Mountain Man: A Real Man Read online

  I’d been tempted to ask my parents about Gavin, but their questions on why I wanted to know wasn’t worth the headache. I’d find out myself.

  I was going to go find his cabin, and I hoped, prayed, that he and I could rekindle what we had shared four years ago. Worst thing that could happen is things didn’t pan out the way I’d been envisioning all these years. And that was pretty bad given the fact that I felt like my feelings for Gavin went far beyond what was probably normal and healthy.

  Someone shouldn’t feel this way for someone they only met once, exchanged one sexual, passion-filled night with so long ago, right? Or maybe this was normal? Maybe it was love?

  I could absolutely see that, but on the other hand, I didn’t want to seem like I had gone over the edge, was obsessive, a stalker. I snorted at that thought, and the clerk who was sitting at the small table beside me glanced over, her glasses perched low on her nose, her salt-and-pepper hair put up haphazardly in a bun.

  I mumbled my apologies and glanced down at the rental agreement. T. Properties. I might’ve lived in this town all my life, but I didn’t know everything that made it tick. This property company wasn’t something known to me. But when I’d been looking for a place, my parents pointed me in this direction. So here I was.

  I looked at the clock. The owner of the rental better get their ass here in the next five minutes. I had things to do, a person to see. I was starting to get antsy, bouncing my leg up and down, messing with the fringe on my sweater.

  And then the door to the office we were in opened, and I swore everything in me immediately came alive. Gavin stepped in, his big dog trailing behind him. I remembered the animal from that one night—Bear, he’d called him—sleeping in the corner as Gavin and I had learned about each other’s bodies in the most intimate ways. He hadn’t looked at me yet, had his focus on Bear as he ushered him inside.

  “Mr. Taylor, thank you for meeting us down here today.”

  Gavin looked up and gave a gruff nod to the clerk, and then turned his focus to me. A man like Gavin didn’t seem like he could be easily surprised, but the expression on his face, the way his eyes widened slightly, the fact that his jaw clenched when he stared into my eyes, told me he was just as shocked as I was.

  Good. At least both of us could be in the same awkward situation.

  I stood, my knees feeling weak, my hands starting to shake. My heart was racing so hard and fast I wondered if they could hear it, if they could see it beating rapidly at the base of my throat. I didn’t even know if I could say anything my tongue felt so thick, my throat so tight.

  I couldn’t tear my gaze away from Gavin, and as a second moved by and he continued to stare at me, I wondered if he was feeling the same way.

  He finally snapped out of the haze he was obviously in and cleared his throat, shutting the door behind him and making his way toward the small table. His body was huge and seemed to dwarf it, his shoulders broad, his body so muscular. He seemed far bigger now, far stronger. Maybe it was because I was older? Maybe he’d been working out?

  The clerk started going on about the property, the rental agreement, terms, financial aspects of it. I could hear everything she was saying, but I wasn’t paying attention, couldn’t have repeated back a word she uttered. I was too nervous, too excited as I stared at Gavin.

  Before I knew it, the clerk was passing over some papers for me to sign. I blinked back to reality, looked down at everything, and then glanced at the clerk. Shit, I’d been so focused on Gavin I didn’t know if she’d actually said anything important.

  She gave me a small smile, and I wondered if she knew I hadn’t really been focused. “This is just the agreement we already talked about previously. Everything is written here,” she said and pointed to the areas in question. I looked down, saw the monthly rent, any expenses, repairs, all of that written in black-and-white. “And you just sign here if you’re in agreement.” She pointed to where I was supposed to jot down my signature.

  I nodded and licked my lips, feeling Gavin’s focus on me the whole time. Once he finished signing, the clerk took the papers, put them in a manila envelope, and excused herself.

  And then Gavin and I were left alone in the room. I probably should’ve gotten up and left too, but I was rooted to the spot, nervous and excited after seeing him after all these years. But my feelings were so strong, stronger than I ever remembered them being. And that’s how I knew it was real. What I felt for him was real.

  What was he feeling in this moment as he looked at me? Did he feel that connection, that spark?

  I swallowed again, wanting to say everything that had been on my mind for these four years, but the words failed me.

  “Bailey,” he said deeply, and it sent shivers up my spine. “I’ve thought about you every day. Every fucking day since you left my cabin and were gone for the last four years.”

  The air left me violently at his admission. “You did? You have?” My voice was nothing more than a strained whisper.

  He nodded and this serious look crossed his face. “I shouldn’t have let you walk away all those years ago.”

  “I didn’t want to leave,” I admitted. “I wanted to go back to you so many times, but I guess fear kept me away.” God, was this really happening?

  “I wanted to find you so many times. I did, in fact, but found out you left for school. I told myself to let you be, to let you live your life. But inside, all I wanted to do was demand you to come home with me and be mine.”

  This was surreal, as if I were having one of the hundred dreams I’d had of Gavin over the years, in which he said this exact same thing to me. But it wasn’t a dream. It was real, and it was incredible.

  And I wouldn’t walk away again. Never again.

  “I haven’t been with a man since you. No one interests me.” Here I went, admitting this and probably scaring the shit out of him. But the low sound he made almost seemed like one of… approval.

  “No one’s touched you?”

  I shook my head, his gruff voice having me clench my thighs together.

  “It’s only you for me, Bailey. Only you for me.”

  I wanted to reach out and touch him, to make sure he was really here, but instead I curled my hands into tight fists. Fate had made me rent a place he owned. Because what were the chances?

  “Have dinner with me.”

  I swallowed at his command, unsure how to respond. Dinner was the last thing on my gutter-mind.

  “We can go out. You can pick the place.” God, he seemed so anxious to see me, and that made me feel incredible; it made me feel like he was right here with me emotionally. “Or come to my cabin and I’ll cook for you.” He sounded more desperate, and I knew it was because I had yet to say anything. “Bailey, I just want to see you, and I’m not above fucking begging for your time.”

  My heart was thundering a mile a minute. “Gavin.” I whispered his name.

  “I won’t take no for an answer.” He leaned forward and braced his forearms on the table, staring right in my eyes.

  The fact that his voice had hardened, that look of steely reserve covering his face, told me he meant that. Good. I didn’t want him to take no for an answer, even if I had no plan on denying him or me anything.

  “Okay. Dinner at your place,” I said softly and felt my cheeks heat as I imagined all the things we could do after that.” And the way he was looking at me right now told me Gavin had the exact same thoughts.

  Chapter Five

  Gavin

  I couldn’t keep my eyes off Bailey. And although I tried to keep my cool, to act like I had myself in check, the fact remained actually having her here, in my home, was one of the best fucking feeling in the world. It was almost as good when I saw her earlier today in the office for the first time in four years.

  Bailey was so damn gorgeous, and these past years, as she’d matured, grown into the woman who sat before me now, told me over and over again that I was so fucking lucky. She was a fucking knockout, and every po
ssessive instinct in me reared up, wanting to claim her now, wanting to toss the food and dishes off this table and lay her on her back so I could own every single damn inch of her.

  I wanted her as mine, and I could already see how this would play out, envisioned how much I wanted this, how I wouldn’t let her go a second time. And I’d no doubt be barbaric in my needs, but shit, for four damn years I’d yearned for her. I was surprised I could have any kind of self-control right now.

  “You get enough to eat?” I asked, clearing my throat as my voice sounded harsh as fuck.

  “I did, thank you,” she said and smiled. “Everything was delicious.”

  I might not be the best chef, didn’t know how to make fancy shit, but I could cook a steak, baked potato, and steam the hell out of some broccoli. “I’m glad you liked everything.” I felt pride that she liked what I’d made for her. I wanted her full and content, sated.

  My focus never deviated from Bailey. I couldn’t have stopped looking at her if my life depended on it.

  As the seconds moved by, I watched as she started to become nervous. I could see by the way she shifted on the chair and glanced anywhere but at me.

  “Everything looks the same,” she finally said. I then saw her cheeks turn pink as she no doubt thought about what we’d done in this cabin.

  I looked over at the fireplace, where I noticed she was focused on now. “Tell me about what you’ve been doing these past four years.” I wanted, no, needed to know everything about her.

  She glanced at me and gave me this shy smile. “After…” She swallowed then cleared her throat. “I went to school for pharmacology. Then was lucky enough to get a job right here in town.” A moment of silence passed before she spoke again. “What about you?” She started anxiously playing with the edge of her napkin.

  “You don’t have to be nervous.” I leaned forward and reached across the table to place my hand on top of hers, loving that her skin was so soft, so warm. “I haven’t done anything new, Bailey. My life has been the same since you left.”

  Then she licked her lips, and I couldn’t help but stare at them, imagining them parted and wrapped around my dick. Fuck. My cock came alive, the fucker throbbing behind my fly, demanding to be let out, to be buried in her sweet heat.

  Her face turned red, and I realized it was because I’d made this low, animalistic sound. And the fact that she was shy, blushing for me, made me so damn hot, turned me the fuck on. I probably could have come right in my jeans.

  “What do you do for a living?” she finally asked, and I leaned back, giving her some room to breathe. “I mean, I know you have family money, and you own properties, but I didn’t know if you do anything else.”

  I lifted my hand and ran it over the back of my head. “That’s my main focus of income. I do charity work though—well, T. Properties does.” Her eyes widened as if that surprised her. “My company, myself included, refurb old buildings and turn them into housing for homeless and low-income families.”

  “You help out the less fortunate?”

  I nodded. “What’s the point of having the money I do if I can’t help out others who didn’t get a head up in life like I did.”

  She lifted her hand and placed it over her heart, this watery glaze filling her eyes. “God, if I didn’t already love you,” she whispered, and then her eyes widened even more and she lifted her hand to cover her mouth, as if she couldn’t believe she just said that.

  She loves me. Fuck.

  I leaned forward again, took her hand in mine, and curled my fingers around hers. I waited until she looked at me. “I love you, Bailey. I think I fell in love with you when I saw you standing on my doorstep and my heart started beating for the first time in my life.” I heard her gasp from behind her hand then she lowered it.

  “This is insane, right?”

  I slowly shook my head. “No, it’s perfect. It’s right. I know you felt it to. I saw that on your face earlier today. You felt the pull, the chemistry. There’s no denying it.”

  She shook her head now. “It’s undeniable.”

  I wanted to show her right then and there, with my words, my hands, my mouth and tongue… my cock, that I meant every word I said.

  My dick throbbed, my balls drew up tight, and I clenched my free hand into a fist on top of my thigh.

  “Bailey.” I said her name slowly. “Come here.” I couldn’t help myself. Maybe I should have spent tonight only talking with her, not wanting to do anything more, but hearing her say she loved me did things to me. Possessive and crazy things.

  And I knew I couldn’t stop myself. And the way she looked at me told me she didn’t want to stop this either.

  Chapter Six

  Gavin

  She came to me instantly, and I growled low in approval. I liked that she listened, that she needed me just as much as I needed her and couldn’t help herself.

  When she stood in front of me, I wrapped my arm around her tiny waist and pulled her forward, made her sit on my lap. And then I just stared at her. Her eyes were big and blue, framed by dark lashes. Her hair was deep brown, falling over her shoulder, looking so silky I had no doubt if I touched the strands, my fingers would glide right through them.

  “You want me?” I asked, although I could see the way her breathing changed and that her pupils dilated. She wanted this pretty fucking badly. At least it’s not just me then. “Tell me, Bailey. Tell me you want this just as badly as I do.” I lifted my hand and cupped her cheek, sliding my finger and thumb to her chin. “I need to hear you say it.”

  I was lost in my arousal for her. It had been building this whole time, and I was liable to get off just from having her on my lap. And as she stayed silent, I inhaled deeply, my chest brushing against hers we were so close to each other. “Come on, baby girl. Tell me,” I whispered, urged. I’d been looking at her lips as I spoke then slowly trailed my gaze up to look into her eyes. I knew she was ready for me, her body primed to take what only I could give. She didn’t have to say the words for me to know that. I could practically smell it in the air, this sweet surrender that was only for me.

  And then I heard it, this little sound that came from her. It was one of desire, of her submission to me, to this.

  I took my free hand and lowered it to the hem of her shirt, pushed the material up slightly, and felt how warm her skin was.

  “I want this. I want you, Gavin,” she finally said, and I clenched my jaw so hard my teeth gnashed together.

  For a second, I just let my fingers brush gently along the patch of skin I exposed, staring into her eyes, waiting for her to lean in and kiss me. The anticipation and excitement of what was about to happen, that I’d finally have Bailey again, raced through my veins. I needed her so damn badly I could taste it.

  “Gavin,” she said and closed her eyes, shifting on me slightly as if she needed some friction.

  I curled my fingers under the hem of the shirt and slowly started to lift it up.

  “You’re so fucking beautiful,” I murmured and looked down at her stomach that was being revealed.

  “I want you,” she finally said, the words nothing more than a breath of air from her parted lips.

  I snapped my head up and looked into her face, letting her know I was right here with her. I leaned in close, so my mouth was right by hers. “I want you too, Bailey. Fuck, baby. I want you so damn much I’m afraid I won’t be able to control myself once I finally have you again.” I went for the button of her pants, and because I was lost in my need for her, my brain fuzzy and working on instinct, I only then realized I couldn’t get her naked in the position we were in.

  I wrapped my hands around her waist and lifted her off me, to my disappointment, then stood and pulled her body close to mine once more.

  I had my hands back on the button of her jeans, undid them, and without another thought, pushed then down her thighs a second later. She made this noise that turned me on even more. “Finish taking everything off, Bailey.” I took a step back and
watched her reach down to remove her jeans. “Do it slow, baby,” I said gruffly. She snapped her gaze up at me, and I watched as her breathing kicked up a notch.

  Bailey started removing her jeans nice and slow, and I reached down to palm my hard dick through my jeans. The fucker was aching to get out, hanging between my thighs like a fucking tree trunk.

  When she had the jeans off, I tipped my chin to her shirt. “That next.” I shouldn’t have ordered her, but I couldn’t help it. Besides, I knew she liked it.

  When her shirt was off and tossed aside with the jeans, I stared at her standing there in nothing but her little white lace bra and matching panties.

  “You wear those pretty little things for me?”

  She licked her lips and nodded.

  I took a step closer, and although she deserved slow and easy, I found myself being rough and gruff. I slipped my fingers lower until they skimmed her belly, moving over the indent of her navel, and then I felt the edge of her panties. While staring into her eyes, I slipped my hand under the material and moved them down until I felt her bare slit.

  Fuck. She was all but hairless down there. I’d only felt a small triangle of trimmed, silky strands move along the digit before her velvety soft pussy lips came into contact.

  “Christ,” I muttered. “Who owns this?” I added a little bit of pressure to her pussy hole, not penetrating her, but letting her know I was right there.

  “You do, Gavin,” she said softly on parted lips.

  “That’s right. I fucking do.”

  I couldn’t stop myself from groaning. I couldn’t stop myself, period.

  “Gavin,” she moaned and closed her eyes, reaching out and curling her hands around my biceps as I started sliding my fingers up and down her soaking slit. She was so damn wet for me. Listening to her pleasure did all kinds of things to me, had all sorts of filthy images slamming into my head. “I want this.”

  Yeah, she fucking did. I clenched my jaw, a deep sound of pleasure leaving me.