“Said the extremely appealing man with the completely unshakeable confidence.”

I took her hand and led her along the thin trail leading to the lookout. “Not true. You’ve been a great test for my confidence.”

“Is that right?”

“Yep, I was shaking in my damn boots tonight when I walked into that store. I thought, shit, what if she slaps my hand away.”

“Baloney. You walked past all those appalled expressions as if you had your middle finger raised at everyone. And you knew I wasn’t going to push away your hand.”

I shrugged. “Extremely appealing, eh?”

She laughed and stared up at the slightly tilted wood structure. It had walls on three sides and a roof overhead, but the front side was wide open. “What is this place?”

“It’s a viewing perch for birdwatchers. About twenty years ago some big bird club built it to watch for bald eagles. I haven’t been here for a long time.”

I stepped onto the platform and reached my arm down to give her a hand up.

“Somehow, I just don’t picture Jem Wolfe with his binoculars and bird identification guide book.”

“My visits here had a lot to do with nature, but I had less wholesome motives than bird watching.”

She hopped up on the deck with me. “Like what?”

I lifted a brow at her.

“Oh, yes, I see. Stupid question.” She spun around a few times with her face turned to the star covered sky before stopping. She swayed with dizziness for a second then flashed a smile that caused my head to spin along with hers. “So, what you’re saying is, your motives for bringing me up here are purely dirty.”

“Mostly. But I also thought you were the kind of girl who’d appreciate this place. You know, a girl who likes a breathtaking view with a little dirty thrown in.”

“You do seem to have me sort of figured out.” Her light blonde hair rippled in the breeze as she walked to the edge of the perch and gazed out at the view. Even swimming in my giant sweatshirt, she made my head spin with the idea of having her naked and in my arms.

“It’s beautiful up here, Jem. Thank you.” She turned around. I still hadn’t gotten used to how fucking beautiful she was. “And, thank you for today. If you hadn’t been working late . . .” Her voice trailed off and was lost in the vast canyon below.

I walked up next to her. We’d shrugged it off as fast as possible, so the true horror of what might have been couldn’t sink in. But the gravity of what had happened in the mill that afternoon still hung over us like a heavy shroud. And my talk with the old man hadn’t gotten me any closer to the truth.

Tashlyn lifted her face. “You’ve been there late all week, haven’t you? I see your bike in the lot as I walk up to the bus stop.”

“Yeah, I’ve been there.”

She took my hand. “Is it because of me?”

I looked out at the ravine. Tall trees dotted the granite slabs along the side of the valley, a deep cut in the mountain created by ancient glaciers. “I was just making sure you got on the bus all right.”

She turned and pressed her body against mine. “Funny. I had an entirely different image of what a guardian angel might look like.”

“Yeah? Too bad, cuz I’m thinking a fine pair of chrome-colored wings, and I’d make a pretty badass one.”

“I’d have to agree.”

I lowered my mouth to hers. My hands parted the panels of the sweatshirt. I slipped my hands beneath her shirt. Her skin was like cool silk beneath my callused palms. “God, I just need to touch you, Tash. Please let me touch you.”

Her lips parted, and my tongue dove deeper. My hand smoothed over her bra. She pressed her breast harder against it. I tugged the bra down, and her nipple hardened as my thumb circled it. She mewled softly against my mouth as I teased her. The sweet sound and the feel of her in my hands made my cock rock hard.

I lowered my hand to hers and turned her around so that her back was against me. I slid the sweatshirt off, hoping my body heat would be enough as I circled my arms in front of her and continued to caress her flat stomach and breasts. Her body rubbed against my cock, making my head spin with the idea of fucking her. Right then and there. She was frail and ready and in my arms, but I would hold back until she asked me, until she wanted me as badly as I wanted her.

Her head lolled back against my shoulder, exposing the smooth, long curve of her neck. I pressed my mouth against it as my hands traveled to the button on her jeans. She pulled in a short breath and stiffened for a fleeting second.

“Don’t deny me this, baby. I want to show you just how badly I’ve been needing to touch you.”

She relaxed at my words. I unzipped her pants, and before she could protest, I pushed them down, not completely just a few inches to let me freely touch her. I slid my hand down beneath her panties.

“Spread your thighs some, darlin’.” My pulse was fucking racing. My cock had been solid almost from the first time I’d met her, and I was ready to explode with wanting her. I’d never needed anything so badly.

Her feet slid apart. She reached up and wrapped her hands around my arms for support. It was a gesture that made my chest tighten. I realized right then that I was never going to let anything happen to her. I was going to tear apart anyone who tried to hurt her. Anyone.

Her hands gripped me tighter as I pushed my fingers down between the hot folds of her pussy. As the slick cream covered my fingers, my cock strained against my fly. “God, Tash, you’re so hot and wet. Tell me you want this. I want to hear you say it.”

“Yes, please, Jem.” She spread her thighs a little wider.

I pushed my finger inside of her. Her cry shot out and evaporated into the huge canyon below. I pushed in a second finger. I wanted to fill her completely, until she was trembling in my arms. I pressed my hand tight against her clit as my finger probed deeper.

I lowered my mouth to her ear, and she moaned with pleasure.

“I knew you’d feel this good, baby. Your pussy is pure fucking heartbreak, just like the rest of you.”

She rolled her hips to take in more of my fingers and grind her clit against my hand. “Jem, please—” My name rolled off her pink lips so erotically, it was all I could do to keep from taking her completely.

“I’m here, baby.” My voice sounded short and raspy, as I worked to keep control. “Tash, I want you to come for me. Will you do that, darlin’?”

Her sigh floated up into the night air. She tightened her hold on my arms as she squeezed her thighs around my hand. As she rocked over my fingers, holding me tightly in her pussy, her perfect round ass rubbed against me. An involuntary groan rolled up from my chest. She was sweeter and hotter than I’d imagined, and I’d imagined a lot. Her pussy was reacting so hungrily to my touch, it made my cock ache.

“God, baby, you are sweet to touch.” I kissed her neck as she moved against me.

“Yes, please, Jem.” Her plea for more assured me she’d reached the edge. Her thighs squeezed shut, and hot cream covered my fingers as her pussy clenched tightly around my hand. Her fingers dug into my arms as her body trembled in my grasp.

She crumpled against me as I pulled my hand from between her legs. I swept her up into my arms and carried her to the built-in bench at the back of the shelter. I sat down, cradling her in my arms, holding her so tightly it was a wonder I didn’t crush her.

“Jem, I’m not quite sure I’m ready to—” She curled into my arms.

“Yeah, I figured after what happened today. As much as I want you, Tash, I want you to be ready.”

Tashlyn lifted her round blue eyes to me. I brushed her bangs from her face. “You were the last thing I expected, Jem.”

“You were a pretty big surprise for me too, Woodstock. This town is filled with stupid, smug people who prefer to hate than think and who thrive on rumors and lies, especially when it brings other people down. Then there you were, looking completely out of place, standing in the canyon, looking as if you’d just stepped out of one of those hippie-fueled make love not war protests. And those blue eyes—” I gazed down at the piece of heaven in my arms. “It feels like you look right past what everyone else sees when they look at me, that hard shell that makes people cross to the other side of the street to avoid me. You looked right past it and into my soul.”