Page 74 of When The Mountains Held Us

“Me too. I can think of a few things we could get into if you were here.” Where did that come from, Oakley?

One day of breathing the fresh mountain air into my lungs and now I’m flirting, albeit badly. Though if I truly think about it, I think my change of attitude has more to do with his wicked confession and mind-blowing kiss this morning.

“Oh yeah?” His voice dips lower, his tone heavy with a sultry curiosity.

“Mhmm.” I make my way to his room and into the bathroom, flipping on the dim lights above the counter and setting my things down.

“Care to share?”

I move to put my toiletries in the shower, but pause when the tub catches my attention out of the corner of my eye. The sight of it brings the memory of last night to the forefront of my mind. I think another bath is in order.

I cross the room and turn the faucets, testing the temperature with my fingertips before plugging the basin.

“Oakley…” The way he says my name is a gravelly warning, and it has my skin heating.

“Hmm?” I question, distracted by the very dirty thoughts running through my mind. Digging under the sink, I grab the bottle of rose-scented bubble bath he used last night and pour a generous amount into the steady stream of water.

“What’s got you so distracted? Is that the bath I hear?”

There’s a teasing edge to his voice, and I bite my lip as I smile. I put the phone on speaker and place it down on the windowsill beside the tub.

“Yup. I fear you spoiled me last night. There’s no way I’m gonna be able to go back to that shower down the hall.” I strip off my sweaty clothes, leaving them in a heap on the floor. I cut the water and groan as I settle in, the steaming water soothing my aching muscles and making my body go limp.

“Fuck, baby. It’s driving me crazy that I’m not there with you. Those noises you make…”

“It just feels so good. Especially after the hell Jessie put me through today.”

Levi’s breath hitches on the other end of the phone. I love the effect I have on him. Knowing I’m driving him crazy right now has something deep in my chest purring and a delicious heat pooling in my belly.

“God, knowing you’re naked right now and not being able to touch you is killing me.”

My hand slips beneath the water, and I run my fingertips lightly down my chest, circling one nipple and then the other. I can’t believe I’m allowing myself to do this while he’s on the other end of the phone, but I’ve been a mess of nerves and want since this morning, and I deserve some relief. The touch is a shot of electricity straight between my legs, my clit throbbing in time with the beat of my heart.

“Tell me what you’re doing.” His demand is rough, spoken through gritted teeth.

“I’m… I’m touching myself.” My admission is timid as nerves rack my body as I second guess whether I’ve taken it too far, too soon. Levi’s answering groan soothes my nerves, and I relax further into the water.

“Where are you touching yourself?”

I run my fingers over my nipples again, closing my eyes as I let the warm water relax me further as it laps over my skin. “My chest.”

“Come on, I know you can be more specific than that. Use your words, darlin’.”

“I’m touching my breasts,” I breathe, an equal measure of both embarrassment and need seeping into my voice as I lay myself bare to him.

“Mmm. I want you to listen to me very closely, Oakley. Can you do that? Can you be good and listen for me?”

“Yes.” God, the mouth on this man. Every single word he utters leaves me yearning for more, ready to listen and obey whatever he tells me to do.

“Trail those fingers over your nipples, baby.”

I obey. The only sound connecting us is the sound of our uneven breathing. I circle my fingers again, my breasts heavy and aching.

“Levi,” I moan.

“It’s not enough, is it? You need your fingers somewhere else, don’t you?”

“Yes,” I breathe.