Page 50 of Mountain Refuge

Gertie didn’t know all of it, just enough to make her aware of the danger hunting us. She shook her head. “I think the two of you would be a good fit, as long as your head doesn’t get in the way of your heart.” She turned back towards the kitchen before throwing over her shoulder, “Both of them.”

It took me a moment to catch on. When I did, I slapped my forehead with the palm of my hand. I did not need sex advice from Corbin’s mother.

Chapter Twenty

Brooke

Thwack!I brought down the axe hard on the stump on Corbin’s chopping block. After a long winter like we had, and especially because he had extra people in his house, Corbin had gone through a lot of wood over the past four months. He was down to bare bones. In addition, all his tanks and stores had taken extra usage. There was also some damage to his workshop where he constructed his furniture. A tree branch had fallen on the roof. Thankfully it hadn’t punctured through, but the roofing needed to be patched again. Especially before the spring and summer rains.

Corbin was doing a thorough inspection of all his buildings, including the cabin, while I started rebuilding his wood pile. For some reason, he’d been extra encouraging to have me be the one chopping the wood instead of checking for damage.

Regardless, I’d offered to help, so I took the man’s axe and started chopping away. After a few rounds, I felt the pull of familiar muscles that I hadn’t used all winter. Soon after that, I started warming up despite the chill in the air and rolled up my sleeves. I’d worn the turtleneck to look nice for Elijah, not anticipating being put to work. I really should have known better.

“If I make a comment about how sexy you look right now, will that axe come down on me next?”

I smiled at his voice and took one more swing to split the stump completely in two. Corbin and the other mountain men probably could have done it in one but some of the larger stumps took me a couple extra swings.

I put the axe down, handle up against the chopping block. Elijah was standing a couple of yards behind me, which was a smart decision considering the weapon I’d been wielding. He was freshly showered and his clothing oatmeal-free.

I tipped my chin towards his pants. “Thought I warned you about wearing jeans out in these parts?”

He at least looked a little sheepish when he admitted, “I don’t really have a lot of options when it comes to clothing. Not like I’ll fit into anything of Corbin’s. I could probably fit one of me into each of his pant legs.”

I knew he meant it as a joke, but I heard the underlying tone of self-condemnation too. Like he was less because he wasn’t a raging hulk of a man. I crossed my arms over my chest. “Elijah, you know there’s nothing wrong with not being as big or as strong as some of the others. Mountain men are big because they’ve earned it through the hard work it takes to survive up here. It’s okay that you’re not as bulky as them.” I added just to boost his ego a little, “Plus, I like you just as you are.”

“Now when you say it’s okay if I’m not as big, you are referring to theirmuscles, right?”

I snorted, allowing the joke. “Yes! I mean their muscles. Trust me, you spend enough time up in these parts and you’ll start getting them too.”

Elijah took a step forward. “I plan on remaining here. I still have to find ways to be useful, but I do plan to stay.” He stepped forward again. “I’ll learn the ways of the mountain and I’ll figure out how I can fit in up here. I also planon figuring out where I am so I can come and go as I please.” He stepped forward again. “If I happen to wander down towards your cabin, would I be welcome?”

I grinned. “Depends on if you bring me any treats.”

“Just treats?” He reached his arm forward and snagged me around my waist. I went willingly. “Or maybe something else too?”

I tipped my chin up towards him. “Maybe a bit of both.”

He grinned before touching his lips to mine.

I wrapped both arms around his neck. We were closer in height when I was in my winter boots, which made the kiss all the more perfect. I felt a rush of rapture run through me. My blood was on fire for this man. I wanted him so badly, but I knew that sex was too fast, too soon. There was so much we still had to learn about each other, beyond our chemistry. But that certainly didn’t stop the purewantingrushing through me. His tongue prodded and I happily opened for him.

Elijah gripped my waist, pulling me even closer to him. I immediately felt the evidence of his arousal against my groin, and inwardly grinned. Yeah, he had nothing to worry about in that department.

His tongue scraped across the top of my mouth. A shiver ran through me. My core was soaked with arousal. I needed relief or I’d?—

“Um, Daddy?”

Shit. We broke apart. Belle stood behind us, looking sheepish. Elijah twisted us around, so we were facing Belle, but I was in front of him. I thought that movement strange until I felt his erection brush against my butt.

Yeah, probably not something he wanted his daughter to see. Bad enough she’d seen me practically humping her father like a horny bunny. I was happy to act as a shield. Thankfully my thick sweater and sports bra—I only wore sports bras sincemoving up to the mountain—covered up my erect nipples. Nothing I could do about my shortness of breath though.

“Yes, Angel?” Elijah prompted when Belle didn’t continue.

She was looking at us funny but didn’t comment on the kiss she’d seen. “Have you seen Uncle Corbin?”

I pointed, since I had more of an idea of where he was than Elijah would. “He’s down by his workshop, sweetie. There was damage to his roof over the winter.”

“Thanks,” Belle mumbled.

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