Page 12 of Protected by the Mountain Man (Grizzly Ridge: Protectors #3)

RILEY

I wake to the sound of rain hammering against the cabin roof. The space beside me is empty, sheets cool to the touch. Elias has been up for a while.

Stretching languidly, I savor the pleasant soreness in my muscles. We'd made love three times after Sawyer's call, each encounter more intense than the last as Elias gradually unleashed the control he maintains so rigidly in every other aspect of his life.

The memory of his hands on my body and his mouth claiming every inch of me send heat pooling low in my belly. One night together and I'm already addicted to him.

I slip from the bed, pulling on Elias's discarded shirt from yesterday. It hangs to mid-thigh, swallowing my smaller frame in a way that feels deliciously intimate. His scent surrounds me as I pad barefoot through the cabin, following the smell of coffee and the low murmur of voices.

I pause in the hallway when I realize Elias isn't alone.

His brother Finn sits at the kitchen counter, nursing a mug of coffee while Elias stands opposite him, his back to me.

Their voices are too low to make out words, but the tension in Elias's shoulders tells me they're discussing something serious.

Probably me. Probably Brad.

I clear my throat, announcing my presence. Both men turn, their identical blue eyes finding me in the doorway.

"Morning," I say, suddenly aware of how I must look with my hair tousled from sleep and sex, wearing nothing but Elias's shirt.

Finn recovers first, a grin spreading across his face as he takes in my appearance. Unlike the perpetually serious Elias, Finn has a reputation as the most approachable McKenna brother. "Morning, Riley. Sleep well?"

The teasing note in his voice makes me blush, but I refuse to be embarrassed. "Very well, thanks."

Elias crosses to me in three long strides, his hand settling at the small of my back as he presses a kiss to my temple. "Coffee's fresh," he murmurs.

"Thanks." I lean into him briefly before moving to pour myself a mug. "What brings you up the mountain so early, Finn?"

The brothers exchange a look I can't quite interpret.

"Security detail," Finn answers, taking a sip of his coffee. "Sawyer's orders."

"Meaning he's babysitting us until the hearing on Monday," Elias clarifies, his tone making it clear he's not entirely pleased with the arrangement.

"Not babysitting," Finn corrects. "Strategic reinforcement. And don't worry, I'm sleeping in the guest cabin. I know when three's a crowd."

Heat rises to my cheeks again at the implication, but Elias merely grunts in acknowledgment.

"How bad is it?" I ask, cutting through the tension. "In town, I mean. After yesterday."

Another look passes between the brothers before Finn answers. "The town's divided. Brad's allies versus everyone else. Maggie's diner is doing record business from people showing support. The hardware store, which Ronald Cooper owns, is practically empty."

"And Brad?" I can't help asking, though part of me doesn't want to know.

"Drinking," Finn says bluntly. "Making threats. Nothing he's stupid enough to act on yet."

"Yet being the operative word," Elias adds, his hand returning to my back. The possessive touch grounds me. "That's why you're staying here until Monday. Both of us are."

A second thrill runs through me at the memory of three days alone with Elias to explore this new thing between us and learn every inch of him as thoroughly as he's learned me.

"I should check the perimeter," Finn says, rising from his stool. "Make sure our security measures are still intact after that rain last night."

Elias nods. "Take the north trail first. Motion sensor went off around dawn, but it was probably just deer."

"On it." Finn collects a rifle from near the door, shrugs into a rain jacket, and heads out into the downpour.

The moment the door closes behind him, I turn to face Elias fully, setting my coffee aside. "Now that we have a moment alone, talk to me. How worried should I be about this hearing?"

Elias's expression shifts, the mask of calm control he wears for others falling away to reveal the concern beneath.

"Honestly? With Harmon presiding, I'd be very worried if the hearing was in Grizzly Ridge. The Coopers have a lot of financial influence in the town. But lucky for us, it’s in Helena, at the county court. I think we have a good chance."

I nod, appreciating his honesty. "Tell me about Rebecca Winters. How do you know her?"

"She's Caleb's friend," he explains, pulling me to sit beside him at the kitchen table. "She grew up in town, but left for college, then stayed away for law school. She’s really a criminal defense attorney, but she knows her way around domestic violence cases, too. If I had to put your faith in anyone’s hands, it’d be hers. "

"What do I need to do to prepare?"

His eyes soften at my practical question, pride evident in his expression. "Gather everything. The photos of your bruises. Screenshots of any threatening messages. Names of witnesses who saw Brad grab you or heard him threaten you."

"I have most of it on my laptop," I tell him. "The rest is in storage with my other things."

"Make a list. Sawyer can get whatever we need from your storage unit." He takes my hand, thumb stroking my knuckles. "Rebecca will want to meet tomorrow to go over your testimony."

I steel myself, pushing down the anxiety that threatens to surface. "I can do this. I've faced him before."

"You won't face him alone," Elias says, conviction in every syllable. "Not ever again."

The promise settles around me like a warm blanket, offering protection without suffocation. This is what I've always wanted without knowing it—someone who stands beside me rather than in front of me, who sees me as an equal partner in my own protection.

A loud beeping suddenly cuts through the cabin, making me jump. Elias is on his feet instantly, moving to the security panel by the door.

"It’s the motion sensor on the east boundary," he says, scanning the readout. "Probably Finn, but..."

He doesn't finish the sentence, instead moving to the rifle rack and retrieving a shotgun. The smooth, practiced way he checks the weapon speaks of years of training.

"Stay here," he tells me, voice brooking no argument. "Lock the door behind me."

Before I can protest, he's gone, slipping into the rain with silent efficiency. The abrupt shift from loving partner to vigilant protector is jarring.

I lock the door as instructed, then move to the window, scanning the treeline for any sign of movement.

The rain reduces visibility, transforming the familiar landscape into a misty, uncertain terrain.

Somewhere out there, Elias is tracking whatever triggered the alarm, putting himself between potential danger and me.

The minutes stretch endlessly. I pace the cabin, checking the time, checking the window, anxiety mounting with each passing second.

Just when I'm about to disregard his instructions and go looking for him, the security panel chimes again.

The front door opens, and Elias steps inside, dripping but unharmed.

"False alarm," he says, setting the shotgun back in its place. "It was just deer. A whole family of them crossing the eastern boundary."

Relief washes through me, followed by embarrassment at my overreaction. "Sorry for freaking out."

"Don't be." He crosses to me, rain-damp hands cupping my face. "Being cautious isn't the same as being afraid. And I'd rather check a hundred false alarms than miss one real threat."

The intensity in his eyes reminds me that for Elias, this isn't abstract. His military background has shown him exactly what happens when threats are dismissed as paranoia.

"You're right," I acknowledge, covering his hands with mine. "Better safe than sorry."

He presses a quick kiss to my forehead before releasing me. "I need to change. Then we should make that list for Sawyer."

As he disappears into the bedroom, I move to my laptop, already compiling a mental inventory of the evidence we'll need for Monday. The work gives me focus, channeling my nervous energy into something productive rather than endless worrying.

By the time Elias returns, dressed in dry clothes, I've created a detailed document listing everything from witness names to the dates and times of Brad's most egregious behavior. Seeing it all laid out in black and white makes me wonder how I managed to stay as long as I did.

"This is good," Elias says, reading over my shoulder. "Very thorough."

"Years of journalism training," I explain, saving the document. "Facts, dates, verifiable details."

His hand squeezes my shoulder. "Your father would be proud of you, you know. Standing up for yourself like this."

The simple affirmation brings unexpected tears to my eyes. "I hope so."

"I know so." He pulls me into his arms, solid and reassuring. "Bill Hart raised a fighter. And fighters don't give up, even when the odds are stacked against them."

I rest my head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. "Neither do McKennas, from what I've seen."

"Damn right we don't." His voice rumbles beneath my ear. "And we protect what's ours. Always."

The possessive declaration should feel confining, but from Elias, it only feels like safety. Like finally finding my place in a world that's often been indifferent to my struggles.

The rest of the day passes in a strange blend of domesticity and vigilance.

Finn returns, soaked but thorough in his security check, reporting nothing suspicious around the property perimeter.

Elias maintains regular contact with Sawyer, coordinating the collection of evidence from my storage unit and the preparation for Monday's hearing.

Between these moments of practical preparation, we find time for softer connections.

Teaching Elias how to make my mother's pasta sauce, that I learned from my dad, from the limited ingredients in his pantry.

Curling together on the couch while rain drums against the windows, sharing childhood stories that have nothing to do with protection orders or courtrooms.

By evening, a tentative peace has settled over the cabin. Finn retreats to the guest cabin after dinner, pointedly giving us privacy with a wink that makes me blush and Elias roll his eyes.

After the door closes behind his brother, Elias pulls me into his arms, his embrace conveying everything words cannot. The stress of the day fades beneath the certainty of his touch.

"I've been wanting to do this all day," he murmurs against my hair.

"Just this?" I tease, pressing closer to feel the evidence of his desire against me.

His laugh is low and rich. "Not just this. But it's a good start."

I tilt my face up for his kiss, surrendering to the hunger that's been simmering between us despite the day's distractions. His mouth claims mine with practiced familiarity now, yet the thrill remains just as intense as the first time.

We make it as far as the couch before clothes start disappearing, hands rediscovering planes and curves with growing urgency. Elias takes his time with me, his touch both reverent and possessive, drawing out my pleasure until I'm begging for release.

When he finally joins our bodies, the sense of completeness is overwhelming.

This is what was missing before, not just physical satisfaction, but the soul-deep connection of being truly known, truly accepted.

As we move together in the firelight, learning each other all over again, the shadow of Monday's hearing recedes to insignificance.

Whatever comes, we face it together. And in that unity lies a strength greater than any courtroom, any legal decision, any threat Brad Cooper might pose.