Page 8 of Mountain Reclaiming

“I guess it was, but it was also because I couldn’t resist getting a piece of you before I left. We knew I was going to be leaving, and I knew it was going to be hard as it was. I didn’t want to make it harder by being intimate with you.”

She leans into my hand holding her jaw. “I had no idea. It’s hard to wrap my mind around. Even harder that you want me. I mean you’re gorgeous, and I’m still a chunky bookworm.”

“I’m not sure how you got the idea I wouldn’t want you. You’re a beautiful woman inside and out. I’m dying to get my hands all over these soft curves.” My hand sweeps down her side, squeezing her hip before grabbing her hand and placing it on my erection, which started growing the minute she was in my arms. “I’ll prove to you how wrong you are if you’ll let me.”

Her eyes widen, and her nostrils flare as she bites down on her plump bottom lip, while her head bobs with a nod.

My heart soars with her acquiescence. I waste no time in capturing her lips with mine. My tongue plunders her mouth with little finesse. Like last time, the world disappears as I reacquaint myself with what I so briefly had in the past. Only this time I’ll make damn sure she’s seared into my entire body, not just my lips, before I’m done with her.

The problem is I don’t know that there will ever be a time that I am done with her. Almost twenty years have passed since we were part of each other’s lives, and I still want her as much now. No, that’s not right. I want her more now than I did back then. I have no doubt when she leaves, I’ll be here waiting for her to reclaim me once again.

Her hands find their way beneath my shirt, leaving a trail of heat as they roam my stomach and chest. I greedily swallow her moans while I ravish her mouth. The moans turn to whimpers when my fingers find a puckered nipple and circle the distended peak.

My balls tighten with each sound she makes. I tear my lips from hers to rain kisses over her jaw to just below her ear, and down to the juncture of her neck and shoulder. She tastes like honey, and her sweet scent has my eyes rolling back in my head.

“Hey, I’m home. It was quiet so—whoops, sorry. Didn’t mean to interrupt. Ah, carry on. I’ll just head to bed,” Paisley rambles as she shuts the door.

Ashlynn snorts. “Not likely. We shouldn’t have been out here on the couch anyway. The kids could’ve walked in on us instead of you.”

Paisley smirks. “Well then, maybe you guys should go to bed too.”

I chuckle, and Ashlynn’s cheeks turn bright pink. “Yeah, not gonna do that with you listening.”

“I should probably be going anyway. Work tomorrow and all.” I reluctantly disentangle myself from Ashlynn. Standing, I offer her my hand. “How about tomorrow night I take you out on a date?”

The smile which overtakes her face has my heart stuttering. “That sounds nice.”

I return her smile and lean in, whispering in her ear. “And you could pack a bag if you want, so we can continue this at my place.”

She sucks in a sharp breath of air, causing my chest to puff. I brush my lips over hers. “Goodnight, Ash. Sweet dreams.”

I pull myself away and head toward the door. “Night, Paisley.”

“Night, Cash. Thanks for the help, and not just with the kids,” Paisley sings songs before giggling as I close the door behind me.

“Oh my gosh, these burgers are freaking amazing,” Ash mumbles around the mouthful she bit into.

The Coyote Creek Bar and Grill isn’t the most ideal place for our date, but pickings are slim in a small town. Fortunately, they have amazing burgers, and she’s enjoying the huckleberry margarita they’re known for.

Gotta admit, watching her dig into her food and enjoy it so much has me thinking of what else I could be stuffing into her mouth. When I saw her bag when she answered the door, I instantly became a walking hard-on knowing where the night was going to end. Now every little thing she does only exacerbates the situation.

I was tempted to head straight to my house and eat her for dinner, but she deserves to be wined and dined first. Besides, I want her to be fully fortified for the rest of tonight’s now planned activity.

“How ya doing here?” Dani, the waitress for the bar, asks. “Need another round?”

I shake my head. “Nah, I’m good, I’m driving.”

“How about you, Ashlynn? Another margarita?”

“Mmm, I probably shouldn’t, but these are just as good as the burgers. I suppose one more won’t hurt.” She glances at me. “That okay?”

“Of course, darlin’,” I lean closer and lower my voice, “but only one more. I have plans for you later. Don’t want you getting too tipsy on me and passing out.”

Her cheeks pinken, and Dani giggles and winks. “Only one more it is.”

Ash’s cheeks brighten further. She shoves her elbow in my side and hisses, “Cash!”

I love how scandalized she is. She was this way in high school too. I knew she was innocent back then, but it makes me wonder how much experience she’s had since. Not that I want to think about her with other men, but the chance I might get to broaden her horizons in that department has fire racing through my veins.