Page 10 of Forbidden Mountain Man

“Finally,” she sighs. “Now I can forget everything forever,” she jokes.

“Perfect timing. Everything is set for our picnic. Are you ready to go or do you need a few minutes?”

“I’m ready,” Fiona replies, though her tone is different. Meek. Wary.

I step closer to her and slide my arm around her hips, pulling her toward me. She looks up, those mesmerizing eyes locking onto mine. “I’ll be right there with you,” I promise. “I won’t let anything bad happen. Do you trust me?”

I hold my breath as I wait for her answer.

“Yes,” comes her whispered response. I kiss the top of her head and pull my woman in for a hug. She wraps her arms around me and sinks into my embrace.

"Good girl," I murmur. Just like the last time I said it, Fiona shivers and her eyes darken slightly. God, what that does to me. She wants me to praise her? Lavish her with attention and dirty promises? I can't fucking wait.

6

FIONA

Forest parks his truck next to a cozy spot along the river, making me smile. The sun is shining through the leaves, creating magical rays of light and shadow that dance across the soft-looking grass. The river is shimmering in the mid-day sun, moving at a lazy pace that should bring me peace. It’s the perfect day… and yet I’m terrified to leave the confines of this truck.

“I’ll be with you the whole time,” Forest says, placing his hand over mine.

“I know. I’m being silly. This is a total overreaction.”

“Hey, now. I don’t want to hear you talking about yourself like that, Fiona. You went through something awful and traumatic. Everyone responds differently when facing danger. Everyone heals differently, too.”

I nod and take a deep breath. "Okay. I'm ready." My brain and my body must be having communication issues because even though I said I was ready, my limbs are frozen.

Forest exits the truck and panic sets in. Seconds later, he’s opening my door and holding out his hand for me to take. “We’ll take it one step at a time, sweetheart.”

Despite my pounding heart and racing thoughts, I find myself smiling at his pet name for me. I didn’t know I’d like it so much.

I slide my hand in his, letting Forest guide me out of the truck and over to a shaded spot under a nearby tree. I’m leaning against him, half hidden behind him while I cling to his arm. Forest doesn’t say anything, his presence is enough. We take slow, measured steps and I can feel my breaths evening out as some of the anxiety drains away.

“I’ll just get us set up here,” Forest says, setting the picnic basket and blanket down. He tries pulling his arm out of my death grip, but I catch his hand in mine.

“Thank you, Forest. You’ve been so good to me. I don’t know what I did to deserve it, but I’m glad I have you in my life.”

He turns to face me, cupping my cheek in his hand. “Fiona, you don’t have to do anything to deserve my love.”

Love? Did he just say love?

I don’t know what comes over me. Maybe it’s the weight of his confession, or my own confusing feelings, or the need to be near him. Either way, I tilt my head up and press my lips to his. I know I shouldn’t, but god, it’s all I’ve thought about since our kiss in the kitchen.

Forest doesn’t hesitate this time, nor does he back down. He moves his lips with mine, taking over the kiss and prying my lips open with his tongue.

I moan softly and let him in, gasping at the need behind each stroke of his tongue. I taste his longing, his promises, his desire for me. For us. Gripping his hips, I pull him closer to me, desperate for more of him. Forest groans and tangles his hands in my hair, angling me right where he wants me so he can delve deeper into my mouth. He’s all-consuming, his citrus and leather scent, the warmth of his mouth, his hard length rubbing against my stomach.

“God, Fiona, I haven’t thought about anything else except doing this over and over again,” he murmurs into my lips before taking them again, claiming them as his own. I roll my hips against him and slide my hands up his chest, fisting the collar of his shirt and clinging to him with everything I am.

Forest tears his mouth away from mine, only to nip and kiss down my neck. I whimper when his hands slide down my back so slowly, taking his time to feel every inch of me before gripping my ass in his large, capable hands. We're lost in each other, completely taken over by the lust and longing that has been building up between us for days now.

Eventually, Forest pries himself away from me, giving me one last chaste kiss on the lips before resting his forehead on mine. We're both panting, sharing the same air, and basking in the intimacy we've both craved for so long.

“I’m addicted to you now, sweetheart. There’s no going back for me.”

I chew on my bottom lip nervously, wanting his words to be true but having a hard time believing this isn’t all a dream.

Forest takes my silence for uncertainty and cups my face so sweetly. “We’ll go as slow as you want. I’ll never take anything you don’t willingly give me.”

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