Page 9 of My Ruthless Mountain Man

I thread our fingers together, hoping that’s a good sign. If not, I’m about to detonate those good feelings. I take a big swig of coffee to fortify myself. “I have a plan.”

She leans forward. “You do?”

“Fair warning, it’s... unorthodox.”

“Okay.” She drags the word out, looking at me expectantly.

“We need to make you more than just unavailable to Petrova. Hiding you will only work for so long. If he can’t find your brother, and I suspect Ryan is lying low, he’ll need leverage to force him out. If he’s the kind of man I think he is, he won’t stop until he has what he needs to put Ryan down. Maybe permanently.”

“That’s one of the reasons I ran. His interest also seemed personal.”

“Easy to see why. You’re beautiful, Kendall.”

A flush spreads across her cheeks and down her neck, disappearing beneath the buttons of my flannel. I want to peel it off her to see how far it goes.

“Maybe he won’t find me here.”

“Are you content to stay here and wait until he finds Ryan?”

“No, of course not. Despite everything, Ryan’s family. I don’t want to see him hurt.”

I squeeze her hand and stroke my thumb over her palm. “Then we have to give Petrova a very good reason to look elsewhere for his leverage and give ourselves time to either find Ryan or pay his debt.”

“What’s your plan?” She drains the last of her coffee.

“Marry me.”

Kendall chokes.

Shit, I should have timed that better.Way to go, Colter.

She wipes her mouth with a napkin and stares at me. “What?”

I did warn her that it was unorthodox. Maybe that was the wrong term. I should have gone with outlandish or straight to insane. “Think about it. Not only will you be off the market, but if you’re officially mine, he’ll have to bring a lot more fire power if he wants to take you from me. It won’t be worth it.”

Kendall pulls her hand from mine and goes to the coffee pot. She doesn’t pour right away. When she finally turns around, there’s a storm in her eyes.

“No. That’s not... I don’t want to just be a game piece to you—or anyone. You wouldn’t offer to marry me if I weren’t in this situation.”

I’m not sure that’s true. She’s been here less than eighteen hours, and she’s already brought life to this house. To me. Having her herefeelsright. “Kendall?—”

“Stone, you should want the woman you marry, and if I ever wed, the man should want me for more than a chess move.”

Is that what she thinks? That my interest is nothing more than for her protection? Pushing to my feet, I cross the distance and crowd her against the counter, caging her in with my hands.

Her slight gasp inflames me, burning right through any restraint I might have attempted.I dip my head and trace her nose with mine.

“You think I don’t want you?” I ask against the delicate shell of her ear. Then I press my lips to hers and show her how very wrong she is.

Desire singes my veins as the scent of peaches fills my senses. Her hands skim up my arms and clutch my shoulders, holding me in place. She rises onto her toes and opens her mouth, deepening the kiss. Jesus, she even tastes like peach.

A moan rumbles out of my chest, and I cup her neck in one hand, tilting her head so I can kiss her harder, deeper. Swiping my tongue against hers until she fills all my senses. The flannel slides over her skin beneath my other hand. I move her closer until her hips are pressed to the hard length of my dick. She feels amazing.

I grip the flannel in my fist, tugging it up while I trail kisses across her jaw and down her neck.

“Stone,” she whispers, rotating her hips.

“Fuck, you feel good, baby girl. Let me make you feel even better.” The moment my palm lands on the bare skin of her ass, my thoughts scatter. Only instinct remains. I lift her onto the counter, spread her thighs, and step between her legs, yanking her forward until her hot core is pressing against my sweats.

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