Page 6 of Marked by my Protector (Inked and Possessive. Rugged Mountain Ink #3)

“You don’t sound like an idiot. You sound like a real person who’s having real people thoughts.

” I drag my hand over the cool stone again.

“Mr. Crumbles and I have been talking a lot lately about the arranged wedding. I don’t even know the guy they set me up with, but I know my parents want grandkids, and they want them yesterday.

” I pause and swallow hard, wondering if telling Tank my truth will push him away, but the words spill out like they’ve been waiting for this moment for years.

“Except, I can’t have kids.” My chest tightens as the words escape my throat.

“I’ve never said that out loud. I saw a doctor a few years back because of pain and they did all these tests.

They found that I have severe endometriosis. It’s the kind that can’t be fixed.”

His expression doesn’t change. His face doesn’t show pity or shock, just unwavering presence. “I’m sorry. That sounds like hell to carry alone.”

I nod, swallowing hard, my chest filling with that strange warmth that’s been shocking me since I met Tank.

“I already feel broken, and I know the second my family finds out, they’ll throw me away.

I can’t take the pain. I mean, I’d never want to marry a stranger anyway, but this is just another layer to the nightmare. ”

“Your family doesn’t deserve you.” He draws my gaze to his, fingers grazing my cheek. I feel the calm in him. The steadiness that soothes both horses and broken girls.

“I don’t know how to be enough,” I whisper, tears threatening to choke me.

For some reason saying all this out loud makes it feel alive in a way it hasn’t yet.

“Even if I dismiss what my family feels about me, I know I’ll never have kids of my own.

I’ll never be able to give someone the simplest of things. ”

His thumb traces the edge of my cheek, like he’s trying to soothe something deeper than skin.

“Love isn’t about what you can give someone.

It’s about finding someone who’s darkness plays well with your own.

” He leans in slightly, his forehead nearly brushing mine.

“You don’t have to be anything but yourself. You’re enough.”

Why does that feel so good to hear? It’s not just the words that sound good. It’s the weight behind them. This man doesn’t owe me anything. He’s just here. Present, in this moment, and I feel it.

God, I feel it, and I probably shouldn’t.

His breath mingles with mine, warm and close. The space between us narrows until it’s barely a whisper, barely a thought. My skin hums beneath his touch, every nerve tuned to its deliberate ache, his forehead lingering dangerously close to mine.

I don’t move, not yet, but something inside me unfolds to a place I’ve never been before. A place where I feel warm and seen. A place where I feel safe.

The silence stretches, thick with everything we’re not saying. His hand slides from my cheek to the curve of my jaw, then down, tracing the line of my neck with awe as though he’s admiring me.

This can’t be real.

I close my eyes, and the world tilts. Not away from the pain, but toward something else. Something that feels like recognition for everything I am.

He leans in slowly, deliberately giving me every chance to pull away, but I don’t.

I close the distance.

His lips meet mine, gentle at first, like he’s afraid to break the moment. Inexplicably unafraid of what the future holds, I press closer, and the kiss deepens into something more. Something that rattles me deep inside. Something that wakes me up.

A moan escapes my lips, and I lean into his touch, allowing the wild of his rough hands to wander my frame.

How is this happening? He’s so out of my league, so big, so handsome, so much older than me. We just met today. This is impulsive. I’m not thinking straight. I should stop, and yet… I don’t.

I let the kiss deepen as a groan settles into his throat and he lifts me up onto his lap as we swap places. His back leans against Rocky, and I straddle his width, rocking back and forth as our lips massage against one another in the cool breeze of the open night sky.

His hands settle at my waist, firm but reverent, like he’s afraid I’ll vanish. I feel the strength in him, the years of labor etched into every movement, but there’s gentleness too.

I pull back just enough to see his face. His eyes are dark, searching, and for a moment, we just breathe together, suspended in the hush of the creek.

“What are we doing?” I whisper.

He brushes a strand of hair from my cheek, his thumb lingering at my temple. “No fucking clue.”

The words settle into my chest, and I lean in again more frantically. Tasting the apples from the pie on his tongue. Feeling the size of his body beneath mine. Listening intently to the sound of desperation in his throat as he holds me in place.

I grind into his lap without thought, the rigid line of his cock brushing against my thigh as I move.

Oh God! My heart thumps against my chest, and my panties soak with need. His hand lands on my throat and his kiss wanders down toward the lobe of my ear, sending tiny fractals of energy shooting into my groin one after another.

“You smell so good, little girl.” His breath is warm and wet against my ear, and his hold is tight and possessive.

I rock harder against him, against the ridge of his cock, against whatever I can until his hand slides between us and flattens against my soaking panties. I’m not sure if I should be embarrassed or not. I’ve never been so close to a man. Maybe it’s weird to be this wet so soon.

He kisses me harder, a growl in his throat, the scent of cedar and oil on his skin as he presses the tips of his fingers against my soaking panties, against my clit.

“Fuck,” he growls under his breath as I grind against his rough hand, moaning, rocking, desperate to come.

“That feels good,” I manage between breaths.

“Good girl,” he groans, scrubbing his thumb through the soaking fabric against my clit.

“I need to hear you come.” There’s a roughness in his voice that wasn’t there before.

A ragged intensity that mirrors the haze that’s flushed over his stare.

Like he’s lost control. Like he’s desperate. Like he’s starved.

My heart slams against my chest as his hot breath heaves heavy against my neck. Slipping my panties to the side, he presses his fingers against my slit, sliding them back and forth through my silk before pressing through with a quiver in his breath. “Jesus. You’re tight.”

My skin flushes with something prickly as a cool breeze passes over the back of my neck. I’m hot and cold all at once, grinding harder and faster. His hand is thick and strong, his fingers pressing in deeper as I moan softly against his ear.

“Oh God,” I pant, as I thrust back and forth. “Don’t stop. Right there.”

He pushes in harder, faster, more and more power behind each touch. “Come on, little girl. Come on my hand. I need to feel you shake.”

I reach between us as he works, stroking the length of his hard cock through the denim. I don’t have much to compare it to, but he’s very thick and a lot longer than I thought was normal.

“Fuck, you better stop touching me like that, baby.” His tone is ragged and rough like he’s losing himself… and I like it! I want it! I need it!

I keep stroking as I grind, his fingers still deep inside of me.

“Oh, Tank,” I moan, pressure building in my stomach as I rock toward the only orgasm I’ve ever had with a man. “My God…” The pressure explodes, my eyes close, and my body convulses against him. I’m shaking, I can’t see, and I’ve completely soaked his hand.

I don’t know if this is normal. Maybe I should’ve waited to come. Maybe I should’ve done something for him first.

“I’m sorry,” I pant. “I—”

“Don’t you ever apologize for that,” he groans low and hot against my ear. “That was perfect.” He pulls his hand from inside of me, staring into my eyes as he licks his fingers clean with a breathy growl.

Good God!

“I, ugh,” I swallow hard, “no one has ever… I’ve never. This was the first time I ever—”

He stops blinking, his eyes conveying more shock to that muttered mess than anything I’ve said to this point. “What?”

“I’ve never been with a man like this, or anyone like this… ever. So… sorry if I did anything wrong. I just… I was going with the flow, and you felt so good.”

His jaw tightens and his brows narrow slightly, though his gaze goes inward as if he’s angry with himself. “Fuck. I’m sorry.” He lands a kiss on top of my head, then stands us both from the ground. “I don’t know what came over me.”

“No,” I sigh, noticing the indention of his thick belt buckle on my thigh. “You don’t have to apologize. I liked it. I just—”

“You’re young, and I’ve clearly been alone too fucking long. I’m not thinking straight. You deserve better than that. We should head back up to the house.” He kisses my head again and my pussy twitches at his touch.

“Deserve better than that?” My brows wrinkle. “That was perfect. Like—”

My phone buzzes in my pocket interrupting my sentence. It’s been going off for a while, but I’ve been ignoring it in favor of the big man with the massive hands. Now, it feels imperative, and not checking is causing my heart rate to rocket… mostly because I know what it’s about.

Six missed calls. All from Mom.

My stomach drops.

Then the texts roll in. One after another, each more frantic and sharp.

Mom: Where are you?

Mom: We had your phone tracked. Why do I feel like you’re running?

Mom: Just call me, Sloane! You can’t hide forever!

Mom: Okay! If you can’t be a responsible grown-up, I’ll come and get you!

Mom: You think you’re in trouble now, wait until I get there!

I stare at the screen, the chill of dread crawling up my spine. They know! They’re coming!

“What’s wrong?” Tank stares down at me, his hand resting on my shoulder.

“My parents tracked my phone! I’m so stupid!

Why didn’t I get rid of my phone?” I say, my tone reaching a high pitch panic, which I blame on the actual life-threatening fear coursing through my veins.

“Of course they’re tracking it! They’re on their way!

They’re going to haul me out of here! They’re going to make me get married! They’re going to—”

His hand rests under my chin again, his gaze on mine as he whispers soothingly, “What do you want?”

I swear he’s the only person on Earth that’s ever asked me that. I pause and think over his question carefully before I answer. “I want to be free.”

“Then I won’t let them take you.” His tone is low and steady, but there’s a storm behind his eyes like he’d do anything to keep me safe. And for the first time in my life, someone is on my side.