Page 2 of Smoldering Mountain Man

Rescue me like the princess I am!

Mar, you really are delusional.

“Whoa! Are you alright, miss?”

A thrill ran through me at him not calling me ma’am. “Uh, not really. Got lost, ran off, fell on my ass…and now I’m pretty sure my ankle is fucked.”

The sexy man laughed, the sound deep and low in his throat, almost a growl. If my ankle wasn’t throbbing so much, I’d be a melted puddle on the ground by now. As he stepped closer, his face came into view, and I nearly choked on my saliva.

The man washot.And not just ordinary hot. He was the hottest guy I’d ever seen. Where the hell had he been hiding? I’d been in Appleridge for months now and never once saw him around.

He kneeled and that’s when his manly scent hit me and I nearly came on the spot, my panties drenched. A slight smirkstretched across his handsome face, and I sucked in my bottom lip out of habit, my flirty, sexy side instantly showing herself. “I’m Ryerson.” He held out his large paw of a hand and when I slipped my fingers around his, a buzzing energy ran up my arm. It was a warm and comforting feeling. One I’d never felt from a simple touch before. “I work as a trail guide on the mountain.”

“Marcella. Nice to meet you. And yes, I know what you’re thinking. I’m a stupid chick who got lost in the woods when I have no business even being out here. But I never expected?—”

“I would never think of you as some stupid chick. Shit like this happens all the time. The mountain can overtake the best of us sometimes.” Ryerson squeezed my hand before letting go. “What happened with your ankle?”

“I panicked and ran after hearing some rustling in the woods. Tripped on a damn tree root and down I fell. My ankle hurts like a bitch and I can’t move it.”

“Good thing I came along then. I doubt you have any cell service. I’d hate to think of you stranded here alone all night. Some of the critters around here aren’t the friendliest.”

“Don’t tell me. I’d rather not know.” I shuddered at the thought of being in these pitch-black woods alone.

“My cabin isn’t too far from here. I heard your screams. Good set of lungs you’ve got there.” Ryerson winked and my dumb heart fluttered. “Let’s see if you can stand.”

He helped me get to my feet, his hands beneath my arms as I slid mine around his neck. my mind spun with embarrassment and desire, two feelings I never thought could happen at the same time.

Damn it, Bri! I swore I wouldn’t fall for one of these men!

Chill out girl. Who the hell said anyone is falling for someone?

I pushed my swirling thoughts to the side and focused on the present. But as soon as I put some weight on my ankle, a boltof hot pain thundered up my leg. “Ow! No, no. I definitely can’t stand!”

Ryerson held on to me tighter. “Okay, no worries. I’ll carry you.” Without a chance to protest, he lifted me into his arms like I weighed nothing, my full figure not too much for his strength. He didn’t even flinch.

“Wait! I need to find my phone. It went flying when I fell.”

He placed me down gently and wrapped one arm around my waist as I balanced on one knee. Ryerson reached into his back pocket and retrieved a flashlight. It didn’t take long for him to spot my shiny purple glitter case.

“Yay! You found it. What would I do without you?”

He laughed as he slipped both my phone and his flashlight into his pocket and scooped me into his arms once more. “Up shit’s creek without a paddle?”

Now it was my turn to laugh. “Who even says that?”

“Me. I’m an old fart.”

“No way.”

“Sure am, just hit forty last month.”

My mouth fell open. “Wow. I would’ve said late twenties.”

He laughed again, more loudly this time. “It’s dark out. You haven’t seen all my wrinkles.”

“I doubt there’s one.” I said. As he began to walk, I peered up at his face, now only inches from mine and suddenly I forgot about the stabbing pain in my ankle. “Do you always make such daring rescues like this?”

His eyes dropped down and landed on mine. I swallowed hard, the ache between my legs growing. “No one ever as beautiful as you.”

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