Page 19 of Marrying the Mountain Man

Her eyes shone with unshed tears. “I…I want that, too.”

Then, as if pulled by a magnet, our lips met in a tentative, trembling kiss. Her mouth was soft, her breath hitching in surprise. We stilled, the hush of the house enveloping us. Slowly, the kiss deepened, emotions swirling—relief, desire, the sweet tang of tears.

I cupped her cheek, and she leaned closer, hands sliding around my shoulders. Our mouths moved in a slow exploration, each second binding us closer. My heart felt like it might burst, the sheer rightness of it surging through me.

She broke the kiss, eyes flicking to mine. “Levi…maybe we can go somewhere more…” She trailed off, cheeks flushed.

Heat rushed to my face. “Bedroom?”

She nodded, standing. Her hand found mine, and I laced our fingers together. Quietly, we padded down the short hallway to the room she’d been borrowing. The overhead lamp cast a soft glow on the plain walls. We paused near the bed, hearts pounding in unison.

She reached for the hem of her sweater, glancing at me for permission. My pulse thundered. “Yes,” I whispered.

She peeled it off, revealing a simple tank top underneath. I let my hands settle on her hips, feeling her soft warmth. Our mouths sought each other again, deeper, more urgent. I could taste her longing, matched by my own.

Time blurred. She tugged my sweater and t-shirt up, and I helped, discarding them on the floor. I kissed her neck, trailing soft nips along her jawline. A little moan escaped her, spurring me on.

We inched toward the bed, sinking onto it. Clothes slipped away between slow, tentative touches: her tank top, my jeans, her leggings. Our skin met in electric arcs. The quiet air filled with ragged breaths and whispered reassurances. I explored her body with reverent hands, pressing gentle kisses over her collarbone, the swell of her breast, the curve of her waist. Her fingers tangled in my hair, drawing me up for another scorching kiss. She murmured my name, and something inside me cracked wide open with an ache of tenderness.

Her eyes shimmered, a tangle of vulnerability and desire. I stroked her cheek, lips brushing hers. “You sure?” I whispered, needing to confirm.

She nodded, exhaling a shaky laugh. “Definitely. I want you, Levi.”

Her admission unleashed a rush of fervor. We moved against each other, exploring every curve and angle, each new touch forging a deeper bond. Our bodies aligned, pulses syncing. I tried to be mindful of her comfort, checking her gaze for any hesitation. Instead, I found trust and desire.

We lost ourselves in the soft hush of the bedroom, breath mingling in quiet gasps. The sensation of her bare skin againstmine was overwhelming in the best way—like I’d been starved for warmth, and she was the only source. Her nails grazed my shoulder blades, sending jolts of electricity through me as I ran my hand over her hip, then guided myself into her. We both gasped with pleasure at the sensation. Slowly, carefully, we found our rhythm. She arched beneath me, soft moans escaping her parted lips, and I dipped my head to kiss the hollow of her throat. Every motion was laced with emotion, not just physical need. I whispered her name in, overwhelmed by the intimacy of it all—her trust, her acceptance, her presence in my bed.

As our tempo intensified, Mindy clung to me, face flushed, body pliant under my touch. We rode the waves of sensation together, losing track of time. How could something feel so healing yet so dizzying all at once? It wasn’t just sex—it was a release of all the pent-up heartache, fear, and hope we’d both carried far too long.

When the crest of pleasure hit, it felt like a surge of light flooding my entire being. Mindy gasped my name, clutching me tight, and I pressed my forehead against hers as we both released at once, shaking with intensity. We sank together, chest to chest, hearts thudding in unison.

For a while, we lay there, breathing in sync, limbs still intertwined. The room was quiet except for our shared panting. Eventually, I brushed damp hair from her forehead. She gave me a wobbly smile, eyes glistening with emotion.

“That was…” she started, voice trembling.

“Yeah,” I breathed, trying to regain coherence. “It was everything.”

She let out a soft laugh, turning her face to kiss my palm. “Levi…”

I stroked her cheek. “Shh, you don’t have to say anything. Just…let’s stay here, okay?”

She nodded, a tear escaping her closed lids. “I just…I feel safe, you know?”

My throat constricted. “I want you to always feel that. With me.”

We shared a gentle kiss, no urgency this time, just a promise. At some point, I reached over and tugged the blankets around us, cocooning her in warmth. She nestled against my chest, her fingers tracing light patterns over my skin.

“Tomorrow,” she whispered, “will be complicated. Tessa. The kids. Figuring out what this means…”

I kissed the top of her head. “We’ll figure it out together. Step by step.”

A contented hush settled. Outside, the March night pressed in, but in this small bedroom, everything felt right. The weight of caution and fear softened, replaced by a sense of belonging. Even if Tessa’s meddling had sparked it, I couldn’t regret the outcome.

Mindy’s breathing slowed, drifting near sleep in my arms. I closed my eyes, letting her closeness wrap around me like a protective shield. We might face challenges—past hurts, uncertain futures—but tonight, in this quiet moment, we’d chosen each other.

Chapter Seven

MINDY

---