Page 12 of Saved By the Mountain Man

Her words hit my lips and I taste her. I taste her breath in my mouth. I taste her innocence and beauty. It’s all there, right in front of me. I can just take everything my body so desperately desires right now. Right fucking now.

Kiss her. Kiss her.

I take a breath and summon every ounce of discipline I didn’t know still existed in my cold, dark veins. My military training comes out and I fight back against the demons in my head.

“Ryan was my best friend. He gave his life for me, for us. I can’t do this to him, I can’t repay him by going behind his back. You’re off-limits, no matter what happens.”

“I’m not a kid anymore, I can make my own choices,” Emma says, not budging. She leans up on her toes so her soft mouth presses against my ear. “I want you, Jack. With every second I spend with you, I want you more. I want your touch. I want your hands on me.”

My head rolls back on my neck and her hand slides down my stomach. She presses a kiss to my earlobe, slowly moving her mouth down my neck, kissing up my cheek until she’s right near my mouth.

“Fuck,” I breathe.

It’s everything I want. Goddammit. What the hell do I do?

“But Ryan…”

I lose any chance of fighting when Emma’s mouth slides across mine. I close my eyes and groan at the gentle caress. Those luscious lips part and her tongue slides inside my mouth. My hands go to her sides, and we open for each other, our tongues colliding like a vicious fire has just detonated.

Only I can’t do this.

She’s Ryan’s daughter.

No matter how badly I want it, it would be wrong.

I break the kiss and take a big step back. We’re both panting, breathless from the passion that’s boiled over. I stare at Emma, her blue eyes wide with desire. I force myself to look away, if I don’t, I might never forgive myself.

“Let’s get back to my cabin. Now.”

I turn around before I change my mind. I served in the military for two decades, risking my life and going to battle with some of the world’s most dangerous criminals.

But this…

Turning my back on the most beautiful woman in the world is the damned hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.

***

I stretch out on the floor and feel myself slowly drift to sleep as I stare at the flames flickering in the fire. I’m reminded of my military days. We would spend hours sitting by the fire, guns at the ready, always alert.

My mind drifts back to earlier today.

The kiss with Emma. It was almost the perfect moment, at least, up until the part where I pulled away and growled at her. She was so soft, her lips tasting like pure heaven. Everything about her is perfect, too fucking perfect.

I regret the way I handled myself up there. I didn’t want to hurt her. I’m trying to protect her, to keep her from making an awful mistake.

She doesn’t want me, she’s just wounded. She’s looking for safety, for someone to trust.

And I can’t just take advantage of that. I won’t.

I wriggle my aching body on the hard floor, trying my best to get comfortable. I’m not about to tell Emma this, but sleeping out here is killing me.

Georgie is snoring like a trooper, her head laying across my feet. I watch her chest rise and fall, thinking about the woman sleeping in soundly in my bed. She’s safe.

Slowly, I drift off to sleep.

I’m not sure how long I’m asleep before I’m woken abruptly by the blistering sound of a firecracker. I shoot up straight, my heart pounding as I look around. I’m not on the floor of my cabin though. No, the forest is thick here, and dark shadows are looming beyond their depths.

I grab my gun and cock it, ready to fire.

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