Page 122 of Ten Mountain Men

Okay, I guess exhibitionism is a kink I didn’t know I had because that thought makes my clit do things I didn’t know clits could do.

“I’d love for you to fuck me doggy style on the stage during half time at the Super Bowl,” I say, because I guess dirty talk also does it for me?

His mouth finds mine again and things get a little—okay, a lot—dry humpy as we make out. Then he’s standing up, holding me, carrying me over to the table…

Shit. What if the twelfth camera is trained right on the table, to pick up any mealtime conversations when I wasn’t around…? I can’t remember. Why can’t I remember?

I am not the kind of person who tricks another person into making a sex tape, even if no one will ever see it. Even if it’s not premeditated trickery.

“I don’t think Luke would approve of us fucking on the table where you guys eat,” I tell him gently. “Luke or, you know, any of the others.”

He tilts his head thoughtfully. “You’re probably right. Wanna go back to the couch?”

Nope, because the errant camera could be trained on the couch.

“Um…I really…kind of like doing it outdoors,” I say. “What’s the weather going to be like tonight?”

“Chilly but clear. You wanna fuck underneath the stars, firecracker? I promise I’ll keep you warm.”

I nod.

Holding me with one arm, he grabs some blankets with his free hand and takes us out the back door. He maneuvers through all the remaining piles like his legs are the world’s steadiest fingers playing a game of Operation. How?

He carries me through the backyard, and he seems to be hell-bent on walking to the edge of the mountain, and I want to scream,Where are you going, just throw me down anywhere and let’s get on with it, but that wouldn’t be ladylike, now would it?

Finally we arrive at a destination he deems satisfactory. I don’t know what makes it special and right now, frankly, I don’t care to look around to see. I don’t want to look at anything but Ash. He somehow manages to spread the blankets down with one hand without putting me down, the other hand on my ass, my arms linked around his neck. I feel like a doll.A sex doll, I think, which makes me laugh.

Once he has the blankets just so, he lays me down ever so gently and then lies down beside me.

“Look,” I say, pointing. I shake my head with wonderment. “Look at all the stars.”

It’s like someone has thrown a handful of glitter up into the sky.

“It’s beautiful up here,” I whisper.

“It sure as hell is,” Ash says. I glance at him. He’s looking at me.

He takes my hand in his. “Now that we’re out here, I can’t help thinking…” he whispers, giving my fingers a squeeze. “It’s kind of romantic, huh?”

And I’ll be damned if there’s not a shooting star.

“It is,” I reply.

“You want me to make love to you underneath all these stars, firecracker?” he asks.

He wants to makeloveto me? Does the use of the L-word break our only friendship and sex arrangement? I decide it does not. I mean, it totally does, but…my stupid heart has been breaking that arrangement all over the damn mountain.

“Yes, I want you to make love to me, Ash,” I say without another beat. “Very much yes.”

Chapter 38

Ash

Ididn’t utter one single lie when I told Goldie I was thinking about the roof. ’Cept I left out the important element that had my stomach spinning as fast as my thoughts—fixing the roof isn’t good enough. We need to replace it. Make it brand-new.

What I actually thought, truth be told, is this—can’t put out Goldie’s firecracker spark with something as dumb as a leaky roof.

But see, I know the look in her eye when she glances around the cabin and takes in our unconventional way of livin’—she likes everything perfect, and that is something we just ain’t and will never be. No amount of cleaning she does will change that. But if I can get at least the roof right, and maybe get my brothers to help me turn our place into something she might considerjust rightbefore the storms hit…she might want to stay longer.

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