Page 9 of Rugged Mountain Man (Men of Ravencliff Mountain #1)

Sadie

I’m naked on the edge of my cabin’s solid kitchen table, my legs spread wide, on top of Cole’s shoulders.

Cole’s head is buried between my thighs.

His beard brushes against my slick pussy, rough and teasing, the perfect counterpoint to the softness of his tongue.

He’s relentless, lapping and sucking like a man possessed, and I can feel every rasp of his scruff heightening the sensation.

My eyes drift to the oven door, the faint reflection of us visible in the glass.

His inked muscles ripple as he shifts, his broad shoulders pinning me in place like I’m his prize.

The tattoos running down his arms flex with every movement, dark and raw, making me ache even more.

My pussy clenches, dripping for him, and he growls against me, the vibration shooting straight to my core.

“My sweet little cunt.” The dirty words that would usually make my skin crawl, somehow makes me even hornier.

I can’t stop staring at him in the reflection, at the hard lines of his back and the way his thick cock hangs heavy, rock-hard, and dripping pre-cum.

It’s almost obscene how big he is, throbbing between his legs as if he’s already imagining being inside me.

My mouth waters at the sight of him, and my hips buck against his face.

“Stay still,” he commands, his voice rough and low, sending a fresh wave of heat through me. His tongue flicks over my clit, swirling, teasing, until I’m panting his name. “Ahhh, this tight little cunt of mine.”

He presses his face deeper into my folds, and then to my hole.

His beard dragging perfectly against my swollen lips.

His tongue jutting in and out of my hole.

I can’t hold back, my orgasm slamming into me, and his groan as he feels it only makes it so much harder.

My legs collapse from the sheer force of my orgasm.

Cole stands, his mouth glistening, and his cock swells impossibly thicker. His hand grips his shaft as he strokes it, his eyes locking on mine. “Spread wider,” he growls, stepping between my legs. “I’m not done with you yet.” I could sit here all day with my legs open for him.

I lean back against the table, still trembling from the force of my orgasm, my skin flushed and tingling in the cool mountain air.

Cole's strong arms wrap around me as he presses a soft kiss to my forehead. His touch feels like home, and it terrifies me how much I don’t want to leave this cabin, this man, this life.

But I have to.

Today’s my last day here, and the thought of returning to the city, to my sterile apartment and soulless job, feels like a slap in the face. How do I go back to that when every inch of me is tethered to this place? To Cole?

He kisses me again, his lips brushing my temple.

He gives me a lingering look, when his phone buzzes on the floor. Where our clothes are strewn. “Stay, I need to get this.” He checks the message, his expression shifting into something serious. He furiously types back.

“What is it?” I ask.

“Clover is in labour,” he says, already moving toward the door. “It’s early, and I need to get to the stable.”

“I’ll come with you,” I blurt out before I even think it through. His brows lift in surprise, but he doesn’t argue. I grab my clothes off the floor and quickly put them back on.

The stable is a flurry of activity when we arrive. Cole’s employee, Tom, meets us at the entrance, his face tight with worry. “Her contractions started early, and she’s struggling.”

Cole nods, his calm demeanour instantly taking charge. “Get the supplies. I’ll check on her.” He glances at me. “You sure you want to be here for this?”

“Yes,” I say firmly, though my heart is racing.

We step inside the stall, and the sight before me is both beautiful and overwhelming. Clover, a gentle bay mare, is lying on her side, her body trembling with effort. Cole kneels beside her, his hands moving over her belly with a tenderness that makes my chest ache.

“She’s scared,” he says softly, his voice meant more for the horse than for me. “But she’s strong. She’ll be okay.”

I watch in awe as he soothes her, his big hands steady and sure. He murmurs to her as if she understands every word, and maybe she does because her trembling eases under his touch.

“Sadie, grab that towel,” Cole says, nodding toward the supplies Tom has brought in. I move quickly, handing it to him, and he flashes me a quick smile before focusing back on Clover.

Time blurs as the labour progresses. It’s messy and intense, and my heart pounds with every contraction that wracks Clover’s body. I feel useless at first, but Cole guides me, telling me what to do, and I find myself completely immersed in the moment.

When the foal finally slips into the world, wet and glistening, a wave of emotion crashes over me. Cole works quickly, clearing the foal’s airways and rubbing it down with the towel, his movements efficient but gentle. Clover lifts her head, nickering softly as her baby lets out its first tiny cry.

I’m crying before I realize it, the sight too raw and beautiful to contain. Cole glances at me, his face shining with sweat and something deeper—pride, relief, love.

“You okay?” he asks, his voice low.

I nod, wiping at my cheeks. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”

“It’s life,” he says simply. “Messy, beautiful, and worth every damn second.”

As Clover nuzzles her foal, the realization slams into me like a freight train. This isn’t just beautiful—it’s everything. It's not just beautiful—it's grounding. Anchoring. Like the earth beneath my feet has finally found its proper weight.

I glance at Cole, who’s watching mother and baby with that steady, quiet pride.

His broad shoulders are streaked with sweat and dirt, his face worn but glowing with a kind of peace I’ve never known.

It’s in this moment, with the smell of hay and new life in the air, that the lightbulb goes off in my head, blinding and brilliant.

I can’t leave. Not even for a day, a week, or however long it would take to tie up loose ends in the city.

The idea of walking away from this—of walking away from him—makes my chest ache with a desperation that feels like grief.

Why should I go back and be dead for a few months.

What would I even be going back to? Late nights and empty rooms?

Hollow successes that don’t fill the void inside me?

Here, life is messy and complicated, but it’s full. Real. I’ve never felt more alive, more connected. And I’ve never been more certain of what I want.

I want him. This life. This barn filled with warmth and sweat and hope. I want every second of it. Forever. And I don’t want to waste another minute.

Cole turns to me, his eyes softening as they meet mine. “Sadie,” he murmurs, his voice low and rough. “You’re crying again.”

“I just realized something,” I whisper, wiping at my cheeks. “I’m not going back. Not even for a little while.”

His brow furrows, confusion flickering in his gaze. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, I’m staying here,” I say, the words tumbling out like a confession. “With you. For good. No city, no loose ends. Just… this.” My eyes flick to Clover and her foal, then back to him. “Just us.”

The worry in his face melts, replaced by something deep and raw that makes my heart stumble.

Without a word, he pulls me into his arms, holding me so tightly I can feel the wild rhythm of his heart matching mine.

His lips find my temple, his breath warm as he whispers, “You don’t know what you’ve just given me, Sadie. ”

“I think I do,” I murmur, my voice shaky but sure. “Because you’ve given me the same thing.”

Back at the cabin, I pick up my phone and call my boss. It’s the final thread tying me to the city, and it’s time to cut it.

“Sadie,” she answers, her tone clipped. “I assume you’re calling about your return.”

“I’m not coming back,” I say, the words steady and sure.

There’s a beat of silence, and then she scoffs. “Not coming back? You realize the position you’re in, don’t you? This could—”

“Could what?” I interrupt, my voice sharp. “Do you know how miserable I’ve been, working for you, in that place? You’ve never valued me, and frankly, I’m done trying to prove my worth to someone who doesn’t care. I’m done.”

She sputters, but I don’t wait for a response. I end the call and set the phone down, my hands shaking slightly.

Cole is watching me from across the room, a slow grin spreading over his face.

As soon as I hang up, I feel like I’ve shed a thousand pounds of baggage.

The city, my boss, the job that sucked the soul right out of me—it’s all gone.

For the first time, I feel like I can breathe again. Like I can live again.

I turn to Cole, who’s leaning against the counter, watching me with that lopsided grin that always makes my heart skip. His arms are crossed, but there’s a softness in his eyes that I’ve only seen a few times. It’s a look that makes me want to run straight into him.

And I do.

I leap into his arms, wrapping my legs around his waist as I bury my face in his neck. His laugh rumbles through his chest as he catches me easily, his strong hands holding me close.

“All mine, and you are never leaving me. Ever.”

I pull back, just enough to look him in the eyes. “I guess I’m your permanent stable hand now.”

His grin softens into something deeper, more tender, as he cradles my face in his hands. “Permanent, huh?”

“Yeah,” I whisper, my fingers tangling in his hair. “You think you can handle me?”

His forehead rests against mine as he closes his eyes, his breath warm against my lips. “You have no idea how happy that makes me.”

“You saved me,” I whisper, my voice trembling. “You showed me what life could be like, what it should be like.”

“And you made my life whole,” he replies, his voice thick with emotion. “I’ve been waiting for you, Sadie. I didn’t know it, but I’ve been waiting for you.”

He kisses me then, slow and sweet, like he’s savouring every second. My heart feels like it’s going to burst as I hold onto him, knowing that this is it. This is home.

As he carries me toward the bedroom, still wrapped up in each other, I smile against his lips. “Guess I’ll need a pair of new boots.”

He laughs, the sound rich and warm. “And maybe a hat, too. You’re my mountain girl now.”

“Damn right I am,” I say, pulling him in for another kiss.

“Sadie?”

“Yes, Cole…”

“I love you, more than these mountains.”

My heart bursts and overflows hearing those words.

“I love you too, Cole, more than anything in this world.”

And in that moment, everything feels exactly as it should be.

I’m home.