Page 26 of Claimed By The Mountain Man

“Carter! Oh!”

“Fuck. Baby,” I choke out as I follow her over the edge.

I kiss her as we both come, slipping my tongue into her mouth. My arms shake, and I roll us onto our sides before I collapse on top of her and crush her.

We’re both breathing hard. I smile, pressing kisses to her lips, nose, cheeks, forehead, and eyes. Scout giggles, snuggling into my chest as I wrap my arms around her.

“Morning,” I whisper.

She laughs. “Good morning.”

I run my hands up and down her back. “What did you want to do today?”

She hums as she thinks. “Is it still raining?”

“No, I don’t think so.”

“Maybe we could go for that hike?”

“Whatever you want, Scout.”

I kiss her again because I can’t seem to keep my hands or mouth off my girl. Luckily for me, she doesn’t seem to mind.

Her stomach growls, and I grin as I pull back.

“I’ll go make us some breakfast,” I say, pulling out of her gently.

“I can help,” she offers, sitting up in bed.

“No,” I stop her.

She laughs. “I can cook, you know.”

I smile wider. “I know. You can cook for us later, okay? Stay right there. I’ll go make us breakfast.”

Scout grins, fluffing up her pillow before she lies back down.

I smile, memorizing how happy and perfect she looks in this moment before I tug on sweatpants and go downstairs to get started on our food.

I open the fridge and pull out eggs and bacon. I’m grabbing a frying pan when I look out the window and see Scout’s car in the garage. Guilt slams into me, and I pause making breakfast to grab my phone.

Hudson answers on the second ring. “Hey.”

I take a deep breath. “Hey, are you busy?”

I need to talk to my best friend about all this. A part of me tells me I’m making a mistake, but the bigger part of me is too worried about losing Scout to listen. I need Hudson to talk some sense into me… or quiet that nagging voice telling me to be honest with Scout and admit that I’m in love with her and can’t stand to lose her.

9

Scout

I get bored waiting for Carter to come back with food and tiptoe down the stairs. I pause when I hear him greet someone and look down at the oversized shirt I’m wearing.

Is someone here? Is it my dad?

I tense, remaining motionless on the stairs until I realize he’s on the phone with someone, probably Hudson.

“Hey, are you busy?”