Page 33 of The One With the Mountain Man

Because whatever this was zinging between us, I wanted all of it.

"You want to know what we're doing, Marley? We're not gonna lie to each other, that's what we're doing. We're not going to play the bullshit games other people play because neither of us can stand games. You think I don't know you but that's just an excuse. I know you're kind and you're genuine. That's why games annoy the fuck out of you. I'd rather hear the truth any day, even if it hurts, because at least I can deal with the truth. And I think that's why we're here right now. It's more than running into each other a couple of times. There's a pull here. Something is pulling me to you and I'm not about to ignore it when all I want to do is kiss the fuck out of you."

Oh my gawd.No man had ever spoken to me like this. No man had ever been so blunt.

I loved it.

I was speechless.

Jackson smiled until that dimple of his popped and I might have fainted if I wasn't already sitting.

"Should I get you a piece of paper and a pen?" When I didn't reply he shrugged. "I figure a writer might have an easier time with that than speaking."

I tried and failed to form words. How did one reply to a speech like that?Yes, I would like you to kiss the fuck out of me, thank you very much?

He kept talking since I had lost the ability. "I'm not usually this frank."

"I like it," I finally managed to say.

His eyes danced. "Do you now?"

I nodded, my tongue loosening and my head finally wrapping around the fact that Jackson was sittingright there, close enough to kiss, and hewantedme and thought my mess was compatible with his and he was real. He was really real.

I didn't think. I didn't worry. I just did what felt right. And what felt right was kissing the crap out of Jackson. My hand went to his face. His eyes widened with surprise and then I wrapped my fingers around the back of his neck andpulledus together until my lips were on his.

At first, I just pressed us together because it was all I could do while my entire body was on fire. I could suddenly feeleverything.Every whisper of air, every move Jackson made, even the way he balled his hand into a fist. I didn't need to see it because Ifeltit. And then with a groan his hands were on my cheeks, his fingers in my hair and Jackson was in full control, tasting and tempting me to forget anything else existed but him.

I pulled him even closer, needing the pressure of his body to contain all of thisfeeling. I couldn't help but moan when he ran his knuckles from my jaw to my shoulder. Or when he splayed that hand across the small of my back. Or when he dropped to his knees or when I squeezed my thighs around him. My body pulsed with need and if this wasn't the most thorough, most erotic kiss of my life, I was a liar.

"Jesus, fuck, you're amazing," Jackson groaned between kisses.

"I'm not usually so bold," I replied.

"I like it." He slowed the kiss, savored it with a suck and a nip. "And it answers a lot of questions." He ran his nose along mine but didn't pull away.

My vision was fuzzy from his nearness and the intoxicating kisses. "Such as?"

His hand moved from my hair, along my jaw, his thumb tracing my lower lip. "We've got some pretty incredible chemistry."

A shiver raced over my skin. "Yes, yes we do."

"I'd really like to explore how far it goes, but I'm almost positive if we do that right now, I'll never see you again. And I can't," he shook his head and a firm, almost sad look dulled his eyes, "I can't have that, Marley."

I wanted to fall into his arms and promise him the world. Anything to make that look disappear.

Anything to tamp all these feelings down into something manageable. "You're probably right." If we had sex I'd probably freak out and run. There was no sense in denying it. I was in fight-or-flight mode and my body was locked into flight. I hadn't had sex in... well there was no reason to dwell onthat.But because of that unfortunate detail, I was guaranteed to overthink, over-worry, and overreact to impulsive choices. "But—"

"We'll get there." He swept his thumb over my lip. "Without any games or doubts. When you're sure you won't run."

I wanted to stay under this spell with all the swoopy feelings and spinning andwanting."That might take a while."

Jackson smirked with all the confidence of a man who was very, very sure of himself. "No, it won't. I promise you it will be a very short while." He pressed another kiss to my lips and all I wanted to do was wrap my legs around him andride.

Instead, I shuddered and whimpered. "That sounds like a good plan."

He smiled as he kissed me. "A very good plan, indeed."

Twelve

---