Page 11 of My Devoted Mountain Man

"What's going on?"

I take a deep breath and make a decision.

"When we got back here from the clinic, he was very warm and attentive. He's still attentive, but after we kissed last week, he's gone cold, and I don't know if I've done something wrong to push him away."

"Listen, I don't think you could ever do something like that. I know you have feelings for him. I've seen how you look at him, but you have to understand that Fletcher is a complicated man with tons of baggage. His stint in the military, from what I hear, was spent in dangerous war zones during turbulent times."

Brock hesitated and continued, "What I'm trying to say is that you need to give him a little time. He's been here on his own for quite a few years up here in this mountain and not used to having someone to share thoughts and feelings with."

"So you think I'm overreacting?"

"Actually, I think you need to talk to him. Trying to guess what's going on in his mind is not going to help you break that wall he's built around himself."

"Okay, I'll do that, Brock. Thanks."

We spend the rest of the afternoon eating and drinking. Fletcher is a little warmer with Brock around, and I take advantage of it, lightly flirting with him whenever I can. He seems flustered by it and blushes slightly. I take that to heart and realize that maybe he's got his own reasons for pulling away.

Either way, he's in for a disappointment, because I want this space between us gone. Completely. Brock helps us clean up before leaving, and that just leaves me and Fletcher hanging around the kitchen together.

He fixes me some tea, and I sit on one of the stools to find an opening for an honest talk. He hands me the tea—peppermint, which he knows I love—and I blow on it for a few moments before taking a sip..

"Fletcher."

"I'm really tired. I think I'm going to turn in early."

"Fletcher, we need to talk."

"Sweetheart—" he starts.

"Don'tsweetheartme. You've been acting cold towards me since we kissed last week, and I want to know why."

"Erika. I…"

I get up from the chair and stand before him. He is tense, but his eyes tell me he's not as cold as I thought. I put my hand on the side of his face, feeling the bristles of his beard tickle my fingers. He's so damn gorgeous.

"I want to pick up where we left off last week."

"I don't want to hurt you, Erika."

All of a sudden, he picks me up and walks me to the couch with him. He sits down with me on his lap, and I put my arms around his neck. He looks vulnerable right now, and I wonder if this is my chance to finally be with him intimately.

"Why have you closed yourself to me? Did I do something wrong?"

"Never. You could never do anything wrong."

"Let's not go that far. Just tell me."

"I want you so badly, it’s burning me from the inside out. I needed some time to cool off, otherwise I'd have ravished you like a feral animal."

"I don't believe that, Fletcher. You are not like that."

"I am when it comes to you, sweetheart."

"I'm much better now. I won't break."

He looks scared, and I place kisses on his face. His breathing is ragged, and his hold on me tightens.

"I want to be with you so badly, Erika, but your well-being comes first. I don't want to do anything to risk that."

---