Page 20 of Her Silver Fox Mountain Men

After dinner, I settle in my room with a good book.

The guys have quite the collection downstairs in the library. Tonight, I want something classically romantic, so Jane Austen felt like the right choice. I’m halfway through the first chapter, snuggled in grey velvety jammies, when I hear a knock on my door.

It’s subtle at first. Barely audible. I wait a few moments. Maybe I imagined it.

The second one sounds a bit more determined.

I set the book aside and pad across the room. As soon as I open the door, my heart stops beating briefly before going into a furious gallop.

“James? Is everything okay?” The look on his face makes my skin tingle all over.

It’s quiet around the house. I know the girls are tucked in and fast asleep at this late hour. I heard Oliver and Roman retreating to their rooms about thirty minutes ago.

“Everything is fine, I just wanted to talk,” he says. His voice is low, and he keeps glancing back to the hallway. He doesn’t want anyone to see him.

I step aside and gesture for him come in. “Okay.”

“Thank you.”

I lose my breath once I close the door and turn around. He’s close, too close. He smells like sea salt and leather, with a musky finish that sends shivering tendrils down my spine. He looks ridiculously good in faded jeans and a green plaid shirt.

“I didn’t imagine the other day, did I?” he asks.

“What do you mean?”

I know what he means but I need to hear him say it. Maybe I’m worried I imagined it, too.

“The kiss,” he says. “It happened, right?”

“Yes, it happened,” I whisper, lowering my gaze.

He brings a hand up, gently clasping my chin between his thumb and index finger. His touch alone is electrifying and it’s making my pulse quicken. “Is that all you wanted to happen?”

“No.” My answer comes a little too fast.

“You want more.”

“Yes.”

“Good. We’re on the same page then,” James replies and kisses me again.

It’s different, this time. This kiss holds power. The kind of power that throws me for a loop and sends me overboard. My brainimmediately short-circuits, letting my body take over. I respond, letting my lips do the talking for me. His tongue slips past, wrestling with mine in playful, delicious swirls.

“God, you taste like heaven,” he whispers in between ragged breaths.

All I can do is moan and deepen the kiss, wrapping my arms around his strong neck as I breathe him in. His frame overpowers me, making me feel small but safe in his embrace. His hands work their way down, exploring every curve along the way.

“I don’t know where we’re going with this,” James says, stopping for a moment so he can look into my eyes.

“I don’t know, either. Maybe we don’t put a label on it? Not yet anyway.”

“Sounds like a reasonable plan.” He’s trying too hard to keep his wits about him while his throbbing erection presses against my stomach. Liquid heat gathers between my legs. I’m wet and hot and pining for so much more. It’s insane how little resistance I have when I’m around him.

“Reasonable and sensible,” I mumble as the kisses get out of control.

We make out like needy teenagers, tongues and lips everywhere, desperate to taste and register every inch of skin that we can reach. His fingers dig into my hips, not caring much for the fabric that keeps getting in the way.

I throw my head back as his tongue trails invisible lines down my neck.

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