3. Molly
3
MOLLY
O f course, I have to pee in the middle of the night. Thanks, stupid bladder.
Despite being a grown woman, I’m embarrassed about needing to relieve myself. Yes, everyone has to go sometime, but the idea of calling Wyatt into his own room just to carry me to the bathroom is mortifying. However, as I lie in his bed, naked beneath the t-shirt he loaned me, my reluctance reveals a deeper desire to keep the sexual tension between us alive.
From the moment I saw him, a powerful yearning bloomed within me. He’s unlike any man I’ve dated before—rough and rugged with worn jeans and a well-trimmed beard. His deep-brown eyes draw me in, making it hard to resist touching his smooth, tanned skin. Even the scar on his cheek adds to his sexy allure.
I’m positive he feels it too. His gaze hardly left me all evening and I didn’t miss the bulge in his pants before dinner. Now, as I hop on one foot toward the bathroom, I fear dimming his physical attraction to me by letting him hear me pee.
I fail, however, when I lose my balance and knock over a picture frame, the clatter echoing through the quiet cabin. Before I can curse myself, I hear heavy footsteps stomping down the hall, accompanied by the light taps of Bear’s nails on the hardwood floor.
Damn it, this man must be a light sleeper.
Wyatt enters the room with an annoyed scowl that would scare most people, but for some reason, it fuels my craving for him. “Woman. What did I tell you?” he scolds, striding toward me.
“Um… to have a good night?” My lame attempt at humor falls flat. Then he’s holding me in his strong arms again and all other thoughts fade away.
He shakes his head with a chuckle. “You’ll hurt yourself just to protect your pride. Keep it up, and I’ll spank that pride right outta you.”
I’m not sure if that’s a threat or a promise. But either way, I’m interested in what he’s offering.
“I’ll be right outside the door. Call for me when you’re done,” he tells me, and I have to admit I like this bossy side of him.
Wyatt strolls out of the bathroom, and I don’t even try to stop my eyes from lingering on his tight ass as he goes. He’s changed into a pair of grey sweatpants and a black t-shirt that’s fitted enough to show every flex of his chiseled back. I’ve never seen so many muscles. The guy could bench-press my car.
Those thoughts are still on my mind when I finish, and he then carries me back to bed. Something comes over me as he lowers me to the mattress and my hands slide down his arms, feeling the subtle ridges of his veiny forearms.
“You’re so strong,” I murmur, looking into his dark eyes. The moonlight casts a pale glow on his handsome face, highlighting the intensity of his gaze and making my heart flutter.
I part my lips and tilt my head back in an obvious invitation, and Wyatt doesn’t leave me waiting. He braces himself with his palms pressed into the mattress on each side of my body as he leans down until his lips brush against mine. Just that small connection makes my pussy quiver. Then he kisses me, and I let him into my mouth, his tongue tangling with mine. Just as my mind goes hazy with lust, the kiss is over, and he pulls back to stare at me with an unreadable expression.
Did I do something wrong?
I saw the way his body reacted earlier. I’m not mistaken about his attraction to me, so what’s the problem?
“Get some sleep, sweetheart.” His tone is gruff as he hightails it out of the room without sparing me a backward glance and Bear trailing behind him.
I let out a long breath and stare at the ceiling, frustrated with the throbbing ache between my legs. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t being left with blue lady balls—that’s for sure.
* * *
The view from the back deck is just as amazing as I thought it would be when I first saw Wyatt’s cabin. We’re relaxing in the two wooden rocking chairs that are set up with a small table between them. We decided to have lunch out here, listening to the tranquil sounds of the mountain and taking in the warm sunshine.
I can’t believe how relaxed I am sitting on the porch of a secluded cabin with a stranger beside me. Yet he doesn’t feel like a stranger. He feels like a man I’ve known forever. I’m comfortable around him. He puts me at ease while making butterflies flutter in my stomach. I know it hasn’t been twenty-four hours yet, but I enjoy spending time with him. I can’t remember when I last enjoyed spending time with a man, including my ex.
It’s too soon, though, for me to be thinking about a new man right now, isn’t it?
Lifting my foot, I rotate it slowly. A night of being wrapped up combined with the pain reliever Wyatt gave me has helped, but it still aches and the bruising looks terrible. The swelling has gone down, so maybe I can walk on it if I’m careful. It might hurt a little, but I can take it easy once I’m back at my rental.
“I think I’m okay now,” I say, looking over to find Wyatt already staring at me.
He’s wearing a fresh flannel shirt, but he left it unbuttoned, showcasing his defined abs. I wonder if he did that to temp me with a glimpse of his sexy chest. If he did, it’s working. I’m so lost in the fantasy of kissing him again that I miss what he says next. I blink away my daydream, warmth spreading over my cheeks when I ask him to repeat himself.
“I said I think you should stay awhile.” He pauses to gage my reaction. “I don’t want you to hurt yourself by walking around on that ankle too soon. Just stick around for another day, and we’ll see how it feels after that. Can you do that for me?”
My heart melts, but beneath that feeling is a pang of disappointment. I know he’s asking me to stay for my physical well-being when I wish he wanted me to stay for more. After he abruptly ended our kiss last night, I’m not sure what he wants now.
Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself. One impulsive kiss doesn’t mean anything. People are attracted to each other all the time and decide not to act on it. The chemistry between us doesn’t guarantee that he wants anything more than to help me in my time of need.
I should keep my expectations in check, because this man is hard to read. His body says he wants me, but his actions say something else. Maybe I need to stay a bit longer to be sure. It’s not like I have anything better planned back at my cabin anyway.
“Okay,” I agree with a smile. “Just as long as you don’t mind carrying me around for another day or two.”
“I don’t mind at all, sweetheart.”
Every time he calls me that, I swoon a little more. I’m starting to feel like a spoiled princess, and I can’t pretend I don’t like it. No one has ever doted on me like Wyatt has, and a girl could get used to this kind of treatment.
The afternoon passes in a tranquil haze, the two of us sharing stories from our pasts and laughing at each other’s jokes. Wyatt is the perfect companion, and his candid nature is a pleasant surprise. The way he talks about the mountains, the wildlife, and the shifting seasons paints a vivid picture of a life wrapped in nature’s embrace. It’s far removed from the activity of the city, but I find myself wanting to experience it with him.
I watch his face as he talks, taking in the way his scar tugs with his changing expressions, giving him an endearing ruggedness. Every time he catches me staring, those dark eyes twinkle with amusement.
“Stop looking at me like that.”
This must be the tenth time he’s caught me, but I feign innocence. “Like what?”
“Like you’re trying to unravel all my secrets,” he replies with a chuckle.
“Maybe I am.” I give him a seductive glance, but he just shakes his head and throws me another one of his charming smiles.
As the sun descends upon the mountain, Wyatt fixes dinner for us—a simple fare of grilled pork chops and roasted asparagus that tastes heavenly with just the right seasoning. We eat in comfortable silence as the world around us darkens with twilight hues and Bear sleeps quietly at my feet.
Later, when we’re tucked under heavy blankets on the couch as we watch an action flick, I feel desire stirring within me. I steal glances at him, watching how his scarred cheek stretches when he laughs or how his long, thick fingers wrap around his chilled beer bottle. I wonder again why he’d kissed me but not take it any farther. It’s difficult not to overthink things when you’re under the same roof with a sexy lumber-snack. The temptation to take control and show him what I want is overwhelming, but the thought of making a move on this dangerously attractive man leaves me hesitant.
Can I handle the consequences if things go too far?