Page 8 of Her Mountain Man Outlaw
“Thanks for waking me up,” Maddox says, pulling me from my thoughts.
“No problem.” I smile at him. “I’m just happy you’re okay.”
My hand is still braced against his burly shoulder from when I was shaking him awake. His skin is warm against my fingers, and I’m desperate to run my hands down his chest. I want to feel every inch of his hardened muscles, learn the shape of his body…
Oh God, I think I might be losing my mind.
There must be something in the air up here.
Maddox’s icy blue eyes pierce mine, almost like he knows what I’m thinking. Everything else fades away: all the stress from losing my job, the fear from the past few weeks. None of it matters. Right now, Maddox Albrecht is the only thing that exists, and I never want the moment to end.
6
MADDOX
I toldSophia I don’t remember the nightmare. But I do, of course. It’s the same one I have all the time. It usually takes me a while to shake it off and come back to myself, but with Sophia here, the bad dream is already receding into the darkness once more.
All that’s left is her.
She looks so fucking adorable wearing my old sweater. It drapes over her, way too big, but still not enough to cover her curves. She’s kneeling by my side, her face level with mine and the soft pads of her fingers resting on my shoulder, like she’s forgotten they’re even there. The tiny amount of contact is enough to spread warmth down my arm, making my fingers tingle.
“I’m glad you’re here, Sophia.”
The words surprise me just as much as they surprise her. I didn’t mean to speak my thoughts aloud, and Sophia’s eyes widen, like molten chocolate in the firelight.
“I’m glad I’m here, too,” she breathes.
A lock of hair falls from behind her ear, and I tuck it back before she can move. It’s an instinctive gesture. Another slip. My walls are tumbling faster than I can build them back up, and myself-control is ebbing to nothing. All the reasons I shouldn’t want Sophia seem so hazy right now. The whole world feels bright and dream-like as my gaze roams her face, from her wavy hair to her pillowy pink lips.
It hits me all at once.
The need to kiss her.
Touch her.
I reach for her, half-crazed, pressing my hand against the back of her head. Then I crush my mouth to hers. She tastes sweet and tart, like cherries bursting on my tongue. I groan against her mouth, my heart thudding in my ears. Sophia doesn’t respond right away, but eventually her lips move against mine, our warm breath mingling as she urges me closer. My tongue brushes hers, hot and silky. All my blood rushes downward. My cock throbs as I tangle my hands in Sophia’s hair, aching for her. Adrenaline floods my body—it zips through my veins as I cup her cheek, my thumb brushing her soft skin.
What the hell are you doing?
The voice in my head deafens me. I feel my body freeze.
Get your filthy fucking hands off her.
Remember who you are.
Remember what you’ve done.
Breathing hard, I let my hands fall away from Sophia’s face, pulling back from her lips. I can still taste her, feel her warmth on my tongue, and for a moment, I can’t bear to look at her.
“Sorry…I shouldn’t have done that.” My voice is a hoarse grunt, torn reluctantly from my throat. “It was a mistake.”
I meet Sophia’s gaze in time to see a flicker of hurt pass over her face. Her expression drops, and my heart drops with it.
Goddammit, I’m making such a mess of this.
“That’s not what I meant,” I blurt out. “Fuck, I’m no good with words.”
“It’s okay.” Sophia is already drawing away from me, straightening up from the floor. “I should probably go back to bed.”
