Page 10 of Wounded Mountain Man

I slid my hand down as far as it would go, running my fingers over the ridges that I assumed were veins. Duke wiggled a little, which allowed me to make it all the way to the base.

With my other hand still on his chest, I felt his breathing intensify. He was taking big, deep breaths, long and slow. This was getting to him.

A rush of power surged through me. I could turn this guy on. This big, burly, muscular guy who seemed to have shut out everyone around him in favor of a solo life. Just him, his RV, and his motorcycle. Maybe a golden retriever if he got around to it.

But I might just be able to convince him that there was something better out there. A partnership with a woman who got him. A woman who could make him moan with pleasure.

“Hold on,” he said, removing my hand.

I’d messed this up somehow. But it was my first time touching an erection. I’d have to be given a little leeway to learn.

But then he stood, hands still on the handlebars, and awkwardly lifted his leg over the seat. He turned and straddled the motorcycle again, this time facing me.

His jeans were undone, but I couldn’t see anything behind the white cotton of his briefs, which had snapped back into place when he removed my hand. My focus was on his eyes, though, and the desire I saw there.

He wanted me. Most importantly, his expression didn’t have that hard edge to it. Maybe he’d eventually be willing to let me in.

And then his head lowered toward mine, and all thought was wiped out. I closed my eyes and felt every bit of it. His lips on mine, his tongue probing, sliding past my lips. His hands moving up my waist, then landing beneath my breasts.

He allowed his thumbs to slide over my nipples, teasing them through my shirt and bra. The warm air on my skin reminded me we were outside, on full display for anyone who might happen to drive up here at this time of night.

My hands returned to his chest, but it wasn’t the same now that I’d felt his bare skin. I wanted to touch him.

He seemed to sense that. He suddenly removed his hands, pulled away from the kiss, then reached down and jerked his T-shirt over his head.

For the first time, I took in his naked upper body, my gaze feasting on the contours. He was like a work of art, carefully sculpted thanks to years of hard work, not hours every day lifting barbells in a gym.

“Your turn,” he said.

It took me a second to work out what he meant, but his gaze lowered to my chest and I knew what he wanted. With a slight smile, I lifted my T-shirt over my head, letting it fall to the ground. Then I reached for the clasp of my bra.

I froze. This would be the first time a man had ever seen me naked. Would he be disappointed? I had curves for days, including breasts that were more than a handful, but the only admiration I’d gotten for them had been while I was fully clothed. Who knew if they were what a man liked?

The intensity in Duke’s stare gave me confidence, though. I took a deep breath and unclasped my bra, letting the straps fall down my arms and dropping the garment to the ground with my shirt.

He shook his head, his mouth forming an O as he stared at my now-bare breasts. I looked down. A weird thing to do, I knew, but I wanted to see what he was seeing.

Then I looked back up at him. “Are they okay?”

His eyes widened, and he lifted his stare to my face. “Are you kidding? They’re amazing. You’re perfect. I wouldn’t change a thing about you.”

With a smile, I leaned toward him, and he met me halfway, our lips fusing in another long kiss, this one even more passionate. Both of us let our hands roam—me exploring the contours of his arms and chest, him moving up my waist again and finally sliding his thumbs over my nipples.

I gasped against his mouth, squirming against the seat as heat spread to the area between my legs. It felt so good.

When he finally broke the kiss, I tamped down my disappointment, but his eyes were on me. His gaze immediately went to the fly of my khaki shorts. I got the message, working the button through the hole, then lowering the zipper. They came down easily, although I had to do a little maneuvering to get my feet out of them.

And then I wore only my panties. My eyes widened as Duke grabbed my legs and settled them on top of his thighs. As he slid his hands upward, both thumbs moved over the area just below my panty line.

I closed my eyes and let out a whimper. Who knew just being touched in the area where my legs met would be so freaking hot?

He teased me there for what seemed like forever. But finally, his thumb skimmed the thin cotton of my panties, right over the area I wanted him to touch so badly.

I broke the kiss and sighed, not even opening my eyes. I just wanted to savor the feel of his hands on me.

“You like that?” he asked in a quiet voice.

I nodded and bit my lip, chewing nervously. All of this was so new. What if I messed it up? What if I was really bad in bed and he never wanted to see me again after this? I’d be devastated.

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