Page 21 of Forgotten Mountain Man

She let out a little gasp, but didn’t look away from the view. Not when I stepped up behind her or dropped the backpack on the ground. Not when I slid my other hand around her waist and tucked her back against me.

Or when I drew our entwined fingers to her chin, tipped her head back to find her eyes already closed, and sealed my mouth over hers.

Fuck, I’m falling for a girl I can’t keep.

The belated thought strayed across my mind as I gathered her into my arms and dipped a knee to lay her out on the jackets I’d brought with us. I fumbled to spread the material out beneath her before her head hit the stone, her head decorating the speckled granite like a fiery halo.

Faith’s sighs lit a deep need inside me. I kissed her long, but not rough, needing this last memory with her. She was right; I’d tried to keep it clean this morning and say goodbye without doing it right when we left.

I’d been a coward then.

Now, I had a chance to make that up to her. My mouth melded to hers as she lifted her hips, letting me peel her white jeans to her knees and positioned myself between her soft thighs. It was a tight fit, but I shoved my own pants aside and pushed a finger inside her to find her sopping for me already.

I opened my mouth to speak, but she raised her head, kissing the needless words away. Her moan reverberated against my lips as I teased her with a few shallow thrusts, then replaced my finger with my cock, pushing inside her long and deep. Her mouth broke from mine on the sort of keening cry that echoed from the mountain's high walls. I breathed hard, lost in her eyesthat reflected the sunlight and dappled shade all at once as her hands flexed around my neck, her nails digging into my skin.

My cock swelled painfully as I rubbed my knuckles against the hard stone beneath her, using the pain as I distraction so I’d last inside her luscious fucking heat. Her whimpers drove me on, but I kept my pace steady, needing to memorize the feel of her, every flutter as she rolled her hips with me.

Faith’s first climax drifted sweetly over us, coating me in her cream as I bit my tongue against the glorious sensation of being drenched raw inside her as she came. I found her eyes, registering the tears already there.

“Am I hurting you?” I murmured, brushing the drops away with my thumb.

She shook her head. “I don’t want this to stop. Not ever.”

My heart sang as I gripped her hip and pushed deeper then withdrew slowly, setting the sort of rhythm that wouldn’t let me come until I was ready.

But Faith…she unfurled around me, her edge of bliss already leaving her clenching on my cock as I drowned her cries with my kisses. For once, we weren’t rough.

The silent mountain alone bore witness to the slow brand of love that I etched soul deep in the girl I’d fallen for in the hope that one day, she might remember the way I made her feel, and love me back.

CHAPTER NINE

FAITH

Darkness descended over the foothills of the mountain in a slow shadow that chased us through Red Hart lands for the last hours of our hike back toward semi-civilization. My legs burned like fuck. I could barely see ten feet in front of us, but at least I didn’t have to do this last bit alone.

Because after Walker spent the better part of the afternoon—when I knew we didn’t really have time to waste—making love to me spread out on a pair of his jackets, he wrapped his hand around mine and refused to let go. Hell, he even held on tight all the time that he fed me, making sure I ate plenty and drank enough water.

We still didn’t talk much on the walk back, but something changed after that. Rather than fight against each other with a hyper awareness of the other’s presence, he was just…there.

The whole time.

When my legs ached and placing one foot before the other became too much, he squeezed my hand, shortened his pace and made sure I followed him without dragging me along the path. He didn’t pressure me, and he didn’t go too easy on me, either.

I held onto that lifeline he offered, and I didn't let go.

So that was how we arrived at Red Hart’s big house nearly two weeks after I left, passing a line of farm hands who looked like they were done for the day, more than one clutching an after dinner beer that I knew Eve served at her usually over-laden table.

“I think we missed the best part of the night,” I murmured to Walker behind a yawn.

“I’m sure there will be leftovers.” He squeezed my hand.

His rough calluses and warmth were a staunch reminder of the strength that got us down what should have been a damn hard walk. My mountain man made it seem easy even when my body made me want to plant my butt and never move ever again.

“Always are.” Gage, one of the live-in ranch hands, and his fiancé, Brit, paused beside us, his arm slung around her body as she leaned into him. “Heard you were coming down the mountain.” He held out a hand.

Walker hesitated, his hand flexing tight on mine for a moment. It hit me in one just how easy going we had been together and what being in public actually cost him.

I pressed my body against his back as he shook Gage's hand briefly before pulling back and winding me tightly into his side.

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