Miranda
“Bear! Get back here!” I race up the mountain trail, rounding a boulder just in time to see the fringe of my dog’s tail disappear between two trees.
He took off, barking. I hightail it after him, shivering at a little flashback of my kidnapping earlier this year. The woods are safe now
A shadow falls across me. “What did I tell you about hiking alone in these woods?”
I jerk around, leaping out of my skin until my eyes hit Caleb, stepping out from behind a tree.
“Ohmygod, Caleb, you scared the crap out of me.”
With a happy growl, he moves in, picking me straight up and kissing the hell out of me. My legs wrap tight around his hips, my breasts swelling to brush against his chest. His hard, bare chest. Mmmm…
We’re all tangled up with lips and tongue, Bear circling around us barking.
“Careful, pretty lady,” he growls. “Not safe out here on your own.”
“Why? Is there a big bad bear who might eat me?”
“Damn straight.” He squeezes my ass, then gives it a healthy slap.
“The mating call of the mountain were-bear,” I murmur.
“You know it.” I just moved up here permanently, and we’re still in our honeymoon phase. Caleb got WiFi and I got a research grant that will allow me to live and work up here on the mountain.
Turns out leaving my colleagues and stepping out of the rat race of UNM was the best decision I ever made. I’ve never been so happy in my life.
“Something came for you.” Caleb pulls a letter out of his back pocket.
I catch the name of the science publication I submitted to and snatch it out of his hand, ripping it open in record time.
I unfold it, skimming as fast as I can. “Yes!”
Caleb raises his brows in question.
“It’s a yes! They took my paper for publication and invited me to present at the annual conference! This is huge!”
“Congratulations!” Caleb picks me up and swings me around. “You did it. I knew you would. You are amazing!”
“Thank you, thank you, thank you.” I kiss his ear and temple, everywhere my lips reach.
He laughs. “What are you thanking me for?”
“Believing in me. Making me happy. This life.”
He squeezes me tighter, so tight my breath leaves my chest. “Fuck, I love you, babe.”
“I love you so much, Caleb.”
He eases me down, twining his fingers in mine and tugging me back to the cabin.
“Where are we going?” I laugh, even though I already know the answer.
“To celebrate. Naked. All afternoon.”
“Hmm…” I pretend to consider. “Yes, I think that would contribute to my research.” I beam up at him, my happiness bubbling all around me.
He sweeps me up into his arms like I weigh nothing and carries me back to the cabin, where I know he’ll make sure I get all the data points necessary.
