Groaning, I pushed Bear’s mountain-sized head away, his tongue leaving traces of drool on my pillow, waking me up like he did every damned morning.

Reluctantly, I untangled myself from Gabby and left her sleeping peacefully. I hated leaving her side, but I didn’t want to wake her just yet.

I’d made the mistake of getting up in the middle of the night to pee, and left the bedroom door open, which allowed Bear the opportunity to give me his usual rude awakening. I looked over at Gabby, her long limbs curled up in my sheets, her black hair strewn all over my pillow, looking even more beautiful in the morning light than she had last night.

If that was even possible.

My body was buzzing to take her once again, my morning wood pulsing hotly. Bear whimpered at the door, not giving one fuck about my predicament.

“Fine, goddammit,” I whispered, throwing my jeans on, leaving the fly unbuttoned to avoid the task of trying to leash the monster that Gabby had awakened and headed toward the front door, Bear trotting along beside me.

He whined again as I pulled on my boots and jacket, patting my pocket to make sure my gun was still there. I’d been reckless last night by letting it out of my sight. I should have had it next to the bed, but I’d been distracted by getting into Gabby’s pants.

I wouldn’t make that mistake again.

Again.

Would there be an again?

“Come on,” I muttered. “You’re a fucking impatient beast, you know that?” I opened the door and Bear ran out ahead of me, galloping in the morning sunlight to his favorite spot. I took a look around, making sure we were still alone.

The guys would be along in a few hours to check in, but that’s not who I was looking for.

I hadn’t forgotten the danger I’d put myself in yesterday. I was distracted by Gabby. By Gabby’s eyes, her face, her perfect fucking body, her sweet pussy…

That was the kind of girl you could die for…

Fuck.

I’d never expected it to feel like that. Not that I’d forgotten how amazing a woman’s body felt, but there was something about Gabby that made me want to spend the entire night and day sinking into her over and over.

I didn’t know what it was. Last night, I’d tried to do less thinking and more feeling, forcing my thoughts of surprise to the back of my mind, forcing my worry away, reminding myself what this was all about.

One night. That’s all. Nothing more. Nothing less.

But, for fuck’s sake! Her body fit mine like a fucking glove, and when she moaned, whimpering my name over and over as I rode her sweet curves like a fucking roller-coaster, it just did something to me. I just couldn’t get enough.

That’s why I’d fucked her three times. Once wasn’t enough. And now that she was sleeping naked in my bed in the light of day, the sunlight washing over her creamy skin, I wasn’t so sure that one night was going to be enough either.

I joined Bear, pissing over his spot just to piss him off. It wasn’t easy, not with the permanent erection I’d had since last night. Didn’t seem to matter that me and my cock had been out of commission for so long, my cock was unfazed - roaring and ready to go. And I guess I was, too. Full speed ahead with no end in sight, apparently.

Bear eyed me warily and then grunted and walked back inside, his daily exercise requirements fulfilled.

I scanned the woods as I buttoned up, the morning sounds of the forest coming alive around me. Everything was waking up, the birds singing their ancient songs, the flowers opening up. The trees towered over me, dancing their ritualistic dance in the wind. A brand new sun rose in the bright blue sky.

A brand new day.

A brand new beginning.

A beginning that I wasn’t expecting, not in a million years. I was used to be woken up by Bear to go outside, but I wasn’t used to having a woman to go to bed with.

Finding myself in this predicament was unusual, for sure.

In the blinding daylight, the effects of last night’s booze faded away. All of my senses were heightened. I was on high alert and for damned good reason. I knew the Iron Godz would be looking for me and every hour they couldn’t find me only pissed them off more.

For now, everything was quiet, the peaceful stillness of the morning air wrapping around me. Rays of sunlight streamed through the clouds, lighting up the glistening drops of dew on the leaves that had yet to burn off. I took a deep breath, hoping this sense of peace would stay for a while before the chaos that I was sure was coming my way arrived. At least long enough to let me enjoy Gabby’s delicious beauty one more time.

I pulled open the front door of the cabin, and headed straight back to bed and back to Gabby.

I knew they were coming for me. I knew it wouldn’t be pretty. Hell, I might die by the end of the day, but I was determined to die a happy man.

And happiness was waiting for me, right between my sheets.