Page 15 of Auctioned to the Mountain Man

I walk into the kitchen and pour a small shot of whiskey into a glass. As I swirl the amber liquid around, I think back to seeing her on that stage. I’ve never felt so attracted to someone in my life. I’d barely noticed the woman that went before her, but it’s like my body knew when she would be walking out. The other men in the room wanted her too. I knew they would, but I also knew that I wouldn’t be leaving without her. I would have bid whatever I had to bid to have this opportunity with her. All I want is to claim her and make her mine.

She’s not happy with me at all, though. I know I have a lot of explaining to do, but she’s not in any mood to listen to me.Fuck, what if she leaves?

My feet carry me across the house before I can think better of it. I knock on her door and stand impatiently waiting for her. She cracks open the door and looks up at me. “What?”

“Promise me you won’t leave. I mean, promise you won’t try and walk off this mountain. It’s dangerous.”

She leans against the doorjamb. “Well, then don’t give me a reason to if you’re so worried about it, Ben.”

She’s so beautiful as she looks up at me. The need to pull her into my arms is strong. “I know I don’t have a right to ask you this…”

She licks her lips. “What?”

Fuck, I feel like a schoolboy, but I know I need to take it slowly with her. “Can I kiss you?”

She bites her lip. She wants to say yes. Her eyes get darker, and her breath hitches. “I said…”

I cut her off and push the door open a little farther. “I know what you said. I’m not asking you to sleep with me. I’m asking you for a kiss, that’s all.”

Her knuckles are white as she grips the door. I prepare myself that she’s probably going to say no, but I’m surprised when she starts to nod her head. “Sure, why not?”

As soon as she says yes, I lean down. She raises on her tiptoes, and when her lips touch mine, a feeling of complete satisfaction overwhelms me. Ever since that kiss a few weeks ago, I’d wondered if maybe it was a fluke and that it was just the night or the emotions I was feeling then. But with her lips on mine, I know that there is something between us. I wrap my hand around the base of her neck and tilt my head to the side to deepen the kiss. My tongue strokes against hers, and the sound of her moan has me stopping and pulling back.

I’m breathing as if I’ve just run a mile as I search her eyes. She feels it, too. I know she does.

“I knew it.”

She blinks up at me in a daze. “You knew what?”

“I knew when I kissed you before that you were different. I fucked up, Maggie. But you have to know there’s something between us. You have to feel it.

She wants to believe me. The hope in her eyes is so evident it’s almost blinding. “But…”

I shake my head “But nothing. Admit it… you feel something for me.”

And just like that, her face drops. “I did. A few weeks ago in that courtyard at work, I felt something. Hell, Ben, I was ready to give myself to you then, and you pushed me away.”

“I told you that I fucked up.”

She moves back into her room and says, “Yeah, you did. And you could have fixed it. You could have made it right. Instead, you made me feel like I wasn’t good enough for you and left. I’m done talking now.”

I put my arm across the door to block her from shutting it. “But…”

She holds her hand up. “I’m done. Please, let me shower. You didn’t like seeing me up there? Imagine how I felt.”

Before I can ask her why she was even there, I let her close the door in my face. I lean my head against the cool, hard wood. I have to make this right one way or another. She’s going to leave here on Monday, and somehow I need to make things right before then. If I have my way, I’m going to do my best to convince her to stay.

Maggie

After a really hot shower, I get dressed in a pair of shorts and a T-shirt. I pace across the bedroom, ignoring the rumbling in my stomach. I can smell the Italian spices coming from the kitchen, and it’s reminding me that I haven’t eaten all day.

I know I need to go out there and face Ben. I’m so confused about everything, but the more I think about it, the more I come to terms with it. Regardless of whatever took place three weeks ago, the fact is he spent eight million dollars for me. That has to mean something.

I walk out to the kitchen and stand awkwardly. I probably should have done something with myself.

“You feel better?” he asks, looking at me from head to toe.

I nod and move farther into the room. “Yeah, I think I scraped off three inches of makeup.”

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