Page 54 of Mountain Grump

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Her eyes are wide.And her chest is rising with rapid breaths.

But she doesn’t back away.

And when I close the distance between us, I do the only thing I can.

Chapter 35

Tilda

Ethan’s hand darts up,and he grips the front of my baseball hat.His hat.

My mouth opens, ready to protest if he tries to take it.

But he doesn’t.

He uses his hold to spin the hat around, twisting the front to the back. And without letting go, he tugs the bill down, tilting my face up.

Then, with my lips still parted, Ethan kisses me.

His mouth slams against mine.

He shoves his tongue between my lips.

He grips my hip with his free hand.

And he kisses me like I’ve never been kissed before.

This man who’s been rude.

This man, who appeared from the woods and into my life.

This man, who confuses me with each interaction, kisses me.

And I do the only thing I can.

Chapter 36

Ethan

She kisses me back.

Tilda, my Mountain Fairy, arches up into me.

My Starlight presses her lips against mine.

My fucking Firecracker drags her tongue against mine.

This girl, who fell into my life just days ago, kisses me back.

And her hands.

Fuck me.

Her hands grab at me.

They claw at me.

They take hold of me.

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