Page 30 of Stranded with the Mountain Man

"Our mountain laboratory," I correct, leaning back against his solidchest."I couldn't have done this withoutyou."

"Sure you could've. Would've taken five years instead of one, but you'd have gotten there eventually." He presses a kiss to mytemple."Stubborn as youare."

"Look who's talking." I turn in his arms, rising on tiptoes to kiss himproperly."The man who refused to let contractors handle the cabinetry because, and I quote, 'Those idiots wouldn't know proper joinery if it bit them in theass.'"

He laughs, the sound rumbling through his chest intomine."I stand by thatassessment."

A year of this. A year of waking up to his rumbling voice, his calloused hands, his unwaveringsupport.A year of splitting our time between his cabin, my small apartment in Riversend, and the gradually rebuilding house on LavenderHill.A year of balancing my teaching position with his woodworking business, of navigating the occasional MC visit, of learning to merge our separate lives into something strongertogether.

It hasn't been easy. But nothing worth having everis.

"What time are people arriving?" Rosco asks, releasing me to collect histools.

"Six. Though I wouldn't be surprised if Mrs. Havers shows up early to 'help arrange things.'" I check mywatch."Which gives us about three hours to finish settingup."

"Or two hours to set up and one hour for other activities." His suggestive tone makes my pulsequicken.

"Ross! We have a million things to do before the housewarmingparty."

"One thing," he corrects, stepping closer again. "Christening the lab."

Heat floods my cheeks. "We are not having sex in my researchlab.It's sterile. Professional. A place ofscience."

"Exactly why it needs a proper christening." He backs me against the counter, hands settling on myhips."Think of it as an experiment inacoustics."

"You're incorrigible." But I'm already melting against him, my body responding to his proximity the way it alwaysdoes.

"You love it." He nips at my earlobe, knowing exactly what that does tome.

"I love you," I counter, fingers threading through hishair."The incorrigible part I merelytolerate."

His laugh vibrates against my neck, sending shivers down myspine."Liar."

Before I can protest further, his mouth captures mine in a kiss that still, after a year together, makes my kneesweak.His hands slide beneath my t-shirt, calloused palms warm against myskin.

"This is incredibly unprofessional," I murmur against his lips, even as I tug his shirt from hisjeans.

"Good thing you're off the clock, Professor." He lifts me onto the counter, stepping between mylegs."Consider this the final inspection of yourworkstation.Testing for...structuralintegrity."

I laugh, the sound quickly transforming into a gasp as his teeth graze my collarbone."Well, when you put it thatway..."

His answering smile is slow and wicked. "That's my girl."

"You look fine," Rosco says, appearing behind me in the bathroom mirror as I attempt to tame my curls an hour later.Unlike me, he wears his dishevelment well, like he was born to look slightly rumpled and dangerously attractive.

"I look like I've just had sex in my lab."

"Because you did." He wraps his arms around me from behind, meeting my eyes in the mirror."And it was spectacular."

I can't help the smile that spreads across my face."It was, wasn't it?"

"Worth every back strain from installing those cabinets." He presses a kiss to my shoulder."Ready to finish setting up for your big debut?"

"Our big debut," I correct. "This place is as much your creation as mine."

His expression softens, something vulnerable flickering in his eyes."You saying that's my name going on the door too, Dr. Wilson?"

I turn to face him fully. "Actually, I've been thinking about that.The grant came through, the one I applied for last month."

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