Mountain Man's Virgin Read online

  I had a sweater in the car which I could retrieve to make things better, and I would do that if I needed to do. In the meantime, it was a warm night, and I could easily handle wearing this.

  I was in the process of fixing my bra strap when the door swung open. I turned around, a protest already forming on my lips when it died out at the sight of who was in front of me.

  It was Jesse Donovan.

  Looking like sex on legs.

  Damn, he looked better than I remembered.

  And those sinuous lips were curved into a sexy smirk when he caught sight of me propped up on the counter.

  “What are you doing in here?” I demanded as I hoped off and hastily rearranged my skirt which had bunched up to my knees.

  “There’s only one bathroom, it’s unisex, and the door wasn’t locked,” he explained.

  Shoot.

  He was right. I thought I locked it, but in my haste, I must’ve assumed that I had.

  “I must’ve forgotten,” I mumbled as my arms fell limply to my side, and I shifted uncomfortably.

  “Nice crop top,” he commented. “Didn’t figure you for the type.”

  “Why? Because you have me all figured out?” I met his gaze head on, refusing to break eye contact first.

  “I’m usually good at reading people, and I thought I had you figured out, but I guess I was wrong.” He leaned against the door. “You are not the good girl you pretend to be.”

  “I beg your pardon?” I pushed as much disgust as I could into my voice.

  “The belly button piercing is my first clue, and so is the tramp stamp. Don’t give me that look. It was visible in the mirror when I walked in, so I couldn’t help but see it.”

  “I’m sure that stupid name was made up by guys who’d like to flatter themselves into thinking women would brand themselves there just for their pleasure,” I retorted, icily.

  “No one else would see it,” Jesse pointed out. “Why else would you get it there?”

  On the one hand, it did make sense.

  Not that I would admit that.

  “I got it there because it’s private, and I’m not the type to show off these things.” I wanted to tug on the shirt, but there was no chance of covering it up now.

  “I can see that, same with the belly piercing which suits you by the way,” he complimented.

  “What do you want, Jesse?” I demanded as I felt the tips of my ears turn red.

  “I can’t compliment a beautiful woman?” he asked, innocently.

  “Not when you insulted her job the last time you met her.”

  “Okay, I’ll admit I was out of line there, but so were you.”

  “What are you, five?” I crossed my arms over my chest. “It doesn’t matter who started it.”

  “Why? Because you were immature enough to insult me right back?”

  “Did you just call me immature?” My mouth fell open as I stared at him in outrage.

  He swore under his breath. “Shit, no, I didn’t mean that. God, you make me all tongue tied and that infuriates me.”

  I reeled back wearily. “Why would I make you tongue tied?”

  “Because you’re so damn beautiful, and you’re feisty as hell,” he responded.

  “Jesse I... we can’t do this. I’m here on a date.” I moved towards the door, and he immediately shifted backwards, but not before the scent of him hit me. Spices and mint. It was a weakness, and I froze with my hand on the door as my heart pounded in my chest.

  “I think you feel it too,” Jesse whispered causing shivers to race up and down my spine.

  “Feel what?”

  “What’s happening between us.”

  I laughed shakily. “Don’t flatter yourself.”

  “Then why haven’t you opened the door to get back to your date?”

  I cleared my throat. “I will.”

  I turned the doorknob, but nothing happened. I harrumphed as I yanked harder this time, but nothing still.

  “It won’t open,” I realized. “The door is stuck.”

  “Here, let me try.” He gently nudged me aside and threw all his weight into it, but nothing was happening.

  “I don’t suppose they’ll hear us if we yell,” I said, weakly.

  “We could try.”

  We both tried pounding and yelling, but we could hear the music vibrating and shaking the walls, so the chances that someone would hear us were slim.

  “I don’t suppose you have your phone on you.” He turned to face me, his eyes calculating as he weighed our options.

  I immediately shook my head. “I do, but my battery is dead, and my power bank is in the car.”

  “Alright, it’s okay. We’ll just wait until someone else needs to use the bathroom then they’ll get us out.”

  I leaned my back against the cool wall and pressed my hand to my forehead. “This is not my week.”

  “It happens,” he offered, sympathetically. “Well, I did come here to wash my hands, so I might as well do that.”

  He brushed past me, letting his hands linger near mine for a second before he pulled them away. I snatched my hand away as if I’d been zapped, but not before I caught the look on his face when I did. He knew he was affecting me, and he was affected by it too.

  I slid down the floor of the bathroom and leaned my head back.

  “So, if you don’t mind my asking, why are you wearing a crop top if you’re such a private person?”

  “A waiter spilled a plate over the front of my blouse, and I had this on underneath. I didn’t feel like smelling like spaghetti.”

  “And you’re not at all mad about that?”

  “I mean I’m a little bummed out because it’s a nice blouse, but it’s okay I’ll wash it once I get home.” I shrugged as I let my hair fall in front of my face.

  “Hmm, you are an interesting woman, Nia Carter,” Jesse admitted as his gaze raked over my face, studying me carefully.

  “Why is that?”

  “Most women I knew would’ve gone postal, and the date would be over then and there. Though I’m sure your date will appreciate the lack of clothing when you go back out.”

  “There is no lack of clothing,” I hissed, quietly as I tried to ignore the way my heart kept skipping beats. He was sitting next to me on the floor because there wasn’t anywhere else we could sit, and we were so close, his knees were almost touching mine.

  “Trust me, there is.”

  His breath tickled the side of my neck when he turned to face me.

  “I know what you’re trying to do.”

  “What’s that?”

  “You’re trying to make me forget about the fact that I have a date out there.”

  “A date who hasn’t noticed that you’ve been gone for that long, and no offense, but you don’t seem too concerned about the fact that you’re stuck in a restroom with a complete stranger.”

  I opened my mouth then shut it again.

  He had a good point.

  Aiden was nice, but there really wasn’t a spark, and he seemed more interested in his music than in me. Still, he hadn’t done anything wrong and he was a complete gentleman, so I saw no reason not to give him a second chance.

  “I do care,” I said defensively. “Aiden is nice.”

  “Hey, if you say so.”

  “Stop doing that.” I huffed in frustration. “Stop acting like you know everything there is to know about me. I know men like you.”

  “Men like me?” He arched an eyebrow, his voice dripping with acid. “Do elaborate.”

  Crap.

  I’d obviously hit a nerve.

  “Look, you’ve got the whole bad boy thing going for you, and I know some women are really into that, but I can’t go down that road again.”

  “I’m not asking you to date me, Nia,” he pointed out, his tone defrosting just a little. “Would you stop overthinking it?”

  “You haven’t actually asked me anything.” I shoved my hair out of my face. “And I hardly know you.”

  “Exactly, so why make snap judgements? Is it because of the tats and the way I dress? You seem smarter than that, Nia.”

  “Maybe I’m not. How would you know?”

  “Call it a hunch.”

  I turned my head to look at him, and we stared at each other for the longest time. Our lips were literally centimeters apart.

  “Nia, just tell me you don’t feel it,” Jesse mouthed. “I can feel the way your body reacts to me, and the lukewarm way you just described your date tells me all I need to know.”

  “Which is what?” I kept my eyes fastened on his, though I desperately wanted to look away before I did something stupid.

  “That you want me.” Jesse ran his fingers over my arms causing goosebumps to break out. “And that’s okay. I want you too.”

  My breath hitched in my throat as he tilted his body, so it was facing me. “You’re so sure of that, are you?”

  He gave me a half smile. “Yes, I am, and I can prove it.”

  I craned my neck to the side. “Really? That’s awfully arrogant.”

  “No, just confident,” he countered. “I can make you feel really good without ever touching you with my hands. Would that be enough proof?”

  My heart sputtered inside my ribcage, and I’d be damned if I didn’t admit that a thrill of pleasure went through me at his words.

  I was more than intrigued.

  I was seriously turned on, and he hadn’t even done anything yet.

  I’d never felt this way about anyone since….

  Well ever actually.

  “Okay,” I agreed, surprising both myself and him.

  I knew that part of me should be ashamed that I was agreeing
to this little experiment when I had a perfectly nice guy waiting on the other side of the door, just a few feet away, but I didn’t care about that right now.

  Just for the next few minutes, or however long we were in here, I could indulge.

  I didn’t have to want perfectly nice.

  No one would have to know.

  Except the two of us.

  And that didn’t really count, did it?

  Jesus, I couldn’t believe I actually said yes, but I wasn’t going to back down now. I wanted to know what it felt like before I said no.

  He eyed me curiously for a second before he clasped his hands behind his back. “I’m a man of my word.”

  I blinked owlishly as I nodded. He kept his eyes trained on my face as his mouth parted slightly, and his tongue darted out. Before I knew what his happening, his lips were on my neck. Immediately, almost without thinking, my head tilted to the side to give him better access.

  A part of me was stunned at the way my body was reacting to him. So willing.

  So….eager.

  It didn’t feel wrong though.

  He lightly ran his lips across my neck, and I held my breath carefully though I had no idea why. He already said he could prove his point without touching me.

  Was I more worried that he would, or afraid that he wouldn’t?

  He was already affecting me; had been from the moment I laid eyes on him. This little charade was hardly necessary, but we both seemed willing to carry on. His lips traveled from my neck to my earlobes, where he gently nibbled.

  “Hmm, you smell good,” he mumbled against my skin, and I could almost hear his nostrils flaring as he inhaled. I had on a floral scent today, freesias if I remember, and I could tell by his body’s reaction that he liked it.

  “So, do you.” I allowed myself a rare moment where I enjoyed his smell even if I was holding myself unusually still. Every muscle in my body was screaming at me to touch him and enjoy this, but for some reason, I couldn’t.

  Once he was done nibbling on my earlobes, his mouth moved down the slope of my neck and rested above my breasts which were prominently showing now. My breath hitched in my throat as he parted his mouth and lightly blew on them.

  “No fair, you’re cheating,” I protested as my back struggled to arch itself despite the cramped space.

  “I haven’t used my hands,” he reminded me as he lifted them up over his head and wriggled his fingers. “I’m sticking to my side.”

  I looked down, and he was smiling up at me indulgently. “You know you don’t have to do that.”

  “Do what?”

  “Sit so still. I have to keep my hands off, but that doesn’t mean you have to as well. You can unclench.”

  I laughed nervously. I hadn’t realized that my hands were clenched into fists until I uncurled them and noticed the crescent shaped marks on the inside.

  I kept my eyes on his face as I reached behind his neck and twined my fingers in his hair. It was smoother than I thought it would feel, and the ends curled slightly at the nape of his neck.

  He made a noise in the back of his throat when I did that, and his eyes fluttered closed.

  Interesting.

  So, he liked it when people played with the hair on the nape of his neck.

  I had no idea why this information interested me, but I could file it away for potential later use.

  “How am I doing so far?” he asked as his tongue darted out and licked my breast over my top, directly where my nipples where. A small sound escaped my throat as I bit down on my lip to keep from making too much of a fuss.

  Who was this guy?

  I was about to come apart, and he hadn’t even touched me.

  It was rapidly becoming clear that I was going to lose this bet. Not that I cared to admit that.

  I was going to hold out for as long as possible, but judging by his skill set, that wouldn’t be for very long.

  “Mmm-hmm,” I agreed as I threw my head backwards and pushed myself closer.

  He chuckled as he lightly nipped one of my nipples. A strangled moan was stuck somewhere in my throat as he pressed himself against me and ran his tongue along the outline of my shirt.

  “Cat got your tongue?” he teased.

  My head fell forward once more, and I tried to maintain my composure. “Screw you.”

  “Oh, I know you’d definitely like that,” he responded, smoothly.

  “I’m not going to have sex with you in a public bathroom,” I responded, indignantly as some of my common sense started breaking through the fog.

  This was crazy.

  What the hell was I doing?

  “Who said anything about sex?” His eyebrow climbed to his hairline.

  Color flooded my face. “I, well—”

  “Sex can and will come later, but I want to fuck you first,” he declared as if he were talking about the weather. In fact, were it not for the way he growled at the last word, and the way his eyes were smoldering, I would’ve sworn I heard him wrong.

  “Er, what?” I squeaked.

  “You heard me, Nia.”

  “I—You—”

  “Yes, it does generally involve two people. Sometimes more, but that just isn’t my style. I don’t like sharing,” he said, amusement coloring his tone as he watched me carefully.

  “That’s not what I meant,” I whisper yelled.

  “No?” He quirked an eyebrow. “What did you mean?”

  “I—I don’t—”

  “Go ahead tell me again that you don’t want me. We both know that’s a lie,” he dared me, his face expectant, his expression smug.

  “Okay, fine, I won’t say it,” I conceded. “I do want you. I’m enough of an adult to admit that, but it doesn’t matter because I won’t do anything about it.”

  He looked perplexed. “Why not? We are two consenting adults who are attracted to each other. I see no reason.”

  I snorted. “That is not enough of a reason to sleep with each other.”

  “Nia?”

  “Hmm?”

  “Just shut up.”

  With that, he pressed his lips to mine in a toe curling kiss, and I helplessly shuddered against him.

  Chapter 4

  Kissing Jesse was like everything and nothing I expected.

  I’d been fantasizing about it since the moment I laid eyes on him. Who wouldn’t? But to actually feel him pressed up against me in this snug bathroom with his hands resting on the small of my back, and my hands entwined in his hair.

  This I hadn’t foreseen.

  And I was usually quite adept at planning.

  So good in fact that I’d forgotten there were things you couldn’t possibly control. Like making out with a complete stranger in a public bathroom with your date waiting for you.

  There was a part of me that felt mildly alarmed at my clandestine behavior. Not only because it wasn’t me, but also because I wasn’t the type who ditched the person they were out with for someone else.

  Not that I’d planned this. I had no way of knowing that Jesse would be here at the same time, and that the door would decide to bolt itself.

  Up until this point, Jesse’s lips upon mine were smooth and feather light, allowing me to feel the texture of his mouth against mine. He had full lips, and he knew how to use that to his advantage, but the odd thing was, he kept very still.

  Before he started kissing me, he was using any and all excuses possible to touch me, and it drove me wild. Now that I was right where he wanted me to be, he wasn’t making any moves at all.

  Which was perplexing, to say the least.

  Even his hands were very still. I made a low noise in the back of my throat as I pushed myself closer, an invite for him to do more, but he still wouldn’t. Instead he kept his lips gently but firmly placed on mine, giving me just enough to feel him, but not enough to taste him.

  Finally, I began to nip on his bottom lip as my hands moved from his neck to his back where they ran over the smooth planes and curves. He was built like an athlete, and I wanted to see what he looked like underneath his clothes.

  “Nia,” he growled against my lips. “Stop.”

  My hands stalled, and my eyes fluttered open, confused at his request. “I thought you wanted this?”

  Was it possible he’d changed his mind?

  I know it had been forever since I kissed a man, but I couldn’t be that out of practice. Surely, it wasn’t my kissing technique.

  “I do,” he confirmed. “But I’m the one who’s setting the pace, not you.”