Drantos(46)

I’ll get her home and we’ll work this out. She’ll have to accept me.

He studied the moving river. That was the obstacle he needed to face next. He’d just take one problem at a time.

“Stay here and finish eating that fish, Dusti. I need to find a few fallen logs.”

“For what?”

He jerked his thumb toward the water. “To cross that.”

“You’re determined to get me killed, aren’t you?”

He closed the distance between them and crouched. She flinched when he reached out and brushed his fingers down her cheek but didn’t totally pull away. She grimly held his gaze.

“I’m determined to keep you safe. We will lose anyone who finds our trail by crossing it. It’s just a little water.”

“It’s a freakin’ river, and I’ve been watching branches floating by near the center. That current is really moving. I’m not totally dumb. That water’s probably coming from the mountaintops that are melting from the winter ending. It means that ice chunks are also mixed in there and I know how cold it got last night. The day is almost over, which means we’re going to get hypothermia tonight, if we don’t drown first.”

He decided to try a new tactic. “I plan to get you naked in my bed, Dusti. That wouldn’t happen if I got you killed. I’m very motivated. Think about that. I am.”

He stood and walked toward the woods. Her shocked expression had him grinning. He’d rather face a flustered or angry woman than a terrified one.

It didn’t take long to find a few dead trees. Some of them hadn’t survived the winter, and the wind and snow felled many. He allowed his claws to slide out, hacking at the excess branches to remove them from the small tree trunks. He’d use his belt to bundle some of them together and it would hopefully keep Dusti dry and out of the water.

I’ll get her wet later. He grinned, imagining stripping her out of her clothes and spreading her out naked on his bed. Images filled his head of making love to her but he pushed them back. Daydreaming about claiming her would have to wait.

One thing at a time. Raft first. Sex later.

He dragged the trunks one by one into the camp he’d made. Dusti watched but didn’t question him as he made a few trips back and forth, and then began to build his makeshift raft.#p#分页标题#e#





Chapter Six



Dusti found herself staring at Drantos. It irritated her that she was so attracted to him. Since he had stripped out of his jacket, she could see the thick muscles in his arms flexing as he worked on his project. She’d never met anyone like him. He looked so utterly masculine building a raft.

He wasn’t like men she knew in Los Angeles. They would be lost in the woods, helpless and probably as freaked-out as she felt. He reached up and shoved his unruly hair back. The thick, dark tresses were a bit out of control. He could use a trim in the worst way but she doubted he ever went into one of the fancy barbershops most men used to cut their hair. She figured he probably used a knife to hack at the strands or something equally as barbaric if he wanted it shorter. She bit her lip as he leaned forward, his ass in the air as he weaved his belt around two branches. He had a muscular ass that his pants molded to.

Damn it, stop ogling him. She forced her gaze to shift to the river. He wanted her to cross that. It was an insanely dangerous concept. A large log floated near the center, moving at a rapid pace. She mentally pictured it slamming into the raft Drantos built and sending her into that bubbling water. She cringed and focused on him again.

He had blatantly admitted he planned to have sex with her. What happened between them the night before resurfaced in her thoughts. It was probably going to haunt her forever. The way he’d touched her and made her feel had been downright animalistic. He’d growled and bitten her with his teeth. Worse, she’d really enjoyed it.

Her abdominal muscles clenched and her nipples throbbed at the vivid memories, desire resurfacing.

Drantos scared her. She had to concede that fact. He could make her forget everything around them except him. She’d have let him fuck her on the ground, in front of anyone present, if his brother hadn’t pulled him away. He caused her to lose all common sense and willpower.

He suddenly leaned back and rolled his shoulders. She bit her lip, the urge to go massage them rising. It frightened her more and also pissed her off. She turned her back so she didn’t have to see him any longer.

I need to get away from him so I can regain my sanity. I’ve lost my mind. He’s no good for you, Dusti. Don’t make this mistake again.

She flashed back to the one and only time she’d fallen in love. Reed had been handsome in his business suits. She’d met him right after she’d started working for a mortgage company as their receptionist. He was one of the loan officers.