Page 34 of Curves for the Mountain Man

“They falsely accused you of so much. The moment I woke up and understood what was going on, I called Dad for legal representation. But I can’t make amends for how the media has ruined your reputation or the five days you spent in jail or the charges you still face.”

“None of this is your fault. We’ll get through it together, making the most of our time on this planet and making as many babies as I can talk you into.”

I giggle, downright shocked by his words. “So, you want kids?”

“God, I want like ten of them with you,” he chuckles, covering my cheek in feather-light kisses.

“Ten? Wow!”

“You do want kids, right?”

“Yes, but maybe more like three or four.”

“I can work with that. Whatever makes you happy, Sweetness.”

We lie together for a long time, listening to the beeps of my monitors and relearning each other through sensually innocent touch, the strictures of the hospital room inflaming our need.

“God, when I get out of here,” Roscoe groans, licking my ear and nipping the lobe.

“I need you so much, baby,” I agree, but my voice goes hollow at the end, so much still weighing on me.

“What’s wrong, Sweetness?”

“Something unpleasant you may already know about. Hospital officials said I consented to a sexual assault forensic exam when I was admitted to the hospital. They wanted to use it against you as evidence… But I never consented to it. I don’t even remember being checked into the hospital.”

He growls, anger rising. “Attending staff separated us almost immediately, alerting local law enforcement to take me into custody. I was powerless to stop them. The nurses kept saying you could sign your own paperwork, even though I stated my concerns. Fuck! Did they hurt you, Ginger?”

“I don’t really remember it. But I hate how they tried to use it to frame you.”

“The lone wolf, ex-military assailant. It’s a cliche at this point. I suppose the DA thought he had an open and shut case.”

“Maybe, but I’ll never forgive myself for how rescuing me has hurt you.”

“Rescuing you has saved my life, Sweetness. It’s given me purpose, meaning, love beyond my wildest dreams, and a future I can’t wait to explore with you.”

“Good, because I can’t imagine living without you.” I bite my bottom lip to stifle a sob.

Roscoe nuzzles my neck, kissing and teasing my décolletage with his wicked, warm tongue until he turns my sobbing into giggling. Ready to lighten the mood, I say, “I’ve been meaning to ask you this. Why do you call me ‘sweetness?’”

His fingertips, still entwined with mine, rise enough to graze over my hospital gown, teasing my nipples hard. I sigh heavily, the throb between my legs insistent.

He answers, “Because you’re the sweetest thing that’s ever happened to me in this lifetime and the thousand before that. But there are some other nicknames I want to run by you, too.”

I arch an eyebrow.

Roscoe whispers in raw tones, “Like husband and wife?”

I nod, squeezing my eyes shut to hold back tears. “I thought you’d be mad at me for all I put you through. I was so afraid you wouldn’t want me anymore … or that the cave wasn’t as magical for you as it was for me.”

“Shh,” he whispers, stroking my forearm and sending sizzling sparks up and down my arms. “The cave is only the beginning for us, Ginger, because I can’t live without you, either.” He lets go of my hand, fishing something out of his pants pocket, which he holds up for me to examine. A stunningly clear, large, princess-cut diamond solitaire on a shiny gold band embedded with tiny diamonds.

I gasp as he slides it on my ring finger. “Did I do okay for a feral, off-grid mountain man?”

“Yes!” I exclaim. “It’s perfect. Beautiful.”

“No, the only perfect, beautiful thing in this world is you.”

“Oh,” a voice exclaims from the doorway to my hospital room, drawing our attention. My mother excuses, “I’m sorry to interrupt.”

---