Page 13 of The Beast of the Mountain
Oh.
Okay.
Somehow, the universe whispered one of my suggestions into Bear’s ear. He’s not wearing a shirt, and he’s lifting a huge axe over his head. Wow. Those… muscles. Thehair. I’m sure scientists could study his body and find previously undiscovered muscles. I’ve seen nothing like it before and when he brings the axe down, slamming it into the wood, a loud thud rents the air and I feel it between my legs.
He readjusts the wood as I pull up a chair, watching as he continues to split wood and I continue to feel each thud. The longer he’s at it, the more turned on I become until I’m squirming in my chair, watching a massive mountain of a man use his thick muscles, sweat beading all over his body.
I would’ve come to the mountains earlier if I knew this was waiting for me. I let out a soft moan as my body throbs. Aching.Needy.Could he stop? Split me instead?
I’ve never had these thoughts before. I’ve never wanted anyone so badly before. I’ve never—crap!Bear just locked eyes with me.
He tosses his axe to the side and wipes his brow with a thick forearm as he lumbers toward me. I swear the ground’s shaking with each step he takes. I scramble to return the chair back to the kitchen before he makes it but I trip over a rug and land on top of it, knocking the wind out of me.
I’m rolling on the ground, gasping for air and making noises no woman—no one—should ever make.
When Bear sees me on the ground, his smile fades and concern rises in his eyes as he rushes toward me.
“Are you okay, Riley? Are you hurt?” Bear kneels on the ground next to me, his hands moving all over my legs and arms checking me for injuries as I fail to make any coherent words leave my mouth.
I. Can’t. Breathe.
“Aighugh slip ma cha rughh?—”
I start coughing as Bear continues to run his hand along my body. He’s certainly doing his due diligence, hands skating across my arms and down my legs. Back again. Searching. Feeling. It feels so good but my lungs are aching as I gasp for air. The tenderness in my ribcage where it slammed into the chair throbs.
“Riley,” Bear rasps, his tone strained. “Where are you hurting?”
There’s a pulse between my legs I’d like to point him to, but instead, I point to my ribs. His hands glide across my ribcage as something twists in my belly.
“I tripped,” I finally manage as Bear strokes the tender spot.
It actually feels better.
“Do you mind if I see?” Bear asks.
Heat blooms across my chest when his eyes meet mine.
“Sure,” I say, hardly above a whisper.
I grab the hem of my shirt, drawing it upward as I watch Bear. His throat bobs as he swallows. Jaw tense. Gaze fiery. I swear I hear him growl but I forget all about it when his hand brushes my belly before wrapping around the side of my ribcage.
His thumb strokes the tender spot as the rest of me feels weightless and heady with Bear so close to me. Touching me. I thought I was turned on watching him. It’s nothing compared to what I feel right now.
I want to kiss him. I should kiss him. But before I inch closer to him, he backs away.
“Might have a bruise,” he says, scrubbing his jaw as he stands. “But you’ll survive.”
Bear stands, a smile creeping on his face as my cheeks flush. Everything flushes with heat. I’m annoyed, agitated, and I have only myself to blame.
“Thanks,” I say. “For everything.”
Bear offers me his hand and I take it, pulling me to my feet moments later.
“The sandwich was delicious.”
“And what about the show?” Bear rasps, his fingers grazing my cheek.
I swallow hard, blinking at him before dropping my gaze to his naked torso. Wow. I’d been so in my head that I’d completely forgotten how… naked Bear is from the waist up.
