Page 11 of Destined for the Mountain Man

“Doesn’t matter. Stay a little longer. Try sleeping in and letting me wake you up in a better way,” I hum.

She shudders. “Sounds dirty.”

I chuckle and kiss the nape of her neck. Goosebumps break out over her skin. I nuzzle her neck. “I like waking up to you, Charlotte.”

She sighs. “I like you too.”

“And I’m not working, so you’re getting basic survival training today.”

“Grant!” She squeaks as I squeeze her side.

“If you’reverygood at it, I’ll reward you,” I promise.

She giggles and hurries to get ready for the day while I watch. She grabs her clothes and hurries into the bathroom while looking at me. I sleep shirtless, normally naked, but I’ve been wearing pajama pants since she arrived. Not that they are enough to cover my physical reaction to her proximity.

Charlotte comes out wearing jeans and a sweater. Her legs look so damn good that I have to fight the urge to pull her back into my arms. I take a deep breath, steadying myself, then get around to grab my own clothes. I pull on a fitted T-shirt and a pair of jeans, the effort of getting dressed suddenly feeling like an afterthought compared to the fire raging inside me when I look at her.

I take her hand, leading her out back. "Let’s get to work," I say, trying to focus on the task at hand.

I have her start with building a fire and help her when she struggles.

“For such a hot woman, you have trouble making a fire,” I tease in her ear.

She bumps me with her hip and snorts as the flames catch under my skilled hands. “Clearly you’re hotter.”

I smirk, but she insists on me showing her more and I’m more than happy to do just that.

Chapter 9 - Charlotte

Learning basic survival has never been so ... tense. Grant’s gentle touches, the way he guides my hands but lets me do things, the effortless way he teaches, without getting rude, but not being soft either ... it all makes me relive that kiss.

The one I want a repeat of. Every time he comes home, I want to kiss him and welcome him back properly, but I don’t want to push the boundaries again and then retreat if I don't feel ready. Yet all I can think about are his hands on me, his hard body against mine, his tongue moving with mine.

“Don’t move,” Grant says as I balance a fishing pole between my knees. I open my eyes but freeze when I see the bee on my hand. Grant’s voice is firm, but low. “I’ll take care of it. Don’t move.”

“My EpiPen is in my bag,” I whisper.

Grant gently puts his hand by mine and the bee slowly trots over to his palm. He walks away, not rushing, but when he returns, he’s bee-less. He pulls my hand up, inspects it, then gently brushes his lips over my knuckles.

“We should go in,” he decides.

“But I haven’t caught dinner,” I say, determined to prove myself.

He watches me for a moment, his eyes softening, then he sits behind me, his thighs brushing mine. “I’m starting to think you’re learning all this to outdo me.”

“No, I just don’t want to be useless.”

“That’s the last word I’d use to describe you,” he says in my ear while rubbing my arms. “Cute would be at the top, then thoughtful, sexy, tempting, smart, determined ... want more?”

“I’m impressed they all don’t start with the same letter,” I giggle.

I lean back towards him, wanting to see if we can have a simple kiss, but the line is tugged and Grant coaxes me through reeling in my first fish. I jump excitedly once I have it and he watches me with unhidden pride.

He stands and I bounce, kissing him quickly before he tells me we have to throw it back since it’s not big enough. I don’t even care. I did it. I caught my own fish. I’ve learned how to put together a fire. I’ve learned how to set up a tent. I just keep learning while with Grant and I can’t get enough of it.

I ask to chop wood again and he nods. But he takes off his shirt after the first log and I whistle at him. He hauls the axe over his shoulder and I giggle. “Can’t I show appreciation?”

“I can think of a few ways I’d prefer it,” he says with a wink.

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