Page 10 of The Mountain Man’s Curvy Obsession (Mountain Man Sanctuary #15)
Chapter eight
We made it into the bedroom, but I’m not sure when or how it happened because last night is a blur.
The sun is streaming in through the window, casting a spell over the room with a surreal, otherworldly light, like we’re floating in a golden bubble.
This is the other side of spring in Montana.
The rain is gone, and the sky is crystal clear, bright blue.
Slade’s arms are wrapped around me. The warmth of him, as his chest rises and falls against my back, anchors me to reality, to right now, a morning I’ll never forget.
I smile with my cheek against the cool pillow, afraid to shift even an inch and wake him.
The mattress creaks, and his lips brush my ear, soft and deliberate, sending a shiver down my spine.
“Good morning,” he whispers in a low rumble, planting a tender kiss on my shoulder. Heat washes over me as I turn just enough to catch the spark in his sexy brown eyes.
“You’re up.”
“You could say that,” he teases, pressing his erection against my butt cheek.
I roll over, rustling the sheets, to face my mountain man.
His dark hair’s a mess, sticking up wildly, and there’s more stubble than usual, framing that beautiful mouth I never quite stopped loving.
He narrows his focus on me. “Are you sore? How do you feel?”
“Nope. I feel great. I must’ve picked the perfect lover for my first time.”
Slade shakes his head slowly, softly saying, “I can’t believe how lucky I am.”
“So, did I finally tame you last night?” I gently trace the hard line of his collarbone with my fingers. He laughs, a deep, rolling sound that vibrates through the bed.
“You don’t want me tame,” he says, with a mischievous grin. “Not when we’ve just started getting wild. And there’s a lot more where that came from.”
“And I can’t wait for you to show me your wild ways.” I tease, scooting closer and locking on to his chocolate stare. “So, I have a question.”
He raises his dark brow. “Go ahead. Hit me with it.”
“Why do you think we broke up? I mean, besides the constant bickering and arguing. Why did we do that?”
Slade lets out a heavy sigh. The bed creaks as he flops back onto the pillow and tucks his arm behind his head. I catch the faint scent of his intoxicating skin—cedarwood, pine? “The timing was probably wrong,” he says, staring up at the ceiling. “I don’t think I was ready for you.”
“Really?” My heart starts singing. “Hold on, let me get situated for this.” I playfully swing a leg over him and straddle his hips. With my hands pressed on his muscular, gorgeous chest, I peer down. “Tell me more, handsome.”
Slade reaches up, and gently traces the curve of my jawline with his finger, slow and deliberate, like he’s memorizing me.
“I think I might’ve been a young twenty-five-year-old,” he explains in a quiet, thoughtful voice.
“I was taking everything you said as interference and meddling, when you were actually looking out for my best interests. Thinking back, I’m not convinced you ever did or said anything to purposely hurt me. ”
The revelation leaves me speechless for a second. “You’re right,” I whisper. “And I never will.”
He shifts, his hands settling on my hips, thumbs brushing the bare skin just above the sheet.
“And I dated quite a bit after you.” I hope he isn’t going to fill me in on all the details because I sure don’t want to hear about Slade being with any other woman.
His eyes lock on mine, steady and unguarded.
“Now I realize how incredible you are. There are a lot of stupid, selfish women out there, and you’re not one of them.
You were the only woman who truly cared about my future, or whether I was headed in the wrong direction—like with that damn carwash business plan. ”
“No one up here on the mountain even has a car, or even a garage for that matter.” I shrug, chuckling under my breath. “I did manage to talk you out of it, though. And look at the successful company you and your brothers have built. You almost gave up.”
“Exactly.” He grins, but it softens into something more serious. “I took every disagreement the wrong way. I wasn’t thinking about the big picture, just you stopping me from getting what I wanted. Like I said, I was an idiot.”
I study him for a moment. “You weren’t. Stubborn and thick-headed, for sure.” I poke his chest lightly, and he catches my hand, and laces his fingers through mine. “But you were awfully sweet then, too. And so extremely patient with me.”
“About that.” His thumb strokes the back of my hand. “Are you upset about ruining your plan last night?”
I squint down at him, with my nose wrinkling, trying to figure out what he’s saying. “Huh?”
“You know,” his voice drops to a teasing tone. “You wanted to wait until you were married before you lost your virginity, because you were saving yourself for your husband.”
“Oh, that.” I let out a light, easy chuckle, and lean down so my lips are hovering just above his. “I feel totally different about it. We should’ve done what we did last night five years ago. Think of all the practice we could’ve had by now.”
“Now you’re talking.” His grin is all trouble as he surges up to kiss me, his lips firm and warm, stealing my breath.
Before I can react, he scoops me in his arms, the mattress gives a soft squeak and he rolls us over.
Now he’s above me with his forearms braced on either side of my head.
His eyes spark with something fierce and tender.
“You know, in a way, you didn’t break your rule. We’re still technically under that one-month contract to marry each other, and I believe we should follow through.”
I blink up at him, resting my hands on his arms to steady me. “You mean, stay together, for how long? How many days do we have left of the month?”
“About twenty, but that’s not what I’m talking about. I mean, I think we should just go ahead and do it.”
My heart is pounding so fast and hard, I hear it thudding in my ears. But I’m not sure I understand him, and I don’t want to get my hopes up. “What exactly do you mean by it ? We should do what, exactly?”
“Everything. Rings, engagement, wedding. All of it .” His voice is steady, and I’m wondering if he’s been thinking about this for a while. “Let’s get married.”
I gape up at him, feeling my having a conniption. “Are you kidding me? Just like that?”
He leans closer, his nose brushing mine, his breath warm against my lips. “Fate gave us a second chance, Eva, and now I know without a doubt, I love you. I’m not even sure I can live without you. I won’t take the chance of losing you again.”
Slade’s hand cups my cheek, and as he kisses me slow and deep, the room seems to glow brighter. I know—right here, in this perfect moment—I’m in love. I’ve found the one who’s been in my heart forever, and I’m not letting him go either.