Blue took one look at her, nodded at Pete who took the backpack from Raine, then motioned for Raine to follow him as he walked in a different direction—away from her.
Pete stood for a moment then waved her over to him. She tried not to hurry, but she did feel more comfortable closer to him. Yet halfway there, she slammed to a stop and gaped at the animal at the edge of the tree line. The buck that had chased her dropped his head then shook his mighty antlers before springing back into the forest.
“That’s him! That’s the buck that chased me.” She pointed, uncaring if she made a scene and drew everyone’s attention. “Did you see him?”
Pete took her arm and pulled her along with him, slinging her pack over his shoulder. “Yeah, I saw him. That’s Jerry.”
“Jerry? He has a name?” She craned her neck back trying to find him and almost fell. Pete kept her on her feet as he pushed through the opening of a large tent, bringing her along with him.
The tent was huge and unlike any tent she’d ever seen except in the movies. Gloriously colored quilts lay everywhere while candles rested on wooden platforms. A hole in the top of the tent let out the smoke that would come from the fire pit directly below it. It was like a sheik’s tent and all that was needed was the beautiful harem women.
Is that what I’m supposed to be?
“Jerry isn’t a pet. He’s our friend.”
“O-kay.” Lots of people considered their pets their friends and even part of the family, but a buck? “But your friend chased me into a hole.”
“He didn’t mean to.” Pete released her arm then dropped her backpack.
“Oh, well, then, that’s good to know. Listen, I don’t know what this place is, but I know it’s not where I want to be.”
“I wish it was.”
Had she heard him right? “What did you say?”
Pete ducked his head then brought it back to give her the most incredible look she’d ever had. The heat in his eyes could’ve melted her on the spot and her pussy clenched as that heat shot out of him and into her. He was smoldering inside for her and had ignited a flame in her. The need, however, was tinged with another element, one born of the yearning she’d sensed earlier. He wanted her body, but he wanted more than that.
“What did your brother mean? Why did he say I’m yours?” Did she really want to know?
“He meant what he said.” He tilted his head at her. “He wants you as much as I do.”
She didn’t step back when he took a step toward her. Still, she had to leave, had to get away before she lost her will to get back down the mountain. He grabbed her roughly and it took her a few moments before she tried to tug out of his hold.
“No. I don’t want this.” She pushed away from him, but he held on. She stared at him, then whimpered and pulled back. But not hard enough to break free. “Let me go.” Her voice came out weak and shaky as though she hadn’t meant what she’d said. Had she? She yanked again.
He suddenly let go, sending her falling to the floor. Her landing was softened by the quilts made of a material she’d never seen.
“Yes, you do.” He fell to her side and bent over her. He gripped her behind the neck and lifted her head. He brushed his mouth close to hers, lightly, teasing her. And damn it if his tease didn’t work.
She reached up and took him by the hair to crush his lips against hers. At first he let her take the lead, but it wasn’t long before his grip tightened on her. He pulled her lower lip between his teeth as she tried to do the same to his upper lip.
She moaned, not caring if anyone outside could hear. She hadn’t realized it earlier, but she’d wanted this to happen. Almost from the first moment she’d seen the Deacon brothers, she’d wanted them. Not just Pete, but his brothers, too. Did the knowledge that Blue wanted her, too, upset him? She shoved away the question of what he’d think.
He deepened the kiss, making it harder yet softer at the same time. Nibbling on her lower lip gave way to giving her his tongue and she took it with relish. She sucked on it, drinking in every drop of his taste, then offered him hers in return.
He groaned and cupped her breast to rake his thumb over her nipple. She arched, urging him to do anything he wanted. The rumble of a growl rolling through his chest didn’t scare her. In fact, it had the opposite effect. Excitement rushed into her and, if he hadn’t had his mouth on hers, she would’ve asked him to make the sound again.
When he ended the kiss, she was left trying to breathe, trying to think straight, but it was as impossible for her to do as flying to the moon. “How do you do that?”