“Where am I?” She tries to sit up, but I hold her down gently so she doesn’t hurt herself.
“You’re safe. You were in an accident in the storm, but you’re okay. You just need to stay still.”
She reaches up and touches the place on the side of her face where she must have hit the window or the steering wheel.
“Let me get you cleaned up. It’s going to be okay. You’re just a little cloudy from the accident.” Maybe she hit her head harder than I thought, but I need to keep her calm and not panic.
She looks up at me, and to my surprise, when she grabs my arm, her grip is tight. “You’re going to take care of me?”
I place my hand on top of hers and look into her eyes. “Of course I am.”
She glances down at the diamond on her finger and then back up at me. “Because you’re my husband?”
My lips part to tell her that I’m not, but something selfish and possessive curls inside of me. I need to keep her calm, but I knew the moment I looked at Bri that she was meant to be mine. Even if it’s only for a little while, I want to say it out loud.
“Yes, because I’m your husband.”
Chapter Five
BRI
“I need to get you out of these wet clothes, baby,” Wilder says as he looks at my soaked sweater. It’s then I realize how cold I am. All I’d noticed at first was the pounding in my head. Also, the very handsome man that’s taking care of me.
My husband. Damn, I’m one lucky girl.
It feels right too because there’s something familiar about him. If there wasn’t, I think I’d be freaking out. The man is a giant beast with his scruffy beard and shaggy hair. My beast, apparently.
“Okay.” I lift my hands over my head so he can pull the sweater off for me. He pauses for a moment, seeming to debate something before he grips the bottom and helps to gently pull it up over my head. He’s careful with the side of my head that’s pounding, and once I’m out of it, he tosses it away.
I’m pretty sure he’s trying not to stare, but it’s not like this is something he hasn’t seen before. We’re married after all, so I hope he’s seen it a lot and still enjoys it.
“Bra too, babe.” This time he doesn’t wait for me to signal for him to take it off. In one quick flick, he has it falling away from my body and leaving me topless. Only a blanket covers my lap, and I can feel I still have panties on. I pull the blanket up to wrap it around me so I can try to get warm. The cold is starting to sink deeper, and my teeth chatter.
“I’ll put some more wood on the fire.” Wilder’s voice comes out gruff, but he doesn't move. Instead, he stands there, but he’s no longer trying to pretend he’s not staring at me.
With him looming over me while I’m sitting on the sofa, I can’t help but notice the outline of his erection through his jeans. It’s as big as the rest of him, and I’m unable to stop myself from openly staring back. I wonder how on earth it’s possible we fit together. I’m small, but he must somehow make it fit. I press my thighs together as my mind starts conjuring up how that math works out.
I’ve got a terrible headache, but still I’m getting all turned on staring at my husband and thinking about our sex life. I bet we have a really good one then.
“Sorry,” he grits out and then steps back quickly to tend to the fire.
“Why are you sorry?” I watch him and realize that I want him to come back over to me.
“Because you’re in pain, and I’m turned on.”
“Are we newlyweds or something?” I tease.
“Something like that,” he grumbles, seeming pissed. “Lean back and relax. This will only take me a second, and then I want to take a look at your head. The first thing we need to do is get you warm.”
“I think it’s okay.” I reach up and touch the area that is throbbing and wince. It still hurts, but the cold is actually starting to bother me more now. I want him to get under the blankets with me. I think that would warm me up quicker, and I’m not even trying to be dirty about it. I bet his giant body would get me hot in seconds.
“It’s not okay. You’re done driving,” he mutters. “You know what, you’re banned from it.” I think he’s mostly talking to himself.
“Was I driving?” I ask, realizing I don’t even know what happened to me.
“Yeah, picking up some supplies I forgot.” The fire burns brighter, and I wrap the blankets around me.
“I didn’t ruin our car or something, did I?”
“Just an old truck, but it doesn’t matter.” He walks back over to me, and his hand goes to my chin. He tilts my face back and forth, assessing the damage.
“Is it bad?” He’s got to be the most handsome thing I bet I’ve ever seen, and I’m sure I’m a hot mess right now.
“You’re always beautiful.” He says it like he’s reading my mind, and there’s no missing the heat in his eyes.
“Are you always this sweet?”
“With you? Yeah, when I’m not being a jealous asshole.” He drops his hand, and my curiosity is piqued now. He gets jealous over me? My mountain man is possessive. Damn, that sounds hot. “Let me get the first aid kit.”
He walks out of the living room leaving me alone, and I stare down the hallway after him. When he reappears a moment later, I release a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. He grabs the coffee table and pulls it over toward the sofa before he sits down on the corner of it. It makes a small groaning sound under his weight, and I wonder just how solid he is under those clothes.
“If it breaks you’re going to hurt yourself,” I tease.
“It’s not going to give. I built it.”
“Really? It’s beautiful.” I lean forward to run my fingers along the wooden table. My arm brushes against Wilder’s outer thigh, and he stiffens. I turn my face toward him, and he stares at my mouth. Leaning forward, I touch my lips gently against his. “I’m okay,” I try to reassure him, but he’s so tense and worked up.
“Let me clean the wound.” His words once again come out rough and low.
“Okay,” I agree.
He opens the kit and pulls out some alcohol wipes. A hiss of pain comes from me when he passes over the wound the first time.
“Sorry.” I smile when he blows cool air on it to take away the pain. “It’s not as bad as I thought. Head wounds can bleed a lot, so it’s scary, but thankfully it’s only a small gash.”
“That’s good,” I say through a yawn.
“Don’t get any ideas. I’m going to keep you awake for a bit.” I nod and watch him as he takes care of the cut on my head.
So far I’ve gathered that I’m a terrible driver, I’m married to a hot lumberjack, and I live in a beautiful cabin. “Do you make furniture for a living?”
“No, I’ve commissioned a few pieces here and there, but I own a ski resort and have some family money that’s invested.” The cabin is quaint, but I can tell it’s not cheap. We must do okay.
“So you’re pretty much just a mountain man,” I tease, and his lips twitch. “We own a resort? Do I work there?”