Page 8 of Valentine's Day With The Mountain Man

I nod, feeling the pull of his gaze like gravity. I don't dare speak, because I'm afraid I'll say something I'll regret. Or worse, burst into tears.

"Thanks to you," Liam says softly, and I see the corners of his mouth turn up in a smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes. It's a smile tinged with the same reluctance that's been growing inside of me—a reluctance to break whatever spell has been cast over us here on the mountain.

"Me?" My laugh is a half-hearted flutter. I try to dismiss the gravity of his words with another sip of wine, the rich flavor bittersweet on my tongue.

"I came here for the beauty in the landscape, but you made this place shine, Mia." He leans closer, his arm brushing against mine, sending ripples of warmth through my body.

I catch my breath as the space between us crackles, charged with an electric current born of shared glances and half-whispered conversations. It's foolish to think it's the wine drawing me nearer when every fiber of my being leans toward him, like one magnet attracted to another.

"Maybe it's just the storm outside that makes everything feel more intense," I venture, even though I know it's more than weather stirring this tempest within me.

"Perhaps," he concedes, his voice a low thrum that resonates with my own racing heart. "Or maybe it's the storm we've stirred in each other."

Our eyes lock, and in his gaze, I find the echo of my own longing. His mouth is now so close to mine that I can taste the faint sweetness of the wine we shared. “Liam.” I breathe out his name like a prayer, my heart hammering in my chest.

Without another word, we gravitate towards each other, as if pulled by invisible strings. A soft chuckle leaves him before he closes the gap between us, claiming my lips with his. Our lips meet—a kiss ignited by all the unspoken words, the lingering looks, the laughter shared in the face of chaos. His hand cradles my cheek, and I lean into the touch – a bold move that seems to inspire him.

The kiss starts slow and tender; a gentle dance of lips and tongues tasting, exploring, learning each other's flavors. His tongue teases my lower lip before delving deeper, demanding more intimacy. Our bodies naturally sync in rhythm, each movement amplifying our growing desires.

Liam’s mouth moves against mine with increasing fervor, matching the rhythm of my escalating heartbeat. His wandering hand finds my thigh, inching higher, reaching under the hem of my robe to gently knead at the bare skin beneath—his fingers leaving scorching trails wherever they touch.

As the kiss deepens, I am lost in the sensation, the taste of him mingling with the remnants of wine. There's no before, no after—just the now, where the beauty of Wildwood Ridge fades into the background, and all that matters is raw passion.

"I should... we should probably..." I trail off breathlessly, breaking the kiss and pulling away.

"Stay," he whispers, a single word laden with desire and vulnerability.

I give in to my cravings, desperate for him. "Okay," I respond.

Outside, the storm rages on, but inside, we have found a safe harbor in each other's arms. And as I surrender to the fervor of his embrace, I know that this unexpected encounter, born of chaos and chance, has forever altered the course of my heart.

7

LIAM

I'm on the floor, the rough texture of the carpet barely registering against my skin, not when Mia's hands are tracing lines of fire across my back. We're lost in each other's kiss, a perfect counterpoint to the chaos of the storm howling outside our cozy room. It feels like we've been here for hours, days maybe, this accidental roommate situation turning into something neither of us could have predicted.

"Let's move to the bed," I murmur against her lips, my voice so husky it's almost foreign to my own ears. She nods, her green eyes locking onto mine. With a tangle of limbs, we somehow make it upright, and I lead her towards the heart of the room where the bed awaits.

The cold air of the room contrasts with the heat of our bodies as we fall onto the bed, our kisses never breaking. Her fingers tangle in my hair, pulling me closer, if that's even possible. There's an urgency between us, a hunger for more.

Her robe, soft and worn, parts under my fingers as I untie the sash around her waist, slowly revealing the beauty of her form beneath. Mia's curves beckon my lips to explore. I lean in, pressing kisses to her neck, feeling her pulse quicken beneath my mouth.

"God, you're beautiful," I whisper, barely recognizing the tremor in my voice as desire courses through me. A shiver runs through her body, her skin goosebumping under my hot breath.

"Your touch..." she starts, her voice trembling, "it's all I've been thinking about today." Her confession wraps around me, binding me tighter to her than any embrace ever could. I feel her squirm, her body moving beneath me in a silent plea for more.

Every kiss I plant on her collarbone is a promise, every word whispered a testament to the desire crackling between us. As I kiss down her stomach, each inch of exposed flesh is like new terrain to explore—untouched snow in the serene mountain town that surrounds us.

"Please," she murmurs, her voice threaded with yearning. Her plea echoes against the pine walls, as raw and real as the wind outside. I can't resist her any longer.

"Shh, I'm here," I assure her, my voice barely above a whisper. My fingers dance at the edge of her desire, teasing gently before slipping away. She responds with a soft gasp, a sound that stirs the embers deep within me.

In one swift motion, our remaining barriers fall away, our robes discarded like the leaves of autumn. I position myself at the threshold of her warmth, pausing just long enough to lock eyes with her. In those green depths, I see the reflection of our shared need.

"Are you sure?" I ask, even though every fiber of my being screams to claim her.

"Yes, please," she breathes out, pulling me closer.

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