Chapter 9

Nine

H olding onto his control took every ounce of energy he possessed. Her tongue darted out and lashed against his nipples in turn, which drove him fucking crazy. He wanted to take it slow, but she was making it so damn difficult.

Perspiration eased down his temple as he fought to rein in his control. He rose to his knees and pulled her along with him. Swiftly he turned her, spreading her knees wide. Leaned back against him, her back to his front, be brushed his cock head along the creamy wet seam of her pussy. His juices spilled from her, and it made his shaft grow harder. He pulled her long hair to pool over her shoulder and wrapped the strands around his hand, tugging her head to the side, exposing her neck.

Her lashes lifted and she glanced at him, her gaze satisfied. Kiss-swollen lips parted, he angled her head to his and devoured her mouth. He groaned into her hot mouth the second her teasing tongue brushed against his. He pulled out, paused then drove in hard and he was right there to swallow her cries of pleasure.

Holding onto his arm around her waist, she moaned a throaty groan that made him impossibly harder, thicker. So larger her soft pussy walls clenched around him and milked his cock with each stroke. Heavy tension tightened his balls and he could feel his release building. Her core clutched him with a tight grip.

She pinched her nipples, making her pussy clench around his cock even tighter.

"Fuck, Esmeralda. You're going to make me come. Not yet. Not fucking yet, woman."

Not yet.

"Harder," she commanded.

He delivered.

Her eyes drifted closed as she reached between them and raked her kitten claws over his balls.

He jerked, driving into her harder. His fingers tightened in her hair and he forced himself to slow his pace. His woman would reach her climax with him.

He clamped her closer, raking his teeth along the juncture of her shoulder and neck in time with her nails. God, she made his control slip every second she touched him.

He buried his face in her neck when she cupped his balls.

"I'm cumming, sweetheart, cum with me," he gritted out.

He brought them both to their knees as her pussy rippled around his shaft. Each shuddering pulse of sensation her orgasm fed her only amplified through him.

She screamed, her head falling back to rest on his shoulder. There was no going back from this.

Hot cum spilled from his cock with each pulse of her pussy. He moved in and out of her gently, easing her back to earth alongside him. Those beautiful green eyes found his and he stroked a thumb down her cheek.

When he finally caught his breath again he asked, "Are you okay, baby?" He pressed kisses to her temple.

Her delicate body relaxed into his embrace. Gently he laid her out beneath him and scanned her face for any signs of regret. Her eyes drifted open. He couldn't breathe from the beauty that looked back at him.

Reality finally hit in that second. She was his for now, forever.

She fell back against the makeshift blankets, parting her slender legs, her folds swollen from the lovemaking and his cum dripping to wet her ass and thighs. Lightly she stroked a finger down one thigh and then up the other. Swiftly he gripped her hands and stilled her from touching the flesh he owned. If anyone got to play in the aftermath of their lovemaking, it was him. She cocked a brow as if to dare him to do something. "When I get you home, I'll meet that dare."

Her hot little fingers found something else to torture him with as she ran them through his tousled hair. "Was that a yes?"

He nodded. "I'm yours and your mine. Does that scare you?" He leaned in and nipped at her bare shoulder.

She shook her head in a negative response. "Not in the least. Not anymore. I always had you in my heart. This just makes it final."

"And children. A family?" Her eyes brightened, and he smiled when her fingers splayed over the expanse of her abdomen. Never did he think he would be lucky enough to have his soul mate come back to him. Now that he could reach out, touch her and love her everything would change for them both.

"Does that make you happy?" Her answer frightened him more than he realized. If he didn't literally count each heartbeat between his question and her next words, he would say everything in the world ground to a halt.

"Does it make you happy? A little late to ask, but still."

"I can't wait to get you home and make sure our activities produce a little Savage child." Her laugh warmed him. "Oh, what will your family say to a Morgan being in the family?"

"Probably ask what took us so damn long and then mom will want to feed us."

"And your brothers?"

She groaned. "Worse. The town. My father didn't exactly leave on a good note."

"The town is a problem for another day. I actually think everyone will be happy to see you back in town. But right now there are a few things a little closer to home we have to deal with first.

"What do you mean?"

"Your admirer from this morning has gotten into some trouble. Trouble he probably can't get out of and resulted in this avalanche. A new resort is moving in on the land your father sold before he passed?—"

"Oh no. What kind of problems?"

"The kind that could be problems for the den and Savage Excursions. They're a shady corporation willing to do anything for a buck. Sadly, so is Brax."

"What are you going to do about it?"

"Not sure yet, but it will fall into my father's hands to resolve since he invited him into our family back when he lost his. But let's talk about it later." He reached over her and fetched the folded piece of paper. Right now, they had other things to deal with.

"Sweetheart, when you're ready, you'll have to read this." Esmeralda's eyes narrowed on the folded envelope he held out to her.

"Let's do it now."

That surprised him. Staring down in confusion, she clarified for him. "If you're with me, I can face anything." He nodded as she continued. "I came here for answers, right?"

He gave a stiff nod. What if what she read in there made her rethink their coming nuptials? He bit back a string of expletives and mentally kicked his own ass for suggesting it.

Paper ripped and fear spiked his blood.

D earest Daughter,

S he paused to look up at him, tears already glittering in her eyes. Fuck, she was breaking him.

When I lost your mother, something in me broke. Something snapped and the father I once was morphed into a man afraid of losing something more precious. You, my child. The thought of losing you drove me to the extremes. Though I am too late, I see this now. At the time, taking you away from the danger was the answer. In actuality, I know I did you more harm than good. I only wished to protect you. One day when you are a mother, my actions will become clearer. Please forgive me this mistake. Forgive me for loving you so much I couldn't breathe at the thought of losing you. Forgive me for taking you away from the happiness you deserve. If my final wish has been honored, then this letter finds you in good company. At least let this be one mistake laid to rest with me. Take what makes your heart sing with joy, my child. Everything else will work out.

Love always,

Dad

" D ad. Not father as he preferred after mom died." Tears spilled down her cheeks. Coming to his knees, Drake pulled her to him and held her until the last of her tears dried.

"Thank you." He reveled in the way her soft lips brushed against his chest. That one small connection filled him with the hope that he could be the man she needed him to be. Strong.

"Always." Her mind enmeshed with his and the sensations that spiraled through his soul mate filled him.

"I have to tell you something else. "your father called me before he died. He asked me to keep an eye out for you and to help him fix his mistake."

"So you knew I was coming?"

He nodded.

"He also sent me a letter when he sent me yours to give to you."

"Oh? What did yours say?"

He cupped her face between his palms. "He said the natural thing a father would. He wished me the same happiness he found with your mother."

"And," she pushed.

Little minx.

"After begging my forgiveness, he asked a favor of me. To take care of the last piece of his heart left on this earth. The real gem of his life." He turned her to face him. "And in some ways, he made me a believer again."

"Oh, in what?"

"Happiness. Love."

"Me too."

Off in the distance, a whipping sound played at the furthest reaches of his hearing. "Are you ready to go home?"

Lifting her face to his, she leaned in and melded their bodies together as if she couldn't get enough of him. The feeling was mutual.

"Is it possible to stay here forever? Just you and me?"

"I'll do you one better, my princess. How about a forever with me and a family that loves you as much as I do?"

She pinned him with a primitive, possessive look that would scare most men. To him it made his cock pulse with renewed desire.

In the midst of loss the least likely person to bring them together had spent his last breath making sure he had a hand in their fate. Pain had once ripped them apart, but now out of loss, love was found again.

"No matter what tomorrow brings, no matter what the future holds, your princess is here to stay."

Within seconds she had him on his back, his thick cock poised at her entrance. The best kind of trouble he wanted to be balls-deep in.

"I love you," she whispered and sank down until all of him was inside her.

"God, help me, I love you too, Esmeralda."

"Forever and a day?"

"That's a fucking promise to the day I die."

T hank you for reading Her Savage Mountain Man! Read on for Claimed by Her Mountain Man—a tantalizing friends-to-lovers romance and book two in the Her Savage Mountain Men series.