The Lion’s Mate

Chapter 5

The cabin Mark had rented was twice the size of Leah’s, and so much more elegant and lavish than she had ever guessed. She’d walked through the forest and peered at the inaptly named cabin a time or two when it had been empty, but she’d never approached it to look in the windows no matter how much she wanted to. Her curiosity had burned, but she had held it in check. She was more than excited to finally not only get close to the structure but to go inside as well.

The front porch stretched across the entire front of the cabin and wrapped around one side. At the side was a set of stairs that led to a balcony on the second floor that overlooked the lake. Two rocking chairs sat up there for comfortable evening chats with a glass of wine. Huge bay windows were behind the chairs and would reflect the sun beautifully. The wood of the walls was dark and sumptuous, and beautifully integrated into the forest behind it.

“Wow,” she said, her voice revealing the awe she felt. “It’s stunning. You’re just renting it?”

“Yes, until the case is over anyway,” he answered as they mounted the stairs and he unlocked the door.

“Too bad,” she mused as she stepped inside and froze. The inside, if possible, was even more unbelievable than the outside. “Breathtaking.”

Mark chuckled. “It is that for sure.”

Leah looked back at him. “Was it furnished?”

“Yes. I only brought clothes with me. There’s a cleaning crew who come once a week and keep the place spotless. Part of the rent,” Mark said with a shrug.

Leah shook her head, amazed. “I don’t even want to imagine what this place costs to rent for as long as you might be here.”

“I can afford it,” Mark bragged with a wink. “You probably can too, published author.”

“Even if I could, I probably wouldn’t,” Leah said with a laugh.

Mark wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against him. He gently placed his lips against hers. “Instead of renting it yourself, you could just stay here with me. Like a little mini-vacation.”

“Mmmm, I kinda like the sound of that,” Leah said, running her hands up and down his back. She cupped his ass and pulled his pelvis against her. Her eyes widened, and she said, “Why, Mr. Anderson! Is that a roll of quarters in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?”

“A roll of quarters! Lady, you’re going to pay for that!”

Before she could even consider escaping, he gently kicked her feet out from under her and lowered her to the floor. He straddled her and began to tickle her belly mercilessly. She screamed and laughed, wiggling around and trying to get away from him. She grabbed his wrists but could not stop him, and her legs were useless since he was sitting on them.

“Stop! Stop!” she squealed in between her raucous laughter. “I’m going to pee, I swear!”

Mark laughed and relented. “I can’t have you peeing on the carpet. The owners would be furious. They said no pets.”

“Then why did they rent to you, lion man?”

“Do you want the tickling to start again?” Leah vigorously shook her head, laughing at his pretend offense. “You better watch your words.”

She ran her hands up under his shirt, dragging her fingernails from his pecs to his abs, a look of seduction on her face.

“Oh good lord,” Leah said with a shake of her head. “You’re positively incorrigible.”

“I like a woman who can use big words,” he replied. “Come on, let’s go upstairs. If you love the living room, you’ll die when you see the bedroom.”

As they walked toward the stairs, Leah’s phone rang. She paused with a frown on her face. “Um, that’s Annie’s ringtone.” She turned around and picked her purse up off the floor where she’d dropped it when he’d been tickling her. “She wouldn’t call unless it was important. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be,” Mark said, watching the concern on Leah’s face.

“Annie?” Leah listened for a few seconds, her eyes widening more and more. Mark could hear the hysterical Annie on the other end. “Annie, calm down. I can’t understand you.” She listened again. “Ok, take Jenny and go to my room. Lock that door too.”