Page 10 of Her Mountain Man's Christmas Lie
“Please.”
“I’ll be back. I’m just going to double check the fire.”
I expect her to be asleep when I walk back into the room.
“Shea, are you back?”
“I’m here.”
Crawling in behind her, I snuggle her into the curve of my body. “Better?”
“Perfect,” she mumbles and falls back asleep in my arms. Willing myself to stay awake, I memorize her every breath, the way she fits against me, the softness of her hand clutching mine. The silk of her hair against my cheek and chest. It’s a long time before I give in to sleep and the dreams of what will never be overtake me.
Something soft whispers over my chest. Then again. “Merry Christmas.”
Straddling my hips, Cady leans forward, cups one side of my face, and lowers her lips to mine. Soft, gentle, minty like she’s already been up and about.
This kiss is everything I’ve craved and not enough. I have to stop this before I can’t. Gently clasping her wrist, I turn away. “Cady, stop. We can’t do this.”
“But we are.”
“We can’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because. I’m too old. I’m ten years older than you.”
She laughs. “Age is a number.”
“I’m too old, too damaged. You need someone your age.”
Sitting back on her calves and my thighs, she shifts, slightly rubbing her silk covered pussy over my already straining cock in a move I’m sure was intentional.
Sliding her palms from my shoulders down to cover my pecs, presumable to balance herself, she raises an eyebrow. “You’re going to play the age slash maturity card? The man with ten boxes of Tony the Tiger Frosted Flakes in his pantry?”
“They’re cornflakes.” When she raises a brow, I continue. “They were on sale.”
“They were your favorite as a kid,” she laughs.
Then her expression turns serious. “Do you know that men generally mature slower than women, both neurologically and physically? This is due to factors like the female brain reaching maturity faster and girls typically starting puberty earlier. Studies show age disparity is not as big a factor in a relationship as communication, shared values and mutual support which are much more important.”
Slowly sliding her palms back up over my chest, skimming my pebbled nipples with her thumbs as she passes, she cups my face. “I’d much prefer to have a man with experience in the bedroom, not a fumbling teenager who can’t even go the distance. I want stamina not speed.”
“You little vixen. You know exactly what you’re doing.”
“Yes. I’m hacking through all those foolish security walls you’ve built, because you’re afraid to believe in love. Afraid to acknowledge that you are lovable. Afraid to accept my love. Because I do love you, Séamus Lonn. I have loved you since I was four years old. First as a protector, next as a friend, last as the man, mentor, hero, by which I find all others lacking. I knowfirst-hand—as do you— what love isn’t and what real love should be.
“You can refuse me. Deny yourself. Deny us. But you know as sure as I do, we will never find someone else to fill that empty space in our hearts. I for one refuse to settle for less than the real thing.”
“I didn’t save him.”
Her eyes fill with unshed tears. “You tried.” She waves a hand over my scars. “You tried, and it cost you. I read the official report. I know how, having been severely burned yourself, you ran with him in your arms to get him to a medic. That’s love. I know he felt it to the very end.”
“I do love you, my Cady.” I cup her face and she meets me halfway for the kiss I’ve waited a lifetime to experience. Soft, almost reverent at first. Then it’s as if a dam broke. My hands slide down her shoulders, and I roll us until she’s under me.
“Condom. Let me get a condom.”
“No. I’m not on birth control. But the timing is safe. I want my first time to be real.”
