Page 14 of Seduced By the Mountain Man

"Yeah, well." I ran a hand through my wet hair. "I've been pretty good at denial."

"So what changed in Jackson Hole?"

"Whiskey. That dress. The way you looked at me across the dance floor like you wanted me as badly as I wanted you." I leaned one arm against the rock wall beside her head. "But mostly, it was just time. Six years of wanting something and denying myself... there's only so long you can hold out."

Her breathing had quickened, her chest rising and falling more rapidly, and I knew she wasn't as immune to me as she pretended.

"I've thought about you every day since," I continued, my voice dropping lower. "Not just the sex—though God knows I've replayed that night in my head more times than I can count—but the way you laughed against my neck when I carried you to bed. The way you looked in the morning light, peaceful and perfect on my pillow. The way it felt to hold you, like something clicking into place after being misaligned for years."

"Jace..." Her voice was barely a whisper.

"Tell me you haven't thought about it too," I challenged softly. "Tell me last night's kiss didn't bring it all back."

She swallowed hard. "It doesn't matter what I've thought about. This—us—it would hurt Tyler."

"You don't know that."

"Don't I? His best friend sleeping with his sister behind his back? How could that not hurt him?"

"Maybe it's time we stopped making decisions based on what we think Tyler would want," I said. "Maybe it's time we asked him."

Her eyes widened. "You want to tell Tyler about us?"

"I'm saying I'm willing to. That's how serious I am about this, Dee. About you. Will you give us a chance?”

For a moment, she looked at me like she was seeing me for the first time, uncertainty replacing the anger in her eyes. Then, almost imperceptibly, she leaned toward me.

That was all the invitation I needed.

I closed the distance between us, my lips finding hers with the desperate hunger that had been building since I'd watched her walk away last night. She made a small, surprised sound thatquickly melted into a moan as she kissed me back, her hands clutching the wet fabric of my shirt.

This kiss was different from last night's—less tentative, more raw. My tongue swept into her mouth, claiming her, and she responded with equal fervor, her body arching against mine. I pressed her back against the rock wall, one hand tangling in her hair, the other gripping her hip to pull her closer.

We might have stayed that way for minutes or hours, lost in each other, if not for Matt's voice calling from the main shelter.

"Jace! The rain's letting up!"

Delaney broke away first, breathing hard, her lips red and swollen. I rested my forehead against hers, unwilling to let her go completely.

"This isn't over," I murmured.

"It has to be," she whispered, but the conviction in her voice was wavering.

"Think about what I said. About telling Tyler."

She didn't answer, just slipped out from between me and the wall, straightening her clothes with trembling hands before walking toward the main group.

I took a deep breath, trying to regain my composure, before following her back to reality.

***

The remainder of the hike passed in a blur. The storm had cost us time, so we turned back without reaching the summit, much to the disappointment of some hikers. The trail was slick with rain, requiring more attention, which at least gave me a legitimate reason to stay close to Delaney on the descent.

She kept her distance emotionally, though, speaking only when necessary and always with others nearby. Still, I caughther watching me when she thought I wasn't looking, her expression conflicted.

By the time we returned to the resort, the sun had reappeared, turning the wet landscape into a glistening paradise. The group dispersed, heading to their cabins to change out of damp clothes.

"You looked pretty cozy with Delaney under that rock overhang," Matt commented as we stored equipment. "Something going on there?"

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