Page 6 of Wanted By the Mountain Man

He suddenly broke the kiss, then moved toward my jaw. He brushed the hollow of my throat with warm, open-mouthed kisses. I tipped my head back against the tree, giving him access, my breathing turning shallow and quick.

I could feel every place we touched like sparks under my skin—my chest pressed to his, his hips pinning mine gently, not demanding, but possessive in a way that made my knees feel like jelly.

His hand slid around my waist, then up, fingers teasing the knot of my bathing suit top. My breath caught, anticipation rushing through me so fast it almost made me dizzy.

“Is this okay?” he asked, his voice rasping over my ear.

I nodded, a shaky exhale slipping from my lips. “Yeah.”

His lips curved against my collarbone as he pulled at the knot, loosening it. The top dropped down just enough to bare my breasts. He cupped me reverently, his thumbs brushing lightly over me, sending tremors through my whole body.

I pressed closer, my hands tangled in his damp hair, needing more, wanting all of him—until a sharp pulse of nerves cut through the heat. There was something he didn’t know. Something I had to tell him before this went any further.

“I—” My voice cracked, barely more than a whisper. “Wait.”

He pulled back immediately, his brow furrowed, eyes searching mine. “Too fast?”

I shook my head, but my heart was pounding for a whole new reason now. I’d never said the words out loud before. Not to a guy. Not like this.

“I’ve never…done this,” I said, my voice barely louder than a breath. “I mean—I’m a virgin.”

He stilled completely, his hands still on my waist, his touch suddenly feather-light. But his face didn’t go cold. He didn’t look ready to run away as I’d expected a guy would.

His gaze held mine. “You’re sure you’re okay?”

I nodded, feeling heat rush to my cheeks. “I’m not scared. I just thought you should know.”

His expression shifted. Something deeper moved across his face—heat, yes, but also something tender. Something that felt almost like…love.

“Thank you for telling me,” he said, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “That doesn’t change how much I want you. But it does mean we go at your pace.”

Tension melted out of me. My whole body softened under his touch—under those words.

“I want this,” I whispered.

His mouth found mine again, but slower than before, as though we had all the time in the world. And in that moment, in that hidden clearing with only the trees as witnesses, it felt like we did.

“I can’t do this here,” he said. “It’s your first time. We should go back to?—”

He cut off as I started shaking my head. “I want to do it here. With your friends not far away and the tree against my back.”

Okay, so the tree might be painful. But still, this would be the hottest first time ever. And I wouldn’t be the only one who found it hot. It would probably be memorable for him too.

It wasn’t just an exciting location, but it would be his first time with me. If I had anything to say about it, it would be the first night of an entire lifetime together.

“Are you sure?” he asked.

Something flickered in his eyes. A protectiveness. It wrapped itself around me like a warm blanket. This wasn’t just going to be hot. I was seriously in danger of falling in love with this guy.

I just hoped he wouldn’t break my heart.

4

ROURKE

She was a virgin. It blew my mind, but for some reason, it didn’t surprise me. I couldn’t say why.

I lowered my head to her chest. There was no graceful way to do this, but I didn’t give a damn. I had to taste those beautiful berry-colored nipples, and I didn’t care what I had to do to get to them.

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