Chosen for the Mountain Man (Mountain Man Mail Order Bride)

7. Max

CHAPTER 7

MAX

S team curls against the bathroom ceiling as Ciara leans back against my chest, her damp hair floating amid the remaining bubbles. I knead the tension from her shoulders, and she lets out a moan that goes straight to my cock, making it hard yet again.

“You’re trying to kill me,” I growl into her ear, my hands slipping lower under the water. “All I want to do is make you come.”

She gasps, arching as my fingers find her pussy. “Prove it.”

And I do—working her into a writhing mess, until she’s begging me to tip her over the edge…

“Max…” she finally yells, coming apart under the water, her body spasming against me.

Last night was everything , and I’m riding on such a high I can barely stand it.

I towel her off, stealing kisses and making her giggle as we slip into bathrobes. Ciara’s robe hangs off one shoulder, revealing a constellation of love bites I planted earlier. Mine’s tied so haphazardly it’s a miracle it’s holding on.

That’s when the doorbell rings, and someone pounds on the front door. I frown. No one just drops by my cabin.

“Expecting someone?” Ciara asks, wincing as she adjusts her footing. She waves me off when I reach for her. “I just stepped wrong. No big.”

“I’m not expecting anyone,” I reply, cinching my robe tighter, then heading out to get the door.

I swing it open…and freeze.

Duke and Ro stand on the porch, flanked by a pissed-off Lennox Steele (yeah, the rock star), a guilty-looking Hallie, and an older couple who look like they’ve just sniffed expired milk. Ciara’s parents, if I had to guess.

Ro’s eyes widen at my robe, while Duke’s grin is downright diabolical. “Looks like we crashed a party, folks.”

Lennox steps forward, jaw ticking, like a thundercloud about to unleash its fury. “Where the hell is Ciara?”

“Right here,” Ciara says, hobbling into view. Her face pales when she looks past me. “Hallie? Mom? Dad? What the?—”

“You lied to us!” her mom snaps, eyeballing our robes. “You said you were staying with Hallie!”

Hallie raises her hands. “I’m sorry, CC—Lennox mentioned you weren’t with us and Mom panicked?—”

“And you didn’t think to text or call?” Ciara’s voice cracks.

“We’ve been blowing up your phone all morning!” her dad barks.

Oh. Right. Our phones are still charging in the bedroom, untouched since last night. We were…busy.

Lennox jabs a finger at me. “You think it’s cool to prey on a girl with a chronic condition?”

“Chronic what ?” I blink. What is he talking about?

“RA,” Hallie mutters. “Rheumatoid arthritis? She’s had it since she was nine.”

“And she’s probably in agony right now,” her mom finishes.

I turn to Ciara, who’s gone statue-still. Her throat bobs. Is she in pain?

“You... didn’t tell him?” her mom whispers, horrified.

The guilt on Ciara’s face guts me. All those times she winced, the “sprained ankle”...

“She didn’t mention it,” I say, voice thin.

Ciara flinches. “ This is why!” She gestures at the tribunal on the porch. “You all treat me like I’m made of glass! I wanted one weekend where I wasn’t ‘Ciara, the fragile patient.’ Just…’Ciara the woman’.”

Her dad crosses his arms. “You’re coming home. How you think you can run off with a man you met online is beyond me. Besides, you’ll be laid up for weeks if you pushed yourself?—”

“No.” The word rockets out of me before I can stop it. Everyone stares. “She’s an adult. She makes her own choices.”

Lennox snorts. “Says the guy who’s taken advantage of her. How many times did you bang her?—”

“ Back up ,” I snap, stepping into his space. Rock star or not, I’ll lay him out if I have to.

Duke grabs Lennox’s shoulder, but I’m too fired up. “Everything we did was between two consenting adults. True, I didn’t know about her condition. But you know what I do know? She hiked three miles yesterday. Swam naked in a crystal clear stream. Laughed so hard she snorted. She’s doing great, if you ask me. So maybe step off, okay?”

Ciara’s mom gapes. “She... hiked?”

“And skinny-dipped,” Duke adds helpfully. Ro elbows him.

Ciara limps forward, eyes blazing. “I love you all, but I’m done being your porcelain doll. Max doesn’t coddle me—he just...supports me.” Her gaze lands on me, vulnerable. “But Max, I’m not twenty-eight.”

The air deflates. “Wait,” I say, dread pooling in my gut. “Please tell me you’re not a minor.”

“I’m nineteen!”

“Oh thank Christ ,” I exhale. Though I guess I’m a still a cradle robber anyway.

Ciara’s chin quivers. “I thought you’d never give me a chance if I told the truth. I’m not athletic, or mature, or independent. I just wanted the dating app to choose me as your best match.”

I cup her face, thumbing away a tear. “You’re the sweetest, sexiest, most resilient person I’ve ever met. Your condition doesn’t define you. So what if your joints hate you? Mine hate me too—thanks, Fallujah.”

A surprised chuckle bursts out of her.

Ciara’s dad clears his throat. “So... you’re dating?”

“Yes,” Ciara says.

“No,” I say at the same time.

She blinks.

“What we have feels like so much more than dating,” I clarify. “I mean, I love you, Ciara.”

Her smile could rival the sun. “I love you, too, Max.”

Duke claps his hands. “Great! Now, let’s go get brunch. I’m starving and you two need to put on pants.” He eyes our robes.

Lennox finally submits and apologizes when Hallie pats his chest, and Ciara’s parents give us weak smiles. It’s a start for sure.

As the group shuffles inside, Ciara tugs at my sleeve and we head to the bedroom. “You’re really not mad?”

“Furious. You’ll need to grovel extensively. Naked.”

“Deal.” She rises on her toes, whispering, “For the record...orgasms really seem to help my RA.”

“Good. Because I plan to give you more the second we get back.”

Her grin is pure wickedness.

My MsWrite28 …