Chapter 1: The Encounter in the Pines
The forest was a cathedral of emerald and shadow, the air thick with the scent of pine and damp earth. Evelyn strode through the underbrush with the confidence of a woman who knew every root and ridge of these woods. Her boots crunched against the fallen needles, her sharp green eyes scanning for the rare herbs she sought. At thirty-two, she was a botanist with a reputation for fearlessness, her auburn hair tied back in a messy braid, her curves barely contained by the fitted cargo pants and tank top she wore.
She didn’t expect to find him there, leaning against a towering oak, his rugged frame silhouetted against the dappled sunlight. Marcus. A woodsman by trade, his flannel shirt was unbuttoned just enough to reveal a glimpse of tanned, muscled chest. His dark eyes locked on hers with an intensity that made her breath hitch, though she’d be damned if she showed it.
“Well, damn, if it isn’t the queen of the forest herself,” Marcus drawled, a smirk playing on his lips as he pushed off the tree, closing the distance between them. “What’s a city girl like you doing out here, trespassing on my territory?”
Evelyn arched a brow, planting a hand on her hip. “Your territory? Last I checked, nature doesn’t come with a deed, lumberjack. I’m here for work, not to stroke your ego.”
He chuckled, a low, gravelly sound that sent a shiver down her spine despite herself. “Oh, I’m sure I could find other things for you to stroke, darlin’.”
She stepped closer, her gaze unflinching, the heat of his body radiating through the thin space between them. “Keep dreaming, Marcus. I don’t play with boys who think charm is a substitute for substance.”
“Baby, I’ve got plenty of substance,” he shot back, his voice dropping to a husky whisper as his eyes roamed over her. “And I bet you’re just dying to find out how much.”
Evelyn’s lips curled into a wicked smile, her heart pounding but her resolve ironclad. “Prove it, then. Or are you all talk and no timber?”
That was all it took. The air crackled with tension as Marcus’s hand shot out, gripping her waist and pulling her against him. She didn’t resist, but she didn’t yield either, her fingers curling into his shirt as their mouths crashed together in a kiss that was all teeth and hunger. The forest seemed to close in around them, the rustle of leaves drowning out everything but the sound of their ragged breaths.
His hands roamed her back, sliding down to grip her ass with a possessive squeeze that made her gasp into his mouth. “Fuck, Evelyn, you’ve got no idea how long I’ve wanted this,” he growled, his cock already hard against her thigh through his jeans.
She pulled back just enough to meet his gaze, her eyes glinting with challenge. “Then stop talking and show me, woodsman. I’m not here to be teased.”
Their clothes were a barrier they couldn’t shed fast enough, buttons popping and fabric tearing as they stumbled against the rough bark of the nearest tree. Evelyn’s tank top hit the ground, revealing the swell of her breasts, her skin flushed with anticipation. Marcus’s shirt followed, and she dragged her nails down his chest, reveling in the way he groaned under her touch.
Her pants were next, and as they slid down her legs, the cool forest air kissed her skin, making her acutely aware of how wet she already was, her pussy aching for him. Marcus’s eyes darkened as he took her in, his own jeans straining against the bulge of his arousal. “Goddamn, woman, you’re gonna be the death of me,” he muttered, his voice thick with need.
Evelyn smirked, stepping out of her boots and pressing herself against him, feeling the heat of his hard cock through the last layer of fabric. “Good. I like my men a little dead on their feet. Makes them easier to ride.”
Their banter dissolved into raw, primal need as they sank to the forest floor, the moss soft beneath them. Hands and mouths explored with desperate urgency, sweat beading on their skin, breaths coming in sharp, panting gasps. The promise of what was to come hung heavy in the air—dripping with lust, horny beyond reason, they were on the edge of an explosion neither could hold back much longer.
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