Page 32 of The Mountain Man's Untamed Bride
"Inside," he murmured against my neck. "Not having your first time on a splintery log."
Before I could respond, he stood, lifting me effortlessly. My legs wrapped around his waist as he carried me toward the cabin, our kiss unbroken.
"Is this the part where you throw me over your shoulder like a caveman?" I asked breathlessly when we finally paused for air.
His smile was gentle despite the hunger in his eyes. "No, this is the part where I carry you like something precious. The caveman part comes later."
The promise in those words sent a shiver of anticipation through me.
Inside, he carried me straight to his bedroom. Unlike the rest of the cabin, here the wilderness gave way to unexpectedcomfort: a massive bed with hand-carved posts dominated the space, covered in soft sheets that looked invitingly cool against the August heat.
He laid me down with reverent care, but I pulled him immediately after me, unwilling to lose contact even for a moment. His weight settled partly over me, deliciously solid and warm.
"Are you sure?" he asked, searching my eyes. "We can wait—"
"I've been trying to seduce you with fruit for days," I reminded him, tugging at his shirt. "If we wait any longer, I'll have to resort to vegetables, and nobody wants that."
He laughed, the sound vibrating through both our bodies, before his expression turned serious again. "I need to hear you say it, Scarlett."
"I'm sure," I said, meeting his gaze steadily. "I want this. I want you."
His kiss was slower this time, deeper, like he was memorizing the taste of me. Clothes fell away under patient hands—my dress lifting over my head, his shirt revealing the muscled expanse of his chest and shoulders, jeans and underwear until nothing remained between us.
I'd expected to feel self-conscious, but the way he looked at me—like I was something extraordinary—banished any insecurity. His eyes darkened as they traveled over my naked body, his breath catching visibly.
"You're perfect," he murmured, trailing his fingers along my collarbone, down between my breasts, over the curve of my hip.
I trembled beneath his touch, arching toward him instinctively. "Please don't make me wait anymore."
"Some things," he said, pressing a kiss to my neck, "deserve to be savored." Another kiss to my shoulder. "Explored." His mouth descended to my breast, tongue circling my nipple before taking it between his lips.
I gasped, fingers tangling in his hair as sensation spiraled through me. My other breast received the same attention, his tongue and teeth working in tandem until both peaks were hard and sensitive. Every gentle tug sent a corresponding pulse between my legs, building a pressure I'd never experienced.
"Bodhi," I breathed, not even sure what I was asking for.
His hand slid lower, tracing patterns on my inner thigh, coming tantalizingly close to where I needed him most before retreating. The teasing touches had me squirming beneath him, my hips lifting in silent plea.
"Patience," he whispered against my skin, trailing kisses down my stomach.
"Easy for you to say," I managed, my voice shaky. "You're not the one being tortured."
His chuckle vibrated against my hip bone. "Trust me, this is torture for both of us."
His fingers finally found the wet heat between my legs, sliding through the slickness with a reverence that made me whimper. He explored unhurriedly, learning which touches made me gasp, which made me arch, which made me clutch at his shoulders.
When he finally circled my clit with his thumb, the jolt of pleasure was so intense I cried out, my back arching off the bed. He watched my face as he continued the gentle circles, his expression a mixture of hunger and wonder.
"So responsive," he murmured, leaning down to kiss me deeply as his fingers continued their exploration. "So beautiful."
He slid one finger inside me, then a second, stretching me gently as his thumb maintained its maddening circles. I'd touched myself before, of course, but nothing had prepared me for how different it felt to have someone else's hands on me, in me—especially when that someone knew exactly what they were doing.
"That feels..." I struggled to find words as pleasure built in waves.
"Tell me," he encouraged, curling his fingers inside me to find a spot that made stars explode behind my eyelids.
"Oh god," I gasped, my hips moving instinctively against his hand. "Right there."
He repeated the motion, adding more pressure, watching my reactions with an intensity that was almost as arousing as his touch. I felt myself climbing toward something immense, something that both terrified and beckoned me.
