Page 9 of Griffen the Mountain Man
“What? No. I loved our date. Ourrealdate,” he emphasizes. “But it can't go anywhere. I can't date anyone.”
“What? Why? Do you already have a girlfriend?”
“No.”
“A boyfriend?” Maybe that explains why Greta said she's never heard of him being romantically involved with a woman.
“No.”
“You've secretly become a monk and taken a vow of celibacy?
Griffen chuckles and leans against the wall, resting his head against the exposed brick. “Nope, although that sounds less humiliating than the truth.”
“Try me,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest, intensely curious about his reasons.
“You may have noticed that I'm big.” He gestures to his large stature, and my eyes take the opportunity to scan his body appreciatively.
“Yeah,” I say slowly. What's his size have to do with anything?
Honestly, it should be a plus.
Who doesn't want a tall, bear-like man who can wrap you in his burly arms to keep you warm at night?
I know I sure as hell do.
He swallows hard, his Adam's apple bobbing in his throat.
“Well, at my high school prom,” he says derisively, “Susie Baker and I decided we'd lose our virginities to each other.”
Not where I was expecting this to go, but okay.
“Except we didn't get that far. She started laughing after she saw my dick. Called me a ‘freak.’ Alluded to my size being the problem. I vowed from then on that I would never try again. Idon't want to hurt anyone, and I don't want to be ridiculed. My body isn’t made for that kind of intimacy.”
“Bullshit.”
“Excuse me?”
Maybe I shouldn't have said that out loud, but come on, I've read the books. Seen some quality erotic films.
I know it can work.
“You're not too big, Griffen. You were inexperienced, and so was Susie. The first time can be scary for a lot of girls, and if you are proportionate…” My gaze drops down to his groin. “Like I assume you are, then it makes sense that she overreacted. That doesn't excuse her cruelty, though, or mean you should give up forever. You're not a freak. You deserve love and happiness.”
“Heidi, I appreciate what you are—”
“Stop.” I step closer, put my hands on his shoulders for leverage, then haul myself to my tiptoes. “You're not a freak,” I repeat in a whisper, then slam my mouth over his, stealing the protest from his lips.
Griffen can argue all he wants, but he's not going to dissuade me.
If what's stopping him from giving me a chance is fear, not disinterest, then I am perfectly fine proving there's nothing wrong, orfreakish, about him.
It seems I'm the one with a bit of experience in this arena, and it gives me just enough courage to take what I want.
First?
A kiss from my sweet, but clueless mountain man.
CHAPTER SEVEN
