Wild Animals
Yukon Territory, Canada
Two Days Earlier
Wolves are mysterious creatures. They’re completely capable of independence but seek out the stability and security of the pack. For some reason, this phenomenon has always fascinated me. I’ve been studying them for the past six years. This is my first team mission into the wilderness of northern Canada to gather data. Our grant was approved by The University of Washington a month ago and I’m hopeful that our research will not disappoint.
So far we’ve hung fifteen cameras with motion sensors in the region where they have been seen by local outdoorsmen. Our hope is to gain new insight into the pack dynamic of wild wolves, while our end goal is to bring further awareness to the public about the dangers that the modern wolf faces with the hope that a serious conservation effort will follow.
Disappearing forestlands are not the only adversary that the wolf population is currently facing. Diseases such as canine distemper cull the wolves’ numbers starting from the time they are mere pups. Ideally our group would like to start a safe vaccination program to give them a better chance at survival. Also, we would eventually like to set up a program to track and assist adults that have been severely injured while fighting, either among themselves or with larger animals such as elk. In addition to disease, hunters have always posed a significant threat to wolves, despite the fact that national parks such as Kluane strictly forbid the killing of protected animals. The protected status of the wolves doesn’t stop the hunters but heavy fines coupled with a possible lifetime firearms ban and even jail time have certainly made some of them think twice.
The dense forest around our research site seems so tranquil in the daylight. That tranquility is deceiving. We wouldn’t stand a chance at night out here. If the cold didn’t do us in then the wild animals surely would. Unlike humans, they don’t rationalize or play nice.
The Yukon Territory is made up of mostly dense forests that seem to go on forever. The owners of the lodge where we are staying for the next three months have warned us repeatedly to use extreme caution while working. However I’m confident that our GPS devices and Taser guns will keep us safe if we run into any unexpected trouble. We came to the group decision that Taser guns would suit our purposes better than loaded firearms, which could so easily lead to deadly accidents. We don’t want to cause permanent damage to either ourselves or the animals we are trying to protect.
It’s already freezing in late October and I’m dressed in ski gear—a gray down parka with a fur trimmed hood and cherry red snowboarding pants. Sorel boots also work wonders in this unforgiving terrain, keeping my toes warm despite the dense snow.
The third major snowstorm of the season is reported to be due in the next day or so, and with the temperature hovering around twenty degrees, it feels like winter has set in for the long haul. There’s already a healthy amount of snow on the ground, but we’re still able to work effectively.
I grumble to myself about having to repeatedly remove my gloves to run the camera wires but I want to assist in getting the last of everything set up before the daylight starts to fade out on us. Once we have everything in place we can monitor most of our work from the laptops back at the Lodge. We will still have to tend to the equipment on a regular basis but it won’t be the grueling schedule that we’ve kept to this past week.
I glance at Gabe, my fantastic partner, working on a camera to test its angle. Four of us have traveled here from Washington and we cover more ground working in two person teams. Two of us man the equipment while the other two monitor our progress from the lodge, letting us know when a particular camera angle needs to be changed or that a certain camera feed isn’t showing up on the computer. We switch off to keep everything balanced and come together if all four of us are needed on a job. All of us are athletic and share a passionate love of animals and nature. We work well as a team.
Gabe and I have worked together in the past on small projects back at the University. I appreciate his attention to detail and uncanny knowledge of electronics. Gabe’s heritage is Swedish, as is obvious from his white blond hair and pale eyes. Although both men and women stop and stare whenever we are out in public, he is so laid back that he seems oblivious to the attention. Or maybe he is just used to being ogled.
A loud shout jerks out of my thoughts.
A commanding French-tinged accent yells, “Hawk! Back that truck up about ten more feet. Right on, that’s it.”
What?
We have been coming out here for a week now and haven’t seen or heard signs of anyone. All we needed right now is a bunch of arrogant hicks coming in and disturbing our work site. Their noise alone would surely drive off a pack of wolves.
Gabe glances around curiously and asks, “What do you think, hunters?”
“Possibly, but I’m not sure, they are quite loud for hunters. Whoever they are, they’re too close. We’ve worked too hard this week to have our site disrupted or tainted by accident. We have some crucial buried cables here and cameras that would be too costly to replace should someone happen to disrupt them I’m going over there right now to ask them to move on.”
“Easy there, tiger. You sure that you want to venture over there solo?”
I nod with certainty. “They can’t be more than two hundred yards away. You keep working on number four. All our cameras should be live tonight.”
“I’m just a shout away should you need me, okay?”
I grin at my research partner, whose smoldering looks would have me weak at the knees if it weren’t for the fact that he was gay, a fact I mourned especially hard now that we were spending so much time alone together in the woods. “Think I can handle a few wily outdoorsmen. No worries, I’ll be back in a few.”
I make a path toward the loud noises coming from a dense area of nearby trees.
I’m surprised when I see a group of large men who are obviously not hunters. I immediately spy the first one straddling a tall tree. He is wearing a yellow hard hat and a sling-like harness on top of his faded jeans. Spikes are attached to his weathered boots.
Another man is behind the controls of a yellow Caterpillar cable skidder that’s low slung and has giant tires to help the vehicle pull logs out of the rough terrain. The only man on the ground has his massive back to me. I decide that a direct approach would work best as I’ve heard that Canadian men can be difficult and at times harsh, to say the least. I’m a bit apprehensive but proceed regardless.
“Excuse me ...” I begin in a pleasant yet no nonsense tone. My thoughts abruptly stall out in my throat as the man whips around and rich, dark eyes immobilize me.
My knees nearly buckle from the intensity of his beautiful gaze. My breath begins to come in fluttering pants.
He gives me a searing head to toe perusal without even bothering to hide it. I’m standing ten feet away and I can feel his masculinity assault my senses.
Oh God! Act calm, I tell myself. The immediate attraction to this man is shocking.
As I give him the same once-over, the first thing I notice is that he is frighteningly massive in size. Not overblown like a bodybuilder, just naturally packed muscle sitting atop a six foot five inch frame. He appears to be in his mid-thirties, if the faint lines across is forehead are any indication. His navy blue down vest and gray flannel shirt are the epitome of ruggedness and I find myself intensely aroused by his dangerous appearance.
He easily has to be the largest male I have ever been near in my life. I stare up in awe as I take in his face. He’s not classically handsome but his large chiseled features and strong shadowed jaw make him incredibly sexual. His hair is a glossy deep brown that is cut in a short no-nonsense style with a hint of sideburns. His nose looks as if it has been busted up a few times but this just adds to the raw masculinity that’s rolling off him.
What’s wrong with me? I should be speaking but I’m so engrossed in this man that all of my thoughts are running together in a blur.
Seconds tick silently by.
He takes his time drinking me in as well when I gather my confidence and tell myself Get it together Violet, you have every right to be here!
I open my mouth to let him have it but before I can get a word out he cocks his head to the side, locks eyes with mine and says in a low, controlled voice. “Continue.”
My senses are on overload as I stand and stare, unnerved and confused as to why I’m eager to follow his request. I begin a bit hesitantly, not pleased that I’m nibbling on my lips out of nervousness.
“My name is Violet London and I have permission to be on this land from the Canadian government in order to study the habitat of wolves here in the Kluane National Park.”
Damn, why is my voice so breathy?
No reaction. I soldier on. “Well, the loud noises that your crew and that skidder are making will certainly hinder the research site that we’ve been setting up throughout the past week. If the wolves scent you and hear all the commotion they’ll avoid coming anywhere near our motion detection cameras.” I finish with a smug chin lift, daring him to argue and quietly hoping that he will.
The guy on the tree gives a hearty laugh and looks down at the man before me. “Well, Luke, that’s a new one because normally it’s the Greenpeace tree-huggers that plead their cause against our evil logging.”
The built guy on the skidder bursts into laughter.
I’m mortified.
With a disturbingly intense gaze, this Luke person begins to question me.
“And what’s a sweet little girl like you doing out in these woods alone? Haven’t you heard that it can be deadly to play with wolves, woman?”
What? How arrogant!
He knows nothing about me and yet he thinks that he can question me like a child? Screw him!
The two men chuckle heartily at my expense and I don’t know which is stronger, my rage or my embarrassment.
I fire back, “Oh, and you’re an expert in the field of wild animal conservation? For your information I know exactly what I’m doing, mister, and don’t need a brute of a man like yourself berating my livelihood or calling me cutesy pet names.”
The one in the tree chimes in, his French accent thick, “Uh-oh Luke! You set the lady off real nice now eh?” Both of them laugh hysterically.
Ignoring the boisterous male comment, Luke levels me with a dark stare before remarking, “I bet you have no idea what you need. You best run along now before you encounter trouble of a very different sort, you understand me girl?”
Whoa.
What a bizarre thing to say. His brusque sexual undertones are unmistakable. I find that I’m fascinated by everything about this man, despite his strangely overbearing demeanor. Mortified by my reaction to him, I quickly resolve that there’s no way I’ll let him push me around. I’m not a little girl, no matter what he says. I stand my ground.
“Well, Luke—” I retort in a supremely pissed off voice, but I’m abruptly cut off by more laughter from the two guys. My frustration at this ridiculous situation is beyond the boiling point.
“Whatever!” I blurt out in anger. “Just stay the hell away from our area, which is about two hundred yards in that direction.” I stab a finger north. Then, spinning on my heel, I stride off into the trees in a huff, trying to forget that the last ten minutes ever happened.
As I head out of sight I hear them talking in French and laughing, then one of the guys heckles me, “You watch out for those big bad wolves little lady!”
Another one adds, “Hey, you’re not far from the ski resort, baby, just head due east!”
Ugh.
I’m relieved to know that they can’t see my cheeks turn the color of my pants with embarrassment. I blink away tears and quickly arrive back at the site, now completely unable to focus for a variety of reasons.
“What happened, did somebody harass you?” Gabe’s concern is obvious as he begins to stalk off in the direction of the loggers, his small gloved hands balled in fists.
I sigh. “It’s all right Gabe. They’re loggers and are just, well, sexist. I have a feeling that they’ll move on because their truck looks nearly full. I hope they don’t come back after today. I made our wishes crystal clear. We have no control over what they do, so it’s best just to ignore them.”
“All right Violet, but if we have any more issues with them then we’ll go together to settle it.” He glared off in the direction that the noises were still coming from but his expression suddenly brightened. “Good news though, we should be up and live on the computers tonight, a day early. Not bad, not bad at all. I wonder how the other team is faring on their end.”
“Ben and Kelsey are quick and methodical, and you know they’re on their A-game today. They’re probably having happy hour back at the lodge already!” Although normally half our team remains at the lodge doing tech work, Ben and Kelsey were out at our second research site fixing a few technical problems we’d been experiencing with the camera feed.
“Ha! You’re right about that. Let’s get this gear cleaned up and call it a day. Sound good?”
“Yes, that works. It’s our first full weekend here. Maybe we can find a place to eat in town tomorrow night?”
“Ah, sorry Violet, I promised the folks and my brother that I’d catch up with them on Skype tomorrow night. Plus, I’m shot from the workload this week. Rain check on that but pizza is on me tonight, you in?”
“Oh sure, maybe Ben and Kelsey will want to find a ride into town tomorrow night with me then. They’re always game for a good time. Let’s get moving.” We hop onto our sleek black and red Arctic Cats, recently pulled from the shed behind our hotel and given a thorough cleaning. Ross, the owner of the hotel we are staying at, told us we could borrow the Cats while we are here and it was clear from the amount of cobwebs we pulled off the handlebars that they wouldn’t be missed. Gabe immediately gave me a lesson on how to ride them and, despite the fact that the speedometer goes to eighty, I’m still too nervous to get mine over twenty-five miles per hour. I have a new respect for the daredevil guys who race these bad boys.
The sky is starting to dim and I’m relieved that we’ve decided to head back to the lodge. We’ll start fresh tomorrow with clear heads and charged up Tasers. I’m far from the defenseless damsel that they think I am. Screw them. Loggers, the nerve!
* * *
Finally back in my cozy room at the Timber Grove Lodge, I quickly shed my heavy clothing onto the cherry wood floors. The room is charming and rustic, the perfect escape after a long day in the mountains. A fluffy queen bed with a down comforter rests along one wall across from a nook area, complete with an oak desk, a brown leather chair, and a breathtaking view of the mountains. I collapse into bed after a hot shower and try to relax after a tiring day at the observation site.
Despite the fatigue in my limbs, I can’t sleep. I’m restless with thoughts of Luke. In my twenty-six years, I’ve never had such a primal reaction to any man, much less one who looks like a cross between a lumberjack and a heavyweight boxer. Who is this mysterious man?
It’s more than his looks, though. His strong, authoritative tone had me nearly in a trance. I could easily imagine him pinning me down hard and taking all that he wants from me without any permission whatsoever. Although I’ve always avoided dominant men like the plague, there’s something so sexy about that attitude …
The idea of his muscled body on top of mine is thrilling, and my breath quickens in the darkness as my fingers skim the delicate lace that covers my chest. How would his huge hands feel cupping my full breasts? I imagine that he would be a bit rough, kneading them thoroughly before he sucked on my peachy pink nipples. I push my straps down and roll and pinch them both simultaneously. I can’t stifle a small moan of need.
I can feel a damp throbbing between my legs, spurring me on as my right hand glides farther down the slick satin of my nightie. I widen my knees as my fingers slowly move across my soft inner thigh. I imagine him straddling my petite frame, grabbing my wrists and pinning them to the bed above me while he lowers his heavily muscled frame down to claim my lips in a seductive kiss.
Running my index finger through my drenched pussy, I can see him releasing an arm to wrench his belt open to free his imposing cock from his jeans. He’s watching me intently, measuring everything I do.
I’m unable to hold off. My finger rubs my tight clit in firm circles now as I splay my legs as far open as they will go. The pressure that is coming from deep within me is so all consuming that I shove two fingers inside my slick channel to relieve the ache. I pump them firmly, imagining that it’s him fingering me, preparing me to take him. I close my eyes and arch my back up, seeing him grasping his thick cock right before he moves over me, taking me without asking, pushing right into me in a controlled glide. He gives me no time to adjust as he begins a punishing rhythm that leaves me reeling beneath him. My dripping finger moves back to my pulsing clit, rubbing desperately. I envision his ripped biceps as he holds himself above me, lifting me higher with each hard thrust. Just as his dark eyes connect with mine I cry out and my orgasm takes over, forcing the breath from my lungs as the hard spasms lead me into pure bliss.
I flop back onto the feather pillow and pant. I have never had such an intense orgasm, and it was all centered around that arrogant jerk! How could he possibly have such a profound effect on me? It would be beyond irresponsible to get involved on any level with such a darkly intense man, so I resolve to stay clear of the loggers from now on, regardless of how much noise they make.
But that doesn’t mean I can’t fantasize about him. My last thought before I drift off to sleep is of his seductive almond shaped eyes holding mine captive …