Page 14 of Kidnapped By the Mountain Man

He’s right.

It’s torture when he stops. It’s torture when he pulls away, and I’m not in his arms.

A waterfall of tears rushes from me like someone dug through the beaver damn that’s been clogging me up.

I turn away from him. “Oh my god. This is so embarrassing. I need to be alone. I’m sorry.”

He spins me back toward him, his thumb resting under my chin as he draws up my stare. “No. Let it out, Cora. Let me be here for you.”

Let me be here for you.His words sting against my heart like a sorrow-filled reminder that I don’t have this in my life. That I never will.

“You’re okay.” He presses me against his chest and holds me there, rubbing his hand up and down my back. He’s gentle for such a big guy, and every piece of me wants to sink into him and never leave.

“Really, I’m sorry about this. I never do this. I’m so sorry.” I wipe the tears from my face and step away again, but he pulls me close. It’s harder and harder each time to tear myself away.

“I need to protect you,” he groans, his head resting on top of mine.

“Protect me from what, Austin?”

“Him,your parents, yourself. I need to make sure you get what you want out of life. Not some version of things that run parallel to it, but what youreallywant. You deserve it.”

It’s true… Austin Sparks is a fictional man. A fictional man come to life, and I want every part of him.

I swallow hard and stare up at him, taking in the intensity in his eyes and the way his shoulders flex when he holds me. He lifts me to the countertop, like I’m a bale of hay, like my size is nothing to him. “Tell me you’ll stay the night and think about what you want. If you still want to go back in the morning, I’ll take you back myself.” He lowers his gaze to the wood plank floor as his big hands rest on my thigh.

“I’ll stay,” I whisper, “but only because this is a kidnapping.”

Chapter Eight

Cora

I agree to stay, but only because it’s late, and the trip down the mountain in the dark sounds terrifying. At least, those are the lies I tell myself. The truth is, I don’t want to leave his side. He makes me feel all the things I’ve been desperate to feel… and he’s genuine about all of it.

Whoheis, is whoIwant. I don’t have to pretend. I don’t have to change him. It just works.

God, what am I saying? I’m engaged to another man!

I roll to the side and run my hand over his cold pillow. His bed is huge, too big for one man, and definitely too big for me, but he insisted that I take his room while he sleeps on the couch. Considering he kidnapped me, and I could use a good night’s sleep, I took him up on the offer. Though, now I’m second guessing every choice I’ve made. The bed smells like him. There’s no escaping it. Cedar and sandalwood, with some kind of musk in the backdrop I can’t define. I bury myself in his pillow and suck in the scent, my heart aching… for him.

I stare down at my bare hand. I took my engagement ring off before I did chores this afternoon and never put it back on. That’s another lie I tell myself—that I take it off for chores. The truth is… the size of it embarrasses me. That thing could lightup a cave. I figure once the wedding is over, I can ask him for something smaller.

The wedding. Fuck!I really need to figure out what I’m doing.

I let my mind wander to the kiss I shared with Austin, and for a second, I picture the two of us under an alter made of pine boughs and driftwood. Him in jeans and boots, me in a casual white dress, and a bouquet of flowers we picked together the night before.

But that’s not reality. I let out a heavy sigh and close my eyes, trying to rationalize all that’s happening.

I’m getting married. Tomorrow afternoon, I’ll be Mrs. Richard Altmire. I’ll be the woman on the arm of one of the wealthiest men in Colorado Springs. The thought itself exhausts me. Luncheons with women I don’t know…or care to know.Dinners with investors that include smiles I don’t want to fake. I wasn’t made for a life like that.

I was made for this. Hand built cabins and old barns with three types of tin on the roof.

It’s for Mom. It’s for Mom. You’re marrying Rick to save Mom.I repeat the mantra to myself as I drift off to sleep with the scent of everything I’ve ever wanted all over me.

***

Austin’s big arms reach out for me as he climbs into bed. He’s careful not to wake me, but I’m already awake. I’ve been up thinking about him all night long.

He leans into my frame, curling me up against his strength as heavy winds batter the side of the house.

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