Page 33 of Playing With The Mountain Man

“You haven’t tasted it yet,” Cody threw right back at me, catching me off-guard with his words.

“And your mom?”

“Still in Dallas. She’s retired now, but she can’t seem to sit still. Actually, I think she’s off on a cruise at the moment.” He chuckled.

“Sounds like a nice life,” I added, picturing laying by the pool sipping cocktails in the sun.

“She deserves it. She sacrificed a lot for me.”

I didn’t reply. I didn’t have anything to say. I’d lost my parents a few years back, both to cancer. One day, they were both happy and healthy, and then within twelve months of each other, they were gone. Dad went first, and Mom followed eight months later. They said it was the cancer that got her, I think it was the broken heart.

I tried to swallow down the memories and focus on my dinner. Now wasn’t the time for tears. Not when I had a man sitting across from me looking like every dirty dream I’d ever had come to life.

After we finished, we cleaned up before finding ourselves snuggled on the couch. When Cody topped up my wine, I sighed. A girl could get used to this.

“Are you trying to get me drunk?” I giggled, setting my glass on the coffee table.

“Not at all.” He grinned, cracking the cap on his bottle of water.

For a while, we sat in silence, enjoying each other’s company. It should’ve been weird, but strangely enough, it was peaceful. Even my mind fell silent, which was a miracle in itself.

Outside, darkness fell, and so did the temperature. When I shivered, Cody pulled me into his lap before wrapping a blanket around us, cocooning us in warmth.

“That better?” he asked, tucking me in tightly.

“Mmmm,” I agreed, snuggling in closer.

I breathed him in, and my blood heated.

Two minutes later, I was melting. Cody was like a furnace, and with the sensation of his fingers skating up and down my neck, I was ready to explode.

I tilted my head up, my eyes fixed on Cody’s lips.

He wiggled. “Stop, Tillie,” he commanded, his voice rich and velvety.

“Stop what?” I played innocently.

“Stop looking at me like you want me to kiss you,” he barked out.

“What if that’s exactly what I want?” I taunted, squeezing my thighs together.

“You need to be very sure of what you want, sweetheart. Cause I don’t know if I can stop at just a kiss.” His answer was raw, honest, and as hot as hell.

I needed to prove to myself that I wanted this. Not just to Cody but to me. I tossed back the blanket and scrambled out of Cody’s grip.

“Where are you going?” he asked, his eyes wide.

I took a breath. Then, with nervous hands, I gripped the bottom of the hoodie I’d stolen from his wardrobe and pulled it over my head. I didn’t need to be able to see him to know the exact moment he realized I wasn’t wearing a bra.

I dropped the sweatshirt on the floor and resisted the urge to cover myself.

Cody gulped.

I watched his Adam’s apple bob in his throat.

“Tillie …”

“Yes, Cody?” I replied, trying to play coy while standing there in nothing but a pair of sweatpants.