Mountain Men II: Primal Hunger by Mandy Monroe Page B

men
dressed her and themselves and carried her back to her cabin. When
she thought they would retire to their own rooms, they stripped
down and got in bed on either side of her. She smiled and curled
her backside against Bain tucking her feet between his legs and
resting her head on Gavin’s shoulder. One hand rested on Bain’s arm
once again thrown across her middle and her other rested palm up on
Gavin’s chest, his hand resting lightly on top of it. Maura drifted
off thinking she had never felt more safe and secure in her
life.

Chapter Five
    Maura couldn't help but feel a
little disappointment during the next canoe trip. Neither Gavin nor
Bain were to be her partners during this trek. She had hoped to
engage in a little light flirting but it was not to be today. She
was paired with Seth, one of the student guides. Maura wished she
could pinpoint what exactly it was about that guy that unsettled
her so much. She just felt wary.
    Seth seemed nice enough and his
smile looked genuine when they greeted each other at the canoes. He
carried his weight of the canoe and didn't tilt most of it onto
her. He flirted with her a little, and he did point out some
interesting facts she didn't know along the way. Conversation, at
least as much as could be expected during such an activity, was
pleasant enough.
    Once they got in the water and
began to paddle down the river, Maura felt herself relax a bit.
Never one for a whole lot of outdoor action before, she found it
was actually quite fun. Maura surprised herself with how much she
enjoyed canoeing in particular. Gavin and Bain might have some part
in it but paddling down this river, and feeling herself getting
stronger while surrounded by such beauty, soothed her and empowered
her all at the same time.
    She liked watching her men work the
river, as well, looking at them move. Her eyes darted to Gavin and
Bain in the canoe together, moving in perfect harmony with one
another without even speaking. Both had muscles that glistened in
the sun but where Bain's was thickly corded and covered with dark
hair, Gavin was lean and sleek muscle with a barely there dusting
of blond across the forearms. It constantly amazed her how opposite
but alike those two were.
    Images of other ways the men were
in perfect sync flashed through her head, thoughts of things Gavin
and Bain had done working her body and some things that they had
yet to try. A small smile crept across her face as warmth flooded
her. Still somewhat amazed that she was reasonably certain that
there would be a
next time, her body eagerly awaited it.
    At least while they still want
you.
    Refusing to let that train of
thought taint her trip, she refocused on the trip and what her
partner was saying. Gavin and Bain went ahead to guide everyone
through a particularly rocky section but since everyone had
traveled this a number of times before, it was a minor precaution
only. Seth was bringing up the rear in the canoe with her, but she
didn't mind being last.
    Each little canoe followed in their
wake like little ducklings and Maura giggled at the thought of
either of those two men waddling around like a mama duck. They
maneuvered through the first set of rapids easily enough and wound
their way around to the next set. Maura noticed that she and Seth
had fallen somewhat behind the others and didn't want to lose sight
of the group, or her men. He indicated that they would catch up but
he was supposed to make sure everyone else was navigating the
rapids safely.
    The last canoe disappeared around
the bend as she and Seth began the trek through the rocky water.
The canoe was having some difficulty working through a few areas
they scraped and bumped through for awhile when, without warning,
she pitched forward and was thrown from the boat.
    Maura was instantly glad for the
helmet when her head smacked against a large rock. It still rattled
her teeth but she was sure that without her helmet she would have
had a concussion. Her body was churned