Page 5 of Single Mom’s Mountain Men (Mountain Men Reverse Harem #1)

“She kept kicking the back of the car seat and I told her to stop,” Katie says, looking close to tears herself. “But she wouldn't stop and then I told her I wouldn't give her any more of my candy and she started crying.”

I sigh. I know Maddie is only acting out because she’s exhausted and Katie seems at the edge too.

“Okay, Okay, stop that hollering,” I say as gently as I can, and try to pull my daughter up out of her seat, but she continues screaming.

"I wanna go home!"

“Oh baby.” Her cries are driving me closer and closer to the edge too. I’m drained and I don’t know how to comfort her. Rocking her doesn't work and neither does whispering desperate promises into her ear.

I feel like a failure of a mother. Her cries echo so deeply that I start getting emotional. I'm getting close to tears when someone comes up and plucks her right out of my arms.

I immediately spin around to snatch her back, but he turns away from me, gently bobbing the screaming Maddie up and down. Indignation and fear flush through me. He took my daughter. He can’t just do that…

Why did he do that?

He doesn't seem bothered by her wailing. His face has that same stable expression, and shock suppresses my indignation for a few seconds.

What’s he doing with her?

He seems to be… humming?

He’s bouncing her up and down in his arms and humming a tune that I’ve never heard before.

It sounds restful though, and strangely soothing.

After finding herself unable to extract herself from his arms, Maddie finally gives up and rests her head on his shoulders, hiccupping, while tears flow from her eyes.

He rocks her for a few more seconds, still humming, and her eyes start to slide shut.

"How did you do that?" I blurt out, shocked at how quickly he got her to go under.

"I have a little brother. He likes to throw tantrums too."

"Oh." I never thought one of the Norris brothers would be a kid, but I guess it would be good for the girls to have someone to play with.

Charlie eyes me out of the corner of his eyes. “We should get inside, get them out of the heat.”

I nod and then take Katie into my arms too, holding her. “I’m sorry baby,” I say and kiss her on the head. "You've been so good."

“It's okay, Mommy,” she responds. "I know you're doing your best."

My heart melts. My little warrior. She tries so hard to be strong for me. I kiss her again and we follow Charlie, who leads us down a dirt path to a smaller wooden cottage right behind the first lodge.

We climb the steps, and Charlie pushes open the door to reveal a suite room.

It looks like a typical log cabin getaway, but much better decked out with a kitchen area, a living room with a flat-screen TV, and a huge bathroom with a jacuzzi that I can just see through the open bathroom door. I nearly drool when I see it.

Charlie must have seen the expression on my face, because he says, "Y'all want to freshen up. I'll come by later and we can discuss the payment."

We should probably discuss it now, but I truly shouldn't be having money conversations in my current mental state. Plus, the temptation to try out that bathtub is proving just too strong.

"Alright," I say. "Thank you. For everything."

Charlie nods and gently lays the dozing Maddie onto the bed. Then he rubs his palm against his jeans and walks out, shutting the door behind him.

That's when I notice the key in the keyhole. I go over and turn it, locking the door and leaving the key in the lock.

Maddie is already curled up in bed, her eyes closing and Katie climbs in and curls up next to her.

I briefly debate whether to sleep too, but for now, getting nice and clean is a priority.

I should probably make it quick, but I can't resist playing with the dials as I run hot water into the bath. I leave the bathroom door open so I can keep an eye on my girls as I take off my clothes and finally sink in.

I moan as I do.

Oh God, that feels divine.

I reach for an attractive-looking liquid dispenser labelled Jamaican Summer Heaven, coconut-scented moisturizing bodywash for dry skin, pump a little out onto my finger and give it a sniff. Divine! I activate the pump a little more and start to slide my hands over my body, rubbing the soap in.

After the first wash, I let the water drain and then fill it again, to rinse up. This time, I take my time washing the soap off my body.

And perhaps it’s the exhaustion but my hand lingers as I wash over the folds of my pussy. Almost immediately, an image of Charlie pops into my head again. I picture him as he looks, leaning against the car. I see him carrying my daughter soothing her .

With a resigned moan, I slide my fingers through the folds of my labia, pressing hard against my clit.

Desire spikes through my body like a jolt of electricity.

It's been so long, so long since I've done this, felt like this.

I brush against my clit biting my lip as I feel the lust unfurl in my body.

With my other hand, I grip my breast, imagining that it's Charlie's hand plucking my nipples until they're aching and Lust vibrates through me, begging to be satiated.

I peek into the bedroom, making sure both my girls are fast asleep before allowing my eyes to slide close.

"Charlie," I murmur as his fingers move into my wet center, stroking slowly, teasing me to the edge.

My toes curl as he presses the button inside me and I bite my lips to prevent myself from moaning.

I moan anyway, as his hand continues to brush my nipples, before pinching them to a pair of pained points.

I gasp as he does it, and I squeeze my legs together against his hand as it goes lower again.

"No. Open up for me darling."

I imagine it in his deep drawl, and obey, spreading my legs wide open so he can push his fingers in deeper, searching for that spot again.

And he watches me with that low-lidded gaze as he leans down, about to catch my nipples between his teeth.

Yes, taste me. Bite me. Make me ache.

A sudden knock on the door shatters the image and has me scrambling for sanity.