Page 19 of The Mountain Man's Retribution

I shake my head, and she frowns. “You mustn’t speak of yourself that way. Remember what I’ve told you all week? That men and women both have fears sometimes. It doesn’t make us silly, and we shouldn’t be ashamed of those feelings.” I kick myself for her statement, having called her “silly” the first time she hid from me instead of running errands. She has a long memory, despite her pleasant demeanor.

“And what do you fear?” she whispers.

I must be careful with this answer. It’s clear she expects me to be fearless and deadly, always willing and able to protect her. No matter what. Admitting too many of my fears to her would pull the rug out from under her, undo some of our progress.

Instead, I confess, “I’m afraid I’ll do wrong by you. Only you won’t realize it until much later, and you will never be able to forgive me. I couldn’t stand that, Fawn.”

“Never,” she gasps, palming my cheek and sliding her fingers through my beard. “You are mine, and I am yours. Remember? We are meant to be together no matter what, like Elizabeth and Darcy?—”

“Jane and Rochester,” I finish with a gentle smile. “I hope so. But I want you to make a fully informed decision, not one based on a limited understanding of the world.”

“Nothing will change my mind,” she argues with conviction as she has all week. Frowning, she adds, “Perhaps, you don’t want me?”

“God, no,” I counter, snagging her chin with my finger and forcing her to look up at me. “How could you even think such a thing?”

“When animals mate in the wild, they don’t hesitate, Bodie. Perhaps I don’t please you enough?”

“Never talk that way again, Fawn. You please me more than I can express. But I want you to be my equal ...” I look away, running my hand through my hair. I don’t know how to explain myself.

“Your equal,” she repeats quietly. “You are strong, fearless, and dangerous. I don’t know how to become those things for you.” Tears spring to her eyes. God, here we go again.

“I don’t mean you have to be exactly like me. I love our differences. Your softness, tenderness, and your open-hearted generosity. But I do want you to know what you’re getting yourself into with me. We aren’t forest animals, Fawn. I don’t just want your body alone. I want your heart, your soul, and your mind, too. Like I wish to give you in return.”

“You keep saying that,” she says darkly. “But if I were everything you could possibly want, would you truly let me into your heart? Or would you find another reason to put me off?”

Her words slam into me hard. She’s hitting far too close to the target. “I don’t know what you mean,” I grumble.

“You told me the day we met that you don’t trust easily. Why not?”

I long to walk away, change the topic of conversation, or somehow otherwise distract her. But I can tell by her large, curious eyes that she won’t let me. Sighing heavily, I confess, “Once I was engaged to a woman. My high school sweetheart. But I caught her fucking my best friend after unexpectedlyreturning home early from a deployment. After that, I quit trusting people. And believe me, I found plenty of folks who reinforced these suspicions until I gave up on society altogether, moving here to embrace nature.” I look away, clenching my jaw.

“And to find me,” she whispers, smiling at me sweetly.

“It seems so,” I concede, dropping my shoulders and relaxing into a lopsided grin. Her ardent gaze captivates me, absorbing my face and making me feel like a fucking superhero. I kiss her gently, watching her cheeks blossom with color. “Enough about me and my past. Let’s make running errands into an adventure we can enjoy together. Okay?”

She stares at me skeptically.

I add, “I swear to keep you safe, and I also have a special treat in store for you.”

“A special treat?” Her face beams. “What is it?”

“It’s a surprise.”

Chapter Ten

FAWN

As he drives, Bodie reaches across the console, taking my hand and squeezing it. I instantly relax, face beaming.

He observes, “You’re much less anxious about today when I touch you. It comforts you, doesn’t it?’

“It makes me feel strong, independent, like I’m drawing some of your power and making it my own.”

The mountain man chuckles softly, reminding, “It’s not my strength or power you’re feeling, it’s your own. Today will be good. I promise.” He brings my hand to his mouth, gently kissing my fingertips until my heart booms like the tambourine I keep rhythm with during our nightly sing-alongs.

“You make me feel so good, Bodie. How have I gone all these years without your touch?”

He presses the top of my hand to his lips before setting it back on the console. “Stick shift,” he explains, doing something with a lever at the steering wheel.

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