Page 18

PIPER

My legs wobbled as I made my way back to the campfire.

After Patrick slid his fingers through my pussy and washed me as best he could, I dressed again and stumbled to shore.

However, I had the slight problem of my shirt being torn, so I took the two ends on the front and tied them in a knot under my breasts.

No, I was not fully covered, but at the moment, that hardly seemed important.

“Mmm,” I sighed as I laid down on my jacket and rested my head on my hands.

Patrick’s warm hands slid over my body as he curled his own around mine.

By now, the sun was setting low in the sky and the forest was starting to quiet.

This was not the setting I normally liked, but after so many orgasms, it hardly seemed like a bad way to spend the night.

The fire was dying out, but Patrick tossed a few logs on and laid back down, keeping me warm as darkness settled around us.

“So, what else is in those dirty books of yours?” he grumbled from behind me.

I chuckled, wondering if he was already ready for another round. “Why? Interested in becoming a book hero?”

“Not particularly. You know those men aren’t real, right?”

I glanced at him over my shoulder, quirking an eyebrow at him. “I don’t know. What we just did seemed pretty damn real, and it rivaled anything I’ve read in a book.”

“Really?”

That cocky grin of his was so damn cute. I ran my fingers over the day-old growth along his jaw. “Who knew sex could be that good?”

“Not me.” He chuckled as he laid back down and stared up at the canopy above us. “I can honestly say I’ve never experienced anything like that.”

“That makes two of us.”

“So, what else makes these books so good?”

“You mean other than the tragic stories of love and betrayal? Danger and excitement?”

“You just did the whole love and betrayal thing. Did it work out how you wanted?”

My smile fell as I thought about walking in on James in that office. “No, not particularly.”

“How would that have turned out in your books?”

“He would have instantly realized what an ass he was, and he would have begged for me to forgive him. I wouldn’t, of course, and he would be miserable for weeks, calling me and pleading with me to listen to him.”

“Has he called you?”

“Nope,” I answered cheerily, trying not to sound pathetic. “In fact, when I snuck into his office to find out where he sent my stuff, I heard him saying to make sure the bitch never had access again. Me playing the part of the bitch.”

“But he cheated on you. I don’t get it.”

I rolled over in his arms and bit my lip as I prepared for yet another confession. “Well, I’m not totally innocent. When I went back to our apartment to get my things, he had locked me out. So, I broke down his door with a fire extinguisher.”

“Creative,” he grinned.

“And then I saw all my things were gone, so I sprayed the extinguisher all over his furniture and his favorite things. But I left his bed alone.”

“Why?”

Another smile tugged at my lips as I remembered my actions. “I sort of tore open the drywall and took the insulation from the walls.”

“Piper—”

“And I rubbed it in his sheets.”

He groaned, laughing at my actions.

“And then I rubbed it on the inside of all his shirts.”

“He had to know!”

I shook my head slowly. “I made sure the bed was perfectly made and his shirts looked pristine. He didn’t suspect a thing.”

“I hope you wore gloves.”

“I’m not an idiot. And I hope he ended up in the hospital for it.”

I didn’t regret it at all. A woman scorned…well, I’d never had the opportunity to live out my scorned fantasies until I met James. Now I felt like I could take on the world and ravage it.

“Remind me not to piss you off.”

“I doubt that will be an issue since we’ll be going our separate ways when we’re rescued.”

“Probably not, but still…who knows what you would do to me out here. I might end up as bear food.”

“Highly unlikely. I doubt I’d go up against a bear in the name of revenge.”

I let out a loud yawn, stretching as the heat from the fire lulled me into a sleepy state. All I wanted now was to get some sleep and wake up in a nice, warm bed.

“Do you think they’ll find us soon?”

“I’m sure they will. We’ll figure out a game plan in the morning if they haven’t found us yet.”

I nodded, but I was already drifting off to sleep as his words washed over me. I felt his arms tighten around me briefly before I was out.

When I woke up, it was not under the best circumstances. Patrick was shaking me awake, disrupting the best dream I’d had in ages. “What?” I groaned, batting away his hand.

“Piper, get up!”

The urgency in his voice was the only reason I didn’t fall back asleep.

My eyes flew open when I heard a low growl that sent shivers down my spine.

My gaze swung around the early morning light, landing on a very large, very angry-looking bear.

Gasping, I scrambled back on my hands and feet until I smashed into Patrick.

“Oh my God!”

“Just stay calm,” Patrick said, gripping me by the bicep and hauling me to my feet. “It’s okay. We’ll get out of this. Just don’t show any fear.”

“Right. I’ll be totally calm as a bear comes to eat me!”

The bear stood up on his hind legs and let out a huge roar that had me slamming my hands over my ears. I pried my eyes open as his roars dulled down, but the fact that he was quiet didn’t mean we were in the clear. He started pawing at the ground, huffing as he prowled toward us.

“Piper, get up that tree!” he said, pointing to one off to our right.

“What about you?”

“I’ll be right behind you. When I tell you, haul ass and get up that tree!”

I didn’t like the sound of that. “If you die, that leaves me with the bear!”

“Then I won’t die!”

“Somehow, I don’t believe you,” I hissed.

“Okay, I’m going to move forward and you’re going to slowly move to the tree. Got it?”

Before I could answer, he advanced on the bear, taking him on like David versus Goliath.

I walked with easy movements, trying my best not to startle the bear.

But fear had a firm grip on me, and when the bear looked my way, it was like he was looking right through me, determining that I was the easier target.

He let out a large roar and ran at me, scaring the crap out of me. Patrick dove in front of him, holding his hands up and yelling at the bear. The beast swatted at him, his large palm slamming into Patrick’s side, sending him flying into a tree with a deafening crack.

“Patrick!” I shouted, taking only a single step in his direction before the bear growled at me again.

“Get up the fucking tree!” he shouted, his face contorted in pain.

I retreated a single step, but then the bear advanced on Patrick. I couldn’t leave him there with no way to defend himself. The bear would eat him alive, and then I would be all alone.

“I’m not leaving you,” I said, determined to go down with the ship if necessary. “He…he’s just scared. He needs a soothing voice. Bears are just like cats. You have to talk slowly and don’t scare them.”

Patrick snorted. “Yeah, just like cats, plus three hundred pounds.”

“So pessimistic,” I muttered.

I wasn’t sure what possessed me to talk to a bear. I had to be crazy, but there was no way I’d leave Patrick to die after he just jumped in front of a bear for me.

“Piper!” Patrick hissed as I slowly made my way closer to the bear.

“Hey there, little guy,” I said calmly, earning a loud growl from the black bear. “Oh, okay. Sorry about that. You’re a big guy, aren’t you? Yes, you are,” I chuckled nervously. “You’re such a big bear. But you’re still cute. As cute as a button.”

The bear cocked his head to the side, making a confused sound.

“I know. Those mean men always want to paint you as the villain, but you’re not, are you? No, you’re just a sweet guy looking for some food. I get it. They’re all being mean. You’re just hungry. It’s summer and you need something to eat.”

The bear slowly raised to his hind legs and I paused, sucking in a breath.

“Piper, this is not working,” Patrick growled.

The bear growled again, but his eyes were on Patrick. “Be quiet. You’re scaring him.”

“Sure, I’m scaring him. The bear is three times my size, but I’m the scary one. He already laid me out flat. I’m pretty sure?—”

“He’s just misunderstood,” I said, continuing to talk in a soothing voice. “Aren’t you? They don’t understand what it’s like. You’re just trying to beef up before winter comes. If I had any food, I’d give it to you.”

“If you walk any closer, you’re gonna be his next meal,” Patrick said.

But I wasn’t listening. If I didn’t get this bear to calm down, we would both be his dinner. I crouched low, hoping to calm him. As if the bear understood, he got low to the ground, then rolled to his side and pawed at the air.

“Aw. Do you need a hug? Are you sad?”

“Piper!” Patrick snapped. “Do not hug the bear!”

“But he’s lonely. Look at the poor guy. He just wants some cuddles!”

“He’s a bear! A vicious man-eater! And he just tried to take me out. This is not one of your books!”

The bear popped up, and I could swear he took offense to Patrick’s comments.

“That is not nice. Don’t be mean to him. He’s out here all alone. He probably just needs some company.”

“He needs to be put down,” Patrick grumbled.

“Don’t you dare listen to him,” I told the bear. “You’re just a sweetie, aren’t you? Yes. Yes, you are. You just need some cuddles and love and?—”

The bear suddenly stood and let out a loud growl that had me freezing in place.

“Or not!” I screeched. I was out of ideas and options.

I was about to become bear food. No one would find a scrap of my bones if this beast had his way with me.

I stood tall and raised my hands over my head, letting out a fierce—actually, kitten-like—growl by comparison.

The bear whimpered and took a step back.

Certain I was winning, I took a step forward, pushing him back again and again until, finally, he turned and ran off through the woods.