Page 14 of Sheltered By the Surly Forester

I don't normally think in business buzzwords, but the possibilities to “add value” for them are making my brain rattle.

Staying with Josh, however, has a higher purpose. I really could help create a birder preserve. Although, of course, that's only part of it. He makes me feel truly valuable. He also makes me feel sexy — which is new to me. He makes me feel like a revved up, amplified version of who I truly am.

Once the dishwasher is running, we snuggle on the couch and watch a documentary about the future of modern forestry, pausing it every so often to chat about details or take notes.

Even though Josh is maybe eight or nine years older than I am, and has lived a far more varied life, he treats me like an equal and truly listens to me. It's amazing.

"Hey." He pauses the documentary again. "Do you have a favorite bird? Are you even into birds?"

I laugh for a second. "I've always loved woodlands, so yes – spotting a cute bird is like seeing a falling star, except it's much more likely to happen. I guess if I had to pick a favorite…it would be all the really bright colored ones. No – the ones with just a small pop of color. Like a red-winged blackbird. Or… What's the yellow one with blue and white patches on the shoulder?"

"Blue-winged warbler?"

"Yes. And the goldfinch, even though it's mostly yellow." I stare down at the wide expanse of his chest for a moment before blurting, "Oh! We could name the different suites in the lodge after birds. The Mallard Room. Owl Suite. Red-tailed Hawk Loft."

Josh laughs, squeezing me against him. "You're a fountain of ideas. I love that."

There's something in his eyes when he says the wordlove. No… I must have misread the expression. He's a gorgeous, older man from an important family. He couldn't possibly be thinking about true love and romance with some random girl who doesn’t even have a place to stay.

I'mprojecting. That's what this is. Josh is so wonderful, and falling for him would feel so good that I'm just wishing for it. That's fine. What's the harm in giving in to this little fantasy for a while?

Since he's one of those Wolfe guys, there would instantly be gossip all over town if word got out he was with someone. That's okay. I'd be perfectly fine keeping things quiet.

"I like having a project to work on," I murmur. "A reason for the idea cauldron to be brewing and bubbling in the back of my mind."

His thick arm pulls me closer as his other hand travels slowly around my knee. I can feel his warmth through my thin leggings. "You're smart. That's sexy to me." His fingers trail along my outer thigh. "So sexy that you've been giving me plenty of ideas."

"Oh, yeah?"

My breath catches as I see the heat in his eyes. Then he leans back abruptly. "Emie, I – I don't want you to feel cornered, out here all alone with me."

Exhaling slowly, I reach out to drag my palm across his chest. "I don’t feel cornered. I want…everything. With you."

The couch creaks as he pulls me closer, letting me inhale his warmth and his masculine scent. He kisses me gently at first, then I start to feel something new. An intensity. There's a promise on his lips… He's not going to stop unless I want him to this time.

I never want him to stop. Every single moment I spend with this incredible man makes me feel more alive than I ever have before.

I moan as his lips shift, dancing down my neck with sucking, pulling kisses. My fingers thread into the back of his hair as I hold him close. Shifting in his lap, I feel something else through my leggings, warm and firm against my hip, and I rub against it.

There's a faint groan, then his teeth skim carefully along my collarbone, his body shifting against me. "You're so hot," he breathes. "Tell me what you want, Emie."

It occurs to me that he's going to keep asking and checking in with me every single step along the line. It also occurs to me this is not normal for him. I’ll bet the town is used to taking orders from him. It sends delicious tingles through me to think of how different he is around me.

"This." Shooting him a grin, I slide my palm down between us to grip the erection trapped in his jeans. "Thisis what I want. Is that okay?"

Without breaking eye contact, he reaches for the remote and turns off the TV. I'm lifted in the air, held securely against his muscular chest as he carries me to the bedroom.

Nerves crackle through my belly as he lays me down, quickly pulling off my shirt. The sensation of his lips wrapping around my nipple makes me tremble with lust. Josh knows exactly what I need to feel, and when. How is he so instinctively in tune with my body like this?

For one brief moment, I wonder if it's true that you feel instantly connected to someone when you know they're the one.

"Your skin is so soft," he murmurs, switching to the other side as his tongue sweeps around my nipple, his hands roaming over my breasts, taking my breath away.

His left hand shoves my tights and underwear down, and I help by scrambling the rest of the way out of them. Being completely naked while he is fully clothed is a strange sensation that ripples like a wave across my skin. I don't feel vulnerable. It's…powerful. I'm the complete focus of his attention.

"Fuck…" he groans, pushing my right thigh to spread my legs apart. "Prettiest pussy in the world."

I gasp from the way he digs in, feasting on my flesh. Every lick, every tiny kiss, sends heat shooting through my veins. His scowling eyes are incredibly intense as his hand wraps around my hip, holding me still. It's possessive. Controlling.And I love it.

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