The Mountain Man's Reward Page 4

  When we break apart, our lungs fighting to intake air, he stares down at me with lust-filled eyes.

  For a split second, I am afraid that he might stop. He pulls away and I whimper at the absence of his body on mine. His fingers grip my thighs, pulling them apart, as he slides down my body, his eyes piercing into mine as he breathes me in.

  “So fucking good,” he growls, his voice sounding more animal and human. I shudder, loving that I can do this to him. That I can turn careful, thoughtful nice guy Judd, into this hot, commanding man who needs me and doesn’t try to hide it.

  His mouth falls between my legs, his warm lips, his hot tongue, delving down and sinking into me. I cry out, as his tongue slides inside of me, tasting me, claiming me. My eyes close as my body shudders in pleasure. I force myself to open them back up, to look at the man that I’ve been more than half in love with for years. I don’t know what is going to happen after tonight. I need to commit every moment of us being together to my memory.

  A flash of lightning cracks through the sky, illuminating Judd’s bedroom and throwing a quick beam of light over his naked body. God, he’s beautiful. A work of art that should be on display, but instead is all mine.

  At least for tonight.

  I refuse to think about tomorrow. That will come all too soon.

  I open my legs wider, my feet digging into the soft mattress as I bend my legs, inviting him in deeper, as I relish in his mouth’s delicious assault.

  “Judd,” I hiss, as he slides two fingers deep inside of me, his mouth working against my clit relentlessly. I arch my back, my hips rising up to meet his mouth. His tongue slides down farther, tasting me, sinking into me and then back up as he presses his finger back in.

  He works magic, fucking me harder with his fingers and his tongue. Using his mouth in ways I couldn’t have dreamed, he pulls pleasure straight out of the center of my body, building and building until I explode against him, my hips falling up and down as waves of bliss leave me quivering beneath him.

  He raises his head, his eyes blazing with passion.

  “Judd,” I whisper breathlessly, before his lips crash into mine, and I taste myself on his lips, as his finger thrust back inside of my pussy, sending me over the edge once more.

  He practically pets my pussy, soothing me as I ride out my orgasm. Just as I’m able to open my eyes to look at him, my breathing rocking my entire body, his hand is replaced with the head of his cock and he’s thrusting deep inside of me, stretching me so tight that I cry out.

  Nothing has ever felt so good.

  I pull back to stare at him. His eyes meeting mine as another crack of lightning fills the room, echoing the electricity flowing between us.

  I’ve waited so long for this moment. Imagined every delectable inch of him.

  And it’s nothing like I imagined. It’s so much more. I’ve never felt like this in my life, this connection, this pure and complete submission to him feels monumental.

  Maybe I’m fooling myself. Maybe it’s just wishful thinking but it feels like the two of us coming together like this joins us in ways that will never be broken.

  I belong to him.

  He belongs to me.

  “Cora,” he growls, thrusting so deep inside of me that I can feel him in my womb. “Cora,” he says again, his voice brutal and beautiful all at the same time. He’s staring into my eyes, fucking me so hard that I know walking will be hard to do when all of this is over. “Cora.”

  My name is a mantra said in time with his thrusts, as he fucks me, claiming my body, but also my heart.

  “Judd, please,” I beg, my heart bursting open with so much emotion that I don’t know what to do with it. Judd kisses me again, gently, so gently, as if I’m precious and right now that’s exactly how he makes me feel. As if I’m precious. He’s treating me with care, as if he’s afraid I might break in two.

  The entire time, his hips are moving with expert ease, as he thrusts in and out of me with excruciating slowness. I whimper, lifting my hips, wanting more, needing more, needing the full strength of him.

  I wrap my thighs around his hips, pulling him in deeper. He breaks away, bending his head and pulling my nipple into his mouth. His lips are so hot, so wet, and I moan loudly, my fingers sinking into his soft hair as I pull him closer. He quickens his pace, his hips slamming into me harder and harder, finally giving me what I need.

  What we both need.

  “Yes, Judd, please, harder,” I beg.

  He groans, his cock throbbing and twitching inside of me as he thrusts into me again and again, giving me everything I will ever need. We both cry out in unison, climaxing together. Judd reaches out and grabs my hand, bringing it up between us and threading his fingers with mine as we come.

  I gasp for breath, his movements slowing until he is pressed inside of me, not moving, just holding my hand and staring down at me.

  “Judd,” I whisper, my voice full of awe.

  He kisses me again, his lips gentle and soft as I melt into his arms.

  14

  Judd

  Cora’s copper curls were everywhere when I opened my eyes.

  Her head was on my shoulder, but those curls are in my gaze, spread out on my chest, and I’m pretty sure there were a few locks in my mouth. I push them away as gently as possible, not wanting to wake her up — hell, not wanting her to move.

  We’d spent all night in bed, drowning out the pouring rain with our moans. Damn, I’ve never heard a more beautiful sound. And then, she’d simply just fallen asleep in my arms, just like it was the most natural thing in the world for her to do.

  Cora Lance. Asleep in my arms.

  The woman I’d spent so many nights thinking about, dreaming about…Fuck, so many nights jacking off to. The woman who haunted my nights and had me avoiding her in the bright lights of morning was here in my bed.

  And I didn’t even try to stop it. It felt too good, too natural. It felt like it was meant to be.

  Of course, I knew the Chief wouldn’t see it that way.

  I also knew that by claiming Cora, I’d basically given my professional career here in Thickwood away. I’d thrown it all out the window for one night with Cora.

  And I’d do it all over again if given the chance.

  She’s worth it.

  She’s not opened her eyes since daybreak, so I had no idea if she felt the same way I did. I’d like to think she did, but there’s a chance that last night was just a result of too much whiskey.

  I inhale her sweet scent, cementing it into my memory. There’s a chance Cora will walk away. She’ll go back to her house and leave me here with nothing but my memories to get me through.

  15

  Cora

  I wake up alone in Judd’s bed. The smell of sex still hanging heavy in the air, reminding me of the blissful night we’d spent together.

  Had that really just happened?

  I groan, the effects of the whiskey lingering in my head.

  But my body — oh my God! I can still feel Judd’s hands on me, feel his lips between my legs, feel the hardness of his cock sliding in and out of me.

  I wasn’t exactly a virgin, but I’d never experienced anything like this before either. Everything between us just felt so right.

  I was desperate for him last night. I clung to Judd like I’d never feel this again. Each time he came, I urged him to keep going, to give me more and more, and I did it for one reason. I did it because I was aware that this would never happen again.

  We’d avoided each other for a reason.

  My father will never allow anything more between us. In fact, he must never ever find out about last night. He’d destroy Judd’s career. He’d never forgive me for betraying his trust. He took his job as Chief very seriously and he’d see me making love with Judd as a huge betrayal.

  No, he could never know, and this could never, ever happen again.

  I stretched, relishing the feel of being naked in Judd’s bed one last time. I inhaled, breathin
g in the scent of his sheets with a slow smile.

  At least now, I knew. I knew what it was like to be with the man I’d dreamed of for years. At least I had the memories, I thought, as I pushed my way out of his bed, grabbed the sheet and wrapped it around my body before padding out into the living room.

  I find Judd staring out the window on the phone, which I took as a good sign. It meant that cellphones were working again and while there was still a light rain pelting the windows, at least I’d be able to get home today.

  “Understood, Chief,” Judd was saying into the phone, his back to me. “I’ll let her know.”

  My eyes widen. Surely he wasn’t talking to my father about me. This was supposed to be a secret!

  “Will do, Chief,” he said, after listening for a moment before hanging up.

  He turns around and sees me standing there. I try to read his face, but I can’t.

  “That was my dad?”

  “Yep.”

  “You told him I was here?”

  “Yep,” he said.

  “Are you crazy?” I gasp.

  “What?”

  “Why would you do that? This was supposed to be a secret, Judd!”

  Immediately he looks as if he’s been slapped, and I immediately regret my words.

  “Is that so?” he asks, cocking his head, definitely upset.

  “Well, yeah,” I mutter, feeling bad for hurting him, but irritated that he’d talk to my father without discussing it with me first.

  Judd shakes his head in disgust. “You’re a real piece of work, Cora, you know that?”

  “What does that mean?”

  “Nothing,” he said, shaking his head again. He looks away and my heart sinks.

  “Judd, I didn’t mean —”

  He turned back to me abruptly. “No?”

  “I just…I don’t know! Jeez, I just woke up! I haven’t even had time to think yet, Judd!”

  He closes the distance between us, towering over me, waves of heat rolling off his body, reminding me again of the chemistry between us. An urge to pull him back to bed overwhelms me but I fight it off. His eyes were a mixture of anger and hurt and I have no idea what to do with that.

  “Cora, perhaps instead of flying off the handle, you should listen first.”

  “Fair enough. Talk.”

  He runs his hand through his hair, and I try to pretend that it’s not the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.

  “I called your father to see if he could come and pick you up.”

  “Pick me up? Why? You said you’d take me home —.”

  “Are you going to listen or not?”

  “Sorry,” I mutter, feeling chastised.

  He takes a deep breath. “I asked him to pick you up because we’re stuck here. And as amazing as last night was, I didn’t want to presume that you’d be too keen on spending another night with me.”

  “Why would I —.”

  His eyes widened in frustration and I shut my mouth quickly.

  “Maybe you need to just see for yourself.”

  “See what?” He grabbed my hand and pulled me to the front door, flinging it open. I look out and my mouth falls open.

  The cabin is surrounded in water. His truck is under at least four feet of rushing water. Water is covering everything in sight, stopping just shy of washing over the edge of Judd’s porch.

  “Oh my God!” I cry.

  “Yeah,” Judd agrees from behind me. “The river rose up overnight and we’re basically stuck until it recedes.”

  I twirl around, my eyes wide. “How long will that be?”

  He shrugged. “Depends. Could be a day. Could be a week. It’s okay we’re safe. The rain has been stopping for short periods of a time and the forecast isn’t giving more rain. It’s already receded some, Cora.”

  “A week! Wait. Don’t you have a boat?” I ask, ignoring everything else he said.

  “A boat?” He laughs, pissing me off. “No, I don’t have a boat. I spend all my time at the station and besides, I don’t even have a boat slip or access to the river from here. We’re up on a small cliff, I stay out of the river. It’s just for watching.”

  “This can’t be happening,” I whine. “What about my salon? Is the town flooded, too?”

  “Yeah, but not as bad as here, apparently. I asked your Dad to come get you, but they’re busy rescuing other people that aren’t as safe as you. He asked me to keep you here and keep you safe, and that’s what I’m going to do.”

  “Did you tell him I spent the night?”

  “I did.”

  “And he didn’t freak out?”

  “No, Cora, he didn’t. He respects me. He trusts me. I explained what happened with your car and he believed me. I didn’t tell him the part about how I was a total creep and took complete advantage of his daughter. I figured I’d save that part so he can just kill me immediately.”

  “He’s not going to kill you,” I protest.

  He snorts, and just stares at me.

  “Yeah, you’re right. He’s going to kill us both,” I agree.

  He nods and walks back inside. I follow him, shuffling along in my sheet. “Look, Judd, he doesn’t have to know, okay? It’s not going to happen again anyway. It was just a one night thing. It’s over. It’s all good. We’ll just keep it between us, and nobody will get hurt.”

  He looks at me like I’d just killed his puppy.

  “Over, huh? Just like that?” he asks, and I can’t look at his eyes. I don’t want to see what might be there.

  “Judd—”

  “Fine. Whatever you say, Cora, whatever you say…”

  He walks into his bedroom and goes into the bathroom, shutting the door, leaving my stupid words echoing in my head like a neon sign.

  It’s over, it’s over, it’s over…

  16

  Judd

  For fuck’s sake.

  I was acting like a rejected little girl.

  Of course, she’d think it was just a one night thing. She hadn’t wanted it to happen at all. Not at first, at least. I mean, once I kissed her, it was apparent she really wanted it just as much as I did. She’d been pissed about having to come home with me. And I was too. But dammit, once my lips met hers, I was fucking hooked, and I knew it.

  My guess is she knew it, too.

  I take a quick shower, ignoring the sting of the water hitting the shallow wounds she’d etched into my back last night. She’d gotten under my skin in more ways than one and I know that I’m doomed now.

  Hell, I thought about her all the time before. Now, I know that she will be nonstop on my mind for the rest of my life. At least I’d be put out of my misery sooner rather than later. Because Chief Lance will kill me joyfully.

  I dry off and pull on a pair of Levi’s, before walking out of the bedroom.

  Cora’s changed back into my clothes, the very ones I’d joyfully pulled off of her hours ago. Her curls dance wildly around her beautiful face, her eyes swollen from lack of sleep, and her pink lips swollen from the thousands of kisses we’d shared last night.

  I long to pull her into my arms and kiss her again, but her words hang in the air between us like a wall.

  This is what I wanted to avoid.

  As amazing as last night was, this distance between us now, is excruciating. Her eyes are filled with confusion as I close the physical distance between us.

  She looks up at me, a twinge of defiance in her eyes.

  “We both agreed your old man is going to murder me, right?”

  “If we tell him, yeah.”

  “And you don’t want anyone to know?”

  “I didn’t mean to sound so harsh,” she replied, her eyes darkening. “I meant my dad. Because you have a lot to lose, you know. He’s not going to disown me, but he’ll definitely fire you. It’s best nobody knows.”

  “Right,” I murmur, running my hand through my hair, as I contemplate my next move. “You’re right.”

  “I’m glad we both agree,” she said. �
��Now, listen, I’m starving. What have you got to eat in this place besides whiskey?”

  Dammit. I’d been a terrible host and I’d taken such poor care of her so far. It’s true what I’d said about the Chief — he does trust me, and I’ve betrayed that trust so badly, in so many ways, already.

  The least I could do is feed my woman… no feed Cora…not mine.

  “I’ll make breakfast,” I breathe. “If this flood doesn’t recede soon, though, we’re going to have to get real creative about what we’re eating.”

  She looks over at me with a smirk on her face. “I bet we could figure something out.”

  “That’s not what I meant, Cora, and if you don’t want me to ignore your growling stomach and take you right back to bed right now, you’ll refrain from flirting with me.”

  “Well, if you want me to stop flirting with you, maybe you should put on a shirt,” she shoots back.

  I laugh. “Fair enough.”

  She grins before turning away.

  “I’m going to take a shower, if that’s all right?” she asks over her shoulder.

  “Sure baby,” I murmur, the endearment slipping without thought. I’m too busy ignoring the swelling in my jeans as I watch her sashay into my bedroom. The urge to follow her is stronger than ever and I have no fucking clue how I’m going to make it another hour without devouring her all over again.

  17

  Cora

  The shower sadly washes all remnants of Judd from my skin, but it does nothing to erase the memories and flashbacks that invade my mind the rest of the day. We ate eggs and bacon for breakfast, drank coffee at his small kitchen table, all while doing our best to make small talk with each other. I was struggling trying to forget the fact that I knew that his cock felt like absolute heaven inside of me.

  It’s not working, because it has quickly become my favorite tidbit of knowledge. So much so, that I find myself thinking about it obsessively. I think about the velvety skin, so very soft and yet so very hard, all at the same time. I remember the way it twitches under my fingertips, the way it moves towards me like it’s magically drawn to me, the way it feels sliding between my lips and under my twirling tongue.