Stranded with the Mountain Man Page 5

  When she stumbled again, he managed to hold her upright without plastering her to his chest this time. He had to keep his distance.

  “How are you feeling?” he asked, eyeing her carefully.

  “A little tired,” she admitted.

  “I’ll bring you back in.” Before he could stop himself, he’d scooped her up into his arms and cradled her against his chest. She was so soft, so right.

  “I’m okay,” she said, but she didn’t struggle, simply wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed closer. Satisfaction burrowed into him at her reaction.

  “Your head wound will take a while to fully heal,” he said, stepping into the dim interior of the cabin. “Concussions can be nasty. And the mountain altitude wouldn’t help. I remember it taking a while to get used to it.”

  She nodded and rested her head over his heart. When he lowered her to the bed, he hovered for a moment. Her beautiful dark eyes stared up at him, heavy-lidded with sleep. But the starved, lonely part of him wanted to believe it was desire.

  Unable to resist, he trailed his fingers over her bare neck as he retracted his hand. She gave him a soft smile in response.

  Then, her eyes closed, and Elijah wrenched himself back. He needed to stop this. She was tired and vulnerable and at his mercy. Yes, he wanted her, not only in his bed, but in his life. To talk to and take care of. Provide for and protect. But there were too many reasons it would never work. She was a city girl with a bag stuffed full of money. She’d never give all that away to live a simple life out here in the mountains with him. And he couldn’t follow her back to civilization. This was his mountain, his home. The only world he knew and the one he loved.

  To clear his head while she slept—and to wipe the image of her soft and welcoming in his bed—Elijah grabbed his hunting gear and headed off into the forest. It was easier away from her, in the peaceful silence of the mountain. Just him and the animals, all foraging for food together to make it through the rest of winter.

  He managed to flush out some rabbits, but his mind was so distracted he only managed to catch one. It would have to be enough. Even after he caught the rabbit, he stayed outdoors. It wasn’t until the sun fell that he finally made his way back home.

  Gia shook everything up, making him question things, making him ache for things he’d accepted long ago would never be for him.

  He couldn’t let her change him. Not when she would only be there for a short time. If her ankle was healed, he would have bundled her down the mountain already, but he knew that was his fear talking. It wouldn’t be wise to make the trek now. He knew the mountain well enough to know a snowstorm was coming. He didn’t know exactly when, but soon.

  It would be bad enough if he got trapped out there alone. But with an inexperienced mountaineer it could easily turn deadly.

  Yes, better to keep Gia here where she was safe. And if he was pleased by her having to stay longer, he wouldn’t think too hard about it.

  Chapter 7

  Gia woke to Elijah moving around the cabin. Meat was cooking, filling the cabin with its distinctive, mouth-watering scent. What was he making this time? She smiled before opening her eyes, soothed by the sounds and smells that were already familiar to her.

  She was warm, cared for, and safe. It was like every fantasy she’d had over the last seven years rolled into one. For so long she’d lived on the edge, with no one to rely on but herself. Now, she could relax, and let Elijah care for her. He wouldn’t hurt her. The tension she’d spent so long living with was slowly seeping away.

  She could get used to this.

  Not that she’d invite herself to stay in Elijah’s tiny cabin. There was barely space for the two of them as it was, and unless she wanted to live practically on top of him—

  Her mind instantly presented her with an image of her doing exactly that, naked and riding him in the narrow bed she was currently in. Her channel clenched around his phantom cock and her skin heated. What would he be like in bed? One minute he was forceful and commanding, the next almost shy. Which side of him would dominate during sex? Or would he alternate between both?

  Either way, the thought had her breath quickening, her clit pulsing in want.

  It had been so long. And Elijah was so strong, so handsome. He must have impressive muscles beneath his woolen shirt, from all the labor he did. What would it be like to have all that power beneath her? On top of her? Inside her?

  She sucked in a breath, and Elijah’s head whipped towards her.

  “Good, you’re awake. Dinner is nearly ready.”

  She nodded, but didn’t throw off the blanket. It was her only protection against his gaze, as if he’d somehow discern her thoughts. Not that it would be difficult. Her nipples were hard, and not from the cold since the fire roared beside her. Her cheeks were warm and most likely flushed with desire.

  She tried to get ahold of herself, cool herself down, think of anything else. To remind herself nothing could happen here, with Elijah. Sometimes she was convinced desire heated his eyes when he looked at her, but he always pulled away. She’d given him all the signals she remembered out there in the garden earlier and he hadn’t taken the bait.

  She’d accept that. She shouldn’t be having sex with random mountain men, anyway. She had much bigger things to think about.

  Like what she’d do when she left here.

  She’d always assumed she’d hide in a city. Cities were familiar to her, since she’d never lived anywhere else. It would be easier to get lost in one, and Ray would have a harder time finding her. But maybe, instead, she’d take a leaf out of Elijah’s book and hide alone somewhere in the wilderness.

  Not as extreme as he did it. She’d be much too afraid to be so far from any civilization, to have to rely on herself for everything. It had been so long since she’d had to rely on herself for anything related to her own survival.

  But she could live in a tiny town, maybe, like the one Elijah had described at the bottom of the mountain. Ray would never think to search for her there.

  Could she do it? Start a life so alien to anything she’d known before? Elijah made it seem easy, but Gia wasn’t stupid enough to think it would be the same for her. She had no skills or experience at living in the wilderness.

  And she’d get lonely. She was used to the noise and the bustle of a city. Used to being surrounded by people. First, in her family’s small house, where they’d all lived crowded together. Then at Ray’s mansion, where he had servants and bodyguards and a constant stream of visitors.

  Gia had never truly been alone before.

  Elijah turned with two plates in his hands, so Gia shook herself free of her thoughts and sat up. He handed her a plate and a fork. Tender meat in strips sat beside mashed potatoes and green beans.

  “This looks delicious,” she told him with a smile.

  Though he didn’t smile, pleasure at her approval lit his eyes. “Fresh-caught rabbit,” he proclaimed.

  “You went hunting?” she asked.

  He nodded.

  “I didn’t hear any gunshots.”

  He scowled. “I don’t hunt with guns. They’re loud and scare the other animals away. Plus, since I can’t make my own bullets with what equipment I’ve got, it would be wasteful. I’d have to keep trading for them.”

  She took a bite and it was delicious. Perfectly cooked. She suspected Elijah had sprinkled more of his precious salt on her dish than on his. Her heart warmed at the gesture.

  “What do you use instead?”

  “Traps and snares. Bow and arrow.”

  “You hunt with a bow and arrow?” she asked, eyes wide. “That’s so…old-fashioned. Like a lot of the stuff you do here, I guess.”

  His face did that adorable flush again. “It’s simpler.”

  “I guess so. But don’t you miss phones? The internet? TV?”

  He shook his head. “I have no one to call,” he admitted. “Even when I was a teen my father discouraged the internet. I never got addicted, so nothing mu
ch to miss. Though, Aaron and Sara tell me the internet is different nowadays.”

  “So what do you do for entertainment?”

  He shrugged. “I work.”

  “Just…always? Work?”

  “Some of it is more fun than others. I do my leatherwork in the evening. To trade. Sometimes Sara gives me books to borrow and I read those. But mostly I tend to my land.”

  “You need to learn to relax.”

  “It’s hard to be anything but relaxed out here,” he told her with a smile.

  Well, given her own experience, she could hardly argue with that.

  “But it’s such hard work,” she protested anyway. Ray hadn’t let her work. He said he didn’t want her to get rough hands, it would reflect badly on him. So she’d lived a pampered life for the last seven years, being waited on hand and foot. She must have become more used to the luxury than she’d realized.

  “I enjoy it. I’ve been talking to Aaron about putting in a geothermal heat pump. He’s given me the specs. Looks interesting, and would be a good thing to fill my time in the summer.”

  She stared at him. He worked hard because he enjoyed it, and because it filled his days. And for some reason that made her sad. Usually, he didn’t have evenings like this, where he relaxed and had someone to talk to. Surely, he must be lonely. Or maybe she was projecting her own thoughts onto him. He’d told her he was content, and she had no reason to doubt him.

  She finished off the meal. “That was excellent. You’re a good cook.”

  He shrugged, face blushing with a cross between embarrassment and pleasure. “When you have limited food options, you learn to make do with what you’ve got. Change it up.”

  He stood and took her plate from her, then carried it over to the sink. His back muscles shifted beneath his shirt as he washed them. Her core clenched again.

  “What will we do tonight?” she asked, trying for innocence and coming out seductive instead. Oops.

  He stilled for a brief moment, then continued with his task. “Since we’ll be in town soon, I need to get some more leatherwork ready to trade.”

  He finished up and wiped his hands dry before turning back to her.

  “So that’s what you trade?”

  “Mostly.”

  He didn’t give her any more information as he collected items from around the room. “I also need to sew up some holes in my clothes. I’ve been meaning to do it for a while but…” He trailed off and then shrugged.

  “I’ll sew,” she said, wanting to be useful.

  He raised an eyebrow. “You can sew?”

  She nodded and held out her hand. He reluctantly handed her the basket. Inside was a few items of clothing and everything she’d need to fix them.

  “I grew up poor,” she admitted, as they settled in and began to work. “My dad was never around, so mum had to take care of me. But she also supported her elderly parents, her aunt, and her young nephew on a cleaner’s salary. I learned to sew at an early age to take at least one burden off her.”

  “You’re not poor now, though,” Elijah commented.

  “No,” Gia agreed. The money she’d stolen saved her from that. “Ray found me. And when he married me, he promised to take care of my family for me.”

  Elijah froze. “You’re married.”

  “We’re…separated,” she said. It wasn’t exactly a lie. Surely stealing a man’s money and fleeing from him was hint enough she wanted a divorce.

  “You didn’t tell me.” Elijah sounded hurt and horrified by this revelation.

  “I’m sorry, it didn’t come up. I don’t like talking about it. About him.”

  “Separated,” he said, as if testing the word.

  “It was never a happy marriage,” she explained. “He only chose me because I’d be easy to manipulate. If I stepped out of line he could threaten my family. And because I didn’t know any better, and had nowhere to turn. We came from worlds apart.”

  He nodded and opened his mouth to ask more questions, but Gia shook her head. “I don’t want to talk about him.” She didn’t even want to think about him. Not here in this peaceful cabin, this quiet moment. She finally felt safe and didn’t want to bring all her fears and anxiety and miserable past into this space.

  Elijah reluctantly nodded.

  “Tell me about your leatherwork,” she said as an olive branch.

  “I need to do something with the skins of the animals I eat. Don’t want to waste them. Sometimes I make them into furs, but I prefer making useful things. Like belts and such.”

  “They’re beautiful,” she whispered, finally seeing what he was doing with his hands. It wasn’t only functional. He decorated them, making them attractive in a rough, raw way. It suited him.

  “Thank you,” he said, ducking his head. “It’s not much.”

  “No, it is. Do you know how much this artisanal handmade stuff goes for at markets? A lot. It’s very sought-after. And leatherwork is rare. As far as I’ve seen, anyway.”

  “Why do people buy it if it’s expensive?” Elijah asked, baffled.

  “Because it’s hipster and in fashion. Slow food, arts and crafts, all that kind of stuff.”

  “I don’t know what any of that means. What’s a hipster?”

  Gia laughed. “Oh, of course you wouldn’t know. And yet you look exactly like one,” she gasped out a laugh. Elijah, still frowning in confusion, chuckled along with her.

  Finally, she got herself under control. “Beards are in fashion now,” she said eventually. “It’s a look.”

  Elijah stroked his own beard. “Is it now?” A smile danced at the corner of his lips.

  She nodded. “Hipsters are like this crowd who wear skinny jeans and eat organic food and join animal rights causes and stuff. They support things like what you do here, with growing your own food and making your own items. Though they tend to be more pretentious than you, and buy handmade and organic things instead of making it for themselves.”

  “Are you a hipster?”

  She giggled and shook her head. “It’s not a rich people thing. Though I agree with a lot of what they do and support similar stuff.”

  “I’m so out of touch. When I’m in town I should ask Sara more about what’s in. Music and movies and fashion and celebrities. I haven’t been updated since about 2003.”

  “You missed the entire rise and fall of Brangelina.”

  “The what?”

  “Never mind. It’s kind of like you’ve been in a time warp.”

  He laughed and nodded. “I guess so. It’s been a long time since I cared about that kind of stuff.”

  “It’s all so overblown now. Celebrities are worshipped like gods.”

  “Not so different, then.”

  “The internet has made it worse, I think.”

  “I can see that.”

  “It’s not worth knowing about it unless you’re trying to be cool. And you’re a teenager. Though I still read the gossip magazines at the salon,” she admitted.

  He smiled, not judging her. “Maybe it’s not a bad thing to be in touch with what’s happening in the world, what’s popular. Better than being clueless like me. As long as you don’t get too obsessed, I suppose.”

  Gia didn’t mention she’d more than once become a little too obsessed with the love lives of certain celebrities. She didn’t have much else to focus on, without work, or kids, or any hobbies other than turning herself into a pretty ornament for her husband. Having something to entertain herself with—even if it was vapid—had kept her sane.

  “I have liked the rise in organic food and ethical, handmade products,” she told him to get the conversation back on track.

  He stared down at his leatherwork. “You really think stuff like this would sell? I trade it for next to nothing to Ed at the general store.”

  She nodded vigorously. “My bet is Ed sells it at a big markup and makes a tidy profit. Have you ever asked how he prices it?”

  Elijah shook his head. “Never occurred to me an
yone would want it. I thought he was humoring me, giving me the items in trade out of pity.”

  Gia snorted. “He might not know the value of what you’re giving him. But I can pretty much guarantee if Ed is a smart businessman, he’s selling these items for a good price. People on Etsy would love it.” At his blank look, she explained. “It’s an internet site for selling handmade goods.”

  “The world has changed so much.”

  “Not all for the better, let me assure you. The internet can be pretty nice, though.”

  He fell silent, staring at the belt in his hands. His expression was lost, and a little confused, and Gia’s heart warmed. She didn’t want to push him into something he wasn’t comfortable with, but she truly believed he had something worthwhile here.

  She shuffled forward and gentled her voice. “Maybe you could talk to Sara about selling your stuff online instead of to the guy at the store? Or at a local market? Maybe Ed could give you a better deal. Give you more in trade.” She could picture Elijah standing at a market stall, shyly telling people about his handmade leatherworks. He’d fit right in with the crowd.

  “Maybe,” Elijah said. “But it’s not only about what I can get, it’s also about what I can carry. I don’t want to trade for too much because I most likely won’t get it back here.”

  Gia sighed. “That makes sense.”

  They went back to their work, and Gia relaxed again. It wasn’t up to her how Elijah lived his life. She wasn’t his partner, or his wife. Though he was a little socially awkward, and could benefit from an advocate in business, it wasn’t her job to do that.

  Instead, she enjoyed the evening of quiet companionship.

  She could get used to this.

  Later that night, Gia finally asked to use the shower, and Elijah taught her everything she needed to know, warning her to be quick. The water was heated in the kitchen stove and mixed with cold, so there was a limited supply. She decided against washing her hair, but used his handmade soup to scrub the last two days of grime from her body.

  She felt renewed after showering and cleaning her teeth. She still wished for a mirror and comb, and wondered whether Elijah even noticed she looked like a huge mess. Her nail polish was chipped on both her fingers and toes, and her skin and hair were suffering from the lack of her expensive products.