How It's Supposed to Be Read online

  He rolled those logs off of the road like they were nothing. She tried but couldn’t even get one to move an inch.

  “I’ve had a lot of practice,” he muttered as he made his way back for another one.

  She’d never seen a man do something like this. Not even on the strongest man in the world competitions she’d watched on television. She could live to age eight-hundred-sixty-nine and never have enough practice to be able to move one of those giant logs.

  Aux was an animal.

  When one of the lanes on the road was cleared, he began sawing up some of the wood into smaller pieces. Then he drove his truck up, grabbed an ax out of the back, and went to work chopping wood like a friggin’ lumberjack. The man had stamina. He didn’t slow down at all, just went from one log to the next. She caught on to what he was doing and dragged the wood he seemed to prefer over to him when he needed another log. When the leftover pieces were all too big for her to drag closer to him, she began loading the chopped cords of wood into the back of the tow truck like he showed her.

  Time passed quickly when her brain was consumed by work like this. She liked helping. Liked when he complimented her or gave her a high five or knuckle bumps. He even patted her on the butt two times, and she instantly decided she was addicted to that kind of affection. She was probably going to be walking around him from now on with her butt cheeks stuck out like bait for random booty pats. She’d probably give herself lower back problems strutting around like that, but whatever.

  When the road was mostly cleared and the truck was stacked high with wood, Aux strapped the firewood down and they made their way back into the mountains to Aux’s cabin, where they unloaded firewood into another barn at the back of his property.

  “This is where I cure the firewood. When it’s ready, I’ll sell it to people in town.”

  “You’re smart,” she said as she carried another armful of logs to the stack. “You have your job, and you sell firewood and breed pigs on the side. What do you do with your money?”

  “Well, I paid off my house, my property, and my truck. Now I just cover living expenses for me and the animals, and save the rest. I’m no rich man, but I won’t go hungry either. The work gives me something to focus on. It keeps me steady.”

  “I like that.”

  He parted his lips like he wanted to say something, then shook his head and kicked the bottom of the woodpile with the toe of his boot.

  “What?” she asked, cracking a smile.

  “Can I ask you something?” he growled. As long as she lived, she would never meet a man with a sexier voice.

  “You can ask me anything.”

  “Why didn’t you bring your cell phone down the mountain today? Why didn’t you call out? And why didn’t you bring your bag all packed and ready to go, and ask me to take you into town, or to the dude ranch, or I don’t fuckin’ know, to an insurance office to take care of your car?”

  Instant heat crept up her neck and into her cheeks. She ducked her gaze when she answered. “Because I didn’t want to leave.”

  His finger hooked under her chin, and she lifted her gaze to his.

  “Really?”

  Why did she want to cry? Just thinking about leaving this little sanctuary she’d found made her tears want to escape. “Really, really. I came to these parts looking for a safe spot. I don’t know why I ended up here, but I do believe that everything happens for a reason. I have Samson and Willamena, and work days that make me sleep soundly at night and make me feel accomplished and good about myself. But mostly…” She gulped and blew out a steadying breath. Giving even a little piece of her heart away after what she’d been through was terrifying. Be brave. “Mostly I like being around you.”

  “Why?” he whispered, looking tortured. His eyes churned with a hundred things she didn’t understand.

  “Because no one in my life has ever had the ability to make me believe in myself with just a few words. I haven’t second-guessed myself a single time since I’ve come here. Look at my face, Aux,” she whispered, gesturing to the bandage on her forehead and the horrific bruising from her broken nose. “Do you know, the old me would’ve been devastated by what happened to my face? But here with you, I actually felt…pretty. You’re kind to me, and make me feel confident, and the way you look at me—I can tell you don’t hate the way I look?”

  He cupped her cheek and she leaned into his palm.

  “I don’t hate the way you look.” Maybe that wouldn’t be a compliment to some women, but she was beginning to understand Aux. For a man so used to being alone, that was a big compliment.

  “You’re giving me space to become a better version of myself,” she said, searching his silver eyes. “You’re giving me a foundation to become bigger than I was, and you’re proud of me when I make progress. Proud, not intimidated by a growing woman. It’s the biggest gift a man can give.”

  “I like you growing out of your old skin,” he murmured. “It’s the best show I’ve ever seen.”

  And now the tears did sting her eyes. There was no stopping them. “That, Aux. That’s why I don’t want to leave. That feeling of steady. You talked about keeping focused on work to find your steady, but I hadn’t ever found it. Not until I met you.” She pressed her hand against his and leaned into his palm. “You’re my steady.”

  Aux pulled her in and hugged her tight. It felt like being swaddled in a heated blanket after a long day in the snow. His heartbeat was thumping fast against her cheek. Gwen closed her eyes just to enjoy this moment more. The whole world could’ve ended in this moment, and she wouldn’t have noticed. For now, it was just her and Aux. Nothing else mattered.

  She ran her hands under his jacket and rubbed his back. A soft rattling sound emanated from him. A private smile stretched her lips as he began to sway her.

  Something touched the top of her hair. His lips? Had he kissed her?

  “No one has ever touched me like this,” he murmured.

  That admission made her little heart tether itself to him even more.

  Manly, growly, gruff man who exposed his tender pieces just for her. “Then I’m lucky I get to be the one who touches you.”

  He picked her up suddenly. On instinct, she wrapped her legs around his hips and threw her arms around his neck. Aux pressed his cheek against hers as he walked her toward the tow truck. His beard tickled, but she loved it. She loved everything about him. Every single thing.

  Gwen kissed his cheek and the growly sound got louder in his chest. He really was so different than anyone she’d ever met. He didn’t speak much. Instead, he made these sounds that told her how he was feeling. And somehow, she knew what they meant. It was like learning another language only to find out it came naturally.

  Aux opened the passenger door of his tow truck and set her gently onto the seat. Slipping his hand to the back of her neck, he kissed her. This one was gentle—just lips moving against each other for a five count before he disengaged with a soft smack and released her.

  “I’m gonna take you home and get you warm,” he rumbled. “Work’s done for the day.”

  Home. She liked the way he’d said that.

  He drove carefully back to the cabin, and when he pulled to a stop in front of his house, he said, “Wait there.”

  Gwen’s heart thumped erratically as he trudged through the snow around the front of the truck and opened her door. He helped her down and held her hand as he led her up the porch stairs and into the cabin.

  His hand was so warm around hers. Warm and strong, and sparking that intoxicating sensation that felt so good. The butterflies in her stomach were infinite.

  When she went to stomp off her boots, Aux eased her down onto a bench beside the door and knelt in front of her. He cast that striking silver gaze up to her, then began unlacing her boots. One by one he removed them and her socks, too. He picked her up so her toes wouldn’t hit the cold porch and carried her into the open doorway.

  Samson was making cute little snorting sounds from h
is carrier. The warmth of Aux’s house and the little greeting sounds of the piglet filled her with a potent happiness that penetrated straight to her heart. Aux pushed his oversized jacket off her shoulders and slid the beanie from her head.

  She rushed to pat her hair into place, but he caught her hand and shook his head. A wicked glint was dancing in his eyes. “I like it messy.”

  Her heart was going to race right out of her chest.

  Aux pushed her knees apart and ran his strong hands up her inner thighs. Her leggings were thin enough that she could feel the warmth radiating from his fingertips. Arching her head back, Gwen let off a sigh at how good his hands felt. Her body was so sensitive to him.

  She pulled her sweater over her head and his hands went straight to her bra. He massaged both breasts, and she grabbed his hands, holding them tighter against her with a gasp. That growl was so damn sexy in his throat. He reached behind her for her hair and used it to pull her face back to the ceiling as his lips found her throat. He sucked hard, then licked her gently. Hard and gentle. Hard and gentle until her body was buzzing with wanting. Every single touch set her skin on fire, and he controlled exactly how firmly he grabbed her. It was never painful, only pleasure at the hands of a dominant man.

  Propped up on his knees between her legs, Aux was still tall enough to be eye-level with her as she sat relaxed on the comfortable bench cushion. He pressed his lips to hers and nipped her bottom lip, then sucked hard. He alternated soft kisses with hard sucking until she spread her knees wider in desperation.

  His hands were everywhere and his confidence was utterly consuming. Gwen let her mind go as he explored her body. The man took his time with it, too. Unhurried, he hooked his fingers at the waist of her leggings and pulled them down along with her panties. He tossed them to the side, and now it was her turn.

  Gwen reached for his shirt and he disengaged their kiss just long enough to lift his arms and help her slip the shirt over his hair. When she dragged her nails down his back, he arched his spine and snarled through a wicked grin. Those eyes of his were sparking with intensity, like storm clouds warning of a lightning storm to come.

  She ran her hands over every inch of his chiseled torso. Pecs, perfect six pack, the curves of his shoulder muscles. He was built solid and sexy and strong. This wasn’t enough. She wanted more. Gwen reached down and unsnapped the button of his jeans as a little test. He didn’t stop her. He pulled his zipper down instead, and the sound sparked an uncontrollable hunger in her. She shoved his jeans down his hips as he sat there on his bent knees, then she slipped over him, straddling his hips.

  His cock was huge and hard as a rock, and she rubbed herself against him.

  Aux rolled his head back and let off a feral noise that made her want more. She slid over the head of his cock and moved a couple inches down his shaft before she eased back up, teasing. He let her get away with it for a few strokes before he snarled, gripped her hips, and pulled her down onto the length of him.

  He ground out a curse and rolled his hips to meet hers, using that powerful grip of his to move her up and down.

  He was going deep, and it felt so good. Too good. She was already building toward release and it was happening too fast, too intensely.

  “Please. Please, please, harder,” she begged, so close.

  His response was instant. His fingertips dug into her waist as he dragged her down him and up, down and up, building…building. She was holding onto the back of his neck as her tits bounced from their movement. She was so wet already and he felt perfect inside of her.

  “Fuck! Aux!” she cried out.

  Aux laid her on the ground and rammed into her harder, their bodies slapping against each other with his powerful strokes.

  She was done. Her body imploded, and her sex gripped his shaft with orgasm. A few more hard thrusts and Aux came with her, pumping her full of warmth as her own release throbbed on.

  Breathing hard, Aux slowed his strokes and brushed her hair gently from her face. He kissed her nose, her lips, her cheeks. As her release faded away, he took care of her. Made her feel special and coveted. She’d never felt like more of a queen than in this moment with Aux.

  When he was finished completely, he rolled her over on top of him and just held her, stroking her back while she dragged her fingertips up and down the curve of his shoulder.

  “I never want you to stop touching me,” he admitted in that deep voice of his.

  And she understood. Gwen let off a sigh as he conjured chills up her spine with his petting. The crackling sensation was back and made her skin tingle wherever he dragged those warm fingertips.

  She never wanted him to stop touching her either.

  Chapter Eight

  It was the change in Aux’s face that told Gwen something was wrong.

  Very wrong.

  They were at the table playing spades and laughing at how bad she was at it, and then suddenly Aux’s attention snapped to the front window. His face had blurred with the too-fast movement and startled her. His eyes blazed that strange silver color and his face looked different. Angry, sharper, and dangerous.

  “Stay here,” he murmured as he stood.

  And she minded…up until he made his way outside. Through the front window, she could see him stride to the edge of the porch and lift his chin into the air as he shoved his hands in his pockets. He was only wearing a thin t-shirt and every tensed muscle in his back strained against the fabric.

  Gwen stood, made her way to the open door, and peeked outside.

  A man stood at the edge of the woods. He was bundled in layers, with a mask covering most of his face, but even from here she could see his glowing silver eyes as clear as day.

  “Oh my God,” she said on a breath as she came to stand beside Aux.

  “The birds gave you away,” he rumbled in a voice so deep and snarly she barely recognized it.

  “Who is he?” she asked.

  “That’s Brick. He’s my brother.”

  Brick’s furious gaze slid to her and then back to Aux.

  Aux pulled off his shirt and let it fall from his fingertips to the snow-peppered porch.

  “What are you doing?” she asked.

  “I need you to go inside, Gwen.”

  “I don’t understand. I don’t want—”

  “Gwen,” he rumbled. He curled his lips back as a long snarl rattled his chest and she saw them—his too-sharp canines.

  With a gasp, she took a step back. “Aux?”

  “Brick isn’t here to talk,” Aux snarled. “Go inside and take the keys off the hook. Ignore what you hear. Ignore what you witness. Take the keys to the truck and drive straight into town. Do you understand me? I’m going to buy you time. Follow the tracks down the mountain and take a right on the main road. Don’t stop until you reach other humans.”

  Other humans? She couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t breathe! Something was wrong with Aux’s face. He looked wild. Feral. Filled with a fury she couldn’t comprehend.

  Gunfire sounded from the edge of the woods and she ducked in terror. But when she looked up, Brick wasn’t shooting at her and Aux. That awful sound echoing into the woods wasn’t gunfire at all. It was Brick’s breaking bones. A monstrous animal ripped through his clothes and out of his skin before standing to his full height. He curled his lips back from teeth made for destruction and let off a roar that promised death.

  The grizzly’s gray coat was covered in scars and his paws were bigger than Gwen’s face.

  “He’s a…” She backed toward the door slowly. “He’s a…”

  Aux tossed her a feral scowl over his shoulder. “So am I.”

  And then Aux broke. He turned into a monster. Her Aux disappeared and was replaced by a massive brown grizzly. The porch stairs snapped as he barreled down them, charging at the bear that was running straight for him.

  They were so fast, her human brain was barely able to decipher the movement. Their fur and muscles twitched with every powerful step as they barre
led toward each other.

  When the bears clashed, the earth shook and the trees trembled.

  The wind kicked up, howling like wolves through the trees, and the snow lifted from the ground in a cloud around them. Above them, the crows dove from the sky.

  Gwen’s hair whipped her face and her body vibrated from the power of the beasts. Aux slammed Brick onto the ground and lunged for his neck, but took a vicious slap to the face that had him lurching back before he could latch his teeth down. The bears rolled and a snow cloud kicked up, hiding all but their blurred forms from her.

  Gwen stumbled down the stairs, tears freezing against her cheeks, hair lashing at her face. All she could hear was the howling wind and the caw, caw, caw of the crows.

  Danger, danger.

  She’d never seen such an act of raw violence. Unable to look away, she placed her hands over her mouth to try and stifle her sobs.

  A roar of rage scattered the low-flying crows and chilled her blood.

  Grab the keys, ignore what you see. Get to other humans.

  She could hear Aux’s voice so clear in her head. I’m going to buy you some time.

  Filled with horror, she bolted for the open doorway, grabbed the keys from the hook, yanked her purse from the bench, and slammed the door behind her as she ran for the truck.

  The tow truck was twenty yards away across the snowy clearing. The cold should’ve stung her bare arms, but all she felt was fear. Gwen’s legs burned as she pushed them harder.

  Ignore what you see.

  She couldn’t. She glanced at Aux. They were killing each other. Killing each other! These brothers were going to bleed each other until nothing remained but fur and bones. A silver gaze found hers through the clouds of snow, but it wasn’t Aux’s. She’d never seen a more hate-filled glance than Brick’s. He broke free of Aux and charged her.

  Fuck. Run!

  Gwen pushed her legs even harder, dragging her boots through the knee-high snow. She dared a glance behind her and saw Aux leap onto Brick’s back and roar. Goooooo!

  Gritting her teeth, Gwen pushed her body harder and yanked the door open the second she reached it.