Wyvern Protection Unit - Chapter 14: Chapter 14

“You know, fluffy city chicks rarely do hikes through snow-covered mountains,” she grunted as she climbed the upwards slope to wherever the heck her so-called bodyguard was dragging her.
That was unkind. He was exceedingly thoughtful and had packed plenty of waters and snacks for them both. He even carried them. Truth be told, they’d only been walking like twenty minutes.
With her parka and boots, and the scarf, hat, and gloves he had found for her in the closet, Carolina felt like that kid in A Christmas Story. The little brother who could not put his arms down after his mother finished dressing him for the snow.
“You wanted to see my beast, and I just want to give you the best vantage point. I can carry you, if you want?” he returned and moved towards her, but she swatted at his hands.
“I am not an invalid! Sheesh, can’t a girl just complain once in a while without a man trying to fix everything?”
“I’m sorry. I will keep that in mind, baby,” he said and flashed that panty-melting grin of his.
Uh oh. Caro realized why she was so snappish. She was horny.
Dang it.
Even though he’d given her a taste of bliss just last night, her traitorous body seemed to want more. How could she be so easy for the guy? He was a stranger.
The last time she’d trusted herself, she married a man who’d tired of her after a few months. Really, she and Joffrey should never have stayed together as long as they had. What a waste that had been.
But here she was, getting head from a Shifter, and letting him call her baby. What the fuck was that about? She was never the kind of girl men called pet names.
Okay, fine—yes—she liked it when he said it.
Maybe she was scared because of her prior experience with her ex. Or maybe she just knew the gorgeous Shifter was out of her league.
It was Christmas Eve, though. So, maybe Carolina should tell her inner voice to just shut the hell up and have a good time?
Good plan.
“This will work,“ Jasper said, jogging her from her thoughts.
They walked through a stand of tall pines heavy with snow. When she would have slipped, he was there, steadying her with a firm arm around her waist and a hand on her elbow. Right before her eyes was an open field blanketed in thick, white fluffy frozen stuff that made her want to squeal and play like she was a child again.
“Where did this come from?”
“The trees hid it from view. Do you like it?” he asked, hope shining in his golden eyes. “In the summer, this is covered in tall grass with patches of colorful wildflowers sprawled across, like drops of paint across a canvas.”
“Wow! That sounds gorgeous,” she enthused.
“I’ll have to bring you back to see it,” he said, his voice deep and husky, sending little zaps of heat curling through her body straight down between her legs.
At this rate, she was going to have to wash her clothes. Caro had no clean underwear left, for pity’s sake.
Beyond the field of snow was a sharp edge and a rocky cliff beneath. The drop off appeared pretty steep, and Carolina worried her lower lip.
“Below the small drop is the lake. I’ll set up the blanket there so you can see my beast.”
Carolina gasped in wonder as she took in this secret winter wonderland that was hidden in the mountains. It was, in a word, beautiful.
“Caro?”
“What? Oh yeah, that sounds amazing. Thank you for trusting me,” she said and meant it.
“Always,” he said and pressed a quick kiss to her mouth before he started shaking out the blanket.
The blue sky was clear with no clouds at all, and the December sun was shining so brightly, it almost hurt to see. The altitude meant it was even colder than it would’ve been back in her condo.
She appreciated the atmosphere, delighting in the air of magic that seemed to surround her. Carolina wore thick sweatpants, with a thinner pair of leggings beneath them, a thermal shirt, and a heavy parka on top of that. Jennifer’s boots donned her feet, but she couldn’t wait to take those off. They were a little big, and she felt silly, but it was better than having cold feet.
Following behind Jasper until he found her a clear spot near the edge of the cliff where the snow was shorter, but clean, she sat down on the thick, waterproof blanket he put on the floor, and accepted the warm throw one he’d packed to drape over her lap.
Caro smiled brightly and wiggled her toes before a familiar plastic-wrapped package inside the backpack Jasper was holding caught her eye.
“Where did you get this?” she asked, curiosity burning inside her.
“Oh, um, I called Jennifer. She told me she had some things for you in the cabin for your after holiday gift swap thing you guys do,” he said, running a hand over his head.
Fuck, he was so cute. Adorable, especially when he was uncertain, like now. Carolina smiled at him brightly. That was so thoughtful of him, truly. Aside from Jennifer, no one else seemed to understand her need to fiddle with clay and other textures. She sat down on the blanket and tore off her mittens.
“Will you be warm enough?” he asked, concerned, as he handed her the lump of red clay.
“Sure,” she said, eager to just hold the stuff.
That was new. When had anyone ever cared about her comfort?
“I appreciate it, Jasper. And I promise to pay attention to your Shifter form when you are ready,” she said, winking playfully.
“Baby, you won’t be able to take your eyes off me,” he returned, his over the top, cocky grin even sexier than usual.
She bit her lip, watching expectantly as he placed the backpack with their stuff on the blanket and removed a thermos full of something warm.
“I made you some hot cocoa, in case you’re cold, baby.”
He winked and kicked off his own shoes. Then he reached behind him for the neck of his black sweater and pulled it over his head in one of those moves she only ever saw in the movies.
Holy. Freaking. Sex. On. Two. Legs.
With one hand over his head, he’d snagged a fistful of fabric and pulled the thing off, tousling his dark hair, and leaving her a perfect view of his magnificent, rippling muscles.
The boy was built. He had muscles on his muscles, and she could not decide where to look first, arms, chest, or abs. Then he unzipped his jeans, and her mouth went dry.
“Of course, you have a happy trail,” she muttered, shaking her head.
"What?”
“Nothing,” she returned, ignoring his smirk.
Shirt off, she took in the glorious view of his shoulders and pecs, before dropping her gaze again, to those crazy hard abs of his. She’d heard of six-packs, but his was like a ten-pack, maybe more. She’d need to get up close and personal to double check.
Whoa.
She swallowed and brushed a lock of hair behind her ears. She couldn’t even be near the man for five-minutes without her mind going straight to the gutter.
Carolina had never had much luck with sex. She’d always chalked it up to simply being bad at it. Although, she had to admit their little encounter on the counter last night—snort—was hotter than anything she’d ever done in her life.
Maybe she was so randy because her biological clock was out of whack? Forty was creeping up on her kind of fast. Or maybe it was because of his intense hotness. Jasper was the sexiest man she’d ever seen.
Her ex was decidedly not. He was a middle-aged lawyer and he looked exactly like that. Thin and slight with no muscle tone, barely an inch taller than her, and half as wide.
He’d begun balding as soon as they’d been married, and he had a rather annoying tendency to slurp when he ate. No matter what it was, meat, salad, or soup—the man slurped it up.
Just one of the many pet peeves she’d overlooked when she’d said yes. Looking at Jasper, she couldn’t imagine why she had settled. Well, that wasn’t true. Carolina knew why, but it seemed foolish now.