Page 12 of Kept By The Mountain Man

I lose track of time. The kiss feels endless, yet too short all at once. My body hums with an electric charge, and every inch of me feels alive, hyperaware of him. My heart pounds in sync with his. The only sounds I can register are the soft sighs and the quiet rustle of clothing as we move against one another.

When we finally pull apart, we’re both breathless. His forehead rests gently against mine, and I can feel his warm breath against my lips, still hovering so close that I could taste him again with just the slightest move.

My eyes flutter open to find his, dark and intense, locked on me. His thumb brushes over my bottom lip, swollen from the kiss, as if he’s memorizing the feel of it.

"You're perfect," he whispers, his voice hoarse, as if the kiss stole the words from his lips.

My heart swells in response, but words escape me. Instead, I lean into him, resting my head against his chest, my fingers still laced behind his neck. He presses a lingering kiss to my temple, his arms tightening around me, holding me close, as if he doesn’t want to let go.

And at that moment, wrapped in his arms, with the taste of him still lingering on my lips, I know I never want him to.

“Move it!” Comes a high-pitched voice, and Hendrix and I both jump apart. I turn to see who it was, but Hendrix is standing in front of me, blocking my view.

I peek around him, and he moves again, almost like he’s protecting me.

“People are trying to walk here,” someone says, and I roll my eyes when I finally recognize my neighbor’s voice.

“Sorry,” I say from behind Hendrix. “I guess we just got a little carried away.”

There’s no response to that, and their door slams shut, and I sigh.

“Sorry about them,” I say as Hendrix turns back to face me.

“Don’t worry. I guess it works in our favor. Now we have people who have seen us together,” he says.

It’s like a bucket of cold water has been dumped on me, and my heart sinks as I remember that this is supposed to all be fake.

“Right. Good.”

“Evie.”

“Night, Boss. I’ll see you tomorrow,” I say, unlocking my door and slipping inside before he can say anything else.

I lock the door behind me and sigh as I look at my empty apartment.

I knew that keeping my feelings out of this fake relationship was going to be hard, but after today and that kiss, well, now I know that it’s going to be impossible.

I like Hendrix. I might even love him.

Now how am I going to get out of this fake relationship without breaking my own heart?

SIX

Hendrix

I standoutside Evie’s apartment, clutching the bouquet of sunflowers in my hand, feeling like an idiot. Not because I’m here, but because of how much Iwantto be here, and how much I care that today goes perfectly. My heart thuds harder than it has any right to, considering this is just a Saturday. Just another weekend day. But I know it’s notjustSaturday. Not anymore.

Today, I’m making my move. I’m sick of her thinking that this is all fake or pretend. It’s time that I tell Evie how I really feel about her.

I take a deep breath and knock on her door. As I wait, the nervous energy in me buzzes like a live wire. I’m not used to feeling like this, not used to having someone get under my skin this way, but that’s exactly what she does to me whenever she’s close, whenever I see her, whenever I think about her. Every. Damn. Time.

The door swings open, and there she is, standing in front of me like she’s always belonged there. Her dress flows around her hips, soft and light, and her hair tumbles over her shoulders inloose waves. For a second, I just stare. How can I not? She’s mesmerizing, breathtaking.

Her eyes land on the flowers, and she smiles. That teasing smile she always gives me, the one that somehow manages to undo me every time.

“Are those for me?” she asks, her tone light and playful, but I see the way her cheeks flush pink as she eyes the bouquet.

I clear my throat, suddenly feeling awkward, but I push through. “Yeah. Thought you might like them.”

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