Branded By The Mountain Man (Thickwood CO)

“What are you saying? You want me to stay here longer?” she asks, and I’d like to say that I see hope on her face, but I can’t be sure.

“Would that be so bad?” I grumble, feeling put on the spot.

“I’m going to go put on my clothes for when we go to my van,” she says, refusing to answer my question. She walks away and I stand there and watch her. I watch her walking away and it scares the fuck out of me. Once years ago, right after my accident, I had a woman walk away and I thought that hurt. Eventually, I figured out that my pride was more hurt than anything. But watching Ophelia walk away, feels like I’m being gutted. I didn’t try to stop Heather when she left. Fuck, if I’m honest, by the end, I was glad she was gone. I got tired of the pity I saw on her face.

The thought of Ophelia leaving is unacceptable.

I can’t let it happen. I drop my axe and follow her into the house. I kick off my boots—only because she bitched at me for tracking up her mopped kitchen yesterday—another sign she thinks of this place as home. I need to remind her of that.

Then, I walk into the bedroom. The door is closed, but I ignore it. We need to have this out before it’s too late.

When I open the door, her soft gasp stops me from advancing. She’s standing there in a pale blue bra and matching bottoms. I’ve seen her naked when she was sick of course, but this is different and immediately my dick reacts—but then again, I stay hard with Ophelia nearby. Sleeping with her every night without claiming her is a sweet kind of hell that has permanently left my balls blue.

“Braden,” she cries in shock.

“I can’t let you leave, Sunshine. I need you too damn much,” I admit. “If you can honestly tell me that you don’t want me? That you don’t feel this connection we have? Then I’ll let you go. It will kill me, but I’d do it, for you. But if somewhere inside that gorgeous brain of yours, you recognize that what we have between us is special and deserves exploring, then quit worrying about anything and take a chance on me. I promise you won’t regret it. I’ll bust my ass to make sure of that.”

“Braden, I’m not sure.”

“Is it the scars? Does the way I look turn you off?”

“Will you stop that! Have I ever given you that impression? I touch you all the time. Do you think I’d do that if I didn’t want to? Heck, even need to?”

“Then, give in to this, Ophelia. Let’s try to see what we have between us and how good it could be.”

“How do I do that?” she asks.

“Start by dropping those hands and taking that bra off, honey.”

The sharp intake of breath she takes, is audible as I wait for her decision. There is desire in her eyes. I know she wants me, but maybe I’m pushing or too much, too soon. I’m about to back down, to tell her we can go slower, but before I can, she speaks.

“Braden.” My name comes out husky and breathless on her lips and as our gazes lock she begins undressing.

It feels as if it’s all happening in slow motion. I drink her in as her fingers slip inside the seam of her panties and she pushes them down over her hips and her long legs, until she finally steps out of them. I walk closer, my gaze taking in her smooth, pale skin, the little freckles painting a path that I can’t wait to follow with my tongue.

“Fuck, baby,” I groan.

I don’t have the words to express how beautiful she is right now. Hell, I’m not sure anyone could. She belongs to me and I’m going to prove that to her.

My gaze drops down to the small, neatly trimmed patch of curls, between her legs. It’s pale strawberry perfection and I can’t wait to rub my fingers against it, feel the wetness of her desire, thrusting my fingers between those lips and stretching her pussy, readying her for me.

I tear off my shirt, needing to be naked, because I can’t wait another minute longer. I quickly shed my clothes, thankful as hell that I didn’t bother with underwear today.

My need to be inside Ophelia is nothing like I’ve ever experienced before. This woman owns me. I watch as she skates a path over her body starting at her firm breasts, she pinches and pulls at her nipples, teasing me, and making them even harder than they were.

“Get on the bed, Sunshine,” I order. “Get on the bed and spread those pretty legs for me.” My voice is hoarse, full of hunger. I take my cock in my hand, stroking it. I’m so hard that it’s almost painful. Ophelia is watching my hand move up and down on my shaft, her little tongue peeking out to lick her lips. God, I’m liable to explode the minute I get inside of her. I’ve never been this turned on in my life. “See something you want, honey?”