Joseph’s mind went blank. He froze, and without realizing it, stopped trying to push Naomi away.His hands were around her waist. She was softer than anything he had ever felt. Her lips pressed against his, warm and insistent. When he opened his eyes, he could see that even Naomi looked nervous.He had no idea what had come over her. He had forgotten to resist and was letting her have her way.He’d never imagined a day would come when a woman tried to force herself on him. He couldn’t let this happen.But Naomi’s hands showed no sign of stopping.Everything that had happened between them flashed through his mind. With her beauty, her figure, and her family’s wealth, who would pass up a chance like this? For most people, it would be their one opportunity to enter a world they could never reach on their own.And it was right in front of him.Since they’d met, Naomi had done so much for him. Even without her family behind her, she was the kind of woman countless men wanted. She made him

“What?”Noah Diaz’s question caught Joseph off guard. Then he saw the leering grin on Noah Diaz’s face—and the looks Kyle Lee and the others were giving him.“Oh, get lost!” Joseph rolled his eyes. “What the hell are you thinking?”Noah Diaz winked. “Come on, Boss. You don’t have to hide it. We all know. It’s a good thing!” Joseph’s reaction only made him more certain. “Tell me. I promise I won’t say a word to your wife.”He leaned in close.Joseph’s face darkened. He grabbed Noah Diaz by the ear. “You want to keep talking?”“Ow, ow, ow!” Noah Diaz grimaced. “I won’t, Boss! I swear!”Joseph let go. Noah Diaz scurried a safe distance away.“Boss, we’re all men. No need to say it out loud.” He grinned. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone.”

Joseph immediately dampened their hopes.“I checked the animals we passed earlier. None of their hides were usable. You think I would’ve left them behind otherwise?”The others realized he had a point. Joseph never passed up anything useful.Ignoring their looks, Joseph followed the marks left by the hyenas’ teeth and carefully skinned the deer. Before long, he had the hide off in one piece. It was riddled with bite marks, but they could still use it.Even so, the damage made him wince. Those hyenas had torn into everything. They’d cracked open the deer’s skull and eaten the brain. They hadn’t left a scrap for Joseph’s group. Judging by the marks, they hadn’t been gone long.“Keep an eye on your surroundings,” Joseph said.There were more hyenas out here than he’d expected. If the group ran into the whole pack, they could be in serious trouble. On the other hand, bringing down a few would help with their food shortage.By the time the sun began to set, all they had found was one buffa

The giant boa didn’t seem interested in eating Joseph. Instead, it wrapped itself around him and squeezed. Soon, only his arms were free.Joseph drove his dagger into its body again and again, but its hide had stopped crossbow bolts. The dagger was useless.All he did was make the boa tighten its grip.Within moments, he could barely breathe. Agony tore through his compressed chest, and the dagger slipped from his hand. Despair hit him.At this rate, the boa would kill him.“Boss!”Noah Diaz and the others had only just escaped when they heard the commotion. They looked back, and the sight stopped them cold.Joseph had drawn the boa away so they could get out. Now he was the one in danger. If they ran and something happened to him, they would never forgive themselves.Noah Diaz clenched his fists. “I’m going back for the boss!”He knew going back could get them killed, but he couldn’t stand by and watch Joseph die. Joseph had saved them too many times.While the others hesitated, Noah

The more Alice thought about it, the angrier she got. Joseph was never going to change.She stamped her foot. “Since you’re fine, I won’t keep you from resting. I’m going back.”She turned to leave.Her feelings were written all over her face. Joseph could hardly miss them. But now that Alice had come all this way, he wasn’t about to let her leave. That wasn’t his style.“Alice, I was kidding. Don’t take it seriously.”Smiling, he caught the hand nearest him and pulled her into his room, then shut the door.Alice trembled at his touch. Before she could work out what had happened, they were alone.She stood there in a daze, thinking about the way he had pulled her in and the strength of his grip. No one had ever handled her quite like that before. Her cheeks turned an even deeper shade of red.Joseph had gotten exactly the reaction he wanted.“Come on, Alice. Let’s sit down and talk.”By the time she came to her senses, he had guided her down onto the edge of the bed. Now she couldn’t