Page 7 of Mountain Man Savior

“Um, sure. Both, I guess. I have time.” I released the death grip on the tote’s cloth handles just as a fresh wave of tingles hit me, making their way from the nape of my neck and settling low in my belly. I’d become a walking live wire around this man. The constant influx of sexual awareness giving me new found confidence. I could do this.

“Lucky me. This way.” West led me through the back of the dining area to a hallway leading to the bedrooms. The inflection in his words gave me yet another boost, making all my happy places tingle.

And lucky me. I had a full view of his backside as he strode to the first open door. I never thought I was much of an ass girl,but boy howdy, he had one fine specimen encased in well-worn denim. And those thighs that I’d admired yesterday were shown off as well. Huh, I had no idea I was into a man with muscle upon muscles. Or maybe it was just West I was all in on.

I tuned back into what he was saying, although I picked up a hint of nervousness. Was he nervous? He continued describing how each guest would have their own private bath, the small suites having a sitting room where they could read, use the wi-Fi or just sit in front of the windows looking out over the forest. And I tried to focus. I really did. Had I ever wanted a man’s hands all over me as much as I did West Stafford?

“The bedding should arrive early next week. We’re hoping Lars gets off his a—uh, duff and gets someone hired to oversee the housekeeping duties. We’re not sure yet if we’re going to turn over the full duties of managing the check-in process, meal ordering, stuff like that to someone else right away. Depends on what other activities the guests want to do once they get here.”

I nodded, like I was absorbing every word. When West ended the tour in the laundry room, my palms started sweating. He pointed to two sets of new washers and dryers, along with a deep sink and wall with built-in cabinets for supplies topped by a counter, probably to make folding sheets and towels, dominated one side of the room. “Mm, nice.” I murmured absently.

The scent of sawdust hung in the air, but it did little to keep me from noticing how good West smelled. It wasn’t overpowering like some men’s colognes, but it made my head spin with awareness, increasing my need to be back in his arms. All these feelings were so out of the ordinary for me, yet with him they felt natural.

“I’ve lost you again.” There was no accusation in his tone, just pure desire as he stepped closer to me.

Reflexively, I took a step back, not from fear, but to keep myself from reaching out and pulling him against me. My bodywasn’t just at full alert, it was closer to all out desperation for his touch. My nipples, already aching from his nearness, now begged to be brushed up against his hard chest, to know his touch, as warmth pooled between my legs.

Licking my lips, I could have moaned when his gaze zeroed in on them. “Uh, I…no. Just thinking that I might know someone who’d be perfect for that job.”

The only sign West had heard me was the raising of his eyebrows. “Great. I’ll tell Lars. But there’s something else I need to ask you. And it’s very important.” He took another step closer, bringing his feet to either side of mine, my back now pressed up against the cabinet.

Nodding, “Sure.” I licked my lips, then gripped the edge of the counter.

He groaned and gritted out, “Dammit, you make those lips look good enough to eat, sweetheart. And I’ve wanted a taste since yesterday. Tell me you’re not dating anyone.”

“I’m not dating anyone.” The words rushed from me as he leaned in and pressed his lips onto mine. Welcomed relief zapped through me.

The kiss was passionate and demanding from the first brush of his full lips. West feasted, took his taste. And I gave. And I took my own. Our tongues tangled, and I got my wish as he pulled me into his body, his hands grasping, kneading my waist.

Hard muscles bunched under my hands as I grabbed ahold of his arms, and I held on tight, desperate to get ever closer.

He released another growl, similar to the one earlier in the dining room, eliciting sweet, pleasure-filled zaps of energy along my nerve endings. This kiss was a claiming kiss. I’ve never had one, but I knew. And nothing short of a hurricane, and thank god Idaho didn’t get them, was going to keep me from having this man.

When West abruptly pulled back from the kiss, the kiss I never wanted to end, even if all my breath suddenly vanished, my world tilted and my body felt bereft from the loss of his heat.

“Have you ever been with an older man?” Between gulps of air, his words made no sense at first.

“Wait, what? Does it matter?” I asked.

He stepped back. Agitation filled his handsome, scowling face. “Yeah, it kinda does. I’m not in the habit of having sex with…someone so young. Someone way too young for me. And if we keep this up, guaranteed I’m hauling you to my cabin and burying myself so deep, neither one of us will ever be the same.”

Yes, please, that’s what I want. But.And I knew better than most that thebuthad to be addressed. “So, you think I’m too young for you?”

“Look, I know it’s not the ‘PC’ thing to ask, but it matters. And it should matter to you, too. I mean, I know I’m a lot older than you and…shit, I’m so keyed up I’m not making sense. And I didn’t want to upset you, okay? I just want to make sure our age difference isn’t an issue for you.” West ran both hands through his hair, tension vibrating from him.

His tongue had just been halfway down my throat seconds ago, and now he’s worried about how old I was? Wow, did I know how to pick ‘em or what?

He thinks I’m too young, and he’s too old for me, but he kissed me anyway. This was making my head spin and not in the “yes, please take me harder,” type of way I thought he’d be doing. “Well, aren’t you just all honorable all of a sudden?” I couldn’t keep the hurt from coming out. “And stop looking at me like that.”

“How am I looking at you?” West asked, his tone softer than before but no less sexy. In fact, his gentler tone added to his attraction.

“Like, you want another kiss.” I whispered, afraid if I spoke it out loud, he’d deny it. That he’d already decided there couldn’t be anything further between us.

“I do. And so much more.” The longing was undeniable, so I pushed on. “How old are you, West?”

“38.” He spit the age out as if it would shock me. It didn’t.

“And you think I’m what, fresh out of high school, give or take a few years? You remember me telling you I had a college degree, right? I’ll be twenty-six end of next month.” But did his concern even really matter to me? I still wanted him, but we had to settle his nerves over our age difference if this was going to happen between us. Because I wanted what that kiss promised me, and I wasn’t going to leave until I got it.

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