Master of the Mountain

Chapter Fourteen

When Thor's ears perked forward, Rebecca sat up. “What?” She tilted her head and then could hear it too: a shrill sound from higher up. Another. Someone was blowing a whistle.

Oh God. Thank you, God. A sob wrenched out of her as tears overflowed her eyes. Now with hopes of rescue, she could admit how terrified she'd been.

She rubbed the wetness off her cheeks. No wussy behavior. It was probably Logan. After taking a slow breath, she firmed up her voice. “Here!” she yelled. “We're here.”

She could see someone up high, about where she'd left the trail. A second later, Logan came down the incline in a graceful slide, Jake shortly after. They followed the path she'd broken through the streamside brush.

They stalked up to the stream, two powerful men, like two more animals that belonged here in the forest. Logan stopped at the edge of the stream for only a second before crossing on the same stones she'd used, so fast and coordinated she wanted to hit him. Jake moved just as fast.

Shoulder to shoulder, they scowled down at her.

“I hurt my ankle,” she said meekly, wanting only to fling herself into Logan's arms. “And Thor hurt his foot. He got trapped in there.” She pointed at the pile of river wrack.

Logan didn't speak as he knelt beside her. His eyes were cold, the muscles of his jaw rigid, and she realized he was furious. Boiling-over and ready-to-yell furious. He stared at her and then inhaled, and his anger disappeared. How did he do that? Have so much control over his emotions?

“Come here,” he said softly and pulled her into his arms. Oh God. His scent surrounded her, and his arms wrapped her in security. She laid her cheek against his muscular chest and tried really, really hard not to cry. She didn't succeed very well.

“Shhh,” he whispered, stroking her hair. “You're safe, sweetheart.” A growl entered his voice. “For now.”

After a minute, she got herself under control and reluctantly pushed back. No time to be a baby.

Logan wiped a tear off her cheek with his thumb, his gaze intense. Then he gave her a nod and turned his attention to her ankle. When he rolled up the leg of her jeans, she saw how her left ankle swelled over her sneaker.

“There's a mess,” he muttered. “The shoe stays on for now, but I'm going to wrap it for extra bracing.” He pulled Ace wrap out of his pack and started to strap up her ankle.

She gritted her teeth at the wave of pain, digging her fingers into the sparse grass to keep from yelling. Or bawling. Logan's gaze flickered over her face, her hands, but he didn't stop.

When he finally secured the end of the elastic wrap, and the pain decreased to a tolerable throbbing, Rebecca pulled in a breath.

Logan squeezed her shoulder. “Brave girl,” he murmured, before rising. “Thor okay?” he asked Jake.

“Paw's ripped up some, but it'll heal.” Jake grinned at Rebecca. “Nice bandaging material, Red.”

Logan glanced at the bloodstained chemise still wrapped around Thor's paw and snorted a laugh.

“Looks like we'd better go straight west till we cut the old Bear Trail and use the Cedar Tree crossing,” Jake said.

Logan eyed the stream. “Agreed.” He grasped Rebecca under her arms and hauled her up.

Pain stabbed through her ankle, but she managed to turn her scream into a hiss.

Logan's hands closed on her upper arms, steadying her. He pulled her arm over his shoulders. “You're going to use me and Jake as if we're crutches. If the going gets too rough or you can't manage, then I'll carry you.”

Carry her? She looked at him in horror. She'd die before that happened. Besides, she wasn't the only injured one here. “I'll be fine. You should carry Thor.”

Logan's eyes softened, and he brushed her cheek with his knuckles. “You're just a marshmallow inside, aren't you?” He glanced at the dog. “He has four legs; missing one will barely slow him down.”

Jake took his place on her other side. Between the two of them, she felt like a midget, and he apparently caught her thought. “Okay, short stuff, grab on, and let's do this before it's too dark to see.”

By the time they reached the lodge, Logan was drenched with sweat, and Becca white-faced with pain. No complaints from the city girl, though. Every time he asked if she hurt, she'd say, “I'm fine.” As a man, he appreciated her stoic bravery. As a Dom, he wanted the truth, but halfway down a mountain near sunset didn't seem the time for a lecture on honesty. Instead, he monitored her carefully, and when the tendons on her neck stood out, her lips tightened to a thin line, or her breathing turned shallow, he'd ignore her protests and have Jake put her up on his back.

The only other times she spoke on the trip down were to express concern for him and Jake. And the dog.

Thor, being Thor, led the way down, despite his hurt paw, and the white tip of his tail made a beacon in the darkness of the forest. Still in front at the end of the trail, he trotted onto the lodge porch and waited for someone to open the door.

“Probably wants supper now, the bastard,” Jake grumbled.

Rebecca stopped just inside the door. “He needs to have his foot taken care of. I-”

Logan shook his head. Marshmallow heart. He and Jake had seen the trail in the mud of the streambed, the marks left by her hands and knees showing she'd crawled to Thor after she'd injured herself. He scooped her into his arms. “Jake can handle Thor.”

He carried her upstairs, leaving Jake to reassure the swingers she was all right.

Despite her halfhearted protests, he stripped her of her clothing and put her into a steamy shower, joining her a second later. Seeing her there, feeling her naked body against him, eased the last remnants of worry inside him.

Fuck, but she'd scared the shit out of him.

Soaping up her body only deepened his anger. Vivid scratches stood out on the delicate skin of her arms. Another red line marred her cheek. She was so fragile and soft, and she could have died so easily.

When he tried to dry her off, she shook her head and pulled the towel out of his hands. “I can do it, Logan. My ankle's hurt, not anything else.”

He almost growled at her then, but the fury inside him would have to wait for a more appropriate time. He yanked on jeans and a T-shirt. After tossing more pillows on the bed, he hunted up water and medicine, then prepared an ice bag.

For the comfort of his modest sub, he searched her suitcase for a nightgown and handed it into the bathroom. “Let me know when you're ready to come out.”

A second later, she appeared in the door, her injured foot touching the floor slightly.

He carried her to the bed. Her fragrant body felt appallingly breakable in his arms, and he wanted to hold her. To take her. To beat her ass. He set her on the edge of the bed, handed her a couple of ibuprofens and a glass of water. “Take these, and I'll see how much damage you've done.”

She swallowed the pain pills. “I think it's just sprained. It hurts less now.”

“Uh-huh.” Since he'd unwrapped the ankle in the shower, it had doubled in size. He palpated the bones carefully. He could see the way she bit back her groans. How her hands fisted in the covers. Fuck, he hated hurting her. A man protects his woman, and he'd done a lame-ass job. He should have told her more of the dangers, should have insisted she come with him to town. Should never have left her alone. He sighed and released her foot. “Without an x-ray, I can't say for sure, but looks like just a sprain. Lie back.”

He strapped her ankle tightly enough to keep some of the swelling down but not cut off circulation, then elevated her leg on a couple of pillows.

She studied his handiwork. “You're pretty good at that. It looks almost pretty.”

“Sports, military, wilderness training. I've had a lot of practice.” He picked up the pillowcase that he'd filled with plastic bags of ice and draped it over and around her ankle.

A staccato rap sounded on the door, and without waiting for a response, Jake strolled in.

Logan scowled. “You ever consider I might be busy?”

“Later, I'm sure, but you won't jump her ass when she's hurting.” The glint in Jake's eyes showed he knew what Logan planned to do to that pretty ass. “Here's some soup. It'll probably go down better than anything else right now.” He handed Rebecca a steaming mug and a plate of toast. Buttered, even.

One of the most popular Doms in the area, Jake could be hard as nails, but for a hurt female, he turned as soft as the butter on that toast.

“Thank you, Jake,” Rebecca said, taking a sip of the soup and giving a sigh of enjoyment.

“My pleasure.” He nodded at Logan and left, his boots thudding loudly on the stairs.

Logan turned and looked at Becca. Foot up and iced, water on the nightstand, food in hand. Pink colored her cheeks again, and the lines of pain had eased around her mouth and eyes. As his fear for her died, the urge to yell at her grew. He needed to leave and let her rest. For a bit. “Foot feel better?” he asked, just to check.

She wiggled her ankle slightly. “Just some throbbing now. I'm sure it'll be fine in the morning.”

“You'll stay off your feet for a couple of days. And we'll get it x-rayed tomorrow if it still hurts at all.” He could take her down the mountain in the morning, have it checked out. “Finish your food and take a nap. One of us will be downstairs, so if you need something, you yell. Don't get up.”

She nodded, apparently willing to obey his orders.

That would be a change.

As Logan left the room, Rebecca felt tears prickle at her eyes. It had taken all her resolve not to break down and drench the man in tears again. He'd rescued her. And then he'd actually carried her every time she started to give out. Carried her. And taken care of her like she was his…his girlfriend or something. Surely he wouldn't have climbed into the shower with any of the other guests.

She sighed, knowing her emotions were messed up from exhaustion and fear. Her body felt like she'd run a marathon, so she did what Logan had ordered. Finished the food, drank the water, and took a nap.

Tapping at the open door wakened her. “Yes?” She blinked and looked around. Logan must have been in earlier, since all the bedroom lights were off. She glanced at the glowing clock. Ten thirty. She'd been asleep almost three hours. “Come in,” she called.

She could hear footsteps, and then Matt appeared in the doorway. “Hey, babe. How are you doing?”

“Better.” She grimaced. “I wrenched my ankle good, though.”

“So I hear.” He ran his hands through his hair. “I didn't realize you'd gone off by yourself. Why didn't you come and get me?”

“I didn't think I had time to run around looking for a hiking partner. I was too worried about Thor.” And rightly so. He had been hurt and needed her. “Did you see him? Is he all right?”

“Yeah, Logan doctored his foot and wrapped up his paw.” Matt grinned. “Thor had the gauze off in minutes.”

Rebecca laughed, and the worry knot in her stomach loosened. Thor would be all right.

“Anyway, I wanted to ask you about tomorrow. I'd planned to leave right at dawn. Is that still going to work for you?”

Leave? The unexpected reminder hit her like a kick in the stomach, stealing her breath. They were leaving tomorrow. I'm not ready. She wanted to grab on to the bed and yell, I won't go.

Unrealistic, Rebecca. True, she'd never felt like this about any man before, but her home was in San Francisco. Unhappiness settled inside her chest as she realized that Logan had never said anything about her staying or even about seeing her again.

Maybe he felt shy?

Logan? Get real. Maybe she could bring the subject up? Somehow?

But Matt needed an answer now. Make plans now, they could always be changed later. “Dawn is fine. I'll meet you on the front porch.” She nodded at her suitcase. “Can you leave me some clothes for tomorrow, and take the suitcase now? With my ankle screwed up, I'm not sure I can haul it down the stairs.”

“Sure.” He knelt by the suitcase and pulled out a bra and panties first, added jeans, and held up a top. “Will this shirt be okay?”

A painful pang shot through her. No more of Logan's flannel shirts. “Sure.” She didn't even bother to see which one. “Works fine.”

“Good.” He set the clothing in a stack on the dresser, then picked the suitcase up. “I'd better go, so you can get some sleep.

She dredged up a smile. “See you in the morning.”

After Logan returned from making the rounds of the lodge, he checked the main room. With Thor at his feet, Jake sat by the fire, talking with Ted and Vince. The two were managers of a recreational sports company, and his brother had wanted to get a good deal on new equipment for the lodge.

Logan nodded at Ted and Vince, then asked Jake, “Everything all right with the crew?”

“They're good. Most of them are in the game room; three headed for a cabin.”

Logan had heard the bed creaking in cabin three.

“Want a beer, bro?” Jake asked.

A beer would go down good, but no. Logan's jaw tightened. “I have things to do that require a clear head.”

“Ah.” Jake gave him an understanding nod. “Don't be too hard on her. She meant well.”

“She almost got herself killed.” Bad enough that she'd be leaving to go back to the city. The thought of finding her body…all the stubbornness, the humor, the warmth gone, her eyes blank. He knew just what traumatic death looked like. His gut twisted, and he turned on his heel.

Once upstairs, Logan walked into the bedroom to find Rebecca reading a book that would have had to come from the bookshelf across the room. She'd been up on that ankle. Trying not to growl, he leaned against the door frame.

So pretty. Her hair waved over her shoulders in the colors of the sunset. Her flannel nightgown reminded him of the ones his mother wore, yet the outline of her full breasts under the soft material made his cock harden. He shoved his lust to the background of his mind.

First things first.

The master in him was furious that she had disobeyed him, disregarded safety rules, and endangered herself. Over the past few days, he had been a Dom to her, and he would continue to teach her, even though the relationship would end soon. Temporary. The word tasted bitter in his mouth. He shoved the feeling of loss to one side.

So far, she had learned the easy, fun stuff and had received a taste of light discipline. Would she still submit when he took it a step further? “Becca.”

She started; then her sweet lips curved up, her eyes lighting in a way that made his heart melt. “Logan. Did you get a chance to eat and rest?”

“Enough.” He'd grabbed some food but had been too pissed off to rest. “How's your ankle?”

“It's much better. No pain unless I try to walk on it, and even then, I can put some weight on it.”

“Didn't I tell you to stay in bed? To yell if you needed something?” He walked over to the bed and stared down at her.