Page 24 of The Mountain Man's Hunted Bride

He pauses, then smiles. “I love your spunk. I love your bravery when you call me out. I love you, Tawny. Promise you won’t let me get away with anything.”

“Never, my love.”

He lies down beside me, turning so we’re both on our sides facing each other. “Where were we?”

“I think you were just going to kiss me.”

“Ahh yes.”

Cupping the side of my neck, he lowers his lips to mine. Soft. Warm. Gentle. He teases my lip with his tongue then we’re tasting and sampling each other.

“God, you’re beautiful. So beautiful. So perfect.” He skims his palm up and down my side from thigh to breast and back. His palms are slightly work roughened and I realize it’s probably from all the firewood he chops. No wonder his body is in such great shape.

He kisses a trail down my neck and over my shoulder as he eases down my body. When he finally reaches my nipple, I can’t hold back my gasp of pleasure as he gently suckles. “Yes. Oh yes.”

Lost in his attention to my breast, it takes me a moment to realize he’s also gently probing my channel with his finger as his thumb teases my clit. “Gray, oh Gray. That feels so good.”

“Yes, kitten. I’m going to make you feel so good. Just relax and enjoy.”

Relax? Pleasure is building, escalating as he continues to tease my nub. Slowly I lose my grip on his head as he trails kisses down my abdomen, pausing to tease my belly button then travel lower. His first lick of my nub has me clutching the sheets and moaning. As he continues his attention I realize he’s slowly working two fingers in my channel. It’s supposed to hurt. But all I feel is pleasure. The first explosion ripples along my body, sending me into a free fall of languid release. “Gray...”

“Are you ready for me, kitten?”

“Yes. I want you, now Gray. “

Still engulfed by euphoric satisfaction the pressure of his cock slowly filling me is one more beautiful extension of his care. Once he’s seated in me, he pauses, looking down on me. “You ok?’

“I’m perfect. You’re perfect.

“I love you, Tawny. You are my everything.” He lowers his lips to mine. “So sweet. So beautiful.”

I cup his cheeks. “I love you, Gray. Teach me each trust binding us closer and closer. Soon I sense him losing control, but even then, he slides a palm between us and strokes his thumb over my most sensitive spot.

“Together,” he says, sending me spiraling with him.

Half asleep I feel him leave then return with a warm cloth to clean me. Soon he’s snuggled in behind me one arm wrapped around me, his hand holding mine between my breasts . “Sleep, love. I’m here. I’ll watch over you.”

I wake alone to the gentle murmur of voices and the smell of fresh brewed coffee. After a quick shower, I study my image in the mirror. I don’t look different. But I am different. I finally feel loved and wanted.

Gray and Micha are on one side of the counter Beck and Sheriff Harker on the other. They’re looking at a map.

“What’s happening?

“The Stumps are making a move. They’re coming to get you. State police are aware,” Gray informs me.

“Wha—what should we do? When do we leave? What should I pack?”

Gray puts his arm around my shoulder. “You’re safe, kitten. We don’t do anything. We wait and let them make their move. Once they do, the Sheriff arrests them and hits them with a half dozen local and federal charges. They’re going down for years this time. All of them. There’s already a request to reopen the investigation of your mother’s death. Their hand-picked localpolice chief is singing like a canary to save his own ass. Joey’s testimony is also going to help.”

“We’re going to end this today.”

Micha cocks his head and gives some kind of hand signal to Gray. Then partially lowers the screen on the laptop. “Go time.”

The Sheriff goes into the bedroom. Micha touches a panel next to the cupboard. It opens and he slips inside.

“Kitten, I want you to sit behind the counter in front of the computer like you’re working. In fact, show me the recipe you’re making for lunch. Just be calm. This is all going to be okay. I’m right here beside you. It’s almost over.”

“I think I’ll make mushroom and black pepper pasta for lunch,” I ramble nervously. “We have some leftover French bread I can toast and green beans. Did you gather eggs this morni?—”