Page 19 of Possessed By the Mountain Man
His lips twitch. Dangerous. “You touch my beard, you’ll need last rites, witch.”
“Promises, promises.”
We stand too close again—always too close. My pulse kicks hard, traitorous and obvious. And he hears it.Feelsit. His expression shifts, slow and molten, like something inside him has decided.
“So that’s how it is,” he murmurs.
“How what is?” I ask, breath catching.
“You like pushing men who push back.”
My throat tightens. “I like men who don’t bore me to death.”
“Good,” he murmurs, leaning in just enough that I feel his breath against my cheek, sparking nerve endings like wildfire. “Because I don’t plan on being boring with you.”
I swallow. “Is that another threat?”
“No,” he growls. “It’s a guarantee.”
The power flickers overhead—almost like the lodge is reacting to him. To us. The bats pulse crimson.
He steps back first, eyes still burning into mine. “Leave the bats,” he says finally.
I blink. “What?”
“I said leave them.”
My mouth falls open. “You’re not turning them off?”
His jaw flexes. “You wanted atmosphere. Fine. You win this one.”
He flips a switch—not the breaker—and one lantern by the fireplace flickers to life. The shadows move across his face, carving sharp lines of hunger and restraint.
“But we set rules,” he says. “Before you burn this place down with your sugar-coated insanity.”
“I don’t do rules,” I say.
“You will.”
My heart kicks. “Try me.”
He counts on his fingers.
“One: no candy left out.”
“Rude.”
“Two: limited lights. You don’t plug in anything else without telling me first.”
“We’ll discuss that.”
“Three.” He waits until I meet his eyes. “You don’t climb shit without me there.”
I freeze. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me.” His voice dips, controlled and raw. “If you’re climbing, I’m holding you.”
Oh.
