Page 7 of Forbidden Mountain Man

Forest pulls a perfectly cooked rotisserie chicken out of the oven, the skin golden brown. I'm sure this is the source of the buttery, garlic, and herb smell that distracted me from my studies in the first place.

"Wow, that looks incredible," I compliment.

“It’s nothing,” he replies, though I can tell he’s proud of the dish he prepared. A tiny part of my heart hopes he did it to impress me, but I know that’s just a fantasy.

“Can I help with anything?” I ask, hoping to move past the near-embarrassing moment of me throwing myself at Forest.

“The chicken needs to cool a bit and the mashed potatoes are done and warming on the stove. I could use some help prepping the salad though.”

I nod and head to the sink to wash my hands. Forest grabs a carton of strawberries out of the fridge and then hands me two apples from the fruit basket on the counter. “What kind of salad are we making?”

“Strawberry almond spinach salad with my famous homemade balsamic vinaigrette.”

“How fancy,” I tell him with a smile. “What’s the special occasion?”

Without missing a beat, Forest replies, “You.”

I blink at him, unsure of how to respond. Forest looks away from me and rubs the back of his neck before sighing.

“I’ll make the dressing and you can chop up the fruit,” he says, quickly turning to the fridge to gather his own ingredients.

I’m not sure how to take that comment, but I brush it off as a kind remark from a kind man. That’s all it is. That’s all it can be.

I get to work cutting the strawberries into quarters and then chopping the apples into bite-sized pieces, though everything in me is hyper-aware of Forest’s presence. Maybe I should go home tonight after all. It’s only a matter of time before I slip up and say or do something that will reveal exactly how deep my feelings for Forest go.

“I could have sworn we had a salad dressing bottle,” Forest says under his breath as he looks in one cupboard after another.

“It’s up here,” I tell him, pointing to the cabinet above me.

I’m about to scoot over to give him room, but he steps up behind me, placing a hand on my hip as he reaches over my head. Fire spreads through my veins and my heart races, the heavy beats matching the aching pulse between my thighs.

I'm unable to stop leaning back against his chest and abs, shivering when his rippling muscles brush against my back.Forest inhales sharply, the hand on my hip tightening and pulling me even closer. He exhales with a growl that vibrates through my body.

He grabs the bottle and sets it on the counter before tilting his head and nuzzling into the side of my neck. I hum in contentment, resting my head against his shoulder. Forest grips both of my hips, ghosting his nose and lips up and down my neck.

“Forest,” I murmur, subconsciously rolling my body against his.

“Fuck, Fiona…”

My world spins as Forest turns me around to face him. His normally light blue eyes are dark with desire. I nibble on my bottom lip as I stare at his mouth. My hands move almost without my permission, crawling up Forest’s chest and feeling the dips and curves of his sculpted muscles.

He groans softly, looking up toward the ceiling while closing his eyes. “You feel so good,” he murmurs, his voice low and gravelly. Forest slides his large hands around to my back, one tickling up my spine while the other cups my ass, giving it a squeeze. I’d be mortified if not for the hard bulge in his jeans that I can feel growing the longer he touches me. “I bet you’ll taste even better.”

Forest looks back down at me, the fire in his eyes mirrored in mine. He gives me a moment to pull away, but instead, I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him down, meeting him halfway.

His lips touch mine, briefly at first, and then more firmly. I sink into his embrace, surrendering to his touch. His lips part beneath mine, the very tip of his tongue snaking out to lick my bottom lip before he breaks our kiss.

I don’t know what comes over me, but I’m not done with him yet. I grip his shirt and draw him back into me. Forest’s eyesgo dark, making me gasp softly before his mouth is on mine, claiming me with more intensity this time.

Forest breathes me in as he consumes me, coaxing me to open my lips and let him in.

This kiss is different. Wilder. Rougher. A low, gravelly sound rumbles up through his chest as he presses me against the kitchen counter. His lips part, and he licks inside my mouth, tangling our tongues together.

Forest swallows down my desperate cry, muffling the sound and pulling my body closer against his. I can feel the tight muscles he has packed into his chest and stomach. Coupled with the way his strong arms are holding me tightly, and the obvious erection digging into my stomach, I nearly whimper again as I melt into his embrace.

He tears his mouth from mine, only to continue undoing me with light, teasing kisses down my neck. “Forest,” I whisper, barely getting the word out before his lips find mine once more.

My body moves on its own, grinding against his, seeking some relief from the ache he's created deep inside. He groans, the sound almost painful as he grinds his body against mine. His hands roam up and down my curves, leaving a trail of goosebumps as they go.

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