Page 14 of The Mountain Man's Retribution

Taking my cheeks in both hands, he levels his gaze on me, warm and steady. “Not possible, Fawn. You are enough just by being you.”

His words put a delight in my heart that no fancy speech from one of my books could instill, because they feel like the inner groanings of his soul, intimate and tender.

Sniffling and wiping my nose with my sleeve, I ask wide-eyed, “So youdowant me then?”

“Deep down to the depths of my soul,” he whispers, feathering his lips gently over mine. “And that’s why I must do right by you. Wait until it’s our time, not just mine.”

“But I want to share your bed. Be your woman. It is the way of nature, is it not?”

Bodie’s arms loosen, his cock digging into my belly. “I can’t have this talk with you tonight. I have to go.”

“Because you are mad at me?” I ask.

“Because I want you more than you can possibly know. Because my feelings for you are hotter and more destructive than the wildfire I watched last night. And because I want you to want me as much as I want you.”

My arms grip him more tightly. I protest, “But I do want you, desperately.”

“That’s because you need me. You fear you cannot do without me. You are desperate for security, safety, a sense of belonging. But Fawn, I need you to want me even when you feel strong and independent, even when you finally understand that you can stand on your own two feet.”

My breath catches in my throat at his words, my hands clinging desperately to him.

He smiles warmly, still stroking my cheeks. “Our kisses, our embraces are enough for today for both of us. Did Elizabeth and Darcy get this greedy on the first day they met? Or Jane and Rochester?”

I sigh, blurting out, “But must we waitthatlong?”

He chuckles darkly. “No, my little elf. But we must wait for the right time for us. Don’t you think?”

“Little elf?” I laugh, shaking my head in confusion.

“Because you are kinsfolk of the woods. I’m convinced of it now. Sent to me by nature, a living, breathing, flesh-and-blood partner. But only if that’s what you really want. I need you to stand strong and confidently before making that choice. Okay?”

“Okay,” I whimper.

He taps the tip of my nose playfully with his finger before kissing it. “Sleep well, and please consider using the bed. I promise, it will be to your liking.”

I nod, heart skittering around in my chest. I’ve never slept alone before. Big Man, and I always shared the one bedroom. He said he had to protect me from the things that come in the night to steal people’s souls, whether he meant his own sons or something supernatural, I never knew.

“Want me to turn out the lights?” Bodie asks, moving towards the door and flipping the switch a couple of times to remind me how it works. “If you need to sleep with them on, that’s fine, too,” he adds, and my whole body relaxes at his merciful words.

Chapter Eight

BODIE

Iawaken to whimpering sounds. It draws my mind back to yesterday morning and my first sight of Fawn. Lifting my head slightly, I notice the door of my bedroom ajar. My eyes follow the noise to the corner diagonally opposite me, finding a balled-up form wrapped in a blanket. My heart melts as I listen to the tiny sobs, repressed and as quiet as she can make them.

Should I leave her there where she insists on being? She doesn’t sound comfortable or safe. And if there’s one thing I promised Fawn, it was security.

Sitting up in bed, I hang my feet over the side, rubbing my eyes and stretching. God, I wish I were a stronger man, not so tempted by her porcelain skin, her flushing cheeks, her lush lips, and silky locks.

The trembling, sobbing ball moves ever so slightly, head lifting as I pad across the wood floor to the squeak of individual boards. I am a patient man, not wanting to push Fawn further than she is ready to go. But she cannot be comfortable on the hard, cold surface.

As I draw closer, she peeks from the blanket, whispering, “I’m sorry, but I’ve never slept alone before.”

I let out a ragged sigh, ready to put my fucking fist through the wall. Apprehensive of what her last statement means … what scars her soul may bear. But I also need Fawn to trust and confide in me, so I push the hatred and anger deep, trying to be what she needs rather than indulging my mindless fury.

“Do you trust me?” I ask quietly, offering her my hand.

She eyes it quietly, biting her bottom lip. “Yes.” Reaching out, she takes it, and I urge her to stand, crossing the distance to my bed. I can do this. I can keep things innocent while providing the safety this woman needs. Crawling onto the mattress, I hold her hand, encouraging her to follow.

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