Page 13 of Moonlight With Maddox (Mountain Men Fall Harder #6)

M addox

What the hell just happened?

Leni’s words still hang in the cooling air, sharp enough to sting. Embarrassed to be seen with her? That’s what she thinks I meant?

She’s nearly to the truck before I shake myself out of it. “Leni, wait!”

I jog after her, boots crunching against the loose gravel, and I nearly slip in front of her just as she’s passing the tailgate. She nearly collides with me, eyes wide, her breath quick.

“What the hell are you talking about?” I demand.

She tries to sidestep me, but I plant myself between her and the trail. “No. Please just stop for a second.”

She crosses her arms, angry and wounded. “You don’t have to explain. I got the message you were sending me loud and clear.”

“No, you didn’t.” I take in a breath to steady myself. “That’s not what I meant back there at all.”

Her brow creases. “Then what did you mean?”

“I meant—” I rake my fingers through my hair, needing to find just the right words.

“You’re leaving, Leni. You don’t live here.

You have this whole other adventurous life outside of Maple Ridge.

And I can’t, no, I won’t be just some weekend fling for you before you head off to wherever you’re headed next. ”

Her expression softens, and the fire in her eyes is snuffed out. “That’s what you were trying to say back there?”

“Yeah.” I nod, feeling a glimmer of hope bloom in my chest. “I guess I’m not great at laying things out in the open.”

Silence hums between us, full of shadows and moonlight. Too much has been lost between the lines tonight.

Time to stop hiding.

“Since the moment I saw you standing in Connie’s kitchen, I haven’t been able to get you out of my head.” My voice drops as I step closer, slow enough for her to pull away if she wants, but she doesn’t. “You are beautiful, Leni. So beautiful it’s almost painful to breathe when you’re this close.”

Her breath catches, as her eyes shine in the dim light.

I slide my hands to her waist, fingers brushing the curve of her hips. The air around us feels charged.

Leaning down, I bring my lips to her ear. “If I had my way, I’d fuck you right here under the moonlight.

She lets out a tiny gasp, and the sound sends a jolt through me, making my cock jump with excitement.

“No one is stopping you,” she says, just barely above a whisper.

I pull back and search her face, making sure there isn’t a flicker of uncertainty in her gaze. All I see is the heat I’m already feeling mirrored back to me.

She pushes up on to her tip toes and closes the last few inches between us with a searing kiss.

It’s slow at first, like we are both waiting on that last bit of uncertainty to blow away in the breeze.

“Maddox,” she moans against my lips, and I’m lost to this woman standing in front of me.