Page 84 of The One With the Mountain Man

"You're gorgeous."

"Jackson."

I laughed and kissed her lips. "I've had this for years. My grandpa had a few life rules he burned into us, and one was to always have a nice, well-tailored suit on hand. I haven't worn it in a while and I figured your event was a good reason to put it on."

She lifted the fabric to her nose and breathed in. "And expensive cologne?"

I shrugged. "One small bottle."

That look came over her and she started pushing me towards the bed. "I've discovered something I like about you."

I stepped back, back, back, then she shoved me onto the bed and climbed up, straddling me, shirt open. I groaned. How was this my life now? I wanted to stay here as long as she did. No need to move, no itch to get out of town. And in return the most beautiful woman on the planet gave me orgasm after orgasm.

I was a lucky fucking bastard. "What is it you like?"

She bit her lower lip, hips grinding on me. "I get three entirely different men to love. The cowboy, the mountain man, and the bodyguard."

That last word hung on me. I abandoned my perusal of her skin to thread my fingers into her hair. "I'm glad the event went well in the end but I'm worried for you." I hated bringing the mood down, but we needed to talk.

She sighed, settling on me. "I don't know what to say."

"That's some heavy shit you've been carrying on your own." I finally understood all the times she looked like she wanted to run for the hills. Why my surprising her was scary instead of fun.

Why she escaped to a small town in the middle of nowhere. She expected to be hounded, attacked, even stalked around every turn, in every shadow. That level of attention was too much when you have a great support system, and Marley didn't have that.

"It's easier that way," she whispered.

"Easier for who?" I couldn't not touch her so I let my thumbs trace her jaw and cheeks while my fingers massaged her scalp.

"Me?"

"Wrong answer."

She frowned and tried to climb off me. I didn't let her. "Darlin', we're just talking."

"No, you're accusing me of things you don't understand."

That was maybe a fair point. But I was willing to bet I understood her, and the situation, more than she knew. "Marley," I hoped saying her name would let her hear that I was being sincere, "if it was easier for you then it was because you were already on the run and you needed to drop weight."

Her face crumpled.

"And if it was easier for you, then it was because you were trying to protect the people around you, which is so fucking admirable, but it didn't protect them. It gave them an excuse, and you're the one paying for it."

"It'smycareer." She squirmed but I held her tight.

"It's yourlife." A life they weren't treasuring.

And I was not fucking putting up with it. Marley couldn't go on like this and she shouldn't have to.

Since I wouldn't let her leave, she screwed her eyes shut and shook her head. "I told you I'm very good at pushing people away."

And they let her, the bastards. "We're not doing that anymore."

Her eyes flew open. "We?"

"I love you. That means we're in this together. All of it. The family, the friends, the fans. We'll call it the three Fs." I tried to make light of the situation, but it went right past Marley.

"What do you expect me to do?"

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