Page 4 of Mountain Man's Obsession

“I’ll start the bath and grab you some of my clothes to change into,” I’m quick to follow up. “I’ll leave you—"

“No!” she cuts me off. “Please don’t leave.”

“Never,” I assure her, cupping the side of her face. She exhales a breath and practically melts into my arms once again. “I just meant I’d give you some privacy. I’ll be right in the kitchen if you need anything.

I give her a gentle squeeze, not wanting to hurt her, and then reach behind her to start the water. I may be a wild mountain man, but this cabin is equipped with plumbing and running water. Ma told my dad she needed to be able to take hot baths without having to heat up water over the fire, and he readily agreed as long as it got her to stay. I’ve never been more grateful for her stipulation than at this moment.

I help my firefly stand up, knowing her feet have to be killing her. Once she’s steady, I turn around and head for the door, intending to give her the privacy I promised her.

“Brewer?” she asks tentatively. “I… could you help me? I can’t reach the buttons.”

I take a grounding breath and remind myself she's hurt and lost and scared and doesn't need me ogling her. I remind my dick of that too, as he lurches in my pants and dribbles precum.

“Yeah,” I croak out.

When I turn around, I see my beautiful woman looking up at me with a bit of nervousness in her eyes. Her anxiety is overshadowed by the trust I see in there as well. I’ll make sure she never regrets putting her faith in me.

I step up behind her and sweep her tangled, white-blonde hair over one shoulder so I can undo the twenty or so buttons going down her back. A thought occurs to me as I work on the last button.

“How old are you?” I blurt out. I assume she’s at least eighteen if she was getting married today. Fuck, that thought hits me hard as well. “Are you married?”

“No. And I turned nineteen two weeks ago.”

Oh, thank fuck.

My firefly giggles, making me realize I said that out loud. I pop open the last button before pushing the straps down her shoulders and letting the tattered dress pool at her feet.

Leaning down, I ghost my lips over her bare shoulder and up the side of her neck. “Good. I don’t need to kill anyone then,” I whisper into the shell of her ear.

She gasps and looks at me over her shoulder, our faces mere inches apart.Shit,that must have sounded possessive and creepy as fuck. I can't help these thoughts, and apparently, I can't contain them, either.

To my complete surprise, she doesn't look afraid of me or my confession. In fact, her teal eyes are wide, almost in awe of my words. “You’d kill for me?”

I nuzzle into the side of her neck and kiss her there, needing to touch and taste her in some way. I’m already obsessed with this woman, but ask me if I give a fuck. “Kill for you. Die for you. Whatever keeps you safe,” I promise.

She doesn’t respond, and I don’t expect her to. I’m sure it will take some time for her to get used to being loved like this. From what I’ve gathered in our short time together, my angel hasn’t had a lot of love in her life.

I help her into the huge clawfoot tub, careful to avoid gawking at her perfect little body.Soon, I tell myself. Soon I’ll make her mine in every way, but right now she needs a bath and a good night’s sleep.

The little angel curls up in the tub, then looks up at me with those big teal eyes. I know what she’s going to ask before she even opens her mouth.

“Stay.”

CHAPTERFOUR

AINSLEY

Ican't believe I asked him to stay. I mean, who does that? Sure, he rescued me from certain death, and yeah, he's easily the sexiest man I've ever seen, even with his wild hair and calloused hands.

Actually, that only makes him sexier. Everyone my parents paraded me around in front of was stuck-up, repressed, and soft. Bunch of slimy bastards, every last one. The guy I left at the altar was king of the bastards.

But not Brewer. He's untamed, intense, and has me doing things I've never done before. Like letting a stranger strip me down and asking him to stay while I take a bath. His boldness makes me bold. His confidence gives me the confidence to ask for what I want - which is something I was never allowed to do before.

I tuck my knees up and wrap my arms around my legs, suddenly aware of how exposed I am. I’ve never been completely naked in front of a man before, and I’ve definitely never initiated something like this. I’m crazy, right? I don’t know this man who is looking at me with the most brilliant hazel eyes and dark, messy hair that I want to run my hands through. I want to run my hands everywhere over his hard body and…

No!That’s the opposite of what I should be thinking. A massive mountain man just carried me into his home and promptly got me naked within ten minutes of my arrival.

As much as my brain is yelling at me to be wary of my situation, I can’t seem to feel anything other than gratitude and curiosity at our profound connection. Out here, I can be anybody. And I want to behis.

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