The untamed, p.7
The Untamed, page 7
“You really do have the ideal home here,” Logan says with a whistle of appreciation. “When we finally find our forever home, we hope to make it as nice as this. Who knows, if we’re not too far away, maybe we could even set up some sort of trade system.”
I cringe because I know Dad’s answer before he even says it.
“In case you misunderstood, I own the land as far as the eye can see in every direction and then some.” Dad ripples with irritation. “Unless you’re prepared to travel weeks to trade game for goat cheese, I’d say it looks like you’ll be on your own.”
Logan takes it in stride, not getting insulted. He flashes me another quick wink that has my blood running hot and straight south to my dick. Casually, I thread my fingers together and let them rest in front of my crotch so no one sees just how much this man affects me. Logan slightly lifts a brow, not oblivious like my father and brother, and smiles.
To everyone around us, it’s a friendly smile, but I see the dark, filthy glint in his eyes that promises more.
Holy shit.
Logan is into me. He’s really into me and it’s not a case of wishful thinking on my part. The urge to escape somewhere quiet with him is overwhelming. Would he kiss me? Would he work his large hand into my pants and stroke my cock?
I stifle a groan, only picking up pieces of the conversation that’s continued without me. They’re discussing the first snow of the year. Not a topic I even care about. I’d much rather daydream of ways to get Logan’s smiling lips around my dick.
A whistle, sharp and loud, pierces the air just outside the fence. Logan whistles back, three times in quick succession. Then, two men step through the gate. Dad and Rowdy tense, weapons ready if need be. The two men see Logan and nod, ambling their way toward us. As they approach, I can tell the one with ruddy dark red hair with streaks of silver is Logan and Jace’s dad while the man with auburn hair and the same silver on his head must be CJ’s dad. Opposite of their children, the two men don’t wear playful smiles.
Wariness of my family and their guns has them frowning. Both men are tense but don’t draw their own weapons or turn around and run.
“Michael Greer,” the one I’d pegged as Logan’s dad says. “I see you’ve met my sons, Logan and Jace.” He claps a hand on the other man’s shoulder. “This here is my younger brother, Owen, father of that little shit over there.”
CJ being the little shit in question.
“Reed Jamison,” Dad grunts. “My sons Rowdy and Ronan. The other two over there are Raegan and Ryder.”
Owen sighs in exasperation. “I see my son’s already in love.”
Dad ignores him, getting straight to business. “You have a woman who’s in labor?”
“My wife, Stacey,” Michael says, nodding. “Since she’s only seven months, I sure as hell hope not. We’ve been walking for weeks, not stopping to camp but a night or two. I’m hoping she’s just tired and suffering from Braxton Hicks. The alternative is scary as fuck. Considering you have four kids, I’d say you know the worry of childbirth in the wild with no medical assistance.”
“Eight,” I chime in, refusing to look at Dad or Rowdy and the daggers they shoot my way. “There are eight of us kids.”
“Damn.” Michael whistles. “I guess it’s safe to say you know a thing or two about delivering babies.”
Dad gives him a brief nod. “Where is she?”
Michael and Owen both tense. It’s safe to say they’re just as untrusting of us as we are of them. Owen scans the yard, clearly looking for threats, but then relaxes when he doesn’t find anyone lurking.
“The others are nearby,” Owen replies. “Don’t want to overstep our welcome.” His gaze falls on Fleabag braying from the goat pen. “I know a couple of little ones, though, who would be thrilled to see that goat.”
“How many people are in your camp?” Dad asks, still not giving an inch to these people.
“We’re up to twenty-eight now—” Michael’s words are cut short when a kid, maybe five or six, comes barreling through the gate.
“Goat!”
A woman, not much older than Rowdy, with long, curly, auburn hair chases after the kid. She snags him up before he reaches the gate. When she turns to us, her face is bright red and she’s equal parts embarrassed and terrified. The latter makes me feel like shit.
We’re not bad people.
Dad just likes scaring others into thinking that’s true.
“Hellie,” Michael calls out. “Come say hello to Mr. Jamison, who’s so kind as to allow us on his land.”
With the little one’s hand tightly clasped in hers, she approaches, eyeing my brother and father warily. I want to assure her no one here would hurt her, but Dad actually beats me to the punch.
“Reed,” he says, offering a hand for Hellie to shake. “Who’s this little guy?”
“I’m Nicky,” the kid says. “Can I play with your goat?”
“I’ll do you one better,” Dad replies, finally relaxing. “I’ll bring my son Dakota out. He’s almost six. I’m sure he can show you all sorts of cool stuff.” Then, to Michael, he says, “Go get your wife. I’ll get mine. We’ll see if we can’t make her more comfortable.”
Logan shoots me a triumphant grin.
This is going to be fun.
Us Jamison kids are long overdue for some fun.
“This place is mine,” I tell Logan as we step inside my cabin. Alone. “Ugh, it’s not that special.”
They’ve been here for a couple of hours now, setting up camp just outside, and their people coming inside the gate to check out our property. There are a lot of them, but they all seem nice. Lots of children too, about seven of which are under the age of ten, which makes all of my younger siblings thrilled beyond belief. As much as I like seeing all the new faces, I’m thankful for stealing away with Logan by ourselves.
Logan walks over to my floor-to-ceiling bookshelf that takes up an entire wall. “I beg to differ. This cabin is fucking awesome.”
Pride fills my chest and I let out a relieved breath. “I guess it kind of is.”
“You read all these?” Logan asks as he tugs a book off the shelf and eyes me over his shoulder.
“Most, yeah. Some I didn’t finish because they were boring or more Raegan’s preference, but some of those books I’ve read many, many times. Like the one in your hand.”
It was hidden up top, much different than the ones Raegan reads and out of her reach. Dad would kill me if she ever got her hands on it.
He takes a closer look at the book. “Romance book with aliens?”
“Yeah.” Heat floods my cheeks. “I just like them. I’ve read that entire series a bunch. Especially that book.”
“Interesting.” He flips through the book, landing on a dog-eared page. “This male alien is sucking another alien’s cock.”
I freeze, unable to formulate an answer. My skin prickles with shame.
“This is hot,” Logan murmurs. “No wonder you like this one so much. Can I borrow it?”
“Y-Yeah,” I stammer, barking out an awkward laugh. “Take whatever you want.”
Logan turns, eyeing me with that filthy glint in his stare once more. His moss green eyes are easy to get lost in. He takes a step toward me and I nearly stumble over my own feet, needing to escape his intensity. It’s too much. If he gets any closer, I might literally come in my pants just from anticipation.
“Take whatever I want,” Logan murmurs and then bites down on one corner of his bottom lip. “Well, aren’t you a gracious host.” Another wink that burns a trail of heat straight to my dick.
The air is charged between us. I’m completely out of my element here, but I’m here for it. All of my fantasies I’ve had of Wild and Ryder both dissipate in favor of letting reality take over.
This is happening.
Logan Greer is flirting with me.
A hot, charismatic, strong…man.
Would my parents even care if I got with a man? I think, as long as it wasn’t anyone I was related to, they’d probably be fine with it. Surely.
Unease niggles at me. If they don’t, I’ll have to listen to endless lectures. Maybe this isn’t something I tell them. It can be my little secret.
Logan slowly approaches me until he’s so close I can smell him. His scent is different than that of Ryder. Logan smells like freshly brewed coffee with a hint of campfire smoke. I have the urge to step forward so I can bury my face in the crook of his neck, inhaling him until my lungs burn.
We’re both quiet as we stare at one another. Logan boldly trails his gaze from my eyes down to my lips. I lick them nervously at having the attention there, which makes him groan. It’s a small, quiet sound, but I hear it. My dick certainly hears it, thickening by the second.
“I know what I want,” Logan says, voice husky. “And if I took it, I wouldn’t want to ever let it go.”
His words are more swoonworthy than any of the heroes in the books I read. My knees shake slightly. Every cell in my body aches to be touched by this man. I want his mouth on mine. All over me. Inside me.
Is this what it feels like to fall in love at first sight?
Some of my books—well, at least the ones with sex that Raegan isn’t allowed to read—the characters seem to have instant chemistry. While it seemed silly when reading, I’m starting to understand it.
“Who says you’d have to let go?” I reply in a breathless tone.
Logan’s eyes darken and he steps impossibly closer. Holy shit. He’s going to kiss me. I’m going to get my first kiss from this incredibly hot guy who, by fate, waltzed into my life without warning. I tilt my chin up, desperate for his mouth on mine.
I would give anything for a kiss from him.
Anything.
His nostrils flare as he devours me with his gaze. My eyelids flutter closed, hoping I’m inviting him for the kiss I need. I feel his breath tickle over my face and then—
“Logan!”
Someone calls for him just outside my cabin door, making both of us jolt apart. My face flames with embarrassment.
Logan scowls but then gives me another one of his delicious winks that promises more later. It’s enough to keep me from crawling under the bed to hide from all my overwhelming feelings.
Jace comes through the door, eyes quickly darting between us, and then motions for us to follow him. Outside, Rowdy has started a bonfire since the air is growing chillier as the sun sets. Several of our visitors are sitting on the wood benches, warming their hands and faces. The laughter of children by the goat pen can be heard as well. All of it is so…nice. I could get used to all these people who are making my home feel more like a community than ever before.
“Over there,” Jace says, pointing to a small woman with jet-black hair. “Shitfaced.”
Logan tenses at Jace’s words before muttering, “Unbelievable.”
The woman sees me staring and rises unsteadily from the bench, a bottle sloshing with liquid as she makes her way toward us. When she’s almost to me, she sneers at me. “Kristen. Logan’s wife.”
It takes a second to process her words.
Wife?
Logan has a wife?
Horror floods through me. Did I really misunderstand all of Logan’s actions and words? Was he being friendly but I took it as flirting?
Oh my God.
Logan snatches the bottle from her hand and glowers down at her. “You’ve had enough. Go to bed.”
She opens her mouth like she might say something, but one look at Logan—pissed by the way the vein in his temple jumps—and she decides otherwise.
Logan turns to me, not meeting my eyes. “Sorry,” he grumbles. “I need to make sure she gets back to our tent safely.”
Our tent.
Fuck.
The sharp, stabbing pain in my chest Logan caused hurts worse than the constant ache I have for my brother. This pain feels like betrayal. A cruel tease of what I could have but will never get.
Logan looks over his shoulder as he guides his wife away, regret twisting his beautiful mouth into a sad frown. He mouths the words, “I’m sorry,” and it’s another knife to my chest.
Maybe I didn’t imagine things between us.
Maybe he did feel attracted to me.
None of that matters now, though. He’s married. Logan Greer has a wife.
And I have no one.
* * *
* * *
Dad caved.
For some reason, these people worked their way past his defenses, and now our property is crawling with them. I’ve never seen so many humans in one place before. Ever. It makes my skin crawl.
What’s worse is that both Ronan and Raegan are happy.
Not that I don’t want them to be, but I don’t trust these newcomers. I’m not like my siblings, and now Dad—ready to throw caution to the wind and accept these people.
Yes, they have lots of women and children.
Yes, that should make me feel safe.
I’m not worried about my own safety, though. I’m worried about my siblings and their feelings. We don’t know these people. CJ, from my astute observation, is a massive flirt who just wants to get his dick wet.
In my sister.
The thought is super fucking infuriating.
And this is all happening because Dad let it.
The fire crackles and pops, reminding me I’m supposed to be on watch, not pouting. When Dad went into the big house with Michael and Stacey, the pregnant woman, he silently commanded me and Rowdy to make sure no crazy shit happened without him. Rowdy is doing a better job at keeping an eye on things, hiding in a shadowed part of the yard, leaned up against a tree. I should be watching my younger siblings to make sure they aren’t getting into any trouble with the new kids, but I can’t scrape the way Raegan looks at CJ from my brain.
Raegan’s laughter has me jerking my attention toward the sound. CJ sits beside her, animatedly gesticulating, while both she and Jace crack up. As much as I love her laugh, and it’s rare since she’s such a crabby bitch most days, I don’t want CJ to be the cause of it.
I want to punch him in his stupid smiling face.
If he even thinks about fucking my sister, I’ll drag his ass out into the woods and put a major beatdown on him.
Ronan, who has been smiling from ear to ear all evening, now sits on a bench, frowning at his clasped hands. Maybe he’s finally seeing through all the bullshit.
I’m about to stand and make my way over to him when CJ’s sister plops down beside me. This wouldn’t be the first time she’s made her interest known. I thought giving her curt, one-worded grunts would be enough to indicate how I feel about her.
Apparently not.
“CJ’s a good guy,” Mya says, smirking at me. “You don’t have to kill him.”
“Who says I’m going to kill him?” I grumble.
“Ahh, he speaks!” She cackles and playfully fist pumps the air. “And here I thought you’d gone full caveman. A little civility lives inside the great Ryder Jamison.”
I catch Ronan’s gaze from over the fire. His frown remains as he darts his eyes back and forth from me to Mya. Giving him a one-shouldered shrug that I hope he interprets as it is—that I don’t know how to get rid of this annoying girl—I turn to give Mya a flat stare.
“Don’t you have someone else to bother?”
“Nope.”
“Isn’t it past your bedtime?”
“Ha.”
“Seriously, I’m not in the mood.”
She sighs and pats my thigh. “Teenage Angst in the Wilderness. Sounds like a book title.” Her grin turns wicked. “Oh, wait? Can cavemen read?”
I scowl at her, knocking her hand off my leg. “Fuck off.”
“And if I don’t?” she teases. “Going to club me and drag me by my hair back to your cave?” She lets out a snort and then whispers, “Don’t worry. I’m a kinky bitch.”
Scrubbing my palm over my face, I ignore her, letting my eyes find my brother again. He’s staring at the open gate, a gut-wrenching look of loneliness marring his features.
“Have fun talking to yourself,” I grumble as I rise to my feet. “Not interested.”
Mya huffs and mutters, “Asshole.”
She’s barking up the wrong tree if she thinks I want to spend more than five minutes with her. I don’t like any of these people or the fact they’re infiltrating our property like fire ants.
I step over a woman curled up on a blanket with a toddler tucked at her side and then sit beside Ronan. His tense body relaxes at my proximity, making me feel a whole lot better. Slinging my arm over his shoulders, I hug him to me. He smells like fruit with a hint of cinnamon. Always has for some reason. His scent is comforting.
“These people are fucking dicks,” I complain. “Mya called me a caveman.”
Ronan doesn’t wriggle free of my affection, instead slumping against me. It makes me want to pull him closer, reminding all these damn trespassers that he’s my brother, not their new source of entertainment.
“You kind of are a caveman. You have a wolf for a pet.”
I snort out a laugh, my gaze darting over to Raegan, who has Mage wrapped up in a blanket in her arms like he’s a baby and not some wild animal. “Ex pet. He’s a traitor.”
Ronan trembles and I wonder if he’s cold. I squeeze his shoulder and then rub up and down to bring warmth to his flesh.
“Are we good?” I ask, unable to stop the cracking of my voice. “I feel like these people took you guys away from me.”
Ronan looks up at me, eyes burning hot like the fire behind his glasses. “Of course we’re good. I’m right here where I belong.”
His words soothe my heart that’d been feeling bruised and abused. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“Hopefully these assholes will be gone soon.”
“Hope so too,” he says sadly. “Raegan won’t like it, though.”
“Rae has us. She doesn’t need those fuckers.”
One of said fuckers whispers something to her and she howls with laughter. Yep, I want to kill them both, especially CJ.
