Man of the Mountain

I clear my throat, taking Hope from her as she clears the table. “I do the same as you, to be honest. More fishing than cooking though. My life is simple — that’s how I want it.”

She nods slowly. “And you’ve never been married… never thought about settling down?”

Clenching my jaw, I consider how to phrase this. “I’ve never met a woman who made me want to change my world.”

“Right,” Katie says with a wry smile. “I get that. You have your own slice of paradise out here — why share it?”

I want to say I would share it with you. Turn my world upside down for you — but we just fucking met. I don’t want to scare her away. And I know my words would have her running. I want you. All of you. Forever.

She covers her mouth as a yawn takes over, and I tell her I will make up the bed with fresh sheets. “I’ll take the couch,” I say.

“Unless…” She lowers her chin. Lifts her eyes.

I step toward her. Hope is asleep in my arms. “Unless you’re scared of being lonely in that room all by yourself?”

She licks her lips, fighting a smile. “Yes. That’s it. I was thinking about being lonely.”

I chuckle. “Do you think Hope will stay sleeping for a while?”

Katie nods. “Let’s bring the dresser drawer into the bedroom. But first, can I please put a bandage on that gash? I want it to heal as quickly as possible.”

After Katie uses the butterfly closures on my wound, she changes Hope for bed. I move the drawer into the bedroom and watch as Katie takes her time swaddling Hope. Once the little one’s eyes close and she is sound asleep, Katie nestles her in the makeshift bed. “I wonder what my boss will think about us staying here.”

“I’m guessing she will think you did what you had to do.”

“There is going to be an investigation to try and find Hope’s birthmother.” Katie sits on the edge of the bed and I turn off the overhead light, and then turn on a lamp beside the bed before sitting beside her. “It worries me,” Katie says in a whisper. “I wish… I wish I could guarantee she would be in good hands until…”

“Don’t you have faith in the foster parents you work with?”

Katie nods, turning to face me, the soft glow of the lamplight illuminating her face in the most beautiful way. “I do. It’s just… Hope is different. I’m not supposed to become invested too deeply with my clients… but a few hours with her and I feel like she’s…”

“Like she’s what?” I ask, tucking a strand of hair behind Katie’s ear.

“Like she’s mine.” Her voice cracks and she rests a hand on my chest.

My heart tightens. “I feel the same way. Like I’d do anything to protect her. Like it’s my duty.”

“I wish we knew how this will all unfold,” she says.

“We don’t have all those answers, but we do know how this night will unfold,” I tell her, drawing her into my arms. She exhales a breath I didn’t realize she’d been holding.

“Take me, Kutter,” she whimpers. “Make me yours.”

Katie

Kutter pulls me into his arms, kissing me deeply, picking up where we left off in the bathroom. He is so masculine, so in charge, and for the first time in forever, I feel like I can let down my guard, let him in. He is a man I just met, yet I feel like I can trust him with my heart. My soul. My everything.

We undress quickly, eager for more, and I take him in again — in all his naked glory. My pussy warms as I check him out. His cock is big, so thick, his torso a ripped ladder of abs, his arms corded with muscles. Everything about him turns me on.

And as I slip off my panties, as he sees all of me, his eyes darken with a hunger I’ve never seen in my life. Like he wants to consume me, head to toe. A heat rises from my core because that is all I want too.

I’m not nervous as he joins me in the bed, as his finger presses against my lips, telling me we need to be quiet so as to not wake Hope. I nod, understanding, wanting to be as respectful as possible.

He leans over me, his cock against my belly, his eyes locked on mine. I run a finger over the bandage on his forehead. “You risked your life for Hope. You’re a hero. My hero.”

“And I’m also your first time.” He smiles down at me, running his hand over my curves. His cabin is warm and cozy, and even though the storm rages outside, in here we are in a little cocoon. I want to stay here, in this moment, forever.