Page 14 of Haunted By the Mountain Man
"Raven." My name was a warning and a plea.
"You said we weren't done. You said this wasn't over."
"I shouldn't have said that."
"But you did. And you meant it." I was right in front of him now, close enough to see the lust in his eyes. "You can't just kiss me like that and then pretend it didn't happen."
"Watch me." But his hands came up to grip my hips, yanking me closer even as he said the words. "I have to. For Walt's sake."
"Bullshit." I pressed my palm against his chest, feeling his heart hammering. "This isn't about Walt. This is about you being scared."
His eyes flashed. "I'm not—"
"You are. You're terrified of wanting me. Terrified of what it means that you can't stop thinking about me." I could feel him trembling under my hand, could see the war in his expression. "You're scared that if you let yourself have me, really have me, you won't be able to let go when I leave."
"You're damn right I'm scared." His hands tightened on my hips, fingers digging in possessively. "Because you're right. If I have you—really have you—there's no way in hell I'm letting you walk away in six days."
"Then don't."
"You have a life, Raven. A career. Five hundred thousand subscribers waiting for your next video.”
“So?”
“So you’re always on the move and I don’t want to leave this area. I like it here in this small town. And a place like Burke would never keep you long.”
“Burke, no. But you? You might.” I pressed closer, going up on my toes so my lips were inches from his. "Kiss me again and tell me you don't feel this. Tell me this is just attraction, just chemistry, just temporary."
His control was fracturing. I saw it in the way his breathing quickened and how his hands trembled against my hips.
"Raven," he growled. "Don't push me."
"Why not?"
"Because I won't be gentle this time. Because I'll take everything you're offering and then demand more." His forehead dropped to rest against mine. "Because once I claim you properly, there's no going back. You'll be mine. Completely. In every way that matters."
"Good." I closed the last inch between us, my lips brushing his. "Then claim me."
He lifted me with one arm, my legs wrapping around his waist as he pressed me against the hallway wall. He held me exactly where he wanted me while he devoured my mouth.
I moaned against his lips, and he swallowed the sound, his hips grinding against me in a rhythm that made me dizzy. I could feel how hard he was, how much he wanted this. Wanted me.
A door slammed somewhere in the building, and we both froze. Walt's door. Which meant he was awake and moving around. Shane pulled back with a curse, carefully lowering me to the ground. We were both breathing hard, both trembling with unmet need.
"This is insane," he said, but his hand came up to cup my face with unexpected tenderness. "You make me insane."
"Good." I turned my head to press a kiss to his palm. "Because I want you.”
“I warned you,” he said. “I gave you the chance to leave. I gave you the chance to keep this impersonal.”
“You did. And I ignored you.”
“Then you’re going to get everything you’ve been asking for. I’m taking you back to my cabin. Right fucking now.”
I blinked. “Now?”
“It’s daylight and I need to check in for my day shift.”
I licked my lips. “Day shift?”
