Page 30 of Her Silver Fox Mountain Men

“What are your plans here in Rustic?” Oliver asks as he brings the glass up to his lips, his brown eyes searching my face.

“What do you mean?”

“How long do you intend to stay here?”

“I don’t plan on going anywhere else anytime soon,” I reply. “I like it here. A lot.”

“It grows on you, I know.”

“To be honest, you, James, and Roman have made this place even more interesting. Had you asked me this question a couple of weeks back, I probably would’ve told you that I’d be tempted to move elsewhere, further south, before the end of next year.”

“What changed?”

Damn, it’s hard to focus when he’s looking at me like that, the light from the fireplace casting a soft glow over his brown and silver beard. There’s a fire in his gaze, too, a reflection of something deeper that echoes within me.

“You took me in, and it changed everything. It reminded me that I should open up more, that amazing things can happen if I just take a chance.”

“Not all people are the same,” he says, practically reading my mind.

I glance down at my glass and smile. “Yeah.”

I can feel his eyes on me, but I dare not look up again. I know if I do, I’ll be trapped. I will lose myself, my mind, my common sense altogether. The air between us thickens and crackles with unspoken desires. All it will take is one spark and everything goes boom.

“Elise, I’m going to kiss you.”

“Wait, what?”

I look up.

Dammit.

His mouth finds mine and I instantly surrender. He tastes of smoked whiskey and honey, of forbidden, sinfully delicious dreams coming true. His tongue explores with expert precision, and I moan roughly against his soft lips.

My legs part ever so slowly as he deepens the kiss. His hand slides shamelessly between my legs. I willingly, eagerly, allow his fingers to touch and explore.

“Do you want this?” he whispers, holding me by the back of the neck with his other hand.

My legs open wide, my body losing any connection left to my brain while Oliver works his way under the hem of my panties. But before it can go any further, I somehow find the strength to stop it.

I shoot up from the couch. “No, Oliver,” I gasp. “This isn’t right.”

“What’s the matter?” he asks.

My God, that bulge in his jeans makes my core tighten. My pussy aches. “I’ve started something with James. It’s not right, what we’re doing here.”

“It’s fine, Elise,” Oliver says with a gentle smile as he gets up from the couch. “I promise.”

“No, it’s not fine,” I insist. “You guys have been nothing but kind and hospitable, so sweet and supportive. I can’t bounce from oneto the other like this.”

“What if I told you that you don’t have to choose?”

“Huh?”

I’m barely able to breathe as I look at him, standing so close and smelling so damn good. But it’s the grin blooming across his handsome face that makes me quiver with a newfound sense of anticipation.

“Come with me,” he says. “Do you trust me, Elise?”

“Yes, but why are you asking me that?”

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