I smile to myself, thinking of scientifically cataloging him. Homo sapiens squalentum. Yeah, that fits. Rugged Man.
"I'm going to take a shower," he says, clomping off toward the bathroom without looking at me. But then as he reaches the door, he turns and gives me a look.
It pins me to my spot on the floor, makes my belly flutter with excitement, my nipples get hard. There's dark promise in that gaze. Homo sapiens squalentum. Wicked, feral rugged man, getting clean for me. Grooming is an essential part of the mating dance.
The water cuts on and every cell in my body stands up at attention. Caleb's in there, naked, getting ready to seduce me. This is happening.
Hormones flood my body. My ovaries are fanning themselves. I can practically feel them letting down eggs in pairs. Go get some, girl, they cheer. It's about time!
It is about time. I sincerely hope he lives up to his boasting.
Somehow, I have a feeling he will.
Caleb
HUMAN.
Female.
Human.
Female.
As I stand under the spray of water, my brain and my bear go around and around. I'm trying to remind my bear that the very delectable woman in my cabin is human and; therefore, fragile. Too delicate for all the things I want to do to her. My bear wants me to do to her.
All my bear roars is, female. And it's with the territorial dominance of a bear in full competition. As if we were in spring mating season and he has to fight off all the other males. He's aggressive. Posturing.
And he needs to tone it the fuck down or I won't have any finesse at all with that female. I won't be able to change her opinion about men and sex. And for some unknown reason, that goal grows more and more important to me by the minute.
I fist my cock. I'd better let off some steam or I could lose control. But no, I'm too impatient. Too needy for the real thing. I can handle this. My head is on straight. I'll keep the bear down. I soap up, washing every crevice, shampooing my hair. I even consider shaving the beard, but then I discard that idea. I haven't shaved since Jen and Gretchen died. My signal to the world that I was out.
And while the numbness may have thawed these last twenty-four hours, I'm not ready to return to the living yet.
No matter how alluring that beautiful redhead out there may be.
I turn off the water and towel dry, then tug my boxers and jeans back on. I don't bother buttoning or zipping the jeans, nor do I put on a shirt.
I saw the way she looked at my tattooed chest and arms this morning. She finds them attractive, no matter what she may say about hating sex. And I want her primed. I need all the help I can get to do this right.
A whisper of the half-dead Caleb speaks from the mirror. What are you doing with another woman?
I look away. Nothing. Just answering a challenge, that's all. A male has to prove himself when challenged, right?
Nothing else.
She knows it's nothing more than sex. For research purposes.
I emerge from the steamy bathroom and find Miranda at the back door. It's illogical. I know she's not going anywhere-she can't go anywhere, but when I see her there, I close the distance between us with three long strides.
Of course she was only letting her dog out to pee. The snow-covered pup comes back in.
I clap my hand on the door and slam it shut, then pop her ass with the flat of my other palm.
She squeals and spins around.
"You're letting in the cold air." It's a stupid thing to say. I could give a shit if she lets in cold air or not-I kept the cabin toasty warm for her all day and the cold wind actually feels refreshing. No, it was more about keeping her in.
She's the hunted now.
My prey.
Her cheeks flush a charming shade of pink. "You-you can't just slap a woman's ass."
"I can't?"
"No! Not without consent," she sputters. "That's just, that's just-"
I raise a brow. My bear is unbelievably turned on by her bluster. I fucking love when she gives it back to me. She may be human, but she mates like a bear. A sow will charge a male, maybe swat him with her paw, especially if it's her first time.
The boar will rarely retaliate. He just bides his time, knowing she'll eventually give in.
"That's just unacceptable!" she finishes, breathless.
I crowd the sexy scientist against the dryer without touching her. I brace my hands on either side of her, caging her in.
"I need consent, huh?" I dip my head, get my lips close to her ear, still not touching her anywhere.
"Y-yes." Her voice drops to a near whisper.
"Tell me this, Dr. M," I rumble, breathing in her strawberries and ice cream scent. "Would you consent to me turning you around, bending you over and slapping that ass a few more times to warm it up?"
She makes a tiny sound. Her wide green eyes gaze into mine, her soft lips part. "Um…"
"Afterward, I'd spread those legs wide and lick you from behind. Lick you until you scream. Tell me, do you consent to that?"
She swallows and bobs her head. "I-I guess I'd be up for trying that."
I can't stop the feral smile from spreading across my face.
"Good girl," I murmur, dropping my hands to her waist and slowly rotating her to face the dryer. "You won't be sorry. I promise." My voice sounds thicker than usual.
"First thing we have to do is get rid of these." I hook my thumbs in the waistband of my sweatpants-the ones she's been wearing the hell out of-and slide them down over her wide hips. She kicks them off before I can squat to help her. I step into her space, pressing my hardened cock against her back as I reach around the front of her and work the buttons on the flannel. "I'm gonna need you fully naked for this."