Page 6 of Temptation for the Mountain Man
"No," I say sincerely. The more I get to know her, the more I want to know. She's kind and sweet, working ridiculous hours to help put her sister through college. When she laughs, her whole face lights up, and my heart squeezes, wanting to hear that sound on repeat.
We sit next to each other on the two stools, close enough that her knee brushes against my leg each time she shifts. I can still smell the honeysuckle clinging to her even though her hair is now dry.
Callie smiles at me, letting out a little huff of laughter. "I sound like a proud mama, I know. But I raised her, so I guess I am in some ways."
"How much older are you?" I've been trying to figure out her age, searching desperately for one concrete reason not to make her mine.
"Erin came along when I was eleven."
Shit.Twenty-nine.
"Our mom was married to a guy who had a hefty bank account and two teenage girls already," Callie continues, oblivious to the disappointing math I'm doing in my head. "They pretty much lived with their mom full time, and the youngest was heading to college by the time Erin was born. Bill didn't want more kids. I think my mother thought she could lock him down for life if she got pregnant. It worked for a while. Man, the trips they took around the world." Callie rolls her eyes, pausing to take another sip of her tea. "They always invited his older daughters to go withthem, but Erin was too young. They said they couldn't have fun when she was there. And I...wasn't his daughter."
My fists clench, wanting to punch the man who made my shining star a servant in her own home. She's like a real-life Cinderella. Except the evil stepmother was her own flesh and blood.
Callie sets her mug on the counter with a bright smile. "But I won in the end. I focused on Erin, and she's amazing."
Her love for her sister is palpable, and I find myself smiling at her like she hangs the moon.
"You don't look old enough to be Celeste's uncle." Her voice is breathy, and her gaze flits over my body.
"I was a bonus baby." I gaze at Callie, unable to tear myself away.
Now that I know I'm too old for her, I should leave her alone. Let her get back to work and pretend she doesn't exist. Instead, I lean into her. It's like I'm locked in. Here for whatever she needs from me.
"At least, that's what my mom liked to call me. There are fifteen years between my sister and me. Celeste only calls me Uncle around people who don't know us.” I smirk. “Or when she's mad at me."
Callie smiles, a wistful expression flitting across her face. "It must be nice to have a big family."
She rests her hand on my knee, and I close my eyes for a moment. When I open them, her dark brown eyes are watching me. Her gaze flits down to my mouth, and I know if I reached out and pulled her into my arms, she'd let me kiss her.
"You're younger than my niece," I growl with a desperation beyond lust.
This is infatuation. I know what I should do. Stop this. Stand up. Leave. Anything. And yet, an urge so primal it's part of my DNA demands I claim her.
She snorts, raising an eyebrow, but I don't back down. I need to give her every chance to walk away. To run.
I reach forward, cupping her cheek, and she leans into my hand. "I could practically be your father, Callie."
"Babies making babies," Callie whispers, her eyes on my mouth as she leans closer to me.
I can't take my eyes off her. My mouth waters. I need to taste her. All of her. But she needs to be with someone her own age.
I get ready to tell her so, but then she licks her lips and says, "You would have been an awfully young daddy, Blaze."
The way she says "daddy"does something for both of us. Like lighting a match deep inside our souls. Her eyes darken with lust at my reaction…and then we're on each other. I don't know who moves first. For my own sanity, I say it's her, but it doesn't matter. We’re a clash of lips and tongues as we come together in a passionate frenzy.
"Oh, fuck, you taste good," I groan against her mouth, breaking our kiss to move to her neck.
"Oh, God. Oh, my god, Blaze."
Callie panting my name drives me insane with need.
I lift her onto the counter, and she squeals, staring at me in shock before she dives back toward me, sealing her mouth to mine. Her hands explore my chest and back, squeezing my muscles.
I want to melt into her touch.
But first, I need a taste.
