Ruthless Mountain Man

by Jenika Snow

  Rocking back and forth, I wrap my legs around his hips and match him thrust for thrust until his entire body tightens and we’re both screaming out each other’s names.

  Feeling Luke come inside me creates a bond I’ve never felt. The way he fucked me like his life depended on it to the way he cherished every part of me is something I’ve never experienced before—one I’ll never forget.

  “You’re mine now, Kylie,” he reminds me, and I smile at the thought because there’s no one else’s I want to be.

  14

  LUKE

  The storm will be ending any day, and the very thought of Kylie leaving doesn’t sit well with me. She’s gotten under my skin, twisted me all up, and I want her here always. It’s ludicrous, fucking insane to think that after only a handful of days of sharing the same space she’s affected me this much.

  But she has.

  I scrub the towel over my damp hair and toss it in the hamper off to the side. The bathroom is steamy from my recent shower, the mirror foggy. I run my hand over the glass and clear off a swatch to look at my reflection. I haven’t shaved since the storm hit and Kylie came over, and the scruff covering my cheeks and jaw was making me look like a real damn mountain man. I contemplate shaving, but say fuck it and finish getting ready for the morning.

  Once my jeans are on, and I open the bathroom door, I’m instantly assaulted with the scent of Kylie. That warm vanilla aroma has my dick hardening something fierce.

  I look at the bed, her body small compared to the king-sized mattress. She’s on her belly, her ass round and fucking perfect under the sheet. Her hair is a wild mess around my pillows, the sheet pooled low on the small of her back. I walk closer, my dick pushing against my jeans, the zipper digging into my shaft.

  “Fuck, Kylie,” I say low, needing her like a fucking fiend.

  She moans softly and rolls onto her back, her breasts bared to the chilly morning air. Her nipples harden and my mouth waters.

  “Luke,” she says in a sexually-laced moan. My dick jerks in appreciation, hardening until it’s so damn painful I have to reach down and stroke the bastard through the denim to ease the ache. Fuck, I could take her right now hard and fast like I hadn’t done just that all last night.

  “Baby, you can’t say my name like that or I’ll have no choice but to be buried balls deep inside of you again until you’re screaming my name.”

  She’s awake now, her pretty blue eyes still looking drowsy, needing for me.

  “That right?” she asks softly.

  She’s testing my restraint.

  “Kylie, you’re playing with fire.”

  She smirks, causing my balls to draw up tight. Fuck, I want to fill her up real good again.

  “Maybe I want to get burned.” She lifts an eyebrow in challenge.

  I don’t say anything, just make this low sound in the back of my throat because she’s testing every ounce of my willpower right now.

  “Why don’t you take off the jeans and show me how ready you are for me?” she taunts, the corner of her lips tilting up as she waggles her brows.

  Her words have me growling out low like a fucking animal. I take off my jeans, toss them aside, and pull the sheet from her body. The material glides off her legs like warmed butter melting away. I climb on top of her, push her thighs apart and align myself right at her sweet pussy. Staring into her eyes, I thrust in deep, both of us groaning. Her pussy clenches around my dick, squeezing the hell out of it. I already know I won’t last.

  I really start thrusting, in and out, fast and hard. Her pussy is like a vice around my cock, milking me like she’s fucking thirsty for my cum. And then I fell her body tighten underneath me…around me. I get off deep and long, filling her sweet little body up with my seed. I make her take it all. Only when she relaxes on the bed, her body sated, I pull out. I keep her legs spread wide and watch as my cum slips from her pink, swollen pussy.

  “I want a wet spot under you, princess. I want the visual of the hardcore fucking we did to cover my sheets.” I look into her eyes and see her pupils dilated. “I meant when I said; you’re mine now.” She doesn’t respond, but she doesn’t need to. I can see that realization in the way she looks at me.

  I lift my hand and smooth my thumb along her bottom lip, forcing the digit inside the wet depths of her mouth.

  I can’t help myself. I lean down and press my lips to hers, sweet and soft, not hard or demanding like how I just fucked her. When I pull back her eyes are still closed, her mouth slightly open. “Look at me,” I demand in a deep, husky voice. I wait until she opens her eyes. “We’re like oil and water most days, yet there’s nothing more I want than you to stay in this bed with me, to let me memorize every inch of you, to make sure you know exactly who you belong to.

  “Luke,” she says softly but doesn’t continue.

  “There’s nothing more I need then for you to know that you’re mine.” I hear her breath hitch and wonder if she’s going to respond. “Your dogs drive me insane, and you bring chaos into my life, but I’d deal with all the bullshit tenfold to have you with me. I’d give up my solitude and isolation if I knew you’d be mine irrevocably.” When she doesn’t say anything for long seconds, I force myself to move back and give her some space.

  She pushes herself up and rests against the headboard, pulling the sheet up to cover her bare breasts.

  “Say something, Kylie. Anything.” She averts her gaze for a second, and I can see her throat moving as she swallows. And when she looks back at me, my heart beats painfully against my ribs.

  “I want that, Luke. I want to be yours.”

  I can’t stop the grin that spreads across my face. Without thinking, I stand, pull the sheet from her, and lift her off the bed and into my arms. I shift her, so her curvy little body is draped over my shoulder, her delectable ass right by my face. I give her lush, perfect mound a spank and love the little gasp of pleasure that comes from her.

  “What are you doing?” she asks breathlessly.

  I don’t answer as I stride back into the bathroom.

  “You just showered,” she says with a laugh lacing her voice.

  “Doesn’t matter,” I grunt out as I set her on her feet and turn to crank the shower on once more. “I haven’t showered with you.” It’s her laughing that echoes in my head as I get undressed, lift her into my arms, and take us back under the spray.

  I’m not sure where this puts us, or what the future holds, but I know what I want, and that’s the woman in my arms.

  15

  KYLIE

  After Luke and I got dirty and then thoroughly cleaned, I throw my wet hair up into a messy bun and pull on one of his button-down shirts. There’s only a few in his closet, so I figure he doesn’t wear them much anyway.

  “I’m going to let Kozmo and Rosie out,” I call out before heading into the kitchen. The dogs are on my feet in seconds, whimpering to go. “Sorry guys.” I chuckle, feeling my cheeks heat at the thought of what Luke and I have been doing the last twelve hours or so. I’m pleasantly sore between my thighs, another reminder of exactly what Luke and I have been doing. Even though they have no clue, I can’t help the butterflies swarming in my belly at the realization of what all of this now means.

  “C’mon,” I say, pulling the door hard against the wind. It’s a complete whiteout, the wind blowing the snow off the roof and trees. Not to mention it’s been snowing and sleeting nonstop. Large icicles hang off the gutters and tree branches. It’s going to take days, if not weeks for the power to come back. The area Luke shoveled out has been snowed over, and Rosie is hesitant to walk out. “Shit.” I pinch my lips together, thinking of how I’m going to convince her to go out there.

  I walk to the dryer and pull out my one pair of black leggings and slip them on. Next, I put on my boots, jacket, and hat. The only way Rosie is going to go out in that deep snow is if I take her myself. Once I’m bundled up, I pick Rosie up and clip the leash to her collar. I’m not worried about her running off on me
more than losing her in the snow.

  “Okay, let’s go. You can’t hold it in that long,” I remind her as if she can understand me. Rosie is much smaller and older than Kozmo and usually needs to go out more often than him.

  Walking outside, I watch as Kozmo runs around from one side to the other, completely loving the cold and snow, bouncing through the mounds and snowdrifts. It doesn’t even faze him, which is great normally but then I usually struggle to get him to come back inside.

  “Alright, Rosie.” I begin stomping my feet on a patch of snow to flatten it for her as best as I can. All she needs is a little room to go potty and then I can bring her back in. “This should be good enough.”

  Setting her down next to my feet, I immediately feel bad as I watch her shiver and look up at me with these pleading eyes. “The sooner you do your business, the sooner we can go back inside by the fire.” I rock back and forth on my heels, trying to stay warm as I wait for her, when a big gush of wind mixed with snow and sleet breezes through and knocks me right over.

  “Argh!” I fall back into a snowbank that Luke had formed earlier when he dug out the spot for the dogs. The cold hits me like a ton of bricks, and I immediately try fighting my way out of it. The wind blows more snow, and I can’t see a damn thing.

  “Rosie! Kozmo!” I call out, worried they got blown over too. “Luke!” I scream though I doubt he can hear me all the way out here.

  I brush off my face and inhale sharply at how cold my hands are. I didn’t put gloves on because I figured I’d be out and in within minutes. The wind picking up and continuously blowing isn’t something I accounted for. It was a whiteout before I came outside, but now I can’t see a damn thing—not even a few inches in front of me.

  Once I get back on my feet and shake off the snow, I listen for any movement of the dogs. I call them again, hoping they’ll run in my direction but all I hear is the whistling of the snow.

  “Fuck, fuck, fuck!” I groan loudly, trying to walk through the snowdrifts but the wind is so strong, I have to keep my head down. I have no idea if I’m walking toward the cabin or away from it. “Rosie! Kozmo! Come here!” I squint, trying to see through the blowing snow, but there’s no use with how cloudy it is.

  “Kylie!” I hear Luke yell from behind me so now I know I’m going farther away from the cabin.

  “Over here!” I turn around and walk toward him, hoping I don’t have far to go.

  “Keep talking so I can find you.”

  “Okay. I fell from the wind, and I lost Rosie and Kozmo. Once I stood up, I couldn’t see or hear them, and now I’m afraid they’re lost out there somewhere. We have to go look for them.” I’m on the verge of crying as I think about my dogs out here. Kozmo is tougher, actually enjoys this weather, but Rosie isn’t equipped for this shit. She can’t handle being out here for long.

  “There’s no visibility, we’ll have to wait,” he shouts, but it sounds much closer this time.

  “I can’t leave them out here!” I’m crying now just thinking about having to wait to look for them, big fat fucking tears that will probably freeze to my face.

  Luke doesn’t respond because the next second he’s wrapping his arms around me and pulling me up. “Jesus, you’re freezing.” I feel his lips on my nose.

  “I should’ve bundled up more, but I didn’t plan on being out here this long,” I explain, feeling guilty that he had to come out in this wind. I try to keep the quiver out of my voice and force myself to stop crying. The last thing I need is for him to see me breaking down. He grabs my ice cold hand and leads us back to the cabin. The moment my face hits the warmth, I sigh in relief, but it’s short lived as I think about my dogs out there helpless.

  “I thought you were just letting them go out,” he says, shutting the door behind us and stomping his snow-covered boots on the rug.

  “I was, but then I saw the snow drifted over the spot you shoveled, and Rosie couldn’t go out there by herself. So, I carried her outside and stomped down a flat spot, and that’s when the wind picked up and knocked me over. Kozmo was barking, and I think Rosie followed him. I’ve been calling them, but I haven’t heard them in at least ten minutes. I’m worried they’re lost out there.” The expression on his face tells me he can see how panicked I really am, despite me trying to keep myself together. But those dogs are everything to me. They’re family.

  Luke doesn’t respond, and by the way he won’t look at me, I know it’s because he’s thinking the same thing. He reaches for my coat and pulls it off me then shakes it off until the snow is now droplets of water. He grabs my hat and boots next until I’m left in my leggings and sweater.

  “C’mon, we need to get you into the bath and warm up,” he says, reaching for my hand but I pull it back before he can.

  “We can’t leave them out there to freeze to death, Luke,” I cry. “They aren’t familiar with the area to find their way back.” He pinches his lips together, taking my hand and pulling me with him as he walks to the bathroom. “Luke!” I stand firm, planting my feet on the floor. “An animal could get them if the cold doesn’t first.” I don’t hide the fear in my tone because honestly, I’m scared to death that they’re outside alone in this weather right now.

  He turns and faces me, his gaze on mine as he cups my cheek. “There’s a wind advisory for the next twenty-four hours. It’s not going to die down anytime soon.”

  “They can’t survive out there that long!” I gasp.

  “I know.”

  Before I can control it, I’m on my knees with my hands over my face, sobbing, not even bothering to try and keep it together anymore. There’s no point when it’s looking hopeless. “Rosie and Kozmo are all that I had for so long. They kept me company and even more—they’re my family. I can’t imagine how scared and cold they are out there while I’m in here.”

  “Kylie,” Luke says my name so softly, I almost don’t hear it between my cries. “Please go take a bath and warm up. I’ll find Kozmo and Rosie.”

  16

  LUKE

  I leave Kylie in the bathroom, the tub filling up, and her sobbing still ringing in my head. I hate the fact that she broke down, her fear and worry over the dogs crippling her. I would do anything to have her stop crying, to bring back the happy—sassy as fuck—woman I’m falling for.

  The very sight of her in tears breaks my heart, having everything inside of me wanting to make that pain go away for her and have that smile cover her face once more.

  Shoving my feet into my boots, I grab my jacket, hat, and gloves and brace myself as I wrap my hand around the doorknob. When I pull it open wind, ice, and snow slam into me, taking my breath away for a moment. I step outside and shut the door behind me, stealing myself as the weather whips around me, trying to knock me down. I can’t see anything, not with the whiteout conditions, but I’m not going to give up until I bring Rosie and Kozmo home to Kylie.

  I cup my hands around my mouth and shout out for the dogs. “Kozmo!” I wait a second and listen for any barking. “Rosie!” Again, I do the same, not hearing anything but the wind whistling and the weather saying a big “fuck you.” The trees sway back and forth as if Mother Nature is having a goddamn fit.

  Putting the hood of my jacket on, I make my way off the porch and into the snow-covered path I made earlier. It’s a bitch wading through it, my leg muscles protesting as I push onward. I call out for the dogs again, not hearing them but not giving up. I circle around the side of the house, continuing to shout, hoping that they’ll hear my voice. I head toward the back of the house and stay there a minute, my back toward the wind, my focus scanning the perimeter even though I can’t see shit. I’m hoping to see splashes of dark against the white backdrop.

  “Where the fuck are you two?” I mutter under my breath and continue to the other side of the house. They couldn’t have gotten far, not with the little time they’ve been left out here. But with the visibility pretty much nonexistent, most likely they got turned around. I have to find them pretty s
oon, or the risk of them dying of hypothermia will become a reality. That’s not something I want to have to tell Kylie. I know the very thought of them out here has her heart broken into pieces.

  I know I wanted her as mine before anything happened between us. But watching her crumble to the ground, her hands covering her face as the tears tracked down her cheeks, had every possessive instinct in me rising. I want to make sure she never feels like that again, that while with me she only feels happiness. Her dogs might annoy the hell out of me, and we might bicker, but I know she’s a package deal with them, and that meant they’re my responsibility as well.

  An especially hard gust of wind slams into me and I have to brace myself, so I don’t fall against the deck. I trek on, moving around the property when I hear a banging noise come from just up ahead. I know it’s the shed door even though I can’t see anything. The latch is tricky if not secured properly, and I must’ve forgotten to double-check it when I went to get wood earlier, my thoughts on Kylie distracting me.

  I make my way towards the direction of the shed, the banging noise becoming louder. I keep calling out for the dogs but can’t hear any barks in response. I’m nearly on top of the shed door before I finally see it, the door swinging open from the wind and nearly smacking me in the face.

  Curling my hand around the edge of it, I stop its movements and pull it open enough for me to get inside. I close it behind me and latch it, the wind howling through the cracks in the wood.