg checked her hair, decided the long skirt and tank top were appropriate for dinner, and grabbed a light sweater off the bed. She slipped on a pair of sandals and, at the last minute, and only because she felt naked without it, stuck her cell phone in the deep side pocket in her skirt. She left a light on in the kitchen area and flipped on the porch light, even though it was barely five. It would probably be dark when she headed back here after dinner.

She stepped out and pulled the door closed behind her. Something moved in the shadows near the woods where the trail led to the lodge. She stood very still, wondering if it might be a deer, when a massive wolf stepped out of the woods.

“Holy crap.” She reached back for the door handle when the wolf trotted across the open area and then sat on his butt not far from the bottom step. It watched her, ears pricked forward, tongue hanging out like it was a big dog, not something that might consider eating her.

She was already moving slowly back to slip inside the cabin, but his playful expression stopped her. He was definitely a wolf—a very large wolf—gray all over with black tips to his fur, the tips of his ears, and in a line down his tail, but he watched her almost as if they shared a private joke. She knew this place was a preserve for wolves, but she’d neglected to ask anyone if the wolves were running free on the grounds or not. Obviously, at least this one was.

Hoping this wasn’t a truly stupid move, she sat on the top step and studied her visitor. He watched her just as carefully, and she wondered just how tame he was. It didn’t take long before she patted the step beside her, wondering if he’d respond to a gesture most dogs would be familiar with.

He yipped and trotted up the stairs as if he’d merely been waiting for an invitation, but when he got to the top step, Meg realized just how big this animal was. With her still sitting, he towered over her, all sharp teeth and appetite. “Goodness.” She backed away. “You’re a big one, aren’t you?”

The damned wolf yipped, almost as if he understood her. Then he sat beside her and leaned his full weight against her shoulder. Laughing, Meg leaned back. After a moment, she wrapped her arm around his shoulders, and damned if the wolf didn’t snuggle even closer.

“You’re incredible, and you know it, right?”

He sighed and rested his chin on her shoulder.

“And you’re working me like a pro. Sorry, but I haven’t got any food inside, and besides, I need to go meet my friends. Come with me, okay?”

He was on his feet and down the steps in an instant. Meg swung her sweater over her shoulders and followed him into the woods.

Sunday evening

Jules was sitting at a big round table on the front deck of the lodge when Meg stepped out of the woods. Her wolf was nowhere to be seen, though she’d followed him all the way from her cabin. Somewhere over the past dozen steps or so he’d disappeared into the thick undergrowth.

Still, she had to admit that, so far, this resort was living up to everything it promised. She felt absolutely stress-free and, other than missing Zach more than she’d thought possible, was really looking forward to exploring the area and seeing more wolves.

That had really been cool. She crossed the grassy area and waved to Jules just as Trak stepped out onto the deck and spotted her. He disappeared inside, but he was back by the time she’d found a place to sit at the table.

“Margarita?” He held out a tray with one frozen margarita and a small pitcher filled with more for the table.

“Such service. Thank you.” She smiled at him and thought once again how nice he was, and how really good-looking.

All the men she’d seen here were striking. Trak teased Jules about something inane, chatted with both of them a minute longer, and then went back inside.

Meg glanced at Jules. She looked ready to follow Trak back inside the lodge, and Meg laughed. “Their website doesn’t do the staff justice, does it? Have you ever seen so many truly hot guys in your life?”

Jules just shook her head. “Remember that time we went to see the Chippendales? We thought they were all so handsome, and ya know what? They’ve got nothing on these guys.”

“I dunno,” Meg said. “There was one of those dancers at the club that night who was sporting some equipment under his tight little bikini shorts that I—”

Jules actually snorted. “I remember him, and I thought it looked like he’d tucked a rolled-up sock in his shorts. That was most decidedly not real.”

And the conversation went downhill from there.